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FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
Week 3 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sleepers, Sits, Player Debates, and TD Calls (Ep. 1718)
00:57:07
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- [00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast.
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B
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- [00:33]
A
Hello everybody. Welcome into the Fantasy Pros Football Podcast. I'm Ryan, warmly joined as I am every Thursday all season long by Pat Fitz Morris and by Jake Seeley from the Athletic we are talking week three starts and sits. We're going to run through all the usual stuff we do in this episode. We're going to talk about some of the most popular waiver wire ads of the week and are we starting them right away or are these more stashes going to do our touchdown calls? At the end of the episode we're going to rotate through which position each of us is trying to pick a touchdown scorer for. And of course we're doing kind of our must starts must sits the guys some head to head player debates who we're starting and sitting with players that are ranked closely in the expert consensus rankings which by the way you can find@fantasyprose.com rankings that's all of our 2025 consensus rankings and tiers all season long can be found there. Again fantasyprose.com/rest Rankings. Fitz, how you doing here entering week three? Already doing pretty well.
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C
You know it's a mixed bag as far as the teams are going and everything but let me ask you guys, do you think we've had more, less or about the same number of injuries as we've typically had in fantasy through two weeks?
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B
Less.
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C
Less.
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A
Yeah. I think the area where it stands out is just that there's so many backup quarterbacks going into this week. Beyond that it feel, I mean I haven't looked at the data but it feels like Les beside hides that position.
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B
Yeah. Okay. So yeah over quarterbacks under everything else.
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C
Yeah, yeah we've had a few wide receiver shoulder issues but some of the ones we thought were going to keep people out maybe did not like Drake London and Jalen Waddle. Those guys didn't miss any time with theirs. Brock Bowers had an injury scare, didn't miss any time. So yeah, maybe you guys are right but quarterback's Been kind of a minefield.
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A
Well, I feel like when you look at the waivers, there hasn't been that. Like, this is the running back everybody's trying to pick up because the starter in front of him went down like that. Which I'm grateful for. Right. We don't see one of those starters go down. But that. That feels to be a common thing early in the season. I don't think it's really happened this year.
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C
Yeah, the. The strange run of good injury luck for running backs has now gone over a full calendar year.
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B
Full season. Yeah, full season plus. But the bad luck has been anybody who drafted a rookie running back, basically.
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A
Yeah. Yeah. They've just been under, you know, not getting the opportunity, underperforming. That's. That's where the bad luck's gone.
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B
The best class ever is going to be the worst fantasy season.
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A
I know. I was putting together our key questions for the Friday show Fits. And I was looking at Chargers, Broncos, and I was like, man, RJ Harvey and Omarion Hampton and that's like, you know, not even the half of it, you know, with the whole class. Caleb Johnson's error, Genti being inefficient. It's. Yeah, it's been really rough.
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C
I hope people give it time though. Like this, this class really is that good. Like, I don't think it was a like false advertising. I think we just have to be patient, honestly.
- [03:25]
A
We'll find out.
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B
I did worries for that in the athletic. This for my rankings this week. I gave Hampton a 3.5 out of 10, but I legit gave Harvey a 7 out of 10 just because the problem is, is Dobbins is playing well and he's healthy and as long as like at some point. But I mean, we're talking about somebody has 150 yard run and then is averaging 2.8 yards per carry. Everything else. So like the Harvey is. He's not doing anything in his own right. The problem with Henderson and Harvey is both the guys in front of him are playing so dang well so far.
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C
Right. Also, Jake, the fact that, you know, they've got a third guy in the mix that Sean. Yeah. That they're giving. Man, they're giving snaps to Tyler Bidet too. Like that's an issue.
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B
Who would have thought. Sorry to ask your question. Who would have thought after two weeks that we're more excited for Sean Payton's second wide receiver and Troy Franklin than we are for his rookie running back?
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C
Wow.
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A
Well, Troy Franklin is going to be on the list of these popular Waiver ads. I've got him coming up in a couple of names here. Let's start off with the first name. And this is kind of in order of, you know, how these guys were ranked in our waiver rankings going into the week. Obviously, you know, you might have gotten one of these guys or another. You might have had a need for a different position or another. So this is just the order isn't really meaningful beyond just kind of the way they were ranked by consensus. First name is Elic IO Manor. The Titans obviously rookie wide receiver. You know, one of the more popular waiver pickups this week. Would you guys be Interested in starting I.O. manor in week three? Jake, I'll start with you.
- [04:49]
B
I'd put him in the same conversation as like Cedric Tillman, but in a different fashion. And like Cedric Tillman's got the tough matchup this week, but I.O. manor is clearly the number two. Joked about the fact that he just had to get past Van Jefferson and he's already passed Van Jefferson and Tyler Locke. He's clearly the number two. And this is somebody who, I mean Fitz knows this. I'm sure you do too. I don't want to say that. Like I was about to say, oh, Fitz knows, but you don't like the big calling card for IU Manor is the fact that he had a good game, a lot of it on Travis Hunter in coverage in college. So it's not somebody without talent. And am I calling him a top 20 talent in the NFL? No. But if Cam Ward is going to turn things around now that the schedule finally softens up. You had the Broncos in Week two and a pretty rough matchup with the Rams last week. Things should open up in general. Like I think Calvin really is a bilo. I think Ali Manor is interesting to start, but it's still a rookie quarterback is still the Titans offense. So I would still put him in that kind of wide receiver four where you might get what we saw in week two, but you also might get four points.
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A
Fitz, you were pretty high on IO Manor at various points in the draft process. I remember on the Dynasty pod. How do you feel about feel about him in redraft and specifically in terms of starting this week as an option?
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C
Yeah, Worman, we talked about that Colorado game on the dynasty pod from 2023 where I Manor had almost 300 receiving yards. Although in fairness he did have like a 98 yard touchdown against one of the other Colorado cornerbacks in that game. I like him a lot. Are you playing him this week? Possibly. But probably not like the bye weeks are coming. We're going to need him more in a couple of weeks. I've got him ranked wide receiver 53, which is a little below consensus, but so far so good. You know, he's only got one fewer target than Calvin Ridley. It's just we haven't seen cam ward hit 200 passing yards in a game yet.
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B
Well, he's not on the list, so let me ask Fitz this and you can answer. Too warm, of course, like it's your show, but would you start IU Manor or would you start one dull Robinson who's actually getting shots downfield in week four if you had to pick between them? Fitz, like, because. No, because I think that's. He's not on the waivers list, but he was a pretty popular pickup in his own right, too.
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C
Yeah, yeah, no, that's a fair question. Let me just pull up my wide receiver ranking. I know, I know they're really close. What is your gut? I have won. Dale ranked higher. I mean, the usage has been pretty good. So far. I've got him wide receiver 47.
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B
So he's like, I was joking last year, 140 targets stolen got him to be a wide receiver four. Five in all of his leagues. But that's because he wasn't seeing anything more than four yards downfield. And if Russ is going to chuck it to him a couple times, hey, why not, right?
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A
Wondale is ranked higher than I am. He's also ranked higher than Franklin, who we're going to get to, like I said, in a couple of names also. So he's ahead of both those guys. The next name in terms of the most, you know, where they were ranked on the waiver ads is Joanne Johnson. I felt like this was the week of Johnson. I just. Every analyst that I saw had some video or article about how this was a great pickup. And just the, you know, regardless of whether or not you think he's a good player, the opportunity has been there, you know, at a position where that's not too common fits. So are you interested in starting Johnson at tight end this week?
- [07:49]
C
Oh, man, I'm like, I'm such a skeptic here. Like, in his previous best season, he had a 13.3% target share. He's basically double that now, almost 27%. No way that holds. But Saints QB Spencer Rattler is looking for him. And even though targets from Spencer Rattler are worth less than targets from other quarterbacks, there's still value to Johnson. Even though the target share is going to fall probably into the mid to high teens. I've got Juwan ranked tight end 11 this week, which is below consensus. But with, you know, George Kittle out, maybe Dallas Goddard is out again. I think the people who picked up Juwan Johnson are probably starting him this week.
- [08:31]
A
What do you think, Jake?
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B
Oh, so yeah, the video I didn't have to make this week because I already took care of it last week. I am fully on board with Juwan John Johnson until. So here's the thing. Interesting enough, by the way, you said the uses from Rattler. Well, the uses from Daniel Jones for Tyler Warren. One for one. By the way, who's had both games better? Juwan Johnson. And I'm not saying I would take Johnson over Warren for the entire season, but what I'm saying is I like the fact that you brought up Rattler. The two caveats I keep bringing on for Juwan Johnson, I'm going to be overweight for him until this changes is Foster, Moreau and other tight ends are coming back at some point, but they're not there right now. And at some point we do understand there's the risk that the Saints do say, hey, you know what, let's see what we have in Tyler Schuck going forward if Rattler is potentially not the answer. So if they go away from Rattler, I think Shuck would be a little bit more aggressive downfield, maybe a boost for Shaheed and maybe he doesn't have that same connection. But as long as it's Rattler and the other tight ends aren't part of the equation, you know, maybe Taysom Hill at some point I'm team Juwan Johnson. He is just outside my circle of trust. And there's only four tight ends, to be clear, that are my circle of trust. Warren's one of them. But, but he's in that next group. I have him a tight end seven this week. I had him inside my top 10 last week. I'm going to be overweight on Johnson. We're going to differ on this one for, for a change fits.
- [09:45]
A
Very much in the starting realm for Jake there. Let's go to a quarterback here, Daniel Jones. Like, obviously one of the early surprises and fun stories of the season has been the Colts offense. You know, back to back weeks now looking really good. Two very different levels of defenses that they were facing and doing this against between Miami and Denver. I, I, I don't really want to ask the question of like, is Daniel Jones real or not? Because I think long term none of us is like going to be over our skis. Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think long term any of us are over. But right now in terms of riding the hot hand, a lot of people need quarterback help with all these injuries we're talking about. If you had Joe Burrow, you know, maybe you were relying on J.J. mcCarthy because he listened to Debro, whatever it is. If you need a quarterback and Daniel Jones is an option, Jake, are you willing to start him?
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B
I. I did not want to hit submit on my rankings this week because Daniel Jones is inside my top 10 and it felt disgusting. The truth is whether we deserve or want to give the credit to Steichen or maybe some of it was carried over from the time that he spent with Kevin o', Connell, this version of Daniel Jones is fixed and I put that in quotes because what is the true best Daniel Jones? I will say this, we're talking fantasy and if this version of Daniel Jones who is taking what his skill set is is the short to intermediate game, that's where like coming out of college there's the same problems like you we saw it in the preseason seven on sevens that he overthrew a wide open Alec Pierce and it was just like how did you miss that? Because that's Daniel Jones. But the thing with the Colts is they're taking what Daniel Jones did and it's similar. And no, I am not putting them in the conversation. Just let me finish the statement. They're doing what the Bills did with Josh Allen. They said hey you know what? Instead of giving Josh Allen 264 wide receivers that can't separate and are just giant options, let's give him digs, let's give him guys who can separate. So the Coltson went out there and said let's give Daniel Jones a game plan that works to his strength. And on top of that they're treating him like Jalen hurts the goal line. So for fantasy purposes, he's a top 10 quarterback until further summer. Like yes, we all expect bad Daniel Jones to show up and I've been one of the biggest detractors on Daniel Jones my entire career and his entire career. But I will say this. What if it doesn't change? What if this Colts just use him in his best case scenario and no, does he throw 300 yards and get a touchdown on the ground every single week. But what if he's a QB one again? He's been a QB one in fantasy.
- [12:09]
A
Fitz.
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C
Yeah, it's so frustrating for Jonathan Taylor investors who I mean Taylor is just balling out this season and Daniel Jones is punching in these short touchdowns like that Taylor should be getting. It's got to be maddening. Yeah, I mean also let's give some credit to the Colts offensive line. Like Daniel Jones with the Giants. His sack rate while he was wearing giants blue was like 8%. The Colts have a lot of pressure rates of under 10% so far, which is crazy. And we know like a good high school quarterback can complete passes in the NFL if he has time to throw. So like that is helping Daniel Jones tremendous. And it's not going to. It's not going to last. But because the Colts offensive line has been so fantastic and is completely healthy right now, like I've got Daniel Jones ranked as a back end QB1 this week. QB11, one spot ahead of Kyler Murray. Gotta admit, I expected Daniel Jones to crash and burn against the Broncos last week. So yeah, I mean, with all the quarterback injuries, I think the people who claim Daniel Jones are probably playing him this week.
- [13:20]
A
Speaking of the Broncos last name on the waiver wire section here, Troy Franklin. I teased it earlier. Obviously coming off a big game has the college connection with Bo Nicks at quarterback. He's ranked a couple of spots ahead of IO Manor. Just for reference in the expert consensus rankings. Like I mentioned before, you know, a handful of spots behind Wandell Robinson. So Fitz, I'll start with you on this one. Troy Franklin, is he somebody that you're interested in starting here in week three?
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C
So I have him ranked wide receiver 52, one spot ahead of IO Manor. We should probably be in like wait and see mode, I think with Troy Franklin. Really nice stat line for him in Week 2. Eight catches, 89 yards, a touchdown on nine targets. And he was also decently involved in the Broncos passing game in week one. I just want to see a little more like Cortland Sutton had a really quiet game last week. Four targets, one catch. Is Evan Ingram going to be more involved? He's only playing about 40% of the offensive snap so far because he's not fully healthy. What is the Marvin Mims role going to be? I just can't confidently start any of the Denver pass catchers other than Sutton right now until I get a little more information.
- [14:25]
B
So I have him as a wide receiver four range. I'm a little bit higher than Fitz, but not much. Like he's not in the mustard territory. I did have him as one of my top waiver pickups this week. The interesting thing is I do actually think he is clearly ahead of Marvin Mims second and like doubled up Mims routes. Mims is clearly an afterthought at this point. That being said, I don't trust Sean Payton not to change things and that's part of the risk. But the other part is I thought was interesting. 33% of Franklin's targets have been designed targets as in screens and stuff like that. So does that continue? Because now you're talking about a Debo Samuel and like Debo Samuel in the past has hit kind of the 30% this year he's 22%. So that kind of wide receiver can work. But you have to understand because of this, those kind of targets, you're pulling down the A dot tremendously. So does it end up being a wide receiver three but right now I'm going to keep them as a yeah, I have him as a fringe wide receiver four because of the Sean Payton risk but also because do those design targets continue or is that something they've been trying through the first two games?
- [15:29]
A
Let's go to our plant your flags. This is one player from each of you that you guys just have real conviction on that, you know, it doesn't have to be your highest rated player, but a guy that you want to be ahead of consensus on, a guy that you really believe in that you think you want to plant your flag on for having a big week three fits. You can go first.
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C
George Pickens. The Bears are without their two best cornerbacks, Jalen Johnson and Kyler Gordon. They just gave up 52 points to the Lions. Chicago is allowed a league high seven touchdown passes. I think CD Lamb and George Pickens are both going to eat this week.
- [16:01]
A
What do you think about Pickens? Jake?
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B
Yeah, hey my touchdown call from last week, I'm on board with it again. Like if a wide receiver I would think about him as another one looks at both the CD Lamb this I if this game isn't a shootout like we are going to be massively disappointed on paper everything points to this should be a 3030 plus on both sides of it. So I love the Pickens play. I think he's solid in a wide receiver two conversation this week as a number two for his team.
- [16:26]
A
You know he's actually ranked as a wide receiver 3 in consensus. He's wide receiver 25 so but but I take if both of you would feel like that ranking's too low. It sounds like yeah, I mean I.
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B
Have Worthy a spot in front of him right now with that's like hey if worthy returns. But I think we We've talked about this. Or was it with. No, it wasn't with you. Fitz is saying, like, does he get the full compliment coming back in his first game with Worthy? So, like, that's a speculation. If you want to go with Pickens, I have no problem with it. I think Pickens is in the same conversation as risking Marvin Harrison at this point.
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C
Yeah, I've got those. I've got those two side by side.
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B
Jay. There you go.
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C
Harrison, wide receiver 20. Pickens 21.
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A
All right, Jake, who's your plant, your flag guy?
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B
How about a quarterback who's been top 10 in every single game he's played, except for two at the Steelers and home against the Steelers, and the home against the Steelers was his very first start ever. It's Jake Browning. Like, I just. For everybody out there who lost Joe Burrow, I know everybody's immediately gravitated towards Daniel Jones, but Daniel Jones got scooped up in a lot of leagues after week one. If Daniel Jones is still out there, I would still go Jones. I have Jones in front of Browning. But just talking about somebody, I did a whole video on this.272 yards average per game, including the fill in this past week. He's had a touchdown in every single game. He's had a rushing touchdown in half of his games. 4 of 8. Jake Browning, I think he's potentially a QB one. I don't have him as such because we have everybody on the slate this week except for Daniels and Fields, but he's just outside of it. And the point being is the reason I like him so much as a guy is like, even if he bombs this week, if you lost Joe Burrow, you're not replacing Joe Burrow with CJ Stroud and Matthew Stafford and Geno Smith. You have to shoot for what can potentially be Burrow. The only quarterbacks that potentially are out there that could potentially bring you Burrow value are Daniel Jones and Jake Browning. So I'm going Jake Browning if you can't go for Daniel Jones.
- [18:23]
A
Fitz, I. I'm curious where you have Browning ranked, but I really. What I want to ask is, like, when you hear Jake say that he is planting his flag on Jake Browning, not just because they share the same name. Like, what is going through your head? What's your initial reaction? Is it like. Is like, ooh, that's bold and I respect it. Is it like, what is this guy talking about? What's going through your head when you hear that?
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C
No, I pretty much agree with everything Jake just said, and I think Jake Browning is one of the best, if not the best backup quarterbacks in the league. But I'm kind of terrified of Jake Browning this week for this.
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B
Really?
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C
Yeah. Because U.S. bank Stadium in Minneapolis 1 is one of the toughest places that's fair sitting team to play in the league. And the Vikings embarrassed themselves last Sunday night like they laid a complete egg on national television in their 22 to 6 loss to the Falcons. I think they're going to be breathing fight like there's no way they play two bad games at the bank in a row. And this is coming from someone who's not a big fan of the Minnesota Vikings. I think they're going to smoke the Bengals this week. Like Brian Flores is going to have some extra special stuff hooked up for Jake Brown.
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B
Oh, smoked. Overall I was like I actually hope they jump out to a 20 nothing league because that just means more passing for Jake Brown.
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C
I mean like he, he could have a real like it could be kind of a Bryce garbage time. Good game. But like I, I think the Vikings are going to jump all over. Think about the mindset for the Bengals right now. Like you have, you're a very lucky two and oh you just lost Joe Burrow. You know you are not going to the promised land with Jake Browning. I mean no offense, like Browning is a good backup but he is a backup. Like they are not making the playoffs and they have to know that. So I just here feel like me ask you.
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B
I have him because this I was surprised how highly he's ranked this week. I have Browning one spot in front of Michael Penix.
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C
I've got Browning quarterback 24.
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B
Oh you hate his.
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C
Way down.
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A
For me.
- [20:17]
C
Just for this week I.
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A
I did when I was, when I was putting together the outline I had a typo and I accidentally wrote Joke Browning instead of Jake Browning. So hopefully that's not going to be reflective of, of how he ends up.
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B
It's not how I feel if he ends up QV28. I'm gonna pull a debro and not show up next week.
- [20:36]
A
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- [21:54]
B
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- [22:22]
A
Let'S.
- [22:22]
B
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- [23:38]
C
Did you see the Colts pretzel?
- [23:40]
B
That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Looks like something that should not be sold.
- [23:44]
C
Oh, my.
- [23:44]
B
So that was my other big Colts takeaway. They sold that.
- [23:47]
C
Yes.
- [23:47]
B
I might want to go back at the Colt Stadium. Yeah, I might want to go back.
- [23:50]
C
To the drawing board on that.
- [23:51]
B
Yeah. I thought the shape we have with.
- [23:53]
C
Pretzels was working pretty well for generations.
- [23:56]
B
We're just here trying to enjoy it. We hope you all will join us throughout the year. And let's go. I hope I'm as youthful as Pete Carroll is at his age. He's a young 73.
- [24:05]
C
He is a young 73.
- [24:06]
B
He is spry. I wouldn't fight him. I would listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [24:18]
A
Foreign.
- [24:23]
B
What'S up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game. From scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots. From college football prospects to the NFL.
- [24:47]
C
Stars of tomorrow, we break down the.
- [24:49]
B
Draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig into coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you.
- [25:10]
C
Don't miss it.
- [25:11]
B
Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [25:20]
A
All right, guys, let's get into our start sit player debates. I know I mentioned that there hasn't been a lot of like, oh, this running back is getting elevated because the guy in front of him got hurt. We kind of have a. A studio version of that here. With his first running back to beat Jordan Mason, who was somebody that we did Already, like, so it's not like he came out of nowhere in that sense as like a true backup. Um, but obviously the opportunity is going to be really expanded here with Aaron Jones now on ir. So my question here for week three, Jordan Mason or a guy who is going as like a late first, early second round pick but has been disappointing Ashton Genty? Jake, I'll start with you on this one.
- [25:51]
B
I'm still going Ashton Genty. He is still 13th in the all running backs for touches. Yes, the blocking hasn't helped him and yes, part of it is Genti's own problem is that, hey, not every play in the NFL ends up going 50 yards. You have to understand that you can't take them all to the house. Maybe stop smashing the B button and the juke button and like, just understand, like, sometimes four yards is better than getting a loss. So I'm saying all this say like, Genti is still super talented. He still has to learn. But I'm still going to start Genti. I'm still going to take the volume. I still am a big fan of Jordan Mason. Like you said this entire show, there's a lot of people there on the Jordan Mason train and we already heard the talk up of saying, hey, they trust him to be a bell cow against Cincinnati. I'm just going to still take Gentee and his use slightly over Mason, but I have them both as top 15 running backs. I think the panic on Genti is a little bit too overboard blown, mostly because it's more disappointment than anything else.
- [26:46]
A
What do you think fits? I mean, obviously I think Mason is somebody that we're all going to be, you know, high on this week. But relative to a guy like Genti, where Jake says, you know, it's. It's still early, right, it's not time to panic on him. It's just been disappointing, more so than a disaster. What do you think about this one? Mason or Genty?
- [27:02]
C
And I agree with that on Genty. People should not stop playing this guy like, he's going to be terrific, but his offensive line needs to get it together. The Raiders ranked dead last in the adjusted line yards metric for run blocking, and we're just repeatedly seeing defenders make first contact with Genty at or behind the line of scrimmage. But I would play Jordan Mason over Genti this week. Mason is my RB7. Like the Vikings. The Vikings have no one else in that backfield. I mean, they just resigned Cam Acres. I don't even know if it's going to be him or One of these other guys, I mean, I think they have like Xavian Follett, he was practice squad. I'm not even sure who their number two running back is for this week. And the Vikings would be best served.
- [27:44]
B
I think it's Scott.
- [27:45]
C
It might. Yeah. Is it. Is it Xavier Scott anyway?
- [27:50]
B
Exactly.
- [27:51]
C
The Vikings would be best served by trying to hide their quarterbacks as much as possible. And there's a good chance Jordan Mason gets 20 or more carries this week. And you can absolutely run on the Cincinnati Bengals.
- [28:02]
A
I'm looking at your running back rankings here, Fitz. We don't usually talk about the Thursday night players because, you know, the nature of when the show comes out. There's like not a lot of wiggle room there. But it hasn't happened yet. So I want to ask you for this part, you would rather start Jordan Mason than James Cook going up against the terrible Dolphins?
- [28:18]
C
Yes.
- [28:19]
A
Wow. Okay.
- [28:20]
C
I mean, the Bills use three running backs like Cook is off to a great start. But the Bills do use Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, too, to Fitz's point.
- [28:29]
B
I was going to say that was in my column too, is I brought up this for Chase Brown. The fact that he's only getting 0.14 yards before contact his offensive line, but there's only two running backs that have negative. Ashton Genti is minus 0.1 before contact. What's crazy is how good this running back has been through the first two weeks despite leading the league at the worst. Ramondre Stevenson -0.17.
- [28:51]
C
Wow.
- [28:52]
B
Wow.
- [28:53]
A
That is surprising. I wouldn't have guessed that. Wow.
- [28:55]
B
Yeah.
- [28:56]
A
All right, let's go to another running back debate. Jalen Warren or Tony Pollard? Fitz, what do you think about this one?
- [29:02]
C
I've got Pollard ranked a little higher. The running game usage for Pollard has been great. Like he's had 38 carries. Jalen Warren has had 25 carries. Pollard just totally has the Titans backfield to himself until Tajai Spears comes off ir. Whereas Jalen Warren sharing work with Kenneth Gainwell. I do wish Pollard were getting more involved as a pass catcher. Like only two targets and one catch so far and the catch went for 29 yards. Maybe they ought to do this more often. Someone please tell Cam Ward that throwing your running backs is good.
- [29:35]
A
Jalen Warren has been good this year. You know, finished his RB17 and then RB13 in the two weeks in half PPR scoring. But you know, that's obviously been largely driven not by, you know, efficiency in the running game, but by catching a touchdown in week one and having four catches for 86 yards in week two. Jake, when you look at this one, they're back to back in the expert consensus rankings. Pollard is RB22 and Warren is RB23. Who do you like better?
- [29:59]
B
I have Warren 22. I have Pollard at 25, which is still ahead of where he's finished both weeks. He's been 30 and 29 and a half point PPR despite all the volume. This is the argument I put against Pollard going into drafts is that even with all the volume last year he was still only RB24 in points per game. All that being said, I get Fitz's point. I feel like this is the safer play. But I just. I like what Warren's been doing. He is essentially, quote unquote, the lead. But I will say, wouldn't it just be typical Arthur Smith for the team to talk him up and say, like, hey, Warren deserves even more. And then, boom, Caleb Johnson gets 12 touches this week just because, like, we're not going to use them on kickoffs anymore, but we're finally going to use them in the backfield. Like, so I think Arthur Smith could always Arthur Smith us. But at this point, I'm still going Jalen Warren, just because I'd rather put it this way, and you might disagree, and that's fair. They're super close to my ranks. I'd rather take 15 touches from Warren than 22 from Tony Pollard.
- [30:55]
C
I get it. And Aaron Rodgers said this week he actually wants to throw to Jalen Warren more.
- [31:01]
B
Also. Zero targets incoming. Zero targets. And Caleb Johnson's getting run this week.
- [31:05]
C
Check.
- [31:06]
B
Yeah.
- [31:07]
A
Would you guys be starting Tony Pollard in like, a Guillotine league format? Like, I, I just picked him up for very cheap in a Guillotine league. And, you know, he's. I'm picking between him and guys like, you know, Isaiah Pacheco, who I liked a lot coming into the season, but obviously had been really bad. You know, people like that. You. You would still go with Pollard there.
- [31:25]
B
At this point of the season. And Guillotine. Yes. You're just.
- [31:27]
C
You don't want to get cut yet, right? He's a nice Guillotine player. I've got him in a G league. He's had a floor 18 and 20 carries in two games.
- [31:35]
B
Yeah.
- [31:36]
A
Yeah.
- [31:36]
C
Okay.
- [31:38]
A
I also got. I got him and Calvin Ridley. It's $1,000, like, fab budget for the season. I got him and Calvin Ridley for a combined $9 this week. You know, listen, just.
- [31:47]
B
I know we don't talk Guillotine ranks, but to your question, if this was Guillotine rankings, I would rank Pollard over Warren.
- [31:54]
A
Yeah. With the the certainty of that volume, I think that makes sense. Yeah. All right, let's go to the wide receiver debates here. Lad Makaki vs Roma. Dunze, who obviously is coming off the best game of his young career so far. Jake, I want to start with you because I know you've been a really, you know, high guy on Roma Dunes A throughout the entire off season and of course into the season.
- [32:14]
B
Yeah, Roma doing say he got to do it like we can do the hand and everything like that too. He is clearly the one. He is one of the leaders. He is almost approaching 30% target share where it's DJ Morri actually behind Alamedi Zakias. That's how far DJ Moore. And now do I think DJ Moore is dead in the water? Obviously not. But the breakout is here. Odunze is the one. Caleb Williams. I know there's been a lot of talk about him over the past week, but you watch the two games. Caleb Williams is playing better than he was last year. Is he what everybody wants him to be under Ben Johnson? Obviously not. But he has definitively made improvements and a dunesday against Dallas in this potential light them up game where Dallas just let Russell Wilson have one of the best games he's had in five, 10 years. Like I am taking a Dunes A. It also comes down to the fact that I think lad McConkey is a good buy low. His target share volume is the exact same as it was last year for the team target percentage. The problem is Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnson are taking the touchdowns right now. This is the problem when you have three good options. Is Lab and Conkey going to come back around? Sure. But he's also got the unenviable task facing the Broncos this week. So all that even being equal, I'm going to take somebody facing the Cowboys over the Broncos if I can choose as well.
- [33:28]
A
Yeah, Fitz, I'm really curious where you come down on this because like obviously McConkey is somebody that we still like and trust long term. Dunes is somebody that you really liked as a prospect and obviously there's just like I guess really both of them at this point. Maybe you could argue have like a lot of mouths to feed in the offense just with the way Johnson and Keenan Allen have been playing. But like a Dunze just really does at least coming off this last week look like clearly the number one. You know Fitz, I made a trade in the in the dynasty. One of the Dynasty leagues that were in together before the season where I traded away Travion Henderson and I got, you know, kind of capitalizing on that hype and I got a Dunes A and a late first probably and Caleb Johnson, which that side doesn't look like it's too, too helpful, but I'm feeling pretty good about that right now. Where do you have a Dunes A ranked this weekend and how does he compare to McConkey for you?
- [34:12]
C
Yeah, I mean I don't feel great about where I vote Dunes A ranked, to be totally honest. Like I've, I've got lad McConkey ranked ahead of him and I've got Odun say like I'm, I'm way below consensus. I'm like wide receiver.
- [34:28]
A
I'm showing 26 for you.
- [34:30]
C
Yeah.
- [34:30]
A
Why did she be 26?
- [34:31]
C
That sounds right. And yeah, I mean you meant that.
- [34:35]
B
To be a one. That's what it was. It's supposed to be 16, not 26.
- [34:40]
C
Basically like two game sample be damned. I trust the lad McConkey brand more than I trust the Roma Dunes A brand right now. And maybe Odunze continues to out target DJ Moore, although I doubt it's going to be by the 2 to 1 margin we've seen so far. Of course, Caleb Williams does seem to have much better chemistry with Odunze than he has with DJ Moore. Like the Caleb DJ Moore chemistry has been out of whack from the start for some reason and I definitely had some concerns during draft season that Keenan Allen's return to the Chargers was going to be an issue for lads production. And so far Keenan Allen team high 17 targets. LAD 14. Quentin Johnston 14. There's no denying that O'Dunes Day is a nice setup for week three with Bears Cowboys having a Vegas total of 49 1/2. Cowboys are going to be without Duron Bland, their best cornerback and I think Trayvon Diggs missed practice Wednesday too. So look, maybe I'm, I might be doing or not doing the Wayne Gretzky thing and skating to where the puck is going rather than where it's been here. But like I know that lad McConkey is crazy good and we're still kind of in the process of finding out how good Roma Dunes is.
- [35:52]
A
You know, we're still like, we're obviously still interested in lad McConkey. So I guess even like I'm not, I'm not so surprised that you have him behind lad26 is really surprising to me. He, that's 10 spots below consensus. He's. He's wide receiver 16 in ECR. I'm looking here some of the names you have in front of him. I'll just read them kind of all in order. Igbuka Higgins, Jameson Williams, Cortland Sutton, George Pickens, Marvin Harrison Jr. DK Metcalf, Tyree Kill playing tonight, Mike Evans. Having him behind all those guys I just find surprising given the matchup and the game he's coming off of.
- [36:24]
C
That's a tier I certainly feel very uncertain about and how to rank those guys. Like, I consider that kind of one tier, but I know maybe I should have odunse ranked higher. Like, I just, I still don't have supreme confidence in Caleb. I still don't know that Rome is like the alpha target earner in Chicago. And, you know, it's just hard to feel really confident in anything Bears related right now.
- [36:52]
B
Pat just has an article ready to go on Monday that says Rome has fallen. That's what it is. He just, just wants to use that.
- [36:59]
A
He's all about the headlines. All right, Jake, another wide receiver debate here. Two names that I just mentioned in reference to Fitz's ranking of A dunes a Cortland Sutton versus T. Higgins with your beloved Jake Browning, who do you like better this week, Sutton or Higgins?
- [37:15]
B
Flip a coin. Like I go, I have Higgins just barely in front of Sutton, but I actually think they're in very similar boats in the fact of what their production could be game to game. We just saw Sutton basically eliminated from the equation, but they just didn't need him to be there. If you want to paint it positively, you can say, hey, the Chargers potentially have you go back to what Fitz was saying. If you want to go that direction with it. The Chargers have a better bet at keeping things competitive and forcing the Broncos than the Bengals do on the Viking side of things. So you could look at it either way. So if you're worried about Jake Browning, Higgins should be much lower. But if you go back and look at Browning's games, I brought up the numbers. I bring it up all the time. The target distribution was still there for Chase. It was slightly lower for Higgins. They ran slightly more neutral game scripts, but it was still there enough that I have him as a wide receiver, too. They are almost back to back in my rankings at 23 and 25. If it's similar to what Fist was just saying about a tier, though, like, this is a tier that I'd go up to Marvin Harrison and all the way down to like Terry McLaurin who's at 30 just because the usage just hasn't been there yet. And of course we're probably getting Mariota, but you want to flip around any of those similar to what we do in pre draft, 21 to 30 is like kind of a big group of names that one catch, one touchdown can make a difference.
- [38:30]
A
Yeah, it. It was that way in terms of the big tier in this area for draft season. And it has kind of continued to be that in terms of the weekly rankings too. These guys are back to back in ecr. I think it was. I just had it up. I think it's wide receiver 26 and 27. Yeah, 26. Sutton Higgins is wide receiver 27. So very close, according to the experts. Fits. Who do you have ahead?
- [38:51]
C
Sutton. And I've still got him in my top 20. Like, quiet game last week. Four targets, one catch, six yards. It happens. His usage in week one was fine. Nine targets, six catches, 61 yards, a touchdown. Like, I still consider Sutton a set it and forget it starter. So I have already expressed my reservations about Jake Browning in the Bengals passing game this week, but by no means does Browning completely gut the value of T. Higgins. Like Jake Browning when he made seven starts for the Bengals at the end of 20. 23. T. Higgins played in five of those games. 15 catches, 328 yards, three touchdowns. It's like wide receiver 25 and a half point PPR points per game for that stretch. Yeah. So. And right. That's kind of where we're ranking him or where I'm ranking him at least this week. So, yeah, not. Not worried about T. Higgins long term, but I'd definitely rather play Sutton this week.
- [39:46]
A
Would you trade Sutton for Higgins? If, like, the Higgins manager is saying, hey, with the quarterback change, I want to get out of this, would you make that trade Fitzgerald for, like, not for this week, obviously, but for rest of season.
- [39:57]
C
It's pretty close. I wouldn't make it just because I think it's such a lateral move. That's.
- [40:01]
B
Yeah, that feels like shuffling deck chairs.
- [40:04]
C
Exactly.
- [40:05]
A
Okay, let's be honest. Shopping, not my thing. I can't stand walking through aisle after aisle trying to figure out what will fit what I'll look good in changing in those tiny dressing rooms. Just all of it. And that's without even getting into my, shall we say, somewhat lacking sense of fashion. Honestly, I'd rather someone just tell me what to wear. If you're tired of wasting time trying to figure out your style, stitch fix has you covered. You just take a quick style quiz, share your size, your vibe, your budget and boom, you're matched with a real human stylist who handles the rest. They send you a fix box with clothes that actually fit and make sense for your life, work, weekends, whatever. It saves you time, you look great and you don't even have to think about it. It's no risk, all style. Try it all on in the comfort of your own home. Keep what works, send the rest back. Free shipping and returns always and no subscription required. Plus get a free try on for your first fix. Get started today at stitch fix.com fantasypros to get $20 off your first order and they'll waive your styling fee. That's stitchfix.com fantasyprose all right, we'll go to some more rapid fire start sit decisions. We're moving pretty quickly anyway, so just some more start to sit decisions. I'll say Another running back one here. Jakori Krasky Merritt, you know, Austin Eckler, you know, has the Achilles and is out for the season versus David Montgomery going up against the Ravens on Monday Night Football. Fitz, I'll start with you on this one. Who do you like better, Bill or David Montgomery?
- [41:37]
C
Monty Another case where I prefer the trusted brand name, but there's a little more to it than that. I mean Ravens Lions has a Vegas Total of 52 and a half according to the betting pros consensus odds and I've seen it as high as 53 and a half. Worm like we're going to get a point.
- [41:55]
A
I mean the two teams combined for 93 points in week two, so in the 50s almost seems too low.
- [42:01]
C
Yeah, I'm not looking to bet the under in that game, put it that way. Whereas Commander's Raiders has a Vegas total of 44. So yeah, the market expects offensive fireworks in one game and not really the other. So the Commanders may or may not have Jaden Daniels too. And if they don't, that certainly dampens Crosby merits touchdown outlook. And also the Raiders run defense has been pretty tough so far. They've given up less than 50 rushing yards a game to running backs and only 3.3 yards per carry to running back. So not an easy matchup for Bill. And you know Monty occasionally catches passes. Krosky Merritt has yet to record his first NFL catch.
- [42:40]
A
Is it possible, Fitz, that there would be more opportunity for him to get a catch with Echler now out? I mean I know that's not going to be his main role. Of course McNichols would likely be fighting stepping into that, but just if he's on the field more. Do you think it's possible?
- [42:51]
C
Yeah, I don't know for him because like I don't really think it brightens his pass catching outlook. Just because I think Jeremy McNichols is going to be sort of a one for one usage replacement for Echler.
- [43:03]
A
Okay.
- [43:04]
C
Now could be wrong.
- [43:05]
A
I think that's fair. I want. I just wanted to, you know, at least ask about it. Jake, what do you think? Bill or David Montgomery?
- [43:11]
B
I'm going cross game Merritt barely. The problem is is like so the Raiders run defense is actually more concerning than the Ravens right now. But the Ravens vul in the passing game more than the run game for running backs which would lean towards Gibbs, not Montgomery. Although Montgomery can do it. We just know the use back there. So it's just the problem is is if you almost like flip their matchups and I agree that this could be McNichols seeing all the passing game use. Jesus, he just becomes Echler. But I think there's a little bit of potential tick up for cross game Merritt. Like I would actually rather I would. My gap would be larger if the matchups were reversed, if that makes sense. So that because of the matchups offsetting kind of what we're hoping for from both running backs, I'm just going to take the lead versus the backup and that's why Crosby Americ gets the very slim margin over Montgomery.
- [43:59]
A
Let's stick with the commander's conversation. I wanted to put two receivers head to head on the same team here. Obviously, you know, it seems certainly at this point as of recording that it's leading like Mariota will be starting this week for Daniels at quarterback. But two receivers on the same team, Terry McLaurin or Debo Samuel? If you had them both. Jake, I'll start with you on this one. Who would you rather start?
- [44:19]
B
Debo. Because of what they've been doing. Like I was and this is something like why I'm saying this is arguing that Debo's addition could actually be net positive for McLaurin because he's free more especially downfield. The one thing with Mariota that's going to be different here is you're not going to get the same efficiency of Jayden Daniels downfield. He can throw, but it's still not Daniels. But also at least through the first two weeks. And I know McLaurin missed essentially the entire preseason, including practices, but he still knows how to play with Daniels. He's stereotyped Terry McLaurin. But this offense and what Kingsbury has done through the first two weeks is just basically I go back to the design situation with Franklin is they're making the offense work for Debo Samuel, who also has clearly shown that last year was a health issue for not looking good on the field. And at this point, do I think McLaurin still has the higher ceiling? Yes. But given the matchup also, what do they do? Get after the quarterback who gets the ball out or who gets the ball if the ball gets out quicker? Debo Samuel. I'm just leaning into that where like if this is the Cowboys, I might have them closer and go for McLaurin's upside. But given the Raiders matchup and what they've done so far with Debo, I'm going to go Debo over Terry Fitz.
- [45:26]
A
How do you see it?
- [45:27]
C
Jake might be talking me into a ranking shift here. Right Now I've got McLaurin ranked one spot higher than Debo. But we probably have to admit that Debo Samuel is a pretty good fit in the Cliff Kingsbury horizontal passing attack. Don't we like and don't we think that that might be the easier receiver for Marcus Mariota to get the ball to on these little quick routes, slants, little wide receiver screens, you know. But I will say there was one game last year where Marcus Mariota had to play most of the game for the Commanders because Jaden Daniels got knocked out early. It was against the panthers in Week 7. Mariota only had to throw 23 passes because the Commanders pretty much stomped the Panthers in that game 40 to 7. But McLaurin had five catches for 95 yards on throws from Mariota in that game. So like they've, they've shown a little chemistry.
- [46:20]
B
That's a good, a good point to like clarify when I was talking about Mariota too is it's kind of like Russ Wilson. Like, he's going to do more in the intermediate, but he's going to take a couple shots. It's just whether or not those shots hit downfield.
- [46:30]
C
Yep.
- [46:32]
A
Let's do some flex starts it decisions. How about big name here, AJ Brown or Chuba Hubbard?
- [46:38]
B
J. Chuba Hubbard. Like at what point, like even in that game, like, where it's like, hey, they should just move on and like go away from like they. Chuba Hubbard. Chuba Hubbard. Chuba Hubbard. Like Chuba Hubbard is a bell cow and I'm just going to take that at this point. I am team by Low on A.J. brown. I am team. This is exactly what happened last year with A.J. brown, Devontae Smith, especially this has actually happened A.J. brown's entire career, but it's just been magnified with the arrival of Saquon Barkley is you're going to get bad games. He is one of the, he's probably the only wide receiver, one that gives you multiple, multiple single digit performances throughout the year. So I'm saying to buy low on AJ Brown, it's been magnified by two weeks early in the season, back to back to start the season. So buy low on AJ Brown. But Chuba Hubbard is a, he's a freaking bell cow.
- [47:25]
A
Fitz, should I take your visceral reaction to mean that you disagree?
- [47:30]
C
Yes. Come on A.J. brown. Don't ever bench a star.
- [47:34]
B
Well, this is a toss up. I'm not benching A.J. brown, to be clear.
- [47:37]
C
I know. And no shade at Chuba Hubbard. Like I, I think he's really good, but he is up against a sneaky good Atlanta run defense.
- [47:44]
B
I will give you that.
- [47:46]
C
The Falcons 10 fewest fantasy points to running backs last year so far. 6th fewest to running backs this year. And by the way, the Falcons pass defense might actually be good now.
- [47:56]
B
It's actually one of my favorite streaming defenses this week. All those draft picks are hitting.
- [48:00]
C
This is a sneaky good Atlanta Falcons defense for sure.
- [48:05]
A
Another flex question. DeAndre Swift or Marvin Harrison Jr fits man.
- [48:10]
C
All right. This one is a coin flip. I would, I think I would play DeAndre Swift just because the touch floor is sturdier. Like he's had 29 carries and six catches through two games. 17 and a half touches a game is pretty nice. But like, like Swift hasn't been good is the problem. He ranks 46th in yards after contact per carry and his expected points added per rushing attempt is minus 0.25 which is just terrible. Like it might not be long before we get an extended look at Kyle Menon guy, but for now I think I just play Swift because of that usage floor.
- [48:45]
B
I'm laughing.
- [48:46]
A
Jake. I'm going to try to predict, I was gonna say I'm trying to predict that you're going to say like the floor play is is Swift and the ceiling play is Harrison 100%.
- [48:55]
B
But I also wanted to involve that emoji for everybody because that's exactly what went through all three of our minds as soon as you said DeAndre Swift versus Marvin Harrison mostly because of Swift and it's wet fart noise. I don't want to have to make this decision. But you're right, that's exactly what it is. Swift is guaranteed production right now is It a high ceiling? Absolutely not. But Marvin Harrison is as boomer bust as they come. Week one looked good. Week two we went right back to 2024. We're just going to keep sending them on go routes and there's no connection with Kyler Murra. They even talked about it this week. They even said the connection's still not there. How is the connection still not there? I'll tell you why. Stop sending them on go route 70% of the time. Like use him more. But yeah, so Harrison could have the bigger game but he's definitively got the lower floor.
- [49:43]
A
Yeah. DJ Moore or Ramandre Stevenson? We didn't really talk much about Stevenson during draft season because we were so excited about Travion Henderson and kind of just assumed that he was going to get kicked to the curb. It hasn't happened like particularly in week two. Certainly wasn't happening. So now heading into week three, coming off of a nice game for Stevenson. Jake, I'll start with you on this one. DJ Moore or Ramandre Stevenson?
- [50:06]
B
It's basically copy paste. The previous answer like Stevenson's got the floor. I do think Henderson's coming. Like I would buy Henderson low. This might be the game that it happens. The Steelers defense has not looked good through two weeks at all, especially in the passing game which is something that Henderson can do. But again Stevenson's looking but we just did this last year. Stevenson looked great to start the season and then just fell off the cliff and then that's everything that happened after that that they turned to Antonio Gibson to start a game. So I do think there is a potential that Henderson takes over. But until that happens, he looks really good. Stevenson looks like the two years ago Stevenson so far and I know DJ Moore in the shootout but it's. That's the same thing. DJ Moore even past the Kias in target share right now and I do think that will change. So if I need the ceiling play, it's DJ Moore. I have him that close where it's really about your team. And I hate to put this on the people watching the managers, but it's the decision you have to make. If you don't want to risk a 2, it's Stevenson. If you want to go for that upside and ceiling, it's DJ Moore.
- [51:09]
C
Fitz Steelers have now gotten chewed up by the top two running backs from that 2022 draft class in consecutive weeks, Breece hall and Kenneth Walker. You know, like Jake's reasoning is sound and I do agree it's similar to the question about DeAndre Swift versus Marvin Harrison and you do get the safer usage floor with Ramondre. But I just, I want pass catchers in that Cowboys Bears game you know and I, I know I I turned down the shot at oduns they just because I I trust lad McConkey more but like with that sky high Vegas Total almost 50 points and all those backup cornerbacks for both teams running around like I want DJ Moore here. Great game for Ramon Dre last week with 142 combined yards but he only had 27 yards from scrimmage in week one. Like I'm not quite ready to let Ramon Dre back into the circle of trust.
- [52:05]
B
Of course.
- [52:07]
A
One more flex one here. Nick Chubb or Travis Hunter? I thought this was an interesting one. We haven't really mentioned Hunter on this show so far in season for good reason. Fitz, Hunter or Chubb?
- [52:20]
C
Yeah, Nick Chubb. Give me the the decent touch. Floor. 13 carries, Week 112 carries, Week 2 couple of catches so far, one of which he actually looked pretty spry and went for 27 yards. And like Chubb has actually looked good so far. Even though the Texans offensive line is terrible, the Jaguars man, anytime you have a chance to trade a future first round pick to move up and draft a Wandell Robinson type of receiver who can also be your D back on defense, you just got to do it. 6.1 yards per catch for Travis Hunter so far, 3.9 yards per target, an average depth of target of 6.6 yards.
- [53:00]
A
I'm not going to rule out like Hunter, you know he's super talented, obviously like long term. But I will say I'm feeling very good about the dynasty rookie drafts in which I took Teo McMillan ahead of Hunter and oh yeah, I'm, I'm feeling very happy with that. Hunter or Chubb? Jake, what do you think?
- [53:16]
B
Chubb and I know Woody Marks started to make some noise, but it wasn't 100% the best Chubb we've ever seen. But there was some burst on that touchdown run where like I don't think Marks is 100 coming for his job just yet and I'm glad you brought that up. Fitz is I was actually going to bring up the A dot for Travis Hunter. It's not quite six, but I only included this in my article this week because of my concerns for DK Metcalf. His is 5.6 and the reason I brought that up because the best wide receiver last year with an A dot under 6 yards per target was Khalil Shakir and he was only wide receiver 46 and fantasy points per game. That is a wide receiver killer. And if Hunter is even going to hover under seven, it's going to be hard for him to even get to wide receiver three value, especially when he's primarily three wide out of the slot. Like, this is just what it is. So I'm going Nick Chubb until we see some potential changes for the Jaguars, which might not happen.
- [54:13]
A
We already talked about Daniel Jones a bit in the waiver wire segment, so we'll go quick on this one. But I wanted to throw him against, you know, any kind of specific name here and a guy that he's ranked really near in ECR is Caleb Williams, who, you know, we've talked a lot about these Bears, you know, pass catchers for this week. In this matchup against Dallas, how about the guy throwing them the ball? So Daniel Jones or Caleb Williams this week? Jake?
- [54:33]
B
Daniel Jones. One spot of credit. Caleb Williams. I want to start both. Like I said, like, Caleb Williams looks better than people want to give him credit for and this is a great matchup. But I can't believe I'm about to say this, but at least through two weeks in their situations, I actually trust Daniel Jones slightly more.
- [54:51]
A
Fitz, what do you think, Caleb?
- [54:53]
C
I've got him ranked QB8, Jones, QB11.
- [54:56]
B
Can I say I hope you're right so I can get off this Daniel Jones train. Like, throw Jake from the train. Not Mama. I want to get the hell off.
- [55:04]
C
Cowboys, Bears. It's going to be such a shootout and like, I almost feel like Caleb adds more reliable rushing value than Daniel Jones. I know Daniel Jones has the short touchdowns, but he's only got like what, 27 or 28 rushing yards this season. Caleb's got 85 rushing yards so far and a rushing touchdown. So yeah, I just feel a little bit better about Caleb at home. Daniel Jones is on the road.
- [55:28]
A
The tight end I want to throw out is also one where we already kind of talked about it during the waiver segment, but again, it was just such a popular name that I really wanted to include him against a specific name. Juwan Johnson or Kyle Pitts. Fitz, who do you like?
- [55:40]
C
Pitts. And you know, he has 11 catches right now, but it's really mostly about matchup. He's going up against the Panthers. They gave up the most fantasy points to tight ends last season. The panthers gave up 65 yards and a touchdown to the Brenton Strange Hunter long combo in week one for the Jaguars and Trey McBride had 78 yards against them.
- [56:00]
A
Last week you, you love Kyle Pitts, Pat Pitts, Morris over here. Cause you one of these days you're going to plant your flag on Kyle Pitts in this show. I guarantee you're. You are a huge fan. Johnson or Pitts?
- [56:12]
B
James. And I guess I'm Joanna, man. Cause I'm going Juwan Johnson over here. Because it's close enough that. But so I will say this. I don't know if we talked about last week, but I mentioned the fact that Kyle Pitts doesn't actually look any different than Kyle Pitts. They're just using them. So he's still not separating. He's just. Just rolling off the coverage and using his body. Like if you watch some of the routes he runs, he's specifically running into defenders, not like through them but into them to position and kind of act like a power forward and peel off of them. And that's where he's getting his separation opportunities. So I like what they're doing and if Mooney was out, I would go with Pitts. But Mooney's back and it's just one more part of the equation. So I give Juwan Johnson the slight edge there.
- [56:53]
C
Great obscure bad movie reference there, Joanna.
- [56:56]
B
Man, I have to give that one to. That's credit to Pat Mayo. He did that the very first time. Juwan Johnson was ever your thing.
- [57:02]
A
Yeah. Say goodbye to Start Sit dilemmas with Fantasy Pro Start Sit Assistant within seconds you'll know exactly who to play for optimal results each and every week. Leveraging insights from numerous experts to start CIT Assistant aligns your lineup decisions with the top minds in fantasy football, giving you a competitive edge. Maximize your lineup's potential with just a few clicks. Head to fantasypros.com myplaybook or download the Fantasy Pros app and make winning decisions in no time time. We'll wrap things up quickly with our touchdown calls contest. Fitz, you're on running back this week.
- [57:31]
C
Isaiah Pacheco. He has not gotten off to a very good start obviously, but the Giants have been terrible against the run this year. The run D ranks 32nd in DVOA, Jecory Crosby. Merritt averaged better than 8 yards per carry against the Giants in Week 1. Javante had 97 yards and a touchdown against them last week. Pacheco has a get right game against the Giants and gets into the end zone this week.
- [57:57]
A
I'm on wide receiver. I'm going Tetero and McMillan. He's had a really good start to his career. Looks awesome. The Panthers are going to continue to throw A ton, I assume pretty much every week has not gotten in the end zone yet. I don't think he's going to go too long before it happens. So I'm going with my guy tmac here. So so far we have Pacheco and McMillan. Jake, who is your tight end?
- [58:16]
B
Yeah, I gotta get try to get the show off the schneide with the tight ends. But I will say last week was a banner week. I think in the history of when I put that gif out there, that touchdown helped nobody last year or last week at tight end we had Ertz and Juwan Johnson as Tucker Craft. But the other ones, Davis Allen, AJ Barner, Luke Farrell, Jeremy Rucker, Adam Trotman and the one who stole the touchdown, Brock Wright because that's what we do. So maybe like I should pick Noah Gray or something. But no, I'm going to pick Sam Laporta because not only the fact that like that should have been his touchdown, but the one area of the Ravens defense, you know this worm is that like you do like to when defenses have similar defenses to the Ravens in past years like the Eagles. For a time there there was one where like you want to tack that underneath, especially with the tight ends because that's their one vulnerability. Steelers were like that a couple of years ago and I think that Laporta can find his way into the end zone today is that I actually think this might be a quiet Jameson Williams game and this might be a lot of Monroe stuff. Brown and Laporta.
- [59:12]
A
Do you watch to come fd where that gift is from Jake?
- [59:16]
B
That's actually why I knew it and that's actually why I have to, I have to research for it at the beginning of every year because if you just put nobody, it doesn't even show up in the gift options. You have to put nobody Tacoma. And then it comes up and it's like it's just such a perfect gift. Yeah, it is.
- [59:31]
A
It does work well. All right, so Pacheco, McMillan and Laporta are our picks for the touchdown calls contest this week. Dominate your fantasy football league with fantasy pros Premium now available free for six months when you deposit and place your first wager on one of our partner sportsbooks. This is the easiest way to get full access to our top fantasy tools all season long. Go to fantasypros.com premium to get started. We'll wrap things up there for Jake and Fitz. I'm Ryan Wormley. Thanks for tuning in. We'll see you again next time. Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast. If you love the show, the best free way to support us us is by leaving a positive review on apple podcasts@fantasypros.com review or on Spotify. Follow us on X Instagram and TikTok at fantasypros and subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube.com fantasypros.
- [60:40]
B
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- [60:43]
C
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B
It's phone chargers, pet supplies, toilet paper.
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C
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B
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- [61:42]
C
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- [62:27]
B
Applebee's or order online today.
- [62:30]
C
That's eating good in the neighborhood.
- [62:32]
A
This is an I Heart podcast.