Week 3 Preview: Lions-Ravens, Desperate Chiefs, Herby Fully Loaded, and Wentz Week

Summary

The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Week 3 Preview: Lions-Ravens, Desperate Chiefs, Herby Fully Loaded, and Wentz Week

Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck
Date: September 19, 2025

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Episode Overview

This Week 3 preview episode dives deep into the most interesting NFL matchups for both fantasy and real football, focusing on high-scoring offenses, roster panic-checks, positional dilemmas, injuries, and the under-the-radar narrative lines driving Week 3. The hosts offer candid, statistical, and sometimes hilarious takes on “desperate” fantasy plays, signal optimism, identify nightmares in big-name offenses, hash out what to do about slow starters, and—naturally—debate the best days of the week.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Monday Night Football: Ravens vs. Lions

[00:49–08:27]

Matchup Hype & Fantasy Impact

• Ravens are favored by 6 points; both teams among the top three for points scored.
• "I think this is going to be a back and forth game…two of the best offenses in the NFL…hopefully a lot of points for us fantasy folks. God bless you." — Danny Kelly [01:50]

Tight End Conundrum: Mark Andrews

• Mark Andrews’ lackluster stats: 7 yards in two games; lowest target share of his career.
• Craig leans benching: "How are you feeling about Mark Andrews? 'Cause I am not starting him until he shows me something." — Craig Horlbeck [02:09]
• Heifetz emphasizes context: "It depends on your options...I kind of doubt you have a tight end that is more talented or getting better opportunities than Mark Andrews." [03:06]
• DK brings brutal stats: "Mark Andrews is the tight end 34 in target rate this year…8%." [06:07]
• Ultimately: Don’t panic drop, but justified to bench for volume-based tight ends like Hunter Henry.

Other Fantasy Angles

• Ravens’ offensive juggernaut, Lions defense seen as vulnerable.
• Historical note: Ravens blew out Detroit last time (38–6).

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2. Bengals at Vikings – The "Quarterback Carousel" Bowl

[10:41–17:31]

Jake Browning vs. Carson Wentz

• Satirical “main event” highlighting the amount of QB injuries.
• Craig: "Zero starting running backs have been injured so far…but five starting quarterbacks out." [11:01]

Wentz Career Post-Mortem & Vikings' Offense

• DK summarizes Wentz’s nomadic, now back-to-starting career, with a tangent about his possible post-concussion downturn ([13:29–14:52]).
• DK: “The offense is at its best when they’re passing the football…they’ve shown that over the years. When McCarthy came in, it was very slow, very run-heavy.” [15:32]
• Minnesota’s RB Sairen Jones placed on IR, elevating Jordan Mason, who is now a must-play.
• TJ Hockenson vs. Mark Andrews: hosts lean Hockenson for a "week to get right."

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3. Rams @ Eagles – Early Window Spotlight

[17:31–21:15]

Rams are Feisty, Eagles Offense Uninspiring

• Rams were closest to upsetting the Eagles last year.
• Defensive line battle could “muck the game up”—low scoring likely.

AJ Brown Panic?

• AJB's output down, but:
  • "If A.J. Brown is just fully healthy…are you kind of just starting him every year, even if he has four catches for 30 yards every single game?" — Craig [18:06]
  • Zero bench possibility for "upper-echelon" WRs like Brown, Jefferson, Chase, etc.
  • Historical matchup: torched Emmanuel Forbes for 175 yards and two TDs.

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4. Steelers at Patriots – Offenses in Crisis

[21:15–26:47]

Pittsburgh: Still Running in Place?

• Craig, a cautious optimist: "I think this is a winnable game for Pittsburgh…are they ever going to be able to run the ball?"
• DK flags Steelers' DVOA collapse: “They're 27th…that is kind of unfathomable.” [26:14]
• Both note: Key for fantasy is Jalen Warren's expanding role, especially in the screen game.

Tomlin's Endless Coordinator Blame

• "My only issue with Tomlin…is a remarkable ability for Steelers coordinators to constantly be criticized…as if Tomlin can't tell them what to do." — Heifetz [25:32]

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5. Jaguars vs. Texans – Are the Jaguars Actually Good?

[28:58–34:50]

Jacksonville Offense in Crisis

• "Jags’ vibes this last week were atrocious. You get pictures of Trevor Lawrence waving off Liam Cohen..." — DK [29:10]
• Brian Thomas disappointment: Expected points double his real points; issues with effort and possible injury.
• Heifetz: "If you were Liam Cohen…who do I think I can get this offense to move the ball on? Carolina, then Cincinnati. And those are the first two games Jacksonville had..." [32:52]

Houston's Defense is "So legit"

• All three hosts—especially Craig and Heifetz—are bullish on Houston defense against a reeling Jags offense.

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6. Colts vs. Titans – AFC South Power Shift?

[35:13–39:20]

• "This is a pretty commanding lead three weeks in." — Heifetz, if the Colts win ([35:31]).
• Daniel Jones (Colts) gets a “pumpkin test” this week; hosts split on whether he stays hot.
• Tyler Warren (Indy TE) injury note.
• Jonathan Taylor seen as a workload monster, all Colts fantasy pieces endorsed except for a toe injury blip on Warren.

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7. Packers at Browns – Packers Dominance, Browns Freefall

[39:43–42:25]

• "Packers look like the best team in the NFL…"
• Concerns for Flacco's health; Packers pass rush likely to tee off.
• Dobbs dealing with “the least fun of any quarterbacks”—inserted “least fun” fantasy QB draft banter for comic relief.

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8. Chiefs at Giants – Must-win for Kansas City?

[43:13–46:57]

• "If the Chiefs start 0-3, it's a pretty massive game."
• Mahomes/Chiefs only favored by 5.5 due to their current offensive struggles.
• "The Chiefs are just not fun to watch anymore. I no longer want to watch their games." — Craig [46:57]
• GIANTS: Scatterboo RB gaining “overtime/two-minute” trust, possible fantasy ascension; Worthy (KC) questionable—hosts uneasy about using him with health risk and 48-hour news gap.

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9. Bucs at Jets – O-Line Woes, Backup QBs Galore

[49:07–55:14]

• Tyrod Taylor starting for the Jets, which surprisingly might help Garrett Wilson's output.
• "I think you're more likely to play Garrett Wilson knowing that Justin Fields is out." — Heifetz [49:38]
• Bucs' O-line is "devastated"—starters dropping like flies; impact for both run game and Mike Evans, who is "due" for positive regression.

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10. Raiders at Commanders – QB Injury Watch & Run Game

[55:21–61:50]

• Likelihood of Marcus Mariota starting for Washington due to Jaden Daniels’ injury.
• If Mariota plays, Debo (Deebo Samuel) could get more "manufactured touches"—hosts: not a “sell high,” but a “hold.”
• Raiders’ offense should bounce back after tough Chargers matchup—Myers is a must-start.

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11. Falcons at Panthers – Kyle Pitts is Quietly… Good?

[61:50–66:40]

• Bijan carrying Falcons O; Falcons’ offense "never fully clicked," but Kyle Pitts trending toward a breakout.
• “Quietly happening” for Pitts: 4th in route %, 7th in target rate among TEs [64:32].
• Panthers’ O-Line a disaster—jokes about which Panthers starters are players or Coachella acts.

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12. Rapid Fire: Other Games & Fantasy Angles

[68:11–91:52]

Bears vs. Cowboys

• Bears-Favored! Eberflus revenge game, high drama.
• Cowboys: Rainbow strip shootout; play everyone.
• "Javonte Williams is six months older than RJ Harvey" — Craig [72:18]

Broncos at Chargers

• "Chargers are awesome…defensively flying around…Herbert looks better than ever." — Craig [81:41]
• Troy Franklin emerging as a must-stash fantasy WR.

Saints at Seahawks

• Spencer Rattler: “plucky game manager” per DK, not a star but “moving the chains."
• Cooper Kupp: Week 1 a “fart” not a “shart” (fluke, not catastrophe).
• Sam Darnold 3rd-highest graded QB (???), but likely due to scheme not stardom.

Cardinals at 49ers

• Cards “always play SF tough,” both teams 2-0 but doubts swirl.
• Running game vanished; Marvin Harrison frustration ("happy I didn't draft him").

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On overreacting to slow starts:
  "If you bench Mark Andrews, he’s going to go off; if you play him, maybe he’ll suck. That’s fantasy football." — Dan Rucker [05:59]
• On A.J. Brown’s start-ability:
  “He could have under five points for six or seven straight weeks, and I’d still play him one more week.” — Dan Rucker [21:08]
• On the Steelers D's collapse:
  "Steelers right now are 27th in defensive DVOA, which is kind of unfathomable, especially for the most expensive unit in the NFL." — Danny Kelly [26:14]
• On the Jaguars/Texans matchup:
  "The Texas defense is so legit. Will Anderson is so good. Derek Stingley this season is playing a lot better than Brian Thomas." — Craig [33:53]
• On Thursday vs. Saturday vs. Friday:
  "The future is so bright, we gotta wear shades—Friday’s the best day." — DK [104:02]
• On Chiefs’ dullness:
  "The Chiefs are just not fun to watch anymore. I no longer want to watch their games. We going to get a petition?" — Craig [46:57]
• On Deebo Samuel:
  "He gets manufactured touches—he’s a hold, not a sell high." — Craig/DK [61:50]
• On podcast closing banter:
  "Heifetz, you're really struggling with the goodbyes lately…he's just checked out, it's Friday for him already." — DK [110:35]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Lions-Ravens Preview & TE Talk: 00:49–08:27
• Bengals at Vikings (QBs, RBs, Hockenson): 10:41–17:31
• Rams at Eagles/A.J.Brown: 17:31–21:15
• Steelers-Patriots & Tomlin Blame: 21:15–26:47
• Jags Vs. Texans: Brian Thomas, Houston D: 28:58–34:50
• Colts-Titans, Daniel Jones Watch: 35:13–39:20
• Packers-Browns, “Least Fun QB” Draft: 39:43–42:25
• Chiefs-Giants, Mahomes Frustration: 43:13–46:57
• Buccaneers-Jets, O-Line Mayhem: 49:07–55:14
• Raiders-Commanders, Mariota Alert: 55:21–61:50
• Falcons-Panthers, Kyle Pitts Talk: 61:50–66:40
• Rest of Slate & Lightning Takeaways: 68:11–91:52
• Best Days of the Week (Power Ranking): 103:39–108:29

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Tone & Style

• Knowledgeable and irreverent, with debates, stats, and jokes interwoven.
• No-nonsense fantasy advice, but full of “wait, hear me out” tangents and pop culture/fantasy football therapy.
• Freewheeling—expect asides about hotel sleep hacks for QBs, Harambe, band names vs. O-linemen, and beer-powered Fridays.

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Summary

This episode preps fantasy managers for the chaos of Week 3: calling out coach-speak and slow-starters, encouraging patience or panic as fit, and emphasizing that, in a year already defined by QB injuries, flexibility and fun are the real “must-starts.”

Transcript

[Danny Kelly]

Foreign.

[Dan Rucker]

Welcome to the Ring of Fantasy Football Show. My name is Dan Hyphen. Today I'm joined by Danny Kelly and Craig Korolbeck and we are previewing week three of the fantasy football season and the NFL season just week three in general. We're gonna go through all the games, gonna see if Craig jinxed any of the Thursday night football players or something. He'll say later. And then yeah, we're gonna just go through everyone. Fantasy football.thringer.com if you want our rankings sit rankings it is there. And then also yeah ranked days of the week.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, we power rank days of the week. At the end of the year it's our it's or at the end of the episode, it's the most important ranking we've ever put together. So stick around for that. Also, Ice Cube is here. We got a great show for you tonight. We'll be right back.

[Dan Rucker]

This episode of the Ringer Fantasy Football show is presented by Hyundai. The allnew Hyundai Palisade hybrid proves that an incredible SUV is so much more than the sum of its parts. It's more than a spacious interior. It's more than being able to navigate difficult terrain. And it's way more than driving farther than you ever thought possible. It's the all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid. So much more than just another SUV. Visit Hyundai USA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Okay, we're just going to go through all the games that are happening this week and we're going to go a little out of order because frankly, the Monday Night Football game is so much better and more interesting than everything else happening this week that I actually want to start with Monday Night Football because the Baltimore Ravens are hosting the Detroit Lions. Somehow. Ravens are favored by almost six points. Ravens lead the NFL in scoring. Lions are third in scoring. I think this is the two most fun teams in the entire league that don't play all the time. Right, dk?

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, yeah. I think this is going to be a back and forth game. Like you said, two of the best offenses in the NFL and I don't know if either team's defensive defenses have been especially impressive so far. So hopefully a lot of points and hopefully a lot of fantasy points for us. God bless you.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Excuse me.

[Dan Rucker]

Sorry. Craig's allergic. Craig's just allergic to you saying the Ravens defense is.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No, no. You know who I'm allergic to? Mark Andrews. That's who I'm allergic to. This is kind of the disappointing tight Ends bowl. Sam Laporta versus Mark Andrews. Laporta much less disappointing than. Than Mark Andrews, but high vids last week after Mark Andrews disappointing performance where he had five yards. He has. No, sorry. He had two last week and he had five in week one. That's right. The Ravens have 81 points this year and Mark Andrews has seven yards. But you said you would continue to start him. I don't think I would. And I've received multiple texts from people. Sorry to just jump right into whether or not you should start Mark Andrews, but it is top of mind for a lot of people, I think this year. Mark Andrews almost caught a touchdown last week. He got punched out of his hands after he caught it in the end zone. He does have two red end zone targets this year, which is kind of Mark Andrews bread and butter. How are. How are you feeling about Mark Andrews? Because I am not starting him until he shows me something. I.

[Dan Rucker]

Whether or not you specifically should play him is tough. Cause it depends on who your options are. If you happen to have Tyler Warren on your team, then sure, play Tyler Warren over Mark Andrews.

[Craig Korolbeck]

But are you going to the waiver wire to get one of the waiver wire tight ends to play over Mark Andrews?

[Dan Rucker]

If, like, Harold Fanon is there or Zach Erts? Like, sure, you could play Zach Ertz over Mark ages if you want. But generally speaking, I guess. Let me flip it on you. If Mark Andrews had caught the touchdown last week, would you bench him?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Isn't that just the worst part of fantasy?

[Dan Rucker]

Well, I think the answer obviously is no. And so I'm like, who cares? Like, it was a great punch. It wasn't like a drop. It was an incredible right or left hook into the ball, and it happened to be bad timing. And honestly, if it was a quarter second longer, the rate. Also, the Ravens almost challenged that play because Mark Andrews had the ball for so long, they were wondering if it was possession. Anyway, the point being The Ravens have 81 points this season. It's the most in the NFL. It's a juggernaut offense. Okay. All right. Derek Henry had 12 yards last week. He gonna bench him? No, I'm just saying.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Well. Well, he had 40 the week before.

[Dan Rucker]

Okay. Mark Andrews had 10. He had 10. He had 11 touchdowns in 10 games last year during a stretch. He's almost had two touchdowns in two weeks. I'm not gonna, like, sit here and bang the table like, Mark Andrews will definitely be incredible on Monday night. I'm just saying, I kind of doubt you have a tight end that is more talented or getting better opportunities than Mark Andrews, who still is going to own tight end snaps on the best offense in the entire NFL. And the difference in this game is the Ravens defense is still good. The Lions defense sucks. And I'm, well, not sucks, but I'm not impressed with it as much. I, I, I think Andrews is.

[Danny Kelly]

His underlying numbers are so stinky, it's not even funny.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I wouldn't even say he owns snaps high, Fitz. I mean, Charlie Kohler is running, I would say about half the snaps Andrews is, which is a lot. Mark Andrews is running like 75% of the snaps and Charlie Kohler is running like 60.

[Danny Kelly]

Do you guys want to run?

[Craig Korolbeck]

By the way, there's a guy in the Ravens named Charlie Kohler and he's a tight end. Isaiah like playing in these games.

[Dan Rucker]

He's a blocking, he's running routes.

[Craig Korolbeck]

He ran 15 routes versus Andrew's 26 last week. This episode is supported by FX's the.

[Danny Kelly]

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[Craig Korolbeck]

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[Danny Kelly]

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[Dan Rucker]

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[Danny Kelly]

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[Dan Rucker]

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[Danny Kelly]

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[Dan Rucker]

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[Craig Korolbeck]

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[Dan Rucker]

FX's the Lowdown premieres September 23rd on FX, stream on Hulu I they also beat the Browns by like 40 points.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It was the same in week one. Week one, they all, they were in the same, same percentage of route splits. It was like 15 to 7.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't know.

[Dan Rucker]

That game was also, I'm just Again, the I my answer is I think, I think cutting Mark Andrews this year would be just as foolish as cutting him.

[Craig Korolbeck]

What last year was, well, not cutting, but benching.

[Dan Rucker]

I think you want to bench him.

[Danny Kelly]

Sure.

[Dan Rucker]

But I'm like, this is going to be the, the, I think if you bench him, he's going to go off and if you play him, maybe he'll suck. But I'm like, I don't know. CDK hates Mark Andrews too.

[Danny Kelly]

Well, I was just going to have, I was going to read to you guys an assortment of tight ends. So first of all, Mark Andrews is the tight end 34 in target rate this year, which is 8%.

[Craig Korolbeck]

He has four targets.

[Danny Kelly]

He has four targets and two catches in two games. Here's an assortment of players that have a higher target rate than Mark Andrews. Noah Gray from the Chiefs, Elijah Higgins, the tight end two on the Cardinals, A.J. barner on the Seahawks, Dawson Knox, Kate Otten Mike Sicki, Jake Tong, Jiz Pat Friarmouth, Brenton Strange. I could go on. There's like literally 33 of them anyway. I would say you absolutely have to get a touchdown or it's touching our bus with him. And so, you know, especially considering his track record of catching passes in the end zone. I'm out. I'm out until he does something.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, I think you have tough because it does something.

[Dan Rucker]

It depends who you have. And I kind of just, I don't know if your options.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think if you just like can add Hunter Henry. I, I think you honestly play Hunter Henry until Mark Andrews does something. Maybe that's.

[Danny Kelly]

Watch him just go off this week, Craig.

[Craig Korolbeck]

He probably will. You shouldn't cut him.

[Dan Rucker]

Everyone else again. This will be a fun game. The Lions are coming off the best game they've had in yards per play in teams history. And then the Ravens. The Ravens could be the first team in NFL history to score 40 points in each of the first three games. Mark Andrews could be the first tight end to drop a touchdown in games that his team scored 40 points in each of the first three games in the NFL. You know, that would also be a record. So, yeah, I think this is, this is just going to be, this is just a really fun game. Like I, There's a world where we should have had this game as a Super bowl already in the last couple of years. I will say the Ravens, last time we played the Lions two years ago, they won like 38 to 6. I think like the Ravens destroyed Detroit and there's a world where Derrick Henry could, I mean, the Ravens are kind of built to beat Detroit in some ways.

[Danny Kelly]

If Derek Henry doesn't get rolling in this game, are you going to start worrying or is it still too early?

[Dan Rucker]

He had two. How many yards did he have in week one?

[Danny Kelly]

He had, I mean, he had a great week one 190 or something like that.

[Dan Rucker]

He had like 170 and two touches.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Like 120 at half.

[Dan Rucker]

You're worried about him?

[Danny Kelly]

No. Kind of. No, no, I'm not. Definitely not. You guys, last week, what have you.

[Dan Rucker]

Done for me lately?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that's very true. I, I live my life One week.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I'm not worried about Derek Henry.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay, good. Thank you. I needed that.

[Dan Rucker]

Anything else in this game?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Well, to be honest, like, I'm just kind of surprised the Ravens are favored by five and a half. I, I, I guess because they're home and golf on the road is, I mean, every time I look at these golf home verse, road Splits, they are jarring. His touchdown percentage, doubles at home. It's basically three verse six in fantasy as well. In fantasy on the road, Jared Goff, 13 points a game, which is like unstartable. One of the worst quarterbacks in the league when he's at home, 20 points a game, which is like top seven. One of the best fantasy, like that's like on par with like the top four guys. It's pretty remarkable.

[Dan Rucker]

DK and I have a theory on this. Craig, I don't know if you know this. People think that golf is bad away because it's like the Lions and they have a dome and everything. Home field advantage. Deacon. I think Jared Goff is one of those people can't poop while he's traveling.

[Danny Kelly]

Right. Get all backed up.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, people think he like shits the bed on the road. It's actually he can't shit at all until he gets home.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Dude, I can't sleep like the first two nights on the road in a hotel, I always sleep poorly. I wonder, what if their NFL players have sleep remedies or kind of have like they're on the road sleep strategy that helps them. Because if I got to a place and had to play a game in a day or two, I don't know if I could do it. I'd feel like shit.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, every hotel room, I feel like shit last night.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I'm on the road right now. I slept terrible last night.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, every hotel is a little different. There's always like different weird noises from the ac. Can never. Half the time I go to a hotel room, the AC doesn't even work.

[Dan Rucker]

Are you one of the big. You're big temperature control and noise while sleep control guy?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, yeah, I'm. Temperature to me is a big deal. And for some reason I'm really unlucky about going to hotel. I've literally in the last year gone to a hotel and had to. They have to come in and fix the ac. I had to move rooms one time. The New Orleans work.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The New Orleans situation was pretty dire and the hotel was rough. And then we went to an Airbnb that had six beds in one room.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't think NFL teams are dealing with that kind of thing, but that'd be funny if they were maybe the Bengals. But yeah, you get a roommate for the road.

[Dan Rucker]

So going to the Sunday games here, the early window, as some call it. 1pm Eastern, 10am Pacific noon.

[Danny Kelly]

What time is it in Europe?

[Dan Rucker]

Eleven mountain. I don't know.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay.

[Dan Rucker]

Plus five or whatever the Bengals are Playing. They're at Minnesota. The undefeated Bengals are with. Jake Browning are going to play against Carson Wentz in the Minnesota Vikings.

[Danny Kelly]

It's crazy that we're here and it's week three and we're already to the Jake Browning versus Carson Wentz Bowl. Everyone's been waiting for this.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe, knock on wood, zero starting running backs have been injured so far to start the season and five starting quarterbacks out.

[Danny Kelly]

Wow, that's brutal. Thanks for saying that. You didn't really need to do that, but.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't know if I'm cursing all running backs.

[Danny Kelly]

I'm just kidding.

[Dan Rucker]

No, I just think now one of those Thursday Night football players is probably a jeopardy. So that when everyone listening to this is probably like, wow, that's Craig's fault, wasn't it?

[Danny Kelly]

I don't really believe in all that. But it is funny that you said that. Okay, I want to go back and. Because I. I couldn't really remember kind of how Carson Wentz's career went down the spiral into the shitter over the last few years of his career. So basically I wanted to give you a quick refresher. After washing out in Philly, Carson Wentz went to Indianapolis in 2021. He threw 27 touchdowns and seven picks and went 9 and 8. However, they had. They had a late season collapse. I think they had a 97% chance to get into the playoffs at one point. And then they lost their last two games to blow it. Jim or say said, quote, an epic shortfall that stunned and shocked and appalled us all. And then basically the. I guess the Colts inter. Internally I saw, I was reading some reports and basically internally, they never saw Carson Wentz as like a franchise quarterback type of guy. He just wasn't the type of leader that they were looking for. Reading between the lines, this is what we've kind of been saying over the last few years. He's just like a bad hang. Like he's just not a good guy to have in the locker room. People don't like him. So they went and they traded him to Washington, which I completely forgot about. And they signed Matt ryan instead in 2022. Matt Ryan was an absolute disaster, I believe. And then Carson Wentz broke his finger after just seven games with the Commanders. I kind of have totally memory hold his time with Commanders. I don't think I have any recollection of Carson Wentz in a commander's uniform. Do you guys even remember that?

[Craig Korolbeck]

What year was this?

[Danny Kelly]

It was 2022. And he's played seven games.

[Dan Rucker]

That was when he did the left handed pick six at his own goal line.

[Danny Kelly]

No, that was for the Colts.

[Dan Rucker]

It was that. The Colts. Yeah. There were a lot though. I.

[Danny Kelly]

Maybe there was another one. I can't remember.

[Dan Rucker]

Probably. Yeah, it might have been two, but I completely have.

[Danny Kelly]

I. I just have no recollection of that time, which was part of the reason I wanted to go back.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I can't even picture him in the uniform.

[Dan Rucker]

So.

[Danny Kelly]

No, honestly can't. So after that. So he broke his figure after seven games real quick just to finish up. He was replaced by Taylor Heinecke and that was kind of it. I think he came in very late in the season, played horribly. In 2023 he went to the Rams to kind of rejuvenate or rehabilitate his career. That didn't work. 2024 he spent with the Chiefs. And now here we are, him starting for the Vikings.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I mean he's going from McVeigh to Reed to Kevin O'. Connell.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, we got an email from Jim because I bucketed Wentz in with the group of guys. Jim, there's a group of quarterbacks that I think were never the same after an injury that don't get classified that way. Marcus Mario had a nerve injury, Daniel Jones had a neck injury. Guys were just never the same. And I said Wentz is in that group post ACL and Jimmy Jim emailed in and was like, honestly the actual turning point, if you look at Wentz's numbers, Jim was arguing he's not the ACL. It's. He had a horrific concussion after JDM Jadavian Clowney hit him crazy hard after the 2019 season. And that Wentz's before and after splits are like preposterously different. And obviously I don't know, but it is an awful hit. And honestly the splits are. Are like before and after are pretty unbelievable. And so I don't know, it's interesting. I kind of. This is famous last words. I don't know if the Vikings offense can be that much worse than what we've seen. Obviously Carson went and do a crazy turnover. JJ McCarthy wasn't necessarily doing insane turnovers. So maybe wins could throw like two pick sixes and lose single handedly. But I'm like, if we're being honest, the upside short term is higher for the Vikings with Carson Wentz right now. If the downside is also lower.

[Danny Kelly]

I think though the big variable that I'm going to be looking at in this game when that when the Vikings take The offensive, you know, field or whatever is the run rate because basically over the last few years, even when you go back to when they were playing, Nick Mullins was starting, Josh Dobbs was starting, Jaren hall started a couple of games for Minnesota. Back in 2023, the Vikings still threw the ball a lot like pass rate over expectation was still very high. That is I think the offense that Kevin o' Connell wants to run, that's when they're at their best. Justin Jefferson, TJ Hawkinson, you know, they're getting Jordan Addison back I think next week. But their, their offense is best when they're passing the football and they've shown that over the years.

[Dan Rucker]

So.

[Danny Kelly]

And when McCarthy came in, this offense was a very run heavy, very slow. They're basically taking, you know, everything off, trying to take everything off of JJ McCarthy's shoulders. And so this offense could be very different looking.

[Dan Rucker]

And key to this game is also Sarin Jones, the running back for the Vikings actually went on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. So Jordan Mason is going to be the starter. If you have Jordan Mason, he's an absolute must play. Just because I just think he's going to have so much more trust from.

[Craig Korolbeck]

These look good already this year. He wasn't like a backup who's now getting the starting role. He was the true like 1B or maybe even 1A before Aaron Jones went down.

[Danny Kelly]

So there was one running back injury.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I guess that's true.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

So yeah, Jordan Mason. And then the flip side of this, the Bengals with Jake Browning, I think Browning will be a lot better. I think you always need to be a little cautious. Well, I guess for fantasy Jake Browning was awesome because he got Jamar Chase like 170 yards and two touchdowns.

[Danny Kelly]

He's like, he just pushes it.

[Dan Rucker]

I, I will. I think generally speaking, I mean quarterbacks are way better when they prepare for the week as the starter. And so when a backup comes in and looks bad, don't ever over extrapolate that to how they'll perform the next week because they didn't get any, they didn't get to throw any footballs in practice.

[Danny Kelly]

Right.

[Dan Rucker]

And then they just went in the game and so when they get to prepare as the starter for the whole week, like they generally play better. And so I kind of, I, I don't actually think Browning's, I kind of wonder if the Bengals are going to win this game. I don't know. I, but we'll see. I mean the, the Vikings are favored by three, but I mean it Would like to be surprising. The bank really wanted one. But you still bet on two backup quarterback games. You know you're still playing Chase Higgins, Chase Brown on Cincinnati, you're still playing Justin Jefferson. I think the like a good example to me. Are you playing TJ Hawkinson with Carson Wentz? Are you playing Mark Andrews on Monday to football versus the Lions?

[Danny Kelly]

Because like that's a great, that's a really good question. I think I would actually probably don't have those two players but maybe Hawkinson on this one. I'm hoping this is Hawkinson his chance to kind of get back on the map because I think he has two catches this year. Something really small so far too. I'm just hoping this offense goes faster.

[Craig Korolbeck]

He has four catches for 21 yards this year.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

So the next game here we got the Rams are at the Eagles, which.

[Danny Kelly]

Is a good game.

[Dan Rucker]

Probably the best game of the, of the early window. Right Craig?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Definitely. This is a fascinating game to me because I don't think the Eagles have looked that good and I think the Rams quietly have looked pretty good. And the Rams were the closest to beating the Eagles last year in the playoffs. That game. The. It was a one point game in the fourth quarter and the Rams fumbled twice in that fourth quarter. It was Kyron Williams and then I think Stafford got sacked and fumbled.

[Dan Rucker]

Both Jalen Carter came right up in the middle and Stafford had a touchdown open and then Jalen Carter just sat got him before he Stafford could let it go.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah. And honestly the Rams have been playing well defensively. They've been playing well. They've played the Titans and the, and the Texans offensive line. So you can't exactly maybe take too much from that. But I don't know man. I just think this is a fascinating game for the Eagles and if this is if they're just going to once again try to muck this game up. Run the ball, not throw the ball deep. Win by two points, score 20, win 20 to 17. The last time these two teams played, Jalen Hurts was sacked seven times, which is the most of his career. And the Eagles offensive line this year quietly has not been as good as it used to be. They haven't really been running the ball as well. And Hertz has been seeing a lot more pressure. So I think there's a real chance. This is like a pretty ugly mucked up defensive line game. And the biggest fantasy question to me is like A.J. brown and Devonte Smith, you're still starting them obviously like it's AJ Brown, he was he was much better last week in terms of like targets. He got eight targets, which is, is decent. However, they were all like, you know, four yards through the air. I was trying to think of a player is, is AJ Brown the worst of the elite players in fantasy that you would basically start every week, all year until he produces? Like, how low would you go for? Like, no, I would eventually just bench this guy. Like if AJ Brown is just fully healthy all season playing for the Eagles, are you kind of just starting him every year even if he has like four catches for 30 yards every single game, right?

[Danny Kelly]

I think it depends. It does depend. He, he's at the point now where I'm like, if you have someone who's someone else who's doing really well and getting consistent volume, I might actually lean that way. I am still confident that he's going to get rolling and get going. But it is, it's, it's a mental hurdle to put him back in again when he's done absolutely nothing so far.

[Craig Korolbeck]

There are certain players, right? Like when you have the pedigree, it's a lot harder to bench these guys. If Ashton Genty was just terrible for five straight weeks, I could actually see you being like, you know what, I'm.

[Danny Kelly]

Going to bench him.

[Dan Rucker]

Or like Chase Brown, Brian Thomas, Brian Thomas, the Jaguars, the best example.

[Craig Korolbeck]

But when it's like a Monroe St. Brown or, or obvious Jamar Chase or Nico Collins, Justin Jefferson, all those guys, you're kind of like, I think I just have to start them every single week because of who they are. I do. A.J. brown's in that camp. But yeah, man, I mean the Rams are missing a Kello Witherspoon. He went on ir Their cornerback, their corners right now are not great. They have Emmanuel Forbes, they have. What was our nickname?

[Dan Rucker]

Flat Stanley. 160 pound cornerback in the first round.

[Craig Korolbeck]

160 first round for Washington. He's now on the Rams. He's one of their two corners the last time.

[Dan Rucker]

There's so many listeners right now that are heavier than Emmanuel Forbes, listening like he is an NFL player.

[Danny Kelly]

He's playing in the league.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The last time that A.J. brown played against Emmanuel Forbes, he had nine catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

[Dan Rucker]

I bet they'll keep him away from Emmanuel Forbes or rather the Rams will keep Emmanuel Forbes race from Adrian.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, I think I, I, I like, I like the Rams in this game and I think it's going to be a close game, but I, I like the Rams. The Rams are going well just to Be clear.

[Dan Rucker]

Nobody bench A.J. brown if you're thinking about it. Just don't do that.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No, you can't. You gotta wait a long time.

[Dan Rucker]

I would play him. He could have under five points. I would say six or seven straight weeks and I would still play him one more week.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

Honestly. Yeah. That'll be an interesting game. The other game. So the Steelers are in New England this week. How are you feeling about that, Craig?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think this is a winnable game for Pittsburgh. I think New England is. Has not gotten off to the hottest start. I would say it. I think Drake May's been okay. They let up a lot of yards to Tua and the Dolphins. And so if. If Christian Gonzalez is not back, the Patriots corner, which he's back at practice, but I think he's still tbd. If he's playing this week, I think the Steelers have a shot to kind of get back on track. I still don't think they were as bad as. As the box score suggested against Seattle. Seattle's also a great defense, so. Yeah, I mean, this basically comes down to, like, are the Steelers ever going to be able to run the ball? And I don't know if they will. I think Jalen Warren's a good player, but Caleb Johnson's not going to be playing a lot. They have Kenneth Gainwell who's like a replacement player, and I don't think the offensive line is that good. And even though Rogers is under center a lot, they're using that mostly for play action and stuff like that. But if you can't run the ball, that stuff's going to stop working. So I think that's the big question for me on the Pittsburgh side is like, are they ever going to be able to run the football? Which has been an issue for the Steelers for a long time. I mean, even with Najee Harris, they were never a great running team because the offensive line has just always been bad and they've been in the shotgun most of the time. So I don't know. I. I do think this is a winnable game, though. And Stefan Diggs is probably his mind is elsewhere because Cardi B. Is pregnant with his son.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that's.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Which must be factored in.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

She seems very excited about it.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Does she? I did.

[Dan Rucker]

I saw an interview with her. She announced that she's very excited.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Did she say, I'm. I'm pregnant with Patriots wide receiver Stefan Diggs's baby? How did she say it?

[Dan Rucker]

Kind of, actually, yeah, the host kind of said it, and then she was like, yes. Can confirm. And it was like an interview and she's happy about it. It's nice. They seem. They seem happy together.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Are they a couple?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, they're dating.

[Craig Korolbeck]

They are.

[Danny Kelly]

I didn't know that this was part of the.

[Dan Rucker]

You didn't dive into.

[Danny Kelly]

This is the boat. They were on the boat with Cardi B.

[Dan Rucker]

This is the boat.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, it was. Oh, Cardi was on that boat.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

Oh, she might have taken the video.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Got it. Because she wasn't in the video. So I guess maybe that's why I didn't. I didn't really realize she was on the boat.

[Dan Rucker]

Yes.

[Danny Kelly]

The.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's good for.

[Dan Rucker]

Anyway. But yeah. So I think this game. I agree. I mean the Steelers haven't been able to run the ball frankly since after that. Like James Connor replacing.

[Craig Korolbeck]

What we really need. The most important thing is that Aaron Rodgers stays healthy.

[Dan Rucker]

Yes. I will say so. Next week's episode, the next version we do of this Friday show. We're going to be in Dublin. We're going to Dublin for. In Ireland for the Steelers Vikings game. That will be there. First game in Ireland for. For the NFL ever. And we already down one quarterback because it's already going to be Carson Wentz in Minnesota. We're for Minnesota in Dublin. And if Rogers gets hurt and it's Mason Rudolph versus Carson Wentz, we're going to have to change people policy on some of the stuff we booked.

[Craig Korolbeck]

But I think there should be a refund on the ticket. They should be half off if it's Mason Rudolph versus Carson Wentz.

[Dan Rucker]

Write that down. NFL I will say but to your point, I just don't think this there's going to be able to run in the Patriots. Even last week Achan had some big plays, but I mean they were on the receiving game like the Dolphins going to run.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't think that's where I think Jalen Warren could come in. In like the screen game kind of like in the same manner that the Dolphins were utilizing. Achan is just get him out in space. He looked incredible last year or last week, I should say in the. In the screen game he had that one play where he broke like seven tackles and gained like 50 yards. So I think and I know that Aaron Rodgers this week was talking about trying to get more opportunities for Jalen Warren. He's kind of like Rogers guy right now. So I would. I would be excited to start Jalen Warren this week in particular.

[Craig Korolbeck]

What really needs to happen is the Steelers defense needs to go back to being the Steelers defense. There's, like, a lot. There's a lot of shit talk out there now. There's a lot of negative press about what's been going on on the defensive side of the ball for the Steelers, which is the most expensive unit in the league. They're old, they're expensive, and they're playing, like, right now. They've allowed a league high 22 plays of 15 yards or more through two weeks, and new England is not a formidable offense, in my opinion. And this is the week the Steelers need to, like, look like the Steelers defensively.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, it's. It's. It's part personnel. It's also just Tomlin, man. Tomlin also is.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I know there's a. People are blaming Terrell Austin, and it's like, who. Who's. It's not. It's not Terrell Austin. It's Mike Tomlinson.

[Dan Rucker]

I love Tomlin, and if the Steelers fired him, I would hope the Giants would pay an unfathomable amount for Mike Tomlin to coach the New York Giants. So with that caveat, my only issue with Tomlin through the years is a remarkable ability for Steelers coordinators to constantly be criticized without, like, it kind of seeping, as if Tomlin is not their boss and can tell them what to do. I. I don't know. I just. It always kind of bothers me.

[Danny Kelly]

The Steelers, right.

[Dan Rucker]

They need to not get ripped by Drake May. If Drake May plays. Well, that's.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Here's Mac Hollins. RIP the Steelers. I'm going to be pretty upset, Craig.

[Danny Kelly]

The Steelers right now are 27th in defensive DVOA, which is kind of unfathomable. I just can't, especially for the most expensive unit in the NFL. Their last. Sorry. They're 29th against the pass, 27th against.

[Dan Rucker]

The run, and again, don't forget, I know it's the Ravens, so it doesn't count. It gets lost. But the last two games the Steelers played versus the Ravens last season, they give up 500 rushing yards. 500 rushing yards across two different games. And then now that's bleeding into this season. Like, I. That. You know, that's.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I mean, the Steelers made Justin Fields look like Lamar Jackson, and then the next week, fields through for 27 yards.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah. That's not good, is it?

[Danny Kelly]

When you put it that way, that's tough. 27 yards.

[Dan Rucker]

That's crazy, Craig.

[Danny Kelly]

That's like 90ft.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's actually pretty far. That's. Maybe that's not so bad.

[Danny Kelly]

Think about it that way.

[Dan Rucker]

All right. The Ringer fantasy football show is brought to you by fanduel and fanduel is turning up the heat every Sunday with Power Hour, the ultimate live betting window where the action is wild and the rewards are even better. Here's how it works. Every Sunday from 3 to 5pm Eastern, FanDuel is giving you a profit boost to use on live bets during the most intense stretch of the NFL slate. This is when games flip, underdogs, rally parlays hit. It's your power hour on FanDuel. We know we Power Hour. It's a great name. The games I think are going to come down to the wire. I kind of do actually think Steelers Patriots will come down to the wire solely because it's a Mike Vull team versus a Mike Tomlin team. And I I just think that will be close. I also just think Bengals Vikings is actually going to come down to the wire. Like I just think the Carson wins Jake Browning thing. I do think that those are two games that when you get to the fourth quarter, I just think those games are going to be close. Yeah Open the fandom app between 3 and 5pm Eastern. Claim your profit boost and make your move while the action unfolds every Sunday only on FanDuel. Head to FanDuel.com Ringer Fantasy to get started must be 21 + and present in select states or 18 + and present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Opt in required bonus issued as non withdrawable profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including any token expiration and max wager amount. See [e-mail] gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rj-help.com call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chatinceneticut this is a.

[Danny Kelly]

Real good story about Bronx and his dad Ryan.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Real United Airlines customers.

[Dan Rucker]

We were returning home and one of the flight attendants asked Bronx if he wanted to see the flight deck and meet Captain Andrew.

[Danny Kelly]

I got to sit in the driver's seat.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I grew up in an aviation family.

[Danny Kelly]

And seeing Bronx kind of reminded me.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Of my myself when I was that age.

[Danny Kelly]

That's Andrew, a real United pilot. These small interactions can shape a kid's future. It felt like I was the captain.

[Dan Rucker]

Allowing my son to see the flight deck will stick with us forever.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's how good leads the way.

[Dan Rucker]

Next game here that I think is sneaky interesting. I won't pretend it's super interesting, but I actually do think it's sneakly interesting is the Texans are at Jacksonville this week and The Texans are 0 and 2 DK. But then the Jaguars are also kind of a reeling one and one.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, this is. This is a interesting matchup in particular because I'm worried about the Jaguars offense and getting things going. The Texans defense has been really strong. They have a really good defensive line, they have a really good pass rush, and they have very good defensive secondary. So. The Jags vibes this last week were atrocious. You get pictures of Trevor Lawrence, like, waving off Liam Cohen. I know that stuff happens, like, in every game. Guys yell at each other, whatever, when. When things are going not going very well, but it's a little disconcerting. That's like, happening in week two. I don't know.

[Craig Korolbeck]

What do you think? Yeah, when it's a new coach and quarterback pair, I don't. You don't want to see that in week two. You know, if you see Brady and Belichick, like, 12 years in bitching to one another, you're like, okay, they're like a married couple.

[Danny Kelly]

Married couple. Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah. You know, this is a little more concerning. I mean, they had to address it in the pressers, and it was kind of awkward. The way, I don't know, the way Liam Cohen is talking about Brian Thomas is weird. The way Trevor Lawrence had to kind of talk about Liam Cohen was weird. The whole thing is a little weird.

[Dan Rucker]

I. I kind of don't mind seeing this from Trevor Lawrence. I actually think Trevor Lawrence needs to be a little more vocal. Like, I actually.

[Danny Kelly]

A little more.

[Dan Rucker]

I should like seeing Trevor Lawrence kind of getting to that point where he's like, wants things done the way he wants to do them.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The way he wants to do them. Like throwing picks in the end zone. That's the way he wants.

[Dan Rucker]

No, I. I think, Lord, just let me be me assertive. But what is going on with Brian Thomas? Can you give us some, like, what is going on with Brian Thomas?

[Danny Kelly]

Brian Thomas, this, I think, among all fantasy players, maybe the most disappointing start. I can't. I'm trying to think of other guys. There's probably a few others that are around that area, but Brian Thomas, especially when you consider his expected fantasy points, are pretty strong. According to fantasy points.com 16 points per game, expected fantasy points, and he's only averaging nine points per game.

[Dan Rucker]

He's five catches for 60 yards this season, right?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. And some of that is just. I think last week there was two instances, at least, where he made very obvious business decisions where he's going over the middle of field and there's a pass that's into tight coverage. You could argue it's a dangerous pass or a host hospital ball or whatever.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The phrase hospital ball is having a moment right now.

[Danny Kelly]

Right. You could say that is what they are. But the fact that he's stopping and not going for these footballs is disconcerting nonetheless. One of those actually led to an interception for Trevor Lawrence, the SEC. The 1. The one. I think there was one in the end zone that he was really going to get crunched. And. And I can. I almost agree with him, like kind of holding off that. But the other one, he ran a route over the middle of field. Trevor Lawrence, like tried to throw it to him. He kind of like stopped, reached out his hand and then the ball got picked. So there is a really. It's just like a weird lack of chemistry between those two right now.

[Dan Rucker]

And there's also like a wrist thing going on with him.

[Danny Kelly]

But that's also like, that wasn't on the injury. That wasn't on the injury report, which is also just weird. So there's a lot going on here. You've had to have sort of team therapy via like these press conferences where Liam Cohen is defending Brian Thomas. And Brian Thomas's interviews are really bad. Like the. The vibes are awful in these interviews and he's not saying much. Um, and then at put it all together. And Trevor Lawrence is not playing very well either, by the way. He has three interceptions this year, which is second most among all quarterbacks. Just a 58% completion rate. Their. Their offense is kind of a mess, at least in the passing game. And that's all despite him being the least pressured quarterback in the league so far. And now he's playing the Texans.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Which is going to turn up the heat on him and really cause a lot of problems, I think. And so I don't know what the fuck to think for this Jags team. And I think Brian Thomas will eventually get back to where he's supposed to be. If you look at the underlying usage and the targets and where he's getting these targets, like he will start scoring points. But I don't know for sure if I feel confident that this week.

[Dan Rucker]

I agree for a lot of reasons, dk. And it's my. My instinct at first is to hand wave all this and be like, you know, I think the Jags are going to be okay. I still believe in Lawrence. I still believe in all the stuff it's concerning because it's the first two weeks of the year. But I can't get over that if you were going to rank defenses, that you just think, like, if you're Liam Cohen, not like a fantasy manager, but you're just like Liam Cohen, and you're like, who do I think I can get this offense to move the ball on? Your first pick is probably Carolina, and your third pick is probably Cincinnati. And those are the first two games that Jacksonville had and they were able to move it in Carolina, like, probably, you know, but I, I just. The fact they didn't win that Bengals game last year and now. Or, sorry, last week and now that they're just going to go and Houston, I think if there are cr. Basically this. To me, I don't want to be like, it's week one for Jacksonville, but this is a huge game because it's divisional. And whether or not this Liam Cohen thing is going to work, I don't want to be too dramatic about, like, it's week three. It is what it is. But the Texans defense, I do think is a real.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It's legit.

[Dan Rucker]

It's so legit. Will Anderson is so good.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Secondary.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, Everything about it. I mean, the way that Derek Stingley was all over Mike Evans, like, I think, you know, frankly, I. Brian Thomas versus Derek Stingley. I think Derek Stingley this season is playing a lot better than Brian Thomas. And Derek's. There's like three cornerbacks who travel. Derek Stingley's one of them. I do think he'll be on Thomas the whole game or at least as much as they can. And yeah, man, this is. I mean, mark this down for when we do Ringer 107 at the end of the show and go through our bets. I think the fact. I mean, I had to double check this. The Jaguars are favored. I'm like, the Texans are a significantly better team. And I understand that the Texans offense looked bad last week on Monday Night Football, but that's with the Buccaneers. And I'm like, that's Vida Vea in the middle of the defense versus the Texans. I'm like, the Jaguars have talent. They have high draft picks on their defensive line, but I don't think they have anyone like Vida Vea. So I'm like, I don't think the Texans. Everything else about this, I think is very geared toward moving the football in Jacksonville on their defense. And also just. I kind of think the Texas defense could completely overwhelm Jacksonville. And I hope that's not the case, but it's my fear.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I agree. Also, you can't. You can't discount. Oh, and two versus one and one. And what that does for you from a motivational standpoint, if the Texans lose this game, they're Owen 3 in the AFC South. Meanwhile, the Colts are playing the Titans.

[Dan Rucker]

Yes.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Colts win that game, they're going to be 3, 0 and the Texans are going to be 0 and 3. Very difficult to come back from that dude. So this game means a lot to Houston.

[Dan Rucker]

I, I couldn't agree more. I had that. So like the next, well, the next game here I had was that the Colts are playing the Titans. And if the Colts win that game, the Colts drop the Titans to Owen 3:2. So the Titans would be on three and then the Texans if they lose would be owing three and then the Colts would be 3:0, which is a pretty commanding lead.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

Three weeks in.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

Where you're, you're three games ahead of everyone in the division except the, I guess the Jaguars would be 2 and 1. I mean that's pretty amazing. So I agree. I mean the Colts one, I kind of don't. It's funny because I still think the Colts might be a little fraudulent but because I don't think Daniel Jones is actually the reason they're winning. But I think the defense might be legit for the Colts. I think that Daniel Jones is the.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Reason why they're winning is it's not Anthony Richardson.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's why it's not Daniel Jones. It's not Anthony Richardson.

[Danny Kelly]

I will say one thing, replacement level quarterback. One thing to mention on this game is you guys don't need Anthony Richardson. No, I don't.

[Dan Rucker]

No. I, I, no, it's concerning that. It is concerning that Daniel Jones has in my mind done so little and that he, Anthony Richardson could not be quarterback.

[Craig Korolbeck]

They're having a historic start to the season. Like literally they haven't planted, they haven't punted with Daniel Jones and I guess they have Tyler Warren now, which makes a difference. But.

[Dan Rucker]

Well, yeah, you guys, I'm gonna make you decide right now. Do you think Daniel Jones is playing well or not? Like do you think this week Daniel Jones goes back to a pumpkin or throws for like 300 yards and like makes us reckon with he's actually have a good season.

[Craig Korolbeck]

If you had to pick, I would re, I would pick that he's gonna have another good game.

[Danny Kelly]

Same.

[Dan Rucker]

I think this is the pumpkin game for Jones. I'm not saying I do, I'm not saying the Colts win. The only thing I actually think, I mean lose. So I, I, I actually think the Titans, I wanted to pick them to win. But I think what the culture doing on defense is very impressive. And I'm a little concerned about Cambord. He's still a rookie, all that stuff. But I do think defensively, I think the Titans are better prepared to send Daniel Jones back to earth than the, than the other teams they play. And I just think, frankly, just Denver.

[Craig Korolbeck]

They just played Denver.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, but Patrick certain, I know Patrick certain hurt his ankle like very early in that game. And the Colts had an interesting strategy where they're just like, we're going to go at these guys and on one hand it's like it was a little ballsy where they're like, we're going to go at these cornerbacks because we're bigger than them and the Colts do have a giant receiving room. I'm also kind of like Patrick Surtane kind of rolled his ankle in the middle of that game. And I'm like, and I'm like, you're right. Like in theory, if they could do it to Denver, they could do it anyone. I kind of, I kind of want to see it one more time.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's fine. I'm. I'm going to stop. I'll just like keep metaphorically betting on the Colts until they screw me.

[Dan Rucker]

Well, that's the thing is like Jones though, it doesn't matter because for fantasy purposes, like he's going to run like he could jam. Jones can play like ass and still be a top five fantasy quarterback. It's just for the rushing alone. And Tyler Warren also, it's going to be so many screens like all the cult. I think the Colts pieces you have are going to roll all season. Daniel Jones, every week he plays will be a good fantasy asset for the rushing. Tyler Warren is going to catch so many more passes than basically all tight ends minus three every week. And then Jonathan Taylor is going to just be absolutely force fed as a running back and there you go. And then I think Pitman is going to be like a viable. Wherever you drafted him, he'll be better than that. And so I do think the Colts pieces are going to be good all season for fantasy purposes. I'll see. It's curious if they win this game.

[Danny Kelly]

The one variable here that I'm curious about, I don't actually know what difference this will make, but it's supposed to be really hot in Tennessee this weekend.

[Dan Rucker]

Like 8890 because Daniel Jones is coming to town.

[Danny Kelly]

Heck yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Indiana Jones, the heat.

[Danny Kelly]

So that's just something to think about. I don't know if it makes any big difference, but yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Tyler Warren also injury report. Tyler Warren popped up on the injury report with a toe injury, but he's practicing on a limited basis. I know you never want to see toe I don't like, but yeah, he returned to limited practice on Thursday.

[Dan Rucker]

He didn't practice toe injuries.

[Danny Kelly]

What do you mean?

[Dan Rucker]

What do you think?

[Danny Kelly]

He broke, dubbed, stubbed, I don't think.

[Dan Rucker]

Should we just be out, guys? He's got the mallet toe. I think every guy's got a jam toe.

[Danny Kelly]

If he had real turf toe, he wouldn't be practicing though. Probably. Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I mean. I mean, Brock Purdy's practicing, but.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, I don't like it.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't like it either.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't like it.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It looks like he's going to play, but I don't like it either. I do think on the other side of the ball, you're starting Tony Pollard, who's quietly been good this year. He just needs to get into the end zone. And I think you're still starting Calvin Ridley, who has had a disappointing start. But I think all the underlying metrics are still there. And you're kind of betting on the development of Cam Ward to kind of get that together and then, yeah, you know, you're starting Tyler Warren. Taylor Pittman, probably.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah. The packers, the two and a Green Bay packers have now had like 10 days of rest to play the winless Cleveland Browns. Packers are favored by seven and a half, which almost feels like not enough. I mean, the packers look like the best team in the NFL and then they beat Washington last week. They didn't even have Zach Tom at right tackle. They didn't even have Aaron Banks at left guard. And they're, they're getting those guys back. So I know Jaden Reed's hurt, but like, man, I, I kind of think this is. I kind of think the packers are going to rock Cleveland.

[Danny Kelly]

I'm a little bit worried about Joe Flacco in this game for his.

[Craig Korolbeck]

For his physical well being.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm a little worried because he's like the least mobile quarterback probably in the NFL right now, other than Matt Stafford. And his inability to kind of like move around and extend the play when instant pressure happens is. Is worrisome because if you watch Micah Parsons, the explosive get off that he get. He gets by the tackle at such a high rate. It's actually insane watching him play. He's so explosive off the snap.

[Dan Rucker]

This is Miles Garrett on the other side. So Michael Parsons, I mean, if you. I mean, you know, the succession line, it's like sometimes it is a big dick measuring contest. Like sometimes it is just like I want to prove I'm better than Miles Garrett.

[Danny Kelly]

So that'll be, that's going to be kind of what I'm watching. I'm wondering if they like design a, a play like a strategy this week where they just get rid of the ball almost immediately and it's just going to be a bunch of screen passes, a bunch of dump offs, like try and lean on the run. It's really hard because this packers defense is, is stacked right now and they're playing. They're literally number one in DVOA so far.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Do you think Joe Flacco is having fun? I actually enjoying this.

[Danny Kelly]

It's a good question.

[Dan Rucker]

This, like this, this like this last two games.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah. This season. Like, is he having fun?

[Danny Kelly]

I think he.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Which quarterback's having the least fun?

[Danny Kelly]

I think Joe Flacco. I think Flacco knows, like he is fortunate to still be playing at the age that he is and he has a new outlook on life in terms of how of in terms of his career. And I do think he's having fun. Okay. The quarterback who's having the least amount of fun. That is an awesome question.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Is it Tua, right?

[Dan Rucker]

I think it's probably Tua because he might get McDaniel fired and McDaniel got him that contract. I have to say Caleb Williams is probably very high because they, they did just lose by like the lions just scored 51 points of them. That's not fun.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's not Caleb's fault.

[Danny Kelly]

But yeah, Geno Smith's probably not having the best time at this moment.

[Dan Rucker]

See, that's the thing. Geno Smith has this level of confidence.

[Danny Kelly]

That is like, yeah, he's like actually.

[Dan Rucker]

So impenetrable that I don't think it actually can be permeated. Bryce Young's probably not having a ton of fun.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Bryce Young's a good one.

[Danny Kelly]

CJ Stroud.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Stroud's not having a good time.

[Danny Kelly]

He is not having good. Straight up not having a good time.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I'm straight up not having a good time.

[Dan Rucker]

Honestly, you know, it was like quietly Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes. This would be a good power hour. Like a monthly quarterback.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Who's having the least fun right now?

[Dan Rucker]

I'll tell you, dude, we'll just skip ahead. The Chiefs are on money.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Top three.

[Dan Rucker]

The Chiefs are playing the Giants on Monday night of football. What a what? This is why The NFL makes $18 billion a year or whatever because two weeks into the Season Daniel Jones is undefeated and hasn't punted and Patrick Mahomes is 02 heading to the Giants and to play the Owen 2 Giants. And like if the, like if the Chiefs, I'm, I'm not going to be like it's a must win game yet they're the Chiefs. It's different. But dude, if the Chiefs start. Oh and three like this is a pretty massive game.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I was shocked that the Chiefs were only favored by five and a half points against the Giants.

[Dan Rucker]

Well, it's because they don't score that much.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Like I know it's just, that's a wild, that was wild to just see that like on paper I'm like, wow, five and a half points. The Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes versus Russell Wilson.

[Dan Rucker]

I would groan that this was Sunday night Football. I hate when people see how bad the Giants are in public. It's so embarrassing.

[Danny Kelly]

Do you think Russ is going to keep it going this week or just.

[Dan Rucker]

No.

[Danny Kelly]

Directly into a pumpkin? Once again, not at all.

[Dan Rucker]

I think that game said way more about the Cowboys defense. I think Russ is going to suck. I don't think it says anything. And Steve Spagnolo, the Chiefs defensive coordinator is back in New York. Like that's fun. Giants fans always love Spagnolo. But overall, no. Like frankly, these teams aren't that good. Like the Giants, I don't think I'm not playing Wando Robinson in fantasy this week. I don't think Russell Wilson had some resurgence. I think the Cows defense is just ass like the personnel is. It's not there. But in terms Rich rebar at sharp football does amazing, amazing previews every week. Had a stat that was so fun which is three teams have not run a single play this season with the lead. Saints have not run a single play with the lead this season. The Panthers have not run a single play with the lead. And the Kansas City Chiefs, what the hell, not run one play while winning this season.

[Danny Kelly]

Wild.

[Dan Rucker]

So I, I, it's, it's funny because like look, I, I think the Chiefs are going to win. You play Mahomes, they're getting Worthy back, I think. Yeah, but even then I personally wouldn't play Xavier worthy this week. Like fantasy. I don't like when the two options are season ending surgery or give it a go in like 12 days.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, watch him play four quarters. If he can get through four quarters again.

[Dan Rucker]

He did make it three plays into the season till he had this injury. So to me it's like I feel like if, if Worthy does play this week One, he's questionable. So it's Sunday night Football. So if he is ruled out where they're like, yeah, he's going to try to get like 20 snaps, who are your other options to like bench him? That's a concern for me. And the other one is I feel like even let's say he's healthy, he's gonna have like a brace or whatever in his arm to like stabilize it. Like he's not gonna block. Like he's not gonna be like super mobile getting his, you know, hands up over his head. The other he'll probably have a couple design plays for him around the line. And I'm like, maybe scores on that, a touchdown on that or maybe he doesn't. But I'm a little concerned about him making it through the game or whatever. And again, it's just like what if he's ruled out and then. Or he's a decoy and you just don't have another option. Like especially since Ravens lines is Monday football, who are you gonna add off waivers like Rashad Bateman, like who's. Who is your other option? So I, I don't love that about Xavier Worthy. Otherwise I think Kelsey will score a touchdown. But yeah, the Giants. And also I don't love playing Tyrone Tracy. I think Scatterbo. I don't love playing Scatterbo this week either just because I don't think the Giants are gonna do that well. But I do think Scatterbo is going to overcome Tracy as the number one Giants running back.

[Danny Kelly]

Dev, you can see awesome.

[Craig Korolbeck]

He's good.

[Danny Kelly]

That's been an under discussed story this week, I think just because it's the Giants, whatever. But Scatter Boo basically is now the starter, at least based on the usage from this last week, especially in a game that they were going back and forth and trying to win and getting, you know, they, they came damn close to winning that game. Scatter Boo got the vat or he got the majority of the snaps. He basically was the guy they leaned on in that game. So that's definitely really interesting.

[Dan Rucker]

I think that's the hardest to get. You tell me if you agree. I think what Scatter Boo, the reps he got are the hardest thing for a rookie to earn in September, which is two minute drill, going to overtime. Overtime game is on the line clock boob, you have to catch run block. That's what Scatter Boo is. That to me is the hardest thing for rookie to get playing time wise.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, that's what that, that's called the Dylan Lobby Role something Ashton Genti couldn't earn.

[Dan Rucker]

Well, remember when Scatter was said last year? I'm the best running back in college football. What are we going to talk about whether that was true or not? Where are we gonna have that conversation?

[Danny Kelly]

I mean not now.

[Dan Rucker]

Not now. Okay, fine.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Holster for now.

[Dan Rucker]

Fine. Yeah, but yeah, I mean anything else in Giants, Chiefs, we can move on. That's fine.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The Chiefs are just not fun to watch anymore. I no longer want to watch their games. Yeah, we have prime time games anymore.

[Danny Kelly]

We had this conversation on Sunday night when you were gone. Basically I was just like, man, this game was fucking boring.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You know what should happen? It would be cool if every week on like Tuesday fans could vote on the primetime games. Like the we like the Tuesday before everyone votes and then it always be.

[Danny Kelly]

The same teams would it the match.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't think it would either. Like let's say we had to. If we had to vote this this week, what would be the Sunday night game? We would pick Lions. Ravens, Right?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah. And if that was locked in, we'd pick Rams Eagles.

[Craig Korolbeck]

We'd pick Rams Eagles. That's correct.

[Dan Rucker]

Boat face. That would be the problem. Exactly.

[Danny Kelly]

The masses with anything let people vote.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, that's. I don't know how that's going. The Hot bay would be playing Harambe versus Bodhi McBoat.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Did he die? Harambe alive?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, that was like the whole thing.

[Craig Korolbeck]

What? That he died?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, he got shot. They shot the gorilla because the kid was in the cage. That was like the whole thing.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, they shot and killed Harambe.

[Dan Rucker]

The whole thing was a kid fell in the enclosure and then they shot Harambe because they were worried about the kid.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh my God. Wow. All right. He was dragging the child around for several minutes. Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

So we're okay. You're okay with it? Dk?

[Danny Kelly]

No, I'm saying well, that I don't know if it was my son. Yeah, I'd be okay with it. Put yourself in the. In the parents shoes, I suppose it'd be fine. But a lot of people wanted justice for Harambe. I love that Craig didn't know the Harambe story.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No, I forgot he died. I did forget he died.

[Dan Rucker]

Anyway, speaking. Speaking of people miraculously alive, Taylor after he was almost, you know, stabbed.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Nice. Really good transition.

[Danny Kelly]

I gotta get.

[Dan Rucker]

There we go. Thanks. So the Jets Segway King ruled out Tyrod Taylor is going to be the quarterback. And again he was the guy who, you know, got Tyrone. Taylor's just whole careers like every time he ever got the shot saying crazy not the shot like Harambe. The shot.

[Danny Kelly]

He's the original. Got the jab.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah. Like he, he. Yeah, he got stabbed. The pregame injection. And then Justin Herbert got to play. He was supposed to be the Brown starter for when Baker Mayfield got. Was got picked and then he got concussed like really quickly in the season. So Baker got to play. So anyway, Tyrone Taylor's playing for The jets this week. 02 against Tampa Bay the Buccaneers. Todd Bowles. Todd Bowles was the coach of the Jets. There's a lot going on here. There are reasons you could think the Jet. I. I will just start with this Garrett Wilson. It's a little fucked up, but I think you're more likely to play Garrett Wilson knowing that Justin Fields is out.

[Danny Kelly]

Right? I think so. Because you're.

[Dan Rucker]

You have to be.

[Danny Kelly]

I feel like the, the passing game has a little bit. There's going to be more structure to it with Tyra Taylor. That being said, I don't know if the floor. The floor is high. I don't know if the floor is.

[Dan Rucker]

I'm just saying for this, for the overall offense for this specific week. Last week, Justin Fields completed.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Wait, I'm 3 for 11, 27 yards. I will never forget it.

[Dan Rucker]

Tyrod Taylor came in and immediately went 7 of 11. And I know the game is over and there's checkdowns and stuff, but I'm like, I actually think in terms of Garrett Wilson football's caught. I kind of am a little more confident. Tyrod Taylor. Not saying the jets are going to be move the ball or anything, but I actually think Tyrod Taylor just like completing passes probably better than Justin Fields pretty much.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It's hard because week. Because week one Garrett Wilson was so great and they like things were really cooking and they had a connection. So if it were two bad weeks in a row for Garrett Wilson, I would tend to agree with you. But I don't know. A lot of the times quarterbacks are going to walk in and just be like okay. And we forget sometimes just how terrible backup quarterbacks are.

[Danny Kelly]

Everybody wants a backup quarterback until he starts playing dk.

[Dan Rucker]

The Buccaneers are favored by six and a half, which is similar to the line of the packers being favored over the Browns.

[Danny Kelly]

On one hand, I can definitely understand this. The jets defense has been really bad actually. It's 26th and DVOA 28th against the pass, 19th against a run. They've given up third most yards, pressure rate, QB knockdown rate, hurry rate are all really poor for the Jets. They're second and most Missed tackles in the NFL. So the jets defense through two games has been really bad. So that's good news for the Bucks. The bad news is the Buccaneers just lost another starting running back or starting. Starting offensive lineman Cody Bach, out for the season. He was the right guard. Knee injury. He actually got the knee injury in the game and then played the entire game, and then after the game, realized he had a knee injury or whatever, and they. And he's gonna miss the rest of the game, rest of the season. Bucks are already missing Tristan worst, their left tackle. They're. They're really, really good. Left tackle Luke Gicki is dealing with a foot injury he missed injured on Thursday. Oh, they put him on injured reserve.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, they put him on injured reserve today.

[Danny Kelly]

So.

[Dan Rucker]

So that's their left tackle, the right tackle. And then also Cody Mock is, like, probably their. Their better guard.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. So their offensive line is devastated right now. They moved Graham Barton, who was their center, to left tackle. He played left tackle in college, but.

[Dan Rucker]

He'S not very rarely the rarely seen center to left tackle. Almost never see it.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. So. And then basically, this is one of those nightmare scenarios for an offensive line where you have one guy get hurt and then everyone else has to play a new position. So Graham Barton goes to left tackle. Ben Bredesen goes to center. This other guy, Mike Jordan, who they just, I think, brought in this year, it's left guard. So they're, like, moving everybody around. It's like having these injuries. Everyone's playing a new position now. And so there is a reason, I think the Buccaneers run game has not been nearly as good as it was last year, obviously. Also, the Liam Cohen leaving thing, I think is a variable. If you look at the Jags, they are. They've gone from one of the worst teams in yards before contact per carry. Craig, you talked about this a bunch this summer. The Jags this year have gone from one of the worst teams in the NFL in yards before contact per carry in the ground game to one of the best. I think they're third right now. And the Buccaneers, obviously, their run game just hasn't been going. They actually ran the ball okay in this last game, surprisingly. But I think that is a big variable in this game. Is just like the Buccaneers offensive line is an absolute mess right now. And so that makes me worried a little bit about the passing game as well. I know people who have Mike Evans are kind of desperate right now and sad because he's had a very tough start, but I think if you look at the underlying usage if you look at just I think his talent, he's still, he's still grading out very well. According to pff. I think Mike Evans is a prime candidate for positive regression. Right now he is ex. He's averaging 10 points per game. But his expected fantasy points per game according to fantasy points is 16. His the six point difference in fantasy points between expected and reality is the seventh highest in the NFL. The guys who are above him, Maureen Hampton, Drake London, Brian Thomas who we talked about, Chase Brown, Chris Olave and Xavier Leguette who doesn't really count because he's just bad. But basically all these guys that I just mentioned are getting good usage. They just haven't converted that usage into fantasy points yet. I think Mike Evans will eventually get there. He has 37% of the first read targets in that offense, 20% compared to for Abuka. So he is the number one guy in that offense. He's going to start scoring touchdowns. I think the only issue with this, that I'm not super confident is the offensive line issue and I will say.

[Dan Rucker]

Buuka got his quad wrapped last week and was it the same after? It's different.

[Danny Kelly]

It's like he slowed down after that.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah. Seemed like he pulled it or. So obviously if you're getting wrapped on the sideline like something happened to it, I don't know if that necessarily is going to be an issue a week later, but it's not awesome. But yeah, I mean in short, the reason the Bucs One of the reasons the Bucs offensive running game got went from the Bucks running game before last year was the worst in the NFL for like two years in a row. Like they were lasting yards, lasting yards per game, everything. Part of the reason that helps is when you rebuild the offensive line, they already are basically going to have more offensive lineman missing games this season than they did all of last season combined. Like we're already there. That just sucks. So I agree having said that.

[Danny Kelly]

So who do you like though?

[Dan Rucker]

You still think they're gonna get this kicked out of the jets because it's funny to talk about Buccaneers and they're a touchdown favorite.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Abuka, by the way, did not practice Wednesday nor Thursday and Thursday's always a.

[Dan Rucker]

Bigger deal than Wednesday. So. Yeah, how many, how many players could the Bucks be down until we just took the Jets?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Honestly, if Baker is starting, I'd probably just take them regardless of who else is on the field.

[Dan Rucker]

That's probably accurate. Yeah. The okay, other games here in this early window, Raiders are at the Commanders. Commanders are favored by Three. We don't currently know if Jaden Daniels is going to play this week. He had a knee sprain. I. It sounds like he wants to play. I think there is obviously, like, a weird history about, like, Jade Washington, young Washington, gifted prodigy quarterback, through the injuries. And so I kind of think I don't know what's going to happen, but my gut is they should probably just bench Jaden Daniels and, like, don't let him play through the knee sprain. That seems dumb. Very special player. Like, that's stupid playing.

[Danny Kelly]

They had Mariota do the presser.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think Wednesday Mariota's taking the reps. I, I believe they said that Jaden Daniels is mentally preparing to play, doing his VR. Yeah. But Marcus Mariota is physically preparing to play for the team. And the earliest Jaden is going to practice. The earliest he's going to practice is. Is Friday.

[Dan Rucker]

Dan, have you ever seen that, the Family Guy clip where they're like, Ringo Starr writes some lyrics. Like, he's like, hi, guys. I wrote a song. And they're like, thanks, Ringo. We're going to put it right on the fridge where everyone can see it. And like, that's kind of Jaden Daniels being like, hey, guys, I'm preparing to start. They're like, oh, my God. Thank God, Jaden. We're so, so happy. We're gonna put it right.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The goggles back on.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, they should probably Mario to fucking play. So I, I, I mean, don't.

[Danny Kelly]

They should not fuck around with this.

[Dan Rucker]

I feel like if Jaden. In a weird way, I think Debo might be more viable if Mariota plays. Just because I feel like Terry's big thing is, like, deep shots. Not entirely, but I think that Terry McLaren is the best fantasy player he is at times because of the deep ball stuff with Jayden Daniels. Mario again, nerve injury years ago. Like, I think the stuff around the line of scrimmage with Debo actually might be better if Jaden plays. Obviously, you need to. You probably have to play Terry McLaurin either way. Just because the Raiders defense was bad. This is an interesting game, though, because one is Dan Quinn is the Washington head coach and you have Pete Carroll at the Raiders. And like, Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator for all this. The both Legion of Boom teams that made the super bowl.

[Danny Kelly]

Right. DK I'm trying to remember. It was definitely in that era. Who. Yeah. How. When did he.

[Dan Rucker]

So he's like this. He's.

[Danny Kelly]

There was Dan Quinn.

[Dan Rucker]

There was Gus 2013 and 14. So he was.

[Danny Kelly]

It's just that that makes sense.

[Dan Rucker]

So, I mean, so he was.

[Danny Kelly]

Dan. He was. He was with the CX 2009 and 2010, and then again in 2013, 2014. So. Yeah, the two super bowl seasons.

[Dan Rucker]

So he's. You know, it's just interesting to have a coordinator like, versus Pete Carroll. They obviously know each other very well. But it's also weird because the Raiders offense, Geno Smith looked horrible from the first snap, really, against the Chargers.

[Danny Kelly]

Like, that was probably his worst game since he's resurrected his career.

[Dan Rucker]

I kind of want to flush it a little bit.

[Danny Kelly]

I hope he does. Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

I. I don't know. Both these teams. I kind of think the Raiders offense. It's weird that Bowers is. Is a little banged up, but overall, I don't know. I'm not. I. I think Washington's run D is pretty. It's weirdly solid. OB Craig, you keep saying the thing about Ash and Genti's yards before contacts being 30ft low. Negative.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yes. He's getting touched before he reaches the line of scrimmage.

[Dan Rucker]

On average, every rush, Washington's yards. Washington's defense actually is contacting running backs pretty solid deeply into the backfield. That's part of how Dan Quinn plays defense.

[Danny Kelly]

But the.

[Dan Rucker]

The passing game, I don't know. I kind of think Gino's gonna have a better game. But overall, I think you have to play Gente, you have to play Bowers still. You probably play Myers and you play McLaurin, and you. You. I still think you play the guys from this game, but I don't know. I think there actually could be a weird amount of offense for two weird teams, honestly.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, I do. I think that they're gonna bounce. I think the Raiders will bounce back in this game, man, because. So that. That Monday night game, obviously the Gino fell apart versus that Chargers defense. I just want to point out that the Chargers defense is, like, making people's lives hell. So far, they're number four in DVOA right now. After two weeks, Jesse Minter looks like he's on track to be a head coach at some point in time. I just want to point out from.

[Dan Rucker]

The same school of, like, Mike McDonald, where there's this, like, for lack of a better term, Harbaugh school of defense that's like a fusion of, like, Ravens with a lot of college stuff. But that's like Mike McDonald, who's the head coach of the Seahawks, kind of got the head coaching job by the stuff he was doing in Baltimore. But Mike McDonald fused a lot of old Baltimore Stuff with stuff at Michigan. Jesse Minter like was also there. Jesse Minter is like right there and doing a lot of the same stuff between the Harbaughs and so. So you're doing very modern stuff on defense.

[Danny Kelly]

That context, I think for what the Raiders did last week, I think they'll probably bounce back a little bit this week. Hopefully. You know, like you mentioned, Gino is very confident he's going to stick with it and keep throwing the ball downfield. Hopefully Bowers is a little more healthy. Genti Craig, you are so right about the vibes with Genty. I saw some replays after we talked about that and I was just like, whoa. Yeah, he is just kind of like wandering about on the field and that kind of, that kind of effort was like. There was a play that you had mentioned where I think it was a broken play and then Geno scrambling around trying to get away from the pass rush and Genti's just kind of like.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Standing there not doing lackadaisically.

[Danny Kelly]

It was like bizarre.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

So the Genti question will be really interesting in this game. Are they going to give him the two minute drill again or is he basically out on that? Was this because. Maybe because of the effort issues in that last game.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You know, he is already alluding to the fact that he's not getting enough touches, which is not a good sign for a guy who's played two games in the NFL.

[Danny Kelly]

Right. So I think that whole thing is going to be very fascinating. I think you still play him. I think gentle bounce back. I think overall this offense will bounce back a little bit in this game and. But you know, if they don't, then I'm going to start kind of like panicking a little bit. Jacoby Myers, by the way, has been awesome. He's a must start every week. But yeah, I do think I kind of like the Raiders bouncing back in this game.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, I think, I think Myers, especially until we see Bowers, is Bowers again. You should play Myers. The last thing I'll say, we didn't mention Austin Eckler to his Achilles and he's out. So Jacquard, Crosby, Merritt as the running back for Washington. We'll see if he ends up getting goal and stuff. There's other guys in the Washington backfield I don't think worth picking up.

[Craig Korolbeck]

And honestly, Debo is going to get more carries probably.

[Dan Rucker]

I agree. That's why I kind of think Debo. Yeah, I think Debo's gonna have a larger role going forward. But Crosby merits probably the worst running back you can play and feel solid about.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't think it's funny. I think I. I think. I feel like a lot of people think Debo was a sell high because he's kind of. He had a touchdown in week one and, you know, people didn't necessarily know how much he'd be incorporated into the offense and blah, blah, blah. I kind of think Debo's not a sell high. I kind of think Deebo's a hold and that he's. As long as he's healthy, he's going to be a part of this offense significantly.

[Danny Kelly]

Craig, I'm with you. Because he gets manufactured touches in this offense. Yeah, I agree.

[Dan Rucker]

I think that Debo is one of those players. I don't think he'll. His usage will ever properly be captured by usage models, I guess is the way I'd say it. But yeah. The last game in the 1 o', clock, the early window is Falcons are at the Panthers. You laughing because I said one o'. Clock.

[Danny Kelly]

I just like that we have to correct each other now all the time. Correct ourselves.

[Dan Rucker]

Well, it's because it's confusing. People don't live in the same time zone.

[Danny Kelly]

That's fine. We don't need to do it again.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Did you say the one o' clock window? Isn't that equally as confusing for some people?

[Dan Rucker]

I said one. I corrected myself to early windows.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Don't you ever do that again.

[Danny Kelly]

We don't. We don't have to go down this road again. Hi, Fitz. What are you saying about the Falcons and Panthers?

[Dan Rucker]

I. Maybe this is the Costanza and the Panthers win this game because everything about me, the Falcons are favored by five and a half. And I'm like, why aren't the Falcons going to kick the out of Carolina?

[Danny Kelly]

Well, that's a good question. Yeah. Division. Division games are always weird for someone.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Division games are always weird. The Falcons haven't kicked the shit out of anybody so far. And I guess the, you know, the Panthers offensive line is super banged up. The Falcons kind of have a pass rush right now, but I don't know. Backdoor Bryce Young is what Bill and Sal are calling him. And there still is a little bit of like that's a rough half of the game. The Panthers look like they're a defense, decent offense, but it's always the second half of the game. They always kind of come out of the gate horribly. I don't know, 5. And this spread feels right, but this does feel like a game. If anything, this will be a Rainbow strip type game I think and maybe both these teams could actually put up some points.

[Danny Kelly]

It depends. James Pierce is not practicing to start the week. He had a groin injury. This might just be management management. He had that last week apparently and then kind of worked his way through and still played. So we'll see about that. But that was one thing I just kind of circled is if their pass rush goes back to normal. That could be a variable here. But yeah, we just need to fully.

[Craig Korolbeck]

See it from Atlanta like that. They, they've played two solid games, they're one in one. But I feel like we haven't actually seen the offense fully click. They lost a close game to the Bucks and they, they beat the, the Vikings in that weird Sunday night game where like nobody really looked that good. Pennix through for 135 yards, but they won by two scores. But I the offense has never fully clicked and it's honestly Bijan Robinson is doing a lot of work. Drake London hasn't really had a great start to the year. The only person who's honestly cooking the most is our guy Kyle Pitts. You know I want to. It's granted, look, it's week two, but I do think our guy Kyle Pitts that this is quietly happening.

[Danny Kelly]

And that's happening.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Dude. If you look at his, his rankings among all tight ends again, two weeks into the season, he's fourth in route percentage, he's seventh in target rate. He's tied for the fifth most targets amongst tight ends. And if you look at his past four years, he has career highs across the board. Target share, snap rate, the amount of routes he's running, it's all career highs. And the second best year was his rookie year when he had a thousand yards. After that he got hurt. Everything's been a disaster this year. He's outperforming his rookie season in basically every metric except touchdowns. But it's early obviously, so I don't know.

[Dan Rucker]

I agree.

[Danny Kelly]

That's interesting.

[Dan Rucker]

Pitts is. This is clearly the best quarterback situation he's had since the first half when Kirk was healthy last year. And other than that, It's a Terry McLaurin esque list for Kyle Pitts. And I agree. I think, I don't think he's. Kyle Pitts will ever be as good as we thought he would be coming out of the draft. But he's certainly better than he's been the last couple of years. And that's not a controversial take, but halfway between the player thought he'd be and the player he's been. It's like a pretty good tight end. So with that said, he's a startable.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Tight end in fantasy right now. Like, you should start him.

[Dan Rucker]

With that said, I want to do two players starting from Carolina on the offensive line this week and one guy playing Coachella.

[Danny Kelly]

Ooh.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Okay.

[Dan Rucker]

Juice Klein. Cade Mays. Chandler Zavala.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Chandler Zavala feels like a player.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, I've. I know him.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Cade, what was it?

[Dan Rucker]

Cade Maze.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Cade Mays. That feels like an artist.

[Danny Kelly]

I think Juice is the fake one.

[Dan Rucker]

What do you think, Craig?

[Craig Korolbeck]

How do you spell Juice?

[Dan Rucker]

J O O S T. Juice.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Is that him?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, it's Juice. Yeah, it's Juice, the artist.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Did you make up his last name?

[Dan Rucker]

No, I looked it up. Juiced Klein is Juice. Juice is his name. He's Dutch.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, his. His name is Juiced. Oh, he's Dutch.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, he's Dutch. Yeah, he's Dutch.

[Danny Kelly]

Juiced.

[Craig Korolbeck]

His name is Juice. Wow, he looks. He kind of looks like a Juiced. Pull him up.

[Dan Rucker]

Anyway, yeah, the Panthers are starting Cade Maze and Chandler Zavola, and I kind of want to get in on that. That's all.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, I just.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Anyway, yeah, Ted McMillan. Also good.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

All right, let's get to.

[Danny Kelly]

He looks the part.

[Dan Rucker]

Let's get to the late window here. But first, this episode is brought to you by NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. You can watch every game, every Sunday all in one place so you don't miss a key moment on the field. With NFL Sunday Ticket and YouTube TV. And now you can get it monthly. Get NFL Sunday Ticket month to month and cancel any time. Head to YouTube.com ringer fantasy to sign up local and national games on YouTube TV. NFL Sunday Ticket for out of market games excludes digital only games. Base plan required. Renews every month during the 2025 regular season only your membership for the following month can be canceled any time before your renewal date. Terms, restrictions and embargoes apply, commercial use excluded. This episode is brought to you by Hyundai. What makes the all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid an incredible suv? Is it the spacious interior that's comfy for the whole crew or the capability to go off road? Maybe it's the up to 600 plus miles of range. What if it's all of that and more? The all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid so much more than just another SUV. Visit Hyundai USA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Okay, we'll get to this afternoon window here. There's one game I think is. I think the NFL thought it would be a bigger deal, but then the Bears are going to suck. But the Cowboys are at Chicago this week. Bears are 0 and 2. I gotta, I gotta start here. Why are the Bears favored?

[Danny Kelly]

Am I, I had that exact question.

[Dan Rucker]

Bears are favored to win this game by a point and a half. I'm shocked by that.

[Danny Kelly]

Great. I think I'm shocked is that I'm.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Doing the wind horse fingers. But yeah, Dallas's defense is terrible. They just saw Russell Wilson throw for 450 yards against them. This game is in Chicago.

[Danny Kelly]

Chicago's defense might be terrible too, by the way.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, that's the thing.

[Danny Kelly]

Jalen Johnson thought they were good in week one, but no, they're not.

[Dan Rucker]

The Bears best cornerback, Jalen Johnson's out for the season. TJ Edwards, their linebacker, aggravated a hamstring injury. Like the Bears weren't playing well and are down their best. Most of their best players. The other dynamic, there's so much going on here, but the, the dynamic I want to. I don't know. I don't think this has been talked about a ton, but Matt Eberfluss is the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. He was the Bears coach last year. Yeah, he's the one who got fired after the Thanksgiving debacle. Like this is quietly a crazy. I think this will be a under the radar, shippy, emotional game like, like this is the Cowboys defenders, which again it's mostly effort, are playing for Eber flu who again there was just this giant hit piece on Caleb Williams from all these bitter Bears coaches that were fired mostly after or eber flu was fired at the Thanksgiving game. That story that people don't know what to make of from Tyler Dunn at sub. At his Golong substack where people don't know what, what to make of 30 people anonymously shredding a, like a second year quarterback. But one of the things was that it was kind of Caleb's fault for the Thanksgiving debacle and all these things. But four players or, sorry, four coaches from Abraflus's Bear staff work for him on the Cowboys now. So there are I believe five coaches from that Bear on this Cowboys staff. And then the flip side is Caleb Williams out here and like all these Bear staffers threw him under the bus. And like, I don't know, I, I think it's a, it's a weirdly under the radar emotional game.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

But it's also just. I don't know if that matters to anyone. I also think the Cowboys are absolutely the fantasy football rainbow strip. We always joke about Mario Kart, little rainbow Bengals and go fast. I think the Cowboys replaced the Bengals. No Joe Burrow like, yeah, it's the rainbow strip where you hit it and you go faster. The Cowboys are the perfect storm of just the incredible passing offense and the defense is ass like they have no pass rush. They have no cornerbacks. Tron Diggs and Duron Bland. I don't know if they practice today, but I, I, I don't know if they're going to play this week. And yeah, it's the Cowboys are a perfect storm to just be in a shootout every single week. So you got to play everyone in fantasy.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Who do you think is is hungrier for revenge? Caleb or Eber Fluke? Because Caleb got thrown under the bus by this, this, this article, the Tyler Dunn piece. But Ebert Fluss basically got fired because of Caleb and got dragged through the mud for like an entire off season about how he ruined Caleb and that Caleb's this premier talent that was completely ruined by this coaching staff. Who has more to prove? Who's angrier?

[Dan Rucker]

Eber Flu is angrier. Caleb.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think so too.

[Danny Kelly]

He's more angry. But Caleb is more higher profile.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, but I think Ibrahim is angrier. This is a game where Caleb needs to throw for 330 yards. He has to.

[Dan Rucker]

And so I, I think you have to play everyone in this game. So the Cowboys, it's obvious. CD Lamb, I mean George Pickens, Jake Ferguson had a great game last week. Javante Williams. Javante Williams quietly number three running back in fantasy football right now.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, he, I also think not that fluky either.

[Dan Rucker]

No, I think Javante might just, there's a chance that he's, I don't want to say league winner. Things can happen, but there's a chance that we kind of thought he'd be another Rico Dowdle of just a weird player that just happens to be the Cowboys starting running back and just eeks out an ugly thousand yards doesn't really help your team. Javante looks back like he had the 19 points in week one. I think he was better last week. But more importantly, I kind of think Javante is way closer to being as explosive as he was his rookie year than I, I think we thought he would get back to and I mean he hurdled Tyler Newman as the safety on the Giants. Like he just, I'm not saying he looks all the way back, but he doesn't look like dust like we kind of thought he would in some of those Denver years after I I I've been surprised and it's too bad he's on Dallas otherwise to be excited about it. But like I kind of think Javante is just going to own the he's he might be like the Kirkland brand Chase Brown of what we thought Chase Brown would be for Cincinnati.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Javante Williams is six months older than RJ Harvey. Oh my God.

[Danny Kelly]

That's weird that yeah yeah 25 I saw I saw a really interesting stat the other day. Hold on, I got to pull it up. Yards before contact per rush teams the Chicago Bears are fourth in the NFL in yards before contact per carry on rushing plays and DeAndre Swift cannot run the football like he has been gifted some of the best blocking in the NFL and I think their success rate is one of the worst in the NFL running the football. Hold on, let me see the rushing success rate.

[Dan Rucker]

Does that include quarterback carries though? Does that include like Caleb scrambling?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't think it probably has been terrible. I don't know I at least their.

[Danny Kelly]

Success rate as a rushing team is 29th so I don't know. Yeah maybe like the eye test tells you something different. I I he's had a couple good plays and I think he's had some really bad plays.

[Dan Rucker]

I I think I don't know in terms of fantasy I think Swift I I don't think he's losing time to Roshan or Kyle Menangai like well he.

[Danny Kelly]

Hasn'T Swift is injury now so we'll see but yeah the I don't know.

[Dan Rucker]

In terms of fantasy I would not Ben Swift I think you have to play it I mean Roman Dunes last week Smash but also part of that's I think dominating versus the Lions Lions play a lot more man the Cowboys play the least man coverage in the in the league so if this wasn't such a shootout you could talk about benching Roman Dunes but I'm like you have to play a Dunes after last week but I actually think DJ Moore will be the but I just think DJ Moore will probably have a better game just because of the way the Cowboys play zone. I think DJ Moore if you're a little disappointed or Duns has been out shining DJ Moore you have to play more you have to play Swift. I actually think you should play Caleb. Honestly I still don't think you play the Bears tight ends like Colson Loveland if you took him highs this morning I don't think you can play rookie tight ends. It's like if you take Tyler Warren and he's Good. Immediately. That's sick. But I also do not think you can play a rookie tight end until they've done something, even if they're on snaps. Like, you kind of have to wait for Colson Loveland to show a sign of life. In theory. I, I just, I wouldn't swing on running off routes.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, no.

[Dan Rucker]

And, and so. But overall, I think this is going to be a shootout and I, it's gonna be interesting. But overall, I'm just, I'm taking the Cowboys too. I want him in Ringer 107. Like, at the end of the day, there's success. It's two week sample. It is what it is. But success rate is just how often you're getting enough yards in a given play. First and 10. Did you get 5 yards? Third down? Did you get it? Yes or no? If you just look at three.

[Danny Kelly]

I was going to say, who do you trust more? Dak or.

[Dan Rucker]

So the Cowboys are second in the NFL and success rate and the Bears are second to last in the NFL and success rate. But both defenses are bad. But like, do you trust Dak to take advantage of the Bears defense more or. Caleb, thank you.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I just sneezed again. Thank you.

[Dan Rucker]

Bless you. I got it. I. I'm out on saying bless you for sneezes. I think it's ridiculous and I think.

[Danny Kelly]

We should end the Seinfeld bit here.

[Dan Rucker]

I don't like that you have to say bless you for a sneeze.

[Danny Kelly]

All right.

[Dan Rucker]

Oh, no one wants to address that.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't, I, I don't care.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that's. I'm. I'm in the same boat. I don't care. I have a question or I, I want to bring something up because I think it's like boiling up and could reach a point where something actually happens here. But this is, I think maybe the way that Bears fans and people just across the league were interpreting this. I don't know if DJ Moore was called out in particular or specifically, but there were a bunch more quotes this week from Ben Johnson talking about effort away from the football, effort on plays, and how we're going to start benching players that aren't putting in full effort. He doesn't like the effort being put on. Put put on the field or whatever. And this was something that was talked about a lot during the off season, remember, like. And everyone was interpreting this to mean DJ Moore who very famously walked off the field during a play last year. And so I'm just DJ Moore not getting nearly as many targets as he was Last year Roma Dunes A clearly has eclipsed him as the team's go to guy and number one player. Maybe that will change. We'll see. But I'm. I'm wondering like how close DJ Moore is to just completely fucking like blowing up on the coaching staff or Caleb or both and getting traded. Like I'm going to be closely watching him in particular in this game and in the next few games. Just want to bring that up.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's a good call. J.J. moore, where could he go? Kansas City?

[Danny Kelly]

Oh yeah. What? Yeah, where would he go? That would be the best.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I mean every receivers just go to the Chiefs, Texans.

[Danny Kelly]

Maybe they need somebody.

[Dan Rucker]

I like that. We should actually build a super team of Chiefs receivers like Tyree Kill, DJ Moore. And then just like the Chiefs still couldn't score 20 points against game. It'd be really funny how many great receivers could we add until they're bad Titans Kind of makes sense. Okay, next game here. So Broncos play everyone from Cowboys, Bears, including DJ Moore. Broncos are at the Chargers this week and the Chargers are 2, 0.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Justin Herbert, this is a great game. If we were doing the voting, I actually think I would vote for this to be Sunday night football over Eagles Rams. But anyway, fascinating game. I had two of the most kind of exciting new good teams in the league battle for the AFC west lead. I mean if the Chiefs somehow lost to the fucking Giants and the Chargers win, the Chiefs be 03. The Chargers will be three and out. Just like the whole Texans, Colts thing. This is a very interesting week. The last time the Chargers played Denver, they won by seven. 34, 27. It was kind of a shootout. Denver's deed has not been as advertised so far. And the Chargers D has been incredible. Their second lowest in yards per attempt. They have the low. They're giving up the lowest touchdown rate. They were awesome against Mahomes and Geno. They just look awesome, to be honest. Like the packers are the story of the NFL right now. But I think the Chargers should be right there with them. And I think the packers are taking up all of the attention because of Micah Parsons and all that. Deservingly so they beat the Lions and all that stuff. But I mean the Chargers coming in on that Friday in Brazil and winning that game, I also feel like kind of was buried because it was in between. The league kickoff was Friday night. Yeah. And so I just think the Chargers are like, it's tough. The AFC is hard. You know, you probably still have to slot them behind Buffalo and Baltimore. But man, Herbert looks fantastic. He would have had a way bigger game, had the Raiders played decent at all on Monday night and everything's cooking. They can't really run the ball yet and Omarion Hampton has not looked great, but they're awesome. And then on the other side of the ball, Bo Nix has had a slow start. The offense has had a slow start. They were not good against Tennessee. They were better last week, but Bo Nix is kind of all over the place still. I do think though, for fantasy, there is a couple interesting, interesting things happening in Denver where Cortland Sutton, I think you're still starting them. J.K. dobbins is like a worthy player right now. He's kind of the classic. You trade him halfway through the season because RJ Harvey probably is going to come and steal that job. But on the, on the passing side, Troy Franklin, the receiver out of Oregon Year two, Bo Nix's buddy. Everyone thought Evan Ingram was the Joker dk, but that's what the joker does. He doesn't reveal himself. You know, Kaiser Soze, it's actually Troy Franklin. It's not Evan Ingram. Everything has been banged up. He hasn't played that much. But Troy Franklin last week, 85% of the snaps, more than any wide receiver, which is the highest rate for a non. Cortland Sutton, Denver wide receiver since the start of last season. Troy Franklin so Matt Harmon at reception perception, I trust him very much to analyze wide receivers and what they're doing. Kind of wasn't that into Troy Franklin coming into the draft, but has admitted that they're using him very well and he's playing very well. And so I kind of think Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims doesn't seem to be happening. Evan Ingram is banged up and not playing a lot. They got rid of Devon Vale. He's on the Saints now. I'm kind of believing Troy Franklin a little bit, to be honest. TK what do you think?

[Danny Kelly]

I mean, yeah, he, he has all the signs and markers of a breakout receiver. He's a guy that actually went quite a bit lower in the draft than I thought he would. I believe he was a fourth rounder. I thought he'd be like a second rounder. He, you know, he was productive in college, you know, explosive down the field. He is a thin rail, thin type of player. But there's a lot of those guys that have gone high in the past. I mean Xavier worthy, you know, the list goes on. There's Devonte Smith. A lot of these guys are kind of in that 6 foot 6 to 190, 180 pound kind of like range.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Which is kind of terrifying to think of me out there.

[Danny Kelly]

Think about you getting hit on a pass in the middle.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think Troy Franklin is 6:2, like 185, which is literally me, which is just terrifying to think.

[Danny Kelly]

Like, how is that possible? I think the other thing that is notable here is he was teammates with Bo Nicks in college. So they have that built in chemistry, which you love to see. I'm still shocked that they're rotating freaking Cortland Sutton in. Maybe there's some deal there with like an injury or something.

[Dan Rucker]

I don't think they're really rotating Cortland Sutton. I don't think that's like.

[Danny Kelly]

No, they did they actually.

[Dan Rucker]

I know, but I don't.

[Danny Kelly]

He had his lowest snap rate in like a year, but I don't think.

[Dan Rucker]

That will happen consistently. I think that's related more to how the folks were playing defense and just.

[Danny Kelly]

Sean Payton, you just never know with that guy. But I thought that was wild. But overall, yes, all the signs point to Troy Franklin being.

[Craig Korolbeck]

They're using him a lot. Like, they're actually moving him all over the field in the quote, unquote, joker way. Like he's in the slot. They're moving him outside, they're throwing him screen passes. They're actually trying to get the ball in his hands because he's very fast and just something to keep an eye on. I added him. I spent 10 bucks on him in my league.

[Danny Kelly]

So there you go. So you're invested. I love it.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I'm invested financially in the Broncos now.

[Danny Kelly]

I agree, though. This is a very fascinating game. It's going to be fun. A lot. A lot of fun. Do you like the Broncos or, sorry, do you like the Chargers in this then?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I like the Chargers in every game. I just think the Chargers are awesome. I think defensively they're flying around. I think Herbert looks better than ever. Healthy, he's running. Keenan Allen looks great. Lad.

[Danny Kelly]

They haven't even needed to use lad that much yet.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No, he's been like their third guy, basically. I think this team. I think the offensive lines played pretty well despite losing Rashawn Slater. Chargers are awesome and I would love to see them be great this year. I think when Herbert's good and Herbert and Harbaugh. Harbaugh being great is like so good for the NFL. His quotes after every game are the best. Harbaugh being like a two seed in the playoffs is best case scenario for the NFL.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

Saints are at the Seahawks this week. Saints are winless. Seahawks wanted one six seven half point favorites. Yeah, I mean I think these are. I I will say though, I think the Seahawks are way more talented in most areas. But I do think Spencer Rattler is under is intriguing. I'm intrigued by Spencer Rattler, how he's playing in.

[Craig Korolbeck]

In real life or in fantasy?

[Dan Rucker]

Kind of both. Real life. I think the NFL arm talent I kind of think Rattler has frankly like because his whole thing is he's kind of smaller and frankly he felt like to the fifth round the rare guy who falls to the fifth round because of attitude and size and not like whether he can make NFL throws. There's like no question. But I mean I think for fantasy purposes, I actually think, I mean we're talking about Juwan Johnson is kind of a must start going forward for the time being you kind of have to play Jawan Johnson if you added him. And then I think Chris Olavi is going to play better. I think if you just look at underlying metrics like Chris Olavi is going to come up with a big game soon and if he hasn't done anything for you, I think you can play him. And I think this week is a little scarier. But like overall I do think a lot of better days are coming. But I also kind of think Rattler might just stick around as an edible player. I don't know if he's gonna be some long term awesome starter, but I think he's gonna, he's gonna stick around as a guy.

[Danny Kelly]

I would say that the numbers so far have been surprisingly good, especially considering they haven't led yet this year, which is a stat that you just threw.

[Dan Rucker]

Out that I do hate. I do hate winning for 0 seconds of a season. That's.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that's not great. But I do think Rattler is so far perfectly fitting into that game manager type of. We didn't expect him to be a star. I don't think he's going to be a star. But he is a so far been very good in terms of that game manager style. So far he has, he's averaged 210 passing yards per game, three touchdowns, no picks. He has a very low rate, just 4.8% which is 11th best in the NFL right now. Pressure to sac rates pretty good, 15%, only 14th best in the NFL. 7% off target rate. So he's been accurate. 7th best in the NFL. His success rate 49% is 8th in the NFL. So he is like moving the chains, getting like getting the yards that are there for him kind of you know, managing the offense, really. And his pass rating is 91, which is 18th. He's like right in the middle of the field with everybody, which I wouldn't have expected at all. Would have expected. This offense was awful. So, yeah, overall, like he was. He's exceeded my expectations so far and I think he fits perfectly into that game manager type role. Could he be replaced down the line? Sure. But right now I think he, he, he gives the, the Saints kind of that plucky vibe, like they could compete with guys. They're probably not going to win a ton of games. They're 21st on offense in DVOA so far this year. So I think that's kind of like right where you'd expect a guy like Rattler to be.

[Dan Rucker]

And having said that, the Seahawks, if I want, I'm going to take them seriously. I feel like should really rock New Orleans.

[Danny Kelly]

It feels like a trap. It feels like a trap game for me because the Seahawks just had this emotional win against the Steelers on the road and then they're coming back home and playing a bad team and I'm like a little nervous, but maybe this, this Seahawks team isn't going to.

[Dan Rucker]

I don't think you can have a trap game if it's one and you're one and one. Like you blew week one. You know what I mean?

[Danny Kelly]

Right. That's fair. I will say. Go ahead.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Can I ask you a, I guess a backwards looking fart or shart about a Seahawks player?

[Danny Kelly]

Sure.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Cooper cup. Who nobody knew kind of what to think of him this year? I think most people are out on him. Week one, he came in, he had two catches for 15 yards, three targets, and was like, okay, this is Cooper cup next week. Nine targets, seven catches, 90 yards. Kind of looked good and was all over the field and made a lot of big, clutch catches.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Was week one a shart or a fart? Like, what's real with Cooper Cup?

[Danny Kelly]

It was a fart. I think you have to. The context is important here because in week one it was like everything went to JSN. It was like he had like a 70% target rate or something. Ridiculous. There's the number one target rate in the NFL that week. And I think it was clear then and it's clear now that that wasn't going to hold up all year long. No one's going to do that for a full season, you know, let alone more than one game. And so I think it just, we saw the regression back to the, to the, to the middle more where you're going to have. You're still going to use Jason a lot. He was still the number one guy and he has a 51% first read target share this this year, which I think is tops among all players and. But Cooper cup is catching up now and he was a much bigger part of the game plan. He did a lot better in this last game. It was great to see because they do need a number two right now. You know, Tory Horton, the rookie, he's coming on and he had a touchdown his last game, but he's still really inexperienced. You can't expect much from him and he's not a huge part of their offense right now. So right now it's JSN Cooper cup and I think I'm feeling a lot better about Cooper Cup's role in this offense going forward than I did after week one because he dropped a really important third down in that game too. And so I was just really frustrated, I think with, with him that, that in that one game and. But over the last, you know, in that last game he looked a lot better and I'm starting to feel a lot better about this. Also. The Seahawks offense did complete like 180 from where they what they did in week one in terms of using play action a ton. They ran the ball a lot better, at least with Kenneth Walker. And so, you know, I'm feeling a lot better about the Seahawks offense in general than I did in Week one. It was just like a weird.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Like it is interesting if you just threw out week one and just treated it like preseason and only looked at week two to then project your thoughts going forward. You know, it's interesting like how different you would feel about certain players like Cooper cup if you just throw out week one and Cooper cup has seven for 90 in week two. And that's the first game you're thinking of because the week one thing is the only thing holding me back.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, but Derek Henry, 12 yards in week two just cut.

[Danny Kelly]

Totally, totally. That's true. Sam. Sam Darnold. I was actually shocked to see this is the third highest graded quarterback in the NFL according to pff so far it's just one turnover where they play, which I don't know if I necessarily agree with that. Like, I don't. I would not say he's been the third best quarterback in the league. But no, it's Lamar. I think what it kind of says is he's running the offense the way that the Seahawks design it to run. For the most part, he's not making really Bad throws. He's not, you know, going off and doing crazy stuff. So I don't know. That is just a stat that I ran across this week. I was like, whoa, that's kind of crazy. And I think he's. He's a type of quarterback that if they can get the run game going and play, do play action and things like that, and it's not just all on his shoulders to drop back on third down and make plays, he'll be pretty good for the Seahawks offense this year. Kind of like in that Aaron Rodgers mold. Actually, like watching those two guys play. Like if as long as they're not having to do everything, they can execute the offense pretty well. I think they're kind of in the same mold.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Is that an insult to Rogers or Darnold? I can't tell.

[Danny Kelly]

Well, Rogers is like 43 years old or whatever, so 41. More insulting probably to Darnold.

[Dan Rucker]

Cardinals are at the 49ers this week. Both teams are two and. Oh, Craig, is Brock Purdy playing or what?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Let me call him. Hold on.

[Dan Rucker]

Cool.

[Craig Korolbeck]

He didn't answer. Oh, I had him in my ear here. He wasn't. Yeah, he is practicing, but looks he's kind of moving around pretty gingerly out there. It's completely impossible to say. Mac Jones played well enough. I kind of think Purdy won't play, but he is practicing at least a little bit out there. This is a weird game for the Niners. My dad. My dad's a diehard Niners fan. Hates playing the Cardinals. It's always a close game. Shanahan has a losing record only against the Cardinals out of every NFC west team. He's 7 and 9 against the Cardinals.

[Danny Kelly]

That's bizarre.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It is bizarre. These games are always close. They're always ugly. The Niners always underperform.

[Danny Kelly]

This is how the Seahawks are with the Rams.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Well, it's like both these teams are two and oh. But you don't know if either team is really good because the Niners won a weird game against the Seahawks in week one and they beat the Saints. The Cardinals also beat the Saints and then beat the Panthers, but they almost like blew a 20 point lead. Was it 27 to 3? And they almost blew that. So it's a weird situation. The one thing that the Cardinals used to be great at, that they're really struggling with this year is running the ball. James Conner and the running game used to be very, very good the last two seasons, but their offensive line coach, Clayton Adams has left and he's now in Dallas and he's the offensive coordinator in Dallas. So I think there's a direct correlation there between why Javante Williams and this Dallas running game is working and why James Conner and Trey Benson in the Cardinals rushing game is not.

[Danny Kelly]

That's interesting.

[Craig Korolbeck]

So I don't know. I, I would probably like the Niners in this game. I believe in the Niners more than I do the Cardinals. I know a lot of people are in on the Cardinals. I still, I still don't trust like pretty much anybody on that team.

[Danny Kelly]

I mean, they played the Saints in the Panthers.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No.

[Dan Rucker]

Cardinals are also pretty banged up. Like, they have two cornerbacks who are hurt. Like, I, I kind of like the Niners to win this game. Even with Mac Jones.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, I think so too. I know fantasy. It's like Marvin Harrison still doing. Still on his same where you have no idea what he's going to do.

[Danny Kelly]

People are, you know, still not scoring touchdowns.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No. It's like, oh, Marvin Harrison's running better routes this year. He's running the routes that are, you know, he's more open now. He's running these in breaking routes. They're not giving him the shitty, like, sacrificial X routes. Whatever. I don't know, man. I'm kind of happy.

[Dan Rucker]

I don't.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't have to. I didn't draft Marvin Harrison. I don't, like, worry about. That's kind of how I feel.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

That's how Tiki feels. Not taking Mark Andrewson at any point. He's like, glad I don't have to deal with this.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, I don't. I actually have. It's so nice. I. I feel so light. It's just like a weight off of my shoulders. Not having to worry if he does anything other than I do have Lamar Jackson on team. So it'd be nice if he would catch those touchdowns.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah. Yeah. But now I can just like watch Marvin Harrison Jr. From afar, from a distance and be like, oh, I hope he catches it. And if he doesn't, oh, well.

[Danny Kelly]

I might go make a sandwich.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, I'm gonna go take a dip in the pool.

[Dan Rucker]

Who cares?

[Craig Korolbeck]

He dropped it. Big deal.

[Dan Rucker]

If you want more, our Fantasy Football Week 3 rankings are fantasy football.the, we'll also update those on Sunday morning so you can check out if you have specific starts of questions, anything not answered today. Fantasy football.thecom Also, next one of these Friday shows, we'll be in Dublin. So go follow us on Instagram, YouTube. We're gonna put up random stuff there While we're in Dublin, Craig's gonna be.

[Danny Kelly]

Splitting the G so hard.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I almost think I'm pitching this right now. I just thought about this right now. Our Sunday show, we're going to be recording. It's going to be very odd because we're going to be recording, like, late at night on Sunday night. But that's like the games in Ireland time are like in the middle of the night. I think we should somehow I think we should do. Because we're not going to be doing a Monday night show. We're not going to be doing our waiver show because we're all going to be flying home from Ireland. It's a long travel day, so we're going to add waivers to the Sunday night show. I think instead of trivia, we should have to split the G and whoever gets the closest gets first pick.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, that's pretty good.

[Craig Korolbeck]

How do we feel?

[Danny Kelly]

I like that. I like that.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It's just three beers each. That's.

[Danny Kelly]

So we got.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Right. We got to record doing that. Right.

[Danny Kelly]

We got to find a bar. We got to go find a bar to record it. I think then.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, that's fair. Oh, it's late. You're right. You're right. We won't be able to get it on tap. Okay, well, we'll figure that out. Yeah, we'll be splitting the G in some.

[Dan Rucker]

We have the technology. I think we could figure it out.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, we can't be.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It can't be canned, though, you know.

[Dan Rucker]

Okay, well, then maybe we don't have the technology you're referring to.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't know.

[Dan Rucker]

All right, let's get to the Ringer 107. Today's Ringer 107 is brought to you by FanDuel. Again. So we're competing against all the other Ringer football pods and we're.

[Craig Korolbeck]

We're tied for first. No big deal.

[Dan Rucker]

Tied for first. No big deal. So we're just picking five games against the spread each week.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Don't act like you're not impressed.

[Dan Rucker]

Everyone else. I want Cowboys getting points versus the Bears. I want to bet against Caleb Williams for money. And I also kind of want the Texans getting points.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I like the Texans. I like the Rams plus three and a half against the Eagles. I don't know if y' all agree with me on that.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't feel great about that, but I'm willing to if you feel strongly.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I definitely love the Texans, the Bears. I have some. For some reason. I think Caleb's going to be great and The Bears are going to win. But.

[Dan Rucker]

You also think Dak Prescott's the mvp and you don't think Dak Prescott can beat the Chicago Bears.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I thought he should have been the MVP in 2023. And then he tore his hamstring off the bone.

[Dan Rucker]

Scored 40 points last week against the Giants.

[Danny Kelly]

What do you think about the charge? What do you think about the Chargers versus the Broncos?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't know. Those are just like two really good teams. They're on. It's in Denver.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Chargers in la. It's in la.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, it's in la.

[Dan Rucker]

So it's kind of just bronchiar Broncos fans.

[Danny Kelly]

So it's in a neutral state for Denver anyway.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Hi, Fitz. Should we just take the Chiefs to beat the Giants by six?

[Dan Rucker]

I mean, probably. But the problem with that is just like the Giants can so easily, you know, kick some field goal at the end of the game. It's like the backdoor covers right there. But the problem is, frankly, are the Chiefs going to score 30 points? Was the last time the Chiefs even scored 30 points? You know what I mean?

[Danny Kelly]

Doesn't it kind of feel like this is the week the Chiefs get a little bit right because it's so much scrutiny and I mean, they better.

[Craig Korolbeck]

They'd be 0 and 3 if they lose. I know.

[Danny Kelly]

Their backs against the wall. That's what I'm saying.

[Dan Rucker]

Chiefs, Chiefs minus five and a half. It's just so many points to lay for a team that doesn't score points and we famously can't move the ball. But it would be kind of funny for the. To just.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, but it's the Giants who just.

[Dan Rucker]

Scored 37 points a week ago. I'm just saying. I know the Cowboys defense sucks.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Hold on here. I'm cooking up something good over here.

[Danny Kelly]

Hold on.

[Dan Rucker]

So I. Should we just take. Should we also just take the Colts?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I have them down as well.

[Danny Kelly]

I can't do that.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Never mind.

[Dan Rucker]

Packers also giving seven half to the Browns. Should we just do that? Yeah, why don't we just take the packers giving just lay seven half. That should be a 10 or 11 point line. If that was in two or three weeks, it would be 10. That would be 10 or 11.

[Danny Kelly]

I will say. Noted. Note here, while we were talking, Tucker Kraft suffered a knee injury at practice today.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Stop.

[Dan Rucker]

Oh my God.

[Danny Kelly]

It sounds like it's not season ending, but it could affect his availability for this game.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It sounds like it's not season ending is the worst thing ever. You could have said that. The fact that it's that serious that they're even considering that?

[Danny Kelly]

They said it's not considered season ending. I don't know what that means.

[Dan Rucker]

Bad that it came up.

[Danny Kelly]

Hackers have reason to believe it's not a season ending type injury.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, no.

[Dan Rucker]

Reason to believe it's not season ending means they could have been like, he might play this week.

[Danny Kelly]

Like he's out of money.

[Dan Rucker]

And they didn't say that. They said reason to believe he. It's not season ending. That's terrifying.

[Danny Kelly]

So that's so that's not great.

[Dan Rucker]

Guess we're not playing. Taking packers minus seven and a half.

[Danny Kelly]

Is he worth that much? I guess maybe part of me is.

[Dan Rucker]

Like, just fucking take the packers anyway.

[Craig Korolbeck]

All these games suck. You want to take the Colts? Let's just keep betting on the Colts until they screw us. Minus four and a half versus the Titans.

[Dan Rucker]

Sure it.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay, so we have the Texans and the Colts so far and the Cowboys. Or no.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I bet you want to do the Cowboys.

[Dan Rucker]

I do. I do want to do the Cowboys.

[Danny Kelly]

We're doing lots of.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Are we allowed to pick? It has to be worse odds than minus 120, right?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah. I don't know. No, I don't know. It's Cowboys plus one and a half. It's the line.

[Danny Kelly]

No, no, I know.

[Craig Korolbeck]

The Cowboys are favored by one and a half.

[Dan Rucker]

Did it flip? Let's not when Bill locked it in.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, do we get it when Bill locked it in? Because right now it's Cowboys minus one and a half.

[Dan Rucker]

It's whatever Bill said. It's let's know.

[Craig Korolbeck]

All right, let's do that then. For sure.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, wow. You're right, Craig. It did. It did flip during the last couple hours. Let me double check what Bill.

[Dan Rucker]

No, it's Cowboys plus one and a half is what we get to do.

[Craig Korolbeck]

So wonderful. Let's definitely do that.

[Dan Rucker]

Texans plus Cowboys to beat the Bears. We're taking the Texans to beat the Jaguars. I like that the Texas defense is so much better than the Jags offense.

[Danny Kelly]

Is it crazy?

[Dan Rucker]

The Giants?

[Danny Kelly]

Well, this is probably galaxy brain, but Raiders.

[Dan Rucker]

I actually don't mind the Raiders, Mariota.

[Danny Kelly]

I mean there's a chance Jane Daniel starts and then that would look pretty bad, but also he'd probably be pretty slowed down by a knee injury.

[Dan Rucker]

I think Raiders Plus 3 makes sense because the Raiders. I think it's one of those things where the Raiders looked bad and no one wants to take them. But in reality, if the Chargers might just be awesome and I the commanders are not as talented all around as The Chargers are. I don't actually hate the Raiders plus three. That sounds a little crazy.

[Danny Kelly]

But, Craig, what do you think?

[Dan Rucker]

I think that's a classic overreaction game. And then the Ravens just win. So the Raiders just win.

[Craig Korolbeck]

It's also tough because this is a short week for the Raiders, and the.

[Danny Kelly]

Commanders have had 10 days, but that's a good point.

[Dan Rucker]

And yet the Washington's more banged up than they are anyway.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

All right, look, I don't have a strong feel, honestly, on a lot of these other ones, so if you want to do that, that's fine. You guys don't like my Rams plus three and a half against the Eagles?

[Dan Rucker]

How do you feel about betting against the Eagles? Not.

[Danny Kelly]

I just keep going back to Jade. Jalen hurts going. There was like a. There was a clip at the end of the game. The. The Chiefs Eagles game where Chris Jones is like, you didn't even get a hundred yards. And. And Jalen hurts like you can hear him on the mic go, we won the game. Shut your ass up.

[Dan Rucker]

Shut up. I was just like.

[Danny Kelly]

That just made me love him so much.

[Craig Korolbeck]

So.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't know if I really want to bet against the Eagles right now, but, I mean, I kind of think we should. I don't feel strongly about any of these, really.

[Dan Rucker]

Steelers giving a point and a half to the Patriots. Just take Aaron Rodgers over Drake May.

[Danny Kelly]

I kind of like that. Craig. Craig.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I don't like that, but.

[Dan Rucker]

Oh, well.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Lions plus five and a half against Baltimore.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, I don't.

[Danny Kelly]

Well, okay.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Betting rifle. Mar. Sounds horrible.

[Dan Rucker]

Do the two. Let's do the Colts to be. Let's do the Colts. Let's do the Texans. Let's do the Cowboys. Let's do the Chiefs. And we just need.

[Danny Kelly]

We got the Chargers, too, right? Or no, we don't have that. Sorry. We're not doing the Chargers. Okay.

[Craig Korolbeck]

This is hell. Bengals plus three against Carson Wentz.

[Danny Kelly]

This is hell.

[Dan Rucker]

Screw it. You want to do the Rams one. You want to do the Rams plus three and a half?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Danny Kelly]

All right, fine.

[Dan Rucker]

We'll bet against the Eagles.

[Danny Kelly]

We could bet. We could bake up a moneyline parlay. If you really want to get saucy. Take the Bucks and someone else maybe.

[Dan Rucker]

Are the Bucks gonna score? Should we. I'm sorry. The jets gonna score. Should we just do Bucks minus six and a half? Is that insane with, well, their whole offensive lines out? That's not ideal.

[Danny Kelly]

You could get. You can. Craig, you can do the Bucks. Packers money line for And. And it's. And it gets in there.

[Dan Rucker]

I think Rams plus three and a half or just do the Seahawks giving seven and a half points. I think the Seahawks are way better team on both sides of the ball than the Saints are.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't care. Say it again.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You guys pick Seattle. If you want Seattle, that's fine. If you don't want the Rams.

[Dan Rucker]

Seattle giving seven half or is the rims in? The rims plus three and a half.

[Danny Kelly]

I like it when Craig gets a little. Be in his bonnet about something. So let's go with the. Let's go with the Rams.

[Dan Rucker]

I don't know what that phrase means, but sure. Okay, so we'll do the Cowboys.

[Danny Kelly]

It gets like a little thing. He just gets like. He gets. He starts thinking about something and then it just sticks in there. And I like when he gets the conviction on that.

[Dan Rucker]

So Rams plus three and a half for Philly. Colts to beat the Titans by five. Chiefs to beat the Chiefs to beat the Giants by six. Texans to be Jags by one and a half. Cowboys to be the Bears by one and a half. Sorry, no. Their favorite. Dallas and Texas are favorite. Even better. Okay, today's Rigor 107 is brought to you by FanDuel. Odd subject to change. I think that's all we got. Our next Friday show is gonna be in Dublin.

[Danny Kelly]

Follow us on Instagram, send us recommendations for Dublin, by the way.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, if you live in Ireland or Dublin, maybe we can figure something out. Email us if you. If you'd be interested in. If no promises whatsoever, but if you'd be interested in some kind of meetup or something, if we ended up meeting fans somewhere, email swinger fantasy football gmail.com and to be totally honest with you, completely depending on the number of people who email us, maybe we will schedule something. But email us if you get interested in something. Okay. Thank you, dk. Thank you, Craig. Thank you, Carlos. Thank you, Kai. Thank you, Austin. Thank you, Ronick. Thank you, everybody. Thank you everyone for listening. Fantasy football dot the, for our week three rankings. Thank you, Lord.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Lord.

[Danny Kelly]

Thank you. Ice Cube.

[Dan Rucker]

Ice Cube.

[Danny Kelly]

Ice Cube. Ice Cube. The way you. You can say it, very white. If you say Ice Cube.

[Dan Rucker]

Also in the studio.

[Craig Korolbeck]

That's right. Great episode. Probably one of the funniest of the season.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, that was pretty great episode. This set, not the studio with recording, but like Seth Rogen's show, the studio. Correct. Craig, did you get an Emmy? How close is Bellamy to getting an Emmy?

[Danny Kelly]

Did you get to touch it?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I did get to hold an Emmy? I did.

[Dan Rucker]

That is a weird thing though, is like people like you win the award and everyone wants to hold your award. You know, everyone's like, can I hold it and get a picture with it?

[Craig Korolbeck]

You know, I know they're really heavy.

[Danny Kelly]

What are they made out of? Gold. Really?

[Craig Korolbeck]

I actually don't know. The Oscars are made out of gold. I've held an Oscar. Is really heavy. I've held an Oscar.

[Dan Rucker]

I feel like they're gold plated or made out of gold probably.

[Danny Kelly]

I mean, Emmy. According to AI Overview here, Emmy statuettes are made of copper, nickel, and pure silver, which are then coated in 24 karat gold, dipped in gold, if you will.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Favorite Ice Cube song Go.

[Danny Kelly]

It's a good question. Obviously the. Now I'm trying to remember the name of it. Like, today was a good day.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think it's just called good day. Or it was. It was a good day.

[Danny Kelly]

It was a good day. Maybe.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

We did a whole thing trying to figure out what day it was, and it was really funny and I think they found the day.

[Danny Kelly]

Ghetto Bird is a good song. There's a lot of them. He's got. He's got actually a lot of hits. I'm gonna look it up.

[Craig Korolbeck]

If you guys had to power rank.

[Dan Rucker]

Days, like, of the week or in.

[Danny Kelly]

My whole life of the week.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think personally Friday's the best day.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, definitely. I think Friday, not Saturday.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I think you think it's Saturday, but it's not Saturday.

[Danny Kelly]

You get some of the scaries are already going.

[Dan Rucker]

Friday is like. Saturday is coming next. So that's sick.

[Danny Kelly]

Saturday's like. We get those. The future. Friday's. The future is so bright. We gotta wear shades.

[Dan Rucker]

Friday is number one. Saturday's two. That's easy, right?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah. If. If I really wanted to cook and be a hot take artist, I would make the case that Thursday's better than Saturday just because of the anticipation.

[Danny Kelly]

I kind of agree with that, Craig. I think Thursday might be my favorite day because the weekend is coming up. It's not.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, dude, it's Friday, Junior. Oh, there's. When you get done with work on Friday on Thursday, Junior. Fridays, tomorrow, Friday.

[Dan Rucker]

It's like a.

[Danny Kelly]

The weekend's almost over already.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I. I low key think Sunday's not a top three day. Maybe not even top four.

[Dan Rucker]

What?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, no, I totally. I totally agree.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Like, you could talk me into. You could talk me into Wednesday over Sunday. I'm, I'm. I'm willing to listen. Maybe even Monday, because there's the occasional holiday.

[Danny Kelly]

You got a case of the Monday.

[Dan Rucker]

All year or during football season. You think Wednesday's better than Sunday?

[Craig Korolbeck]

Dur. Well, it depends. Like, if I'm not. If my job isn't to watch football all day, then I'd probably take Sunday just because I can do whatever I want with my day. During the NFL season, though, Wednesday, maybe.

[Dan Rucker]

I would take Sunday over Wednesday because of the 12 hours of football that's on.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Even though you got to work.

[Danny Kelly]

He enjoys watching football.

[Dan Rucker]

Craig, we have. When also do we have Wednesdays off? What are you talking about? I don't know.

[Danny Kelly]

I like Sundays more than Wednesdays. I.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Why I hate Sundays is because you have the scaries. It's like the weight of the week is all on you. Wednesday, you're like, I'm halfway done over. Halfway done by the end of the day.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, we're like on the down. We're on the down slope now.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah. You start texting people about plans. What are we doing this weekend? Sunday is just. You're in a pit of hell.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay.

[Craig Korolbeck]

What are you talking about? Sunday scaries is like, the most, like, you know, common feelings in the world, everybody. Sunday night is the worst thing.

[Danny Kelly]

But are we talking about during the season or.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Not to be clear, I'm just in general.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Sunday scaries.

[Danny Kelly]

I like watching football on Sundays, personally.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I mean, it is.

[Danny Kelly]

It is technically a work day, but that's fine because a lot of good action and fantasy and everything. I will say, I agree with.

[Dan Rucker]

I agree with your Friday, Saturday, Thursday.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, you agree on the Friday thing? I thought I was going to get pushback on that.

[Dan Rucker]

No, I, I. No, I think that's a fake hot take. I think. I think Thursday over Saturday is a real take. I think that's a good. I, I respect drafting Thursday over Saturday. I actually see what you're saying. I would still do Friday, Saturday. You know, call me mainstream loser, but I'm like, Friday, Saturday, Thursday. And then I don't think you could convince me the scariest of Sunday are worse than, like, actually Monday. You know what I mean?

[Craig Korolbeck]

No.

[Dan Rucker]

And, like, Tuesday is kind of the worst day, so I think I'd have to go Sunday, Wednesday, Monday, Tuesday.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You think Tuesday is the worst day worse than Monday?

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, kind of. Because, like, Monday is a communal experience where everyone's experiencing Monday together, whereas Tuesday, just as awful.

[Craig Korolbeck]

No way. No way, Craig.

[Danny Kelly]

Do you guys know the. The tweet that now has turned into, like, a meme where it's like, the beer hit my hand on Friday like, like, I don't know how to pronounce, like mole near that word I can pronounce. Hammer. Yeah, Thor's hammer. The beer hit my hand like Thor's hammer. That feeling is so. And I'm not virtue signaling here or anything like that, but like, I do like the feeling of getting work done and having, having, you know, been productive during a day and then fucking. That beer hits your hand and you, you could just like, whatever. Like that feeling is so good.

[Craig Korolbeck]

I do think that the older I get, the more I like Fridays.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You know, Friday hits harder when you're 30 than when you're 20.

[Dan Rucker]

Yeah, you earned it.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, you earned it more. So maybe there's a little bit of that.

[Danny Kelly]

Like literally the hay is in the barn and then you just can fucking enjoy it.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You know, this is, this is gonna sound really sad and pathetic, but the Friday beers, like, account has made me like Fridays even more.

[Dan Rucker]

I think that's true.

[Craig Korolbeck]

You know what I mean? It's like changed my brain chemistry and how I think about like work ending on Friday. Yeah, 100%. Which is so sad, but it's, it's real.

[Danny Kelly]

That's the world we live in, Craig.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Yeah, that's Thursday right now. So I'm thrilled right now because Friday.

[Danny Kelly]

Junior, feeling fucking crazy.

[Dan Rucker]

Best day of the week, Thursday.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Best day of the week right now. Right now is the best time. It's like 5:30. I'm on the east Coast. It's great.

[Danny Kelly]

Also, this is not. You guys don't understand this, but a good amount of Fridays, like I'd say two out of every four or two out of every three. Maybe my parents take Calvin on Friday night and have a, like he has a sleepover there. So it's like parents just to get to go fucking wild on Friday nights. Go out to dinner, go get drinks. We went to this karaoke thing at the Wild Buffalo Shout outs to Wild Buffalo the other day. That was fun as hell. It's just like. Yeah, it's the best.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

When that beer hits your hand like Mjolnir. How do you say it?

[Dan Rucker]

I think it's Molnir.

[Danny Kelly]

Molnir.

[Craig Korolbeck]

How many drinks, how many beers? Is tomorrow one of those Fridays, dk?

[Danny Kelly]

No, I get Calvin tomorrow, but that's fine. I mean, I like hanging out with my son also.

[Dan Rucker]

But we'll give him a beer.

[Danny Kelly]

He's of age.

[Dan Rucker]

What is it, like six? He can get you a beer.

[Danny Kelly]

What were you gonna. What was the question gonna be? If Calvin wasn't gone or was Gone.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Now I was gonna. I was literally gonna ask the dumbest question of all time of how many beers are you gonna have?

[Danny Kelly]

How many beers are you gonna drink?

[Craig Korolbeck]

And I wanted you to do the Brett Kavanaugh more.

[Danny Kelly]

Three. Three beers more.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, no, that was Michael Co. Oh, is Michael Cohen.

[Dan Rucker]

How many times? 20 times more more. 50 times more? 100 times, probably.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Who was. What did. Was Brett Kavanaugh the automatic? Was that Brett Kavanaugh automatic?

[Danny Kelly]

I don't even remember that.

[Dan Rucker]

Now I'm thinking about the.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Doesn't Brett Kavanaugh have, like, an insane quote about, like, drinking? Oh, I don't know.

[Dan Rucker]

I googled Brett Kavanaugh automatic, and I just. The first thing comes up is a soundcloud. The Brett Kavanaugh automatic times levels.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Rucker]

I'm assuming probably whatever you're saying.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, it's the best. Have you not seen that?

[Danny Kelly]

I don't know.

[Dan Rucker]

I'm.

[Danny Kelly]

Now I'm looking it up. He goes, he. He was famously quoted for saying, I liked beer during his confirmation hearing. I.

[Craig Korolbeck]

We drank beer.

[Danny Kelly]

I like beer. Sue me.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Oh, anyway.

[Dan Rucker]

Did we do a band? Oh, Ice club. That's how. Right. The day. Right.

[Danny Kelly]

Heifetz. You're really struggling with the. The goodbyes lately. Yeah, he's just checked out. He's already. It's Friday for him already.

[Dan Rucker]

I think my brain is just. Just soup.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay.

[Dan Rucker]

Why don't you end the show? Go for it. Just say goodbye, Craig.

[Danny Kelly]

Craig likes to commandeer the show.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Anyway, goodbye, everybody.

[Danny Kelly]

That was pretty good.

[Dan Rucker]

It's everyone, but sure. Do I say everyone or everybody say not everybody.

[Craig Korolbeck]

Craig is more, you know, got backstreet.

[Danny Kelly]

Boys on the mind. Getting sexual with. It.

[Dan Rucker]

Must be 21 + in present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 + in present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler or visit rg-help.com, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelp linema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY in New York. This episode is brought to you by Warner Brothers Pictures. One Battle After Another is coming to theaters September 26th. Don't miss legendary writer, director and producer my guy, Paul Thomas Anderson teaming up with Leo DiCaprio for the first time ever. Pretty exciting. They almost. They almost teamed together in Boogie Nights, actually alongside award winning actors like Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor and Benicio Del Toro in this hilarious action packed adventure following Bob Ferguson, an ex revolutionary, on a mission to find his missing daughter and overcome the consequences of his past. One battle after another. Only in theaters September 26th. Get tickets now. Rated R. Under 17. Not admitted without parenting.