PodcastFrom Fantasy Football Today
FFT Express - Biggest Question For Week 1: Hubbard vs Brooks, Steelers Backfield, Colts Pass Catchers, & More! (09/09 Fantasy Football Podcast)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
14 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 9, 2026
Published
Wed, September 9, 2026
9
Player insights
9
Players mentioned
Topics
Alec PierceChris BellChuba HubbardJaylen WarrenJonathon BrooksJosh DownsMalik WashingtonRico DowdleTre Tucker
Player analysis
Player insights
Alec Pierce
NegativeInjury11:53
Dave Richard advises leaving Alec Pierce on the bench for Week 1, as he is not 100% following a foot injury and faces a tough matchup against Baltimore's secondary.
Insight pageChris Bell
PositiveSleeper15:13
Dave Richard recommends stashing Chris Bell, noting he has the most upside among Miami's receivers. He suggests monitoring Bell's route participation in Week 1 as a key indicator of his potential breakout.
Insight pageChuba Hubbard
NegativeRole5:24
Dave Richard expects Chuba Hubbard to remain a significant contributor in the Panthers' offense even if Jonathan Brooks is healthy, though he doubts Hubbard will receive many high-value touches.
Insight pageJaylen Warren
NegativeUsage2:22
Dave Richard expects Jalen Warren to maintain a slight edge in targets and catches compared to Rico Dowdle, though he remains concerned about the backfield being a frustrating week-to-week rotation.
Insight pageJonathon Brooks
PositiveProjection5:24
Dave Richard views Jonathan Brooks as the primary runner for the Panthers long-term, citing his pass-catching ability and the team's intent to reward him with goal-line carries once he is fully healthy.
Insight pageJosh Downs
PositiveRole12:13
Dave Richard identifies Josh Downs as his favorite Colts receiver, noting a positive role change where Downs is expected to absorb some of Michael Pittman's target share against zone-heavy defenses like Baltimore.
Insight pageMalik Washington
PositiveUsage15:26
Dave Richard highlights Malik Washington as a PPR 'cheat code' who could consistently command 6-7 targets per game, similar to the role Josh Downs played last season.
Insight pageRico Dowdle
PositiveValue2:22
Dave Richard prefers Rico Dowdle over Jalen Warren as a season-long play, noting Dowdle's superior goal-line usage and the likelihood of the Steelers playing with a lead against Atlanta. Richard recommends starting Dowdle in half and non-PPR formats.
Insight pageTre Tucker
PositiveSleeper18:46
Dave Richard views Trey Tucker as a viable stash candidate who could emerge as the Raiders' number two target-getter, benefiting from defensive attention on Brock Bowers.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
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1:27That's up next here on Fantasy Football Today. I'm Jamie Eisenberg.
1:30That's Dave Richard. We're going to see what happens in Week 1 to hopefully get some answers that we've been discussing throughout training camp, throughout the preseason.
1:39So, Dave, let's go right to it. A lot of ambiguous backfields.
1:42We'll start in Pittsburgh where we have Rico Dowdle and Jalen Warren, or Jalen Warren and Rico Dowdle.
1:48They're taking on the Falcons. Are we going to find out who the best Steelers running back is by the end of Week 1?
1:55I don't think we'll find out who the best guy is after Week 1.
1:59It's going to be a week-to-week thing. I would expect both of them to play a lot.
2:04I expect the Steelers to play with a lead, and that might help Rico Dowdle get more in terms of carries.
2:11Maybe a slight edge in targets and catches for Jalen Warren.
2:14If there's something to appreciate about Dowdle, it's that he's been better in goal-line situations.
2:19Steelers can probably get to the goal-line against Atlanta.
2:21I think leaning Dowdle, especially in half and non-PPR, makes a lot of sense.
2:25I just wonder if we get a frustrating situation all season long.
2:29Last year kind of eventually worked out well, where you kind of got great PPR production from Gainwell, and Jalen Warren was still good.
2:36I'm just hoping that we don't have to, oh, this week it's this guy, this week it's that guy.
2:42You keep picking the wrong player. So if you're drafting Tuesday when we're recording this, who are you still taking first?
2:48It's still Dowdle for me, just as a season-long play.
2:51It's who I'd rather have. This might be the easiest matchup in terms of pass rush pressure that Aaron Rodgers will have all year long.
2:59Because Atlanta's starting the year, like they just acquired Jervon Dexter from Chicago.
3:03He's arguably their best pass rusher, and he's an interior defensive lineman.
3:07So he should have time to throw downfield. The Steelers should be able to put up a decent amount of points.
3:13Dowdle salting the game away is certainly one way that this game could end.
3:17I'm going to go to another ambiguous backfield next, and that is in Carolina, where we thought we may have an open
3:24runway for Jonathan Brooks because Chuba Hubbard suffered a hamstring injury.
3:27And then lo and behold, we get to the practice reports for the first week of the season as Carolina is taking on Chicago.
3:34And Brooks is now missing practice or being limited in practice, and Hubbard is working his way back.
3:40So if you are drafting Tuesday or coming out of week one, who do you expect to be the best Panthers running back for the season?
3:48If I'm drafting on Tuesday, it's Brooks, and coming out of week one, assuming that he practices a decent amount by the
3:54time Friday gets here, it's still Brooks. I think that's the guy that the Panthers want to have as the primary runner in their offense.
4:02Chuba will work alongside him. I have a hard time believing Chuba is even going to get a lot of high value touches.
4:09We know that Brooks was a great pass catcher at Texas.
4:12It's something he can certainly do in the NFL.
4:15It's something that's been talked about in training camp.
4:18And then when you get to the goal line, I think intuition says that it's Chuba, but I think they're going to
4:24want to reward Jonathan Brooks and give him some of those goal line carries as well.
4:29I think he's a feel-good story for the team, and I think they're going to pivot to him being the better back, provided that he's healthy.
4:37Let's see what the Wednesday practice report says. That's the first time the Panthers have to actually divulge what's going on with him.
4:44I wouldn't necessarily discount Hubbard still being a big factor and big contributor, even if Brooks is healthy, because who knows how
4:51much the Panthers want to put on Brooks' shoulders right now, knowing that he went through the entirety of training camp, and now he's still not feeling right.
4:59Even if it's just something, you know, discomfort, soreness, whatever, he's still not that guy yet or ready to be that guy
5:06yet, at least if he's not comfortable or 100% healthy.
5:09And the fact that we don't know how this would have been discussed if Hubbard was practicing and getting those chances maybe
5:15in limited preseason action, just how this all would have gone.
5:19So I'm very curious to see what will happen in week one.
5:22Let me ask you real quick. Do you have a Panthers running back in your top 24 for week one?
5:28No. Neither do I. No. Do you have a Steelers running back in your top 24 for week one?
5:34No. Again, it's just both these guys are in some interesting spots.
5:38Huge upside for maybe one of them. Good upside potentially for both of them, but, you know, still something to see.
5:44I hope by the time we get to, let's say, week four, certainly for Carolina because maybe by that point we get
5:51the tackles back, and then this offensive line, which was really good last year, can make one of these guys hopefully a top 24 running back.
5:59All right. We're going to take a break. When we come back, I'm going to get into a couple of more murky
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7:13All right, let's go to Indianapolis, Dave, where Alec Pierce, coming back from the foot injury, we had a lot of questions
7:20about will he even play in week one, and now we're expecting him to at least be on the field.
7:26The reports are he may not have his full snap share, may not do everything that they hoped for him to do.
7:33But since he's been out at the start of camp, Josh Downs in and out of the lineup due to injury as well, seemingly fine.
7:40But they had Keenan Allen. So how do you view the Colts receiving core?
7:45Who's your favorite, and what are you expecting to see in their first game against Baltimore?
7:49Is it taking the cheap way out? If I say Tyler Warren is my favorite, he's the one that had the highest
7:56target per route run rate with Daniel Jones. Yes, we're just talking the receivers.
8:00Okay, so I'm going to go with Josh Downs next.
8:03Downs is the one provided again that the practice report discloses that Downs is okay and he's going to be out there.
8:10I like the role change for him. I know he's going to lose some of those easy targets, those layup targets to Keenan Allen.
8:17But we saw it last year with Daniel Jones.
8:20He had a 22.5% target per route run rate against zone coverage.
8:24I'm expecting zone coverage from Baltimore. That's just a staple with what Jesse Minter does.
8:28Pierce was actually fourth. Pittman also had 22%. That actually encourages me with Downs because I think Downs will take some of
8:35that Pittman role, whereas Keenan Allen is going to be that short area target that we've seen him be.
8:40He runs a route, makes a cut, gets a target.
8:43That's it. Pierce was at 17.9%. He was their man beater last year.
8:47And I don't see the Ravens doing a lot of that.
8:51And even if they do, they've got some solid corners that can line up with Pierce and contend for those jump balls downfield.
8:58Pierce isn't 100%. I think this is an easy week to leave Pierce on the bench.
9:03Downs would be my favorite of the three. But the only one I'm starting with superior confidence is Warren.
9:08Two more receiving cores that may be relevant to fantasy managers at some point this season.
9:13We'll go to Miami first, where we didn't expect Chris Bell to maybe even play in week one and got off the pup list.
9:20And the reports have been very positive. Caleb Douglas at the start of camp was getting rave reviews.
9:26And Malik Washington seems to be the third option in the at least pecking order right now.
9:31How do you view the three receivers from Miami?
9:34And is there one that you're trying to get on your roster?
9:37The one that I'm trying to get on my roster is Bell.
9:41But it's with the idea that I'm stashing him for the first month of the season to see what happens and if he can actually break out.
9:49Quote, I'm not discouraged by Malik Willis, the thrower.
9:52I saw enough on film last year where I felt like Malik Willis can do a decent job reading coverages and then
9:58still get the ball on time with anticipation to his receivers down the field.
10:03If you're looking for a cheat code in PPR, it's Washington.
10:06I think he's going to end up getting in the neighborhood of six or seven targets every single week.
10:12He can catch most of those. He's kind of doing that thing that Josh Downs did last year.
10:17Chris Bell is more of the downfield target. So is Caleb Douglas.
10:21I'm sorry, Chris. Did I say Chris Bell? That's what I mean.
10:24Yep, you said it right. Okay, finally. Chris Bell is the one that I would stash.
10:29I think he's got the most upside both short-term and long-term.
10:33I'm looking to see what his roster ship is right now in CBS Sports.
10:37He's available in 77% of leagues. So you might have drafted some bum with your third to last pick before you took your defense and your kicker.
10:45You can drop that bum if it's not somebody that you want to see more from who's obviously healthier than Chris Bell.
10:52But you can stash Chris Bell and see how it goes in week one against Las Vegas.
10:57That's a fairly favorable matchup. Willis is obviously going to have to get the ball out quick because of Max Crosby being opposite him.
11:04But there could be some good opportunities in this game for Chris Bell.
11:08So I'm especially interested to see if he just plays a lot.
11:12Let's see which wide receiver plays the most for Miami in this game.
11:16And if Bell's route rate is high, then that's simply going to be an encouraging sign.
11:20I don't really want to start any of these guys, and I don't think you have to.
11:26Other side of the ball in that same game, we have the Raiders receiving core where you got Trey Tucker getting some mid-camp positive reports.
11:33Jalen Naylor really hadn't gotten any sort of buzz, which is unfortunate.
11:37And then you have Jack Bash and maybe Malik Benson, the rookie that they drafted.
11:41So how are you viewing the Raiders? Is there anybody you want to have on your roster from them?
11:47Tucker is another stash, and I think I'd rather have Tucker than Bell to begin the year.
11:52If it's like a keeper league or some sort of long-term format, I'd flip that.
11:57I'd rather have Bell. And Tucker's out there in 46% of CBS Sports League.
12:01So he's another interesting stash. I think he's going to be the number two target getter for Vegas this year.
12:07And it took me a little while to come around on that.
12:11I was thinking that Naylor would be that guy.
12:13But after seeing him practice and understanding how he's tried to change his game this offseason, where he's trying to just be
12:20a better, have a better understanding of the coverages that he's seeing and being on the same page as his quarterbacks, and
12:27knowing that his quarterbacks are better this year. I think that there's room for Trey Tucker to certainly see a lot of
12:33playing time, to see his target share go up, and to be a factor, maybe not a huge factor, but a factor nonetheless for Las Vegas.
12:41So if there's a player that I'm going to stash, and this is an idea, you can start the year with Tucker instead of Bell.
12:49And then if after week one, there's better science for Bell than Tucker, you make the switch.
12:54If not, you stick with Tucker until you find another wide receiver or another player at any position that you can use
13:01on that roster spot, and you get rid of Tucker.
13:04And that's if Tucker doesn't impress to begin the year.
13:07Because there's a chance that he does, I think, most games for Las Vegas, this week might not be one of them,
13:13but most weeks for Las Vegas, they're going to be chasing points.
13:17They're going to have to put the ball in the air.
13:20And Tucker will certainly benefit because teams are going to be focused on Bowers.
13:24Tucker feels like his ceiling is more limited than Bell's.
13:27Bell's floor is probably worse than Tucker's. So depending on your roster build and what you need and what you're hoping for
13:34long term, that's going to probably determine which player you like the best.
13:38Or it could just be, hey, look at Caleb Douglas.
13:41He's awesome. Or look at Jack Besh. We're waiting to see in week one some of the questions we've been talking about
13:48or trying to figure out, hopefully get the answers for after we see live game action.
13:53For Dave Richard, I'm Jamie Eisenberg. Thanks for watching and listening to Fantasy Football Today.
13:57Bye. Bye. Bye.
