Week 1 Start or Sit: QB & TE Rankings, Sleepers & Tough Calls (Ep. 2179)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
31 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 9, 2026
Published
Wed, September 9, 2026
12
Player insights
11
Players mentioned
Topics
Harold FanninDallas GoedertDrake MayeJayden DanielsJuwan JohnsonMakai LemonMalik WillisMark AndrewsMatthew StaffordTucker KraftZay Flowers
Player analysis
Player insights
Dallas Goedert
PositiveRole23:20
Erickson ranks Goedert as a top-five tight end for Week 1, citing his high target rate per route run (26%) when A.J. Brown is off the field. While Fitzmaurice notes concerns about a career-low yards per catch and reliance on shovel-pass touchdowns last season, both agree he is a primary security blanket for Jalen Hurts.
Insight pageDrake Maye
NegativeProjection8:30
Erickson ranks May at QB6, arguing that his volume will be high due to a likely negative game script against Seattle, and he is optimistic about the improved receiving corps (A.J. Brown, Romeo Dobbs) and a healthy offensive line. Fitzmaurice is more pessimistic, ranking him at QB12, citing the difficulty of the Seattle defense and the need for May to build chemistry with new receivers.
Insight pageHarold Fannin
PositiveUsage20:18
Fitzmaurice is confident in Fannin's volume, projecting 8-10 targets in Week 1 due to a likely negative game script against the Jaguars. Despite concerns about Deshaun Watson, Fannin's role as a primary target and the Jaguars' defensive struggles against tight ends make him a strong start.
Insight pagePositiveProjection33:00
Both analysts are higher on Fannin than ECR, with Fitzmaurice ranking him at TE5. They highlight his impressive rookie production (72 catches, 731 yards, 6 TDs) and the fact that the Jaguars' defense struggled against tight ends last year, making him a strong start despite the quarterback situation.
Insight pageJayden Daniels
NegativeProjection2:36
Erickson ranks Daniels at QB8, noting that while he is a 'shaky start' due to a tough road matchup against the Eagles' elite defensive line and secondary, his rushing upside makes him a must-start. Fitzmaurice expresses concern about the Commanders' 'inoperable' offensive line, though both analysts acknowledge his rushing floor keeps him in the top 12.
Insight pageJuwan Johnson
PositiveUsage30:40
Erickson prefers Juwan Johnson over Tucker Craft for Week 1, ranking him at TE9. He cites no concerns regarding snap counts or target share, believing Johnson will be a reliable target in the Saints' offense, particularly in full PPR formats.
Insight pageMakai Lemon
NegativeProjection24:12
Expectations for Makai Lemon are tempered for the start of the season due to the significant amount of practice time he has missed.
Insight pageMalik Willis
PositiveBreakout23:40
Both analysts are high on Willis, with Fitzmaurice ranking him at QB13 and Erickson at QB15. They view the matchup against the Raiders as favorable and believe the Dolphins will utilize Willis's legs in a new offensive scheme, potentially leading to a high-ceiling performance similar to Justin Fields' breakout games.
Insight pageMark Andrews
NegativeProjection25:52
Fitzmaurice ranks Andrews as a top-12 tight end, noting Lamar Jackson's historical reliance on the position. However, Erickson views him as a 'touchdown or bust' play and a fade in redraft, believing he is past his prime, though acknowledging he could still score against the Colts.
Insight pageMatthew Stafford
PositiveProjection23:00
Fitzmaurice ranks Stafford at QB11, noting he 'destroyed' the 49ers twice last year with 389 and 380 yards respectively, and does not fear the matchup. Erickson, however, is fading Stafford, citing the early 10:30 AM start time in Australia and potential physical fatigue as reasons to be lower on him.
Insight pageTucker Kraft
NegativeProjection30:20
Fitzmaurice ranks Craft at TE6, disagreeing with Erickson's concerns about snap limitations. While Erickson acknowledges Craft's touchdown equity, he ranks him at TE10 due to target competition from Watson, Golden, and Reed.
Insight pageZay Flowers
PositiveProjection26:49
Erickson speaks glowingly of Zay Flowers, noting that Lamar Jackson historically produces nuclear games in Week 1, which benefits the Ravens' receiving corps.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Grainger.com or stop by.
0:04Grainger, for the ones who get it done. Quarterbacks and tight ends, we've got your ranks for Week 1 right here.
0:11I'm Chris Welsh. Welcome into Fantasy Pros, the Fantasy Football Podcast.
0:14I've got Andrew Erickson and Pat Fitzmaurice to help me out.
0:18We're going to help you out. We're going to be figuring the top 12 quarterbacks, maybe a couple pieces outside, as well as the tight ends.
0:26Who are we starting in Week 1? It's crunch time.
0:29Your drafts are over. Let's get to it. And that is exactly what we're going to be doing here today.
0:35If you guys would like to follow along with us, FantasyPros.com slash Rankings.
0:39I've mentioned in all of the Rank episodes, a little bit more volatile in this Week 1, once all of the experts
0:46out there just jump in with all of their Week 1 ranks.
0:50So there can be some slight differences, but these are the hardcore group.
0:54Erickson, Dbro, Fitzy, myself, we've got our ranks in.
0:56So this should give you a really good baseline, especially if you want to do that comparing against, what it ends up being.
1:03But FantasyPros.com slash Rankings, you can see it for all your different formats.
1:07But gentlemen, let's just jump right into it. No time to waste here with the top 12 quarterbacks.
1:13This is what the big board looks like this week with Joe Burrow getting the top spot up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
1:20An A-plus rating, the only quarterback with an A-plus start and sit rating.
1:24Ironically, though, the four-star matchup there, but they love it.
1:27Josh Allen coming in at number two. Lamar Jackson at three.
1:31Jalen Hurts at four. Justin Herbert at five. Dak at six.
1:34Jayden Daniels at seven. We've got May at eight.
1:37Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence, Jackson Dart, and Jared Goff.
1:40Now, we've got a couple names in here. I actually want to jump to this for a second.
1:45This is one I didn't originally have on the sheet, but I know this is important for Erickson.
1:51And Erickson, I'm going to jump to you first, and Fitzy will get your take on it.
1:56Erickson, you and I have been of the like of maybe being a little bit down on Jayden Daniels this year.
2:03He has got a pretty poor matchup. Rating-wise, this is like a two-star.
2:07Only Drake May has been given a worse rating.
2:09He comes in at seven. Erickson is seven too high for Jayden Daniels.
2:13And is your fear of Daniels maybe in draft season enough to not put him as a top 12 quarterback in week one?
2:21It is too high because I have him currently at eight behind Drake May, whereas ECR has Drake May behind Jayden Daniels.
2:27So still a top 12 quarterback for me because I need to acknowledge that he can rush his way to a lot of fantasy production.
2:35And that's how I constantly get burned. And that will probably come up again in this quarterback conversation is that's how you get cooked in the rankings.
2:43When you rank a rushing quarterback too low and they run, you get annihilated.
2:48So trying to capture that, but also the concerns about them playing on the road against the Eagles.
2:53Like there are a lot of really talented players, such a deep defensive line, elite cornerbacks across the board that can neutralize guys like Terry McLaurin, Stefan Diggs.
3:02It'll be his first game with Jayden Daniels. And I'm concerned about that offensive line holding up.
3:07So yeah, Daniels is a shaky start for me.
3:10You got to play him because he's a stud.
3:13He's Superman, but not really excited about it. Fitzy, do you feel any different about Jayden Daniels?
3:18Just like you feel because that is still a starter.
3:21Even if you rank him at eight, he's still a starter, but that lacked confidence.
3:26Do you maybe lack a little bit or bring a little bit more confidence to even if, you know, the Eagles are
3:33all over, he's going to be even running for his life.
3:36That might equate to like some really heavy rushing stats.
3:39Or do you have a little bit more concern about Daniels in this week one matchup?
3:44I do have concern. And this is blind faith in the rushing ability because I do not feel good about a quarterback
3:51playing behind an offensive line that was termed inoperable in a recent joint practice between the commanders and the Ravens.
3:57Inoperable is not the word you want to hear with the offensive line protecting your fantasy quarterback.
4:02No. So the only reason I bring this up is I think it's interesting because the only quarterback from a draft perspective
4:09that jumped, like really jumped, I'm not going to use Herbert because I got Herbert higher, but it's Dak Prescott.
4:15Dak is the only one that really jumped in over Daniels.
4:19Do you think people should be giving more of a concerted look at guys like Caleb Williams that are going up against
4:26Carolina or Jackson Dart who's got Dallas? Like where do you, Fitzy, have – I don't know if I heard you say it.
4:33Where do you have Daniels? And should we be giving a little bit more consideration of some of those quarterbacks with other great matchups?
4:40Or is this – regardless of offensive line and bad matchup, it just talent is too much to really put in a Jackson Dart over?
4:48I've got to make QB six and I've got to have a rethink on this because, yeah, right now, I mean, if
4:55I did have – I mean, I'd never have two quarterbacks as good.
4:59But like if I had Jaden Daniels and Dak, I'd probably feel a lot more comfortable with Dak in week one.
5:05All right, another quarterback that has one of these concerns, at least from a matchup perspective.
5:10It is the worst matchup grade on the top 12, and it's Drake May against the Seattle Seahawks.
5:16His ECR is eight, and you guys are on opposite ends here.
5:19So, Erickson, you are on the positive take here.
5:22You are above ECR for Drake May. So let's focus on that here for a second.
5:27Regardless of really bad graded matchup, Drake May is relatively special.
5:31But Seahawks, you don't love to see. You've got him at six.
5:34So talk to us about Drake May. Yeah, so if he wasn't facing the Seahawks, he had a neutral matchup.
5:40He would be a top three quarterback, I think, probably by consensus.
5:44So I think that ranking him down at even six is capturing – yeah, he has a tough matchup on the road.
5:51We saw it last year with the Super Bowl.
5:54It was obviously bad. His final stat line, 295 yards, two touchdowns, two picks.
5:58He also rushed six times for 43 yards. It's really hard to take that and copy and paste it to this year
6:05because that game was so weirdly scripted in terms of Seahawks were out to a big lead.
6:10Drake May was catching points, and they were throwing it all over the place.
6:14He was also injured playing through a shoulder injury.
6:17The offensive line was also injured. Will Campbell was not healthy.
6:21So I'm a little bit more optimistic about him in this spot than it was in the Super Bowl, where there's no more Stephon Diggs.
6:28There's no Keyshawn Booty. But in their places, they've upgraded to A.J.
6:32Brown and Romeo Dobbs. So I think that matters.
6:35I think it matters that the offensive line is healthy.
6:38And the fact that they could have another negative game script as underdogs on the road, I think that means more passing attempts for Drake May.
6:46So, yes, that could invite more interceptions, fumbles potentially.
6:49But I think he's going to be chucking the ball over 35 times if they can't run the football against Seattle.
6:55So I think the volume is going to be there for Drake May, and he can also make plays with his legs.
7:02So I think he's still an elite player, and I'm not as scared off by the matchup.
7:07I think I am considering the matchup by moving him down to six, because if not, he would be probably two or three for me.
7:15Oh, Fitzy. Fitz comes in and drops a 12-bomb on us.
7:19Not even a top 10 quarterback this week for Drake May.
7:22So, I mean, obviously I think we know where the concerns are, but let's get some details on what pushed him down to 12 for you.
7:30And Erickson knows I love Drake May. I mean, this is a mutual admiration for us with the Patriots quarterback, even though it's Erickson's team.
7:38The Seattle defense is just so, so good. And the 12s are going to be in full throats for this game.
7:44Maybe it takes some time for May to sync up and build chemistry with new wide receivers, A.J.
7:50Brown and Romeo Dobbs. So, I just – it's kind of a tough spot for May.
7:55And I feel – if you have him, you're starting him.
7:58But I just – I'm not expecting one of his better games of the 2026 season in week one.
8:04But do you like Daniels over May still? Because that's what ECR has too.
8:08I think I do. I mean, you said you're starting him, but if you're in a 10-team league, you're telling people that you're not starting him.
8:16Yeah. And that's tough. The Philly defense is good, but I think the Seattle defense is better.
8:22Yeah. Who are the two quarterbacks you have in front of Drake May?
8:26Just curious. My two quarterbacks? Yes. Immediately ahead of him, Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford.
8:30Okay. All right. We're going to talk about – I think we might talk about one of those.
8:36Now I know why, when I brought up Jackson Dart, I realized why you didn't jump to it or nobody – neither
8:42one of you guys jumped to the defense of, hey, it's a good matchup.
8:47Because you guys are both lower on Jackson Dart.
8:50He comes in at 11 on this list, but you do not have him as starting quarterback in the top 12.
8:56So, Erickson, why don't you jump in with it?
8:59You have got him at 13. Fitzy's got him at 14.
9:02So, you guys are kind of lockstep. Talk to us about Jackson Dart.
9:06This is where I think I might be wrong, where I have him ranked.
9:11Because I think we did this last year where, at least speaking personally, I felt like I was lower on Dart every single week.
9:18And he continued to rub it in my face every single week despite him playing on the road at the Eagles, on the road against the Denver Broncos.
9:27And he would just have these monster games because of the rushing that he was offering.
9:32So, we talked about the Dallas defense and their secondary.
9:35I think that's probably their biggest weakness at their cornerback when we were talking about Malik Nabors, who were still kind of lukewarm as a pick.
9:43Still, a 75% Malik Nabors is a boost for Jackson Dart in this Giants passing attack.
9:48The Giants surprisingly have like the 14th highest implied team total, which is pretty strong.
9:52They are playing at home, which I think does also work in their favor against a high-powered Dallas offense.
9:58So, I think I have to probably move him up.
10:01If you just look at last year, so his rookie season, he was third in fantasy points per dropback, which tied with Drake May.
10:09Over 20 fantasy points per game, 40.5 rushing yards per game.
10:12So, I think I have to just manually move him up because he has way too much upside as a rusher.
10:19I don't think he's going to stop running. And the Dallas defense does have some holes in that secondary still.
10:25Fitz, you didn't seem compelled when I brought Jackson Dart to make any case for him.
10:30So, I'm going to guess you're not as compelled as Erickson to make a move.
10:34Yeah, I mean, I just, if Malik Nabors plays, which seems like a pretty big if at this point, like he's probably
10:41not playing anything close to a full complement of snaps.
10:44So, I think the Dallas defense should be better under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
10:49Yeah, I'm just, I'm not that enthusiastic about darts generally or for week one.
10:53All right, well, we can get some enthusiasm out of Fitzy because here are two quarterbacks that he is higher than Erickson on.
11:00As mentioned, Matthew Stafford comes in as ECR 13, so he does not make this list.
11:05Erickson's got him lower at 16, but Fitzy, you've got him at 11.
11:09And then one of the most talked about on this channel quarterbacks is Malik Willis, who comes at an ECR 19.
11:16You both are higher, but Fitzy takes the cake at 13.
11:19Erickson, you're at 18. I mean, Fitz, let's get the quick positive take on both of these quarterbacks, and then Erickson can
11:26have any retorts that he wants on potential negatives or just being lower.
11:30But Stafford going up against the 49ers, you have as a QB1, and then Malik Willis is almost there.
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13:41Yeah, Stafford played the 49ers twice last year. In Week 5, he lit them up for 389 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions.
13:48Sorry to bring this up, Wallace. I know, yeah, he just destroyed.
13:51He's Ezekiel Elliott on them. Yeah, and then Week 10, 380 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions.
13:5649ers' pass defense gave up the 10th most passing yardage and 11th most touchdown passes to quarterbacks last year.
14:02Their pass rush was completely anemic. Part of that was injury-related.
14:06Maybe things get a little better with Nick Bosa back, or at least I think he's expected back for Week 1.
14:12Bosa's getting a little older. He turns 29 next month.
14:15I just don't think this is a matchup to dread at all.
14:19I think Stafford picks up where he left off last season.
14:22And then with Malik Willis, he's a threat to run for 100 yards in any given game.
14:27And a matchup with the Raiders is not one to fear.
14:31I love Malik Willis this week. Keep me. Good luck keeping us off Malik Willis and the prop show when me and
14:38Erickson get it over on Betting Pros. Erickson, you're not as high as Fitzy on these.
14:43And I want to say you're kind of anti-Stafford.
14:45I think we've talked about this. I think you're worried about the trip, the Australia run.
14:50But you are a little bit more positive on Malik Willis on the ECR, just not where Fitzy is.
14:56Any positive, negative takes? Negative on Stafford? Anything you want to add on Willis?
15:01I don't have anything else to retort for the Matthew Stafford analysis because, again, I look back at those names and in
15:07my notes, he torched this defense twice last year.
15:10So this is kind of like a scary fade for me with Matthew Stafford.
15:15The Rams have the fifth highest applied team total.
15:17So I'm just kind of betting that, hey, he's not a mobile quarterback.
15:21So we're not adding any rushing. Maybe this game isn't as high scoring as the total would suggest.
15:27I've talked about that when we were talking about Kyron Williams on the running back show.
15:32So I'm kind of banking on this game's in Australia.
15:35They're playing at 1030 in the morning. He's coming off a long flight.
15:39Maybe his back's a little bit sore. That's how I'm going to bet against Matthew Stafford.
15:44So I'm willing to be wrong here and bend the knee to Pat Fitzmaurice for Matthew Stafford having a monster game.
15:50But I'm just looking at the optics, just not as high on this particular matchup.
15:55And it's because I just like a lot of these other quarterbacks, including Malik Willis.
16:00I want to buy more into this rushing. So I actually move Willis up to quarterback 15.
16:05And I love that Fitz has him as QB 13.
16:08I want to move him even higher. I look at the Raiders defense and I agree with Fitzy that this is not
16:15a defense that I am shaking in my boots about.
16:18I'm really scared. Rob Leonard is the new defensive coordinator.
16:21He's been the D-line coach for the Raiders since 2023.
16:24He's an unproven guy. You have a rookie head coach calling his first game on the Raiders side for Clint Kubiak.
16:31I know that the Dolphins also have Jeff Halfley.
16:33It's going to be his first game as well.
16:36I just don't think this is a scenario where, oh yeah, the Raiders are just such a good team and they're going to destroy the Miami Dolphins.
16:45I don't think that their rosters are. Yes, the Raiders have the better roster, but I don't think it's like so unmatched
16:51where the Dolphins can't keep this like close. So to me, I get vibes of maybe this could be like a Justin
16:58Fields game from week one last year where the Dolphins unveil like this all new type of offense with Malik Willis using his legs with Devon Achan.
17:07One of the things that I noticed too, when I was reading up on Rob Leonard, so promoted the defensive coordinator.
17:13He's installing a system that was modeled by Mike McDonald from Seattle's defense.
17:17What was Seattle awful at? One of the worst things because they gave up a lot of this production running back targets.
17:24So I think that Achan could have a monster game alongside Malik Willis.
17:28Those guys could be running up and down the field at Allegiant Stadium.
17:32And the Raiders would be like, why don't we just put Fernando Mendoza in the game?
17:37Come on, get Kirk Cousins out of there. So I like being high on Malik Willis this week.
17:42You're supposed to say Chris Bell in there too, but yeah, I'm going to buy what you're going to do.
17:49All right. There are your quarterbacks. A couple of quarterbacks outside the top 12 you can look at if you're looking to make some adjustments.
17:56Let's go look at tight ends now and let's pull up the big board here.
18:01Top 12 tight ends on ECR, half PPR. Command number one is Brock Bowers going up against Miami.
18:07Trey McBride at two. Loveland at three. Tyler Warren at four.
18:10No surprises here. Coming in five is Kyle Pitts.
18:13We've got Tucker Craft getting to the top six spot, even though I know some people are a little bit concerned about him.
18:20Sam Laporta, Harold Fannin, Dallas Goddard, Travis Kelsey, Juwan Johnson, and Isaiah Likely rounding out the rest of it.
18:26Some interesting names in there. Again, like Tucker Craft.
18:29I think the big question we've had is like, do you just trust it?
18:33I think we all trust like Tucker Craft's touchdown equity is great.
18:37Erickson, you had a little bit of concern on extra point.
18:40Is he still a top like eight tight end for you this week?
18:44Because you wanted to do Juwan Johnson over him.
18:47I just love Juwan Johnson this week. I have no reservations about what he could do in that game.
18:53There's no concern about snap count. There's no concern about target share.
18:56All I know is that Juwan Johnson is going to eat in week one.
19:01Whereas Tucker Craft, we don't know how many snaps he's going to play.
19:05We're hoping that he can be efficient as he was last year before his injury.
19:09And he has way more competition for targets. I mean, he's got Watson and Golden and Reed.
19:15So I think that Craft, yeah, is always the more higher upside play when it comes to touchdowns.
19:20But I mean, who has a higher implied team total this week?
19:24The Green Bay Packers or the New Orleans Saints?
19:27It's probably pretty close. So I actually prefer Juwan Johnson, especially in like a full PPR, where if he's racking up underneath
19:34receptions, where Tucker Craft does most of his damage after the catch with big yardage numbers.
19:39Where do you have Juwan ranked, Erickson? Nine. And then Tucker Craft is 10.
19:43Yeah, I want to ask you that. Craft or Juwan Johnson for you, Fitzy?
19:47So I've got Craft up at six and I've got Juwan Johnson at 10.
19:52I just, I'm not sure I buy the snap limitation thing for Craft.
19:56Another tight end, kind of interesting, is Harold Fannin.
19:58You guys have got some differences, but you're both higher than ECR.
20:02I have a general like lower sense of it, just adding in so many pass catchers, Juwan, Deshaun Watson.
20:08But Harold Fannin comes in as ECR eight going up into get Jaguars.
20:12You guys both have them higher. Fitzy, you got him at five.
20:16So talk to us about Fannin at five here.
20:18The Jaguars gave up the sixth most receptions and 10th most receiving yards to tight ends last year.
20:24And I just, I think Fannin is really good.
20:27And I do worry about the quarterback. I'd rather it be Shadur who we saw could feed Fannin effectively.
20:33But even with Watson, I think Watson is going to be able to look like he's going to get Fannin the ball
20:40and some easy completions, some short area stuff. And Fannin, this guy is just, I have so much respect for him.
20:46He led FBS, big school football in receptions and receiving yards, his final season at Bowling Green in 2024, like over 1500
20:53yards, over a hundred catches comes to the Browns and has 72 catches for 731 yards and six TDs as a rookie
21:00leads the Browns and all receiving categories. Um, I like this guy is such an unheralded star on heralded.
21:05See what I did there. Um, yeah, man, I just, even with my reservations about, uh, the quarterback, like I think Deshaun
21:12Watson can still get Fannin to a good game in week one.
21:16Yeah. And I might be overblowing a little bit.
21:19It's just, I don't know. Concepcion looks like a player that they're going to move around and try to get the ball in some of those short yard.
21:27I think they're going to just like scheme up to get the ball in his hands and they really didn't have like
21:34playmakers last year and they have added in more playmakers.
21:37You got Samson, you got Judkins, you had Fannin, but now you're bringing in Boston, you're bringing in Concepcion.
21:43They're going to figure some stupid thing out with Jerry Judy.
21:47They got Isaiah Bond who, you know, they actually have some weapons, the denominator of all of that.
21:52And then Deshaun Watson just, yeah, it just makes me feel a little bit squeamish, especially when thinking of him over Kraft and over Juwan Johnson.
22:00But Erickson, you've got him at seven. So you're just like one spot on ECR.
22:05Now I'm trying to remember, do you have Kraft and Juwan Johnson over him or is it just Juwan Johnson?
22:11I have Fannin over Kraft. I just think that Fannin is a better bet for just sheer volume.
22:17I feel very confident that he's going to see eight, nine, 10 targets.
22:21Cleveland Browns should be facing negative game script. They're catching seven and a half points on the road against the Jaguars.
22:27Jaguars, Jaguars you can't run on. So I think the Browns are going to be feeding Quinceon Judkins to a brick wall and that's going to go nowhere.
22:36In the second half, they're just going to be throwing the ball with Deshaun Watson to guys like Harold Fannin and Casey Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
22:44So I think that there's going to be plenty of volume for Fannin.
22:48Fitz mentioned that the Jags were a bottom 10 defense versus tight ends last season.
22:53And that was with Devin Lloyd, one of their main linebackers.
22:56He's not on the team anymore. So I think that this is a good matchup for Harold Fannin, especially when the Jaguars
23:03have retained most of the same personnel. It's the same scheme.
23:06So I do think that there is an actual you can actually use last year's tight end stats projecting this team a little bit forward.
23:14So I'm just confident about the volume for Fannin.
23:17Dallas Goddard, that's definitely a name that kind of pops up.
23:20I think as people are going to look on ECR is a guy that wasn't going inside like the top 12.
23:27He's in the top 10 here. He's at nine.
23:29You guys are both higher. For Erickson, this is your spot where Fitzy's got Fannin at five.
23:35You've got Goddard at five. And obviously Goddard, you know, historically can kind of eat without A.J.
23:40Brown, but the offense is a little bit different.
23:43So you've got him at five. So you're kind of an all in on Goddard this week.
23:48Either Dallas Goddard or Devontae Smith is going to smash because both guys have extremely high ceilings.
23:53What we've seen in the past without A.J. Brown in the lineup.
23:57Her sharp football stats. Dallas Goddard owns a 26% target rate per route run with A.J.
24:02Brown off the field. That would have ranked first among all tight ends last season.
24:07Over the last two seasons, he's over 12 fantasy points per game and half PPR without A.J.
24:12Brown in the lineup. Makai Lemon, we're expecting kind of slow out of the gates because of all the time that he has missed.
24:19Notavian Wicks. Yes, he is fun. But I think that Jalen Hurts has established rapport with Dallas Goddard in this new offense.
24:26I think that's his safety blanket. It's a security blanket.
24:29So I think that he's going to go towards Dallas Goddard a lot, especially when it's the Washington Commanders.
24:35Just a terrible defense overall. I know they tried to improve things, but Sonny Stiles is a rookie.
24:41He's fun. I think Dallas Goddard is going to see touchdown equity potential, a lot of volume.
24:46So I think he should be a top five tight end.
24:49Fitz, you kind of co-sign. You're at ECR. Anything you want to add and any excitement on Goddard?
24:55Do you think this is just like a very proper place?
24:58Again, putting, I mean, Jawan Johnson, I guess, would be the one under.
25:02Because you said you had him at 10. And Kelsey's back there.
25:06Isaiah Likely going against Dallas. Like, all those guys belong below Dallas Goddard, too?
25:10Yes. And I think I'm a little worried that Goddard averaged a career low 9.9 yards per catch last season, only 7.2
25:17yards per target, which is more than a full yard below his career average.
25:21And the 11 touchdowns, I think six of them came on shovel passes inside the five-yard line.
25:27And that seems like it was maybe a unique page from the Kevin Petillo playbook.
25:31Not something we can really count on Sean Mannion continuing to do, dialing up those shovel passes from short range.
25:38But yeah, I just, without A.J. Brown, it stands to reason that Dallas Goddard might be a bigger part of the offense,
25:44at least early in the season until Makai Lemon shows what he can do.
25:49Final tight end to talk about did not make the top 12.
25:52This is interesting because Fitz, you have made him a top 12 guy.
25:56He's number 12 on your list. So that's a starting tight end.
26:00And I'm actually surprised it's not with Erickson, but this is Mark Andrews.
26:04So Fitzy, give us the case why Mark Andrews is a startable top 12 tight end this week.
26:10Although we don't know exactly what the Ravens offense is going to look like with Declan Doyle as the new offensive coordinator,
26:17Lamar Jackson has always heavily targeted his tight ends.
26:19In Lamar's seven seasons as a starter, Ravens tight ends have ranked first, fifth, first, first, tenth, fourth, and fourth in percentage of team targets.
26:27And Isaiah likely is gone. So it stands to reason that a huge percentage of the tight end targets for Baltimore are going to go to Mark Andrews.
26:36It's just a question of whether or not he's washed because there were signs of him being washed last season.
26:42And the reports from training camp have not been very encouraging.
26:45Erickson, you have been pretty glowingly talking about like Zay Flowers.
26:49I'm going to guess that has probably something to do with it.
26:52But I think you got him at 16, so not even a top 15 tight end.
26:57So any thoughts you want to end us with on Mark Andrews?
27:01Touchdown or bust? Very similar to what the bets were last year with him.
27:05I talked about this with Zay Flowers that Lamar Jackson has these nuclear games in week one.
27:11So Mark Andrews, he could be washed and still catch two touchdowns.
27:14So I want to acknowledge that that is very much in his range of outcomes.
27:19If you drafted him, I would want to start him earlier in the season before things start to continue to decline.
27:26I don't have him anywhere. He was one of my biggest fades in redraft because I am on the belief that he has way past his prime.
27:34But acknowledging in week one against some younger linebackers for the Colts, CJ Allen specifically, you know, show off that veteran prowess, especially in the red zone.
27:42It would not surprise me if he scores. Well, any questions you guys have?
27:47Obviously, we're here on the shows and the live streams and podcasts and discord.
27:51But make sure you guys have locked in on the Fantasy Pros app and sync your leagues, even if the drafts are over.
27:58Obviously, the drafts are over, I guess, at this point, since we're focusing on week one.
28:03But with the drafts over, because you can get all the intel on what waivers, what trades to make, all the moves
28:10that you're looking to do and get set for.
28:13Optimize lineups. We got you covered over on Fantasy Pros.
28:16So you can go to the website, you can download the app, make sure you do that.
28:21Get prepped for the week. We're going to do the best job we possibly can with tons of episodes and answering all your questions.
28:28But that is the greatest way to take it with you at all times.
28:33Go over to Fantasy Pros. Get locked in today.
28:35That is going to do it. Quarterback and tight end ranks are in the books.
28:40Week one ranks are in the books. Fantasypros.com slash rankings.
28:43If you want to peruse and see what they look like, even up to the minute with Wednesday and Thursday and the weekend games.
28:51That's going to do it for us, though. For Andrew Erickson, Pat Fitzmaurice, I'm Chris Welsh.
28:56Good luck in week one. And we will talk to you next time right here on Fantasy Pros.
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30:19The entire draft room groans because you just took the guy they wanted.
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