Week 4 Fantasy Football News: Puka Nacua, Braelon Allen, J.J. McCarthy & Start/Sit Advice (Ep. 2233)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
35 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Oct 1, 2026
Published
Thu, October 1, 2026
24
Player insights
22
Players mentioned
Topics
Kyren WilliamsPuka NacuaAaron JonesBraelon AllenBrian Thomas Jr.Bucky IrvingChris OlaveChristian WatsonColston LovelandDrake MayeJ.J. McCarthyJ.K. DobbinsJameson WilliamsJaylen Waddle
Player analysis
Player insights
Aaron Jones
NegativeUsage11:46
Aaron Jones is considered a lineup lock, but there is concern regarding his massive workload and durability. He has taken a significant beating over the last two weeks, and the source suggests he could be a bench candidate in specific formats if better options are available, particularly against a Miami defense that has been better against the run.
Insight pageBraelon Allen
PositiveBreakout15:38
Braelon Allen is viewed as a strong play for Week 4 and beyond while Breece Hall is sidelined with a thigh bruise. Allen has shown explosiveness, goal-line usage, and target volume, leading the source to describe him as a 'monster' and a 'tank' who is ready for a solid outing.
Insight pageBrian Thomas Jr.
PositiveBreakout35:35
The source advocates for Brian Thomas Jr. to be traded out of Jacksonville, suggesting he needs a fresh start, potentially with the 49ers or reuniting with Mac Jones, as he has proven talent.
Insight pageBucky Irving
NegativeUsage37:02
The situation for Bucky Irving is described as not great, making him a difficult player to package in trades to upgrade other positions.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveValue40:32
Chris Olave is identified as the most valuable piece in a potential trade involving Rashee Rice and J.K. Dobbins.
Insight pageChristian Watson
PositiveProjection55:27
Christian Watson is on track to be a top-12 wide receiver this season, making him a preferred hold over trading for Malik Nabers in some scenarios.
Insight pageColston Loveland
NegativeValue37:24
Colston Loveland's fantasy stock is currently very low, making him a poor trade asset to move at this time.
Insight pageDrake Maye
NegativeInjury3:35
Drake Maye appeared on the injury report with a right shoulder injury, though he was a full participant in practice. The shoulder issue is cited as a potential reason for his poor mechanics and struggles against top defenses, though the source also notes he is struggling with decision-making and pressing to make plays.
Insight pageJ.J. McCarthy
PositiveDepth Chart50:18
The trade of J.J. McCarthy to the Giants is viewed as a win-win, with potential for him to fit the offense better than Jameis Winston.
Insight pageJ.K. Dobbins
NegativeUsage48:29
J.K. Dobbins is viewed as a temporary placeholder RB2 with a clear path to early-down touches, but he lacks a receiving role and carries injury risk; 10-15% FAAB is recommended.
Insight pageJameson Williams
PositiveMatchup27:35
Jameson Williams is a strong start for Week 4 against the Panthers, who are missing their two starting cornerbacks (Mike Jackson and JC Horn) due to injury. The source expects Williams to have a breakout performance in this matchup.
Insight pageJaylen Waddle
PositiveInjury25:21
Jaylen Waddle practiced in full on Wednesday, which is a positive sign after he was seen wearing a boot earlier in the week. The boot was likely precautionary.
Insight pageJaylen Wright
NegativeInjury7:23
Jalen Wright's status for Week 4 is TBD as he deals with a stinger and foot injury. He was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Insight pageJustin Herbert
NegativeProjection38:58
The source expresses doubt regarding Justin Herbert's immediate turnaround, advising against trading for him in superflex formats if immediate production is required.
Insight pageKyren Williams
PositiveUsage21:45
Kyren Williams is preferred over David Montgomery for the rest of the season. Williams showed out last week over Blake Corum, solidifying his role in the Rams' backfield.
Insight pagePositiveUsage40:18
Kyren Williams is a must-start asset, and managers should prioritize handcuffing him with Blake Corum to protect the roster spot.
Insight pageLuther Burden
PositiveUsage21:45
Luther Burden is a recommended start, as he has led the Bears in targets over the last three weeks, proving his value despite initial skepticism.
Insight pageMalik Nabers
PositiveValue52:28
Malik Nabers is considered a buy-low candidate due to his immense talent, despite the uncertainty surrounding the Giants' quarterback situation.
Insight pageMarvin Harrison Jr.
NegativeUsage40:56
Marvin Harrison Jr. has seen his fantasy value fall significantly due to lack of usage on his current team, leading to calls for a trade.
Insight pageMike Evans
NegativeInjury35:23
Mike Evans will not practice and is confirmed to be out for the upcoming game; fantasy managers should not hold out hope for his availability.
Insight pageOllie Gordon
PositiveRole7:13
Ollie Gordon is tentatively the Dolphins' RB1 for Week 4, especially if Jalen Wright remains sidelined. Gordon played nearly every snap following Devon Achane's injury in Week 3 and demonstrated a three-down skill set with power and receiving ability, though the matchup against the Vikings is difficult.
Insight pagePuka Nacua
PositiveInjury0:20
Puka Nacua is expected to play in Week 4 against the Eagles per Sean McVay. Despite conflicting reports regarding a potential sports hernia or surgery, he is a must-start for fantasy managers. While he may be on a pitch count, his high-upside profile makes him impossible to bench, similar to how other players have returned from injury to produce immediately.
Insight pagePositiveValue36:48
The source advises holding Puka Nacua despite his injury, noting he is a strong buy-low candidate for managers who can afford to wait for his return.
Insight pageTyson Bagent
NegativeDepth Chart31:41
The Bears' quarterback situation remains fluid between Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent. While Keenum performed well, the team likely views Bagent as the superior option, and he is expected to return to the starting role.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. If you have any comments about the topics that we're breaking down about the NFL, don't be shy.
0:08We are here to answer your questions and have a lot of fun along the way.
0:13So, for the next 30 minutes, buckle in and let's have some fun.
0:17Breaking news came before we just started the stream.
0:20Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver reported by Adam Schefter to be expected to play in Week 4, according to
0:27head coach Sean McVay, playing on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
0:31The Puka Nacua experience has not been fun for anybody invested from a fantasy perspective.
0:35Not been great for the Rams, although Devonta Adams has more than picked up the slack in terms of his two monster games the last two weeks.
0:44As a Devonta Adams fader in fantasy football, the last two weeks have been very, very painful to watch, but I do,
0:51I did always kind of acknowledge in the back of my mind that this was always possible.
0:56If Puka were to miss time, then Devonta Adams would be an absolute smash.
1:01So, at least things are looking up for Puka Nacua.
1:04This groin, hip, sports hernia injury, it's kind of all over the place with the reporting.
1:09We've seen some other things kind of trickle out that it could be a sports hernia that could require surgery.
1:15So, we shall see, but for now, it looks like for Week 4, Puka Nacua is going to be out there for
1:22the LA Rams, and if you have him in fantasy, you're starting him, and you're excited.
1:27We'll see if he survives. Dave Flowers came back from his injury in Week 3, and was absolutely fantastic despite playing on
1:34a pitch count, and I can already see the fantasy questions piling in about Puka Nacua, do I start him?
1:41He's going to be on a pitch count, and for me, it's, you're going to fire this guy up no matter what, unless we get more information.
1:49But this has happened before, I believe, I don't know if it was his rookie year or two years ago.
1:56On like a Thursday night, Puka was questionable, and then he played, and he just absolutely smashed.
2:01So, similar to the Brock Purdy situation that we saw in Week 3, Bauer missed the first two weeks of the season, came back, absolutely went nuclear.
2:10I just can't bench that type of upside. Now, we also have some other breaking news here.
2:15It looks like Patriots quarterback Drake May popped up on the injury report for the first time this season with what the
2:22team is calling a right shoulder injury. May was still a full participant at today's practice despite the injury designation.
2:28Have we reached Patriots shoulder gate with Drake May?
2:31It all stems back to the shoulder. The shoulder was the reason why he struggled against the best defenses in the NFL.
2:38It's why he's been struggling to start the season for the New England Patriots.
2:43I know that's kind of been an interesting topic that people watching Drake May, looking at his mechanics this season, because he hasn't looked right.
2:51I'm more in the camp that he's not seeing the field the right way, and he's pressing, and he's trying to make too many plays.
2:59And even last week, there were plays left on the table.
3:02The turnovers were inexcusable. So, so bad across the board for Drake May.
3:06But there were opportunities for him to actually score points.
3:09The Patriots drove the ball into the Jaguars' side seven times on the Jaguars' side of the field.
3:15But the turnovers missed field goals. They could not find the end zone.
3:19Matt Collins dropped the touchdown. Kyle Williams ran out of bounds.
3:23What would have been a 50-yard receiving touchdown. Missed Romeo Dobbs.
3:26Miscommunication. He had a 21-yard rushing touchdown that was called back.
3:30And obviously, some of his interceptions were absolutely brutal.
3:33And who could forget the misplacement of dropping back to throw.
3:36The ball goes out of his hands. And then he talks about how, well, my center bled all over the ball.
3:43It's really humid in Jacksonville. And that's why the ball slipped out of my hands.
3:48So, still making excuses for Drake May. I'm trying not to do that.
3:52Even as the Patriots homer. The Patriots stand here at Fantasy Pros slash Betting Pros.
3:57And on the tailgate, obviously, you can see my background.
4:00A lot of Pat's merchandise. So, I bleed blue.
4:03And then right now, the Patriots are bleeding a lot of blue based on their offensive performance over the last three weeks of the season.
4:11So, maybe it is all the shoulder injury. Maybe that's why he's playing bad.
4:15But if that means he is playing through an injury and that's why he's playing bad, then why should we expect anything different?
4:22But that will be another topic for another day as we break down the top two storylines.
4:28Just breaking right now. But let's dive into the top five storylines that we came in to today.
4:33Looking to break down Ollie Gordon. Running back for the Miami Dolphins.
4:37Probably saw him in your fantasy football league get picked up off the waiver wire this week.
4:43He and Jalen Wright. Hot debate discussion at the water cooler.
4:46At the bars. This week for sure. Who's going to be the RB1 for Miami Dolphins?
4:51And it doesn't even matter. Because they're facing the Minnesota Vikings.
4:55And Brian Flores in a hashtag revenge game. A lot of revenge games this week.
4:59Which we need to make like a segment on some show.
5:03Maybe on the tailgate about revenge game season. Does it matter?
5:06Does it not matter? But I think Brian Flores is going to throw everything he can at the Miami Dolphins team.
5:13That obviously they had a awkward, to say the least, ending to that relationship in his tenure in Miami.
5:19So, as someone that comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree.
5:23Yeah, I'm sure that there's some bad blood that he's going to remember when he faces the Miami Dolphins.
5:29Especially based on the state of their franchise. 0-3.
5:32Probably going to be 0-4 after they face the Vikings.
5:35Lost their best player, Devon Achan, last week. So, I think that's going to continue.
5:40Now, with Ollie Gordon. It really depends on what we see from Jalen Wright.
5:44I don't know if Jalen Wright was practicing today.
5:47I'm not sure, Sal, behind the scenes. If you can give me an update on the Miami Dolphins injury report.
5:53If you want to throw it in the private chat.
5:56But TBD on the status of Jalen Wright. Who was dealing with a stinger slash foot injury.
6:02And that's really what kind of put Ollie Gordon into this monster role back in week 3.
6:07Where he was basically playing every single snap for the Miami Dolphins.
6:11He didn't cede any touches to another running back.
6:14After Achan got hurt. He played and touched the ball basically every single time.
6:18For the Miami Dolphins among their backfield mates. So, if Jalen Wright is not playing.
6:23I think that Gordon is probably going to be the RB1.
6:27How he will perform is TBD. Because it's just a really brutal matchup.
6:31Although, after re-watching what he did last week. I was more or less impressed than what I think I was expecting.
6:37I was expecting more of a bruising type of performance.
6:41But, I thought he actually did make a couple decent plays.
6:44He definitely does have a lot of power to his game.
6:48And, I did think he did make at least one nice catch.
6:51So, he does have a 3 down skill set.
6:54He's obviously not as good as Achan. But, I think for right now.
6:58Tentatively. He looks like the Dolphins RB1. For what it's worth.
7:02Do we have a question here before we hop to our next topic?
7:06MDA Harris. Is Aaron Jones a lineup lock? Would you go with him or Chase Brown, Devontae Smith, or Chuba in the flex?
7:13Full PPR. Thanks for the question, MDA Harris. Thanks for supporting the channel here on the Taglet.
7:19Remember, subscribe to the tailgate. Is a lineup lock?
7:22I think so. I mean, he's facing the Miami Dolphins.
7:25It's hard to really bench any offensive player when they're facing Miami.
7:29I was talking about it on the Rank Show.
7:31We actually discussed Aaron Jones on the Fanny Spurs Ranking Show.
7:35So, myself, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Tara Roberts. Again, filling in for Welsh.
7:39Who's off doing Welsh. Whatever Welsh's do this time of day and this time of year.
7:44So, it's really hard to bench him. I would say over those types of players, though.
7:49I think I actually prefer all those guys. I guess you can make the argument that Devontae Smith might be the odd man out.
7:57Just because he's a wide receiver. So, the position is always a little bit more of a wide variance.
8:03But Chase Brown, the volume he's seeing. Jacksonville Jaguars matchup should be a shootout.
8:07I don't want to bench him. Chuba Hubbard. Again, another player that's seeing just a massive workload.
8:12My argument against Aaron Jones was just that can you keep this up, number one?
8:17Because it seems like this guy is one hit away from just being carted off the field on a stretcher because he's
8:24just taken such a beating over the last two weeks.
8:27And look, the team loves Aaron Jones. I just don't know how much longer he can handle this massive type of workload.
8:34So, it wouldn't surprise me if against a team like Miami that's actually been better against the run than the past this year.
8:42I mean, you can pass all day against the Miami Dolphins that maybe in this consideration, he actually would be a bench.
8:49But still a good player to start regardless. Unless you have really other great options.
8:53But it's a good problem to have M. Day Harris.
8:57So, before we get to the next segment, I do actually want to talk about our Todd Gurley signed Rams jersey.
9:03If you want to win a Todd Gurley signed Rams jersey, then this is your shot.
9:08All you have to do is subscribe to the Tailgate YouTube channel right now.
9:13Drop a comment below on any video and that's it.
9:16We'll be announcing a winner right here on the channel.
9:19So, make sure to turn on those notifications so you can know when new videos are up and declaim your prize.
9:26Todd Gurley, man. What an absolute legend. Absolute legend in fantasy football.
9:30Just that dang degenerative knee injury. Next topic. Sal, if you want to pull it up.
9:35I don't remember what I put for number two here.
9:38Let me... Yes. Braylon Allen. Sisson. New York Jets.
9:41So, we're just shaking up all these backfields here this week.
9:44It's a fun week for fantasy because we get all these running backs and the running backs don't matter mantra.
9:51This is where that comes to mind the most when star running back goes down, backup comes in, smashes.
9:57It's like, oh, Arby's don't matter. Although that's really not been the case over the last couple years when we've seen a
10:04lot of these running backs smash in a big way.
10:07Before we do break down, Braylon, I just want to follow up on the Jalen Wright limited participant on Wednesday to be expected.
10:14So, TBD. Make sure you go check out the Fantasy Pros Are They Playing Tool to get more updates about Jalen Wright.
10:21But right now, based on his limited participation, Somali Gordon's probably going to be the guy at least this week, but may
10:28not be the guy in future weeks. Braylon Allen, though, I feel like...
10:32Actually, I like a lot more specifically for this week and for future weeks while Brees Hall is kind of on the
10:39shelf dealing with this thigh bruise injury. Braylon Allen is a monster.
10:43One of the youngest players in the NFL despite that he's packed...
10:47I think it's his third season, but he entered the NFL at age 20.
10:51Former Wisconsin Badger. Shout out to Pat Fitzmaurice and his Badgers.
10:55He's a tank. And I think that through the first three weeks of the season, we've seen Braylon Allen kind of check off all the boxes.
11:03Okay, explosive. He ripped off a big run in week one.
11:07It got called back due to a penalty. But...
11:10Can rip off some big plays. It's the Bears matchup.
11:13Like, that's solid. Not ready to call the Bears the 85 Bears after they stopped the Vikings in week two and they stopped the Eagles offense.
11:21Because the Eagles, like we know, can't really get out of their own way.
11:25And honestly, Saquon Barkley was the only thing that was kind of working for that Eagles offense on the ground.
11:32Really efficient in the first half. Obviously, Eagles kind of abandoned the run game in the second half on Monday Night Football.
11:39So I think Braylon can find some success here for the Jets offensively.
11:43Last week, he had four targets. And in week two, he had goal-lining red zone opportunities.
11:48So they clearly trust Braylon Allen with some of these high-value opportunities and high-value touches.
11:53So yeah, I think that he's going to be in for a solid outing.
11:57And honestly, excited to kind of see this guy play.
12:00He is an absolute monster. A unit, as the kids might call.
12:04So I'm excited for Braylon Allen and to see how his backfield shakes out.
12:09Dude, the Jets, man. Aaron Glenn, not going to be the first head coach fired.
12:13I think that was one of my bold predictions earlier this offseason.
12:17And at the time, it was like, man, how is this possibly going to happen?
12:22But then like Todd Bowles is in a really, really tough spot here, especially losing Baker Mayfield.
12:27Don't know how that team is going to recover.
12:30The Buccaneers, I've said on multiple shows, but that team has taken on water.
12:35The ship is going down. Will Jalen Daniels be the savior that the Bucs need?
12:40I maybe. I don't think so. I don't think so.
12:43All right, let's get to some more questions here before we get to the next storyline to talk about.
12:49I'm also just trying to keep pace to make sure I'm not missing any other breaking news items.
12:54Nothing there. So Bucky Irving did appear on the injury report this week, but I don't think that it's anything super, super glaring.
13:02All right. Carter Strange SSK, a super chat. Appreciate it.
13:05Kyron Williams, Burden or Monty slash Garrett Wilson rest of season.
13:08So this is just a generic trade. Man, I really like Garrett Wilson rest of the season.
13:14I don't like Dave Montgomery. Dave Montgomery seems like a potential not usable piece at some point during the season.
13:20So I think I'm going to go with Kyron Williams and Luther Burden.
13:24Honestly, I really like Garrett Wilson. I think he's the guy I value the most, but I think it's close enough between
13:31him and Kyron where Kyron is just going to do his thing.
13:35And Kyron did show out last week over Blake Corum, which has not always been the case for the first two weeks of the season.
13:43So I think I'm doing Kyron and Luther Burden here.
13:46Burden has proved me wrong for the first three weeks of the season.
13:50Leads the Bears in targets over the last three weeks, even with Khalif Raymond being the prince that was promised.
13:57And I mean, they should put Khalif Raymond on the bat and cover, man.
14:01What were they thinking? Awesome Dev. Drop Rashad White or Kyle Manunga to pick up Travion Henderson.
14:07Yeah, I'm willing to drop Rashad White. It looks like he's injured dealing with a shoulder injury the team had at Austin Eckler.
14:14So my this year's Javante Williams take for Rashad White's not coming to fruition.
14:18He's just banged up right now. So I think I would actually pick up Travion too for Rashad White.
14:24So awesome Dev. Appreciate you in the chat. As always, that's the move I would make.
14:30Steven Garcia. Full PPR pick three. Agbuka, Golden, Neighbors, McLaurin, thanks Goat.
14:33No, thank you, Steven. Appreciate you watching the tailgate.
14:36Appreciate you guys hanging out, man. I'm just dude talking ball on a Wednesday afternoon.
14:41Love it, man. Best place to be right now.
14:44For this week, not playing Agbuka. Golden's in, Neighbors is in, McLaurin's in.
14:48There you go. Fade the Bucs. Mark Andrews. From ETW Burn.
14:51Mark Andrews or Sadiq rest of season PPR? If it's Mark Andrews basically versus anybody, I'm not going to say Mark Andrews.
14:58So this will be Kenyon Sadiq for me. That one is easy.
15:02Another question from ETW underscore Burn. Monty or DJ Moore is my second flex PPR?
15:07I'm going with DJ Moore. Man, the Mont, so the Dallas Cowboys, they write, is the matchup bringing people back to Montgomery?
15:14Just be careful. Just be careful. I'm still going with DJ Moore.
15:18Another update from my guy, Sal, behind the scenes.
15:21Appreciate you, Sal. Jalen Waddell practiced in full today, which is very good because he was seen after the game or I
15:28think it was on Monday or Tuesday wearing a boot.
15:31It's like full-on bootsy. I know it's like fall and people want to rock the boots.
15:36You know, girls wear Uggs. I mean, Tom Brady wears Uggs.
15:39So Ugg season, pumpkin spice season, boot season. Like all these people are just rocking these boots after their games, but apparently
15:46it's more like precautionary than anything like, oh, it's going to be a very severe injury.
15:52So Jalen Waddell, good to be in. Let's see you bounce back.
15:5549ers, suspect, secondary, shootout. Bo Nix is quarterback, so it's going to be a roller coaster no matter what, but hey, saddle up, baby.
16:03That's why he's on the Broncos. Saddle up. Last question here before I get to our next segment, our next storyline.
16:10Pat fan, 0987. Go Pat. Should I trade Watson for Brees Hall, Jake Williams, or Tootin?
16:15And Tootin? Christian Watson, or not, so I guess it's got to be for all three then.
16:20If it's Javante Williams, yes. I think if it's Jamison Williams, I don't like it obviously as much.
16:26I think it's still a yes. If you really mean running backs, I think that this is a move that you would make, especially if it's Javante.
16:34If it's Jamison, I don't hate it as much, but I don't like it as much, obviously.
16:40But I think that this is a good trade.
16:43So let's get to our next storyline here. Number three.
16:46Sal, remind me again. What do we got? Get that graphic in here for the number three storyline.
16:52Panthers. Oh, this actually dovetails right well into the Jamison Williams discussion.
16:55Mike Jackson and JC Horn, the Panthers' two starting cornerbacks, both placed on injured reserve this week.
17:01what we're doing. I don't know. Dan Campbell, Drew Petsig, what are we doing here, folks?
17:06I get they're playing outside because you always got to be careful whenever Jared Doff steps outside to play football because for
17:13some reason, the indoor cat just takes over. But against the Carolina Panthers, another cat, you got indoor cat versus outdoor cat.
17:20it is a cat battle here in Sunday night football.
17:23So, I think Jamison Williams, this has to be a place you start him in.
17:28I think that he's a player that has big games.
17:31This has to be a spot where he explodes.
17:34So, that's why they want to bring that up because the Panthers are dealing with a lot of injuries right now, have an awesome guard injury.
17:42So, I'm expecting Bryce Young, assuming he's healthy, I know he had his ankle imaging done.
17:47So, we shall see. We're seeing fireworks Sunday night football.
17:50So, that's a game I'm actually looking forward to a ton and we're going to be talking about it on the tailgate.
17:57Myself, maybe Welsh, if he's back, if he's not doing Welsh things and Pat Fitzmaurice should be a lot of fun.
18:04Christian Gonzalez, more Patriots updates, did not practice. Don't love that.
18:08Against the Bills, yeah, start DJ Moore. Yep, not great.
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18:56Storyline number four. What do we got? Who will be the quarterback for Chicago this week?
19:01Case Keenum did the unthinkable. Beat the Eagles overrated team on Monday Night Football.
19:05Flawless game, really, from Case Keenum who Ben Johnson masterclass with a third string quarterback being able to take down a...
19:12Look, Eagles have their offensive problems, but their defense has also maybe been a tad bit overrated for the first three weeks of the season.
19:20I know I pointed out how their run defense had not been great on one of the rankings shows a couple weeks
19:27ago, and the Bears obviously were able to do kind of everything that they wanted to.
19:32They passed effectively down to Swift, was able to run the ball effectively.
19:36Now, it does put the Bears in a weird position where do...
19:40They actually believe Keenum is the better quarterback because he wouldn't have been the QB3 all year if they actually felt that way.
19:47Or is it, well, we got to ride the momentum of Case Keenum, or is it one of these scenarios where lightning
19:54struck with Case Keenum, they got the Sunrun, and now it's like, all right, that's probably not going to happen again.
20:01Let's go back to Tyson Bagent, who we actually think is better.
20:05So I'm interested to see what they actually do here.
20:08I think Ben Johnson was talking about going back to Bayjian.
20:11I don't know if we have actually anything confirmed about who's actually going to start.
20:16I mean, if I'm Ben Johnson, I'm like, why would I tell Aaron Glenn which quarterback I'm going to start?
20:22You know, that's another really interesting markup about this potential matchup against the New York Jets is it's Aaron Glenn against Ben Johnson.
20:30Now, in the past, Ben Johnson has had the edge in terms of these offensive coordinator defensive quarter matchups.
20:36I know that he had been pretty successful against Brian Flores' defenses.
20:40Obviously, that didn't work in week two. Brian Flores ended up having the last laugh, but five and two now straight up
20:47against the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and Brian Flores.
20:50So, I actually do give the edge here to Ben Johnson, especially what he did to Vic Fangio.
20:56I think that he'll have the edge, especially just personnel-wise.
20:59The Jets' secondary is not even close to what the Eagles have, so I think the Bears are going to have some advantages here.
21:07Even though the Jets' defensive line has actually improved a lot since last season under Aaron Glenn, so I think it'll be
21:14Baygent unless we get something else that clearly says otherwise and maybe Sal's telling me that that's not the case.
21:20Nope. We're just getting more updates about these receivers.
21:23DJ Moore, limited. Nico Collins, limited. Mike Evans won't practice.
21:26Mike Evans is not playing, so don't hold out for Mike Evans.
21:30It's going to be Brandon Cook's season. Is Christian Kirk coming back for the 49ers?
21:35Also heard a rumor that Brian Thomas Jr., potentially on the move to the Bay Area.
21:40Please get Brian Thomas Jr. out of Jacksonville. They don't want him.
21:43They don't need him. That's fine. Move on. He needs to be with his boy Mac Jones.
21:49That's where Brian Thomas Jr. needs to be. Make it happen.
21:52Brian Thomas Jr., Mac Jones, the reunite. That's what we need.
21:56So, that's my breakdown there. Let's go to more questions here.
21:59Matt BSBL. My team is Mahomes, Brown, Irving, Puka, Smith, blah, blah, blah, blah, Okay, I bet you guys, who should I target and bundle together for who?
22:08Eight man full PPR. So, if I'm looking to trade somebody, I think that you want to hold Puka, Jeremiah Love.
22:15I mean, I kind of like this team. If you're looking to bundle someone to move up, I guess running back would
22:22probably be the area you'd look to upgrade the most, but I don't think you can really package Brown and Irving with anybody in particular.
22:30Maybe Brown, because I like Brown as a buy, as a buy low.
22:34Irving, you know, the situation's not that great. So, I don't know if there's really like an obvious trade.
22:40I guess tight end is probably where you need the most.
22:44So, if you could bundle Loveland, I mean, I don't really want to trade Loveland just because his stock is so, so low right now.
22:51Brees, Kyron, T, Swift. I mean, I feel like this team's pretty good.
22:56Yeah, tight end, I guess, is what you need the most help with.
23:00So, if you wanted to trade, I guess if you really want to upgrade tight end and be Loveland plus a running
23:07back to upgrade that tight end spot, maybe someone like a Dalton Kincaid or something like that, maybe that's what I would do.
23:14But honestly, Matt, I don't really love a lot of that strategy.
23:18I'm trying to think like maybe Brown plus Smith to get like an even better running back.
23:23Maybe that's another idea, but Eagles off, it's not looking great on Monday Night Football.
23:28I don't think Smith, I think I gotta wait, wait a week, Matt, wait a week.
23:33I feel like you still have a pretty strong team here, but that's my main take.
23:38Awesome Dev, trade Herbert for Geno Smith. Oh God, I mean, I don't know when it's gonna turn around for Justin Herbert.
23:45I trade Herbert to get Drake May. I just don't think Geno has like the, I mean, he's got good matchups this
23:52week, so in a super flex, dude, I don't know if I can do it.
23:57I think it's, I think it's a no for me, but if you like need production right now, I understand like what
24:04you have to do, but in a super flex, it feels, feels dirty.
24:08We expect Geno to produce because Geno's like very matchup.
24:11I mean, he was QB3 because he faced the Lions.
24:14Justin Herbert gets to face the Lions, I'm not doing it.
24:18ET underscore burn, I have Kyron as my RB2 such flex.
24:21Quorum is just dropshed, grab and let Jerry Price go.
24:25Yep, gotta do it. You gotta protect the assets.
24:28Engineering Price is heading in the wrong direction with the fumbles, all that stuff.
24:32Planning a trade, Rashad Rice, Rashad Rice, Rashi Rice and Kemp Skattam for Chris Alave and Dobbins.
24:37Is that a fair trade? Yeah, I think so.
24:40I don't love Dobbins, but I feel like he's kind of like the throw-in piece here.
24:45So you at least get a running back because you're getting Olave who's the best part of the deal.
24:51So I do like this option as well. Steven Garcia talking about need a Marvin Harrison trade to happen.
24:57Guys, who's getting traded first, Marvin Harrison or Brian Thomas Jr.?
25:01These guys both gotta get dealt because they're not being used on their own teams.
25:06At least with Brian Thomas Jr., we know he's actually good because when he did his rookie year, Marvin Harrison Jr., man,
25:13he just, man, I don't know, he just fell so significantly.
25:16So, 80s tunes, full PPR, wide receiver, two, Egbuka, Boston, Lemon, or Coker.
25:20Would you drop any of these guys for Vele?
25:23I would not. I still like Lemon as a stash.
25:26Vele is more of that, okay, I need production right now, but, yeah, that's kind of my take on that.
25:33I would rather keep Egbuka and Boston, so, but, maybe we revisit that if Egbuka bombs with Jalen Daniels.
25:39I can't believe his name is Jalen Daniels. So close to this other guy, Jaden Daniels, and then we had the two
25:46A-chans, now both of them are injured. It's just fancy football, man.
25:50Football in general, just, alright, Pat fan, again, 0987.
25:52No Gonzalez practice this week, not great, not great.
25:55Let's get that question up here. A bunch of their roster, RB upgrade, mightn't be able to get Javante Williams or Tootin, they're both slim at receiver.
26:04Yeah, like going after Bashell Tootin, who's my running back buy on the trade show this week with Worm.
26:10Honestly, look, any of these wide receivers, Waddle, Burden, maybe leveling straight up, if you just want to get a running back,
26:17but I guess if you need receivers. So yeah, it'd be Waddle or Burden for me, straight up for Tootin.
26:23I think that gets the job done. Get an RB2 for, again, you're always going to have to sacrifice a quote-unquote better wide receiver for a running back.
26:32I think Burden would probably be my first because I'd rather keep Watson than Burden.
26:37Matt, would you do Puka and Brown for Gibbs?
26:40Puka and love for Gibbs with my current team?
26:43Yeah, I just want Gibbs. You can get Gibbs any way, any way, shape or form, do it.
26:48Do it, do it, do it. Easy, easy, easy.
26:51Puka. No, I'm holding out hope for Puka. Holding out hope.
26:55He's going to play this week. I'm holding out hope.
26:58And maybe that's dumb, but I'm going to do it.
27:01It sucks too because like, I feel like if you were a one and two or two and one team, you could buy Puka on the cheap.
27:10I feel like that'd be smart to do, but, or only three, but everyone that's only three already has Puka.
27:16It's one of these things where, yeah, this guy's a buy low, this guy's a buy low, but you look at your team.
27:23I have all the buy lows. That's why my team's own three.
27:27So just a weird quirk about fantasy stuff. Steven Garcia, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Rams, Vikings, depending on Jefferson and Puka's injury talking
27:34about potential trade destinations for, I think Marv here or maybe Brian Thomas Jr.
27:39Either way, I thought Brian Thomas Jr. could go to the Raiders at some point, but 49ers make so much sense, especially,
27:46I feel like he could be that Brandon Iyuk that obviously is not coming back.
27:50It was so funny when they asked Kyle Shannon about, hey, like a Brandon Iyuk an option.
27:56He's like, no, definitely no for Brandon Iyuk being on the 49ers.
28:00All right, last two questions here. Adam Ward, 01.
28:02Do you think Khalif Raymond could be playing Amal Mara, same round, this role for the Bears since he knows Ben John's offense?
28:10Could he be playing? He kind of is playing it right now.
28:14So, yeah, I, it's, it's very bizarre just how big Khalif Raymond has been involved in.
28:19I got to double check this, but I'm pretty sure Khalif Raymond went to Holy Cross, which is the same school that
28:26Jalen Coker went to, very small school in Worcester, Massachusetts, very close to where see these guys popping up.
28:32I think it was Holy Cross. It might have been a different school in Worcester, Massachusetts.
28:37I have to double check, but yeah, it's good to see him having success for sure.
28:42I've always kind of like been like a Khalif Raymond trooper or a truther.
28:46And of course I have, of course I totally disregarded it.
28:50I'm like the coaching receiver. I'm obsessed with those types of connections.
28:54Of course, this just totally flew by my read and yes, Sal's confirming in the chat that it was Holy Cross.
29:00So these, these Crusaders, man, Khalif Raymond smashing, Jalen Coker smashing, Holy Cross is back.
29:05College football. There we go. There we go. FTK 331, last question here.
29:09How much fab would you use on JK Domins?
29:12Honestly, not much. I guess if he could be your RB2, it's fine, but he just feels kind of like a placeholder.
29:19We know he's going to probably get hurt at the end of the season or sometime during the season.
29:25Jonah Coleman will come back. So if he is still your best RB2, I would say nothing more than like 10% just
29:32because I don't want to be over-invested in someone like a JK Dobbins who doesn't have a receiving role, but does play on a good offense.
29:40Matchup's not that bad this week. So I guess maybe like 15% if you just need a starter and you can ride
29:47out JK Dobbins for as long as he's healthy and available and Jonah Coleman is hurt right now.
29:53So at least Dobbins does have the clear path to the early down touches, whereas Harvey is going to be working in the passing game.
30:01And he does have five goal line carries in the last two games, just no touchdowns.
30:06So 10 to 15%, 15% if you're really like, hey, I got to get this RB2 thing fixed.
30:12So that's what I would do. Let's get to the last storyline, but before, yeah, let's get the last storyline.
30:18Throw it up there, Sal. JJ McCarthy to the Giants.
30:21So we did a big breakdown this on the Monday recap tailgate show because that's when the news broke when McCarthy got
30:28traded to the New York Giants for my fifth round pick.
30:32And I think I was probably painting a somewhat optimistic picture about, I think I like the move overall from the Giants standpoint.
30:39It's like, what do you got to lose, Ram?
30:42Like we know what James Winston kind of is at this point getting McCarthy starts, getting a competent backup quarterback to Jackson
30:49Dart, who unfortunately has been injured both years of his career.
30:53And it's not because he was playing reckless that he got hurt in week two on Monday Night Football.
30:59He took a hit in the pocket throwing the ball.
31:02So it's really unfortunate that that happened to Dart.
31:05But look, the Harbaugh's know each other. Obviously, John talked to Jim was like, hey, what about this McCarthy guy?
31:11And he's like, get this dude out of Minnesota.
31:14So I think it's a win-win for both parties involved.
31:17And I think McCarthy might just fit the Jackson Dart offense better than James Winston.
31:22So that does at least give me some optimism that he could be an upgrade for all these pieces on the same but in the same token, right?
31:31Jim McCarthy was also awful for fantasy receivers last year.
31:34Like Jefferson was horrible. So I'm very interested to see what this offense looks like against the Arizona Cardinals under normal circumstances.
31:41Do we ever see the Jameis Winston again? That's fun for fantasy.
31:45I still I don't know. I really don't know.
31:48And even Malik Neighbors as a player ranked this week is tough because I just don't know which version of James Winston we're going to see.
31:56And I guess I'm like trying to lean into the more optimistic side just because the two game scripts have been so
32:03poor for a Giants passing game to work in any way shape or form coming off the bench in week two playing
32:10in bad weather against the Titans in week three against the Arizona Cardinals who kind of like force shootout game environments man
32:17is James Winston like licking his chops to this type of matchup potentially.
32:21So I will say I think we're going to see McCarthy in there sooner rather than later because I don't think that
32:28Jameis is like the long-term answer especially if he just doesn't fit this offense whereas McCarthy I think does fit it much more stylistically.
32:36So we shall see what happens with Malik Neighbors at least gives the Giants another out potentially if it doesn't work with
32:43James Winston and he's just like totally cooked and just not the same guy.
32:47So if Winston is bad with Malik Neighbors at least McCarthy is another option where okay maybe can we get better for
32:54this Giants passing attack but it's Malik Neighbors is a buy low if you can actually buy him low I would say.
33:01I think somebody asked me if you could get Malik Neighbors for Debo Samuel and I was like yes that's the perfect
33:08buy low that I have no problem pulling the trigger on that type of deal.
33:13So if you can do that do that if not I think I'm just holding Neighbors just because the guy's so talented
33:20and but I'd also sell if someone gives me a strong enough offer like Christian Watson for Malik Neighbors I mean maybe
33:27I just don't deal with the potential headache Christian Watson balling out this year Christian Watson can be wide receiver one I
33:34mean he's kind of already this one but like he's on track to be top 12 receiver so if that's like best
33:41case scenario with Neighbors so far this year then I'd rather just take the guy like Watson so just a couple of
33:48nuggets the five top storylines top toy lines the five top storylines here on the tailgate Andrew Erickson so that's gonna wrap
33:55up our live stream for today just checking the chat to make sure I didn't forget anything yes we got it all
34:02appreciate you Sal on the ones and twos behind the scenes giving me all the updates I need I appreciate you guys
34:09for watching and hanging out with us so but I do want to promote that we have the Thursday night football postgame
34:16tailgate stream after tomorrow's game the fantasy dude is going to tell you about all of his biggest takeaways right here on
34:23the tailgate YouTube channel so again thank you all for tuning in good luck with your fantasy with your betting and be
34:30sure to check out all of the content we have over on fantasy pros and betting pros every single day uploading new
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