Week 3 Fantasy Football Key Questions: Best Matchups, Rankings & Lineup Decisions (Ep. 2221)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
1 hr 18 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 26, 2026
Published
Sat, September 26, 2026
57
Player insights
52
Players mentioned
Topics
Colston LovelandLamar JacksonMark AndrewsRashod BatemanZay FlowersBijan RobinsonBreece HallBryce YoungBucky IrvingChris OlaveChristian WatsonDaniel JonesDavante AdamsDavid Montgomery
Player analysis
Player insights
Bijan Robinson
PositiveUsage10:45
Robinson had a massive performance against the Packers, recording 194 yards, and proved difficult for the Green Bay defense to contain.
Insight pageBreece Hall
PositiveUsage17:16
Hall is a 'must-buy' and a high-end RB1 who is game-script proof, expected to see 20 touches against a Lions defense that has struggled to stop the run.
Insight pageBryce Young
NegativeProjection13:52
Young is playing better than his career averages, but his current high-variance playstyle—characterized by a high deep ball rate and low accuracy—makes him a risky fantasy asset who may be in a 'honeymoon phase' before a potential cratering.
Insight pageBucky Irving
PositiveProjection54:44
Bucky Irving is projected as the player of the game for the Buccaneers. He is efficient on gap runs (6.9 yards per carry) and faces a Vikings defense that struggles against explosive runs.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveProjection60:51
Chris Olave is ranked as the WR7 rest-of-season, which the source suggests might even be too low if he remains healthy.
Insight pageChristian Watson
PositiveUsage14:49
Watson is a beneficiary of the Packers' consolidated passing game, coming off a 96-yard, one-touchdown performance, though his long-term outlook is tied to the volatility of Jordan Love and the offensive line.
Insight pageColston Loveland
PositiveValue44:48
Despite uncertainty regarding his usage in the Bears' passing attack this week, the source considers Colston Loveland a great buy-low candidate.
Insight pageNegativeProjection72:06
Colston Loveland is ranked as TE15; he remains a relevant option but is currently being out-ranked by Terrence Ferguson by some analysts.
Insight pageDaniel Jones
NegativeProjection40:10
The source expresses significant concern regarding Daniel Jones, describing him as looking like a player coming off an Achilles injury with limited mobility and arm strength. His current performance is viewed as a liability for the Giants' offense.
Insight pageDavante Adams
NegativeValue66:08
Davante Adams is ranked as WR13 by D-Bro and WR15 by Fitz; his outlook is slightly tempered by the expected shadow coverage from Patrick Surtain II, though he remains a high-end start.
Insight pageDavid Montgomery
NegativeValue35:48
The source is high on David Montgomery for Week 3 against the Colts, citing a favorable matchup against a run defense that has allowed the second-most rushing and receiving yards to running backs. While there is concern regarding his snap share split with Woody Marks and his game-script sensitivity, the expectation is that the Texans' defense will improve, leading to more positive game scripts for Montgomery.
Insight pageDenzel Boston
PositiveValue74:47
Denzel Boston is a preferred start over other Chicago receivers like Luther Burden, remaining inside Fitz's top 30 wide receivers.
Insight pageDerrick Henry
PositiveUsage62:34
The source confirms they are starting Derrick Henry in the high-total matchup against the Cowboys.
Insight pageDeVonta Smith
NegativeInjury75:28
Devonta Smith is dealing with a hamstring injury and did not practice, which is a significant concern for his Week 3 availability.
Insight pageDK Metcalf
NegativeMatchup42:34
The source advises against starting DK Metcalf because he will be shadowed by DJ Turner. In two meetings last year, Metcalf was shadowed by Turner on 78-90% of his routes and failed to surpass 50 yards or score a touchdown in either game.
Insight pageDrake London
PositiveUsage10:45
London recorded 194 yards against the Packers and is considered a high-end WR1 option moving forward with Michael Penix back at quarterback.
Insight pageDrake Maye
PositiveValue49:02
Despite a slow start, the source remains optimistic about Drake Maye, noting that his Week 1 matchup against Seattle was against the league's toughest pass defense and his Week 2 performance was limited by a game script where the Patriots didn't need to throw. He is viewed as a strong bounce-back candidate with an intriguing schedule ahead.
Insight pageGarrett Wilson
PositiveProjection17:16
Wilson is a top-12 WR buy who benefits from a high air yard share (37.5%) and a favorable matchup against a Lions secondary missing key players like Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph.
Insight pageJake Ferguson
NegativeUsage62:22
Jake Ferguson is a touchdown-or-bust play, but he is worth starting in a game with a 53-point total due to red-zone equity.
Insight pageJayden Daniels
NegativeInjury48:26
Jayden Daniels will not play this week due to injury; the team is not currently considering IR or surgery.
Insight pageJaylen Waddle
PositiveValue66:08
Jalen Waddle is ranked as WR12 by D-Bro, slightly ahead of Adams due to the shadow coverage concerns for Adams; he is projected to be the clear alpha receiver.
Insight pageJaylen Warren
PositiveUsage42:36
The source will start Jalen Warren if he is the clear workhorse back for the Steelers; he is expected to receive a huge share of snaps, carries, and check-down targets from the quarterback.
Insight pageJeremiyah Love
NegativeUsage50:12
The source advises against starting Jeremiah Love, citing a baffling 42% snap rate, 32% route share, and limited touches. While he may be eased in following a high ankle sprain, his current usage makes him an RB3 at best.
Insight pageJonathan Taylor
PositiveMatchup41:53
Jonathan Taylor has historically dominated the Texans, averaging 116.6 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry in ten career games against them (excluding a 26-yard game in Week 18 of last season). The source notes that while the Texans' current defensive personnel is improved, Taylor remains a significant threat.
Insight pageJordan Love
NegativeProjection13:31
Love is struggling significantly under pressure, with his metrics when not pressured dropping from 1st in EPA/play last season to 25th this season, suggesting he is becoming 'pressure sensitive' due to the Packers' poor offensive line.
Insight pageJosh Jacobs
NegativeProjection13:19
Jacobs is expected to struggle with efficiency due to the Packers' poor offensive line, likely resulting in '16 for 49' type rushing lines where he is touchdown-dependent for fantasy value.
Insight pageJustin Herbert
NegativeProjection8:38
Herbert is ranked as QB13 in consensus, which the source considers a fair valuation given the current struggles of the Chargers offense, though he has the potential to outkick that ranking if the game against the Bills turns into a shootout.
Insight pageKenneth Walker III
PositiveUsage55:03
Kenneth Walker is ranked as a top-tier RB (RB3-RB4) rest of season. The source expects his massive 25-30 touch workload to decrease as the passing game volume increases, but he remains a high-value asset due to his role in the offense.
Insight pageKenyon Sadiq
PositiveSleeper19:54
Sadiq is a potential sleeper to monitor if AD Mitchell misses time, as he would likely see an increased route share and become a secondary option in the passing attack.
Insight pageKyle Pitts
NegativeBust12:43
Pitts is considered droppable by the analysts because Michael Penix does not look his way in the passing game.
Insight pageLadd McConkey
PositiveMatchup5:29
McConkey has a favorable matchup in the slot against the Bills, who have struggled defensively, allowing the 10th most yards per attempt and the fourth highest passing success rate.
Insight pageLamar Jackson
PositiveUsage62:34
The source confirms they are starting Lamar Jackson in the high-total matchup against the Cowboys.
Insight pagePositiveMatchup63:16
Lamar Jackson is a must-start in a high-total game (53+ points); he has historically performed well against Vic Fangio-style defenses, which the Cowboys utilize.
Insight pageLuther Burden
NegativeUsage72:06
Luther Burden is a risky start due to confusing usage; he played fewer snaps than Kalief Raymond in Week 2, leading to a lower ranking (WR44) from Fitz.
Insight pageMalik Nabers
NegativeInjury64:05
Malik Nabers' status for the upcoming game is uncertain due to a 'bum wing' (injury), despite a full practice session. He is considered a WR2-level player if he plays.
Insight pageMark Andrews
PositiveUsage62:12
Mark Andrews is a must-start in the Ravens' high-total game against the Cowboys.
Insight pagePositiveUsage62:34
The source confirms they are starting Mark Andrews in the high-total matchup against the Cowboys.
Insight pageMarvin Harrison Jr.
PositiveValue62:12
Despite his slow start, the source maintains belief in Marvin Harrison Jr.'s talent, attributing his lack of production to the Cardinals' offensive scheme rather than the player himself.
Insight pageMatthew Golden
PositiveUsage14:49
Golden has looked very good this season, recording 100 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons, though his fantasy value remains tied to the overall health and stability of the Packers' offense.
Insight pageMatthew Stafford
NegativeProjection71:11
Matthew Stafford is a fade for Week 3, with a three-star prop bet on the under for 243.5 passing yards due to the likely absence of Puka Nacua.
Insight pageMichael Pittman
NegativeUsage42:26
The source advises against starting Michael Pittman Jr. if he plays this week, citing concerns about his status and usage.
Insight pagePat Freiermuth
PositiveUsage42:21
The source ranks Pat Freiermuth as TE10, noting the Bengals' defense is willing to concede short throws over the middle to tight ends. Freiermuth has a strong history against this defense, including a 5-catch, 111-yard, 2-TD performance last year.
Insight pagePatrick Mahomes
NegativeProjection53:27
Patrick Mahomes is ranked as a low-end QB1 (QB8-QB10 range) for the rest of the season. While he looked poor in Week 1, the source notes he was 'dialed in' during Week 2, representing the best version of him seen in three seasons.
Insight pagePuka Nacua
NegativeInjury68:18
Puka Nacua is highly unlikely to play in Week 3, with the FantasyPros tool giving him only a 4% chance to suit up.
Insight pageQuentin Johnston
NegativeUsage10:15
Johnston has been a 'ghost' so far this season, failing to establish a role in the Chargers' passing attack.
Insight pageRashee Rice
PositiveUsage58:29
The source is significantly lower on Rashee Rice than consensus, ranking him as WR31. The reasoning is his low target share (9.5%), which contradicts his high ECR ranking, and the observation that his role has changed compared to previous seasons.
Insight pageRashod Bateman
PositiveUsage62:12
Rashad Bateman is considered a must-start alongside the other primary Ravens offensive weapons in a high-scoring matchup.
Insight pagePositiveUsage62:34
The source confirms they are starting Rashod Bateman in the high-total matchup against the Cowboys.
Insight pageRome Odunze
NegativeProjection72:06
Rome Odunze is ranked as WR38 by Fitz; he is considered a talented player but difficult to trust given the Bears' overall offensive struggles.
Insight pageStefon Diggs
NegativeProjection46:09
The source is moving Stefon Diggs down in rankings (currently WR32) and advises against starting him against the Seahawks.
Insight pageTerrance Ferguson
PositiveUsage68:45
Terrence Ferguson is a strong start if Puka Nacua is out; he saw a 71% route share in Week 2, suggesting his role is sustainable rather than a one-week fluke.
Insight pageTerry McLaurin
NegativeProjection46:09
The source is moving Terry McLaurin down in rankings (currently WR29) and does not feel good about being above consensus on him due to the matchup against the Seahawks.
Insight pageTravis Kelce
NegativeValue57:23
Travis Kelce is ranked around TE8-TE9 rest of season. The source notes that while he is no longer the elite talent he once was, he could see increased volume if the Colts' offense continues to struggle, potentially pushing him up to TE7.
Insight pageTrevor Lawrence
NegativeProjection44:09
Trevor Lawrence is viewed as a bounce-back candidate, though the source expresses slight pessimism due to the potential return of cornerback Carlton Davis and Lawrence's high turnover-worthy play rate. Despite this, he is still considered a viable starter for the upcoming matchup.
Insight pageXavier Worthy
NegativeProjection61:41
Xavier Worthy is viewed as a WR3/WR4 candidate rest of season. The source notes he has been involved in screen passes and is currently more involved in the offense than consensus rankings might suggest, though he is still ranked lower than Marvin Harrison Jr.
Insight pageZay Flowers
NegativeInjury61:03
Zay Flowers is unlikely to play this week due to a hamstring issue; the source advises against starting him.
Insight pageNegativeInjury61:40
Zay Flowers is not expected to play in Week 3 as he has not practiced all week due to a hamstring issue; the source notes the Ravens will not risk him on the field.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. Welcome to the FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast.
0:05I'm Ryan Warmly, joined today by Pat Fitzmaurice and by Derrick Brown.
0:08We are answering our Week 3 key questions here on the show, previewing all of the matchups for Week 3.
0:15And, you know, this is kind of crazy that we're already here.
0:18This is really when, like, trends become real patterns and it feels, everything just feels a little bit more real, right?
0:25Like 0-2 is like, man, you're off to a bad start, but you can bounce back.
0:30You get to 0-3 in your fantasy leagues, that's where it starts to feel closer to insurmountable, even if mathematically it's not that case.
0:37Reminder for everybody that all of our weekly consensus rankings and tiers can be found at FantasyPros.com slash rankings.
0:43Full slate to get through. So I say we just jump right in.
0:47Fitz, I will start with you with Game 1 of the early slate.
0:51It's Chargers at Bills, a game that looked really fun prior to the season, looks a little bit more one-sided now.
0:58I think the spread last I checked was a full touchdown, which would have been surprising to hear a couple of weeks ago.
1:05Only two defenses, Fitz, have allowed more points this season through two weeks than Buffalo.
1:10Is this the week that the Chargers offense finally comes through for fantasy managers?
1:14I'm still pretty skeptical. The Chargers are 27th in offensive DVOA, 19th in yards per play, 31st in offensive EPA per play.
1:21It's just been pretty ugly. The middle of the offensive line still looks like it's a big problem.
1:26The Colts defense hasn't been great, but it's not Colts level bad.
1:30It's just that the Bills offense has been so good that it's forcing opposing offenses to really put their foot on the gas and try to keep up.
1:39So not a lot of hope for the Chargers just because of how bleak it's looked so far and because that offensive line still looks like a problem.
1:47I think I'm slightly below consensus on a lot of the Chargers.
1:51And to begin with, the consensus is pretty down on the Chargers.
1:55But I don't know, maybe the Mike McDaniel offense suddenly kicks into gear at some point.
2:00It's possible, but there are some underlying issues here.
2:03Debro, what do you think? Both in terms of the Chargers offense, like getting a couple of games under their belt, maybe
2:09shaking off some of this, like, you know, rust and like learning the new offense in terms of the Bills, maybe not having the strongest defense.
2:17Also in terms of like Fitz was saying, the Bills having such a strong offense that the Chargers might just get a
2:24lot of fantasy points from having to try to throw a ton to keep up.
2:29Do you think there's an opportunity here for the Chargers offense to bounce back a bit for their fantasy managers?
2:35I think your hope for the Chargers offense this week is that they look like the Packers did yesterday and you get a lot of garbage time production.
2:44I don't know what kind of Chargers offense we get, man.
2:47I was skeptical about McDaniel in the offseason. I remain skeptical.
2:51But this is this is the type like this is the week where if you want any kind of glimmer of hope,
2:58you got to hope that you get it this week, man, because if you don't get it this week, they have Seattle.
3:04They have Denver. They have Kansas City. They have Los Angeles.
3:08They have the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens right after this.
3:11So hope is it coming this week, people? It might not be coming at all.
3:16So I don't know. Like I see a path for the Chargers in this, like with the Bills, with how bad their
3:23defense has been in the early going. They've given up the 10th most yards per attempt, fourth highest passing success rate.
3:29It's a good matchup for Ladin McConkie in the slot.
3:33They've given up the six most yards per target.
3:35It's a good matchup for Maury and Hampton. The Bills have given up the 10th highest explosive run rate, six highest missed tackle rate.
3:43And yet I lay all of this out and we will see how hard Mike McDaniel can Mike McDaniel this week.
3:49And I hope we get a good performance out of them because I know a lot of people invested very heavily in them in the offseason.
3:57I put it at a coin flip. And by the way, Worm, thanks for going straight into this game and not making
4:04me talk about the Packers and their Thursday night performance.
4:07Yeah, I kind of brought it up there just to fit Gaslight Fitzy a little bit.
4:12Sorry. But I know he's hurting this morning, too.
4:15You know what? Part of it, I would like to sit here and say that, oh, I'm just that kind of friend
4:22and colleague that I was like trying to think about your feelings.
4:26The truth is, because it was such a long show, I just kind of forgot to jump into it.
4:32Worm was so happy I didn't start the show wearing a Saints jersey that he didn't know what to do with himself.
4:38No, no. I mean, it's a good comparison, I think, for what we could possibly see in this game, right?
4:45Because I am very heavily invested in Jordan Love in my fantasy leagues this season.
4:49And I was very happy to see that they were down by so much so early in that game last night, knowing
4:56that we would get some garbage time scoring from that passing game.
5:00So it did end up panning out for the Packers, fantasy managers, the way that maybe it could for the Chargers.
5:06Just to put a bow on this Chargers game, you know, some of the rankings here, Fitz, you mentioned being lower than
5:13consensus on a lot of these guys. And also that consensus looks a little low.
5:18Gadsden is tight end 15 in consensus. Herbert is QB 13.
5:21Hampton is RB 14. And Ladd is wide receiver 18.
5:24So the kind of top guy at each position for the Chargers is all in that mid-teens range.
5:30Does any of those stand out to you as particularly high or low?
5:34Or do they all seem fair? I guess maybe I'm not below consensus on a lot of those guys.
5:40I'm pretty much right at consensus. I mean, that all sounds fair.
5:44And they could, if this gets to be a shootout, those guys all could outkick those week three ranking spots.
5:50But man, it's just hard to have any confidence in what's going on with this Chargers offense.
5:55The guy that I'm kind of the most worried about in this game, and I'll just bring this up real fast because
6:02the fact that he has only a 3.7% target share.
6:05Hampton. Is Amarian Hampton? Like, could he just be game scripted out of this game?
6:10And then it's just a lot of Ladd and Arande Gadsden and whoever the heck else.
6:15Quentin Johnson has been a ghost so far this year.
6:18But I'm worried about Hampton probably the most out of this trio or four pack of players, you know, if you want
6:25to throw QJ into this because he hasn't had any pass game role.
6:29Like, all of our hopes for McDaniel using him in the pass game and dialing up easy button throws for Justin Herbert just has not been there.
6:37I suppose even if it means going out of order a bit, we should give at least a minute or two on the Thursday night game.
6:45There were some pretty big performances. Obviously, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, both getting 194 yards against Fitz's Packers defense.
6:51Michael Penix returns in this game to start for the Falcons and revives.
6:55Not that he looked amazing, but he revives their, you know, fantasy options outside of Kyle Pitts.
7:00Unsurprisingly, Packers run game unsurprisingly continues to not really do anything.
7:04And even the passing game to just behind this offensive line, it just feel like it was already not playing well, taking on more injuries.
7:11It might nuke this season in a lot of ways fits this offensive line.
7:16Yeah, it's the worst in the league. Uh, it might actually make the 24, 2024, 2025 Houston Texans offensive line look like
7:23the, uh, late 1980s, early 1990s, Washington hogs by comparison.
7:26I mean, this line is so bad. They allowed, I saw 15 quick pressures against the Falcons last night.
7:32That's the second most of any team this year.
7:34First, most Green Bay Packers in week one against the Vikings, 17 quick pressures.
7:39Like it's just Zach Bacoboela was the only average to above average offensive lineman they had.
7:44Now he's out for the season. Everyone else is below average to way below average.
7:48And you've got guards playing tackle centers playing guard.
7:51It's just a mess. They can't handle the inside of the offensive line.
7:55Can't handle power at all, which is going to be a major problem.
7:59So even when, if Josh Jacobs comes back, like, I think we're going to see a lot of, uh, 16 for 49
8:06type rushing games from him where you need a touchdown or he's going to let you down.
8:11It feels to me similar to CJ Stroud and the Texans where you're under pressure so much.
8:17And so emphatically that it starts to affect you even when you're not under pressure.
8:21They're not the same quarterback. Right. But, but we've seen that happen with Stroud and Greg Rosenthal from the NFL Network media,
8:28um, had a good tweet about a half hour ago.
8:31He pointed out that Jordan love was first in EPA per play and seventh in success rate when not pressured last season,
8:38this season, when not under pressure, he's 25th and 27th.
8:41Those metrics respectively watching the game. It feels to me like he feels the pressure even when it's not there because so often it is their fit.
8:49And I know people who have Christian Watson and war Matthew golden on their fantasy teams right now are probably pretty enthusiastic because it's a consolidated passing game.
8:58Uh, and the Packers, since they can't run the ball, they're throwing a lot.
9:02I just worry that, um, Jordan love might not survive like this kind of pressure all season and that they're going to
9:09be Tyrod Taylor starts this week, in which case you're going to feel less good about Christian Watson and Matthew golden.
9:16As of right now, D bro, how do you feel about those two receivers?
9:20And I'll throw Tucker craft in there as well.
9:23He hasn't looked great this season, obviously still working his way back from the injury, but the past catchers in this, in
9:30this receiving game, golden has looked very good at particularly compared to last year, a hundred yards and a touchdown last night, Christian Watson.
9:37Ninety six yards and a touchdown. You obviously were all over him this off season.
9:42Do you think they can still continue to produce, even if it is in these garbage time situations and things like that
9:49moving forward, or are you really nervous just about everybody in the Packers, given how love and this offense has looked?
9:55I'm worried about the entire offense because of the volatility, um, with, I mean, riding the rollercoaster with, with Jordan love and
10:02because of this offensive line and everything fits he laid out.
10:05I think the passing volume, because of how bad their defense is will definitively be there regardless of if Josh Jacobs comes
10:12back or floor wants to go run heavy, whatever passing volume is going to be there just out of necessity, because I think they're going to be trailing.
10:21Like their defense can't stop anything right now. They can't pressure.
10:24Like in fairness, the defense was actually pretty good.
10:27The first two weeks, like they terrible game yesterday, but it wasn't a bad defense the first two weeks.
10:33And I don't think it's like, it's not Colts level bad.
10:37I mean, well, the other thing is they did play Carson Wentz and Chino Smith in the first two weeks too.
10:43So I think that kind of helps with the defense, but their pressure rate was surprising.
10:48I talked about that in the primer leading up to this game.
10:52So like the pass rush is there. They can't, they could not stop B.
10:56John Robinson last night. Serious. Like could not like the only times that the Atlanta Falcons weren't able to run the ball
11:03when they wanted to was when they decided to pass.
11:06So I, I worry about that. Plus all the blown coverages.
11:09It's not like they have amazing corners. Like they have a rookie starting, like the ups and downs of that, but like
11:16back to the pass catchers, I think that there will be passing volume, but again, you're going to have to ride the
11:23rollercoaster of what does that look like on a week to week basis?
11:27Because this offensive line is debilitating. And just talking about it from the hundred foot view of the Packers, like when, you
11:34know, you have a quarterback like Jordan love that is, is pressure sensitive as somebody like Jared golf, look at the, just juxtapose these two front offices.
11:42One invests in the offensive line. And the other one says, I will make do it'll be okay.
11:48And it's not okay. So it capsizes everything you want to do.
11:52Also from an offensive standpoint, because LaFleur, we've talked about this ad nauseum over the last few years, all he's wanted to
11:58do is run the ball, play slow, sit on leads.
12:02Like that's been his go-to over the last few years of just running the ball and playing slow and choking at the clock.
12:09Not only did the quarterback play LaFleur cannot do that now.
12:12So what's he going to do? Like we get, like we get all these stats about the Packers blowing late game leads.
12:19Yeah. That's because LaFleur is not adjusting. Like we're seeing an offense and a head coach scrambling to figure out what the
12:26heck to do in real time because their offensive line is patchwork.
12:29I mean, I could joke it right now about like, I'm just glad Tucker craft didn't play offensive line, but that was
12:36a real thing that got brought up last week.
12:39Very quickly. No like explanation or anything. Just give me a one word answer.
12:43Yes or no. Kyle pits is droppable. Yes or no fits.
12:47Yeah. Penix doesn't really look his way. Debra. All hope is gone.
12:51Same thing. Very quick answer. Drake London rest of season is wide receiver.
12:55What's with Penix back? Fitz. Item ranked wide receiver eight this week.
12:58Sounds about right. Debra. He's wide receiver one. Where you want to put them in wide receiver one is fine.
13:05I mean. Yep. All right. Let's get back to the actual Sunday slate here.
13:09Next game up. Panthers at Browns. Only one offense in the NFL has scored more points than the Panthers so far this season.
13:16But of course that has come against the Bears and the Falcons in their first two games.
13:21Although based on Thursday night maybe Falcons defense a little better than expected.
13:25Sorry again Fitz. On a scale from one to ten.
13:28How legitimate is the Panthers offense moving forward in your opinion?
13:32Debra I'll start with you here. I think it's 6.5.
13:35Like I want to believe in it but I'm not totally sold.
13:39And this is not that I don't fully believe in all the skill players and stuff.
13:44This is me going back to the Bryce Young of it all.
13:47And just as we pull open the hood of like okay.
13:51Is what he is doing sustainable? Like the great metrics of Bryce Young is he's 30 yards per attempt.
13:57He's 10th in passing success rate. He's 8th in hero throw rate.
14:00But here comes the ugly. He also has the second highest deep ball rate.
14:05The second lowest catchable target rate. And the second lowest highly accurate throw rate.
14:09So there's a lot to chew on there where it's high variance throws that he's being asked to sit here and complete a lot.
14:17When you're walking that type of tightrope on a weekly basis it's fraught with peril.
14:21Like it might crash and burn at any point outside of the whole like his size is still a limitation.
14:27How you run the offense because of his size and all that kind of stuff.
14:32So I guess I want to believe but the metrics kind of make me be like okay.
14:37Is this the honeymoon phase before we see Bryce Young kind of crater because he is walking a very thin tightrope here.
14:44What do you think fits? Is this legitimate? Is it sustainable?
14:48Is the answer to that the same or there's two different questions your opinion?
14:52Where are you going long term with this Panthers offense right now?
14:56It's funny numerically D. Bro gave the number 6.5 and I had in my head 6.4.
15:01So I guess we're on the same track. Yeah.
15:03So Bryce is averaging 8.9 yards per pass attempt and his career average is 6.1 yards.
15:08And his passer rating this year 30 more than 30 points above his career passer rating of 82.5.
15:14This year 113.3. I don't think obviously Bryce Young can sustain this level of play.
15:19But I think he's going to be better than the career averages have been.
15:23Maybe he's turned a corner. And I will say like the Panthers offensive line has been really good.
15:29Just looking at some of the data they have over on FTN for offensive lines.
15:33Panthers right now 8th in adjusted sack rates. 9th in adjusted line yards which is a run blocking metric.
15:39First in power success which is percentage of runs on 3rd or 4th down.
15:432 yards or less to go that achieved a 1st down or touchdown.
15:47Also includes runs on 1st and goal or 2nd goal.
15:51In the 2 yard line or closer. Panthers number 1 there.
15:54So that offensive line has been performing really well.
15:57That's going to help Bryce Young and the running game.
16:00Do you feel Fitz like Bryce Young to whatever degree you have belief in him?
16:05Is it more are you thinking in terms of as a franchise quarterback or as a maybe a viable in a super flex league fantasy quarterback starter?
16:13Or is it more not for him but for his ability to make Tedrow McMillan and Jalen Coker and Shuba Hubbard fantasy viable?
16:20Startable and super flex. More about his ability to make those guys viable.
16:24I mean he's got good offensive line. Really good weapons.
16:27Got a couple of willow trees he can throw to in the end zone with Tedrow McMillan and Darren Waller.
16:33And Coker has proven to be really really good.
16:36So like he's definitely being helped by the supporting cast.
16:39But he's unquestionably played better than he had earlier in his career.
16:43Can y'all imagine what this offense would also look like if we had Chris Brazel healthy?
16:48Oh yes dude. So much size with these passbacks.
16:51I know. Bryce Young doesn't have to see over the offensive line because again to your point he's got redwoods running across the street.
16:58That's right. I look up and there he is.
17:01Yeah. Oh man. All right. Let's go to Jets at Lions.
17:04Could be a really fun game here. This one is in Detroit.
17:08Like I said, Brees Hall and Garrett Wilson are two of my favorite buys as talked about on the trade show earlier this week with Erickson.
17:16Really in the whole league right now. Both are ranked inside the top 12 with their positions this week.
17:22So I ask you who has the bigger day against this Lions defense between Brees Hall and Garrett Wilson.
17:28Debra? I think it's Brees Hall. And I'm not saying that Garrett Wilson is going to have a monster day.
17:34I think that the production and the target share market share that A.D.
17:38Mitchell has had could make this where it's not leaning in Mitchell's favor, but he's the downfield threat.
17:44Lions secondary sucks. If they don't, if Geno Smith can be, get some clean pockets in this game, because we know again,
17:51going back to pressure sense of quarterbacks, how sensitive Geno is.
17:54There's more volatility on that side where it's like, dude, Brees Hall is going to get 20 touches.
18:00We saw last week he is game script proof.
18:02The Lions have not been good at stopping the run, like ninth highest rushing success rate allowed third yard, third most yards before contact for attempt allowed.
18:11So I'll just lean on Brees Hall because I know regardless of Geno's play or not, he's getting 20 touches.
18:17If the game script goes sideways, the Lions start racking up the points and stuff like that, then he's going to get a crap ton of targets.
18:25Brees Hall RB 11 in ECR for the week.
18:28Garrett Wilson wide receiver nine. And that's with Christian Watson ahead of him, who's already played.
18:33So really wide receiver eight amongst the guys who haven't played fits.
18:37Who of those two do you like better this week?
18:40I like both. And as Debro pointed out, this is not a bad run game matchup for Brees Hall.
18:46I am going to go Wilson here. And yeah, I know Ed and I Mitchell has been a big factor.
18:52He is out targeted Garrett Wilson 15 to 14 this season.
18:56And right now, A.D. Mitchell leads all NFL wide receivers in air yard share at 59.4%.
19:01But Garrett Wilson has a perfectly fine air yard share of 37.5%.
19:04Wilson and Mitchell pretty much account for all of Geno Smith's air yards.
19:08And the Lions defense is just so bad. I mean, Tyler Shuck had 410 passing yards and three TDs against Detroit in week one.
19:16Week two, Josh Allen, 327 yards and four touchdowns.
19:19And without Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph, the Lions defense, the secondary is just awful.
19:23And Avante Maddox now after the season. And Avante Maddox.
19:26That's right. Yeah. By the way, earlier this morning, I don't know if you saw, there's quote, some concern.
19:32A.D. Mitchell is limited in practice today. He caught his finger on a jersey yesterday.
19:37I'm looking at Twitter right now. This is from the ESPN's Jets reporter.
19:41He used the phrase, quote, some concern. And Aaron Glenn said that Mitchell would be limited in practice today.
19:47If there's any way that he misses this game, then also juxtaposed with the Mason Taylor news, I will sneak in some
19:54Kenyan Sadiq love here because he would become like the full time guy or at least I think he's going to run
20:00a higher route share than Jeremy Ruckert. And if A.D.
20:04Mitchell is limited or out of this game, then I think we're going to like Sadiq.
20:09I think we'll probably be competing with Brees Hall, probably for like second and third option in the passing attack.
20:15Isaiah Williams might even be playable. Yeah. By the way, just quickly, do you guys agree with what I was saying about
20:22on the trade show this week that these are two very good guys to buy right now?
20:27Like I don't even want to use it from my low, just guys to buy right now at cost.
20:33I like I like investing in it, especially for week three and week four going against Detroit and Chicago.
20:39The whole schedule really. And they get the Browns after that.
20:42Pretty good. But yes, the next two weeks, especially.
20:45Hold on, but then start there, boys. I'm walking the schedule.
20:48Patriots. Then they get the Dolphins and the Raiders after that.
20:52This is what we talked about on Tuesday. Yeah, it's like remarkable.
20:55And then even like middle of the season, the Chargers defense hasn't looked good.
21:00Buffalo's on there. Miami again. Like there are some really choice matchups to come in the future.
21:05So you called it out like what last week about Geno Smith being an awesome streamer and stuff like that.
21:11And a lot of good mainly these two weeks.
21:14You mentioned a couple of defenses that might not be total pushovers, though, but we'll talk about those defenses later.
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21:44All right. Game number four on the slate. Texans at Colts.
21:48Key question here. Fitz, David Montgomery was RB6 in week one and RB48 in week two.
21:53Which end of that spectrum will he be closer to in week three against the Colts?
21:58I would err on the high side. The Colts run defense might be the worst in the league.
22:03They've given up the second most rushing yards to running backs and the second most receiving yards to running backs so far.
22:10Monty's got three touchdowns, only 70 rushing yards so far, averaging 2.7 yards per carry.
22:15I think the bigger concern is that David Montgomery has only played three more snaps than Woody Marks this season.
22:21So it's been kind of a split backfield. But the Colts defense is just so bad.
22:26And I think they have the worst linebackers in the league.
22:29And this is going to be a run defense we should target in fantasy all season.
22:34Debro, do you feel like David Montgomery in the scope of this season is going to be more of a touchdown or bust type of running back?
22:43I mean, through two weeks, that's essentially what he's been.
22:46He just happened to get three touchdowns in that first week, so it looked really good.
22:51Or do you expect better efficiency from him moving forward and just to look like a better runner against maybe easier defenses?
22:58I don't know what the efficiency is going to look like because it's a bigger offensive line question.
23:03And just the archetype of running back that David Montgomery is.
23:07Like, he needs that offensive line to give him some space to kind of get into the second level and create.
23:13And I don't know how much he's going to get that for the totality of the season.
23:18What I would say for Montgomery, my bigger thing, and why I am with Fitzy and I'm high on him this week,
23:25is the unfortunate thing we saw from last week is he's apparently going to be more game script sensitive than I think
23:32any of us thought he was going to be.
23:35Like, and the fact of like his rushing volume went away.
23:38Woody Marks played more when they were trailing. Like, the best thing that can happen for David Montgomery is this Houston Texans
23:45defense wakes the hell up and looks like some semblance of what we thought we were going to get into, like, get
23:52this year that we've seen over the last few years.
23:55This defense has been horrid. Their secondary looks lost.
23:58The pass rush hasn't been amazing. Like, they need to wake up.
24:02If they can wake up, we can get a lot of positive game scripts, which is how I'm projecting this game because I'm not scared of the Colts.
24:10Daniel Jones looks like 2025 Kirk Cousins in the freaking pocket.
24:14He can't move. The velocity on his throws isn't amazing, and the Colts are playing passing attack dink and dunk down the freaking field.
24:21So can that work versus the Houston Texans pass rush?
24:24Sure. But if the secondary and this defense wakes up, they could be smothering, and they're not going to sustain drives, and they're not going to do anything.
24:33So a lot of positive game scripts, I think, is coming for David Montgomery, and like Fitzy laid out here, it's a fantastic matchup on the ground.
24:41So I think that he's closer to the week one version of David Montgomery, but until this defense wakes up, we're going to see volatility in this backfield.
24:50So that's a nice transition into, I sort of threw a second question into this matchup about that defense.
24:56Is this the week that the Houston defense finally looks like the juggernaut?
25:00We expected it to be before the season, given both what we think about the defense and what we think about this matchup, Fitz.
25:07Yeah, it's too good for the Texans not to have the boa constrictor defense we thought they'd have.
25:13Like, the personnel's too good. What's going to be interesting, though, Worm, is if the Texans can stop Jonathan Taylor, who has historically wrecked the Houston Texans.
25:21Ten career games against Houston. Taylor has run for 1,075 yards and has scored ten touchdowns, won a game.
25:27And if you take out his 26-yard rushing day against the Texans in week 18 of last season, when the Colts had
25:34already been eliminated from the playoffs and were playing without Daniel Jones, Taylor's averaged 116.6 rushing yards a game and 5.4 yards
25:41per carry against the Texans over his career. But again, totally different Texans outfit now than when Taylor first came into the league.
25:48Yeah. Debra, what do you think? You mentioned it when you were talking earlier.
25:52Do you think the defense does step up this week in a way we haven't seen this season?
25:58I do because I think Daniel Jones looks horrible.
26:01He looks like a guy coming off an Achilles.
26:04And I think his lack of mobility and lack of arm strength and the way that they're running this offense right now
26:10because of the limitations of investing in a quarterback coming off of a freaking Achilles repair.
26:15Yeah, I think Houston gets going. All right, let's go to the next game here.
26:20Patriots at Jaguars. I want to talk about the quarterbacks in this one.
26:24Drake May and Trevor Lawrence both finished outside the top 24 quarterbacks.
26:28Or some, yeah, outside the top 20. Oh, no, it was top 24 in week two.
26:33Drake May was QB 23 in week one. So Drake May has two very bad games.
26:38Trevor Lawrence, one bad game out of the two he's played so far this year.
26:42Which signal caller do you think bounces back in this matchup?
26:46May, Lawrence, both, or neither? Debra, I'll start with you.
26:49I think both. I think both can. I'm a little bit more pessimistic about Trevor Lawrence only because it seems like Carlton Davis is going to be back.
26:58I think he would have had a much easier day if Carlton Davis wasn't going to play in this game.
27:04But two full practices as the time of recording this.
27:07Trevor Lawrence also has the highest turnover worthy play rate in the NFL right now amongst quarterbacks.
27:12And now I know that we got a two game sample and that a lot is not because he faced the Browns.
27:19It's because he faced the freaking Broncos. But it's still noteworthy when you're going against the Patriots past defense.
27:25I do think that like both these quarterbacks can get going in this game, though.
27:30You look at the Jags past defense. They haven't been amazing.
27:33Giving up the 14th highest pass and success rate, the highest explosive pass rate.
27:37It's good matchups. Romeo Dobbs can get free. It's quietly a really strong matchup for Hunter Henry.
27:43So I think the answer for me is both.
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29:37Fitz, May, Lawrence, both or neither. For what it's worth, Lawrence, QB8 in ECR this week.
29:42Drake, May, QB12. I tend to think both. And I'm way higher on consensus than May.
29:47I think I've got him, QB8. And I'm sensing way more panic for May than for Lawrence.
29:52But here's the thing about May. Seattle in Week 1.
29:55Toughest pass defense in the league. Seattle just held the Cardinals to a game where they did not have a 10-yard completion.
30:02They didn't complete a pass for 10 or more yards.
30:05That has not happened since it was replacement players in the strike year of 1987.
30:10And then Drake May was so terrible in Week 2 that he averaged 9.5 yards per attempt against the Steelers.
30:16And I'm being facetious, of course. May had 22 pass attempts versus the Steelers because he didn't need to throw because the
30:23Pittsburgh offense is so broken and the Patriots won 20-3 and didn't have to stomp the accelerator at all.
30:29So I don't think people should worry about May.
30:32Really tough matchup in Week 1 and then just didn't have to throw in Week 2.
30:37Yeah, he doesn't have A.J. Brown. Doesn't have Keishon Booty around anymore.
30:40But I think he's going to be okay. He was always a spread-it-around guy last year.
30:45And I think he's going to continue to do that and start to pick up the pace.
30:51May is another player, maybe just because he's a big name, MVP runner-up last year, all that stuff.
30:56Maybe it's harder to get him. But another guy who his schedule looks really intriguing the next two months, basically.
31:02You know, Buffalo, Chicago, Miami, Detroit, Green Bay. Like, there are some really fun matchups moving forward for him.
31:08Yeah, I think I tend to agree with you guys that we'll see generally, like, both can bounce back in this one.
31:15I think, like, Trevor Lortz was just a quarterback that I really was going after a lot in drafts this summer.
31:22And I'm not coming off of that just because of one bad game in Denver.
31:26Drake May, I think you guys laid out reasonable cases for why it's been a slow start and why that might change going forward.
31:34So yeah, we're all on the same page here.
31:37We can move on to the next game. Chiefs at Dolphins.
31:40We all expect the Chiefs to roll in this one.
31:43So let's take the opportunity to think about the bigger picture here.
31:47Patrick Mahomes, the offense, have looked very back this season, particularly in their most recent game.
31:52So I want to kind of know where you guys are ranking the following players rest of season.
31:57Mahomes, Walker, Kelsey, Rice, and Worthy. We can take these one at a time.
32:02Fitz, I'll start with you. Where are you ranking Patrick Mahomes rest of season amongst quarterbacks?
32:07QB 10, which might be too low, but there's a big gap for me between the first 12 quarterbacks and the QB 2s.
32:14And Mahomes is in the circle of trust there.
32:17Debra? QB 8, but I'm with Fitzy. Like, I think low-end QB 1 is about right.
32:22Like, I think there's just a large, like, wide scrum of, like, what do you think about Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Dak
32:28Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, like a lot of the pocket passer type of guys.
32:32I could bump up Mahomes if we see another performance closer to what he did in week two because week one, he looked horrible.
32:40Week two, he was dialed in. Like, that was the best version of Patrick Mahomes that I've seen in the last three seasons.
32:47Yeah, it looks really, it looks really good and really scary if you're a fan of an AFC team.
32:53Like, he looked awesome. All right, how about Kenneth Walker, Debra?
32:56Oh, Kenneth Walker. Obviously, it's gonna be high, but I just know how high you don't.
33:01RB3 behind only Jameer Gibbs and Bajon Robinson. That's where I'm at.
33:05And I want to be very particular about how I describe this.
33:09I do not think that he continues to get 25 to 30 touches per game.
33:13I don't think that that happens because just like we were talking about Mahomes, I think as Mahomes in this passing attack,
33:20if they keep performing like they did last week, we're going to see more passing volume back in this offense.
33:26And I think you're gonna see more Emma Johnson, less Kenneth Walker in between the 20s in the sense of where Kenneth
33:33Walker can be a 20 touch, a 22 touch player and a large portion of that, which we've already seen, good Lord, Andy Reid running backs.
33:41It's all kind of back with Kenneth Walker in the passing game.
33:45I think we're gonna see more of that. So like, I'm not worried about his health in the sense of, I don't
33:52think this like 30 touch workload is gonna continue throughout the entirety of the season.
33:57So RB3 for me. I should have mentioned, by the way, Mahomes in consensus, rest of season rankings is QB9.
34:03Kenneth Walker is RB4. So just one spot lower than Debra has him.
34:07Fitz, where is Kenneth Walker for the rest of season?
34:10Running back four behind the big three of Gibbs, Bijon, and McCaffrey.
34:14And you can make a case for putting him ahead of McCaffrey.
34:17By the way, just in consensus, it's Taylor who is ahead of him, not McCaffrey.
34:22Oh, really? Yeah, that's weird. I would easily put McCaffrey or James Cook ahead of Travis.
34:27It goes Gibbs, Bijon, Taylor, Walker, Cook, McCaffrey is the top six in order.
34:31And then Derek Henry is seven in the consensus rankings.
34:34Okay, since you see, you guys are both definitely up there on Walker.
34:38Travis Kelsey at tight end rest of season. Where is he at for you, Fitz?
34:43TE8. Yes! Hand-holding. He's at tight end nine in consensus, by the way.
34:47I could move him up to tight end seven.
34:50If Daniel Jones and the Colts keep looking bad, like he's going to get a crap ton of volume.
34:56I'm not saying that like I want the talent of Travis Kelsey at this point of his career over Tyler Warren, but
35:03the Colts offense looks a lot worse. Rasheed Rice at wide receiver is rest of season what for you, D bro?
35:09Much low. You tell me where consensus is and I promise you that I'm probably 10 to 12 spots lower than consensus
35:16because I don't understand what people are looking at with Rasheed Rice and they feel comfortable.
35:21So Worm, please tell me that he's a wide receiver too because I know he probably is in rest of season rankings
35:28and I'm going to tell you how horribly wrong that is.
35:31So a week ago he was wide receiver 18.
35:34He has dropped. He is now wide receiver 23.
35:37So still inside. Still not low enough. Not low enough.
35:40He's wide receiver. I've got him at wide receiver 31.
35:43I've got him at wide receiver 31 right now because everybody's like, oh, he got a touchdown in week one and that helped his fantasy value.
35:51Okay, but he got no targets. Oh, in week two he got 80 receiving yards and again so did Xavier Worthy and he got no targets.
35:59Does everybody realize Rasheed Rice is not in this high target voluming role that Kenneth Walker is now in that type of role now?
36:07He's not the drag artist. He's not getting a 30% target share in this offense.
36:11Rasheed Rice has a 9.5% target share 9.5 that is wide receiver five type of market share usage.
36:17How is he a wide receiver to an ECR?
36:20How? Fitz, where are you at? I'm at consensus but I got to drop that because I totally agree with D bro.
36:26I think I saw that right now Xavier Worthy has been targeted and more screen passes.
36:31Yes. And Rasheed Rice has. The role is the role has totally changed and Kenneth Walker like this was my fear and
36:38the reason I didn't draft Rasheed Rice anywhere just that he wasn't going to be needed for the same sort of role
36:45he's been playing in recent years and that's kind of how it's played out so far.
36:50Yeah, where he's basically been the running back catching passes out of the backfield and now the gimmicky role is gone.
36:57Speaking of Worthy last one where is he rest of season D bro?
37:01Oh, Xavier Worthy I've got him in wide receiver for territory.
37:04I probably need I need to bump him up a little bit like I think he he should be living somewhere in
37:11about the wide receiver three ish range. Yeah. Yeah, he's actually a wide receiver five in consensus.
37:16Yeah, I've got him out. I've got him I've got him at 50.
37:20I'd like I've got 42 right now like but you know let me let me ask you this fits because so in
37:27rest of season consensus rankings Xavier Worthy is 51 wide receiver 50 is Marvin Harrison jr.
37:32Who would you rather? That's too rough. I've got Marvin higher.
37:35Okay, really? Are you hoping for a trade? Like they're really close.
37:39I you have to be hope for a trade because he's not a part of that offense.
37:44I believe in Marvin Harrison jr's talent despite everybody's social media clips out there.
37:49Like I just think that Arizona screwing him over bad.
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38:32Next game here on the Sunday slate Titans at Giants Debro how are you ranking fantasy relevant Giants, the first game with Jameis Winston starting this season.
38:40I will be below consensus. I can tell you that I've got Cam Scadaboo at RB23.
38:45I don't know what to do with Malik neighbors because I don't know if he plays like he got a full practice
38:52in yesterday and started out limited for the week but I still don't know if he's going to play with with the bum wing.
39:00Isaiah likely I've got a tight in nine neighbors will probably be like somewhere in the wide receiver two ish range when
39:07it's all said and done if he does play but I don't have a lot of and that are the those are
39:13the only fantasy viable players in this offense for me like I don't care about Darnell Mooney or Malachi Fields or whoever
39:20Jameis is barely having a pulse and QB to land for super flex leagues because he looked god-awful last week.
39:26So yeah, you don't think he might look better like with a full week of knowing he's going to be starting and
39:33I mean he's been a backup in the NFL for how long and he just needs to prepare right now.
39:39I don't know man. I don't I don't know.
39:42There's also something to be said of it. You know when the magic goes it goes and he looked god-awful.
39:48This whole conversation might be kind of so I'll tell you where I have these guys for now.
39:54Jameis quarterback 28 scataboo RB 22 neighbors wide receiver 18 Isaiah likely tight end 10.
39:59We might be moving all these guys to the point where we don't start any of them because they have a nor'easter
40:06coming into the East Coast this weekend and I know they're worried about what this is going to do to the Cubs Red Sox series in Boston.
40:14I don't think this stretches as far down the East Coast as Maryland so the Commanders Seahawks game should be okay but
40:21they're saying like the forecast for New Jersey on Sunday rain sustained winds of 13 miles an hour gusts of up to 27 miles an hour.
40:29Oh man. That's pretty similar to the weather we got in Chicago last Sunday for Bears Vikings and you saw not a
40:36lot of success in the passing game. All I heard Fitzy was whatever the total is still bet the under.
40:42Yeah, I would definitely agree with that. Does that make you interested in Scadaboo though Fitz just like hey they're gonna have
40:49to run the ball because they won't be able to throw or you're just like I don't everything.
40:54I don't think this regime wants to feed Scadaboo the way I last I don't did.
40:59No, they don't. No. Yeah. Oh man. Yeah, I was better off in Bayball tried to get him traded to Tennessee so
41:06you can reunite with all the Giants there in Tennessee.
41:09I was aware of the weather stuff on the baseball side.
41:13I didn't even think about it for this game so I'm glad you brought it up.
41:18The total by the way consensus odds on bettingpros.com 38 and a half for this game.
41:22It's gonna be coming down I think. And by the way just to say for your rankings you are either at consensus
41:29or like one or two below consensus on every one of those players you mentioned for right now obviously.
41:35Yeah, and that's gonna kind of move too because we still there's so much injury news right now like where we're talking about all these players.
41:43Yeah, there's still so many situations left to be decided about quarterbacks running backs what happens with all of that that everybody
41:50needs to make sure they're double checking all of our rankings like on Sunday.
41:54Yeah, all right. That's an ugly game. Let's move on to the next one Bengals at Steelers might also be an ugly
42:01game pretty much any game with the Steelers has been ugly so far Bengals defense has looked much improved to start the
42:08season while the Steelers offense has been completely dreadful.
42:11Just one offensive touchdown for this team through two games.
42:14Debro, are you starting any Steelers this week? I will be starting Jalen Warren if he is the clear workhorse back of that offense.
42:21I will be starting Pat Fryermuth considering the usage.
42:24I don't know if we get Michael Pittman Jr.
42:27back but if he is playing I don't want to start him.
42:31I don't want to start Jeremy Bernard if he's out.
42:34I don't want to start DK Metcalf. DK Metcalf is going to get shadowed by DJ Turner and just for everybody at
42:41home last year in the two meetings Metcalf got DJ Turner.
42:44He followed him on 78 90% of his routes.
42:47Metcalf didn't surpass 50 receiving yards in Turner's coverage in either game and he had zero touchdowns.
42:52I will not play DK Metcalf but Jalen Warren and Pat Fryermuth.
42:56Sure. Fitz, I knew you were going to bring up Fryermuth if Debro didn't just from doing yesterday.
43:01He is in consensus rankings tight end 17 right now.
43:05I know you have him quite a bit higher than that.
43:08Yeah, tight end 10. Yeah. And or wait, maybe I've got likely 10 and Fryermuth 11, whatever.
43:13I'm going to be moving Fryermuth ahead of likely.
43:16Actually, I do have Fryermuth 10 and likely 11.
43:19Yeah, it's just the Bengals allowed the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns to tight end last year with Al Golden as the defensive coordinator.
43:27Golden still the defensive coordinator and Dalton Schultz had 12 catches and 140 yards to the Texans for the Texans against the Bengals last week.
43:34And it seemed like this Bengals defense has gotten a lot better.
43:38It just seems like the Bengals are perfectly willing to concede seven yard throws over the middle to the opposing tight end.
43:45Like they are happy with that. They'll bend a little bit on those throws and sacrifice that for breaking elsewhere.
43:51So, let's see. Oh, go ahead. Sorry, sorry. Oh, that's okay.
43:55I was just going to say, so last year Fryermuth had a game against the Bengals.
44:00Five catches, 111 yards, two touchdowns. And yeah, and just echoing what Debro said about Jalen Warren, like quite possibly no Rico Doudal.
44:07Warren gets a huge share of the snaps, carries, and all those check down throws from the 42-year-old quarterback who is doing
44:13pretty much everything he can to avoid hits. Mm-hmm.
44:16To your point, I'll say is I see your Colts' worst linebacker group and I raise you the Bengals.
44:22They were lost last year because they got thrown in the deep end of the pool.
44:27I think they're going to be better than the Colts this year, but I know last year that was obviously like a
44:34lot of weak spots in the Bengals' defense and that was the weakest, but I feel like those guys are going to be better this year.
44:42To your point, though, that Friar Muth should eat them alive in coverage, though.
44:46Yeah. Would you guys start Friar Muth over Colson Loveland?
44:49Just to get a sense. Yeah. Yeah. I have a answer to that because I wrote it in the primer.
44:56I have no freaking clue what to do with Colson Loveland because this Bears passing attack is doing idiotic things and you
45:03talk about broken offenses like they're running the ball well.
45:06What the heck are we doing? We got to throw out week two, though.
45:10Like that was that game was just can we throw out week one to like is the Colson Loveland and Rome and Luther Burden weren't good then, too.
45:19It was weird, but they were having so much success on the ground against the Panthers like they run the ball.
45:25I just I don't think we've had circumstances under which we can fairly judge the Bears passing yet.
45:31I think it's going to be fine. I think Loveland's a great buy low right now.
45:36I don't disagree with you. I just don't know what the heck to do with him this week.
45:41Considering what we see. Don't don't play him with Keith.
45:44I would co-sign. Yeah. Another game in the early slate Seahawks at Commanders, the team from Seattle obviously flying east for an early start in this one.
45:53I don't think it really matters. That defense is going to travel.
45:57So with no Jaden Daniels and facing the best defensive football in my opinion, are you comfortable starting pretty much any commanders this week Fitz?
46:04No. And I've got I'm going to have to move these guys down right now.
46:09I've got McLaurin wide receiver 29 and digs wide receiver 32.
46:12And I looked at those rankings. I'm like, why do I have these guys that high?
46:17Um, you know, like, so I don't really want to play those guys.
46:21I know Seattle sometimes gives up receiving production to running back.
46:25So maybe you could start Rashad white in a PPR league, but I really don't want to start either Rashad or J.
46:32Corey Krosky married either. That that's the one it's white in PPR.
46:35All right. And I saw Debra nodding to yeah, just just quickly on the receivers though, like Terry McLaurin's wide receiver 31
46:42in consensus to find digs is wide receiver 34 in consensus.
46:46And man, I'm looking here like Rashad Bateman is behind those guys.
46:49I don't think they are going there. I mean, with no Zay flowers, he's no, you're not wrong.
46:55I knew you were going there and I agree.
46:58And Wicks is right behind Bateman. I would rather start Wicks.
47:01There's defense than I would those two. And given the circumstances, like, yeah, I think they should be even lower than I
47:08don't feel good about being above consensus on those two guys.
47:11That does not feel good. I think that's correct.
47:14Yeah. D bro. You know, when you look at this matchup, is it just white or is there anybody else you would even make a case for?
47:22No, I'm not making a case for anybody else.
47:25It's just Rashad white. And it's just, if you're in a PPR league and you need your running back room, which again,
47:32going back to the injuries is decimated. Rashad white is a PPR option because again, yeah, Seattle does get eaten up by receiving backs.
47:4012 most receiving fantasy points. Per game this season last year, they quietly gave up the most receptions to running backs.
47:46And it just makes a ton of sense. Like we know the commanders are going to be playing catch up.
47:52Rashad white is the passing down back the coverage structure.
47:55Seattle runs with too high and funneling everything underneath.
47:58And I'll just make sense. Like he probably walks out of this.
48:02If he gets a garbage time touchdown, maybe he's a PPR RV two of the week, but again, a flex, but I don't want to play anybody else.
48:11Like even Marcus Mariota and super flex. No, thank you.
48:14McDonald defenses have always given up, you know, catches to the running back.
48:18So that's, that's not just like a cover structure.
48:21Yeah. Yeah. By the way, just while we're on this game, Adam Peters said on local radio in DC earlier that they
48:27are not considering IR for Jaden Daniels. It sounds like surgery is not currently the, the plan.
48:33I mean, I find it baffling. Honestly, you know, not that I'm a doctor or have looked at any of this stuff,
48:39but it just seems crazy that if every time he falls in his elbow lands the wrong way, it's susceptible to this,
48:46that maybe you would want to get surgery, but it seems like that's not the plan right now.
48:52That could change a lot of moving parts. He's not playing this week.
48:56That's all we know for sure. So good. Good thing for Adam Peters and Dan Quinn.
49:01I mean, that might hopefully save their jobs or something because I'm telling you like if they, if Jaden Daniel goes on
49:08IR and stuff, they will not be back for a 2027 season.
49:11Promise you that. I think Peters would be more likely to be back.
49:15I think Quinn would be. Peters has been God awful as a GM.
49:19I know, but like his reputation, I think is stronger than Dan his rep and what he's actually done with his resume.
49:26They don't, they don't. Yeah, I'm not even disagreeing that.
49:29I just think usually you would maybe just see one and give them a chance to hire a different coach.
49:36But again, let's see how it plays out. If you want to double your chances of winning your fantasy league, active fantasy
49:42pros users are twice as likely to win. Sync your league for free and get fast personalized advice for your lineup, waivers,
49:49trades, and more all powered by over a hundred experts.
49:52Get started at fantasypros.com slash my playbook or on the fantasy pros app.
49:56All right, let's get to the late slate here guys.
50:00Smaller late slate because we have a pretty big early slate this week.
50:04Cardinals at 49ers. Key question here. Two weeks into his career, Jeremiah Love has yet to top 50 combined rushing and receiving yards in a game.
50:12Where are you ranking him against a 49ers team that has looked completely dominant so far this season?
50:17I'll be it against a team with weird travel stuff and the dolphins as those two opponents.
50:22Debro. Oh, Jeremiah Love. Where is he out of my rankings?
50:26I have an RB3 and when it all shakes out, that's where he's going to be somewhere in that RB3 range.
50:32But if Jaderian Price is can we get word?
50:35He's going to be like a full go this week.
50:38I'm putting him over Jeremiah Love. It's Travis H.
50:41Chen sounds like he's going to be a full go this week.
50:45I mean, maybe either one of the Patriots backs.
50:48I do not want to play Jeremiah Love at all.
50:51I don't want to play Tyler. I was here.
50:54One, it's the matchup to their usage is just so baffling and idiotic.
50:58I don't understand it. But to your point, worm, the 49ers have given up the fifth lowest explosive run rate, the seventh fewest yards of contact per attempt.
51:06But Jeremiah Love through two games has a 42% snap rate.
51:10He has a 32% route share. He's only averaged 12 and a half touches.
51:14And this is despite him being a player that in the limited volume has 2.85 yards of contact per attempt.
51:20You draft this guy fifth overall to put him behind Tyler Algier and just prove that you are all idiotic.
51:26Do those stats, Debro, normalize early in the season?
51:29Things like target share and those usage numbers or does that tend to be susceptible to small sample size sort of early season flukes depending on the game?
51:38Or is that like usually pretty quickly like this is likely what it's going to be going forward?
51:43I mean, I would love to say the assumption of rational, it depends on it's every different team and how the players are playing.
51:51So every team is its own, you know, microorganism.
51:54But with this specifically, I don't know what they're going to do, man.
51:58Like, I mean, we scream the assumption of rational coaching all the time.
52:02You drafted the guy top five. He's crazy talented.
52:05If it's not related to an injury, then why is he leading the backfield?
52:09It is related to an injury, though. He had the high ankle.
52:13We know that definitively, though? Like, well, it's reasonable to conclude that they are maybe easing him in a little bit after
52:19the high ankle sprain last month, which we know is a pretty severe, like basically is like akin to an MCL sprain
52:26as far as the recovery time and being like full go.
52:30So I think it stands to reason he's going to get more work in the coming weeks.
52:35And I hope so. Yeah, I hope so. I really do hope so, because what they're doing right now makes zero sense.
52:42And just by the way, he is RB 25 in consensus and fits before I get your ranking here.
52:48Just to mention Nick Bosa will not play in this game.
52:51He pulled his calf during Thursday's practice is now expected to miss a few weeks.
52:56And Schefter tweeted like four minutes ago as of when we're taping this, the 49ers now are leaning toward not placing Bosa
53:03on injured reserve in part because they're running out of injured reserve spaces, which is remarkable here before week three has even gotten fully underway.
53:10Fitz, where are you out of Jeremiah Love in this matchup?
53:14RB 24. I mean, I think the talent is evident and the role is going to continue to grow as he does
53:21get closer to 100% after that high ankle sprain.
53:23Like, I really think that's partly why the usage has been what it has been so far.
53:29It's kind of funny, Fitz. I feel like this whole episode, not that you're not giving great analysis or, you know, cogent
53:36insights or anything, but it's a bit a lot of like, yeah, but basically in line with consensus when any of the
53:42specific ranking questions that you've been like very aligned either off by just a spot or two on a lot of these.
53:49Do you feel like consensus is aligning with Fitzy?
53:52Can we just throw it that way? You know what?
53:55That's a much better way to frame it. I know that's the reality.
53:59Fit fits with his top 50 finish in the rankings contest.
54:03Yeah. I know you weren't thrilled about that on the Wednesday show, so I had to bring it up again.
54:09Mayor crushing it. We should really all be following him so far this season.
54:13I can't believe I just said that out loud.
54:16Let's go to the next game. Vikings at Buccaneers with Kyler Murray returning injuries in the Vikings running back room and a
54:23very messy Tampa Bay offense facing a chaotic Brian Flores defense.
54:26This game to me feels very hard to predict, so just make a prediction.
54:30Give me a final score and a guess at who will be the player of the game in this one fits.
54:37I always like the spots where it's like sort of the fat happy team against the wounded desperate team, so I'll take
54:44the wounded desperate Buccaneers here 2120 and I'll go with Bucky Irving as player of the game.
54:492120 and Bucky Irving. I don't have it pulled up here.
54:52I want to check what the total is and that that would be oh, if total is 42 and a half, so that would be under there.
55:01Debra, how do you see this one playing out?
55:04I was going to go like 2118 and I'm also going to take the Buccaneers here and to your point, Warren, but
55:10yeah, I this game feels like there's such a wide range of outcomes with with how both of these defenses are so blitz happy.
55:18The Vikings do not give up a ton, but if you look at their metrics, they their success rates versus rushing and passing are extremely low.
55:26But dude, when they give up big plays, oh baby, they are both top 12 in explosive pass rate and rush rate.
55:33Like when they give it up, they give it up.
55:36So I think that that leads to a lot of volatility and I'm going to go with Fitzy on this one for
55:43Bucky Irving and just for context here. Yeah, Minnesota has given up the fifth highest explosive run rate and the 12th most yards before contact per attempt.
55:51They have specifically been exposed on gap runs and in a very limited sample, Bucky Irving on gap runs this year, 6.9 yards per carry.
55:59Wow. So you guys are very aligned on this one.
56:02Bucky is RB 18 this week. Is that too low?
56:05It's too low. It's funny that the Minnesota defense, the run defense, the stats are that so bad when that they're so
56:12bad when they face the Packers in week one.
56:15Not wrong at all. Great point. Yes, sir. Let me just throw out just if you're looking at bettingpros.com since we're talking
56:22about Bucky, his total consensus odds for your rushing yards is 57 and a half.
56:26First touchdown score plus 625. Rushing attempts 14 and a half is the total fantasy points over under is 13.
56:32These are all different bets you can see on bettingpros.com.
56:36Anytime touchdown, by the way, plus 135. Any of those stand out to you Fitz since you like Bucky so much?
56:42I like to overrun the rushing yardage. Same. Same.
56:45Oh, yeah. Yeah. Weird game. I'm interested to watch it, but yeah, I just feel like this could go in so many
56:52different directions that I really just don't know. So it's kind of funny that I asked this question on this game because
56:58I felt like, oh, who the heck knows what this is going to do?
57:03And then you guys both basically gave almost the same answer of how you see this playing out.
57:08So maybe it is a little more obvious than I thought.
57:12Let's go to another game that I'm actually like weirdly very excited to watch Raiders at Saints.
57:17Tyler Shuck has already been a top eight quarterback twice this season.
57:21He has been a top 12 quarterback in six of his last eight games dating back to week 13 of last year.
57:28And in the only two games that he wasn't a top 12 quarterback, he was still no lower than QB 16 in those two games.
57:35So he has given you both floor and ceiling dating back to, like I said, week 13 of last season.
57:42With all that said, where are you guys ranking Shuck both this week and rest of season, Debra?
57:47So this feels like Stockholm syndrome. Have you been Saints pilled?
57:51I said last week, I was like, that's a good man.
57:54I think they're a good team. They're fun. I like, I'm in on the Saints.
57:59I've got, I got Shuck at QB eight for the week and rest of season.
58:03And just for everybody at home, he is QB five and fantasy points per game.
58:08Rest of season. I've got him at QB. I kind of go back and forth somewhere in the QB 10 to 12
58:15range, like somewhere around between Drake major golf somewhere in that type of area code.
58:19Fitz. I've got him QB 12 this week, QB 14 rest of season.
58:24I know that seems pessimistic. I just got to remind people that he had a 410 yard day against the Lions in
58:30week one after they fell down into a 21 zero hole.
58:34And right now he's second in the league in pass attempts and he's going to be way up there in pass attempts
58:41because Kellen Moore likes to push the pace and, you know, Shuck adds value with his legs.
58:46I think he's good. I think he's a viable starting quarterback in fantasy.
58:50But the Raiders are not the easiest matchup. And I know people think of Las Vegas being this pushover matchup.
58:56They have the second lowest opponent passer rating right now behind only the Seahawks.
59:00And the Raiders have only given up one TD pass.
59:04And I mean, they can get after it with the pass rush.
59:07We know that. So like, I don't think this is a cakewalk for Tyler Shuck.
59:12Oh, and by the way, can I can I give you guys a fun factoid about this game?
59:18They mentioned this on the athletic football podcast. And I guess Saints head coach Kellen Moore dropped this himself.
59:23Kellen Moore and Kirk Cousins were senior bowl teammate in 2012.
59:27Oh, my gosh. That is amazing. I think that's dating Kirk Cousins weren't it is Kellen Moore.
59:32That makes Kellen Moore look like a young man and Kirk.
59:36Oh, my gosh. That is hilarious. So I didn't see what for what it's worth.
59:40Fitz, you're not that low on Chuck relative consensus.
59:43He could be 10 in consensus for this week and QB 13 for rest of season rankings.
59:48So you're one spot lower in one of those and two spots lower in the other.
59:53So you're not that far off you. And if you are fading a little bit relative to consensus.
59:59The only thing I want to add on the Raiders defense, they could be for real.
60:04The only counter that I have for this Fitzy is we're only two games in and they played Malik Willis and Justin
60:11Herbert and that abomination of an offense. So I think they could be legit, but we need a bigger sample size.
60:17I do think that this is a very good litmus test for them, though.
60:21Max Crosby does look like he's an MVP. Oh, dude.
60:25He's mad, mad, mad, baby. The Raiders got to be glad it so sad.
60:29You think he'd be a good Raven, huh? Worm.
60:32The Ravens didn't get under that trade because of this year.
60:35It's because of long term concerns. I think I think everybody expected him to be good this season.
60:41I'm not surprised at all. He does look awesome.
60:44Yeah. But by the way, just like in terms of thinking about the Saints to like Chris Alave rest season's wide receiver seven.
60:51That feels if anything maybe too well. I mean, if he's healthy or awesome.
60:55So good. Yeah. Which certainly helps Shuck. All right.
60:58Let's go to week 13. Speaking of the Ravens, Ravens at Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
61:03I was not sure at certain points in this week if they were actually going to play there.
61:09There have been rumors about the field. They are in Brazil.
61:12So this game is happening there. I am terrified by the quality of this field and having my team play on it and possible injuries to come.
61:21I really hope Zay does not play. Obviously, this offense looks a lot different without him, but I do not want to risk it.
61:28All that being said, this is the highest total of the week.
61:32It was 52 and a half. Last time I looked, I'll double check while we're talking to see if it's still at that at that level.
61:40But 52 and a half. Is there anybody that you would actually fade in this matchup, whether it's because of the field
61:47or just because it's, you know, a high number and you feel like the game might not go that way?
61:53Or are you guys trying to start as many players as possible from this game?
61:58Debra, I'll start with you. I'm starting everybody that I want.
62:01Okay. Zay Flowers is not going to play. He still hasn't practiced this week.
62:05The Baltimore Ravens are not going to be stupid enough to put him on this rick and field with a hamstring issue.
62:12So I'm just going to get that out of the way.
62:16He did travel to Brazil just to, by the way, so it's not official yet, but I I agree with you.
62:22I'm just pointing out that he is there. Yeah, no, I just don't see a world where he plays in this game.
62:29But to that point, are you playing Lamar Jackson Derek Henry Rashad Bateman and Mark Andrews?
62:34Equivocally. Hell yes. Are you playing all your usual Cowboys?
62:37And the only guy that I think like usage and touchdowns and stuff that maybe I'm kind of like on the fence
62:44just because his usage sucks and you're playing touchdown or bust as Jake Ferguson.
62:48But in a game with a 52 freaking total, he probably gets a touchdown and the red zone equity is there.
62:55So yeah, this is fire up all your usual Cowboys and Ravens.
62:59By the way, that total has actually gone up.
63:01It's 53 is consensus on better. You can find it at 53 and a half in some places, but the consensus wild.
63:08So very, very high total. Yeah, I guess I guess it's the better way to frame this isn't like, you know, are you sitting anybody?
63:16It's are you fading anybody relative to consensus? But still, most of the guys you're starting.
63:21If you have. Yeah, D bro covered it perfectly.
63:24And the only thing I'll add, there was a good tweet by Pat Thorman of established the run today.
63:30He pointed out that Christian Parker's Dallas Cowboys defense sort of predicated on the Vic Fangio defense and Lamar Jackson has historically ripped up Vic Fangio defenses.
63:38So could be a big Lamar game this week.
63:41You also I think it was you. Sorry if I'm putting words in your mouth fits, but I think yesterday on the
63:48show, you might have mentioned that when field conditions are bad, that can sometimes benefit the offensive players because defense offensive players know where they're going.
63:56Defense defenders have to react and not being able to plant and cut as well.
64:00You might see guys kind of slipping around a bit and it's the sort of thing where if Lamar is comfortable on
64:07this field or if they was playing, for example, those quick twitch guys who are really shifty and change direction quickly can be a problem to deal with.
64:16So that kind of leans into or into the higher total here in the offense.
64:20Yeah, that's how it was in week one of 2025 when the Packers and Eagle.
64:25Eagles played in Brazil. There were a lot of big games in the big plays in the passing game that day because
64:32a lot of defenders sort of getting shaken by, you know, quick cuts by wide receivers.
64:37So, yeah, I remember I think Jaden Reed had a couple of touchdowns in that game.
64:42The Eagles, AJ Brown, I think went off in that game.
64:45Wouldn't surprise me. Like, I'm not betting the under on this game.
64:49I'll tell you that. I just want to lay out a really quick scenario, boys, trying to stop a train on any
64:56type of field, much less when you try to dig your heels in against Eric.
65:00Derek Henry. I was just going to talk about Derek Henry.
65:04Obviously, nothing. Everybody's starting to have him, but he's already five and consensus.
65:08That feels. I mean, dude, he could run for a buck 50 in this game.
65:13Yeah. I do not disagree. Like if, if listen, as a Ravens fan, if they get out of this game with no
65:19major injuries, that's all I could ask for. Well, you just need Declan Doyle to hopefully call rushing plays.
65:25Who knows if that happens? He did say he had a quote earlier this week.
65:30He goes, yes, I'm aware Derek Henry is on this team because he was getting good for him.
65:36He's doing his best. Todd Monken. Hooray. Yeah, we'll see what happens in this week.
65:40All right, let's go to Sunday Night Football Rams at Broncos.
65:44Key question here. Devante Adams and Jalen Waddell both bounced back with big games in week two after poor performances in week one.
65:51Which wide receiver has the better week three in this game?
65:54And by the way, when I put this question together, it was unclear on Puka.
65:59Still, we don't have definitive anything on if he's going to play or not, but it seems like it has trended in the wrong direction here.
66:07So maybe that plays into your pick in this one.
66:10Fitz, who do you expect to have a better week three?
66:13Devante Adams or Jalen Waddell? I'm assuming Puka is going to be out right now.
66:18Right now, and taking people behind the curtain, I was doing my first pass at week three rankings while Devante Adams was
66:25destroying the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
66:28So I may have been influenced by this. Right now, I've got Devante wide receiver 15, and I have, sorry, Jalen Waddell wide receiver 17.
66:35So tell me, despite the likelihood of a Patrick Sertain Jr.
66:39shadow on Devante Adams, and so is this a mistake, D-Bro?
66:42I have them back-to-back. I have Waddell at wide receiver 12, and I have Adams at 13.
66:48Oh. The only reason that I have Waddell ahead of Adams is exactly what you just laid out with Patrick Sertain.
66:54Now, in all of this, do I think that Sean McVay does smart things with Devante Adams because he's freaking Sean McVay,
67:01and he doesn't fall into the same potholes that all the other idiots in the league do, and just put Adams on
67:08an island, and if he is basically your entire passing attack or the clear one, is he going to move him into
67:15the slot and get him off of Sertain? Yes.
67:17But we do have to kind of nerf his line just a little bit because he is going to see Sertain some,
67:24and he's going to play on the boundary some.
67:27So that's where I split the difference between these two guys, where I have Waddell, who was the clear alpha that we
67:34were all kind of hoping he'd be in week two, and I think that that's his role projected forward.
67:40I have Waddell one spot ahead about Devante Adams only because of Patrick Sertain.
67:44That's the only reason. So where did you say they are ranked?
67:48You said you have Waddell ahead. Wide receiver 12 and 13.
67:5112 and 13, okay. Devante Adams is wide receiver 12 in consensus.
67:55Jalen Waddell is wide receiver 15 in consensus rankings.
67:58We're all kind of living in the same neighborhood.
68:00And by the way, again, that's with like Christian Watson, Drake London are still in there.
68:05So it would be a little bit higher if you remove the guys who have already played.
68:11Yeah, I think that's fair. You know, Devante Adams, I mean, it's just if Puka is out, and by the way, the
68:18are they playing tool on fantasypros.com gives Puka a 4% chance to play, which is the same as Zay Flowers and Nico
68:24Collins, guys that we don't expect to play. So like we are.
68:28He has even practice of last. It seems incredibly unlikely that he's going to play.
68:33So yeah, like it's hard to watch what we saw last week and not have Devante Adams pretty high.
68:39Assuming Puka doesn't play just very quickly. I didn't I didn't write this question down, but Terrence Ferguson, like how high would
68:45he rank for you guys if Puka is outfits?
68:48Probably right now I've got him tight end 17.
68:51I don't know how much higher I can move him up.
68:54Like I just Terrence Ferguson versus Colston Loveland. Fitzy, who are you starting?
68:59Right now I've got Loveland higher, but I might have to get Ferguson ahead of Loveland.
69:03I just moved him in real time above Colston Loveland because how I'm projecting the game and the big thing that because
69:10I was very low on Ferguson walking out of last week only in the sense of is this truly replicable?
69:17And the thing that when I got to the primer and I dove into the numbers looking at when that game was
69:23close in the first three quarters of the game, it's not just that.
69:27OK, fine. He had the clear number two target chair.
69:30He was going to use a crap ton. It was the fact that he had a 71% route share.
69:36That makes me think like, OK, dude, like this isn't just maybe just one week.
69:41Maybe he just is the clear dude and the overall numbers take it away because in the fourth quarter they're just running
69:48the ball to take him off the field. They don't need him.
69:52Yada, yada, yada, yada, yada. So like I think that at least for one week.
69:56Yeah, the Terrence Ferguson show is definitely I want to buy tickets to that and I feel good about it.
70:02I had a listener reach out to me and ask Terrence Ferguson if Puka's out or Juwan Johnson.
70:08And for me, like I did say Ferguson easily.
70:11I would Ferguson would be like probably like the top eight ish for me if I knew if Ferguson's healthy and Puka
70:18is not like I am just very I don't I don't mind that there's a chance I'm out over my skis.
70:24I kind of want to be out of Terrence Ferguson.
70:27The other thing is going back to the Devante Adams of all of this, how we're projecting this game.
70:33If certain is on Adams, the ball has to go somewhere.
70:37So we're not projecting a crap ton of like Jordan winning right now.
70:41Terrence Ferguson is lower in consensus than a Ronda Gadsden, Harold Fannin, Carson Loveland, Mark Andrews.
70:46Like, yeah, I'd rather start Ferguson and all those guys if I knew Puka's for sure out, which we're expecting him to be out.
70:53So I want to throw that out there also because this is our Sunday night game.
70:58We're going to open up the prop bet cheat sheet and point out some of our favorite three and four star bets from the cheat sheet.
71:06Fitz, I'll start with you. What's your favorite one this week for Sunday night football?
71:11Matthew Stafford under 243.5 passing yards. It's a three star bet.
71:14That just seems like a tall order with no Puka Nikua.
71:18Debra? I'm actually going to go further down the cheat sheet.
71:21I'm going to go two star action with this one.
71:24I'm going to go back to the Jalen Waddlewell.
71:27I'm going to take the over for his 55.5 receiving yards.
71:30Again, the Rams have been, they looked much better in week two, but they have given up the 13th most fantasy points per opportunity to slot receivers.
71:39And I think Waddle gets fed again this week.
71:41Those were our top prop bets for Sunday night football, courtesy of the betting pros prop bet cheat cheat.
71:47Find the best NFL player prop bets with the betting pros prop bet cheat sheet.
71:52Quickly compare lines from leading sports books against our daily NFL projections to uncover the props offering the most value.
71:58Make smarter prop betting decisions all season long at bettingpros.com slash props.
72:02All right, guys, one final game here. Monday night football Eagles at bears.
72:06I think we can go quickly on this one just because the bear is obviously there's this quarterback uncertainty assuming Caleb Williams
72:13doesn't play and knowing at least last I saw Tyson Bajan may not either.
72:17I'm not sure if there's been an update there that I missed.
72:21How are you guys ranking bears pass catchers against Philly?
72:24Just given this crazy uncertainty at quarterback D bro.
72:27Luther burden wide receiver 30 Roma dunes a wide receiver 39 Colston Loveland wide or tight end 15 right now.
72:33I is passing attack. I just man, I don't know how you feel any comfort or sliver of like hope of like
72:40my confidence of starting these guys like is that sorry, let me rephrase that is there hope.
72:45Sure. They're all crazy talented and maybe they just do what they should have been doing the entirety of the season and
72:52run their offense through their best players. But what we've seen through two games is just been kind of a mess.
72:58So, I mean, I can't rank them aggressively, especially with the matchup here.
73:02You know, D bro, you're actually ahead of consensus on really?
73:06Oh, I've got to change that thing. Yeah. On both burden and a doons a not on Loveland, but a burden and
73:13a doons a not by a lot, but I mean, I don't want to be above consensus.
73:18Well, the other part about this is like I've got Rashad Bateman behind Luther burden right now that'll move up and there's
73:25some other kind of players again like moving ranks around with injuries.
73:29So what about Devon Velae or Luther burden? They're back to back in consensus.
73:33I feel better about Velae. I know his target volume and the saints are passing at the second highest rate neutral script.
73:40Like, yeah. Fitz, where you at when these pass catchers, we've talked a lot about Colson, love them.
73:45So let's focus on the receivers here. Where you at on burden and a doons a this week Burden wide receiver 38 or excuse me.
73:53I would do and say wide receiver 38 burden wide receiver 44.
73:57Yes, you might say I'm bearish on the Chicago receivers this week.
74:00I'll show myself. Yeah. So burden played fewer snaps than Kalief Raymond last week.
74:05I don't know what's up with that. You know, it's reminiscent of last year when burden was playing fewer snaps than a Lama days.
74:12A case, but that was burden's rookie year. And we thought we got the Luther burden breakout late last season.
74:18So the usage is kind of confusing. Did Ben Johnson sell all of his Luther burden stocks?
74:24I wasn't aware of the insider trading. I haven't been given the update.
74:28Can anybody update me on that? You are Fitz ahead of consensus on a doomsday.
74:32You are well below consensus on burden. You're like over 10 spots lower than consensus on burden.
74:38Would you rather start Fitz Luther burden or Carnell Tate this week?
74:41It's going to be the nor'easter in New Jersey.
74:44So I would rather start. I got a better one.
74:47Denzel Boston. Oh, well, see, the reason I didn't ask that one is.
74:51I know, I know, I know, I know. I know.
74:54You've already talked about this. I know exactly where I'm setting Fitzy up here a little bit.
75:00It's professional alley-oop. Go ahead, Fitzy. Denzel Boston. Yeah, it's Denzel Boston for sure.
75:04Is he still inside your top 30 Fitz Boston?
75:07Yes. Yeah. I had to give Fitzy a layup so he could start.
75:11I know, I know. I shouldn't have stepped on it.
75:14Is Octavian Wicks ahead of both of these guys for both of you?
75:18Oh, yeah. In this same game? He is of the Wicks, like, weirdly kind of lost snap and route share last week.
75:25But he's ahead of burden for me. Devontae Smith, hamstring injury, didn't practice.
75:29Yeah. Yeah, that's sweet. That's such a bummer with the matchup against the Bears defense.
75:34Their outside corners are not bad, though. It's like the slot where they're going to get murdered, the running game where they're going to get murdered.
75:42But I would only counter that with, I think they're bad everywhere.
75:45But, yeah. All right. We'll go ahead and wrap things up there.
75:49Thanks, everybody, for checking out our key questions for week three.
75:53Best of luck setting those lineups this week. For Fitz and Debra, I'm Ryan Warren.
75:57Thanks for tuning in. We'll see you again next time.
76:00Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast.
76:03If you love the show, the best free way to support us is by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts at fantasypros.com slash review or on Spotify.
76:12Follow us on X, Instagram, and TikTok at Fantasy Pros and subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com slash fantasypros.
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