PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
#1: Cowboys rising after defensive makeover; Bears drop out of top 10
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
37 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 9, 2026
Published
Wed, September 9, 2026
32
Player insights
31
Players mentioned
Topics
Kenneth Walker IIIA.J. BrownBaker MayfieldC.J. StroudCaleb WilliamsCeeDee LambChristian McCaffreyD.J. MooreDak PrescottDavid MontgomeryGeorge KittleGeorge PickensJadarian PriceJames Cook
Player analysis
Player insights
A.J. Brown
PositiveProjection24:40
The acquisition of A.J. Brown is expected to improve the Patriots' offense, with expectations that he will serve as a deep threat and provide more value than previous options.
Insight pageBaker Mayfield
PositiveProjection33:46
Nick Shook feels better about the Buccaneers heading into the season, noting that Baker Mayfield has historically performed well in Week 1.
Insight pageC.J. Stroud
NegativeProjection20:09
Nick Shook notes that the Texans' offense was inconsistent last year and questions whether Stroud can progress forward or if he will remain the same player he was as the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Insight pageCaleb Williams
PositiveProjection22:12
Nick Shook expresses strong belief in Caleb Williams, expecting him to take a step forward in his next season under Ben Johnson.
Insight pageCeeDee Lamb
PositiveProjection22:08
Nick Shook highlights CeeDee Lamb as one of Dak Prescott's 1,000-yard receivers who is returning to the Cowboys' explosive offense.
Insight pageChristian McCaffrey
NegativeInjury32:12
There are some questions regarding Christian McCaffrey's health, though Nick Shook is not overly concerned.
Insight pageD.J. Moore
PositiveRole12:07
Nick Shook praises the Bills' acquisition of DJ Moore, noting his veteran presence and familiarity with Joe Brady will help him find a good place in the offense.
Insight pageDak Prescott
PositiveProjection21:56
Nick Shook argues that Dak Prescott is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and is often disrespected, noting his strong performance with two 1,000-yard receivers.
Insight pageDavid Montgomery
PositiveRole20:37
Nick Shook feels better about the Texans' running game with David Montgomery as a replacement, noting he ran with authority during the preseason.
Insight pageGeorge Kittle
NegativeInjury32:15
George Kittle's availability for the start of the season is uncertain as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Insight pageGeorge Pickens
PositiveRole22:08
Nick Shook notes that George Pickens is returning to the Cowboys' offense and, playing on a franchise tag, has a lot to prove this season.
Insight pageJadarian Price
NegativeRole9:13
Nick Shook questions whether rookie Jadarian Price can fill the significant role left vacant in the Seahawks' backfield.
Insight pageJames Cook
PositiveProjection12:24
Nick Shook describes James Cook as an elite rusher who is a key component of the Bills' offense.
Insight pageJoe Burrow
NegativeInjury20:11
Nick Shook emphasizes that Joe Burrow must stay healthy for the Bengals to succeed, noting his tendency to be a slow starter.
Insight pageJosh Allen
PositiveProjection12:22
Nick Shook names Josh Allen as his MVP pick for the upcoming season, citing his elite status and the Bills' experienced offensive line.
Insight pageKenneth Walker III
NegativeRole8:56
Nick Shook identifies the departure of Kenneth Walker as a significant concern for the Seahawks' offense, noting his importance as a major part of their unit last year.
Insight pagePositiveRole26:20
Nick Shook believes the addition of Kenneth Walker will be mammoth for the Chiefs' offense, helping to establish a running game they lacked in previous years.
Insight pageLamar Jackson
PositiveProjection15:04
Nick Shook likes Lamar Jackson for MVP, citing his health, the potential for a new offensive scheme under Declan Doyle, and the team's overall positive energy.
Insight pageMatthew Stafford
PositiveProjection6:51
Nick Shook views Matthew Stafford as a major strength for the Rams, labeling him the reigning MVP and quarterback.
Insight pageMike Evans
NegativeInjury32:08
Mike Evans missed a significant portion of training camp due to injury.
Insight pageOdell Beckham
NegativeRole34:38
Odell Beckham is back on the Giants' roster, contributing to the team's young talent.
Insight pagePatrick Mahomes
NegativeInjury25:32
Nick Shook notes that Patrick Mahomes is coming off an ACL injury and that his progression remains a question mark as he prepares for the season.
Insight pagePuka Nacua
PositiveProjection6:44
Nick Shook remains confident in the Rams' passing attack because of the high-end talent provided by Puka Nakua and Devontae Adams.
Insight pageRashee Rice
NegativeRole26:12
Rashee Rice is one of the primary options in the Chiefs' receiving core, though the team lacks depth outside of him and Xavier Worthy.
Insight pageRicky Pearsall
Rome Odunze
NegativeRole22:59
Rome Odunze is part of a young receiving core for the Bears that needs to put it all together to support the offense.
Insight pageRomeo Doubs
NegativeRole24:50
Romeo Doubs is part of a jam-packed receiving core for the Patriots that has become very talented.
Insight pageTank Dell
NegativeInjury21:04
Tank Dell is still working his way back from injury, and his current status remains uncertain despite his potential to unlock the Texans' offense.
Insight pageTutu Atwell
NegativeDepth Chart6:35
Nick Shook expresses concern regarding the Rams' receiver depth after the team traded for Tutu Atwell just before roster cuts, suggesting it indicates a lack of confidence in the group's depth.
Insight pageWoody Marks
PositiveRole20:43
Nick Shook expects Woody Marks to serve as a good spellback for the Texans, highlighting his authoritative running style in the preseason.
Insight pageXavier Worthy
NegativeRole26:12
Xavier Worthy is a key receiver for the Chiefs, but the team's reliance on him and Rashee Rice highlights a lack of depth at the position.
Insight pageZach Charbonnet
NegativeInjury9:08
Nick Shook notes that Zach Charbonnet is still on the road back from an ACL injury sustained in the playoffs, creating uncertainty for the Seahawks' backfield.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:05hosts as we preview and recap every game. Listen to NFL Daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:12Whether you're a seasoned NFL fan or new to the game, there's one place to keep up with all of it.
0:18The league's newest podcast, The NFL Report, hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano.
0:21It is your home for everything football. Breaking news, expert analysis, game picks, and hear from your favorite players too.
0:26Join me and an all-star cast of experts for everything you need to know from around the league.
0:31Get new episodes of The NFL Report Monday through Friday all season long.
0:35Listen to The NFL Report podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:40Hey, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sikama. And together, we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
0:44Are you ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?
0:47Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind.
0:52Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count.
1:00Listen to The NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
1:05NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.
1:09Oh, we could not be more excited to bring you episode number one of Power Rankings.
1:13Yes, we are presented by Energizer. Along with Nick Shook, Mike Yam with you.
1:17Live in the flesh, the man who is supposed to make all 32 fan bases absolutely smile every single week when we do this show.
1:24Yeah, and hopefully, you know, not get too many angry comments in the Twitter mentions and social media and everything else.
1:30It's going to happen. It's the nature of Power Rankings, but we got to sort all this out.
1:34We're going to start right now. It is a thankless job that we ask you to accomplish every single week.
1:40And even before the season starts, I would argue like not even the easiest of weeks to do it because we don't
1:46even have a sample size right now. I was going through your rankings last night.
1:50I would say there was a couple selections where I went, ooh, Nick likes them this high.
1:55Let's show you exactly how it looks. One through eight.
1:58The Los Angeles Rams sitting in that top spot.
2:00The Denver Broncos follow them. The champs are here at number three.
2:03Buffalo at number four. We got the Eagles at five.
2:06That one gave me a little bit of pause as well.
2:09The Ravens with the new head coach, like the Buffalo Bills, I should say.
2:13The Ravens sitting at number six. Cincinnati, you are very high on this squad.
2:17Checking in at number seven. We can talk about them, not to mention the Dallas Cowboys at number eight.
2:22All right, the Rams at number one. I would make an argument.
2:25This is probably the least surprising thing on the entire list considering some of the additions that they have.
2:31But sell me on this team because the reality is I don't even know what the identity is because they're so darn
2:37good on offense, so darn good on defense. I don't know if there's a weakness.
2:41Right, and if we go back to last year, what was their weakness?
2:44It was their secondary, and they immediately went and upgraded it.
2:47They got Trent McDuffie. Yeah. They got Jalen Watson.
2:50That alone was like, okay, they fixed their problems.
2:52They should be right back in the seat where they were last year on the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
2:58But then things changed when they acquired Miles Garrett, which then lured Aaron Donald out of retirement.
3:02They have an embarrassment of riches, and the only question is can they deliver on it because the pressure that mounts with
3:08them being the favorites among everybody in the NFL, it starts to build right now.
3:13And if you look at them on paper, obviously we haven't played any games.
3:16But as it stands right now with what we've seen in a regular preseason, feeling pretty good about their chances so far.
3:22There's obviously 18 weeks plus playoffs to go. Just because of some of the additions that you made reference to, are they even deep enough at this point?
3:30Would you make the arguments even whether a storm of injury in a particular spot or two?
3:35Yeah, I would say on the defensive line they are because the addition of Garrett, because the return of Aaron Donald, there
3:41are still questions because when you rebuild your secondary, that looks great on paper, but you still need to see how it comes together on the field.
3:48So we got to give that time to really figure it out.
3:52But I do think that they're probably deep enough to weather it.
3:55My big question is at receiver, because when you go trade for Tutu Atwell just before cuts, that kind of tells me,
4:01you know, you're trying to add a death guy, a familiar guy.
4:04That makes me a little concerned about that group, but we know what they have at the top with Puka Nakua and with Devontae Adams.
4:11So you still feel really good. You got the reigning MVP and quarterback at Matthew Stafford.
4:15All of that looks great right now. So far, it's just a matter of we got to let it play out.
4:21They got to hope that they stay healthy. You know, you had the Seahawks, you had the Super Bowl champs checking in at number three.
4:28They're inside this division as well. Is it as simple as, because you know, I've been fortunate enough to do the show
4:34last couple of seasons where I almost feel like, hey, we just automatically slot the Super Bowl champs into that top spot.
4:40Did we not do it? Is it because of Kubiak?
4:43Is that enough to drop them a couple of spots?
4:46I mean, that's fair. We did see what happened to the Lions last year without Ben Johnson when he took the job in Chicago.
4:52Of course, offensive line issues contributed to that as well.
4:55When it comes to that, I have some other concerns with personnel changes, not major ones, but minor personnel changes.
5:00And what I really don't like to do is put the champ at number one, because if you put the champ at
5:07number one, we know how hard it is to repeat in this league.
5:10And so as it stands right now, who had the better offseason?
5:13It's got to be the Rams over the Seahawks.
5:16Yeah, that's only happened nine times in NFL history where you're talking about back-to-back champs.
5:20Most recently, 22-23 with the Kansas City Chiefs. That Mahomes magic will typically do that to you.
5:25But what is the biggest concern? Because you talked about some of the personnel there, but is there something else that you
5:31would point to to this team that makes you hedge a little bit and not putting them in that top spot?
5:36Yeah, I mean, the departure of Kenneth Walker is a big part.
5:40We saw what he did in the Super Bowl.
5:42That wasn't the strongest Super Bowl MVP we've ever seen handed out, but he was a big part of this offense.
5:48They also lost Zach Charbonnet in the playoffs to an ACL, and he's still on his road back.
5:53So the question is, can Jadarian Price, the rookie out of Notre Dame, can he fill that role?
5:58That's a pretty big role for them. Defensively, it's more minor.
6:01It's Rick Willen leaving. It's Boye Amafi leaving. But it's such a good unit overall that I think they'll be fine there.
6:07I just need to see, can their offense maintain enough balance and strength with a rookie at running back as they did
6:13last year and be able to be this good?
6:15You know, on NFL.com, you can check out not only just power rankings, but just great content.
6:20And then the preseason, which we, I guess, technically are still in, we were supposed to give our preseason picks to get
6:26to the Super Bowl, who's going to win the divisions, the whole thing.
6:30I actually had the Buffalo Bills sitting as the AFC East winner.
6:33There was a part of me, I had them going to the Super Bowl and losing to the Rams.
6:38There was a part of me that almost regrets doing it.
6:41Like, I was trying to talk myself out of it.
6:44You mentioned some of the unknowns regarding Seattle. I think you can make kind of the same case with this Buffalo squad,
6:50but you like them enough to slot them in at number four.
6:53Yeah, and I understand that hesitance because the Bills have been in this conversation for so long.
6:58Totally. And they have not gotten over the hump.
7:01And I don't mean to rub it in, Bills fans.
7:03I'm sorry. But it is true. The unknown now with them is you have a new head coach.
7:08You promote your offensive coordinator in Joe Brady to head coach.
7:11You think, okay, will that make us stronger? We were already pretty strong offensively.
7:15Sometimes our weaknesses were on the defensive side of the ball.
7:18You go on from Sean McDermott, who was a defensive-minded coach but wasn't getting much out of that defense.
7:23What does that look like? The reason that I have them here is because they made a good move at receiver acquiring DJ Moore.
7:30Not like the A.J. Brown acquisition type, but a guy that is a veteran who can work well with Josh Allen and
7:36really, I think, find a good place in this offense.
7:39I'm expecting a bit of like a honeymoon season from those two.
7:42I love what you have in Josh Allen already.
7:44He's my MVP pick for this season. And you have James Cook as, you know, an elite rusher.
7:49You have an offensive line that's very experienced. The question is, what does that defense look like?
7:54What does that front segment look like? Jim Leonard is the defensive coordinator.
7:58He comes over from Denver. He has experience in the AFC East.
8:01So I like what they have on paper, but I just kind of, again, and that's this point in the season where
8:07before week one we haven't really seen anything, I need to see it kind of come together first.
8:12Hopefully they get off to a fast start. And DJ Moore is a big part of that.
8:17Yeah, DJ Moore, by the way, the familiarity with him and Joe Brady at his time in Carolina is another factor that is there.
8:23I also do wonder, just a different voice, and maybe that's what this team really does need.
8:28You know, that phrase has been thrown out there a whole lot, but I understand it because they have been knocking on the door.
8:34Speaking of a new voice, I can't believe we're talking about Harbaugh not being in Baltimore with this Ravens team.
8:40We'll talk about the Giants coming up a little bit later here on Power Rankings.
8:44Jesse Minter, you know, the other day, last week on NFL Report, which, by the way, you can catch Monday through Friday on any of those connected devices.
8:52And if I'm not mistaken, you're double dipping or triple dipping doing that show a little bit later.
8:57But on the NFL Report, we had some comments from Lamar Jackson.
9:00Lamar was like, hey, I think there's another level to this team's offense.
9:04Part of the reason why I like him for MVP this year.
9:07But take me through the rationale to have the Ravens coming off a tough season where they didn't make the playoffs sitting at number six.
9:14Well, the number one thing that you have to cross off the checklist is Lamar Jackson healthy.
9:18Because he wasn't healthy for a portion last year.
9:21That really tanked their offense. You lost Nnamdi Matabike to a neck injury.
9:24That really hurt their defense. They couldn't stop the run.
9:27It was basically Kyle Hamilton save us to make us competitive.
9:30Lamar comes back. They get hot late. But it's not enough before the season runs out of time.
9:35So now you come back. You have a new head coach in Jesse Minter who has history with the Ravens under the Harbaugh tree, that sort of thing.
9:43So the culture shouldn't change that much. Although there's been a lot of positive energy coming out of their camp that they
9:49just feel like they're in a better place. And the younger coach maybe that does that.
9:53What I really need to know is what does Declan Doyle's offense look like with this group?
9:58This is another new offensive coordinator for Lamar Jackson.
10:00He had Greg Roman. He had Todd Munkin. Now he's got Declan Doyle.
10:04He comes from the Ben Johnson tree. And you think that year one bump that you saw in Chicago, maybe that happens here.
10:10You have a super athletic quarterback in Lamar Jackson that can take advantage of it.
10:14You still got Derrick Henry. I love the pick of Jokohobi Lane.
10:18I paired him with the Ravens before the season started.
10:20Or actually before the draft even arrived. So when they took him, I was like, yes.
10:25And he's turned a ton of heads in training camp.
10:28So all that comes together and you think, all right, they should be better.
10:31Trey Hendrickson is on this defense. Matt Abike is close to returning.
10:35Everything should work out. I'm worried about their center situation if we lose a title.
10:39Linderbaum, Javon Gwynn, it was named the starter yesterday.
10:41There are still some questions. But if everything comes together on paper, another team that looks strong enough to be in the top five.
10:48I'm glad you bring up offensive line with Linderbaum.
10:50Pinter was supposed to be that guy. Lose him because of the ACL.
10:54So the depth clearly going to be a factor that is there.
10:57We are not done talking about the Ravens because you know there's going to be a lot of love for that Baltimore
11:03squad based off of what the expectation is at number seven.
11:06And I think there's a lot of fans that are going, you like Cincinnati at seven?
11:11Why? Okay, so we know what the Bengals are.
11:13We know that they've had offensively for years. They haven't had a defense.
11:17They couldn't stop a nosebleed over the last few years.
11:20It was so bad that Joe Burrow began openly wondering about his football future, which kind of suggested that maybe I want to be somewhere else.
11:27Well, they took that as a clear sign that they needed to aggressively invest in their defense, and they did.
11:32We know what they did getting Dexter Lawrence. We know all the other changes that they made.
11:37And the sentiment coming out of their camp has been, look, this group is way better.
11:41They're giving our offense trouble. And if you're giving the Bengals offense, which is very explosive trouble, then it sounds like you're going to be a better group.
11:49Now, again, another team that we don't know anything about because we're going into week one.
11:53But if that defense can come together and live up to the expectation that they've already set for themselves in training camp
11:59in the preseason, then this is a really strong team.
12:02This isn't just a team that I think is going to be back in the playoffs.
12:06This is a team that I think could go all the way to the Super Bowl.
12:11Like Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow's got to stay healthy.
12:13He's notoriously a slow starter, and we're going to have to kind of overcome that.
12:17But more than anything, he's got to stay on the field.
12:21If he can with all those weapons he's got around him, I think they're in a great spot.
12:25Yeah, it's going to be remarkable to see because, to your point, the defense has been a little bit of a sticking
12:31point the last couple seasons for this squad. But for as much as that's been an issue, they can make the argument.
12:38If Joe Burrow's not out there, there are some problems for this team as well.
12:42So I think you can point the finger both ways.
12:44Meanwhile, I do look at the Dallas Cowboys. And speaking of defensive issues that this team has had, there have been massive
12:50problems across the board for this squad. In fact, if you look at some of these rankings here, you talk about notable additions.
12:57The rankings this season ago were towards the bottom of the NFL in multiple categories.
13:01Caleb Downs, Kobe Durant, Sean Gary, Malachi Lawrence, Von Miller, and a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker.
13:06There's reasons for optimism. Awesome. Time for Power Moves presented by Energizer.
13:09Sell me on this Dallas Cowboys. It's kind of similar to what I just said about Cincinnati, because we know their offense is very explosive.
13:16Number two offense in the NFL last year. People did not give Dak Prescott enough respect for what he did at quarterback.
13:22And I hear that all the time with QB Index, trust me.
13:25But he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
13:28He had two 1,000-yard receivers last year in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
13:32They're both back. Pickens playing on a franchise tag year, so he's got tons to prove.
13:36But what I love about this team is how this defense has come together personnel-wise.
13:40They started last year with getting Quinn and Williams.
13:43Then you talk about all the guys you just listed, Lawrence, Downs, Gary.
13:46You know who else I really like? Rookie Jayshon Barham, a linebacker out of Michigan who really flashed in the preseason, who
13:53I think is going to end up playing a big part in this defense.
13:56They added Jalen Thompson at safety as some more back-end help.
13:59If you look at this group at where it stands right now, just personnel-wise, it is so much better than it was last year.
14:06Christian Parker comes over from the Vic Fangio School in Philly.
14:09You think, okay, all of this can coalesce. It can all come together.
14:13If this defense is fixed, if it's average or better, this offense is so good that they will finish above 500.
14:18They'll finish well above 500. They'll make a deep run in the playoffs, and I feel very good.
14:23I could be terribly wrong about this team because it is the Cowboys.
14:27They do generate that type of buzz. But as it stands right now, they're one of my favorite teams to surprise people
14:33and make a big jump this year. You know, I was going to ask you this question because I think you're leading
14:39me right to it, and it makes a whole lot of sense.
14:42Your team's in the top eight. And by the way, I know the answer is for you, Cincinnati, because on NFL.com you
14:48had them as a Super Bowl team. But can't you make the argument outside of them?
14:53The Dallas Cowboys may be, by the end of the season, a team that could – we might be talking about one or two in the power rankings.
15:00Yeah, absolutely. I think there's going to be a ton of movement because of all these changes with some of these teams,
15:06and Dallas is a great candidate for that. It's just that the path to the Super Bowl in the NFC I think
15:12is tougher than it is in the AFC, and especially for a team like Dallas who has to get past Philly in
15:18their own division before they can even think about what they're going to face out of the NFC West.
15:24Who's going to win the NFC North? It's all very wide open.
15:27So it's going to be tougher for them to get there, but I like how they're standing right now.
15:32Yeah, I'll tell you this. I actually think Dallas wins the NFC East, and it is hard for me to say because I am a Giants fan.
15:40So trust me when I tell you it stings.
15:42Caleb Danzer is a part of me that wanted him on that roster so badly.
15:46All right, still to come, Caleb Williams and the Bears.
15:49Boy, they were one of the biggest surprises a season ago.
15:52Trying to crack the top ten according to Nick.
15:54Will they actually sit there? Plus, Mahomes and the Chiefs, are we sleeping on that squad?
15:59Hey, everyone. I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykema.
16:01And together, we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
16:04Fantasy season is upon us. Are you ready to dominate your league?
16:07Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind.
16:12Every episode, we're going to dive into the biggest fantasy headlines.
16:15Injury updates that you'll need before kickoff. The best starts and sits across every position.
16:19And matchups you can exploit to destroy your league mates.
16:22You know, we're talking sleepers, breakout stars, and the guys you cannot afford to bench.
16:26From rookies on the rise to longtime stars still at it, we cover it all.
16:30Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count.
16:38Weekly analysis, hot takes, and unique insider knowledge all in one place.
16:41Does fantasy dominance sound appealing to you? Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
16:48You know the feeling. You make a pick in your fantasy draft and the entire room groans because they wanted that player.
16:54Or you grab a small school rookie off waivers and you start him right before he goes off in primetime.
17:00There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league.
17:03I'm JJ Zacharisen, host of the Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast.
17:06Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off.
17:12We've got data-driven analysis, historical trends, and the strategies that separate winners from the rest.
17:16And your dominance doesn't stop with the draft. All season long, we have our 15 transactions, 10 trends, sleepers, and the mailbag.
17:22Data-driven, quick-hitting episodes to help bring home that league trophy.
17:25Listen to the Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
17:30The NFL never stops, and neither does its newest podcast.
17:33The NFL Report, hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano. It is your home for everything football.
17:37Williams, drifting, in all kinds of trouble. Put it up for next.
17:40He is up! We're tapping the biggest news stories, giving you expert analysis, fantasy previews, game picks, and more.
17:46We fly around every single place! We dominate every single place!
17:49Want to hear from the league's top stars ahead of the biggest matchups?
17:52We've got you covered. They're a really good football team.
17:55We've got to have all hands on deck. Join me and an all-star cast of analysts for everything you need to know from around the league.
18:02Get new episodes of the NFL Report Monday through Friday, all season long.
18:06Listen to the NFL Report Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
18:11I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sikama. Have you ever watched a game and wondered what really made the difference beyond the final score?
18:17That's exactly why we created NFL Pro. Got a man wide open!
18:21Seahawks! Every week, we use exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content to break down the biggest stories, matchups, and moments from around the league.
18:27We go beyond the box score to uncover the numbers, the tendencies, and details that help explain what actually happened on the field.
18:34Fires it out in the flat to Barkley, who beats one man, spins past another, leaps over a third.
18:39And don't worry, this isn't just a show for stats experts.
18:42We use advanced analytics to help tell the story behind the game, turning the numbers into insights that every fan can understand and enjoy.
18:49So whether you're a casual fan learning more about football, or a hardcore fan who can't get enough analysis, our goal is
18:55to help you see the game in a whole new way.
18:58If you've ever wanted to know why a play worked, how a matchup was won, or what most fans missed on Sunday,
19:04NFL Pro delivers insights you simply can't get anywhere else.
19:06Listen to NFL Pro on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
19:11We're back on Power Rankings, all with Nick Shook.
19:13Mike, yeah, I'm with you. And Nick's rankings 9 through 16.
19:16The Jags sitting inside that top 10, checking in at number 9.
19:20The Houston Texans, a lot of questions about C.J.
19:22Stroud, which we will discuss momentarily. They are 10.
19:25The Bears at 11. The Packers at 12. The New England Patriots, they were in the Super Bowl.
19:30Nick's got them sitting at 13. Off to explain why the Kansas City Chiefs, it's just weird to talk about them being ranked 14.
19:36But I get it based off of last season.
19:39The Lions, the darlings of the NFL the last couple seasons at 15.
19:42And the Chargers at 16. The Texans, I think, on NFL.com are one of the more polarizing teams.
19:47When we were asked to do our picks, you got some people who are like, hey, that defense is going to lead into a Super Bowl.
19:54Got other people like me who said, I don't know if I can slot them in because of how concerned I am about their offense.
20:01You obviously like them enough to have them as a top 10 team.
20:05Yeah, and their division is sneaky tough too, with Indianapolis and Jacksonville as well.
20:09What really it comes down to is C.J. Stroud.
20:11We've known this since last year's playoff disaster in New England.
20:14And it's really been the case for the last couple of years.
20:17Can C.J. Stroud actually be the guy he was as the offensive rookie of the year back in 2023?
20:23Can he start to progress forward? If you watch them on a game-by-game basis, you think, okay, he's not bad.
20:28But what it is is the offense just wasn't consistent.
20:31I don't blame that so much on him. I blame it on the fact that they lost to him next year.
20:37Now they have a replacement in David Montgomery that makes me feel a lot better about them than I did last year.
20:43Woody Marks was a surprise last year. I think he'll be a good spellback in this offense.
20:47And also the offensive line, granted it was a very small sample size in the preseason, but they looked really good when
20:53they had that full unit out there. They ran the ball with authority with Montgomery and Marks.
20:58Marks really being an authoritative runner in that group.
21:00Now the question is, outside of C.J. Stroud, they lost Jaden Higgins.
21:04Tank Dell's still working his way back. I think he could be a big part of unlocking this offense, but we don't
21:10really know where he is right now. So the question is like, okay, Kayshawn Booty, you make a trade for him.
21:16How does he fit in? Can he be productive like he was in New England last year?
21:20And ultimately, Stroud still has to answer that question more for himself than anybody.
21:24Because if he doesn't succeed this year, the Texans might have to alter their long-term plans.
21:28And if that's the case, then it'd be like you, Texans missing the playoffs.
21:32I still think they'll get there. The defense is elite, and we know what we can expect from them.
21:38It's just that offense has to come together. Yeah, there was a part of me that said, hey, if I had to
21:44swap one of those teams, the Patriots would be the team that I have on the outside looking in.
21:49We'll talk about New England here in just a moment.
21:52But the Chicago Bears, I know everyone talks about Caleb Williams, and I get that.
21:56I heard Ben Johnson the other day in a press conference, and he talked about just his defense getting some stops and
22:02how critical that was going to be. Do you like this team enough to get back to the playoffs based off of what we saw last year?
22:09I do because I'm a big believer in Ben Johnson.
22:12I'm a big believer in Caleb Williams. The guy didn't land on the Madden cover for no reason, right?
22:17The Iceman, everything that comes with that, or as they wanted to name him, Permafrost in their marketing campaign.
22:22You love him, and I think he'll take the next step in the next season with Ben Johnson.
22:27But the sneaky part about this team last year that maybe we overlooked was that they finished 29th in yards per game
22:33allowed last year, and they may have gotten worse personnel-wise.
22:36They were ravaged by injuries near the start of camp in the secondary.
22:40Suddenly you're looking at a guy that you selected in Dylan Thienemann who might have to play a big part in that back end.
22:46They've tried to patch it together to make sure that it's workable, but it's a huge question mark for this team.
22:52I still have a lot of faith in Caleb, and I do need to see him work well with this young receiving core because you lost E.J.
22:59Moore, you moved on from him, and you've got the likes of Roma Dunze and Luther Burden, and you do have those
23:05two tight ends who I really love, but that's a young group that's really got to put it all together because I
23:11think they're going to have to outscore a lot of these teams this year.
23:15Yeah, who scares you more? Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr.
23:18Freeze, Sub-Zero Immortal Kombat, or Caleb Williams, Permafrost? Mr.
23:20Freeze was almost robotic, so I would go with...
23:23I mean, it's Arnold, you know? It's Schwarzenegger, bodybuilding champion.
23:25Yeah, there's a part of me that still leans towards Sub-Zero Immortal Kombat.
23:29I'm just throwing that out there. Great finisher. Finish him.
23:32The Patriots at 13. I'm concerned about the schedule because we saw it even last year.
23:36Look, I know they got to the Super Bowl, but Drake wasn't Drake in the regular season when the playoffs came around.
23:42Yeah, when things ramped up and he faced some elite defenses, it became a lot more difficult for him.
23:47We all remember how the season ended and how he kind of looked lost and very overwhelmed by the dark side defenses, the Seahawks.
23:54I don't want to hold that against him, but I do think the schedule plays a part in this.
23:59It was pretty soft last year, and they got some advantageous breaks, even talking about the AFC Championship game.
24:04The Broncos go in there without Bo Nix. The snowstorm happens.
24:08They end up, you know, getting out of there with a narrow victory and get to the Super Bowl.
24:13They also lost some guys defensively. Veteran contributors like Caleb on chase on, who had a career year.
24:18He's gone. Kyrus Tonga, lower level guy, but a guy that played pretty well for them, especially early in the season.
24:23So I think they're in line for some regression.
24:26And if you track them through the preseason, granted, a lot of your starters are not playing, but Mike Vrabel was very
24:32upset with how his defense played for most of the preseason.
24:35So I think there's going to be some regression on that side.
24:38The offense will be better. I mean, when you acquire A.J.
24:41Brown, it can't not be better. I think he's going to be what Booty was to May early in the season last
24:47year, which was the deep threat guy, and much, much more.
24:50Romeo Dobbs is also in that receiving core. It got so jam-packed with talent that they had to trade Booty to the Texans.
24:57So it should be very explosive. It's just a matter of, can this team be balanced enough to repeat what they did last year?
25:03And I have a feeling that they're just going to take a step back.
25:07By the way, just some context on their schedule.
25:10Last year, New England faced three teams with a winning record.
25:13They'll do more of that in the first four weeks of the season.
25:16So context does matter, and at least in this case, and I'm not trying to say, hey, the Patriots didn't belong in
25:22that Super Bowl game, but they got smashed. And I think part of where you're coming from, slotting them at 13, does make some sense.
25:29Kansas City, you have them 15th. It's still the Chiefs.
25:32It's still 1-5 that's out there. And I know he's coming off of the ACL.
25:36You still, you're giving me the look here. Like, it doesn't sound like you're too scared of this team then.
25:41I have the utmost respect for Patrick Mahomes. He's ranked very high in the QB index, and he's earned that.
25:47But we've never seen him come off an ACL.
25:49And everything's very close to the vest in the preseason with his, you know, path back to the field.
25:55Where is he in progression? I think at this point in this week, they still haven't even named him the starter yet.
26:01But I mean, we all expect that to happen.
26:03He's been on track and everything else. But it's a big question mark.
26:07And we need to see that kind of, you know, be proven to us before we feel good about this group.
26:12I also still don't love the receiving core. You got Rasheed Rice, you got Xavier Worthy.
26:17They still haven't really given themselves another option outside of those two.
26:20They've dealt with injuries. I think Kenneth Walker's going to help this offense a lot because they did not have much of
26:26a running game last year, really even the year before this.
26:29They were still kind of reeling from Brian Edwards-Dillair never becoming the guy that they thought to.
26:34But, and they have a lot of changes on defense.
26:37I mean, they basically rebounded their secondary. They lost two guys, one via trade, one via free agency, Jalen Watson and Trent McDuffie being the trade.
26:44But I trust Steve Spagdolo to get the most out of it.
26:47They're putting a lot on Mansoor Delane, first round pick, cornerback.
26:50I think he's a very good player. But it's one of those teams that's going to have to kind of come together
26:56in the first month or so of the season.
26:59And that starts with Mahomes for me to start to believe in them and then they can climb these rankings.
27:04Against the Denver Broncos team because that's who they open up on a Monday night game where that D-line just rolls out
27:10of the bed and they're getting sacks like every single game.
27:13So it's going to be tough for Mahomes, who also said that he needs to be more mindful.
27:18Like I use that term magic Mahomes. He's going to have to be mindful of how he's moving.
27:23He said, hey, even just planting his foot, he's like, I'm thinking through some of this.
27:27And that was the thing with this team over the last couple of years is Mahomes wasn't putting up the numbers that
27:34he used to, but he was finding ways to convert and get them moving down the field that people didn't really appreciate.
27:40Can he still do that now? The Walker addition, though, you've got to imagine it's just going to be mammoth for this team.
27:46I mean, they've relied so much even without some of the explosive wide receivers on that roster.
27:51They've relied on Mahomes making some of those big, big time timely plays for them.
27:55Can Walker help offload some of that? All right, still to come.
27:58Look, we've unveiled the first 16 teams, which means the Niners, we've got to call their name at some point on this list.
28:04We'll see exactly where Nick has them slotted. That's still to come here on Power Rankings.
28:09The NFL never stops and neither does its newest podcast.
28:11The NFL Report, hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano. It is your home for everything football.
28:16Williams, drifting, sprinting for space, in all kinds of trouble, putting up for next.
28:19He is up. We're tapping the biggest news stories, giving you expert analysis, fantasy previews, game picks, and more.
28:25We fly around every single place. We dominate every single place.
28:28Want to hear from the league's top stars ahead of the biggest matchups?
28:31We've got you covered. They're a really good football team.
28:34We've got to have all hands on deck. Join me and an all-star cast of analysts for everything you need to know from around the league.
28:41Get new episodes of the NFL Report Monday through Friday all season long.
28:45Listen to the NFL Report podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
28:50You know the feeling. You make a pick in your fantasy draft and the entire room groans because they wanted that player.
28:56Or you grab a small school rookie off waivers and you start him right before he goes off in primetime.
29:01There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league.
29:04I'm JJ Zacharyson, host of the Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast.
29:07Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off.
29:13We've got data-driven analysis, historical trends, and the strategies that separate winners from the rest.
29:17And your dominance doesn't stop with the draft. All season long, we have our 15 transactions, 10 trends, sleepers, and the mailbag
29:23data-driven, quick-hitting episodes to help bring home that league trophy.
29:26Listen to the Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
29:32Hey everyone, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sikama.
29:34And together, we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
29:37Fantasy season is upon us. Are you ready to dominate your league?
29:40Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind.
29:45Every episode, we're going to dive into the biggest fantasy headlines.
29:48Injury updates that you'll need before kickoff. The best starts and sits across every position.
29:52And matchups you can exploit to destroy your league mates.
29:55You know, we're talking sleepers, breakout stars, and the guys you cannot afford to bench.
29:59From rookies on the rise to longtime stars still at it, we cover it all.
30:03Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count.
30:11Weekly analysis, hot takes, and unique insider knowledge all in one place.
30:14Does fantasy dominance sound appealing to you? Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
30:21The new NFL season is here and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61.
30:27Last year, we had Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold on the field after the game, but that was last year.
30:32If you're a football sicko like me, NFL Daily is your kind of show.
30:36It is in the name NFL Daily. Fresh content in your feed every day all season long.
30:41Matthew Stafford coming off his MVP season. On a dazzling dart from Matthew Stafford.
30:45Big time trades that shake up the NFL. AJ Brown is loose!
30:48And of course, those Seahawks trying to run it back and win another Lombardi trophy.
30:52The Seahawks win Super Bowl 60! They are bringing the Lombardi back to the Northwest.
30:56If it's happening on a football field, NFL Daily will cover it.
31:00Listen to NFL Daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
31:04Back here on Power Rankings and I'm thinking about teams 17 through 24.
31:07Nick has got the Niners slotted at 17. We'll talk about them in just a moment.
31:12At 18, it's the Bucs. Minnesota, you know, they're going to be ushering the Kyler Murray era at number 19.
31:17The Colts at 20. I think they could be a fast-rising team by the time the middle of the season comes around.
31:23The Steelers at 21. The Saints at 22. They finished the season red hot.
31:27The Carolina Panthers who won that division at 23.
31:30And the Tennessee Titans at number 4. Time for Sean, a spotlight presented by Verizon.
31:34All right, let's focus in on number 17, the Niners.
31:37I actually don't have a huge problem with this just based off of all the injuries they have coming into the season.
31:43Do you look at this as a team that could be sitting maybe top 12, 13 in a couple weeks?
31:48Yeah, entirely possible because they overcame so many injuries last year and still got to the divisional round.
31:53They won that game on the road in Philly.
31:56A team that most of us thought, yeah, they'll be in the playoffs but they don't really have much because of how much they lost.
32:02Well, this year they've lost a lot too already.
32:05Ricky Pierce all done for the year. Mike Evans missed a lot of camp.
32:09Nick Bosa's been dealing with a knee. Christian McCaffrey, some questions about that I'm not as concerned.
32:13When will George Kittle be ready to come back and fully roll?
32:17Like he may or may not play this week but when's he really going to be himself again?
32:22But if there's any team that can overcome that, it is these 49ers.
32:25And the bright side is Fred Warner's healthy, Brock Purdy's healthy, and they have a demonstrated history of success as long as they can get good quarterback play.
32:33So I still feel strong about them. It's just that they're here right now because of the injuries they've dealt with so far.
32:39By the way, I saw some video of George Kittle in Australia punting the football.
32:43I mean, if anybody would do it? It would be him.
32:46I just, I paused for a moment. I'm like, coming off the Achilles, can I, can we just take a little bit of a break on that one?
32:54And certainly that was not the case. By the way, there were like baby punts that were out there.
32:59So it wasn't like he was like launching them.
33:02All right, I'm thinking about the Tampa Bay Bucs that have consistently been a force inside that division.
33:07That didn't happen a season ago. I feel like you and I were talking about this off air.
33:12Vibe check time, it like wasn't great this off season for them.
33:15Yeah, and they moved the most among all these power rings because I feel like I probably had to correct a little
33:21bit of where they started with them, which is I think down at 22 or something like that.
33:26And the reason is the training camp started so poorly.
33:29Yeah, Baker Mayfield with the contract dispute not, you know, he's cutting off his contract negotiations and promising that he's going to cost a lot more.
33:36He had Vita Vea sitting out and trying to get an extension, which he has since gotten.
33:40So everything's gotten a little bit better. They're also a team quarterbacked by Mayfield who's very good in week one.
33:46So I feel better about where they are going into the season that I did before.
33:50They avoided disastrous injury as well. So they're going to be in a better spot.
33:54But that division is probably the worst in football, so they have a good chance of winning it.
33:59I'm thinking about the bottom of your power rankings and it is an opportunity to really flex and talk about teams 25 through 32.
34:06The Cardinals checking in at 25. The Giants at 26.
34:09The Falcons, oh, two is going to be their guy at 27.
34:12The Jets in the youth movement at 28. The Raiders at 29.
34:15You got the Browns, Commanders, and Dolphins closing things up.
34:18I sound like I am super biased when I talk about the Giants here to close out this show, but I actually
34:24feel relatively optimistic heading into the season. Is it because of the coaching change?
34:28Because that would help a lot. Yeah. Their history has not been good, but they do have Jackson Dart Camps, Gadabu coming back from injury.
34:35Odell Beckham's back on this team. They've invested heavily in their defense over the last few years.
34:40It's just a matter of does the coaching change finally bring that together?
34:43Can Jackson Dart stay healthy and out of the blue medical tent?
34:46If all that happens, they can climb as well because there's a ton of young talent on this team just as it stands right now.
34:53They start here. Kind of like the Patriots last year, plenty of room to climb.
34:57Yeah, you've been around the sport for a really long period of time.
35:01The respect that Harbaugh's got, I think, is top shelf.
35:04And you mentioned some of the talent on that roster.
35:06I think that defense is going to be remarkably better.
35:09Cannot wait to see Reese wreak some havoc. By the way, all 32 teams, they love what you did on these power rankings.
35:15Good start. We're going to do it again next week.
35:18NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio.
35:22For more podcasts from iHeart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
35:27The new NFL season is here, and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61.
35:33It is in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed every day all season long.
35:39That game-winning drive. Maybe it's Herbert. Maybe it's Gino.
35:41Maybe it's Mahomes. We'll have the highlights. If Fernando Mendoza or any of the rookies are balling out, we'll break down the tape.
35:47Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all-star cast of co-hosts as we preview and recap every game.
35:52Listen to NFL Daily on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
35:57I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sikama. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field, check out our show, NFL Pro.
36:04Every week, we break down the biggest plays, trends, and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content you will not find anywhere else.
36:11Whether you're new to football, a fantasy football fanag, or a die-hard fan, NFL Pro will help you analyze the game like a pro.
36:18Listen to NFL Pro on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
36:22Hey, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sikama. And together, we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
36:27Are you ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?
36:30Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind.
36:35Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count.
36:42Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
36:48Whether you're a seasoned NFL fan or new to the game, there's one place to keep up with all of it.
36:54The league's newest podcast, The NFL Report, hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano.
36:57It is your home for everything football. Breaking news, expert analysis, game picks, and hear from your favorite players too.
37:02Join me and an all-star cast of experts for everything you need to know from around the league.
37:07Get new episodes of the NFL Report Monday through Friday all season long.
37:11Listen to the NFL Report podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
37:16This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.
