Plays of the Week - The Podfather's Top Sleepers & Must-Starts
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
43 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 12, 2026
Published
Sat, September 12, 2026
18
Player insights
17
Players mentioned
Topics
Chris OlaveA.J. BrownChris GodwinD'Andre SwiftGeno SmithGreg DulcichJosh DownsJuwan JohnsonKayshon BoutteKenneth GainwellKimani VidalKyler MurrayMalachi FieldsMichael Mayer
Player analysis
Player insights
A.J. Brown
NegativeInjury26:19
Matt Kelley classifies AJ Brown as a 'swindle' due to his high-ankle sprain, noting that drafting him with premium capital makes the injury a significant fantasy disappointment.
Insight pageChris Godwin
PositiveProjection31:38
Matt Kelley identifies Godwin as a top-tier play for Week 1, noting he is as healthy as he has been in three years. With a game total over 50 points, Godwin has a range of outcomes that includes 30 fantasy points and should be prioritized over players like Drake London.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveUsage22:14
Matt Kelley identifies Chris Olave as the highest-owned wide receiver in projected DFS ownership for the week due to a favorable game situation against the Lions.
Insight pagePositiveUsage35:42
Matt Kelley identifies Chris Olave as the highest-owned wide receiver in DFS for Week 1 due to the favorable matchup against the Lions.
Insight pageD'Andre Swift
PositiveUsage15:22
Matt Kelley labels DeAndre Swift as 'good chalk' for Week 1 against Carolina's bottom-tier rush defense. Swift possesses high touchdown equity and explosive play potential, making him a strong consideration for DFS lineups.
Insight pageGeno Smith
PositiveProjection8:18
Matt Kelley argues that the market misunderstands Geno Smith, who is in a position to reestablish his reputation. Despite a low implied team total, Smith is a viable one-off play in Superflex and 2QB leagues due to his underrated skill position unit.
Insight pageGreg Dulcich
PositiveUsage39:12
Matt Kelley views Greg Dulcich as the veteran anchor of the passing game and a target-conservation play, noting his touchdown equity in the red zone despite a low game total.
Insight pageJosh Downs
PositiveProjection33:30
Matt Kelley recommends Josh Downs for Week 1, noting the Ravens' poor pass defense and the fact that Alec Pierce is limited by injury. Downs is part of a fringe value stack with Daniel Jones.
Insight pageJuwan Johnson
PositiveProjection37:48
Matt Kelley ranks Juwan Johnson as TE11 but argues his maximal upside is comparable to elite tight ends like Kyle Pitts, citing a clean, productive camp and a perfect situation.
Insight pageKayshon Boutte
PositiveSleeper34:19
Matt Kelley recommends starting Kayshon Boutte, identifying him as the clear number two option in Houston who is poised to outperform expectations after the Patriots chose to trade for Dobbs instead.
Insight pageKenneth Gainwell
PositiveBreakout20:44
Matt Kelley identifies Kenneth Gainwell as a 'smash' play for Week 1, citing his role in a high-total game (50.5) where Tampa Bay will likely be forced to throw. Gainwell offers both a floor through targets and upside as a big-play threat.
Insight pageKimani Vidal
PositiveSleeper24:03
Matt Kelley highlights Kamani Vidal as a deep-league sleeper. With Keaton Mitchell limited, Vidal could see significant work in the fourth quarter during clock-killing situations, offering 15-point upside in deep formats.
Insight pageKyler Murray
PositiveProjection2:23
Matt Kelley views Murray as a prime candidate for Week 1, citing his improved focus and optimal weapons (Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Hawkinson, Jones). The matchup against the Packers is ideal because the Vikings' perimeter receiver strength aligns with the Packers' defensive weakness.
Insight pageMalachi Fields
PositiveBreakout36:57
Matt Kelley highlights Malachi Fields as a potential dynasty riser and a viable deep-league start, noting his role as a 'big slot' receiver in an offense with limited depth.
Insight pageMichael Mayer
PositiveUsage40:31
Matt Kelley recommends Michael Mayer as a target-conservation play, citing his pedigree as a top-40 NFL draft pick and his projected role in the red zone.
Insight pageQuinshon Judkins
NegativeProjection23:01
Matt Kelley advises against playing Quinshawn Judkins in Week 1, noting the Browns' lack of implied points, Deshaun Watson's presence, and their status as 8.5-point road underdogs.
Insight pageRico Dowdle
PositiveProjection17:18
Matt Kelley notes that Rico Dowdle is a consistent player who is a strong play at home against Atlanta's bottom-five run defense. The potential for a blowout against a struggling Tua Tagovailoa-led team could lead to increased volume for Dowdle.
Insight pageSam Darnold
PositiveValue1:03
Matt Kelley highlights Sam Darnold as a high-value target for PrizePicks, noting he only needs one yard against New England to cash his pick.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00Right now, when you buy more carpet at the Home Depot, you save more.
0:05During our Buy More, Save More event going on now, upgrade your carpeting with the top brands and save up to 15% off installed carpet projects.
0:13Installation starting at just 49 cents per square foot.
0:16Select from a wide assortment of carpet to fit your room, lifestyle and budget during the Buy More, Save More event at the Home Depot.
0:24Offer valid August 27th through September 13th, 2026. Base price for standard installations only.
0:29Excludes Traffic Master and Stock Carpet. For licenses, see homedepot.com slash license numbers.
0:33Football is finally back and PrizePix is bringing out their best offer yet.
0:38New users who sign up will get $150 in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup.
0:43That's right, if you win your first $5 lineup, you get $150 in lineups.
0:48And now, PrizePix is available nationwide. Lock it in for kickoff because everyone and everything is on PrizePix.
0:54And you know I'm always going more on Chris Godwin's receptions and receiving yards.
0:58That's my guy. And for Week 1's opener, Sam Darnold is everyone's guy because he needs just one yard against New England to cash his pick.
1:07It doesn't get any easier than that. And the best part about PrizePix is the injury reboot.
1:13If a player in your lineup gets injured in the first half and doesn't return, your lineup can still cash.
1:19Plus, with their social feature, you can find popular picks that users love and copy them with one click.
1:25So download the app today and use code PLAYER to get $150 instantly in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup.
1:33PrizePix, run your game. This is Justin Herbert. Terrell Lawrence.
1:36Pukka Kua. Bishal Tuna. Tainty Dale. Jonathan Taylor. Coach Luhok.
1:39This is Rushy Rice. RJ Harvey. Michael Wilson. This is Zach Taylor with the Cincinnati Bengals.
1:45And you're listening to the best in the business, my man the Podfather.
1:49He knows things. Oh, it's happening. The plays. Of the week.
1:52The chalk. The sleepers that you need to know for week one coming at you.
1:57Yes. This is the first time I've been talking to you solo without Cody, coach.
2:02One of the deep minds of the fantasy football industry coming on to the Mind of Mansion program like John Paulson, Rich Rebar.
2:10We had a great summer. We had a great summer.
2:13But now week one is here. It's already happening.
2:16We'll talk a little bit about the Patriots. A lot of DFS grinders that they want to wait and see on Kyler Murray.
2:24I'm not going to wait and see on Kyler Murray.
2:27I know what Kyler Murray is. Kyler Murray is in his prime.
2:31Kyler Murray is trying to resuscitate his career. He wants to reestablish himself as a franchise quarterback.
2:37And he's going to go out there and DGAF with some of the best weapons that there are.
2:43Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jawan Jennings, TJ Hawkinson, Aaron Jones.
2:46He's got optimal weapons at every level of this passing game.
2:49It's perfect. When he drops back, he has a first read of Justin Jefferson and his third, fourth read is TJ Hawkinson.
2:57Then he could check it down to Aaron Jones.
3:00Think about this. It's a perfect situation for him.
3:03He came in saying all the right things, changed his whole approach to the sport.
3:08Think about that. I mean, look at him. Look at him.
3:11Get him up on the screen here. If you're listening to the podcast, this is Kyler Murray working out, sweating with a tank top, looking very serious.
3:20It's not about the tank top, right? It's about the look on his face.
3:25The look on his face says, I'm here for business.
3:28I'm a businessman now. That's the difference. He's a businessman now.
3:32And he's going to go out there and he's going to do business.
3:36He's going to look for the open guy. If he's not there, he's going to run for the first down.
3:43That's the beauty of the Konami QB. That's why we love Konami QBs.
3:47They get there one way or another. Now, with this specific matchup against the Packers, well, the Packers are a poor run
3:54blocking team that is going to force Jordan Love to drop back.
3:58And that will surely ramp up the pace of play.
4:01And the pass rate on the Packers side will then, that necessarily then increases the pass rate on the Viking side.
4:08So the more your opponent's passing, the more you're likely going to have to pass.
4:13Now, the Packers are great down the middle, right?
4:16They're anchored by Xavier McKinney. They had this all pro safety, good linebacker play, slot corner play.
4:22It's their perimeter corners that are the problem. Well, that's the strength.
4:26We talk about Jennings and Addison and Jefferson. That is the signature strength of the Vikings is their perimeter receivers.
4:32So this is just, this is a matchup that is ideally suited for Kyler Murray week one, where the Viking strengths, they line up against the Packers weaknesses.
4:42So it doesn't matter. I'm playing Kyler Murray. You're stacking Kyler Murray and DFS and single quarterback leagues.
4:48Even you're, you're plugging him in there. You've got to get, you get, get him in there.
4:53You'll be very happy. Now in super flex and two QB leagues, I'm playing Geno Smith.
4:58This is a tricky one because I understand there's only 17 and a half implied points assigned to the Jets this week.
5:06But I have also said, this is the one team Vegas misunderstands.
5:10They don't understand how good Geno Smith is. And most people don't.
5:14Most people think Geno Smith is dust, that he's terrible.
5:17And it makes sense because he began his career as a bust.
5:21He had an abysmal year last year. And whenever you're putting together content, whether it's literature, a podcast, anything, the beginning and the end is what people remember.
5:30And so people remember Geno Smith as a bad quarterback.
5:33They don't remember those middle years where he was actually good.
5:37I think that's what we're going to see. We're going to see good Geno this year.
5:42Geno is similar to Kyler Murray in that these are two quarterbacks that are in new situations.
5:48They're trying to at least reestablish a reputation for being able to win games at the NFL level.
5:54Geno Smith's career is beyond resuscitation. He's not ever going to be a franchise quarterback.
5:59Kyler Murray could be. At least Geno Smith, he wants to reestablish and just fix his reputation so he can retire as
6:06a quarterback that people remember as being good. And if you close out your career with a good year, you can do that.
6:14And I think he's going to be DGAF too.
6:17I think he's convinced that I'm just going to go out there and just sling the ball around.
6:22I'm going to have a cigarette hanging out of my mouth like Jay Cutler and take advantage of those weapons.
6:29The similarity between the Jets and the Vikings is that they both have optimal weapons at every level of the offense.
6:36They have an alpha receiver you built in a lab in Garrett Wilson and Justin Jefferson.
6:41Outside field stretcher, whether it's Jordan Addison, whether it's Adonai Mitchell in New York.
6:46They've got a slot receiver in New York. Omar Cooper is a perfect slot receiver.
6:51The perfect move tight end in Kenyon Sadiq. A two-way tight end that can catch passes, especially in the red zone in Mason Taylor.
6:59It's the most underrated skill position, offensive skill position units in the league.
7:03If not one of the most underrated skill position units in the league.
7:07I can't think of a more underrated one at the moment.
7:11Let me know. Let me know in the comments.
7:14If you like the show, like it, right? Hit the like button.
7:18If you have a like button available for the show, like it.
7:22If you don't have a like button, if you're listening to the podcast, share it with someone else.
7:28Like, hey, this guy knows what he's doing. Support me turning the camera on, just flicking it on and just talking to you directly.
7:36Because I loved it. I started doing that at the very beginning, more than 10 years ago, the Minded Mansion program.
7:43And we're continuing with the plays of the week, just flicking on the mic and talking about these players.
7:49And I know it's bad process generally to stream a quarterback with 17 and a half implied points.
7:55I get that. And that's why I'm not advocating stacking jets.
7:58I'm not stacking jets this week. Play A D Mitchell as a one-off.
8:03Play Geno Smith as a one-off. Of course, you're playing Garrett Wilson.
8:07I think Garrett Wilson, Geno Smith stacks are the one stack that I think is legitimate in any kind of managed league.
8:14Especially a managed super flex 2QB league. Sure. But it would have to be a better matchup with a better quarterback on the other side.
8:22Someone better or more trustworthy that we know is going to put up points.
8:27We don't know if Cam Ward is going to put up any points.
8:31We don't know if Cam Ward can push the jets at all.
8:35So because of that, I'm not doing like one of these like Geno Smith, Adni Mitchell value stacks.
8:41At first, I thought that might be fun. But given the implied total, as skeptical as I am about how Vegas views
8:48the jets, that's still a very important data point.
8:51And it's not a headwind I want to go rushing out into.
8:55More thinking about the jets as one-off pieces that you can plug into lineups.
9:00Typically, it would be a total stay away. This offense would be a total stay away.
9:05But because I disagree with the overall assessment of this offense, I think that you can use these pieces.
9:11You can use Geno Smith at quarterback and super flex.
9:15You could absolutely plug in an Adni Mitchell and flex if you're questioning that.
9:19At running back, the good chalk this week is DeAndre Swift.
9:23DeAndre Swift is the clear good chalk. There's no better situation to play DeAndre Swift because Monaguy's coming back from the hyper-extended knee.
9:30He's got the great matchup against Carolina. The only problem is he's on the road.
9:35But, I mean, we're talking about a bottom-tier rush defense in Carolina.
9:39Allowed 123.3 rush yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry last year.
9:44But Swift also had a top-10 EPX, explosive play rating, on player profilers.
9:48So for a bunch of reasons, he can give you big plays.
9:52But also, there's going to be a lot of touchdown equity available this week for DeAndre Swift.
9:57So this is the week to play DeAndre Swift.
10:00And even in DFS contests where you can just play superstars, like, for example, Fast Draft.
10:06Live on Fast Draft is the quick six super slam.
10:09We can just pick any six guys playing on Sunday.
10:12Any six running backs, wide receivers, tight ends. DeAndre Swift is actually a guy that you would consider playing.
10:19Because he's in that Bears offense, the upside is so big for him.
10:23I think you can consider creating a lineup in the super slam that has DeAndre Swift.
10:28I don't see why not, right? I think the upside is that high.
10:32Now, I wouldn't say Rico Dowdle has that kind of upside because he's splitting touches with Jalen Warren.
10:38However, just like with DeAndre Swift, if there was a week to play Rico Dowdle, it's this week at home against Atlanta.
10:46Atlanta, 126.2 yards per game allowed last year on the ground.
10:49So that was bottom five in the league. And if you look at Rico Dowdle, look at Rico Dowdle on player profiler.
10:56It's interesting. So consistent. The most consistent. I mean, one of the most mirror image seasons in the history of football by a running back.
11:05Same number of rush attempts, 235. Same rushing yards, 2024 to 2025.
11:091,075. Same yards per carry, 4.6. 39 receptions both seasons.
11:12It's creepy. It's actually creepy how similar these two seasons were.
11:16Now, he had more receiving yards and more touchdowns last year than in 2024.
11:20But that's about it. That's the difference between 12.7 fantasy points per game in 2025 and 12.4 fantasy points per game in 2024.
11:28I mean, that's it. The guy is consistently good.
11:31Just a good player. And if you're at home against the Falcons, this game could be a blowout.
11:37This game could get out of hand for the Steelers because it's Tua.
11:41And Tua doesn't want to be there. Tua doesn't want to be a professional.
11:46He's done being a professional NFL quarterback. He peaked in college with Nick Saban, college football hero.
11:51And that's it, right? He came to the NFL.
11:54He was out of his depth. And he's like, I'm not built for this.
11:59I'm left-handed. I'm not built for this. And so every time you open the news, playerprofile.com slash news, you see a new problem with Tua.
12:07Now it's his back or is it a hip?
12:10What is it? A wrist? Who knows? Every day.
12:13It's something new. He's trying to get out of it.
12:16He doesn't want to be there. Okay? That's the thing with Tua.
12:20So because of that, it could get ugly. And that means Rico Dottle.
12:24That's what that means. And by the way, if you like our news, some clever headlines, we've got Eric and a bunch
12:32of other great, great people over there at the news desk.
12:35Podfather at roto-wonder-world.com. Email me and we can get you on the news desk.
12:40You can start your career as a fantasy writer today.
12:43Just email me and we'll make it happen. Now another play of the week, a week where if not now, never, it would be Kenneth Gainwell.
12:52Kenneth Gainwell, this is the perfect fantasy points cocktail where they go on the road.
12:57They're road dogs in a shootout. The game total is 50 and a half.
13:01So you know that Tampa is going to have to throw.
13:05And if they have to throw, it's going to be Kenneth Gainwell.
13:09And Kenneth Gainwell is electric in space. He offers big plays and he's going to soak up targets.
13:15I mean, if there was a team where I think you could have multiple plays of the week, from the Buccaneers, this would be the week.
13:24And stay tuned for our wide receiver plays of the week.
13:27If you like Buccaneers. Because yeah, so Gainwell is a smash.
13:31He's one of those guys where I would play him over even maybe an established starter, a guy that you think, hey,
13:38I can't imagine playing Gainwell over, oh, Quinshawn Judkins, right?
13:41But look at Quinshawn Judkins. Quinshawn Judkins, there's no implied points for the Browns.
13:46They got Deshaun Watson under center. They're eight and a half point dogs on the road.
13:51This is not a good week to play Quinshawn Judkins.
13:55This is the week to play Kenneth Gainwell. So you want to play Gainwell over Judkins?
14:00Sounds hot, wild. I'd do it. I'd do it.
14:03I love, it's both an upside play and a floor play.
14:06Because the floor that Gainwell gives you in the receiving game is there.
14:11But then there's also the upside of him being a big play guy.
14:15So it's perfect. It's just, there's no better week to play Kenneth Gainwell.
14:19If not now, never. If you want a Hail Mary play, a Hail Mary play at running back.
14:25It's hard to find Hail Mary plays. It's a lot easier to find Hail Mary receivers.
14:30It's a lot harder to find. I mean, finding out, just looking around, what running backs that no one's talking about, that aren't starters, could perform well.
14:39The one guy I found on the slate is Kamani Vidal.
14:43So Kamani Vidal is a good player, right? We know he's a good player.
14:48He played well last year. He has size. He has athleticism.
14:51When we pull him up on the screen, I mean, he's good, right?
14:56Kamani Vidal is, here he is right there. Look at that.
14:59Kamani Vidal. How about that, right? So Kamani, look at him.
15:03Look at him. Now, Isaiah Pacheco. Pacheco had a year there where everyone was in on Isaiah Pacheco.
15:09Everyone's excited about Isaiah Pacheco. So that's not the greatest comp, but it's a very accurate comp.
15:14It's a very accurate comp. And Kamani Vidal is 213, running a 446.
15:19That's an 87th percentile speed score, right? So the guy has athleticism.
15:23And then last year, he was more efficient as they gave him more carries, right?
15:27And then he also caught 16 passes. So he showed himself to be an all-purpose workhorse back.
15:33And in this particular game, think about it. Think about this game.
15:37Think about the game script. Think about how this is going to play out, okay?
15:42It's the Cardinals. This could be a total blowout.
15:45We know the Chargers are stacked. They've had a relatively healthy offseason.
15:49Keaton Mitchell is not 100%. He's been limited in practice.
15:52Vidal is going to rotate in. And Vidal could be the guy in the fourth quarter in clock killing mode and could
15:59come in and score a touchdown, put up 15 fantasy points easily.
16:03Everyone's looking back and going, yeah, that was actually a pretty straightforward play.
16:08It's like, yeah, yeah, Kamani Vidal this week. If you're very fringe running back that you can plug in and DFS, again,
16:15this is not a guy you're playing in traditional formats.
16:18You don't need to play him. But there's very deep formats that I'm in.
16:23I've took over some Dynasty orphans with lots of flex positions where I'm like, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel and I'm putting Vidal in the lineup.
16:32I'm starting him. I am. It's crazy, but I'm doing it.
16:36And so, yeah. And you can check our rankings, see where we had these guys, and you can learn a little bit more about the rankings right now.
16:45You know, I get asked, is AI ruining fantasy sports?
16:48And the answer is absolutely not. We've had consensus rankings available for a long time, but people subscribe to the player rankings
16:56at playerprofiler.com for super flex, tight end premium, best ball, even offensive line rankings.
17:00Of course, your rookie rankings, your Dynasty rankings, those are all available in the ranking service for playerprofiler.com.
17:06Password protected so the bots can't get to it and you can maintain your edge.
17:11And use code PODFATHER for $5 off. Woo! It's a good deal.
17:15Labor Day savings are happening now at the Home Depot with select appliances starting at $399.
17:20Plus, save up to an extra $1,000 and get free delivery on appliance purchases of $998 or more.
17:26Get a Whirlpool laundry tower featuring industry-first UV clean technology designed to reduce bacteria in the wash without fading fabrics.
17:33Plus, with great prices at the Home Depot, you can save on select appliances designed to make laundry day easier.
17:39Shop Labor Day savings at the Home Depot today.
17:42Offer valid August 27th through September 16th. USLAC store online for details.
17:46Football is finally back and PrizePix is bringing out their best offer yet.
17:51New users who sign up will get $150 in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup.
17:56That's right. If you win your first $5 lineup, you get $150 in lineups.
18:01And now PrizePix is available nationwide. Lock it in for kickoff because everyone and everything is on PrizePix.
18:07And you know I'm always going more on Chris Godwin's receptions and receiving yards.
18:11That's my guy. And for Week 1's opener, Sam Darnold is everyone's guy because he needs just one yard against New England to cash his pick.
18:20It doesn't get any easier than that. And the best part about PrizePix is the injury reboot.
18:26If a player in your lineup gets injured in the first half and doesn't return, your lineup can still cash.
18:32Plus, with their social feature, you can find popular picks that users love and copy them with one click.
18:38So download the app today and use code PLAYER.
18:41You get $150 instantly in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup.
18:46I'll say it again. You download the app today, use code PLAYER, and you get $150 instantly in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup.
18:54PrizePix. Run your game. Let's just get to Chris Godwin.
18:58Chris Godwin, Chris Godwin, Chris Godwin. God plus win equals fantasy points.
19:01Egbuka is playing through turf toe. He's going to play.
19:05But remember, Godwin is as healthy as he's been in three years.
19:09He's teed up to be the number one wide receiver in all of fantasy this week.
19:14He's dripping with upside. This is the game you want.
19:17This is the situation you want. If there's a week where you're playing Godwin, it is this week.
19:2330 fantasy points, very much in his range of outcomes with a 50 plus point total.
19:29This is it. You don't need me to tell you Godwin's a great play.
19:33Pretty obvious. But what I'm telling you is, no matter what the format is, even if you're just picking superstars, right?
19:40If it's a salary cap league and you can pretty much get anyone you want, Godwin needs to be on the docket.
19:47It needs to be a choice. It's like, okay, Jamar Chase.
19:51Okay, who's next? Oh, Chris Godwin. Chris Godwin. He'll outscore Drake London this week.
19:56Think about where guys are drafted, right? Judkins was drafted five rounds before Kenneth Gainwell.
20:00I don't care. I'm playing Gainwell because week one is not the full season.
20:05Godwin. I'm playing Godwin over London because week one is not the full season.
20:10And then you got Josh Downs. This is this.
20:13There's no better week to play Josh Downs. This is the Ravens secondary ranked number 30 in pass yards allowed per game last year.
20:21Alec Pierce, not a hundred percent. He's going to be on a snap count.
20:25He's barely moved around at all in preseason. Like he wasn't involved in practices up until the end of August, finally getting
20:32in these limited sessions, finally working out on the side, ramping up, making sure you're doesn't have a setback, but he's not
20:40going to be operating at full capacity, right? No, it's all about Josh Downs.
20:44It's all about Josh Downs. I actually, I like, I prefer Daniel Jones, Josh Downs stacks to say Gino Smith, Adni Mitchell stacks.
20:52I mean, that's obvious. I mean, clearly, but if you were to go down the board, what I'm saying here is talking about fringe value stacks.
21:01I think the fringiest value stack on the board is Jones Downs.
21:04I think that's where I, that's, that's as low as I go.
21:08I'm trying to create value at quarterback and wide receiver and use it elsewhere.
21:13I think that's as low as I would go.
21:16Now I was very, very pleased to see in the, the Roto Grinders projected ownership, Devon Vele top 15 because he's cheap
21:23and he's in a great game situation, right? This is what we want.
21:28We want great game situations. Saints going to the lions, right?
21:31Buccaneers. They're on the road. They're going to Cincinnati.
21:34The saints are going to Detroit. That's why the highest owned wide receiver in terms of projected ownership and DFS is Chris Olave.
21:42But you also need to be playing Devon Vele.
21:45And later we'll talk about Jawan Johnson. I mean, these are just Jawan Johnson, Olave.
21:50These are no brainers Vele though. He's old and he, he, it was a late breakout and almost like the latest breakout
21:57in the history of NFL wide receivers to ever do anything.
22:01But there's no Jordan Tyson. Again, this is the, there's no better week to play Devon Vele.
22:06Why have him on your team? If you're not going to play him this week.
22:11So play him. So play him. I went on Sirius XM Thursday afternoon to talk about fantasy spin because fantasy spin has a bunch of new contests.
22:20Like they had team fantasy, which is cool. You can just pick any six teams and you get all the fantasy points for all those teams.
22:29So use code fast and you get a free one V one this week on fantasy spin with code fast.
22:35It's a, it's a promo they're doing to get the, get it, get a free roll.
22:40Free rolls are always fun. So on Sirius XM talking to the rotor wire guys, talking to the fantasy alarm guys, it's
22:48talking about stripling who I called swindling. And it's the nickname I came up with on draft day when he was selected
22:55by the 49ers before anyone thought he was going to be drafted.
22:59And that's what John Lynch does surprises us all.
23:02Sometimes it's a good pick like Kalen black saw last night, Kalen black.
23:06He looked, he looked like a third rounder. That looked like about right.
23:10Good job, John Lynch. Stripling. We'll see. We'll see what's dribbling or swindling.
23:15And my position was Vele and stripling are similar prospects in that they were never that productive in college and both very
23:22old when, when they were drafted and relatively old when they were drafted.
23:26So it's like, these are actually, they have similar athletic profiles.
23:30These are similar players. One guy's just been in the league a lot longer than the other guys are rookie.
23:36That's it. But one guy is a starter until Jordan Tyson returns.
23:40And the other guys that clear number three on a team that wants to play heavy formations.
23:46So for that reason alone and the experience, veille should outscore stripling this year.
23:51So that's what I said. I said, Hey, but my, my bold prediction, my bold prediction is veille outscores stripling.
23:57That's right. Then last night, right. The injury happens.
24:00And, you know, I'm posted on Twitter and referring to him as a swindle.
24:05And I think my comment was, uh, it's official that electric substations also exist in Australia because of this, this, this dribbling injury.
24:12And I get all these comments back. Like I'm really disappointed in this.
24:17This, this is the worst. I hate this post.
24:20And I'm like, wait, wait, what do you not, what do you not like about it?
24:25Right. You're victory lapping injuries. Congratulations. Stay classy. But what are we, what I'm not victory lapping anything.
24:31What are you even talking about? His nickname was swindling on the day he was drafted and everybody, everybody's reflex response to
24:38seeing an injury to a 49er is electric substation.
24:41I thought I was going, I thought I was losing my mind.
24:45I was like, wait, they're accusing me of victory lapping an injury.
24:49What is happening? So I went to the Schefter tweet and the, my sports update tweet that came out even before that.
24:56And it was all electric substation jokes. And I'm like, okay, so I guess I'm not original and everyone else is, is having fun with this.
25:05Why am I the only one that has to be super serious about injuries?
25:09What's happening? Since when can't I play with everybody else?
25:13Am I not allowed to make electric substation jokes and give nicknames to players?
25:17Like what happened? I was like, you people are crazy.
25:21Have some fun. Cheer up. It's sports. Cheer up.
25:24Yes. He's injured. He's going to be back. Okay.
25:27It's not the end. Just like, it's not the end for tank Dell.
25:31That was a truly catastrophic injury, right? I think we've learned by now that just because a player is carted off, that
25:38doesn't mean it's a catastrophic he's done for the year.
25:41You have to wait. Even if guys are taking a knee in prayer, you have to wait.
25:47Don't overreact and think automatically this is catastrophic. And look for the tweet where the guy was referring to electric substations and
25:54that it was a swindle and sort of call him out as being insensitive or not unclassy.
26:00I am the definition of class. I couldn't believe that one.
26:04That was the one that got me. That's right.
26:06I wouldn't even be talking about this today if I hadn't got the dagger, the dagger, unclassy, I don't, I think it's funny and it's certainly classy.
26:15My commentary, because it, it is a swindle in the end.
26:19It's a swindle. AJ Brown with a high ankle sprain is a swindle, whether a guy underperforms or he gets injured either way.
26:27If we draft him with any kind of premium capital in the case of AJ Brown, it's like top 20 pick.
26:34And in the case of stripling, at least in the last few weeks was a top 100 pick.
26:39That is a swindle. Whether it happens with an injury or whether it happens with underperformance.
26:45And it sure as hell was not in any way a victory lap.
26:49If anyone other than those that are massively exposed to, to stripling was upset by the injury.
26:55It was me. It was me because for at least the first quarter I'm looking at going, wait a second.
27:01He's not even in the game. He could put up a zero.
27:05And yes, if stripling had went out and played precious few snaps, which is what he was trending to do for the
27:12entire game before he got injured and then put up a zero, I would be celebrating today.
27:18I would absolutely be victory lapping dance party. Probably not.
27:21I'm not doing dance party on a stripling zero.
27:24That does. That's not, doesn't reach levels of dance party.
27:28But certainly I would say told you so. I can't even say told you so because he got hurt.
27:34I'm, I'm the one, I'm the one, I'm the aggrieved party here.
27:38Not over sensitive Twitter guy. Can't take a nickname or electric substation joke.
27:42I was so ready to victory lap. And now I can't.
27:46That's been, that's been stolen from me. I can't victory lap.
27:49So it's just the, it was, I was like, man, it would be nice.
27:54Wouldn't it be nice if I could victory lap this?
27:57You're accusing me of victory lapping, which I'm not doing.
28:01And I would love nothing but, but I've been robbed, been robbed of the victory lap.
28:06But the thing is, no matter what happens, AJ Brown, the Patriots losing in a truly catastrophic way, a throw that very few quarterbacks would make.
28:14Drake may an MVP candidate last year, just inexplicably just throwing it up for grabs when you could at least go to overtime.
28:22I was perplexed. My daughter stayed up. We, we had a, we had, it's been very interesting in my house.
28:29My daughter has helped me rediscover my Patriots fandom.
28:32I was talking to Andrew Cooper on the fantasy alarm show.
28:35And I was like, he's like, Hey, we got room for you.
28:39We got room for you. We can, we can get you back on the bandwagon.
28:44If you run, run and jump, we'll catch you.
28:47We'll bring you back. We got one spot left.
28:50We'll bring you back. Cause I like, listen, man, when I was a kid, I was cheering for Steve Grogan, Andre Tippett.
28:57I got some Patriots, like boomer street cred here.
29:00I should be allowed to come back and Coop who's, you know, from the Boston area.
29:06Welcome me back. So I'm highly respected. I'll take it.
29:09I'm back baby. And the feel good story is that I'm back because my daughter is this raging Patriot.
29:15She wasn't supposed to stay up that late. I took all the, I took all, I shielded her from the wrath of her mother, right?
29:23My wife, I got in the way. I said, it's my fault.
29:27I let her stay up. Even though she was like sneaking around.
29:31I, I took it, man. Dads, you know, once in a while when you just, you feel like it's okay.
29:38You get in the way. You step in, you step in, you shield the child so they can watch sports late at night.
29:45I did that. And I did that because I was so enjoying just being a pure fan of a single team again,
29:53not cheering for fantasy teams and fantasy outcomes. And because she knows these players and she's analyzing them and she cares so
30:00much about the Patriots and doesn't care about any other team.
30:04I learned from her. Like she is still very much damaged two days later by these Dobbs drops, but even more so
30:11the fact that we dumped all this money, wasted all this money on Dobbs when we could have had, you know, Juwan
30:18Jennings at a much better value and then not lost Kayshaun Booty.
30:22One of her favorite players was Kayshaun Booty. She was very hurt by that in a way that I'm never hurt by
30:29NFL transactions to see someone genuinely hurt by a trade moved me.
30:33She's like, I love booty. I don't even like Dobbs.
30:37I think it was a waste of money. And I was like, yes, every, everything she says about the Patriots is dead on.
30:44I've stopped. I've outsourced all my Patriots analysis to her.
30:47And then I get to tell her how all the other 31 teams are doing.
30:52It's the perfect setup. It's great. It's great. And so I'm back.
30:56I'm back Patriots fans. I'm out there in the open.
31:00Like we're going to games. We're going to go to the Jets games.
31:04I want to see the Jets because of fantasy.
31:07But anyway, it doesn't matter. We're going to crush the Jets or no, it'll be a shootout.
31:12Gino will spark some kind of comeback in the third quarter.
31:16And then Drake may will crush their dreams. That's what's going to happen.
31:20I can't wait. So I'm just very excited for the season.
31:24I haven't been this excited for a season in many years.
31:28I'm going to be doing the top 10 takeaway show again.
31:31The top 10 takeaway show is a lot of work, but I'm fueled with the passion for football and sports.
31:38And I haven't felt this in years. And I just want to share that with you.
31:43You all have been on this journey with me for so many years.
31:47Some of you, 10 plus years. And I am as energized as I've been in recent memory for this season.
31:54So this is going to be great. I'm very excited.
31:57And I'm also energized by the fact that my daughter made varsity.
32:01So even though she stayed up late and was sleep deprived after practice that next day.
32:07Okay. So she stays up past 11 o'clock. We have this, you know, family feud in the living room and it wasn't
32:14good, but, you know, she got up on time.
32:17She made it to school on time, had soccer practice.
32:20And then after the practice was over, a coach comes up to her and says, you made varsity.
32:26And as a defender, a center back, sophomore, you know, they have these two seniors that are going to be, you're not going to start.
32:34But I was like, this is pretty interesting. This is pretty interesting.
32:38I didn't, I didn't, I don't know. I was trying not to think about it because I'm so invested in her success,
32:45particularly with soccer, because it's a sport that just never came natural to her.
32:50And she's had to work so hard practicing. And for that to pay off like this, it brought me to tears when
32:57she told me, I still get, you know, yeah, it's just, she's, she's, she's, she's inspiring.
33:03Her, her Patriots fandom is inspiring and how hard she works at sports to be good.
33:08She just loves competing. And she loves these kinds of little achievements like making varsity.
33:13And I told her, I was like, think about it.
33:16I did, did Matt Collins think that going into the season, he was going to be the go-to guy on a, on
33:23a potentially a game time game winning drive. No, but injuries happen.
33:27Things happen. You never know. Things can, it's not just injuries, just things can happen.
33:32And when you're the primary backup, when the coach has told you, Hey, you're the primary backup, you're not going to get a lot of playing time.
33:41Cause these, these two girls, these are our rocks back there.
33:45But when you're the next person up, things can, things can break your way and you can find a way to, to, to contribute to the team.
33:54Uh, and I'll just keep you updated. I'm gonna keep everyone updated on how things go with the season.
34:00There probably will be a moment where she gets thrust into a situation like Matt Collins was where it's very uncomfortable and we'll see how she performs.
34:09But I mean, I'm just so proud of her.
34:12And, uh, and, and in her honor and Vivian's honor, this, this play of the week is dedicated to my daughter, Vivian.
34:19I'm starting Kayshawn booty this week. Booty is the clear number two option in Houston.
34:24The Texans, they generally, we've talked about this all summer.
34:27They're going to want to take the air out of the football, but they can't do that against Josh Allen because they can't do that against Josh Allen.
34:37And booty is going to make the Patriots regret choosing Dobbs over him.
34:41That's basically what they did right now. When you buy more carpet at the home Depot, you save more during our buy more, save more event going on.
34:50Now upgrade your carpeting with the top brands and save up to 15% off installed carpet projects installation, starting at just 49 cents per square foot.
34:59Select from a wide assortment of carpet to fit your room lifestyle and budget during the buy more, save more event at
35:06the home Depot offer valid August 27 through 7.
35:09September 13th, 2026 base price for standard installations. Only excludes traffic master and stock carpet for licenses.
35:14See home Depot.com slash license numbers. Football is finally back in prize.
35:18Picks is bringing out their best offer yet. New users who sign up will get $150 in lineups.
35:24If you win your first $5 lineup. That's right.
35:27If you win your first $5 lineup, you get $150 in lineups.
35:31And now prize picks is available nationwide. Lock it in for kickoff because everyone and everything is on prize picks.
35:38And you know, I'm always going more on Chris Godwin's receptions and receiving yards.
35:42That's my guy. And for week one's opener, Sam Darnold is everyone's guy because he needs just one yard against New England to cash his pick.
35:51It doesn't get any easier than that. And the best part about prize picks is the injury reboot.
35:57If a player in your lineup gets injured in the first half and doesn't return, your lineup can still cash.
36:04Plus with their social feature, you can find popular picks that users love and copy them with one click.
36:10So download the app today and use code player.
36:13You get $150 instantly in lineups. If you win your first $5 lineup, I'll say it again.
36:18You download the app today, use code player, and you get $150 instantly in lineups.
36:23If you win your first $5 lineup prize picks, run your game.
36:27They let booty go to an AFC competitor and he's going to make them pay.
36:32He's going to make them pay. So starting booty, starting Devon Vele, those are the two sleeper wide receivers.
36:39Drafted in the, you know, not the end of the draft, but late in the draft that you could play this week.
36:46A guy that was drafted at the end of drafts, a rookie that like all else equal, like Valey, if they were
36:53all healthy, would have outscored Stribbling as well as Malachi Fields.
36:57Malachi Fields is a play this week. There aren't many rookie receivers, especially not first round pick rookie receivers, you want to play.
37:04It's usually total sucker move to play a rookie receiver in week one who's not a first round pick.
37:11But Malik Neighbors has been, oh, what's the term Malik Neighbors?
37:14What's the term? Wishy-washy, right? I think he's been wishy-washy.
37:17So Neighbors probably plays. But the fact that he hasn't come out as confidently active in week one has me questioning what his involvement will be.
37:26Calvin Austin is on IR. Darius Slayton was cut, quietly cut.
37:30Who's left? Big slot Malachi Fields. Power forward Malachi Fields.
37:33He is going to be, if I had to pick one receiver that's going to be a dynasty riser after week one, it's Malachi Fields.
37:41And you can play him. Play him this week in deep leagues.
37:45Now at tight end, we talked about Juwan Johnson.
37:48This is just, you don't overthink it. Just remind yourself, fantasy football doesn't have to be hard.
37:54Actually, it can be quite easy. You play your Saints this week.
37:58Don't worry about it. Go ahead. Juwan Johnson. We have him tight end 11.
38:02That's just because there's no bye weeks. But I mean, you could argue of tight ends after tight ends 7-8.
38:09You could argue his best case outcome, his maximal upside is higher than even like a Kyle Pitts.
38:15I mean, Kyle Pitts has given us some of the biggest spike weeks in the history of the tight end position.
38:22That's high praise. But the situation is just so perfect.
38:25Everything is lining up just so well. And he's one of those quiet, quiet producers in preseason, but mostly camp.
38:32He didn't play a lot in preseason because he's a key member of the starting unit.
38:37But praise was quietly rolling in. Whenever you would hear the notebook, read the notebook from one of these beat writers, usually
38:44was some comment about a Juwan Johnson play down the middle, down the seam, having a great camp, playing well, leadership.
38:51All the things. No injury concerns. Right? Clean, quiet camp for Juwan Johnson.
38:55But little tidbits, little nuggets here and there where he was standing out in practice.
39:00Standing out in practice. Standing out in practice. Throughout preseason.
39:04You saw that. So Juwan Johnson, his upside is enormous in this particular game.
39:08I also like just on a target conservation play, Greg Dulcich.
39:12So Greg Dulcich is interesting in that this is not a game that you would typically target to bad teams.
39:18Right? 40.5 point total. Not good. Not good at all.
39:22But what I'll say about Dulcich is he is probably the most explosive veteran pass catcher they have.
39:28All else equal, I'd throw the ball to Dulcich before I'd throw the ball to Malik Washington.
39:33And you should be excited about Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell.
39:37Get excited. Permission to get excited. Get excited about Malik Willis.
39:40There's a little bit of, there's just a little bit of pizzazz here.
39:45There's a little bit of sleeper pizzazz here. There's a little, there's some reason to get jazzed up about these dolphins.
39:51Permission to just get slightly, slightly perked. Just get perked.
39:55Just a little perk. A little perk up with these dolphins.
39:58I think there's a little more there with the dolphins than there is with the Raiders passing game.
40:04There's a thing. You have a super mobile quarterback.
40:07You have these rookies playing big roles. They're going to be trusted.
40:11They're both in the official starting lineup for the team.
40:15Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell. The one guy, I think the steadying force, the anchor of this passing game, the veteran anchor is
40:22actually, it's not going to be Malik Washington. It's going to be Greg Dulcich.
40:26And so I think you play him, but you also play Michael Mayer.
40:31I think Michael Mayer and Dulcich, they're right there with Juwan Johnson in our rankings.
40:36Juwan Johnson has the sort of efficiency upside. He could go with big plays.
40:40But Mayer and Dulcich are going to command the targets.
40:44These are target conservation plays. Next man up for Michael Mayer, right?
40:47Michael Mayer is a top 40 pick in the NFL draft.
40:51He was a dominant college producer. He's a good player.
40:54And there's some touchdown equity there. Same with Dulcich.
40:57They have touchdown equity. They're the guys that are going to be targeted in the red zone.
41:03So if it's a low total, I am more willing to play players at the tight end position and low totals because
41:10the tight end position, it's a lower bar. You don't need huge volume.
41:15Basically, you get a couple of red zone targets, you're happy.
41:18Because generally, the tight end will cash in one of those, like Eli Raritan.
41:23Eli Raritan. My daughter, very excited about Eli Raritan.
41:26We finally have an answer at tight end, she says.
41:29I'm like, what happened to Hunter Henry? She's like, oh, he dropped a pass in the playoffs.
41:35He's dead to me. I'm like, oh no, I love it.
41:38So if it's a low total, I'm still fine streaming tight ends.
41:42Like this year, you'll probably see me streaming Darren Waller on the Panthers.
41:46These are the types where you just need to know they're probably going to get some red zone looks.
41:53And that right there, that can be good enough.
41:56But otherwise, yeah, I'm not excited about playing. I'm not ready to stream these rookies yet.
42:01I want to see. I'm very excited to see what Chris Bell looks like.
42:06So with a lot of these other receivers on the Raiders and the Dolphins, just wait and see.
42:12But the tight ends in particular, play those guys with confidence.
42:15God plus win equals fantasy points. Labor Day savings are happening now at the Home Depot with select appliances starting at $399.
42:22Plus, save up to an extra $1,000 and get free delivery on appliance purchases of $998 or more.
42:28Get a Whirlpool laundry tower featuring industry-first UV clean technology designed to reduce bacteria in the wash without fading fabrics.
42:35Plus, with great prices at the Home Depot, you can save on select appliances designed to make laundry day easier.
42:42Shop Labor Day savings at the Home Depot today.
42:45Offer valid August 27th through September 16th. USLAC store online for details.
42:48Every game day, you show up for your team.
42:51Now, it's your time. Ask your prescriber about WeGovi.
42:54Semaglutide Injection 2.4mg, a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOVI or visit wegovi.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about WeGovi.
43:01Why wait?
