Top Almanac Talents & O-Line Stories For 2026
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
1 hr 4 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Aug 4, 2026
Published
Tue, August 4, 2026
25
Player insights
21
Players mentioned
Topics
Chuba HubbardJavonte WilliamsTravis EtienneAlvin KamaraBijan RobinsonCam WardChristian McCaffreyDallas GoedertDe'Von AchaneDerrick HenryDrake MayeJayden DanielsJonathon BrooksLuther Burden
Player analysis
Player insights
Alvin Kamara
NegativeRole23:01
Alvin Kamara took a pay cut to stay in New Orleans, which the source views negatively, noting that it complicates the role for Travis Etienne.
Insight pageBijan Robinson
PositiveValue0:33
Bijan Robinson has signed a $51 million guaranteed deal, removing the stress of a potential holdout and making him a safe top-tier draft pick.
Insight pageCam Ward
PositiveUsage54:09
The Titans' shift to an up-tempo offense is a positive development for Cam Ward, as the increased volume and pace of play should benefit the team's skill players.
Insight pageChristian McCaffrey
PositiveUsage21:13
Christian McCaffrey maintains an A+ grade for elusiveness in the 2026 Almanac, unchanged from the previous year.
Insight pageChuba Hubbard
NegativeBust9:08
The source references Chuba Hubbard's 2025 performance as an example of a player who can turn into a disappointment, illustrating the risk of holding onto players too long.
Insight pageNegativeUsage48:09
While Chuba Hubbard is currently in the lead for touches in the Panthers' backfield, the team is expected to spread the wealth among Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks, and Travis Etienne, making the exact distribution of touches difficult to predict.
Insight pageNegativeProjection48:09
The source mentions a personal history of wanting Chuba Hubbard to succeed, but expresses concern regarding the impact of the Panthers' offensive line injuries on the team's running game.
Insight pageDallas Goedert
NegativeProjection29:36
The source describes the latter-day version of Dallas Goedert as a 'lumbering' player who struggled to run effectively last year despite scoring touchdowns, using him as a comparison point for Travis Kelce's speed.
Insight pageDe'Von Achane
PositiveUsage21:05
Devon Achane maintains an A+ grade for both speed and elusiveness in the 2026 Almanac, unchanged from the previous year.
Insight pageDerrick Henry
PositiveProjection50:02
Despite his age (33) and heavy career usage, Derrick Henry remains a 'unicorn' who continues to perform at a high level, defying previous expectations that he would decline due to wear and tear.
Insight pageDrake Maye
PositiveProjection18:02
Drake Maye is ranked as the source's QB4. His accuracy grade was bumped from a B+ to an A, supported by his league-leading 72% completion percentage despite ranking second in air yards at the target.
Insight pageJavonte Williams
PositiveValue23:35
The source highlights Javonte Williams as a physical, pile-moving running back who excels at breaking tackles. Despite a lack of elite elusiveness, he is viewed as a strong touchdown-scoring threat. The source expresses high enthusiasm for drafting him in the fourth round and would still consider him in the third, noting that while he won't have the backfield to himself, his physical profile makes him a valuable asset.
Insight pagePositiveRole23:41
Javonte Williams climbed to an A- grade in power for the 2026 Almanac. He is described as a pile-moving, tackle-breaking runner who ran mean in 2025.
Insight pageJayden Daniels
NegativeProjection11:05
The source mentions reading the Jaden Daniels profile in a July episode, noting his second-year status as a key context for his development.
Insight pageJonathon Brooks
NegativeUsage48:21
Jonathan Brooks is returning from a major injury and is expected to be part of a committee backfield in Carolina alongside Chuba Hubbard and Travis Etienne.
Insight pageLuther Burden
NegativeValue27:06
The source acknowledges Luther Burden's electric, water-bug style of play and gives him an A- in elusiveness. However, the source disagrees with the current market sentiment that Burden should be drafted significantly higher than Rome Odunze, maintaining a higher ranking for Odunze.
Insight pageMalik Davis
NegativeUsage24:56
The source notes that Malik Davis will likely be involved in the Cowboys' backfield rotation and may prove annoying to fantasy managers at times, emphasizing that no single running back will have the backfield to himself.
Insight pageMiles Sanders
NegativeValue24:04
The source notes that the Cowboys gave Miles Sanders a contract similar to the one they gave Javonte Williams, implying the team may have misjudged their value.
Insight pageRiley Nowakowski
NegativeDepth Chart3:41
Riley Nowakowski was drafted in the fifth round by the Steelers as a tight end/fullback hybrid, though he did not make the Almanac's top 30 list.
Insight pageRome Odunze
PositiveBreakout25:30
The source remains high on Rome Odunze, bumping his elusiveness grade to an A-. Despite offseason concerns regarding a foot injury, the source dismisses the panic as overblown. Odunze is described as a smooth, polished, and deliberate route runner who looked like Nico Collins on tape before his injury. The source ranks him higher than Luther Burden and views him as a strong prospect as long as he stays healthy.
Insight pageSaquon Barkley
PositiveProjection42:39
The source notes that the improved health and scheme of the Eagles' offensive line will be great news for Saquon Barkley's fantasy outlook.
Insight pageTony Pollard
PositiveUsage54:09
The Titans' move toward an up-tempo offensive scheme is expected to increase snap volume, which should benefit Tony Pollard's fantasy outlook.
Insight pageTravis Etienne
PositiveProjection21:22
Travis Etienne's speed grade was bumped from a B+ to an A- in the 2026 Almanac. Despite being 27, he showed sharp speed in his 2025 walk year. He is currently ranked as the source's RB19.
Insight pageNegativeUsage48:29
Travis Etienne is expected to be part of a shared backfield rotation in Carolina alongside Chuba Hubbard and Jonathan Brooks.
Insight pageTravis Kelce
NegativeProjection28:59
The source acknowledges that Travis Kelce is likely nearing the end of his career, noting he turns 37 in October. While the source downgraded his route-running grade to a B+ and expects a low ceiling, they believe his floor remains surprisingly high due to his craftiness and ability to find soft spots in coverage. He is ranked as the TE11.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00It's the Harris Fantasy Football Podcast with your host Christopher Harris.
0:04Welcome! Hey everybody, welcome in! My name is Chris.
0:07This is a show with magnetic powers. Thank you so much for listening today.
0:12Hello there. I hope you're doing well. I am back in the swing.
0:17We are making shows. Five shows per week. Six straight weeks leading up to the 2026 season beginning.
0:23And also along the way getting us all ready for fantasy drafts.
0:28On Monday's show we talked about the camp stories we're most paying attention to.
0:33And the last one you heard us discussing was the dueling potential for protracted camp holdouts for Jameer Gibbs and Bajon Robinson.
0:41As of this morning, boom! Bijan Robinson is signed.
0:44$51 million guaranteed. He is also sealed and delivered.
0:47I do not believe Gibbs will be far behind and we can relax and draft those guys in relative comfort at the top of every non-Superflex draft.
0:57I don't really think it was ever a consideration that Robinson would get deep into August without a new deal, but you
1:05know, you got enough stress in your life. Anyway, about this stupid thing that we talk about and everything else.
1:12Nice to know this is not a stress point going forward.
1:16What else is on a yacht possum's mind? Why, I'm glad you asked.
1:20Time for your snarky email. Oh, this is for Harris.
1:24I sound so good. It sounds like an angel singing.
1:28It sounds exactly like an angel singing. That is what it sounds like.
1:32That's right. Send me your snarky emails to heyharris at harrisfootball.com.
1:36Snark it up. Now, thank you very much for the very many nice emails that I've gotten in the past few days.
1:44The ones are just about how happy you are that the show is back.
1:49Just because I don't read them here doesn't mean I don't love getting them.
1:54You all are absolutely the best and I love you.
1:58And I've gotten a whole bunch of bribe suggestions too, and I'm going to be incorporating those.
2:04But let's do the snarky ones, shall we? Actually, the first one's not snarky at all.
2:10It's Jake Wasikowski in Nebraska. This one came back in the spring.
2:14Hey, Harris. Been with you since day one on the little podcast.
2:18Purchased every almanac. But this year is extra special.
2:21My cousin Riley Nowakowski got drafted in the fifth round to the Steelers.
2:26He's got an incredible story. He's a tight end fullback.
2:30Anything you need him to do player. I know that doesn't qualify for a top 30 almanac profile at a position that shouldn't be in fantasy.
2:39But if there's any way you can put him in the last tight end with one sentence blurb, maybe a cousin Josh blast.
2:47It would be an honor in the almanac or not.
2:51I will be drafting him in every draft. That is lovely, Jake.
2:55Congratulations. You're right. Riley did not make the almanac.
2:58But I hope the shout out here more than makes up for it.
3:03My pal Matt Simon from parts known in New England sent me this one back in May.
3:09Hey, Harris. What the f*** is this? I want a new audio book by the real Christopher Harris, not some fantasy writer
3:17trying to cash in on your good fantasy football name.
3:21And Matt has included a screen capture from audible that says now available from an author you like because AI is great.
3:29And the graphic reads Magi's curse, a new novel from Christopher James Harris.
3:33Matt's email continues. I hope you're doing well, despite having been cursed apparently by the by the Magi.
3:40What did the possums ever do them? I wonder.
3:43Yeah, indeed. Hey, if you like the guy with this name, it's kind of a similar name.
3:49You might like this one. Kenny Krokemo in New Jersey.
3:53Hey, Harris. I teach business classes at a technical high school and a pair of my students presented on NFL salary cap structure, purpose of agents, etc.
4:02for their final project. I know this will probably be the first 100 grade I'll ever give next generation of yacht possums on the way.
4:11And Kenny put a screen capture of this presentation.
4:14These are high school kids who understand this. And the graphic says why the NFL salary cap is nonsense.
4:21The main reasons spread money bonuses restructures contracts. Wonderful.
4:25And Kenny follows it up saying also quick note.
4:28I was an accountant before and hated it. You had an episode a few years ago about talking about why you left ESPN.
4:36That was definitely one of the many, many contributing factors to my career switch.
4:41I've always wanted to say thanks for that. The show is so stupid, but also so great.
4:47That is amazing, Kenny. That's great. Brad S from Parts Unknown.
4:51Hey, Harris. I love the pod so much, but I fear if I'm any nicer, you won't read my email on the pod.
4:59So I'll get to it. Whenever I draft a personal flag player, I always struggle to trade them.
5:06I just have a hard time reassessing their value and letting go of players.
5:11I always find I draft well, but I struggle to make moves throughout the season.
5:16Do you have any insight on your philosophy on this?
5:20Sorry to have such a broad question. It is a broad question, but I think it's a good one.
5:27And we can spend a moment. We've all certainly had that feeling where we believe and we believe.
5:33And then the struggle for that player starts early and we try and believe harder.
5:38You know, now he's a great value. Maybe I should trade for him and all my other leagues.
5:45And then sometimes that's right and it works out.
5:48And sometimes he turns into Chuba Hubbard in 2025.
5:51You know what I mean? I honestly think as so much in this dumb game, as so much in life, there just
5:59isn't going to be one overall answer that can account for all the cases.
6:04Sometimes you just get left holding the bag and it turns out we were just wrong.
6:10I am going to be wrong a lot because I'm making a call on literally, literally every player.
6:17But you have to make a lot of calls just to draft and maintain one single fantasy team.
6:23And so, you know, sometimes we're just going to be wrong.
6:27That's a wishy-washy answer. But Brad, I know a lot of people share the same feeling, the same question.
6:34So I'm glad just to say, I think some level of stubbornness in our beliefs in the NFL as in life can be a good thing.
6:43But there comes a point where we can be too stubborn.
6:47The evidence keeps piling up. Even if it's a little late to recoup full value, there comes a point where we should allow our minds to be changed.
6:57Colin P. from Parts Unknown. Just heard you read the Jaden Daniels profile on a July episode and heard the Cousin Josh
7:05part in which he describes ordering a martini outside the U.S.
7:09And one time he got a pepper-tini. Colin says, the pepper-tini sounded kind of good actually.
7:15I'm surprised Josh didn't love the idea. A pepper-tini and a slice of pizza.
7:20What's more New York than that? Shane Nicholson in Massachusetts.
7:23Hey, Harris. I normally do not miss such important announcements.
7:27Did you not explain why you didn't return to the land of lawnmowers in Massachusetts in the summer?
7:33While I won't take it personally, I do want to know the details.
7:38If you did, in fact, tell the audience why.
7:41Apologies. And I will listen better in the future.
7:44Shane, you know, I'm not sure if I said anything.
7:48The lawnmowers lobbied very hard for my return. But I did stay in Los Angeles this summer.
7:54So I was not a bi-coastal elite Lisa sleeper.
7:57I missed parts of going back. But I hadn't done a summer in LA since that COVID summer of 2020.
8:05And I kind of wanted to see what it would be like.
8:09I knew that I was going to be hunkering down.
8:12Because I knew that cumulative press was being invented.
8:16And the Almanac was being written. And I was also working on a different book.
8:21And I kind of didn't want thunderstorms or humidity.
8:24And I wanted softball. My softball team in Amherst got canceled last summer.
8:29But it was no more insidious than that. And the moment I decided not to go back, I started getting texts from
8:37Massachusetts friends who didn't know I was not coming back.
8:40And they were like, hey, buddy, you want to go golfing?
8:44I'm like, hey, you sent me that text last year.
8:48Maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation. Kevin Kuntz in Minnesota.
8:52Hey, Harris. With you having your own publishing company, Cumulative Press, will you be releasing your sci-fi book you wrote a couple years ago?
9:01I think it was called To Infinite Jest and Beyond.
9:04Sorry, no. I couldn't remember the actual title of the book and inserted the pun.
9:10I really did like the sample chapter, though, and would love to read the entirety of that book.
9:16And I got asked that question several times since talking about Cumulative Press existing.
9:21Thank you, Kevin. Thank you, other folks who asked.
9:24I did, you're right, post a chapter of a very long novel that is more like sci-fi that I wrote.
9:31That's not really sci-fi, just future. But you call that sci-fi, I guess.
9:36I wrote it like over the several years of COVID.
9:40It's long. I did not have success finding a publisher, as we know now.
9:45That was no, that should have been no stopping me.
9:48Honestly, I'm not sure about that one. There's a lot in that book that I'm proud of.
9:54Like, Pound Foolish is ambitious. That one is really ambitious because it takes place 25 years in the future.
10:01There are kind of like world reasons why that one might not see the light of day, because it takes place, you know, 25 years from now.
10:11And some of the stuff that I thought, oh, that could only happen like pretty far into the future kind of started
10:19happening in the actual world in the couple years since I wrote it.
10:23But anyway, it is hard to plan beyond the Pound Foolish situation because it's certainly currently kicking my butt.
10:30But I do thank you so much for asking.
10:34And we can segue into the Pound Foolish questions.
10:37Walker Dennis, East Longmeadow, Mass. Hey, Harris, when do I start getting bribed?
10:41So I'm going to say Friday. Let's officially say the first of the bribes will be announced on Friday.
10:48I'm sifting through the bribery suggestions that many of you sent in.
10:53So far, I guess something like 50 people have pre-ordered a copy of Pound Foolish and sent me a screen cap.
11:00Thank you so much for that. Incredible. That means, you know, the sooner you do it, the sooner you're going to have
11:08a chance to be bribed and win. Possibly, I think the idea is going to be to give people the option of
11:16a few different bribes when they win because different people live different places and have different expectations and things that they would like, etc.
11:24And then maybe a couple of grand prizes later in the month.
11:29So if you'd like to be bribed, go to the show notes of the show.
11:34There's a link there that'll take you to Barnes and Noble where all three versions, paperback, ebook and audio book are all available for pre-order.
11:43Send me a screen cap. You'll be entered in time for Friday.
11:47Julie Redd from Chicago. Not at all about my love life.
11:51Hey, Harris. You've mentioned Pound Foolish a few times, but you haven't really talked about what it's about.
11:58You should do that. It sounds really good. One question also.
12:02Do I have to have read Slotback Rhapsody to understand Pound Foolish since it's a sequel?
12:08Thank you, Julie. And I'm not going to talk about dating.
12:12That's great. It's so nice not to have to talk about.
12:15Okay. So anyway, the first answer. I don't think you'll be lost reading the new book if you haven't read the first one.
12:24I think you might get a little extra out of it if you know Slotback because the narrator of my first novel
12:32that I published while I was still at ESPN.
12:35It was the, you know, I had graduated from MFA at UMass and it was the first novel I got published by someone else.
12:43Not me. Way back in 2011. So that guy is one of the main characters of Pound Foolish, but it's more like Easter eggs.
12:52You won't be lost at all. It's not like they start talking about stuff that you wouldn't understand without reading Slotback.
13:00As for what Pound Foolish is about. So there's a serial killer in Detroit and people on the local football team start
13:07thinking maybe it's a player who's doing the killing.
13:11So it's definitely a mystery. It's also just about an NFL season from the beginning to the end what it takes to make it through a season.
13:20And it's also about I guess, you know, the NFL's place in contemporary American life.
13:26How big it is. What that means. The compromises we make as fans.
13:30You know, we talk about that all the time on the show.
13:35We're rooting for laundry. The cognitive dissonance it requires to be NFL fans.
13:39The stuff we have to ignore. And we all definitely do.
13:43I'm not calling. I'm a huge NFL fan, but I know I have to make compromises.
13:49So yeah, I mean, there's a big mystery. There's kind of a philosophy of football in there as well.
13:56And finally, Troy Jacobs in Baton Rouge. Hey, Harris, I want to support you, but I do not listen to or read fiction books.
14:05Can I buy a copy for somebody else? So I very much appreciate that.
14:10And I got that from a few other folks as well, because this is the best audience ever assembled.
14:16What I'll say about that is, first of all, you know, if you want to buy a book and not read it, that's okay too.
14:25I don't mind. And then as far as an exchange program goes, I'm open to suggestions.
14:31These books are being published by me, by Cumulative Press, but they are printed on demand when they're paperbacks.
14:38So it's tough for me to like take money from one person and then send a book to another because I don't have the books.
14:47But maybe we can come up with some kind of idea.
14:51I also had one listener volunteer to buy several copies of books for folks who might otherwise not have the money for it.
14:59Amazing. Also hard to implement, but like I'm open.
15:02If anyone has ideas about how to make that happen or you want to help make it happen, I'm certainly listening.
15:10Hey, Harris at HarrisFootball.com. It's amazing. Thank you so much for volunteering.
15:14All of your generosity is incredible. I really appreciate you.
15:18Today's kickoff. Okay. On today's show, the first full week of shows gets us rolling with some topics we've done before.
15:25First up, I'm going to talk about talent. I did, after all, spend, I guess, probably hundreds of hours rewatching the players
15:33play this summer and it all gets boiled down to the film grades in the Almanac.
15:39So I'm going to talk through some of my top talents that I judged.
15:44You'd probably find some talent grade changes from last year's Almanac that put some players in a higher echelon for my expectations for 2026.
15:53After that, my guest will be Ross Tucker. You get to hear him call NFL games for CBS during the fall.
16:00He also makes an annual pilgrimage to the little podcast that could when I ask him to talk about some offensive lines
16:08he's got his eye on for the upcoming season.
16:11I think you'll have fun listening. I appreciate you being here today.
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17:09He's the lemon flavored Italian ice. Oh no. In fact, the Alfred Morris's of the world need not apply to this segment
17:17of today's show because I'm going to talk to you a little bit about some players I observed as being exceptional and
17:25not lemon flavored for this year's Almanac. In particular, while there are appendices in the back of the Almanac, so you can
17:33see all the individual film grades that are listed throughout the book, but they're all lined up by attribute in the appendices.
17:41So like quarterback arm strength, running back speed, wide receiver hands, tight end routes.
17:46Let's talk about some adjustments that I made kind of on the positive side.
17:51Mostly I've won negative to some players in the 2026 version of the document and how that maybe factors into the way
17:59that I'm ranking them here now that we're in August.
18:02I'll start out with Drake May. Break out the footy pajamas.
18:06I know. Listen, I have panic about Drake May.
18:09I remember CJ Stroud's second year. I remember Jaden Daniels' second year.
18:14This is going to be May's second year as the full-time starter.
18:18It's easy to believe that a young quarterback is master of his destiny only to have it revealed after the fact that
18:26everything was aligned perfect for that one year. But then you just, you know, things get off kilter and boom, suddenly we're not even rostering a fantasy starter.
18:36May is my QB4 for the moment. So I guess consider me hooked.
18:41I've got the fish hook in my jaw. Will I likely wind up with the QB4 the way I tend to draft quarterbacks in a single quarterback league?
18:51Valid point, but not impossible. As long as other people in the league I'm playing in are waiting for quarterback as well, I could get him.
19:00And believe me, if anything, the grades that I gave May are even more disgusting than the fact that I'm rating him QB4.
19:08Because May already had an A grade for his arm strength after his rookie year.
19:14We all knew he had a howitzer. But it's the accuracy grade.
19:18I bumped him from a B plus to a straight A.
19:22The kid tied for second among all quarterback qualifiers in air yards at the target.
19:27And yet, led the league in completion percentage. 72%.
19:30And that is just hard to do. You're throwing it way down the field and you're leading the league in throwing percentage.
19:38And of course, I don't care so much about the numbers.
19:42I was watching this film to write his profile, which I read in July on the show.
19:48As the numbers would indicate, we're not just talking about a bunch of dump offs that lead to a 72% completion percentage.
19:56You know, I'll grant you that the Patriots schedule was very easy.
20:01And I thought they played better defenses than they did offenses.
20:05They played terrible offenses. That's why they won those games.
20:08But for sure, it's a lot easier to be more accurate and to take chances down the field when you're playing from ahead.
20:16And the other team is trying to make something happen and maybe sending pressure at you.
20:22It was just great film. That's all I can say.
20:26It's like I'd love to be a contrarian. But May has that thing to me that when I see him bounce up
20:34on his toes and throw on time, I just trust that throw is going to be awesome and perfect and often way
20:42downfield and into a very tight window. It was a revelation to watch it around the second time this summer.
20:49Maybe it'll burn me. Maybe he'll turn out just like the other one year wonders.
20:54But for right now, I certainly did buy it.
20:57For the speed side of running back. The two guys who got an A-plus for speed were unchanged from last year.
21:05Jameer Gibbs, Devon Achan. And the two guys who got an A-plus for elusiveness, also the same as last year, Achan and Christian McCaffrey.
21:13But one change that I'm thinking about what to talk about here.
21:18It stood out for me just for the straight ahead speed stuff.
21:22He changed teams as well. Travis Etienne. Bumped him up from a B-plus to an A-minus.
21:28That's not like a massive upgrade. But it's also not really something I often find myself doing when I watch these film
21:36reviews for players who've been in the league. Like, he's 27.
21:40He's been in the league five years. Now, he didn't play his rookie year.
21:45So we've got film on him for four. But usually that's enough.
21:49You know, there aren't usually often a lot of revelations film-wise when you're watching a player that far along in his career.
21:57I guess I'm not busting down any doors just saying.
22:01You know, it seems obvious now that Travis Steve must have been playing hurt in 2024 when the mapmaker Cartavious Bigsby kind
22:08of took over that Jacksonville backfield in the later part of the year.
22:13But, yeah. Etienne was really good in his last year with the Jags, 2025.
22:18He was that team's best offensive player. He made things go.
22:22So, I grant you that it's still a little disappointing that he's not as physical as you might expect at 215 pounds.
22:30But as far as speed goes, I thought he was sharper than ever turning upfield and just dusting guys.
22:37He did break a few tackles here and there.
22:40Probably never going to be headed toward elite goal line status because he does have a tendency to bounce and to dance.
22:48But his speed was convincing in his walk year.
22:51And, of course, he's in New Orleans now. As we talked about on the show in July, Alvin Kamara decides to take another pay cut to stick around.
23:01Not great. As we say, there's always another running back.
23:05That's the NFL now. But when that other guy is a franchise icon, he can be a little harder to do away with.
23:13Etienne absolutely has it in him to be a space player and catch a bunch of passes.
23:19But what are you keeping Kamara around for if you're not reserving that for him?
23:25But anyway, I have Etienne RB19 right now. And I think, I guess, you know, I kind of think it's because of
23:32the speed plays that I saw this summer. On the power side of running back, the climber who climbed the most, Javante Williams.
23:41A long ago flag player. But as I said in the almanac, I don't really get to reach back in time and
23:49celebrate that because we missed that year. It took another year.
23:53But for me, Williams climbs to an A- in power.
23:56He ran mean last year. I don't believe for one second the Cowboys knew what they had when they gave Miles Sanders
24:04basically the same free agent contract they gave to Williams.
24:08And they drafted Jaden Blue and Phil Moffa. But I give him credit for coming to the realization pretty quick.
24:15Now, Javante isn't pretty quick. He doesn't really make that many people miss.
24:19But he sure does like to give horsey rides.
24:23This was a pile moving running back last year and a tackle breaker.
24:27I remember this long run that I wrote about in the almanac for his profile.
24:33It was against the Jets. I think I had probably forgotten about it until I was writing his profile.
24:40He had a defensive tackle around his legs, both arms.
24:43And he just kicked himself free from this monster.
24:46And there was nobody else. And it was off to the races.
24:51Although, notably, he didn't actually score. I think it gained like over 60 yards.
24:56But he got run down. Nobody has a backfield to himself.
25:00Let's stop thinking that. Malik Davis will probably annoy you at times.
25:04But, I mean, give me Javante in the fourth, I would be thrilled.
25:09In the third, I would probably do it. I might not be as thrilled.
25:14But, like, close in touchdown thumper. Good physical player.
25:17A- power. I can see myself doing it. You want a big climber?
25:22Now, I know his foot is partially detached from his body.
25:25I'm glad we got that piece of stupidity over here early in the offseason.
25:30Let's talk about Rome Odunze. I bumped him in elusiveness among wide receivers from a B- to an A-.
25:37I know. The foot doesn't feel right. Everybody panic.
25:41Except, as I told you he would, Odunze just laughed at everybody.
25:45Because they took his awkward turn of phrase about how his foot felt not so great at the end of last year, you know, into the offseason.
25:55And they turned it into, this is a disaster.
25:58All I know is that before footgate really became a thing, Andy Behrens and I undertook a deep dive into Odunze's second year tape.
26:06And yes, late in the year, played like a hurt guy.
26:10No question. But before that, really good. His stop start.
26:14He's six foot three. He is agile for six foot three.
26:18I said it on the film Futures with Andy.
26:21There were times before the injury, I thought he looked like Nico Collins.
26:26There are double moves. He's probably not the same kind of quick as Luther Burden.
26:31I also gave Burden an A- in this category, the elusiveness category.
26:35But it is different. Burden is much more your electric runner, the water bug type.
26:41And Odunze isn't that, but he's just smoother and more polished and more deliberate.
26:46But still, dang. I did not expect to find him as quick out of breaks as I did when we rewatched that film.
26:54And he probably could have had a bigger year even before the foot bugged him last year.
27:00But Caleb Williams is just really inconsistent. Anyway, I don't know anything really about ADP right now.
27:06But certainly, folks in my orbit have been telling me that Luther Burden seems likely to go way higher than Rome Odunze.
27:14That is not how I have them ranked right now.
27:18As long as Odunze's foot stays attached, that's probably how I'm going to keep them.
27:23For the biggest hands jump into elite territory, I'm not going to go on and on about him.
27:30Pretty nice success story for the pod last year.
27:33Jackson Smith and Jigba was a B-plus in the hands department after his second year.
27:38And yeah, that was wrong. He's an A. He has to go do it again.
27:44You know, it's one year. Not a made man yet.
27:47But we're drafting him like he is. What a damn performance all around.
27:52That just includes innumerable wonderful hands grabs. Just all over the field.
27:56Fantastic work. One official drop all season. It was a bad one.
28:01It was in December against the Colts. It was a shallow cross where he might have scored an 80-yard touchdown.
28:08Would have liked that. It clanged off his hands.
28:11But he didn't do it any other time all year.
28:15What a season. Certainly, even though, yes, it's one year and things fell right for him.
28:20And defenses are absolutely going to be keying on him.
28:24No question. So, like all the other players, we still can get burned.
28:29But he's earned enough trust out of me to be the number two overall wide receiver on my board.
28:35Behind only Jamar Chase and a first round pick.
28:39If I'm selecting later in the first half of the first round.
28:43At tight end. My favorite position. Let's see. The two fastest tight ends in my eyes are Brock Bowers and Kyle Pitts.
28:51I think one of those is good. And the other not so much.
28:55I guess maybe a change I expected to make more so in the other direction.
29:01I dropped him a little bit on his routes.
29:04But only down to a B+. And I kept his speed rank at a C.
29:09Because we all know this is it. This is probably the end for Travis Kelsey.
29:15But he's still my tight end 11. And I'm going to admit.
29:19You know, I kind of went into watching that film thinking, Let's make him tight end 19.
29:25Let's give him a D for speed. He's not.
29:28He's a C. I would say-ish. Could be a C+.
29:32Even. And he's faster than like latter day Dallas Goddard.
29:36Or at least the version of Dallas Goddard. Who scored all those touchdowns but could barely run last year.
29:42He's faster than all of the lumbering Oves. Rookies accepted, of course.
29:47Who play tight end for the Steelers. And I downgraded him.
29:51I took him from a B+. From an A- down to a B+.
29:55In routes. But I still gave him a B+.
29:59Like I found that film to be kind of sneaky.
30:02He's not running past anybody. And he really wasn't making any big plays.
30:07But he's crafty. I, you know, he knows where to settle down.
30:11He pushes off a lot. He turns 37 in October.
30:15Quarterback coming off a torn ACL. I did come away from watching the Kelsey film feeling like, Okay, last year he did 76 for 851 and five touchdowns.
30:25He kind of did it in his sleep. I kind of think it's still possible.
30:30I don't think the ceiling is very high. But I did not expect to think the floor would be high.
30:37Kind of think it is. So anyway, fun for me to dive back into these grades.
30:43And remember what I changed and why. You can, of course, find all the profiles with all the film grades in the Almanac if you so desire.
30:53We are sponsored by Fantasy Cares. You know Fantasy Cares, even if you don't know, you know it.
30:59Because one of the major things Fantasy Cares does is the Scott Fishbowl.
31:04The big event that many of us did in July.
31:08You know that's all for charity. I'm thrilled to do it.
31:11Fantasy Cares is also more than the Fishbowl. You can add a charitable element to your league.
31:18Just donating one team's worth of entry fee from your league makes a big difference in being able to give to dozens of charities.
31:26Including, of course, Toys for Tots, which is one of Scott's true passions.
31:31And this time of year, Fantasy Cares has tons of other things going on too.
31:36You can still participate in varieties of the Fishbowl.
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31:43The Fantasy Cares Pick'em. There are giveaways. There's merch.
31:46You can learn about all this at FantasyCares.org. You can see if your own league would like to contribute to Fantasy Cares.
31:54And or you can find those fun games that you can play before the season starts.
32:00Check it all out. FantasyCares.org. Today's guest. And today's guest is our friend Ross Tucker.
32:05You can find him on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast.
32:09On which I guested. I guested today. We recorded it yesterday, but we don't need to tell the folks that.
32:16The magic of recording things. That's out right now.
32:19That was a fun segment that we did together.
32:22And now Ross is here. He also hosts the Even Money podcast.
32:26A little wagering. He also hosts the College Draft podcast.
32:30Because he has a lot of shows. Which is why he is a very, very busy man.
32:36And of course, you may know, he also helps cover the Eagles in the preseason.
32:42And he covers, calls NFL games on CBS. He knows a lot.
32:46It's Ross Tucker. Hi, Ross. Christopher, what's up, man?
32:49Long time no talk. Yeah, man. I like how when we say hello beforehand, you're like, what's going on, Chris?
32:56And then we hit the button. You go, hi, Christopher.
33:00You know what? I've asked this before. I swear I go back and forth.
33:05Give me like the lowdown. Because I think it's interesting when someone's an adult.
33:10Give me the lowdown between Chris and Christopher. Christopher just sounds like we don't know each other.
33:16Because I'm so used to being called Chris. So when people, because most people on the show call me Chris.
33:23Or they call me Harris. You can call me Harris if you want.
33:28But you can also call me Christopher. It's fine.
33:31It doesn't matter. Well, it's funny because you're listed everywhere, Christopher.
33:35It's true. And even when we used to be at the Four Letter Network today, I think you used to say Christopher Harris.
33:43I can't remember. I did. At any rate, Chris is a lot easier.
33:48Yeah, man. I know. It's all good. So, all right.
33:52Well, we have you on every year to do this particular thing.
33:56Because it's a thing that you have professional experience with.
33:59You used to play offensive line in the NFL.
34:03And I don't mean to suggest that it's the only thing you know about the NFL.
34:08Because I just want to... I mean, we had you on the Yacht Club show.
34:14Me and Andy Behrens did back in the winter.
34:17It was an awesome show. If you haven't listened.
34:20Just one of my favorite that we did the entire winter.
34:24And we got a full appreciation for your story.
34:27You know, how you became a sports fan. How you became interested both in playing and announcing games.
34:34And, you know, the audience knows this. So, this is going to sound like I'm fluffing you up a little bit.
34:41But I talk about you a lot on the show as the games go by.
34:47Because you are truly very, very good at the job of being an analyst.
34:52Like an in-game analyst. Processing what you see in real time.
34:56And being able to say it in an interesting way.
34:59Is not something I take for granted. I watch all the stupid games.
35:04And not that many people do it. So, I just want you to know that I don't consider you only an O-line guy.
35:12Even though that's what we're going to talk about here.
35:16Well, you say that every time. And I mean this in all sincerity.
35:21It means a lot. It really does. Because, you know, there aren't that many people like you.
35:27That actually go through and watch all of the games.
35:30But I know several that do. Probably a mutual friend of ours.
35:35I'm sure you know him. Greg Rosenthal. For sure.
35:38Who does the NFL Daily Podcast for NFL.com. I've known Greg for a long time.
35:43He goes through and watches all the games. And there are others as well.
35:48And it's really humbling and really cool. That the people that actually watch all the games.
35:54Are the ones typically that reach out and say.
35:57No, you don't understand man. I'm not just saying this to you because I know you.
36:03Or because you're on the show. I watch all the games.
36:07And you are really good. So, I take that as the ultimate compliment.
36:12By the people that I know are watching. Like it's great when one person.
36:17Says, I thought you did a great job. And it's, you know.
36:21There's always going to be people that say. One person says, I didn't like you.
36:26Whatever. That doesn't matter. It's when you know someone really.
36:30Is taking in that large of a sample size.
36:33Right. And that I still stand out to them positively.
36:37And you know football. And you're really into it.
36:40That really means a lot. So, I appreciate you saying it.
36:44Feel free to say it like five or ten more times.
36:48During today's episode. Feel free to tell everybody you know.
36:51That's my running line. When someone says, dude, you're really good.
36:55I really like you. I'm like, thanks man. Tell everybody you know.
37:00Tell everybody you know. Tell the CBS exec. I hear there's maybe a vacancy at CBS.
37:05So, I'm not going to talk about that with you right now.
37:10Let's talk offensive lines. You nominate. Every year you come on.
37:14You nominate six interesting offensive lines. Sometimes for the good, interesting.
37:18Sometimes for the bad, interesting. And we kind of just walk through them.
37:22We'll get to them as fast as we can here.
37:26So, we can get to all of them. And maybe talk through the implications.
37:31I know just because you're very close to the Philly situation.
37:35And you do call their preseason games. You want to talk about the Eagles offensive line.
37:41Which was very banged up last year. But there are questions about whether it was just about injury last season.
37:48Exactly. And I think anybody listening can Google offensive line rankings.
37:52And there are people out there that have them.
37:55You know, Warren Sharp or PFF or whoever. Right?
37:58Go ahead and you can find rankings. What I think is a little bit more interesting from my perspective.
38:05is to try to provide some context of where teams might be ranked.
38:10Or where people perceive that they are. And why I think there's actually a decent amount of variance.
38:16For where they could be. Or try to provide context for what the range of outcomes is.
38:22So, I picked six teams, Chris, that for various reasons, I have my eye on.
38:28Because there's a wide range of outcomes for just how good they're going to be this year as a unit.
38:35And by the way, just as an aside, I think we've talked about this before.
38:40You're really only as good as your weakest link as an offensive line.
38:45And I say this to people all the time.
38:48I would rather have five average offensive linemen than have three all pros and two below average.
38:54Because there's really not that much the all pros can do to help the two below average guys.
39:01And what do you think the defense are going to do?
39:05They're going to hunt up those two below average guys.
39:08And they're going to get after them. And yes, you can try to help them and you can slide to them and all those things.
39:17But it's more important that you're not bad than it is that you're really good as individual across the line, if that makes sense.
39:26So, with that context, let's start with the Eagles because they do have a lot of really good players.
39:33And they have for years. And they're typically at the top of all of these O-line rankings.
39:39And I would submit to you, based on how they played last year, they probably don't deserve to be ranked as high as they are.
39:48Sure. You know, if you looked at just how they performed pass protection, how they performed in the run game last year,
39:56you would say, okay, that was not a top five offensive line.
40:00But yet, you see all the O-line rankings out there and they're in the top five of all of them, or at least most of them.
40:09Yeah, I see what you're saying. Yeah, and probably deservingly so.
40:13And so, the two areas that you really need to think about, their center, Cam Juergens and left guard, Landon Dickerson, both
40:21fought through really bad injuries to play in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
40:26As a result, they had off-season surgery. And so, they were rehabbing all off-season.
40:31And then, Chris, they both got hurt again during the season.
40:35Landon Dickerson got hurt during training camp and had a second surgery before the season started and was basically fighting through that,
40:43you know, and trying to recover from that all year.
40:46And then Cam Juergens had a second injury. I don't believe he had to have it operated on, but he missed, like,
40:54the Packers games and others with his injury during the season.
40:58So, both these guys suffered multiple injuries. It affected their performance.
41:02And notable for touchdown scoring, it affected the tush push because Landon Dickerson is the number one driver of it.
41:09Both those guys reportedly went to Columbia to get stem cell treatment.
41:14So, they've been practicing thus far. It looks like they're a lot healthier than they were last year.
41:20But between those two guys and Lane Johnson missing the second half of the season with plantar fasciitis, I mean, you had a bunch of injuries.
41:30Three of their top five offensive linemen either weren't playing at all or were dealing with a number of ailments.
41:37So, you would think, number one, that they'll be better just based on those guys being healthier.
41:43But then with the new offense, the new offense is much more offensive line friendly.
41:48In the past, you know, there was not a ton of play action.
41:53They had a lot of straight drop back passing where the offensive tackles were on islands.
41:59If you listen to Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, they are absolutely raving about the ability to have help as pass protectors
42:07and to run more play action, which is a lot easier pass protection for an offensive line than is straight drop back.
42:14So, I would say the combo of injuries and the new, more offensive line friendly offensive scheme under new coordinator Sean Mannion
42:22really gives the Eagles a high, high ceiling and probably a high floor for just how good they could be.
42:30I mean, they could get back to being theoretically that 2024 line where I thought they were clearly by far the best offensive line in the NFL.
42:39Yeah, I mean, it would be great news for Saquon.
42:43But let's talk about the Chargers because they obviously became a wasteland after week four last year.
42:49They lose both starting tackles. Now both guys are back?
42:52Question mark? Question mark? Like, I don't love seeing that Joe Alt still wasn't ready to partake fully in training camp to
43:00start, but I assume they better have an answer.
43:04They better have Slater in already. Well, there's actually a lot of similarities between everything I just said about the Eagles and the Chargers.
43:12They also have a new offensive scheme and system with Mike McDaniel, which is, you know, the Shanahan-McVay tree, which is more offensive line friendly.
43:21They also have, you know, their two best offensive linemen coming off of major injuries and Slater at left tackle, Alt at right tackle.
43:30What I find interesting in particular about the Chargers offensive line is the interior.
43:35You know, I don't love question marks, Chris. A lot of question marks.
43:39How does Slater come back from the health injury?
43:43How does Alt come back from the injury? Then, Biotish finished the year with an injury in Washington.
43:49He'll be their center. Jake Slaughter at left guard played center at Florida.
43:54As a guy that played both, left guard is significantly harder than center from a pass protection standpoint.
44:00Is Jake Slaughter going to be ready to roll as a pass blocker at left guard?
44:06And then Cole Strange, you know, it didn't really work out for him in New England.
44:12He did some positive things last year. Yeah, he did some positive things last year with Mike McDaniel in Miami, but there
44:20are legitimate questions at all five spots. spots. It might work out really well.
44:25Sometimes it does, but I prefer lines that are going into a season with as few question marks as possible, whereas there
44:33are five legitimate question marks across the board for that Chargers offensive line.
44:37We are sponsored by Raycon. I am wearing my Raycon open earbuds to record this show.
44:43I'm talking to Ross with the open earbuds in my ears right now.
44:48I wear earbuds a lot. The open earbuds, they sit just outside your ear canal, so the sound is really great, but
44:56I can also hear what's happening around me. So like if you run or ride a bike outside, it's way safer than plugging up the ear canal.
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45:51We are back with Ross and we are talking about some offensive lines with some high variability, some upside, but some scary downside.
45:59Who do you want to talk about next, Ross?
46:02Let's do Carolina because, you know, they've obviously been the subject of a lot of conversation already this season because of the
46:10injuries really everywhere but in particular on the offensive line.
46:14The tackles. Yeah, so they'll probably be fine in the interior, not really worried about them, but at the tackles, you know,
46:22Taylor Moten with these blood clots, they say it's going to go into the season.
46:27Nobody seems to really know how long it will go into the season.
46:32They did sign Rashid Walker because they knew Iquanu was coming off of the injury.
46:37I thought it was, you know, a little surprising how tepid the market was for Rashid Walker.
46:43So, at least to start the year, they'll have Rashid Walker and it appears the rookie Monroe Freeling at right tackle.
46:51I thought their offensive line was a strength last year.
46:54That was a positive, especially in the run game.
46:58I don't know that that's going to be the case because both those guys, you know, Freeling obviously being not only a
47:06rookie but a young rookie, Walker in a new system, those are just guys to keep an eye on.
47:12Obviously not the way the Panthers were hoping to draw it up.
47:17I think that they felt like Moten was locked in and then maybe Freeling and Walker could compete for that left tackle job.
47:25Instead, they both have to play. And then, by the way, that always means one of those guys goes down, then you're
47:33going to essentially your fifth tackle and that's a guy that the Panthers never were expecting to play.
47:39Yeah, so the left tackle, Aquano, he hurt himself in the playoffs, right?
47:44He ruptured patellar tendon. Am I right about that?
47:47Yeah, so they knew he was going to be out.
47:51Right. So this is a, he's a good, good player.
47:54I don't think people realize what a good left tackle he is and that's, that's a big loss.
48:01When you think about that Carolina running game and Rico Dowdle moves on and, like, I, you know, I have a history
48:09with Chuba Hubbard where I really wanted him to be good last year.
48:13He got hurt himself and wasn't good. Is this, is this a siren for you for fantasy purposes to go, okay, don't,
48:21don't get too aggressive with the likes of Chuba Hubbard and, you know, Jonathan Brooks himself coming back from major injury?
48:29Well, yeah, especially because with both those guys and ETN, I, it feels like they're going to spread the wealth there too.
48:37Um, I think, you know, the reports indicate people I've talked to that they really do want to lean on the run
48:45game to protect the tackles, to protect Bryce Young.
48:48Uh, I don't know that they love their receiving core.
48:51So, I think that all those guys are going to get touches and you're more the expert on this than me, but it feels like it's anybody's guess.
49:01I mean, obviously Hubbard's, uh, in the lead, but it's anybody's guess just how they divvy up those touches ultimately.
49:09Yeah. I mean, I've, I've said it already said it twice on the show today.
49:14Like there's no such thing as a running back who gets everything anymore.
49:19So you're really looking for a good player who's got the lead and maybe Hubbard can be that, but I said that last year.
49:27And you're right though, like better for the running game that, you know, better have a good interior line than, than tackles
49:35because you can protect the tackles with the running game.
49:39As you said, it's, it is a good point.
49:42Um, the Ravens offense that, that line last year, I mean that entire offense last year just got decimated.
49:49I guess we could argue the entire team got decimated because the defense was a mess by the end of the season too.
49:57Lamar was hurt. Only guy who wasn't hurt was 89 year old Derrick Henry.
50:02Isn't, isn't, isn't 33. Isn't that really old? Wow.
50:0533. Wow. He's ancient compared to you and me, Ross.
50:09Um, how are you feeling about the Ravens effort to reconstruct that offensive line?
50:14Well, I'll just say this about Derrick Henry. Uh, he is a unicorn.
50:19I mean, if you go back and see the usage in high school and college and for him to still be playing
50:27at this level, at that size, I would have never thought this was possible.
50:32I, I've been telling people to sell Derrick Henry for like four or five years.
50:37So I'm the wrong guy. I just thought the amount of punishment he's taken, the wear and tear, the usage, the size.
50:45And yet, I mean, he just keeps doing it.
50:48The guy eats like one meal and it's like 10 chicken breasts at eight o'clock at night.
50:54I don't know whatever he's doing. It's incredible, but the offensive line, they have a new offense as well with Declan Doyle.
51:02So you're going to see a lot of more under center from them.
51:07Stop me if you heard this before. More under center, more play action, blah, blah, blah.
51:12But they've totally revamped the interior of the offensive line.
51:16You know, Ethan Posich should be the center. He's coming off a major injury.
51:21And then they brought back Simpson, who had been there and then went to the Jets.
51:27They took Vega Ione in the first round out of Penn State.
51:31So, you know, I'm a big believer in continuity and chemistry up front.
51:36So, when you've got a line that is three new guys, I only played left guard at Penn State.
51:43Seems like they're going to have them play right in Baltimore.
51:47You know, I don't know that that's been determined yet, but there's just, there's, again, those question marks.
51:53And if they get answered in the affirmative, then that's a great sign and that, you know, they'll probably have a pretty good line.
52:02But, I have question marks for every one of the interior guys.
52:06And so, not just individually question marks, but then them working together collectively, there's a lot that needs to be worked out there.
52:14Is Ronnie Stanley still, you know, people, I mean, he's been around a long time and he's been a prototype left tackle for a long time also.
52:24He's also going to be 33 coming up. Is he still elite?
52:28I didn't think either one of their tackles played as well as I anticipated them playing last year.
52:35I would say that with both Ronnie and Rosengarten.
52:38I mean, they're fine, but I think there was some thought that maybe those guys would be one of the better combos in the NFL.
52:47I did not think that they performed to that level, either side.
52:51Who do you want to talk about next? Let's go, the last two teams I want to talk about are the Titans and the Browns.
53:00I think the Titans are fascinating because, you know, I have Greg Cosell, who I'm a big fan of, the 47-plus year
53:08veteran of NFL films, which is just incredible. He comes on my show every week, the Raw Soccer Football Podcast, twice a
53:16week, by the way, during the season, so we get through all the games.
53:21And he was down, this is super important, he was down at Titans minicamp, I don't know if he's been at training
53:29camp yet, but they specifically brought in Austin Schlottman to play center because the offensive coordinator, Brian Daybolt, had him with the
53:37Giants, trusts Schlottman, knows that Schlottman knows his offense, and is a smart guy.
53:42But what Greg said, Chris, is that they want to go up-tempo.
53:46They want to go up-tempo, and to go up-tempo, you have to have a center that really sees it, can get the
53:54guys lined up quick, make the call, and go.
53:57So this isn't just an offensive line observation, this is a, for any fantasy guys on the Titans, we like volume, we
54:05like up-tempo, we like a lot of snaps, we like moving fast.
54:09So I feel like that's notable for Cam Ward and Pollard and Carnell Tate and anybody you want to throw in there,
54:17and I thought that would be a good nugget for your listeners, Chris, is that the expectation is that the Titans are
54:25going to try to really something to watch because guys like Volson at right guard, Schlottman at center, you know, these are
54:33guys that are not considered even average starters in the NFL and yet the Titans have them currently pegged to be next to each other up front.
54:43Nothing like going fast when you stink. You know, that's actually a really good point.
54:48I'm not going to say the Titans stink. What I will say is that, you know, they're obviously not favored to win
54:56a lot of games and are projected to win a lot of games.
55:01You typically when you feel that way, you want to shorten the game.
55:05You want to milk clock. You want to take longer on the clock, but they have their reasons and they clearly feel
55:13like with Cam Ward and with their skill guys that they might be best suited to an up-tempo offense because evidently, unless
55:21they're lying to Greg, that's the plan. Right. I mean, first of all, everybody kind of says that in August and then
55:29you get hit in the mouth and you go, oh, I guess we can't go fast.
55:35And I didn't really mean nothing like going up-tempo when the team stinks.
55:40I meant like you think these two new guys with the Titans Schlottman and Volsen are like not, they haven't been good players in the league yet.
55:49And so it's scary a little bit to go up-tempo with players, offensive linemen who aren't good.
55:55But then again, they might be better than we think and they might coach them up.
56:01And I just, everybody listening knows this. I mean, I want Titans.
56:05I want Dolphins. I want Jets. I want Raiders, whatever, whoever the Cardinals, like I'll draft those, not early, but like in
56:13a fantasy draft, those guys will get ignored. The good players on those teams will get ignored because everybody will decide they're
56:21bad and then we get to the season and half of them will turn out to be pretty good and the Titans
56:29might be one of them and it might be for exactly the reason you're talking about.
56:35Plenty of examples of teams that turn it around from year to year.
56:39Lastly, the Browns. I think we even talked about the Browns on the show when you came on last year and we
56:47talked about well, you know, they're trying it again.
56:51It's the same old guys who we all know the names of and they're going to see if they can make it
56:58work despite the fact they all get injured. It clearly did not work.
57:03They have finally decided to blow it up. What do you think?
57:07this is the grand experiment. I can't remember another team doing this where they essentially moved on from all five starting offensive
57:15linemen and it's more or less an entirely new group.
57:19I know Tevin Jenkins was on the team last year and got some playing time but he wasn't.
57:25Wyatt Teller was the right guard. It wasn't Tevin Jenkins.
57:29So to draft Spencer Fano to bring in Zion Johnson, Elton Jenkins, Titus Howard.
57:34By the way, all those guys have done some good things in the league and there's a very real chance that the Browns offensive line performs well.
57:44We just haven't seen this. We just haven't seen a team start free agency with zero offensive linemen, zero starting offensive linemen
57:52and yet that is the tactic that this Browns team is taking.
57:56I can't wait to see it. I think continuity and chemistry really matter.
58:01They're kind of going the other way and maybe these guys can build it together.
58:06The good news is most of them have played a decent amount of football so it's not like it's three or four
58:14rookies up there but I think it's going to be wildly entertaining to see how well this Browns offensive line can play
58:22especially early given all the new guys kind of all being thrown together at once.
58:27And I got to be honest like I don't know Spencer Feneau from a hole in the ground he's probably good he
58:35got taken really high in the draft cool he's a rookie but I've seen enough Zion Johnson in my life I've seen
58:43enough Titus Howard in my life to be honest you're right they've done some good things but like the Chargers were desperate
58:51for offensive line help and Zion Johnson was there and part of the reason they were desperate for help is because he
58:59stunk so I'm scared I mean I know stunk is too harsh and these things are on a great I'm saying it
59:07for a fact but you know if you're if you're assembling a team of the Avengers and two or three of them
59:15are you know your your door dash representative I suspect that there might be some hiccups let's put it that way well
59:22yes the question especially early and that's the case for a lot of these lines the question is how quickly do they
59:30gel the guys come back from injury the guys on new teams the guys in new offenses that's kind of the you
59:38know the billion dollar question is how quickly these lines gel throughout the year how are they playing in December is what
59:46really matters for both fantasy football and and for real football for sure and like Elton Jenkins has always been a pretty
59:54good player you know I think the Packers probably would have liked to hang on to him I'm not down on every
60:02single member of that offensive line I don't know about as much about them I know what gets said about them but
60:10I'm not really a great evaluator of technique so I will admit it's possible that Titus Howard's better than I know and
60:18the Texans kind of just couldn't figure him out I gotta say I'm a little skeptical about Zion Johnson but we'll see
60:26excellent well good good conversation about these high variability offensive lines thank you so much for coming on Ross if you'd like
60:33to hear Ross every day he does a podcast like we do a podcast every day it's Ross Tucker football and like
60:41like Ross mentioned Greg Cosell who's amazing comes on every week twice during the season there's also the even money podcast if
60:49you'd like some handicapping tips there's the college draft podcast that keeps track of the prospects as they're working their way through
60:57the college football season and into the draft area you're a busy man I appreciate you taking the time every year to
61:05come on the show and really appreciate your insight it is my pleasure Chris thank you so much for having me I'm
61:13honored that you have me on every year I'm humbled always by your kind words about me as a broadcaster fired up
61:21for this year and very thankful that you came on the Ross Tucker football podcast today because I don't have a fantasy
61:29show anymore so I needed your I need your 30 thousand foot view overview that was awesome very well received truly appreciate
61:37it and thank you so much for listening it was very fun to be on Ross's show as well and so happy
61:45to have him here let me thank the three sponsors that made today's show possible we had hungry root we had fantasy
61:52cares and we had Raycon if you were interested in what I had to say about any of today's sponsors you can
62:00find their information in today's show notes all the current sponsors are always listed at harrisfootball.com when you pick out a sponsor
62:08and use the codes and stuff that lets them know that supporting the show works and that's how this whole thing keeps
62:16going I'm always in awe of how well you support the sponsors I appreciate it so much that will do it for
62:24this episode here on a Tuesday coming up on Wednesday for those in the yacht club Andy Barron's on his new slash
62:32old day Wednesday mornings we'll have Andy on we're going to talk about some players who might lose their jobs and then
62:40we'll all meet back here on Thursday on the main show my guest will be JJ Zacharisen we're going to do some
62:48film room heroes just players we like watching film on and maybe that'll translate to fantasy but doesn't have to just guys
62:56we like basically we're going to talk about that with JJ that's going to be a blast if you'd like to get
63:04bribed if you'd like to get entered to be bribed on Friday you can go get a copy of the book a
63:11link is in the show notes you can also get an almanac you can also just take it easy and that's all
63:19great too I appreciate you listening so very much until then thanks again so much for listening your hat is awesome you're
63:27awesome for wearing it I will talk to you next time the Harris football podcast opening theme is under the gun by
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