Week 3 Matchups + Packers in Peril, Wheel of Shame! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/25

9:44Andy Holloway:over the injury and it will be limited i hate that that sounds so nonsense but it's like okay imagine you got your finger stuck in someone's jersey and then it just like dislocated or

9:56Mike Wright:something yeah us mortals we would be out we'd call out of work for two weeks yeah didn't i break your like half break your thumb football and you were done for the

10:05Jason Moore:year yeah I was out you were out I do think fingers are pretty important for wide receivers to catch I'm just saying

10:11Andy Holloway:we we joke about it we're like but that that's not great there's concern he may

10:15Mike Wright:not be able to play so just more targets for Garrett Wilson yeah Tajay Spears did not practice Tony Pollard returned to practice Rico Dowdle did not practice Sam Darnold was upgraded to a full practice for the Seahawks all right and then we do have injuries to catch you up on, we'll handle them and tackle them during the forecast. So let's jump right in.

10:41Jason Moore:Fantasy Forecast, presented by PrizePix.

10:47Mike Wright:Yesterday we covered the Chargers, Bills, Panthers, Browns, Jets, Lions, Texans, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Titans, Giants, Bengals, Steelers, Seahawks, Commanders. So if you want to hear those, you can listen to yesterday's episode. We got seven more matchups to talk through, starting with the New England Patriots. Back to one-on-one, taking on the one-on-one Jacksonville Jaguars. This game's in Jacksonville, the Vegas line. This is an interesting one. Jacksonville, minus three. The over-under is 45 and a half. Yeah, I don't know what you guys did with your little, like the pool picks here in the office.

11:18Mike Wright:This one was a troubling, difficult one for me.

11:22Andy Holloway:The first thing I did was look at the Atlanta Falcons versus the Green Bay Packers, and I was like, come on. Come on, 13 straight home openers? Come on. That's how many they had won? Yeah. Oh, I didn't know that. And I was like, Atlanta, there's no way. They're going to screw this up, but I'm going to pick the Packers anyways. So that's how I've started.

11:43Mike Wright:Yeah, well, look, this game, this one's interesting to me. New England's defense got it together last week. Drake May has not been a fantasy force thus far. Trevor Lawrence slowed down by Denver last week. How do you feel about the two ball throwers in this one?

12:00Jason Moore:man I know about Trevor Lawrence that's exactly what I was just gonna say even though it's the tougher matchup I would prefer to play Trevor Lawrence over Drake May we just haven't seen much good from Drake May since he lost his wide receivers I mean that's that's a a difficult thing to try to do when you're you know you you lost Diggs you lost booty and then you replaced him with AJ Brown who you lost Drake May is still a very good uh quarterback I I looked at his uh prize picks projection and almost went with it because it's you know to me it was like against jacksonville you should do it what is it um i'll look it up real quick that was this

12:40Andy Holloway:morning when i was looking last all right well how nasty are you willing to get with the quarterback position versus drake may like are we saying geno smith against the detroit lions man that is that

12:54Jason Moore:That is nasty.

12:55Andy Holloway:Kyler Murray against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

12:57Jason Moore:Kyler is interesting to me.

13:00Andy Holloway:I currently have Geno projected ahead of Drake May.

13:03Mike Wright:There's no way I would try Kyler. The only plays we saw from Kyler were garbage. Then he got hurt.

13:09Andy Holloway:Okay, so you're not going, what about Geno?

13:11Mike Wright:I don't think I would, I think I'd stick with Drake May.

13:15Jason Moore:I would as well. The players that I would play over May would be kind of those love affairs we've talked about recently, Shuck and Bryce Young, where it's like you might have picked them up off of waivers, still be rostering Drake May.

13:29Andy Holloway:Brock Purdy for sure. Oh, Brock Purdy for sure. What about Stafford against Denver?

13:34Jason Moore:Man. Is it in Denver? No, I play May. Yeah, I'm going to play.

13:42Andy Holloway:Oh, man.

13:43Mike Wright:Travo and Ramondre. Last week, Ramondre had the fumble, so he saw his snaps cut down to 36%. Travo had the big play. but was held in check outside of that. Which of the two would you rather start this week, Mike?

14:00Andy Holloway:Dude, it's impossible. It would have been Ramondre last week, but he fumbled. This is part of the – it's just a huge problem. You don't know when it will actually be Travion Henderson, at least for now with the current information. You know what sucks is that – I guess I would play Ramondre.

14:18Mike Wright:So Travion had 60 % of snaps last week. How many targets do you think he has? Not enough. Zero is not enough. Zero targets, zero receptions. That's the part of, like, how do you put Travion in a position where he can succeed? You know, he's the only one that can give you a special run, but he had 16 carries last week. How do you not give him a couple of screens when you don't have wide receivers?

14:44Jason Moore:I think they will. I think they'll get him more and more involved. This was his first game back, and they were up by so much in that game where I think it would have been different if it was a different game script. I did look up the Drake May projection here. 216.5 passing yards. Yeah, I have him projected for around 250, and I'm like, oh, man. It's so tempting, but at the same time, he just has no one to throw the ball to because they won't put Trevo in the slot.

15:18Mike Wright:Bashal Tootin seems like he's the dude. Did you see in our League of Records Chris Rodriguez got dumped this morning? The decision has been made. Six opportunities in each of the last two weeks. Parker Washington seems like the dude. Are you starting another wide receiver, Jason, for Jacksonville?

15:33Jason Moore:I will say that I think a sneaky start is Brian Thomas Jr. in this matchup. you know when you've got a superstar corner which the Patriots do have I don't know necessarily they will use them in shadow coverage but oftentimes that lets a quality wide receiver to shine so this is a matchup where you know last year you could throw on quality wide receiver to yeah I think Brian Thomas Jr. is a quality wide receiver to you disagree he's been real bad man

16:05Andy Holloway:like he got eight targets last week he got three of them for 40 yards oh man that sounds like

16:11Mike Wright:metcalf anytime anytime a receiver catches a low percentage of their targets that's calling

16:17Andy Holloway:that's calling in a metcalf if we're and so if we want to do that algebra the way i feel about dk

16:23Mike Wright:metcalf i'm kind of more on jason's side with this one i think that btj might be a little bit sneaky here it's a 45 and a half point over under i don't know where christian rodriguez is gonna end up you know lining up it might be on the outside it might be on btj more than the guy that they move around the formation a lot in parker but i i wouldn't be surprised if uh if he saw eight targets again i'm not messing around with patriots wideouts i don't know how to predict that right now dobbs and matt collins and douglas and hunter henry um it would be dobbs i guess if there was one to choose last week bounce back for three catches 96 yards yeah only four targets the

17:02Andy Holloway:His snaps still remain low, but his A-dot is – like he's got – if he comes down with one, it's going to be a big play. What's his A-dog? Does he have it in him? I think Romeo Dobbs has dog.

17:15Mike Wright:I feel like if he did, you would have called him Romeo Dog. No? I don't know.

17:21Jason Moore:At least dogs.

17:23Mike Wright:Arizona 101, San Francisco 2-0, Vegas line here. San Francisco minus 8.5 over under 47.5. I'm so excited because I almost brought it up a minute ago because you were talking about different quarterbacks with Drake May, and I was going to say, obviously, Brock Purdy, right? I think I did say that. Yes. But I wanted to bring up the fact that you talk about perfect storms forming. Oh, man. We talked about Carolina and Bryce Young and the fact that the substation is taking names. Six defensive linemen in two weeks have gone down for the 49ers. The latest news this morning, we don't report a lot of defensive news.

17:59Mike Wright:but Nick Bosa injured, multiple week absence, could be longer. The 49ers are being – their defense is being stripped bare. I mean their offense as well. But they're getting to the point now where you're like, could you see Arizona putting up points in San Francisco? I don't know. It seems 50-50 with Brissette and whether the offense works week to week. But not having Nick Bosa, not having the pass rush we saw from Seattle last week.

18:27Andy Holloway:certainly better for the cardinals i mean you you're just getting to the point where like san francisco and brock purdy like brock purdy is looking more like the long-term every week answer at quarterback for fantasy football players brock purdy is he's a plug and play to me at this point uh i don't i don't see any reason to move off would you rather have him or shuck rest the

18:49Mike Wright:season locked into your lineup brock purdy yeah because i know like every again everything with

18:54Andy Holloway:shuck is just it's a brewing excitement it's a what could be rock that brock purdy is the guy like brock purdy is is so fantastic of he is like a one of one that his touchdown rate jason you brought it up yesterday i think of he just he throws his touchdown percentages it's over seven and you go yeah that's not regressing that's just who brock purdy is at this point uh for the The Cardinals, I don't think they mentioned that Jacoby Brissett got hurt or was dealing with something in the game. They didn't say anything specific because I don't remember. He looked awful.

19:32Mike Wright:Yeah, I think he was dealing with the pass rush. I think that was the biggest thing.

19:35Jason Moore:I feel like something was wrong with him. I think they talked about his quad on the broadcast.

19:38Andy Holloway:Yeah, I thought it was a quad issue, which I haven't seen anything about it, but I think that that should be a concern of McBride is in, absolutely. and then after that, I mean, what are you doing with it? So Jeremiah Love.

19:55Jason Moore:We're still frustrated there. I mean, this is the issue with a rookie who is highly drafted in fantasy when you take him at that 2-3 turn at the beginning of the year because we're still seeing, like last week, Tyler Algier was 64 % of snaps, and Love is not getting enough of the work. I fully expect that to change. As the season goes on, Love will usurp him and take over and become the leader. He's freaking better if you spin a top five pick on him. Yeah, I mean, it was Seattle last week.

20:26Mike Wright:I mean, and he's coming back from a high ankle sprain. I was going to ask the question, is he a buy low? Because to me, he's a huge buy low opportunity.

20:32Andy Holloway:He definitely should be. And just for some context of where the market feels about Jeremiah Love, the prize picks projection for McCaffrey for yards from scrimmage, so rush receiving, just under 100 yards. That, yeah, that makes sense. McCaffrey. Jeremiah Love's down to 58 and a half for a combined rushing and receiving.

20:53Jason Moore:Yeah, you're going to have to call your shot as to which week he takes over the job, or at least usurps him to become the leader of the job. I think it could be this week with the hurting defensive line, the divisional game, and now we're three weeks removed from that ankle injury. It could be now. Do we?

21:12Andy Holloway:We're two weeks in. it's hard to make real assessments like that. You think Tyler Algier is just going to go away?

21:20Jason Moore:No, I don't think Tyler Algier is ever going to go away.

21:22Andy Holloway:Or like go away enough to a point where Jeremiah Love can – I think that – Or is Jeremiah Love going to – does it going to feel like Janarian Price at the end of the year?

21:30Jason Moore:No, I don't think so. I think that Algier will never go away. He will be involved, and unfortunately, he'll probably be involved near the goal line. However, I expect that Jeremiah Love will get to 60 % of the opportunities, the work, and that I think will be enough.

21:49Mike Wright:It's going to feel a lot like Bijan and Tyler Algier.

21:51Jason Moore:Exactly right. And Bijan got off to a slow start his rookie year, but was still very good by the end for fantasy.

21:58Mike Wright:And we haven't had that kind of iconic Jeremiah Love play yet. We're going to have one or two or ten. Like he's going to have the breakaway run, the Bijan type of run. So I do think it's a buy low opportunity. opportunity you're not you know you can't go in with absolute confidence right now which is why it's a buy low opportunity somebody might be willing to give him up for you know let me just give you a hypothetical chuba has a big week this week jeremiah love stays sub 40 snaps you know i think that's when you start to you're three weeks in somebody might decide jeremiah loves not happening and that chuba is just something to bring up if you have three straight top 12 weeks from Chuba, I'd still be willing to trade him away for Jeremiah Love.

22:40Mike Wright:Okay.

22:41Jason Moore:Oh, yeah. I would as well. Also, update on the Brissette. He's been a full participant Wednesday and Thursday at practice, but he is listed on the injury report with a hip injury.

22:51Andy Holloway:Okay. Debo is in. Yeah, start of the week. Your start of the week. He's the last man standing. And then George Kittle, the snaps still aren't there, but four for 80 and a touchdown last week.

23:03Mike Wright:Yeah, I'd take the production of Kittle over the snaps of freaking Tucker Craft right now. Like, I'm going, these guys came back from ACLs. They're doing more. No, Kittle was Achilles. Sorry, they're doing more with less. You know what I mean? Like, Kittle, he comes in. They're like, hey, we're going to go to you. Yeah. I don't know. Kittle's awesome. Mike Evans, you are on Injury Watch. He did not practice on Thursday. He is a veteran. He's the type of guy that might not practice a lot and still play. is he in?

23:36Jason Moore:I think so. I think if he is, I think if he's active, I'm going to have him.

23:41Mike Wright:Josh Downs or Mike Evans?

23:45Andy Holloway:I'd go Mike Evans. If Mike Evans plays, I would play him. Oof. But that's, that's tough. And when, legit, when is management, you know, the substation is just like, it feels like a fun bit that we do on Twitter. At some point, At some point, they have to actually take it serious, right?

24:06Jason Moore:I mean, I don't think it's actually the substation. I think it's the way that they train, the way that their medical staff brings players back, the time. Like, there is something going on, for sure. They've literally been the leader in starter injuries for like six consecutive years.

24:22Mike Wright:But they've changed staffs over that time. That was one of the big headlines a few years ago.

24:26Jason Moore:I mean, maybe it's Shanahan, and you're not going to change it. And he forces people to get back. I don't know.

24:31Mike Wright:You're playing any Cardinal wideouts in this game? No. So play Trey McBride? Yep. Okay, we'll take a break. We'll get into some more matchups.

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26:24Mike Wright:The Minnesota Vikings at 2-0. Taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 0-2. Vegas line, Minnesota minus 1.5 on the road. Over-under is just 42.5 in this game. It's been overcoming adversity for Minnesota versus creating adversity for Baker Mayfield and the offense in Tampa Bay. A problem of my own design. And yet Tampa is favored in this game. The old consequences of my own actions. This is one of those games where if Tampa wins it, it's an it's a nightmare for minnesota because it means that kyla murray came out there didn't win the ball game and carson wince got them two dubs and i just think that that's not a great

27:09Jason Moore:story it's not a great look no that would be awful the first thing that went through my head when i saw the spread because honestly i think the vikings should be favored by more than a point and a half uh the their defense has been outrageously good and the buccaneers do not look like they have it together they they have lost a lot of games here since the second half of last year I mean they were they got Watson another start they got who the Buccaneers were so bad that Deshaun Watson will still be starting for the Cleveland yes exactly and so uh when I saw that line I was like is this just like Kyler Murray like it's like a hedge against Kyler just being terrible because I just don't see how the Buccaneers win this outside of Kyler being terrible well I I

27:52Mike Wright:I could see it. I mean, the low over-under, they seem to be angling towards a close, defensive-minded game. I wouldn't say any of us have been, like, super impressed with the Minnesota offense in the last two weeks. They've gotten some stuff done, but, I mean.

28:08Andy Holloway:They're part of the Bears, though, of the, like, week one, their offense in the second half was awesome. And week two, you have to throw it in the garbage because of the storm.

28:17Mike Wright:Yeah, I mean, it still was Carson Wentz, and we haven't seen Kyler. So, you know, we're not playing Addison. We're not playing Hawkinson. We might not be playing a running back on this team this week. That's another factor, right? Like if Aaron Jones, he is limited and he's supposed to be back. But that is a factor in the way that this offense is going to be able to function if it's, you know.

28:38Andy Holloway:That could be a bigger portion of why the favor is so low.

28:42Mike Wright:I think I misspoke and said Tampa was favored by one and a half, by the way. Jason, you corrected me. Minnesota minus one and a half, but it's close. the abuka situation he is at price picks has him at 48 and a half receiving yards he's only got a 17 target share on the year where are you what's the headspace for emeka abuka is he a buy low is he a i'm scared after the second half of last year is this a baker needs to prove it before i believe

29:08Andy Holloway:what what is the situation there uh i am very concerned about it about how they are spreading the ball around. I just wanted to double check. So, yeah. So 17-18 % for Emeka. As far as target share. Disgusting. You know who's got 17 % target share on that offense? Kate Auten? It's me! Yeah! Ted Hurst? 17 %!

29:30Mike Wright:Oh my gosh.

29:31Andy Holloway:If only we could fly!

29:34Mike Wright:Like, they can't fly.

29:36Andy Holloway:That's why I'm concerned. Ted Hurst out here. Ted, Fred Durst Hurst. Pulling in a 17 % target share out the

29:43Mike Wright:gate is he is he tad fredershurst or is he i don't know is he fred hurst i don't know um so is that you're afraid yeah i am i'm very i'm very concerned that that he is not

29:58Andy Holloway:it's like he is not him i don't know about that but i was the don't hear what i'm not saying but it's like marv is not commanding targets for arizona ameka buka is clearly not commanding targets from Baker the way that we feel like he should be as a first-run talent, as he should clearly be the number one, and he is not being treated like it.

30:24Jason Moore:Yeah, and honestly, he got off to such a strong start as a rookie that I think we forgot who he was. He was one of my favorite prospects as a wide receiver because what I saw was just a phenomenal wide receiver. but also you know for fantasy purposes I didn't think he had a super high ceiling he wasn't my wide receiver one for the rookies when we were talking about him pre-NFL draft I was like he is a perfect wide receiver great route runner good hands does everything you want but he's not the kind of like neighbors-esque explosive athlete that's going to take over in fantasy have these incredible deep touchdowns you know left right and center he to me is like the perfect NFL wide receiver two and he seemed like he was to start last year when they had Mike Evans and all that he hasn't scored 10 fantasy points since week 10 last year I mean that is a lot of games in a row where I think you might just have to adjust your expectations and say he's not a fantasy star you

31:24Mike Wright:said since week 10 of last year yeah they're they're they're two and nine in those games do you going back to week 10 of last year they have been which is 10 games they have been a terrible

31:34Andy Holloway:football team where do we want do you feel like the blame is baker mayfield or abuka i i think

31:44Mike Wright:it's been a mix it's pretty much what it's been since week 10 which is baker was hurt abuka was hurt last year this year baker is a nightmare so far he cannot connect down the field 30th in epa

31:58Andy Holloway:per play among quarterbacks every every downfield ball he's overthrowing people i mean you talked

32:02Mike Wright:about Ted Hurst's target share. Where's the big plays? There aren't any big plays. It's not Hurst's fault. He's been around the ball. To me, this is, you've got to start giving Bucky Irving even more work. You need to pick your spots and give some easier completions to Baker Mayfield, which should be a Buka.

32:21Andy Holloway:They were like, Bucky's been on a, we got him on a snap count right now. Bull crap. 15 opportunities, 21 opportunities. What are they going to do? What's going to happen? They're just counting his snaps.

32:35Jason Moore:No, I love it. I mean, obviously, Bucky has been a good pick so far, very involved, and I think that the worries of this is going to be a 50-50 timeshare with Kenny Gainwell that they brought in, that's already been an answer. That's not the case. But against this Minnesota Vikings defense, I'm not excited for anybody. I'm not excited for Bucky either. Am I starting him? Yeah, he's going to get the opportunities. You're hoping for a touchdown somewhere. Probably a bad game. I'm not starting Baker. Honestly, I think Ibuka is a player that if you have other good options, I would. Ibuka or Downs?

33:10Mike Wright:Downs is now the measuring stick for the week.

33:12Andy Holloway:All right, let me actually look at that one. By the way, Ibuka is a rookie. Downs is one spot ahead of Ibuka for me.

33:18Mike Wright:Outside the last three games of last year, he's 24 % target share as a rookie. He had games at 30%, 35 % target share. The fact he's at 17%, he did that one time in his first 14 games, and now he's done it through two games. It is problematic. They seem like a team that may be the, I don't know who the leading candidate for a midseason firing is. To me, it's Todd Bowles.

33:38Jason Moore:Yeah, he's got to be up there. I think I would still play a Buka over Downs just because Downs has an equally bad matchup against Houston. He'll be fine. Hopefully. Josh Downs. I hope so. But there's plenty of players, you know, the Jalen Coker tier, Jameson Williams who's been bad, those type of players I would be playing over a Buka.

33:56Mike Wright:let's go to Rio Baltimore Dallas we're in Brazil Baltimore minus three and a half over under 53 and a half both teams are one and one right

34:10Jason Moore:both teams I believe are one and one this is Zay Flowers is traveling with the team but he has not practiced yet so him traveling

34:21Andy Holloway:I thought it was very strange of like how do you he hasn't practiced yet, on track to not play, went down to Brazil. Then I saw a video of one of the Ravens players posted it, and they're in this fancy hotel pool. That might be why he went. Maybe that's why he went. I'm not missing out on my trip to Brazil. I got this passport for a reason. I guess they're human beings. I'm going to Brazil.

34:51Mike Wright:We have some news. Ronnie Stanley did not practice Wednesday or Thursday offensive tackle for the Ravens, something to keep in mind Dallas I mean you're playing both quarterbacks obviously, Dak and Lamar get starts here in Rio

35:04Andy Holloway:This game could be awesome We got a 53.5 point over under here We don't know what the field condition will be, if it's anything like the other Brazil game

35:14Mike Wright:Are you surprised it's Baltimore minus 3.5 when you might not have Zay Flowers on the field? After what their offense looked like last week against the Saints To me, I'm a little surprised.

35:25Andy Holloway:Yeah, I get that. Well, I guess it's like a neutral site. Yeah, it is. If you gave Dallas the home field advantage, then I think I'd be more surprised about it. But in a completely neutral head-to-head, I would take the Ravens.

35:39Mike Wright:You playing Abuka or Rashad Bateman in this game with no Zay Flowers? That's a legit question.

35:44Jason Moore:I think that in this game against Dallas, if Zay Flowers doesn't go, I would rather play Bateman. He will fly up my rankings when we get confirmation that Zay Flowers is out. And alternatively, if Zay Flowers plays, obviously you've got issues with possible re-aggravation, but there's no world where he would be out of my lineup. I mean, against Dallas in a 53.5 point over-under, you want the exciting pieces. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and then wide receiver one. whoever that is which is either zay flowers or or shot yeah and i i know you released him and and

36:21Mike Wright:he doesn't have a lot of upside but i think you could do worse than mark andrews this week as a spot start at tight end the targets have still been there six and seven if flowers is not there seven targets to the tight end position with a chance of a touchdown is in play we've talked a lot about javante williams this week you're obviously playing lamb and pickens javante is a

36:40Andy Holloway:kind of uh must play still yes don't let our discussions about Javante dissuade you from starting him we're just we're concerned long term but as of right now he is the workhorse and he's going to get all of the opportunity Dallas is going to score a bunch of points

36:57Mike Wright:did we ask the Chuba versus Javante rest of season question I don't I don't think we did these ones are just popping into my head today and that's another one where I'm like I think I'd rather have the Chuba side.

37:07Jason Moore:That one, I'm going to take the offense of the Cowboys, but they're in the exact same tier. I would take the Javante side. I don't think anyone is coming to take Javante's job, and while Brooks is injured for six weeks and it will be a long stretch, I could see towards the fantasy playoffs that becoming more of a time share.

37:26Andy Holloway:Wait, you've got to let Jonathan Brooks go. It's done. It's done. It's not happening. It's very done. Your fears now would lie with A.J. Dillon. Okay.

37:36Jason Moore:So you don't think Brooks is coming back at the end of the year? Zero.

37:40Mike Wright:Oh, he might come back to the team. I mean, he was healthy, by the way, to start this year, and they don't use him. He just – yeah.

37:48Andy Holloway:I don't see it. Yeah. Not this year anyways.

37:51Mike Wright:Austin Eckler on the way maybe. Maybe. We'll see. Las Vegas 2-0, Saints 1-1. Vegas line is New Orleans minus three. See, that one's confusing because they say the Vegas line, but then it's like the Vegas Raiders. Oh, I see. Okay. So they set their own lines there in Vegas. New Orleans minus.

38:08Andy Holloway:We're favorite again, guys. They're giving themselves bullets and board material here.

38:11Mike Wright:Over under is 43 and a half. And I already got one this week, but why not do another? Oh, Mr. Raiders over here.

38:19Andy Holloway:Andy's almost upset of the week. Andy tries to walk around the office like he's not a Raiders guy. I mean, he. He's like, I'm sorry. You know, I'm sort of a Raiders. He does that. Everyone knows you freaking love the Raiders. What's funny is when he was saying that. This is me VU this week.

38:36Jason Moore:This is our auxiliary team. Yeah, when he was saying that earlier outside of the studio, he was wearing a Raiders helmet. He's like, I don't understand. People don't know. Has it come through that I might believe a little bit in the Raiders? Yes, you believe. And I will say this.

38:52Mike Wright:And Max Crosby in that rookie corner and their defense.

38:55Jason Moore:I love what Kubiak is doing. I think that the team looks good. They are, honestly, it's not surprising. what do they look like stable yeah it's not I mean you're not just going to Kubiak a good coach you're going from a broken version of Pete Carroll and Sons last year that was totally inept and so I do think the Raiders are a good team I don't think that they are a bad team however I think the Saints are a very good team this is their home opener and that I mean that stadium is going to be wild. They are so excited for the Saints. So this is going to be a tough sledding for the Raiders. And if the Raiders go in there and win, they will make a statement.

39:36Mike Wright:Here's what's impressive to me about the Raiders. They have shown me something on the defensive side of the football, and they've won two games without their best offensive player and one of the best players in the game. Brock Bowers. Who should be returning this week. So adding Brock Bowers to the equation. Adding Bowers to the equation. Look, I'm not going to feel as confident about that upset if Bowers sits it down, but I've talked about the fact Kelvin Banks is out for this offensive line you're gonna see Tyler Shuck deal with pressure the whole game he may deal well with it at home but um you know I don't I don't know what in the world's going on in the running game for the Saints but I don't know if they have one right now HN Jr.

40:13limited on Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring I man this I think it's

40:18Mike Wright:hands off I think the Raiders win this game I just oh you said it I think the Raiders win the game it's going to be interesting. The only thing that you just need to keep in mind,

40:28Jason Moore:because I know that they have looked really competent, really solid, Max Crosby's amazing, is that they played against the Chargers, who now we are questioning if they're good, and the Dolphins, who we don't have to question. We know. So we haven't seen them really pushed yet. Will the Saints push them? I mean, it's a 43.5 point over-under.

40:49Mike Wright:We're not expecting big scores in this game. That's a low over-under. It's lower. It's 23-20 in that line. It's a lower one. I think that the plan for the Raiders is play good defense, run the football 30 times. That's the one area the Saints have been beat through two weeks. It's 26.2 fantasy points given up through two weeks for the Saints. They have the workhorse in Gentry to do that, and you've got Trey Tucker and hopefully Brock Bowers back in the equation. Fantasy-wise, play Gentry. Play Bowers if he's active. Play Tucker if you're desperate. Olave, of course.

41:23Andy Holloway:veille would be i think veille is of course as a flex yeah he's viable nine targets seven targets

41:30Mike Wright:the volume will be there and then the running backs i don't know if you can play one it's

41:34Jason Moore:really really tough the only way that i think you could play one is if it turns out that one guy is active alone like if i feel like it's a trap it feels like a trap kendra miller did not practice but it was illness and so he was inactive last week i presume that that was because alvin camara was active so this is like kind of a like a roulette table where I'm like the ball is bouncing around and it could be Travis H.A. Jr. is active or inactive Kendra Miller's active or inactive and Alvin Kamara's irrelevant uh he is not a good enough player at this stage of the career to to put him in I mean he could he could literally touch the ball 20 times and be a bad player I was

42:16Andy Holloway:gonna give you the numbers this is why it's a trap to me if H.A. Jr. is out and you're like Maybe Kamara. Alvin Kamara had 15 opportunities last week. Incredible. How many targets? That includes six targets. Wow. More valuable than carries. 15 opportunities, and he put up 4.7 fantasy points.

42:36Mike Wright:You're not going to convince me that Kendra Miller gets more work than Kamara. That's for sure. No, but my point is –

42:43Jason Moore:But Kendra Miller's like the only one of this group who could do anything. If Kendra Miller got eight opportunities and Alvin Kamara got 14, I would assume more fantasy points than Kendra Miller's side. But I agree. I think you're hands off in the running back room right now.

42:56Mike Wright:And we've talked extensively about Tyler Shuck. You can use the start set tool on the website, thefantasyfootballers.com, to throw in all these other quarterback conundrums.

43:03Andy Holloway:Of course.

43:05Mike Wright:Jwonson is fine. It's not a plus matchup. I would just be chasing the higher over-unders with the Johnson tier of tight ends. Sure.

43:16Andy Holloway:You're going Mark Andrews over Jowanson?

43:18Mike Wright:I'm okay doing that. Yeah, I like the targets there. I mean, it's been a couple of big plays for Jowanson so far. I mean, he's only had three catches and four catches, and he had a huge run down the sideline and a touchdown in week one. I'm not taking anything away from the player. I just don't know if the targets are going to be where you want them to be. We'll take a break. We'll talk Sunday night, Monday night football, and we'll get into the fantasy face-off.

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44:22Jason Moore:This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp If you could wake up tomorrow morning and be better at one thing What would that be and what? For me it would be just getting started on that workout Get my exercise going You know, better doesn't have to come from major victories It can be from the small habits you create and how you honor your needs on a daily basis. Most people aren't trying to become completely different. They're just hoping to feel a little better every day. Better is a feeling defined by you. And for BetterHelp, it's a BetterHelp therapist who really gets you. It's a focus on global emotional well-being with thousands of therapists and millions of members in over 100 countries.

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45:32Mike Wright:well this one should be fun the rams one-on-one taking on the one-on-one Denver Broncos the Vegas line or the Rams minus two and a half in Denver over under 44 and a half

45:48Mike Wright:Mike you got Blake Corbin as your start of the week Kyron and Blake you're playing them both yes and then Puka not expected to play again Devante Adams was insane last week he was 32 percent target share has a 42 percent targets per out run with Puka off the field as a Ram and yeah you you know the equation here i mean terrence ferguson is the fun exciting yes upside secondary target because you saw nine targets you saw a concerted effort to make him a focal point in the passing game that led to 14 and a half fantasy points and a touchdown

46:22Jason Moore:and he dropped two big plays like he he should have had a bigger a bigger day yeah i mean he's

46:28Mike Wright:super like it's sort of cheat code ask because ferguson really is like a big slot receiver and you get to play my tight end seems to be the rules if your last name is ferguson

46:41Andy Holloway:and then one of the top one of the top wide receivers is out then you're a great option for fantasy football this is simple fantasy is so simple just look for the name ferguson uh i would say so looking at him uh on sleeper what i am seeing is his roster percentage at 23 33%. So still pretty widely available. And I would agree, if you're in the Juwan Johnson tier, and you get news that, I mean, I think it'd be pretty shocking at this point with what we're hearing if Puka plays. But once you get the official word that Puka is going to be out, I would put Terrence Ferguson in over someone like Juwan.

47:18Jason Moore:Terrence Ferguson must be rostered in every league. To me, if you look at, okay, Sam Laporta, amazing, great. better offense I feel like there's more target you know opportunities here for for Ferguson or or Tyler Warren against Houston um Ferguson to me is like now that we know Puka's not playing and unfortunately I think when Puka comes back this isn't a rest of season just Terrence Ferguson's going to be awesome he might be the receiver three for this team but the receiver three is usually irrelevant for this team the first two are pretty doggone good though so um while either's out and

47:57Mike Wright:To clarify, Puka's not been ruled out.

47:59Jason Moore:Yeah.

48:00Mike Wright:Oh, I thought you said. No, no, no. He's not expected to play.

48:02Jason Moore:I thought you said he was definitely not. That's what I was saying. We need the official words. We don't believe he will. Certainly.

48:06Mike Wright:I just want to be. No, thank you. Thank you.

48:08Andy Holloway:Nasty question for you, Jason. Ferguson v.

48:11Mike Wright:Ferguson, by the way. If that's your matchup this week, I just want to see it on socials. I'd go Ferguson. Terrence Ferguson or the doctor?

48:21Andy Holloway:Dalton Schultz.

48:22Jason Moore:Yeah. Make me an appointment. If Puka is out, then I think I would go Terrence Ferguson. Just chase the upside. Yeah, the youth, the athleticism, and I think both are going to get a ton of targets.

48:34Mike Wright:I think the Broncos defense is what talks me into the other side of that one. Okay. I mean, last year. If there's appointments available. I know a lot of people have been seeing the doctor. It's hard to get in last minute. They've been seeing the doctor lately. Yeah. But match up with the Colts. How about the other side, the Broncos? I mean, Waddle is in. Man, we're starting less Broncos than we were before, aren't we? I mean, Bo Nix is no longer in the conversation.

48:57Andy Holloway:No, I think that's it. I'm not. Waddle, check out. The running back room is a disaster of who's actually active.

49:06Mike Wright:And Tyler Bidet will get work with whatever other dude gets activated. Right now, Dobbins is a full practice. Harvey's a full practice. And Jonah Coleman's a DMP.

49:15Andy Holloway:And you're playing the Rams. I'm not. I think it's a trap to play a Broncos running back right now.

49:22Mike Wright:yeah i i can't disagree the eagles are 2-0 taking on the chicago bears who are one and one oh man who have the third lowest fourth lowest implied point total of 18.5 this week they were gonna break the scoring record oh gosh philly minus four and a half over under 41 and a half i mean this is just a pretty simple this is a bummer this is a bummer situation where you literally look at this game and you don't have to say anything fantastic about the Eagles offense to know they're going to win the game because I don't think Chicago can put up enough points now maybe Ben Johnson is a miracle worker and a Bajan and Keenum can find I mean they have weapons I don't want to give them no chance but it's four and a half road favorites that's heavy and you know I don't think Mononga is going to play in this game he's been a DMP two straight days we'll see we have a dmp for tyson baygent who is the better of the backups he's actually shown the ability to like he'll take a shot downfield he'll take a shot to the you know to the outside i i don't know if keenum still has it it's just a bummer no caleb williams in this game a dunes a burden loveland i don't think you want to go there against the eagles not really and uh it just sucks it's like the air has come out of the sales here for chicago and you just have to be patient like to me loveland's going to be okay this year i i believe that he's not he's not my my guy i believe that as somebody who believes in the talent of colston loveland the run that he had at the end of last year and the fact that this is not an incompetent franchise that'll avoid getting the ball to one of the best players at the position but i don't think it happens this

51:03Jason Moore:week and it might not happen for a few weeks yeah i love case keenum the dude his last start was negative fantasy points and that was in 2023 he's 38 years old i thought he was only doing the state farm commercials yeah i mean yeah put it in the backup you would he wasn't supposed to be the backup he was the backup to the backup he's like ah shoot um he talked up ben johnson amazingly talked about how he's the the greatest he's worked with so many great head coaches and this is the best offense of mine he's ever seen i'm sure they can scheme up some stuff but case keenum this version of him I agree it's just not going to be able to get it done I know that the Eagles have looked not great almost lost and probably should have lost the Tennessee Titans last week but case Keenum at quarterback is going to be a I mean it's just almost impossible and Swift seems like okay he might be alone you know they're going to need him another guy might not be active and you're probably still starting him but this is I mean you're still starting him you're going to have tough sledding.

52:04Jason Moore:The defense with Carter there, they're going to plug the line. They're going to play a ton of guys in the box. I don't expect easy gains for Swift.

52:14Mike Wright:No, it just lines up as a tough game for that offense altogether. On the other side, you have injuries all over the place. We lost Dallas Goddard, so he's not a part of the offense. Eli Stowers is on IR and not going to be a part of this team, it seems like. Right now, no tight end option. Saquon Barkley was the only running back. They injured Saquon Barkley to practice Shipley and Tank both out on Thursday he was limited the big waiver

52:38Andy Holloway:pickups it's just like the old rope-a-dope it's like Donald Coleman

52:42Mike Wright:the guy that comes in with the opportunity gets hurt immediately the starter is back and then did not practice Thursday Devontae Smith the hamstring which by the way the hamstring is what bothered him preseason I will say

52:52Andy Holloway:oh I didn't see that he didn't practice Thursday I will say it's Thursday but this is the Monday night game so that's like missing a Wednesday practice pay close attention but yes you need to be aware what do you guys think of with the tight end situation and it being the ever surviving Zach Ertz who just keeps getting jobs do you want to stash

53:18Jason Moore:Makai Lemon more? Yeah for sure I think Makai Lemon is a great stash right now I went back and You watched the tape

53:25Mike Wright:I watched the tape this last week

53:28Jason Moore:and obviously bad game He didn't do anything. He caught one pass, I believe. Better than week one. Yes, better than week one. He was used everywhere. He lined up in the backfield. He lined up in the slot. He lined up outside. He was running routes in all three levels. He was leaking out for a screen. He was working the middle of the field. He was going deep. He was on the field and running routes, and he looked good. He was getting open. It just didn't work. It didn't happen last time.

53:56Andy Holloway:He was in on – I'm seeing – let me double-check him on the – oh, that was the fourth quarter. So Lemon ran 80 % of the routes. Oh, he was – That's full-time. Totally out there. More routes than Dontavian Wicks.

54:09Jason Moore:He's a good player, and so to me, they need him a lot right now, and I believe he will be super involved. He's a good quality first-round rookie wide receiver who's out there getting opportunities. It just hasn't happened yet.

54:22Mike Wright:I also feel like Velae has gotten a lot of attention as a viable two. Well, the season's almost the exact same for Dontavian Wicks. Wicks, absolutely. They're averaging the same points per game, targets, target share. Both guys have been good. You need to think of Wicks as a startable player. Absolutely. Wicks or Downs as the final question? I'll go Wicks.

54:41Andy Holloway:I'll play Josh Downs.

54:42Mike Wright:All right. Let's jump into the face-off.

54:49Jason Moore:Fantasy Face-Off, presented by PrizePix.

54:57Mike Wright:I think Jason's made it known, but he is sitting here with the Wheel of Shame once again, maybe because of the guy that didn't perform last night. Hey, I can't lose again with Jordan Love this week, baby. Because he already played. So unfortunately for you, Jay, you got to spin it again.

55:16Jason Moore:Wheel of Shame.

55:22Jason Moore:All righty.

55:23Mike Wright:Let's spin that wheel.

55:25Andy Holloway:Yes, yes, yes. You lucky, lucky man. All right, what do we got? We got Toe Jam, Clown Nose, Egghead. Pauly. Oh, Pauly. Oh, do you want a cracker?

55:35Jason Moore:Oh, Pauly wants. Oh, no. Mike, do you want to feed the parrot?

55:42Mike Wright:Sure, hand me some crackers. Here, let's bust open these saltines here so that you're equipped.

55:48Andy Holloway:I'll take some.

55:49Mike Wright:I'm probably just going to throw them at him. I don't mean to mess this, Jason.

55:54Andy Holloway:How big is your mouth hole?

55:56Jason Moore:Not big enough for a cracker. We're just going to throw them. Oh, my Lord. Guys, this is a real problem. Oh, I missed.

56:09Mike Wright:Here you go, buddy. Here, have a cracker.

56:10Jason Moore:I want some crackers.

56:15Jason Moore:um do you need to does someone need to read your line 100 they have to read my line i am about 30 seconds from death you got some air holes you're fine i can have a cracker and breathe i just can't see yeah just have a cracker my nose am i eating through my nostril you are eating through the side mouth yeah the classic parrot side mouth oh he's eating the crap all right start us off

56:39Mike Wright:All right, I'm going – my Green Goblin is quarterback Bryce Young. I'm taking 159.5 passing yards. I'm taking the Moore.

56:48Andy Holloway:All right. Doing looking good, Jay. I am – guys, let's have some fun. Jameis Winston, 17.5 passing completions, and I will take the Moore.

57:03Mike Wright:Okay, Winston completions?

57:05Andy Holloway:Yeah. I wonder what Jace is doing. Jay, do you have any idea what you're doing, or do we have to figure this out?

57:10Jason Moore:I have a couple different ideas. I made several lineups. Well, you've got to go with the one you told them.

57:14Mike Wright:Why don't we throw it up on the board? Yeah, put it up on the board. We'll read it for him. Jason has Daniel Jones less than 219.5 passing yards. Oh, you hate her, but that makes sense. This board is saving him today.

57:27Jason Moore:The Texans' defense, as well as the fact that he hasn't thrown for that so far this season, you know. Quiet, Parrot.

57:38Mike Wright:All right, we are at running back. I am going to go with Blake Corum.

57:42Andy Holloway:I'm taking 46.5 rushing yards.

57:46Mike Wright:I'm taking the Moore. I actually had this one selected early in the week, and it didn't move. So, Blake Corum, Moore, then 46.5 rushing yards. I like it. What are you doing with your hands?

57:56Jason Moore:I'm wiping crumbs and crackers off.

57:58Mike Wright:That's what you're doing. Ken Bone Walker.

58:01Andy Holloway:Kenneth Walker. All right, what do you got? 86.5 rushing yards. no problem you're taking no problem for kenneth walker all right jason let's reveal i've got cam scadaboo why don't you say what my line is 57 and a half yards are projected for cam scadaboo you did good on that one you're going more huh you did a good you feel good on that one

58:24Mike Wright:this is nonsense oh i love it um i will say it looks like that game's gonna be very rainy now

58:32Jason Moore:so that sucks

58:35Mike Wright:wait what? why would it suck for running the football? yeah that sucks for Jameis it's great for running alright guys I'm not going to be kind with everybody you're not going to like this one but it's been working so far Jamar Chase 77.5 receiving yards I'm taking the less against Pittsburgh last week I managed to get it with Trey McBride on his less so I'm going Jamar Chase I don't blame you he has a cracker that's perched in the mouth so you're telling me the Tennessee Giants

59:06Andy Holloway:game is going to be rainy huh yeah tell me what you're yes that's a bummer for Jameis because then the Jalen Coker news was also a bummer for me because I took the Tedderola McMillan 7.5 receiving targets I went more because I thought I was going to be sneaky and get a banged up Jalen Coker not so sneaky why don't we reveal Jason's wide receiver

59:26Mike Wright:Jason's wide receiver is this is my green goblin

59:28Andy Holloway:Oh, I'm in Ross St. Brown, your Green Goblin, 32 and a half receiving yards?

59:31Jason Moore:I told you guys before the show. I was like, my Green Goblin feels like the easiest thing of all time.

59:38Andy Holloway:Yeah, that's fun. Here you go. For you. Have a treat, Pauly.

59:42Mike Wright:All right, let's finish it up here. Maybe not a surprise. I won't be shocked if I'm not alone with it, but I'm going Dalton Schultz. 50.5 receiving yards. I'm taking the more with the doctor. We did okay last week, too, by the way. We didn't do too bad. Who do you got at your tight end?

59:59Andy Holloway:We did all right. My tight end is my green goblin. I will take the Muth. Two and a half receptions. We will go more.

1:00:07Mike Wright:Okay. I like that. Jason, let's reveal it. I don't like the rest of mine.

1:00:12Andy Holloway:Jawan. Oh, Jawan. 35 and a half receiving yards. You will take the more. Yeah, he's averaging 60 right now, and I like the game environment. I like it. Whoa, how do you still have more crackers? I just wanted to go through the whole sleep. How many crackers do you get?

1:00:25Mike Wright:It's really fun to throw stuff at your friends. All right, that was Fantasy Face-Off presented by PrizePix. Presented by PrizePix. Download it today and follow our account at the FFBallers because we'll be dropping our Fantasy Footballers Player Pack lineup every week in the app. PrizePix, run your game. You've really gone from on the edge of dying to enjoying being a parrot.

1:00:47Jason Moore:I don't know what's going on in the outside world, but I got crackers in here.

1:00:51Mike Wright:Yes, you do. You do. We're going to say goodbye Monday, pun day coming. Your reactions to the weekend. Again, make sure you tune in. Make sure you subscribe. And if you want to be a part of the community, head to jointhefoot.com. Get access this weekend to the Ultimate Dashboard. It'll help you make your start-sit decisions. I'm going to let this guy get out of this mask.

1:01:10Andy Holloway:I'll see you on Sunday, everybody. Goodbye.

1:01:16Jason Moore:Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com. and follow us on Twitter at The FF Ballers.

1:01:32Jason Moore:The perpetual pen tapper. The arbitrary fridge reorganizer. The holiday party planner that starts in May.

1:01:39Mike Wright:Principal knows your star employees have their work quirks. Principal also knows how much these employees mean to your business. You need them. They need benefits. Work with principals so they can help you help your team

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