One stat to know for every team in Week 3 + reaction to latest RB moves
It's Thursday September 21st. I'm Matt Harman. Welcome to the Yahoo fantasy football show presented by Nerd Wallet.
Saturday to talk ball, man. Enjoying me to do just that because it's Thursday. It's Statener Thursday. That means it's Dalton Del Don Dalton. What's going on, buddy?
Not much, man. I'm heading to the nine nerd night of Giants game tonight looking forward to that and has always looking forward to talking some ball with you.
Hell yeah, man. That's exciting. Well, we're going to preview that game. So we'll be able to get Dalton's thoughts on what he's going to see live at the end of the podcast. But you know what we do here on Statener Thursday. We give you one stat that you need to know for all 32 teams.
But before we get into that one quick piece of news to hit the Browns on Wednesday signed running back Kareem Hunt to a one year up to
up to the phrase of the all season makes itself into the regular season here up to four million dollar contract Dalton.
Obviously we know Kareem Hunt has played with the Browns before. They went a long time without
signing him or even considering signing him, but they obviously do this in the wake of the fact that
Nick Chubb is going to miss the entire season. So where does like the we'll talk Browns obviously when we get to their section here.
And we're mostly going to talk about the past game. So just with this running back rotation, what are your expectations now between Hunt Ford and obviously Pierre Strong is there as well too.
Drone Ford's the guy to get for me is coming off a very strong final season in college could have gone much earlier in the draft.
Kareem Hunt did not look great last year. Obviously so many teams have passed on him so far this season as well. That said, if you spend a good chunk of your fab on him last night or you top waiver wire on the Tuesday night deadline in Yahoo sorry two nights ago.
You don't feel great waking up and seeing Kareem Hunt sign immediately because he will be involved probably a lot on passing down. So
Ford is the guy in this week immediately seemingly whoever loses their star running back faces the Titans run defense the next week.
So it's not a great match up for now, but I'm still would be fairly excited if I had Drone Ford on my fantasy team after the unfortunate injury to Nick Chubb. But that said, if you're in deeper leagues and your desperate for running back which many people are including some of my teams.
Kareem Hunt is worth, you know, worth a worth a bid or an ad as well just to see what happens because obviously this Browns team has possibly one of the three best defenses in the league.
Right. They're going to be in a lot of really nice games. That's a great point. And they've shown immense faith in Jerome Ford like all off season, you know, despite the fact that he missed time in the offseason with a hamstring injury.
They basically cut all their other backup running backs. They did like a late pick swap for Pierre Strong who flamed out after being a I think a fourth round pick with the Patriots.
And they never really entertained signing Kareem Hunt back until now. Obviously they're down one of the best backs in football. So they've shown a lot of faith
in Jerome Ford to be that guy there. They just clearly needed depth because as much as like Pierce, I know Pierre Strong pumped in a touchdown after that long run that Jerome Ford had on Monday night.
But he's barely been with the team like, you know, if they need a counter punch to go to Jerome Ford like Kareem Hunt's probably going to be a better option there. So, you know, I tweeted this like right after the signing.
The sooner that you can accept that no human running back like no human running back is just going to own all of the backfield work to themselves.
The sooner you will achieve inner peace as a fantasy player. I love people, by the way, responding to that with what about CMC CMC Derek Henry. I'm like, well, the implication there is that like how dare you compare CMC and Derek Henry to mere mortals.
Not everybody basically nobody else does that right. So Jerome Ford is always going to have somebody else in the backfield here. It's going to be Kareem Hunt, but I'm with you. I still think like what Jerome Ford is probably to me like an upside running back to every single week now going forward.
Yeah, there are always outliers. And by the way, Elijah Mitchell, I expect to get plenty of work Thursday, not in the short week. Shanahan's already said he made a mistake with him not being involved.
But I'm with you, Jerome Ford, RB two with with upside to be a top 12 type fantasy back out of nowhere like the Kyron Williams is this season because he's in a decent situation, although the Sean Watson obviously remains a problem.
But I think he can emerge and be that, you know, 65% work out of this backfield. And that'll be enough for him to be a borderline top 15. If he can stay healthy, I think that that's reasonable. So easy floor RB, RB twos is floor.
Yeah, I just want to say to the people that spent like, you know, 80 90 100% of their free agent budget on Jerome Ford. It's okay.
All right, you did the right thing because number one, you didn't know the Kareem Hunt was going to sign, but also number two, like even if Kareem Hunt is there, yo, you're not going to find like another guy that Dalton's probably going to say has like top 15 upside off the waiver wire.
So like difference makers just don't come around very often on on the wire like this. So you did the right thing. I'm telling you that if you listen to this podcast, you did the right thing. Don't feel bad about yourself.
And don't panic if you doesn't have a great week this this week. I mean, the Titans are a past funnel defense after dominant dominating last year so far this year against backs. They're allowing 49 yards per game on 18.5 carries. So it's just a horrible match up this week, but it could could be nice for for forward moving forward.
Yeah, that's also notable. By the way, for Josh Kelly, if he has to start again in in replacement of Austin, eclair against a defense in Minnesota that's gotten barrel lower by the run, but we'll talk about those teams actually very quickly here, because it's on to statner Thursday. And again, you know what we do here. We give you one set. You need to know for all 32 teams and we go in order of the projected 2024 NFL draft order courtesy of tankathon.
And we also skipped the Thursday night preview teams because we're going to do those at the end. So starting off, if we were drafting today, the number one overall pick would be the Denver Broncos sort of the Denver Broncos.
Yeah, there are first team we're talking about here a couple stats for them. One, Marvin Mims is eighth on the team and routes run the season, but
leads the team with 122 receiving yards. Also, this one for the road, the Broncos lead the NFL in penalties, which I think is funny, considering that the current head coach of the Denver Broncos said in the preseason that the previous head coach of the Denver Broncos had the worst coaching job in NFL history.
And I would say like if your team leads the NFL penalties, there's a little bit of a disconnect there in terms of how well you're coaching the team. So Dalton, I don't know, man, we can take this Broncos discussion anywhere.
But I still think this is, I don't know, one of the weirdest teams in the NFL trying to figure out the distribution in the backfield and in the wide receiver room.
Yeah, a lot going on here, blowing a big lead last week. Sean Payton is probably not super thrilled with Russell Wilson performance so far, saying that they're going to tone down the verbiage, maybe go to a wristband, which I know Russell Wilson has been reluctant to do.
And don't forget that looking at his fantasy stats and his YPA that he completed a Hail Mary at the end of last week's game.
And that's going to really, you know, the numbers will be lying there. Marvin Mims, Scott Barrett tweeted, most receiving yards by a high school player in 2019, the most yards per target in college history in 2001, 21 and he currently leads NFL in yards per out run.
And he just had some, some, I think is the most yards ever by Texas in high school, too. So just the dominant guy who needs to get the football in his hands more the routes runs are silly low.
Obviously, he can be productive and productive. Big time productive. And let's see. I'm out on court and Sutton. So let's see Marvin Mims get on the football field more moving forward.
I'm with you. Like he can at least play. He's probably not going to replace just place like a court and Sutton at this point or Jerry Judy, but we can certainly get like
Saints cronies like little Jordan Humphrey or, you know, Johnson scored the touchdown on the Hail Mary.
But still like we could probably get a little more Marvin Mims and get those guys maybe, you know, as to the fourth or fifth wide receiver or whatever.
So I'm with you that I'd like to see a little more from Marvin Mims. But overall, just don't like what I've seen out of the Broncos. Of course, man, just
God at this team. Anyways, number two Chicago Bears, Justin Fields is averaging 2.5 design runs per game this season compared to 6.3 last year.
Meanwhile, though, he does have eight carries 61 yards and a touchdown as a scrambler.
Dalton, nothing has gone right for the Chicago Bears so far this year. The lack of design runs has obviously been a talking point among people.
But I always bring this up like I don't think that fields or the bears want him to just get battered like he did last year on some of these design runs.
But I don't know. You were big on Justin Fields coming to the year, man. Where where do you stand right now?
Yeah, obviously not great Bob after the design runs are a big part of his fantasy game. I mean, I kept saying I don't think he's some great passer.
This is not Jalen Hertz going to make the development. But I expected some modicum of growth adding DJ Moore and I just loved his rushing ability.
Something that typically an NFL quarterback's not going to be able to do for more than two to three years.
And I just thought this was the peak of that. And they've taken away that part of his game. So luckily has added a bit still despite the lack of design runs with his legs.
59 I think yards week one a TD run. But this needs to change. I mean all the the QB school JT Sullivan's was an hour and a half.
It was an hour and a half long his review of the bears film. They have receivers running the same routes together and also fields missing players wide open down the field as well.
It's a great combo there of coaching and QB performance who he just continues to take too many sacks as crushing for the offense and by the way their defense is historically bad so far too.
So it's a it's a bad setup. But fantasy wise. We all just got to hope he starts running again. And you got to think the coaching will take in all this criticism. Didn't take into week six last season too.
So I expect there to be a big big turnaround at least in fundamental game plans for fields.
Hey, Justin fields against the Chiefs this week. Where are you ranking him? Like I have him like right at the bottom my QB one rankings. Like there are definitely.
I don't know. You can just pluck somebody off the waiver wire to start ahead of Justin fields, but there was a great defense of performance by the Chiefs with Chris Jones in the first game back makes me a little nervous about fields.
Now it's awesome. He's my QB nine, which looks like he's right at the expert consensus rank. So I don't have a strong take there. Looks like you're a little more down on which I can understand. I mean the Chiefs are 13 point home favorites.
That defense has looked awesome, especially with with Chris Jones back. They looks like they've made some some huge draft pick hits to on defense.
So the Casey defense could really might actually hurt their offense as far in fantasy land. They're running fewer plays for the first two games.
I do expect a big bounce back from that offense, but the defense could be for real.
All right. Number three here Los Angeles chargers. The chargers ranked dead last in the EPA allowed on defense.
You know, I think we see two versions of the chargers so far through the first two weeks and honestly a lot of it could be matchup dictated here.
Number one in week one, the chargers come out and they run all over the Miami Dolphins who are playing a lot of those two high shells with Vic Fangio and the boys there on defense week two against a great Titans front that you talked about earlier.
They come out and they're kind of pushing the ball vertically a little bit. The constant theme here, though, is that the chargers defense. I think it's terrible.
I think that Brandon Staley's not doing a great job over there. And I think some of the players. I think feel this way about some of the offensive players as well.
But definitely the guys on defense. I think are more name than game at this point at all levels of the defense. I think this defensive performance is going to stick throughout the year, which means that I think that the chargers are going to be playing more games like they did against the Titans where they're pushing the ball a little bit.
So I don't know. I think we kind of understand who the chargers are a little bit through two weeks.
Props to kill and more forward being so, you know, maneuverable with his game plan. It's totally different. And obviously Austin Eckler may be now the lineup might have affected that. It certainly affected Justin Herbert's a dot.
Josh Kelly. It shouldn't have been a surprise that he was stuffed against the run last week. But I personally expected a few more targets. I know he couldn't just replace Eckler there.
But that's what really killed his fantasy value last week. I expect both running backs to bounce back after disappointments in this matchup with the highest total of the week.
Kelly and Madison, as you pointed out, Chargers, vulnerable on defense. But I expect big Mike Williams after 13 targets running the slot more to possibly have a big game in this shootout.
Yep. I like that prediction. I also like the prediction that Colin producer Colin put in the chat. He said, bold prediction.
Kellin Moore's the head coach of this team by Thanksgiving. I think that's very possible. Like first coach to be fired. I don't know what the odds are. But I would say Brandon Staley has a pretty hot seat right now. They barely brought him back. They made him, you know, get rid of his offensive coordinator buddy in Joe Lombardi last year.
I know they were excited to bring in Kellin Moore. I do think Kellin Moore has has a bright future potentially as a head coach. And if you're the chargers.
You know, Brandon Staley's up at the press conference. Like, nope, Jacksonville, nope, not the Jacksonville loss. We're not thinking about the Jacksonville loss. Once you start seeing that from head coaches, you, you're starting to sort of get into dead man walking territory.
So, um, I don't know. I, I wouldn't rule that out either. I don't know what that does to like, I mean, it's not going to make the defense any better. I don't know what it would do to the offense. But I do think that's, that is live that prediction.
Did you see it over time last week? It was third and two. The Titans had the ball and Henry was out of the game and Staley called a time out. And then they brought Henry back in to get the first down and then go on to win it. That wasn't a great moment either.
No, a lot of not great moments there for Brandon Staley and the charges.
All right. Just a quick heads up on this next section. We taped this podcast prior to the news that can makers is being traded to the Minnesota Viking. So when you hear us talk about Alexander Madison and not mentioned can makers.
That is why I'll just say real quick here. Quick, quick take on the whole thing. This is a 2026 late round pick swap, which might be the most small potatoes, literally nothing draft compensation. I've ever seen into trade. I mean, 2026. What are we all even going to be doing in 2026. Give me a break.
This is a system familiarity thing. Kevin O'Connell West Phillips. They have worked with can makers before. So they're taking them off Sean McPhase hands there. They're old buddies with the LA Rams. Overall, I think it's going to be a minute until acres has an impact. Definitely won't be this week. I guess might not be for a few weeks.
And even then, is he going to be a guy that takes Alexander Madison's job. That might be a little ways away, considering they haven't gotten anything out of their backup running that position. So just a quick take on the acres thing. I don't think it's a big win for acres. I don't think it's a big win for anybody in this situation. But that's why we are not going to mention can makers here in the next section.
All right, speaking of the Vikings who are going to play the charges this week. There are next team up. Number four Minnesota Vikings.
Alexander Madison is averaging 3.3 yards per touch. Meanwhile, there's only seven target slash rush attempts for Thai Chandler, the running back to here. Look, I know Madison. It's been a brutal run out the first two weeks. But is he not in a really nice position here to also just like Josh Kelly potentially have a bounce back game here in week three against the charges defense that I just mentioned can't do anything right.
Yes, he absolutely will bounce back. I ranked him a little bit higher than ECR this week at top 20. I named top 15 back for me this week. That said, I would like to just say how wrong I was on Cursons ranking him too low in fantasy. They're saying there's no upside because he doesn't run the loss of Dalvin cook in this Madison situation is resulted even more volume for cousins who has bounce back in efficiency and YPA to only the chiefs and dolphins have a higher pass rate over expectation.
So far than the Vikings and they were one of the top teams last year, too. So I was wrong cousins is yes, he's the the schedule is helped, but he's putting up the fantasy stats and he looks like he's going to be a top 12 ish type fantasy QB this year. Again, not top three upside because he doesn't run, but I was wrong. The past rate is just they throw the ball simply more than most teams in football.
I was talking about this with one of my friends over the weekend. I think that like Madison is kind of a weird fit for that type of offense because he's like a big bruising back that you give like a bunch of volume to.
But they're not they're not playing that way at all, like maybe maybe at some point they do maybe it's this week and the charters, but he's like kind of a weird fit for that type of offense.
But by the way, Thai Chandler is not seen seen the field at all. That's the thing here that's encouraging for Madison despite his lack of a fantasy point scored, Thai Chandler has not been a thing. And this week, I just want to add for cousins, the charters are allowing an NFL high 9.6 YPA and the most fantasy points to quarterback. So this should be a fun one with a lot of scoring all around.
All right, next one up here, number five Houston Texans. The passing game has been a nice pleasant surprise here, but Damien Pierce, not so much Pierce. We know the offensive line struggles have been a thing they've been super banged up there.
But Pierce has played on fewer than 50% of the snaps and run just 29.9% of the routes so far. Maybe some of that is game script, you know, he's
like Devon Singletary playing in two minutes, rolls passing down stuff like that, but it's still a pretty even though like the offensive line probably can get healthy and they'll run the ball better. I do think the role for Damien Pierce has been
like preseason kind of fool us on this one, I think.
Yeah, it really did. And at the very end, they suggested it could be more of a community like what that hasn't been the usage throughout the preseason at all. I love Damien Pierce, the player, but you just can't argue with how he's used. And it's just the problem. Mike Boone saw a lot of the routes in
week one and game script is going to continue to be a problem for this young team. The offensive line has contributed, but Pierce said, believe also it's like zero averaging zero yards before contact.
Future looks bright here if you're a Texans fan, though. I mean, CJ Stroud makes the S2 test so far.
Criticism looked quite silly. Their pass rates over expectation to their in neutral pass rates so far. They are fifth or yeah, six in the league. I mean, that's impressive for a rookie.
Making his first two starts, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, they both look great. And here's, here's one thing to note in the fantasy playoffs, the Texans face the past funnel Titans twice.
So bad bad news for Damien Pierce, great news for Stroud, Dell, Nico and possibly Mechie.
Oh, dude. Number one, you get me hyped about my guy, Nico and Tank Dell, who looks awesome. Understandably so.
Really, really good player in college. Number two, I like Dalton versus the S2 test is my favorite rival. Re so far in the NFL, like forget Steelers, Browns, forget Chiefs, Bengals, Dalton versus the S2 test. That's the hottest rivalry in the NFL right now.
Hey, I just pointed out, you know, the pretty connection there that he was one that failed here and I'm just curious what it looked going for. It was not an intelligence test. It's like, you know, it's a reaction test, but it clearly looks like it should be something to be ignored after watching the first two NFL games of CJ Stroud.
I just think you brought it up on the last two episodes. And I think you should probably bring it up every episode. I'm down.
That's right. Okay. I probably will.
Yeah, good. It's screw the screw the S. No, I won't I won't anymore. No, it's I'm over. I'm over. I'll do it.
Well, I'll just to keep to say no bad. It looks but Tank Dell had a touchdown also called the second touchdown called back last week. He looks awesome. Nico Collins. I told you last week, top 25 for me.
And then I was a coward and didn't use them enough in in DFS. He's he looks like a monster moving forward. They continue this pass rate and continue falling behind and just throwing light crazy. I mean, can they upset Jacksonville this week?
I mean, there's survivor option. I'm there. They're there. They're a plucky team. They're right now with how Strauss looking. Yeah, Nico Collins look awesome. So good. Alpha. Awesome against the Colts. Yeah, he's he's so I've been like trying to get Nico Collins to happen for like two years. And it's finally happening, which is great. Okay, next team up here. I mentioned the Bengals. They're number six. Simply the stat is Joe burrow ranks 30 second in passing success rate right now. Yikes, Dalton. And I'm not so sure when and if this is
going to get better because like he's not going to get health. This calf is not going to get healthier. He's not going to get better by playing. He's going to have to sit two, three, four weeks. I'd be prepared if you have Joe burrow, like find an alternative because they play on Monday night. I don't know. I mean, I think the only way that this situation is going to get better is by him not playing. And that means that T Higgins and Jamar Chase will be catching passes from Jake Browning. Okay, one thing to be noted that the Bengals have had incredibly tough schedule to open up. They face that Brown's defense. Jim Schwartz has second in the
league and EPA per play behind only Dallas. And then they faced a Ravens defense. That has been the best in EPA per play since trading for Wokwan Smith last year. So it's been a tough schedule. But they've even come out and admitted that the scale book. I'm sorry, the playbook, they scaled back for Joe burrow, even, you know, while he was playing, it was clearly he was not 100%. He's bottom five and average depth of target. And now the reports are his status is very much up in the air for Monday night. Their backup is 27 year old Jake Browning. Who?
Has one career NFL past. This is scary. So we saw T Higgins regress last week and you can fully expect that for Jamar Chase, too. But that's with the big if Joe burrow is up for the task. So the fact that it's also Monday night makes it tricky for fantasy managers. So it's a not great situation. I personally underrated the injury, saying that the Bengals are going to go to the Super Bowl, picking burrow to do well, the MVP. I mean, I just totally blew that he clearly compromised from the very beginning. And this is going to be a lingering issue.
That's going to last throughout the season. Unfortunately, yeah, that's exactly how I feel as well. Number seven New England Patriots. Mac Jones has thrown to his first read, according to fantasy points data on 79.2% of his passes. That's second most in the NFL to his first actually in this stat unsurprising.
But there's a little bit of difference in the wide receiver quality here. Dalton, the Patriots passing game is interesting. Just because they've dropped back a ton. They're playing really fast.
But they're playing really fast to go like seven yards because they don't have any difference makers.
And that really, I don't know, man, this this often should be very viable for fantasy because of the way they're playing right now.
And you know, I like a lot of what Bill O'Brien's doing, but I just it's tough for me to find somebody to get excited about.
Yeah, Mac Jones on his attempts, what 20 yards down the feeling he's won for 12 this year hasn't been super pretty, but at least a new offensive coordinator has them competent.
I mean, Devonte Parker immediately led the team in snaps and saw targets. Well, Kendrick born wrecked up a bunch of air yards last week too.
So there's like people, the receivers that are actually on the fantasy radar at least this season and hunter Henry's like kind of a locked in top 12 if not top 10 fantasy tied in too.
So it's really coming off last year. This is we're going in the right direction here.
But they did benefit from playing Eagles team that produces a ton of pass attempts and a lot of plays.
But but still I think we're moving in the right direction if it's still attempting to get to league average, but yeah, fair enough.
All right, number eight here, Arizona Cardinals, Josh Dobbs, just want to know,
6.4% completion rate over expected ranks sixth best in the NFL according to next gen stats.
The Cardinals took a lot of crap for like cutting Colt McCoy and then trading for Josh Dobbs and making him the starter right away.
But you know, on a Josh Dobbs adjusted scale, I think he's played fine so far.
Like he he's been fine.
And it's make I think that does make Marquis Brown viable.
I think as long as James Conner's healthy, he's going to be like a guy you're probably playing every week.
And you know, Michael Wilson, maybe he'll pop up here and there.
But I mean, those two guys that's about it, like, you know, Brown and Connor.
But I don't know, it's at least encouraging to see Dobbs being viable so far.
As someone who's gone against the Cardinals in a couple of my big survivor entries this season up to nine million dollars this year,
the Cardinals have played total respectable football.
They have not been some doormat.
Dobbs made it arguably the play of the week in week two when he trucked the guy at the goal line after a nice 20 yard touchdown run.
You said the completion percentage over expectations impressive.
So they're they're trying hard.
They're being competitive.
Zachertz is seeing all the targets.
I believe he's he's lapping the field in target share among all tied ins.
Although the fantasy points haven't quite been there.
But yes, Josh Dobbs playing better than everyone expected.
But then this team again, as a other horribly tough matchup against the, the Cowboys this week.
Yeah, that it doesn't matter this week.
I'm just saying going forward, like I think Dobbs has shown he's he's been viable.
Probably not going to be viable against the Cowboys who destroyed everybody.
Marquis Brown.
Yes, can be you can use him as a wide receiver three, which at first, we were kind of worried about.
Yes, I agree.
All right.
Number nine Carolina Panthers.
Oh my God.
Carolina Panthers ranked dead last in the NFL with 30.5 net yards per attempt.
We also have a couple of follow up ones.
I put this tweet in from Connor Allen.
The good news for Bryce Young.
He is the most accurate quarterback in the NFL when he throws to open wideouts.
And then the bad news, though, he is throwing to them at the second lowest rate right now.
Is it's Bryce Young?
You also noted too that PPR fantasy points wise, like two behubards actually right there within one point of
Miles Sanders.
Dude, I, I'm not saying like I'm worried about Bryce Young.
But I'm worried about how things look and feel right now in Carolina.
Yes, that was a sub tweet just to I wasn't going to do your
voice, but that is Hubbard getting nearly the same amount of PPR points is your,
your Miles Sanders is our great debate can continue here.
Yeah, I mean, but I mean, the Panthers are going to be in garbage time a ton,
but like that's basically when two Hubbard's out there getting.
It was all that.
Yeah, it was a little check downs.
Yeah, I don't think Miles Sanders is receiving production looks too great.
If you look under the hood, the last, the last, but Bryce Young.
They also came out and said today that they can't do QB sneaks because he's too small.
He's never done it, but it's only two games.
But yes, if you were a Houston fan or a Carolina fan,
you're a little bit more pumped about Stroud than you are young so far with our sample.
And yeah, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,
on the end you're more than ankle, too.
On the end you're more than ankle today, not practicing as Bryce Young.
Caroline is a team right now.
You can target for opposing fantasy defenses if you're looking for, you know,
pickups like Seattle.
I added in a few, few, few teams, like last night, Tuesday night.
Look, I'm not saying the Bryce Young's a bust or anything like that, right?
It's, it's two games.
But yeah, if I was a Carolina fan, which, which I have not, I could see.
Yeah, it's, it's just the way things have looked for Anthony Richardson,
who obviously is, is in concussion protocol and stuff like that.
The way CJ Stroud has looked so in command, you know, and this is something that,
that does grind my gears a little bit, you know, all the national media like this
year is like, oh, CJ Stroud, who's he got to play with?
Who's he got to play?
Well, you know what?
Like watch Nico Collins play number one.
None of you actually that said this, watch Nico Collins play.
I know you didn't, you know,
and Robert Woods is like a viable player.
And he's probably better than Adam Thiel at this point.
And then like Tank Del is an exciting young rookie.
The Panthers just have nothing, nothing, nothing going on at all.
So I don't know, man, I just think, and, and by the way, he's, he's got no pass
protection. He's getting sack of tongue back there too, is Bryce Young.
Like I just, I'm worried for, I'm just worried that the dude's not going to
develop in a situation like this.
It's just two games.
But yeah, I mean, go, Mingo, at least are getting some targets, but it's possible.
Thielin looks, looks a little dusty and it's, it's a, it's a, does Annie saddled
with some, some, you know, poor receiving backs to, to check down to, but, but, uh,
it's as a mini great start to, to the career.
But I'm obviously tiny sample, very tiny sample.
Hope it can get going for Bryce Young because he does have some moments where he,
like he looks like he could be fun.
All right, number 10, Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders ranked dead last in plays run this season.
I know people are concerned about Josh Jacobs.
I don't, I know they're, they're going to play slow.
They're not going to run a ton of plays anyways, but it's just been a weird start
to the year for the Raiders, you know, both their starting receivers have missed time.
Like I think it'll be fine for, for Vegas and for Vegas in the long term.
And I think by the way, like Jimmy Garoppolo's was pretty decent this year.
He has.
And hopefully he hears Jacobi Myers' health will, will it be more targets for Devonte
Adams this week and, or if can you put Myers back in your fantasy lineups as a flex
because it does look like they're going to be very concentrated those targets.
But yeah, I expected Josh Jacobs to get positive yardage last week against
that Bill's defense.
It certainly came to life and just totally stuffed the run.
Yeah, they definitely did.
I'm sure he'll get positive yardage this week.
I feel pretty good about that.
Something I don't feel good about our number 11 team, the Cleveland Browns.
Dishon Watson ranks dead last with a 64.6% adjusted completion rate,
according to fantasy points data.
Oh my God, Dalton.
I, I'm so discouraged.
I know the CEO's defense is really good.
But Watson just looks like a mess, bro.
He is, his pocket presence is terrible.
He seems to have no like feel for the, that's the thing that's weird with him.
Is he feels like he has no feel for the game.
He's not like throwing catchable balls and like guys are open too.
Like Eliza Moore is open.
Amari Cooper is open.
I don't know, man.
I'm the thing that part of, part of me wants to think that this passing game
can bounce back against the Titans who, honestly, I'll just loop Mike Titans
that in here, Tennessee Titans, 10.98 out of loud is the most in the league.
And they have the lowest hurry rate in the league at 2.4%.
Like we've already mentioned the Titans are a total past funnel.
I want to think that this team can get going.
And maybe they will, right?
Like maybe Eliza Moore is a bounce back.
Maybe Amari Cooper is like a smash wide receiver one start.
And maybe Dishon Watson even gets going.
But it just looks so, so rough right now.
And again, part of the thesis of what's going to happen now without Nick
Chubb is that they transitioned to more of like a Watson centric offense.
I, I think that they always, which is so weird that like, well,
actually our offense is completely built around a running back when we paid
all this money to our quarterback and blah, blah, blah, all that stuff.
It, I don't know, man, I'm talking in circles now because I feel just so bad
about the, I just don't feel so good.
I feel so, so bad about the situation right now.
Yeah, the Browns offense has been bad and they just lost their best player.
It sucks.
Amari Cooper and Eliza Moore, I think you can use in fantasy this week.
Cooper at home, he surprisingly played Monday night and looked good to go
in this great matchup against the Titans.
So I think Eliza Moore, who was so close to a few catches on the sideline
there.
So, uh, uh, but otherwise it's Dishon Watson.
It has been very discouraging when not facing pressure this season.
He's been bottom three in accuracy right there with Kenny Pickett.
And obviously we saw him last year really struggle after the time off.
So, um, is it time to panic?
I'd say yeah, because they had a whole off season together and the fact that
through two games Watson looks as bad as last year.
If not worse, it's, it's just not good.
So I don't know, my guy DTR, I have stashed in a dynasty leagues and, uh,
we'll see where that goes.
But, um, truthfully, it's just Sean Watson looks bad playing quarterback position.
I know fantasy wise, he still shows like he can run and he'll, he'll put up some
points in better matchups, but it's been a discouraging start man.
He looks very inaccurate.
It doesn't, he just has like no feel as a runner either.
You know, he's like face mask and guys and all this like twice.
Yeah, twice.
Yeah, it's, it's bizarre.
It's really bizarre.
Um, I, if he just never, if he's never able to, I mean, come back, right?
Like come back from a situation that he created.
So I'm, I'm come back, like come back as a quotes here.
If you're listening to the podcast.
If he's just never able to come back from this situation and be like the guy he was
before, because they're just like part of it mentally, I would be zero
percent surprised.
Like at this point, I'd be, I'd be stunned if he ever gets close, honestly.
Number 12, Detroit Lions.
Uh, this one comes in from Adam Levitan, David Montgomery left near the end of
the third quarter on Sunday, running back opportunities after that.
Jamir Gibbs, eight, three carries, five targets, Craig Reynolds, four, three
carries, one target, Dalton, what's your expectations for the lines running
backs without David Montgomery, who might miss a couple of weeks here?
Okay.
So Craig Reynolds is absolutely going to know a fantasy managers and get the
goal line carries.
And maybe I don't know how, wow, it's going to be split exactly.
But more than Gibbs's guys will want that said Gibbs did get more opportunities
last week.
There's trusting him more and not only is David Montgomery down, but I'm on
Ross Saint Brown.
I don't know what he's dealing with.
Is it turf toe out of practice Wednesday?
His status is highly questionable.
They might just be forced to give it the Gibbs and Laporta show.
Jared Goff averaging 2.6 touchdown passes at home since last season,
just a monster in Detroit.
So it's hard not to rank Gibbs as a top 12 fantasy running back for me this
week.
Yep.
I mean, I get it, dude.
It's, it hasn't been great.
You know, Dan Campbell like blamed Jamir Gibbs for the interception that Jared
Goff threw.
I don't think they fully trust him yet, but which is understandable.
He's a rookie in his third game.
It's not a big, big deal.
If they're they trust a guy like Reynolds, but I'm with you that the more,
if the I'm on Ross Saint Brown part of it, plus the David Montgomery part of it,
does make me think that this could be a week that Jamir Gibbs gets going.
Watches on of a night lead the team and carry me.
I mean, yeah, they just signed him.
So that is actually, that would be pretty funny.
All right.
Next team up here, Indianapolis Colts, Zach Moss throwing the middle finger at
what I said earlier about backs, you know, the not dominating 100% of the workload.
He played 98.2% of the snaps and ran around on 77% of the dropbacks.
I had to play Zach Moss in like a couple of weeks and I,
leagues and I picked him up as like an early stash type of guy.
I don't know, man.
I think, you know, look, Jonathan Taylor might come back to this team in week five.
But before that, like Zach Moss is what, you know, top 15 ish running back
with the way that his offense is playing right now and the amount of the coaching
staff trusts him.
Yeah, opposite matchup of last week.
But yes, I still haven't ranked as a borderline top 20 this week, even as,
you know, big underdogs on the road against the Baltimore defense plane,
arguably the best in football.
But if you're getting that type of usage, you got, yes, Zach Moss looks 100%
startable in all formats and fantasy leagues if and when until Jonathan Taylor returns,
which is obviously a huge question mark at this point.
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All right, next team up here at number 14 Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence ranks
31st and EPA per dropback, but third in accuracy rate.
What's the what's the disconnect here?
Because I think Trevor Lawrence has actually been playing fine so far this year.
But the Jaguars passing offense hasn't quite fired on all cylinders.
You know, a lot of Jaguars fans are and I think this is worth noting.
They're they're pointing this out that like press Taylor has been calling plays
and Doug Peterson has not been and Doug has kind of done this before where he's
trying to like, he's trying to make things happen with press Taylor.
He's trying to like get him some more opportunities and stuff.
But again, so far, it seems like it's not really working.
Yeah, a lot to say.
I wrote about this offense and my numbers do lie column this week.
First of all, there was 100 plus people were treated for heat related illnesses in
that Florida, whether ETN sat out the fourth with cramping it.
The chiefs offense struggled in the conditions.
Moreover, Trevor Lawrence for separate times nearly had touchdown passes to his
receivers that were just incredibly close, just barely out of the in zone of the
goal post knocking Calvin Ridley down.
Lawrence was 0 for seven in the red zone.
He attempted the seventh most red zone passes in the league last week and didn't
complete any of them.
There are a league worst 25% on third downs to open the year.
I mean, this offense is just going to regress.
Trevor Lawrence had a 15 to two touchdown interception ratio over the second half
last year.
He is the guy.
He will, you know, he's going to be the star.
So I'm not worried about that.
And ETN, by the way, continues to get disrespected.
He was playing 80% of the snaps through three quarters last week before exiting
with the cramps.
I hope it's just cramps.
There's still a queue there.
So don't all bets are off if it's another injury.
But if it was just cramps, um, he played 100% of the snaps in the red zone
last week.
Tank Bixby didn't see a single touch.
Um, yeah, I know they're nearly 10 point home favorites against the Houston
defense.
That's the most favorable opposing backsman scheduled adjusted.
So I say trade for Travis ETN now before he blows up this week.
I like that.
You're making me feel a lot better about the Jags off and that cramping stuff
and the heat in in Jacksonville is definitely worth noting.
So that's 110 people were treated.
And I think like 64 were taken to hospital for something.
I mean, I mean, it's not nothing.
No, it's definitely not nothing.
Um, you know what is nothing?
Jackson's fifth and jig was, uh, averaged up the target.
So far, let's get this one, let's move on.
Let's get this one.
All right.
Sounds good.
Uh, number, number, no, I'll read off the stat, but we won't discuss it.
Number 15, see, because we do promise that we give a stat for all 32 teams.
So I will give it, but we don't have to discuss it if it makes you upset.
Number 15 Seattle Seahawks.
Jackson's been to Jigba has a 1.6 average depth of target.
So far this season, he's run 61% of the routes.
All right, moving on to number 16 here, the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams lead the NFL with 156 plays run so far, Dalton.
Um, this Rams offense is like quietly a fantastic fantasy ecosystem.
And they don't even have their best player yet.
All EJSN man, so far has not been great.
The targets per route run, I'm letting you skip it.
I was like, why are you throwing that guy at the line of scrimmage like this?
I don't understand.
Like it's really, I get the offensive line was an issue, but that he's,
he's a bench stash for now.
There's outside.
Things can change.
DK Mekap dealing with the rib injury, but don't, don't play.
Don't start JSN with this type of usage.
It's, it's not, not great at all.
Um, the Rams are produced.
Sean McVase of Genius, lose Cooper Cup.
They have the number two fantasy bat, Kyron Williams.
Puka is the, I mean, you should have spent 101% of your waiver wire budget on,
on him.
He's, he is him and, and Tutu Atwell is so good.
Fan Jefferson dropped the ball at the end of last game and you can drop him from all
your fantasy teams.
I know that he has been a disappointment and same with Higby.
You like Van Jefferson.
I like Higby.
We were both wrong on those.
Go get Atwell, go get Puka who can still be a wide receiver three at minimum.
If Cup can somehow return close to full strength, which I remain skeptical.
But um, Puka is just the real deal.
It benefited from playing a Niners team that just produces a lot of passes because
they're so good defensively against the run, but man, just exciting.
If you got these guys off your waiver wire, Kyron Williams is a top 12 fantasy
back moving forward, given his usage and with acres gone.
And I've seen a couple people, including a professional gambler after looking at
all the tape called Matthew Stafford, the leagues MVP through the first two weeks of
the season.
I mean, you look at the one touchdown or whatever.
You wouldn't think that, but like I, and I can see it.
I don't think that's crazy, man.
The dudes out there absolutely slinging it.
Oh, he's shredding and Puka, I think again, is in a role that he is not just going
to like get off the field as soon as Cooper Cup comes back there.
Like those two guys can coexist together.
I think two to at well will remain in like a, this, the pre snap motion speed
role.
Yeah, Van Jefferson has been disappointing.
I, you know, he played all right in 2021.
I don't want to make it seem like he ever looked like he was a superstar or anything.
But I mean, Puka had a, was a better, had a better college profile.
I, you know, he's just, he's just a star, dude.
I, I think, I mean, not a star, but he's a really good player.
So he can continue to be a fantasy star until Cooper Cup gets back.
In our bold prediction piece last week, I was too, too cowardly.
I said, Puka will be a top 20 fantasy wide out against the, the 49ers.
And then the oblique showed up out of nowhere.
I'm like, ah, what, what's happening here?
But I think he's a really honest, like a top 12 fantasy receiver as long as Cup is
out. The usage is there.
You said, I think you had the second most yards per out run in college of last five
draft seasons.
I know the production wasn't there.
Make some injuries, but, but man, there's a, you just love the, the, the role he's
in, and that offense and with the way the McVeigh and Stafford combination.
But Kyron Williams also, man, just wow, what a, what a change from a guy
who available on most waiver wires to a top 12 fantasy back after the first two
weeks.
Yeah, I think Kyron someone else will be mixing in with him a little more
than like what we saw last week since they like late scratched can makers and
are now trying to get rid of him.
But Kyron is still, yeah, totally like a fantasy starter going forward.
As is Puka.
All right, number 17, New York Giants were skipping them for Thursday night.
Football, number 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dude, I got to admit, I was very out on this passing offense.
You even tried to talk me back into Mike Evans.
You, I should have listened to you, man.
I should have listened to you on this one because, yo, the, the box have been
great, fantastic from a passing game perspective.
I love what Dave can Alice is doing there.
You know, coming over from Seattle and Mike Evans looks awesome, dude.
He just looks, he, he, nothing he's ever looked bad, but he just looks fantastic.
So far this year.
So I am taking the L on being so mean to Baker Mayfield long season.
But right now, I got to take the L on this one.
Man, Evans, I loved him in the sixth round.
Third most areas per game last season and Brady threw a lot of passes,
but it just wasn't like the target rate was high for, for Evans.
But I did not expect Baker Mayfield to ball out like this.
I did not expect them to have a positive pass rate over expectation.
One of the few teams.
So I did not quite, you know, I can't say called that part of
Evans's game who was battling an injury to late in the preseason and contractual issues.
But he's looked great.
Baker Mayfield's ball in this week.
I like Chris Godwin to bounce back and score some a touchdown or two.
The Eagles are allowing the most passing touchdowns.
So far this year and the six most fantasy points to wide receiver receivers.
opponents have attempted a whopping 49 passes per game against this Eagle secondary.
So like Evans and Godwin this week.
Number 19 green Bay Packers, Jaden Reed leads the team being targeted
on 38% of his routes.
He's still just third on the team and routes run.
He left with injuries of time in week one and he's, you know,
playing a little more slot than like outside receiver.
But dude, I think the time is really coming for Jaden Reed.
And it's pretty impressive that this passing offense has been so efficient.
Despite the fact that they've missed their two best players in Christian walks
into both games and Aaron Jones last game.
And I think it was Jacob Gibbs who pointed this out.
But the thing that's really extra impressive about Jaden Reed and those targets
throughout run is that he's playing almost all in three wide receiver sets.
So he's competing against two other receivers during these routes too.
So there's a, you don't want to chase the touchdown.
But at the same time, whoa, the usage looks real there.
So the one thing I'd say, well, two things I'd say Jordan loves like PFF grades
versus his pass rating or big discrepancy.
He's been one of the more fortunate passers.
Some regression is coming.
And also how is the target distribution going to be with a healthy Christian Watson?
Yeah, fair enough.
Uh, but I think Reed is here to stay.
Oh, yeah, that's great.
Yeah.
And I like read over dogs in my opinion, no brainer easily.
Yeah, for sure.
For sure.
Number 20 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Oh, we don't have to spend long on this.
The Steelers ranked 32nd in percentage of drives that have ended in a score
to really tough defenses to start.
I mean, I get that 49ers Cleveland Browns, obviously look great.
But it has been bad as bad as a start as I could have possibly imagined for an
offense that I talked way too much about this off season.
Yeah.
I mean, I'm frustrated.
I have a lot of fire moves, Deontay Johnson, um, a little George Pickens.
Do we give Matt Canada credit for him changing George Pickens' usage, um, Monday
night totally different.
I was worried they were going to do the same routes.
And I'm like, ah, the targets aren't going to change.
And it's going to be Calvin Austin and Alan Robinson.
But they really did change, uh, Pickens his, uh, it was, it's used in the slot
more things were the slant 27% of his routes were slant.
So do we just give Canada a little credit?
I guess one time we absolutely do have to give Matt Canada for doing the
most basic possible, like no brain or thing with the current number one.
We have to give Matt credit, we have to give Matt Canada credit for the, uh,
be the absolute bare minimum of expectations are bar set low.
Then yeah, here we are.
Okay, fine fair.
Yeah, it's been ugly.
And Jalen Warren over nausea Harris moving forward, right?
I'm being serious.
Like I would rather Jalen Warren than I think, well, here's the
split the work last week.
And he just looked at a million times better.
Nausea Herod has had the first, his second 20 plus yard run since last year.
And the first ever was to kill the clock.
I mean, that was wild.
That it was like, it took, I think three and a half minutes from decleat that
21 yard run.
So I mean, it's, if anyone who watched that game, you want Jalen Warren more
than nausea Harris moving forward.
Well, here's the deal.
I don't want either one of them like on my fantasy team.
But, uh, yeah, I think obviously Jalen Warren is more explosive.
And, you know, this, this game in Las Vegas against the Raiders is going to
be a big truth teller for this offense.
Like if it's, if they, if they can't get it going, if Kenny Pickett can't look
more accurate, like better under duress, then he has so far.
And we like, if he can't do it against the Raiders, then I'm, I'm really like
then I'm super raising the alarm bells on that one.
Uh, all right.
Number 21, New York Jets, expected fantasy points per game for the running backs
in this backfield, according to fantasy points data, Daven Cook, 7.1,
Breeze Hall, 6.2, Michael Carter, 3.3.
This backfield's a mess on an offense that we hate right now.
Yeah, that was crazy.
I was worried.
Breeze Hall missing practice.
You know, was it just maintenance or was this workload because of an injury,
but then he tweeted, you know, the four football emojis.
So obviously he, he feels like you should have got more touches.
But yeah, this is bad.
I mean, you're not using Daven Cook and any capacity in, in, in fantasy.
And Breeze Hall just comes down to your roster construction.
And Garrett Wilson coming off the couple touchdowns, maybe trade off room
in some trades.
Can you get Nico Collins for Garrett Wilson?
I would consider, um, I, uh, I, I, I come to the conclusion.
I do not think Zach Wilson's going to be starting kind of four weeks,
for five weeks from now.
I think the Jets are going to have to move on at quarterback.
I can't believe that I'm like begging for Carson.
Once, but I'm begging for them to sign Carson.
Once at this point, uh, number 22 Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen,
6.4% deep throw rate ranks 27th among quarterbacks and his sandwich
between Kenny Pickett and Jimmy G.
Not two guys that you want to be a sandwich between if you're Josh Allen.
He's also just has 2.5 design runs, uh, per game so far this season.
I, I just think this is interesting because, and it's not necessarily a bad thing,
but I just think Josh Allen has, like, I think especially against the Raiders was
much calmer is like kind of taken with the defense gives him.
And I think this offense in Buffalo this year is going to look a little bit
different than in years past.
Yeah, I'd build in survivor and that was not a great start.
An immediate touchdown drive Raiders into three and out on offense for Buffalo,
but they Josh Allen balled out afterward.
One of the best players on the field last week.
I'm not worried about the A dot one of the two games he played this years
against the Jets awesome defense on the road.
So, uh, Allen was awesome last week.
Uh, you attempted a hurdle over someone standing over six feet tall with a,
with a helmet.
It was great. Love Josh Allen and he's a back in business.
You know, who's in business right now?
Number 23, Washington commanders Sam Howell has thrown just 2.9% of his
passes 20 plus yards down the field.
That's the lowest among starters.
Uh, you know, I'm not saying this is a bad thing either.
Like how does look pretty good kind of running the offense at least in week two.
I week one was a little herky jerky.
But you got to remember they're breaking in a lot of new pieces here.
New starting quarterback who doesn't have a ton of experience.
New Austin offensive coordinators first time column plays like full time.
You know, not splitting it with Andy Reed.
So I'm, I'm really encouraged by what I've seen out of Sam Howell so far.
Was that throw to Terry McClure in more than 20 yards?
It looked like it.
I was one of the plays of the week last week.
I mean, it's worth noting he's complete.
It's like he's completed 100% of those passes, but it's only 2.9%.
I mean, that was sick.
Both McScarry Terry and Howell, one of the plays of the week last, uh,
week when they made that come back.
Um, he's been encouraging Howell has his moments,
holding onto the ball far too long.
Still no question about that.
And where's our guide?
Johan Dotson definitely been one of the bigger fantasy disappointments so far.
Brian Robinson conversely is the guy.
Um, so frustrated.
I don't have more of him that I spoke favorably of him, but just did a man.
I should have more fantasy teams.
He's the real deal.
Be pumped.
If you have them on fantasy teams, don't look to be selling high there.
Love be Rob.
Totally cosine that.
And I think it'll like big, big weeks are coming for McClure and and Dotson when
they start kind of concentrating the targets a little more.
So I'm not worried really about either of those two.
Number 24 Philadelphia Eagles Deandre Swift,
plus on Thursday played 76% of the snaps ran around on 45% of the dropbacks.
And I have 58% of the team carries.
Obviously, though, don't know Kenny Gainwell, Boston Scott missed this one.
Or he missed, he got injured in the middle of the game.
Where are we at with Deandre Swift going forward?
Rashad Penny made his presence felt.
I mean, he had a, he had a, he had a, he's on there in there for two snaps.
He let a nice run, like six yard run and then he cost him a touchdown on a holding on the other.
I mean, he made his presence felt.
Dude, I don't know if there are two blitzers covered up in the middle.
But yes, he costs, he played two snaps and cost his team a 50 yard touchdown in one of them.
But yeah, I didn't tell you this, but one of my friends,
he had a, like a crazy seven leg parlay.
And if Jalen Hertz had just gotten that, that second passing touchdown,
he would have won $21,000.
And so he basically, he basically hates Rashad Penny now.
Yeah, Rashad is nothing.
Yeah, you can't go lower than, oh, that's, it's, yeah,
it's, that's not been great for him.
And I don't think he earned more trust playing time with that performance.
Daughter Swift, meanwhile, another guy frustrating available in rounds eight,
like Brian Robinson that is now looked like just a monster.
How good did he look, too?
Just, I mean, passing the eye test, just awesome there.
And I, boy, I hope the Eagles don't mess around and give Gainwell some,
some of those touches if he's healthy.
I mean, let's, let's Swift go.
I know he's good luck staying healthy with Swift.
But man, I hope he becomes the, uh, the leader of that backfield.
You're such a great situation.
And, you know, Swift took advantage of it.
I, that'll probably be his best game all year is, is my bet.
But I don't know, I'm interested to see how they, uh,
divvy up the workload when Gainwell's back in Boston,
Scott's back in the whole thing.
Number 25, Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs are coming off the lowest offensive success rate
in 96 games with Patrick Holmes.
And meanwhile, Isaiah Pecheko, who did pop up on the injury report today,
we'll see if that means anything, but he has run more routes than
Jared McKinnon in each of the first two games, Dalton.
They get the bears this week.
The bears are terrible on defense, along with everything else.
By the way, the bears just put their starting left tackle,
Braxton Jones on injured reserve.
So great.
Things are getting even better for Justin Fields.
Of course, Pecheko, so I use them as one of my conviction picks this week.
He was given 86% of Casey's running back carries last week.
Only one have a handful of backs to played 100% of his teams.
Red zone snaps.
As you said, I mean, he's out running routes.
Then Jared McKinnon, who's just totally disappeared.
Bear is allowing the third most fantasy points to running backs this season.
They've allowed 25 plus points in 12 plus,
and sorry, in 12 straight games.
I think it's an NFL record if they allow it again this week in Kansas City,
which odds favor that.
So loved Pecheko's setup here.
I mean, CEH is dust.
So yeah, but he needs to be healthy.
I think he's a nice little bilo.
Like if the if the work continues to concentrate to him,
I think that he could actually be a really big important piece for them as the season wears on.
Number 26 of the Titans.
We already talked about their stat.
Number 27, the New Orleans Saints,
Derek Carr leads all quarterbacks with a 20.3% deep throw rate.
I would say Carr has not been perfect so far through two games,
but he has been letting it fly a little bit,
which has been good news for Chris Olave and really good news for Rashid Shaheed,
who I think has some staying power here.
I just note that Derek Carr does play different outdoors when you're deciding
in your weekly matchups or DFS,
but Michael Thomas looks relatively healthy.
Rashid Shaheed looks like,
oh, all those underlying stats do suggest he could be a fantasy helpful.
And Chris Olave, man, what a baller.
See that catch?
I mean, Monday night.
I mean, just so so sick.
Yeah, that was, I mean, he's awesome.
He's like a top 10 real life NFL receiver.
I think I'm ready to say it already at this point.
Mesta Backfield there.
I'm Stash and Kendra Miller when you can.
I mean, Jamal Williams is going to be out a while.
Tony Jones could be very worthwhile for the short term.
And obviously, Camera will be returning in a maybe with clear path to touches.
But I'm still Stash and Kendra Miller in deeper leagues.
Collins asking if he can play Kendra Miller this weekend.
Maybe as he healthy.
I mean, this the health is the problem with him, the hamstring.
So yeah, if he's expect him to be a full-go in practice this week.
So yeah, maybe those Tony Jones isn't going to be helpful this week.
So we have to see how that shakes out.
But boy, Kendra Miller jumped out on some plays in the preseason.
He looks, he looks like it has some nice potential.
If Miller doesn't take advantage of the opportunity this weekend,
like you really couldn't have asked for a better run out for Alvin Camera if he drafted him,
by the way.
Number 28, Atlanta Falcons.
Love all these NFC South teams.
So deep into the draft order here.
Desmond Ritter ranks 14th in catchable pass rate among all quarterbacks,
according to fantasy points data.
Hey, all I ask out of Desmond Ritter is be functional.
I feel really encouraged about what I saw.
It's not going to help Kyle Pitchbrows.
I'm sorry, but it's just not going to happen for you most likely.
But I think it can still happen for Drake London and keep this offensive float
based on how Desmond Ritter played a week too.
Yeah, we're happy with his performance, Ritters.
It's certainly been competent.
And oh, man, Bishon Robinson looks like a real deal.
That one tackle breaking play he had where he broke two or three or four tackles was so
so awesome.
He's locked in as a top three fantasy back.
Even without you're getting 10 to 15 touches per game.
But yeah, Ritter has been competent.
And the Kyle Pitch, man, I don't know what to say.
I have in a few places.
It's it's absolutely brutal.
It's rough.
Yeah, Bishon is so good.
He's going to be frustrating sometimes because he's going to lose work to Tyler
Algier and stuff like that.
Like that's not going away.
But he is such an awesome player.
And you see why they drafted him eighth overall.
Like he's just incredible.
He's an incredible player.
Number 29, Baltimore Ravens.
Lamar Jackson ranks first in RPO dropback rate with 11.3%.
He also ranks first in catchable pass rate and sixth inaccuracy rate.
I think things are looking really good for the Baltimore offense like after week two.
And I think it's only going to go up from here.
Yeah, no JK Dobbins doing all the touchdowns from Lamar.
Is he going to run?
Do you think like in the past?
He did have a long run last week.
It was called back by penalty.
But Zay flowers looks awesome.
What a connection downfield.
Our guy Bateman, hopefully, you know, can get healthier.
I mean, Agdala worked that come from.
But yeah, he got excited about the Ravens both on both sides of the ball,
dominating on defense.
And now can they stay healthy?
You know, Ronnie Stanley and Lamar.
What's he, what he pop up with question with a hand injury?
So we need them to stay healthy.
Otherwise, it's going to be another nice setup at home against a really in Houston defense.
He's got a he's popping up with a hand injury because he's throwing so much heat right now, bro.
I mean, that's why.
Yeah, I don't think I don't think he's going to run as much as previous.
I mean, he's going to be a, you know, a great scrambler and stuff like that.
But he honestly wants to sit back in the pocket and like play real quarterback.
He's always been more like of a designed runner than a scrambler.
Like he's been more devastating on scrambles.
And I think he is still a really devastating scrambler.
But previously, it's been a lot of the designed rushes that have made him like so
productive, quote, unquote, as a runner.
So I do think that's not necessarily going to change going forward.
Number 30 San Francisco 49ers were skipping for Thursday and I football.
Number 31 Miami dolphins.
Things are great for the dolphins are probably the best team in the AFC right now.
But Jalen Waddle hasn't quite had the start to the season many.
We're hoping he ranks 59th among wide receivers and expected fantasy points,
according to fantasy points data.
And 43rd in targets per route run among wide receivers who have 10 plus targets this season.
Any reason to be concerned about Jalen Waddle and the usage though so far this year
is just like two games worth of noise.
Not concerned about his usage.
More concerned about the concussion and protocol and can he recover in time for this week.
But yeah, obviously hasn't been great, but Tyree Kill is awesome.
And if you looked in deep into the stats last year, it wasn't like close.
Tyree Kill is the target dominator there.
It's just that there's no one else too.
I mean, smights out there leading the league and routes routes run.
So I think Waddle is going to be fine if healthy.
I mean, what about his quarterback, by the way,
is the current favorite for the NFL MVP.
I mean, how about that?
Two is the favorite right now.
I mean, that's just while I have him, I have a ticket for him to lead the league in passing yards.
I think it was 12 to 1.
So let's go to us.
Stay healthy.
Let's go.
Yeah, let's just stay healthy, man, because this offense is so fun to watch.
Number 32, Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys still have a 3% dropback rate over expected despite smashing the first two games.
This is according to fantasy life.
I thought this is interesting because I look, I think everybody owes Mike McCarthy a big apology.
But things have gone really well for the Dallas offense so far.
I will at least say like, I always raise the point that people were so quick to get all the good
stuff is Kellyn Moore.
All the bad stuff in Dallas was Mike McCarthy, which I'd never really bought into.
I think they're actually both pretty good offensive play callers.
Honestly, I think Kellyn sometimes still gets a little too cute and a little too,
like just run the stuff that works, man.
So anyways, my point in all of this is just to say, I think this Cowboys offense,
we haven't even really seen him in a normal game yet, but I'm very excited for what we're
going to get when we do get to a normal game.
Yeah, can we talk a little Tony Pollard who leads all run backs and expected fantasy points?
I mean, he's getting just 71 rushing yards per game, 3.6 yards per carry.
But it's a product of facing the jets and nursing these big leads in obvious run situations.
Rico Dottel, Dowdell Stoll, two goal line carries last week.
Pollard also had a six yard TD run nullified by a penalty.
But he's getting that goal line work.
I mean, Ezekiel Elliott.
At the second most carries inside the five last season,
my only small Williams, he's obviously gone.
I think Pollard should be considered the favorite to lead the NFL in touchdowns this season,
Barring Health.
I mean, I ranked him as my number two fantasy back entering the year, hoping to get
approached 300 touches.
He's on pace for 425.
The second most over the last 15 years behind only DeMarco Murray, I believe.
So I mean, now this week they're facing big time favorites against the Cardinals.
So he just loved the usage Tony Pollard scene.
And even if the fantasy production's been made him only like the fifth fantasy back,
I'd treat him more like one or two him in McCaffrey moving forward.
Yeah, like I said, we haven't seen him in a normal game.
Not going to see him in a normal game this weekend, most likely.
Although I do think the the Cardinals have been a little bit better than expected.
But number week number four New England week five in San Francisco,
that will be a big game for the Cowboys and the and the nine.
Sunday nighter.
Yeah, Sunday nighter.
I'll be at that one too.
Perfect.
All right.
Well, speaking of games that feature the Niners that Dalton will be at,
let's talk Thursday night football here.
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers.
44 and a half over under and your Niners Dalton are 10 point favorites.
Obviously the big thing for this.
Let's start with the Giants side of it before we talk for the Niners for 25 minutes here.
Obviously a big thing to note in this game.
Saekwan Barkley was ruled out on Wednesday.
He's not going to play in this game.
That's not surprising considering he's got an ankle injury that he might miss multiple weeks.
Honestly, Dalton, like I'm not really jazzed up about any of these backup running backs.
None of these guys is like is like a Jerome Ford where you pick him up off the way.
Why do you think he's like an immediate start?
Like Matt Brito we've seen before, but he's kind of a bit of a change of pace back.
He's never he's been a long time since we've seen him get like a full workload.
The other backups not really too interested there.
And honestly, I kind of feel like the backup running back for the New York Giants might just be
Daniel Jones.
And like I think it's because if you look right now, Daniel Jones has been in terms of
rushing quarterbacks.
He's been right up there is 25% designed rushing rate leads all quarterbacks.
And his 13% scramble rate is second among all quarterbacks.
So if anybody's going to be picking up the rushing workload,
it might just be more Daniel Jones.
Yeah, Jones had a touchdown run called back last week too and still finished as a number one fantasy
QB. He's a really good runner.
One of the league's best running quarterbacks.
You're right. It's not an ideal matchup, although it is a matchup that dictates a lot of passing
because teams can't run the ball on the Niners.
Matt Breeda revenge game against the Niners probably the guy you're using in a flex if you need to,
but expect some bright well and Eric Gray in a in a committee in a bad matchup.
So I try to avoid that.
Same with the wide receivers for the Giants.
They just rotate too many guys there.
And I see Jalen Hyatt make a play down field last week.
Daniel Jones can throw the deep ball as well.
Darren Waller's a guy I would target in DFS in this game.
Giants going to be having to pass a lot.
And he looked healthy enough last week.
And I think he's he's going to be looking at a lot of targets Thursday night.
100% on the San Francisco side.
Couple stats for them.
One, Christian McAfry's played 91.7% of the team's stats so far this year.
You mentioned the chain of hand.
I'll believe it when I see it that he's like, yeah, we're going to get.
We messed up having Elijah Mitchell not out there.
I think Mitchell's going to get more work going forward.
But look, CMC, like I think if we redrafted today,
he would definitely be taking over Jamar Chase, which probably should have been anyways.
But he might even go number one overall over Justin Jefferson at this point.
He just that role is so fantasy viable.
But the real stat I wanted to mention here,
Brock Purdy has ranked third in pressure dropback rate behind only Zach Wilson and Daniel Jones,
who don't even really count because they've played to Cowboys.
But meanwhile, he has a 0% check down rate.
And I know he missed some deep throws to IU,
who's on the injure report going into this game.
We'll see if he plays.
They've called him a true game time decision.
Did John Lynch today?
But I still think Purdy has played really well, all things considered.
And noting that he's been under so much pressure,
and I think still played well is really impressive for him.
Yeah, I had the face the most pressure in week one.
Definitely missed some throws last week,
particularly three that would have combined for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
But it happens.
There are some flashbacks of the Jimmy G.
overthrowing a manual Sanders, but Purdy, that's his worst game,
though, as a pro, then it's going to be okay.
They continue to score 30 points like clockwork with him.
I expect George Kittle to get involved.
He's been relatively quiet and Brandon IU,
if he does suit up, will probably be compromised.
Unfortunately, man, McCaffrey, can he hold up with this workload,
though, it's a lot of touches and now a short week too.
So I do expect Elijah Mitchell to get some work Thursday night.
But yeah, there are double digit favorites at home.
The GameScript could call for Mitchell to help too there as well.
So Brock Purdy is going to bounce back with a nice effort.
But the question is, are you starting?
Who are you ranking higher, Brock Purdy at home?
You know, the team favorite by 10 or Daniel Jones,
tougher matchup, but you're having to throw more
and he brings the rushing equity.
Purdy, for sure.
I think this giant defense has been disappointing
through two weeks.
They're so aggressive.
They're so man coverage heavy.
I do think having IU could be really good in this matchup.
Like, obviously, that's that's a pretty big downgrade.
But nobody's run more routes higher routes per drop-back rate
than Debo Samuels so far this year.
They still have George Co.
They have thrown so much else that they can throw you.
I rank Purdy higher than Jones this week.
And so I'm just looking at ECR.
They actually are ranked back-to-back by the consensus ranks.
Only those sheep have Daniel Jones one spot ahead.
And you and me have a, we have BCB number one ahead of him.
So let's go.
Yeah, man.
I'd rather have my quarterback play,
especially like if we're talking to slightly volatile guys
and especially on the Daniel Jones side of it,
like two volatile guys.
I'd rather have the guy playing in positive game script
than the guy who's likely going to be playing in negative game script.
By the way, like talk about difference in supporting cast.
Yeah, I think it's clearly Brock Purdy.
I mean, the rushing stuff is great for Daniel Jones,
but there could be some rough moments there too.
Let's talk about our guy IU, man.
I hope he is healthy because he's looked so, so good out there
and he's just toasting DBs,
but that AC spraying could linger for a couple weeks.
He played through pain last week for sure if you watched him.
And he kept having to fall on his shoulder too after these,
these contact too.
So let's hope we can get him right.
And if that takes sitting out this week
and then coming back 10 days later, then so be it.
You know, they don't, you know, so that's let's hope we get BA, right?
Because he was emerging as we had hoped.
Yeah, that's a, they called out a pain tolerance thing
and generally that's how it would go.
If he was to play through it, but I agree with you,
if I'm them, I'm like, just you can beat the giants at home
without Brandon IU.
I think the giants will have their moments this year,
but like you should, again, if you're San Francisco,
you should be able to say like, we have enough around brand,
like a Brock party that we don't need to force brand.
And I you, although I you was playing and he was close to 100%.
This would be the exact type of matchup
against an aggressive defense like this.
Oh, that's right.
The man zone.
Huh, I forgot the giants are man heavy there.
Yeah, that's true.
That's a tough setup for the giants coming off that awesome second half come back
and then traveling across the country to play on a short week.
And yes, producer Colin,
nine or fans are definitely looking ahead to that to that Cowboys matchup
in prime time.
I mean, that that could be a deciding home field.
I mean, absolutely.
Yeah, definitely.
Right now,
yeah, the giants are definitely not playing as much man coverage as you think,
but there's still pretty much up there.
So yeah, I think I think it's a good, I think it would be a great matchup for you.
And I have IU gone plenty of fantasy teams.
I'm almost just kind of hoping like he doesn't play in this one
and figure something.
I'll figure something out out else out at receiver.
And yeah, he gets 10 days off to come back.
Like I think Andrew Thomas missed last week left tackle.
Is he is his health?
You know, that's obviously a big deal against the Niners of front,
front seven that's looking pretty dominant with with hardgrave added there.
All right, anything else on this game?
Uh, you'll be there.
So we'll get your advanced scouting report.
Yeah, exactly.
I told you last time.
Well, I don't see IU toast and DB's.
Let's see if he can get hit down field.
But yeah, I'll just see his health.
But um, no, it sucks if I don't get to see Barclay man.
I hope I'd love to see Barclay a healthy Barclay.
One of the best players in the league just just rooting for that.
All right, well, that is going to do it for us.
Dalton shout out to you.
Great episode.
As always, 32 stats on all 32 teams.
We love to see it tomorrow.
We set the stage for week three with the games you need to binge stream skip.
Our very own Dan Titus joins us for that.
Until then, we're out.