October 4, 2022 • 42 mins
It’s Fox Sports Radio’s Official Fantasy Football Podcast! Dan Beyer and Mike Harmon look back on Week 4 and discuss their biggest takeaways in fantasy, as many of us can breathe a sigh of relief after huge performances from top-tier players. The guys dive in to the Broncos losing Javonte Williams for the season and explain what it will mean for other members of the Broncos offense. Dan and Mike look at what a change at QB will mean for members of the Steelers. Should you keep the faith in Alvin Kamara and Kyle Pitts? Plus, Mike gives his waiver pickups for Week 5!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You want experience during your football season, well, buckle up,
sweet cheeks. We've got all the experience in the world.
This is I Want Your Flex with Dan Buyer and
Mike Harman. Mike and Dan breakdown everything you need to
set your line ups from position rankings, two starts and sits.
(00:24):
The guys help you make those hard decisions and now
let's get your flexad Here's Dan Buyer and Mike Harman.
See you later week four. Welcome in. It is I
Want your Flex. Get Mike on Twitter at Swollen. Don't
find me on Twitter at Dan Buyer on Fox Er
executive producer is Ryan burshing Her Front of the bun
(00:45):
Twitter at Ryan burshing Her. It was a week four
Mike that I think a lot of people in the
fantasy world finally we're able to exhale because there were
performances from guys that you've been waiting for and waiting for,
and some of those guys cashed in with big performances
in week four. Yeah, we saw some huge point tollals.
(01:05):
I was actually just going through my fantasy results for
week four, happily on the positive side, including a narrow victory,
but talking about a huge point tolls, including a couple
of guys we also didn't expect much from. I'm looking
at huge Josh Jacobs uh and running a monk on
the Denver Broncos. But but you're right. I mean, we
(01:25):
see some great hundred yard performances, some new heroes emerging,
but some of those get right games for guys that
maybe it'd let you down for a couple of weeks.
Not to say that there aren't still plenty that we're
worried about through the first quarter of the season. Plus
one uh that we uh, we we got some point totals,
we got adventure in a bunch of games, and you know,
(01:48):
as always, the injuries are starting to pile up, So
the activity turns up with the production. Yeah, a couple
of big injuries in that Rader Broncos game. Javante Williams
will deal with that. Cridarrel Patterson's gonna be out a
little while. Plus there are um other ramifications. Two has
already been ruled out a week five. A lot to
get to as we we move on with the pod.
(02:08):
But we do have to at least do some self checking.
And I'll say this, I I hit on Carson Wentz
for the bench. Carson Wentz wasn't gonna be a top
ten starter. Mic. However, Carson Wentz was finding himself in
lineups over the last couple of weeks. I did not
like his matchup against Dallas. Uh ended up throwing two
interceptions in the game, didn't get over two hundred yards
(02:31):
to throw for a touchdown, but bottom of the of
the barrel in certain leagues. One league in mine, he
was twenty eight and points amongst quarterbacks. So hit on
Carson Wentz and I felt there was a Rashad Penny
breakout game. And now I've realized if there's a player
that needs to break out and they're playing against the Lions,
it's probably going to happen. So Rashad Penny had a
(02:52):
big breakout game. And even without Jamis Winston, without Elvin Kimara,
Saints were still able to put some points on the board.
They just knee did another yard to add three more
and it would have been very interesting. But I'm not
taking a win with my points of beluser with Viking Saints. However,
it turned out better than I think some people thought
it would be. I thought you were going to get
(03:14):
some points in that game, it wasn't Seahawks Lions esque,
but when you look around the league and you're looking
at point totals, it was one of the better games
that we had points wise. In Week four. Oh yeah,
fun start out of England. So we'll get another one
of those in the coming week with the Giants. The
Giants who beat my bears. Uh and one of the
(03:35):
paint drying football games of the Great end zones though,
oh no, they it looked it look it was crisp Dan.
It was crisp. But I normally we were like, I
don't want to bite the hand that feeds. But you know,
if the Fox broadcasters don't want to do, the game
has to be reassigned because all they did was make
(03:56):
fun of the offenses. Ah third and tend they got
it right where they want. I was like, a or
a while, it's like you're laughing at the product. You're
you're not funny anymore. But that's just me. Uh. In
twenty to twelve, your final there in terms of things
got right. You see A thirty two you're like, Derek
Carr had a big game. No he didn't. I said
he wouldn't, and uh, well I hadn't been paying attention yards.
(04:19):
Yeah it was, but I mean he did a good
job getting it into Jacob's gut, which is really all
that matters is he ran a muck. Uh. Was not
a fan of Matthew Stafford. I think that's a larger
talking point coming out a week four is I don't
know how fixable things are for the Rams at this juncture.
So I'll take a couple of victory laps there. Justin
(04:40):
Jefferson going back to that game, thought maybe the Saints
would have a little something for him and that Captain
Kirk would have to go to secondary and tert Opson's
didn't ten catches running wild in the secondary, So, uh,
you have that going for you. Um, Steelers Jets expected
a little more from from Naji Harris once again looks
(05:03):
like he's running in mud no matter who's under center. Uh,
he's not getting it done. Uh. And then when we
look at the the the last thing, you know, I
expected more from from Tampa. That was a prediction both
on the pod and then just ranting like an idiot
across the Fox Sports Radio network alongside Jason Smith. Yeah
(05:23):
they lost one. Brady comes up with a good fantasy
effort when it's all, said Don Evans, with a couple
of touchdowns, just expected a better game, and I guess
Leonard four Nette got the receiving touchdowns, so he cashed
in for fantasy owners who were saying where the touchdowns
you promised me? But that they've got to fix that
run game as well. Yeah, it's it's something with the
(05:46):
Buccaneers Sunday night games and not running the football at all,
like they remember the Saints game a few years ago,
and and I know when you fumbled the opening kickoff
and you're down. Yeah, I mean it was quick. But
to only have only have six rushes and to have
Leonard Fournette have his uh minus three yards rushing, yeah,
(06:10):
I would. I would be very disappointed if I was
a Leonard Fournette player in fantasy. Ryan bur Singer tells
you each week on what defenses to stream. You'll tell
you who to pick up for week five and our
pod that drops on Friday Hot. Did Week four turnout
for you? Ryan bur Singer? I went pretty well. I
I well, I said the Packers on our Friday episode.
(06:33):
The Packers didn't do as well defensively as I thought
they did. They would, but they ended up getting me
nine points, I believe, so a solid stream there. I
also said the I liked both sides of the Giants Bears,
and I leaned towards the Giants. Giants got me fifteen
points in that game, so uh yeah, there's there was
some good plays there defensively. I also said, the Chargers
against the the Texans, and for the first half that
(06:55):
looked pretty good. Then Damian Pierce broke a big one
off and then the Texans start to come back in
that game made it interesting, but um they it was.
It was a decent play for a little bit. If
you remember from the last pod, I predicted a Texans win. Yes,
I was there. I was there with you and and
I and I said to myself, all right, this is
(07:17):
this is the week it's gonna happen. And I even
I texted Ryan Burrshinger at the half when it was
twenty seven to seven and it was like bad day
to make the old uh you know Texans pick. Then
when it was Mike, it was twenty seven to twenty one,
not even one. I thought to myself, the Texas are
gonna win this game, Like this was such a Charger's
(07:38):
like collapse and then Texans did get within three. They
kicked that field goal, um, but the Chargers sealed the deal.
But I think maybe just each week I'm gonna predict
the Texans win since they're the now the only team
without a win in the NFL. It's funny, right because
I was I had a soccer game from my daughter
all the way down in Temecula, so folks can remember
(07:58):
that from would be fight from NBA players about things,
but well only that fights to say. I was in
the car a bunch and my executive producer, Justin Frostberg,
he does the producing for the Chargers games. You got
Matt money Smith, a M five seventy l a sports hoast,
along with Petris Popadegez, but in the booth with Daniel Jeremiah,
(08:19):
and they're they're really fun listening when they're stressful moments, right,
I mean, they're the home call. So when they're winning,
it's you know, a little bows was like, oh there
he is again, you know. But when it starts to unravel,
it's absolute chaos in the booth and it's such a
great listen. So I'm in the car driving back after
the soccer game. It's the fourth quarter things have gotten tight.
(08:41):
I'm like, this is fantastic. And then they finished the job.
But uh yeah, give give give Davis Mills an offensive coach.
Go find him another playmaker other than Pierce, because Brandon
Cooks ain't that guy to to just the it up
and makeo get hey got the end zone he did.
(09:05):
For the purposes of our fantasy world, that works. By
the way, they also need five offensive lineman. Pretty tall
shopping list they do. Learnie Tonsil learned like there's you know,
I'd take him, but there's yeah, there is, you know.
They're they're the Texans. I I thought, and I think,
you know, I thought that the Texans had an opportunity.
(09:26):
But to your point, Mike about the angst and the booth,
I think they're about two or three NFL teams like
I would think that the Lions booth probably is the
same way with that defense, where you just like, you know,
the Chargers are so snake bitten and you're like, here
we go again, you know. So it's a different dynamic
than you know, twenty eight other teams in the NFL
and even the other thirty one if you will. For
(09:48):
for how the Chargers fans feel so snake bitten. But yeah,
when you kind of start to see it unravel, you're
gonna start to question yourself. All right, here is this again?
Is this again? But hey, Austin Eckler roke through, you
know well that he finally, finally for fantasy owners, and
he was looking around everybody going, wait a minute, what,
where's where's my guy? Why isn't he scoring? And where's
(10:12):
my where's my love here? Uh? And now suddenly, you know,
one good game, as we know in the the running
back world, suddenly puts you near the top of the
scoring list. It's a good thing you don't get penalized
for not stopping the run. Ryan Bursinger and defenses. Because
Green Bay could have some troubles, I mean just I
(10:32):
mean Damien Harris having a nice day, Romandre Stevenson, you know,
getting some work done. I think it's something entitled town
that they want to patch up a little bit. But hey,
you've got you've got the giants in London, so maybe
would be another reason to keep with the back the
pack attack. Well, especially you know, as with with Daniel
(10:54):
Jones not being able to spurnt around even if he
plays not nearly as spryly as he did against the
pairs with was two touchdown runs as if it was
parting of the Red Sea, and know he had a
protective bubble around him. I'm sorry, did that sound bitter? Maybe?
See Juan Barkley is gonna have to do more wild card,
wild card wildcat, A little more wildcat for him. Good
for him. But I mean, you know, to Rod Taylor
(11:15):
in there, I mean, in all the potential for chaos,
that's what we hit on, what we missed on, a
little bit of what we missed on, but we like,
we like to play the hits here on the one Well,
I got a whole list of up but good good news.
We don't have time. Yeah, we have already. We have
already forgotten about those things. You don't need to bring
(11:35):
them up because Mike just time permitting. It's one of
those things that we now move ahead in the broadcast
and it's now one and the third quarter. That's what
we do here on I want your flex. Get Mike
on Twitter at Swollen Dome. Find me on Twitter at
Dan Buyer on Fox. And our executive producer is Ryan
Burr Singer. Find him on Twitter at Ryan Burr Shing er,
(11:57):
there were some big injuries and some big moves and
we four. I want to start out with the Javonte
Williams just touched on it earlier. I'm just wondering now
there seems to be a lot of negative and negativity
with Melvin Gordon taking the full time role. Um, yeah,
the fumble, it this is back again. I wonder though,
(12:19):
on the flip side of this, is this now Russell
Wilson's opportunity And it sounds crazy because you're thinking, well, geez,
you're losing a star running back or you know, a
solid running back. He got a short week now. But
if you aren't necessarily willing to rely on Melvin Gordon
or Mike Boone, is a pickup. I think that I
(12:41):
think that Russell Wilson's play over these next three or
four games is going to be very intriguing because I
do think that there will be an opportunity to let
Russ cook. And I just wonder how it works out
for the Broncos in this you know, early stretches, Williams
is gonna miss the season. Yeah so now, yeah, Mike
Boon and they add Latavius Murray. You know you saw
(13:03):
him Sunday morning early if he were up, uh run
for what fifty seven yards in a score for the Saints,
and then he gets claimed off their practice squad, so
away he goes there and and so now that muddies
things a little bit. But yeah, with Melvin Gordon, going
back to the fumble at the goal line that got
(13:23):
a lot of the anks started right, he and Williams
both had one, and so I was like, all right,
nobody comes ahead here because you're both screwed up. And
then the offensive inefficiencies in the red zone been maddening.
It's just a question of how quickly, if ever, I
have to put the in pairent parentheses, if ever, uh
do Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hack it actually get on
(13:45):
the same page. We're gonna fund. We're gonna find out
soon enough. So I mean it's tough, like you know
you're gonna make the claim and and prioritize boon. I
think over the veteran Marie, but the ending on the
depth in your league and roster roster levels. This is
one where you play defense. And while you may not
(14:07):
love either one of them, their touches that someone's getting
and with the running back position being as weird as
it is even coming into the season, you can play defense.
I'd rather have someone rotting on my bench than scoring
against me. Sure, yeah, I'll say this. I think you'll
see Russ Cook. I think you're going to see improve
(14:28):
play from what Russell Wilson. And even though on the
last podcast, I mocked the TikTok video that said trade
Naja Harris for Courtland Sutton and I know we we were.
You were harsh on Naja Harris earlier in the in
the podcast, I'll do it again and in Courtland Sutton,
uh found the end zone. I still think that there's
(14:50):
the opportunity. Um, I'll give a push there. I think
Jerry Judy, Cortland Sutton get a bit of a push,
and I think Russell Wilson gets a bit of a
push based out of necessity. And now you don't have
the luxury of splitting the backs. Benjamin Albridy covers the
Broncos in Denver and does an amazing job for them.
(15:10):
Even was tweeting during the game before Williams got hurt.
You may see a little bit more Williams because of
the short week. Maybe I'll have a little bit fresher
Gordon than coming in on Thursday. Well, now you're gonna
need a really fresh from Melvin Gordon on Thursday. And
I think Russell Wilson just takes some of that, uh some,
you know, some some of that pressure. I think you're
gonna see, especially in their stretch as well, Colts charges, Jets, Jaguars,
(15:31):
Titans in their next five games and then a matchup
with the Raiders. Again, it's it's it's now, we're never
for Russell Wilson to start cooking if things want to
work out for the Broncos. Yeah, I know there was
a lot of love for Jerry Judy coming into the season.
I was a Sutton guy, like, if you're gonna pick
one of those receivers, just a guy that is more
a for lack of the better terminology, the full route tree,
(15:58):
and you can get in the short game, get the
acts six catches a game thus far, averaging about eighty
five yards per and all I can hope for it,
and we've talked about this for a long time on
the pod and on our shows on Fox Sports Radio, Dan,
all I can I can look for is opportunities. What
they do with them. I don't know, but Courtland Sutton
(16:19):
seems to be the guy who's the biggest beneficiary here
of at least bumping up that target amount another one
or two trying to move the chains and pick up
for where the run game might slough off. A little
bit mentioned Naji Harris Let's transition to the Steelers at
the time of this taping, which is early Tuesday morning
(16:40):
on the East coast. Heck, I think it's early Tuesday
morning on the West coast. The Ian Rap Report reported
that Kenny Pickett likely to be named the starter. Um
will be named the starter for the Steelers in week
five as they travel to an easy location to play
on the road at Buffalo. Nice and simple, but heck,
(17:01):
you know, no offense to the Jets, but it can't
get any easier than coming in and facing the Jets
at home, and that's what they did. What does Kenny
Pickett now do for Nazi Harris, for Deante Johnson? And
I would say any other Steeler, But I don't know
if you're playing him, you know, deep League, maybe some
George Pickens. Um, they're probably gonna go pick up. But yeah,
(17:23):
you're gonna go pick up George Pickens because I think
he was still you know, he was still available on
a lot of waiver wires because you had really seen
the level of consistency, a lot of jumping jack saying
the ball, uh, and then you had obviously the Circus
thirty six yard catch. So maybe people got enamored. They're
thinking greatness was to come. I asked the question, you know,
(17:45):
in on our show Monday, and I wonder if you
did the same, had Deante Johnson come down with that
ball in the back of the engine, did they make
to change? Um, I'm gonna say yes, because they had
already alluded to it and now d seven times on
the telecast as if in the production meeting. Oh yeah,
Kenny's gonna play. Well. The look on their faces when
(18:08):
he came out in the second half and was the
starting quarterback, the fans faces tells me that a change
probably still would have been made. Yeah. I think they
were getting there Christmas morning, uh, in that stadium, and
and look for Mike Tomlin. It's also uncharted, uncharted waters,
uh in terms of trying to figure out this process
(18:29):
after all those years with Ben Roethlisberger, so now it's
that next level and trying to find some juice, right
I you know, I screamed at my daughter's soccer games
when things get a little lethargic, like where's our juice?
Where we got come on? Uh? And then she just
looks at me kind of smiles. Uh. And you see
a couple of the teammates kind of pick it up
because they tune out the coach. But all of a sudden,
(18:50):
one of the parents screams at him. Uh, and they
want to shut him up, so they start playing a
little harder. See it's works psychology, but the uh, the
idea here, I mean, you saw a little bit more
in the step of of Deonte Johnson. You saw a
little more all right. He went after the ball, perhaps
a little more aggressively than he had And look, guys
(19:11):
need incentives. Guys want to want to show out and
pick it with his legs. He'll open things up a
little bit, so he'll be a popular waiver wire pickup,
you know, for those that needed a second quarterback or
maybe hate the guy that's on their roster in the
one spot. There's a few of them that you could
certainly use a jolt. But I think off the jump,
(19:33):
you're still looking at those guys as third wide receivers.
I think the only guy trust is Friarmouth. Sure right
in terms of target counts. Here's the good news though,
at least for Kenney Pickett is after Buffalo in week five,
he gets a heck of a lot easier with the Buccaneers, Dolphins,
and Eagles. So there you've gotten, like we eased in
(19:58):
with a lots to the jet. The Bears unavailable for
the schedule. I mean, the ease can you pick it?
In my goodness? Um, but I'll trial by fire, bunny,
I mean, And that was why you know, making the change.
It's just kind of curious, just in terms of an
overall philosophy. I guess inevitable because you don't think Mitchell's
(20:19):
making plays whatever. And Smith made fun of me a
lot because he's like, oh, you're such an apologist and
this hurts you. I'm like, in the end, I don't care.
Like it's football evaluation. I looked at what the schedule
you just read off and said, what am I gonna
learn behind a suspect offensive line? This guy potentially running
for his life, and do I potentially open him up
(20:42):
to getting hurt? Not that Mitchell Chabinski should be a
sacrificial lamb or anything in that way, shape or form.
But you've got some talent there. How good are you?
I guess is one of the questions to ask inside
the building? Where's the talent? Are you saying? It's a
legitimate like right, I mean where where are you in
terms of the pantheon? And it's a larger question with
(21:04):
the Mike Tomlin and at how much how long are
we gonna you know, just genuflect over, Hey you haven't
had a losing season versus what have you really won? Sure,
I look at it and and this is and that's
been my issue with this was I didn't think that
they wanted to go six and eleven. I think they
(21:25):
wanted to go nine and eight and thought, hey, we
went we made it to the playoffs last year with
nine wins there were nine seven and one and got
in the postseason. Maybe Mitchell Drabinsky can get us there.
And now you're one in three and you realize, well,
if Mitchell Drabinsky is gonna lead us to six and eleven,
we might as will play the first round pick. Like
that's where I think that the Steelers were. I think
(21:45):
and for his grace. T J. Watt is and annoying
makes a difference him as one player, would not make
a difference in these next four games. Maybe in the
Jets game, maybe forces a turnover and you know, we'll
Patrick actually catches the ball that Wilson throws straight into
his gut, he should have had his second touchdown of
the game. Yeah, yeah, there's but you know, like the
(22:09):
difference now of like where they are, Like that's where
I thought. I thought that they were very protective about,
you know, being competitive, being in it, but you're not
really in it when you're playing that sort of style
and and for what they are, and so when you
say talently, George Pickens is talented, there's no doubt Deanthe
Johnson's talented. So it's Naji Harris and and injured t J.
(22:31):
Watt and mink of Itzpatrick and you know Cam Hayward
and then what else he got, you know, because they
don't they don't have much anyway. I the the fantasy
aspects of the Steelers now slim and none. Um. I
think with these this next next stretch of games that
it's gonna be extremely difficult unless you're you're banking for
(22:53):
catchup points. Sure, right, and that becomes the a I
got a dollar on a daily fantasy game. Yeah, so
I'm gonna throw one of these guys in. Alright, Mike,
let's take a left turn and do something that we
haven't done since we're now four full weeks into the season.
I want to give you four names of players who
(23:13):
were drafted fairly high in fantasy drafts. And I am
not a proponent of giving up on your draft. I
know some guys are like, hey, once week one is done,
draft doesn't matter anymore. I am not that guy. I'm
still looking at who I drafted, why drafted them, because
I'm not changing my overall value after just one week.
Week four different stories. So I've got four names for you,
(23:36):
and I want to know if fantasy owners should keep
the faith with these guys that they probably invested a
high pick in, or if it's time to just move on,
cut your losses and and and do whatever, or just
think of what life would be like without this player contributing.
And I'm gonna start out with Cam Akers of the
Los Angeles Rams. Uh high draft pick. He came back
(24:00):
from the achilles injury last year. If you have Cam Akers.
Should you expect um a better cam Akers over this
next three quarters of the season as opposed to what
you got the first four Worlds? Well, I think I'd
go to the Beatles. Uh. It can't get much worse.
And but it's exactly what we had talked about, you know,
(24:23):
early on Dan and he actually had more carries against
the Falcons and Cardinals that I was anticipating um and
actually found the end zone against Cardinals, and then I
couldn't fall forward in the Monday night game against the
forty Niners, showing again that offensive line is problematic. Uh,
Andrew Whitworth needs to put back on fifty pounds and
(24:44):
get back down on the field to save their season. Looking. Yeah,
when you're looking for a four year old tackle, that
tells you all you need to know about your offensive one. Well,
and I think that's where they're at. You watched Stafford
under duress, and and I I had my reservations. Alan Robinson,
you paid a lot of money, he's not doing anything.
But back to the cam Akers, Darryl Henderson has proven
(25:08):
he's he's on the field a bunch as a receiver
and in passing situations with acres, I didn't expect a
lot from him early in the season. So the fact
that he's at thirty eight carries, uh, book ended with
you know, dismal performances against two of the best defenses
in the game. I think he becomes a situational play
against bad teams where they can jump on top and
(25:32):
then lean on the run game. Because against the Niners
and Bills, you're looking at eleven carries for thirteen yards.
I'm not ready to punt on him just yet. I
know some West Coast fantasy football players are ready to
punt on Alvin Kamara for what he did to them. Listen,
there are a lot of great advantages Mike that we
understand living in southern California. NFL Sundays begin at ten am.
(25:56):
But NFL Sundays, if you're not of listening to Mike, um,
some people maybe in bed when the London game starts
and the Alvin Kamara injury, I know, uh, him not
playing against the the Vikings in London was a surprise
too many on the West Coast that woke up with
Alvin Kamara in their lineups. What do you do if
you have Alvin Camara on your fantasy team? Yeah, he's tough,
(26:19):
right because we're looking at court dates and all of
that that people are still wondering what all goes on? Um,
but certainly a surprise and active. I started texting friends
of mine who have asked me line up questions that
I knew had him, like way up, wake up? Uh
they didn't wake up? But why did you silence your phone?
You knew I was gonna be on air and we
(26:40):
you knew we we were talking about it as a
London game and then you you went out and had
a drink and didn't bother to get up. Um. I
I think there there's better days ahead and obviously a
heavy investment if you drafted him. So punting altogether is
like losing that first round pick to injury for the year.
(27:04):
Because if you're trying to trade him, what are you get? Yes, right,
I mean they're the the value is little to none,
and you you drafted him and decided to make running
back a priority. What are you finding and what are
you getting back in return that would be commensurate to
him at his best? Now? Uh, do we do we
(27:25):
see him at what we expect it? No? We we
now have to change expectations. But certainly punting on him.
I can't. I can't either, And they've got they've got
a nice stretch. It starts with the Seahawks coming to
town on on Sunday, So if Alvin Camara is available,
it could start rolling. Two more names, a lot of
(27:47):
NFC South Kyle Pitts, see you gone, he's been the Pits. Yeah,
I mean if if in in this style of offense,
he doesn't see the ball, and and maybe a couple
of weeks with Patterson sideline on the I R and
we get a couple of running backs trying to find
(28:09):
their way right to three guys on battle for carries.
Maybe the short passing game it Pits comes in, but
he's been used as a block or a bunch, so
I don't know that that suddenly changes for him. Yeah,
and when Marcus Mariott to complete seven passes in a
game that's usually usually I mean, it's just the fields
number right there. I mean, come on, there was a
(28:31):
lot of running. That game like ended in like two hours.
Browns and Falcons. Keep the line moving, keep on moving,
all right? Final one? What about DJ Less? Oh wait
it's DJ Moore. Um just kidding, bad pun joke um,
but I like it. Sorry, DJ, no disrespect, I'll do it.
And he's calling out everybody at the team dance, So
(28:51):
you know the seeds of malcontented dis are there there,
and I think there's reason to be frustrated. Shaker Mayfield
seemingly keeping his job for another week because Sam Donald's
not close to returning, but met rule giving Baker Mayfield
they vote of confidence, saying I think he's still our quarterback. Um,
what a clown show. All that is just the comments
(29:15):
by rule stuff coming out of the locker room. We
had Jason lock and four on UM with with Jason
Smith and I on Monday night and he was wondering
aloud if McCaffrey wasn't traded before the deadline, right, so
you lose your other playmaker, DJ Moore. Obviously they re
up through. But he's just a guy. There's no secondary
(29:38):
receiver that you have to worry about. I'd play him
in a boxing one like I'm playing college. Oops. Yeah. Yeah.
He had eleven targets six catches for fifty yards against
the Cardinals. Yeah yeah, that was an ugly game, Baker
Mayfield getting passes bedded down left in the right. But
what was it nine. I mean, that's do the guys
from Guinness come out and give him a certificate for
(29:59):
a world record. Congratulations. This is a good But but
he's been awful and look, it was a weird offseason.
I don't want to pile on Baker because it's so
easy to do. I'm certainly not as big as fan
and I always thought he was bolstered by a great
roster in Cleveland. But this is certainly not the greatest
(30:20):
of situations. Matt Rule and the House of mediocre quarterbacks
and here's the next one that's a reclamation project project.
And unfortunately Corral got hurt and and and that was
never in Matt Corral. There was no way that he
was going to be the guy in in my mind. No, no, no, certainly.
(30:42):
But but at this point in the break glass, in
case of emergency, this guy is not good, and Donald
isn't ready he would at least maybe bought Matt Rule
a minute of peace, because right now the dumpster fire
has really really caught alright, So we five is upon us.
By the way, I did a piece on our Sunday show,
(31:04):
UH with George Rice Stir just about Baker and it's
just amazing on how he's just completely fallen off the radar,
like his his bad game wasn't even talked about that,
you know, in in NFL circles. It shows you how
irrelevant it is and fair or unfair. Again, the late
trade may have hurt him, you know as well of
you don't have an entire offseason. Grantedy was recovering from
(31:25):
surgery as well, but may have helped him. But but
right now just seems like an absolute lost cause for Carolina.
All right, let's get to the week five pickups. Guys,
you need to target your waiver wire. You gotta put
claims in, Mike, who are we targeting, especially with a
lot of the big injuries that we've had in other
moves in week four? Who are we targeting looking ahead
to Week five? Yeah, we talked about it a little
(31:46):
bit Caleb, Huntley and and Algier there in Atlanta to guys,
uh that you saw some work on fifty six yards
and ten carries for Huntley and all gear ten for
eighty four yards. How the twenty yard catch hopefully more
in the passing game, wink wink, not not. I'll send
notes to the coaching staff there and to get it
(32:10):
more involved, so opportunities abound there. We talked about Boone
and I guess depending on the what you need at
running back, hoping that maybe Littavius Murray gets you your
eight to ten touches. Again, it's Melvid Gordon. How much
do they trust him? Before the season, I liked him
to leach onto um Javante Williams. But now when you
(32:35):
can't trust him to hold onto the football like that's
that's the maddening part. With all the inefficiencies that you've had,
you're also turning the ball over. That's that's not good
for business at all either. We talked about pickings a
little bit, and certainly when when you get into the
receiving game, you know we're going week to week and
trying to find some wins in the and the receiving
(32:56):
core based on opportunity, like a guy like Josh Run
is that repeatable? Well, Detroit's cooking right now going up
against New England. They're not the impenetrable defense. And I
like the way Jared Goff's been slinging it. Man. I
was joking, Jared Goff greater than Stafford fight me well,
because it's fun. Uh, so you have that. You got
(33:19):
Corey Davis with the JETSS you recommended Jets wide receiver
five catches seventy four yards at a score on seven targets. Uh.
And Zach Wilson running around like his hair is on fire, uh,
making plays down field. I think that's gonna be a
little bit of an entertaining thing to watch. Romeo Dobbs
because uh, Aaron Rodgers starting to show more confidence in him, opportunity.
(33:42):
The Giants have some injuries in the secondary eight targets
uh this week, so maybe a little bit of love there.
And we already talked about George Pickens six catches on
eight targets hundred two yards. If anything, we we saw
that the Pickets probably gonna wing the ball around a
little bit it more. Yeah, and and hopefully he gets
(34:03):
und it fast enough. Well, but that's just it. What
do you got to lose? See what he see what
he has and and and Pickens is a guy that
you know, we watched Deebo Samuel with one of those. Uh.
Chris Berner would have had nine whoops in there in
that fifty seven yard touchdown reception against the Rams. If
you can get pickings in those kinds of situations where
(34:23):
you can free him up a little and on the
running space. Uh, fantasy opportunities are certainly abound. I did
pick up Josh Reynolds this past week just because the
Lions were so depleted, you know, without shtark without um.
You know, I'm ross st Brown. Um. I don't know
how much of a long term play to your point
with with that is, but he did come. You know,
when you can play with the Seahawks defense, Uh, go
(34:44):
for it. So maybe any Saints wide receiver came well,
and that's and that's just it, right. A larve is
probably off the wire in most leagues. I know Jarvis
Landry is not a guy fantasy owners flocked to. But
the targets are there, right, and if you're in a
PPR league, they all count, right, even if it's a
catch for four yards to move the chain at still
(35:05):
one point four points and from your w R three, Uh,
that that adds up. If you get to double digits
out of that slot, you're feeling good. Landry most week
is gonna get you there. Yeah, I'll give you I'll
give you two names that that I like as well.
One is a little tricky because I actually have a
buy in week six, Um, Robert Woods may be available
own it about and that's you know, usually not where
(35:27):
we go. But with the trail on Burke's injury, Um,
that could be one in a name that I have
circled that you mentioned in the preseason. It's just got
to keep your eye on another Week six by but
they are at Jacksonville on on on Sunday. We did
throw some shade at at the Texans a little bit earlier.
But Nico Collins could be an opportunity. I I know
(35:49):
he was a you know when we did some late
late round draft guys, you liked Nico Collins. Uh in
Week five, if you're if you're looking for a boost,
that could be that could be an option. Sucker circle
back to one more running back Dan Um on Sunday
night football folks might have missed with all the theatricality
the old man my back and uh Brady Mahomes and
(36:12):
Mahomes flipping the ball and all of that stuff. Isaiah
Pacheco had eleven carries for sixty three yards. It's a
guy we had brought up a couple of weeks ago
after Week one against the Cardinals, but someone you might
see a bit more as the season goes on and
they try to mix and match. Because your guy had
his big day, Claude Edward's last thing, he was on
(36:37):
my bench. You know, why would I play him against
the Buccaneers exact, especially after a game where he had
zero yards rushing, So so really a kick of the
teeth like it's now like Andy Reid hatred fantasy team too.
And I did pick up the checko after Week one
because it just felt and at some point, you know,
Glad Rozilire has been injured in his career and so
(37:00):
you would you know, try to go against them, and
they do use Jerk McKinnon. But yeah, I agree with
I agree with Pacheco. I have Brian Robinson on injured reserve.
There you go, that's the other guy to to bring up. Absolutely,
so there there could be the option he could be
activated at some point within the next three weeks. So
(37:20):
the Commanders running back and why not, you know, for
for what they've got in the backfield. Well, if he
can catch the ball um because Carson Wentz is going
to learn the term hot route if he hasn't already
with the number of time he's getting planted. So those
are some of the names that you want to target
with the waiver wire as we wrap this up. Any
(37:41):
final thoughts Mike entering a week five October is here. Um,
the winds are starting to chill a little bit. Um.
I don't know if we're seeing any separation from any
teams in standing as a whole bunch of two and
two around the National Football League. One of your thoughts
entering the rest of the week is still in the
fight of who's good who's not. I gotta believe that
(38:02):
Trevor Lawrence hangs onto the football this week. There was
my other upset pick that went to hell, which I
was remarked, yeah did, yeah, did. But you know what,
Philly showed me something because I actually had to play
in the second half, which is good. Uh. But that's
you know, Houston Jacksonville. You can get in for nineteen
bucks if you're down in Jacksonville. So you want to
(38:23):
go to a cheap football game, that is it. But
the Jaguars are a seven point favorite. Uh. Lovey Smith's defense. Uh,
nothing going there and that defensive front. Um, this is
one where Damian Pierce, as much as we love him, Uh,
tough spot for him, so find find the extra juice
as you can. A lot of low totals, weather becoming
(38:43):
a factor. We had multiple games this week. We were
watching all the pre games stuff. My brother was actually
at the Bills Ravens games, so some chaos there. Welcome
back J. K. Dobbins by the way, and maybe Gus
Edwards here in short order as well. But Monday Night
Football gives us our fire works. A lot of low
totals in these other games throughout the week, Dan except
(39:05):
for UH three final games at the end Philly, Arizona, Cincinnati,
Baltimore on Sunday Night Football and then fifty one for
Las Vegas Kansas City. So hopefully we get some fireworks
because Week four certainly gave us some points. Yeah, you're
talking about fireworks. I'm talking about some duds that do
want to bring Ryan Burshing, our our executive producer, into
(39:25):
this conversation as we wrap up this podcast. Um, guys,
do you know off the top of your head, Um,
how many touchdowns the forty Niners defense has given up
through four games? Their defense through four games? Can you
remember any touchdowns that the Niners have given up? Well,
(39:48):
there weren't any on Monday three field goals, so minus
nine minus the safety, so there's eleven points. We got
thirty five points still to account for. So so if
you think the week one wasn't there the Justin Fields
uh scramble, Yeah, in the rain, and then there was
(40:09):
the Melvin Gordon touchdown rush on Saturday Night football with
what five minutes remaining, the Seahawks blocked a field goal
and ran it back for a score. That was the
other That was the other score. That defense is given
up two touchdowns so far this season, and now you've
got Panthers and Falcons the next two weeks. Like I
(40:30):
am wondering, like, could could that defense for House Spry?
And I know you're not. They wouldn't be a stream
bursch because somebody has them, but I mean it's just
been I I found that pretty interesting and looking at
it and I'm looking through stats and I'm looking at
this and I'm like, wait, did they not accounting? Like no,
it didn't matter if they accounted for Monday Night Football. Yeah,
(40:51):
they've only given up two touches defense this year. As
far as waivers go, it is possible they could be
available in your league given that they played the Rams
this past week and people people could have dropped them,
So that would I think. I think the Niners they
at their number one on my list here with the
Panthers this week and with the way that that offense
(41:11):
can't seem to understand what to do. Uh yeah, no,
I I think that if the Niners are available, jump
on that with your waiver priority there it is. I
had to end with the defense and given then can
I talk about their defense because they helped extend some
misery for the Rams? Because I thought both of you
guys would love this stat. It flashed up during the
(41:33):
ESPN telecast. The Rams have been outscored in the fourth
quarter of games forty three this year. Wow. Yeah, I know.
We're talking to the network. They're like, man, how how
are the forty Niners a favorite? You know? Or just
just a two point favorite? I think we forget on
what the Rams have been so far now four weeks
(41:54):
into the season. Monday Night was a good reminder. We
want to remind you, don Lood, I want your flex
every single week. In fact, we have two episodes every
single week for you, dropping Tuesday morning, dropping Friday morning.
So if you're driving to work or if you're driving
home from that day. Uh yeah, sit back and listen.
We're gonna help you win some fantasy games. So, for
Ryan bur Singer and for my Carmon I'm Dan Buyer,
(42:14):
this has been I want to reflex. We'll talk to you,
but early Friday morning you will
You want experience during your football season, well, buckle up,
sweet cheeks. We've got all the experience in the world.
This is I Want Your Flex with Dan Buyer and
Mike Harman. Mike and Dan breakdown everything you need to
set your line ups from position rankings, two starts and sits.
(00:24):
The guys help you make those hard decisions and now
let's get your flexad Here's Dan Buyer and Mike Harman.
See you later week four. Welcome in. It is I
Want your Flex. Get Mike on Twitter at Swollen. Don't
find me on Twitter at Dan Buyer on Fox Er
executive producer is Ryan burshing Her Front of the bun
(00:45):
Twitter at Ryan burshing Her. It was a week four
Mike that I think a lot of people in the
fantasy world finally we're able to exhale because there were
performances from guys that you've been waiting for and waiting for,
and some of those guys cashed in with big performances
in week four. Yeah, we saw some huge point tollals.
(01:05):
I was actually just going through my fantasy results for
week four, happily on the positive side, including a narrow victory,
but talking about a huge point tolls, including a couple
of guys we also didn't expect much from. I'm looking
at huge Josh Jacobs uh and running a monk on
the Denver Broncos. But but you're right. I mean, we
(01:25):
see some great hundred yard performances, some new heroes emerging,
but some of those get right games for guys that
maybe it'd let you down for a couple of weeks.
Not to say that there aren't still plenty that we're
worried about through the first quarter of the season. Plus
one uh that we uh, we we got some point totals,
we got adventure in a bunch of games, and you know,
(01:48):
as always, the injuries are starting to pile up, So
the activity turns up with the production. Yeah, a couple
of big injuries in that Rader Broncos game. Javante Williams
will deal with that. Cridarrel Patterson's gonna be out a
little while. Plus there are um other ramifications. Two has
already been ruled out a week five. A lot to
get to as we we move on with the pod.
(02:08):
But we do have to at least do some self checking.
And I'll say this, I I hit on Carson Wentz
for the bench. Carson Wentz wasn't gonna be a top
ten starter. Mic. However, Carson Wentz was finding himself in
lineups over the last couple of weeks. I did not
like his matchup against Dallas. Uh ended up throwing two
interceptions in the game, didn't get over two hundred yards
(02:31):
to throw for a touchdown, but bottom of the of
the barrel in certain leagues. One league in mine, he
was twenty eight and points amongst quarterbacks. So hit on
Carson Wentz and I felt there was a Rashad Penny
breakout game. And now I've realized if there's a player
that needs to break out and they're playing against the Lions,
it's probably going to happen. So Rashad Penny had a
(02:52):
big breakout game. And even without Jamis Winston, without Elvin Kimara,
Saints were still able to put some points on the board.
They just knee did another yard to add three more
and it would have been very interesting. But I'm not
taking a win with my points of beluser with Viking Saints. However,
it turned out better than I think some people thought
it would be. I thought you were going to get
(03:14):
some points in that game, it wasn't Seahawks Lions esque,
but when you look around the league and you're looking
at point totals, it was one of the better games
that we had points wise. In Week four. Oh yeah,
fun start out of England. So we'll get another one
of those in the coming week with the Giants. The
Giants who beat my bears. Uh and one of the
(03:35):
paint drying football games of the Great end zones though,
oh no, they it looked it look it was crisp Dan.
It was crisp. But I normally we were like, I
don't want to bite the hand that feeds. But you know,
if the Fox broadcasters don't want to do, the game
has to be reassigned because all they did was make
(03:56):
fun of the offenses. Ah third and tend they got
it right where they want. I was like, a or
a while, it's like you're laughing at the product. You're
you're not funny anymore. But that's just me. Uh. In
twenty to twelve, your final there in terms of things
got right. You see A thirty two you're like, Derek
Carr had a big game. No he didn't. I said
he wouldn't, and uh, well I hadn't been paying attention yards.
(04:19):
Yeah it was, but I mean he did a good
job getting it into Jacob's gut, which is really all
that matters is he ran a muck. Uh. Was not
a fan of Matthew Stafford. I think that's a larger
talking point coming out a week four is I don't
know how fixable things are for the Rams at this juncture.
So I'll take a couple of victory laps there. Justin
(04:40):
Jefferson going back to that game, thought maybe the Saints
would have a little something for him and that Captain
Kirk would have to go to secondary and tert Opson's
didn't ten catches running wild in the secondary, So, uh,
you have that going for you. Um, Steelers Jets expected
a little more from from Naji Harris once again looks
(05:03):
like he's running in mud no matter who's under center. Uh,
he's not getting it done. Uh. And then when we
look at the the the last thing, you know, I
expected more from from Tampa. That was a prediction both
on the pod and then just ranting like an idiot
across the Fox Sports Radio network alongside Jason Smith. Yeah
(05:23):
they lost one. Brady comes up with a good fantasy
effort when it's all, said Don Evans, with a couple
of touchdowns, just expected a better game, and I guess
Leonard four Nette got the receiving touchdowns, so he cashed
in for fantasy owners who were saying where the touchdowns
you promised me? But that they've got to fix that
run game as well. Yeah, it's it's something with the
(05:46):
Buccaneers Sunday night games and not running the football at all,
like they remember the Saints game a few years ago,
and and I know when you fumbled the opening kickoff
and you're down. Yeah, I mean it was quick. But
to only have only have six rushes and to have
Leonard Fournette have his uh minus three yards rushing, yeah,
(06:10):
I would. I would be very disappointed if I was
a Leonard Fournette player in fantasy. Ryan bur Singer tells
you each week on what defenses to stream. You'll tell
you who to pick up for week five and our
pod that drops on Friday Hot. Did Week four turnout
for you? Ryan bur Singer? I went pretty well. I
I well, I said the Packers on our Friday episode.
(06:33):
The Packers didn't do as well defensively as I thought
they did. They would, but they ended up getting me
nine points, I believe, so a solid stream there. I
also said the I liked both sides of the Giants Bears,
and I leaned towards the Giants. Giants got me fifteen
points in that game, so uh yeah, there's there was
some good plays there defensively. I also said, the Chargers
against the the Texans, and for the first half that
(06:55):
looked pretty good. Then Damian Pierce broke a big one
off and then the Texans start to come back in
that game made it interesting, but um they it was.
It was a decent play for a little bit. If
you remember from the last pod, I predicted a Texans win. Yes,
I was there. I was there with you and and
I and I said to myself, all right, this is
(07:17):
this is the week it's gonna happen. And I even
I texted Ryan Burrshinger at the half when it was
twenty seven to seven and it was like bad day
to make the old uh you know Texans pick. Then
when it was Mike, it was twenty seven to twenty one,
not even one. I thought to myself, the Texas are
gonna win this game, Like this was such a Charger's
(07:38):
like collapse and then Texans did get within three. They
kicked that field goal, um, but the Chargers sealed the deal.
But I think maybe just each week I'm gonna predict
the Texans win since they're the now the only team
without a win in the NFL. It's funny, right because
I was I had a soccer game from my daughter
all the way down in Temecula, so folks can remember
(07:58):
that from would be fight from NBA players about things,
but well only that fights to say. I was in
the car a bunch and my executive producer, Justin Frostberg,
he does the producing for the Chargers games. You got
Matt money Smith, a M five seventy l a sports hoast,
along with Petris Popadegez, but in the booth with Daniel Jeremiah,
(08:19):
and they're they're really fun listening when they're stressful moments, right,
I mean, they're the home call. So when they're winning,
it's you know, a little bows was like, oh there
he is again, you know. But when it starts to unravel,
it's absolute chaos in the booth and it's such a
great listen. So I'm in the car driving back after
the soccer game. It's the fourth quarter things have gotten tight.
(08:41):
I'm like, this is fantastic. And then they finished the job.
But uh yeah, give give give Davis Mills an offensive coach.
Go find him another playmaker other than Pierce, because Brandon
Cooks ain't that guy to to just the it up
and makeo get hey got the end zone he did.
(09:05):
For the purposes of our fantasy world, that works. By
the way, they also need five offensive lineman. Pretty tall
shopping list they do. Learnie Tonsil learned like there's you know,
I'd take him, but there's yeah, there is, you know.
They're they're the Texans. I I thought, and I think,
you know, I thought that the Texans had an opportunity.
(09:26):
But to your point, Mike about the angst and the booth,
I think they're about two or three NFL teams like
I would think that the Lions booth probably is the
same way with that defense, where you just like, you know,
the Chargers are so snake bitten and you're like, here
we go again, you know. So it's a different dynamic
than you know, twenty eight other teams in the NFL
and even the other thirty one if you will. For
(09:48):
for how the Chargers fans feel so snake bitten. But yeah,
when you kind of start to see it unravel, you're
gonna start to question yourself. All right, here is this again?
Is this again? But hey, Austin Eckler roke through, you
know well that he finally, finally for fantasy owners, and
he was looking around everybody going, wait a minute, what,
where's where's my guy? Why isn't he scoring? And where's
(10:12):
my where's my love here? Uh? And now suddenly, you know,
one good game, as we know in the the running
back world, suddenly puts you near the top of the
scoring list. It's a good thing you don't get penalized
for not stopping the run. Ryan Bursinger and defenses. Because
Green Bay could have some troubles, I mean just I
(10:32):
mean Damien Harris having a nice day, Romandre Stevenson, you know,
getting some work done. I think it's something entitled town
that they want to patch up a little bit. But hey,
you've got you've got the giants in London, so maybe
would be another reason to keep with the back the
pack attack. Well, especially you know, as with with Daniel
(10:54):
Jones not being able to spurnt around even if he
plays not nearly as spryly as he did against the
pairs with was two touchdown runs as if it was
parting of the Red Sea, and know he had a
protective bubble around him. I'm sorry, did that sound bitter? Maybe?
See Juan Barkley is gonna have to do more wild card,
wild card wildcat, A little more wildcat for him. Good
for him. But I mean, you know, to Rod Taylor
(11:15):
in there, I mean, in all the potential for chaos,
that's what we hit on, what we missed on, a
little bit of what we missed on, but we like,
we like to play the hits here on the one Well,
I got a whole list of up but good good news.
We don't have time. Yeah, we have already. We have
already forgotten about those things. You don't need to bring
(11:35):
them up because Mike just time permitting. It's one of
those things that we now move ahead in the broadcast
and it's now one and the third quarter. That's what
we do here on I want your flex. Get Mike
on Twitter at Swollen Dome. Find me on Twitter at
Dan Buyer on Fox. And our executive producer is Ryan
Burr Singer. Find him on Twitter at Ryan Burr Shing er,
(11:57):
there were some big injuries and some big moves and
we four. I want to start out with the Javonte
Williams just touched on it earlier. I'm just wondering now
there seems to be a lot of negative and negativity
with Melvin Gordon taking the full time role. Um, yeah,
the fumble, it this is back again. I wonder though,
(12:19):
on the flip side of this, is this now Russell
Wilson's opportunity And it sounds crazy because you're thinking, well, geez,
you're losing a star running back or you know, a
solid running back. He got a short week now. But
if you aren't necessarily willing to rely on Melvin Gordon
or Mike Boone, is a pickup. I think that I
(12:41):
think that Russell Wilson's play over these next three or
four games is going to be very intriguing because I
do think that there will be an opportunity to let
Russ cook. And I just wonder how it works out
for the Broncos in this you know, early stretches, Williams
is gonna miss the season. Yeah so now, yeah, Mike
Boon and they add Latavius Murray. You know you saw
(13:03):
him Sunday morning early if he were up, uh run
for what fifty seven yards in a score for the Saints,
and then he gets claimed off their practice squad, so
away he goes there and and so now that muddies
things a little bit. But yeah, with Melvin Gordon, going
back to the fumble at the goal line that got
(13:23):
a lot of the anks started right, he and Williams
both had one, and so I was like, all right,
nobody comes ahead here because you're both screwed up. And
then the offensive inefficiencies in the red zone been maddening.
It's just a question of how quickly, if ever, I
have to put the in pairent parentheses, if ever, uh
do Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hack it actually get on
(13:45):
the same page. We're gonna fund. We're gonna find out
soon enough. So I mean it's tough, like you know
you're gonna make the claim and and prioritize boon. I
think over the veteran Marie, but the ending on the
depth in your league and roster roster levels. This is
one where you play defense. And while you may not
(14:07):
love either one of them, their touches that someone's getting
and with the running back position being as weird as
it is even coming into the season, you can play defense.
I'd rather have someone rotting on my bench than scoring
against me. Sure, yeah, I'll say this. I think you'll
see Russ Cook. I think you're going to see improve
(14:28):
play from what Russell Wilson. And even though on the
last podcast, I mocked the TikTok video that said trade
Naja Harris for Courtland Sutton and I know we we were.
You were harsh on Naja Harris earlier in the in
the podcast, I'll do it again and in Courtland Sutton,
uh found the end zone. I still think that there's
(14:50):
the opportunity. Um, I'll give a push there. I think
Jerry Judy, Cortland Sutton get a bit of a push,
and I think Russell Wilson gets a bit of a
push based out of necessity. And now you don't have
the luxury of splitting the backs. Benjamin Albridy covers the
Broncos in Denver and does an amazing job for them.
(15:10):
Even was tweeting during the game before Williams got hurt.
You may see a little bit more Williams because of
the short week. Maybe I'll have a little bit fresher
Gordon than coming in on Thursday. Well, now you're gonna
need a really fresh from Melvin Gordon on Thursday. And
I think Russell Wilson just takes some of that, uh some,
you know, some some of that pressure. I think you're
gonna see, especially in their stretch as well, Colts charges, Jets, Jaguars,
(15:31):
Titans in their next five games and then a matchup
with the Raiders. Again, it's it's it's now, we're never
for Russell Wilson to start cooking if things want to
work out for the Broncos. Yeah, I know there was
a lot of love for Jerry Judy coming into the season.
I was a Sutton guy, like, if you're gonna pick
one of those receivers, just a guy that is more
a for lack of the better terminology, the full route tree,
(15:58):
and you can get in the short game, get the
acts six catches a game thus far, averaging about eighty
five yards per and all I can hope for it,
and we've talked about this for a long time on
the pod and on our shows on Fox Sports Radio, Dan,
all I can I can look for is opportunities. What
they do with them. I don't know, but Courtland Sutton
(16:19):
seems to be the guy who's the biggest beneficiary here
of at least bumping up that target amount another one
or two trying to move the chains and pick up
for where the run game might slough off. A little
bit mentioned Naji Harris Let's transition to the Steelers at
the time of this taping, which is early Tuesday morning
(16:40):
on the East coast. Heck, I think it's early Tuesday
morning on the West coast. The Ian Rap Report reported
that Kenny Pickett likely to be named the starter. Um
will be named the starter for the Steelers in week
five as they travel to an easy location to play
on the road at Buffalo. Nice and simple, but heck,
(17:01):
you know, no offense to the Jets, but it can't
get any easier than coming in and facing the Jets
at home, and that's what they did. What does Kenny
Pickett now do for Nazi Harris, for Deante Johnson? And
I would say any other Steeler, But I don't know
if you're playing him, you know, deep League, maybe some
George Pickens. Um, they're probably gonna go pick up. But yeah,
(17:23):
you're gonna go pick up George Pickens because I think
he was still you know, he was still available on
a lot of waiver wires because you had really seen
the level of consistency, a lot of jumping jack saying
the ball, uh, and then you had obviously the Circus
thirty six yard catch. So maybe people got enamored. They're
thinking greatness was to come. I asked the question, you know,
(17:45):
in on our show Monday, and I wonder if you
did the same, had Deante Johnson come down with that
ball in the back of the engine, did they make
to change? Um, I'm gonna say yes, because they had
already alluded to it and now d seven times on
the telecast as if in the production meeting. Oh yeah,
Kenny's gonna play. Well. The look on their faces when
(18:08):
he came out in the second half and was the
starting quarterback, the fans faces tells me that a change
probably still would have been made. Yeah. I think they
were getting there Christmas morning, uh, in that stadium, and
and look for Mike Tomlin. It's also uncharted, uncharted waters,
uh in terms of trying to figure out this process
(18:29):
after all those years with Ben Roethlisberger, so now it's
that next level and trying to find some juice, right
I you know, I screamed at my daughter's soccer games
when things get a little lethargic, like where's our juice?
Where we got come on? Uh? And then she just
looks at me kind of smiles. Uh. And you see
a couple of the teammates kind of pick it up
because they tune out the coach. But all of a sudden,
(18:50):
one of the parents screams at him. Uh, and they
want to shut him up, so they start playing a
little harder. See it's works psychology, but the uh, the
idea here, I mean, you saw a little bit more
in the step of of Deonte Johnson. You saw a
little more all right. He went after the ball, perhaps
a little more aggressively than he had And look, guys
(19:11):
need incentives. Guys want to want to show out and
pick it with his legs. He'll open things up a
little bit, so he'll be a popular waiver wire pickup,
you know, for those that needed a second quarterback or
maybe hate the guy that's on their roster in the
one spot. There's a few of them that you could
certainly use a jolt. But I think off the jump,
(19:33):
you're still looking at those guys as third wide receivers.
I think the only guy trust is Friarmouth. Sure right
in terms of target counts. Here's the good news though,
at least for Kenney Pickett is after Buffalo in week five,
he gets a heck of a lot easier with the Buccaneers, Dolphins,
and Eagles. So there you've gotten, like we eased in
(19:58):
with a lots to the jet. The Bears unavailable for
the schedule. I mean, the ease can you pick it?
In my goodness? Um, but I'll trial by fire, bunny,
I mean, And that was why you know, making the change.
It's just kind of curious, just in terms of an
overall philosophy. I guess inevitable because you don't think Mitchell's
(20:19):
making plays whatever. And Smith made fun of me a
lot because he's like, oh, you're such an apologist and
this hurts you. I'm like, in the end, I don't care.
Like it's football evaluation. I looked at what the schedule
you just read off and said, what am I gonna
learn behind a suspect offensive line? This guy potentially running
for his life, and do I potentially open him up
(20:42):
to getting hurt? Not that Mitchell Chabinski should be a
sacrificial lamb or anything in that way, shape or form.
But you've got some talent there. How good are you?
I guess is one of the questions to ask inside
the building? Where's the talent? Are you saying? It's a
legitimate like right, I mean where where are you in
terms of the pantheon? And it's a larger question with
(21:04):
the Mike Tomlin and at how much how long are
we gonna you know, just genuflect over, Hey you haven't
had a losing season versus what have you really won? Sure,
I look at it and and this is and that's
been my issue with this was I didn't think that
they wanted to go six and eleven. I think they
(21:25):
wanted to go nine and eight and thought, hey, we
went we made it to the playoffs last year with
nine wins there were nine seven and one and got
in the postseason. Maybe Mitchell Drabinsky can get us there.
And now you're one in three and you realize, well,
if Mitchell Drabinsky is gonna lead us to six and eleven,
we might as will play the first round pick. Like
that's where I think that the Steelers were. I think
(21:45):
and for his grace. T J. Watt is and annoying
makes a difference him as one player, would not make
a difference in these next four games. Maybe in the
Jets game, maybe forces a turnover and you know, we'll
Patrick actually catches the ball that Wilson throws straight into
his gut, he should have had his second touchdown of
the game. Yeah, yeah, there's but you know, like the
(22:09):
difference now of like where they are, Like that's where
I thought. I thought that they were very protective about,
you know, being competitive, being in it, but you're not
really in it when you're playing that sort of style
and and for what they are, and so when you
say talently, George Pickens is talented, there's no doubt Deanthe
Johnson's talented. So it's Naji Harris and and injured t J.
(22:31):
Watt and mink of Itzpatrick and you know Cam Hayward
and then what else he got, you know, because they
don't they don't have much anyway. I the the fantasy
aspects of the Steelers now slim and none. Um. I
think with these this next next stretch of games that
it's gonna be extremely difficult unless you're you're banking for
(22:53):
catchup points. Sure, right, and that becomes the a I
got a dollar on a daily fantasy game. Yeah, so
I'm gonna throw one of these guys in. Alright, Mike,
let's take a left turn and do something that we
haven't done since we're now four full weeks into the season.
I want to give you four names of players who
(23:13):
were drafted fairly high in fantasy drafts. And I am
not a proponent of giving up on your draft. I
know some guys are like, hey, once week one is done,
draft doesn't matter anymore. I am not that guy. I'm
still looking at who I drafted, why drafted them, because
I'm not changing my overall value after just one week.
Week four different stories. So I've got four names for you,
(23:36):
and I want to know if fantasy owners should keep
the faith with these guys that they probably invested a
high pick in, or if it's time to just move on,
cut your losses and and and do whatever, or just
think of what life would be like without this player contributing.
And I'm gonna start out with Cam Akers of the
Los Angeles Rams. Uh high draft pick. He came back
(24:00):
from the achilles injury last year. If you have Cam Akers.
Should you expect um a better cam Akers over this
next three quarters of the season as opposed to what
you got the first four Worlds? Well, I think I'd
go to the Beatles. Uh. It can't get much worse.
And but it's exactly what we had talked about, you know,
(24:23):
early on Dan and he actually had more carries against
the Falcons and Cardinals that I was anticipating um and
actually found the end zone against Cardinals, and then I
couldn't fall forward in the Monday night game against the
forty Niners, showing again that offensive line is problematic. Uh,
Andrew Whitworth needs to put back on fifty pounds and
(24:44):
get back down on the field to save their season. Looking. Yeah,
when you're looking for a four year old tackle, that
tells you all you need to know about your offensive one. Well,
and I think that's where they're at. You watched Stafford
under duress, and and I I had my reservations. Alan Robinson,
you paid a lot of money, he's not doing anything.
But back to the cam Akers, Darryl Henderson has proven
(25:08):
he's he's on the field a bunch as a receiver
and in passing situations with acres, I didn't expect a
lot from him early in the season. So the fact
that he's at thirty eight carries, uh, book ended with
you know, dismal performances against two of the best defenses
in the game. I think he becomes a situational play
against bad teams where they can jump on top and
(25:32):
then lean on the run game. Because against the Niners
and Bills, you're looking at eleven carries for thirteen yards.
I'm not ready to punt on him just yet. I
know some West Coast fantasy football players are ready to
punt on Alvin Kamara for what he did to them. Listen,
there are a lot of great advantages Mike that we
understand living in southern California. NFL Sundays begin at ten am.
(25:56):
But NFL Sundays, if you're not of listening to Mike, um,
some people maybe in bed when the London game starts
and the Alvin Kamara injury, I know, uh, him not
playing against the the Vikings in London was a surprise
too many on the West Coast that woke up with
Alvin Kamara in their lineups. What do you do if
you have Alvin Camara on your fantasy team? Yeah, he's tough,
(26:19):
right because we're looking at court dates and all of
that that people are still wondering what all goes on? Um,
but certainly a surprise and active. I started texting friends
of mine who have asked me line up questions that
I knew had him, like way up, wake up? Uh
they didn't wake up? But why did you silence your phone?
You knew I was gonna be on air and we
(26:40):
you knew we we were talking about it as a
London game and then you you went out and had
a drink and didn't bother to get up. Um. I
I think there there's better days ahead and obviously a
heavy investment if you drafted him. So punting altogether is
like losing that first round pick to injury for the year.
(27:04):
Because if you're trying to trade him, what are you get? Yes, right,
I mean they're the the value is little to none,
and you you drafted him and decided to make running
back a priority. What are you finding and what are
you getting back in return that would be commensurate to
him at his best? Now? Uh, do we do we
(27:25):
see him at what we expect it? No? We we
now have to change expectations. But certainly punting on him.
I can't. I can't either, And they've got they've got
a nice stretch. It starts with the Seahawks coming to
town on on Sunday, So if Alvin Camara is available,
it could start rolling. Two more names, a lot of
(27:47):
NFC South Kyle Pitts, see you gone, he's been the Pits. Yeah,
I mean if if in in this style of offense,
he doesn't see the ball, and and maybe a couple
of weeks with Patterson sideline on the I R and
we get a couple of running backs trying to find
(28:09):
their way right to three guys on battle for carries.
Maybe the short passing game it Pits comes in, but
he's been used as a block or a bunch, so
I don't know that that suddenly changes for him. Yeah,
and when Marcus Mariott to complete seven passes in a
game that's usually usually I mean, it's just the fields
number right there. I mean, come on, there was a
(28:31):
lot of running. That game like ended in like two hours.
Browns and Falcons. Keep the line moving, keep on moving,
all right? Final one? What about DJ Less? Oh wait
it's DJ Moore. Um just kidding, bad pun joke um,
but I like it. Sorry, DJ, no disrespect, I'll do it.
And he's calling out everybody at the team dance, So
(28:51):
you know the seeds of malcontented dis are there there,
and I think there's reason to be frustrated. Shaker Mayfield
seemingly keeping his job for another week because Sam Donald's
not close to returning, but met rule giving Baker Mayfield
they vote of confidence, saying I think he's still our quarterback. Um,
what a clown show. All that is just the comments
(29:15):
by rule stuff coming out of the locker room. We
had Jason lock and four on UM with with Jason
Smith and I on Monday night and he was wondering
aloud if McCaffrey wasn't traded before the deadline, right, so
you lose your other playmaker, DJ Moore. Obviously they re
up through. But he's just a guy. There's no secondary
(29:38):
receiver that you have to worry about. I'd play him
in a boxing one like I'm playing college. Oops. Yeah. Yeah.
He had eleven targets six catches for fifty yards against
the Cardinals. Yeah yeah, that was an ugly game, Baker
Mayfield getting passes bedded down left in the right. But
what was it nine. I mean, that's do the guys
from Guinness come out and give him a certificate for
(29:59):
a world record. Congratulations. This is a good But but
he's been awful and look, it was a weird offseason.
I don't want to pile on Baker because it's so
easy to do. I'm certainly not as big as fan
and I always thought he was bolstered by a great
roster in Cleveland. But this is certainly not the greatest
(30:20):
of situations. Matt Rule and the House of mediocre quarterbacks
and here's the next one that's a reclamation project project.
And unfortunately Corral got hurt and and and that was
never in Matt Corral. There was no way that he
was going to be the guy in in my mind. No, no, no, certainly.
(30:42):
But but at this point in the break glass, in
case of emergency, this guy is not good, and Donald
isn't ready he would at least maybe bought Matt Rule
a minute of peace, because right now the dumpster fire
has really really caught alright, So we five is upon us.
By the way, I did a piece on our Sunday show,
(31:04):
UH with George Rice Stir just about Baker and it's
just amazing on how he's just completely fallen off the radar,
like his his bad game wasn't even talked about that,
you know, in in NFL circles. It shows you how
irrelevant it is and fair or unfair. Again, the late
trade may have hurt him, you know as well of
you don't have an entire offseason. Grantedy was recovering from
(31:25):
surgery as well, but may have helped him. But but
right now just seems like an absolute lost cause for Carolina.
All right, let's get to the week five pickups. Guys,
you need to target your waiver wire. You gotta put
claims in, Mike, who are we targeting, especially with a
lot of the big injuries that we've had in other
moves in week four? Who are we targeting looking ahead
to Week five? Yeah, we talked about it a little
(31:46):
bit Caleb, Huntley and and Algier there in Atlanta to guys,
uh that you saw some work on fifty six yards
and ten carries for Huntley and all gear ten for
eighty four yards. How the twenty yard catch hopefully more
in the passing game, wink wink, not not. I'll send
notes to the coaching staff there and to get it
(32:10):
more involved, so opportunities abound there. We talked about Boone
and I guess depending on the what you need at
running back, hoping that maybe Littavius Murray gets you your
eight to ten touches. Again, it's Melvid Gordon. How much
do they trust him? Before the season, I liked him
to leach onto um Javante Williams. But now when you
(32:35):
can't trust him to hold onto the football like that's
that's the maddening part. With all the inefficiencies that you've had,
you're also turning the ball over. That's that's not good
for business at all either. We talked about pickings a
little bit, and certainly when when you get into the
receiving game, you know we're going week to week and
trying to find some wins in the and the receiving
(32:56):
core based on opportunity, like a guy like Josh Run
is that repeatable? Well, Detroit's cooking right now going up
against New England. They're not the impenetrable defense. And I
like the way Jared Goff's been slinging it. Man. I
was joking, Jared Goff greater than Stafford fight me well,
because it's fun. Uh, so you have that. You got
(33:19):
Corey Davis with the JETSS you recommended Jets wide receiver
five catches seventy four yards at a score on seven targets. Uh.
And Zach Wilson running around like his hair is on fire, uh,
making plays down field. I think that's gonna be a
little bit of an entertaining thing to watch. Romeo Dobbs
because uh, Aaron Rodgers starting to show more confidence in him, opportunity.
(33:42):
The Giants have some injuries in the secondary eight targets
uh this week, so maybe a little bit of love there.
And we already talked about George Pickens six catches on
eight targets hundred two yards. If anything, we we saw
that the Pickets probably gonna wing the ball around a
little bit it more. Yeah, and and hopefully he gets
(34:03):
und it fast enough. Well, but that's just it. What
do you got to lose? See what he see what
he has and and and Pickens is a guy that
you know, we watched Deebo Samuel with one of those. Uh.
Chris Berner would have had nine whoops in there in
that fifty seven yard touchdown reception against the Rams. If
you can get pickings in those kinds of situations where
(34:23):
you can free him up a little and on the
running space. Uh, fantasy opportunities are certainly abound. I did
pick up Josh Reynolds this past week just because the
Lions were so depleted, you know, without shtark without um.
You know, I'm ross st Brown. Um. I don't know
how much of a long term play to your point
with with that is, but he did come. You know,
when you can play with the Seahawks defense, Uh, go
(34:44):
for it. So maybe any Saints wide receiver came well,
and that's and that's just it, right. A larve is
probably off the wire in most leagues. I know Jarvis
Landry is not a guy fantasy owners flocked to. But
the targets are there, right, and if you're in a
PPR league, they all count, right, even if it's a
catch for four yards to move the chain at still
(35:05):
one point four points and from your w R three, Uh,
that that adds up. If you get to double digits
out of that slot, you're feeling good. Landry most week
is gonna get you there. Yeah, I'll give you I'll
give you two names that that I like as well.
One is a little tricky because I actually have a
buy in week six, Um, Robert Woods may be available
own it about and that's you know, usually not where
(35:27):
we go. But with the trail on Burke's injury, Um,
that could be one in a name that I have
circled that you mentioned in the preseason. It's just got
to keep your eye on another Week six by but
they are at Jacksonville on on on Sunday. We did
throw some shade at at the Texans a little bit earlier.
But Nico Collins could be an opportunity. I I know
(35:49):
he was a you know when we did some late
late round draft guys, you liked Nico Collins. Uh in
Week five, if you're if you're looking for a boost,
that could be that could be an option. Sucker circle
back to one more running back Dan Um on Sunday
night football folks might have missed with all the theatricality
the old man my back and uh Brady Mahomes and
(36:12):
Mahomes flipping the ball and all of that stuff. Isaiah
Pacheco had eleven carries for sixty three yards. It's a
guy we had brought up a couple of weeks ago
after Week one against the Cardinals, but someone you might
see a bit more as the season goes on and
they try to mix and match. Because your guy had
his big day, Claude Edward's last thing, he was on
(36:37):
my bench. You know, why would I play him against
the Buccaneers exact, especially after a game where he had
zero yards rushing, So so really a kick of the
teeth like it's now like Andy Reid hatred fantasy team too.
And I did pick up the checko after Week one
because it just felt and at some point, you know,
Glad Rozilire has been injured in his career and so
(37:00):
you would you know, try to go against them, and
they do use Jerk McKinnon. But yeah, I agree with
I agree with Pacheco. I have Brian Robinson on injured reserve.
There you go, that's the other guy to to bring up. Absolutely,
so there there could be the option he could be
activated at some point within the next three weeks. So
(37:20):
the Commanders running back and why not, you know, for
for what they've got in the backfield. Well, if he
can catch the ball um because Carson Wentz is going
to learn the term hot route if he hasn't already
with the number of time he's getting planted. So those
are some of the names that you want to target
with the waiver wire as we wrap this up. Any
(37:41):
final thoughts Mike entering a week five October is here. Um,
the winds are starting to chill a little bit. Um.
I don't know if we're seeing any separation from any
teams in standing as a whole bunch of two and
two around the National Football League. One of your thoughts
entering the rest of the week is still in the
fight of who's good who's not. I gotta believe that
(38:02):
Trevor Lawrence hangs onto the football this week. There was
my other upset pick that went to hell, which I
was remarked, yeah did, yeah, did. But you know what,
Philly showed me something because I actually had to play
in the second half, which is good. Uh. But that's
you know, Houston Jacksonville. You can get in for nineteen
bucks if you're down in Jacksonville. So you want to
(38:23):
go to a cheap football game, that is it. But
the Jaguars are a seven point favorite. Uh. Lovey Smith's defense. Uh,
nothing going there and that defensive front. Um, this is
one where Damian Pierce, as much as we love him, Uh,
tough spot for him, so find find the extra juice
as you can. A lot of low totals, weather becoming
(38:43):
a factor. We had multiple games this week. We were
watching all the pre games stuff. My brother was actually
at the Bills Ravens games, so some chaos there. Welcome
back J. K. Dobbins by the way, and maybe Gus
Edwards here in short order as well. But Monday Night
Football gives us our fire works. A lot of low
totals in these other games throughout the week, Dan except
(39:05):
for UH three final games at the end Philly, Arizona, Cincinnati,
Baltimore on Sunday Night Football and then fifty one for
Las Vegas Kansas City. So hopefully we get some fireworks
because Week four certainly gave us some points. Yeah, you're
talking about fireworks. I'm talking about some duds that do
want to bring Ryan Burshing, our our executive producer, into
(39:25):
this conversation as we wrap up this podcast. Um, guys,
do you know off the top of your head, Um,
how many touchdowns the forty Niners defense has given up
through four games? Their defense through four games? Can you
remember any touchdowns that the Niners have given up? Well,
(39:48):
there weren't any on Monday three field goals, so minus
nine minus the safety, so there's eleven points. We got
thirty five points still to account for. So so if
you think the week one wasn't there the Justin Fields
uh scramble, Yeah, in the rain, and then there was
(40:09):
the Melvin Gordon touchdown rush on Saturday Night football with
what five minutes remaining, the Seahawks blocked a field goal
and ran it back for a score. That was the
other That was the other score. That defense is given
up two touchdowns so far this season, and now you've
got Panthers and Falcons the next two weeks. Like I
(40:30):
am wondering, like, could could that defense for House Spry?
And I know you're not. They wouldn't be a stream
bursch because somebody has them, but I mean it's just
been I I found that pretty interesting and looking at
it and I'm looking through stats and I'm looking at
this and I'm like, wait, did they not accounting? Like no,
it didn't matter if they accounted for Monday Night Football. Yeah,
(40:51):
they've only given up two touches defense this year. As
far as waivers go, it is possible they could be
available in your league given that they played the Rams
this past week and people people could have dropped them,
So that would I think. I think the Niners they
at their number one on my list here with the
Panthers this week and with the way that that offense
(41:11):
can't seem to understand what to do. Uh yeah, no,
I I think that if the Niners are available, jump
on that with your waiver priority there it is. I
had to end with the defense and given then can
I talk about their defense because they helped extend some
misery for the Rams? Because I thought both of you
guys would love this stat. It flashed up during the
(41:33):
ESPN telecast. The Rams have been outscored in the fourth
quarter of games forty three this year. Wow. Yeah, I know.
We're talking to the network. They're like, man, how how
are the forty Niners a favorite? You know? Or just
just a two point favorite? I think we forget on
what the Rams have been so far now four weeks
(41:54):
into the season. Monday Night was a good reminder. We
want to remind you, don Lood, I want your flex
every single week. In fact, we have two episodes every
single week for you, dropping Tuesday morning, dropping Friday morning.
So if you're driving to work or if you're driving
home from that day. Uh yeah, sit back and listen.
We're gonna help you win some fantasy games. So, for
Ryan bur Singer and for my Carmon I'm Dan Buyer,
(42:14):
this has been I want to reflex. We'll talk to you,
but early Friday morning you will
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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