NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Free Agency Frenzy!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wow, everybody, It's Wednesday, March thirteenth, twenty twenty four. Welcome
to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, where we've agreed to terms.
It's me and your man, MG, Marcus Grant, joined by

(00:20):
Michael f. Florio and Lakwan Jones. Gentlemen, I usually like
to start with some sort of happy talk. We got
a lot to talk about, though, so I hope that
free agency has treated you well through the first couple
of days. I guess the negotiating period as the NFL
likes to call it, legal tampering window. As we record

(00:41):
this right about noon Pacific time on Wednesday, we're about
an hour away from the new league year officially beginning
when all of these deals become official, these trains actually
officially go through. All of that stuff is going to
be happening in about an hour from now. Chances are,
because this is going to be a longer show, we
may even see some movement while we are recording. So

(01:04):
I know, I've got my Twitter feed up. I'm sure
you guys do as well, so we will jump in
and add anything as it happens. So let's dive in here.
Let's start, though, vellas with the fact that, at least
for this year, running backs matter again. Last year, this
time to talk was how none of these guys were
getting signed. You know, you had Austin Eckler setting up

(01:25):
zoom meetings for running backs to try and help them
get paid. It just didn't really seem to work. This year,
a lot of guys able to sign some deals very quickly,
partially because there are a lot of big names out there,
partially because gms don't seem enamored with this draft class.
So let's get started with Derrick Henry. The King, still

(01:45):
the King, except now he'll be doing his thing in purple,
which is a royal color. He's moving to Baltimore two years,
sixteen million dollars with the Baltimore Ravens. I would think
we are all happy with this, Florio, this is this
sounds like a good deal for us.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Yeah, I think this. I mean when we did our
previous show last week, I think all of us were
hoping that he went to the Baltimore Ravens. And Derrick
Henry last year is still a top ten fantasy running back,
but he wasn't putting up the video game numbers that
we've kind of grown accustomed to. Derrick Henry, and he's
getting up there in age and in career workloads. So

(02:21):
I think there was going to be a lot of people,
or there was at least reasons to doubt Derek Henry
or be skeptical about Derrick Henry for fantasy purposes. I
don't care about any of those reasons anymore because of
the team that he's playing for.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Let's go.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
We know the Ravens are going to be one of
the best offenses in football. There's going to be plenty
of scoring opportunities. Gus Edwards at thirteen touchdowns last year,
Henry could easily, I think, not only approach that number,
but maybe even top it. I think we maybe could
see Derek Henry catch more passes than we have largely
become accustomed to seeing. So he is still a locked
and loaded RB one for me, and all of those

(02:58):
other concerns they don't like. Good luck stopping the option
with Lamar and Derek Henry. And that's the other thing
on the Titans, even when they had a J Brown
or who DeAndre Hopkins, defenses were loading the box against
Derrick Henry because of Lamar and how dynamic and explosive
he is. Both as a runner and a thrower. I

(03:18):
don't think you're gonna be able to do that anymore.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
No, I don't think you can do that at all.
It's funny. I tweeted out the you know a meme
about defenses having to deal with Lamar and Derrick Henry
a couple times a year, and Smatter responded with a
brown like, the Browns are gonna have problems with it,
And they show me a list of all the Derek
Henry performances against the Browns, And my thought was they
also didn't have to deal with Lamar Jackson at the

(03:40):
very same time, So I think that's something to deal with.
I mean, Lakwan. Over the last six years, Derek Henry
has averaged just over thirteen rushing touchdowns per season. Let
let's just set it at thirteen over or under in
twenty twenty four.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
He is going to crush them. Man, It's gonna be over.

Speaker 4 (04:01):
Man.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
We saw Gus Edwards put up thirteen touchdowns last year.
So you're inserting King Henry. You're inserting this guy that
is hard to bring down. He's one of the best
runners in stack boxes. There's nothing you can do against
Derreck Henry. And this dude is going to put Like
I don't want to get over dramatic, but this dude
might put up twenty plus touchdowns with this system when

(04:21):
with Lamar Jackson as a threat as well. So we're
looking at this guy in fantasy where obviously his ADP
is gonna shoot up just based on this movement here.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
No, that's the question I do have, is though, where
his ADP goes because as of last check, when I
looked yesterday on Underdog, he was the RB fifteen. Yep,
but I feel like he was the RB fifteen with
people sort of anticipating him going to Baltimore. I mean,
maybe I'm wrong, but it felt like a lot of
us already sort of had him penciled in to the

(04:53):
Ravens offense. I think there's movement, but I mean, Florida,
is it enough to get him in the top twelve?

Speaker 2 (04:59):
I think think he should be in the top like CMC, Breese, Hall,
Bjon Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Kyen Williams, Gibbs. I'm taking all
those guys over him, Saquon, but then it's like Travis Etn, Devon,
hen Pacheco, Rashad White, James Cook, like not only do
I think Dereck Henry belongs in that group, it's much
easier for me to get excited about it. Like you

(05:20):
guys know, I love James Cook, but James Cook is
going to give you four rushing touchdowns whereas Derek Henry
could get ten more than that. So yeah, I do believe,
at least me personally. When I haven't sat down and
done my rankings yet, I wait till after free agency
to do that. But I'm looking at the list now.
I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have Dereck Henry easily in

(05:41):
the top twelve. Like I would you rather have him
or Josh Jacobs him or Rashad White Like to me,
it's very easy to even with the age concerns, it's
very easy to make the case for Derek Henry.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
He's moved up a spot since since I looked.

Speaker 3 (05:55):
RB five for me right now, and I'm gonna stamp
that is hard by because the touchdowns are going to come.
He has a offens it's high scoring as well. They
have a bunch of opportunities for him. I'm going to
be sticking to the touchdowns here for where he's gonna
at least have two touchdowns in the game where he's
going to be averaging. But yo, how can you stop
this guy? Because I'm all in on Derrick Henry. Man

(06:17):
He's shown ability to be in the passing game as well.
So PPR upside is there, somewhat there, but I'm just
all in on this touchdown run.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
SO five RB five, So I'm guessing what McCaffery, Breeze Sall, Bijeon, jamieir.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
See, Brees Hall, Bijeon, Kyron, Kyri, Rick Henry. So you're thinking, oh,
you're taking Derek Henry over Jamiir Gibbs, huh yes.

Speaker 2 (06:39):
And Jonathan Taylor And yeah.

Speaker 3 (06:43):
I got my rankings right here.

Speaker 2 (06:44):
Man.

Speaker 3 (06:44):
I was messing with it last night, like I was
really really moving Gibbs and Henry. Those were the two
that I was moving from RB five. But I gotta
go Henry if we're going to be talking touchdowns, because
you got a Monty there, you got Monty still there.
He had a very decent season last year. So I
understand we want to see Gibbs unlocked, and he may
be unlocked, but Henry's can probably have more touchdowns.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
I think the touchdown uside is there, But you also
have Lamar Jackson, who's going to run for some, He's
going to throw for some as well. That was sort
of the thing in Tennessee. They didn't throw the ball effectively,
especially the last couple of guys bad. It was bad.
The Ravens are a little bit more dynamic, and so
I think that will have it. I think I think
getting over thirteen is not going to be a problem

(07:27):
for him.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
So it was a year ago, but I looked into
Derrick Henry age and the amount of career touches he had,
and to see how many running backs were still RB
one's from that point on, and it was like legends,
Like like I know, Tiki Barber was one of them,
and a lot of running backs for years in the past,
but these RB ones they not only they held up
into their thirties. And I know it's against the grain

(07:52):
to say that running backs could last at Derek Henry's
age right now, but Derek Henry is an all time great.
Derek Henry is a legend, so he can be the
one that is the outlier.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
Speaking of Tiki Barber, it's a good way to transition
to Saquon Barkley. That's a three year deal. Thirty seven
point seven five million dollars from the Philadelphia Eagles at
Tiki Barber out here taking shots basically saying good riddance
to Saquon, which, yeah, honestly credit to Giants fans. They
were all like, hey man, this dude put in work
for a team that really didn't show him love back.
So it didn't seem like Giants fans. I mean, look,

(08:25):
I don't think they wanted him in Philly, but they
certainly understood why he went and found himself another deal.
Uh So I'm gonna start with you, Lakwan, because you
got Derreck Henry at RB five where you put in
Saquon in a Philadelphia offense.

Speaker 3 (08:41):
Man, I got him man RB seven right now, he
could move up. I do think you know he could
move up. I need to see more of what they're
planning to do. The money does tell that they're going
to utilize him a lot better than they utilize you know,
DeAndre Swift, and you get a bigger, better back honestly
out of Saquon Barkley from sw I. I mean, he's
a better pass blocker, he's a better you know, runner,

(09:03):
he's a better pass catcher, etcetera. Etcetera. I think if
you're going to bring in a Saquon Barkley, you're gonna
use Saquon Barkley how he should be utilized. You know,
in that twenty twenty two season, I really feel as though,
you know, Jalen Hurts kind of took a step back
in the run game at least when he cames to attempt.
So you're keeping Jalen up right, You're keeping him on
the healthy side.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
Man.

Speaker 3 (09:21):
But this is such a great move for Saquon and
the Eagles to where you know he could shoot up, man.
I got him RB seven, but he couldn't move up.

Speaker 1 (09:30):
I mean, look, Saquon Barkley better player than DeAndre Swift.
I don't know that you're gonna get much argument there.
Do we worry less about the tush push, the brotherly
shove Florio Now that Jason Kelsey has ridden off into
the sunset, I.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
Think that comes into play. I also like so my
initial reaction was, Okay, he's gonna lose a lot of
touchdowns to Jalen Hurts. He's going to get the new
DeAndre Swift role if being the one that gets to
push him in. But the on line is so much better.
The offense is so much better in Philly that even
if he's not getting the percentage of goal on touches

(10:06):
like he got in New York, he could still score
a similar amount of touchdowns based on just more opportunities
and more chances that the Eagles get. Plus I think
a lot of people are forgetting that. Two years ago,
Miles Sanders had eleven rushing touchdowns in this Eagles offense,
and Miles Sanders was top five in rushing yards that season.

(10:26):
DeAndre Swift was top five in rushing yards last season.
So Saquon Barkley is going to be top five in
rushing yards if he stays healthy. In fact, he could
lead the league. And I do think he could get
double digit touchdowns when you consider that he's going to
be used heavily through the air. And that's the sneaky part.
I think when a lot of people think Jalen Hurts

(10:47):
and the Eagles, they're like, oh, well, he's not going
to throw the running back a bunch. The Eagles running
backs combined last year head over ninety targets, and that's
largely all going to go to Saqua. Not saying he's
gonna get all ninety, but he'll dominate I think the
pass game volume as well. So I agree with Lakwan.
I have him around RB seven. But my initial reaction

(11:07):
was like, ah, this maybe isn't a great thing for him,
and I've the more I've like, let it kind of marinate,
the more I'm like, no, I think this is a great,
great spot for seeing.

Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, now I think it's a great spot. I absolutely
think it's a great spot because he's going to be
able to do everything. I mean, from where I sit, Saquon,
of all the guys that hit free agency, was the
most versatile of the backs. He gave you the power
running ability of Dereck Henry. He gives you the pass
catching of Austin Eckler all in one package. It's a
matter of one him staying healthy and seeing you know

(11:37):
what the touchdown potential is going to be. But he's
going to catch the football. I think he sort of
decreases Philly's reliance on guys like Kenneth gain Well for instance.
I mean, Gainwell will still get on the field, but
maybe not as much as he did when DeAndre Swift
was back there. So I think this is a great
move right now. The consensus seems to be RB seven.

(12:00):
I think that sort of holds. I don't know if
it necessarily moves up or down a whole lot. I
think he's kind of probably locked in at that spot there.
Josh Jacobs leaving Las Vegas much like Nicholas Cage, which,
by the way, there are a lot of people over
the weekend asking Nicholas Cage won an Oscar and like, yes,
for leaving Las Vegas. But the fact that you legitimately
asked that tells you exactly how bats crazy Nicholas Cage's

(12:23):
career has been. I've never seen that movie, actually, honestly,
neither have I. I just know the primise of it is
that the premise of it is that Nicholas Cage is
kind of a depressed, degenerate guy who takes himself to
Vegas in the hopes of drinking himself to death, but
then he meets somebody who helps him pull out of that.
That's the whole thing anyway. Josh Jacobs not depressed, getting

(12:45):
four years forty eight million dollars from the Green Bay Packers.
I guess I like this Florio. I mean, Aaron Jones
had a really good year there, win healthy win available.
He played really well in that offense. Jordan Love showed
us some things. They've got some really good receivers in
that offense there. I don't know. I think Josh Jacobs
this sort of is who he is. I don't know

(13:06):
that he's much better or worse in Green Bay than
he was in Vegas the last couple of years.

Speaker 2 (13:12):
So if you guys remember last week on the show,
I was saying that when you look at his career
now is five years in the NFL. Two years ago
when he led the league in rushing and was a
I believe the RB two in Fantasy football he was.
That's the outlier season, Like every other year is pretty consistent, like, oh,
this is who Jacobs is. But I do believe in

(13:34):
this change of scenery, if he's ever going to get
back to what he was two years ago, green Bay
could be the place where he does it because they've
had such an effective run system there, and we know
that they'll get the running back involved in the passing
game as well. So now without AJ Dillon there, without
Aaron Jones there, I know they love two running back

(13:54):
sets in Green Bay, but they've never had a running
back that's kind of a mix of both where he's
the big, physical, pound like runner on the ground, but
he can also be very effective in the passing games.
So I do think this was a really good landing
spot for Josh Jacobs. I'm thinking when I do my rankings,
he's probably gonna settle in the range of being like

(14:14):
a low end RB one more than likely high end
RB two. But I certainly think because of the landing spot,
he has the upside to finish as a top ten
running back.

Speaker 1 (14:23):
You like that top ten running Backah, yeah, I agree.

Speaker 3 (14:27):
I mean he could be top ten. I mean, he's
not going to live outside that, just based on the
PPR upside. I mean, you're bringing in a guy, you
know that can do a little bit of both of
what Michael was saying, and like, you're bringing in a
guy who put up sixteen hundred yards and led the
league in twenty twenty two. That was the big year.
You know, he wanted to get paid and then obviously
he didn't. But here you go. You got him in
the Packers offense. His offense is so electric. The youth

(14:48):
around that team man is crazy too, So you're gonna
have a chance, you know, to really lean on him
if you need to, you know, if they don't have,
you know, the wide receivers Christian Watson. I'm throwing some
dirt on there, you know that are unavailable some weeks.
But you know, I really feel as though this was
such a great move for a plug and play for
a guy that you can still keep the same nuances
that you had with Aaron Jones on that offense and

(15:09):
getting him involved in the red zone, getting involved in
the passing game, et cetera, et cetera. So he could
definitely be a top ten lock. I mean, if you
look outside that top ten and it gets a little wicked,
you know, you got the Isaiah Pachecos, the Travis Etns, etcetera, etcetera.
I'm taking Josh Jacobs over those guys.

Speaker 1 (15:25):
I want to believe he's going to be involved in
the passing game, but I think the Raiders not really
using him very much in that regard sort of leaves
me sour. He had those two seasons with fifty plus
catches twenty twenty one, twenty twenty two. Every other year
he was below forty receptions, and really even those years
was never more than say a checkdown option. So I

(15:50):
want to believe Green Bay is gonna get him involved.
I'm always the you know, just because the guy doesn't
do it, doesn't mean he can't do it. But I
think at this point the track records on enough that
I just think no one's interested catch the football. So
I think that sort of puts a cap on it.
So he is going to have to run for eleven
twelve hundred yards. He's going to have to get you
you know, nine to twelve touchdowns. I think, to be

(16:11):
that top ten running back. If he's you know, if
it's like last year, you know it's going to be
a struggle. Granted he only played thirteen games last year,
but you know, it could be a bit of a
struggle for him in Green Bay. I think the ADP, though,
is probably going to reflect that fact that he's RB
thirteen right now. I think sort of prices in some

(16:32):
of that potential risk for him with the Packers. Austin
Eckler to the Commanders Florida. We got to talk to
him last year at Chargers Camp. Sadly, I guess we
won't be able to talk to him this year at
Chargers Camp. I look at this Mike as Austin Eckler
can catch the ball. That's what he is going to do.
My question to you is how much is Cliff Kingsbury

(16:56):
like Austin Eckler as a runner versus Brian Robinson, because
that's going to make a whole big difference in what
his potential production can be this year.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yeah, I don't think Austin Eckler is going to have
the stranglehold on groundwork like he did in LA. But
even in LA, he was never a two hundred and
fifty carry kind of running backs, So it could be
something like even a sixty to forty split on the
ground in favor of Brian Robinson. Austin Eckler, though, can
still be extremely effective as a pass catcher. Last year

(17:26):
was second in amongst running backs and YAK created over expectation.
He was top four in YAK despite missing the time.
And I know I say it all the time, but
it's it's key. He suffered a high ankle's frame in
Week one, landed on the r and then when he
came back a bunch of his playmakers around him that
helped take defensive pressure away. We're in and out of

(17:47):
the lineup. I don't think that he was ever fully
right after that ankle injury. Look, he's not going to
be a top five pick like he used to be,
but I think he can still surprise people because of
how much he can be utilized in the passing game,
and then when they get near the goal one, we
know that Alsin Eckler can still eat there. So look,
you're not gonna have to pay up for him. He's
gonna be cheaper than ever. I think he is a sleeper.

(18:08):
I've been riding with Austin Eckler since before it was cool.
I'm telling you I am not jumping off now that
it is no longer cool. He is still gonna surprise people, I.

Speaker 1 (18:16):
Think right now. RB twenty three Lakwan just behind Nick Chubb,
just ahead of Najee Harris. Would you take him over
Nick Chubb coming off a pretty serious knee injury last year.

Speaker 3 (18:28):
Yes, only because you got Cliff over there. And I
think if we remember back, you know with his time
with the Cardinals, you had Chase Edmonds there. He was utilized.
He kind of was getting forced down our throats Paul's.
He was just one of those guys that you just
kept seeing on the field and kept getting targets. Like
if you look at twenty twenty one, he had one
hundred and sixteen Russian attempts and then he ended up,

(18:50):
you know, having three hundred and eleven yards on the
ground with fifty three targets. And then you look at
the year before this dude had sixty seven targets. So
he was still available in the field and being utilized properly.
Austin Eckler He's probably gonna smash those numbers, you know,
when we're talking Chase Edmonds and Austin Eckler. Austin Eckler
is still a threat in the red zone. He's still
going to be getting those touchdowns. So I'm with loriol

(19:10):
I'm buying the dip. People are going to be putting
him to the side and then having him as an
after thought, And like, we're got to look at Austin
Eckler what he's given us. He's given us great passing
game ability, He's given us great red zone presence, and
that's what I'm looking for for a low win or
B two. If we're going to be, you know, putting
him on your rosters, I'll I'll go, you know, running
back hero this year where I'll go running back, running back,

(19:31):
and then I'll wait later to get to Austin Eckler
and I'll be looking good and looking pretty with my
with my choice is there. But I'm really happy for
him and happy for him with the Commanders I am. I.

Speaker 1 (19:40):
I think there's potentially a good situation because I think
the fact that he is a pass catcher means he
doesn't have to be a three down back necessarily. I
think he's the guy who gets to work in the
two minute offense. You know, he'll get work at the
end of halves, end of games, that sort of thing
when they have to throw the football, because let's face it,
commanders have a lot of work to do. They will
probably be playing from behind the line, which means they

(20:01):
will be throwing the football, and so that I think
keeps him in the realm of an RB two potentially
this year. Now, if he does get some of that
groundwork and gets some of that goal line work, then
I think the range of outcomes gets even better for
him potentially. I wish I was as confident in a
Cliff Kingsbury offense as you seem to be, Lakwan, But
I do think there's some some hope that he's going

(20:24):
to get a lot of work there. It just really
does depend how much does Kingsbury like Brian Robinson, And
you know, I think some of it to an extent,
who the quarterback is going to be. You know, if
it is that they like Jaden Daniels a lot and
they draft him at the number two spot, does Daniels
in his scrambling ability, take away some of those opportunities

(20:46):
catching the football for Eckler out of the backfield. Yeah, Yeah,
there are still some questions to be answered, but I
think there's a good base for him there. Tony Pollard
three years, twenty four million dollars with the Tennessee Titans, Lakwan.
This seems like the most confusing of all the signings
because you had Spears there and now you sign you know,
another Tai Spears similar. Make it make sense, please?

Speaker 3 (21:11):
I can't. Honestly, I think they were just looking for,
you know, a running back they can get in real
quick because they knew they weren't going to be able
to pay up, you know, for Saquan or Josh Jacobs
or whatever the case may be. But I just really
didn't understand this move like I thought he was going
to end up somewhere, you know, splitting time as a backup,
you know, maybe or going somewhere like the Patriots and
we're boring. That's what I tweeted the other day.

Speaker 2 (21:32):
But oh he was somewhere boring.

Speaker 3 (21:34):
Oh yeah, it's still accurate. Yeah, But still I am
still drafting TAIJ. Spears just based on the low flashes
we saw last year. And he was able to split
his time with Derek henry Man. That's hard to do,
you know, And he was able to utilize his best
his abilities and be in the passing game as well.
And he has some burst to him, like he has

(21:55):
some breakaway speed to him. And I think once we
start seeing, you know, Pollard go back into his ways
a little bit what we saw last year as the
lead back quotation since the audio broadcast, but I really
feel as though we need to really look at this,
this offense, into that dynamic of it too, man, Like,
what are they really looking to build here? It's gonna
be a new scheme, a new offense, you know, with

(22:16):
Will Levis hopefully at not hopefully but supposedly at the
starting quarterback as of now. But I feel like, you know,
you still go out there and you draft yourself with
Taji Spears. If you're drafting Tony Pollard more so, he
will have to be like a low and RB two.
I don't know if you guys agree. I don't really
see too much upside.

Speaker 1 (22:34):
So I'm looking here. They are getting drafted back to
back Pollard's RB twenty Spears RB twenty one right now,
which is scarier, which to me says the market hasn't decided.
They haven't settled on one guy or another in Florida.
That seems like the scariest thing when when we are
that split as a community, which means either neither guy

(22:56):
is going to be great or half of us are
going to swing and miss. Why on one of them? Like,
it just doesn't seem possible that they both finish, uh,
you know, sort of back to back or close enough
to each other because they get enough touches. It just
it just doesn't feel right.

Speaker 2 (23:10):
I could see both of them falling now that they've
they're sharing a backfields. My initial reaction was, I think
Tony Pollard is the one that feels a little bit
safer because they already know what they had in Tase Spears,
and they still went out and paid him. But I
mean that just means he's gonna get first opportunity. I
think if Tony Pollard looks like he did for much

(23:32):
of last season, then he's gonna get jumped. But in
the pecking order. I also, I know he started to
come to life down the stretch last year. I think
that he'll be the one used more in the passing game.
But I mean, remember last year we were making jokes
that he's allergic to the end zone, that he can't
get in that. I like, if those goal on touches
are going to Tase Spears, but it's a heavier share

(23:53):
of the pass game work to Tony Pollard, it could
be a situation where it's just a nightmare. All thinkurg
Steelers running backs last year offense, they were eatting off
of each other's plates. They were both RB threes and
like Jalen Warren is really explosive, Naji Harris is a
really effective goal one runner. At times it didn't matter
that offense with them eating off of each other's plate

(24:15):
held them back. I could see the Titans running backs
going that route as of right now at their calls
to twenty and twenty one I'm gonna have neither of them.

Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah, I mean, I just you know, I think if
I do enough drafts, I will probably end up sort
of alternating between the two of them a little bit.
But I don't know that I'm gonna have a lot
of them over the course of my fantasy teams this offseason.
One last running back at least for this section. We'll
get to more a little bit later on. But Aaron
Jones one year seven million dollars with the Vikings mentioned

(24:45):
it earlier. I mean, when he was healthy, he played
very well, and down the stretch and into the playoffs,
Aaron Jones played very very well. But I mean, Floria,
we'll talk about Sam Donold in a little bit. The
quarterback situation is very much a question mark there. The
offense doesn't seem like it's going to be as productive. That,
more than anything, is the thing that scares me about

(25:07):
Aaron Jones this year. I don't know about you.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yeah, I agree, but I also like it's gonna be
the Sam Donald or like JJ McCarthy leading the way
for them. I could see a lot of dump offs
to the running back, more than we got with Kirk Cousins.
Because Kirk was able to get the ball downfield to
Jefferson and Hawkinson and Addison. So I know there's age
concerns with Aaron Jones. There's volume, like just he's getting

(25:32):
up there, the wear and tear and all of that
that's gonna lead to him being a cheaper back. I think,
like I, he's going to be drafted as an RB two,
and I would anticipate not even a high end one
so at that price, like he is to me is
a type of running back that when if I go
like wide receiver, wide receiver, I could see taking as

(25:52):
maybe like my RB one or two in like the
fourth round or something like that. I still believe Aaron
Jones has the juice and I think he could catch
plenty of passes, but the scoring opportunities are going to
go down, Like you.

Speaker 1 (26:03):
Said, yeah, one hundred percent, just not a lot of
opportunities to score point. Any worries about ty Chandler lukwan.

Speaker 3 (26:09):
Uh No, I think he's still be involved. It's just
gonna be one of those situations with this offense where
like we explained for it's not gonna be a lot
of scoring opportunities, so we might not see a lot
of fantasy points from this running back group because they'll
definitely be playing off each other. But I like the
little flashes I saw from ty Chandler, like out those
shot at him at the end of the drafts just
in case, you know, Aaron Jones ends up getting hurt,

(26:30):
because he did face some injury last year before he
decided to go off in the fantasy playoffs, you know,
averaging more than one hundred you know, yards per game.
But I really feel as though, you know, if if
you're going to be taking a shot on Aaron Jones,
just get your expectations in order.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
Yeah. I know Kevin O'Connell was talking up ty Chandler
at the combine a few weeks ago, got everybody kind
of excited for about twelve hours on Twitter. But I
think when you dive back into it, Chandler needed, you know,
he needed injuries to Cam Akers, He needed Alexander Madden
to pretty much fall flat before he got on the field.
There was not an immediate path to opportunity for ty Chandler,

(27:07):
and I think that's something to keep in mind when
you're looking at or thinking about Aaron Jones. After the
running backs, there were a few quarterback moves of note,
The biggest one Kirk Cousins leaving Minnesota and heading down
to the Dirty South. He signs a four year, one
hundred and eighty million dollars deal with the Atlanta Falcons,
hundred million dollars guaranteed, cementing his place in the business

(27:29):
of football Hall of Fame. Kirk Cousins doesn't win playoff games,
but he knows how to get the bag for sure. Floria. Look,
Kirk Cousins sort of is who he is.

Speaker 2 (27:40):
We know who he is.

Speaker 1 (27:41):
What I want to know from you is how excited
are you now about Kyle Pitts. This is your opportunity
to once again lead the charge, to drive the bus
on the Kyle Pitts hype train.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
Now I'll drive in the bus. The funniest Sunfelt skit
there is, by the way. Yeah, I look, I ripped
my shirt off on TV a couple of years ago
for Kyle Pitts. I do it again right now if
you want me to, I am. I've never wavered and
I'm not wavering now. Look, not only is it a
huge quarterback upgrade, that's we all know that it's a

(28:18):
play caller upgrade. I believe at least for us what
we want in fantasy purposes. I don't think we're gonna
get just a bunch of slow pace running the ball
like we did the last couple of years. I think
it's gonna be a lot more passing a past friendly offense. Plus,
Kyle Pitts now is fully a year removed from that
knee surgery. He said he wasn't healthy last year. So
I think there's a lot of reasons for optimism. But

(28:40):
it's not just with him. I think Drake London has
wide receiver one upside. In fact, I think he has
top five upside. I don't know if he I'm not
going to guarantee he's top five or anything like that,
but he can get there. Pits could be top five
at his position. Bijon should be top five. He could
be the RB one if things break right. So I'm
kind of you in this, and you guys can tell

(29:01):
me if you disagree. I'm viewing this similar to the
Vikings offense. Like Drake London. Look, I'm not saying he's
justin Jefferson, but he'll play that role. Kyle Pitts will
be T. J. Hockinson. Bijon, Look, he's better than Madison.
He could be Dalvin Cook, and then Darnel Mooney could
be like the poor man's Jordan Addison, the field stretcher
who helps open stuff up for those other three.

Speaker 1 (29:22):
I don't think that's ridiculous. I mean, look, look on
this is everything we wanted, right, the two things we
asked for for the Falcons. One just move on from
Arthur Smith because the play calling these schemes just didn't
seem to really work out. And two get a decent quarterback. Right,
they have accomplished that. You are finally back on the

(29:44):
Kyle Pitts bandwagon.

Speaker 3 (29:45):
I got me my ticket.

Speaker 1 (29:46):
Baby, does it happen this year? Do we just? Is
it rap? I mean, if it doesn't happen now, it
feels like it'll never happen.

Speaker 3 (29:54):
Right, Oh, it's over. I'm screaming. Trade him, just get
rid of him, just send into another location. But I
think this is the year where we finally get to
say Kyle Pitts has arrived. And I mean we saw
Kirk Cousins. You know, with his time the six seasons
he was with the Vikings Man, he made tight ends
relevant that had no business being relevant fantasy wise. I

(30:16):
know you guys, remember Kyle Rudolph. I know you guys
remember Irvin Smith's Ervin Irvin. We've been waiting for, you know,
guys like that to pop. But I think Kirk Cousins
is going over to Atlanta with a somewhat scheme of
Sean McVay. With Zach Robinson over there as the offensive coordinator,
You're going to get a system that he's going to
be very comfortable with. Since twenty eighteen, Kirk Cousins is
third in passing touchdowns, that's behind Mahomes and Russell Wilson

(30:39):
with one hundred and seventy one. So that's one thing
that we're going to get an uptick with the Falcons.
It's going to be the touchdown production. That's how you're
going to get this breakout season with Drake London. That's
how you're going to get Kyle Pitts top three in
his position. This is where it's going to matter. Kyle
Pitts is such a huge target in the red zone
and we talked out talked about it before they got
the distraction out of building. John new Smith is no

(31:01):
longer there, so Kyle Picks will be able to open up,
be healthy and get some points on the board. Man.

Speaker 1 (31:08):
I mean, look, I think we're all, you know, over
the moon about this. I know Drake London that the
rocket ship has taken off. It's funny. On on Free
Agency Frenzy on NFL Network, Cynthia Freeland sort of said, hey,
fantasy managers, don't get too excited. Simple your expectations. And
I just pretty much put my fingers in my ears
and went, la la, I'm not listening.

Speaker 3 (31:29):
We're ready to be hurt again.

Speaker 1 (31:31):
I hurt the fourth year in a row. I shouldn't
say fourth year in a row. He had a good
rookie year and then it sort of went backwards from there.

Speaker 2 (31:38):
One of the best rookie tight end years ever.

Speaker 1 (31:40):
Yeah, I mean went for a thousand yards that rookie year.
It's weird. He went for a thousand yards, had a
great season, and people were disappointed because the hype was
so great, like it was not a it was not
a Kyle Pitts issue. It was an US issue. And
that sort of hurt. But then since then it's kind
of gone backwards. But new coach, better quarterback and he's healthy.

(32:01):
That was another thing too, that maybe he was more
injured than a lot of us knew. So all these
things seem to be pointing in Kyle Kit's direction. Reason
to get excited about him. Russell Wilson, we talked last
week about him getting his release from the Denver Broncos,
and now he is at A two Pittsburgh where he
will be a Steeler. I mean, simple question, Lakwan, as

(32:22):
we sit here right now, and and we'll talk about
Deontay Johnson, We'll talk about the rest of that offense
in a little bit, but as we sit here right now,
are you would you be willing to draft Russell Wilson
outside of say, you know super flex too QB leagues.

Speaker 3 (32:39):
I was until you know, the recent trade with Deontay Johnson.
They traded the wrong wide receiver. But I think there's
still hope for Russe Wilson. There's gonna be, you know,
some time for them to build around him. He's cheap,
you know, he's getting paid. He's got his money regardless,
like he's like one two point million for what I believe.
You know, so you get a chance to bring into

(32:59):
my receivers draft.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
A wide receiver.

Speaker 3 (33:01):
You got time to kind of figure out the kinks
and how this offense is gonna work. So for me
for fantasy today, I'm not drafting Russell Wilson until you know,
probably the summertime where this offense looks a little bit
more shaped up and you got Aalter Smith there. So
there's gonna be some frustration some some weeks.

Speaker 1 (33:21):
Uh, I mean you florio drafting Russ anywhere?

Speaker 4 (33:24):
Nope, smithing, No, No, because where he's gonna go, I
want upside, Like he's going to be a QB two, So.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
I'm searching for upside there and I don't think. I
think Russ brings probably more of a safe floor. He's
not the runner that he used to be. He's not
gonna throw for like forty five hundred yards or something
like that, like even thirty touchdowns. I think he can
be a good real life piece. I think he can
elevate George Pickens like he did Courtland Sutton last year.
But I think like what he kind of was last

(33:58):
year is the ceiling, and that's like a high end
QB two, low end QB one some weeks and I'd
rather just chase ups like I'd rather take a shot
on Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams, someone like that. But
I'm so happy that he did what we wanted him
to do and he signed that contract for the league minimum.
And he wasn't like I'm gonna do Denver favor. No,

(34:19):
he was like, I'm going to take care of me
and the team that I am on. Now, you guys
pay me the rest. And I love it.

Speaker 1 (34:25):
I think in real football since it makes sense for
the Steelers, right because it's about as low risk as
you could possibly get. You know, the Broncos are taking
care of most of the salary. You bring him in.
If it works out great, you get him for a
year on a short deal or on a very cheap deal,
he's for you. If it doesn't work out, you know,

(34:46):
it's a one year thing. You didn't really pay a
whole lot. You move on and it's a win win.
Russ is still paid and right, yeah, Russ still gets paid.
So like for the Steelers and for Russell, will this
works out well? Baker Mayfield resigning with the Bucks three years,
one hundred million dollars. We talked about Mike Evans being
back in just real real quick, Floria. I mean this

(35:08):
I just seems to be status quo, right, I mean,
Baker played well last year. We apologized to him on
this show multiple times. I don't expect much change. I mean,
he's you know, he's a QB two, but not a
bad option if you're looking to stream or you need
a buy week replacement.

Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah, there was plenty of weeks where he was like
he was good for sixteen or more. Almost every single week.
It felt like so good, good streaming option, not someone
you want to draft to be her every week starter.
But once injuries and buys settle in. To me, I
think the best thing about this, and it's kind of
what you hit on Marcus Mike Evans, Like, we know
that Mike Evans could be a wide receiver one with
Baker Mayfield. Continuity matters in this league, especially in fantasy

(35:47):
when we're trying not to take gambles with our early
round picks. So it's a good thing for Mike Evans
and Rashad White, Chris Godwin, all the bucks that we
already know can put up numbers with Baker Mayfield. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (35:59):
So there you go. Tho are some of the big
headline moves. There's plenty more that we're gonna take a break,
come back dive into some of the I guess secondary
for lack of a better term, moves through free agency.
Stick around for more of the NFL Fantasy Football podcast.
All Right, free agency is off and running. Let's dive

(36:21):
into some of the other moves that have happened that
maybe aren't necessarily top headline moves but certainly have some
fantasy relevance. Quarterbacks. Gardner minshew is going to Vegas two years,
twenty five million dollars. I had said on Twitter that
it's like Jimmy Garoppolo is sort of that like high end,
like luxury bougie Vegas experience, like he's staying at the

(36:42):
Cosmopolitan and getting drinks at high end bars. Gardner minshewe
is the guy who goes to Vegas and is like,
you know, yard of margarita around the neck and like
VIP status of the ex caliber. Like he's that's his
version of Vegas. Both of them are fun. Both of
them are incredibly different. First off, Lakwan, your thoughts on

(37:04):
Gardner to the desert? Is this a good move for
Gardner's a good move for the Raiders.

Speaker 3 (37:10):
I think it's a great move for both parties. Man,
I mean, Garner mission didn't look bad last year. Man,
I mean it's kind of unfortunate. I kind of wanted
him to stay in Indie when you know Anthony Richardson
so he can recover properly. But I think this is good,
you know, just in case the Raiders. You know, I
wouldn't say they wouldn't get it right in the draft,
but you have a veteran, you know, presence there in
the quarterback room that can help out and develop this

(37:31):
quarterback or wherever you choose or if you do go quarterback.
I mean twenty five million through two years. Man, that's
that's big money. I mean, that's that's great backup money
for him. I mean, it's a great move by the Raiders.

Speaker 4 (37:43):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (37:44):
I mean I looked at it. I'm kind of like, eh,
I think it's more sort of mediocre quarterback play. Minshew
was nice enough to sort of keep the the cults
kind of afloat. Yeah, you know, like, but I think
it's just kind of more mediocre quarterback play, which floya.
The big question to me now is I'm worried about
DeVante Adams. I know he's a good player, but at

(38:06):
some point there's only so much he can do when
the quarterback play around him. Is just kind of meh,
And now I wonder, like, are we drafting him? I
won't say on name value alone, but you know, do
we start to worry about DeVante Adams and his potential
to be a wide receiver one?

Speaker 2 (38:23):
Yeah? Yeah? I think like I had concerns last year
because Jimmy g doesn't play the same style that Devonte
Adams likes to play a downfield and all that. But
Gardner Minshew did show that he can elevate Michael Pittman
Junior and keep him as a wide receiver one most
weeks last year, So I do think there's like DeVante Adams.

(38:44):
I don't think he's gonna be a top five wide receiver,
but I could see him being top twelve with Gardner Minshew.
I will say, though I was, I was pretty sad
because I thought the Raiders were going to be the
team that makes the move for justin fields given their
defense and how he can run, and I thought that
would have been a lot of fun to see in
silver and black. So Gardner Minshew, I agree, like he's

(39:05):
he's I think his ceiling is kind of what he
was last year, and that's keeping your team around nine
and seven in the hunt, but maybe he sneaks in
and gets you a seventh seed if everything breaks right.
That's the absolute ceiling for Gardner Minshew though.

Speaker 1 (39:19):
I mean, look, he's got to deal with you know,
the Raiders have to deal with the Chiefs twice a year.
So they're in the same division with the two time
defending champions. They're in the same division with the Chargers,
who look, I get it, hashtag Chargering. But there's there's
Jim Harbaugh there, now there's Greg Roman. There's hopefully a
new attitude and maybe that means some different production. So
you know, the deck no pun intended for Vegas seems

(39:41):
sort of stacked against the Raiders, and I think Gardner
Minshew is kind of Man. It's funny. Floria and I
talk about my friend's text chain that I'm in with
with some of my friends from the Bay Area, and
we are all forty nine Ers fans. We also all
have sort of a soft spot in our heart for
the Raiders after all those years in Oakland. And one
of my friends texted, the forty nine Ers are his

(40:03):
responsible son who grew up and got a degree and
has a really good, high paying job and mortgage and
all that kind of stuff. The Raiders are more of
these screw up son who basically just wants to sit
on the couch smoke weed all day and like works
at the mall.

Speaker 2 (40:18):
It also kind of fits their fan bases.

Speaker 1 (40:21):
Uh, sort of sort of a little bit.

Speaker 3 (40:23):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (40:24):
Yeah, So the Raiders fan base is wild. It is wild.
I all say this, for better or worse, the Niner
fan base has has got a little bit unruly, exactly
at that. Speaking of the forty nine ers, their backup
quarterbacks who rock purty with sam Donold last year. Now
it looks like Donald is going to get his own
starting gig. He heads to Minnesota as the presumptive replacement

(40:47):
for Kirk Cousins. You you mentioned I think you mentioned it, Florio.

Speaker 2 (40:52):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (40:53):
Do you think he's going to be the starter in
Week one or do the Vikings do something in the
draft to maybe give him some competition?

Speaker 2 (41:00):
I think both. I think, Look, they're not gonna get
the top three quarterbacks. They're not gonna get Caleb in
my opinion, they're not gonna get Jaden Daniels, and I
think Drake may will still go too early for them.
They could be in the running though for JJ McCarthy
and if he falls maybe I don't know, do they
go Bo Nicks Michael Pennix. But I could see the
Vikings moving up and being aggressive to get a quarterback

(41:22):
in round one of the draft. But that doesn't necessarily
mean that Sam Donald won't start Week one. I would
be shocked if Sam Donald is their starter all season long,
but I wouldn't be shocked at all if he starts
the first couple of games before handing it over to
a rookie. That being said, either way, it is a

(41:43):
negative for these big pieces in fantasy, for Justin Jefferson, TJ.
Hockinson when he returns Jordan Addison, Like, I don't care
which situation it is. If it's a rookie or if
it's Sam Donald. It is a downgrade from Kirk Cousins. Yeah,
I mean I think that's the thing, right.

Speaker 1 (42:01):
But that being said, LQ, Justin Jefferson's still top five
receiver off the board.

Speaker 3 (42:07):
I don't know what Sam Donald, man. I really don't
like it. I really don't like it, man. I mean,
Sam Donald has kind of been me, you know, for
the most part, we haven't really seen him elevate wide
receivers of his calenber to the top of the boards.
But I feel like they're gonna bring in competition. Man,
They're gonna draft somebody. This is definitely, you know, something
that we've seen with Sam Donald in the past before

(42:28):
when they Carolina they brought in Baker Mayfield. The year
before that, they bring in Cam Newton. They're always gonna
need a guy and you gotta worry about, you know,
a little bit of injury.

Speaker 1 (42:37):
Rius.

Speaker 3 (42:37):
He has somewhat of a rap sheet there too as well.
So I don't I'll just like Florida, I'll be super
super surprised he plays more than ten games as the
starter they got. I just don't. I just don't know, man.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah, I know the people are sort of making the
case that Donald maybe there's there's a reason to roll
the dice, that people are going back and watching some
of his old tape and saying that maybe there's a
reason to kind of buy in. I mean, look, I
think he's a guy that can be decent. I don't
think that's enough for the Vikings to win the NFC North,
especially with the Lions hanging around there. But I just

(43:10):
worry that the yardage of totals come down the touchdown
totals come down for Justin Jefferson. But talent sort of
may went out there a little bit, but he's definitely
not the you know, slam dunk top three Fantasy wide
receiver pick. He once was a couple of running backs,
A handful of running backs to talk about here. Zach
Mosk goes to the Bengals two years, eight million dollars. Uh, Laquon,

(43:32):
tell me why he's going to be every fantasy analysts
favorite sleeper running back this year.

Speaker 3 (43:37):
Man, He's definitely going to be on my sleeper lest
for sure. Man. I mean, he's one of those running
backs that you know, we wanted him to kind of
be something in Buffalo, but he was not. But now
he had this spark and Indie and now he's looking
at a role where it could be his. You know,
you got Chase Brown there as well, who actually showed

(43:58):
flashes as well last season. But I think this is
Zach Moss's backfield and I think I will be buying
into it.

Speaker 1 (44:04):
Joe Mixon going from Cincinnati to Houston, Florida, this was
a spot that people thought Saquon could land in and
really be productive. And for a guy who looked like
he was gonna be a cut candidate. I mean, Zach
Moss goes to Cincinnati, Everybody's like, well, the Bengals gonna
cut Joe Mixon. Instead, they figure out how to trade
him for a seventh round pick to Houston. This seems
to be the best possible landing spot he could have

(44:26):
asked for.

Speaker 2 (44:27):
I think, all things considered, I think so, and I
think it keeps him in the range as an RB two.
I know he didn't look as a runner like the
Joe Mixon of old last season, but his offense, I
mean Te Higgins was in and out, Joe Burrow was
out for a lot, a long stretcher or was hurt
even before that. I think that this is going to

(44:49):
be a good thing for Joe Mixon. He's on a
good offense that will be able to move the ball,
give him plenty of scoring opportunities. C. J. Stroud is
was arguably the best deep ball thrower last season, which
should help create running lanes near the line of scrimmage.
The only worry I have is J. Stroud because he's
so effective downfield. He doesn't like to dump the ball

(45:11):
off very much, so maybe he sees some of his
targets go down going from Burrow to Stroud, But I
think Mixing could be a top twenty running back again.
He I mean, Devin Singletary was putting up RB one
numbers for a stretch last season, and I think Mixing
is better than Motor even at this point in his career.
So yeah, I think, just like we were saying for
Aaron Jones earlier, like you're not gonna have to pay

(45:34):
the usual Joe Mixon price, but at a little bit
of a discount now, maybe say in the fourth round
or something like that, if you wait on RB two
where you just start wide receiver, wide receiver, wide receiver.
He's a good, solid option on a really good offense.

Speaker 1 (45:46):
Yeah, And I think that's the thing. He stays in
a good offense. I'm curious to see how he sort
of works in with Bobby Sloweck's zone running offense. It
took a while last year for the Texans to get
that run game going, and you mentioned Devin Singletary sort
of picked up up Damian Pierce became persona on Grada
by the end of the year. So maybe Joe Mixon
can kind of hit the ground running when think gets

(46:06):
to Week one, DeAndre Swift. Heeley's Philadelphia, he goes to Chicago.
Three years, twenty four million for DeAndre Swift. I'm trying
to get excited about this one, Laqui. I know a
lot of people think this is gonna be a decent move.
I just worry that it becomes messy with Roshawn Johnson
still there, with Khalil Herbert there for at least one
more year. My my biggest fear is that this becomes

(46:30):
a three headed backfield, which becomes pretty much useless for everybody.
Can you talk me down off that ledge?

Speaker 3 (46:36):
I cannot. I'm gonna probably be drafting with you because
I'm just as worried man because this Bears offense.

Speaker 1 (46:43):
Man.

Speaker 3 (46:44):
You know, they signed Deontay Foreman along with drafting. You know,
Roshaan Johnson and Clil Herbert still there, so they still
don't really have an idea of what's going on with
that backfield. And I'm kind of like hands off at
this point with a Bears running back. I mean, Dave Montgomery,
let's be honest, was there life a good running back
for fantasy? I mean, he's the only running back that's
average more than fifteen fantasy points in the season. So

(47:06):
I feel like, you know, they're going to be eating
off each other's plates because they all kind of do
a little bit of what each other does. I mean,
you know, Khalil Herbert used to peer running there. I know,
we remember his yards per carry, you know, previous seasons.
I know Roshawn Johnson he ran a bunch of routes
last year, and Swift is a guy that runs a
bunch of routes in the passing game as well. So
they're just going to be eating off each other. And

(47:26):
it's hands off for me. And then this was probably
the worst landing spot for him, to be honest.

Speaker 1 (47:31):
Yeah, I just I know, I want to get excited
about it, but it's just, you know, I think there's
just too many pieces there. Presumably Caleb Williams is going
to be the quarterback there. You know, Caleb was not
a guy who, at least out of structure, was going
to check down to the running back. He would either
take off and run or he would find a sort
of a broken play to throw the ball downfield. So
I think targets might be a little harder to come

(47:52):
by as well for the running backs in the Chicago
offense Florida. You mentioned Devin Singletarian, what he did in Houston.
He goes to New York in you will occupy the
space vacated by Saquon Barkley. But considering the state of
the Giants offense, AKA, it is a mess. Any interest
in motor Singletary.

Speaker 2 (48:14):
I think he's in RB three that will have some
weeks where he could finish just like a top twenty
running back, maybe even a little bit higher, but it's
going to need like touchdowns and catches to get him there.
I know the Giants have added to their offensive line
and he's reunited with Brian Dabele, but yeah, it's what
you said. Their offense lacks really any sort of firepower

(48:34):
right now. They're not going to have a ton of
scoring opportunities or yards or anything like that. So just
kind of a volatile RB three, more of a depth
piece one that again some weeks when there's buys and
injuries and stuff like that. I think he will be useful,
but I don't think you want to go into the
season with Devin Singletary as one of your starting running

(48:55):
backs or flex option.

Speaker 1 (48:57):
Antonio Gibson going to the Patriots three years eleven two
five million dollars. I once upon a time Lakwan was
and Antonio Gibson stan I have sort of given up
that role there, and now he goes to an offense
that in the last few years has been very boring. Uh,
changes are coming. You know, they are likely going to

(49:17):
draft a quarterback with the number three pick overall. But
there's still just not enough here for me to get
excited about Antonio Gibson as anything more than like an
RB four.

Speaker 3 (49:28):
Yeah, he's more so a stash like he could easily
become like a bench zombie where he's just sitting there
on your bench for X amount of weeks. But there
is the other side of the coin where we can
kind of see him maybe utilize more in a passing
game what we kind of been wanting him to do
for X amount of years, you know, and Stevenson is there,
but he's a bigger back. I'm really impressed, you know

(49:49):
how big he is. He's able to be elusive like
that and catch the ball out of backfield. But I
think if you're going to make the move of signing
Antonio Gibson, you obviously have some type of planform because
you really didn't need him, you know, behind Stevenson. But
I feel like, you know, he's nothing more than a
stash at this point.

Speaker 1 (50:09):
Yeah, I mean, he's just he never popped in Washington
all those years of like, hey, you know, us reminding
the people that, hey, he was a wide receiver in college,
why don't you throwing the ball? And they never really
got the targets to him all those years there. You know,
maybe it changes in New England, but maybe it doesn't.

Speaker 2 (50:28):
Floridal.

Speaker 1 (50:28):
Gus Edwards of the Chargers is interesting to me. Two years,
six and a half million dollars. It's not a huge
investment for LA in that regard, but with Jim Harbaugh
as the head coach and Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator,
it seems as though they are going to be I
want to say they're going to establish the run, but
they do want to have a power running game because
that's what those coaches do. Gus Edwards seems to be

(50:51):
a guy who sort of fits into that role. I
don't think he's going to be the primary back, but
I do think he kind of has some sneaky upside
in this offense in LA.

Speaker 2 (51:01):
I think he has a lot of sneaky upside in
this team. I do agree with you. I think they're
going to bring in another back, but I could see
Gus being the early downback and especially near the goal line,
they're going to use him. Go back and listen when
we did a coaching preview, like Jim Harborough in San
Francisco in the NFL and Michigan and College always one

(51:22):
of the run heaviest attacks, and then Greg Roman and
out of ten years as a OC, his offenses have
finished top ten in rushing attempts and yards and routinely
are in the top four. So I think a lot
of volume will be there and he'll get those valuable
goal line touches. I do think though, they're going to
bring in another piece to be like a pass catcher
or something like that, because that's not Gus's range, but

(51:43):
he can be their short yardage guy, that hammer, and
then they're gonna have to get like a lightning type
of guy.

Speaker 1 (51:49):
Yeah. I mean, I think that's fair, and I think
where you're going to be drafting Gus, I mean end
of drafts probably. I think that the juice is probably
gonna be worth the squeeze for fantasy this year. Receivers
a couple of trades of note that we sort of
touched on it a little bit earlier. But Deontay Johnson
going to the Panthers. I don't know, maybe I'm weird.

(52:11):
I kind of like this, LQ NO.

Speaker 2 (52:16):
I like it.

Speaker 1 (52:17):
I like it because look at what Adam Feelin did
last year, right, I mean, Adam Feeling was a revelation
for a good chunk of the season last year in Carolina.
And this is like old you know, every year your
aggression is coming, like he's gonna fall off a cliff.
And he had over one thousand yards last year. He
had one hundred catches last year. Deontay Johnson is every

(52:38):
bit the route runner, maybe more than Adam Thielen is
h He's younger obviously than Feeling. I think he's gonna
have a sneaky good year. When I say sneaky good year,
I think he's just like a low end wide receiver two,
maybe wide receiver three. But I don't think this is
a terrible move, and it goes a long way toward
helping out Bryce Young, getting him at least a little
bit of something in that offense. I'm sitting here telling

(53:00):
you I'm gonna just go, you know, pound the table
for Bryce Young as a quarterback and fantasy. But I
do think this is not a terrible move. But you're
I love that you groaned when I said that, so
I want to hear your thoughts about it.

Speaker 3 (53:12):
I mean, I'm just being selfish.

Speaker 4 (53:14):
Man.

Speaker 3 (53:14):
I wanted him to stay in Pittsburgh with Rush, But
you're right if we're looking at ad him Thinel last year,
he was force fed, he saw a ton of targets.
But man, I just wish he went somewhere else where.
The situation is a tad bit better from the coaching staff,
from the quarterback situation. But I'm not hating on Bryce
Young whatsoever. He had no protection last year. That old
line was letting him get blasted every single play. So

(53:36):
what production were you actually expecting out of him? But man,
I just need need to see a little bit more
pieces on that old line that we're gonna be able
to protect Bryce Young. He's going to be able to
get the ball out on time and connect with his
wide receivers. Deontay Johnson comes in as a guy and
can play underneath if he can even go downfield as well.
He's all around specialist at route running. So this is
great for the parties of real life football, but for

(53:59):
fantasy man, like you said, he's probably like the wide
receiver three man like where he had a chance to
have that you know, wide receiver two stamp on him
if he stayed in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 1 (54:08):
Yeah, i'man curious see what the Panthers do offensive line wise,
but at least they have somebody who can get open,
because that was a big thing. They didn't have anybody
who could get open. I mean all twenties eer clips
you would see the Panthers offense, it was like, you know,
three or four dudes running routes and all justlankets, blanketed,
just getting dog walked by defenders there. So hopefully this
helps with that. Jerry Judy also traded. Bronco's finally moving

(54:31):
on from Judy. They send him to Cleveland, And for me, Floria,
it's just about can he beat out Elijah Moore to
be the wide receiver too? I think he can, but
I don't know that that is a lock. And even
then with David and Joku's stepping up last year, are
there enough targets to go around from the Browns?

Speaker 2 (54:50):
I still think that Amari Cooper is going to dominate volume.
I think David and Joku will be number two. Judy
and Elijah Moore. I want no part of either of
the for fantasy, Like last year we were saying Elijah
Moore had some upside, and then the dude routinely scored
less than ten points every week, it felt like. But
for real life purposes, I think Judy will be the

(55:11):
outside number two wide receiver and Elijah Moore will be
the lead slot guy. I think those will be the
roles they kind of operate in. And people were getting
annoyed at me online on Twitter for kind of saying
that Deshaun Watson was terrible last year, but Deshaun Watson
was not good last year by any metric. Like, I
think that this is a quarterback downgrade for Jerry Judy,

(55:32):
going from Russell Wilson to Deshaun Watson. So and there's
more target competition. I don't see how Jerry Judy, like,
maybe he could put up better numbers than what he
did last year because last year was rough, but I
don't think he's going to be a weekly Fantasy contributor.

Speaker 1 (55:48):
That right there is your headline that the Florio thinks
this is a quarterback downgrade going from Russ to Deshaun Watson.
I mean you look just purely looking at the numbers,
not talking out on tape. What do you put on tape?
But you know, Deshaun has averaged about one hundred and
eighty five yards or so per game in the two seasons.

(56:09):
He's played a total of twelve games with the with
the Browns.

Speaker 2 (56:13):
My caveat is I will admit Watson has more upside,
like if he could somehow turn back the clock then
he could be awesome. But I just we have it's
a year and a half now and we haven't seen it.

Speaker 1 (56:22):
Yeah, no, I feel you. I understand where you're going
with that. I don't know. I feel like it's sort
of a lateral move going from one to the other.

Speaker 2 (56:32):
There.

Speaker 1 (56:32):
I want to stay with you, Floyda because Gabe Davis
goes to the Jaguars three years, thirty nine million. I
mean you obviously watched Gabe Davis very closely all those
years in Buffalo. I looked at this move and it
just felt like the Jaguars are like, hey man, we
caught lightning in a bottle with Christian Kirk right, we
gave him a lot of money and everybody laughed at
Christian Kirk was awesome. Let's see if we can do
it again with Gabe Davis. Can they do it again

(56:55):
with date Gabe Davis? Nope?

Speaker 2 (56:57):
I don't believe so. I think Gabe Davis is in
a similar situation now where he is the third target
at best, because Christian Kirk is going to be ahead
of him and Evan Ingram is going to be ahead
of him. Maybe they still bring in Calvin Ridley. We
don't know, but and it's a quarterback downgrade going from
Josh Allen to Trevor Lawrence. The biggest winner of this

(57:17):
is probably Travis Etn because say what you will about
Gabe Davis, he helps. He's a tremendous run blocker, and
he's a great field stretcher which helps open up things
near the line of scrimmage. That being said, most of
the interceptions that Josh Allen has thrown the last couple
of years are him trying to force it deep to
Gabe Davis. Davis isn't a high point type of wide receiver.

(57:38):
He doesn't create a lot of separation. He has speed,
straight line speed, but you need to kind of hit
him in stride, and then he also has questionable hands
at times. So yeah, I.

Speaker 1 (57:50):
Would you like to play missus Lincoln.

Speaker 2 (57:53):
I was just gonna say I rooted for him when
he was a Bill, but the whole time I felt
like he was miscasted as a wide receiver to think
he needs to be a three, and right now he's
a two in Jacksonville. I'm not going to draft him
in front. Maybe in bastball, but that's it.

Speaker 1 (58:07):
I do love the whole because that was a big thing.
Like a lot of people on Twitter are like, he's
a great run blocker, which I'm not discounting the value
of it for actual football. For fantasy I get zero
points for that, but maybe look maybe Gibson on the field.
I will say this part of Brandon Ayuk's turnaround in
San Francisco and getting out of Kyle Shanahan's doghouse was

(58:27):
his commitment to blocking on run plays he didn't really
seem to want to do when he first got to
San Francisco. He ended up in the doghouse. Then he
sort of, you know, made a commitment to do it,
got better at it, and at that point then Kyle
Shanahan felt comfortable putting him on the field, and he's
blossomed into the Brandon Ayuk that we have seen. Darnell
Mooney goes to the Falcons three years, thirty nine million dollars.

(58:53):
It is wild to me that Darnell Mooney is getting
more money than Saquon Barkley nuts.

Speaker 3 (58:59):
That's cool, old nasty work.

Speaker 1 (59:02):
I don't know, getting more work or getting more more
money than uh than Saquon. He's getting more per year
than Dereck Henry, right, this is insane, but more from
a fantasy perspective, Lakwan does this work. We just sat
here talking about how great Drake London and Kyle Pitts

(59:24):
can be and be Jean Robinson can be. Is there
enough for Darnelle Mooney to actually be fantasy relevant here?

Speaker 3 (59:31):
I don't know. I mean back to back seasons with
less than five hundred receiving yards. I don't know who
his agent is, but shout out to him and me
and you need to connect because I need a bag
as well. But man, I think he's more so a distraction.
He's gonna open things up, you know, for Kyle Pitts
and Drake London I mean, you honestly pay him this money.
Isn't that the same amount of money that gave Davis
Gott Like, these guys are gonna be guys, are gonna

(59:53):
stretch a field, and they're just gonna be decoys out there.
And most of the time, I'm not expecting much fantasy
from Darnell Mooney. I mean, maybe Kerk gets him a
little bit activated, but it's kind of like a kJ
Osborne situation if we want to reference, you know, the
Vikings where he pops up some weeks and some weeks
where he's namely on the field. You know, I really
feel as though, you know, Darnel Mooney, I'm.

Speaker 1 (01:00:14):
Good tight ends. There hasn't been a lot of really
big time movement tight end wise. Gerald Ever goes to
the Bears two years, twelve million. Mike Gesicki to the
Bengals one year, three point two five million. IRV Smith
goes to the Chiefs. So I think we can.

Speaker 3 (01:00:29):
Retire hashtag let IRV swerve.

Speaker 1 (01:00:31):
He can be swerving in Kansas City well as long
as trap as Kelsey is still walking. Will Distey go
to the Chargers three years, fourteen million, Lakwan, I need
you to answer for your rams three years twenty two
and a half million for Kobe Parkinson. Please explain this.

Speaker 2 (01:00:48):
One to me.

Speaker 3 (01:00:49):
Now, Listen, we all know Tyler Higby's recovering from an injury,
and we have Davis Allen on board as well, who
kind of took the place of Higbee last season. But
Parkinson is a great pass blocker. I mean, for the
most part his last two years as a pass blocker,
he's held a lot in the run game. He's also
a you know, athletic tight end to be six seven,

(01:01:09):
two hundred and fifty pounds basically, So I think Sean
McVay is looking to be ground and pound this season.
So you bring in a guy like him to be
able to contribute in the past in the run game.
So the contract three years, eh, yeah, okay, I would
have settled for one, maybe two. But you know, he
comes in, you know, hopefully he can contribute, you know,

(01:01:30):
one take, he gets back on his feet.

Speaker 1 (01:01:32):
I mean again, I'm talking about how much Darnell Mooney
got Kobe Parkinson getting more per year than Austin Eckler.
That's crazy, getting more, getting more over those three years.
Peror and Jones, Uh, you know, not much just about
half a million less per year than Derreck Henry. Uh,
the world is upside down. I don't think it is.

(01:01:53):
Say you know those sidings do anything for you? Florio
like I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:01:56):
Mike a Seki, I think is the bone that I
like most here because the Bengals might be trading t Higgins,
which would open up a bunch of volume. They've yet
to bring back Tyler Boyd. So Mike Caseki, look, he
is not a tight end right, Like we joked about
it a couple of years ago Marcus when he went
to the Dolphins and he was or when Mike McDaniel
got there and Mike a Seki was like, I'm learning

(01:02:17):
how to play tight end.

Speaker 1 (01:02:18):
Yeah, that was a big red flag a lot receiver.
That was a big real flag.

Speaker 2 (01:02:22):
If he could be the new Tyler Boyd for the Bengals,
I think he has tight ended one upside. And back
to these we all say running backs don't matter, right,
but somehow all of these running backs got signed before.
Blake Snell, I don't get it.

Speaker 1 (01:02:36):
I love I did love Daniel Jeremiah tweeting Matt like
early on, like you know all these running backs that
he signed before Blake Snell. Who knows when Blake Snell's
gonna sign. Keep an eye out for that one too.
We'll talk about it on the show. I guess for whatever, Yeah,
I don't. I think that the tight end market doesn't
really excite me all that much. Gerald Everett will do enough,

(01:02:57):
I think to tantalize us, Like he will catch, like,
you know, a touch down every other week and do
enough for me to like put him in a sleeper's column,
and then he'll vanish again in Chicago, also wondering what,
you know, what are the what the Chargers are going
to do for their their three on three basketball team
now that Gerald Everett, the self proclaimed the best hooper
on the squad, is no longer there. But that's another
conversation for a different show. Still got a little bit

(01:03:21):
more left, kind of looking ahead to what is still
out there in free agency, plus what's gonna happen with
Justin Fields. We'll dive into that and wrap things up
here on a very very supersized addition, that's the word
I'm looking for, extra, very extra edition of the NFL
Fantasy Football Podcast. All Right, so that is sort of

(01:03:44):
what has happened. Let's look at what will be at
least what we think or hope will be for the
rest of the free agency period. First couple other moves
of note, A lot of backup quarterbacks on the move.
Jacobe Brissette going to the Patriots, Jamis Winston maybe throwing
Yoloveland if Deshaun Watson can fulfill his duties. Tyrod Taylor
goes to the Jets, and who knows, maybe if the

(01:04:06):
guy ahead of him ends up becoming a vice presidential nominee,
a's Tyron to be the starter. Who knows. Mac Jones
gets to go back home to Florida, traded from New
England to Jacksonville, where he will back up Trevor Lawrence.
Drew Locke will head to the Big Apple and at
least right now looks like the backup to Daniel Jones
for the Giant, And Marcus Mariota will go to Washington,

(01:04:26):
where he will reunite with Wait did he play with
Cliff Kingsbury. I don't think he did, actually, but the
Cliff Kingsbury likes, likes guys like him. He can move
a little bit, So he goes to Washington. Obviously, looks
like they're probably going to draft a quarterback as well
in the top three. Speaking of quarterbacks, though, Justin Fields

(01:04:47):
is still out there. We were thinking maybe the Bears
would figure out a deal for him to send him along,
but it looks like all the potential landing spots for
him as a starter at least have been locked up.
So I mean, Oreo, what is the future for Justin
Fields right now?

Speaker 2 (01:05:04):
Man? I don't know, and that is frustrating because I
do think he should be a starter at the NFL level.
I think last year when he finally got a competent
wide receiver one, we saw that he could be a
very effective passer. We know what he could do with
his legs. I think, yes, there's room to grow, He's
got to develop in all of that. But I think
he deserves a chance to start somewhere with good weapons.

(01:05:27):
But everywhere is drying up. Like I thought, the Raiders
was the spot for him, but he might have to
accept being a backup and if so, hopefully he goes
somewhere where there's a questionable starter and he could come
in and play well or something like that. But right now,
landing spots to be a starter are few and far between.

Speaker 1 (01:05:49):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's sort of the problem.
I mean, I don't know, Lakwan. I mean a backup
role obviously for fantasy means he's not really viable to
this point. And like at this point, if he ends
up as a backup, that kill his Dynasty value even
kind of.

Speaker 3 (01:06:06):
Does, because he could end up somewhere where, you know,
let's say, no a scenario that Dane and Jeremiah said
this morning will if he goes to Indy. You know,
he kind of backs up Anthony Richison, so he could
recover back. You know, you still get that athletic profile
and the quarterback with Justin Fields in that system, and like,
I don't know where else he would fit honestly, So

(01:06:27):
Dynasty you're probably like scratching your head, like what do
I do with Justin Fields?

Speaker 1 (01:06:31):
Yeah, I just you know, this is not what we
were anticipating. We thought there would be a market for him.
I think he'd be huge, but I thought there would
be one so far that so far that has not
been the case. We got some big name wide receivers
still out there, and want to get your thoughts quickly
just on some preferred landing spots for some of these guys.
L Q Marquise Brown. Where should Hollywood go?

Speaker 3 (01:06:51):
Oh, Chiefs Man, I think that would be a nice
little plug and play situation there, stretch the field, veteran presence.
You got to get him there, one.

Speaker 1 (01:06:58):
Hundred percent on Chiefs. Where else Florida you could see
him landing.

Speaker 2 (01:07:04):
Looking through the teams right now, I'm like, no, I
think the Chiefs would be his best case scenario.

Speaker 1 (01:07:08):
Yeah, No, I think so too. Other named Mike Williams
who was released by the Chargers today, so he is
out there on the free agent market. A lot of names.
Heem interested in Mike Williams, no surprise, Lakwan. What is
the best possible landing spot you see for him?

Speaker 3 (01:07:24):
I was gonna say Buffalo Man and maybe the Raiders,
Like I would love that for Mike Williams there and
that would be great for fantasy.

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
The Raiders would be interesting with him, Jakoby Myers and
DeVante Adams. A lot of opportunity or a lot of
pass catchers and I'm not sure if there's enough targets
to go around anything you see for him out there
Florio I.

Speaker 2 (01:07:44):
Would love him on the bills. He'd have to take
a huge pay cook because Josh Allen's never had that
style of wide receiver.

Speaker 1 (01:07:50):
But so they have no money.

Speaker 3 (01:07:52):
Yeah, yeah, that's why I said I was gonna say Buffalo.

Speaker 2 (01:07:56):
This one could be a little fun. The Colts. You
put him opposite of Michael Hitman, You give Anthony Richardson
two big, deep threat kind of wide receivers. I would
love that for fantasy purposes.

Speaker 1 (01:08:07):
For Richardson, yeah, I know that's interesting for sure. I
think trying to think who else would be be interesting
out there? For Mike Williams, I think the Colts are interesting. Yeah,
I think you guys kind of hit the big ones.
The Raiders would be kind of interesting too, But I
just don't know that there's enough targets between Adams and
ad Myers and my Adams and Myers to really go around.

(01:08:29):
There any other interesting names out there, any guys that
you want to see or are curious to see where
they land. It feels like a lot of the big
fantasy relevant names have already landed. Anybody else that you
guys are keeping an eye on.

Speaker 3 (01:08:43):
It's not a huge impactful player, But I like Josh Reynolds,
you know, I mean, I wouldn't be mad if he
swings back to La, but I think he will find
a land of spot where you can carve out a
role and be a contributor.

Speaker 1 (01:08:55):
All right, anybody for you.

Speaker 2 (01:08:57):
I'm curious about these slot guys, Tyler Boyd, Hunter Renfro,
maybe throw Michael Thomas in there. Like, they're not slammed
dunk fantasy players, but if they landed in the right situation,
they could be useful.

Speaker 1 (01:09:10):
Yeah, I'm curious about Hunter Renfro. I think he can
still be a valuable piece somewhere. But You're right, he's
not a guy that's going to move the needle a
ton fantasy wise, I think, especially as a free agent acquisition.
So I'm not really sure, but we are going to
keep an eye on what is happening as free agency continues.
Now that is officially into the league year, by the way,

(01:09:32):
starting this Thursday, actually that would be tomorrow. We're gonna
what we're calling the NFL Fantasy cheat Sheet. It is
a live stream you can find on YouTube about twenty
five thirty minutes sort of all the news you need
to know, probably some news you don't need to know,
and a whole lot of fun. We also wanted to
be interactive, so jump in the chat, sendish your questions,
your comments. We very much want you to be a

(01:09:53):
part of this show. Hopefully it's a thing we can
do at least once a week to get started, just
a little bit of a quick little fantasy for you
in the middle of the week. In addition to doing
this podcast. This has been beefy a.

Speaker 2 (01:10:06):
Little over an hour.

Speaker 1 (01:10:07):
I actually thought would be little bit longer than it was,
but able to get through it kind of near the
end a little bit faster than I anticipated, so that
I'll do it for this edition of the NFL Fantasy
Football Podcast. They happy, safe and healthy, do good and
live well. Happy League, New Year, everybody. We will see
you on YouTube on Thursday. In the pod, We'll talk
to you next week.

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