Week 16: Championship Week!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Fantasy Football Weekly, a production of I Heart Radio.
Time now for Fantasy Football Weekly from I Heart Radio,
your weekly source for the nation's best fantasy speculation and
advice now leagues dot com. Here's your host. Welcome to

(00:23):
a championship edition of Fantasy Football Weekly. I am Paul
Charchy and my co host today are Brian Johnson and
Matt Harrison. Hello, guys, Hi church, play the sleigh bells?
Come on? Um uh the season for Fantasy champions I
don't know who who would bother to move all my
button that is yes, that is more appropriate for the

(00:47):
for the season championship edition. If you are still playing,
and congratulations if you are you. I think if there's
a word for the kind of fantasy managers who are
live in Championship week, it is resourceful. You are the
people that have overcome so much adversity this year. There's

(01:09):
no way anybody's fantasy team was unscathed by injury and
illness and COVID. You pivoted, You made great calls at
the last minute, the Saturday de activation of the player
you thought you were starting, and you know you went
to the backup. All the things you had to do
to get here. Well earned. You just kissing the butt

(01:29):
of all the people who are still listening to the
show right now, aren't you. Most importantly, they listen to
this show. How they got that? That's a great point, Um.
I want to acknowledge up front, because of the holidays,
we are taping this show on Thursday, and that just
means we've got less information to go on than we
normally have, especially around injuries. We're gonna do our best,

(01:50):
but you may have more current injury information than we've got.
But the good thing is is you get to hear
the Friday matchups, the Saturday matchups, and the Sunday matchups.
We're gonna try to squeeze them all into this show.
We also risked our lives driving here in a blizzard.
We we all got here. I'm happy to say. All right,
let's begin with the Friday game. Brian, this is Minnesota

(02:13):
at New Orleans. Yeah, and this is probably the first
time anyone's on a Vikings matchup on this show other
than you charge that is true for this year. It
certainly is true. And not only that, I don't think
we've ever We've never taped on a Thursday. History of
the show. I don't think we've ever talked about a
Friday game history of this show down a preview for
Friday game. It's it's all all breaking stuff here we

(02:34):
do in this twenty six years. You think there would
be nothing you love to do, Well, there's nothing left,
nothing new left to do. With Dalvin Cook. You're gonna
start him still giving him an A on the season.
The Saints do allow the sixth fewest rushing yards and
the fewest touchdowns for opposing running backs, but over the
last two weeks they've been tronounced by Miles Sanders in
the Chiefs backfield, who have all combined to average h
rushing yards at one point five touchdowns per game. Uh well,

(02:56):
Cook's usage get dialed back, though probably not the He's
are clinging to playoff and that's it's slim, but they're
they're clinging to it. And I don't think Zimmer can
stop himself from running the ball anyway to his own
detriment the past couple of weeks, and for what it's worth,
Cook trails Derrick Henry by a hundred yards for the
rushing title. Probably not gonna make up that ground, but
maybe they let him try hopefully so, but because of

(03:18):
that lost game, head Cook played, which certainly would have
helped over the receivers justin Jefferson going to give him
a B. There is a upside here. New Orleans is
allowing one sixty nine yards per game two receivers over
the past three well above their sea season average. They've
also surrendered four wide receiver touchdowns over that same three
games span. Jefferson will probably deal with Marshawn Ladder laddermore

(03:39):
and most, but he's not playing so great this year,
allowing a passer rating of a hundred and five in
his coverage and he's given up five touchdowns. So B
for Jefferson and a B for Adam Feeling. Even though
he's total just fifty yards over the last two games,
he has scored four touchdowns over his last five, and
just mentioned, New Orleans has surrendered four wide receiver touchdowns
over their last three. So I like feeling here, especially

(03:59):
going go one up against your Norris Jenkins. He's on
the down slope for sure. Uh. The tight ends for
Minnesota Rudolph probably not gonna play. Tyler Conklin looked pretty
good last week. IRBs Smith did not, but they're all
on the bench. Though New Orleans has allowed one tight
end touchdown over the last nine games, and that one
to Travis Kelsey, He's not on the Vikings. Lastly, for Minnesota,
Kirk Cousins gonna give him a sea. Quarterbacks the Saints

(04:22):
have faced started with the most recent have been Patrick Mahomes,
he shredded them. Jalen Hurts and his first start not impressive,
Matt Ryan with no Julio Kendall Hilton, that Matt Ryan
when Julio got hurt, Nick Mullins, Nick Foles, Teddy Bridgewater.
These are all awful quarterbacks are Kirk Cousins is better
than those guys. Folds and Bridgewater were able to throw
for two fifty and two. That should be a safe

(04:42):
floor for Cousins, So I'm gonna give him a sea.
Over to the New Orleans side, Alvin Kamara gets a B.
Over their last five games, Minnesota has allowed one nineteen
rushing yards and a touchdown per game to opposing running backs.
But Minnesota has only allowed one running back receiving touchdown
all year, and no back has even hit forty receiving
yards into the Vikes, so don't expect him much from
Camaro with Eric Kendricks out, I think that's a huge

(05:05):
difference in Eric Kendricks is arguably in the NFL, is
one of the one of, if not the best pass
coverage linebackers. No Kendricks, I think it's going to be. Uh,
it's green light for Camara, definitely. Uh, it's not a
green light for Michael Thomas. He's on I R, so
you definitely don't want to start him. But that gives
a b to Emmanuel Sanders, who has produced at least
seventy six yards or a touchdown in six of seven games.

(05:26):
With Breeze at quarterback. The Viking secondary has played better
as of late. Only one opposing wide receiver as top
sixty five yards over the last three games, but Sanders
will see enough volume to warrn a start on Friday.
Trey Kuan Smith might as well, but he's very If
he with an ankle injury, I'll give him a see
if he plays. But if Smith sits, you might be
able to throw a dart at Lill Jordan Humphrey tiny

(05:48):
Little Jordan's scored last week, or Jalan Johnson bow software targets,
but Little Jordan is way more appealing for obvious reasons.
I don't give little Jordan's see if tray Kwan smith
sits why not? And you mentioned charge Eric Kendricks is
out that puts Jared Cook into play with the Sea
didn't do much last week, but the five targets were
encouraging uh tight end as a soft spot against the
Vikings with Kendricks out without a doubt, so it Cook

(06:08):
gets a Sea with Breeze at quarterback, who also gets
to see the concerns with breeze or age, slash ability, health,
Taysom Hill, no Michael Thomas. The list goes on, and
the Viking secondary has been much improved of the last month,
allowing just two three six passing yards at one point
to one point to five passing touchdowns per games. So
just the softest of seas for Drew Brees. Okay, not
to be confused as a C minus. It is a

(06:29):
straight sea right there. Tampa Bay takes on Detroit mat
and Detroit is gonna be without their head coach and
offensive play caller Darryl Bevel Or it appears he's going
to be that way. I saw that he's in tracing.
He's an isolation right now. So it's possible that he
could maybe be calling it from a booth up in isolation.
They got him in like a sealed John Travolta in

(06:50):
that seventies movie Boy in the Bubble. That would be
so awesome to have Darryl Bevel in a bubble on
the field call and play. Maybe they heart him in
like Hannibal lecter On like a two wheeler. Yeah, that'd
be fantastic fun. Uh, let's let's start on the Lions side. Um,
I'm gonna talk about Stafford in the next segment, but

(07:12):
I want to talk about Marvin Jones Jr. Who in
your Fantasy Championship. I'm giving an a grade two and
it's kind of worth it. Since week eleven, the Bucks
have allowed wide receivers to hit yardage totals of two
hundred sixty nine, one sixty three, and one thirty and
then Russell Gage even chipped in sixty eight in a
score last week. Jones had twelve targets last week, which

(07:34):
is equal to what the other three Lions wide receivers
had combined. By the way, Kenny Golladay not practicing again
this week, so Marvin Jones is the lead dog in
the Lions wide receiver room t J. Hockenson. I'm giving
a B grade to the Bucks. Defense has softened against
the tight end recently, allowing nine catches for one oh
three and a score to the Vikings tight ends yes,

(07:58):
and six catches for forty two yards in a score
to the Falcons height ends just last week. Hockinson coming
off a disappointing week, but prior to last week's stinking,
very disappointing week, he put up sixty yards are scored
in four straight Prior to that. Uh DeAndre Swift, I'm
gonna give him a C grade. He's on field for
two thirds of the snaps. They've definitely been easing him
back in as returning from the injury. Eighty two totally

(08:21):
yards and two scores last week was enough to keep
many fantasy owners moving through to the finals. But outside
of Dalvin Cook, no running back has topped fifty rushing
yards against Tampa Bay since Week two. They've allowed one
rushing touchdown to a back over the last five weeks. Again,
that was Dalvin. That's a tough tough matchup for Swift
who was trending all the right way. And then here
in the championship game, you get the best run defense

(08:42):
in the NFL. Yeah, that's not good. There's another running
back that I'm going to talk about in the next
segment for Tampa as well. But let's talk about the
passing game there as Tom Brady. He gets a B
grade in this one. The Lions have allowed at least
two hundred sixty five passing yards in four straight and
three of those four quarterbacks tossed a trio of touchdowns

(09:03):
or more. The only worry is the Bucks start blowing
out the Lions and Brady just stops throwing. But at
that point, Brady's got his numbers, let's hope. So although
the running the running situation is pretty tasty, it is
Rob Gronkowski. I'm giving him a C grade. Gronk had
seven targets last week, but Cameron brad had more receptions
and yards. In fact, grons yardage totals over his past

(09:23):
four have been twenty five, one oh two, two and nine.
He's a little touchdown dependent. Yeah, I just don't know
if I feel super confident about playing Gronk in a
Fantasy championship week. The wide receivers Mike Evans gets the A,
Chris Godwin gets the B. Antonio Brown gets the Sea
Evans seems like he's the only guarantee for targets, as

(09:46):
he's led the team in targets in four of the
last five and he's topped a hundred yards or scored
in four of the last five. Godwin played percent of
the snaps last week, Brown was only on the field
forty seven, but Brown had seven targets and Godwin only
have five. And Godwin had the great matchup last week two.
Over the last five weeks, no team has allowed more receptions, yards,

(10:07):
and scores to the wide receiver position than the Lions.
Although the Bucks are close and they've played one fewer game.
It doesn't help that the top two corners, Jeff Okuda
and Desmond true Font, are now both on I R.
So you can fire up your Bucks wide receivers in
this one, San Francisco takes on Arizona. These are all Saturday. Well,
we've had a Friday, Saturday Saturday. We're gonna have another

(10:27):
Saturday game for you tomorrow on the next segment. Triple Saturday. Yeah,
Triple Saturday. This is San Francisco Arizona Saturday. C J
bet Third is your starting quarterback for the and this one,
and it's not pronounced beat hard. Yeah. I'm pretty sure, yeah,
but I guess it could be like and be tard
something like that. T hard. Uh. Let's start with the

(10:49):
Let's start with the running game here. Jeff Wilson gets
a C grade. He aggravated his ongoing ankle injury last
week but hopes to play in this one. And I'm
the reason name giving him into the C gradies because
he does have this ankle injury, and so I'm factoring
in this a little bit of risk that he doesn't
finish the game. Otherwise he would be a B grade
in this game. And I do like elements of this matchup.

(11:11):
Over the past two seasons, in games in which Jeff
Wilson gets at least eight eight touches, his average game
is fifty six total yards, which is good, and one
and a half touchdowns, which is really good. So Wilson's
a pretty good start here. Cardinals have been middle of
the pack and most running back defensive metrics, but they
were obliterated by the forty niners backs in Week one.

(11:32):
I'll note that Jeff Wilson was not a part of
that back to the passing game now, Oh and by
the way, Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman dead to us for
a wide variety of reasons, and there's no reason we
should even spend time on why those guys are not
going here where he mosted his out. Don't pivot to
Jerick McKinnon thinking he's going to get more work with
McKinnon out with the mostart out. McKinnon's proven that he's

(11:53):
not a factor. And don't tweet at raheem mostart about
your fantasy team now. He doesn't want to hear that.
Very angry about it. He does not want to hear
that stuff. Okay, let's go to the only element of
the passing game that you should be caring about now,
and that's Brandon Ayuk, who's finishing with probably the second
best rookie wide receiver season outside of Justin Jefferson, and

(12:14):
maybe better than Justin Jefferson depending on on how these
games finished out. Despite missing several games, Auk has posted
over one yards or a touchdown in seven straight games,
and with this quarterbacking and is averaging ninety six yards
over the last three games, Arizona is allowing a hundred
fifty yards per game to oppose and receivers over the
past month. That's kind of right in the middle of

(12:35):
the back. But they've kept receivers out of the end
zone in three of the past four. B grade on
Brandon Ayuk, who comes in hot and c J a
bet thirds by third string quarterbacks. He's he's highly capable
by third string quarterback standards. But that's it. You're not
starting anybody else there of the third stringers, king of
the third stringers, best third string I like it. Let's
go to the Arizona side where we'll begin with the

(12:57):
running backs. Kennan Drake got dinged up in last week's game,
didn't get a lot of action. Chase Edmonds came in,
looked really good. But this thing could be flipped because
Chase Edmonds has not practiced, did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday. Um,
we don't know about Thursday at this moment. Then his
status for this game is unclear. It's not trending well,
it's not trending the right direction. Kenyan Drake is is

(13:18):
practicing and full, so we're gonna assume he's going to
be the starter. Get most of the work that gives
him a B grade. Have been gutted by some unimposing
running backs lately. Over their last five games, these guys
have averaged total yards and over a touchdown per game.
Tony Pollard, J D. McKissick, Devin's singletary, Cam Acres and

(13:40):
that was before Cam had his breakouts, and Alvin Kamara.
That's you know, those guys are getting about a hundred
total yards and when I have touchdowns almost that's uh.
That brings Kenyan Drake into play with a B grade
with Chase Edmonds dinged up and for Chase, if you
get a full day of practice on Friday or Thursday,
then I could see where you might want to go

(14:01):
with Chase Edmonds on C grade because he did look
really good, but you want to feel a little more
confident before about his health status. Let's go to Kyler
Murray face the Niners in the season opener, and in
that game we got a glimpse of what was to
come for Kyler Murray. He had an efficient passing day,
but an explosive running day with almost one hundred rushing
yards in a touchdown. Niners past defense has been pretty

(14:24):
solid over the last five weeks. Over that span, only
Josh Allen has has really touched them. In a meaningful way.
Everybody else averaging whoa, whoa, whoa. We're just gonna go
buy that. Well, okay, not everything. Every single time you
use the word much, it's a bad touch. There is
such a thing as a good touch. I'll have you
touched them in a meaningful way. Yes, sorry for your wife.

(14:49):
Niners past defense has been pretty solid over the past
five weeks, as I mentioned, averaging just one d sixty
three passing yards and zero point eight passing touchdowns to
non Josh Allen quarterbacks the toucher as I guess maybe
we'll now call him. What's more, no quarterback has scored
on the ground against San Francisco since Week four, and

(15:09):
Taysom Hill is the only quarterback the top twenty three
rushing yards against the fort since Week three, So I've
got to be great and Kyler Murray against a good defense.
DeAndre Hopkins gets an a comes in red hot with
over one five yards and back to back games and
touchdowns in two of the past three. And he's had
some tough matchups over those last three games too that
he's overcome. Forty. Niners are allowing an un characteristic one

(15:31):
hundred sixty seven yards per game to opposing receivers over
the last three weeks. They have allowed four touchdowns to
receivers over the past three weeks. DeAndre Hopkins likely gets
that touchdown. Last guy to mention Dan Arnold, I'm listening.
I was. I was worried. He's been fantasy relevant in

(15:52):
three straight games and four of the past five. Low
volume dard throw against the Niners defense that has allowed
fantasy relevant games to tight ends in three straight ce
grade on Dan Arnold. It took weeks, but you finally
got it right. So Josh Allen is the toucher. He's
the toucher, So we need a sounder for the toucher.

(16:14):
What does that sound like? Brand does not want any
part of your touching sound, No kidding. When we come back,
take a chance on me. Nine players not normally in
your starting lineup will tell you who they are, and
we've already alluded to three of them. When we come back.

(17:10):
This is it's so much better. It sucks less. It's
a legitimate song. It's unlike our previous Take a chance
on me. This is that that had a full band piano,
it had guitars. That was good. It was good. That's
a song the band Nickelback's a billion times better than

(17:34):
what we had no know. This is a song like
Back conjected, I feel like it's good. Though you're on
the wrong side of this. I'm grateful too. I believe
it's called Soap Soap, so the band is called soap
um that sent this song to me. It's original work.
They clear they made. We are in the clear, no
royalty issues. This is until somebody comes up with something better.

(17:58):
This is our new taking chant song, which is it's
the last week of the year for to take a
chance on me. So we got We've got the mantle
at least for the next year. Absolutely, thank you again,
soapd the band. Let's go through our nine players that
we would not normally start, but we are this week
at the quarterback position, and that is Brian Johnson. We're
going with the red rifle, Andy Dalton at home versus
the Biggles. Over the last three weeks, supposing quarterbacks have

(18:20):
average one passing yards and two point seven passing touchdowns
versus Philly. Those are that was Aaron Rodgers, Taysom Hill
and Kyler Murray. Dalton pretty much deserves to be in
that conversation. Uh, Andy might be without Michael Gallup in
this one, but he still has two top tier receivers.
And let's not forget he's in a contract here. He
only signed a one year deal with Dallas and he
could still be a starter in this league. I'm quite convinced.

(18:41):
So he's Dallas is alive for the playoffs too. So
there's a motivation here is motivation. That's it. That's it. Okay,
let's go to your quarterback, matt Matthew Stafford. Three of
the last four quarterbacks to face the Bucks have topped
three D fifty passing yards, and as an added bonus,
if you throw for three fitty against the Bucks, you

(19:02):
also get to throw exactly three touchdown passes against the Bucks.
Each one of them has its science. Stafford was treated
with kid gloves and practice again this week, especially with
the Saturday game. The part that worries me. I don't
know if he's gonna play. He's gonna play, he'll go.
He's only two weeks removed from a four yard, three
touchdown performance with that same injured thumb, and maybe maybe

(19:22):
he gets to call his own plays in the huddle
this week. With Darryl Pebbles in the bubble. They should
let him. You know, in the old days, when I
was a kid quarterback a night that ried, we walked
up hill both ways. Quarter Veteran quarterbacks called all their
own plays all the time. Now Tom Prady doesn't get
to calls on plays. It's bizarre how things have changed.

(19:46):
For the fourth straight week, I think you're still doing.
I'm going back to Happy Trombone Ski. That's right. In
the past four weeks as a starter, Happy Trombone Ski
is a top twelve Fantasy quarterback and this matchup is

(20:07):
so juicy with Jacksonville, a team that has allowed multiple
passing touchdowns in eight straight games. Mitch loves to target
Allen Robinson runs all over the field and he's got
great matchups at every stop going Greg cornerbacks, Greg Mabon,
Chris Clay Brooks is awful, and Trey Herndon. It's it's

(20:28):
a glorious matchup. Four. Brian, you'll take a chance to
me running back. I got Lynn Bowden at the Raiders.
Got any music for Lynn Bowden? How would I know?
Lynn Bowden is really a wide receiver, but he does.
He's averaging eight yards per carry on on just three carries.
But more important, he's running back eligible on all major platforms.

(20:51):
But I like I like him. Play him as running back.
But he's a great wide receiver. He's a safe play.
The Raiders have yielded the third most red zone targets
to wide receivers over the last four weeks and the
most touchdowns during that span. Bowden has sixteen targets over
his last two games. And if you weren't aware, the
Raiders drafted Lynn Bowden and essentially kicked him to the
They did it. They revenge. They took like a third

(21:13):
round pick four and traded him for like Ach. Yes,
it's a revenge game for Lynn Bowden. You take a
chance to be runner Matt Uh It's gonna be Leonard
four net because Ronald Jones is going to miss the
week on the COVID list according to Bruce Arians, So
we get another week of Leonard Fournett four net got
seventeen touches last week. He rewarded fantasy players with two

(21:36):
scores but an unimpressive fifty five total yards. That's gonna
change this week against Detroit. Uh Darrenton Evans and Duke
Johnson have had respectable Fantasy days. Against the Lions in
the last month, along with Derrick Henry, David Montgomery, Mike Davis,
Antonio Gibson, and Dalvin Let's just say this is a
bad run defense in the game script could lean heavily

(21:56):
towards Tampa running the ball copiously, could I've got Gus
Edwards shooting for a touchdown? We just we want a touchdown.
Gus Edwards has got a good chance at it. Mark
Ingram a healthy scratch last week. In Gus's last three games,
he's averaging eight yards per carry. He gets a lot
of work inside the red zone, and the Giants have
allowed a running back score in five of the past

(22:19):
six games. Gus Edwards Brian, your take a chance of
your receiver? Are you gonna use Linn bout In again
that that eight yards per carry by Edwards is bowed
in esque though that it is no I pity the
fool who does not take a chance on Mr t
Higgins at the Texans. The Texans have allowed the most
red zone receptions two receivers over the last four weeks,

(22:40):
twelve of them on twelve targets. A percent catch rate
for the opposing wide receivers against the Texans in the
red zone. Houston has been getting schmacked by receivers all season.
They've surrendered twenty touchdowns to the position. Te Higgins, I
want to hear your Mr. T impression, though, I gotta
practice that next season. Your macho man spot on though
that can do that, ad Huck Matt, you take a

(23:01):
chance of me. Receiver Tim Patrick has been money near
the end zone. In fact, inside the ten yard line,
He's had seven targets, seven receptions, and six touchdowns. His
seven receptions inside the ten are tied for Travis Kelsey
for sixth in the league. What's more, his thirteen point
one average depth of target is ninth highest in the league.

(23:22):
And the Chargers are a break but don't bend defense
allowing the most completions of forty or more yards this
year with ten. Casey Hayward seventh in the league with
most yards allowed in coverage. The other corner Michael Davis,
and each of allowed three scores on the year. Fire up,
Tim Patrick, might take a chance on my receiver. I'm
I'm book ending the season the way it began with

(23:44):
John O. JOHNU Now I looked brilliant in the first
about six weeks of the season when Johnu John, who
came out red hot your fourteenth round tight end selection,
was looking fantastic. Then he probably hit a series of
injuries and then they just didn't throw to him for
a long time, missed some games, and then they just
asked him to block. Now it seems that he's healthier

(24:05):
because he's playing the snaps last week and he came
up with five catches fifty two yards last week, his
highest catching yardage totals since Week five. In the last
five weeks, this week's opponent, the Packers have allowed three
touchdowns to the tight end position and just over fifty
yards per game to the tight end position. I think
most of those fifty go to John U Johanu. I

(24:29):
would love to see him finish on I'm honestly surprised
you didn't use Zack Moss as your take a chance
on me runner, just to really that whole thing and
John John great. Yeah, the Moss thing never really panned
out through less fault of Mosses and more that they
just don't give their running backs much of anything. It's uh,
it's I think it's a wasted opportunity for them. Let's

(24:50):
work in some matchups beginning with Brian Miami takes on
the Las Vegas Raiders. You already told us you like
Lynn Bowden, so does that mean you like to as well.
I'll give to a C and a reminder, this is
the other Saturday games, so you gotta get these guys
in your lineup or out of them either way, too,
we're gonna give him a CEE. The Raiders have allowed

(25:10):
exactly two quarterback touchdowns and five straight games too, should
get there. Considering he's run for three scores over the
last two weeks. I don't see a huge filing for
two a year, but it definitely a safe sea over
his receivers Davante Parker and give him a see if
he plays. He probably will suit up in this one,
but he has no proven chemistry with two are right now.
But the matchup is nice on paper. For Parker. The

(25:31):
Raiders have yielded the third most red zone targets to
wide receivers over the last four weeks and the most touchdowns,
and for that reason I liked win Bowdens might take
a chance of main receiver like you said, church Uh. Lastly,
for the receivers, Mike A. Sicky was not practicing on Wednesday. Uh,
hopefully he suits practices later in the week. I'll give
him a B if he plays the very comparable Hunter
Henry had a great game against Las Vegas last week,

(25:54):
and the Raiders have also allowed at least four catches
and fifty yards to a tight end in five straight games.
So B for Kisiki if he suits up lastly for
the Dolphins. At the running back situation, this is very
muddled now. Miles Gaskins should make his return from the
COVID list, bumping Salven Akhmed back to the bench. These
guys have never been really healthy at the same time
this year. When Gaskin has been healthy, he's been the

(26:17):
bell house. But Achmed wasn't really in the fold he
was injured. Then I'll give Gaskin to see here, I'll
assume he gets the lion's share of the touches at
running back. It's a good matchup. The Raiders have given
up the fourth most fantasy points of running backs, including
the second most touchdowns. So a C for Gaskin, But uh,
temporary your expectations at that backfield, It's uh, who knows
what's going to happen there. Over to the Las Vegas side,

(26:39):
Josh Jacobs can give him a B. No running back
his cracked ninety yards against Miami yet, which is crazy.
I mean, just stop on that for a second. Think
of where the Dolphins were last year and the statement
you just made. No running back has hit ninety yards
against the Dolphins all year last year, every running back
for the Dolphins. Yeah, and maybe the hat to uh

(27:01):
to Brian Flores. Yeah, they've allowed just one running back
touchdown as well over their last nine games. It's not
a good matchup at all. But Jacobs has scored four
times in his last four home games, and he has
caught three passes in each of his last three games.
That's insane. That's it's that's explosive PPR output for Josh Jacobs.
So he gets a B based on volume. Here, Darren
Waller gonna give him an A even though it's a

(27:22):
tough matchup on paper. It is Darren Waller. There's been
one comparable tight end to go off against the Dolphins,
and that was Travis Kelsey, and Waller is a one
guy you can compete to Kelsey, So he gets an A.
Nelson Aguilar gets a bench grade though the Dolphins have
only allowed three wide receiver touchdowns over their last six games,
and those three touchdowns went to Tyreek Hill, Tyler Boyd
and Keenan Allen. Nelson Aghilar is not in that same

(27:43):
company and he'll probably draw Zavian Howard. So that's a
sanilgo for Nelson Aguilar and for the quarterbacks. Mariota was intriguing,
but it sounds like Derek Carr is gonna give it
a go, even though I don't know. Tore is growing
off the bone, but only a lot bad when you
know when you saw that injury, like, well, that's it
hurt me, It hurt everyone just watching it. Uh, I
got them. They're both on the bench though, regardless of

(28:04):
who starts, only five quarterbacks have thrown for multiple touchdowns
against Miami, and only two of those five through for
more than two touchdowns, and they were elite level quarterbacks
as well. Yea, Mariota looked great last week, you did,
but that doesn't necessarily matter under contract next year for
ten million dollars. It's staggering contract for as a backup
quarterback for Marcus Mariota. Tip of that to him for

(28:26):
getting paid. Matt Indianapolis takes on Pittsburgh. I think Jonathan
Dayler is pretty straightforward. The passing game is to me
is way more intriguing, and I want to start there.
Philip Rivers has been a top ten fantasy quarterback over
the last six weeks. What do you think against a
good Pittsburgh Past defense. Well, you mentioned it's a good
Pittsburgh Past defense. You know who. The last quarterback to

(28:47):
throw for three yards against the Steelers was Philip Rivers
as a Charger. About what in weeks six? Wow? I
don't know if I'm more shocked that it's that long
of a stretch or that it was Philip Rivers as
a Charger who did nothing. Only half of the quarterbacks
they've faced this year have hit two touchdown passes. None

(29:09):
have hit three. The upside just isn't there for Rivers
in this one. So I have him on the bench
all the way down to bench great. I don't think
that you can play him in a Fantasy championship this week.
I have every one of his receivers on the bench
to Hilton Pittman and the suddenly wide receiver one Zach Pascal,
who led the wide receivers in snaps, receptions, yards and
had two touchdowns last week, that only muddies the waters

(29:32):
for Hilton and Pittman. Steph Diggs roasted this secondary two
weeks ago when Joe Hayden sat out. But with Hayden around,
the Pittsburgh defenses back to normal, he's been iron Hayden lately,
keeping Terry quiet and holding the Bengals wide receiver group
to a total of five catches and seventy one yards
last week. That's nothing, nothing, that's nothing. The tight ends

(29:53):
was Ryan Finley, and that's the tight ends are on
the bench. Two targets each for Jack Doyle, Trey Burton,
and mo Allie Cox last week. Mose on the injury report,
but you need to to go down for the other
one to be startable. And then Jonathan Taylor, he gets
a B grade. The Steelers have been one of the
best run defenses in the league until they met the

(30:13):
powerhouse back g O Berner last week, who took twenty
six touches for ninety seven yards and two scores. I
think the Bengals might have laid the blueprint to beat
the Steelers for the Colts here. I think it's gonna
be a lot of Jonathan Taylor in this one and
the Colts need the win to stay in the playoff hunt.
They actually needed a lot worse than Pittsburgh doesn't on
the other side. And tell that to Steelers fans, by

(30:35):
the way, desperate for a win right now off the
lost three in a row. There we go, Benny Snell,
I'm gonna give him a desperation See if James Conner
is inactive, now you're now you're talking. If Connor Connor
is still dealing with the quad injury, he looks like
a true game time decision if Connor goes there, both

(30:55):
on the bench. Snell had seventy eight percent of the
snapshare last week against Cincinnati and took twenty one touches
for a hundred and seven total yards in a score.
But no back besides Derrick Henry has done anything on
the ground this year against the Colts. That's why he's
a desperation c slash D grade Ben Roethlisberger, he gets
the CEA. Four of Ben's last five outings have seen

(31:16):
him held under two hundred seventy yards, with two of
those under two hundred. He hasn't topped two touchdown passes
since Week ten. The Colts have allowed four of the
last five quarterbacks they faced the top three hundred yards
and three of those quarterbacks through from multiple scores, so
the matchup isn't quite as daunting as it was earlier
in the year. Now the wide receivers, which is kind

(31:36):
of a mess. Juju Smith Schuster speaking of a mess
in a non PPR league, finished with negative points last
week and and knocked some people out of playoff matchups.
It was crazy, um Chase Claypool had eight targets but
only three catches last week, and then Deonte Johnson had
thirteen targets last week. So durn't drop any there, we go,

(31:59):
didn't drop any. I'll give Deonte the be here. With
Juju and Claypool getting C grades, the Colts have been
rocked by some perimeter wide receivers in the last few weeks.
Aglare bit them for a hundred yards in a score.
Both Kiki Cutie and Chad Hanson of the Texans had
two good Fantasy days a piece each in the last
two weeks. Also A. J. Brown and Davante Adams put

(32:20):
some good days up against the Colts in recent history.
And then Eric Ebron he did not practice with a
back injury. Remember he left the game early on Monday,
so you can't play him this week. No one in
a championship scenario is moving to vance McDonald either. This
starting any stealer with Ben rob the way Ben looked
and several games, I don't know that I think it started.

(32:41):
I think it's Deante and that's it. That's the only
one I think i'd feel comfortable. Just the double digit
targets every time he goes out. I think you're largely
right on that. I just don't know if I could
start Juju Um. It's tough. I don't feel like I'm gonna, yep,
tough to get to a championship game of play Ben
right now. By the way, in a redraft league, you
drop those guys like Juju and Claypool. You just to

(33:03):
see if your opponent some fights on those and wants
to wants to do something daring and potentially foolish. Giant,
We're gonna finish this segment off with the Giants taking
on Baltimore. And for the Giants, there's only two guys
to the starting grade. We start with Wayne Gohlman, and
I'm worried about Wayne Gelman here because DeVonta Freeman has
been activated off I R and he's gonna siphon off

(33:24):
some role and that's uh, that's bad for Goldman's waning productivity.
He's averaged only twelve touches and fifty one scoreless yards
over the last two games and like waxing productivity not
waning correct And after that was after averaging eight yards
and a touchdown per game over the pre the prior
games as a starter since Week ten, Damien Harris, Derrick

(33:47):
Henry Ezekiel, Elliott, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, James Robinson, good
backs of average, a hunter two total yards in a
touchdown per game. I'm just I'm worried that Golman is
not gonna get enough work here to approach those numbers.
He's got a C grade. Evan Ingram gets a C grade.
He's actually stayed healthy all year. And you know many
touchdowns we've gotten out of Evan Ingram Pro Bowl or
Evan Ingram Pro Bowl or Evan Ingram one. That's it,

(34:09):
how Ingram on his career cheese, that's it. Ravens have
allowed at least forty five yards or a score to
tight ends in four straight games, and they've allowed the
ninth most receptions to the position on the season. Evan
Ingram gets a C grade here in the desolate landscape

(34:29):
that is the tight end position. Everybody else is on
the bench, and I don't even think we need to
get into it. Whether it's Daniel Jones or it's Colt McCoy,
you're not starting any other part of the Giants passing game.
Let's go over to Baltimore. We begin with Lamar Jackson.
Before mopping up the Jaguars last week, Jackson was averaging
just one point two passing touchdowns in his prior six games.
You know it's he's been a very inconsistent pass sir.

(34:53):
Let's put it that way and blob more active on
the ground though, And you're here for the rushing and
I know that, so let's spend most of this most
this time talking about his rushing Here. Giants are elite
at stopping quarterbacks on the ground. They're giving up just
twelve rushing yards per game to quarterbacks. They've given up
just one rushing quarter rushing touchdown to a quarterback all year,
just one. Fortunately, in recent games, we saw Russell Wilson

(35:17):
hit forty five yards scoreless, Tyler Murray hit forty seven
scoreless yards. So there's some hope for Jackson here, But
I don't love him and I've only got a B
grade on him. I still think he finds his way
to like fifty rushing yards because he usually does. To
be fair, Wilson and Kyler Murray were the only running
quarterbacks to get all year. They didn't really face anybody

(35:39):
who had feet. Everybody else just stumps. That's it, stumps
in a shoe. Let's stick with the passing game here
and talk about Mark Andrews, who gets a B grade.
He's been much better lately, posting at least five catches
and sixty yards and four straight games. The only tight
end to see more than six targets against the Giants
was Richard Rodgers and explicably, who put up six h

(36:01):
six catches eighty five yards on that many targets. So
hopefully he gets a bunch of targets and he can
do okay. Giants just got nuked by the Browns tight
ends last week, so hopefully there's an opportunity for Andrews
here with a B grade, and Marquise Brown checks in
with a C grade. He's been Brown has been downright
reliable over the last month, which is bizarre because he
was anything but throws entire l Jacks is inconsistent and

(36:23):
Marquis Brown is reliable. What the world do we live end?
Is weird. This is a tough matchup, though, particularly with
James Bradbury likely to return from the COVID list to shadow.
In fact, he has returned. Bradbury has allowed just one
touchdown in his coverage since the opening game, and the
Giant secondary surrender just eleven receiver scores all season. That's
tied for fourth view of Bradbury's gonna shadow Brown. So

(36:45):
it's a very bad matchup for Brown, but on the consistency,
I'm still giving him a C grade here, hopefully you
don't have to play him. Let's go to the running backs.
Gus Edwards was might take a chance of me. Runner
J K. Dobbins clocks in with a C grade, and
by the way, Edwards is also a C grade. Dobbins
has scored in four straight games and has had between
eleven and fifteen touches in each of those four straight games.

(37:07):
So if he's gonna get these teensy touches, look, you
know the the uh, that's probably enough to make him relevant. Here,
especially if mark Ingram is a healthy scratch again, then
I think you can safely start Dobbins. The Giants have
allowed to running back touchdown in five of their past
six games, but Edwards could be the running back touchdown guy. Well,

(37:27):
Mar Jackson's a rushing guy, so there is some danger
here with JK. Dobbins. When we come back, we'll go
through our next set of matchups, including Cincinnati taking on Houston.
It's a bad Houston defense. Cincinnati's got some players you
don't normally trust with Ryan Finley at the helm, but
maybe you've got some opportunities here. We'll talk more about

(37:47):
that matchup and what to do about Deshaun Watson in
his offense as well when we come back. Fantasy Football
Weekly Championship Edition. Stay tuned yea welcome back Championship edition

(38:13):
of Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Archian, Brian Johnson, and Matt
Harrison with you. Brian Geo Bernard two weeks ago had
his first fumble in eight hundred carries and probably got benched.
Then last week, maybe perhaps Zach Taylor, realizing there of
his ways, decides to turn him into a workhorse back
and Geo paid off. Do you like him this week

(38:34):
against a reeling Houston defense. Yeah, it was a tale
of two cities over the last two games from Geo.
So i'mnna give him a B. Put him safely right
in the middle. But he does have a upside here
against the Texans, who are a joke on defense, especially
when it pertains to containing running backs because they cannot.
Houston has given up the second most fantasy points of
the position, and they've allowed a running back to score
against them in twenty of their last twenty one games

(38:55):
going back to last year. The Texans have also allowed
the fourth most receiving yards to running back. So d up, Geo,
Bernard Tyler boyd Tyler Boy. You gonna give him a B,
but monitor him. He's in concussion protocol but probably should play.
The Texans have allowed the most red zone receptions to
receivers over the last four weeks, and they've been getting
flamed by them all year. Twenty touchdown surrendered to the position.
That's why T Higgins was might take a chance on

(39:16):
me wide receiver, and I'll even give a j Green
a ce who's showing signs of life here if you're
super desperate. I've still got Ryan Finley on the bench.
Though not all of the receivers are gonna go off
the they all have potential to have a pretty good game.
But I like Finley a little bit in daily You'll
be a cheap option over to the Texas. They want
to passed like seventeen times on Monday Night. Yeah, but

(39:36):
that was against They're gonna let him pass more in
this game, I think I would hope. So almost by definition,
I have to over to the Texans side David Johnson
and give him a B. Has given us at least
ninety two combo yards already touchdown in each of his
last six full games. The Bengals are kind of a
tough matchup though They've only allowed eight rushing touchdowns to
running backs on the season, and they've allowed the fifth
fewest catches and eighth few s yards to running backs

(39:58):
through the air. But they are without you know, Atkins
and DJ Reader now and Bettell looks good against the
Bengals last week. So I'll give David Johnson a pretty
safe B. Here Brandon Cook's kicky qt you both get
a B. The Bengals are allowing one plus wide receiver
scores per game tied for the fifth most between the two.
I like u t a little more. He'll face slot
cornerback McKenzie Alexander, who allows a seventy catch rate in

(40:21):
his coverage to the tight ends. Jordan Aikins. I'm close,
but I got him on the bench just because Darren
Fells is such a pain in the a that the
Bengals have allowed the fourth most yards the tight ends
over the last four weeks. So Aikins another guy who
might want to take a flyer on in daily, but
I'm done. I'm done thinking this is the breakout game
for Jordan Nakins and lastly, DeShawn Watson gonna give him
an a. Even though the Bengals secondary has been bolstered

(40:44):
by the return of cornerbacks William Jackson and McKenzie Alexander,
they've only allowed uh one passing touchdown per game over
the last five weeks, but they haven't played any Deshaun
Watson's during that stretch. He still gets a name. Matt.
You told us earlier that you like to Tim Patrick
and you take a chance to me wide received verse show.
Does that mean you're like Drew Lock. No, He's on
the bench alight. No single quarterbacks hit two touchdown passes

(41:06):
in a game against the Chargers in the last four games.
And an interesting stat I saw from Evan Silva Jerry
Judy's catch erright in passes from Drew Locktent. That's absolutely horrible.
That's why Judy's on the bench to uh, no offense,
not on the bench. I'm giving him a B. Levin
targets last week eight for sixty eight and one, and
the Chargers just let Darren Waller go bananas last Thursday night.

(41:29):
And the Chargers have allowed a tight end touchdown nine
times in thirteen games this season. But it's only a
BE because I don't trust lock. Melvin Gordon's getting a
B grade. He's very close to out snapping dinged up
Philip Lindsay by a two to one ratio. And in
the first meeting in week eight, Gordon was disappointing in
that first revenge game, telling only forty seven yards on

(41:51):
fourteen touches. Double revenge coming here. Austin Ekeler on the
other side, he gets a B. Only six of the
snaps last week and getting replaced by Kalin Bolage and
Air Bear at the goal line was worse Zack Moss
and Devin Singletary just gouged this d just a couple
of weeks ago. Mike Davis had a good day through
the air. I love Eckler in this match, and I

(42:12):
see this a little differently. I've got him as a
top five back. I think he's I think he's a
hundred total yards in a score. That's what I think that.
There we go, air Bear, here he comes. He's getting
an A grade each of the last three quarterbacks to
face this battered secondary of top two or eight passing yards.
But if you hearken back to last Thursday game, the
thing that sticks out is that air Bear had two

(42:34):
goal line plunges and one rushing score. Air Bear is
also the ground bear. Oh I like it. The Broncos
have given up an amazing five rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks
in just the last four weeks. That's staggering. Air Bears
get a score one on the crowd crownd to Bear
Keenan Allen. I'm going to give him a bee. We're

(42:56):
assuming the ten days off helped his hamstring quite a bit.
If so, the match hup looks great against the team
that just allowed eight for to Cole Beasley in the
slot and seven for sixty eight to Curtis Samuel just
the last two weeks. Finally, Hunter Henry, He's getting a
B grade two. Henry is fifth in the league in
target percentage inside the ten yard line, at almost a

(43:18):
third of air Bears targets inside the ten go to Hunter. Henry.
A tight end has scored on the Broncos in each
of the last two weeks, and one of them was
Travis Kelsey going bonkers for one thirty six and a score.
So like Hunter Henry a lot in your championship week
to I've got um, I've got a very high grade.
In fact, my number one ranked quarterback is this week

(43:45):
ever swunged like thirty right? Well, yeah, thet oh they
are very f You can't outrun a bear. People don't
realize that. The instinct the flight, you know when you
reach the flight of the bear. No, the fight or
flight instinct is to try to out on the bear.
Bad idea. Know, you get big, don't climb the tree
when you see the bear. You do your exactlary. You

(44:06):
open your coat up to get to appear larger and
there I think yelling is probably good. I would scream.
I'd scream like a girl if you saw air bear
right now? Would you open your coat up in a screen? Wait?
That sounds different. I don't sound different. When we come back,
Three Tough Questions, our final edition, can you go three
and oh in the Championship week? Come back after this

(44:45):
our number two of the Championship edition of Fantasy Football Weekly.
Congratulations for those still alive in one or more of
your league's well earned this year for three tough questions.
This a forward looking edition of three Tough Questions because
there's only one week of play left for most right

(45:05):
minded fantasy leagues, and we're covering all of this weekend's
games right here, breaking the down this weekend's game, so
I don't need to talk about anything really in this season.
So all of these questions are forward looking. Tough Question
Number one, you've got the first pick in your twenty
twenty one fantasy draft. Based on what we know right now,

(45:26):
who is the right selection? Brian, Well, you can't win
your league with your first round pick, but you can
certainly lose it, and we've seen that happen to people
chasing the upsides of se Kwon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin
Kamara over the last couple of years. I'm tempting to
go with Travis Kelsey, but I'm going with the safest
pick I can think of, and that's Derrick Henry. I'm
taking him first overall next year. He has forty three

(45:47):
touchdowns and counting over his last three years alone. He
doesn't catch a ton of passes, but he's just bankable
money in the bank, especially late in the season, and
he wasn't utilized early on in his career either. They're
given DeMarco Mody touches young telling you, I'm no, I'm
telling you he was not the same runner he is now. Well,
he's earned it now, and I got no problem at

(46:08):
setting him to auto draft at one oh one, and
I'll go for a higher upside guys later. He's he's
money in the bank, all right, Matt Who should be
the first pick in the fantasy draft based on what
we know right now? I tend to play in PPR leagues,
so I'm looking at the guys who can run and catch,
and I got it down to two guys, Dalvin Cook
and Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey had four two touchdowns, around twenty

(46:31):
five per game, which is exactly the average he had
in three games played this year. Cook is averaging twenty
six touches per game this year. And what do we
know about the last guy who averaged twenty five touches
per your game year he got hurt. It was Christian McCaffrey.
Was Christian McCaffrey. He's he was out. So I'm gonna
take the guy with fresh legs. I'm going back to
Christian McCaffrey at one one. He's fresh. Well, that's one

(46:53):
way of looking at it. I guess uh. The correct
answer is the biggest differentiator in Fantasy for ball it
probably three years straight. Travis Kelsey. There's no downside to
Travis Kelsey catching pass. He's the best player in disposition.
It's always a waste slanted tight end. People are gonna
delude themselves, including me, You won't be sad if you

(47:15):
take Travis Kelly. No, no one's ever been sad about
drafting Tim Travis Kelsey. Now, are you as confident in
this as you were when you're saying take Gronk first
overall a few years ago, because and honestly, it panned
out pretty well that your Gronk had like a ten
eleven touchdown season. I think you can be more confident
with Patrick mahomes n You probably can. The only why,

(47:35):
the only reason to think Travis Kelsey would have a
worse season next year than this year his age. I
guess at thirty two. But it's not like he's thirty eight.
And we've seen plenty of elite level tight ends play
well into their thirties. Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates and
you know good tight ends, you know Hall of Fame
level tight ends, which is what we're talking about. Travis

(47:56):
Kelsey can play into their thirties. Tough question number two
for Keeper Dynasty and Empire leaguers. Do you acquire Allen
Robinson before the start of free agency or do you
wait until he potentially hits the open market? Matt So
for me, if he resigns in Chicago, that's pretty close
to a worst case scenario. I was looking at all

(48:18):
the teams in the league what their quarterback situations might
be next year. The only ones I thought might be
worse are the Giants in New England. You can make
a case that they're better than Chicago to so acquire
him now. Because his value should either go up or
stay the same if he stays with the Bears no
matter where he lands, I think you can acquire him now, Okay, Brian,
you don't have much to add, even though he's been

(48:40):
playing really well with Truebhisky as of late. Basically going
anywhere will be viewed as an upgrade. So I had
tried to acquire him now, Yeah, I think that mostly
makes sense. I think there there's some real open questions
about who the Bears quarterback is going to be. True
Whisky has looked better down the stretch, and they're going
to give him. They might be tempted to give him
another try, but man, I gotta believe that they're going
to have They're going to do something to to buttress

(49:04):
the position in the off season. Buttress We'll We'll find
out Mitch dr Bisky has been targeting him ten times
per game, uh since since returning, and that's smart. If
you're Mitch Drobisky, why not just throw to Allen Robinson?
And I think that extra usage is going to plan
to Robinson's desire to potentially stay in Chicago. Nothing frustrates
the receiver more than not getting the damn ball. Look

(49:26):
at Stefon Diggs and him leaving the Vikings because of
their run first team, he goes over to to Buffalo,
they pass all the time, loves it and look at
the productivity. Uber talented receiver. I think you guys nailed it.
Let's go get him now before we find out before
it becomes more obvious that he but finds himself in
a in a likely better spot. Tough question number three.
Should Cam Acres be a first round pick next year?

(49:49):
Let's start with Brian. We're gonna see a lot of
wide receivers returned to the first round next year. It's
gonna be Tyree Killed, Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, probably DeAndre Hopkins,
maybe even Stefon Diggs and Calvin Ridley going in the
first round. You mentioned Avis Kelsey, you take him first overall,
I'd certainly take him at any point in the first round.
And then there's still like five six lead level running
backs that are gonna be available that are generally viewed

(50:11):
as more valuable than cam Akers. So it's not it's
not a first round pick for Acres next year, but
he seems to be on that trajectory. Maybe Matt, Yeah,
Brian hit a lot of my points. I had six
running backs, seven wide receivers, two tight ends, and one quarterback,
Patrick Mahomes that I think I would clearly take over
Camakers teen guys. So so I think him in the

(50:32):
middle of I think he's the middle of the second round.
His average draft position next August, I believe will be
end of the first round. You're probably I'm not taking
him there. No, But here's what. Here's the thing I
want to really leave listeners with about cam Akers, and
I think the hesitation is going to be I don't
want to be part of the Sean McVeigh question mark
rotating backfield. Never know game in and game out, who

(50:55):
the guy is gonna be. We need a McVeigh Shenanigan's word.
Let's go back to Todd Gurley in twenty seventeen and eighteen.
Under Sean McVeigh, he averaged eighteen carries per game. In seventeen,
Todd Gurley was Fantasy Football's number one scoring running back.
In ten, Todd Gurley was Fantasy Football's number one scoring

(51:18):
running back. Sean mcveigh's got it in him to have
a workhorse back, and I think he's rotated backs out
of necessity. Acres does have some sneaky workhorse to him
that we're flashing on a very small sample size right now.
But and now, and now he's hurt, so you may
roll into next year not really knowing if McVeigh is

(51:39):
going to use him as a workhorse back. To me,
that's going to be a little bit of too much risk.
And I don't take running backs at the end of
the first round anyway. As a general rule. I won't
take him at the end of the first round. But
I think there is something's going to be a lot
of people who will outside for him if McVeigh is
willing to make him that workhorse guy like he did
with Todd Gurley. Let's get back to the matchups, beginning

(52:01):
with Carolina taking on Washington. We begin on the Carolina
side where Mike Davis gets a B grade. To my eyes,
Mike Davis looks like he's tiring a little bit. We're
seeing more of Rodney Smith in his looks are increasing.
Davis's yards per carry down to four over the past
several weeks. Over the past five weeks, he's averaging just

(52:21):
nineteen receiving yards as well. For Davis, he was so
active in the passing game early on, and they were
really using him much like they were using Christian McCaffrey earlier.
It's not that way now, but it's easier to run
on Washington than it is to pass on Washington, and
Davis should still see a total of like fifteen seventeen
twenty total touches since their Week eight by Washington is

(52:41):
allowing a very healthy one fifty six total yards to
running backs, almost one and a half touchdowns to running back.
So that's um, that's an opportunity here other than a
couple of injury ravaged offenses, I should say in that
stat So Davis gets a B grade, we're optimistic he
can get something done here, and then most of the
rest of the passing game is on the inch, with
the exception of d J. Moore, who gets a C grade. More,

(53:02):
it's averaging one hundred four yards over his past four
games and has gone over the century mark in two
of the past three games, but a very difficult matchup. More,
it is primarily going to have to deal with Kendall Fuller,
who's largely responsible for holding DK Metcalf to ten yards
last week. Washington is allowing the sixth fewest yards to
opposing receivers and just held Russell Wilson to one D

(53:23):
twenty one passing yards. It is tough to get anything
done through the air. Teddy Bridgewater obviously on the bench.
Curtis Samuel's on the bench. He's had to run a
really good games in November, but September, October, December have
been totally underwhelming for Curtis Samuel. And he's got to
go up in the slot against Jimmy Moreland, who is
not allowed a touchdown all year. Robby Anderson also returning

(53:43):
to the bench. I liked him last year. Is my
last week as might take a chance of me player
at the receiver position, but not this week. He goes
up against Ronald Darby, who's um mostly a speed guy,
but this is not a favorable matchup. Darbey has only
allowed two scores all year, and it's got the speed
to hang with Robbie Anderson. Let's go to the Washington side.
Not many starters here either. Antonio Gibson, if he can go,

(54:06):
is a B grade and it looks like he's going
to go, and man, do they need him back. Dwayne
Haskins through the ball fifty five times last week? What
age daft? By the way to see this, Dwayne Haskins
was stripped of his captaincy this way getting stripped of
his captain How was he, ever the captain based on
everything you've ever heard about the leadership qualities of Dwayne Haskins,

(54:29):
because you always make the quarterback the captain for no
reason other than he's the quarterback, never should have been
the captain whatsoever? From in my mind unclear. The assumption
is he's going to be back under the helm unclear.
But anyway, before getting injured, Gibson had scored in five
straight games, and it's seen as rushing attempts and rushing
yards increase in each But one of the questions really

(54:51):
here is is Gibson gonna get the full workload on
the turf toe injury or does he potentially have a setback.
If I knew he was going to get a full workload,
I'd have Gibson is an A. But because I can't
tell you that, that's why he drops to a B.
Panther's run defense has improved a lot since the first
half of the season. Only Aaron Jones his top sixty
eight yards in the last month against Carolina, They've only

(55:12):
given up one touchdown. B grade for Antonio Gibson. The
only other players you probably care about Logan Thomas and
Terry McLaurin. Let's talk about Logan McLaren. He gets you.
Wait all you ate, all show for that. Logan Thomas
up to a B grade. Here's surging in the past
couple of months, coming off season highs and catches and yards.
Last week, perfect timing. Panthers are bottom ten in receptions

(55:34):
and yards to opposing tight ends. Every tight end to
see at least seven targets against Carolina has posted no
less than five catches and forty five yards. Thomas averages
eight point six targets into Wayne Haskins starts, as opposed
to five under Alex Smith. So if if it's Haskins especially,
I like Logan Thomas here, then there's a sad case

(55:56):
of Terry McLaurin, who's been better in Haskin starts, which
is sad. Uh Caroline is allowing just one forty yards
to receivers over the past four games. McLaren's mostly gonna
have to deal with cornerback Dante Jackson, who just played
a big part in holding Davante Adams to just forty
two scoreless yards and just to see grade on the
wilting Terry McLaurin of Late Charge. I got some breaking

(56:18):
news on the Alliance coaching staff. Daryl Bevil officially out
as his defensive coordinator Corey Undwin and all three primary
position coaches on defense, defensive line, linebackers and defensive backsh
Lion's wife receivers coach Robert Prince will be the head
coach this weekend. That's brutal. They're not gonna have a

(56:41):
coaching staff that is that is that is that is
not bad. Um. Let's take a quick break. When we
come back, I want to talk about Cleveland taking on
the Jets. Bryan Baker Mayfield has red hot and here
comes the Jets. I think this is largely going to
be self explanatory, but we'll talk about it when we
come back. Next segment of our number two Fantasy Football Weekly.

(57:03):
Please stay to Championship edition. Welcome back to a championship

(57:28):
edition of Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Giarchie and Brian Johnson
and Matt Harrison with you. Brian Cleveland takes on the Jets.
Baker Mayfield comes in red hot and he gets the
league's worst past defense. This seems pretty straightforward. Yeah, the
only concern is the game script gets flipped on Baker
and Cleveland goes and run heavy. For that reason, I'll
give him a BE. But there's no upside, hey, upside

(57:50):
for sure. Against the Jets will allow the second most
passing touchdowns in the third most passing yards. Five straight
quarterbacks of throwing multiple touchdowns against New York. So I'll
give Baker the A, but a get him out, thank you.
Worried about the time the game script goes the other way,
Baker's already got his and the Jets run defense is
really good. Yeah it is. We'll talk about that more
in a second. Over to Baker's receivers, Jarvis Landry can

(58:11):
give him a be. Opposing wide receivers are averaging more
than yards and a touchdown per game. Against the Jets,
Landry will face rookie slot corner Javelin Guidre. Who you
made javelin j A V E l I. It's spelled
like javelin javalin. I don't know how he pronounces it.
He allows it catch rate in his coverage though, that's
most important. That is not good for terrible, and I'll

(58:32):
give Rochard Higgins to see. He's averaging eight targets over
the last three weeks, the clear number two receiver for Cleveland.
You can throw a dart on Higgins, but not a
dart should be thrown on any of the tight ends.
There are way too many in that trial. They're all
on the bench. And for the running backs on the Browns,
I do not like the matchup for Nick Chubb. You
alluded to this earlier charts just to be for Chubb.

(58:53):
Since Week six, the Jets have allowed just two rushing
touchdowns to running backs. During that same span, only one
back has topped eighty rushing yards against New York. And
the Jets have also surrendered just one receiving touchdown to
running backs. And that came way back in Week one
to your boy Zac Moss, like the first quarter of
Week one. That's practically so that makes that gives Kareem
Hunt is pretty much the biggest boom bust player on

(59:16):
the slate when it comes to fantasy relevance. I'm gonna
give him a c. I don't. I don't trust him here.
If you need a high upside play, he's look if
they threw to him more. Kareem Hunt, I would try.
I'd like him a lot more. They just don't throw
for reasons I don't understand. As great as Kevin Stefanski
has been this year, his unwillingness to throw the ball

(59:36):
to Kareem Hunt is baffling to me. And running on
the Jets does not work most of the time. I'm
really nervous about, I'll say, overall of bench grade, but
I can't fault you if you don't have better options
at running back. I have to start Kareem Hunt in
one league personally, So it's not a great matchup, though
he said so temporary expectations and certainly well just don't

(59:56):
really have any expectations for the Jets. But I will
give jameson crowd or as see the Browns have surrendered
four wide receivers scores over the last four games. He
will be Sam Donald's top target for sure, and then
to the running backs. If either Frank Gore Ty Johnson
weren't playing, I would give one a see Gore at
twenty three carries last week, Thy Johnson Ti Johnson caught
six passes and scored. But they're both playing. They're both

(01:00:17):
on the bench. I think that makes sense. Los Angeles
takes on Seattle and Matt I hesitate to trust Jared
Goff in any capacity, including his receivers. With my fantasy
championship on the line, you should hesitate to trust Jared
Goff for anything, ever, because that's what I've been saying
for years. Uh. He looked Matt against the Jets last weeks,

(01:00:40):
and understatement, I'm not imagining a lot of golf teams
are still alive because he's averaging two sixty five yards
per game, just over a score per game. Seattle has
changed its entire dynamic on defense over the last five weeks.
Quarterbacks are only averaging three two hundred and three yards
per game against the Seahawks compared to three hundred sixty
five games in the first nine. Amazing reversal, really sparked

(01:01:03):
by Jamal Adams returned to that secondary. Yeah. Uh, Cooper Cup,
I'm going to give him a SEA and Robert Woods
gets a B grade. No wide receiver has scored or
topped a hundred yards against the Seahawks since Week nine,
and that includes a date with the Rams in which
Cup and Woods each tallied a scoreless five catches with
fifty yards for Cup and thirty one for Woods. In
that game, it was Josh Reynolds with eight and ninety four.

(01:01:25):
Cup has only topped fifty yards twice in his last
six games and only has only three touchdowns on the season.
I can't, I can't start him, No, you can't. Woods
has been a lot better with his receptions and yardage totals,
averaging eight catches and seventy seven yards over his last
five games, but he's only scored in two of those,
so that's not good. And then the running game cam
Akers looks like he's probably done for the regular season.

(01:01:47):
So Darryl Henderson and Malcolm Brown compete for touches and
the most important fantasy day of the year. In the
four games when Acres did not record a touch earlier
this year, Henderson averaged four team carries. Brown averaged seven
Harry's so signs point to Henderson getting the two to
one workload. But don't sleep on Malcolm Brown messing this
up for you, especially near the line. I totally agree,

(01:02:08):
and I'll hear all these people pivoting to in the
championship to Henderson under the assumption that he's going to
get the vast majority of the work and goal line carries,
and I don't know that that's true. The matchups not
great either. The Seahawks randomly gave up a hundred and
thirty five yards to Wayne Gallman a couple of weeks ago,
but no other back has topped sixty yards against the
Seahawks since Week seven. They've been a great run defense.

(01:02:29):
I've got both of these guys on the bench. I
like that angle. Chris Carson. I'm giving him a C grade.
He gets between fifteen and seventeen touches every week. Also
has three of the last four Seattle running back scores. Uh.
The last time a running back hits sixty yards against
the Rams was Raheem Mostert, who got a whopping sixty
five yards back in Week six. They have given up

(01:02:49):
five touchdowns to opposing backs over the last five weeks.
That's why Carson still startable with the C grade. Russell
Wilson he gets a C grade as well. This is
I see. The Rams have given up two good games
the quarterbacks all season. The toucher Josh Allen in Week
three and inexplicably Jimmy Garoppolo in Week six. Wilson managed

(01:03:10):
an average day in their first meeting, with two forty
eight passing yards, sixty rush yards, but no touchdowns by
land or air. The philosophy seems to have shifted around
the ground game in Seattle, and Wilson's high passing yardage
mark in the last six is only two sixty three.
Dk Metcalf, He's closer to a bench grade than a
C grade, but I'm still giving him the sea. He'll

(01:03:31):
draw the Jalen Ramsey coverage and he only managed too
for in the first meeting, and the Seahawks just aren't passing.
I love that for Dk Metcalf. In the championship week,
he powered almost all of his owners into the playoffs,
and it's it's it's a dicey, dicey start. Metcalf has
only cleared eighty yards once in his last six games.
He had ninety or more in his first five. UH

(01:03:54):
and Tyler Lockett, I'll give him a C grade. He
was the highest scoring wide receiver in the Week ten
meeting with the Rams. From the slot. Of course, He's
averaging a very solid five catches and sixty yards over
his last six games. He's just not scoring though. Chris
Godwin and Jamison Crowder were also recent focal points from
the slot against the Rams, so I like lock It
more than Metcalf. In this matchup, Atlanta takes on Kansas City.

(01:04:16):
Let's start with the passing game, where Matt Ryan's coming
off the best game of his season last week, completing
his passes for three hundred sixty five yards and three
scores last week, and that was without Julio Jones on
the field, and he completed passes to eleven different players.
Even La Kwan Treadwell caught a pass. I think he
got a touchdown too, It didn't. He may have the

(01:04:38):
chief secondary made Drew Brees look downright feeble last week,
but over the previous five games, the chief secondary had
allowed a whopping two d seventy nine yards and two
and a half touchdowns per game. I kind of like
Matt Ryan here if he can build off of last
week's success. But let me tell you, on balance, Matt
Ryan's looked bad this year. B grade for Matt Ryan
in this game, he throws a lot. He just forty

(01:05:00):
passes per game, so the volume will be there, and
that's part of why I feel like you can start
him this week. Calvin Ridley is an obvious A grade
that does not require explanation. I'll just note that he's
been incredibly productive in games without Julio Jones, and then
we get to Julio Jones. Even if he plays, I
can only put a C grade on him because we
don't know if he's gonna finish the game. He's been
highly unreliable in these I'm playing hurt games. Kansas City's

(01:05:24):
secondary only allowing one three yards per game to opposing receivers,
and it feels like Ridley is going to get most
of those hundred three yards, So I just I don't
love him here. Tough matchup with Brashod Breland as well.
Let's go to the running game where Edo Smith takes
over and you're gonna leave him on the bench. He's

(01:05:44):
the new starting running back since Smith became more involved
in the offense in week twelve of these, averaging forty
two rushing yards per game in four and a half
yards per carry, which is better than Todd Gurley, but
still not good enough. Chiefs are average against running backs,
which is enough against this group. Todd Gurley's on the bed,
of course, Edo Smith on the bench. Hayden Hurst on
the bench too many zero one and to catch games

(01:06:05):
for Hayden Hurst Chiefs the middle of the pack against
tight ends. Let's go to the Kansas City side where
you're starting Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey and Tyreek killed Nell
of a grades, you drafted him early, you're taking him.
They've been great. You're obviously starting them in the championship game.
And um, and let's talk about Lavian Bell. This is
where the intrigue is in this entire matchup. So Bell

(01:06:25):
is gonna get obviously an uptick in work with Clyde
Edwards a layer out. But he's looked totally mundane since
arriving at Kansas City, and really it's been totally maintained
since leaving Pittsburgh. His last eighties. He hasn't topped eighties
seven rushing yards, which is not that much. He hasn't
topped eighties seven rushing yards since twenty seventeen. Say, he

(01:06:48):
did sit out a year too, sat out a year
and then did nothing with the Jets. He's done nothing
with with this team. Lavan Bell is not good now.
Also of concern for me, Andy Reid's gonna throws him
these extra carries around to Darwin Thompson, Darryl Williams, and
Atlanta is a sneaky good run defense. No back has
gone over eighty nine rushing yards against them, and only

(01:07:10):
Tampa has given up fewer yards on the ground than
the Falcons run defense. I have a C grade on
Leavy on Belt and it was very close to A grade.
Also on the bench, Sammy Watkins in your championship, you
don't need four catches for forty five scoreless yards, which
is what he always gives you. He has one touchdown
since the opener. Also, uh oh no, that is uh

(01:07:31):
that that is it. That's it for the whole matchup.
I thought I thought I had a little bit. No,
we don't need any more. I really don't have anything
else in that matchup. But you know what I found
was my page from Carolina Washington and which I failed
to give J D mckissic a grade. So I'm just
gonna back up for just a minute because I rewind
for for those with j D mckissic, and you're wondering

(01:07:53):
why I didn't mention him because he was on his
own page and I had misplaced it. Panthers, he has
a C grade. Panthers have allowed the seventh most re
set into opposing running backs similar cast pass catching UH
savants like Austin Neckler and Alvin Kamara. I've had huge
days through the air, so I think mckissing gets enough
to get a C grade in that game, just to
see I think it's his very own page. It's kind

(01:08:16):
of funny. I've never done that before. I don't think
right I had I backed up and put a guy in,
like we could just stitch it all together. That's too
much work for Brian. Not in with the holiday, so
she doesn't want to go home today. Who wants to
go home for the holidays. Let's get to our final
segment of our final matchup of this segment, Philadelphia taking
on Dallas. Brian Jalen Hurts. Two weeks ago. You never

(01:08:38):
would have thought you'd been starting Jalen Hurts in your
championship game. But you might want to start Jalen Hurts
in your championship game. Yeah, you certainly might. I'm just
gonna give him a B here. The Cowboys past defense
has looked a lot better as of late. They've only
only allowed passing yards per game over the last five weeks,
but they've also faced Alex Smith, Lamar Jackson, Brandon ll Alan,
Nick Mullins, and C. J. Bethart, and during that span,

(01:08:58):
those aren't very good passers. We're not that Hurts as
a great passer yet. But the rushing quarterbacks that the
Cowboys have faced. I mentioned Lamar Jackson, he had ninety
four yards in a touchdown on the ground and Kyler
Murray seventy four yards in a touchdown. So the rushing
upside certainly there for Jalen Hurts. Not much upside for
the rest of his teammates. I got Jalen Reagor on
the bench. He did have eight targets last week. But
you cannot start Jalen Reagor in your fantasy championship, at

(01:09:20):
least I cannot. Probably not, uh, and I'm worried about
starting Dallas Goddard and Zach ERT's gonna give them both
the sea. Hurts has targeted Eagles tight ends in average
of twelve times per game. That's pretty good. It is
pretty good. Goddard has seen more targets than Earths, but
Earth's closed the gap last week. But it's a bad,
bad matchup for both tight ends. No tight end has
topped four catches or thirty yards over Dallas's last seven games,

(01:09:44):
and that includes Dallas Goddard's fifteen yard performance in Week
gate scoreless fifteen yard performance, so just to see, Yeah,
that sounds like the one thing Dallas has been good
at all year has been that they have not been
good at containing running back. So Miles Sanders gonna put
them up in the a territory. Dallas has allowed these
second most rushing yards one thirty six per game, and

(01:10:06):
the fourth most touchdowns to opposing backs. Sanders didn't play
when these teams first met, but the other Philly backs
combined for ninety four rushing yards, so Sanders has that
potential on the ground and can produce through the air
as well. Over to the Dallas running back side, this
is tough. No one wants Zeke to play. That Zeke
owners don't want nobody packing Pollard. I don't want Zeke

(01:10:29):
to play. The Pollard owners certainly don't want Zeke to play.
But it sounds like Zeke is gonna play. I'll give
Zeke a se because it's a good matchup. Since the
Week nine by the Eagles are allowing one one total
yards at one point two touchdowns per game to the position.
Zeke only Mustard thirty three scoreless convoy yards when these
teams first met, but Ben de Nucci was the quarterback

(01:10:52):
see for Zeke. You agree with that? I think I
think I'm gonna think they're gonna go fifty fifty split
between Pollard and Zeke and game and they're going to
cannibalize you to get one of them. Probably does okay
fantasy wise, good luck guessing who it's gonna be. Talent.
Try to showcase Zeke for a future trade. Oh, I
like that, But the problem is they need to win

(01:11:13):
the game. You know, they're still in the playoff hunt,
so the Cowboys can't just showcase a guy at a loss.
The best running back on roster is Tony Pollard. Now
some of us told you that last offseason repeatedly. A
chance to remind you Fantasy Football Weekly. This is our

(01:11:34):
final on air broadcast. We are a weekly podcast in
the off season. To listen so you can hear salient
things like Tony Pollard is a better running back than
Ezekiel Elliott and you don't want to draft him. Please continue, Brian,
I'm gonna give Zeke the sea still, ok, because that's

(01:11:54):
his upside. Those see upside. You gotta use your best
judgment for what what running backs you have on your
own rosters. You don't know the He's Pollard put up
more Fantasy points last week than Ezekiel Elliott has in
thirty seven of his last thirty eight games. Oh yeah,
I'm not arguing as a better back at this point.
Trust me, Peacock, peac yard. You might want to fire

(01:12:19):
up the peacock next week if you started Marie Cooper
and give him an a. The Eagles have been getting
destroyed by alpha receivers recently, allowing at least one yards
to their opponents number one receiver in three of the
past four games. Cooper has scored in three of his
last four games, and his primary assignment will probably probably
be Kevon Seymour, who is allowing a near perfect passer
rating when targeted in his coverage over to the other

(01:12:41):
receiver because it's probably only the other one, only one
other one. Michael Gallup very questionable to play, so I'll
give him to see if he suits up, but he's
unlikely to go. But Ceedee Lamb gets to be either way.
The Eagles have allowed the most yards to wide receivers
over the last four weeks, and Dalton Schultz gonna give
him a c as well. Over the last three weeks,
opposing tight ends are averaging five catches and seventy four

(01:13:01):
yards against the Eagles, who have also allowed two scores
to the position over that same three game span. And
all those plus matchups for the receivers was the reason
Andy Dalton's might take a chance on the quarterback. When
we come back next segment, we will talk through a
tricky matchup for Ryan Tannehill and the passing game for
the Titans. They've been largely very productive, but the game

(01:13:26):
script is all about Derrick Henry and this one. Can
you trust Ryan Tannehill? Find out when we come back
for the final segment of the final two hour edition
of Fantasy Football Weekly for this season. It is the

(01:14:00):
final segment of the broadcast edition of Fantasy Football Weekly.
We are a podcast you can hear every week of
the year, but the rest of the our off season
are shorter shows. We're not breaking down matchups obviously in
the off season, and um we'll be talking about the
playoffs in January. And there's still lots of reasons to

(01:14:21):
continue listening to Fantasy Football Weekly. We encourage you to
do so. But if you're listening over the air, just
know that this is the final over the air two
hour edition of Fantasy Football Weekly. Then it's a good
opportunity to thank my co host Scott Fish, Brian Johnson,
and Matt Harrison. Thank you. This is mere eight for you. Wow,

(01:14:43):
I'm getting up there. You are one of the older
co hosts. Are nicely done six for me six year
you're six y uh So it is not easy working
this job. I appreciate it very much. And the engineering
prowess of Brian Burdette, thank you with you it is
the best. Thank you so much for all of your help.

(01:15:03):
All right, let's jump into a final slate of matchups,
which includes Chicago taking on Jacksonville. That is me in
my final matchup of the year. Let's start with David Montgomery.
It's gotten to the point that I don't need to
explain why David Montgomery is an A grade, particularly against
the Jaguars boxers. Please start him. He's my number two
ranked running back this week. My number one ranked running

(01:15:23):
back we'll be talking about in just a few minutes
when we get to Matt's matchup. Let's go to the
passing game where Mitch true Whisky. Let's give him one
final happy He's earned it. He's earned a happy trombone
Ski Moniker with his very solid play over the last month,
and he is a B grade. Allen Robinson a grade
averaging ten targets per game. Since True Bisky took over,

(01:15:46):
He's had at least seventy four yards in all four
of the True Bisky starts. Jacksonville is also allowed to
receiver to reach yards and ten straight games, which is
staggering incompetence. Robinson lines up all over the field. He's
got very positive matchups everywhere, but especially against uber Green
cornerback Greg Maybin, who has three career starts and is

(01:16:08):
allowing a passer rating of one his cover. I think
this is his first revenge matchup against the John w
I even thought about the revenge matchup angle. That's very good.
Darnell Mooney also with a C grade. He has scored
touchdowns and back to back games. Um He's always in
single coverage because Robinson soaks up so much defensive attention.
Mooney will most often match up against Chris Claybrooks, who

(01:16:30):
has allowed touchdowns in consecutive games and is allowing an
approaching perfect passer rating of one forty six in his coverage.
I like Darnell Mooney as a dart throw this week.
Cold Commit also coming into the C grade. He followed
up his snap share two weeks ago by playing every
single down of the Bears offensive snaps last week for

(01:16:52):
cold Commit. Unfortunately, the career high and snaps did not
result in more production. He only had two catches for
twelve yards last week. Jaguars allowed the most yards per
reception to tight ends, along with eleven touchdowns two tight ends.
That second most. They've allowed a tight end touchdown in
four of the last five Cole Commit dart throw there
as well. Let's go to the Jacksonville side, where there's,

(01:17:15):
as you can imagine, only one starter, and that's James Robinson.
He's proven to be matchup proof. The Bears gave up
three hundred six rushing yards to the Vikings and Packers
in their last two road games, and so you know,
if we're gonna give up a hundred and fifty three
yards per game on the road over the past month,
that's that feels like an opportunity for James Robinson. Now
he is wearing down a bit and we're seeing the

(01:17:36):
usage get dialed back a little bits. They've used him
so much, but the Bears have also allowed four touchdowns
to backs in their last four games. He's catching a
few extra passes under Gardner Minshew, which I like as well.
He's helping out a little more in PPR. Be great
for James Robinson here. The entire passing game for the
Jaguars is on the bench. Chicago is a good, not
great past defensive late. If you're really determined to find

(01:17:57):
a way to get DJ Chark in your lineup, um,
you can check the injury status of Bears cornerback Jalen Johnson,
who missed last week's game, and if Johnson doesn't go,
you could throw a dart at Chark against cornerback kindle Vildor.
That's definitely a made up name. It sounds like somebody
in Game of Thrones kindle Vildor Harry Potter were an

(01:18:18):
Amazon tablet. Yeah, well very much. I mean it sounds
exactly like an Amazon tak got my kid a Kindle
Vildor for Christmas? Very nice? Uh? Green Bay On Sunday Night,
Green Bay takes on Tennessee, Matt. This matchup is fascinating
to me a variety of different ways. Let's start on
the Green Bay side. Aaron Jones obvious green light here. Yeah,
Jamal Williams left last week's game with a quad injury,

(01:18:40):
and so Aaron Jones at the snaps and the Titans
defense has been below average against the run, but the
path of least resistance seems to be through the air
against them still. DeAndre Swift notch two ground scores last week.
So Aaron Jones easy? A uh? Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams?
Can they co aard Vark was this week? Sure? Why not?

(01:19:01):
We don't have rules on Coard Park. Maybe Baker had
three thirty four and four only three weeks ago. Minshew
and Glennon combined for two sixty three passing yards. Stafford
and Chase Daniel combined for three oh seven against the
Titans defense last week. So Rogers will go for three
hundred and multiple scores, which means Adams automatically goes over

(01:19:21):
to hundred with a score. Robert Tonyan gets a solid
B grade and it's closer to an A. You know
what earns the trust of a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers
catching a loven touchdowns well catching the ball. Tongyan has
caught eighty nine percent of the balls thrown his way
this year. What's more impressive, he's caught one hundred percent
of his targets inside the red zone. Nine targets, nine

(01:19:45):
catches you don't say nine times nine and six touchdowns
inside the twenty. The Titans held the Browns, Jags and
Lions tight ends out of the end zone in the
last three, but they allowed seven touchdowns to the position
in prior ten games. We're not gonna go as far
as Alan Lazard or mvs. If you are going to
go with one of them and you need one, Lazard

(01:20:08):
is probably the guy. He had eight more snaps and
five more targets than Valdez Scandling last week. Um because
it's the late Sunday night game, and if you need
a late swap, I'd go Lazard because he was on
the field for the place on the other side, Derrick Henry.
He gets the A grade. The Pack have allowed eight
teen touchdowns to the running back position this year. That's
the fourth most in the league. There's a little bit

(01:20:30):
of danger here and that the Titans defense is so
bad that the Pack get up and kind of like
in the Cleveland game, Henry might get phased out just
a tiny bits. That's what happened in the Cleveland game though,
when they got down by three or four touchdowns in
the first half. So that's the only danger here other
than that. I like them to pound the ball with

(01:20:50):
Derrick Henry, and that's over and over about the passing game.
And I've got a middling grade on Ryan Tannehill because
I'm worried about that very game script. The way you've
be at the Packers is on the ground, dominate the clock,
and keep the ball away from Aaron Rodgers. So it's
very tricky because the Packers have been very good against
the past since October um, when they faced the team

(01:21:11):
with a good runner and two good receivers. The quarterbacks
have had success. And here's a list of those quarterbacks,
Philip Rivers, Kirk Cousins, and the Week two version of
Matthew Stafford. So that's not many. I think the Pack
will have to send seven or eight to the box
to try to stop Henry, leaving man coverage for A J.
Brown and Corey Davis. Some open looks for Tannehill. Tannell

(01:21:32):
does have multiple touchdown passes in three straight whether that's
because they're dominating or they're in catchup mode, and the
Titans have scored more points than any team in the
league this year, so Tannell gets the b uh So
do A. J. Brown and Corey Davis each B grades.
Brown has had at least eighty five yards or a
score in fourteen of his last sixteen games. That's consistency.

(01:21:52):
Davis leads the team and catches in yards and has
become a solid possession receiver with upside. It's unclear if Jaire,
Alexander Shadow, Brown or Davis, but Kevin King on the
other side is no slouch either. D J. Moore was
able to tally a hundred and thirty one yards on
six catches last week, and A Rob had seventy four
and scored twice against them in garbage time a few

(01:22:13):
weeks ago, and garbage time could be in play here,
so I'm not going to give up on the passing game.
And finally, John U. John U. Smith, was your take
a chance on me charge. I gave him a C grade,
all right. I appreciate the confidence in John U. John Wu.
I hope he goes out of this season, uh much
in the fashion that he came in to the season.
The final game of Championship Week will be Monday night,

(01:22:34):
and that's Buffalo at New England. Josh Allen has power
teams into and through the playoffs, but this is one
of the toughest matchups of his season to the toucher,
even with even with the with Stephan Gilmore gone, I'm
a little nervous as a about the prospects for Josh

(01:22:56):
Allen in this game. It's a touchy subject to the
red flo AGAs here are. Josh Allen did not score
through the air when these first when these teams first
met in week at Week eight, and New England has
surrendered just one passing touchdown over the last four games,
but the Patriots have surrendered five rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks
over the last eight games. One of those touchdowns went
to Allan in Week eight. So you can still do

(01:23:18):
damage on the ground. And as you mentioned, Stephan Gilmore
is out, so big for Alan. I'm gonna give digs
An a because Gilmore is out. Diggs had six catches
for ninety two yards in the first meeting that is
when Gilmore was healthy. He will not play in this one.
Diggs has commanded double digit targets and five of his
last six games averaging ten catches for a hundred and

(01:23:38):
three yards, making that span he'sn't automatic a almost regardless
of matchup. Cole Beasley only two catches for twenty four
yards in the first meeting. I believe John Brown was
healthy for that one. I'm gonna give Beasley a b here.
His target totals over the last three weeks ten, ten
and eleven, seeing about just as much volume as digs.
And to the running backs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss,

(01:24:01):
gonna give them both a sea. New England has surrendered
over four hundred rushing yards over the last two weeks.
They're getting killed on the ground. Both these backs top
to eighty rushing yards in the first meeting Moss. Moss
scored twice and he'd certainly be the favorite at the
goal line over Singletary, even though Josh Allen's Zack Moss
was take a chance on me Worthy and then you
could yeah, you could have all season long. And there's

(01:24:23):
no sadder way to cap the season. And closing with
the Patriots are all on the bench. Jacoby Myers likely
to be shadowed by jadebus White. That's a no go
if Damian Harris doesn't play, maybe Sony Michelle oh yikes,
gets the C grade. But Buffalo allowing less in four

(01:24:44):
yards per carry over the last month, just don't start
any Patriots. There's there's nothing to like. I wish we
could close with a bigger boom with some exciting playoffs,
but New England has zero that that that is the
that's just the reality of it. And New England's offseason
will be fascinating. They've got about a billion dollars under
them to spend, so they can bring in some notable

(01:25:05):
free agents. Maybe it's maybe the receivers next year are
Will Fuller and Allen Robinson and then they you know,
they draft a quarterback or they find a quarterback somehow.
I heard a lot of steam about Hunter Henry is
most likely going to be a Patriot next year. Maybe
maybe it's Scario. How about this angle, and I'm serious
about this starting quarterback for the Patriots next year. Jimmy

(01:25:27):
Garoppolot decide they've played that thing out. The Patriots, how
obviously have a lot of familiarity at with Garoppolo. They
liked him. Um, and they decide they go back, they
go to Garoppolo. That would be fascinating. The one thing
New England should do or should not do, actually is
just don't draft a wide receiver. And kidding god, I

(01:25:48):
can't pick up all the receivers they've drafted have totaled
one touchdown. I think of the staggering level of drafting incompetence.
It takes to go a decade of drafting needing receivers
for much of that decade basically since Randy Moss retired
and only being able to come up with one touchdown?
Doesn't Belichick have a dog doing the drafting or something

(01:26:10):
like that? Feels like it isn't it? All right? Let
me ask you this next year, as we look ahead
to next season, who is quarterback too? Next year? Patrick
Mahomes is the obvious quarterback one. Quarterback two is not obvious. Matt,
let me start with you. Do you believe his quarterback?
Who are you going to have ranked as quarterback number two? Next?

(01:26:32):
It might be a little bit surprising. Um, I have
two names that kind of came to my brain right away. Uh,
Josh Allen and the air Bear himself. I like both
of them. I do like Josh Allen because he's the
rare running quarterback who's really really good at passing to
and he's got the wide receivers to to make that

(01:26:54):
offense work. So I think I would go Josh Allen
as my number two, but air Bears very close, very
impressive rookie year for him. Well yeah, and I think
as as we're in Minnesota, as much as we like
with Justin Jefferson has done and is worthy of as
of winning of the Rookie of the Year award, he
usually goes to quarterbacks, and I think Josh, I think, sorry, uh,

(01:27:14):
air Bear is going to end up getting that. Well,
I think we're going to see air Bear with a
new head coach, probably an offensive mind. If you're Eric
b Enemy, why would you go anywhere else? Because you
don't want to play the Chiefs twice a year? That
would be like the only reason. I mean, you know,
if you if you want to be if you won't
have a long ten year as a head coach in
the NFL. There is exactly one clear path to doing that.

(01:27:39):
Hook your wagon to a great young quarterback that's how
you have a ten year run as a Maybe he
wants to be a Jaguars coach. Well they but Jaguars
might that might make some sense to another team with
a ton of room under the captain Ryan. Who's your
number two ranked quarterback for next year? Air Bear and
Alan certainly in the mix. I think Aaron Rodgers deserves
to be in the conversation ation after his resurgence this year,

(01:28:01):
especially if they can put an elite receiver opposite Davante Adams.
But I still lean the mobile quarterback. I'm going Kyler Murray.
Kyler Murray's rushing quarterbacks. I think that's what's weapon. That's
what the consensus will be. It'll probably be consensus. I'm
on Josh Allen as well because I just I just
like the overall level of play and I think he's
a better passer than Kyler Murray and I get a

(01:28:23):
lot of the rushing production as well. We need the schedules. Really,
you might come down to that quarterback two is gonna
be fascinating. You watch what's gonna happen. Mahomes is gonna
go like round one, round two, and then no quarterback
is gonna go for like four rounds. After that, people
are gonna feel like that next year is there's such
a big drop off, they can wait a long time.
Thank you to everybody who has listened over the course

(01:28:44):
of this season to Fantasy Football Weekly. It has been
great talking to you throughout this challenging year for everybody.
Congratulations and getting to the championship for those of you
that are playing now. And as a final reminder, we
are still available all season long as a podcast. Please rate,
review and some scribe, but bye everybody. Fantasy Football Weekly
is a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts

(01:29:05):
from my heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

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