October 4, 2023 • 34 mins
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It's Fox Sports Radio's Official Fantasy Football Podcast! Dan Beyer, Mike Harmon, and Ryan Burschinger react to major storylines after Week 4, as De'Von Achane puts up another monster performance. CJ Stroud and the Texans passing offense have become must-starts. The guys react to positives and negatives from the Ravens and dive into Joe Burrow's sustained struggles in Cincinnati this season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lady, you want experience during your football season, Well, buckle.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Up, sweet cheeks.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
We've got all the experience in the world. This is
I Want Your Flex with Dan Byer and Mike Harmon.
Mike and Dan break down everything you need to set
your lineups, from position rankings to starts and sits. The
guys help you make those hard decisions. And now let's
get your flex. Ond here's Dan Bayer and Mike Harmon.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Well, commit another episode of I Want Your Flex. He's
Mike Harmon. That's our executive producer Ryan Berschinger hanging out
talking not only what's coming up ahead four, Week five
and the rest of the season, but also still a
little bit of what happened in Week four and really
what's happened in the first four weeks of the year.
Hitting Mike up at Swollen Doome find me at Dan
Byer on Fox and Ryan Berschinger at Ryan Berschinger. Let's
(00:56):
start out quickly. Bye weeks. Bye weeks are here? Week
five charge or Seahawks, Browns Buccaneers. I'll have it off,
so you'll have to find replacements for those players.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So you have to find a replace for Thompson Robinson. Yes, sorry,
Deshaun Watson being medically clear and not going seems to
like it should be a bigger story going into our
week than it was. I know there was a lot
in the NFL, Dan, but like raising my hand, going
you're cleared and you're not going to play a divisional
matchup against Baltimore, Please explain, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
But he had the weird thing on Friday where he
basically didn't practice but then told reporters that he was
good to go.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
There just there seemed to be.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
A lot of mixed messaging there and usually when you
don't practice on Friday, So it wasn't a shock to
me and honestly, Mike, with them having a buy in
week five, it actually makes some sense sure to not playing,
you know. I mean in essence, Browns had a rough
one against Baltimore. The Giants didn't have a buy in
(01:58):
week four, but they basic took the week off, something
that we dealt with dealt within our previous podcast. The
only reason I bring up the Giants is because they're
on the road to now face the Miami Dolphins. Mike
and the Dolphins are a team that I feel should
receive their flowers, get their flowers. Take all the kudos
they want, even if they only showed up for about
(02:19):
a half in Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Let's start with those fins.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Tua put up some numbers, but the receiving numbers for
Tyreek Hill and Jalen Wattle, who's back in action, maybe
not what you were expecting if you were playing those
guys this week. Any concerned with the Dolphins taking their
first l of the week.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Now, I think the big thing and this was a
game that you know, Smith and I on our evening
show fought about a bunch and I was like, don't
forget the Bills are pretty good too, and he's like,
they lost to the Jets. I'm like, yeah, it's Week one,
here's a bunch of circumstance. Blah blah blah. It's like
they're going to win this game. Did I think they'd
blow them out and bludging them the same way they did? No,
(03:00):
But I'm not surprised that they played well. I thought
there'd be you know, a little more work and room
in the secondary for Hill and Waddle to operate. But
you know, give the Bills credit. They're one of your
your better squads coming in and they finally, you know,
on a big stage played like it right, because through
the first three weeks, you lose to the Jets, you
(03:21):
beat a couple of also rans handily, and it's like,
all right, well what are you And then you get
this big matchup and you say, all right, we're tired
of all your press clippings, let's give a few of
our own. So I guess I wasn't surprised, but it
also would say going forward, not many teams are gonna
be able to replicate that, either the emotion or just
(03:43):
the matchups.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah, So I think I think this is one where
it's an unfortunate occurrence for your Week four fantasy futures.
Hopefully you didn't get chopped or you know, have something
go disastrously, but I think it's an outliers.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
What do you think about the Dolphins now that they
kind of came back to Earth.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
I thought it was really interesting to see the fact
that Devon ah Chan once again had a huge game.
I think that that was the biggest thing going into
this week with watching the Dolphins is to see how
they would employ their running backs after both of them
had phenomenal games against the Broncos, but a chance specifically
(04:25):
of course, he had huge runs against a team that
was sitting down on the field, but he looked fantastic
and it was hard to not try to use him again,
and they did so pretty instantly. A Chan ended up
getting sixty percent of the snaps, with Mostart getting forty
three percent, so you have pretty instantly now you could
(04:48):
see they are switching to a Chan heavily. And of
course it was when you look at the actual rush
attempts though a Chan at eight, Mostard at seven, but
it was eight for like one hundred and two from
it from Devon ah Chan.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
One of them was yes.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
But and I only I only say that because I
think that with mostt you can sometimes make the same
sort of comment.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Oh yeah, yeah, they're both explosive, but you have Mostard
ran for seven rushes for nine yards. He was still
involved in the in the past game said five targets,
three catches. So I still feel fine starting Mostart moving forward.
But obviously the excitement is with Devon a Chan, and
(05:37):
I think that to see that the Broncos game wasn't
just a fluke. I mean, yes, as you said, a
chance numbers are bullied by another big run and you're
not going to get those every week. But this is
an offense that thrives on explosiveness, and he is a young,
explosive athlete out of the backfield. Yeah, they're getting Jeff
(05:58):
Wilson back, But honestly, like I'm not that scared of
Jeff Wilson's presence. He's he's last year. Sure, Yeah, no,
he did have a couple of very strong games last year,
but he's there because he provides a compliment to Mostard
where he's he's a very different running back. Mostard and
(06:20):
eight Chan are similar in the sense that they're both explosive,
they're fast, they're quick. Wilson's a stronger, uh more ground
and pound sort of guy. So I mean Wilson will
actually will absolutely get work as well. But you kind
of have to start a Chan now every week until
(06:41):
he has a clunker, right, like, because you're now just
consistently risking leaving like twenty five to thirty points on
your bench if you just leave him on the bench
on a weekly basis. He's he's worked his way into
the starting lineup, especially in a matchup like the Bills,
that's it's a hard matchup to to go up against.
(07:03):
So it was really impressive to see what he did
again this week.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I also do think that Mostart is still playable in
a lot of leagues. I would not bench just with
with version. What you're being so high and I you know,
let Mike answer himself, but I don't think that you can.
I don't think that you could bench Raheem Mostert at
this point.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
I agree with that. I in one of my leagues,
I have Travis etn Raheem Mostert, you know, the the
body of Austin Eckler lying somewhere on my bench and
along with like Miles Sanders and uh so, I'm I'm
looking at these choices and and Mostart still is in
my starting lineup with you know, until Eckler gets back.
(07:49):
But even then, like i'm, he's a very strong flex
play for me. Still, I would still feel better about
playing him over Sanders simply because of how active in
efficient the Dolphins offense is. I want any part of
the Dolphins offense right now, even after their loss this
week to the Bills.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Mike, you good with what burse said about the Dolphins backfield? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Absolutely, I mean, look eight chan, I gotta make sure
like it's all that repetition. I gotta make sure I
get it right. Powerback, big numbers, big opportunity. But when
you look at what most it is, you're still averaging
fifteen touches a week. So even is you go into
a number two role, even if that dips down to
(08:32):
eight to ten in this offense, and way in the
state of the running back position, right, because most leagues,
you're still starting to plus a flex and if I'm
getting a couple of receptions each week and the after burners, Right,
we all saw that track thing they were showing ahead
of that game against the Bills. Right, here's the feature
(08:53):
all the fast guys. Yeah, it takes one slip tackle
and he's off to the races. I mean, that's at
least flex worthy every week, if not an RB two.
Given the the dim outlook for a number of squads
in their running.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Games, the running game for Buffalo wasn't great, But I
don't know the specifics that you and Jason you know,
touchdown the other night. I also felt that this was
a game where it was more about Buffalo than it
was about the Dolphins. Absolutely, you had Damar Hamlin, you know,
making his season debut, but that game against the Jets
(09:31):
seems so long ago. It's right, I mean it's and
you know, in an NFL schedule, it might as well be.
As you know, it was week one, but Josh Allen
seemed to fit the role. Stefan Diggs sure's heck fit
the role with his three touchdowns. Gabe Davis made the
most of his three targets. He spread the wealth. Fulton
King Kid a popular target. I think of many looking
(09:53):
to get some value at the tight end spot. You know,
he ended up catching most of his targets, but it
was just more about a Buffalo day, everybody kind of
getting there. James Cook's numbers weren't great, but when you
end up winning by twenty eight.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Really good sign with the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I'd continue to Obviously you're going to play Josh Allen
and Stefan Diggs, but I want sour On Cook as much.
Despite the load numbers, even with the touchdown against the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, it's still averaging five plus yards per carry on
the years, so opportunities are going to be there for
him as the season goes on and you run a
lot of plays where it's just all right, here's the dive,
right the halfback dive, run clock, all those kind of
things with the lead with Alan and I think it
goes back to motivation too, Nan and you mentioned Tamar Hamlin.
(10:43):
Remember how I think a lot of folks forget what
the human side of football when they talk about the
flame out at the end of last year. It's like,
I don't know, would you want to play football after
one of your teammates had that happen. I think I'm
ready to go home for this for the offseason, compress
and get back to it. Not not excuse making, but
(11:04):
I think kind of getting into the mindset of players.
It's hard to pick yourself back up and get back
to one hundred and twenty. Right, Hey, let's go after that.
But receiving wise, Stefan Diggs, how much had he seen
about how great Tyreek Hill is the last couple of weeks.
Here's an opportunity in a big spotlight game to show out.
(11:26):
And Josh Allen in that game against the Jets, you
and I had talked about it. You go back in time.
Didn't a couple of those interceptions seem like he was
just punting, yes, and maybe his guy would make a play.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Maybe he would.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
I mean they call count just the same. But I
don't know that it was as reckless as a all right,
we're gonna punt if we don't get this anyway, I
don't see anything, so chuck it downfield.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah, it's it's just it's I know it's only three
games ago or however you want to look at it,
But to me, it's just might as well have been
last year at preseason.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Yeah. Yeah. And and the you know, the other point
about last year.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
It's funny because I had deja vu when you know,
we when we did the broadcast for the Sunday show
at the US Open. We were out there a few
days earlier, and Sam Farmer of the La Times came
by because he was covering the tournament. We started talking
about the NFL, and I told him my theory of
I thought that the bills, the Damar Hamlin situation, opened
(12:25):
up a lot of wounds for them that may have
already been there. Like, you're pretty raw because of all
of the emotions, and sometimes you say things that you
feel and that gives you the opening to do so
because you're not holding it in anymore, you're not being protective.
And I think that there there was some healing to
do with with the Bills, and maybe winning football cures that.
(12:48):
But you know, we had heard reports that you know,
Jason Whitlock had said that he had heard that Stefan
Diggs wasn't happy with Josh Allen's you know work preparation
and you know, preparing.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
And all that stuff. I don't know it's true and
what's not true. But winning sure does help Mike.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
And right now it seems that things are good for
Buffalo and for fantasy purposes.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, that train and I'll just keep on rolling.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Through four weeks, Allen is at seventy four point eight
completion percentage.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Wow, some saying you needed Brian Dabole back and Ken
Dorsey was not the answer.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Well, hopefully they remedied it so we don't get any
more Ken Dorsey outbursts that make him look like Trent Dilfer.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
By the way, By.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
The way, yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
The Jaguars Bills. I'm sorry that game should not be
sent overseas, And we had kind of this conversation of
you know, Atlanta as well, just because geographically I think
that it would be a good thing. I understand you
don't want to send them dog games every year. Major
(13:59):
League Baseball sent over the Yankees and Red Sox, you know, Cubs,
Cardinals one year they've they've done that.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Heck, Dolphins Chiefs is gonna be in Germany this year.
I mean, think how crazy that's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
But like this should be this should be a game
that Jacksonville should have at home.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
You know, I just I'm sorry and.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Else Dan is to make good for all the games
and Jacksonville are in London and and the like over
the last couple of years. Now, I know that's a
strategic business decision, but this is one. Yeah, it would
play huge.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Yeah, I think it would.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
It would have been a been a benefit of the
uh you know, for or at least in the States.
You know, now that I think of it, you know,
I should probably check that it's who the actual home
team was, because actually the Jaguars were the home team
last week. But anyway, whether it's in Buffalo, whether it's
in Jacksonville, it should be a games should be played
(14:56):
in the States. And I can't believe again we're gonna
have Dolphins Chiefs that's gonna be ending up in Germany.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
So I'll be on air for all of those bright
and early on the sports radio, at least for the
first half hour, although I don't think they could top
the toy story presentation that they did.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Dan, I you know, the the.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Oh wait to see what kind of one line? Because
I enjoyed the hell out of it. But I'm also twisted.
I'm all about leaning into.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I only saw the highlights because I'm going to be
perfectly honest.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I was watching Ryder Cup, so there you go.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, that's I had the I had the stats up,
the scores in seeing how the game was going.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
But I was watching the US and their attempted come back.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Did they have a parking lot cam for the final day?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Not on Sunday? Not on Sunday. By the way, I
do stand corrected. The game is a Bills home game.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Well, but either way it plays just the same, Yes, right,
especially and you're coming in with two teams with great expectations. Look,
I picked the Jaguars trying to go a little outside
the box in terms of all right, who can find
a path? And the Jaguars have a path to make
some hay in the AFCs, so certainly some best and
(16:16):
interest there. And my love for Josh Allen goes back
long ago to fighting with your Sunday co host George
Reister about his viability as a quarterback when he kept
trying to tell me he was nothing more than a
running back.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Oh man, well we should, we should have a good,
good old day.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
He's still took a while to come around on Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I think a lot of people started climbing back in
there after Week one.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
So Jaguars Bills and again this is the NFL Jaguars
being the first team to play back to back weeks
in London, another step towards maybe a team ending up
in that city. Yes, all right, so he's my common
that's Ryan Bursching around Dan Byer.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
C J.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Stroud automatic starter in fantasy football right now. Yeah, we'll
answer that. Well, Mike just answered it, but we'll answer
more of it next here. And I want your flex.
He's Mike Carmen, I'm Dan Byer. That's Ryan Bursing, our
executive producer. It is I want your flex. I pose
the question, Mike Carmen. Is CJ. Stroud an every week's
starter now in fantasy football? What say you?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I Am going to say yes, without a doubt. We've
seen amazing things from him thus far, a little bit
of Tank Dell, some Nicocollins, and it's cool to have
some Houston receivers not named Andre Johnson in the fantasy
discussion Dan so that and DeAndre Hopkins of course for
(17:43):
a couple of years. But looking at.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Will Fuller for the six games he would play a
un that's a good point.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, he was a good WR three. We had him
as a ninja many times on the iwatcher lex podcast
and in our work at Fox Sports Radio for sure.
But looking at what you've gotten from CJ. Stroud thus far,
eleven sacks taken that ranks I don't know, tied for
seventh or eighth in the league through the first four week.
(18:12):
Sam Howell at twenty four, by the way, really kind
of frightening the level of piniataism that's going on there.
But the thing I bring that up with Stroud is
that his offensive line is not going to be any
worse than it is right now. Right they're missing so
many players, so many starters due to injury that are
(18:33):
all on the comeback trail here, so things are only
getting better. He's been good with the football, zero interceptions
thus far. You've seen that stat I think a little
bit everywhere the last couple of days, especially after such
a beatdown of Pittsburgh. And you know, oftentimes you have
players after a game where you know you're not going
(18:55):
to do a bunch of crowing. You know, it's like, ah,
we got the better of them today. No, no, no, they
knew it. They blow them and then they were more
than happy to tell you about it. Stroud being very
good about you know, as a quarterback, right going to
measure your words, but knowing that you found some stuff
that works. You're getting the ball out quickly, and you
got a couple of guys that can go make plays
for you, and I think that's pretty exciting to see
(19:18):
what they're starting to build there as we look at it.
You know, you brought in the tight end Dalton Schultz
as well, who's got it playing a factor for you,
Robert Woods, who's never seemingly the number one on anybody's radar.
But the final stats are going to be there. So
for fantasy purposes, the EBB and flow I think for
(19:40):
all three of those guys, which is going to be frustrating, right.
Collins was the hero this week, Dell the last week.
So you got a little of that that you have
to deal with. My biggest concern is the quantity is there,
but the quality hasn't been yet as a runner or
receiver for Damian Pierce just yet. And I have to
wonder if he isn't one of the great BI low
(20:02):
candidates right now with the offensive line set to get healthy,
yeah that perhaps you can catch lightning in a bottle
with him as we hit the midpoint of the season
a couple of weeks from now.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
I think that's absolutely the case.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
And I know I've said it on this podcast and
I feel like I say it every week on the
Sunday Show.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I am now moving up.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I've been in on the Houston Texans. I thought it
was going to take a little while. I thought it
was second half of the year. They were the team
that did not want to face. And now here we
are entering Week five of the NFL and I think
they're going to be the wild card picture.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Now.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
I do think that that is part of the.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Conversation, and they are much more than a team that
you don't want to face. They are a team that
is going to have something to play for. I picked
him second in the division.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
I thought Jacksonville would win it.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
And I still probably feel that way, but there is
something going And as someone who watched every game CJ.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Straud played in college, I'll just say this.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
The one thing that was so amazing about him, and
it took me a year and a half to realize
that Mike was that because he made things look so easy,
you felt like there was something, there was something left
to be desired because you're like, man, where's the flash?
Where is And then you just realize that everything is
so precision based and on schedule And how great does
(21:30):
that work in the NFL? And now even in the
In the second part of his year in Columbus at
Ohio State and the second part of the second year,
he started running more. And he's not a he's not
a speed stir by any means, but if it's third
and five, he can now get you six yards if
you need. You know, he made big runs in their
(21:51):
Peach Bowl loss to Georgia that they had, but he
now has that. He is just a really, really good quarterback.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
And he was the most already you know, of anybody
and and so and I do think George Reister and
I had the argument on our show on Sunday. I
think you still.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I think you can start to have the conversation of
you know, did the Carolina Panthers really.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Make the right move and you know, and yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
In either thing, either in the quarterback selection or trading away. Yeah,
then you know that what they had to give up,
because yeah, you know, it's that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
It is, it is absolutely part of it.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
You have to consider all the trade, what they gave
away and your bears are reaping the benefits for it,
considering that the first two picks of the draft of
it well and.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
It was tomorrow, compounded by the fact that you had
already made a bad trade when you traded McCaffrey away. Yeah,
so like all of that compounds to where you are now.
And and look, I hope the best for for Bryce Young,
I do, uh, And that roster clearly is not right.
Miles Sanders is crying about being booed at home. You
know what, play better. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
You know a good is in week seventeen and eighteen,
they'll be no fans there to boo.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
True.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Well, and he'd better be careful because Chuba Hubbard's going
to take his job.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
Okay, something to watch here.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Right, So, I mean you got a little bit of
a battle there. So you might have a guy who's
getting a little chippy recognizing, hey, your old team thought
you were expendable, sent you to Carolina, and now you're
in a position whereby you're losing touches in that backfield
and rightly so. So, yeah, you're getting a little bit salty.
(23:36):
I have noticed right through the first quarter of the
season we got more guys pointing fingers and being chirpy
about their roles, their touches and fans. And I think
I can ever remember Dan. But you know, for the
an AFC South, just to tie a bow on it,
the Tennessee Titans are the most enigmatic team thus far
(23:57):
because you finally you know of Derrick Henry falling up
off the Yeah, you know, the cliff exaggerated. I did
like that little jump pass touchdown. That was a nice touch.
But getting back over one hundred yards and running with
some authority against Cincinnati a nice get your right thing.
So when looking at the division, they were just this
(24:19):
massive question mark to me, second or third, which would
it be? And here we are.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
AFC South is interesting. The AFC North is quite the
piece of work as well. Baltimore Ravens showing their strength
against the dtr led Cleveland Browns Lamar Jackson fifteen to nineteen,
one hundred and eighty six yards and two touchdowns. Those
two touchdowns went to Mark Andrews. Lamar did some stuff
(24:47):
on the ground as well, even against the very good
Browns defense, who I think probably felt the absence of
Deshaun Watson. Ravens shine bright in our three to one,
and their stars that you have been waiting for to
break out finally did in week four.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, waiting on Mark Andrews certainly now up to fourteen
catches on the year with three scores, so a guy
you would have invested heavily in if you went in
out of the tight end position I had, because I mean, look,
we've talked about it in the preseason, and certainly through
four weeks there's only like two or three guys that
you're banking on when they're healthy to produce. Otherwise it's
(25:25):
a giant roll of the dice in terms of targets
and production week to week. Zave Flowers still the guy.
A lot of injury issues and that's the common theme
with the Ravens that we've been talking about forever. Dan
Bateman unavailable once again, so and Beckham Junior was unavailable.
(25:49):
So you know you're trying to find other people to
pair up. And it's really an interesting run that your
new coordinator, Lamar Jackson kind of went than I was saying, Fine,
I'll do it myself both as a runner and is
as a thrower because from the ground game you're really
(26:09):
not getting a lot of production. Some more injuries back there,
Gus Edwards averaging like four and a half to this point,
but Lamar is going to have to do a lot
of it himself once again and for longevity purposes. That
makes me a little bit nervous if I've invested in
him and Mark Andrews just based on past performance.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
They've got, you know, interesting scenario coming up. You have
the Steelers in week five, then they're in London to
face the Titans in in two weeks and coming up
in week six and then against the Lions against the
Cardinals another Seahawks defense looked great, but against the Seahawks
(26:52):
you get through kind of like some of their rivals.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
Here with the.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Steelers in Titans, You've you've got a nice little stretch
there for Baltimore to maybe shine, and then he got
another meeting with the Browns coming up. So yeah, I
think that there's there's hate to be made with the
Baltimore Ravens. I expect say Flowers to break out in
maybe the next couple.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Of weeks, averaging sixty one yards per game. Pretty solid
start for the rookie. Again, considering that Andrew's been banged up,
so you haven't had a full compliment of players to
really run out there at this point, so to acclimate
as well as he has is a nice little bonus.
Lamar completing about seventy five percent of his passes thus far.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
You don't need Odell Beckham Junior and your team either anymore.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
No, you don't, but it's good to think about him.
And he did the Ray Lewis thing coming out of
the tunnel, so that got people excited.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
He can you can? You can move on from that?
When do you move on from the Cincinnati Bengals there.
They've got a matchup now at Arizona in Week five
that is anything but a gimme the Higgins we think
is going to be out when an injury happens on
a Sunday Mike, you kind of get a sense of
what the injury is. Then Monday you get this feel
(28:11):
of maybe optimism. It's not as bad as it is.
I don't think t Higgins plays on Sunday. It's just
my gut feeling for the initial thought of his rib injury.
But now you got Joe Burrow still nursing the calf injury.
What the heck's going on with the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Well, at this point with Joe Burrow, I'd be looking
for operations shut down on the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I know, Mike Brown's not a guy who likes to
sign big checks without getting a lot of return. Yeah,
so I don't know how much of there's a pressure
that you just signed him, that he's got to be
out there completing fifty seven percent of his past attempts
and looking absolutely miserable at every dropback, no mobility to
the sides. Like you add it all up, it's just
(28:53):
been a miserable run. Seven hundred and twenty eight total yards,
just two touchdowns, two interceptions. I think you've got to
shut him down, you know. I know there's some reports saying, well,
it can't get any worse. Well, it's not getting any better.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Yeah, and at.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
This point, you're you're at a point where you've got
to decide are you just cutting bait on a season?
And that's a very difficult thing to do. Right, You're
looking at the the AFC North. We always welcome Jason
Lock and for in on the show, Jason Smith and
I and he's obviously out there in Baltimore, Washington, DC
area and covering the the AFC North. And I'm like,
(29:36):
all right, how early are we crowning you guys champions
there in Baltimore? And he just started laughing, And naturally
it progressed to a discussion about Burrow and where you're
at going forward, and it doesn't look like you get
any relief. Higgins probably doesn't play as you say, at
least for one week. He's talking about pain tolerance and
(29:56):
not ruling stuff out. And that's great. Everybody wants to
have the heart of a champion, heart of the box,
or hey, I want to be out there, I want
to be scrapping, But these guys are dumb. They're not
giving up potential to worsen injuries and lose money. Now,
obviously Burrow got his, but Higgins hasn't, right so is
(30:18):
he gonna risk you know, maybe missing multiple weeks if
he gets hit wrong.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
I don't think so, no, you know, and and you know,
here's here's the other thing with Cincinnati, and I think
that they they really misjudged it this offseason. I know
Joe Mixon's numbers don't look like atrocious, but I do
think that they missed the samaj p Ryan. Yes, I
(30:44):
don't think that Joe.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Mixon is going to be able to continue at the
pace that he's he's at for this entire season, and
the pace right now Mike is about sixty yards per game, Like,
that's what we're getting before maybe one game you'll have
a you know, three or four catches, then another one
there's only one. But that's kind of what you've got
(31:07):
with Jill Mixon. And there was a point this offseason
where we didn't know if Jill Mixon was going to.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Return or not.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Right not only has he returned, he's the only guy
they have in the backfield, you know, that is getting
significant work.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
And so that is a problem.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
And to everything that you added on to what you
just said about Joe Burrow and t Higgins and what
they have, you can't even hang your hat on the
running game.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
So, yeah, there's there's gonna be problems.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
They've got the they've got the after the Cardinals, they've
got the Seahawks and then a bye and then the
forty nine ers.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
So you have three NFC games. Mike, that in the
grand scheme of things.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
I know you don't want to lose, and if you're
one and six, you're probably not going to make the playoffs.
But if you win a game or two with him
being out, they are NFC opponents, and then he's back,
maybe healthy for the AFC opponents where it could play
into a tiebreaker do more damage. I'm kind of with
you and just letting this bad boy rest a little bit.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, with Joe Mixon, right, he took a pay cut
to come back. I mean, p Ryan's not being used
really as much at all by the Broncos either, you
want to talk about it. You bring in a guy
for a certain set of skills, like he'saism and you're
not even really giving him much of an opportunity. He's
only got thirteen targets through four weeks and eighteen carries.
(32:29):
Seems to me you'd like to establish a little bit
of balance. In the forest, and if you don't trust
the health, durability, or aptitude of where Javonte Williams is
right now, and especially as a safety valve in the
passing game when you've been down as big as you are,
I'm shocked he hasn't gotten more work there, but would
have looked awful Dyce still in a Bengals uniform.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yeah, it could only help because it has been a bad,
bad start to the season.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
All right.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
He's Mike Carmon, I'm Dan Byert Ryan Bursingers, the executive
producer of this podcast. That about does it for our
Wednesday episode, We'll be back. Yeah, Mike's Bears on Thursday
night taking on the Washington Commanders plus BURSCHHALLVI a streaming Defenses.
I'll give you a survivor pick or two just to
try to continue along with that. And I won't pick
(33:18):
the forty nine ers, Mike. I'm making sure. I said
the forty nine ers in week three, and I said
the forty nine ers in week five, and that's a
cop out. But I will stay away from the forty
nine ers. They got a big matchup with the Cowboys.
Wouldn't take them anyway, even though I still think they'll
win the game, but we'll give you a.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
Survivor pick on Thursday as well.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
At least forty nine ers won't play dead like the
Patriots did do.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
That's true. That's true.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
Hey, I told you to pick Dallas as well as
a possible option if you didn't want to pick the
forty nine ers and one do you know it worked
out swimmingly. I did think that you could stay away
from certain teams, and Mike, I thought the Bears are broncos,
you know, if you wanted to find value, and I
thought your Bears were gonna have it there for a second.
Speaker 4 (33:57):
But anybody who took.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
A Bears team for a survivor pool number one, tip
of the cap to you, and sorry it had to
end like it did.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Kick the field goal, or at least run the ball
with justin fields under center. Nah, let's run out of
the shotgun and then hand the ball to the running
back four and a half yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
Good.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Maybe the Bears will mess up some survivor pools. Who
gets the Commanders on Thursday?
Speaker 2 (34:25):
It is possibly true. You know, I was in a
converted church that's now a club and they still have
the stained glass windows, so Dan, it kept me from
a litany of cursing, as I had felt the divine
power looking at me when I wanted to start cursing
over that play call.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
But I did good for you and showing the restraint.
All right, that's my car, and let's Ryan bursting around Vampire.
That's it for us here, and I want your flax.
Talk to you next time.
Lady, you want experience during your football season, Well, buckle.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Up, sweet cheeks.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
We've got all the experience in the world. This is
I Want Your Flex with Dan Byer and Mike Harmon.
Mike and Dan break down everything you need to set
your lineups, from position rankings to starts and sits. The
guys help you make those hard decisions. And now let's
get your flex. Ond here's Dan Bayer and Mike Harmon.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Well, commit another episode of I Want Your Flex. He's
Mike Harmon. That's our executive producer Ryan Berschinger hanging out
talking not only what's coming up ahead four, Week five
and the rest of the season, but also still a
little bit of what happened in Week four and really
what's happened in the first four weeks of the year.
Hitting Mike up at Swollen Doome find me at Dan
Byer on Fox and Ryan Berschinger at Ryan Berschinger. Let's
(00:56):
start out quickly. Bye weeks. Bye weeks are here? Week
five charge or Seahawks, Browns Buccaneers. I'll have it off,
so you'll have to find replacements for those players.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So you have to find a replace for Thompson Robinson. Yes, sorry,
Deshaun Watson being medically clear and not going seems to
like it should be a bigger story going into our
week than it was. I know there was a lot
in the NFL, Dan, but like raising my hand, going
you're cleared and you're not going to play a divisional
matchup against Baltimore, Please explain, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
But he had the weird thing on Friday where he
basically didn't practice but then told reporters that he was
good to go.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
There just there seemed to be.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
A lot of mixed messaging there and usually when you
don't practice on Friday, So it wasn't a shock to
me and honestly, Mike, with them having a buy in
week five, it actually makes some sense sure to not playing,
you know. I mean in essence, Browns had a rough
one against Baltimore. The Giants didn't have a buy in
(01:58):
week four, but they basic took the week off, something
that we dealt with dealt within our previous podcast. The
only reason I bring up the Giants is because they're
on the road to now face the Miami Dolphins. Mike
and the Dolphins are a team that I feel should
receive their flowers, get their flowers. Take all the kudos
they want, even if they only showed up for about
(02:19):
a half in Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Let's start with those fins.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Tua put up some numbers, but the receiving numbers for
Tyreek Hill and Jalen Wattle, who's back in action, maybe
not what you were expecting if you were playing those
guys this week. Any concerned with the Dolphins taking their
first l of the week.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Now, I think the big thing and this was a
game that you know, Smith and I on our evening
show fought about a bunch and I was like, don't
forget the Bills are pretty good too, and he's like,
they lost to the Jets. I'm like, yeah, it's Week one,
here's a bunch of circumstance. Blah blah blah. It's like
they're going to win this game. Did I think they'd
blow them out and bludging them the same way they did? No,
(03:00):
But I'm not surprised that they played well. I thought
there'd be you know, a little more work and room
in the secondary for Hill and Waddle to operate. But
you know, give the Bills credit. They're one of your
your better squads coming in and they finally, you know,
on a big stage played like it right, because through
the first three weeks, you lose to the Jets, you
(03:21):
beat a couple of also rans handily, and it's like,
all right, well what are you And then you get
this big matchup and you say, all right, we're tired
of all your press clippings, let's give a few of
our own. So I guess I wasn't surprised, but it
also would say going forward, not many teams are gonna
be able to replicate that, either the emotion or just
(03:43):
the matchups.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah, So I think I think this is one where
it's an unfortunate occurrence for your Week four fantasy futures.
Hopefully you didn't get chopped or you know, have something
go disastrously, but I think it's an outliers.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
What do you think about the Dolphins now that they
kind of came back to Earth.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
I thought it was really interesting to see the fact
that Devon ah Chan once again had a huge game.
I think that that was the biggest thing going into
this week with watching the Dolphins is to see how
they would employ their running backs after both of them
had phenomenal games against the Broncos, but a chance specifically
(04:25):
of course, he had huge runs against a team that
was sitting down on the field, but he looked fantastic
and it was hard to not try to use him again,
and they did so pretty instantly. A Chan ended up
getting sixty percent of the snaps, with Mostart getting forty
three percent, so you have pretty instantly now you could
(04:48):
see they are switching to a Chan heavily. And of
course it was when you look at the actual rush
attempts though a Chan at eight, Mostard at seven, but
it was eight for like one hundred and two from
it from Devon ah Chan.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
One of them was yes.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
But and I only I only say that because I
think that with mostt you can sometimes make the same
sort of comment.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Oh yeah, yeah, they're both explosive, but you have Mostard
ran for seven rushes for nine yards. He was still
involved in the in the past game said five targets,
three catches. So I still feel fine starting Mostart moving forward.
But obviously the excitement is with Devon a Chan, and
(05:37):
I think that to see that the Broncos game wasn't
just a fluke. I mean, yes, as you said, a
chance numbers are bullied by another big run and you're
not going to get those every week. But this is
an offense that thrives on explosiveness, and he is a young,
explosive athlete out of the backfield. Yeah, they're getting Jeff
(05:58):
Wilson back, But honestly, like I'm not that scared of
Jeff Wilson's presence. He's he's last year. Sure, Yeah, no,
he did have a couple of very strong games last year,
but he's there because he provides a compliment to Mostard
where he's he's a very different running back. Mostard and
(06:20):
eight Chan are similar in the sense that they're both explosive,
they're fast, they're quick. Wilson's a stronger, uh more ground
and pound sort of guy. So I mean Wilson will
actually will absolutely get work as well. But you kind
of have to start a Chan now every week until
(06:41):
he has a clunker, right, like, because you're now just
consistently risking leaving like twenty five to thirty points on
your bench if you just leave him on the bench
on a weekly basis. He's he's worked his way into
the starting lineup, especially in a matchup like the Bills,
that's it's a hard matchup to to go up against.
(07:03):
So it was really impressive to see what he did
again this week.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I also do think that Mostart is still playable in
a lot of leagues. I would not bench just with
with version. What you're being so high and I you know,
let Mike answer himself, but I don't think that you can.
I don't think that you could bench Raheem Mostert at
this point.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
I agree with that. I in one of my leagues,
I have Travis etn Raheem Mostert, you know, the the
body of Austin Eckler lying somewhere on my bench and
along with like Miles Sanders and uh so, I'm I'm
looking at these choices and and Mostart still is in
my starting lineup with you know, until Eckler gets back.
(07:49):
But even then, like i'm, he's a very strong flex
play for me. Still, I would still feel better about
playing him over Sanders simply because of how active in
efficient the Dolphins offense is. I want any part of
the Dolphins offense right now, even after their loss this
week to the Bills.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Mike, you good with what burse said about the Dolphins backfield? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Absolutely, I mean, look eight chan, I gotta make sure
like it's all that repetition. I gotta make sure I
get it right. Powerback, big numbers, big opportunity. But when
you look at what most it is, you're still averaging
fifteen touches a week. So even is you go into
a number two role, even if that dips down to
(08:32):
eight to ten in this offense, and way in the
state of the running back position, right, because most leagues,
you're still starting to plus a flex and if I'm
getting a couple of receptions each week and the after burners, Right,
we all saw that track thing they were showing ahead
of that game against the Bills. Right, here's the feature
(08:53):
all the fast guys. Yeah, it takes one slip tackle
and he's off to the races. I mean, that's at
least flex worthy every week, if not an RB two.
Given the the dim outlook for a number of squads
in their running.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Games, the running game for Buffalo wasn't great, But I
don't know the specifics that you and Jason you know,
touchdown the other night. I also felt that this was
a game where it was more about Buffalo than it
was about the Dolphins. Absolutely, you had Damar Hamlin, you know,
making his season debut, but that game against the Jets
(09:31):
seems so long ago. It's right, I mean it's and
you know, in an NFL schedule, it might as well be.
As you know, it was week one, but Josh Allen
seemed to fit the role. Stefan Diggs sure's heck fit
the role with his three touchdowns. Gabe Davis made the
most of his three targets. He spread the wealth. Fulton
King Kid a popular target. I think of many looking
(09:53):
to get some value at the tight end spot. You know,
he ended up catching most of his targets, but it
was just more about a Buffalo day, everybody kind of
getting there. James Cook's numbers weren't great, but when you
end up winning by twenty eight.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Really good sign with the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I'd continue to Obviously you're going to play Josh Allen
and Stefan Diggs, but I want sour On Cook as much.
Despite the load numbers, even with the touchdown against the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, it's still averaging five plus yards per carry on
the years, so opportunities are going to be there for
him as the season goes on and you run a
lot of plays where it's just all right, here's the dive,
right the halfback dive, run clock, all those kind of
things with the lead with Alan and I think it
goes back to motivation too, Nan and you mentioned Tamar Hamlin.
(10:43):
Remember how I think a lot of folks forget what
the human side of football when they talk about the
flame out at the end of last year. It's like,
I don't know, would you want to play football after
one of your teammates had that happen. I think I'm
ready to go home for this for the offseason, compress
and get back to it. Not not excuse making, but
(11:04):
I think kind of getting into the mindset of players.
It's hard to pick yourself back up and get back
to one hundred and twenty. Right, Hey, let's go after that.
But receiving wise, Stefan Diggs, how much had he seen
about how great Tyreek Hill is the last couple of weeks.
Here's an opportunity in a big spotlight game to show out.
(11:26):
And Josh Allen in that game against the Jets, you
and I had talked about it. You go back in time.
Didn't a couple of those interceptions seem like he was
just punting, yes, and maybe his guy would make a play.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Maybe he would.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
I mean they call count just the same. But I
don't know that it was as reckless as a all right,
we're gonna punt if we don't get this anyway, I
don't see anything, so chuck it downfield.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah, it's it's just it's I know it's only three
games ago or however you want to look at it,
But to me, it's just might as well have been
last year at preseason.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Yeah. Yeah. And and the you know, the other point
about last year.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
It's funny because I had deja vu when you know,
we when we did the broadcast for the Sunday show
at the US Open. We were out there a few
days earlier, and Sam Farmer of the La Times came
by because he was covering the tournament. We started talking
about the NFL, and I told him my theory of
I thought that the bills, the Damar Hamlin situation, opened
(12:25):
up a lot of wounds for them that may have
already been there. Like, you're pretty raw because of all
of the emotions, and sometimes you say things that you
feel and that gives you the opening to do so
because you're not holding it in anymore, you're not being protective.
And I think that there there was some healing to
do with with the Bills, and maybe winning football cures that.
(12:48):
But you know, we had heard reports that you know,
Jason Whitlock had said that he had heard that Stefan
Diggs wasn't happy with Josh Allen's you know work preparation
and you know, preparing.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
And all that stuff. I don't know it's true and
what's not true. But winning sure does help Mike.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
And right now it seems that things are good for
Buffalo and for fantasy purposes.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, that train and I'll just keep on rolling.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Through four weeks, Allen is at seventy four point eight
completion percentage.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Wow, some saying you needed Brian Dabole back and Ken
Dorsey was not the answer.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Well, hopefully they remedied it so we don't get any
more Ken Dorsey outbursts that make him look like Trent Dilfer.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
By the way, By.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
The way, yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
The Jaguars Bills. I'm sorry that game should not be
sent overseas, And we had kind of this conversation of
you know, Atlanta as well, just because geographically I think
that it would be a good thing. I understand you
don't want to send them dog games every year. Major
(13:59):
League Baseball sent over the Yankees and Red Sox, you know, Cubs,
Cardinals one year they've they've done that.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Heck, Dolphins Chiefs is gonna be in Germany this year.
I mean, think how crazy that's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
But like this should be this should be a game
that Jacksonville should have at home.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
You know, I just I'm sorry and.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Else Dan is to make good for all the games
and Jacksonville are in London and and the like over
the last couple of years. Now, I know that's a
strategic business decision, but this is one. Yeah, it would
play huge.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Yeah, I think it would.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
It would have been a been a benefit of the
uh you know, for or at least in the States.
You know, now that I think of it, you know,
I should probably check that it's who the actual home
team was, because actually the Jaguars were the home team
last week. But anyway, whether it's in Buffalo, whether it's
in Jacksonville, it should be a games should be played
(14:56):
in the States. And I can't believe again we're gonna
have Dolphins Chiefs that's gonna be ending up in Germany.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
So I'll be on air for all of those bright
and early on the sports radio, at least for the
first half hour, although I don't think they could top
the toy story presentation that they did.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Dan, I you know, the the.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Oh wait to see what kind of one line? Because
I enjoyed the hell out of it. But I'm also twisted.
I'm all about leaning into.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I only saw the highlights because I'm going to be
perfectly honest.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I was watching Ryder Cup, so there you go.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, that's I had the I had the stats up,
the scores in seeing how the game was going.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
But I was watching the US and their attempted come back.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Did they have a parking lot cam for the final day?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Not on Sunday? Not on Sunday. By the way, I
do stand corrected. The game is a Bills home game.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Well, but either way it plays just the same, Yes, right,
especially and you're coming in with two teams with great expectations. Look,
I picked the Jaguars trying to go a little outside
the box in terms of all right, who can find
a path? And the Jaguars have a path to make
some hay in the AFCs, so certainly some best and
(16:16):
interest there. And my love for Josh Allen goes back
long ago to fighting with your Sunday co host George
Reister about his viability as a quarterback when he kept
trying to tell me he was nothing more than a
running back.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Oh man, well we should, we should have a good,
good old day.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
He's still took a while to come around on Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I think a lot of people started climbing back in
there after Week one.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
So Jaguars Bills and again this is the NFL Jaguars
being the first team to play back to back weeks
in London, another step towards maybe a team ending up
in that city. Yes, all right, so he's my common
that's Ryan Bursching around Dan Byer.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
C J.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Stroud automatic starter in fantasy football right now. Yeah, we'll
answer that. Well, Mike just answered it, but we'll answer
more of it next here. And I want your flex.
He's Mike Carmen, I'm Dan Byer. That's Ryan Bursing, our
executive producer. It is I want your flex. I pose
the question, Mike Carmen. Is CJ. Stroud an every week's
starter now in fantasy football? What say you?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I Am going to say yes, without a doubt. We've
seen amazing things from him thus far, a little bit
of Tank Dell, some Nicocollins, and it's cool to have
some Houston receivers not named Andre Johnson in the fantasy
discussion Dan so that and DeAndre Hopkins of course for
(17:43):
a couple of years. But looking at.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Will Fuller for the six games he would play a
un that's a good point.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, he was a good WR three. We had him
as a ninja many times on the iwatcher lex podcast
and in our work at Fox Sports Radio for sure.
But looking at what you've gotten from CJ. Stroud thus far,
eleven sacks taken that ranks I don't know, tied for
seventh or eighth in the league through the first four week.
(18:12):
Sam Howell at twenty four, by the way, really kind
of frightening the level of piniataism that's going on there.
But the thing I bring that up with Stroud is
that his offensive line is not going to be any
worse than it is right now. Right they're missing so
many players, so many starters due to injury that are
(18:33):
all on the comeback trail here, so things are only
getting better. He's been good with the football, zero interceptions
thus far. You've seen that stat I think a little
bit everywhere the last couple of days, especially after such
a beatdown of Pittsburgh. And you know, oftentimes you have
players after a game where you know you're not going
(18:55):
to do a bunch of crowing. You know, it's like, ah,
we got the better of them today. No, no, no, they
knew it. They blow them and then they were more
than happy to tell you about it. Stroud being very
good about you know, as a quarterback, right going to
measure your words, but knowing that you found some stuff
that works. You're getting the ball out quickly, and you
got a couple of guys that can go make plays
for you, and I think that's pretty exciting to see
(19:18):
what they're starting to build there as we look at it.
You know, you brought in the tight end Dalton Schultz
as well, who's got it playing a factor for you,
Robert Woods, who's never seemingly the number one on anybody's radar.
But the final stats are going to be there. So
for fantasy purposes, the EBB and flow I think for
(19:40):
all three of those guys, which is going to be frustrating, right.
Collins was the hero this week, Dell the last week.
So you got a little of that that you have
to deal with. My biggest concern is the quantity is there,
but the quality hasn't been yet as a runner or
receiver for Damian Pierce just yet. And I have to
wonder if he isn't one of the great BI low
(20:02):
candidates right now with the offensive line set to get healthy,
yeah that perhaps you can catch lightning in a bottle
with him as we hit the midpoint of the season
a couple of weeks from now.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
I think that's absolutely the case.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
And I know I've said it on this podcast and
I feel like I say it every week on the
Sunday Show.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I am now moving up.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I've been in on the Houston Texans. I thought it
was going to take a little while. I thought it
was second half of the year. They were the team
that did not want to face. And now here we
are entering Week five of the NFL and I think
they're going to be the wild card picture.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Now.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
I do think that that is part of the.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Conversation, and they are much more than a team that
you don't want to face. They are a team that
is going to have something to play for. I picked
him second in the division.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
I thought Jacksonville would win it.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
And I still probably feel that way, but there is
something going And as someone who watched every game CJ.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Straud played in college, I'll just say this.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
The one thing that was so amazing about him, and
it took me a year and a half to realize
that Mike was that because he made things look so easy,
you felt like there was something, there was something left
to be desired because you're like, man, where's the flash?
Where is And then you just realize that everything is
so precision based and on schedule And how great does
(21:30):
that work in the NFL? And now even in the
In the second part of his year in Columbus at
Ohio State and the second part of the second year,
he started running more. And he's not a he's not
a speed stir by any means, but if it's third
and five, he can now get you six yards if
you need. You know, he made big runs in their
(21:51):
Peach Bowl loss to Georgia that they had, but he
now has that. He is just a really, really good quarterback.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
And he was the most already you know, of anybody
and and so and I do think George Reister and
I had the argument on our show on Sunday. I
think you still.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I think you can start to have the conversation of
you know, did the Carolina Panthers really.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Make the right move and you know, and yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
In either thing, either in the quarterback selection or trading away. Yeah,
then you know that what they had to give up,
because yeah, you know, it's that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
It is, it is absolutely part of it.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
You have to consider all the trade, what they gave
away and your bears are reaping the benefits for it,
considering that the first two picks of the draft of
it well and.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
It was tomorrow, compounded by the fact that you had
already made a bad trade when you traded McCaffrey away. Yeah,
so like all of that compounds to where you are now.
And and look, I hope the best for for Bryce Young,
I do, uh, And that roster clearly is not right.
Miles Sanders is crying about being booed at home. You
know what, play better. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
You know a good is in week seventeen and eighteen,
they'll be no fans there to boo.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
True.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Well, and he'd better be careful because Chuba Hubbard's going
to take his job.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
Okay, something to watch here.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Right, So, I mean you got a little bit of
a battle there. So you might have a guy who's
getting a little chippy recognizing, hey, your old team thought
you were expendable, sent you to Carolina, and now you're
in a position whereby you're losing touches in that backfield
and rightly so. So, yeah, you're getting a little bit salty.
(23:36):
I have noticed right through the first quarter of the
season we got more guys pointing fingers and being chirpy
about their roles, their touches and fans. And I think
I can ever remember Dan. But you know, for the
an AFC South, just to tie a bow on it,
the Tennessee Titans are the most enigmatic team thus far
(23:57):
because you finally you know of Derrick Henry falling up
off the Yeah, you know, the cliff exaggerated. I did
like that little jump pass touchdown. That was a nice touch.
But getting back over one hundred yards and running with
some authority against Cincinnati a nice get your right thing.
So when looking at the division, they were just this
(24:19):
massive question mark to me, second or third, which would
it be? And here we are.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
AFC South is interesting. The AFC North is quite the
piece of work as well. Baltimore Ravens showing their strength
against the dtr led Cleveland Browns Lamar Jackson fifteen to nineteen,
one hundred and eighty six yards and two touchdowns. Those
two touchdowns went to Mark Andrews. Lamar did some stuff
(24:47):
on the ground as well, even against the very good
Browns defense, who I think probably felt the absence of
Deshaun Watson. Ravens shine bright in our three to one,
and their stars that you have been waiting for to
break out finally did in week four.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, waiting on Mark Andrews certainly now up to fourteen
catches on the year with three scores, so a guy
you would have invested heavily in if you went in
out of the tight end position I had, because I mean, look,
we've talked about it in the preseason, and certainly through
four weeks there's only like two or three guys that
you're banking on when they're healthy to produce. Otherwise it's
(25:25):
a giant roll of the dice in terms of targets
and production week to week. Zave Flowers still the guy.
A lot of injury issues and that's the common theme
with the Ravens that we've been talking about forever. Dan
Bateman unavailable once again, so and Beckham Junior was unavailable.
(25:49):
So you know you're trying to find other people to
pair up. And it's really an interesting run that your
new coordinator, Lamar Jackson kind of went than I was saying, Fine,
I'll do it myself both as a runner and is
as a thrower because from the ground game you're really
(26:09):
not getting a lot of production. Some more injuries back there,
Gus Edwards averaging like four and a half to this point,
but Lamar is going to have to do a lot
of it himself once again and for longevity purposes. That
makes me a little bit nervous if I've invested in
him and Mark Andrews just based on past performance.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
They've got, you know, interesting scenario coming up. You have
the Steelers in week five, then they're in London to
face the Titans in in two weeks and coming up
in week six and then against the Lions against the
Cardinals another Seahawks defense looked great, but against the Seahawks
(26:52):
you get through kind of like some of their rivals.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
Here with the.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Steelers in Titans, You've you've got a nice little stretch
there for Baltimore to maybe shine, and then he got
another meeting with the Browns coming up. So yeah, I
think that there's there's hate to be made with the
Baltimore Ravens. I expect say Flowers to break out in
maybe the next couple.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Of weeks, averaging sixty one yards per game. Pretty solid
start for the rookie. Again, considering that Andrew's been banged up,
so you haven't had a full compliment of players to
really run out there at this point, so to acclimate
as well as he has is a nice little bonus.
Lamar completing about seventy five percent of his passes thus far.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
You don't need Odell Beckham Junior and your team either anymore.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
No, you don't, but it's good to think about him.
And he did the Ray Lewis thing coming out of
the tunnel, so that got people excited.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
He can you can? You can move on from that?
When do you move on from the Cincinnati Bengals there.
They've got a matchup now at Arizona in Week five
that is anything but a gimme the Higgins we think
is going to be out when an injury happens on
a Sunday Mike, you kind of get a sense of
what the injury is. Then Monday you get this feel
(28:11):
of maybe optimism. It's not as bad as it is.
I don't think t Higgins plays on Sunday. It's just
my gut feeling for the initial thought of his rib injury.
But now you got Joe Burrow still nursing the calf injury.
What the heck's going on with the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Well, at this point with Joe Burrow, I'd be looking
for operations shut down on the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I know, Mike Brown's not a guy who likes to
sign big checks without getting a lot of return. Yeah,
so I don't know how much of there's a pressure
that you just signed him, that he's got to be
out there completing fifty seven percent of his past attempts
and looking absolutely miserable at every dropback, no mobility to
the sides. Like you add it all up, it's just
(28:53):
been a miserable run. Seven hundred and twenty eight total yards,
just two touchdowns, two interceptions. I think you've got to
shut him down, you know. I know there's some reports saying, well,
it can't get any worse. Well, it's not getting any better.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Yeah, and at.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
This point, you're you're at a point where you've got
to decide are you just cutting bait on a season?
And that's a very difficult thing to do. Right, You're
looking at the the AFC North. We always welcome Jason
Lock and for in on the show, Jason Smith and
I and he's obviously out there in Baltimore, Washington, DC
area and covering the the AFC North. And I'm like,
(29:36):
all right, how early are we crowning you guys champions
there in Baltimore? And he just started laughing, And naturally
it progressed to a discussion about Burrow and where you're
at going forward, and it doesn't look like you get
any relief. Higgins probably doesn't play as you say, at
least for one week. He's talking about pain tolerance and
(29:56):
not ruling stuff out. And that's great. Everybody wants to
have the heart of a champion, heart of the box,
or hey, I want to be out there, I want
to be scrapping, But these guys are dumb. They're not
giving up potential to worsen injuries and lose money. Now,
obviously Burrow got his, but Higgins hasn't, right so is
(30:18):
he gonna risk you know, maybe missing multiple weeks if
he gets hit wrong.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
I don't think so, no, you know, and and you know,
here's here's the other thing with Cincinnati, and I think
that they they really misjudged it this offseason. I know
Joe Mixon's numbers don't look like atrocious, but I do
think that they missed the samaj p Ryan. Yes, I
(30:44):
don't think that Joe.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Mixon is going to be able to continue at the
pace that he's he's at for this entire season, and
the pace right now Mike is about sixty yards per game, Like,
that's what we're getting before maybe one game you'll have
a you know, three or four catches, then another one
there's only one. But that's kind of what you've got
(31:07):
with Jill Mixon. And there was a point this offseason
where we didn't know if Jill Mixon was going to.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Return or not.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Right not only has he returned, he's the only guy
they have in the backfield, you know, that is getting
significant work.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
And so that is a problem.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
And to everything that you added on to what you
just said about Joe Burrow and t Higgins and what
they have, you can't even hang your hat on the
running game.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
So, yeah, there's there's gonna be problems.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
They've got the they've got the after the Cardinals, they've
got the Seahawks and then a bye and then the
forty nine ers.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
So you have three NFC games. Mike, that in the
grand scheme of things.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
I know you don't want to lose, and if you're
one and six, you're probably not going to make the playoffs.
But if you win a game or two with him
being out, they are NFC opponents, and then he's back,
maybe healthy for the AFC opponents where it could play
into a tiebreaker do more damage. I'm kind of with
you and just letting this bad boy rest a little bit.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, with Joe Mixon, right, he took a pay cut
to come back. I mean, p Ryan's not being used
really as much at all by the Broncos either, you
want to talk about it. You bring in a guy
for a certain set of skills, like he'saism and you're
not even really giving him much of an opportunity. He's
only got thirteen targets through four weeks and eighteen carries.
(32:29):
Seems to me you'd like to establish a little bit
of balance. In the forest, and if you don't trust
the health, durability, or aptitude of where Javonte Williams is
right now, and especially as a safety valve in the
passing game when you've been down as big as you are,
I'm shocked he hasn't gotten more work there, but would
have looked awful Dyce still in a Bengals uniform.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yeah, it could only help because it has been a bad,
bad start to the season.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
All right.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
He's Mike Carmon, I'm Dan Byert Ryan Bursingers, the executive
producer of this podcast. That about does it for our
Wednesday episode, We'll be back. Yeah, Mike's Bears on Thursday
night taking on the Washington Commanders plus BURSCHHALLVI a streaming Defenses.
I'll give you a survivor pick or two just to
try to continue along with that. And I won't pick
(33:18):
the forty nine ers, Mike. I'm making sure. I said
the forty nine ers in week three, and I said
the forty nine ers in week five, and that's a
cop out. But I will stay away from the forty
nine ers. They got a big matchup with the Cowboys.
Wouldn't take them anyway, even though I still think they'll
win the game, but we'll give you a.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
Survivor pick on Thursday as well.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
At least forty nine ers won't play dead like the
Patriots did do.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
That's true. That's true.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
Hey, I told you to pick Dallas as well as
a possible option if you didn't want to pick the
forty nine ers and one do you know it worked
out swimmingly. I did think that you could stay away
from certain teams, and Mike, I thought the Bears are broncos,
you know, if you wanted to find value, and I
thought your Bears were gonna have it there for a second.
Speaker 4 (33:57):
But anybody who took.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
A Bears team for a survivor pool number one, tip
of the cap to you, and sorry it had to
end like it did.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Kick the field goal, or at least run the ball
with justin fields under center. Nah, let's run out of
the shotgun and then hand the ball to the running
back four and a half yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
Good.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Maybe the Bears will mess up some survivor pools. Who
gets the Commanders on Thursday?
Speaker 2 (34:25):
It is possibly true. You know, I was in a
converted church that's now a club and they still have
the stained glass windows, so Dan, it kept me from
a litany of cursing, as I had felt the divine
power looking at me when I wanted to start cursing
over that play call.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
But I did good for you and showing the restraint.
All right, that's my car, and let's Ryan bursting around Vampire.
That's it for us here, and I want your flax.
Talk to you next time.
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Jason Smith
Mike Harmon
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