Matt W. Happy New week, my friend. How
are you? I'm good. We have 2 days
going on here at the Wall House, maybe
more like 5 a days as you can
see back here, the training room is is
a mess.
Mh. But they've been doing a lot of
Oklahoma drills. Marty Sc
Is in spirit is here to
to oversee that. And so far, I would
say it's
both of that are having good camps. I
saw them tucker themselves out before we started
it. They might they might take a take
a break throughout the course of the entire
A pod today, I please. Yeah. I think
there... I think there's a chance. One's in
the training room and the others off on
the sidelines here. So we'll see if what
just getting re dehydrated and they're gonna get
ready to go.
Alright. So we've got a lot going on
here. You know, you generally do things during
the season at a faster pace. The season.
His starting training camp started the Ravens reported
the camp on Saturday or at least our
Rookie,
veterans and other camps start opening over the
course of the next. And 10 days. So
we're gonna go back to the traditional feel
bucket mode of of shorter takes on more
things to help you out and get ready
for your draft. We'll then hurry up
I just wanna take this. Rush me damn
it. I did wanna say, just finished my
Scott Fish live yesterday here in Dallas it
was a great time. Scott Fish what's on
a wonderful face. Casey k some great job
by her organizing the local event,
tons of great people. I can't list them
all, but they all know who they were
had of wanna while I'm drafting with you.
I'm look forward to doing it again and
look forward a doll of you kicking my
ass and Scott Fixable. She needs to make
a Bob Harris t shirt.
I feel I think she does. I she
she may have 1 in reserve. I don't
know. I'm working on it. I'll more some
photos will be... Oh, there we go. There
we go. Alright. Let's dive into it, though.
There has been lots of chatter in recent
days,
about some of these players. Let's talk about
1 notable.
What most notable Kyle Pitt.
The discussion from Zach Robinson that they're gonna
use him as wide receiver brand tied in?
Isn't that the argument are we feeling him
already being got quasi 1 I'd receiver her
or is that a fuck? What where are
we at? Totally feeling it, and I totally
feel that he's gonna find the reward fantasy
Gm this year. I mean, he did your
1. And then in the past couple years
have been bad due to the fact that
they didn't have good quarterback play.
And the offensive of system had to take
kind of a dive to counter that. We've
done talk about that a lot. But I
would say that with pits
in this system that's gonna be more of
the Zach Robinson Sean Mc type of system,
they need a blocking tied in, and so
they got Charlie Warner, they got Ross.
You know, these are guys that are used
to plane in that 49 system that Kinda
related to what Mc does.
That Shana hand Mc kind of thing. So
Pitt gonna have more freedom to be the
wide receiver that he meets needs to be,
and be that move pe... Movable piece. So
I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's
a close second in targets to Drake London.
Needs Yeah. Kirk Cousins is the key here.
Soon we Kirk Cousins is good health. Every
ide who plays with. We can go back
to Jordan reid, we can go back... Tyler
Con has, you know, fared reasonably well under
him. Hey. I'm gonna tell you. Fuck that.
I don't think it matters. As long as
it's not taylor He. I think if if
Michael Pe comes in there. I think Kyle
Pitt is the most target
might be the most recession proof receiver or
regardless of quarterback
situation because of the fact of how good
he is in contested scenarios and fade routes,
and that's where panic shines. Yeah. Won't won't
argue against that. But we'll also argue Kirk
Cousins history with Titans has been super positive
since the first time he stepped on an
Nfl field. Beach john Robinson?
Will, he be on the mc
plan in Atlanta. That's what Zach robinson has
suggested. That's my belief, by the way, listen
look at that,
workload for Mc, 270
plus carries last year's, second in the league.
Most touches in the league when you and
the reception, are we looking at a similar
workload from John Robinson in Atlanta. I think
it's enough to say that he'll be top
5 in terms of that value. Yet. We
certainly we're gonna... We certainly have sc going
on right here. We're you're gonna get a
chance to see kind of a show off
of of Hugo goes Hand. Work We might
see some spin moves in a minute here
in a minute too. But but right now,
we're just working on hand fighting, I think
from the for the past rush. In a
But but... Yeah, I would say that Bi
Robinson, you know, when you take a look
at reception that he'll probably get the the
the areas that he'll... That he'll be slated
to have. I doubt very seriously that he's
gonna be
that ares that he will be the top
touch guy in the league, but I think
it'll be very difficult to say that he
won't be 1 of the top
5
guys in touches, and that just means that
he's probably 1 of the safest running back
ones you can get this year. Right. I
think there's a handful of those guys out
there that, you know, like
I still view Christian Mc as the locked
in running back 1 overall, but there are
a handful of guys. Bi John Obviously being
1 brief hall being another who could easily
push him. Offer that distinction or at least
it we'll have the workload to do that.
You could argue, Travis has had the workload
to push for that and you did last
year, a great finish, Jonathan Taylor might be
another guy who could push for that workload.
So we'll see. I should be interesting, though,
but I'm I'm with you. I go... Mc
hall, Bi john, but anyone who has Bi
john ahead of Reese Hall is not getting
an argument for me, feeling that. Travis ke
see.
Sustaining top 3 tight in fantasy value in
28 24 Feel fuck. Fuck yes. He is.
Because it's not really about the the thing
that people forget about, you know, tie ends
like this is that they get all wrapped
up and the in the results, and they
get wrapped up in the athletic data as
opposed to looking at the... At how skilled
the player is, the And that's because it's
harder for some of these people to quantify
what what skills actually matter, which, you you
know, I may working on something like that
that we to do at football guys. Maybe
this week we'll do something related to that.
But,
Travis Kelsey 1 of those players that when...
As you... He runs out so well that
as you get older, as long as you
can develop, you, you know, understand how to
run a good route and get that snap
out of that break and get downhill quickly.
You're generally gonna produce well guys like Antonio
Gates and Tony Gonzalez did that well into
their mid thirties. Travis Carroll said he wants
to play what 3 more years? Yep. So...
And he can, especially in this offense where
what they do is they condense the the
formation so that they're
tighter formations with the receivers or to the
line of sc and tighter to the offensive
line, and they use heavier sets or big
receivers who can block, and they do things
tighter match Travis Kelsey up against
defenders who don't have a good opportunity or
good enough skills to really cover him,
and they create a lot of pick ra,
and rub or rub routes if you wanna
say the legal version of that. And he
gets open, and and then he's great in
a scramble drill with Patrick Mah homes. So
he is the leading receiver for this team.
Maybe Rei Rei will challenge for that. Maybe
Xavier Worthy or Sunday For the maybe even
Mark has brought. You can see a lot
of questions with all these why y receivers.
They may I'll cancel each other out a
little bit for that lead, but Travis Kelsey
still in Gosh.
Isn't the key though though, you know, having
that speed of where the am brown both
is going to be something that opens up
the middle a little bit more than we've
seen in the past. I mean, at least
we'll force opposing defenses
respect the down, the threats a little more
than maybe Mark by about gallon. Yeah. I
think that that's probably the case is that
the ovens offensive design is not gonna change
any. It's just that you could have
execution of that offensive because you have receivers
you can catch and who get open and
who work at their craft and don't shoot
off at their old team. Team about how.
You know, you know, they got traded. I
I do think it's fair to know that,
you know, Pat Mah homes last year was
his low they dot, I believe and it's
diminished each year without Ty kill in the
mix. So Sure. That could be a factor,
you know, I mean, we're... We can connect
all these and say whether they're associated or
dis associated dots, but know, the downturn for
Kelsey Homes both last year with the lowest
a dot. Maybe the... Maybe we can get
a little more out of that. We're shot
white. You know 16 yards before contact 20
seventh yards after contact, is that enough to
scare you off or is the workload, which
get he had time for Christian Mc for
272 carries,
last year. Like, his... He had what I
wanna say 336 touches. He was friend right
up there with Mca.
That was behind his success. It wasn't the
3.6 yards per Ferry. How are you handling
him this year? Yeah. Rash rochelle White is
a middle class? Christian Mc. What I mean
by that is that if you look at
the film,
Christian Is 1 of the best in the
league at working between the tackle
and creating yard On his own.
And and so that really, he sets up
blockers and he creates for his blockers. Whereas
Rash sean W still a little bit of
a work in progress with that, but he
got a lot better in. 1 the other
thing that we need to understand is that
Christian Replacing offense, runs a lot of gets
happen and outside zone, and then those blocking
concepts often get big holes.
Rash rochelle White playing in a Tampa bay
buck ears off offense it runs a lot
of duo. Duo is when you have 2
you have 2 pairs of double teams inside.
And those are generally tight fence Crease
running place. Meaning that the the the running
plays don't open very big crease. And that
means that, you know,
yards after contact,
you know, you're gonna... Basically, what what I'm
saying is that you're probably looking at is
the guy who's not gonna get a lot
of yards
downhill. I mean, I know it says 6
yards before contact, but a lot that's probably
Pre
by the... How they're... He's used in the
receiving game and got the space.
But the yards after contact, that's probably a
little bit harder because when he is running
between the tackle decreases are tighter. He's probably
getting in contact from first and second level
defenders who are the bigger guys, and he's
not getting into the secondary as easily.
So I would say, I wouldn't worry so
much about White. He's making more mature decisions.
He is
versatile,
and they don't really have anybody else. I
mean, Bucky Irving is a nice story
in terms of like, for camp, but let's
see what happens when they put pads on
them and ask him to to work between
attack. I think yeah it's 1 of the
safer guys. Yeah. Those sc yards 1539
last year were fourth most in the Nfl.
That's pretty good. And a lot of it
do the to the receiving. And and on
buck irving, I have talked to people close
to the team, who suggested to me Buck
irving is the
notification if you will, to a shot white
to hit the fucking hole and get busy.
Right? Like... Yeah. Yeah. Probably so. Probably so
More than, like, a a legitimate threat to
cut into the workload Unless he doesn't hit
the fucking hole. Yeah. I yeah. Yeah. Because
whites wife's 1 of those guys that tries
to think that he's bucky herb. In size.
And and in athletic ability. And sometimes you
can do it, but really, it's just about
being more mature, hitting it hard and getting
what's staying when he did better last year
with that. N j dot com's art staple.
He believes Tyrone Tracy will earn Gives like
Role.
Do you buy into that and it... And
just in general, will... It's Tracy guy that's
gonna help Fantasy cg gm this year. I
feel like the the Tri state area you
could sell them with the Brooklyn bridge. They'd
probably buy. Dude, I was... Like, before you
said anything, I was gonna tell you exactly
why I was saying... Like, I talked to
beat writers. And every single day during the
course of the season and every day I
have a radio show. And the giants meat
writer are without a doubt, the
the most optimistic bunch. I mean, they see
players and like they're out there. I and
I I just think they wanna believe so
bad that, you know, if things are about
to turnaround, but they do tend and to...
They didn't do tend to overs sell them.
I would say more often than not with
the with those beat riders. I find myself
answering questions mid season that say...
Know that 1 game does not mean that
they're going to go off and suddenly become
the next
O beckham junior. You know, Know this quarterback
from
you know, this quarterback who could sell a
few Hoa is probably not going to become
a pro bowl player. You know. I wanna
acknowledge my part in this, like, like, if
you think I'm not encouraging them on these
optimistic takes. Think again. Yes. Tell me more.
Yeah. I could see dogs. Yeah. But but
but ty, Tracy listen. Okay. Is he
is he a re... It can he be
competent in the gap game like Jam Gibbs
and hit decrease fast and get into the
secondary?
Absolutely. Does he have good open field movement
like Mirror Gibbs for sure.
He's a former receive a so people make
the length that he can catch them ball,
but there's a reason why he became a
running back because he does not catch the
ball extremely well. He made good enough to
be a check down receiver. And occasionally, he
might be able to track a ball when
he's wide open, but he's not the next
Christian Mc mckay next Jam premier gig. In
terms of the receiving game.
So they're gonna give them an opportunity. They're
gonna use them in a Jam amir gibbs
like role, but let's see if it's he
can get that role to be expanded because
he still has to learn how to make
smart decisions at between the tackle
against higher
caliber. Of defensive play. And I think that
that's something that he was kind of up
and down with when he was at
you know, when he was at Iowa, and
then after that,
you know, when he switched over and became
a... We... A running back. So III
think that there's potential here, but he's think
of him more as Kenyan Drake than Gibbs
right now, and aspiring to be kenyan drake,
which is does... Which is a good couple
of tears lower.
I'm gonna say 1 of us has a
lot of shares
of Devin Single and ongoing festivals, maybe even
in that Scott Fish draft based on
anticipated volume. I do think Single terry in
a good spot. I don't sure the traits
is we guy that cuts into it enough
to worry people, to think about single. Over
the course of 5 years, they've been in
the lead together. Single has more Rushing the
yard and were carried in 1 Steak 1
Barclay. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
Interesting. Alright.
Fuck it. Ja Polk. Why receiver 1 this
year in new England.
Yeah. Be patriot patriots wide receiver 1. Not
your fantasy Y receiver 1. And we'll not
lead dealer starter, a fantasy starter value.
Can you jump into the wide receiver 3
range, I'd say. See you you you pretty
much... I think you pretty... The way you
asked? It, I think is pretty much how
it's gonna be, which is
you know, your gentle Polk can be a
guy that in the patriots offense. There's no
real clear answer why receiver beyond Pop Douglas
as a slot receiver. Everybody else, could K
os and have more opportunities outside until Kendrick
Bo gets healthy. Does Kendrick Born get healthy.
Can you you mission sc make the roster.
If he does,
he could be a viable option that fits
into that too. We still have Ty squad.
Thornton that some people maybe believe on on
some level, it's kind of, like, believing,
you know, I don't know. I was gonna...
You can you know, you can still believe
that Willy Won might exist. I don't know.
That might be. Right. You know, that type
of thing. But I I think that julie
in polk with with what he can do
as a route runner and catcher at the
you know, contested situations and skill aft of
the catch. He has a shot to be
the leading receiver, but that does not necessarily
make him a fantasy starter. I would say
that you wanna draft him more is to
you know, post wide receiver 3 type of
value, and I hope he can have a
wide receiver 3 ceiling. Feel a fucking Evan
Baker as your twentieth pick. The final pick
and a basketball draft. Oh, totally feeling because
I think he's the better route runner, and
I think he has more highs as a
pass even though he has a few more
lows, but he might be the best long
term bet of the receivers that are currently
on the roster. As the kids say FTW.
That's for the win Matt. Alright.
Russell Wilson. He's a Pittsburgh steele now. His
bad throw percentage in 20 23 was fourth
lowest in the league at 13.2 percent, that
is according to Doug Dr,
a football guys guy. Now, you know, football
reference
mastermind.
So is that a sign he'll rebound? He's
a rebound candidate, or is Seasonal point that
Wilson through the Ball. Seventh the most often
the league last year and didn't run payton
offense effectively the counter to the optimism. Emmy
mean, I think it's a good counter argument,
but I'd... But I would also... Then you
can kind of also counter that the denver
brought. Really don't have top receivers to speak
of. They didn't even before. They traded Jerry
Judy away.
These guys were cop m are under under
performers in terms of, you know, under achieving
relative to their draft status and when people
thought their promise was.
Their offensive line hasn't been all that great.
The run game was up and down. So
Wilson probably didn't fit what, no, Sean Payton
wanted to do for short. And that's why
they got rid of them. But on top
of that, I think it was just a
bad
landing spot overall,
over the past 2 years. And I think
we're gonna see this. It here in a
in Arthur Smith office offense. So we're gonna
see Russell Wilson. The fact that they they
have Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson. They pretty
much said it's Russ Wilson this year. Right.
It's no question. We may put Justin in
some packages here, which will probably be Reds
zone type of looks as a runner.
Just tells you that they they hope that
Justin fields will be the man next year
or be able to grow into it in
a year or 2, and that Wilson is
there. Guy to lead them, and I think
that
I would I would look at that and
say, if the bad
percentage was low and you threw the ball
away, that's a good thing, especially when the
fact that you have receivers that may not
run great routes. Don't catch the ball liability
ability reliably and don't do the work that
they're supposed to do always on a consistent
basis, then if as a manager, if you're
gonna be like, we're gonna throw the ball
away and live for another day. If you
had to do that a lot, that's as
much of a reflection on his teammates as
it is on him. He Russell Wilson might
immediately become the best quarterback Arthur Smith is
Coached. Oh, that's an offensive coordinator. No All
who is respect Ryan Tan Hill. Oh, Really.
I think the 4.
Alright? So so, like,
there was there was a reason things
especially last year didn't work in Denver. The
reason last year was Champ Payton. He did
not want them to work. There was absolutely
no way that was going to work because
it was never going to work And if
you don't believe that, but rewatch the prime
time game where Sean Payton
literally ripped his quarterback to Shred, knowing every
camera, every football fans eyeball was on him
while he did it. There... That it was
just never going to work out that relationship.
And was Russell Wilson play well, you know,
going into that season. So there's a lot
going on there. This is a new start,
Fresh start, and I think Arthur Smith can
cobb something together. Certainly,
with some of the pieces around them so
I'm with you.
I think there... I think there is some
optimism.
Like, I'm not in a rush to draft
him, but if I get to a point
where I've missed out on my quarterback two's
and and he's there.
I'm probably gonna hit that. Is Michael Mayer
60 pound weight gained to 265
pounds,
assigned that he's in no longer a fantasy
asset, Or is he about to be the
prime option because Luke S told the media
that tightens ends are blockers first. But I
think Rock powers might not be that. Yeah.
And black Rock bowers is more of a
full back. Playing tied in with wide receiver
type skills. He's more of an hvac. So
what tells me is 2 things. Either Luke
S is about a year away from being
fired,
and he'll join his his family member the
last because I'm sure that the ne that
S is probably there. Less used to be
a hard ass with the virus. He was
massive hard ass. Luke has probably got lost
school. Old school would be a kind assessment.
Yeah. But even back then, we were calling
him hard ass. Right. He this is an
old school show. He was a hard ass.
Lucas Luke is the son of a hard
ass, so he's probably a hard ass deal
with a little bit of privilege on top
of it. So but maybe I'm wrong.
But I I think also is that they
wanna run the ball. They know mayer gonna
be the better blocker of the 2, but
and they know that Brock powers is probably
gonna be aligned
detached from the formation more often maybe he's
not necessarily a wide receiver. So 1 of
2 things. It makes Brock powers, a boom
bust option. If you're smart... If if the
raiders play smart and we look at the
assumption of rational coaching,
then
Michael Mayer is gonna be tied in 2
in this offense
for fantasy
because Brock was still gonna be labeled to
tie in why. If we're gonna look at
the raiders eddie have the assumption of,
illogical
decisions,
like getting a bowl haircut that the owner
has and Hey, Or did he get that
fixed? Do you finally get that fixed? IIII
don't think he sees as being broken? I
don't I don't think dumb and dumb fix
that? At all. So I think there's a
result of that. The Jeff Daniels of of
Dumb and Dumb of the Nfl is probably...
They they still probably are not gonna use
Brock bowers to
maximize or exploit his skills this year, which
means that Mayer gonna be, like, a 506
hundred yard player at best,
maybe give you some red zone value, but
hours isn't gonna get used. Bowers isn't gonna
get used to the level that you should
be, and then less s will probably somewhere
else for the offensive
coordinators will be blamed and we'll be moving
on. But
it just make all this says to me
is that Mayor be we'll have some streamer
value, have some match up value.
Maybe if it really starts to work out
and you see borrowers disappear. He is... He
cool be something because he's a good zone
route runner and good red zone player. He's
just not a man man threat who can
give you that high end top 5 upside
rock hours can. Right. And, you know, we'll
see if brock hours can, and depends on
how they use them
in in Las Vegas. We'll find out about
him. But I don't think they spent that
the thirteenth pick overall draft capital to let
him waste away. By the way, you think
training camps are really happening. I'd mentioned the
read Evans reported their were rookie he's reported
Saturday. Lamar Jackson just showed up just now.
So there you have a kids. That's Lamar
Jackson reporting train camp. About days early. According
early. According to 1 of my Ravens Browns
fans he's late. So
maybe they're already gotten started here. There's was
already a flight broken out. The buzz continues.
Lad Mc mckay, a perfect fit now for
Justin Herbert according to the athletics Meet Daniel
Popper. This is not Daniel Popper it's not
the first 1 to say this. Many of
the beat writers who said this Justin Herbert
has said this many people.
Many the best people are saying Vlad Mc
mccarthy. And I say the best people? Because
Matt W is 1 of them. How much
do you feel this?
Well, you know, if you out of as
a top 15 wide receiver in your fantasy
rankings like, I have when I came broke
out my rankings,
and everybody's like that's nutty.
That will tell you how much I feel
feel this. I mean, and again, the perfect
fit reason is this is Greg Roman likes
to throw the ball in the middle of
the field.
You know,
just stop Herbert through the ball very well
in the middle of the field. He works
as slot receivers
very at at a high rate and
Lad Mc is probably the best slot receiver
on this team in terms of his understanding
of leverage his ability to read the
read the defense at the same... Be on
the same page with his quarterback pre snap.
The routes that he runs the skill that
he has in traffic on scheme play when
they throw them the ball on Rp and
and,
screen routes, and what he can do after
the catch with that. He's a good double
move receivers So there's a lot of that
as Cecil Lamb would say that cooper cup
type of skill that you can see, but
also Keen and Allen.
Know, and that's the guy that Herbert
targeted to a level that, you know, that
Alan was a top 5 option. You you
know, at times throughout his career. Why receiver
2 last year through, I wanna say 12
or 13 weeks. Yeah. So Mc mckay to
me, yeah, Oh, is he gonna be in
2 wide receiver sets. He's gonna be in
3 wide receivers... Sets off enough, that when
they throw the ball in a meaningful way
that Latin Mc car is gonna get meaningful
targets. So I don't really care care as
much about the... What alignment is he gonna
be in because I think that they're gonna
have to throw ball enough. And for all
of you out there who think, well, they're
gonna run the ball a lot more. Well
they ran the ball 36 percent of the
time last year, and I think averaged, like,
38 the past 2 year years.
Unless they've revamped that offensive line,
they're not gonna turn that ocean line around
and be running the ball 50 tiers percent
of the time from 36 to 38 percent
of the time. That's gonna be... Maybe they're
gonna move it up 40. Maybe they'll get
to 40 to a 42 to 44 percent
at the time, and still gonna be throwing
the ball enough, and it's not like, you
know... Now if we need to get Jim
Harp bond, the couch with Ci Blue ad,
blue mask.
The... Do you hate yourself as a former
quarterback? Is this why you're coaching the run
game the way that you would and get,
you know, Greg Roman to do. But even
back then when when Jim Har had advantage
a quarterback, when was the last time he
had that. It wasn't with Colin Ka who
was more of a runner who could throw.
And, you know, I mean, he was a
good... He was like a good quarterback for
the Nfl Just not a traditional quarterback,
that level and was not throwing the ball
was not his strength.
Compared to other quarterback in the league, still
capable, but not there. If you look at
Lamar Jackson, them could throw the ball, but
they... But they kind of,
I would say they kind of
eased him in with the... If know, kinda
kidding him in a little bit. And he...
He's proven otherwise. But Justin Herbert is probably
in the best pocket. Pass,
he and he and Lamar Jackson that Har
is probably gonna have had. Other than 1
guy out,
yeah. Yes. I I got the out alex
stand.
He did good good about Alex. I was
gonna say this. Go back to San Diego.
Right. Said diego with Josh Johnson Yeah. And
you look at the God awful tea that
was... He, an I'm believable Td to intercept
ratio.
And while he ran for 700 yards for
a few years, he also nearly threw for
10000 yards and 4 year career
way back when and dominated in terms of
the passing and establishing over not almost 10...
I wanna say on 10 yards per per
attempt.
I think I know it was well into
the nines,
during his career. So I don't think he
was he's gonna look at Justin Herbert and
say,
let's run the ball a lot more. I
think he's gonna say, we're gonna run the
ball more to leverage what we do with
Justin Herbert. But we're not gonna just put
justin Herbert on a shelf. That's just silly.
I'm wanna say. I'm trying to take quick
look here. I don't think her I don't
think Andrew walker averaged
30 passes a game at Stanford under Jim
Har. No. I don't think he did either,
but I don't think he had a... But
he also could run I don't think he
had a,
you know, the greatest receivers either on top
of that. Alright. We're feeling Lad Mc mcconnell
and,
I mean, I'm not even... Like, feeling of,
but Matt feels him so much. It rubbed
off on me, and I now also
feel a little bit of Mc cocky buzz.
Alright. The dog back here. Deals it too.
He's just called that.
Yeah.
Well, if we wanna to pass out, let's
go back to the Patriots receiving core. Deals
K Os. Can you sustain any fantasy value
throughout the year? Yes. If there's an injury,
but I think otherwise, you're gonna see a
real... Kind of a rotating,
situation there. And I think to begin the
year, we'll see targets go his way, but
the big questions is can he win man
demand coverage is it gonna be enough of
a man beater of a wide receiver in
that scheme for Jacob Percent to rely on
him and then when Drake may takes over
will they be on the same page. And
I think the answer is with all these
different variables that are possible.
You've... I would look at it is likely
not fuck it. Yeah. Ja Polk, Ja Regular,
Ke Bout, D mario Douglas, Osborne,
Gigi Smith Sc.
Kendrick Born, J Baker, Ty thornton, and there's
a lot of bodies there to sort out
and a lot of people who could possibly
be contributors. But, there's there's no doubt. The
buzz on Osborne. The reporting on Osborne has
been super positive
initial off season. So that... That's all. Always
kind of interesting. Seems like a decent enough
wire, but... Yeah. Later. Late round, pick him
up for early
as a throat. Into a trade to trade
away after he does well, need something you
need. That can red draft red draft, we're
fucking him all day long. Right? I mean,
like. Like, so there's something we've talked about,
like, in Lousy offense, I'm fine, you know,
skimming the surface come on down rem andre
Stevenson might get...
Mode hunter Henry beyond that? You're taking your
chances, and you should probably play the waiver
wire with all these guys. How do we
feel the value of Cal Herbert is a
fantasy Gm,
with the potential... I mean, the recent reporting
is he may not be sticking around of
Chicago. So assuming he's the odd man out,
How should we value him?
I think as he's definitely should be 1
of the top 5 players on your waiver
wire list as guys... To monitor to see
where he lands. Because if we're looking at
injuries to the running back, balance and something...
Yep. Dallas else
I think Dallas. Dallas could easily be 1
of those scenarios. But any team that... Where
there's an injury or there's a need.
He's gonna wind up there, and I think
that he's good enough as of running as
a runner
that he could give you fantasy value as
an emergency option. So if you see him
land somewhere and there's injuries or that he's
signed as that that veteran
free agent veteran to to start with him?
A week or 2 of him signing. He's
a guy you wanna add.
Fever are fuck it. I'm gonna say the,
like, this is... We're framing this wrong. Are
we underwriting on? In Echo And Brian Robinson
this year. The answer to that is yes.
Feeling that it's Brian Robinson we're underrated.
No.
Okay? That's I'm fuck that. I think we're
underwriting Austin Ec. I think the dude was
hurt last year a good bit, and I
still think that there's something left. Then again,
if I air on anything, I air on
older guys because I'm tired of here and,
you know, these younger guys can kiss my...
I ask every once in a while. You
know. We're we're we're gonna see this 1
differently. I'm gonna I'm gonna be all in
on Brian Robinson and it depends on where
you're looking. I know the current football guys
ranking? And projections. Have Act ahead. I'm guessing
your projections also have a mad.
I think I gotta a look. I think
I'd think I do have him slightly ahead,
but I think just the value that he
offers is probably... Isn't he still a little
lower than Robinson. He is a little lower.
But it started out. He was way higher.
It started out. He was, like, early best
balls. It you know, right after signing you
was way higher. Then people remembered Brian Robinson
was there, and the gap started closing. Now
I think it's all Robinson going slightly higher.
It's still very close. It's kind of a
toss up in terms of of, price paid.
I think we're underrated how shitty. This move
was for the Washington commanders for family people
because they're both good. Brian. Robinson needs to
be a starter. Right. I I he's a...
He was very good. And Ec
Ec, I think really, it's a shame that
he wound up there that... Well, let's let's
let's
Feel out of fucking that I mean, if
we're gonna start protecting the Cliff Kings often,
should we look back at what happened at
Arizona when Clint Kings there and see how
they use the running back vaccine. At that
point, to maybe say, wow, this is the
Brian Robinson show feel that at walmart.
Could very well be that case. But then
again, you know,
at it.
Yeah. There's there's some good... There... There's a
good argument there with that, But was it
because
he had nobody else... He had nobody else
because he tried some scattered for a while.
He tried K Drake. He he just didn't
have good taste in scapula. Canyon drake was
okay though when he was the lead back.
Yes. Right. Was so I mean, it seems
like it seems like work out. It seems
like when you are the lead back. And
so I guess that's where we're at. Is
kid echo or re resume the manual of
lead back ahead. Right Robinson, I do not
think he can. Yeah. I agree. And I
think the other question is is who's gonna
get the third down who's gonna get the
passing down real... And that 2 minute roll,
I would think it would be Ec, but
off... But Robinson is under underrated if all
those rules and he can block a little
better than that can. I I think it's
interesting too because a lot of people will,
you know, you know, say we goes to
Washington. It's the Antonio Gibson role. No It's
not. It's not save oven offense. So
that's not gonna happen. So... Yeah. So so
it... It's gonna be interesting because I do
think 1 thing you said there is...
No something people should take into account. Like,
these players that were coming off injuries or
whatever, maybe never healed from their injuries. And,
you know, we've had that discussion with... Pants.
We've had it with tony Poll, and we
should probably have it with Boston 2 was
he ever himself after a high and rain
early in season. And he can... Kenny return
the beam. Himself
this year. We don't know.
We don't know. He may be healthy, but
is he fully austin Ec we're gonna find
out.
Mark Cabal from the athletic kia, he he
believes that our guy, Calvin Austin the third
had a very impressive camp that, but that's
magnified.
Because of his speed in the short pants
without the pads on.
I suspect that's like, totally true, but also
it's died doesn't rule out the possibility of
him earning a role in his op offense.
Yeah. Fuck that noise. I mean, it's a
good... He's he's right that it mag it,
but it's not like he's... Doesn't it with
a high powered
microscope here where, you know, I think that
the thing the matter of of the fact
is is that Calvin austin is good 1
on 1 on the outside for a smaller
guy. And that's something that's gonna show up
even in pads that showed up in pads.
The past couple of years when he was
healthy enough to play in camp. It showed
up on film in Memphis.
So I I think you're gonna see him
stretch the field and do some things that
they're gonna find a way to fit him
into this offense.
And I think that Russell Wilson is gonna
like him enough that they're gonna be able
to find ways to to target him
everywhere on the field.
I think that's reasonable. Also Ka kamala. Or
remind readers that Man Jefferson Yard reception totals
indicate he has the potential to be a
productive starter in Pittsburgh. Yeah. I'm not sure
I agree with that either. Yeah. I'm kinda
with you when people... When we say potential,
it means it hasn't happened yet. And we
don't think they're good enough yet, You know?
And that's... And Van Jefferson has been the
league long enough that if he's still not
good enough yet.
You know, catching the, you know, catching the
ball. A problem with him.
The speed isn't great. He's more of a...
To get him into the third level. You
gotta have slow developing plays, which can work
with Pittsburgh and what they do. In theory,
but that doesn't make him the guy.
I think he just is a guy that
knows
Arthur Smith's Offense, and he was cheap. And
they could put him in in there and
he's a Coach son and he knows the
game well enough that they can get some
play out of them. But they're they're not
leaning on him in he's the guy, number
2, they're looking for somebody else to begin
the year. Right. So I I totally agree
with that. Like... I mean, if this is
a case of, you know, the the being
the tallest Skyscraper or tulsa or whatever the
joke is, the political like, correct, the version
of of other saying is.
Like, who... You know, until Roman Wilson demonstrates
that he's, you know, ready to make a
consistent
contribution
at the pro level, Man Jefferson percent is
the is the guy. And and whether he
can answer the call. We don't have a
ton of evidence of that.
Let's continue playing
6 degrees a unification with Arthur Smith here.
Cord Patterson.
Could Pittsburgh be a 3 headed back with
Patterson in town? It could very well. Happen,
but 1 of those guys has to get
banged up. Yeah. I think that is really
the likelihood there. Again,
a guy who should be on your waiver
wire monitor list, probably in your top 15
at the lower end of that right now
because you know what his upside can be.
When he gets the touches. Now how long
he can sustain that because he is
entering getting close to his mid thirties, and
he's a bruise
of a runner. I mean, is a 232
hundred and 35 pound runner.
So
though, He's effective in short stint.
Yeah. I I tend to agree with that.
I I would not expect the, you know,
a... I mean, we'd all love to see
him regain that magic of The the the
running back 1 season in Atlanta. I don't
think that's happening. Though. But I do... I
still... Would... I'm still gonna argue that is
the evidence that Arthur Smith,
is a creative offensive mind or can be
a creative offensive mind. Taking a guy that
nobody that many coaches, including bill Bella check.
Many coaches had been unable to fight our
Smith found all the little things that he
did well and cobb them into a singular
role that was super effective for fantasy manners.
So Kudos him for that. But Don't think
we're gonna revisit that here. Bill Tech showed
the way, but he didn't he didn't stick
with it and really expand on it the
way that the Ours smith committed to it.
Yeah. Committed to it and they and got
the results. A, letter for net
says he's ready to contribute. He's ready to
roll. He's in great shape No. He didn't
say it. His agents said that. We'll, no.
His agent that didn't say that. They told
adam it was sc to say that.
So
I'm gonna call everybody out on that 1.
Wow.
So what do we anticipate for leonard for
net this year? A a guy you monitor.
And and as he... Maybe he could be
the next Lat Murray the guy. Comes in
when somebody gets hurt and maybe make him
a start fantasy option, and then it does
depend on how Shape he's in, Then that's
to think is how good of a shape
is he in. As big guys, he's tend
to be up and down with the with
the sloppy dude of of how much he's
been in shape and much he hasn't been.
And Said agents would like you to know
he's in
quote marks. The best shape of his career.
Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, he's a guy
that maybe motivation hasn't always stuck with him
incredible talent when he's been a win. When
he was at the peak of his career,
which really peaked early, like mid Ls u
to, like, like early Jaguar.
You know, and you could... That first year
is a jaguar. And and this is the
hard thing with running back play. Good thing
about letting corn that that top running backs
did in old school,
Nfl is that they accelerate through content hacked.
And they dropped the pads and they
they accelerate into you and Leonard Fort had
that. There are not many backs who do
that anymore.
He was 1 of the the ones that
that did it really well, but he also
was banged up a fair, but I had
to do with this more with his feet.
So I think there's a chance, but but
we're not gonna invest in that chance until
there's pal reason to do so.
Alright. Should we pay attention to these? Sp
Rattle, Jake Hay Camp Battle New Orleans. Is
this like a model off or... Because Hai
wins that hands down.
What what do we make? Of this,
the battle for the number 2 behind Derek
car. Yeah. I mean, I I, you know,
if you listen to our buddy, Mike 10
year, you would say that this is like
the worst thing that's ever happened in the
world. Though. I think within Mike, that, you
know, I would joke that he likes to
make jokes about everything that's the worst thing
that ever happened in the world.
My lane. That's 1 of his link means
is that the that the world isn't going
to hell in a hand basket.
And then Mike's there to make jokes about
it on stage as the fire. He set
the fire.
So
fabulous writer, Talented writer, very funny, but I'll
put it this way.
For for re draft,
I would say if Jake Hay wins the
a job,
you should have pay... That's the reason you
should be paying. Pay attention to see if
Jk
wins the role. If he does the I
think he ends up taking over for derek
carr at some point during the season and
shows that he might be
low key, like, underrated future,
for for that team.
If and and be kind of the matt
shop,
a of that Clint Qb act offense.
He could very well be that guy. If
Spencer Rad wins it,
then I would say,
derek cars gonna have that job all year
long, and I wouldn't... I wasn't really not
worth paying attention to. Yeah. Alright. This... If
this was a question. I would ask it
like this. Are we under... Ratings Sami amir
white, But I'm going to ask it is
the way I would ask it, which is
as a statement.
Why are we under underwriting Za amir White?
The other part?
Because
because he has to prove that he can
catch out of the back and that's where
fantasy people they've heard so much about, you
know, how we draw the lines and color
in them to draft that you need a
running back who's who's an asset in, as
a they've fever and white hasn't been a
huge asset as a receiver in the past.
So that's the big question. But strong, good
straight line speed certainly did well with volume
towards the end last year. So there's a
reason why we could be underwriting them, but
here's the other thing is that, you, you
know, you've got a, well
as much as he gets made front of
fantasy circles.
Alexander Madison is a competent running back and
can do a little bit of everything very
well
just break away from a defense.
So that's... You know, there's that... And then
there's still a lobby. So who could probably
take over for being the receiving back early.
So there's more holes to why white won't
work out than there are reasons to elevate
him. Cut a couple reasons that I think
that, you know, number 1, the volume is
the anticipated volume.
Josh Jacobs on track last her to get
80 percent of the touches from the back
and until he was hurt last year, then
Z amir White steps in and gets all
those touches. Right? And a hundred and 14
yards from sc.
Per game average down the stretch. A lot
of it on a big Christmas day game
against Kansas city grand and had a huge
rushing day. But it also,
we cannot underestimate
Antonio Pierce as the head coach.
He is the guy that, like, just an
old school He's a player? Well, there's a
reason he's beloved. There's a reason he's still
there, and that's because he's going with his
guys. And it seems like he thinks Z
amir Why is 1 of his guys. I
think he thinks the same of Evade Mcconnell.
So we'll get a good test of all
this early on. But I think right Now,
either way, whether you think he's overrated underrated,
he's reasonably priced as a guy with the
potential to get a massive share of the
workload workflow you're getting. Them is or running
back 3 price or just creeping into the
running back to rage at some drafts. But
for the most part, or really reasonably priced.
Even more reasoning price would be tank Bixby
be, who we've heard again this year must
do more. I'm pounding the table,
because everybody means that the Travis
Add, like, 75
percent of the running back texas last year,
the Jaguar would like that not to happen.
Can tank Pigs be help alleviate some of
that workload this year, which he could not.
Last year. Yeah. He certainly can. As long
as he's...
If he can show that the... Oh, he's
much improved according to his running backs coach.
And if he if he takes good on
that
with pads on and them actually running between
the tackle and games, then I think they
they want him to cut into that Travis
at the end. Time
significantly. So the ball's in his court to
be able to do it. You... What you
wanna look for is is an improved decision
maker trying to bounce something anything outside? And
can he hold on to the football both
as a receiver and as a runner if
yeah. Does if those 2 things, if if
he shores up at least the the the
mistakes as, with ball security at the catch
point and as a Rush,
then I would say we're underwriting him. I'd
say we're vastly underrated if if everyone starts
talking about how it looks like a star,
because that that
translation from beat rider to, mean that he
may not be Christian Mc kat, but or
Jam Gibbs, but he may be good enough
to, like, cut into that guy Make no
mistake. He was fantastic in training camp last
year because everybody and that includes my series
C Mike D watching with eyes on,
this guy looks fantastic. But then the truth
was, he just couldn't get it done in
games and I think, you know, he ended
up with 50 carries was the second most
on the team. Team and 20 percent of
those, 10 of those carries came in a
blow out in week 17 a win over
Carolina. They just, what when... Is this is
a Christian meme caf effect. When somebody is
so much better than everybody else on the
roster, it's hard to take them off the
field. I wrote about it at the other
day. I would like to eat less cake.
Your they put a plate of cake in
front of me it really goes away empty.
Right? Because it's delicious. It's cake. When you
have Is cake. What Christian mc is hitting
the line of sc it over 19 miles
an hour, which he did last year. That's
some serious short area equipment. The fastest speed
in the Nfl was 22 and a half
miles per hour. Right? He hit that at
the line of grip. It's hard to put
the cake away. He off the table Tastes
like cake gives you enough protein of a
steak and probably gives you enough fiber. Like
vegetable well on top of it. Look Like.
But I feel like it's not good for
him. So, I mean, I I totally get
the desired outcome. More tank begs me. We'll
see if we get it. He's got... He's
gotta be better
during games than he was last year. So
we'll be watching that. A couple of his
final ones here Matt in your wheelhouse, 2
college running backs that caught your eye this
week as you studied the, videos.
Yeah. 2 guys that caught my eye,
Ashton Gen, the the boise state running back
5 8 02:09.
Excellent receiver out of the back,
and a, you know, an explosive runner, good
speed, good quick knows how to use moves
and put them together
efficiently at both in the open field and
as a runner between the tackle. He had
a good back in George, who's trying out
for the Sea
hasn't a U
who could... I think might make the roster
who was playing with him.
This year he's gonna get a chance to
be literally be the man, a and I
think John could be the top back in
this class.
Have a shot to be drafted as the
top back in this class. Trevor at the
end,
the Jordan, running back transfer from Florida. He
had a,
Dui
recently, so he's gonna probably get suspended for
a little bit of time. But, you know,
good receiver
also works well in space, speaking of the
Family. Yes. That's Travis his younger brother.
Pass pros a weakness with him. He's a
guy that gotta gotta get better learn how
to punch learn how to not drop his
head into everything so that he has defenders
just work around him easily,
but he's a gus runner between the tackle
with good hips understands how to change direction
of efficiently, and he has good speed, and
he's got, you know, functional power for an
Nfl contributor.
Alright. Also so also after watching the videos
who front. Rs u.
I would say the kid out of Oklahoma,
Ali,
I'm trying to remember what his last name
was.
Let me see. Oh,
Ali Gordon. You know, I think he's a
good prospect,
but I... There's a lot of the talk
that he's at hot prospect. I didn't think
he was quite as fast as people said
that he was.
He runs in Oklahoma state attack where you
look at the way that
he may makes decisions in the way that
the the the attack is built. It's kind
of like true be hubbard. He might need
a couple of years
to really under fix in an Nfl running
game and make mature decisions, and it might
take him a little bit of time there
from to do it. He's... Again, the tools
are there for him to be good. But
I don't think he's, like, running back 1
in this class. He may not even be
running back 3 in this class,
and there are a lot of people to
think he's a top 3 guy.
Oh, fuck all that collar stuff. I'm feeling
having Matt W around because this is the
only way I'll know about these guys is
when he writes about them next year. In
the Rookie scouting portfolio. I pre order, but
I like to pay full price.
But, man, looking forward to next year's of
scouting portfolio. No surprise or already. On the
grind. You can find Matt. On Twitter at
matt W, they also call it x, and
you can see some of his little fill
me breakdowns their fantastic. If I enjoy them
immensely.
And all his efforts there and matt w
dot com is where you can find his
other work. You can find me apps football.
By buzz and I said football Yeah. I
mean, did
seen the 10 minute news video that you
just put out. I was checking.
Sure. I... Yeah. Well, you should check it
out. I mean, you, I mean, I don't
know why you didn't see it. It looks
familiar. I see all this stuff behind you.
I saw a guy talking it look just
like you. Talking about the the cult offense.
And holds running games. Really sound good, man.
Alright. Well, yes. Go check that out on
the audible along with Ce Lam ci bloom
on that. Channel the football guys, Fantasy football
channel with the K and Alfredo Brown in
the dynasty channel which Jeff Be.
And sometimes,
even Matt W seeing, seen him on that
show as well. And you can catch me
also on Sirius x and Fantasy sports radio
starting this week. We're on our usual schedule.
This week Even more often 5 nights this
week,
next week we'll be on our usual 4
nights a week,
so dial that up. Look at your schedule
of Mike D and myself while be having
all kinds of shenanigans throughout summer so we'll
see you then. And, otherwise, Matt. Let's move
on. Well, goodbye. Love you buy. The rookie
he's gotta get better shape over here. Look
at him tucker her out. He's done. He's
done.
Well