Transcription
Let's get right into it here with story number one. Brian Robinson on his way out in Washington. You know, this was rumor speculation for the last, I don't know, week or 10 days that Brian Robinson could be cut, uh, might not make the team, could be traded. I didn't really believe it fully until friend of the show Ben Standig reported it and now the Commanders have basically confirmed it through their actions, through their words. Brian Robinson is going to be cut or traded. This has caused people to lose their minds about Jakori Krosky Merritt. Oh my god, I can't go on Twitter. I used to see all kinds of crazy things, political stuff, girls, all kinds of. Now all I see is Jakori Krosky Merritt is every tweet that I see. Evan, what was your reaction to this whole Brian Robinson saga?
>> Yeah, and shout out to Ben Stannic who is awesome at his job, has been for a long time. You know, we bring him, we always bring him on before the draft because he's one of the best mock drafters like in the world. Uh, but he's also like a really good beat reporter. And over the years, I remember when he started, he was kind of small time, but he's gotten to the point where he has like legit sources. I mean, I would put his information up against any other Washington beat writer. And he got a lot of criticism for, you know, couching it. I mean, he's not a guy who says outlandish things at all. Um, very grounded guy and he got a lot of criticism. And I mean, now Chev is reporting it, you know. So, um, shout out to Ben Stanning for being all over this, crushing this situation.
Ben, uh, Brian Robinson is not going to be a Washington Commander in 2025, like by almost all accounts at this point. Chris Russell, who also covers the team, said something happened late last season, and this had kind of been in the works. Chris Rodriguez, I mean, I think that Chris Rodriguez could be 95% of Brian Robinson. Ryan Robinson is a very replacement level talent and all the Commanders needed to incentivize them to to move on from him was Jakori Krosky Merritt stepping up, showing that he can be an NFL back. But Chris Rodriguez did play ahead of him in the last preseason game and outplayed him in that particular game. You know, these are really small sample sizes, five, six carries here for each player. But I, you know, Chris Rodriguez has been with the team and he has the most truly the most like Brian Robinson skill set. So I I would be a little concerned like I I'm not moving Jakori Krosky up too much higher than like 95 overall, which is where I believe I have him right now because number one, he has a ve extremely limited track record of catching passes. And Chris Rodriguez is going to be a problem for him. And I think that Chris Rodriguez could be the dude at the goal line. Austin Eckler is definitely not going away. He's I think he's an extreme uh favorite to lead this backfield in snaps played this season. Um, so I think that the the hype has probably gotten a little too out of control on Jakori Cross. Definitely draftable, a top 100 player for me, but barely. And Chris Rodriguez can end up being the goal line guy.
>> Right. So the question is how many running back points are there available here when Jaden Daniels is accounting for so much of the scoring? Austin Eckler's role was always going to be intact, right? No matter what happened with Brian Robinson, we know Austin Eckler's in the two-minute, in the four-minute, I think, and on and all the pass downs. Now I think you can say Austin Eckler has a chance to get a little bit more of the base work and maybe a little bit more of the goal line work. I still think that Krosky Merritt and Chris Rodriguez will be the main guys there, but Eckler definitely got a boost. We're up to 141 overall on him in the ETR ranks. And yeah, we are not even as high as Evan. I've seen Jacroski Jakori Krosky Merritt go the 90s in some like high stakes uh best ball stuff. We're at 135 overall on Krosky Merritt right now. And like based on the way the hype is going, we're just not going to get him at that rank depending on how close your uh league are paying attention. I you know, it's hard to get there if you're gonna give Eckler a bunch of pass work, you're gonna give Jaden a bunch of rushing work, you're gonna give Chris Rodriguez some short yardage work. It's gonna be hard to get there on projection uh in Krosky merit for sure.
>> Yeah, it's looking like a three-man backfield right now. We've talked about that, you know, time and time again. And we can deal with two-man backfields in um, you know, high-scoring situations or super run-heavy situations or, you know, just where they feature their running backs. Three-man committees are really difficult to deal with in fantasy. And then you add in the fact that Jaden Daniels probably projects for like 800, 900 rushing yards himself.
>> It's almost like a a four-way running back committee. So I I do like Austin Eckler a decent amount. I've been drafting him a good amount, but
>> you know, I'm not trying to get too excited about Jakori Kroski Meritt or Chris Rodriguez. Um, for what it's worth on Krosky Merritt, Evan, I don't know if you remember when we had Rener on, Rener was high on Krosky Meritt, and this was when nobody even knew who this guy, who Krosky Merritt was. Rener said had him as his RB8 in this entire class ahead of Caleb Johnson on Krosky Merritt. Now,
>> Rener is an animal, by the way. Like, if you guys are not listening to Mike Rener, like you are doing it wrong when it comes to uh draft stuff.
>> And so, if you think he's actually really, really good player, better than Caleb Johnson, sorry, I could see him running away with it. That's just not the projection that we're going with uh right now. The last piece of this I want to ask you about, Evan, is where do you think Brian Robinson goes and does it matter? Uh, I wrote down some teams that I thought were at least possible. 49ers have a lot of injuries right now. They could use Brian Robinson as some depth maybe. Texans obviously, Bears, uh, certainly if Roshan, if they don't like Roshan Johnson or if he's injured, and then Titans with the Spears injury. Um, to Evan's point, I don't think Brian Robinson is going to blow up any backfields. He's just not good enough to do that, right? So, wherever he goes, I don't know that he goes in and just dominates carries anywhere. But, yeah, Evan, any thoughts on where Brian Robinson might land?
>> I think he could end up going anywhere. I mean, he does have a useful skill set. Um, you know, but I mean, he's just a very strict role player. He's pretty good at what he does, but he's just a one-dimensional role player. Two-down grinder. A lot of teams have use can h, you know, can make that into a useful skill set, but I I mean, I wouldn't be excited about. I I did leave him in the top 150, but he's like 145 or something like that. And I
>> I look, if he goes to Dallas, like I'll shoot him way up. Yeah.
>> But I I don't know. I I don't know where he's going.
>> Or Houston. I mean, maybe we. And we'll talk about Nick Chubb stuff here in a second. Uh oh, last question that people are asking, Evan, Brian Robinson also got shot. Ricky Pearl got shot. Does the way that this has run out for Brian Robinson? Many are asking make you question the getting shot narrative? In other words, Brian Robinson got shot and now he's getting cut from a team when he's only set to count three million against the cap. Does this worry you about Bricky Pier?
>> I I mean, I don't I don't know what we're talking about. This is not a serious question. What Brian Robinson did to to get himself onto the field that year after getting shot. And I think he got shot in both of his legs, right, during like a carjacking or something.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, that was awesome. I mean, but uh I don't know what what that has any that has no relevance to to Ricky Pawol whatsoever.
>> The getting shot narrative is 0 for one so far is what people are saying. We'll see if Ricky Pieraw can even.
>> Wait, how is it 0 for one? He came back and and played.
>> He came back, but now he's so they don't even want him for $3 million against the cap.
>> That has nothing to do with Ricky Pawol at at at like whatsoever. We can move we can move on.
>> Okay, the many men narrative producer Ryan is calling it. Uh, okay. Story number two. Colts make their quarterback decision and they decide to go with Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson. Shane Stiken gets out here and claims that Dalon Jones is the starting quarterback for the season. I do not want to have a short leash on that. Um, I think it was the wrong decision if you're looking at it for the long view from the Colts perspective. If I was a Colts fan, we use the number four overall pick on Anthony Richardson. Yeah, if I wanted to win a game tomorrow, I think Daniel Jones is the better pick. If I wanted to win a game later in September, Daniel Jones is the better pick. But I need to know. I need to find out what Anthony Richardson's ceiling is and if he can find it. He might only be like 3% to find it or 5% to find it. I I would like to find it considering see if I can find it considering he's 23 years old and he was the fourth overall pick on him. He's made 15 career starts. So I I don't know, man. You know, I get why Stiken did it. He's trying to win games and save his job. I don't think it's the right decision for the Colts. And you know, part of I'm reason I'm tilted. People accuse me of uh being biased because I've drafted a bunch of Anthony Richardson already in baseball and those people would be absolutely 100% correct. I have I have drafted a lot of Anthony Richardson in baseball, but I still don't think that that colors my opinion on this too badly. Evan, what did you think of the Colts decision to go with Dimes over A-Rich?
>> I mean, I kind of had expected this all along. You know, I I think that Chris Ballard went around and told all his buddies in the national media, we signed Daniel Jones, he's gonna be our starter. You know, I mean, Chris Ballard's trying to save his job. You and I saw you did a tweet about the Colts ownership. You know, their owner died.
>> Yeah.
>> Like in in May or June and he left Jim Ersce left the team to his three daughters.
>> So, this is a team in ex extreme transition. Yeah. Up top. And I know we don't talk about ownership situations very much because we do fantasy football, but I mean, that stuff definitely impacts I think the product on the field, you know. I mean, you could go across any organization in almost any sports franchise like the the best teams have the best owners and right now this is a team in extreme transition and um, there isn't necessarily, you know, solidified leadership up top.
>> Okay.
>> Um, yeah.
>> And so from a fantasy perspective, it does matter, right? Daniel Jones is a big difference from Anthony Richardson. We've continued to tick up Tyler Warren in the ETR ranks. We're up to 92 overall on him. Now, Tyler Warren has played on 34 of 35 snaps this preseason with the starters. Caught four balls for 65 yards >> on six targets. Evan's at 98 overall on Tyler Warren. Josh D is dealing with a hamstring injury, but this is a bit better for him also, I think. And same with Michael Pitman. Evan, any moves for you in the ranks off this Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson news?
>> I have not actually made any formal moves because I all along kind of thought that it was going to be Daniel Jones because that's the vibes that they were giving off. I also think that there's more going on behind the scenes with Anthony Richardson than we know. And I think that him almost proactively getting himself injured on that play in the Colts pre first preseason game where he did not slide protection over to get that guy. Didn't even see the the the free pass rusher gets hurt. That says a lot.
>> Yeah.
>> That says a lot about where Anthony Richardson is in his development. I mean, there were, you know, um, when he got benched last year, Shane Stiken openly criticized Anthony Richardson's preparation for games. The center, Ryan Kelly, like hated Anthony Richardson. Yeah.
>> You know, he quit on the team. I mean, there's a lot of stuff going on here that isn't discussed that, you know, is,
>> you know, I mean, it's I think it's not a good situation. And then his agent came out, Anthony Richardson's agent came out and like criticized the team. like there's a lack of respect. No, buddy. Your client lost a a training camp battle.
>> Yeah.
>> Daniel Jones. I mean, so I I don't know. I I don't know if if he's I mean, I wonder if they would be willing to trade him for like a fourth round pick. I mean, if I was the Saints, I'd give up a fourth or fifth round pick for him.
>> Sure. Um, Oh, one guy that we haven't talked a lot about this summer, Evan, is Jonathan Taylor. I I think there's very few backs in the league whose team is willing to give them the ball 30 times in a game that has the ability that Jonathan Taylor has. And so I do take Jonathan Taylor in that group. I prefer Chase Brown, but I take him in that group with Bucky Irving and Josh Jacobs. And I would consider Jonathan Taylor to be right there. And I do think this Daniel Jones thing is better for JT too. So we have him at 21 overall uh JT for us in ETR ranks. Half PPR
>> like it. Yeah, I think this is really good news for him. I think it's really good. Remember the stats from Anthony Richardson like just never threw the ball to running backs. Yeah.
>> In college and he I mean, that's not his skill set to to be a checkdown passer.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, also reception perception has started charting quarterbacks and oh my god Anthony Richardson's reception perception quarterback charting is atrocious man. I mean, he like he's horrible on everything except for checkdowns, which he doesn't throw, and screen passes,
>> right?
>> He's horrible throwing any other route.
>> Yeah. No, I totally agree on the checkdowns to JT, even though he may not play third downs. We'll get to more uh in a second on the uh later in the running back stuff, but Silva is at 19 overall in his rankings on Jonathan Taylor.
>> I've been getting a decent amount of him, too. I mean, he was a massive league winner down the stretch last year.
>> And he's been healthy all throughout training camp.
>> I'm pretty fired up about Jonathan Taylor.
>> Speaking of rankings, I know you have a draft coming up. I honestly think even if I wasn't part of ETR, I would only show up to my draft with the ETR rankings just because I know how hard we are grinding on this stuff. And then if you want other content like the inseason trade calculator, Thorman's rankings, inseason waiver wire help, that's all a bonus. Head to establish therun.com and find the draft kit. It's $49.99. Also, check out the bundle which combines draftkit pro plus our inseason product at the lowest possible price. Again, draftkit pro on establish therun.com for all your fantasy football drafting torturing your opponent needs. All right, let's go to story three. Evans, speaking of quarterback decisions, Browns make their decision, decide to go with Joe Flacco. Not a surprise here. Even at 40 years old, Joe Flacco waltzes through this quarterback competition. Never was a doubt, I think, that he was going to be named the starter. Obviously, good for Judy Injoku, Tilman, Harold Fannon. We were kind of assuming Flaco was a starter, so not many moves for us here on Brown stuff. Evan, any reaction to the Flaco news?
>> Yeah, nothing unexpected here. Um, it does make me more willing to click. I didn't move up Injoku or Jerry Judy or Cedric Toman or anything like that, but it does make me more willing to click them. I also like Dylan Samson a little bit better on the heels of this news. Um, but uh, yeah, this was expected and I still think that we get at least three different uh Browns starting quarterbacks this year, if not four, whenever Kenny Picket can can get healthy because Shidor Sanders looked good in the first preseason game, Dylan Gabriel looked good in the second preseason game. Well, that's that's the thing and that's my concern here because if you told me Joe Flacco was starting all season through the fantasy playoffs, I'd be okay. Now, the problem is during the fantasy playoffs, it's probably not going to be Joe Flacco out there, right? It's going to be one of these other witherrists like a Gabriel or a Shador and the Browns play at Chicago. Could be tough weather verse Buffalo could be tough weather and difficult defense. Home against Pittsburgh could be tough weather, difficult defense. So, their playoff schedule is really difficult from both a weather and a matchup perspective. And then you also throw in that it's probably not going to be Flacco as quarterbacks. So, I you know, it's hard to get lower on ranks when for the full season when Judy and Injoku and Tilman um are going to look so good when they play up tempo and Flaco play so wildly. But yeah, it's just tough for me in the fantasy playoffs. Um, last note on this, uh, Harold Fannon sat with the rest of the starters in their last preseason game. So, it seems like they have big plans at least for Harold Fannon this season. Yeah, and I'll reiterate, Zach Jackson of The Athletic on a show on a podcast recently with Robert Mays, he was talking about how he wouldn't be surprised if David and Jooku gets traded at some point uh maybe before the season, maybe before the trade deadline, and that would open up a lot of opportunity for Harold Fannon. They love Harold Fan. I mean, you can tell third round rookies don't >> get the second preseason game off.
>> Right. Right. And honestly, a trade might be fine for Injoku's fantasy value, too. You know, if someone wants him and goes and gets him, it might be a better situation than it is in Cleveland down the stretch there.
>> Um, oh, speaking of the Browns, story number four, the Quinn Sean Judkins >> situation. So, prosecutors in the case declined to pursue charges against Quinn Sean Judkins. Now, he can still be suspended under the personal conduct policy. And as we're recording this Wednesday afternoon, Quinn Sean Judkins rookie contract remains unsigned. He still has not practiced with the team at camp. So, I know there was a big like knee-jerk reaction for everybody to move Judkins up a ton in their rankings. I wasn't that interested in him anyways. He still could be suspended. He still hasn't practiced with the team. So, I still haven't clicked into Judkins really much at all. Evan, any reaction to this suspension?
>> He doesn't even have an I mean, you and Quinn Sean Judkins have the same number of NFL contracts right now also. I mean, he has not even signed his contract. So, I was like, should I move him up? I I have him like even out of the 150 and I'm like, no. Like, I still don't want him. It's a a bad situation on paper. Really bad environment. Dylan Samson and Jerome Ford are both going to play. We got the incoming musical chairs at quarterback. He's like a two-down pounder on a bad team on in an offense that isn't going to score points and he could still get suspended. So, I'm just like, no.
>> Yeah.
>> I just don't want him. Totally agree. And to Evan's point about how bad this offense could be, we just reran the implied team total stuff from the look aheadlines, this team, the Browns, are implied to score 18 and a half points, dead last in the NFL by a wide margin. Next lowest of the Saints at 19.1 points per game. So yeah, I mean, it's just a rough situation all around. All right, story five. Speaking of suspensions, there's some fresh Rashid Rice news here. Here's what we know right now on the Rashid Rice suspension. The NFL wants eight games suspension on Rashi Rice. Rice's camp and the NFL PA think that that's crazy. They want one game or two games. So, it's going to an arbitration hearing. Sue Robinson, same arbitrator who did the Deshaawn Watson case. She is going to rule on this. What we do not know is a what will she rule in terms of how many games and b how long will it take her to make a ruling which I think matters too for when Rashi Rice's suspension actually kicks in. So I've been in favor of ticking down Rashi Rice somewhat aggressively in the ranks. I know some people think he still can come back and be a really good hammer for the fantasy playoffs. I get that. Also Evan, where do you come down on the current Rashid Rice situation? It's one of the toughest situations right now because we still have no finality to how many games he's going to be suspended. We don't know when the suspension is going to kick in. You know, I have him at 56 right now and I don't I don't love it, but I haven't moved him down. I just I don't know. I've got him between like uh DK Metaf and Devonte Smith.
>> Yeah.
>> And and and just ahead of DJ Moore. Like I don't know what to do, man. I you know, I would love for you to make a convincing case, you know, one way or the other and and I can make a move here.
>> So, the reason that I think uh I would have him lower and we have him 64 in the ETR ranks. I would probably personally have him even lower is that it could take Sue Robinson two to three weeks to make her decision. I also think don't think that Rashid Rice has a great case. This is literally on video and he literally had like felony charges. So, I mean, it's on video. It was national news. He has felony charges. I don't see what NFLA or Rashi Rice's case is going to be. And so, I think it's going to be six games, maybe more. And then I if it takes her two weeks to rule, well, now we're talking about he's not going to come back until week 14, week 15, are we really going to be like, "All right, let me just jam him right back into my lineup, maybe."
>> But, yeah. So I I I've been I feel okay being relatively out and we keep moving Xavier Worthy up. We're up to 40 overall on Xavier Worthy. Silva's at 53 overall on Xavier Worthy here as well.
>> Yeah. God, I just the the talent of Rasheed Rice, that role is so sick. I mean, it's just it's
>> speaking of Chiefs injury,
>> you know, if for some reason he only gets five games, like I want him.
>> Right? He could that five is is possible. It's it's what I do think it's going to happen this season. In other words, people keep saying, "Oh, what if it could get pushed the next from what I understand, it's going to happen this season. It's just a question of how many games." Um, speaking of Chiefs wide receiver news, Hollywood Brown back practicing from that ankle. He's just been hurt for his entire Chief's career. But if he can sustain health, he is going like free right now. Even in baseball, he's going like the 160s. We have him up at 132 in the TR ranks. Evan, any thought for you moving Hollywood back into the top 150?
>> Man, he's just so hard to trust.
>> Yeah.
>> I this this receiver receiver core is just it's killing me. I mean, I I have no firm takes, you know? I usually try to have a firm take and I just I don't have any on on these guys.
>> Yep. Yeah. I think at 160 I'd take Maris Brown. We know I feel good about where we have him in that like 130ish uh range. Okay. Story six, Bucks wide receiver news. Jaylen McMillan went down in like an awkward way on his back and that kind of got flipped over in the preseason game. He unfortunately lands on IR. They're saying he might not be back until week 10 and that seems like an optimistic or kind of a hopeful thing. Hopefully he'll be back week 10 or so. Also, Chris Godwin still not practicing. Speculation ramping up that he'll be out at least the first four weeks. Reporters saying that they haven't even seen him run out there even on a side field yet whereas other rehabbing guys are running on the side field. Evan has made some ranking changes here up to 27 overall on Mike Evans. And the big one Evan that people are going to freak out about Amecha Ebuka up to 35 overall for Silva here. Evan, go ahead on Bucks wide receiver changes.
>> Yeah, this is just a a massive fantasy situation going on here. I mean, Jaylen McMillan was going to be locked into three receiver sets to open the season. And now the Bucks are going to have to look at guys like Sterling Shepard.
>> Mhm.
>> Trey Palmer, Sterling Shepard,
>> Trey Palmer. I mean, guys that that are not going to command targets, you know, and so this is a huge shift. Jay McMillan had a pretty nice rookie season and and definitely was a candidate for a year two leap. Now he's out for at least half the season. We've continued to receive no positive reporting whatsoever on Chris Godwin. Someone was saying that he hasn't even resumed running yet.
>> Yeah.
>> Um Kate Utten is a guy that, you know, although he runs a lot of routes, he doesn't command targets either. And I think he's going to have to block quite a bit, especially if Tristan Worfs ends up missing any time. So all of a sudden you have, you know, you went you went from what looked like a really widespread ball distribution in Tampa Bay to a super condensed ball distribution in Tampa Bay. I moved up Mike Evans from wide receiver 17 to wide receiver 14. Um, and I moved Abuka up from wide receiver 40 to wide receiver 19. Yeah, I think that Ibuka could catch a 100 passes this year. I think Mike Evans could score. I mean, he has like no touchdown competition outside of like Bucky Irving at this point within this offense. Baker Mayfield threw 41 touchdown passes last year. I don't think he's throwing 41 again. Yeah. If he throws 29, like Mike Evans going to score 12 touchdowns like without any kind of a problem. And Ibuka is already a dude that has been crushing every day in practice, you know, has an extremely pro ready skill set. Baker Mayfield has talked him up unprompted and he's going to play every single snap for the foreseeable future on a shootout team that can't rush the passer defensively. He's going to give up a ton of points.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean, I I want Amecha Ebuka and I I was getting him when I had him ranked wide receiver 40. I was getting him a decent amount.
>> Yeah.
>> I want him on every single team from August 20th. We're recording this on Wednesday, August 20th until the start of the season. I want to put a Mecha Ebuka on every single one of my fantasy rosters from here on out.
>> Love it. Yeah. Um, and on top of that, another thing, they play the Dolphins in week 17, fantasy championship week. Dolphins secondary, man, could be like horrific. Um, and so, uh, you know, getting a Bucks receiver there for that week 17, uh, I think matters a lot. One thing we did do in the ETR ranks was move Baker down. We were already super low on Baker, but we're down to 96 overall on Baker. His season long ADP is there around 67. I just think that's like a bad pick. The way this has run out for Baker who needs crazy efficiency to pay off any kind of, you know, QB6, QB7 kind of tag. The hard part about the Ibuka stuff is if Godwin comes back, Chris Godwin is a big time target earner. You know, like Evan said, we have seen nothing positive on Chris Godwin. I think we're leaving the light on a little bit more for him in the ETR ranks. We have Godwin at 131, Eggbuka at 60, Mike Evans at 33. But if we just eliminated Chris Godwin, be like, you know what, he's toast. Then we'd have Eggbuka up where Evan has him. So it really comes down to what you think is going to happen with Chris Godwin. Will he comes back at some point? Right now, we are thinking he, you know, we're giving him in the ETR ranks closer to, I believe, eight games played this year, uh, roughly. Um, so yeah, I think that's the discrepancy there. Let's go to story seven. Devon Achan hurt his calf. He's going to be out of practice at least a week. I think the calf soreness stuff. I mean, people just don't want to mess with that these days, especially after watching the NBA stuff with Hallebertton, Tatum, Damen Lillard, all going down after they watch what happened to Christian McCaffrey last year where Calf turned into Achilles. Um, so they're calling it preventative on Devon Aan. Silva still dropped. Devon Han down pretty decently in his ranks. Evan, is this one scaring you? The Devon Han calf injury.
>> Yes, absolutely. You combine it with the also the potential the potentiality of this offensive environment just crumbling in Miami and I went from having Devon Achan as like a background backend firstrounder to 21st overall. And I'm I I think I put out my shy away list. list. I only have like 25 guys on it. Uh, initially I'm going to keep adding to it. Uh, I think I'm going to put Devon Hin on list.
>> Oh, no.
>> Yeah. And potentially move him down uh the ranks a little bit. I mean, I would rather have I think Jack I and I have Jackson Smith and Jigba behind him. T Higgins behind him. I mean, these guys are just really strong picks. Really strong picks. And Devon Han does not feel like a really strong pick right now.
>> I love Devon Han, man. The way he
>> So do I. I think he'd catch a 100 passes this year.
>> Like he's gotten there in so many different ways. He got there last year just on volume and catching passes in his rookie year. He got there just on no one could tackle him. There's so many different ways that he can get there. So
>> he's injured.
>> He's injured. I This feels very preventative to me, but I hear you. Um, I I'm fine having him behind Chase Brown, JT, Bucky, Jacobs if you want, but I still think that like from a ceiling perspective, Devon Chin is still
>> straight up. Would you take him over a Marian Hampton right now?
>> Yes. Yeah, I would.
>> I would. Um
>> live on the wild side, Levitan, you're a wild man.
>> Yeah. Speaking of the shy away list, uh Silva did make uh Tyreek the featured player or one of the featured players in the shy away list. You guys can read that if you have DraftKit Pro up on the site right now. But you also dropped Tyreek in the ranks from wide receiver 16.
>> Yeah. And also I received some complaints that Yeah, I put like I put some obvious guys on there.
>> I I do that every single year. I mean, I'm not going to leave out the obvious guys. And also it's not necessarily for, you know, fantasy players that have been drafting for the last four months. Diabolical people in their basement.
>> Yes.
>> You know, and I'm I've been doing that, too. Look, you know, but
>> like it's it's also for like people that are jumping in, getting the draft kit. All right, we got to avoid these guys, you know. It's not
>> it's not necessarily for people that have been drafting for months and months and months, have listened to all the shows, already know the guys that I'm out on.
>> Yeah. You know, I'm going to put obvious guys on there, but I'm also going to add to it. We wanted to get it out a little early this year because people want it, but I'm going to continue to add to it for the next at least two weeks.
>> Uh yeah. I mean, people don't realize like half the people that we're playing against in football don't even know who Jakori Krosky Merritt is. You know what I mean? And so like it's uh uh especially this time of year definitely need to reiterate some of the stuff we've been talking about for the last few months. All right, story eight. Caleb Johnson has had some negative camp reports. Evan played poorly in the first preseason game. There were reports he was underwhelming at camp. Some pass protection stuff always scary with Aaron Rogers. Played behind Gainwell in the second preseason game. Did think he looked much much better. Silva did make a move on Caleb Johnson in the ranks. is down to 90th overall on Caleb verse 67 overall on Jaylen Warren. Evan, thoughts on Pittsburgh running backs right now?
>> Jerry Doolak, who is definitely tight with many members of the Steelers front office to the extent that they literally give him who they are going to draft every year. I all you have to do is read his his chat. He does these chats on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Uh, and like the day before the draft, people were saying that he was gonna draft that the Steelers were gonna draft Shador Sanders. Jerry Doolak was like, they would not take Shadur Sanders if he falls until the fourth round, which at that time was like crazy. Sanders was, I think he was the number one most mocked player to the Steelers at 22 or wherever they drafted. Jerry Doolak is like, "No, they are not taking him."
>> Um, so you could take that to the bank. And um, God, where was I going with this? Oh, he said that the most uh disappointing aspect of Steelers training camp was has been the running game. Uh, and that falls on Caleb Johnson. Caleb Johnson has not been able to pass Gainwell and Gainwell seems like an Arthur Smith type of player or Jaylen Warren who has that veteran, you know, respect, uh, you know, chemistry probably with Aaron Rodgers. So, and and also Caleb Johnson does not have a particularly strong um receiving track record. Uh, so, he's just not he's just a guy that I'm letting other people draft at this point. I mean, you said I have I have a 90 overall. He's on the shyway list. I think he he's still got some potential and he's got upside, but uh right now he's just a guy that I'm I'm willing to let other people draft. I think that Jaylen Warren is going to come out the gate playing like 60, 65% of the snaps. Yeah, I've gotten lower on Caleb since the draft, since the NFL draft also. Um, and just if I have questions and it's close, I'm just not going to take the guy that's in an Arthur Smith offense. Like, I'm just not. And so, I mean, I talked about on market Monday. I mean, Arthur as a rookie didn't even give Bejan Robinson a full workload, you know? So, who knows what he's going to do with Caleb Johnson. All right. Uh,
>> he did in Tennessee after Matt Laflur rotate or use Deion Lewis as the leadback and Derrick Henry as a change of pace. He did reverse that. So, not everything that Arthur Smith has ever done is wrong.
>> Story number nine, we got to talk about Jets running back uh again here, Evan, because in the second preseason game, Isaiah Davis didn't play, but they continued the heavy rotation. 11 snaps with the starters for Bree Hall, eight snaps with the starters for Brilen Allen. Brilland Allen came in for a bunch of the short yardage stuff. Evan had previously buried Bree Hall in the ranks and I see no reason to change that now. We don't have him as buried in the TRX. I can explain more about that. But yeah, any more Bree Hall takes another shy away guy. I believe Evan.
>> Yeah, I I don't think that I have anything else to add that I haven't already said written in the shy on the shy away list. This is going to be a committee backfield on team that isn't going to score many touchdowns. They've got four candidates for carries, you know, on down to Isaiah Davis and of course Justin Fields. And I don't think that there's going to be much passing game volume. There's not going to be much passing game volume for the team, but to the running backs, very very little. And that's the strength of Reese Hall's game. And I I hope he ends up on a different team.
>> Yeah. Um, just on talent, I think he's more talented than Brillin and Isaiah Davis by and I and I like Brillin, but Bree is just I thought Breece was an awesome prospect. And so when a player like that gets into the 50s, I'm like, man, he's just too talented to go in the 50s. Close my eyes and take it there, but his ADP and season long is still in the 30s, you know? And so that I think that's an easy pass there. I'd agree with Evan where Brie is currently going. Let's go to another thing I just want to say about Bree like uh we're at 43 overall in the ETR half PPPR ranks but I want to be taking wide receiver at that part of the draft anyways and so we'll talk more about that. Hopefully you guys read my um perfect draft and draft strategy articles on the site. But yeah, you know, in that 40s range, maybe Breeze is okay there, but I want to be taking wide receiver anyways. All right, story 10. Speaking of running backs, Kenneth Walker continues to have this foot maintenance. Now, he's practiced, I believe, five times so far this camp. Are you worried about? And also, there's a lot of coach speak, Evan, around Zack Charbanet, the gap between him and Kenneth Walker being tighter than people realize. So, any worry for you on the Kenneth Walker foot and how you're handling him versus Charbanet?
>> I mean, you know, we did this on Man Versus Machine, and I I just, you know, I felt like Leone has this level of confidence that Kenneth Walker is going to be the dude that I just don't have in a new offense, you know, uh, with the injury history and, you know, the second round pick in Zack Charbanet and just everyone gets a clean slate. And I didn't have that, you know, I didn't have that level of confidence in Kenneth Walker and that's why I'm lower on him and I'm higher on Zack Charbanet and I feel really good about that. And I moved up Charbanet more because he's a guy I want to draft right now. He looked awesome in the second preseason game. And you know who what else looked pretty good was that interior offensive line that has been heavily criticized including by myself. Gray Zable, their first round pick was just I mean he he looked great.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, and so and Charmin looks so good. He looks like he's in great shape. He's always been better in the receiving game than Kenneth Walker. He's a guy that I want to draft right now.
>> I mean, Kenneth Walker did show a pretty high ceiling receiving profile last year, I would say. But Zack Sharp is the guy.
>> He caught a lot of passes, but he averaged like six yards a reception.
>> Yeah. I mean, Charbanet has shown he can carry a big workload and he is reliable. And they have talked about that. I mean, Kubiaak has singled uh Jac Sharbet out unprompted and McDonald's talking about how much he loves Charbanet also. So, yeah.
>> Yeah. Kenneth Walker had 46 catches last year. That's a very good number in 11 games. That's a great number in 11 games for him. Yeah.
>> But he averaged 6.5 yards per catch.
>> Uh
>> the year before he did average eight almost nine yards per reception. That's a really good number. But he was he was a guy who came out of Michigan State with almost no receiving track record. He he has shown that he's functional in that area.
>> Yeah. Um, couple more notes on the Seahawks. Uh, Elijah Royo, I'm just keep getting more and more worried about his playing time. We've moved him down in the ETR ranks towards that Fannon range because I just think Barner is going to play like every snap. I don't think Barner is a pass catcher, but he's just going to be out there for like every snap. And so, we have moved a Royo down. And then the other thing I noticed from the game, Evan, I don't know if you saw this, it was with it was the starters were out there, Darnold was out there. It's a third and one. They take out Darnold. they bring in Milro and they do the tush push uh there and so that was like maybe they'll do that at the goal line and that would not be great for Kenneth Walker or Zack Charbanet either if they start doing tush push there with Milro at the uh at the goal line. So just wanted to point that out. All right, story 11. This one is a red meat as they say for Silva. It was Christian Kirk, not Jaden Higgins in two wide receiver sets in the last preseason game. You know, I thought there was some chance that the Texans saw Christian Kirk as a slot only guy, like only in three wide receiver sets, only in the slot. So, I was at least encouraged that he was out there opposite Nico in two wide receiver set to start the game. Not great for Jaden Higgins, though. I know Evans been low on Jaden Higgins throughout this process. We've also been getting a little bit lower on Jaden Higgins incrementally in the ETR ranks. Evan, any thoughts on the Texans wide receiver stuff from their last game?
>> Well, I will say that the Texans new offensive coordinator, Nick Kaye, comes from the Shawn McVey tree where they use a lot of three receiver sets, you know?
>> I mean, historically, they've been known to play like every single snap in three receiver sets. And the Texans lost one of their sort of key reserve rotational tight ends in Brevin Jordan to a torn ACL about a week ago. Uh, so I think that this probably they probably come out of the gates being a three receiver set team, but right now Xavier Hutchinson has been playing ahead of Jaden Higgins and you wonder if Jaylen Null is ahead of Jen Jaden Higgins. So Jaden Hengins right now is on the on the shyway list. Uh, Christian Kirk and this is I think that this receiving game is going to funnel through Christian Kirk and Nico Collins. And yeah, definitely feeling good about the the Christian Kirk ranking right now. I mean, I I get him all the time in drafts.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, from the running back perspective in this game, Nick Chub started and I thought Nick Chub looked better. Doesn't mean he looked good, but looked uh better. I think he's gonna enter the season as the starter. A lot of people are getting hype about Damen Pierce. I've been taking Woody Marks as like the cheapest uh piece with the pass game ceiling, but yeah. Any final thoughts here on Texans running back?
>> I I Well, no. No, no, but I but I just to go back to Jaden Higgins. Um, I do think that there is a very good chance that as the season progresses, Jaden Higgins gets more and more work and in the second half of the season, he becomes a legit contributor. If Nico Collins goes down like all of a sudden Jaden Higgins could be you know an every week fantasy starter but to begin like you just it's hard to use a draft pick on a guy who's like a fourth or fifth receiver right now hoping that in seven weeks
>> you I mean that guy's just going to end up getting dropped like a guy who's not a starting receiver right now like he's going to end up getting dropped he's going to be the first guy to go when you need somebody
>> yeah it depends how big your bench is too if you like a 10-man bench it's easier to stash uh guys like that for But I know most people don't have that. All right, story number 12. We have to readdress the Bears because
Contrary to what's been reported in camp, they looked good in their first preseason action. Caleb goes six of 10 for 107 yards, one touchdown. No interceptions. Evan, any changes for you in ranks based on the Bears actually looking functional to good in their first preseason game?
>> Uh, yeah. I mean, it it it looked good. I mean, Caleb Williams faced zero pressure. He was he had a completely clean pocket playing against the Bills twos and threes. Um, but hey, I mean, at this point, anything I it's positive for his confidence.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, Oli Zakius like is going to open the season with a a legit role.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean, not that I'm drafting him in fantasy, but I mean, he's very clearly ahead of Luther Burden right now. the the reports are that uh Roma Dun is going to be their number one receiver, which really shouldn't surprise anyone, I don't think. And they and they've been giving him slot reps, too. Yeah. Which is really really nice to see. Um but yeah, I mean I it was good for the confidence. I just that wasn't a real life NFL scenario.
I you know I've been thinking about the Caleb like bull case stuff a lot and I think it's just comes down to do you think he was actually this generational prospect that many people thought that he was coming out you know like David who's been on the show a ton was like when Caleb's uh I guess it was his sophomore year David was like this is the best college quarterback I've ever seen you know and and so if you buy into that and then you also give him Ben Johnson also give him all these great weapons you can really get a ceiling case for Caleb that you can't get with many of these other guys that go around pick, you know, 110, 120 and guys like that. So, yeah.
>> He is a superb talent. I mean, I I I just I question the other things.
>> Yeah.
>> I don't know. There there just have been a too many whispers about his commitment level and and all and all things like that and his processing speed. Um th those are where the questions come in. He is absolutely a superb talent.
>> Uh by the way, Coulson Lovelin, nine of 14 snaps with Caleb Williams in this game. Coette was in the mix. Also, um I for I had them like close for a while. Now I don't think it's that close. I think Tyler Warren should be way ahead of Coulson Lovel in the ranks. And I kind of regret mixing that for a while. I I much prefer Tyler Warren now to Coulson Loveland.
>> Um, all right. Speaking of rookie steam story 13, this Trayvon Henderson steam, Evan, Evan, you have Trayvon Henderson up to 33 overall in the latest top 150 right there with James Cook and Kairen Williams. Lot of hype around Trayvon. I gave my take on Trayvon Market Monday, but Evan, go ahead on Trayvon hype.
>> Yeah, I had him previously somewhere in the mid-4s and like it just got to a point where you were not going to get him anymore if I had kept him in the 40s and I want I want people to get Trayvon Henderson this year. I want to get Trayvon Henderson on my team. So, I moved him up to a range where you at least have a have a shot. I think it's pretty aggressive. 33 is pretty aggressive.
>> Um what is that? End of the third round.
>> Yeah. Where did we take him in our in our draft with Leone?
>> Yeah, we got him in the fourth.
>> Early fourth.
>> Yeah, I think it was like 4.3.
>> Yep.
>> I don't think I don't think you're able to get him there anymore.
>> I know. I thought that was a reach when we did that. And by the way, you guys can check out that draft. It's on YouTube. I thought it was a reach and now it's going to end up with CLV with with closing line value, you know, and that's all that matters. Wins and losses don't matter. It's all about the closing line value. And we got that.
>> Uh uh story 14. Matthew Stafford returned to practice. This was back-to-back practices. He got in Monday and Tuesday. We'll see about Wednesday. They haven't practiced yet. I don't believe Evan has Pukanakua at 13 overall. Dvonte Adams 42 overall. I think you'd have them higher if we knew Stafford was going to be healthy all year. It's just obviously that's a huge question mark right now. But any temptation to move those guys up now that Stafford's back practicing?
>> No, because I don't think his week one status is in question. I just I'm worried about when he takes a sack.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, agree. I mean, it's a back injury for a 37 year old dude. And uh I think that Puka is going to be fine.
>> Um, even if they have to play Garopolo for five games.
>> Uh I I worry about Devonte Adams. I want him to come out guns blazing all training camp on Devonte Adams. Be ahead of ADP. Dude goes out, scores 15 touchdowns, you know? I mean, I think he can still play. It's just I he needs Stafford. He needs Stafford for that and I just don't
>> it's it's not reliable.
>> Let's go to story 15. Quinton Johnston sustained a concussion in the Chargers preseason game and you know he had been working as the X, right? So he'd been playing a lot like the three wide receiver set was Lad, Keenan, and Quinton Johnston. Keenan was the one coming in in the three wide receiver set. So Quint Johnson had been playing a ton. It looked like Lambert Smith was a direct backup to Quinton Johnson. Trey Harris is more of the backup to Lad Mani at least it looks like right now. But yeah, lot going on in Chargers wide receiver core with Keenan Allen quickly getting assimilated. Evan, any thoughts on the Quinton Johnston concussion or anything else?
>> Um, I think it was kind of interesting that Keandre Lambert Smith, who was the star of the Hall of Fame game, jumped in for uh, Quinton Johnston.
>> and then um, and Trey Harrison continues to be fairly b Trey Harris continues to be fairly buried, although he did have a very I think he had six for 85 in this game.
>> So, that was good for him.
>> But, I I think that this is going to be like a two tight end team. I mean, they've got Will Dley and Tyler Conklin, and they drafted Aronda Gadston who's made some waves. They also use a fullback at times, Scott Matlock. So, I just I don't know how how many three receiver sets this team is going to play. And I mean, Lad Mani is a baller, obviously. We know that. And Keenan Allen, it seems like you've um begrudgingly.
>> uh come to embrace that he's going to catch 75 passes this year.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh I've been taking Keen Allen when he's there in like the 130s. I I especially full PPR.
>> Yeah, I take him.
>> Um,
>> story 16.
>> James Cook, as expected, got his bag, four years, $48 million. 39 million guaranteed here for James Cook. So, the Bills, we thought this was going to get done. It does get done. They make a pretty sizable commitment to a guy who frankly only plays like 47% of their snaps. You know, $48 million and he only plays 47% of snaps. My thought was if you're going to give him this much money at the running back position, maybe he needs to play more. You know, maybe he needs to take some pass down snaps from Tai Johnson. Maybe he needs to stay out there for every series instead of giving Ray Davis a series here or there. So, I thought it was pretty bullish, even though expected for James Cook, Ev. Any thoughts on the contract from the Bills to James Cook?
>> I'm just glad it got done. It got done in plenty of time, too. I mean, he's going to have had over well over three weeks of practice time under his belt before week one.
>> Yeah.
>> Over 80% of this deal, assuming that the guarantees are are legit, over 80% of this four-year 48 million dollar deal is guaranteed.
>> Um, you know, he was dropping in drafts. I mean, you had Matthew Barry going on the uh Jimmy Fallon show uh talking about uh fading James Cook and and then literally the next day I think he signed the signed the contract and he was talking about and that you know I'm not ripping Matthew Barry or anything like that. It was just kind of funny.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean and and he was right about everything he said at the time. It's just the next day James Cook signed his contract.
>> But uh
>> yeah.
>> No, I think he's going to end up being a good pick for anybody that got him like in the fourth and fifth round for sure.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean, the tough part for me is just the TD rate. I mean, he scored he only had 207 carries last year. 207 carries, and he scored 16 rushing touchdowns on 207 carries. And yeah, that season's going to happen. It can go the other way. The year before, James Cook had 237 carries and he had two rushing touchdowns. So, like, you know, when you're relying that much on touchdowns like he is, it's a bit scary to me. But at the back end of the third round there, there's not a lot of great picks that I want to make. And so I think it's just like, okay, you know, I'm like, all right, whatever. I'll take I'll take the
>> touchdown rate is definitely coming down. I mean, there's no question. The good news is the Bills score a lot of touchdowns.
>> for sure.
>> And he is the lead back in a high-scoring offense, right?
>> With
>> with like the best offensive line in the league, too.
>> And after this contract, like I was saying, maybe they give him a little bit more from those other guys.
>> All right, story 17. I mean, at this point, I feel bad for the guy. Marshon Lloyd hamstring pull unlikely for week one in 2024. Marshon Lloyd had hip, hamstring, ankle, and appendicitis injuries in on July 28th of this year. Hurts his groin, comes back August 16th, hurts his hamstring at this point, just undraftable to me on Marshon Lloyd, which is painful for me to say because I thought if he could sustain health, he would actually be have a factor be be a factor this year. They don't trust him. They can't trust him. I don't blame him. I don't trust him anymore. And frankly, like Josh Jacobs at the two-3 turn, he's going to pay that off. I mean, there's just like no one to steal from Josh Jacobs right now. Offense is going to be functional. So, yeah. Evan, any thoughts on the latest Marshon Lloyd injury? Sad times.
>> I think that I have nothing to add to what you said, unfortunately. and he was a guy that, you know, whenever he's healthy for the, you know, days that he is, like I I'll be willing to draft him, but it's it's brutal because he's a really talented guy.
>> All right, last one here. Story 18. Small one, but Tyler Goodson got hurt, shoulder injury in their uh preseason game.
>> Um, and he was battling DJ Giddens to be Jonathan Taylor's backup. They both iced Khalil Herbert. So, I thought that was notable. DJ Giddon reportedly had a good camp. Jonathan Taylor doesn't always play on passdowns. There's like room for Giddens to be a one be a pretty profitable one injury away back. So, I just want to put that out there. And then in other running back handcuff news, Will Shipley rested with the starters in the Eagles game and they made AJ Dylan play in that game. So, conclusion there looks like Will Shipley is pretty decently ahead there of AJ Dylan.
>> All right, that is going to do it for this look at NFL news, preseason games, and ranking changes. Be sure you're subscribed on YouTube. It is indeed free. Plenty more videos coming out before we get to peak peak peak drafting season. If you have draft coming up, be sure you check out Silva's shy away list, my draft strategy, my round by round guide and favorite picks, as well as all of our rankings for Evan, for Sir Ryan, for producer Luke. I am Adam. Good luck everybody.