Hardware Week

It's championship week!  The FFW crew is here to help you bring home the hardware in our final long-form edition of FFW for the 2024 season.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Time now for Fantasy Football Weekly from iHeartRadio, your weekly
source for the nation's best fantasy speculation and advice.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Now along with the guys.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
From dat leagues dot com, here's your host, Paul Jargon.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
It is a championship edition of Fantasy Football Weekly. I
am Paul Jarchi and my co host today Matt Harrison
and Thor Nistro. Joh, Hey, great to have you back, man.
What am I doing here? I know it's been a
while we've missed you. It's great to have you back,
and we're gonna help people bring home the hardware. If
you're listening right now, hopefully you're live at least one

(00:39):
of your leagues. Feels good to get to the finish line.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
I hope we have more than like ten percent of
our listening audience week one, So.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
If you're only in one league, you probably only have
a tet roughly ten percent chance mathematically making although we
think if you listen to the show, you you have
it's probably better the odds two up to twelve, up
to at least or if you're in like a dozen
leagues and you really ought to be leaving alive in
a couple right you you should be.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
I mean thor are you alive in any like guillotine
leagues or anything like that.

Speaker 4 (01:12):
I'm happy there's I'm happy there's only ten percent of
our listenership today because I have to break some devastating
years the guillotine team against my coworkers. Not only did
I crash and burn this past week, they let me
have it.

Speaker 5 (01:28):
Oh, it is the guillotine for sure.

Speaker 4 (01:31):
I went on to talk about the NFL draft, and
I'm going in. I'm talking about the top eleven risers
from Round one of the playoffs. You know, I'm like
ready to go, and freaking Dwayne. He starts playing all
the smack talk I did on this show about the guillotine.
And Dwayne had just days before beaten my guillotine team

(01:54):
by like sixty points. Like, oh, it wasn't even remotely close.
And and you know it's even worse. The other guy
that advanced Friedman, he had Jalen hurt.

Speaker 6 (02:05):
Wow. Yeah, he didn't even have a full repertoire. No,
and he smoked me too.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Wow, you had a good team, but last week it
just happened at all these good players, Like I don't know,
if I don't remember, if you had Dereck Henry. But
Dereck Henry wasn't even used in the second half because
the Ravens got up by so much. Yeah, you know,
and they were just all these Saquan had a quiet games.
They were just all these superstars that had quiet games
last week that just eliminated Powerhouse. Guillotine League.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Kid.

Speaker 6 (02:33):
It's it's it's a really traumatic thing.

Speaker 5 (02:37):
And the late season, I can tell your crush.

Speaker 4 (02:40):
And I'm only talking about this show having to get
to that. I mean, like they am boys hit and
then now you got to talk about the draft prospects.

Speaker 6 (02:47):
It was like I was still getting over the loss
of my my Guillotine team. Yeah, poor thor Man. Tough scenes.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, you battle for like fifteen weeks.

Speaker 4 (02:54):
Yeah they get chopped quause I dominated for fifteen weeks,
by the way, And I don't want to get back
into that.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
It might be worse to get chopped in week sixteen
than it is in like week two.

Speaker 4 (03:05):
Oh, I would so much rather go in week one,
because let's just say both have happened to me.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, you've experienced both in my spectrum.

Speaker 6 (03:11):
I want it right away, painless done.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
We're gonna go through all the matchups, letter grades, and
all the players that matter. And I think you're gonna
find we're gonna hone some of our discussion to the
players who are relevant in the final week of the season,
so you will not be hearing a lot of the
third tier guys as much. Take a chance on me
as always, that's still totally valid in Week seventeen, and

(03:34):
we'll answer three tough questions, some of those forward looking
to next year. And let's roll up our sleeves. Matt
let's speakin with Denver taking on Cincinnati. The Cincinnati defense
might be the worst in the league. So I gotta
believe there's some Denver Broncos we can start here.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, I got a couple. I got a B grade
on bow Knicks. Since Week eight, that's eight games for Nicks.
He's thrown seventeen touchdown passes just over to a game,
and he's averaging two hundred and forty eight yards. But
let's temper those n expectations little bit here. In that
span of eight really good fantasy games, he's played seven
teams in the bottom half of the league in pass defense.
His opponents couldn't have been easier for the last two months,

(04:10):
and entering the Bengals, who just keep that train going.
Bengals are bottom ten in pass yards and touchdowns, rushing
yards and rushing touchdowns the quarterback, so he'll get numbers
on Saturday, but pay attention to the opponents he faced
when you rank Knicks for next year.

Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah, and the last thing I'll mention on Knicks is
they've taken the wheels off him. He doesn't run anymore,
not as much. I want to say, sure, having in
front of me, but like last six games, he's averaging
three designed runs a game.

Speaker 3 (04:35):
It is.

Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, and nobody used the word regression or coming back
to the you know, no, don't get into that.

Speaker 3 (04:42):
It's worth noting since he is one of the teams
that could steal Denver's playoff spot. So this is a
big game for both teams. So a Cortland Sutton is
the only other Bronco you'd start here, and I'll throw
a B grade his way. The Bengals are giving up
a lot to quarterbacks, but so much of it has
been to tight ends and pass catching runners that they're
actually kind of good against wide receiver. They're allowing just
shy of eleven receptions per game to wide receivers, and

(05:04):
you spread that around with Sutton and Vele and Marvin
Mims and Troy Franklin and little Jordan Humphrey, who are
all averaging two receptions per game. So Sutton's probably looking
at four to five catches. It's just what he gets anyway.
But he does have the best chance to score, as
he's been Nick's favorite target near the end zone. If
you can figure out the Denver running backs, call me
and let me know. I can't figure it out. Nobody's

(05:25):
starting any of those guys in a championship week, So
let's go to Cincy. Jamar Chase still gets the A grade,
and I'm not that afraid of starting t Higgins either.
He gets a B, noting that he's been limited in
practice this week, but he's trending toward playing. The last
time the Broncos faced an AFC North opponent, it was
Cleveland just a few weeks ago. Jerry Judy had nine
for two thirty five and one. Elijah Moore had eight

(05:47):
for one eleven nine. Yeah, I'll mention this on the
Higgins thing. Yeah, his is because I think this is
worth this is we're paying attention to. If Higgins is
in or out makes a big difference for Jamar Chase
because where Patrick Cirtan shadows, and Patrick Sirtan might be
the best cornerback in the league, sure where he shadows.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
As if the opposing receiver team has one good receiver
when T Higgins is playing, then the Bengals have two
good receivers. And I don't think it's gonna be all
Sirtan on Chase.

Speaker 3 (06:19):
You know what, I don't think it's gonna be either,
because Sirtan never goes to the slot and Chase runs
thirty four percent of his routes from the slot, so
roughly a third of his routes are going from the slot,
and Higgins is about twenty percent. So, especially if Higgins
is healthy and going, I think there's enough for each
of these guys to move in and out of the
slot avoid the tough matchup. And I think that we're

(06:41):
okay here. The Broncos have allowed eighteen double digit fantasy
days to wide receivers in fifteen games, most of the
games where they did well against the pass.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
Here's the quarterbacks.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
They've faced justin fields, Aaron Rodgers, Gardner, Minshew Aiden O'Connell,
Spencer Rattler, bad Kirk Cousins Minshew again, Anthony Richards said
that might be more.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
All of them have either been benched or were benched
at the start of the season.

Speaker 5 (07:06):
Exactly.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, So I'm not scared of the receivers and I'm
not scared of starting Joe Burrow with an A grade
either of the last four quarterbacks they have faced who
are not on the list. I just rattled off, We're
justin airbear, Jamis Winston, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson. They averaged
three hundred and thirty one passing yards and two and
a half touchdowns against the Broncos, so I'm fine with them. Finally,

(07:28):
Chase Brown, this one's a little bit complex. Denver actually
fantastic against the run, only allowing three point nine yards
per carry and seven scores to running backs on the air,
both in the top five where it flips as They've
allowed the seventh most receptions and receiving yards to opposing
backs and the third most receiving touchdowns. Chase Brown has
had at least three receptions and seven three receptions in

(07:50):
seven straight games and in the last five weeks. He's
sixth in the league in running back receptions, so in PPR.
I think he does enough to have a pretty good day.
I'll give him a B grade here and then one
more thing. You might have noticed. I was gone for
a while. Scott Fish and Thor covered for me a
whole bunch in the last couple of weeks.

Speaker 5 (08:07):
Thank you both to both of you, guys.

Speaker 3 (08:09):
Longtime listener of Fantasy Football Weekly and zero time fantasy player.
My mom, Kathy Harrison, passed away last week after a
tough battle with pancreatic cancer. I've been kind of helping
her up north for the past couple of months. She
always listened to the show. She told me she had
no idea what we were talking about. Ye, but she's
still enjoyed. Yeah, she still enjoyed the humor and the

(08:31):
energy and much of that I get from her. So
I'm going to miss her and try to honor her
memory by telling dumb jokes and talking about fake football teams.
So cheers to Mom. Enjoy your dirty martini and a
side of dill pickle in heaven.

Speaker 2 (08:45):
Rest in peace. Yeah, Matt's mom Kathy right, Rat's mom Harrison, Yes,
Kathy Harrison right, just.

Speaker 5 (08:51):
Like my name.

Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, how about them? Well, you know I didn't want
to make any assumptions. You never you never know that's true.
Could be different. Yeah, Thor Arizona takes on the Rams.
It looks like James Connor will be available for this game,
but we don't know for sure, so I guess we
assume Connor's going here.

Speaker 4 (09:09):
All the reports are optimistic, so I'm going to give
him a bee. He is officially questionable with the knee
injury that he've got in the overtime loss to Carolina,
but you know, we're we're turning towards playing and if so,
he's probably gonna assume a big workload here. Trey Benson
is another guy with his status up in the air.
He appears to Benson appears to be trending towards playing two.

(09:31):
I'm going to keep him with a bench grade, but
Connor gets the beef.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
If Connor can't go and Benson does, which honestly I
kind of I don't. I'm not rooting for injury. Never
never do that, Mann. I'd love to see what Trey
Benson does on twenty two arries. You know, I would
love to see to see that.

Speaker 6 (09:49):
Yes, I would love to see that too.

Speaker 4 (09:51):
Kyler Murray, we're giving him a BEE as well. He
has a touchdown to interception ratio of four to six
in the past five weeks, not the best. Murray did
have twenty fantasy points in that aforementioned lost to the
Carolina Panthers last week. The Rams defense that Arizona's playing
this week has allowed eighteen plus fantasy points to four
quarterbacks since Week eight, and Murray did have twenty eight

(10:14):
points against the Rams back in Week two. Going way
back could be a second straight good game coming here.
Murray had a twelve to three td I and T
rate before the buye. He is going to have to
navigate offensive line issues though. The Cardinals just placed both
their starting tackles on high r which not good. Perhaps
not the best, but yeah, I said it with a
be there Marvin Harrison Junior giving him a C. He

(10:36):
has gone under nine fantasy points in two straight games
and nine to fifteen total this season.

Speaker 6 (10:41):
He does have twenty.

Speaker 4 (10:42):
Two targets over the past three games, but he didn't
have more than four catches or forty nine yards in
any individual one of them. The fifty two percent catch
rate is problematic and may I say surprising.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, we haven't talked to yet.

Speaker 6 (10:55):
What happened? What happened about his BOS scales? Where did
they go?

Speaker 2 (10:57):
H Where did they go?

Speaker 6 (10:58):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (10:59):
His quarterback is not throwing a lot of accurate passes.
That's Harrison is part of the problem. We'll dive into
that in the offseason. That has been an under discussed
topic on this show. Marvin Harrison's failing.

Speaker 6 (11:09):
We might have to have a full well not just
a fall episode.

Speaker 4 (11:12):
We might have to do like a serial podcast into
that thing, Like.

Speaker 5 (11:16):
Is it gonna be like an intervention kind of a thing.

Speaker 6 (11:18):
Maybe, Yeah, we'll bring him in one of the one
of the episodes.

Speaker 4 (11:22):
And the Rams pass defense has played better recently, so
I gave Harrison Junior a see. Trey McBride is the
A and the must start moving over to the Rams.
Matthew Stafford great a see on him. He had his
first back to back sub two hundred yard passing games
since last season the middle of last season, only scored
fourteen fantasy points the last two games combined. The Cardinals

(11:44):
defense held him to just six points six fantasy points
back in Week two. Stafford did not, of course, have
a passing touchdown in that game, and he only has
one passing touchdown in the last two weeks. Despite the
Rams being on a four game winning streak, Arizona has
allowed just two quarterbacks to score more than seventeen and
a half fantasy points since Week seven. So I'm a
little bit tepid there. Gave him a c Kyant and

(12:06):
Puka of course are as and must starts. Iago Cooper
Cup down to a bee. Since Week eight. Cup has
been the wide receiver twenty four and fantasy points per game,
but in three of the last four games he has
failed to surpass thirty receiving yards.

Speaker 5 (12:20):
Wow.

Speaker 4 (12:20):
Ouch, the volume could be and Dash should be there
this week though, which is where you sort of shade
it uptimistic. Arizona has run the highest preponderance of two
high coverage safety looks in the entire NFL since Week ten.
Cups first read share spikes to nearly thirty percent against
too high tend to look for him in these coverage looks.

(12:42):
That's the optimistic thing there. Everyone else is on the bench.

Speaker 2 (12:45):
We'll talk more about Cooper Cup a little bit later
in the show. Chargers taking on the Patriots. We have
a change of running back JK. Dobbins. Yeah, Zach Yeah,
Gus Edwards out and probably not gonna play out next
week as well, So we'll who cares about week eighteen.
It's week eighteen. Nobody cares JK. Dobbins, though, we'll return.
Dobbins started the season on fire, then languished playing hurt,

(13:08):
and then ultimately ended up on ir. We don't really
know is he like one hundred percent? Is he ninety percent?
But this is an interesting opportunity. The last two weeks,
opposing runners have hammered the Patriots for six yards per
carry and four touchdowns in those two games. So JK.
Dobbins as comes back here with a B grade and
I kind of like him in this matchup against New England.

(13:30):
Hopefully he's near one hundred percent. Let's go to the
passing game. Ladenincaky comes into the B Garrett grade as well.
The single biggest strength of the Patriots is their secondary,
which has obliterated the last three opposing wideouts, during which
no receiver has topped sixty yards and only one has scored.
Last week, no Bills receiver topped even twenty five yards.

Speaker 6 (13:53):
Now.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
Fortunately for lad mccacky, he runs from the slot and
slack cornerback Marcus Jones is the weakest link of the
Patriots cornerbacks and he's hurt. Last week Alex Austin took
his spot and gave up two catches on three targets,
So the opportunities will still be there for lad McConkie
and he comes in with a B grade. We're putting
Quinton Johnston on the bench. As I just mentioned, this
is a tough matchup, and Johnson is a low volume

(14:15):
touchdown dependent receiver. Over the past six games, the Patriots
have only allowed five wide receiver touchdowns, and three of
those five would to far better players like Cooper Cup
and Pooka Kakua. So Quinn Johnson's out all the rest
of all the tight ends will Disley if he plays,
Hayden Hurst, Tucker Fisk, Stone Smart all out. They cannibalize
each other, and that leaves us with this guy. The

(14:37):
air mayre justin Herbert. Even though Herbert's coming off a
good game with some extra rest and should be as
healthy as he's been in like a month, I'm still
leery of him in this matchup. The Patriots just neutralized
Josh Allen and Kyler Murray in consecutive weeks. If Herbert
had better wideouts. I'd like this more, but after McConkie

(14:58):
it drops off a cliff, so I'm only going CE
grade on Justin Herbert in this game. I've got a
couple of C grades on the New England side for you,
Beginning in the running game with Romandre Stevenson. He got
healthy over the Patriots Week fourteen by and then in
fifteen and sixteen. He's been running hard, averaging five point
two yards per carry, including a touchdown last week, but

(15:20):
his usage is down from the workhorse role that he
had earlier this year as Antonio Gibson is getting an
increasing workload. Chargers run defense has lapsed lately over the
last four weeks, LA giving up four point nine yards
per carry along with five touchdowns to runners in those
four games. So I still like Stevenson and still startable

(15:40):
in a championship week, but only at a C grade.
Drake may almost always finds a way to a decent
box score despite playing with the worst offensive line in football.
The Chargers secondary started the season strong, but they've wilted,
and over the past seven games, five touchdowns have scored
two times against the Chargers, three of them scored three
or four touchdowns. In the last two weeks, bo Nicks

(16:02):
and Baker Mayfield have run for twenty five yards, which
is about where it may usually fall. So I think
it's gonna help you out a little bit with his
legs as well. If you're in a two quarterback league
super flex league, Drake May plausible second quarterback with a
C grade. And the only only quarterback that you would
consider playing for New England is or the only receiver
end up considering playing is the tight end Hunter Henry.

(16:23):
He's been Drake May's most reliable receiver, but this is
a very difficult matchup against a great tight end defense,
maybe the best tight end defense in the league. Chargers
have allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points to tight ends.
They've only given up one tight end touchdown all year.
So even though Hunter Henry has been safe, I don't
love him here and I can only get you to

(16:44):
a C grade and you're not starting any of the
Patriots wide receivers for sure. But you know, let me
mention this in dynasty leagues, and I'm thinking about doing
this in our Empire league and the.

Speaker 5 (16:53):
One that's about to end to end.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Kaishan Boute Kaishon booty. It's a deep dash stash player.

Speaker 5 (17:03):
Going for some booty bingo.

Speaker 2 (17:04):
You could heading into the offseason when we come back,
take a chance on me. Nine players you wouldn't normally start,
and guys you could even start. If you need a
hail mary in week seventeen, we'll talk them about them.
Would we come back, take a chance on me nine

(17:38):
players you would not normally start. Maybe you need a
hail mary in this the championship week. Maybe you've played
against Derrick Henry and you and Blabar Jackson both and
now you need something special to happen.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
Maybe you had Jalen Hurts and you're searching for a
quarterback desperately.

Speaker 2 (17:55):
So Matt, what quarterback could I use?

Speaker 3 (17:57):
You know, charg you always tell me to try a
Titans quarterback. You say it'll work out great.

Speaker 2 (18:03):
One of these years tis the season.

Speaker 3 (18:05):
So Rudolph, with your arm so bold, won't you guide
me to fantasy gold Mason Rudolph as might take a
chance on me quarterback. He doesn't have a glowing red nose,
but I love the way he's just chucking it the
last couple of weeks, and he likes to chuck it
into the end zone multiple touchdowns in both of his
last two starts. Andy Face is a Jags defense that's
allowed the most passing yards and the fourth most passing touchdowns.

(18:27):
It would have to be a Jalen Hurts you're scrambling
for options kind of thing. But he's a better option
than his former teammate Kenny Pickett, who's going to start
for the Eagles. So stash him on your bench just
in case. Or if you're playing against the Hurts owner, Yeah,
stash him on your bench just in case so he
can't be used by that user.

Speaker 2 (18:44):
Yep, this is a this is a plus matchup here. Yeah,
there's you know, there's there's potential magic here from Mason
Rudolph of all people in seventeen. Imagine you win your
league with Mason Rudolph as your pickup quarterback? Yeah, thor,
who is your take a chance with me?

Speaker 6 (19:00):
Anthony Richardson against the Giants.

Speaker 4 (19:02):
In last week's win over those aforementioned Titans, Richardson scored
twenty Fantasy points with a career high seventy rushing yards.
And we've been trending this way of using Richardson's legs
more since he was reinstated as quarterback one in Week eleven.
Before that, he had six point eight carries per game.
Now he's at nine flat. He's had four games of

(19:22):
seven plus design runs in his past five starts, and
that was his second consecutive I'm sorry, second twenty plus
point game in his last three starts. And this is
a plumb matchup against a terrible Giants defense.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
You'll need to watch his injury status unfortunately, as he's
got I think knee, hip, ankle something, and.

Speaker 3 (19:40):
I like that the Colts aren't fighting it anymore and
they're just like, yeah, go run have fun.

Speaker 2 (19:45):
Well why not? I mean that should have been the
attitude all along with Richards into my opinion, Bryce Young
has played well. Speaking of guys who've running touchdowns, Bryce Young, Yeah,
rushing touchdowns in three of the last four games.

Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah, how about that? The Bryce Young CJ shroud that
everyone thought was over? Yeah, add and Anthony richardson that
so fast, my friend.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
Over the last six games, Young is finished as a
quarterback one four times in six games. He's thrown touchdowns
in every game since its return to the starting lineup
in Week eight. Now, granted it's usually one touchdown, but nevertheless,
he's scored touchdowns and every one of his starts since
coming back, and he's, as I mentioned, run in scores
in three or four games. Easy matchup against a wounded
Tampa secondary five different players are injured. Cooper rushed through

(20:29):
for almost three hundred yards against Tampa last week. Bryce
Young gets back Adam Xavier Legett, who is somebody you
could potentially start in this game as well, and we'll
talk a little bit more about him later in the show.
Bryce Young as a take a chance at me quarterback.
Let's go to the running back position.

Speaker 3 (20:46):
Man, I've got Rashad White. Yes, Bucky Irving's the number one. Yes,
that doesn't matter against the Panthers. In week thirteen, when
these two teams faced off, White had eleven carries and
seventy six yards. That's six point nine to nice yards
per carry.

Speaker 5 (21:00):
Plus.

Speaker 3 (21:00):
White is still way more involved in the passing game
and in pass blocking opportunities, which is meaning White is
usually getting the higher snap count between the two running backs.
Last week, he saw eight targets, seven receptions and fifty
yards through the air against Dallas, and he scored six
receiving touchdowns in the last nine games. In the last
in eight of the last nine he scored double digit
PPR points. He's a starter this week.

Speaker 2 (21:22):
Bucky Irving is a plus and Rashad Way can help. Oh,
we can talk about Bucky Irving. We'll get to him
later in this show. His superhuman status A baby. I
love I love that guy. Let's go to thor your
take a chance with me running back.

Speaker 4 (21:35):
I'm gonna do reco daddle against the Eagles. Last week
was Donald's first with under one hundred rushing yards in
a game since Week twelve. Thirteen carries twenty three yards
against a very good Tampa Bay Buccaneers run defense. Rushing
yards per attempt average fell from six in his previous
three games to one point eight in that one. I
will say the Eagles do have one of.

Speaker 6 (21:55):
The best run defenses.

Speaker 4 (21:57):
Yes, they too maybe the past, and they have surrendered
the second fewest fantasy points to running backs this year.
But I'm not doing a great self. I'm gonna turn
this ship around. I still do think that there's bounced
back potential here because Daudo for sure is gonna be
the focal point of the offense. With Ceedee Lamb out
for the year, and even with last week included the

(22:18):
last five games, average nineteen point four carries per game,
twenty one point four touches per game, one hundred and
twelve scrimmage yards per game, handed, sixteen plus touches in
five straight games. I think he's gonna get there here,
probably broached twenty here.

Speaker 6 (22:34):
We'll see roll of the dice, you know, Oh no,
bring in the tanks, Bring.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
In the tanks. That's right, Tank Bigsby against Tennessee. Bigsby's
usage trending up. He's supposed double digit carries in three
straight games, and he's out rutching Traves Etn over those
three games. And importantly, Etn has one carry from inside
the five since Week two. Who he is a non
factor at the goal line. Trank Tank Bigsby will face

(23:05):
the Titans that is a slumping run defense. Jonathan Taylor
just gashed him for two hundred and eighteen yards and
three scores a week before that. Chase Brown topped one
hundred yards scored twice week before that, who scored a
touchdown against Tennessee. Tank bigs me, Tank Bigsby, you take
a chance of you're running back for week number seventeen, You're.

Speaker 6 (23:27):
Tank a chance on we running.

Speaker 2 (23:28):
Back, Ohome, I haven't thought of that earlier.

Speaker 5 (23:31):
I'm glad you guys like puns.

Speaker 2 (23:33):
Well some more.

Speaker 6 (23:35):
That makes two of us.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yes, all right, you're.

Speaker 3 (23:38):
Take a chance with me, receiver man, Well, since you
like puns. Scott Fish was on this last week. Saw
piggyback here or maybe chiggy back. Let's go grab Chiga conkquell. Yeah,
that was that was bad. Sorry, I'm gonna leave now.

Speaker 6 (23:50):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (23:50):
In Mason Rudolph's last two games, he's just been laser
focused on chigakonk will In Week fifteen to ten targets
eight catches fifty nine yards. In week sixteen eleven targets,
nine catches, eighty one yards. No touchdowns in that span,
but the Jags have allowed the sixth most touchdowns to
the tight end position. Let's go chig a kon.

Speaker 2 (24:11):
Kuo Jega konku. Yeah, tip of the hat. Scott Fish
isn't here, but we're gonna give him the peacock anyway.
He identified two Titans to use down the stretch. With
his easy run of players, he urged you to pick
up and start spearers like three weeks ago and now
Chiga Konku.

Speaker 6 (24:30):
Last week.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
All right, thor you're taking chance with your receiver, your
last one of the year.

Speaker 6 (24:34):
Could I interest you in another injured colts against it?

Speaker 4 (24:40):
This time we are taking a chance on Alec Piers,
who was in the concussion protocol. As of Friday, he
has been cleared to play. And because of this, I
think this is a This game, I think is a
tremendous matchup for Alec Pearce's game. Alec peers number one
in the NFL in deep targets, yeah, and number two
with over twenty two yards per reception. The Giants allow

(25:04):
get this sixty two percent completion rate on deep passes
that is more than more than five percentage points worse
than the next closer than the thirty first like.

Speaker 2 (25:16):
The NFL average on deep passing completion percentage like forty
five percent. Yes, that is it.

Speaker 4 (25:21):
Yes, this is like throwing an intermediate pass against anyone
else is chucking it deep against the Giants. The deep
ball guys like Kelvin Austin, Amari Cooper is now on
a on a milk carton and Rashot Bateman all had
their best game Fantasy games of the season against the Giants.
I think there's a shot that Alec Pierce might two.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
Now for my final take a chance on me of
the year, it came down to Xavier Lagette thor or Yep, Jalen.

Speaker 4 (25:50):
Ca Well you know I'm I'm the head of the
kok Heads, right you are?

Speaker 1 (25:55):
You know?

Speaker 6 (25:56):
Okay, good, good good?

Speaker 2 (25:57):
Yes, absolutely one of us, one of undrafted from Holy Cross,
just like us.

Speaker 6 (26:02):
The kids. I was, of course, yeah, we all were. Yep.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
The kid's getting a ton of playing time. He's averaging
an eighty five percent snap rate over the last three starts.
He's one wreeked removed one week removed from a one
hundred and ten yard game. There was a lot of
wo sounds that I really struggled with. Tampa Bay's secondary
is a weck with injuries. Four guys on ir stud
safety Antoine Winfields known with the knee injury, in his

(26:28):
backup cave On Mereweather also unknown with the knee injury.
So yeah, Jalen Coker, I know, I know you like,
I know you liked him. You're glad that he landed
with the team and now he's got an opportunity.

Speaker 6 (26:38):
Sure does.

Speaker 4 (26:39):
Yeah, he is birsty as an NFL frame and his
ball skills are tremendous. Yeah, I was very bolished on
Jalen Coker coming out happy.

Speaker 2 (26:45):
He got an opportunity, Carolina taking on on the same team,
Carolina take on Tampa.

Speaker 6 (26:50):
Talk about Coker, Matt, we've the rest of the show.

Speaker 2 (26:52):
I've already hit on Bryce Young and Jalen Coker in
this one. You want to stick with the passing.

Speaker 3 (26:56):
Game, Sure, Adam feln was the only other starting grade
I gave the passing game. I gave him a C
grade for a lot of the reasons Sharks listed for Coker.
The matchup is fantastic. Feelan saw ten targets, eight catches,
ninety nine yards in a score in last month's meeting
with the Bucks. I didn't go so far as Xavier
Lagette coming back off an injury in a fantasy championship.
That seems a little bit too cute for me. Tuba

(27:17):
Hubbard's the only other Panther you'd consider starting. He's injured
right now. It looks like he's gonna play. I'll give
him a C grade, but it's closer to a bench.
Tampa figured out one thing defensively, it's run stopping. In
the last six games, only one back is top forty
three rushing yards and that was sincere McCormick hitting seventy eight.

(27:37):
And they've only allowed one total touchdown to the running
back position since Week ten, which includes Hubbard getting forty
three yards on twelve carries in the prior meeting.

Speaker 2 (27:46):
Then Hubbard fubbled away the game in overtime tragically. Yeah,
I was appeeling a victory away from the Panthers.

Speaker 3 (27:52):
Well, on the Bucks side, I think you should probably
start Bucky Irving. Yes, Rashad White was might take a
chance on me her, but we all know the Panthers
have the worst run defense in the league. But charge
did you know that the slipperiest substance in the world
is called bam. No, it's called bam BAM. It's a
mix of boron, aluminum and magnesium and it was accidentally

(28:17):
created in a laboratory in ames, Iowa in nineteen ninety
nine cyclones. Yeah, do you know who was born in
ames Iowa in nineteen ninety nine?

Speaker 6 (28:26):
Oh boy, here we go and is coded in BAM.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
Is that Bucky Irving?

Speaker 6 (28:31):
It's Bucky Irving.

Speaker 2 (28:32):
No, he was not borns He.

Speaker 3 (28:36):
Was actually born in Chicago in two thousand and two.
But it's in the same region and in the same
stretch of.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Years, in the same time zone.

Speaker 5 (28:45):
That's right.

Speaker 3 (28:47):
Bucky Irving had twenty five carries for one hundred and
fifty two yards and a score in last month Panthers game.
A grade for Bucky. Actually, Ardvark for Bucky. Let's get
that Ardvark out there.

Speaker 2 (28:57):
Baby. We haven't had the ardvark yeah forever. Oh, it's
good to hear from the yard part, you know, speaking
of speaking of animal sounds, speaking of animal sounds. I
need I need Bucky. I need something for Bucky on
the on the the sound bar.

Speaker 3 (29:11):
What about you need an Emerald Legassi going bam because
he's so slippery.

Speaker 6 (29:15):
No, dude, like God might be.

Speaker 2 (29:17):
Lost than anybody who has it doesn't know this segment.
What about the sound of a beaver?

Speaker 6 (29:23):
I was I was thinking, Caddy shock, Caddy shock. I mean,
isn't it close enough? Bucky? He started with the golds, Yeah,
he started, he started with the wovers.

Speaker 2 (29:35):
He didn't finish here. Yeah, it's tragic, all right, anyway, continue,
all right, gonna work. We gotta workshop this sounder.

Speaker 5 (29:41):
We got plenty of time.

Speaker 3 (29:43):
Baker Mayfield has been on fire the last three weeks,
with at least two hundred and eighty eight yards in
every game and nine touchdown passes in those three. The
last time he didn't do amazing work it was against
these Panthers four weeks ago, still a solid B grade.
Worried that the game script could favor the runover the pass.
But I know he still has some work to do
in the air, because Mike Evans is one hundred and

(30:05):
eighty two yards short of an eleventh straight one thousand
yard season and a big contract bonus, and he's going
to get it this week against the Panthers. Second Ardvark
of the matchup, Mike Evans gets.

Speaker 2 (30:19):
Up there, I thought the guard per game what happened?

Speaker 3 (30:22):
Well, Panthers starting corner j C. Horn started the year
off great, tailed off recently and he's doubtful with a
hip injury.

Speaker 5 (30:30):
Chow Smith Wade is out.

Speaker 3 (30:32):
He was already a special teamer that they converted the
corner That leaves Dane Jackson and Duke Marriott tech Theratrix
taking a spot. And only one of those names is
from Key and Peel Well, I know which one. Jalen
McMillan has scored in three straight games. His matchup is
very good and the Bucks definitely have something to play for.

Speaker 4 (30:53):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (30:53):
He's made a few rookie mistakes, but the talent is
is good and the opportunities, more importantly have been there.
With seven and seven targets in the last three weeks.
I will give a C grade to McMillan if you
lost a guy like CD Lamb for the season, because
McMillan should see some extra targets.

Speaker 2 (31:09):
With Kate Oughten out this week, I think I think
you're under undervaluing McMillan. I think he's got the opportunity
now a very big game.

Speaker 3 (31:16):
It's just if you have a championship roster, I gotta
think you got better wide receiver options than this. It
would be a really bold strategy to start Kate Outen
this week, by the way, he's out, I know, really
really bold.

Speaker 6 (31:28):
Yeah, bold strategy at yeah.

Speaker 2 (31:31):
Oh you don't say it took me a minute. Sorry, Sorry,
there we go.

Speaker 5 (31:37):
It's just trying to.

Speaker 6 (31:41):
We're late in this season, but I'm still full of juice.
Charge you are.

Speaker 2 (31:46):
Uh, you'll be full of fantasy victories in your You'll
be full of juice too.

Speaker 6 (31:54):
Hey, did you get through it?

Speaker 2 (31:55):
Like leagues in the play offs, we've got two different formats.
We got the Guillotini, which is the small version of
regular Guillotine Leagues five basically a five person regular guillotine,
and then we also have the Championship, which are large
formats lots of entries you will pick from your favorite
playoff bound players. We'll talk a little bit more about

(32:17):
these later in the show, but two opportunities to play
play off NFL Playoff Guillotine League action at Gillotine leagues
dot com. When we come back Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants,
will let you know if Jonathan Taylor is going to
be awesome like last week or more like the guy
we saw before that. Welcome back Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul

(32:44):
Jargy and Matt Harrison and Thor Nystrom with you. It's
a championship edition. We're here to help you bring home
the hardware. And to that point, we go to Indianapolis
taking on the Giants story. You already told us that
you like Anthony Richardson. We're watching his I think it's
hip and injuries, and you like Alex Pierce. Alex Pierce
as a dart throw receiver who else from the Colts

(33:07):
is fantasy Star.

Speaker 4 (33:08):
Yeah, shout out Cincinnati there on, Alec Pierce. Jonathan Taylor
will go to Wisconsin next. Great of a, of course,
the Colt set of franchise record with three hundred and
thirty five rushing yards last week's Chargers sort of mentioned
in that that was also the most by any NFL
team in any NFL game this season. Ken lightning strike
twice did Giants have the second worst run defense in

(33:30):
the entire NFL. Week eighteen of last season was the
last time a running back did not hit double digit
PPR points against the Bryants. Okay, so we got a
hard a there on, mister Taylor, I might even do
my Ard Verk. I might even do Mike Bondo.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
Brian's not here. He normally is Fantasy Fonsie. You want
to give out the Fantasy Fonsie.

Speaker 6 (33:50):
Brian show, This one's for you, Brian. Shout out to Brian.
Michael Pittman, he's Michael.

Speaker 4 (34:00):
Well, we're gonna do it, Michael pitt We're going to
do another podcast sies onnight.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Whether or not Michael Pittman is in fact Michael pitch.

Speaker 4 (34:07):
Maybe one of the episodes of the Harrison podcast that
we're doing, will do like parallels between him and Pittman,
but bench Josh downs. I like this one actually for Josh.
About to give him a sea, but he gets a
green light here. The Giants are terrible against slot receivers
twenty eighth in completion percentage against, thirty first interception rate,
thirty first in passer rating allowed to opposing slots. But

(34:31):
give him a ce Drew lock bench Tyrone Tracy, I'll
give him a see he's playing through an ankle injury
officially questionable. He is trending towards playing eleven touches and
seventeen Fantasy points last week, and he has exactly eleven
touches in three of his last four games.

Speaker 6 (34:48):
Sort of his floor as.

Speaker 4 (34:49):
Far as the volume goes. He has also scored a
touchdown in three of his last four games, and.

Speaker 2 (34:54):
That receiving touchdown last week beautiful in the back of
the end zone.

Speaker 1 (34:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
Tell he's a converted receiver. When you see him catch
passes like the one Tyro Tracy coot last.

Speaker 4 (35:03):
Year, you can tell he learned how to play the
wide receiver position at the University of Iowa. That's how
we do it there Baby the tight end play reb
z Avni and he has fourteen plus fantasy points in
seven of his last eleven games.

Speaker 6 (35:15):
Decent matchup here as well.

Speaker 4 (35:16):
The Colts defense has allowed the eighth most fantasy points
per game and fifth most yards to running backs this season.

Speaker 6 (35:24):
Malik Neighbors is an a must start.

Speaker 4 (35:26):
He'd be practiced on Friday for anyone curious with the toe.

Speaker 2 (35:31):
They hoping that Melik Neighbors plays. Yes, but I'm nervous about.

Speaker 4 (35:35):
This and the last one Wandale Robinson gave him a sea.
He's coming off his second best game of the season.
It was against the falcons abomination of a pass defense,
but he did have seven catches for sixty two years,
eleven targets and at least nine targets in three consecutive
games for Wandale Robinson. The Colts defense is tied for
eighth fewest points per game allowed two wide receivers this year,
and in Indianapolis's last four games, only Kelvin Ridley has

(35:57):
crossed the seventy five receiving yard mark.

Speaker 6 (36:00):
I'm gonna give one Dale Robinson a seat.

Speaker 2 (36:02):
You're more charitable than I him. B Jhon Robinson and
the seasons it is, he's not going to be giving.
I don't believe Falcons take on the Commanders. Bjon gets
is an obvious a and his box scores really didn't
show it last week. But Bjhon Robinson, Man, you looked fantastic,
making the most of every run. But I do want
you to know the Commanders have allowed the fewest receptions

(36:23):
to running backs and that really caps the upside for Bjon.
Still in a grade, But I don't see. I don't
think Jon is going to be explosive in this game.
Let's go to the passing game for the Falcons. At
Michael Pennix. I liked what I saw. His poise was
outstanding for a first start quarterback last week. He looked
like your veteran honestly, and his arm strength a welcome
sight after watching Kirk labor to get the ball down

(36:45):
field earlier in the year. Washington has faced a lot
of backup quarterbacks of late Kenny Pickett, Spencer Rattler, Will
Levis since Benched Cooper Rush, and they all scored one
or two touchdowns. So there's an opportunity for Pennix. Here
does a via second quarterback for your championship team C
grade on him. Let's go to Drake London. London not huge,

(37:08):
but he's on the bigger side, and bigger bodied guys
have had the most consistent success against the Commanders all year,
and that's why they traded for Marshall Latimore as they
needed a bigger bodied cornerback to try to slow down
these bigger receivers. And Marshall Latimer has been ruled out
of this game, so he's not gonna be there. That
means I like Drake London. I'm moving him to a

(37:29):
B grade in this game. Aj Brown, as another big
bodied receiver, last week, had a very good game against
the Washington Commanders. Darnel Mooney back on the map with
Michael Pennix as his quarterback after languishing under Cousins. Pennix
immediately unlocked Mooney for five catches and a deep sixteen
yard average throw distance. Speed guys don't fare as well

(37:52):
against the Falcons as the bigger guys, like I mentioned
just a moment ago with Drake London, but Nick Westbrook
Akine scored twice a few weeks ago, so I think
Mooney's got a chance and I've got a SE grade
on him. And then I gotta mention Kyle Pitts. Not
that you're going to start Kyle, but his interception last week,
Oh my god, he turned a perfect pass from Michael
Pennix right in the bread basket.

Speaker 5 (38:14):
And a touchdown and all like, yeah.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
That's right, had a touchdown in which Pitt's got two
hands on the ball and then just basically handed it
to a defender. Unbelievable, one of the one of the
most inexcusable interceptions I've ever seen.

Speaker 6 (38:29):
Can we do an episode on the podcast.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
About Kyle Pitts as well, said, Kyle Pitts.

Speaker 4 (38:34):
Single handedly got a terrible quarterback, Kyle Trask. I hope
he and his family are not listening to this, but
he got him drafted in the second round because Kyle
pits was so good at Florida.

Speaker 2 (38:42):
And Mike Evans did that to Johnny Manziel.

Speaker 4 (38:45):
True, yeah, Johnny Manziel, Yeah, that first round paycheck should
go right right to.

Speaker 2 (38:50):
Mike Evans, right, because he bailed out all those awful throws.

Speaker 6 (38:53):
Yeah, he was just it was like Dennis Rodman rebounding.

Speaker 2 (38:56):
Yeah, great, way to put it on the Washington side.
Terry McLaurin a grade and ary after taking down the Eagles,
McLaurin feels like a safe A grade. Falcons shadow with
cornerback aj Trell regularly, which makes sense as Mike Hughes
would be the other option, and that's not great. Terrell
pretty good, not elite. He gives up a seventy percent

(39:16):
catch rate. Where Terrell's really good is after the catch.
He gives up just ten yards per game after the catch,
and that's not a lot. So mclaurin's still an A
grade here, but I don't think he's got monster upside
in this one. But you know what it does is
Jayden Daniels statement game for Jade and Daniels last week,
five touchdowns against the Philly defense, and here comes the Falcons.

(39:38):
They've allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league this
despite facing Drew Lock and Desmond Ridder of the past
two weeks, and even those guys managed touchdowns. The last
starting quarterback to play against the Falcons was Sam Darnold
and he threw five touchdowns. So I like Jayden Daniels
with an A grade in this one. And the only

(40:00):
the guy that you really care about for the Washington Commanders,
Brian Robinson who's honestly looked pretty bad for two months.
He's topped three point nine yards per carry in just
one game since way back in Week eight. He's entirely
touchdown dependent, and quietly, the Falcons have a pretty good
run defense. Five of the past six opposing teams haven't
had a runner top even fifty nine yards. In the

(40:23):
last two months, Atlanta has only given up two touchdowns
to running backs. Runners are beating the Falcons through the air,
but that's not Brian Robinson at all.

Speaker 3 (40:32):
Guy does not catch, so it sounds like a bench grade.
That sounds like a C grade. I can't believe you're
giving him a Sea.

Speaker 2 (40:38):
Because he could get it well, he probably won't.

Speaker 6 (40:40):
Get it hit.

Speaker 5 (40:40):
It sounded all negative.

Speaker 2 (40:42):
I know it was all name. It's a bench he
gets enough, he touches the ball enough. I'm still giving
him the secret.

Speaker 3 (40:47):
You're gonna go down with Brian Robinson on your fantasy roster?

Speaker 2 (40:50):
Yikes, I don't want to, no Sea grade. Let's go
up sticking like Sea grade Las Vegas Raiders. You want
to go down with the start any Raiders other than
rock Back taking on the Saints. These are two offenses
in dreadful shape.

Speaker 3 (41:03):
You know, championship level fantasy teams have one thing in common.
No Raiders or Saints on their rosters. Maybe with the
exception of Brock Bowers. He's the only guy you can
start in this game. And I'm not overly excited about
this matchup. The Saints defense does one thing well. It's
covered the tight end. They've only allowed one score on
the air. Still, Bowers is seeing twenty five percent of
his team's targets on the season, twenty four percent of

(41:27):
the air yards, which is super impressive for a tight end.
Even in a bad matchup. It's a B grade for Bowers.
You're not chasing Alexander Madison or a mirror Abdullah. They're
both on the bench. If you were wildly desperate for
running back and they were both available, I guess Madison,
but don't do that. On the other side, Alvin Kamara
is out, so you're not starting Kendre Miller, who split

(41:49):
snaps with Jordan Mims and Jamal Williams and it was
like a forty forty twenty split.

Speaker 5 (41:53):
Absolutely gross.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
And you might be tempted to go with Juwan Johnson
because it's a good matchup and there's no one else
to throw too. But Spencer Rattler is completing like half
or cewer of his passes, and he's under so much
Druss too, and he's spreading around an average of one
hundred and fifty passing yards per game in his last
four games. Yikes, that's not even enough to bat an

(42:15):
eyelash at. No Saints are startable.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
Chris Olb may may return for this game, but it
doesn't matter because it's Spencer Rattler. The whole offense is
completely broke. Why would they do that? Yeah?

Speaker 6 (42:26):
Why Bra?

Speaker 5 (42:26):
There's no reason, Chris?

Speaker 2 (42:28):
What if he gets hurt? Come on, I know that's
put him up like that. I'm not saying i'd bring
him back. I'm just saying the Saints are saying you
might play in this game.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
You know, I have a question for Thor because he
talks about Iowa and he talks about Kansas all the time.
Inevitably they're going to end up playing in the College
Football Playoff like next year. Probably who are you going
to cheer for in that Iowa Kansas probably seven to
ten matchup?

Speaker 5 (42:50):
I would guess.

Speaker 4 (42:51):
Yeah, I'm happy you asked this because I've I worked
on my hierarchy a long time ago. It goes undergrad first,
and I'm not just talking about myself, It's got to
be for anyone else.

Speaker 6 (42:59):
And so it's Kansas that's school at both places the
top of the hierarchy.

Speaker 4 (43:03):
So yeah, I would have to root against the grad
school Iowa if that was the matchup to that. And
then we have you know, Minnesota is like the father's
alma mater, and and you know, and that was the
team I grew up with. And then you go and
charges that's what I meant by father figure, Yeah, my radio. Yeah,
and then you know, and then you go down from there, brothers,
alma mater, sisters ol mater. I go down one hundred

(43:26):
and thirty four teams. Wisconsin, you have, you have.

Speaker 2 (43:30):
A hierarchy listed of one hundred and thirty four.

Speaker 6 (43:33):
So I know in any individual matchup who I'm going for.

Speaker 5 (43:36):
Yeah, I really want to see this list. Please publish.

Speaker 2 (43:40):
Please play a Guillotine league in the playoffs. You can
play for free or you can play for prizes at
guillotine leagues dot com. In the NFL playoffs, we've got
small form factor Guillotine leagues with five teams because there's
four weeks in the season, then one team is left
at the end. No bench you pick. You'll draft eight
starters who score points every week. You'll still get free

(44:04):
agent bidding after teams get chopped, hopefully not you. At
the end of each round you have a thousand dollars
fab for the playoffs. You can play with your friends,
play for free, play for money, and play in private
leagues Guillotine leagues dot com. The Guillotinis available at Guillotine
leagues dot com. Our number two breaking down all the
rest of the games slated for this weekend. When we

(44:25):
come back our number two Fantasy Football Weekly. I am
Paul Charchie and my co hosts are Matt Harrison and Thornystrom.

(44:48):
Follow us on x I'm at Paul Charchie and Matt
is at Explosive Output and Thor is at thor Ku.

Speaker 4 (44:54):
Rock Shard number one right, number one, number one hierarchy
asband always will be a tough question.

Speaker 2 (45:02):
This is a game we call three tough questions. Nobody
ever takes a quarterback with the first overall pick of
their drafts. Yet Lamar Jackson, almost irrespective of your scoring system,
is going to be the highest scoring player this year.
Should Lamar Jackson be the first pick overall in fantasy
drafts next year, Matt.

Speaker 3 (45:23):
If not now, when he's got one more game to go,
and he's already set career marks for passing yards, in
passing scores, throwing thirty nine touchdown passes to only four interceptions.
For fantasy points just from passing only Joe Burrow is
anywhere close to what Lamar has done this year, and
he's basically giving you Ramandre Stevenson on the ground two,

(45:43):
a low level RB two or flex guy just from
his ground game. So you get a top two quarterback
and a top twenty rusher. That's enough of a difference
maker to take it number one overall. But next year
could be really fun at the at pick one to
one because you could take Lamar, you could take Josh Allen.
Saquon's probably in that conversation. I think Jamar, Chase, Justin, Jefferson,

(46:04):
and Puka are all in the conversation, and maybe even
brock Bauers. Yeah, we could have We could have this
a few shows again. We could have like seven or
eight different guys that could go number one next year.
It's gonna make the preseason shows a lot more fun.

Speaker 2 (46:17):
And it really is to not have the obvious number
one that everybody is taking, and it will be great
and it's all over the place position wise too, great point,
great point. This is gonna it's shaping up next year
to be the perfect year to be at the back
of the first round. Sure, because you're gonna get somebody
who could legitimately go as the first pack.

Speaker 5 (46:36):
Or the middle of the round. I just listed like
six or seven guys that you could get, Like, that's fantastic.

Speaker 2 (46:40):
Wait, I just tip my hand a little bit out.
I think Thor nobody ever takes a quarterback with the
first overall pick. What about Lamar Jackson for next year?

Speaker 4 (46:48):
And you guys didn't even mention Kamani Vidal, Yeah, the
obvious yes when you're going through I love without saying no.
I mean, from from my time with this show, I
have a sneaking suspicion that this is going to be
a yes from you church M. I feel like I'm
being set to walk into a trap and then all
I answer no, and then right after you'll be like no,

(47:09):
the right answer is yeah.

Speaker 3 (47:10):
Oh.

Speaker 5 (47:11):
Thor is still new enough where he cares if his
answer is right or wrong.

Speaker 4 (47:14):
I feel like I'm like a try hard guy. I
always will I'm gonna say I'm gonna say no.

Speaker 6 (47:22):
I'm going to say no. You can say no. I'm
gonna say no.

Speaker 2 (47:24):
Okay, I don't think any running back. I'll preface this
by saying, I don't think in most leagues. I don't
believe a running back is going to go first because
so many of the running backs that are dominating this
year are high mileage, older running backs, and I think
there's gonna be a lot of worry, like, is this
the year where the cliff hits even Sakwan Barkley, which

(47:47):
even though it's the year.

Speaker 4 (47:48):
Of the running back, And it's funny how cyclical things are,
because we have an insane running back class in this
next Yeah and April, this most act one we've had
in multiple years. A couple the other position, of course,
are down, but the running back one way up.

Speaker 2 (48:02):
And there are there have been years in the past
where I've banged the drum for first overall pick to
be a rookie running back. Isekiel Elliott's first year, I
had him miss the first time Super High went early his.

Speaker 5 (48:13):
I remember a Clyde Edwards layer.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
I had a first round greade on him.

Speaker 4 (48:18):
Do you remember an Ashton genty? Where do we think
he's going now, he's gonna be good?

Speaker 2 (48:22):
Well, depends on the Landers, of course. Phi Let's just
assume he goes to Dallas at twelve or wherever they're
going to pick. Now, well, it maybe like ten, now, yeah,
I mean it's got to be high. It's he'll he'll
probably be close to a first rounder.

Speaker 4 (48:33):
I think he should be a top five pick if
that was the case, if he drops it, because where
did Bijeon go in his rookie year?

Speaker 6 (48:38):
He was first round? Okay? Yeah, yeah, yeah, And I
think is better than Jean.

Speaker 2 (48:44):
That he probably is.

Speaker 6 (48:45):
As a matter of fact, he's insane.

Speaker 2 (48:47):
Jamar Chase is going to go one one in a
lot of leagues, and for good reason. He's gonna win
the Triple Crown this year. Receptions, yards and touchdowns, but
that's it. He's had an amazing season and he's got
Joe Burrow. Where's the risk in taking Jamar Chase at
number one? It's all zero, But Lamar Jackson is special.
I always try. I do not get I do not

(49:07):
fall into this thing where I can not take a
quarterback in some particular spot. But we all tend to
feel like I can find a quarterback. How many times
have you said that to yourself? I can get I
can get a quarterback.

Speaker 4 (49:19):
It's what general managers say in the draft about running backs.
It's like, we'll save that for in a.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
Standard fantasy league. You can find a quarterback. Ten is
still pretty good.

Speaker 6 (49:29):
We got a Jayden Daniels this year. Yeah, Jaden dan
We will mind him every year.

Speaker 2 (49:33):
I'm gonna go no. But I don't have any problem
with anybody who takes Lamar Jackson with the first overall pick.
I don't think you're gonna regret it at all. But
I don't think that's gonna be the right answer.

Speaker 6 (49:44):
Tough question Number two is.

Speaker 2 (49:47):
Cooper cup cooked? We go to Thorneistro.

Speaker 6 (49:51):
He's not cooked. He's feelinged aging out. He's got a
couple more years.

Speaker 2 (49:59):
Are you just picking other white slot receivers right.

Speaker 6 (50:01):
Now, Brick? Are you just looking at things?

Speaker 4 (50:05):
Are are you just naming white slot receivers in the
room with us right now? I think he's gonna have
like two years where he can choose whether he wants
to get one hundred plus targets with one of the
crappiest teams in the NFL, or if he wants to
play at the string that way, or if he wants
to be like the third banana guy and Thiland didn't
want to be the third banana guy.

Speaker 2 (50:24):
Okay, Matt is Cooper Cup cooked?

Speaker 3 (50:27):
That's the shortest tough question of all time, by the way, Actually,
it's been two straight bad games. One against San Francisco,
which was one of the best pass defense of the league,
and there was also driving rain most of the game.
Last week was just kind of a gross game against
the Jets. The Rams won dirty, it was cold, and
Pooka's been so good. So we're just looking at cups
two terrible games last two games at SOFI Stadium five

(50:50):
for ninety two and a score against the Bills eight
for sixty and one against the Eagles. So I can't
imagine he completely lost it in the course of two weeks,
but it's probably fair to punish him down your draft
board a little bit next season. No, he's not cooked yet, though.

Speaker 2 (51:04):
The baffling part about last week's bummer game from Cooper
Cup and what I can't quake it over and why
I put this question in here Rams are playing the Jets.
The Jets slot corner is Michael Carter and he's great,
but he's out for this game. The backup is Isaiah Oliver.
In years past, Sean McVay would have peppered Cooper Cup

(51:26):
with fourteen targets against a backup slot cornerback. Cooper Cup
got three. Yeah, what does Sean McVay know? What is
he ahead of the curve on that we don't know? Yes,
pook and a Coup is great, but that doesn't mean
you throw three times to Cooper Cup in a close
game against a backup slot cornerback.

Speaker 5 (51:44):
Maybe Cooper Cup is hurt.

Speaker 2 (51:47):
Maybe he is, and maybe that's going to be ultimately
the answer on this. I think I think Cooper Cup
is cooked, and I think next year we're gonna see
the big, big drop off. Okay, and I think I'm
going yes on this. I don't like what I'm seeing
right now now. Could be proven wrong. They coast into
the playoffs. I hope I am wrong. Cooper Cup's awesome.
We love Cooper Cup. I don't like what I've seen

(52:07):
this year.

Speaker 6 (52:07):
Feeland is the correct answer.

Speaker 2 (52:09):
Eland quetcham number three in the Fantasy Championship you're an underdog,
do you try to split the pot with the other team?

Speaker 3 (52:20):
We begin with Matt, I mean, sure, why not. The
overdog is gonna say no, but at least you tried. Also,
maybe if you're not in the Fantasy Championship, you should
still see if the winner wants to split the pot
with you, maybe you can appeal to their generosity.

Speaker 5 (52:34):
During the holidays. I've never done this.

Speaker 3 (52:37):
I've never been in a league where the pot was split.
In fact, I play in a lot of Empire leagues
where we're specifically looking to cash out a huge pot.
And I just want to say shout out to our
former Fantasy Football Weekly co host Christian Peterson, who, according
to MFL has an eighty four percent chance at winning
our Empire League and the old twelve thousand, two hundred

(52:57):
and twenty five dollars in the Empire pot.

Speaker 2 (52:59):
And I want to alert the irs to that, Wow,
this is the oldest Empire league in the world and
Christian Peterson is very likely to take it down in.

Speaker 5 (53:09):
Year I think it's year eleven or twelve, eleven, twelve.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
Yeah, very very good team. And my team finally just
stacked for a run and it's all gonna end right here. Hmm,
completely bitter about that. Let's go back to the matchups.
We begin with the New York Jets taking on the
Buffalo Bill.

Speaker 5 (53:28):
Did thor want to answer the tough question?

Speaker 6 (53:31):
I want to, Yeah, I have. I have ardent opinions
on the on the tough question Fantasy Championship.

Speaker 2 (53:37):
You're an underdog, you try to split the pot with
the other team.

Speaker 4 (53:40):
Church is having a tough a tough final team is hard?
You know you've hit the rookie wall Church, Yeah, he
sure has. The answer is of course. And I am
super binary with this type of thing, Like if I
think I have less than a fifty chance to win,
I'm going to offer this foot every time it has
free spin of the wheel to potentially win free implied value.

(54:03):
Whereas if I think I even a fifty one percent chance,
so when I will not split. But the last thing
I want to say about this, you have to respect
everyone's decision without question and exception when this topic comes up.

Speaker 6 (54:15):
No guilt trips, no follows, no reasoning.

Speaker 4 (54:17):
You're well within your reason or your rights to extend
an offer or accept or to climb one on the
other side, as is every person that you're playing with.

Speaker 6 (54:25):
This is a Golden rule type scenario. You freaking cowards.
Stop it. You wouldn't. You don't split, ever, you don't split.

Speaker 2 (54:33):
Really, I never split. I never have either, but I
always I think, go for it. Baby.

Speaker 5 (54:38):
Now I'm gonna just ask people to split money with me.

Speaker 2 (54:41):
No thor.

Speaker 6 (54:41):
You're right, you know, I.

Speaker 2 (54:42):
Don't know what money means to you versus what money
means to Map versus jazz.

Speaker 4 (54:46):
Probably in a fifty team college fantas football league with
no duplicates. It is the biggest fantasy league that I
know of that does not have duplicate plate fifty.

Speaker 6 (54:53):
Yes, that's it's a fairly fairly large pot.

Speaker 4 (54:56):
And one year, unlike in my guillotine league against my coworkers,
I'm made the championship in this, okay, And we we
did a tiered split where it was like we we
you know, sort of shortened the distance between first and second.

Speaker 6 (55:08):
We didn't.

Speaker 4 (55:09):
It was the winners still got the higher amount, but
it was much closer. So sometimes you know, you know,
we'll get into some negotiations. You want to keep the
prize structure. We could we could do something here. You know,
we're consenting adults.

Speaker 2 (55:22):
I say, go try to win. That's what I say. Go,
you know, go go Hill Mary, go try to win.
To get down Herb Brooks over there, Herb Brooks.

Speaker 6 (55:30):
Yeah, oh I like that.

Speaker 2 (55:31):
Going to my motivational speech just now.

Speaker 5 (55:33):
You're wearing a lake I mean, yeah, yeah, you sat.

Speaker 6 (55:37):
That one for me.

Speaker 2 (55:38):
Yeah, I understand. The Jets are taking on the Bills.

Speaker 4 (55:43):
Yeah, yes, they they sure are. Aaron Rodgers, We're gonna
give him a bee. He needs one touchdown pass to
become the fifth player in NFL history to to reach
five hundred. I guess I struggled last week against the Rams.
Just had just a shade south of fifteen fantasy points,
dealing with an MCL injury in his knee.

Speaker 6 (56:01):
And also speaking of injuries.

Speaker 4 (56:03):
The Jets just placed their rookie left tackle of Shanto
a foot injury on injured reserve outside. But I'm gonna
give I'm gonna give Rogers a bee as I'm going
to with Breecee Hall thirteen fantasy points in each of
the last two games. The Bills have struggled against running
backs all year, particularly guys that can catch the ball
a little bit. Buffalo is top two in the NFL

(56:23):
in catches allowed to running backs, receiving yards allowed to
opposing running backs, and then total touchdowns given up two
running backs, and overall, Buffalo's defense has allowed the third
most fantasy points per game to running backs. So breesaw,
I'll give a bee DeVante Adams. He's a mustard an
automatic at this point.

Speaker 6 (56:40):
I think it just is what it is.

Speaker 4 (56:42):
Garrett Wilson, We're gonna give him a bee wide receiver
fourteen in fantasy this year. He needs thirteen receiving yards
to hit a thousand for the third straight season.

Speaker 2 (56:51):
But he's just getting smoked by Adams right now. And
it's been this way for like five six weeks. He's
just not getting any loucks charged.

Speaker 4 (56:58):
Sometimes you got to take the fight to the and
that is what he did with the media this week,
and he said that he wants more targets a.

Speaker 2 (57:04):
Good Yeah, sokey Wheel gets the grease.

Speaker 6 (57:07):
I don't think Rogers cares, though, right Like it's like, yeah,
I mean maybe he tried to talk privately. He's like,
maybe I'll try the media. I don't think Rogers cares.

Speaker 4 (57:15):
He has Rogers, to his credit's throwing the ball thirty
three times so far his way Garrett Wilson's way in December.

Speaker 6 (57:21):
So but we'll get We'll give him a bet.

Speaker 4 (57:22):
And then I had to shout out Tyler as I
call him Gronklin, Tyler Conklin.

Speaker 6 (57:28):
I gave him a c he during the middle of
the season.

Speaker 4 (57:31):
Remember it was like he had the games in September
where it was like ten targets and then like it
was like the middle of the season. He like got
phase out of the offense when they got Devanta. But
the last three games, Conklin has been targeted seventeen times.
In those three games, thirty plus receiving yards all three times.
Last week was the Nader is an a deer, the
bester is at the world. What's opposite of the deer?

(57:52):
Apex apex The apex of those three games was last
week against the Rams, five catches for fifty nine yards.
We thank you rhetorician over there and Conklin. Gronklin is
a flyer option if you are desperate moving over to
the Bill's side. Josh all On a must art obvious
James Cook b I was between A B and and
A here one hundred and twenty six total yards and
two touchdowns last week against the Patriots and over the

(58:13):
past but over the past four weeks he is RB
thirty and a thing that I love to look at
now the Fantasy Life utilization score.

Speaker 6 (58:22):
Shout out to Dwayne even though you know he was
I didn't mention it before.

Speaker 4 (58:25):
He's kind of mean to be on the show this week,
but it's interesting to look at those metrics. Ty Johnson
and Ray Davis have been stealing more field time. Cook
this was really interesting.

Speaker 6 (58:35):
He has only played forty two percent of Buffalo's offensive
snaps since the week twelve by but he has remained
the fantasy asset by scoring sixteen touchdowns last year compared
to six last year. Khalil Shakir b Last week.

Speaker 4 (58:47):
Shakiir had his second sub eight fantasy point showing in
a game since Week seven, and I suppose third since
Week six because that's when the Jets held him to
two catches for nineteen yards. Shaki is at fewer than
forty receiving yards in three of his last four, no
more than eight targets in any of the last four games.
The Jets have surrendered the fourth fewest fantasy points to
wide receivers in the NFL. But I gave him a

(59:10):
bee because I hate the other receivers here, and so
I'm basically just you know, I do the thing with
the Packers where I distribute my seas to all them.
I'm going different with the Bells, and I'm gonna push
all my chips to one of them because I'm gonna
tell you to keep Amari Cooper, en key on Coleman
on your bench. Yeah, Cooper won catch in the last
two games combined. And then Coleman has been playing sixty
plus percent of snaps last two games. Balls are not

(59:32):
coming his way. And then also I want to say
about that the Jets have the third best They have
the third best per play defense in the NFL, but
number one in preventing deep touchdown passes, and that is
key on Coleman's kitchen bench for those Guysdlton Kinkada gave
a c number seven amongst tight ends with a twenty
one percent target cheer in the NFL.

Speaker 6 (59:48):
This year, despite but despite the Bills.

Speaker 4 (59:51):
Offense ranking second and touchdowns per game, Kinkaid only has
two touchdowns himself. He has not had more than fifty
three yards or thirteen fans fantasy points in any game
this year, all right, he has a good seventy eight percent.
He had a good seventy eight percent catch rate last year,
but is dead last among NFL tight ends with a
fifty eight percent catch rate this year, which means he

(01:00:11):
needs to get an episode in our podcast series as well.
We are going to investigate the appreciation.

Speaker 6 (01:00:16):
Of his ball skills.

Speaker 2 (01:00:17):
I love it. Speaking of ball skills, I think I've
been asked about Jordan Addison and the Fantasy Championship as
much as any player will break down Packers Vikings and
whether you can start.

Speaker 6 (01:00:27):
Jordan Addison three to three baby game.

Speaker 2 (01:00:29):
When we come back to Fantasy Football Week for welcome back,

(01:00:51):
a big block all matchups for you, beginning with the
Packers taking on the Vikings. I want to start with
Josh Jacobs, who'se He's just looks sensational. Everything Green Bay
wanted in a late December running back They're getting from
Josh Jacobs, and he had the luxury of taking the
second half of last week's game off completely because the

(01:01:11):
Saints were no threat. Minnesota's run defense has lapsed over
the last month, and that was because their linebacker, Ivan Pace,
their middle linebacker was on injured reserve. He's expected to
be back for this game. And it's basically this. When
Ivan Pace plays, the Vikings have the best run defense
in the NFL. When he's out, they are right in
the middle of the pack. Pace should come back here.

(01:01:32):
That makes it much harder for Jacobs. But he's still
Golman so well, and he's going to get a ton
of caries. He's fresh legged. He's still an A grade
in this game. The other A grade I've got for
the Packers Jaden Reid. Now, you got to pick your
spots with Reid right, because he gives you these like
zero catchdows games.

Speaker 4 (01:01:51):
It's something I would never begin to see. And the
rest of them beginning sees two.

Speaker 2 (01:01:55):
I think guts for this. The Vikings are getting killed
in the slot. That's why I feel confident here. Eighty
percent of Reeds routes are run from the slot. And
here's what slot wide receivers have done to the Vikings
in the last month. Jackson Smith and Jigba, Ray, Ray
McLeod and Keenan Allen twice averaging thirteen targets, eight catches,

(01:02:17):
ninety yards and almost a full touchdown apiece. This is
a great opportunity. And in the earlier matchup between Minnesota
and Green Bay, Jaden Reid seven catches one hundred and
thirty nine yards on a touchdown A grade Jayden Reid
the other receivers that have letter grades here, it depends
a little bit on a Christian Watson camp Kenner cannot
play and he's shaping up as a game time decisions.

(01:02:39):
You're gonna want to watch this one.

Speaker 6 (01:02:40):
But we think probably he's not trending towards is he.

Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
I mean, honestly, I don't. I don't know. But if
Watson is out, I like Dobbs a lot better, and
that brings Dantavian Wickson as just a flyer. The Vikings
do give up a lot. In fact, the most fantasy
points to wide receivers Vikings, So there are opportunity he's here. Yeah,
Wicks scored twice in the earlier matchup. Dobbs targeted eight

(01:03:04):
times in the earlier matchup against the Vikings. So if
Watson is out, I like Dobbs and Wicks at C grades.
If Watson comes in, I guess they could all get
thorn istrom C grades. But you know, I don't like
him as much.

Speaker 5 (01:03:18):
Thornstrom's patented sea grad.

Speaker 6 (01:03:20):
You gotta do the Oprah routine with the season.

Speaker 2 (01:03:22):
You'll get a se grade.

Speaker 6 (01:03:23):
Everybody gets.

Speaker 2 (01:03:24):
By the way, Alprah doesn't say you get a car.
You get a car. You get a car, and I'll
pay the taxes on the car. No, no, she never
mentions the taxes. Sure, you get a car, but also
we need six thousand dollars in cash for the taxes
on your car.

Speaker 3 (01:03:40):
Come on.

Speaker 2 (01:03:41):
Oprah mentioned that.

Speaker 3 (01:03:44):
Absolutely you got gripes with Oprah giving away cars like
fifteen years ago.

Speaker 6 (01:03:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:03:51):
Still, it's just stuck in your crawl man. Yes, Tucker
Craft expected to play through his hip injury. Vikings are
a good tight end defense. They've only allowed one score
since way back in week number four. Who scored on
the vikings in Week four?

Speaker 5 (01:04:05):
Tucker Tucker Craft?

Speaker 2 (01:04:07):
You got it yep. Nine targets, six catches, fifty three
yards and the aforementioned touchdown For Craft, he has topped
a twenty two percent target rate in three of the
last four games remaining involved in this offense. He comes
into the C grade here as well, and so that
leaves us the Jordan love I've given his receivers. A's
and three or four C grades. So I've got a

(01:04:28):
B grade on Jordan Love. Now, his fantasy production has
been pretty bad for the last basically two months, but
it's because the Packers are Steamers, they're all these other teams.
He's averaging just twenty five passes per game.

Speaker 6 (01:04:42):
His efficiency numbers are great, though they are past right, and.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
So presumably if the twenty five passes turns into say,
thirty six against ay of the Vikings in which should
be a back and forth night fight, that should put
Love in a really good spot here.

Speaker 6 (01:04:55):
And he's healthy this.

Speaker 4 (01:04:56):
Time and he is well, yeah compared to the yeah
hewas boy was he gimpy that last mon super game.

Speaker 2 (01:05:00):
Probably shouldn't have four hundred yards and four touchdowns, but
he sure didn't. Yeah, So B grade on Jordan Love.
Let's go to the Vikings justin Jefferson obvious A grade,
but let me mention this, potentially the Packers are going
to be there, definitely without two of their starting members
of their secondary j R. Alexander has been ruled out
and their safety Evan Williams ruled out, and they're waiting

(01:05:22):
to find out on safety Slock Corner Hybrid Bullard Javon Bullard.
He's shaping up as a game time decision, so there
could be some real opportunities for both Jordan Addison and
Jordan Did I say Justin jeff Justph Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
There we go Addison since week eleven, you guys want

(01:05:43):
to get you want to guess in Fantasy points scored,
where Jordan Addison ranks among wide receivers since week eleven?

Speaker 6 (01:05:50):
Free three. I'm gonna say three three. You nail this.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
It is free three favor three, free three higher than
Justin Jefferson.

Speaker 3 (01:05:57):
It's amazing the exact moment in our in our Empire
League that I traded away Jordan Addison and Bryce Young,
their careers just magically became since since I.

Speaker 2 (01:06:07):
Was on the receiving end of that's going to win the.

Speaker 4 (01:06:10):
League, and Kenny Pickett was on the receiving end of
a first round selection because of Jordan Verson Addison.

Speaker 6 (01:06:16):
That's a great part. I mean, we brought it up
for Evans and Mansell. We had to bring that full circle.

Speaker 2 (01:06:20):
Adison's separation skills are becoming incredible and he's getting open
a lot, and like Jefferson, he runs from all parts
of the field. That puts him on all of the
Packers cornerbacks who are all good and Keishawn Nixon's improved
a lot, but none of them are dominating. H Nixon
allowing an eighty two percent catch rate since returning to
slot coverage two games ago. It's unclear if he's going
to be in the slaughter. He's going to be outside

(01:06:41):
for this game. Nevertheless, Addison's become a very safe start
and he gets a B grade staying with receivers.

Speaker 3 (01:06:47):
T J.

Speaker 2 (01:06:48):
Hockinson still hasn't scored, and he's been pretty quiet since
his return. Overall, I thought we'd have more production out
of him. The Packers generally give up good games to
high end tight ends. Smith George Kittle, Dray McBride, Sam
Laporta twice averaged six catches seventy five yards, and TJ.
Hockinson's right in the ballpark with those guys six and

(01:07:09):
seventy five would be great. I've got a C grade
on TJ. Hawkins.

Speaker 6 (01:07:13):
I would go even higher.

Speaker 2 (01:07:14):
I go be great.

Speaker 6 (01:07:15):
I think I go be He wasn't in the first one.

Speaker 4 (01:07:18):
I think he's a big difference here because this is
an area where you can exploit the Packers pass defense.
Hawkinson didn't play in the first one. Now he's full speed.
All the targets have been going. I mean Addison now
at the beginning of the season was all Jefferson. Everyone's
complaining about it. I feel like you can go a
little bit against tendency. Here more targets to Hawkinson.

Speaker 6 (01:07:36):
He can do some damage.

Speaker 2 (01:07:37):
I'm with you, B great TJ. Hawkinson. That last part
of the passing game of Sam Donald. The Packers' secondary
looks invincible on paper, but they have faced some dreadful
quarterbacking Spencer Rattler. They got a third of a game
on Sam Howell, Brandon Allen. They had Tula in a
frigid game in which Tula all just wanted to get
on the team less and go home. Donald is our PIB,

(01:08:00):
the best passer the Packers have seen all year, and
he went for two seventy five and three in the
earlier meeting and over the past six weeks, Sam Donald
fifteen touchdowns, one interception. He's playing great. I've got a
B grade on Sam Donald in this game. That leaves
us with Aaron Jones. He put up one hundred and
thirty nine yards in the earlier revenge game with Green

(01:08:21):
Bay in Green Bay. But the Packers run defense has
been very good lately, way better than it was earlier
in the season. Over the past six weeks, green Bay
ranks number six in run defense success rate, number six
in yards per carry aloud, and number three in yards
after contact allowed. Now, fortunately, Aaron Jones gets most of
the workload, and he has scored in four of the

(01:08:42):
last five games, and over the last five weeks, the
Packers have allowed the most running back receptions. I want
to think that we're finally going to get Aaron Jones
on a big receiving game like we have not seen
all season long. All right, Matt, let's go to the
Titans taking on the Jaguars. We've already hit a bunch
of take a chance on me guys out of this matchup,

(01:09:03):
including Mason Rudolph. You're taking chance on me quarterback?

Speaker 3 (01:09:06):
Yeah? And Chicka Konquo was my take a chance on
me tight end. Calvin Ridley startable two in the passing game,
I'll throw a see his way had seventy eight yards
in a score last week while Rudolph was just chucking
balls against the Colts and the Jags are the worst
pass defense out there. They're allowing one hundred and seventy
four receiving yards per game to wide receivers. That's the
third most in the league. Most of that goes to Ridley.

(01:09:28):
I like Ridley with the C. Tony Pollard hasn't practiced.

Speaker 5 (01:09:32):
Yet this week.

Speaker 3 (01:09:32):
Yeah, that's a bad sign, which would be fantastic if
you're a Taija Spears guy.

Speaker 5 (01:09:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:09:38):
And by the way, we have audio of the spear
right there. Well, that's the spear that it's going to
go right through your opponent's heart.

Speaker 6 (01:09:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:09:47):
So if Pollard doesn't play, taij Spears is a B
grade and it's close to an A grade. Spears has
scored four times in the last two weeks. Problem is
he's trailing in touch totals to the dinged up Pollard
by quite a bit. So if Pollard does go, I
think you can give them both C grades, but they're
closer to bench grades than C grades. The Jags are

(01:10:09):
one of the easiest matchups in the league. Their bottom
ten in every category against runners. The only thing that
can stop the Titans backs is Tony Pollard playing hurt
on the Jag side. Tank Bigsby was charged to take
a chance on me runner, and I'm leaving Travis Etn
on the bench. Etn had more snaps than Bigsby last week,
but fewer rushing attempts. That doesn't bode well for the
split there. So I think the only member of the

(01:10:32):
passing game that you can consider starting is Brian Thomas Junior,
who out of all the wide receivers, is he the
best of them?

Speaker 5 (01:10:38):
Of these rookie wide receivers.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
Brian Thomas by a margin? Yeah, I don't think. I
don't think you can make a case for any other
rookie receiver, I mean, outside of Jalen Coker, other than
Jale Hooker.

Speaker 3 (01:10:50):
Malik Nighbors had a really good start but has tailed
off as soon as the quarterbacking went away. Yeah yeah, yeah,
but twenty seven targets in the last two week double
digit targets and four straight for Brian Thomas Junior, four
touchdowns in the last four games, and two straight one
hundred yard weeks.

Speaker 2 (01:11:05):
Yeah, and he's doing it with Mac Jones. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:11:07):
Uh. Three weeks ago he played these Titans where he
had eight and eighty six. This is basically since Trevor
Lawrence went down. Mac Jones only has eyes for BTJ
with no X in there. He's an A grade and
the only guy in the Jags passing game you can start.

Speaker 2 (01:11:24):
All right, Thor Dallas Cowboys taking in the Philadelphia Eagles.
No Ceedee Lamb. This takes most of my interest out
of the away from the Dallas Cowboys offense. You already
told us you take a chance on your running back
was Rico Doubtles even you didn't very well. Is there
any other part of the passing game you're interested in?
Brandon Cooks is going to get more looks.

Speaker 5 (01:11:42):
Jalen tok is.

Speaker 2 (01:11:43):
Gonna get more looks.

Speaker 4 (01:11:44):
Yeah, I mean Cooper Rush is on the bench. Shout
out Max in there though, and then I did, Okay,
I gave sees to Cooks in Ferguson. I'm gonna make
the case for you guys, and if you want to,
you want to throw tomatoes at mean, that's fine.

Speaker 6 (01:11:56):
Cooks.

Speaker 4 (01:11:58):
Of course, the wide receiver one with Ceede Lamb out
year shoulder injury. Last seven games, almost ten targets per
game for Ceede Lamb. Those must be distributed now. Cook
played the most naps of the non Lamb wide receivers
last week three targets, forty eight receiving yards. Has at
least three targets for sherre games those are going up.
Eagles have been the eighth worst matchup for fantasy wide receivers,
but gonna have to put the ball in the ear
sometime and for that reason also going Jake Ferguson a

(01:12:21):
seed tight end twenty six for the year, only three
point eight fantasy points per game with Cooper Rush starting,
and the Eagles are a tough matchup for tight ends
and Ferguson only had twenty four yards against him in
the first game, and he also fumbled the ball.

Speaker 6 (01:12:33):
I know I'm not doing a good job of selling again, but.

Speaker 2 (01:12:35):
No, you're really not.

Speaker 4 (01:12:36):
Tight ends up at thirty seven or less receiving yards
against the Eagles in two thirds of the games that
they have played.

Speaker 6 (01:12:41):
But but but here's a big buy dot dot. Ferguson
had nine targets last week, his most since early November.

Speaker 4 (01:12:50):
And what a time for Rush to start looking that
way with lamb out. Could more targets be coming that away?
We'll shoot at sea over that way. We will not
be giving a letter grade to Kenny Pick who again
pos a lot of money to Jordan Addison. Yeah, Kenny
Pickett's going to get the call here. I'm still giving
Saquon Barkley and A. J. Brown their A mustards even
with Pickett running the show. Brown had fifteen point seven

(01:13:13):
Fantasy points last week with Pickett mostly running the show.

Speaker 2 (01:13:15):
I don't know, man I Pickett looked bad, but he
all but the focused on Brown and Smith.

Speaker 4 (01:13:22):
So maybe if they can bring in Jordan Addison over
these and help him out. Shout out Pitt Panthers. DeVonta Smith,
the last one here, collegiate receiver of Mac Jones. We
were just talking about. I gave Davanta see that. This
is how I tacked it down without hurts against the Commanders.
Smith did having you know his defense, I guess six
catches fifty one yards, eight targets. Cowboys are the ninth

(01:13:44):
best matchup for Fantasy wide receivers. But Smith struggled in
this first game against Dallas two catches for fourteen yards,
and now of course he's going to have to replay
them with Kenny Pickett full game.

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
Well, dron Bland is back. He's playing great. Last week,
had a fantastic game against Mike Evans and physical on
physical cornerback versus wide receiver. I'm interested in what's gonna
happen with Deron Bland who shadowed again shadowed A J.

Speaker 6 (01:14:07):
Brown? Does he does?

Speaker 2 (01:14:08):
Does he shadow A J. Brown?

Speaker 3 (01:14:09):
Here?

Speaker 2 (01:14:09):
And then does that ultimately hurt AJ Brown a little bit?
We'll see, Yeah, dog Fright got some concern about that
little bit. Yeah, let's take a break when we come back.
Two matchups left in our season. Unhievable that we're at
this stage already. Wow, just two matchups left? Have I
mentioned gayeting league playoff leagues yet?

Speaker 6 (01:14:30):
I need to get in one because my coworkers eliminated
me last.

Speaker 2 (01:14:33):
They did eliminate you last week. You might want to
get in the championship. Spellcheck hates it. You're gonna love
the championship. If you want a chance at bigger prizes,
this is the playoff game to play. With prize pools
up to forty thousand dollars. You get to pick your
favorite playoff bound players up to three per NFL team,
and then that roster coast for the rest of the year.

(01:14:53):
All you have to do is not finish in the
bottom twenty five percent in any.

Speaker 4 (01:14:57):
Gift Dwayne has never eliminated me in a championship or
ever ever, not once the goblin's been thrown to him.

Speaker 2 (01:15:03):
Absolutely, Guillotine leagues dot com. Check that out final segment
of Fantasy Football Weekly when we come back. It's the

(01:15:24):
final segment of the final regular season edition of Fantasy
Football Weekly. But let me be very clear, as we've
been doing for the last five years, we are fifty
two weeks a year here, we sure are.

Speaker 3 (01:15:37):
You must subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast
absolutely sub Spotify.

Speaker 2 (01:15:43):
Or yeah, Apple or iHeartRadio. iHeart Radio would be fantastic
iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 6 (01:15:48):
And you can't miss the off season episodes.

Speaker 4 (01:15:51):
Charge you and I we get deep on those prospects
we do with on the draft guys, we're.

Speaker 6 (01:15:55):
Gonna be no stone left unturned.

Speaker 2 (01:15:58):
You do such a great job and it's been so
good having you in the Fantasy Football Weekly family. Thor.
I can honestly say last year I was way way
smarter on rookies because I just gravy trained most of
your takes.

Speaker 4 (01:16:12):
And I got a lot of texts from Charge, like
late at night about what do you think about this
guy's game?

Speaker 6 (01:16:17):
Man?

Speaker 4 (01:16:18):
And I'm watching this guy right now against Washington, Like,
what do you think about him right now?

Speaker 5 (01:16:22):
And I appreciate thor because I don't have to work
in the spring.

Speaker 2 (01:16:27):
Yeah, isn't that much every position?

Speaker 6 (01:16:29):
Baby?

Speaker 5 (01:16:29):
Absolutely?

Speaker 2 (01:16:30):
And while I'm talking about my co host, let me
mention this and I like to I like to say
this at the in the last show of every year,
I ask a lot of my co hosts the time
and effort that goes into putting together these matchups. I know, listeners,
you can appreciate it. These are all these crazy esoteric stats.
Nobody shows up and wings it on this show. All

(01:16:51):
the preparation that goes into this is very, very demanding.
It's time consuming. And I am very grateful to my
co hosts, mank you for Scott Fish, Brian Johnson for
the off season stuff, and he helped out with a
handful of shows in season as well. It is an
honor to work with you guys, and thank you so
much for all of your dedication.

Speaker 6 (01:17:11):
This feelings visual the end of.

Speaker 5 (01:17:13):
Year thirteen for me.

Speaker 2 (01:17:14):
Wow, thirteen, yep, sees you were just a pup when
you started.

Speaker 6 (01:17:19):
Is this just year two for me? Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:17:21):
Yeah, it's year two for you.

Speaker 6 (01:17:22):
You know what, it is for me.

Speaker 2 (01:17:24):
I'm ending your thirty wow, thirty three zero three zero, whoa,
I'm catching up to half of the years with you.

Speaker 6 (01:17:31):
You are.

Speaker 2 (01:17:32):
It's a good point catch you. I was Jack's age
when I started this thing. Crazy good heavens, Miami taking
on the Cleveland Browns. This isn't the way I thought
I'd go out DTR, but this is it. Let's start
with the Miami side. It's some more compelling matchup for sure.
I'm gonna go in a grade on Tyree Kill in
this easy matchup here, and I have been a Hill
skeptic all seasons. I was nervous about everything we saw

(01:17:54):
earlier in the season. He remains a focal point of
the Dolphins wide receiver group, and we don't know for
sure if Jalen Watda's gonna play it, and especially he
doesn't play, He'll probably continues to be a focal point
of this Brown's Secondary's just fallen off a cliff over
the past month. The Browns rank bottom five in wide
receiver receptions allowed, wide receiver yards allowed, and wide receiver

(01:18:16):
touchdowns allowed. If Tyreek Hill, if not, now when a
grade and I'm happy to say a grade for John Ujohnu.
Since Week seven, John Smith is tight end one. I
can't even I can't believe I'm saying this. He has
avoided a dud game in six straight which tight ends
do dud games all the time. Not John Oujnu. He

(01:18:38):
is the Doelphins single most reliable player at any position.
Cleveland is a bottom ten fantasy tight end defense. In
the last six Browns games, they've given up six different
fantasy relevant games to opposing tight ends. Pretty Much everybody
who should have a good game against Cleveland at the
tight end position does.

Speaker 6 (01:18:57):
I just I checked my sports book while you were
talking there.

Speaker 4 (01:19:00):
Just cash a ticket a two leg parlay that Tank
Bigsby would be your last week, take a chance on
you guy, and that you would also give John Husmith
a grade of bay. It looks like it was fourteen.
It was fourteen to one. Yeah, yeah, brought that one.

Speaker 2 (01:19:13):
Home, nicely done. Staying with the passing game, I mentioned
Jalen Wattle. If he does go, you could pick him
up because the Browns secondary, as I just mentioned, has
fallen apart. And by the way, number two receivers crushing
the Browns in five straight games. Number two receivers have
scored touchdowns against the Browns, and a lot had been
surging before his Week fifteen knee injury. So he comes

(01:19:36):
back here. C grade on Jalen Wattle, and that brings
us to Tua in the passing game. I've got the
two A grades I mentioned, I've got the C grade
for Wattle, so I'm giving him a B grade. He's
the perfect quarterback to start if you're an underdog coming
into your matchup. Maybe you played against Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson,
Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes. He's got some big upside here.

(01:19:58):
He's got three and four touchdown upside in this game.
And this is a Brown defense that's allowed passing touchdowns
and eleven straight and multiple touchdowns nine times this year.
That might be our final nine time in the right there,
let's go to the Brown side. Oh boy, well, Jerome
Ford get this. The last two weeks with Nick Chubb hurt,

(01:20:20):
Jerome Ford is running back eight and running back nine
the last two weeks. Who to guests didn't see that coming,
getting nearly all the workload for Cleveland, and they really
do not want to put the ball into Dorian Thompson
Robinson's hands Unfortunately, Miami's turned into a great run defense
over the past eight games, which is a pretty long
sample size. No back is top sixty two yards against Miami.

(01:20:43):
The average result for a starting runner against Miami over
those past eight games thirty three rushing yards, thirty receiving yards,
and point one touchdown. So just to see great on
Jerome Ford, even though he had been hot. As for
the rest of the receivers, they're all on the bench
except one guy, David and Jok, who's been ruled out.

(01:21:04):
If you need a crazy dart throw Jordan Akins because
no dtr does nothing but target is tight ends. Last
week David and Jok who got forty two percent of
the targets, and good tight ends hammer the Dolphins as
we saw last week with George Kettle Well, obviously Gege
Kittle's a million times better than Jordan Akans, but still
a few weeks before that, Tucker Craft seventy eight yards,

(01:21:26):
before that brock Bowers one hundred and twenty six yards.
I look, it's a total long chop. But if you're
in a desperate spot, Jordan Akins.

Speaker 3 (01:21:32):
If you picked up Jordan Akins and started him and
won a championship based on charges advice right there.

Speaker 5 (01:21:38):
You deserve a tip on that one.

Speaker 2 (01:21:40):
I deserve it.

Speaker 5 (01:21:40):
Yees, you deserve it.

Speaker 6 (01:21:41):
Charge.

Speaker 4 (01:21:42):
Do you speaking of the Cleveland Browns passing game, did
you know that Dorian Thompson Robinson was a backup in
high school?

Speaker 6 (01:21:48):
Even started he did not? And do you know who
he backed up?

Speaker 2 (01:21:52):
Huh?

Speaker 4 (01:21:53):
This was a Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas
Powerhouse High School. He backed up one of the great
recruiting bus that we have had in the last twenty
years in college football, a guy named Tate martel.

Speaker 2 (01:22:05):
Oh I remember hearing the name.

Speaker 4 (01:22:07):
Yes, Dorian thoms Robbinson has had like the strangest career.
He was a backup in high school, but he because
of the tools, he was a high recruit and Chip
Kelly got him coming out of high school, started him immediately.

Speaker 6 (01:22:18):
At UCLA and all throughout and disaster. Yeah. How many?

Speaker 4 (01:22:23):
How many times you get the backup high school kid
that then starts every snap of his college career essentially.

Speaker 2 (01:22:28):
Falls into the NFL crazy So dtr a non functional passer.
In two hundred and three NFL dropbacks, he has one
touchdown and nine interceptions.

Speaker 6 (01:22:40):
Nine How do you do that.

Speaker 2 (01:22:42):
The NFL have a one to nine touchdown to interception.

Speaker 6 (01:22:45):
He was carrying the clipboard for Tate Martell in high school.

Speaker 2 (01:22:48):
Understand.

Speaker 6 (01:22:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:22:49):
Over the past two years, DTR has the NFL's worst
passer rating. And I believe I've got this stat correctly.
It came by my ex feet a couple of days ago.
Over the past twenty five years, DTR has the worst
average passing distance three point three yards per pass.

Speaker 6 (01:23:08):
They maybe try Tatemartell, you know he I mean, you
went to Ohio States. You know it's closet.

Speaker 5 (01:23:12):
Jilix Spurgeon win is a better choice.

Speaker 2 (01:23:14):
You might be right now?

Speaker 6 (01:23:15):
Sure?

Speaker 5 (01:23:16):
All right?

Speaker 2 (01:23:16):
Final matchup of the year Detroit Lions taking on the
San Francisco forty nine Ers.

Speaker 3 (01:23:20):
Jamiir Gibbs gets an A grade. The David Montgomery injury
is going to prove to be a league winner for
Gibbs owners the once amazing Niners run defense, not that
this year, opposing backs averaging twenty eight touches, one hundred
and thirty two conboy yards and just over a touchdown
per game. Almost all of that goes to Gibbs, and
he's probably better.

Speaker 5 (01:23:36):
Than most of the opponents.

Speaker 3 (01:23:37):
The Niners have seen this year not as easy for
the passing game, though, Jared Goff facing a really good
Niners pass defense. They're only allowing one hundred and ninety
five passing yards and just over one passing score per game. Now,
weather shouldn't be a factor in an outdoor game. For golf,
it's supposed to be like like low to mid fifties

(01:23:57):
during the game and fair weather. So I'll still give
Goff a B. But this one's closer to a C
than it is to an A. From the slot a Monross,
Saint Brown will go up against Diamador Lenoi. That's a
tough matchup, it's a great matchup. Lenor hasn't allowed a
touchdown in four hundred and seventy nine coverage snaps.

Speaker 2 (01:24:15):
That's awesome.

Speaker 3 (01:24:16):
He's been the Niners' best cover corner by far, allowing
only thirty five yards per game. But something's got to
give because Saint Brown has scored in ten to fifteen
games this season and he's averaging seventy five yards per contest. Overall,
the Niners top five and receptions, yards and touchdowns allowed
to wide receivers. So I'll still gave Saint Brown a
B grade simply because I respect what he does too much.

(01:24:38):
I'm gonna leave Jamison Williams on the bench, though, despite
the explosive output last week, I don't think I can
trust it this week.

Speaker 2 (01:24:45):
Sam Laporta gets a C.

Speaker 3 (01:24:47):
He's been much better in the latter half the season,
but hardly an auto start. San Francisco has allowed one
tight end touchdown in the last ten games and no
tight end his top sixty six yards against them this season.
It would take a real high volume day for Laporta
hit double digit PPR points, and he has had seven,
ten and seven targets in the last three weeks, so
he does get a C grade to start here. On

(01:25:09):
the other side, we'll start with the tight end George Kittle.
He's had one stinker this year. This has the ability
to be a second. The Lions are the best tight
end defense in the league, with the fewest receptions and
fewest yards allowed to the position. And it's insane because
they don't have any defenders left. All their linebackers are gone.

Speaker 2 (01:25:28):
Those slats Man earlier in the year.

Speaker 5 (01:25:30):
Oh, it's crazy.

Speaker 3 (01:25:32):
They have allowed touchdowns to a tight end twice in
the last three weeks, though, so I can't go lower
than a B grade on Kittle, but I will acknowledge
that this is his toughest task in a long time
since all of the running backs got hurt. Deebo Samuel
has become more of a scatback than anything. He's had
twelve carries in the last three weeks. Patrick Taylor has
had fifteen carries in the last three weeks. As a

(01:25:55):
wide receiver, he faces a juicy matchup as the lines
have allowed the second most receptions and yards to wide receivers.
Rookie Terry and Arnold has missed all week with an illness,
but should likely play on Monday.

Speaker 2 (01:26:06):
And honestly, he's just been okay.

Speaker 3 (01:26:09):
Yeah, he's allowed four touchdowns in his coverage this year,
but he's one of the last actual corners the Lions have.
Amiek robertson Man's the slot most often. He's along twelve
and a half yards per catch, which is a ton
from the slot.

Speaker 5 (01:26:20):
So B grade for Debo. I'll even give a B.

Speaker 3 (01:26:23):
Grade to Juan Jennings here because it's probably a pass happy.

Speaker 5 (01:26:27):
Game for the Niners.

Speaker 3 (01:26:28):
If I have bes on all the receivers, it's a
bee for Brock Perdy, even though he's looked iffy with
accuracy for over the last few weeks. From a volume
standpoint alone, he should be able to make it work.
Though the Niners are out of running backs. The game
script favors the Niners passing, and they got to pass
at least forty times, which is exactly what he did
last week. He had three, thirteen and two last week.

(01:26:49):
It's plausible that Perdy and Debo will be the top
two rushing producers for the forty nine ers as well.
So b grade on Brock and don't start a San
Francisco runner.

Speaker 5 (01:26:59):
It's come to this.

Speaker 3 (01:27:00):
Isaac Garendo has a shot to play this week, but
he's been limited all week with a hamstring and this
is a Monday night game, ninety minutes before the last
game in your championship week. Are you going to feel
comfortable switching from Isaac Garendo to Simone Vaki or Patrick Taylor.
You will not feel comfortable about that. The matchup is
also terrible. Lions are top six and almost every metric

(01:27:22):
against the run. Don't start a San Francisco runner.

Speaker 2 (01:27:24):
Do not start a San Francisco I'm with you on that.
Don't do it. It's come to this for the forty
nine ers, unfortunately in a loss.

Speaker 5 (01:27:30):
Now McCaffrey will be back last next year.

Speaker 2 (01:27:32):
And we got a couple minutes at the end of this,
at the end of this segment and this show, let
me hit you with this, Jade and Daniels next year,
it's not gonna be QB one, That'll be Lamar Jackson
or Josh Allen. Probably where do you think he fits
into people's drafts next year? Jade and Daniels will be
QB what in fantasy drafts?

Speaker 3 (01:27:51):
Well, considering that people are going to draft Jackson and
Allen one and two and they're looking at those guys going, oh,
we get that rushing upside too, Als is going to
be pretty high. He's going to be a top five
quarterback in most drafts next year.

Speaker 6 (01:28:04):
Three free three.

Speaker 2 (01:28:06):
Yeah, I think he goes ahead of Hurtz.

Speaker 6 (01:28:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:28:09):
I don't think I could do it just because it
hurts gets me twelve rushing touchdowns every year. It's true,
you know, I don't know if I can turn my
back on twelve rushing touchdowns out of my quarterback.

Speaker 6 (01:28:19):
We're going to get a jump from Jaden next year.

Speaker 2 (01:28:20):
You think so rushing jump, Yes, I don't know. I
think you'll go for me. It's going to be quarterback four.
In my King Shadan Daniels, I believe he'll be quarterback
number four. Playoff Guillotine Leagues last time. I want to
encourage you two different formats to play. Play for free,
play with your friends, play for prizes. You've got a
lot of opportunities to play playoff Guillotine action at Guillotine

(01:28:42):
leagues dot com. And once again, thanks for a great season.
We've had a ton of fun. Do not you should
not be playing for anything meaningful in week eighteen, but
we'll be back with shows next week and every week
Fantasy Football Weekly. Thanks for great season. Everybody, talk to
you next week.

Speaker 6 (01:28:58):
How bye,