Fantasy Football Today - Free Agency Day One Recap: Barkley, Jacobs, Cousins, Swift and More! (03/10 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Episode Date: March 11, 2024

Fantasy Football Today is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever else you listen to podcasts A lot of running backs are on the move, but is their value going up? We play "Value Up, Down or the Same?" (1:45) for Kirk Cousins, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, D'Andre Swift, Devin Singletary, Antonio Gibson and Gabe Davis ... Biggest winners (9:05) and losers (20:40) from Day One of free agency. We talk more about Jacobs and debate if Drake London should be a Round 3 pick. We also spend more time on Swift (26:40) and make the case for Barkley to be a true stud (28:40) with the Eagles ... Reacting to Gardner Minshew's move to the Raiders (39:15), Gus Edwards to the Chargers and everything else you need to know ... Email us at [e-mail] SUBSCRIBE to FFT Dynasty on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-today-dynasty/id1696679179 SUBSCRIBE to FFT Dynasty on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aHlmMJw1m8FareKybdNfG?si=8487e2f9611b4438&nd=1 Follow our FFT team on Twitter: @FFToday, @AdamAizer, @JameyEisenberg, @daverichard, @heathcummingssr, @ctowerscbs Follow the brand new FFT TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@fftoday Watch FFT on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/fantasyfootballtoday Get 20% off Fantasy Football Today merch: https://store.cbssports.com/collections/fantasy-football-today%20?utm_source=podcast-apple-com&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=buy-our-merch&utm_content=fantasy-football-collection Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasyFootballToday/ Sign up for the FFT newsletter https://www.cbssports.com/newsletter You can listen to Fantasy Football Today on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Football Today podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Football Today podcast." To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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It's time to dominate your fantasy league. Off to the races, and he stays on his feet. This is going to go the distance. Now, here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie, and Heath. Well, this has been an interesting day, and it's only getting interesting-er. Something like that. It's only getting betterer something like that it's only getting better welcome back everybody fantasy football today here it's 4 23 p.m eastern what a day what a day

what a day i think this is so fun i mean from from a work standpoint right i mean this is a blast for me i don't know how you guys are feeling about it but i love it oh yeah writing 700 stories has been blessed well i don't you know i don are feeling about it, but I love it. Oh yeah, writing 700 stories is a bit of luck. I don't have to do that. Players' values changing and this is what it's all about. How about this? Five of the top seven running backs in ADP from last year,

Fantasy Pros, PPR, ADP, could probably will be on another team next year. Eckler, Barkley, Pollard, Jacobs, Derrick Henry. They were all top seven. And those five, assuming Eckler and Henry end up on a different team, will be on new teams. Seems like it now.

I mean, I don't think Henry's going back to the Titans. They've already ruled him out. The Chargers have their guy. The Chargers? Maybe. No, they don't have their guy. Gus Edwards going to the Chargers. That's just happening.

I mean, since we started doing a mic check, like two or three things have happened. So it's been wild. Let's play value up, down, or the same. Kirk Cousins to Atlanta. Value up, down, or the same. Same. I kept it as the same,

but he was not a top 12 quarterback to begin with. If he's healthy and takes the first nap in training camp, he might be 12th for me. Same as what, though? Same as what he was a week ago? Same as the perception. Not the same as how he finished. Okay.

Not as good as it would have been if he were on Minnesota, right? Correct. Correct. No, I mean, I think it's the same. You think so? Yeah, I mean, he's stepping into a situation with a similar play caller, come from the same tree, from Sean McVay's tree. He's stepping into great weapons around him,

obviously unproven in Atlanta by comparison to Minnesota, but I think an easier division to play in, and the potential to still continue to put up good numbers. Easier division. I can buy into receiving core being even close to the same. I cannot buy into that. He had an awesome group in Minnesota. Yeah.

I think he's going to have an awesome group in, in Atlanta because of what he's going to be good group. I don't think it'll be, it's nothing like what he had in Minnesota. Well, from a pedigree standpoint, it's better. Yeah, I don't care. That's true. From the eyeball test and from what we've seen from these players... Yeah, but you're talking about an eyeball test of those guys playing with crappy quarterbacks.

Let's see what those guys look like with Jaron Hall starting 17 games. Yeah, sure. It's a fair point. Well, all right. But no matter how good Drake London is, he's not Justin Jefferson. He won't be Justin Jefferson, but he was expected to be better than Justin Jefferson based on how he was drafted. He was drafted higher. When he was drafted, I don't think he was expected to be better than what Justin Jefferson had already become.

Of course not. Yeah, yeah. Also, they're not going to throw as much as the Vikings because basically nobody does. But, you know, I feel like caught up in the euphoria of the Falcons finally getting a quarterback and Cousins getting almost $100 million guaranteed. I saw $100 million, then I saw $90 million, but four years, big deal. He's 36 years old coming off a torn Achilles. Are we sort of overlooking it?

He'll be 36 in August. I don't know what the Achilles injury means for a quarterback. I mean, we don't really know. No, they can usually come back from that injury it's it's not like kirk cousins is known for his rushing or explosiveness i know he'll be he'll be as long as he recovers in time he'll be fine but this deal was great for his bank account i don't know if it's as good oh he was getting paid no matter where he was going yeah i know 100 guaranteed, four more years in the league. It feels like Minnesota is stuck right now.

If I'm the Vikings, I'm trying anything possible to move up in the draft from 11. Oh, yeah. Josh Jacobs to Green Bay, value up, down, or the same? Up. Up. As soon as Aaron Jones got cut, it was up. Right, that was the second part. Aaron Jones got cut, it was up. Right. That was the second part.

Aaron Jones released by the Packers. Before he got released, it was really looking like a, whoa, this is a horrible day for running backs. But that was okay. He's the biggest winner. Yes. Hold on. We're not at that segment yet.

Saquon Barkley to the Eagles. Value up, down, or the same? Slightly down. Yeah. Down a smidge is what I was going to say. Who do you like better, Barkley or Jacobs? Jacobs. I like Jacobs better than Barkley. Tony Pollard to the Titans.

Value up, down, or the same? Down. Up a little. DeAndre Swift to the Bears. Same. Down a little. DeAndre Swift to the Bears. Same. Down a little. Did you know that the Bears, by PFF and ESPN run block win rate, they have a top five run blocking unit.

They are a good offensive line. It's not that big of a downgrade, leaving the Eagles to go to the Bears, according to those two metrics. Devin Singletary to the Giants. Yeah! Up, down, and the same. Are you going on the season ticket waiting list?

I work Sundays, or I would. You're in line to see Daniel Jones and Devin Singletary in the same backfield against the Cowboys and Eagles defenses. Hooray. I'm going to say same. Yeah, I'm sure they're going to add somebody. He'll end up being about the same.

He has led his team in rushing all five years of his career, Buffalo four times and Houston once. He has yet to get to 900 yards. 898 yards was a career high last season. Can we be backing on Damian Pierce? They don't sign anybody? No. Here's the one. If things stay

as they are, would you rather have Damian Pierce or Devin Singletary? If things stay as they are, Pierce. Yeah. No. Antonio Gibson to the Patriots. Pass on both.

Oh, no. Oh, okay. Antonio Gibson to the Patriots, and then after this, I have to get up for a second. I'll tell you why, but go ahead. I don't have to go to the bathroom.

Oh, gosh. You don't have to announce it. I don't have to. I'm good. Are you just going to the part of the podcast where everybody's going to get up to go to the bathroom because we're going to talk about Antonio Gibson? I mean, value up down to the same for him. Gibson to the Patriots?

Same. And then finally now I have to get up to get the magic eight ball because Gabe Davis is going to the Jaguars. Your magic eight ball's in the bathroom? No, it's right over here. I wasn't going to the bathroom. I just had to get up to get the magic eight ball because Gabe Davis is going to the Jaguars. Your magic eight ball's in the bathroom? No, it's right over here. I wasn't going to the bathroom. I just had to get up. I made before the show. Magic eight ball.

Gabe Davis to the Jaguars. Is this good for Gabe Davis? Yes. He's asking the eight ball. So it shall be, says the eight ball. What do you think? Number three, number four receiver? Well, it's incomplete.

We got to see what happens with Ridley, right? Yes. If Ridley comes back and Davis is replacing Zay Jones, it's great. I wouldn't want Gabe Davis on my fantasy team. And I'm not going to want Gabe Davis on my fantasy team. And I'm not going to want Gabe Davis on my fantasy team if Ridley doesn't come back either. All right. We still have Eckler and Henry still out there.

One of the big ones. It's Eckler, Henry, Marquise Brown, Ridley, Calvin Ridley, and the Justin Fields trade. Joe Flacco. And the Justin Fields trade, right. It's been an eventful day. So real quick, I just want to tell you about our new basket.

Oh, now Aaron Jones. Right, yeah, that's true. He finished strong. He's old, but he finished very strong. And T. Higgins trade, too. T. Higgins is, yes. That's another item we have to get to. T. Higgins requesting a trade.

Perhaps just kind of will give them a little light, a little fire under them to give them a longterm deal. All right. We would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest podcast in our CBS sports family and it's basketball time, college basketball. Oh, we are going to have a bracket challenge by the way.

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Arc. Download and follow Beyond the Arc wherever you find this podcast. All right, let's do the biggest winners and losers of the day. I don't know if you want to... If you'd like to include Russell Wilson, Jerry Judy, all that stuff, feel free. Oh, yeah.

Huge winners right there. Well, I mean, Pickens and I mean that, I mean, those news items feel free. But who's the biggest winner so far in free agency? We mentioned it already. Josh Jacobs. Yeah. Jacobs going to Green Bay, be the lead back there, theoretically have the exact same role that he had in Las Vegas,

but it'll be in Green Bay. And in an offense that's young and a lot of firepower, not going to see as many stacked boxes. He's been dominant near the goal line. That's a problem that the Packers have had the past couple of years with their running backs and really overall. And so he fits a need for them on top of basically being in the same type of skillset as Aaron Jones. And he's 20 pounds stronger and he's three years younger. I think he's a huge winner. It wouldn't surprise me if you saw him go late round one in non-PPR

and round two and half and full PPR. I'll go different. I'll just say somebody different and say Drake London. I mean, obviously Cousins has had great production from his number one receiver. I looked at it earlier. Since going to Minnesota, he got two years. This is just at least 14.5 PPR points. He got two years of that from Stephon Diggs, one year of that from Adam Thielen,

and four years of that from Justin Jefferson. And so London, you know, I think we'll be somewhere in between that of what Jefferson's high-end performance was, which I think his best year was 21 and a half PPR points. And Diggs in the low end of that, which was 14 and a half. So that's from 2018 on. And so London has now the chance. He has, he has 11 games in 33. He has 11 of 33 games with just 13 PPR points in his career, Drake London. So I think he's going to get closer to 15 PPR points per game and will be a borderline number one receiver. 13 or more, you're saying?

At least 13 PPR points, yes. And in a third of his games. Yeah, that's true. He should be better than that with Cousins. All right, who would you rather have? I don't think he'll be as good as Justin Jefferson. No. Close to that. No. He should be better than that with Cousins. All right, who would you rather have? I don't think he'll be as good as Justin Jefferson. No, close to that.

No, and right now, I don't know, Justin Jefferson is wide receiver what for you guys, by the way? Right now, he is wide receiver three for me. Makes sense. Yeah. So who would you rather have? Which combo would you rather have? B. John Robinson and D Robinson and DK Metcalf or Josh Jacobs and Drake London?

Bijan and Metcalf. Who would you rather have, Metcalf or London? London. I think London might make more sense. Okay, so I'm giving you the better receiver and worse running back because you're taking Bijan over Jacobs, right?

Correct. Yeah. I mean, look, I'm trying to find angles here. Cousins, if I had to describe Kirk Cousins, he's been a starter for nine years. I think the best thing about him is he doesn't necessarily have a tendency. He throws to his best players, and I like that about him. But he has only had one season where he's been higher than 16th

in running back target rate. Throws a lot to his wide receivers. If he has a good tight end, he'll throw a lot to his tight ends. Jordan Reed, TJ Hawkinson, for example, hasn't really thrown a lot to his running back except for one season. In his time with Minnesota, three seasons for Dalvin Cook with at least 40 receptions. So one year over 50.

And that's with Dalvin missing time. I don't know what it would be on a per-catch basis, game by game. Bijan, I think, will be fine. I think 50 catches as well. Remember, to go back to which receiving core is better,

there's no significant number two wide receiver in Atlanta right now. That is a big plus for Bijan. Yeah. Well, there's Pitts. No, I'm talking about receiver. There's a number one receiver. There's a legit tight end.

And there's a pass-catching running back that has easy 50-catch potential. Okay. As far as Jacobs and London go, how concerned are you about the season that Josh Jacobs just had? What do you mean, in terms of... I mean, he sucked. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

He is coming off a season... He's been in the league for five years. He's been a workhorse every year of his career, and he's been, per game, top 12 in PPR one time. He's been a workhorse every year of his career and he's been per game top 12 in PPR one time. He's been top 15 four times, but he's usually around 14, 15,

something like that. And then he had one year He was the best running back in fantasy, arguably, in 2023, I think, 2022 rather.

I think he was third per game in full PPR, second per game in non-PPR. That has been the big outlier for him. So, you say he might go at the end of round one.

You know, he might. I think he's probably round two, right? Like, ADP? I mean, not a round one pick for me, no. Tell me why he should be a round two pick when he's finished top 12 per game once in his career. Like I said, top 15 four times in his career. Does not have a single receiving touchdown in his entire career,

which is weird. But tell me why Josh Jacobs should be a second round pick. Good player with great opportunity and a good offense. Starts right there. There aren't a lot of guys that are like this left at running back in the league. And I think he's going to have that opportunity even if the Packers draft a running back. Say they take a guy in round three, I think it'll be fine. I think that secondary back will get eight to 11 touches per game. Jacobs gets the rest. It just makes all the sense in the world that if they're going to sign him and they're going to pay him, theoretically, I don't know what the contract is, but it's got to be more than Swift.

It's got to be more than Pollard. I think he's going to end up being a big time factor for the Packers. He's a good fit for their scheme. I think that offensive line has room to get better. I think he's going to be just fine. And I think he'll be somewhere between like 14 and a half and 15 and a half PPR points per game. I can't, I can't take him over the elite receivers.

And maybe even, like where I get hung up is like Chris Olave versus Josh Jacobs. I'm going to take him over Devontae Adams. I think that's pretty easy. Other wide receivers that are in that 15 PPR range, I might take that type of receiver because I think they'll get more catches, obviously, than Jacobs will. Rasheed Rice.

I do think that Jacobs is in a really good spot. I think he can find a lot of touchdowns. As long as he stays healthy, he's a candidate to get over 1,500 total yards. Hard to find those guys in round two. Rasheed Rice or Josh Jacobs? I think Rice is going to get company in Kansas city. I'll take Jacobs.

Yeah, I would take Jacobs. Jacobs is definitely around to pick. I mean, you know, as, as Dave just laid it out for you, but it's like,

you know, you go back to some of the drafts that we've done already. Not that that's the best barometer, but you know, when you start comparing him to Isaiah Pacheco and Barkley now, and, um, James cook and Rashad white.

And, you know, these other guys, like even, I think you Rashad White and, you know, these other guys, like even, I think you can make a case, you know, him versus Jimmy or Gibbs, knowing that Gibbs has David Montgomery to compete with,

you know, so I would probably lean at least right now, Kyron Williams over Jacobs, depending on what happens there, even though Jacobs is a better talent, but Kyron's and I think it's still a better situation. But that's kind of the comp, you know,

so he's not going to go, I think, past top 15 overall, but he'll be around to pick for me. Josh Jacobs has 197 catches in his career, not a single touchdown. And he has, this is unbelievable to me, nine catches on third down. That is just not a third down. He wasn't used on third downs the past couple of seasons.

And that just makes his workload all the more crazy. I think, I'm not sure about 2022. I know last year it was Abdullah. No, he wasn't the third down back in 2022 either. And that was the big breakout year for him, 19 PPR points per game, and he still didn't play third downs. I'd be mildly surprised that the Packers didn't play him on third downs are you gonna push uh drake london up to the davante smith t higgins assuming he's on the bangles jaylen waddle group yes for sure ahead

same as uh i would take him over Devontae Smith. I probably would take him right after Waddle and Higgins. Okay. Dave, what do you think in there? It's going to be a mix. I've got Smith ahead of him. I'm debating him versus Pittman. I might take him over Pittman. I just think the quarterback is too big of a difference maker there. If Cousins is healthy, I'm going to be very bullish on Drake London.

Top 30 pick? Year three. Top what? Top 50. Oh, easily. Top 36 for me. Okay. Okay. There's not much to say. I don't think we know how good Drake London can be.

That's the bottom line. We just have no idea. I mean, his quarterbacks have been so bad. He was in a run-centric system. Like, everything was just working against him. And so he's going to be a target hog for a quarterback that's done wonders for guys like this. Doesn't do anything after the catch.

I don't know if that should bother you. We don't know that, though. Yeah, I mean, a lot of his catches are... He's one of the worst. Yeah, I know. But he ran a lot of hitch routes, comeback routes, dig routes. And he's not like...

He's explosive, but he's also 6'4", so he's explosive for a guy his size. And so he'll get caught plenty of times. But physical, rangy type of receiver that can line up anywhere definitely getting an upgrade in targets what i should say is that he hasn't done much after the catch again don't know if that will change but he isn't like he's not a burner but he's terrific makes a lot of contested catches gets open people love drake london it's exciting it's exciting for him all

right let's take a break we have a lot more players to talk about here. I don't even know who's your favorite Titans running back. We'll find out after this break on fantasy football today. Whether in the game or in life, the right coverage can make all the difference. Securian Canada gives you that coverage. For more than 65 years, Securian Canada has been helping Canadians build secure tomorrows. Their insurance solutions are designed to help protect you and your loved ones financially, giving you the peace of mind to focus on what truly matters. Find their products through banks, credit unions, and associations. Or visit SecurianCanada.ca. Securian Canada. Insurance designed for life.

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With opening moves, you simply choose a question to be automatically sent to your matches. Then sit back and let your matches start the chat. Download Bumble and try it for yourself. Alright, let's see what we got. Jacobs was four years, $48 million according to Rappaport and Pelosaro. Nice. Do we know how much

is guaranteed? Does not say. Christina Anderson is saying that the commanders and raiders have made preliminary inquiries on Austin Eckler, per source. So we're following that. Who's the biggest loser? Jacobs and London were the biggest winners today. Who's the biggest loser, fellas?

I mean, Aaron Jones is obvious. Lost his job. But he could still end up in a place where he's... Tajay Spears is a loser, right? Who? Tajay Spears is a loser, right? Who? Tajay Spears. Yeah.

It sucks for him. I think we had some hope that there was a chance he could be the lead guy there. In some committee, but the lead guy. I think the contract and compensation to Tony Pollard suggests he's going to come in as the lead guy. Homecoming for Pollard, by the way. He grew up in Memphis, born in Memphis and went to Memphis. So that's a cool story.

It feels like the Vikings across the board, you know, I mean, losing, losing the chance at, you know, it, it, it felt as if, and maybe we have Thomas jump on here if you want, you know, losing, losing cousins and not having for whatever it's worth, the fallback options of Russell Wilson, or even a Mac Jones, you know, what can they get in the draft at 11? I hope somebody good because there's so much to love about this offense though, you know, between the play caller and the weapons, you hope the right quarterback goes there. It'd be very surprising if the bears trade justin fields to the vikings oh man it is

hard to have jefferson at wide receiver one or number one overall which you guys don't i think you said you have him third but i'm sure a lot of people would have him one maybe not the majority well as thomas pointed out in our chat he did do well with nick mullins you know so a guy that's going to throw some you know uh jump balls and just give him an opportunity to go make plays he's certainly capable of doing that so you know there there balls and just give him an opportunity to go make plays, he's certainly capable of doing that. So, you know, there's still that potential, but, you know, those type of quarterbacks get figured out quickly and it's easy to sort of try and take away the best of what Jefferson does if that's possible, but, you know, that's what teams will try to do. So, you know,

I'm trying to think if there's another quarterback that's potentially a trade chip that will still keep Jefferson afloat, you know, like the Jacoby Brissettes of the world. Not that that's potentially a trade chip that will still keep jefferson afloat you know like the jacoby brissett's of the world not that that's the guy huh minshu minshu yeah same type of guy uh yeah they were saying uh on twitter sam darnold could be an option too and obviously i don't like that for reality but he would probably be okay for fantasy purposes like he was our he was all right or jj was all right with mull.J. was all right with Mullins as quarterback. Well, Mullins was crazy. Mullins threw for a ton of yards.

But he played one game with Josh Dobbs, and he was terrible. I remember a couple years ago, he played a game without Cousins on like a Sunday night game. Yeah, Sean Mann, and he's awful. And Jefferson was terrible. We talked about this a lot last year. These wide receivers, they're not necessarily quarterback-proof. If you look at Justin Fields and what DJ Moore did with Tyson Bajent, for example,

there's often a downgrade with the backup. I think the difference is scheming for Justin Jefferson and then DJ Moore. I feel like it's kind of been proven over the course with Kevin O'Connell that he can get it done. And I know it was with Josh, Josh Dobbs, like he's not a passer. So I would,

you know, I would Acer stat that and take that away. It's also a, a in season replacement as opposed to full-season replacement. Yeah, for sure. Training camp and all those things, that's a big difference. Then, hey, you're being thrown in an injury replacement in-game and then having to be the guy for a couple weeks.

That's tough. But you know what, Schaefer? There was that one time where Jefferson really struggled. It was that playoff game against the Giants. Seven catches, 47 yards on nine turns. Maybe the presence isn't there anymore. All right. Any other losers?

So, yeah, how do you feel about Spears and Pollard and when they should be drafted right now? I mean, there's an offensive line that's clearly still a work in progress. They did just agree to terms with Lloyd Cushenberry today, center from the Broncos. Our Jonathan Jones broke that news. So we'll see how that continues to unfold for them. But full year of Will Levis. Obviously, new system in place with Brian Callahan.

His dad is going to retool that offensive line and make it better just based on scheme of loans. That's huge. But if you look at Pollard and you break the season in half and take him on his word that he says he felt better from week 11 on coming back from the broken leg for his final six games in the regular season um I think it was 15 or more PPR points over that span so being healthy it could be a you know a big factor for him uh he'll be 27 26 right. He's still the better of the two, if you're looking at it from who's going to get the workload.

I'm still going to draft a lot of TyJ Spears just because I think he'll get enough opportunities in a shared situation that, you know, you might get the lottery ticket if something happens to Pollard, but you have to be patient with him. But I think round five is probably the right spot for Pollard, you know, just based on how running backs will probably get drafted. He'll be a back-end around 20th, number

two running back. And again, Spears will be somebody that you take in that round eight, round nine range if you're looking for upside. I'm so high on Tajay Spears. I mean, I was. I just think he's so damn good that, Dave, I think I'd rather wait.

I don't know. I just don't see how Pollard could be great with this team. And what I think could'd rather wait because I don't know. I just don't see how Pollard could be great, you know, with this team. And what I think could end up, by the way, venture to the Raiders. Yep.

Oh, wow. Let's get Heath on. So my hunch is that Pollard will still be the lead back there, but they, they can mix and match those two just because Spears was the third down back last year doesn't mean that he has to be the third down back again this year. Both these guys can catch.

Both these guys, when they're healthy, can move well, avoid tackles well. I kind of agree. I think that if TyJ Spears is going a couple of rounds after Pollard, I think he's the one I'd rather have as well. That's actually a pretty big deal, Minshew to the Raiders. We'll talk about that in a little bit. How about DeAndre Swift? DeAndre Swift going to the Chicago Bears,

as I mentioned, very good offensive line, at least in terms of run blocking. He's been a very productive running back. I'll just give you his numbers. Swift. Whatever. Who cares? I think he had one season with over 1,000 yards, and it was last season.

Rushing, yes. 24th per game. But he's always been a factor in the receiving game as well. Anyway, that was 24th per game. Wait, who knows if that will happen in Chicago now? Yeah. With only six touchdowns last year. Five rushing, one receiving.

Oh, and we really have got to get into Barkley. Okay, after this, we're going to talk about Barkley to the Eagles. So anyway, your thoughts on – would you rather have Swift or – Swift or Pollard, I guess. Pollard. I have them back-to-back. I think I'm going to take Pollard as long as Fields is the quarterback, and if it's Caleb Williams, same thing. I think I'm going to take Pollard as long as Fields is the quarterback.

And if it's Caleb Williams, same thing. Okay, let's go to Barkley. We're just ditching Swift? No, we should. Roshan's a loser. Khalil Herbert's a loser. Yeah. Until Swift, if he gets hurt, they'll be back in our lives.

It's an interesting signing. I mean, Swift has had some great metrics, but Herbert's actually had better metrics than Swift. And Swift, for whatever reason... You wonder if they try to trade one of them, just get a sixth or seventh-round pick out of it. Yeah. I mean, I think the thinking might be a little different now on Swift. He was never a workhorse, never capable of it,

and he really held up nicely last year. So it's funny. I mean, I feel like Philadelphia offensive line might be so good that it helps these guys. They get so many yards before contact. But, yeah, I mean, Herbert's had a really good career too, so it's not going to be a – it sucks. It's not ideal.

But Barkley to the Eagles. So on one hand, you got the quarterback stealing all those touchdowns. On the other hand, you just have a much better offense. I mean, Barkley had six carries inside the five-yard line last year. Six. He'll have more than that. Even if Jalen Hurts is vulturing touchdowns, they're going to have so many more opportunities.

How much does he have left in the tank? I don't know. But what do you guys think the chances of Saquon Barkley being first round, being a top five running back are? By the end of the season? I can draft it that way. No, by the end of the season. I mean, look, this is the

biggest investment they've made in a running back. I'm trying to think. Maybe in the Howie Roseman era, you know, I mean, they made the trade for, for JJ, you know, in the, in the first Superbowl and no miles Sanders was, was a draft pick. So you don't have to pay him very much. They let him go when it was time to pay him. Um, Swift was a, you know, a cheap addition via trade last year and they didn't pay him. And so this is, this is kind of a deviation from what they doing, what they've been doing. So you wonder if with Kelsey retiring,

is the tush push still in play to the same level? I would be surprised if it completely goes away because it's been so successful, but now they have a little bit of a different running back there. And again, you know, the other part of this is the role in the passing game. Cause we just haven't seen that from Jalen hurts.

Well, is that what maybe Kellen Moore brings to the table and helps in that regard in terms of featuring Barkley a little bit more in that arena as well. So I still think he's, he's a very safe pick as long as you count on him staying healthy at his age and injury concerns. But after Jacobs,

again, going back to that same group of guys that we mentioned before, you know, I would take him ahead of Pacheco. I would take him ahead of Rashad White. I would take him ahead of James Cook. I think, you know, still, like you said, great offensive line and just better offense for him in general. So as long as his passing game numbers don't crater, he should still be a

very good fantasy option. When's the last time Philadelphia had a running back with 50 or more catches? Miles Sanders, first or second season. So it's been a little while. That's not with Jalen Hurts, right? Correct. So that makes me nervous. The age makes me nervous, but I'm willing to overlook it for a talent like Saquon Barkley.

What happens when they get inside the five, especially the two and the one? That makes me nervous because the one, that makes me nervous because like the one thing that they've been able to consistently do is push that tush and Hertz has done amazingly well with it. I think it's valid. If Kelsey's retired, are they still as effective doing it? I don't know if we're going to get the answer to that question until the season starts, but I think he's there to take a lot of pressure off the quarterback.

I think he's there to be an effective component of the offense. They paid what they had to pay to get them. And yeah, I think he could, I, I, I'm a little worried about like 12 touchdowns, but 13, 1400 total yards. I think he's in that range. I think he can be pretty good. All right.

I'm going to give the Barkley case. I'm going to get everybody fired up for Saquon Barkley. If you're not fired up for Saquon Barkley, get ready. Get some water to pour on you because you're going to get fired up right now. Okay, you do have Miles Sanders in 2022 who had 11 rushing touchdowns as an Eagle. Last year, you had only five from DeAndre Swift, but there were five or six times that he was down at the one-yard line,

and that was followed by a tush-push on every single time. So he was very close. He was very unlucky. And meanwhile, if you just look at just... Take away Jalen Hurts' carries inside the five-yard line and just look at the Eagles' running back carries inside the five-yard line. They're pretty the Eagles' running back carries inside the five-yard line. They're pretty much blowing away what Saquon Barkley's done over the last three seasons.

If not blowing away, they're at least equaling or bettering, right? So they're just going to score so many points than what this pathetic Giants team has done. Now, Giants were solid in 2022, but they weren't the Eagles. There's just going to be so many more opportunities for points. Meanwhile, Barkley looks like a pretty inefficient running back lately. Two of the last three years, he's

been under four yards per carry. I still see him with flashes where he is really good. He can run away from people. Look, maybe if Kelsey's absence is a huge deal, that could be the case, but they're bringing back four or five linemen. They are going to create

opportunities for Saquon Barkley, and he is going to bounce back. He's getting up there in ages. It might be his last great year. But I would say he hasn't really had a great year, a truly great year since his rookie season.

But this might be the second best year of his career. I think he could be freaking awesome. And the year two, when he came back from the injury. No, the first year back from the injury was terrible. It was 2022, his second year back from the injury that was, the first year back from the injury was terrible. It was 2022, his second year back

from the injury. That was good. But it wasn't- That was after the ACL? Yeah, his first year back from the ACL, he was- I'm talking about the end of the ankle injury. Oh, the end of that year. Yeah, he was good. But overall, as a full season, it wasn't, right? Yeah. I think the thing, look, you made a strong case for it. It's, again, what will his role be in the passing game? Because that will take him from good to elite. Can he get 40 catches? 40, that's what I was going to throw out,

because I think Swift had 39 last year. Okay, so 40 is well within reach. Can he get to 50? Because he's a better pass catcher than Swift. I don't think so. And then I don't know how you guys feel, but we should probably talk about, does he affect everyone else on the team? I mean, is this a sign? I don't think so. And then, and then I don't know how you guys feel, but we should probably talk about it.

Does he affect everyone else on the team? I mean, is this a sign? This is a warning sign for Jalen hurts. Well, for Jalen hurts. Um, I don't think it's ever a bad thing to put good players around you,

you know? So, uh, does it take away a couple of rushing touchdowns? Yeah, probably, but maybe helps in terms of the passing game if they do use them in that role and takes a little bit of the beating that Jalen Hurts takes away.

It takes a little bit off of him having to take some of those those hits. I think, you know, it's a little bit of a downgrade, I think, to the pass catchers because, again, of what his potential role could be. So, you know, if you're if you're comparing maybe A.J. Brown to Amara St. Brown and Pukunuku and some of those other guys after the top three or four, then maybe you put him behind those guys if you're concerned. And again, to your question earlier about Devontae Smith, I'll take Drake London over him because I think there's more upside for him, and I'll take Waddle and T. Higgins over him depending on where Higgins plays. But I don't think Hurts is in a downgrade with Kellen Moore as the offense coordinator and now the addition of Saquon Barkley.

So just another better player on the field. So I'm perfectly fine with Hurts still as QB2. Didn't Hurts play through an injury last year? I don't know if we were told about it. Yeah, he was playing with a knee brace on. Yeah. Maybe this move, and the light bulb kind of went off over my head when you were talking, Jamie.

Maybe this move is being done to protect hurts and to give hurts, to give the Eagles another option, take some work off of hurts. And that makes sense. So I'm going to ask this question. What are the odds that both of these guys, we can expect hurts to see fewer rushing touchdowns. If Saquon's there and healthy, what are the odds that both of them have 10 rushing touchdowns in 2024? Take one. And who? And Hurts.

Jalen Hurts. Both have 10? 10. 35%. It happened two years ago with Sanders and Hurts. Hurts was how many touchdowns last year? 15 or 16. Yeah, like 15.

How many did he have the year when Sanders had 11? 10 and 10 is easy to see. He had like 13 that year. Okay., like 15. How many did he have the year when Sanders had 11? 10 and 10 is easy to see. He had like 13 that year. Okay. Something like that. Maybe they go back in that direction. Yeah. And maybe they just try and take some of that wear and tear off

of their quarterback. They need that guy. And so if they're going to do that, that does mean more carries, fewer passes, or more passes to the running back. But we haven't seen that in the Jalen Hurts era very much. Yeah, I'll say. And if you're curious, what would happen to Jalen Hurts?

I took away two fantasy points per game from him for each of the last three seasons to see where he would finish. And that to me, that is six rushing touchdowns over the course of a season. So it's kind of a season. So it's kind of a weird exercise. It's not like he's going to put up the same exact stats. And we probably shouldn't even look at three years ago. That was before the AJ Brown, but signing, but our trade rather, if he lost six rushing touchdowns per season, that's basically two fantasy points per game in four point per passing touchdown leagues over the last three years, Jalen Hurts would have gone from, per game, per game, QB 7 to QB 10, QB 1 to QB 3, and QB 2 to QB 4.

In six-point-per-passing touchdown leagues, he would have gone from 7 to 12, from QB 1 to QB 3, and from QB 2 to QB 5. So it's kind of a big deal. But that's also not factoring in whatever he gets from Saquon as a pass catcher. It's true. I was just,

I was just giving him basically his exact same numbers minus six rushing touchdowns each year, because he's still, that would still be a ton of rushing, rushing touchdowns. He's the only quarterback who's ever had consecutive years with double digit rushing touchdowns. And he's done it three years in a row.

I hate to interrupt the momentum here. I got to take another break here. The Eagles also made a big splash on defense. So in a row. I hate to interrupt the momentum here. I've got to take another break here. The Eagles also made a big splash on defense. So did the Vikings. We'll talk about those signings. We'll talk about... Who are the Packers? Who am I missing with the Packers?

Oh, Xavier McKinney, right. Will you just stop picking on the Giants? Other Giants. Stop picking on the Giants, please, for God's sake. And the Bengals. It's been a very interesting day for interdivision moves. Who'd the Bengals get? Geno Stone.

Yeah, right. Safety from the Ravens, yes. Alright, we'll be right back after this break on Fantasy Football today. Train testing is in progress. Please be alert, as trains can pass at any time on the tracks. Remember to follow all traffic signals. Be careful along our tracks, and only make left turns where it's safe to do so. Be alert, be aware, and stay safe. I am so dreading groceries this week.

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Hooray. Gardner Minshew to the Raiders. This is pretty interesting. He's been pretty good for receivers. Great year from DJ Chark. Great year for Michael Pittman. Filled in admirably in two games for A.J. Brown and Devontae Smith

a couple of years ago with the Eagles. So if Devontae Adams is still on the Raiders and Gardner Minshew is his starting quarterback, Jamie, what would that mean for Adams? Would you take him as a top 30 pick? No. Dave? Just inside my top 30. 30 pick. No. Dave.

Just inside my top 30. Okay. Am I wrong for liking Minshew for Adams? The one thing he doesn't do is throw a lot of touchdowns, but he'll target the hell out of Adams, I think. Yeah. This offense. Gardner Minshew lost Josh Jacobs,

so we're talking about Zamir White, who's a big winner, by the way. Yeah.. So we're talking about Zamir White, who's a big winner. Yeah. But yeah, Minshew and Zamir White are the new quarterback slash running back for the Raiders. Like this feels could be potentially awful for Devontae Adams. I don't think he's got a shot to reach the upside that, like, what did he do last year? Devontae Adams. He was at 15.6 PPR points per game, 16.3 PPR points per game after McDaniels got fired. Most of that was with Aiden O'Connell.

It wouldn't surprise me if O'Connell and Minshew were maybe close statistically in some categories. I hate that these are his quarterbacks, but I like that Pittman averaged 10.1 targets per game with Minshew, 16.5 PPR points per game, 9.3 non PPR points per game. I kind of have the feeling that Adams will come in a little under there. We just see the Jaguars just signed or will sign Devin Duvernay, a wide receiver, two years, 12 and a half million.

And does that matter? No. But what does that mean for Calvin? What does it mean for Calvin Ridley though? Now that they've signed Gabe Davis and they've just spent 6 million a year. I mean, it always kind of felt like they were moving on from really because of

the compensation they had to give to Atlanta. So, well, but they've got to give it anyway. They've got to give it a round pick either way. No, but it was going to be a second round pick if they signed him. If they sign him on the 11th or before the league new year starts.

Once it's the 13th, it's a third round pick. It's still a third round pick, I'm saying. And we potentially have Christian Kirk as a big winner. We'll see what happens there. Alright, so Devont Adams, we talked about. Let's see other news.

Evan Ingham. Yeah, we got Barkley to the Eagles. Jacobs to the Packers. Pollard to the Titans. Mac Jones to Gabe Davis is the new Montana to Rice. DeAndre Swift to the Bears. Charger signing Gus Edwards, Jamie. I hope that's not all that they do with their backfield.

But reuniting him with, uh, Greg Roman, you know, so those two were in Baltimore together and he's, he's, he's going to be a factor, you know?

So I, I know, um, we're hoping, you know, rookie, maybe quorum, you know,

just to tie in the Michigan scenario with John Harbaugh, but Jim Harbaugh, excuse me. Um, but, uh, I hope somebody else joins him in the backfield. If he's going to be the lead running back,

it's going to be gross. You know, he'll, he'll score touchdowns and he'll be probably five yards per carry like he always is, but no work in the passing game whatsoever. And it just doesn't feel like this is the type of answer for a run centric system that we're looking for.

Gibson to the Patriots. You know, Brian Robinson played one game without Antonio Gibson last year and he had seven catches. I'm very excited about him next year. You are? Yeah. I mean, Anthony Lynn, now the running back coordinator there,

running back coach there, he's done very well with the running backs that he's worked with just coming from San Francisco. Not that he needed to do much with Christian McCaffrey, but it's a pretty good track record for where he's been. You mentioned it, the time that Gibson hasn't played there. Now if Eckler goes in, I think Josina Anderson, right, said that Washington's in on Eckler,

that would considerably crush Robinson's opportunity, maybe across the board, but certainly as a pass catcher. So you have to keep an eye on that. But if he's dealing with not necessarily the most significant second running back, Robinson would be a big winner for me. And Devin Singletary to the Giants. Is there any chance Devin Singletary could be this year's Rashad White? I mean, there's certainly a chance,

but I think Devin Singletary will be this year's Devin Singletary. Goes to a new team and, you know, it gives you some decent production, but it doesn't feel like he's going to set the world on fire. And, and obviously he's never done that before, despite leading his team in rushing five years in a row, he's just been, you know,

okay. And some pretty excellent opportunities. He's solid. He's a solid player. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 13.4 PPR points per game last year when he took over in Houston. That's not bad for me.

I don't know if he can get that. I don't think, I don't even know if he can get to like 11 PPR points with the giants. I don't think he'll be alone. Like he was the main back in Houston. They had no one else. They were going to be, maybe it's like a placeholder or 1B

back to start the year. Here's a good one. Zemir White or Devin Seltzer? Zemir White. If Zemir's the lead guy in Las Vegas, I'm going with Zemir White. Yeah, Zemir White. If Zemir White, look, we've got to figure they're going to add someone, right? But let's just have fun with it.

If Zemir White were the lead running back in Las Vegas, Zemir White or Tony Pollard? Might be White. Zemir White. It's interesting for Pollard. I mean, I was really looking for, I wanted him to go back to Dallas. I was, I'm hoping for a bounce back for him, like a healthy off season. He can show what he's capable of. But Tajay Spears kind of reminds me of Tony Pollard. I really like both those guys. Spears was so efficient. He had 50 catches last year. I don't know.

Did I say it on the show with you guys, or was it on Beyond the Box score? I think it was with you guys. Right. Did they make a mistake in riding Derrick Henry too long and not going with the obviously better back last year? Was I talking about that with you? I don't think so.

They were like too loyal. Oh, I compared it. It's funny. I compared it to Zeke and Pollard from 2022. I really thought the Cowboys shot themselves in the foot by giving Zeke too much work and not letting Tony Pollard be the guy. And then I feel like the Titans did the same thing last year

with their running backs. How much of that, though, was once the season was over, it was just kind of like the farewell tour for Derek Henry? Well, I guess so. Like when they're out of playoff contention. Yeah, but it was the whole season. It was like that. But yes, I mean, I suppose so.

Yeah. But I was hoping for both Spears and Pollard to not be on the same team. Yeah. To put it that way. All right. That's pretty much it. To put it that way. All right. That's pretty much it. Gabe Davis. Hooray.

Colby Parkinson to the Rams. Three years, 22.5 million, 15.5 guaranteed. A lot of money for him. It's an annoying sign, to be honest. Like, I wanted to see Davis Allen get an opportunity without Tyler Higby there. And is Noah Fant, though, last tight end left standing for the Seahawks right now? No, he's a free agent. He's a free agent.

So did they cut Disley? Do they have no tight end? Yes, they cut Disley. Parkinson's gone. Fant's a free agent. Right. Dude, does it matter? They use like six different guys anyway.

What pick do they have? 20-ish? They're too far down to get Bowers. Oh, and that's what they need. Let's give them Brock Bowers on top of Metcalf, Lockett, and J.S. I'm just trying to see if there's any potential of them making that move. They're 16th. All right.

Offensive line. So the Giants. A lot of guards moving today. Yeah, the Giants get one of them, the worst one. John Runyon So the Giants. A lot of guards moving today. Yeah, the Giants get one of them, the worst one. John Runyon to the Giants. He's a former Packers lineman. Three-year, $30 million deal. Then two bigger ones.

Jonah Jackson going from Detroit to the Rams. And Robert Hunt going from the Dolphins to the Panthers. And they desperately need help. Am I missing anything? Those were the two big ones, Jonah Jackson and Robert Hunt. Last guy re-signed with Detroit. Cushenberry to the Titans. Right, we mentioned that one.

I think that's good for Tennessee. Yep. Okay. Well, great. No, that Rams offensive line could be incredibly good next year. Yep. Great for Stafford. Great for Kyron Williams.

And Christian Wilkins, huge. Oh, yeah. I like that one, too, for the Raiders. Right. On defense, the Raiders get Christian Wilkins, former Dolphins defensive tackle. The Dolphins lost a lot on their defense. The Commanders are signing former Cowboys defensive end

Dorrance Armstrong. Denver signing former Dolphins safety Brandon Jones. Cardinals signing... Leonard Floyd just went to the 49ers. Oh, really? Okay. Yep. Former Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols is going to the Cardinals. Packers with a big splash

signing Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. Safety for the Giants seem pretty affordable. I don't know what they're doing. And then the Vikings. Wow. Jonathan Grenard and Blake Cashman from the Texans. An edge rusher and a linebacker. And then Andrew Van Ginkle.

If you've watched any Dolphins games, the guy just, he always made plays. It was a lot of fun. Andrew Van Ginkle going to the Vikings. So they've been active. And then the Eagles getting Bryce Huff from the Jets, pass rusher Bryce Huff, who is a guy who like didn't play that much,

but when he played was fantastic. So that should help the Eagles up front. That's it. That's all I got. All right. Basically everyone signed. That'll be our last show of the week. See where Henry and Eckler and Ridley,

and maybe there'll be a trade. Aaron Jones. Aaron Jones. Looking forward to Justin Fields' trade. Get things going here. Where does he go? Where do you want to see him go? I mean, I was hoping for Atlanta.

That's out of the mix. It'd be great if he went to Minnesota just to see, but they're not going to do it unless Minnesota really goes nuts and overpays. So who still needs a quarterback? Denver, Minnesota, New England, Washington. You have got to start. Yes, you have got to put the Giants on this list.

Okay, so if that's the list... He said the Raiders. The Raiders make sense, but they just got Minshew. Yeah, but it was two years, $25 million. It's not like it's... That's backup money. I guess. They'd still have to pay Fields and pick up his option next year if they take him.

I'd be surprised if the Raiders were the team. And the Vikings will have to pay through the nose. They're in the same division. But if they're the only team stepping up for fields, I don't know. Chicago's in a tough spot now. Unless. Unless there's a mystery team like Seattle, for example. Sure.

The old mystery team or Chicago keeps fields, drafts Marvin Harrison, improves the O-line a little bit more. That's a pretty interesting offense. Thomas Schaefer is asking, when was the last divisional quarterback trade? McNabb to Washington? Question mark. Hmm, I don't know.

Was that a trade? Yeah. Yeah, that was a trade. I don't know. Divisional quarterback trade. Does that include draft pick trades too? What do you mean? You mean like picks for picks and then one of the teams drafts a quarterback?

No. I would say no. No. Good question, Schaefer. Stumped us. I saw Schaefer's Facebook profile, by the way. It was recommended that I friend request him. I didn't.

But short hair. Short hair, which is weird. I've never seen him with short hair. Very funny caption on one of his pictures too. He's a funny guy. Which is weird. I've never seen him with short hair. Very funny caption on one of his pictures too. He's a funny guy. We need more. We need more short hair. You didn't friend him, but you stalked him. I did, yeah. I looked at every picture I could.

Alright, thanks everybody. That's a wrap. We'll talk to you later on Fantasy Football Today.