Fantasy Football Today - Start or Sit (AFC)! Start Le'Veon? A.J. Green? Rookie RBs? (09/10 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Episode Date: September 10, 2020

Welcome to Week 1! We're previewing six AFC home games, plus LV-CAR and PIT-NYG. First, who are some players we love this week and who are we sitting (3:50)? Can we really sit Amari Cooper in Week 1? How do we feel about the rookie RBs in general (8:00)? ... News and notes (12:50), 60-second rankings disputes (19:40) for Nick Chubb and Raheem Mostert, plus the Startometer (24:40) for players in the following games: NYG-PIT, LV-CAR, NYJ-BUF ... Game previews begin! LAC-CIN (29:40), IND-JAC (36:10), CLE-BAL (46:20), TEN-DEN (52:30), MIA-NE (56:50), NYJ-BUF(1:02:50), LV-CAR (1:08:00), PIT-NYG (1:09:40) ... Email us at [e-mail] Listen to the brand new Fantasy Football Today in 5 podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-today-in-5/id1528634304 'Fantasy Football Today' is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Castbox, and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow the new FFT Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/FFToday Follow our FFT team on Twitter: @FFToday, @AdamAizer, @JameyEisenberg, @daverichard, @heathcummingssr, @YardsPerGretch, @BenSchragg Watch FFT on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCviK78rIWXhZdFzJ1Woi7Fg/videos Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasyFootballToday/ Sign up for the FFT newsletter https://www.cbssports.com/newsletter 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

Kick off an exciting football season with BetMGM, an official sportsbook partner of the National Football League. Yard after yard, down after down, the sportsbook born in Vegas gives you the chance to take action to the end zone and celebrate every highlight reel play. And as an official sportsbook partner of the NFL, BetMGM is the best place to fuel your football fandom on every game day. With a variety of exciting features, BetMGM offers you plenty of seamless ways to jump straight onto the gridiron and to embrace peak sports action. Ready for another season of gridiron glory? What are you waiting for?

Get off the bench, into the huddle, and head for the end zone all season long. Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. Must be 19 years of age or older. Ontario only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem? For free assistance, call the Connex Ontario helpline at 1-866-531-2600.

BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. This is Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports. On his way to the end zone. I'll tell you what, that was a spectacular play. It's time to dominate your fantasy league. What a play. Off to the races.

Touchdown. Oh, he's done it again. Now here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie, Heath, and Ben. All right. Here it is. Happy football day, Jamie, Heath, and Ben. All right. Here it is. Happy football day, everybody. Heath? Yeah.

Happy football day. Your team's happy. Happy football day to you, Adam. Thank you. I got my Hurricanes jersey on. They're playing tonight. Where's your Chiefs gear? The Hurricanes are playing tonight?

They are. You got that big game against UAB. You got to make it at eight o'clock on Thursday competing against the opener for the NFL. That was smart. Yeah. Are they expected to beat UAB? I think they're like two score,

like, yeah, like 15.5. Why would even it be a conversation about competing against the national audience? I mean, you think people would be tuning in regardless? No, I don't, but it's so tuning in regardless? No, I don't. But it's so annoying for me. Like, I don't even get to watch it. It's annoying for Hurricanes fans, yes.

Yeah, I'll watch it online. Do you know that, according to Elias, today is the first time that Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL, WNBA, and the MLS are all playing on the same day. Did you even say college football? They're just listening to professional sports. I saw this on ESPN last night. That's so cool.

First time ever. So the 2020 got something right. So I don't even know the NBA playoff games that are tonight, but I feel like the NFL game is going to crush it in the ratings. You would hope so. For our business, you would hope so. Yeah, I hope so. Are the Celtics playing tonight? No, they play tomorrow. I believe it's Lakers-Rockets.

Lakers-Rockets. All right, cool. Well, welcome everybody to our first Start or Sit episode of the 2020 season. Yeah, this is fun. You know, we do two long episodes for all the games, AFC home games for the most part on Thursday, NFC home games on Friday. Of course, if there's an uneven number, I have to kind of get creative. So today on the show, we'll do Giants-Steelers. That's the last game I have scheduled.

And we're doing Raiders at Panthers as well. Most of the games are NFC home games this week, especially if you remove the Thursday night game, which we previewed on yesterday. Jamie, you have a new fan I wanted to tell you about. My friend texted me last night, and he said he has the 10th pick in the draft. He said, give me some names.

So I said, Miles Sanders. And I have to reevaluate my friendship with him because he replied, who? And I was like, what? So anyway, he's calling me after, or like before all his picks, and he's telling me who's available. And I said, are you sorting, he was on CBS,

are you sorting the draft room by the projections or by the analyst rankings? He goes, the projections. I said, all right, well, change it to one of the analyst rankings. And he says, well, Jamie has great hair. I'll use his rankings. Well, he has great hair, too.

I guess he didn't know that about Heath. He's seen more of Jamie. Congratulations, Jamie. Jamie's hair is more stable. It's continually the same great hair. My hair's changed too much to be great hair. It's so true. And I know we're all looking forward to football this week. I changed too much to be great hair. It's so true. And I know we're all

looking forward to football this week. I am looking forward to getting a haircut. I thought you were going to say my new friend is Mike C. I'm going to try to figure out what that means.

I'll let you figure it out. Mike C is a big fan of mine. Man, it's dripping with sarcasm, but I can't figure it out. One player that you love this week. Our YouTube audience will know that. Our YouTube page will know that. Okay. There's a guy that hates me on YouTube.

I say, hi, Mike. What's up, Mike C? Yeah, Mike C. Heath, who's one player you love this week? One player I love this week is Blake Jarwin. He is a top 10 tight end for me this week. Let's go in a shootout against the Rams. I actually have him ranked one spot ahead of Hunter Henry.

I would start him over Tyler Higbee in the same game. I think the Cowboys are just going to continue to be an explosive passing offense and the Rams have good corners. They're going to, they've got something to compete with those wide receivers. I would expect Jarwin to play a bigger role earlier in the year as CD lamb gets acclimated. And I love his chances to get into the end zone.

Yeah. Everybody seems to like Blake Jarwin top 10 in everyone's rankings. Jarwin this week, Rams is not great against tight ends. They were 20th against tight ends last year. I'm not sure if that matters, but either way, expecting a lot of points.

So Blake Jarwin, good call there. Jamie, who do you like? I'm going to go with the player I don't like just to stay in the same game. It's Amari Cooper for similar reasons that Heath just said. If you go back to that game last year against the Rams,

it was week 15. Jason Witten actually scored. So hopefully Jarwin does find the end zone similar to what Witten did now that he's the guy there. But Jalen Ramsey just took Amari Cooper away from that game. He covered him, according to the Dallas Morning News, just under 60% of the time. And he had one catch in that game on two targets.

Now, he was not 100%. But on the time against Ramsey, he did not have a catch. Why would you throw at Jalen Ramsey when you have these other options, and now you have CeeDee Lamb factored in? So you never want to draft a guy in the first four rounds and say, I'm going to sit him. This is one of those instances where I would sit Amari Cooper

just because of this matchup against Jalen Ramsey. And Adam, you've said this time and time again all offseason how Cooper has struggled against tough competition. And you can clearly, based on the contract, Ramsey's being paid as the best in the business. Yeah, so 48 yards against the Saints and Marshawn Lattimore,

38 yards against Darius Slay, who a lot of number one wide receivers did just fine against the Lions last year. In case you're wondering about Terry McLaurin against Slay this week, zero yards against Stephon Gilmore. Did not have a catch. Did have a big game against Buffalo.

Eight catches, 85 yards, 19 yards against the Rams on one catch. So Cooper, I mentioned it so many times in the preseason, tough matchups this year, a lot of tough cornerbacks. Didn't do well against them last year. But Heath, since I don't think you're going to be on the show tomorrow, I'm still getting used to our new schedule. You have Amari Cooper still ranked pretty high, like top 10. And Jamie does not.

That's a product of what we've talked about earlier in the week and how I'm factoring in defense in week one. And this is one of those situations where I should maybe make an exception. But if I'm saying the way I'm factoring in defense in week one is based largely on implied point total and how many points we think they're going to score, then the Rams defense would not be a problem for Amari Cooper at all. It would be a boost for him.

So this matchup probably actually moved him up in my rankings with that process. And he should probably come down a little bit. I would still start him. They just have so many options. And if he's got 40% of the snaps away from Jalen Ramsey, he could still be good there, but I don't necessarily disagree with what Jamie said either. Okay.

So Jamie, you gave me a player to sit this week at Amari Cooper. Heath said he likes Blake Jarwin. Now we've got to switch it up. Jamie, give me a start. Heath, give me a sit.

Jamie, go ahead. I'm going to go with the Sean Jackson. You know what the week one is for him. You know what this matchup was for him last year. And so I think the fact that Jalen Rager looks like he may be a go is a little bit of a downgrade for Jackson

just because now there's another mouth to feed in this offense that has, I don't know, elite level talent, but I think he's more talented than J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward. So, you know, if you're Carson Wentz and you're looking to try and maybe get your rookie going a little bit, you know, he's going to be, you know,

probably a little bit better competition than what the other two guys would have been. But I still think, you know, Jackson, two of his last three season openers, he's been fantastic. And he beat up this Washington secondary, which is not very good in my opinion. So I think it's going to be an opportunity for Deshaun Jackson to play at high level. And just to give you a comparison be an opportunity for Deshaun Jackson to play at high level.

And just to give you a comparison, I would start Deshaun Jackson over Mark Cooper this week. All right. And Heath, give me one player you're sitting. How about like a handful of players I'm sitting? I'll just stick with the theme from the summer. I'm trying to not start any rookie running backs that are not named Clyde Edwards-Hilaire. I'm just like, there are different levels of this.

I think Jonathan Taylor and Zach Moss are fine as flexes. Antonio Gibson is a total wild card that I wouldn't blame you for wanting to put him in as a flex, but I would rather start Tariq Cohen, James White, and PPR over any of those other rookies. I would rather start like 50 running backs over Cam Akers or DeAndre Swift, just because we have very and jk dobbins as well we just we we could see a situation where those guys get like five or six touches in the game until i see something from them i'm not starting them okay yeah and you know what i mean

look whenever there are no buys we got so many teams 16 games they're just a lot of options so you might find a player who you drafted in the first five rounds, just looking at the rankings that's in the 30s at wide receiver or something like that. It's just a week where there are the Deshaun Jacksons and the Will Fullers and the guys that we really like in good matchups that are ahead of some other players that you drafted ahead of them. So it's not like if somebody, correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but if you have a wide receiver in the 30s or a running back in the 20s,

it's not that you don't like them, just there's a lot of players this week. Right, when we go about this process, and I'll just speak for myself, you're going to see some guys that have these great scenarios and they're going to bump down guys that we were saying draft high.

Like, for example, hopefully Mike Evans plays. He's had a terrible track record against Lattimore and against the Saints. You're still starting Mike Evans. So that's a guy that I think, you know, you still plug in. And this is where I think the difference is for me with Amari Cooper. Like the wild card is Tom Brady now, you know, so that changes things a little bit. I've seen Amari Cooper with Dak Prescott

against Jalen Ramsey struggle. So I can dial that back a little bit because I know that if he takes the, you know, and this is the flip side of that, I think where Heath is kind of going to with the 40%, you have CeeDee Lamb now in the mix. Michael Gallup is obviously a talented wide receiver. They may not move Ramsey. He's a different defense coordinator, you know, so he may just stay on one side and, and that's the be the way that they operate. It didn't work very well for them last year by having him cover Murray Cooper because the Cowboys put up 44 points. So, uh, I mean, Prescott didn't have a huge game in that he threw for two touchdowns and 200

plus yards, but still, if you, if you just want to say, okay, we're going to take away the side of the field, Ramsey may not move. So those are things you just kind of take into account. I will say this, though, about the rookie running backs, because I think people look at it and say, I drafted Akers in the fifth round. I drafted Swift in the sixth round. I drafted J.K. Dobbins in the seventh round. Taylor in the fourth round.

I actually would start Taylor this week, but I know where Heath is coming from. I hope you did it with the idea of the long term as opposed to the short term. And I know fantasy football is different in that regard. We always are looking to get those wins early because it's a shorter season than let's say baseball or basketball, but fantasy baseball or basketball. I still think though, you're going to get great production from these guys at some point during the season, but let it, let it sort of develop.

And I would have said about acres, uh, he could still be in a flex. The fact that Daryl Henderson practiced in full now that's off the table. You know, you just don't, don't deal with that headache. Acres could still be very good. Swift could still be very good, but the risk is now just heightened by the scenarios that they're dealing

with. Okay. So Heath mentioned three Cohen and James white and PPR. Who is some other like veteran running backs that you'd be starting over rookie running backs? More than Mack. Okay. How about Carrion?

Carrion for me, yeah. I wouldn't want to start Carrion, but he's my favorite of the Lions running backs this week, and I would start him over Akers and Swift, for example, and Dobbins. I would start Gibson, Moss, and Taylor just because I think those scenarios are a little bit better than what carry-on is dealing with especially if Adrian Peterson plays about Philip Lindsay I would start Lindsay over the those the the acres swift rookies and Dobbins

you know I I still think Gibbs I I like Gibson just because I think there's not a talented guy in front of him okay you know and I like Moss because i think there's not a talented guy in front of him okay you know and i like moss because i think he's going to get you know it's a game that the bill should win easily yeah so i think he's going to get some some run and have the chance to score he's going to play in the high level spots you might have um he's the green zone guy well we can we can say that right yeah sure you might have uh moss is green wide receiver you might have wide receivers too that doesn't have to be a. You might have wide receivers too. That doesn't have to be a running back discussion,

but wide receivers that you're starting over these guys as well. Let's go to the big news. Brandon cooks is going to be a game time decision tonight. Heath, you want to lay it out? What to do if he's in, what to do if he's out. I mean,

if, if he's in, we'll probably get some report about Brandon cooks is going to play, but he's going to be on a snap count or Brandon Cooks is good to go. I mean, that's a little bit different situation. I don't want to use Brandon Cooks. I could certainly understand if you're in a three wide receiver league and you start a flex as well,

that you don't have anybody that has close to as much upside as he does. If they say anything about a snap count, I'm just out period. If they say Brandon Cooks is good to go, then I might start him as a number four wide receiver or a flex. If Cooks is out, Randall Cobb gets a pretty big boost, but he's a floor guy, and Kenny Stills would be the ceiling replacement for Cooks.

Will Fuller is a top 20 wide receiver. I think the thing you want to do is this is more of a daily play than a seasonal play because hopefully you drafted somebody that you can plug in instead of Brandon cooks. And the fact that it's a Thursday game gives you that luxury of, okay, I can sit Brandon cooks and hopefully find somebody maybe on waivers, not that you're cutting Brandon cooks, but you may have an end of bench guy that you can play with. And, and, you know, there could be a Steven Sims or, or, you know, I don't know what Anthony Miller's ownership or roster percentage is up to, but he was at 55% when we started the week, you know,

that's the guy that I would pivot to. If you want to, you know, take a look, Paris Campbell, you know, in a game that the Jaguars defense is going to be bad in the Colts could be, you know, doing what they want to do as well. Van Jefferson and what could be a high scoring game. You know, these are guys they're not Brandon cooks, but if you just, you know, want to don't want to deal with the headache of like he said, snap count and want to wait, you know, that's something that I would probably try and do is just wait it out. Okay. Mike Evans questionable with a, I think it's a hamstring injury.

We talked about it on fantasy football today in five, by the way, if you want like the, if you want not exactly instant, but quick analysis, because we'll get these shows out probably around 10 o'clock Eastern, maybe 10, 15, something like that in the morning. But three in the morning, you'll have FFT in five. So we'll be reacting to the Texans game, Texans-Chiefs game tonight, and we'll publish that at three in the morning. So first thing in the morning, you want five minutes of reaction to that game plus

a little bit of week one matchup stuff. You can hear that on FFT and five. Please subscribe. But Mike Evans is questionable with soft tissue injury, Jamie. So should we be picking up Scotty Miller and if let's say if Evans doesn't play and we could talk about

this more tomorrow, but Tom Brady start or sit? I mean, I don't know if you're going to run to go pivot towards Terod Taylor or Derek Carr or Gardner Minshew or Phillip Rivers, but that's something you could consider. I mean, you know, it's a tough matchup on the road. Obviously, the Bucs are in a better situation because if the fans were there,

there's no chance Tampa would have an opportunity to play, play well. But Brady would, would be a downgrade. You know, it's, it's as good as God went in and Gronk may be in play this week and OJ Howard and all those things. And it's, it's going to be a shootout still. I'd be a little bit more concerned about Bradyady so um you know it's uh it's a downgrade in terms of scott miller that is a guy i would speculate on if i have an empty roster spot to play with because it might not be a one-week situation with mike evans remember what happened last year i know that they were out of it and they shut him down but you know if it's two years in a row that he's

having hamstring injuries that's not good we're gonna probably see a lot of soft tissue injuries early in the season because guys are not in game shape. And so just be prepared to deal with that with your fantasy roster. I'm going to fire through the rest. I'm sorry, Heath. I just want to make sure we get to the games. Heath, tell me, David Montgomery, if he plays, would you start him at Detroit?

No. No, no, no. And please, David Montgomery, I know what you're trying to do and you're being a good sport, but let's just take one more week off and get right. I'd like to have David Montgomery for the rest of the season. DeAndre Swift limited

in practice, so we're certainly not going to start him, but we hope for Kerryon Johnson's sake that DeAndre Swift just kind of chills out and stays away. Divino Zigbo missed practice with a hamstring injury, so they're facing the Colts who added DeForest Buckner, and we're expecting the colts who added deforest buckner um and you know we're expecting the jaguars to be trailing in this game but are you going to start

divino zigbo over uh you know zach moss you mean james robinson yeah sorry james robinson over zach moss uh cam acres just just acres swift and dobbins for me those are the only three rookies that i would start robinson over they also signed dare ogunbuale as well i believe so um and i pretty much nailed saying his name that time i just like everybody to notice they have they have the market cornered on fun names that start yeah oh yeah yeah um julian edelman was limited just real quick on real quick on Robinson. Heath can reference this as well. We had Pete Prisco on CBS Sports HQ, and Pete said what he's hearing from Jacksville is they are going to give James Robinson

every opportunity to carry the ball to see if he is legit. So if he's still out there on your waiver wire, please go pick him up, because if he does have a good game, I don't think he's going to have a great game, but if he has a good game and he's getting in the neighborhood of 20 touches,

you don't want to let that go if If you have the chance to pick him up, uh, Scott fishbowl, you get, we get an email with all the ads and drops and stuff, but for like a, you know, a bunch of leagues, I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at there, but just looked at all of the James Robinson bids. I could find as waivers ran yesterday or fab ran uh 25 out of 100 25 69 53 15 150 and 31 so these are different leagues within the scott fishbowl and bids on james robinson they range from 15 to the entire budget of 100 should not bid your entire budget, but we've been saying 10, 11%. Um, and I think it's like, it's probably too, like if he didn't get picked up the last couple of days, you may not have to go over that, but I wish I had told people a little bit higher. Um, I might go 15 to 20% now. It's got fishbowl is such a deep league and this is our first waivers run since the draft

back in June. So there's some crazy numbers there. All right. Julian Edelman was limited in practice. Debo Samuel did not practice. And is A.J. Brown have some sort of mystery injury? He does. He was stretching at the start of practice on Wednesday. So hopefully he will be OK. But he missed, I believe, Friday and Saturday or Friday and Sunday whenever they practiced at the end of last week. And so it's something to keep an eye on, but they don't play till Monday. So you should get a better indication today and Friday. All right, let's do some 60 second rankings disputes. I had some good ones here set up for Dave, but I forgot Dave is not on the Thursday show.

So that gives us two rankings disputes. Nick Chubb and Raheem Mostert. Jamie has Chubb outside the top 20, just barely. Heath has Chubb 11th in non-PPR, 13th in PPR. He is at Baltimore. And then Mostert, it's flipped. Jamie's got him 14th. Heath's got him outside the top 20.

Still is the number two running back, and Mostert facing Arizona. Let's start with Nick Chubb, a 60-second ranking dispute. Jamie versus Heath. Heath, you're the high guy on Chubb. You got him 11th in non-PPR, 13th in PPR. You are on the clock. And I do have him. I have lowered him to 16th in PPR.

I'll stick by the must-start designation in non-PPR. I still think this Cleveland team will run the ball 25 times in this game and Chubb's probably going to get 15 of those carries. And I'm actually, like, they're talking about including him in the passing game just a little bit more. So I would anticipate they're going to have a little success

running the ball. I think their offensive line's pretty good and I think everybody's tackling is going to be bad to start the season. So I'm still okay starting Chubb. Jamie, rebuttal? I mean, I'm still okay starting Chubb. Jamie, rebuttal? I mean, I'm still starting Chubb too. It's just this matchup sucks. And you're going to get Kareem Hunt

getting clearly a good portion of the workload as well. And this Ravens defense is great. They're at home. And so the thing I look at when I'm looking at some of these things is how much continuity matters. And so I think there's going to be a little bit of a hiccup with a new offense for Cleveland while those Ravens defense is largely the same you know they added a significant piece in Calais Campbell

so again you know receivers you have more choices running backs you don't have as many choices like don't get cute and start um Zach Moss over Nick Chubb like that's not a something I'm going to tell you I do like Jonathan Taylor better than Nick Chubb, but I'm sure a lot of people aren't going to make that move. I just think Taylor against the Jaguars in a shared situation may be better than Chubb against the Ravens. But for me, I'm going to lower Chubb just based on this matchup against Baltimore.

All right, that was almost 90 seconds. Deshaun Jackson or Nick Chubb? Chubb. Again, I would probably start Chubb myself, but I would not be surprised if Jackson has a better game. That's just the joy of doing rankings versus setting your lineup. Okay. And then, yeah, the Ravens.

Interesting. They lost Michael Pierce, but they add Calais Campbell. They're moving Brandon Williams back to nose tackle, where he is apparently much better. And they have a new middle linebacker. I mean, you know, Patrick Queen is going to have to prove himself pretty quickly. Oh, true. Okay, Raheem Mostert facing the Cardinals.

Now, the Cardinals beefed up on their defensive line. They added former Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. They added Falcons linebacker Devondre Campbell, who has had a lot of tackles the last three seasons. So, hopefully their run defense is a little better. Jamie, you like Mostert more than Heath does. You got him 14th. Go.

I think this is Mostert's job, as Cam Inman of the St. San Jose Mercury News told us on CBS Sports HQ. You heard reports that he's going to be the guy. You know, the fact that they restructured his contract. So we'll see what Tevin Coleman and Jarek McKinnon do. But I think the 49ers win this game. I think Mostert builds off what he did last year.

And he is going to be the starter getting that first carry. So I like Mostert scenario quite a bit in this matchup against the Cardinals. Yeah. And I, I am just uncertain. I don't have any doubt that it's Raheem Mostert's job and he's well, it's Kyle Shanahan. So I always have a little bit of doubt, but, and that he's going to lead the running backs in touches. I just still have it projected as a San Francisco backfield with Tevin Coleman getting eight to 10 touches and Jarek McKinnon getting six to eight touches. And that just makes it hard to project most are in the top 20, but I would certainly start. I'd like to start most or, and I would start them over that Taylor Moss group that we've talked so much about. Okay. So it's not, yeah. I mean, again, it's nitpicking a little bit in the rankings,

both like most are both like Chubb, but to varying degrees. Just going to go through the rest of the news and notes here. Jalen Rager returned to practice. Maybe plays this week, but still looking good for week two, at least, for Rager. Miles Sanders practiced. Could have his workload limited early in the season, which sucks, so please know. Kenny Galladay was limited in practice. You guys just jump in if there's anything that really jumps out.

A lot of guys can be limited in practice, no big deal. Daniil Hunter, great player for the Minnesota Vikings. He's on IR, defensive end. He's on IR with a neck injury. IR this year means you miss at least three weeks, not at least six weeks like it had in the past. So he could be back hopefully in just three, well, after three weeks.

Amari Cooper practiced in full. AJ Green not on the injury report. Devontae Parker and Preston Williams are both limited with injuries. And the Rams are going with three running backs, according to Sean McVay, at least for now. And Ron Rivera said it will be RBBC for the Washington football team.

And I picked up Peyton Barber last night in the Scott Fish Bowl. So, yuck. I guess like available or no? I actually don't think he was. And I dropped Damian Williams, so it was a free roster spot. There you go. All right. The Stardometer.

We do the Stardometer now for the games that we're not going to get to for a while. So, 0-10 on the Stardometer. We do the Stardometer now for the games that we're not going to get to for a while. 0-10 on the Stardometer. Any Giants wide receiver against Pittsburgh? One at best for... Who knows if Golden Tate plays? He's dealing with some injury concerns and

there was a report that his snap count will be limited maybe early in the season, maybe the entire year. So I would probably say two at best for Shepard and one for Slayton. I'd go four Shepard, two Slayton, zero Tate. Deontay Johnson at the Giants. Seven. Two.

Oh. Fun. I'm really, like, I'm getting a little totally open to the fact that I could just be missing the whole Deontay Johnson thing but man they're talking up Chase Claypool in the red zone and Eric Ebron having sleepovers with Ben Roethlisberger and James Washington

and oh yeah Juju Smith-Schuster so we'll see who the number if there's a clear top two or what the target breakdown is. I think the way that they're going to operate is Juju and Deontay are locked into their roles and then the other side of the field is going to be a rotation of James Washington and Chase Claypool.

Devin Singletary against the Jets. Zero to ten. Five? Yeah, I think five's good zach moss seven i'd go four stefan diggs against the jets eight yeah john brown five Five. Four. Jameson Crowder at Buffalo. Two in non-PPR. Five in PPR. Yeah, I'd go like seven and two. I mean, he got so many targets. We talked about this on Twitch.

He's like, who else are they going to throw to? Well, Mims and Perryman are back at practice. Right, but it's week one. Those guys have missed so much time. Can't expect much from Mims. You figure Perryman's going to see enough of White. He's not going to have a big game. I would assume like Crowder, Bell, and Herndon are like 80% of Sam Darnold's targets.

Speaking of which, Le'Veon Bell. Hope it's Bell. Yeah, Le'Veon Bell. Zero to ten. Six in non-PPR, seven in PPR. Yeah, I'm starting him. Would you start Raheem Mostert or Le'Veon Bell? Mostert in both. I'm starting Bell.

Ian Thomas against the Raiders. I was surprised he was so low in your rankings. This is a really good matchup. He's not 100% though. I thought he practiced in full. He's practicing, but he's playing through this toe thing. Okay. Kudos to him.

I actually have a tough call to make in the fishbowl with the tight end premium as my third tight end, essentially a second flex option. Right. Or who's the one I'm debating? Ian Thomas versus? I forget who I'm debating. Yeah, I know. I might actually have to start Jimmy Graham.

Derek Carr at Carolina. Five. Yeah, this is, I would say five in one QB league, but like eight in a two QB league. Henry Ruggs. Oh, sorry. I would start Carr over Tom Brady if Mike Evans is out. Wow.

Henry Ruggs at Carolina. Derek Carr, by the way, that's your DFS guy. He just like never has huge games. Along with Henry Ruggs. Yeah, Ruggs is going to be great. Stack him up. I would say Ruggs, six. Five. Would you start Henry Ruggs is going to be great. Stack them up. I would say Ruggs, six. Five.

Would you start Henry Ruggs or Antonio Gibson? That's a good question. I'd start Gibson and non-PPR just based on the touches, but Ruggs, I think, probably PPR. I would start Ruggs. Boy, Carolina's run defense was the worst ever last season. Their pass defense is going to catch up this like it's gonna be so bad yeah this is the free space like you you want mike evans back for next week because they get they get carolina all right let's go to the games

chargers and bangles chargers are three point favorites total open at 46 down to 42 and a half. That's quite a move. Stat of the game number one. Cincinnati is the unofficial home of the game Cornhole, according to theculturtrip.com. That's a fun game. Did you call it Cornhole or bags? I call the Cornhole. Okay.

Yeah. We call it bags. We call it bags. Bags. Bags. Actually, we played washers. We didn't play with bags, but... Did you play, like, pick up ball? Bags.

It's just a terrible, completely... Yeah, we would go to the park to play ball. Which could mean you played, like, six different sports. Kick ball. There was only one game that we played at the park that was called ball. Okay. Volleyball.

Stat of the game number two. The Chargers allowed the third fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, but saw the fewest wide receiver targets in the NFL. Nobody really threw against the Chargers. All right. So we'll talk about... Well, why don't we talk about A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd

and first game for Joe Burrow. What do you think about the passing game? I would try to avoid it if you can. I mean, Burrow in his first start, get ready to say hello to Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram quite a bit because they're going to be in your face all day. And then when you do have opportunities to throw, you're throwing against Casey Hayward and Chris Harris.

It's such a shame Derwin James is not there. and I don't know anybody who saw hard knocks on Tuesday it was just it was hard to watch you know they showed the injury you just feel for that kid and you feel for that team but their defense is still going to be really good this week and I would try to avoid Green I I'd try to avoid Boyd. Burrow, even in two quarterback leagues or super flex leagues, I'd try to sit him too. Like, you know, Derek Carr is an easy one to play over him. Tyrod, Phillip Rivers, you know, all these guys that were drafted in a similar range late.

But yeah, I'm out on anything besides Joe Mixon for the Bengals. Yeah, I'd go Boyd over Green, but they're just flexes and I'd rather not. Okay, we'll compare them to some other players as we go along. Tyrod Taylor or Derek Carr, if you needed to stream someone. Right now, I have Tyrod, but I'm ready to make that switch. I'll go Carr in six, Tyrod in four point for pass touchdowns. Makes sense.

Yeah, I mean, I'm interested. I can't imagine the Bengals going to have a good defense, but they... Their front four is going to be good. Their front four has a chance to be open. They added a lot of... McKenzie Alexander, LaShawn Sims,

Von Bell, all just in their defensive backfield and DJ Reader and tackle. Continuity. Yeah, yeah. There's a lot of communication that needs to go on that defensive backfield

and they've never played football together. And they just lost Trey Waynes, right? Yes, he's out. for the season, I believe. Yes. One thing they were really bad, the Bengals last year, they were just bad against the run in general, but mobile quarterbacks torch them. Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Lamar

Jackson twice, Gardner Minshew, they all rush for 46 or more yards. That's a ton of yards. So that bodes well. I don't know if it'll carry over, but if you want another reason to be confident in Tyrod Taylor, he has an opportunity, you'd think, to be good with his legs,

which he always is. Another great DFS play. I mean, again, the thing about week one is people are going to go run to the big names. These are the guys that you should pivot toward

because they're cheap and they're going to be pretty good with a chance to be great. All right. Chargers running backs. It's easy. You start Eckler and just going to wait and see on Jackson. Yeah.

Just watch Kelly and Jackson and see if one of them gets a high percentage or one of them pops. Um, but you can't consider starting them. Uh, Daniel Popper of the athletic told us on HQ, don't be surprised with Mike Williams out. If you see Eckler,

maybe split out a little bit more. Uh, he also ballparked his receptions at around 75. So, you know, if you get 75 receptions out of him, it's not 92 like he gave you a year ago, but you'll be thrilled about 75 catches. He'll be a top five running back if you get to 75 passes. How do you feel about Keenan Allen?

Like him? Love him? Like. You're starting him. Yeah. He's starting him. Yeah. He's a number three receiver. It's just a matter of the – with Keenan Allen in this offense, he'll benefit without Mike Williams there. And by the way, we'll see if Mike Williams is actually going to miss the game. It sounds like he will.

But the touchdowns. I mean, it's always going to come down to the touchdowns with him because his catches and yards will come down. It's just by nature of how this quarterback change will go. And so is this a game that you feel he could score? Sure. I mean, it's a bad secondary and he's going to probably see a lot of targets. All right. But would you start Raheem Mostert over

Keenan Allen? In non-PPR, absolutely. In PPR, no. Right. Okay. Makes sense. If Mike Williams plays, no. No. They can't trust him, right? Hunter Henry's an easy call. He's a top eight tight end.

I like him a lot this week. There's a lot of tight ends that have good opportunities this week, and he's another good... This is a good stack. You want to go Taylor, Henry, that's a good stack you can play in any DFS format. We are going to sit Joe Burrow, wait and see. We are going to sit Joe Burrow. Wait and see. We're going to start

Joe Mixon. Yeah, pretty much. And then you already talked about the Cincinnati wide receivers. You like Keenan Allen better than the Cincinnati wide receivers? A lot. Maybe combined. Do we know if Chris Harris is good anymore by the way? What? What? What?

I was just looking. Well, did he play in the slot last year? I think he actually played outside because Bryce Callahan was hurt. Because, God, the slot wide receivers really did very well against Denver. Chris Harris is getting up there in age. He can't be... But to say, is he still good? Yes, he's still good.

I don't know. He may not be great, but he's still good. Do we still fear him in fantasy? Can he lock up Tyler Boyd with a rookie quarterback making his first start? Most likely. Okay. Yeah, because I was looking at slot receivers against Denver last year where Chris Harris was.

Landry, 51 yards and a touchdown. Cole Beasley, 76 and a touchdown. Keenan Allen, 68 and a touchdown. Hunter Renfro, 102 yards and a touchdown. Cole Beasley, 76 and a touchdown. Keenan Allen, 68 and a touchdown. Hunter Renfro, 102 yards and a touchdown. Of course, I have no idea how much Chris Harris they saw, but there's that. All right, so take a wait-and-see approach, I guess, with the Bengals other than Joe Mixon.

Chargers DST, top eight, stardom. Let's take a quick break here on Fantasy Football today. Colts and Jaguars might not be the most interesting game to watch, but very interesting from a fantasy perspective. We'll talk about it right after this. 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. Upper Canada College inspires boys from senior kindergarten to year 12

to find their passions and realize their potential. An IB World School, UCC offers a supportive environment, cutting-edge facilities, and a best-in-Canada financial assistance program. UCC, a place where tradition, excellence, and innovation meet. Learn more about all that UCC has to offer at ucc.on.ca. Cole to Jaguars. Yeah, this is a fun fantasy game. I mean, we've got to see Gardner Minshew. I think a lot of people are going to have questions about DJ Chark. Are you guys getting a lot of DJ Chark start or sit questions?

I am. I am. A few. I don't know why you wouldn't start him. Yeah. I don't know either. Because there's the Will Fullers. I've gotten so many Will Fullers or DJ Charks.

That's fair. Who would you guys go with? I'd start Fuller over Chark. That's fair. Yeah. What about Deshaun Jackson, Jamie? I'd start Chark. They're the same kind of guy. I just look at this. Jaguars are going to probably be behind a lot. He torched them in one game last year, and he struggled in Week 17 when he was fighting his way back from an injury. So I don't know how healthy he was.

But I mean, this is why you drafted DJ Chark. This is why you like Gardner Minshew. This is what, this is what the Jaguars are going to be. The epitome of the Jaguars is going to be on full display in week one when they can't stop the run, when they can't stop anybody defensively. And it's Blake Bortles 2015 all over again, where they're just chucking it around in the fourth quarter and they're, you know, down three touchdowns by the time the fourth quarter starts.

Yeah. And I think maybe, I don't know if people really know or care about this, but the Colts did sign Xavier Rhodes, TJ Carey. If Xavier Rhodes is matched up against DJ Tark, I like that matchup all day long. You want to talk about a guy that's declined. Xavier Rhodes was declined. He probably

was really not good last year, but he also was dealing with injuries all throughout the season, but I guess that's just one other thing. Can they salvage Xavier Rhodes, who at one point was one of the top corners in football, but we're going to approach this game as if he is not that. Still good, just not great. Stat of the game.

Well, I don't think he was good last year. I think he was bad. Yeah. All right. In Jacksonville's last eight games, this is a Jonathan Taylor stat, but don't interpret this as like an endorsement. Just something to consider. In their last eight games against the is a Jonathan Taylor stat, but don't interpret this as an endorsement. Just something to consider. In their last eight games against the Jaguars,

10 running backs scored 13 or more non-PPR fantasy points against the Jaguars. More than one per game. 13 or more non-PPR fantasy points. I mean, you're talking multiple running backs. Two Colts running backs.

Jonathan Williams had a huge game against them. So, Jonathan Taylor, along with DJ Chark, is really interesting in this game. Who do you like better as a flex, Taylor or Chark? Chark.

Yeah, Chark. I might go Taylor and non-PPR, but Chark for sure and PPR. What do you expect from the Colts' backfield? Give me, Heath, give me a projection, Mack and Taylor. I think Mack has 80 yards and a touchdown. Maybe he gets to 100 if he breaks one.

I've got Taylor at like 55, 60 yards. And does he get into the end zone is the question of whether he was a good start or not i asked uh my buddy mark long who covers the jaguars for the associated press to give me a stat line for the colts running backs and he said 160 yards rushing so i would be i would be surprised if they had that much. I think, as Heath said, 130 total yards is probably something to go in expecting, 140. But they're going to do whatever they want to. I mean, this offensive line is going to push those guys around and have just a huge, huge day. I would start Taylor this week. I think you're going to get production from both these guys in a big, big way.

Who would you start him over? I would start Taylor over Kenyon Drake, over David Johnson, over Melvin Gordon. Woo! Me, oh my. Okay. I mean, the Niners lost their best offensive tackle. You're sitting Kenyon Drake. They may have gotten a pretty good replacement in Kinlaw.

I mean, he's... First game of his career. But he's not Buckner. But that's... And the fact that they got Warner back is a pretty good sign, too. All right, let's go through this game. Here we go. Start or sit Phillip Rivers?

I'm sitting. I mean, you're sitting in a one-quarterback league, but he's another DFS play, and he has great week one history. His week ones are usually pretty amazing. Okay, Marlon Mack is a start. He's in the teens. Dave's a little low on him, but Marlon Mack is a start.

Would you start him over? Aaron Jones. Yeah, I was going to. That's wild. Love the Colts this week. Yeah, no, it makes sense. I mean, this is just like Jaguars defensive line, just so much attrition. Okay, Colts this week. Yeah, no, it makes sense. I mean, this is just like Jaguars defensive line,

just so much attrition. Okay, Colts wide receivers. So do you have a lot of faith in T.Y. Hilton? Yes. He's back-to-back with Chark for me, so you're probably starting him. Is he like in the 20s and 30s? My hesitation with the Colts passing game

is I just don't know how many times they're going to do it. Yeah, I don't think any Colts wide receiver had more than six targets in the two games against the Jaguars last year. So that is your concern. Different team. Right. They didn't want to throw last year. One of the games was against Ramsey.

So Ramsey played first game last year. So again, Hilton week one is like, you know, I know we've been talking about Deshaun Jackson a lot this offseason, his week one history. T.Y. Hilton's not far behind. What about Paris Campbell? I mean, I got him in like every league. And there are just some situations where I don't want to start Ronald Jones.

Do I start Paris Campbell in PPR over Ronald Jones or over insert running back that you're nervous about here? I would not. Yeah, I probably wouldn't either, but I'm starting Paris Campbell in this 20-team office league that we're in. Is it 20-team, Steve? I believe so. I was able to weasel my way

out of that league. You didn't do it? I just didn't respond to the email. I have to decide between Paris Campbell in a flex spot or Preston Williams. And I'm, I'm leaning Campbell. I mean, it's just, you know, I don't want to trust the dolphins with the receivers banged up against the Patriots after they ruined the Patriots season in essence last year by

winning in week 17 and taking them away from a first round by. We, we have to expect that Campbell's like fourth at best in terms of targets, right? With Phillip Rivers history of throwing to running backs and tight ends, and he's probably behind Jack Doyle and T.Y. Hilton and Naeem Hines. Yeah, the thing I think with, we're going to get a few games this week, and Campbell falls in this category of guys that just have a blowout performance, and it's not going to be sustainable. And so he falls perfectly into that category because he could have a jet sweep

and go 80 yards and score. He could have a jet sweep and go 80 yards and score. He could have a bubble screen and go, you know, 50 yards for a touchdown. He could have a big play down the field, you know, and the people like Adam, which is not a mistake that we're saying Paris Campbell, Paris Campbell are going to drop somebody significant and move on, hoping that that's going to be the case. And then he's not going to repeat that type of game, but he's a, he's a good DFS play in somebody that you can buy into. So Ronald Jones is interesting.

I mean, it's a wait and see, it's just like, I figure maybe there could be four catches there or something like that. Give you an eight point floor or something like that in PPR. And it's a deeper league thing. Um, all right.

Jack Doyle though, is worth looking at Heath. You have an 18th though, Jamie, you have Jack Doyle 12th. Heath, is that just like a, it's really close tight end 12 to 18 sort of deal? There are, it's exactly what it is. Noah Fant, I believe is my number 12 tight end right now. And I have him less than a point away from Jack Doyle in the projections. If I had a little more confidence that Indianapolis is going to throw more with a lead this year, then Doyle would be up there.

I've just kind of pulled back on their targets because of what they've been with a lead last year. Starter said Gardner Minshew. I, as much as I love Gardner Minshew, I would really rather not start him in week one. It's his first week in a new offense. There's very little continuity with this group. And I think the Colts defense is very, very

good. So I would start Carr. I would start Garoppolo. I would start to Rod Taylor over Gardner Minshew this week. Jamie, what are your expectations for James Robinson and would you start him or Jonathan Taylor? I would not start James Robinson over Jonathan Taylor

and if you're asking me for a Jaguars running back, I would start Chris Thompson in PPR. I would start Robinson over Thompson and non PPR, just with the off chance that he gets more of a goal line opportunity. But again, I think the Jaguars are chasing points from the three minute mark on, you know, that's how quickly I think the Colts can score and, and win this game. Um, so I think you're going to get a lot of, you know, what Chris Thompson has been in his career. You know he's a, he's a good target for any quarterback that he plays with. He he's, you know, he's mentioned continuity. Well, he's the only one that's been with Jake Gruden before,

as far as I know of the Jaguars offense. So you have that, you have the fact that you have an uncertain backfield and, and if Mo Zigbo doesn't play, I would anticipate, you know, Ogunwale can probably come in and be a factor, but as the third guy. So I just think it's going to be a lot of Chris Thompson. So if you're asking me for a Jaguars running back and a sleeper, I would say it's Chris Thompson. So the only guys that I really like this week are Chark and Thompson

in deeper leagues. Chenault is somebody that I'm hoping to see come out and make some plays, but they've been talking up Colin Johnson quite a bit. So that's somebody you want to keep an eye on. And we'll see maybe Tyler Eifert as well. But in terms of starts and DFS, it's Chark and it's Thompson. All right. Rank these three running backs, guys. James Robinson, Daryl Williams, Chris Thompson.

What's the format? Full PPR. Thompson, Williams, Robinson. Williams, Thompson, Robinson. Nah, half PPR. Williams, Thompson, Robinson. Williams, Robinson, Thompson. Okay, last question.

Would you start William? Quarter PPR. Would you start Chris Thompson, rather? Chris Thompson over Ronald Jones or Leonard Fournette? Yes, in PPR, 100%. Okay. All right, let's go to our next game here. Colts DST stardom. Cleveland at Baltimore. Ravens are eight stardom. Cleveland at Baltimore.

Ravens are eight-point favorites. Total is 48. I would say the shining moment of the Browns season was a week four win, 40-25 at Baltimore. They had a really good game. Nick Chubb had a huge game. 20 carries, 165 yards, three touchdowns. Brandon Williams did not play in that game.

He will be playing in this game. Nose tackle for the Ravens. We already talked about Nick Chubb. He's a start. Heath likes him better than Jamie. He's not in the top 12 this week. Jamie's got him just outside the top 20. He's got him around 15th or so. We talked about Nick Chubb. We're sitting Baker Mayfield. What

about Kareem Hunt, guys? The Ravens, I don't know what's going to carry over from year to year. This is not a stat that often does carry over from year to year, but they were incredibly good against pass-catching running backs last season. The best. Not incredibly good. They were the best.

Oh, they allowed the – oh, was it the third fewest receiving yards to running backs? So were they the best? But least reception. Okay. Yeah, terrific stuff. So what do you think about Kareem Hunt this week? Is he a starter or a sit? I'm starting him.

He is outside my top 24. I would consider him a flex. Better in PPR than non-PPR. But again, you know, it's continuity. Your defense, same. Offense, new. Offensive line could be great for the Browns. You know, they added two significant pieces.

So factor that into their running game as well. But I just think that if you can avoid tough matchups and you have better options, I would try and sit Kareem Hunt. It's harder to do a Chubb because we anticipate him getting more carries. But I think this is a guy that is not a must start this week because I don't know how many people drafted him

to be a must start guy. He was drafted based on ADP as a third running back or flex. And I think that's where he is. Yeah. And I want to clarify, I'm starting him and I've got him ranked as a starter.

And most of the time when I draft him, I didn't draft two running backs before him. Right. There's not a running back that was drafted in the first three rounds that I would start Kareem Hunt over. So if you took two running backs before you took Kareem Hunt,

then he's a flex at best. And just to sort of tie in, I would start John DeTaylor over Kareem Hunt without hesitation. Okay. What about the Cleveland wide receivers? How would you rank Kareem Hunt and the Cleveland wide receivers?

Beckham, Hunt, Landry. That sounds right. I don't like Beckham this week either. Landry did well against Baltimore last year. He killed them. We know he's 100%. That's the thing. I kind of think he is.

Is he practicing in full? I do not believe he has any hesitation in terms of his playing. I didn't see anything about him missing practice, but he's still coming back from hip surgery. So I don't want to play him if I don't have to.

Fair enough. Is Beckham in your top 24? He is not. He is just barely for me. He's right on the fringe. I would start Will Fuller, Deshaun jackson dj char um he scored against baltimore in their second matchup but he had two catches against them in their first meeting yeah and six catches total in the two games marlon humphrey is going to make

things tough on becker yeah and you know what Like they were bad against the slot last year, but Marlon Humphrey, they actually, they're getting Tavon young back this year. He was supposed to be their slot corner. He missed the season with a neck injury. So they're secondary, even without Earl Thomas.

I mean, they're Tavon young is a big addition, just getting him back and healthy. That's Baltimore. We're talking about Austin Hooper starter. Sit. I would sit him. I would prefer to sit

him. I'd much rather start Blake Jarwin, but there's not a lot other of the waiver. Some of my favorite tight ends, those young guys, Herndon and Gusecki, just have terrible matchups. I can't start those guys over Hooper. I would start

Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron over Austin Hooper. Start Lamar Jackson. Mark Ingram, starter set. Must start. Yeah. Yeah, it's a must start for sure in non-PPR. In PPR, you're starting him too. I mean, he's a borderline

top 24 guy for me, but I'd start him over Marlon Mack, and I think those guys are kind of in the same type of spot. Big start favorites for Baltimore. That's always going to be a good setup. Kareem Hunt or Ingram in PPR? Ingram. I've got Hunt higher. Okay. Marquise Brown.

Yeah, Marquise Brown is interesting. Dave's got him in the top 10. Heath's got him 35th. Davey's got him right in the middle, 25th. Interesting. Heath, why so low on Marquise Brown this week first off there's like 19 number two wide receivers we talked about that all through draft season that's why people didn't want to take number two wide receivers there it's just like on a there's certainly a

lot of upside for Marquise Brown we saw it two or three times last year but because of the way this offense works, there's a very good chance he sees five or six targets too. And there's not really any wide receivers with five or six targets that are going to make it into my top 25 wide, wide receiver. I've got him projected for seven. That's, that's pretty low for a starting wide receiver. He averaged just under eight targets in his first five games last year. Part of that was a couple of big games to start the season. But I always look at scenarios like this. Whenever there's a storyline that you hear a lot about, especially in this type of off season where there

is, we're just tweaking things as opposed to we're learning things. Lamar Jackson and Marquise Brown spent a lot of time together this offseason in South Florida. We're going to throw the ball more, work on the deep ball. He bulked up. He's healthy. There's a lot to it. We're going to take some shots in this game. And so I see where Dave is being bold with it. He could have a two-touchdown game.

It would not shock me. He could also, as Heath is suggesting, five, six targets, 50, 60 yards and not too much. I think it's going to be a 70, 80 yard game. And if he scores, he's going to be in that, you know, upper echelon of wide receivers. All right. Start Mark Andrews, start the Ravens DST. And let's go to Tennessee at Denver on Monday night. You know, look, no Chris Harris, no Von Miller now. So, you know, you guys are pretty low. And bradley chubb for most of the game yeah right this is a pitch count yeah this is a game that i

have changed my thinking on probably the most since i first did rankings on monday because without miller without chubb or at least without chubb for a big part of the game i think this now looks like another one of those games where Tennessee wins, and when Tennessee wins, Tennessee runs. So it's just like fire up Derrick Henry and everyone else at your own risk. Even A.J. Brown. I'd start A.J. Brown.

I think A.J. Brown's still going to have a good game if he's healthy. I'd like to see A.J. Brown definitely be a full practice participant for the rest of the week. I have him as a start and start set. And it could be because his start percentage is a little bit lower than it typically will be based on the injury concern. So I like to avoid guys that are, you know, over 80% started in that column. But if he practices by Friday, like I'm not moving him. If he doesn't practice by Friday, then he's going to be replaced.

So for those of you that are reading the column now, you're going to see a different name in that spot. But I just like the way he finished, the way this matchup sets up, like I get what Heath is saying and I'm totally on board with it. It's not like they're just not throwing the ball, you know, so this is the type of player that,

you know, he doesn't need a huge amount of targets. He was seeing a significant uptick in targets by the end of last season. So, you know, again, continuity, great matchup, great situation, national stage. You know, how many times are we going to see this set up for the Titans opening Monday night football? I know they're the second game, but still opening the season on Monday night football, where you get an opportunity to showcase one of the best young talents in football. To be clear, I was not saying

I wouldn't start A.J. Brown. I've got him ahead of Marquise Brown. I've got him ahead of Chark. I've got him ahead of Hilton, but I do have him behind Will Fuller, and I've got him behind Michael Gallup. You're on brand. You've been a little bit of a naysayer for A.J. Brown, so stick to it. I like it.

How about Johnnie Smith, 74% rostered? I mean, he's like a top 15 guy for you. He's a fine streamer, right? Fine streamer. Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, look, if you drafted Johnnie Smith to be a starter, you're not going away from him for the Eric E.

Bronson and Jack Doyles of the world. But, you know, again, he's not going to see a high volume of targets, but he's going to probably have a chance to score if he does get that opportunity. All right. We're going to sit Drew Locke, right? Yeah, sit Drew Locke. Sit the quarterbacks. That's your Pete Prisco.

Sit. Yeah. Denver running backs. Jamie, how do you see it playing out, Gordon and Lindsey? I think it's probably 50-50, 60-40 split with Gordon getting a slight edge. Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post, when he came on CBS Sports HQ, said that's probably going to be the case with Gordon getting a slight edge. Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post, when he came on CBS Sports HQ,

said that's probably going to be the case with Gordon having a little bit more opportunity in the passing game. But, you know, I would like to avoid it if I can. It's a little bit more challenging for a guy that you draft, as he said, in the first three or four rounds. And I do think Lindsey has flex appeal,

but I'm not like, oh my God, I got Melvin Gordon. He's going to have a great game. This Titans run defense is good. And like he said, they're probably chasing points, which is going to help Gordon bring me a little bit more than Lindsay, but it's just, it could be messy. This is one of those games I'm looking forward to watching just to see how that unfolds. Corlin Sutton or AJ Brown?

I would go Sutton. Corlin Sutton or Michael Gallup? That was a good one. I'd go Sutton. I would go Sutton. Corlin Sutton or Michael Gallup. That was a good one. I'd go Sutton. I would go Sutton. He's a top 20 wide receiver for me. I think that they're going to have to throw it a little bit. Okay.

Corlin Sutton or Melvin Gordon? I'd go Sutton. Sutton. All right. Start Sutton. Noah Phan or Johnnie Smith? Johnnie Phan. Johnnie Phan. All right. They're in the same range, right? and Noah fan or John who Smith. John, John,

who fan ideas in the same range, right? And he's very, very, like very close. I would, I would stake absolutely nothing on Noah fan versus John who's met this week. Yeah.

Tennessee for what it's worth. They really stunk against tight ends last year. So an opportunity perhaps for Noah fan, which DST do you prefer? Oh, the Titans Titans. Yeah. It's gotta be the Titans.

Now. I think I wrote that before the Oh, the Titans. Titans, yeah. It's got to be the Titans now. I think I wrote that before the Von Miller injury. All right, guys, we're at 56 minutes and we have four games left. So, oops. I am in mid-season form. Miami at New England.

Patriots are six and a half point favorites. Very low total in this game, 43 and a half. Stat of the game is this. Sonny Michel, in two games against the Dolphins last year,

21 carries and 18 carries. 83 yards and 74 yards, a touchdown in both games. Uh, he actually had 15 or more carries in 11 games in 2019. They said they're going to ease him in. Is there any way you can justify starting? Well, that's obviously too vague of a question, but starter said Sony Michelle, how about that? He's a sit, but I would start him over most of the rookies we've talked about.

I would agree with starting him over Akers and Swift. I would start the other rookies over him with a lot more confidence, just because this Dolphins defense, this is another thing I want to see, because they put a ton of capital into it this offseason. They're a much better defense on paper. I hope it carries over,

but he's the guy in terms of the carries. He may not be 21 or 18 like you said in previous matchups, especially with Cam there, but I don't think it's going to be Rex Burkhead getting double-digit carries. I don't think J.J. Taylor is getting double-digit carries. Who's the best running back in this

game other than James White and PPR? Who's the next best running back? Breida. I would say Sonny Michel. Do you want to... I don't own... I don't roster any Dolphins running back, but I'd be very nervous to start them. How about you guys? Oh, for sure. But I'd be

nervous to start Sonny Michel and Rex Burkhead also. It's a matter of who's going to be the next guy catching the ball, and I think it's going to be Breida more so than any of the other guys not named James White. Okay. This game is fascinating to me, and that sounds crazy, but the Patriots

lost Patrick Chung, Dante Hightower, Kyle Vandoy, Deron Harmon, Jamie Collins, Danny Shelton, and Landon Roberts. Two of those guys are on the Dolphins. You know who they didn't lose? Who? Bill Belichick. Yeah. And his son who looks exactly like him, but with a mullet.

The Dolphins, yeah. They should be a lot better on defense. Cam Newton is playing his first game in a year. Talk about continuity. So, I don't know. This game is interesting to me. Anyway, we're going to sit Ryan Fitzpatrick. We're going to sit the Dolphins running backs.

What are we doing with Devontae Parker and Preston Williams? Because they still should have a very good secondary in New England. Devontae Parker and Preston Williams. I would sit them both if you can. Number three is at best. I mean, you got both banged up now, which is not good. Sorry. Do we know, because I saw something on Williams.

Parker's got a hamstring deal. The impression I got on Williams is that that's part of his maintenance plan. He's just going to be limited on Wednesdays. And Gusecki was also limited. I agree. I think it sounds like minor, if anything. So both should play. But you also have Williams playing his first game in, what, seven months?

Eight months? Removed from an ACL tear against this defense. And I know he's looked good in practice, but there's also, he doesn't have a long history with Fitzpatrick like Parker does. And we have a new offense coordinator for the Dolphins, too, so it's going to be something. But, like, Parker had 137 yards in Week 17. If I'm Stephon Gilmore, the defensive player of the year,

I had that game circled because that knocked him out of a first round bye. Yeah, well, he ate Stephon Gilmore's lunch. Yes. I'm sorry, I'm hungry. They, you know,

didn't do very much against them in the first meeting either. No, he had no catches on seven targets in the first meeting. I will say, Preston Williams in a turn, in a fan duel.

All right, Jamie, that's cool. We'll move on. How does Mike Kosicki compare to John U. Smith, Eric Ebron, Noah Fant? Behind them all. Yep. Okay, we'll sit him. Starters six. I'm interested to see because without Chung there, I want to see

how this goes. Starters six. Oh, how about this? Tight ends in three games without Patrick Chung last year, in case you were curious. Jeremy Sprinkle had 17 yards. The Jets' tight ends had one yard. The Eagles' tight ends torched the Patriots. 36 yards and a touchdown for Goddard.

94 yards for Ertz. Small sample size, but if you want to know how they looked against tight ends. Do you think Isecki is more like Goddard and Ertz or more like Sprinkle and Ryan Smith? Ryan Griffin? Ryan Griffin. I think he's more like Goddard. Fair. Three for 36 and a touchdown.

All right, Cam Newton. Against a team that was horrible against Cordex last year. Cam Newton, start or sit? How about Cam Newton or Tyrod Taylor? Cam. Cam. Officially, it's Tyrod Taylor. Have I been saying it wrong?

Okay. I don't know. They made such a big deal about it on Hard Knocks with the Browns. And then, is it Lievstriber? Oh, I think it's. They, you know, they made such a big deal about it on hard knocks with the Browns. And then, uh, is it leave, leave driver? Oh, I think it's a leave. Yeah.

What's his last driver, right? Yeah. A great voice. Unbelievable voice. He's been calling him a tie rod. All right. Well,

I trust leave driver. Okay. Anywho, um, Cam Newton. Yeah. Like where is he? Cam Newton for you this week.

Top 10. 12th. Okay. Roll him out there. Fire him up. All right. Patriots running backs we talked about. James White is the best of the bunch.

And Julian Edelman. Must start. Number three receiver in PPR. Avoid in non-PPR if you can. Yeah. I think I might have Parker, Williams, and Edelman back to back to back. Okay, wait.

So Cam Newton... Julian Edelman is a number three wide receiver. Cam Newton is what? Going to rush for like 80 yards at a touchdown? Well, James White's his number one receiver. Oh, yippee. And I would guess he's going to rush for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Okay. Somebody's going to have to catch balls for him. Somebody will score. I don't think he's going for 30 points. This isn't going to be a monster week for quarterbacks. Edelman or Amari Cooper?

Cooper. Would you say Edelman or Cooper? Yeah. Cooper or non-PPR for sure. PPR or Mike Wellman. And finally, Cam Newton or Ben Roethlisberger? Ben.

I think this game... I have that choice to make in one league. This is going to be Heath's last game. He has to pop off in three minutes. I'm good. I'm good. Power through. This one should be a three-minute game. Jets at Bills. Go. Start all, cool. So this one should be a three-minute game. Jets at Bills. Go.

Start all, sit all. I'm starting Le'Veon and Jamison Crowder in PPR. And I'm probably starting Le'Veon in non-PPR. And I understand why people don't want to because the Bills' defense is very good. And Adam Gase does still coach the Jets. But I have actually been a little encouraged over the last week and a half. is very good and Adam Gase does still coach the Jets but I like I have actually been a little

encouraged over the last week and a half they've shown a lot of Le'Veon running routes spread out wide like what the Chargers do with Austin Eckler because all their receivers have been hurt and that's a way for Adam Gase to get Frank Gore on the field but also get Le'Veon Bell in a better place for fantasy points

so I'm just starting Le'Veon Bell okay would you start Stefan Diggs or Le'Veon Bell in a better place for fantasy points. So I'm just starting Le'Veon Bell. Okay. Would you start Stefan Diggs or Le'Veon Bell? Diggs. I would start Bell. I feel like Diggs could have a big game here. I mean, the Jets, we don't know what they are without Jamal Adams. Monster game. He's their best player, basically.

He could have a monster game this week. Okay. John Brown or Paris Campbell? Brown. Yeah, Brown. You said start all, set all. I know you were kind of being,

just kind of joking around about that, but... Man, not so much. I don't know what's... Well, I don't know what's new with the Bills running backs because the Jets consistently have

a very good run defense. They gave up the second fewest yards per carry in the NFL last year, two running backs. I think Jamal Adams was probably a pretty big part of that. He was second on the team in tackles. For sure.

But, you know, this doesn't look like that easy of a matchup, and then you don't know what the split is going to be. So should you just try to avoid Singletary and Moss? I mean, clearly, if you can, that's the smart play. But I like Moss better than Singletary just because it sounds like he clearly, if you can, that's the smart play. But I like Moss better than Singletary just because it sounds like he's going to be the one playing at the goal line.

And it seems as if he's taking a little bit of an edge in the passing role. So we don't know that because we haven't seen it. But based on the reports with Singletary fumbling and Moss doing a good job

catching the ball, again, heavy home favorite. And I think you're going to see them playing with a lead. So let the young kid play a little bit, get his feet wet. And I think you're going to see them playing with a lead. So let the young kid play a little bit, get his feet wet. And I think that's going to be the case. So I'll take Moss over Singletary and I like Moss better than Le'Veon Bell. Oh, wow. I hear that.

I was just looking. Cause I like, I know we don't care about depth charts, but I wanted to see if Moss had been listed ahead of Singletary, like what Jacksonville and Kansas city did, then I would have been more on board with it. It looks like they of Singletary like what Jacksonville and Kansas City did then I would have been more on board with it it looks like they listed Singletary ahead of Moss and I mean if Jacksonville

is your comparison I think we got a problem I don't think Kansas City Sean McDermott could be a little stubborn and Devin Singletary got four carries in week one last year like I that was a game that they were struggling with though and it's also Frank Gore got four carries in week one last year. Like, I am...

That was a game that they were struggling with, though. And it's also Frank Gore. Yeah, but Frank Gore wasn't playing well. It's like... But you're talking about a veteran guy that's a Hall of Famer versus a rookie making his debut. Singletary does not have that resume.

I'm sorry. No, but he's better than Frank Gore was. He was better than Frank Gore. Frank Gore had 11 carries for 20 yards in week one. And Devin Singletary couldn't get more than four damn carries. And you know what he did with those four carries? He had 70 freaking yards. So I just like, look, we're not starting these guys.

Like, that's the point, right? Heath, I mean, try to avoid them, like I said. Like, you might have to start Singletaryary or Moss, but I don't want to. I'm trying. I would definitely start Le'Veon Bell over both of them. I would start Carrion. I would start Mack. There's plenty of guys

that were drafted in that same range that I would start over them. I'm going to do something that I don't ever do unless it suits my argument. But Le'Veon Bell in two games against the Bills last year did score 33 fantasy points and had at least five catches in both games. Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, the touchdown last year was, you know, if you want to chalk that up, it was late. We're not taking that away from him. It's one of four he scored all year. No, he was Le'Veon Bell. He had a bad rush average, but he caught a lot of passes.

All right, fair enough. Stefan Diggs, stardom. John Brown is a flex, I guess. And Chris Herndon, is he behind all the guys that we've been talking about, basically? Yeah. The Bills, the last two years, have been top three in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. So there's consistency there under Sean McDermott with this defense. Oh, I'm sorry.

Jamison Crowder or John Brown? Crowder and PPR, Brown and none. Yeah, yeah. Fair enough. Jamison Crowder or Devin Singletary? Same.

Singletary, none. Crowder, PPR. Two more games. Josh Allen's the start of the week, by the way. Oh my gosh. I skipped the start of the... Start Josh Allen. Like, of the week, by the way. Oh my gosh, I skipped the start of the... Start Josh Allen.

Like, dude, the Jets past even should be terrible. You got Stephon Diggs. You gotta show up here, Josh Allen. Here's my bold, not bold prediction. This is Josh Allen's first 300-yard game of his career. All right, here's my bold

prediction. Dolphins are winning. Heath, you got a bold prediction? here's my bold prediction. Dolphins are winning. Heath, you got a bold prediction? I think my bold prediction is that Le'Veon Bell is not terrible. I can't believe it. That's bold, baby. I just picked the Dolphins. Oh, my gosh.

All right, stat of the game. You haven't ranked that way, right? Because that's the rule. I haven't ranked that way is correct. Stat of the game for Vegas and Carolina. The Raiders allowed the seventh most fantasy points to quarterbacks and the most passing yards per attempt in the NFL. So I know you said Derek Carr is a decent streamer here.

What about Teddy Bridgewater? He's okay. I don't love him, but 2QB league. Yeah, I mean, I'd start him over Joe Burrow or Daniel Jones. Okay. Stat of the game number two. In their first eight games, the Raiders allowed six 100-yard wide receivers. In their last eight games, they allowed one, and it was A.J. Brown.

And only three wide receivers scored double-digit fantasy points in non-PPR in their last eight games. Only four scored 14 or more in PPR. So Raiders did much better late in the season against wide receivers. I only bring that up because let's just see. Let's just track it. Let's just see what happens here.

Obviously, you're starting DJ Moore. And then I think they have Michael Thomas next week, right? So, yeah. This is the easy game. Like McCaffrey, Jacobs, DJ Moore, really easy. Carr's a great streamer we're not we're not messing with most of the other guys and then the raiders receivers are the hard part waller is obviously need to start too yeah so tell me raiders receivers i like rugs a lot i think edwards is

definitely in play and the fact now that williams is out of the way i don't like that rugs is gonna you know be a primary outside guy but if you were buying into Hunter Renfro, this is good for him. Yeah, I think Ruggs is a good – I would start him as a number three wide receiver in non-PPR. In PPR, I would rather just have him as a boomer bust flex, but I definitely like him the most. I would start Ruggs over the two Dolphins guys this week. Okay, sit the DSTs in that game,

and let's go to another easy one. Pittsburgh at the Giants, Monday night football. Yeah, prime time. What is the spread here? Start all, sit all, but Barkley. By the way, Divino Zigbo placed on IR with a hamstring injury. Holy cow. James, Leifon, Robinson.

Steelers are now minus six. At one point, a couple weeks ago, they were like minus three and a half. This makes more sense now. They should, I mean, so much. You're talking about a franchise in the Steelers that has more continuity than basically any franchise in football. And the Giants with new coordinators, new head coach, rookie left tackle going up against the team that led the NFL in sacks.

This is a mismatch. If Saquon Barkley doesn't have a big game, don't flip out. The Steelers' run defense faced great running backs and basically crushed most of them last year. So, you know, start Barkley, but don't flip out if he doesn't have a big game. Yeah, Roethlisberger. Who would you start Roethlisberger over? Brady and Breeze.

Almost everybody. Like, I've got... Josh Allen is my number six quarterback, so I love the start of the week. Ben Roethlisberger is my number seven, so... I would start him over Kyler Murray. How about Matt Ryan? Yep. I like Ryan better over Kyler Murray. How about Matt Ryan? Yep.

I like Ryan better, but they're both... I think that game's going to be a shootout between the Falcons and Seahawks. I drafted a lot of wins. I would start Ben over wins. I would as well. If James Conner doesn't have a big game, don't freak out.

Giants are really damn good against the run after they got Leonard Williams running back. James Conner's a smash play. Top 10 running back this week. Yeah, so is Saquon Barkley. But, you know, I'm just saying, these are tough matchups. It looks like these are two really, really good run defenses here. We talked

about the Steelers wide receiver. What? I can't see Heath's face. You're right. It looks like a good run defense. We'll see if they're going to be a good run defense. They were! As soon as they got Leonard Williams, they were really good. It was eight games. It's a good run defense. We'll see if they're going to be a good run defense. They were. As soon as they got Leonard Williams, they were really good. It was eight games. It's a good run defense,

but sometimes they're going to be on the field for an hour, so it's going to be tough. Yeah. Yeah, I get that. Look, start James Conner. I'm not saying anything. Hey, speaking of that game, I just got a trade offer in a Superflex League.

Tell me if I should accept it. Eric Ebron for my Ryan Fitzpatrick. It's a dynasty league, and Fitzpatrick's my fourth quarterback, so I've been dangling him around the league. Probably. Yes, you should. Oh, I'm going to.

I just want to see your reaction. Eric Ebron or Evan Ingram? Eric Ebron. Ingram for me. The Ingram is a tough one. Like, it's easy to get away from the Giants receivers, even though what, here's the thing about the Steelers.

Like they were so good on defense last year, but they were so bad on offense that I, like they didn't have that many blowout wins so that I don't know. They had that many games where quarterbacks were throwing a ton. You know what I mean? There might be some garbage time production for the Giants. I don't know if that factors in at all, but

maybe especially with Evan Ingram or Sterling Shepard or something. I'm really curious because the Giants are clearly a rebuilding team. Their offense is the highlight of this team by far. Their skill players are amazing. Well, I mean, as a group. One of them is. Okay. Their skill players are above average.

Yes. With two potentially elite players that are running back and tight end. This feels, if the Steelers are the team that I think that they could be, and a Super Bowl contender, they should come into Giant Stadium and just steamroll this team in a big, big way.

And that's the way it feels. Oh, they're going to have seven sacks and two pick sixes. Or no, one pick six, one scoop and score. How many of those sacks is Daniel Jones going to fumble on? Three. They'll recover two of them. The Giants will recover two.

But he'll recover three. This is like such a mismatch. I'm blanking. What was the movie where all the guys get off the bus? They're like all these football players. Little Giants. Is it Little Giants? And they're like teaching all the kids

about intimidation and stuff. Yeah. Was it Little Giants? No, but I thought they played a game. Oh, it was Necessary Roughness. Necessary Roughness. That's right. It's necessary roughness. Like, this is what it feels like. All the prisoners

come off the bus and just destroy the young team. Oh, my gosh. All right. I can't. What a great weekend of football we have to look forward to, ladies and gentlemen. If you're a Giants fan. Nah, I can't wait, man. Big game tonight. We'll talk about it on Fantasy Football Today in 5.

And we'll talk to you tomorrow on Fantasy Football Today. Have a good one, everybody. Starter six. All right. One down and, what, 31 to go? I don't know. I screwed that up. All right.

End the show. Bye.