Fantasy Football Today - Start or Sit (NFC); Akers/Robinson Concerns (11/09 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Episode Date: September 9, 2022

The Bills made a statement while Cam Akers and Allen Robinson gave Fantasy managers headaches. We'll recap the game (2:24) and talk about all of the relevant angles. Is it time to buy low on Robinson and Akers, or are there legitimate concerns? Can Devin Singletary emerge as a true must start RB? And what do we make of Isaiah McKenzie (14:00)? ... Debating A.J. Dillon (10:50), covering the big news and notes (18:00) and asking One Question for Each Game (22:15)! Can you trust Ezekiel Elliott this week? Is Antonio Gibson a better option than Travis Etienne? Are we starting Amari Cooper or Kareem Hunt? ... Start or Sit for Bucs-Cowboys (28:40), 49ers-Bears (39:00), Jaguars-Commanders (48:40), Packers-Vikings (55:05), Browns-Panthers (1:00:40), Eagles-Lions (1:05:40) and Saints-Falcons (1:11:30) ... Email us at [e-mail] 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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Visit amex.ca slash business platinum. This is Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports. What a play! Can you believe this? No, I can't. It's time to dominate your fantasy league. This is going to go the distance. Now, here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie, and Heath.

Well, in the final version of CBS Sports Average Draft Position, Allen Robinson was being drafted ahead of Gabe Davis. But last night, in the Twitter poll I posted, Gabriel Davis got 90% of the vote, and I am apparently a huge piece of crap for even asking who would you rather have rest of season, Allen Robinson or Gabe Davis? I mean, I got destroyed.

I knew what the answer was going to be. I just wanted to see what the margin was going to be. And it was like, bro, you serious, bro? You're trolling. No, I'm just asking, just asking. But that is one of the big reactions. I'm not going to call it an overreaction, but a reaction that Allen Robinson is just, you know,

like my dishes washed. Yeah, well, that's what they say. I didn't say that, like my dishes, washed. Oh. Yeah. Well, that's the days I didn't say that, but that's what people were saying. Twitter was angry last night. There were a lot of angry, angry people. Welcome to Twitter.

But welcome to the show. Happy Friday, Dave and Jamie. What's up? What's up, dude? How are you? It was fun to have football back. Yeah. Yeah, it was.

It really was. It was a huge letdown of a game and a real statement by the Buffalo Bills winning it 31-10. So we're going to talk about that. We have seven games that we are breaking down today. And those seven games are Green Bay, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, Jacksonville, Washington, Cleveland, Carolina,

Philadelphia, Detroit, New Orleans, and Atlanta. There were two other NFC home games that we got to on yesterday's show, Kansas City, Arizona, and the Monday night game, Seattle, Denver. So if you're looking for those, check out yesterday's show. Also, we have time codes in the episode description if you want to skip ahead to other games. We've got, ooh, you know what? I forgot to put Beat the Waiver Wire in here,

but maybe we can throw in a little beat the waiver wire at some point. Sorry about that. I'm still, I guess I'm still an off season form, but let's start with guys. Yeah. I mean, can we just rewind to Tuesday show?

Yeah, we can, but I don't know if there's like a DST to stash or something like that, but, um, but we could talk about stashes, I guess a little bit, but Buffalo 31 and the Rams 10,

the Rams, this is the most amazing stat. They're under 500 for the first time in six seasons under Sean McVay. Amazing. Never lost an opener, and they've never been below 500. They also allowed seven sacks, which are the most in the Sean McVay era. A couple of injury notes. Ed Oliver, Bill's defensive tackle, he left with an injury. Tried to play through it. Kyron Williams,

Rams rookie running back. He left early with an injury. Okay. So, Jamie, major takeaways from the game. Go for it. Well, obviously, it was great to see Gabe Davis live up to his preseason hype, at least so far. Not the targets that

we were hoping to see, at least from a volume standpoint, five targets, but still scored the first touchdown in the NFL season, four catches, 88 yards, seemingly on his way. He's now stepped on the football field the last four times, and he scored seven touchdowns in four games. It's just so much fun.

So he's going to be, I think, a solid fantasy asset based on what we were saying about him this offseason, but everybody was saying he's going to be, I think, uh, a solid fantasy asset based on what we were saying about him this off season. But everybody was saying, you know, he's going to have a big year. Uh, the biggest thing though, is obviously the two Rams guys, Cam Akers and Al Robinson and what the fears are there. I think the Cam Akers fears are legit. Um, you know, the nice thing for him is that there was not a dominant performance for Daryl

Henderson. So, you know, he could still find his way to, you know, significant playing time as the year unfolds, but it just wasn't a good start. And then Allen Robinson, I think there's understandable panic, but you have to sort of look at the usage and what this team looks like. And knowing that they just played maybe the best defense in the NFL and they get the Falcons next week. So he played, he ran routes on every drop back that Stafford had.

He was on the field a ton the target sucked the catches were terrible uh but there are better days ahead by low on alan romson you know you said you posted a poll i posted a poll on this because i said by low on alan romson and you know same thing i'm i got a lot of pushback on that and you know understandably so angry twitter um i so So I tweeted this this morning. Who would you rather have? Daryl Henderson, rest of the season. Daryl Henderson or Allen Robinson, PPR.

And it was 50-50. Like, to me, that's a no-brainer. I'd rather have Allen Robinson. Yeah, yeah. He did average 34 yards per game last year. I think that's what scares people. If he were coming off a good season, they'd throw him away. He was so bad last year.

And, yeah, all right. season, they'd throw him away. He was so bad last year. Yeah, all right. Isn't this Robert Woods 2021 all over again? It could be. The first four games of the year were pretty rough for Robert Woods. They weren't this bad, though. They weren't two targets, one catch. It was after those first four games when Sean McVay

and Woods was saying it, too. That's when he had the squeaky wheel game. Yeah. I wonder if we're headed toward an Allen Robinson squeaky wheel game in round two or round two. I'm still in preseason week two against the Falcons significantly better matchup. And McVay said after the game, they've got to get them the ball more.

Remember these, these two guys didn't play a preseason game together. We know that's the Rams, you know, mantra don't how much did they practice together well it's it's it's it's that too it's that you know staffer and miss you know so there's uh there's gonna be some growing pains understandable but i i think if you get an opportunity to trade somebody that has a surprise game this week for alan romison it will be in your best interest. Don't give up somebody big, but buy low. That's what we say. Get somebody, you know, get them cheap.

Yeah, so the two Twitter polls I did were, would you rather have Allen Robinson or Gabriel Davis? I knew what the results would be. I knew who would win, but Gabriel Davis got 90% of the vote. The other one was, who's your favorite rest of season? Cam Akers, Daryl Henderson, or Devin Singletary. That one has 2,100 votes. Acres is in last place with 12% of the vote. Henderson,

46% Devin Singletary, 42% of the vote. So who would you guys rather have right now? The bills running back or Rams running back going forward? I'm so curious. What's going to happen with the bills after both Zach Moss and James cook fumbled, right? No, Singletary looks so much better. The usage in the passing game was so weird for Zach Moss. I mean, six for 21 or five, 21, six targets. It's crazy.

Man, I guess at this point I'd rather have Singletary. I would too, because you know that eventually Henderson, Henderson's going to rip off a couple of good games, and maybe next week's one of them. I've got zero confidence in Cam Akers. He looks like the same dude from the playoffs last year. I don't know if you could say that. He only had three touches. It's an indictment.

This was a whole game where Daryl Henderson played a ton more than Akers, and when Akers played, there were not any discernible differences from last January. I'm good. I think Singletary is the pick, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Bills at the trade deadline pick off a running back with an expiring contract off of somebody's roster. Maybe somebody who used to be an offensive coordinator in Buffalo when their team's in the tank and they're just going for the higher draft pick. Maybe somebody like that around November flips to Buffalo. But we'll see. For now, Singletary, I think, is the best running back with the Bills.

And that's it. That's who I'd pick. All right. Can you look one thing up for me? The routes run. Because, yeah, I mean, you did have Zach Moss with six catches and Singletary with two, but I don't know. It didn't seem like Moss was... 18 for Singletary,

14 for Moss. I just feel like Moss was right place, right time. Yes, that's exactly what I was going to say. I don't think that's a problem with Singletary, though. Well, it'd be a bigger problem if Zach Moss were the official third down back, but that wasn't the case. And James Cook, that wasn't the case. And Devin Singletary, I don't think they were really in goal-to-go situation much, but Devin Singletary was in on all three goal-to-go situations in the fourth quarter. And that was when Josh Allen ran it in. So Singletary was in on first, second, and third and goal there. So, you know, that was a concern. It's like, is he going to play near the goal? Is he going to play inside the 10-yard line?

Is he going to play on passing downs? He didn't come off the field specifically for those downs, Devin Singletary. It just, it didn't seem like they had a real strategy. Just some, you know, Singletary had his work and Moss had his work and Cook had very little. So I thought that was actually good for Singletary, you know? It means he can still get some high value touches.

He could, but the fact that he's losing playing time to Moss as much as he did was frustrating. For now. Yeah. Moss averaged two and a half yards a carry. No, I mean, clearly, but all we heard all offseason, again, I'll go back to

Joe Buscaglia, who's as good as anybody covering that team. Moss can never roll. Moss can never roll. Well, Moss had a role. It was a big one. One of the weird things in this game was Stephon Diggs just kept asking to come off the field, and he played 64% of the snaps, whereas Gabriel Davis

and Allen Robinson, they played almost every snap. Cooper Cup played 100% of the snaps, I think. Maybe Robinson should have taken some notes and come off the field a little bit. Diggs kept waving himself off the field, like, no, stay on the field, man!. Maybe Robinson should have taken some notes and come off the field a little bit. Diggs kept waving himself off the field. Like, no, stay on the field, man! But he still had an amazing game. 122 yards and a touchdown with a 53-yard catch.

Tyler Higby, would you drop... Real quick, just before I forget, we have Stephon Diggs on Fantasy Football today on CBS Sports HQ on Tuesday. So, I'm excited to ask him what he said to Jalen Ramsey after he scored the touchdown. You have to ask him what Ramsey to Jalen Ramsey after he scored the touchdown. You have to ask him what Ramsey said to him first.

Remember the throw that Allen was just off to Diggs in the end zone? Yeah. And Ramsey took credit for it. I don't think Ramsey tipped it. I want to know what Ramsey did then and then what Diggs said to him after. That whole back and forth needs to be discussed. Yep. And would you drop Dawson Knox for Tyler Higbee?

Knox, 93% roster, had two targets. Higbee had 11 targets. Things are, you know, it'll be back and forth. But who would you rather have rest of season, Knox or Higbee? Still Knox. I think I'd rather have David Njoku or Evan Ingram or whichever tight end sprouts off the waiver wire. Okay.

All right. So we've got a live stream on Sunday morning to help answer your start or sit questions. That's at 11.30 a.m. Eastern at youtube.com slash fantasyfootballtoday. Go to youtube.com slash fantasyfootballtoday, people. If you haven't already, you can watch all of our content, including the podcast you're listening to right now.

You can see that on demand. We have a Facebook group. Search fantasyfootballtoday. We have a TikTok account. You can, in our episode description, you can see our TikTok link if you want that. And we also have 60-second ranking disputes, and I only have one today, and it is A.J. Dillon.

Got a lot of questions. We had a live stream yesterday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, and took a lot of questions. And A.J. Dillon was among the most asked about, I'd say. Jamie, you've got him 18th in non-PPR, 19th in full PPR. Dave, you have A.J. Dillon 28th in non-PPR, 31st in full PPR at Minnesota. 30 seconds to each of you. Jamie, make the start case for A.J. Dillon. I mean, the same thing that we've said this offseason,

that their best players are going to be their running backs. And I think especially if Alan Lazard is banged up, you're going to see these guys touch the ball as much as they could possibly handle. Certainly, I think you'll see both of them evolve in the passing game. So you know Aaron Jones' role. He's going to have the opportunity

to do as much as he can catching the ball. You go back to this game last year between Minnesota and Green Bay, and it was Aaron Jones as a pass catcher. It was A.J. Dillon as a primary rusher. He had two touchdowns in that game. So different matchup, tougher defense.

But I think A.J. Dillon's touches and opportunities, increased role in the passing game. To me, he's a must-start guy. I don't think he's a must-start at all. I think he's a flex. I think he's a touchdown or bust running back for this week. Let's see how many touches he gets. I think the matchup, as far as Minnesota goes, isn't's a flex. I think he's a touchdown or bust running back for this week. Let's see how many touches he gets. I think the matchup, as far as Minnesota goes, isn't necessarily a killer,

but they improve their defense, especially up front. So I'm a little concerned about that. A little concerned about the offensive line. I think he can be okay, but I don't think he can. I don't think he's a must start. Not as long as Aaron Jones is there. I think Dylan's going to be around like 14 touches. Mike, it's just 70 yards.

Might have a catch or two. Okay. That's my guess. I'm hoping for more catches, especially if Lizard is definitely going to be involved in the passing game. Lizard's not there. A hundred percent. Okay.

Okay. He might. He really might. But I think Aaron Jones is going to be involved more. Oh, yeah. Well, agreed. Yeah. I think it's going to be six more. Oh, yeah. Oh, agreed. I think it's going to be six catches for Jones and probably four for A.J. Dillon.

I'm going to take... You ready for this? What's the over? Is there an over-under on his receptions? Is it three and a half? I know it's 14 and a half yards because Adam gave that as a prop for HQ today. I thought it was 13.

Yeah, whatever it is, 13, 14 yards. It actually went up at 14 yards. Oh, okay. I'd still take the over for A.J. Dillon. I thought it was 13. Whatever it is, 13, 14 yards. It actually went up 14 yards. Oh, okay. I'd still take the over for A.J. Dillon. I would too. I think Aaron Jones is going to have eight catches. Eight catches for Aaron Jones. Yeah, I was being conservative just to be safe.

News and notes. News and notes. Here we go. George Kittle. It's two and a half. Sorry, sorry, sorry. You guys will love this. A.J. Dillon's total receptions over two and a half at plus one 33. I'm just minus one 84. No one in the world would take the under at minus one 84. Feels like,

uh, feels like Vegas thinks it's a lot, but it's going to go under. Those were some of my favorite. If you're into player props and they're fun and they're very much fantasy tied in fantasy related. Uh, those were some of my like running back reception totals were ones that I just always came back to. If you're into player props and they're fun and they're very much fantasy tied in, fantasy related, those were some of my, like running back reception totals were ones that I just always came back to.

So I don't know why. I just feel like, I felt like there was value there. All right. So Jamie and I certainly like the over on A.J. Dillon's receptions. Dave, I am sorry. I did not ask you about hashtag Isaiah, who did catch a touchdown. So before we get into the news and notes, do you want to talk about Isaiah McKenzie?

You know what? I ended up being pretty disappointed because he only had three targets. I was thrilled with the touchdown, happy to tweet out the hashtag Isaiah when it happened. And there were a lot of people who were excited. And I thought to myself, OK, he'll get a couple more catches the rest of the game, and he'll be fine. But it was basically a drop turned into an interception. That's exactly what it was. That was brutal. And I thought Jamison Crowder played better.

And so I don't know if it's normal for a team to go all preseason with a plan at the slot receiver and then change it at halftime or change it before week two. But I don't think Jamison Crowder is going away. And it's a little frustrating. You can hang on to McKenzie. I wonder if some sap in your league will trade you Allen Robinson straight up for Isaiah McKenzie.

If they do it, take it all the way. Get Robinson and be happy that's what you get from McKenzie. If he had not scored, you'd be dropping him. If he doesn't score next week, you might drop him. We'll see what happens. But if he had had like five, six targets, I'd be much, much happier. I think you're right about Crowder not going away, but I also wonder just how much of his injury absence

led to Crowder playing more. So the fact that he had to work in and maybe not just a week. Yeah. But still, I mean, you know, look, they signed Crowder for a reason. They like him. It's not like he's not a part of the game plan. He's their, he's their primary partner Turner. So it's, you know, he's going to have a role. And so I think I agree with you. And you know, everything said about McKenzie, it wasn't as encouraging as it could have been, but you know,

the fact that it still went to him in a key spot after the interception. And to be fair, there was also an interception off the pass to Crowder, too. That's true. So they both stink. Hopefully. Well, you know. The second one, the Crowder interception was him, I don't know, not fighting for the ball hard enough. But it was a great play by the defensive back. But still, it's probably just great play by the defensive back.

It's probably just going to be a little frustrating. If you draft a McKenzie, you're holding him. If he's available on waivers, you see what happens over the weekend. All right, guys. We'll get into our news and notes. By the way, only 31 pass attempts for Josh Allen, and that is not the Bills' MO.

That's the other thing that's in Isaiah's favor is that he's on the right team. He's got the right quarterback to be tied to. Just got a red zone target for a touchdown. And Crowder does have a history of getting banged up. There's something there. I don't know if it's something huge. Something that's okay. There was no Dawson Knox involvement, too.

So that's coming also. They didn't just pay that guy just to not use him. I mean? That huge contract extension is probably telling that he's going to have better days ahead. Yeah, but Josh Allen had eight games last year with 42 pass attempts. So he'll throw more. They're not going to win every game by 21. They might win every game by 21. That defense though is nasty.

I was stunned at how well they played defensively because they really weren't there. And he came away just raving, raving about just, they have bodies upon bodies of that defensive line. Yes, they do. No throwing just different guys that,

you know, you mentioned the Oliver injury would be tough if he asked him his time, but they still have replacements and Von Miller looked like he was 25 again. It just, it's, uh, it's scary. And they did that without your Davis white too. Right. And they weren't, they weren't really that great without your Davis white last year. I mean, when they faced the best competition, that's why I thought the Rams could have a good game. But, um, they also remembered last year, 2021 draft, they drafted Gregory Rousseau and Boogie Basham with first and a second round pick. And, you know, those guys both contributed yesterday.

And, you know, and they drafted a rookie cornerback in the first round this year. He didn't even start. But, you know, it looks like. No, but he played. Yeah, maybe Rousseau and Basham. He was lined up against Kup on Kup's touchdown. Yeah, maybe Rousseau and Basham could be big contributors this year. All right, news and notes. Here we go.

George Kittle mispracticed. We're not expecting him to play, right? Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson said unlikely. I moved him down before the Thursday game and put Higby ahead of him. There are tight ends like Evan Ingram and Njoku. I already mentioned those two that you can go and stash just in case Kittle does not play. It looks like he won't.

Okay. Rondell Moore is going to have an MRI on his hamstring. He got hurt in practice yesterday, and that's a big setback and disappointment. How about this? Here's a sleeper tight end. Trey McBride. If Zach Ertz doesn't go for Arizona, the rookie is going to play.

And he was awesome in college. He's a huge dude who can move. And they're running out of people to throw the ball to in Arizona. Put him on your list. And Zach Ertz did mispractice. So they're facing the Chiefs. And Marquise Brown could have 20 targets. But A.J. Green was actually somebody that I tried to pick up in a couple leagues. I'm not sure if it went through in one league. In the podcast league, I put in a $2 bid. Heath Cummings also put in a $2 bid. And Heath had, I guess, waiver wire priority based on draft order. Yeah, I had the first pick and he had the

second pick. So Heath got A.J. Green. But that's a 14-team PPR league. But, I mean, you know, if Moore is getting an MRI on his hamstring, it could be an extended absence. What do you guys think about getting A.J. Green? Or is there someone else? No, Green makes the most sense.

I'm sure they'll play Andy Isabella more, but we know how that's gone for him. So I think Green showed enough last year that he could be in a deeper format of third receiver. But you're probably going to see a lot of targets going to Marquise Brown and a lot of targets going to James Conner. Antoine Wesley will also play,

but no one in the world is going to use him in fantasy. I don't know how many people would use A.J. Green either. No, but I have several Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin teams, so I don't think it's going to come down to A.J. Green. But like I said, a 14-team league, I think he might be in play. Chris Godwin is going to be a game-time you should it's a sunday night game too if he is truly a game time decision then you definitely need other options but just based on chris godwin's quotes i'm not super confident in him this week where are you guys ranking if you are ranking chris godwin

uh mid-tier number three receiver at best. Okay. I currently have him ranked like he's going to play and be not limited. Clearly, I have to change that. He's probably going to fall to the middle of my top 150 flex. How about Michael Thomas? He was limited in practice. Looks like he's going to play.

What do you think? Where are you going to rank Michael Thomas? Same thing. Higher number three receiver, but not somebody that I would start in a two receiver league if you can avoid it i just think you're going to see a snap count for both those guys that they're out there uh i'd put lazard in the same conversation if he plays and i hope not for deontay johnson same thing but you know you got four receivers that are you know we're drafted as potential starters certainly starters and three receiver leagues and they may not give you what you hoped in week one.

It doesn't mean you panic yet, but you know, certainly not a confident situation for those four guys. Alan Lazard, mispractice deck. Prescott was limited with an ankle injury, but he says he's fine. Michael Gallup actually has a chance to play.

They have not ruled Michael Gallup out. That's a guy that you might want to stash. Not going to start him, but you can stash him. Christian McCaffrey has a cut on his shin. He's already injured, but he's totally fine. Chase Edmonds practiced in full. He's good to go.

Ken Walker unlikely to play this week, according to Jordan Schultz. J.K. Dobbins status expected to be determined today. Where are you going to end up with Kenyon Drake if J.K. Dobbins is out? Well, Greg Roman said they're going to use a hot hand approach. So good luck trying to figure out if it's going to be Kenyon Drake or Mike Davis. I would lean toward Drake,

but I think Flex at best. So, you know, if you are stuck with one of these receiver situations and you can move some things around in your lineup, I would much rather prefer Kenyon Drake than A.J. Green, for example, if you're looking at the two from a Flex standpoint. Okay. Gus Edwards says he's very close to returning, but he is out at least four weeks.

Van Jefferson expected to miss multiple games. Jalen Waddle practice and Robert Tunyon was limited in practice. That is one of the games we'll talk about today. All right. One question for each game. Let's start with Tampa Bay and Dallas Sunday night. Can you trust Ezekiel Elliott, Dave? He had 11 carries for 33 yards,

two catches for six yards last year against the Buccaneers, who have been top four against running backs three straight seasons. Can you trust Zeke? Nope, you cannot trust Zeke. You should try and get away from him. I don't like the matchup.

Don't like the offensive line. Mike McCarthy said this week, there's, quote, definitely a tandem between him and Tony Pollard. He is a touchdown or bust running back who has a terrible matchup. I would rather go with Rashad Penny. I'd rather go with Clyde Edwards, a layer.

I'd rather go with miles Sanders. If catches count, I'd rather go with Tony Pollard. You didn't like, you didn't love AJ Dillon, 28th, 29th Dylan or Dylan over Zeke. Okay. San Francisco at Chicago. Youillon, 28th, 29th. Dillon or Zeke? Dillon over Zeke. Okay.

San Francisco at Chicago. You know, it's funny, Jamie. I see a lot of potential outcomes in this game, a lot of great cases for players, but also some bust cases. Is this more of a boom or bust game, you think, San Francisco, Chicago? I know it's kind of a vague one question,

but optimism or pessimism about most of the fantasy options? I have optimism for the 49ers. I have a lot of pessimism for the Bears. But there's probably more bust potential, knowing that certainly from my perspective, hyping up Trey Lancey at the start of the week. If this game just becomes an ugly, Elijah Mitchell gets 25 carries

and ends up with 85 yards and scores, but it's, you know, no involvement in the passing game. So he gives you good production, but it's just not great production. And the Bears do nothing, and it's a field goal fest. You know, you can see a path to that unfolding, you know, knowing how the inconsistencies that Lance had, Kittle not being there, and, you know and Kyle Shannon trying to be maybe a little conservative. I'll ask you one more question about this game real quick.

Who's the best running back, San Francisco at Chicago, best running back in this game? Eli Mitchell. Jacksonville at Washington. Who's the best running back in this game? Gibson. I think I have ETN. They're're close let me double check okay go for it i'm checking i've got etn higher in ppr all right gibson great history against good against easy opponents

and i don't know that jacksonville will. I don't think this is an easy opponent. Yeah, that's the thing. I think Washington's going to have their hands full. This D-line is much stronger, much better. They improve their linebackers both in free agency and the draft. I would be a little surprised if this front seven let up a lot of yards

to Gibson and McKissick. All right, Green Bay at Minnesota. Is this a big game for the Vikings fantasy options or will they be limited by a great defense, Jamie? It'll be a big game. I think it's going to be you're going to see the Minnesota offense on display.

And so Packers defense is very good. But I think this Minnesota offense is great. Cleveland at Carolina. Who's a better flex, Kareem Hunt or Amari Cooper? Dave Frozen? Oh, no. Dave is frozen. I thought he was just thinking.

I thought so, too. I'll take Kareem Hunt. Kareem Hunt over Amari Cooper. Okay. Kareem Hunt or Ezekiel Elliott? I'll take Kareem Hunt. All right. Kareem Hunt or Christian Kirk? Well, I'll take Kareem Hunt. All right. Kareem Hunt or Christian Kirk?

Well, that's a good one. I'll take Kirk. I think Kirk comes out and has a big game. Philadelphia at Detroit. Devontae Smith or Miles Sanders? Who's a better flex? Devontae Smith or Miles Sanders? I'll go Sanders.

I think as long as he's healthy and favorable game script, they're favorites on the road. I like the setup for Miles Sanders this week. I think he's an okay start. What do you think about Devontae Smith? I haven't talked much about him this week. Good number two receiver, depending on where he was in your draft.

If you got him as a fourth receiver, depending on what else we have, two receiver league, he's probably not going to start for you. Let's just say he will be better than Allen Robinson, worse than Gabriel Davis. Okay. Oh, Dave is back. Hey, bud.

Yo. You get the last question. New Orleans and Atlanta. Can you trust anyone in this game, Saints-Falcons, can you trust anyone other than Kamara and Pitts? No, not particularly. That includes Michael Thomas. Okay. All right. Let's take a quick break here when we come back we'll start with tampa bay at dallas on oh sunday night i don't know if they still have

a theme i never get to see the theme song anymore they still have a theme song the sunday night football an intro i think so yeah those used to be i used to really get excited for intros to games they would do cool highlight packages they don't do it for me anymore alright we'll take a break somebody's getting old we'll be right back on Fantasy Football today

old man Adam here with Dave and Jamie last time I saw Dave he called me out for all my gray hair which was really not cool. I was startled because you're like the new Dick Clark. What does that mean?

Forever a teenager. Except for your wolfy face. Okay, Tampa Bay at Dallas. Bucs are two and a half point favorites. Total is 50 and a half. I mentioned the stat of the game. The Bucs have two and a half point favorites. Total is 50 and a half. I mentioned the stat of the game. The Bucs have been top four against running backs three straight seasons. They no

longer have Ndamukong Su, but they did replace him with Akeem Hicks, and it's really the Vida Veya story. But we actually have never really seen that without Ndamukong Su. In this stretch, he plays all the time, so maybe that will have a factor, but sit Zeke if you can. All right, guys.

Brady is a must start. I think I saw you guys had him behind Kyler Murray. Is that going to change, or am I wrong about that? Do you have him ahead of Kyler Murray? I would prefer Brady, so I will make that change. No, you have one spot ahead. I'm sorry.

How about you, Dave? I've had Kyler two spots ahead of brady i'm not sure if i'm ready to change that yet all right it doesn't really matter you probably don't have both tom brady probably don't have both right but i would start i would start russell wilson over brady i don't think many people have that predict either i love wil Well, but would you? You don't have Wilson and Brady on the same team. That's what I'm saying. Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Right. You're starting Tom Brady. He's one of the quarterbacks. Yeah. You know, and just Dallas defense, you know, how good are they? They allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, but they did allow 35 to Brady.

They relied a lot on turnovers. And sometimes that does not translate to the next season, and teams that get a lot of turnovers often regress. But they're also young and talented. Anyway, start Leonard Fournette. Let's break down the wide receivers for the Buccaneers, because this is the tricky one. We already talked about, Dave,

that we don't have a ton of faith in Chris Godwin. You're going to move him down. Jamie's got him as a number three, number four kind of receiver. Evans had a bad game against the Cowboys last year. He got shadowed by Trayvon Diggs, and Brady went to Brown and Godwin over and over again. I'm sure Mike Evans is going to be like 98% started, but do you think he'll have a good game?

Maybe from a DFS standpoint, oh, it's a Sunday night game. Do you think Evans will be good? And then what do you think we'll have a good game? Maybe from a DFS standpoint, Oh, it's a Sunday night game. Do you think Evans will be good? And then what do you think about Russell gauge and Julio Jones? I think Evans will be good. You should start him. If Godwin is out,

I think Russell gauge takes his place. And I would be really tempted to use Russell gauge and full PPR as a number three receiver, because he's played before in the slot. He does a great job. He's not going to get double coverage. He's going to be a factor. I think there'll be a factor in the red zone and he's someone that can absolutely step

up and get you, um, over 10 PPR fantasy points. If there's no Godwin as for Julio, I think he's kind of more of like a wide receiver for probably best left on the bench. Just from what I saw in the preseason, the timing was good with Brady, but the speed was gone. I don't know if that's just a preseason thing or if it's a 32, 33-year-old receiver thing. It's probably the latter.

So here's the problem with this. First off, it's the time of the day and the fact that you're not going to know when you set your lineups what's happening with the Bucs receivers unless we get a report. Russell Gage is also on the injury report with a hamstring problem that's been bothering him for weeks. So I think it's almost you've got to rule him out until we get news that he's 100%.

So I would lean Julio over Gage in making the decision now. I agree with Dave. I think Gage is in a better spot if he's right, but I don't know if that's the case. And so what I think you're going to end up seeing, and this kind of ties into last year, and we've talked about this a lot, Brady, when he has Gronk,

and when he has Antonio Brown, and when he has Evans and Godwin, and in this case, when he has those receivers, it's easy to say, okay, if I don't want to throw a Trayvon Diggs, which I don't think should be the case, because I don't know if he's that type of cornerback yet, I don't have to, right? I can attack the rest of the field.

Now, if there's no Godwin and maybe Gage is less than 100% and we know there's no Gronk, now it's okay. Evans, you're going to win those battles. I'm throwing to you. And so I think his targets will be fine. I think his opportunities will be there. But I also think that Julio, based on health, is the second guy right now. Again, unless we get a full practice report on Friday from Gage. And then it's going to be tight end roulette, I think, almost all season, whether it's going to be Bray or Rudolph as the guy who has the red zone opportunities. But clearly Fournette's a big winner too.

They'll throw to him a ton. So Brady will find a way to get his numbers in this game, even if Godwin and potentially Gage are not there. There's one more thing that should be brought up. We just got done seeing a game where an older quarterback behind a bad offensive line was besieged by another team's front four. Yeah. And we know that Brady's offensive line.

I thought you were talking about the Cowboys. Yeah. Well, the Cowboys' pass rush is okay. They've got DeMarcus Lawrence. They've got Micah Parsons. I don't think we can write them off as mediocre. I think they're good. And I'm curious to see how the offensive line holds up here

when Brady doesn't get rid of the ball under two and a half seconds. When he's got to drop back and scan, I wonder if he's going to get sacked a bunch. I wonder if he takes on three, four sacks and maybe gets a little skittish himself. That's the one thing that makes me worried about Brady this week as a starter and why I think I'm going to keep Kyler and definitely Russ ahead of him. Okay, yeah, I think you could have the same concerns

on the other side of the ball for sure. I mean, this is one of the best front sevens in football for the Bucs and going up against this Cowboys line. At least the Bucs are still great at tackle. The interior of their line is a problem, but the tackles are not. Anyway, I think that basically covers it for the Bucs anyway. We're not going to start a tight end, but who's the third best wide receiver in this game?

Is it Gage for Dave, Julio for Jamie, or is it someone on the Cowboys? Oh, I would say Gale Tolbert over both of the, or Gallup if he plays, over both Gage and Julio. The problems that you're thinking about with Gage and his injury are even worse for Gallup and his.

He's coming off a torn ACL. So I'll take Gage over Gallup and Gage. But if they clear him, you got to feel pretty good that Gallup's ready to go. Does he get a full compliment or do they go back? I have no idea. Neither do I. If Gage is, you know, we're going to find out today.

You know, if we get, you know, word on word, these guys are, you know, but you're gonna, you're gonna hear probably game time decision for Godwin game time decision for Gallup, uh, questionable for Gage, you know,

it's, it's going to be frustrating. You know, the best thing is you avoid all of it. That's, that's the best thing. That's it. I mean,

yes, but at the same time, it's Cowboys bucks. The total is 50 and a half. Maybe it's too high. I feel like there should be a lot of production, and I don't necessarily want to completely miss out. Look, it's week one, and there still aren't that many injuries,

and nobody's on a bye. So I have Julio Jones in a decent amount of leagues, but I can't imagine I'm going to start him. But I wouldn't be surprised if he has a really good game on my bench, which is going to be a little frustrating, but something you kind of have to live with in fantasy. All right, starters sit Dak Prescott. How do you feel about Dak Prescott?

According to Smart Football Analysis, the Bucs were one of four teams that had three players with at least 40 pressures in 2021. So they could really get after him. Yep. Dak or Trey Lance? I have Lance one spot higher. Yeah, I like Lance better. I will say that Dak has

the higher ceiling, but I think the floor actually favors Lance this week, just because I value the matchup against Chicago for Lance. I would go the other way. I think the ceiling is higher for Lance. Dak is, you know, I'm hoping that this game is a shootout, but I think the floor is safer

for Dak because I think you know what you're getting. Lance is such a wild card. And the thing about Dak in this matchup is the Bucs, they were good against the pass. They have one of the, according to the two sites that I always talk about, Smart Football Analysis and PFF, one of the best secondaries the two sites that I always talk about, Smart Football Analysis and PFF, one of the best secondaries in the NFL, but they have the best run defense too, and nobody runs on them.

So they saw last year, the Bucs saw by far the most pass attempts in the NFL. So you could see 40, 50 pass attempts. It really wouldn't be a shock. Prescott or Cousins Carr? Cousins, Prescott, Carr.ins Carr? Cousins Prescott Carr. Yeah, I agree with that.

I try to get away from both Cowboys running backs, right? I actually don't mind Pollard as a flex in PPR. I think as we saw last year, last two years, if his role, now granted, it's just a matter of which need, but if his role is going to be in the passing game, as they've talked about all offseason, and if he's going to have

some share of the touches carrying the ball, which you expect, Tampa Bay has given up over 200 receptions to running backs the last two seasons. And so we didn't see it in that game last year because of how they used both running backs. You mentioned two catches for Zeke.

But there's the opportunity here, with the receiving core being what it is for Dallas, that Tony Pollard could have a five, six catch game. You know, I, I don't,

I don't know if that's going to be the case, but I can see a path to that. And so you should still, if you know, if you, if you handcuff both, you still should start Zeke over Pollard just with the opportunity of him getting touches and getting the end zone opportunities.

But like I have a few leagues where I'm in a similar situation like you are, Adam, where I have Godwin or Thomas, or in some cases both, and I do have Pollard. Pollard's going to be a flex if I don't have those guys, and comfortably so with the upside of what he could be. And last thing on that, though, Zeke is another guy. One game without Amari Cooper, well, two games without Amari Cooper last year,

he had six catches in both games. Uh, CD lamb missed, I think one and a half of those games. Uh, but you know, that's another thing that Zeke, like Amari Cooper went off in that game against the bucks last year.

That's not going to happen. Uh, Michael Gallup, probably not going to happen. So you could see both those guys get some more catches, start CD lamb and try not to start another Cowboys wide receiver. They'd be number three or four. I mean, you just heard Jamie and Dave talk about it.

There's that. Start Dalton Schultz. And starters at the Bucks DST. I'd say Michigan. Okay. Let's go to San Francisco and Chicago. Niners are seven-point favorites. The total is 40.5. This I thought was interesting.

Stat of the game number one for all you Cole Komet managers out there. The 49ers have been top six against tight ends. That's fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Four straight seasons. But I said this on a live stream yesterday, so I'm sorry for repeating it if you already heard it. I would not be surprised if you looked at the last four seasons

of 49ers football and you compared that to last season for the Los Angeles Chargers, that the Chargers played more good tight ends last year than the 49ers have in the last four years. They have faced almost no good tight ends. It's incredible because they never faced Kittle. They faced Kelsey once in the last four years. They have faced almost no good tight ends. It's incredible because they never faced Kittle. They faced Kelsey once in the last four years. Andrews once in the last four years.

I don't think they faced Waller. And the AFC West is obviously loaded in tight ends. And the NFC West is terrible in tight ends except for Kittle. So the Niners are like paper tigers against tight ends, but they have been pretty good. Well, Jimmy Ward's out's Jimmy Ward's out, but I don't know if that, that necessarily makes it. Oh, I was, I, cause I, when I, when I did my write-up on commit, I was just reading about how much he's so great in coverage, but they, they used, they used a bunch of different guys to cover tight

ends. And I don't know if they would waste Ward to cover commit because commits not fast. They need somebody who's big. So that could be a job for someone like Fred Warner. Okay. So I'm, I don't think that's the end. I'll be all. They were not great when teams threw to their tight ends. They allowed a quarterback rating of 117.5, a catch rate of 72.2% last year. That was 10th highest.

They allowed the second fewest yards to tight ends on the third fewest targets. So Adam, I think you nailed it. They didn't face a lot of great tight ends. Is Cole commit a great tight end? No, I'm going to say nah,

nah, brah. But I think that you could definitely see him get six targets, maybe catches four or five of them. Could he score? Maybe I, I think he score? Maybe. I think he's a bust. I think he's a low-end starter. I go the complete

opposite direction. I think he's a must-start guy. Given what the tight end landscape looks like this week, love him. Absolutely love him. He's definitely a must-start guy. You're not going to go streaming to drop Cole Komet or to bench Cole Komet. You know how it is with tight ends.

But okay. Stat of the game number two. A running back rush for 71 or more yards in six straight games to end the season against the Bears. That's why you guys like Elijah Mitchell. You like him over David Montgomery. So you're sitting Justin Fields. You all have him, including Heath, 18th or 19th.

This was not a really tough matchup last year, but they also didn't have Emmanuel Mosley, their top cornerback, for about half the year last year. But we're going to wait and see on fields. Montgomery and Mitchell are really the interesting ones here. So, like I said, you like Mitchell more than Montgomery, but Jamie, lay out your expectations for those two running backs. I mean, I think you're going to see Mitchell probably in the 18 to 20 carry range.

You know, if you get any catches on top of that, that's a bonus. Um, he'll have an opportunity to score. Wouldn't be surprising if he scored twice, you know, so must start guy and non PPR,

I think still a safe start non PPR. Um, as long as he's healthy, he should be in your lineup more times than not, unless the matchup is just completely daunting or we just see just too much Trey Lance running, which would make me happy. But Mitchell, I think, is a safe number two running back in the majority of leagues.

Better in non-PPR than PPR. And Montgomery? I think Montgomery is still a starter. Volume will certainly matter for him. Will he score? That's a question mark. I would like to say I start Dillon over him. I think there's a better path to success for him. Will he score? That's a question mark. I would start Dillon over him. I think there's a better path to success for him. Montgomery, I think, is

you kind of know what you're buying with him. He needs to find the end zone, hopefully involved in the passing game, but should still be the leader in touches for the Bears. I don't think Khalil Herbert's taking him off the field very much based on what we saw in the last preseason game against the Browns. It is a tough matchup. The Niners were great against running backs.

They did lose one of their best run defenders, but they still should be pretty good. Three and a half yards per carry to running backs last year, which is only slightly worse than what David Montgomery usually averages. But you wouldn't do something like start Julio Jones over David Montgomery, would you? No, no way. The only, only, only scenario would be

is if you knew for sure, and this is in PPR only, that both Godwin and Gage were out. That's the only way. And you'd have to be really just with a hunch that Julio was going to get 10 targets and 10 targets from Tom Brady versus 20 touches from David Montgomery.

I think given their matchups could be a wash. Michael Thomas or David Montgomery. I think given their matchups could be a wash. Michael Thomas or David Montgomery. I think you got to go Montgomery. Okay. And, uh, it's Trey Lance. I don't know how much more you want.

Oh, Darnell Mooney started to sit down or Mooney. I got him as a flex. Number three receiver this week. Mm hmm. Julio Jones, Russell Gage. Mooney, Mooney. Yeah, again, it's got to be...

You have to know for sure that those guys are out, and you're just not going to know that. All righty. And how about Darnell Mooney or Devante Smith? Mooney. Mooney. I guess for this week, I think Darnell Mooney is going to win

the Darnell Mooney versus Alan Robinson contest for 2022, the former teammates. Well, if he doesn't, then something's gone really wrong in two cities, not just one. Okay, Colcomette starter, Trey Lance. Dave has him 11th, he 13th, and Jamie is the highest start of the week.

He has Trey Lance 9th overall at quarterback, and that is ahead of... What happened to my quarterback rankings? That is ahead of... He's ahead of Wyatt Hill, yes. Stafford, good call there. Cousins, Prescott, Carr, Joe Burrow. That's interesting.

You both have Lance over Burrow. Is that because of the appendectomy? I'm just a little concerned that we get not peak Joe Burrow this week. Agreed.

And, you know, a lot of people suspect the Bears are going to have one of the worst defenses in football. Is that fair to say? They lost several pieces of their front seven after finishing fourth in the league in sacks last year. They're playing a new scheme where they're not going to rush the pass. They're not going to blitz the passer as much as they did before. They're going to have to play a ton of zone

because they're going to be scared to death of Lance beating them with his legs. It's a really young secondary. They've got one good corner in Jalen Johnson, but I think they're starting two rookies potentially in that secondary. I don't expect... See, this is the problem with Lance. This is the problem I have with Lance is that I don't think the 49ers are going to ask him to do much. He'll get a couple of deep throws in. Hopefully he connects on him. And I'm not sure if he's going to run for like 80, 90 yards or anything like that. I think he'll just be okay. And I think they're just going to give him things that they know he's comfortable doing

so that they don't lose the game because of that. So I think he's safe for around 18 to 23, somewhere in that range. And that's why I'm a little worried about that ceiling for him. I know Jamie's not, but this is where I'm coming from. I think his ceiling is a little high. It's not as high as a lot of people think. I could see 212 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 53 rushing yards, and a touchdown.

Well, that would be a pretty good game. That would be 29 fantasy points. That would be great. That would be good. But if he doesn't get that third touchdown, it's 23. And I think that's a safe expectation for Lance. And that would make him a good start this week. Oh, boy.

There's a lot of intrigue in this game from a fantasy perspective here. So start Debo Samuel and Brandon Ayuk. So you said Darnell Mooney is like a number three receiver. You're not super jazzed to start him, but you're starting him. How about Ayuk versus Mooney? Mooney. Still Mooney, but you're starting him. How about Iuke versus Mooney? Mooney. Still Mooney, but DFS, it's Iuke. And if Kittle doesn't play, would you move?

Are you already ranking Iuke as if Kittle is not playing? Not yet, no. Not for me. Okay, so where will he end up if Kittle does not play? Probably the same spot where I have him, which is like a middling flex. Not a great flex. His price is relatively cheap. He's a top 30 receiver on both FanDuel and DraftKings.

I'm going to close it for Muneus, which is about five or six spots higher. All right. And then would you rather start Rashad Bateman or a wide receiver in this game? I would rather start Debo. Sorry. Other than him.

A, you forgot about Debo Samuel. B, you forgot to play the Bateman music. Oh, my bad. C, I would rather start Mooney. I would rank them Bateman, Mooney, Ayuk. I'll play some music. Yeah, that was pretty sad.

No, that's the Cam Akers music. Oh, yeah. Yeah, for sure. Double up on that. George Kittle. Are you going to trust George Kittle if he plays? I mean, what choice do you have, right? Right.

Yeah, it's really tough roster management for this week, because if you have a five-person bench and you have to make some tough calls, yeah, I feel bad for George Kittle, fantasy managers. I mean, it's hard to foresee him getting injured, you know. San Francisco DST is top three. Jacksonville

at Washington is our next game. So the commanders make their NFL debut. Our two and a half point favorites.a-half-point favorites. Over-under is only 44. Stat of the game, only two running backs rushed for 70 yards against Washington last year. Alvin Kamara, who rushed for 71,

and Miles Sanders, who rushed for 131. So this was a very good run defense. I don't think we expect 70 rushing yards from Robinson or Etienne, but that's not why you start Etienne. But, I mean, this is a guy that we probably, we've talked about him every day, but I think we need to spend even more time on him, Jamie, because you've been so high on Etienne, maybe Robinson making a speedier recovery than we expected. They haven't really said they're going to limit his workload. So yeah, I mean,

where do you rank Travis Etienne? Do you rank him ahead of, let's say, the running backs from the Bears 49ers game? And follow up, why are you rank Travis Etienne? Do you rank him ahead of, let's say, the running backs from the Bears 49ers game? And follow-up, why are you so confident in him? I would start Etienne over both those guys in PPR. I would start Mitchell over Etienne in non-PPR and Montgomery also. I'm confident because I have a huge role in the passing game. You know, I think we're going to see, you know,

a 5-6 catch game, but I think he'll do much more with it than, let's say, Zach Moss did, for example. And I think he's going to get probably a neighborhood of 50 rushing yards, so this could be a 110-120 total yard game. I think he has a chance to score on a receiving touchdown. I don't worry about James Robinson this week. I think this is going to be work him in, get his legs going a little bit,

maybe five to eight total touches, you know, 10%, 15% of the snaps. This is going to be Travis Etienne's game. And I think in the passing game, he's going to make some plays. Dave, do you share the optimism on Etienne? Not as much. At best, he's a number two running back in PPR.

Somebody who I need to move down in my rankings a little bit. Because it sounds like Robinson might get more than just a token few snaps in his first game back. I don't think he's going to be immediately rushed into a feature role. But I think the feature role is going to Trevor Lawrence. I think Lawrence gets a huge opportunity this week. Etienne can benefit off that.

I could see him getting four or five catches. I just, I don't know if he can do enough in the run game or score a touchdown. So I'm a little squeamish on him, but probably still would say he's a, at best a low end number two PPR running back in a flex and not. Yeah. As far as Lawrence goes,

we'll talk about the Jaguars here. It's, it's kind of annoying because I'd love to do some more starter sit with trevor lawrence washington gave up the most fantasy points you don't have to well that's the thing right you know you're not really starting you're starting the guys you drafted ahead of him for the most part uh but you know where you start trevor lawrence where he's in dfs because he's not going to be popular. He's priced like a top 15 quarterback, especially on draft Kings.

You should be able to build a really nice lineup while stacking Lawrence and Christian Kirk. So there's, is there any quarterback that was drafted ahead of him that you'd start Lawrence over? You'd sit blank for Trevor Lawrence field. If you want that route. Okay. Uh, we talked about the running backs. Christian Kirk.

You guys have him in your top 30. Heath is much lower on Christian Kirk, but you guys have Kirk as a starter. Is Kirk ahead of Darnell Mooney and Brandon Ayuk? Yep. Should be. I noticed a lot of production from the slot against Washington last

year. More early in the year than late in the year. And their defense did play better, but they really struggled against us against good slot receivers last year. Um, Evan Ingram, any interest in him? Where does he rank among streaming tight ends? Toward the top.

I've got him in my top 12 this week. I do it nervously, but there's just not a lot of tight ends who I love. I had him ahead of Knox before Thursday's game and Higby, and I've got him ahead of Kittle. So you might really be in a pinch with Kittle and need to go to your waiver wire to find somebody. Ingram is absolutely worth a look.

But if Kittle plays, you're going to start Kittle over Ingram? I think so. I think so. You're certainly not going to drop someone worthwhile to pick up Evan Ingram and bench Kittle. I mean, it's not worth two roster spots. Carson Wentz is a Sid. He's 22nd for Jamie, 23rd for Dave, 19th for Heath. Not terrible in a 2QB league.

We're starting Antonio Gibson here. Would you start Gibson over... Well, we like him better than Etienne. You said that earlier. So that means in PPR well we like him better than etn you said that earlier so that means in ppr you like him better than elijah mitchell right and david montgomery yes for sure not me oh no who do you like best uh you haven't named a running back in the last 30 seconds who i like better than antonio gibson that's what I'm saying. You like Gibson the best, right? No, no. What I meant to say that you, maybe I should say you have named a bunch of backs who I like better than Antonio Gibson.

I don't, I don't feel that comfortable with Gibson because I'm just not sure that he's going to be the guy. They're just going to run right back to him. I know what Rivera said, but I want to see what Rivera and Scott Turner do as far as Gibson goes. Do they force feed him the ball? Does he run north-south? I already talked about how I think this Jacksonville defense is going to be better than people think. I'm nervous to use him. I do have him ranked as a low-end number two running back. Okay. How about JD McKissick? You like McKissick or

Naeem Hines? Hines. Yeah. Naeem Hines. I like Hines a lot. McKissick or James Robinson? McKissick. Yeah. Washington wide receivers start Terry McLaurin.

Start or sit Jahan Dotson? I would prefer to sit him. Yeah, see what he does in week one. You guys like McLaurin this week? Yes. I do. Okay. Jacksonville was really bad against number one wide receivers last year.

And what's the deal with Logan Thomas? Is he playing? Cannot trust him. No. Limited both days. Okay. All right. Would you start a DST in this game? Jacksonville's

a streaming candidate. Yeah, so is Washington. You're still looking at a unit that improved at the end of last season. I like the Jaguars as a DFS DST. They're very cheap. I'd say the same thing about the Commanders, too. All right, let's go to Green Bay and Minnesota here.

Which quarterback do you like better in this game? Cousins. Kirk Cousins. The way that I drafted it, too, which will probably be a mistake, but still. Rodgers does have great history against the Vikings, and he scored 29, 39, 29, 42, and 24 points in his last four games against the Vikings.

I don't think Devontae Adams is playing for the Packers in this game, though. Just going to double-check on that. No, he is not. So, obviously, that is different. And Alan Lazard might not play either. Hopefully, Minnesota's defense can get better, but it was really not good at all last year. All right, so Rodgers, you're going to try to avoid him.

Would you start Justin Fields or Aaron Rodgers? Rodgers. Rodgers. Start Aaron Jones. A.J. Dillon is a start for Jamie. He's a flex for Dave. What are you doing, Dave? What are you doing about the Green Bay wide receivers?

I would, if Lazard is out, I would definitely consider Randall Cobb. I like the matchup for Cobb in the slot. And I think Rodgers will gravitate, even if Lazard plays, I think Rodgers is going to gravitate toward the veterans in this first game and trust Sammy Watkins and definitely Cobb. He's been playing with Cobb for years. So they're low-end replacement, maybe desperation replacement guys,

but they're also guys you can stash. If you want to beat the waiver wire with Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb, it might be easier for you to do that with Cobb than Watkins, given Watkins' history after week one. But I think Randall Cobb is worth stashing. I think he could end up having a pretty meaningful role in this game and maybe moving forward just because Rodgers knows him and Rodgers trusts him.

I'd rather stash both Romeo Dobbs and Christian Watson. If it's long term outside with those two guys, long term, I don't want to trust Randall Cobb. If he has a good game to me, that's fool's gold. Sammy Watkins, we know the track record there.

So chase them if you want. They could still be good. I don't, I don't think that's any out of the realm of possibility Rodgers is going to rely on his veterans, as Dave said. But I think as the season goes on, there's much more opportunity for those younger guys to be more impactful. So would you rather – all right, so let's say Watson's a free agent in your league right now, and you've got a roster spot to play with.

You can pick up Watson now and just kind of stash him for – I don't know how long you have the patience to stash him for. If you have the patience to stash him for the rest of the year, do it. Because I think he's going to matter a lot come Halloween and beyond. Or you can go for what's in the box. Or you can go for what's in the box and what's in the box is Cobb or Watkins who might be able to turn into something to help you now. And Watson could still be on the waiver wire two or three games from now. And you can pick them up then when.

Sure. Well, I mean, there's, there's a lot of variables here. There's certainly a lot of, you know, we're, we're stuck. No, Lazard, one of you guys is playing, whether it's Dobbs or Watson, and one of them has, you know, that wow moment or wow moments. And it's not Cobb and it's not Watkins. It could easily be Watkins and Cobb early in the season because of, as you said,

that's the ones he's relying on. That's what I'm also wouldn't overlook Robert Tunyon too, because we know what he was two years ago. It certainly has a red zone threat. So there's a lot of moving parts with this. And so it's, it's short term versus longterm. If you want the short term appeal,

you go with the veterans. If you want the longterm appeal, you go with the younger guys. There's no way I would leave Christian Watson on the waiver wire in any of my leagues. And I can say that confidently because Christian Watson is not available in any of my leagues. I already checked. Except for one where we have roster limits on the amount of

receivers we can have. But I looked. He's with the roster limits. Yeah. Yeah. We get teams like this all the time. I have to carry two DSTs. I have to carry two kickers. Well, I don't have to do that.

I can only carry five running backs and five wide receivers at a time. Any interest? Oh, what if Lazard plays? Where are you going to end up ranking Lazard if he plays? If he gets a full practice in today, borderline number two receiver. If he's limited at best, risky number three guy.

Okay. Any interest in Robert Tunyon if he plays? No, but he's a beat the waiver wire guy. Agreed. Kirk Cousins is top 12 for you two, 15th for Heath. Kirk Cousins or Joe Burrow this week? Cousins. I have Cousins higher.

Start Dalvin Cook, start Justin Jefferson. How do you feel about Adam Thielen this week against what could be the best secondary in football? Love him. Love him. Expect him to get plenty of targets. I think he's always got a shot to score no matter who he plays. Cousins is going to need to get rid of the

ball pretty quickly. I think Thielen has got a chance to finish as a top 10 receiver this week in PPR. I wouldn't go that high, but I think he's a borderline number two receiver majority of the week. I've got him as a top 20 guy, ranked as a top 20 guy,

but I think he's got top 10 upside. And another good DFS pick. Starter sitter of Smith. That's it. I would sit him, but another beat the waiver guy. Yeah, I don't even know if this is much of a theory, but I think teams, you know, who much of a theory, but I think teams,

you know, who's bad against tight ends. I think teams that are really good against wide receivers are often bad against tight ends and the Packers have terrific cornerbacks. And like the Eagles last year, the Eagles were great against wide receivers. They were dreadful against tight ends. I could see the Packers being a good matchup for tight ends just because the

targets might get funneled there. I'm not telling you to start Irv Smith, but it's something maybe for a DFS flyer or something like that, but it's something to keep in mind. They weren't very good against tight ends last year. They were 22nd against tight ends. Packers DST, it's going to be a good unit.

You guys don't have them ranked in the top 12 this week. Cleveland at Carolina, this game is a pick-em. Total is 42. We're just going to sit Baker. We're going to start McC mcafree do you guys like or love dj more this week it's like you're not benching him though no but i think he's got um massive upside seems like baker and more have connected wouldn't be surprised if he had... How many targets did Cooper Cup have? 15, I think.

Okay, I don't think he'll get that many, but more than 10 from Baker Mayfield. And people might ask about Denzel Ward, but he's not a guy who's been a shadow cornerback, right? I think he just stays on his side. I don't think they necessarily play that way. Start McCaffrey, I would say. That's it for Carolina, right? McCaffrey, I would say. That's it

for Carolina, right? McCaffrey more? Yep. All right. Nick Chubbs to start. What about Kareem Hunt and Amari Cooper? Jamie, I think you said you really like Kareem Hunt in this game, right? I do. I think you're going to see as our bet indicates, they're going to see a lot of passes in his direction,

especially if they're chasing points. He got off to a hot start last year, I think he'll get off to a good start again this year, this is where these guys like David Njoku and Kareem Hunt are going to win because Jacoby Brissett's not going to challenge downfield with any success and certainly with any consistency

Cooper will lose, those two guys will be beneficiaries of how Jacoby Brissett operates and so I think we could see Hunt, if he scores, he's not going to be just involved in the pass game and carry the ball as well. But if he scores, it'll be great. If he doesn't score, I think he'll be serviceable as a starter, low end starter in PPR. He averaged almost 90 total yards per game in the first five last year with Nick Chubb

playing. Yeah, he's 3.4 catches per game too. He was really phenomenal. The two of them in the first five games were great. And then Chubb got hurt. Hunt got hurt. All right. So we've talked about a lot of receivers like Darnell Mooney,

Brandon, IU, these questionable flex options here. Number three receivers or flexes, Kareem Hunt and Amari Cooper. Where do they stack up in that group? I like Hunt better than most of the receivers. And I like all the receivers better than Cooper.

Okay. I like a lot of the receivers better than Hunt. And Cooper's in the mix toward the end. I just think he'll get decent volume. I would start him over Ayuk. Would you start Amari Cooper or Marquez Valdez-Scantling? Cooper.

Cooper. That's close. Cooper or Kadarius Tony? Tony. Cooper. Not consensus there on Amari Cooper. But he's not going to be... We don't think he's a great start.

No, I feel like he's safe. In PPR, I think you can count on him getting at least five catches. I don't feel like he's safe at all. Anybody with Jacoby Brissett that has to play down the field is not safe. Just go ask T.Y. Hilton. David Njoku. Dave, did he crack your top 12? I believe I've got him ninth.

Woo-hoo! For the same reason why I like Amari Cooper. Just volume. It's not because I think he's an explosive athlete who's going to outrun everybody on Carolina's defense. I think he's going to get a lot of short and intermediate targets. What he does after the catch is going to be embarrassing, I think. But I think he can also get five catches.

You know, I don't really get it. David Njoku was a first-round pick. He's a great athlete. Why are you speaking about him as if he's, you know, Gerald Everett or something like that? Everett's a good athlete, too. A lot of people who play professional sports are good athletes. No, but Njoku's like a freak athlete.

That was the appeal of David Njoku. He's not a plotter. Yeah, but this is year five. How many times have you seen freak athlete David Njoku in the last four years? He's been in a terrible situation. I think it's his sixth year. No, five, I think. Whatever.

He's been around a long time. He's been in a terrible situation. I don't really like Njoku because I don't like Brissette. I would love Njoku if Watson were, you know, I'll like him when Watson comes back. I like him with Brissette because Brissette looks for the tight end. We saw it in Miami. We saw it in Indianapolis.

There's a high target rate there. I think you're going to see a lot of targets go to Njoku, mainly because, forget about tendency, who else is there to throw to? Yeah, sure. Well, they're going to run the ball a lot. They're going to try anyway. All right, anyone else in this game?

How about the DSTs, Jamie? Which DST do you like better, Carolina or Cleveland? Cleveland. Okay. I've got them back-to-back. I think they're both top 10 DSTs. Philadelphia is at Detroit. Eagles DST or Browns or Panthers? Eagles.

Brown. Stat of the game number one, the Eagles allowed 77 yards or a touchdown to a tight end in 12 of their last 14 games. Start Hawkinson. Stat of the game number one the eagles allowed 77 yards or a touchdown to a tight end in 12 of their last 14 games uh start hawkinson stat of the game number two the eagles were really really good against wide receivers uh they what don't start hawkinson i understand no our defense is different i know but they've gotten better overall that whole team from front to back on defense has gotten so much better they are super contenders i don't think they're going to be leaky.

Agreed. I really believe that. So, Hawkinson's better than Njoku, better than Komet. But I wouldn't pencil him in for a 20 PPR point game. But again, this is where you go against the team that's got Darius Slay and James Bradbury, right? So, the other stat of the game. But they also got Gardner Johnson, who can play deep and keep Hawkinson under wraps from breaking a big play. They've got linebackers who can cover. All right, whatever.

You start, whatever. I just was throwing that stat out. I don't want to, like everyone's starting. Nobody's venting TJ Hawkinson. Exactly, exactly. So the Eagles held Calvin Ridley, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, DJ Moore, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans in one of two matchups, Mike Williams and Terry McLaurin twice to fewer than 14 PPR fantasy points. None of those wide receivers scored a touchdown except for Evans in the postseason. None had more than 66 yards. This

was one of the worst matchups for wide receivers. Third fewest fantasy points allowed, two receivers. How do you feel, Jamie, about Amonra St. Brown? Number three receiver. Better in PPR than none. He'll get a lot of volume. Probably won't do a lot with it. You know, I mean, it's a great defense. And it's going to be, you know, a little challenging for them. So I could see a situation like what happened with the running backs last year in week one, where Jared Goff was just dumping the ball off late because they were chasing points.

And you saw just a lot of catches for Jamal Williams and DeAndre Swift. Same thing had happened for Amara St. Brown. So this could be one of those, I don't want to say pukey, Rondell Moore great games last year where it was like 11 for 22 yards or something, whatever he had. 11 catches for like 30 yards.

But Amara St. Brown's going to rack up a lot of catches. He's just not going to do a lot with it. Okay, would you start Kareem Hunt or Amara St. Brown? I'd start Kareem Hunt. Wow, even in full PPR? Yeah. Yeah, it's close.

Miles Sanders, did he crack your top 24? I think I'd go St. Brown just because of the volume. Sanders top 24? At running back, yes, especially in... He's right on the border in full PPR, but non-PPR, he's a number two running back for me.

Sanders or David Montgomery? It's Montgomery and PPR. I think I have Sanders ahead of Montgomery in non-double checking. I do. Okay. Sanders says he's playing. He's been practicing all week.

Eagles coaches have talked him up. I don't think the Lions defense is that much better than they were last year up front. I know the Eagles offensive line is still very good. Do you know how many yards they totaled on the ground just from their running backs last year against Detroit? I do. 144?

Yep, 12 squared. And they've totaled four touchdowns on top of it. I bet they try that same game plan early on against the Lions. I think Hertz runs well, too. I bet Hertz gets like 60 yards and a touchdown, too. I think Miles Sanders is a safe bet for 100 total yards.

The Lions allowed 94 rushing yards or a rushing touchdown to a running back in 13 of 17 games. So, yes. If Miles Sanders can do it, it would be this week against the Lions. Start A.J. Brown. Devontae Smith is like, what, number three receiver?

Yeah. Yes. And this team was so bad against number one wide receivers. So if, you know, this could be a huge DFS game for, for AJ Brown. I don't necessarily think anything's going to change.

I mean, the lions secondary still sucks. Uh, Dallas got her. You're going to start him, but their pass rush will be better. So you save off half a second, half a second per,

per snap. I, that'd be a lot. Uh, but, um, we'll see. Detroit running backs,

is there any scenario in which you're sitting DeAndre Swift or is he an easy start? No, he's starting. Don't look at his DFS prices real quick. He is ninth on DraftKings, 11th on FanDuel. I can't say that he's a must start on DFS slates.

Any interest in Jamal Williams or Kenneth Gainwell or Boston Scott? Nope. Bench guys. Gainwell may be in a desperation flex scenario. Those receivers out that we talked about. I think he's going to get his opportunities in the past game. Not a

significant amount of them, but his opportunities. Amonra St. Brown or Devontae Smith? Sorry if I already asked you that. St. Brown. Okay. Oh, you want me to answer? Sure. I'm on Robby.

I did not expect that. I just think the world will turn upside down if Devontae Smith outplays A.J. Brown in this game. But, you know, there are going to be some games where that happens. And T.J. Hawkinson, I don't think it's going to happen. But, you know, I'm very curious to see. The Eagles are one team. I think what I'm really curious to see is the run-pass ratio.

What is their offensive philosophy going to be? This could be a very revealing game. And T.J. Hawkinson is top eight in both formats and the Eagles DSTRA start. It wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't a revealing game and they just coast with the run to win. And then there's a game

coming up soon where they do just unleash AJ Brown and Devontae Smith. They're doing it this week. It's 100% happening this week. I don't know. I don't know if they have to. They might doing it this week. It's 100% happening this week. I don't know. I don't know if they have to. They might. All right, the Saints and the Falcons.

Would you start in a 2QB league, Jameis Winston or Trevor Lawrence? Lawrence. Lawrence. Especially if Thomas is out. Yeah, Winston. But in a 2QB league, that sounds like a rare decision.

Well, not in a 10-team league. Like, like in a 10 team league, you know, Heath and I have Justin Fields and to a tongue of Iloa that we have to choose between, you know, so it's kind of the same range. We're going with to a,

by the way, because of Heath's rankings, you guys have fields ahead. Start Camara. Michael Thomas is the number three receiver. If he plays, would Michael Thomas be ahead of Amon or St. Brown?

Yes. Yeah, but close. And sit Mariota, sit Cordell, like Cordell Patterson. Sit. Try to. I don't know what's going on with him. I think there will be sharing in the backfield, the likes of which we did not see much of last year.

And I'm not sure he's going to just be a running back. I think they might try and use him as a pass catcher a little bit more. This year. Zeke or Patterson. Oh, I think you got to go with Zeke. Who are patterns? Zeke.

Oh, Zeke. Okay. So that means we really don't like Patterson. No. We just don't know. He had a huge game in the passing game against him in one of the matchups last year. He did. It was like six for 120 or something.

Yep. Six catches, 126 yards in week nine. Yeah, two huge catches, like two bombs. And then 12 total yards in week 18 for Patterson against the Saints, who are always great against the run. They've been top four against the run, against running backs four straight seasons.

Pitts is a must start. What about last guy here, Drake London? Drake London. I don't think he should start playing. Well, if he is playing, wait and see, right? Yeah. Dave, I'm sure as you might probably not remember, but as Third Eye Blind once said,

I don't want to go to London. You're the only one in the world that might remember that. I want you, Dave Richard, to listen to the song London by Third Eye Blind. It is one of their hardest rocking songs. It is really good. It is a sneaky great song. I like rocking songs.

Yes, Third Eye Blind. You know me. I'm Mr. John Mellencamp. Oh, right, right. All right, everybody. How is your knowledge of John Mellencamp? Both of you so bad. And you remember when you didn't know the song

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard? Remember that? That was weird too. No, no. Can I read a quick email that I got from someone in the CBS Sports HQ FFT audience league? Sure. Okay.

This is from Ernest Hutchinson. Dear Commissioner. Where's he from, Jamie? I'm going to get to it. Dear Commissioner, I regret to inform you that I made a huge misstep and ask that patience, leniency be atop your mind when you make a decision as to whether or not you will bring my case to the attention of the fantasy cops. It was a cold and rainy day on Wednesday, September 7th in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, just before dark. I finally made it to my opinion.

I was finally part of something special. I finally made it to my opinion. I was finally part of something special. I finally made it in my opinion. I was finally part of something special for the first time in my life. I was taking part in the FFTHQ Fantasy League draft. The kids were playing quietly. My wife was looking over our finances, attempting the purchase of a Peloton,

and I was on the clock. Who I choose was on the forefront of my mind. That's when it happened. In an absolute moment of weakness, I chose who I thought would be my league winner in Landon Akers of the Los Angeles Rams. For some reason, the draft board showed I had chosen none other than Cam Akers of the Los Angeles Rams,

and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Not wanting to be a bother and ask you to revert my pick because of the obvious mistake, I moved on with many more magical picks and ended up getting a draft grade of B+. Needless to say, I am scared and embarrassed at the fact that I did something so egregious. Can we please, just this once, of course, run it the hell back

and get me some Landon instead of Cam for week two? I implore you, good sir. Put yourself in my shoes. You are an analyst and I am a mere listener and participant, but please, for the love of the sport, revert my pick so we can just move on and be done with this. Thank you for your time and any consideration in this manner. If he wants Landon

Akers instead of Cam Akers, then yeah, you can give him Cam Akers. I also have a Cam Akers listener story that I'll tell on the mailbag, Thank you for your time and any consideration in this manner. Bag Show. Oh, I love a good tease. Yeah, make sure you watch and listen to that. Thanks to Dave and Jamie. Thanks to all of you. Good luck in week one, everybody. We'll talk to you on Saturday with the Mailbag on Sunday morning. A quick five-minute episode to give you some injury updates.