Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - What Went Wrong? + MORE Free Agent Frenzy! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 3/13

Episode Date: March 13, 2025

Fantasy Football show for Mar 13, 2025. More free agent signings and fantasy football outlooks for 2025! What went wrong for Dalton Kincaid last year? Could he end up being a value pick in fantasy football drafts this year? Plus, Evan Engram, Cooper Kupp, and other players discussed! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast.Get the lowest price on the 2025 UDK at UltimateDraftKit.com - Instant access to the Dynasty Pass with the UDK+(00:00) Introduction(04:06) What Went Wrong: Dalton Kincaid(13:53) NFL Free Agency(15:14) Cooper Kupp(24:10) Evan Engram(26:25) Juwan Johnson(28:21) Rico Dowdle(32:44) Other Moves (41:10) Remaining Free AgentsConnect with the show:Subscribe on YouTubeVisit us on the WebSupport the ShowFollow on XFollow on InstagramJoin our Discord

Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright. Oh Welcome in Thursday March 13th the fantasy footballers back with you Jason Moore, the Cal Ripken Jr. of the podcast flew in at 4 a.m. today just to make sure you didn't miss this episode. Wow, I mean it's when it's part two, you can't right you know it's a continuation you can can't just, sure. Sometimes people don't come back for the sequel because their contract demands are too high. Yeah, I wanted to talk to you guys about that.

I would like more on my contract. Is Jason the Crispin Glover of the show? I mean, it makes sense. Little eccentric? Yeah, weirdo. No, Jason legitimately flew out of town, his family's on spring break, spent 24 hours at a theme park. Yeah.

Not quite 24 hours at the theme park, but you know, a day. Did Disneyland, shut it down. And then. And I'm here. For good? Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's closed, guys. I did the final one. He's going. I'm supposed to go next week. Oh, I'm sorry, man.

I shut it down. You shut it down. I did. Oh, man. Man. I believe the bathrooms, maybe, but. Did you stay till close? Is that what you mean?

Yeah, that is what I mean. And then got on a plane in Foria. Dude, you are dumb. And he's here. So we've got more free agency to talk about. We got a good quick question, a new series. We'll call it What Went Wrong? Because not every player drafted with a high ADP

worked out for fantasy players last year. And so this one will be very interesting to dig into. What Went Wrong? We'll talk about a certain player today. And yeah, there's been some players released and there's some veterans available. We've got some players reuniting with former homes and lots to dig into.

Like Mason Rudolph. Like Mason Rudolph. Ah. The life of a unlikable backup quarterback. Just really, it works out financially. Just, that's where the running back contracts really gotta roll their eyes. When you can have the year of your life, Rico Dowdle, and you can go out there

and have maybe three million dollars guaranteed to you and then here comes rowing team captain Mason Rudolph yeah I will tell you the eight million dollars to go back to Pittsburgh the most excited person about that contract is Myles Garrett is it because he gets to see him twice a year he's hoping to yeah well he might that right now they have no quarterback because Aaron Rodgers can't make a decision apparently you guys don't remember the incident Oh, yeah, of course I just didn't know that he really wanted to like re-up that you wouldn't

He's a backup quarterback. He's not gonna see him ever again. I'll find a way On the outside if you are Interested in in winning at your draft, go check out the Ultimate Draft Kit. Right now it is the pre-order pricing at ultimatedraftkit.com. Get access to the dynasty pass being updated

moment by moment with all of these off season moves, the draft hype, the draft will be here before you know it, and that's part of the UDK Plus, all of that at ultimatedraftkip.com. The quick question of the day, what went wrong? Dalton Kinkade. Dalton Kinkade, an early fifth round fantasy draft pick as the tight end five,

coming off of a tight end 11 season in 16 games played with 91 targets, 73 receptions, 673 yards. Coming into last year, there was tremendous excitement for Dalton Kincaid. Stephon Diggs had departed, and Kincaid was expected to maybe join the ranks of a top tier fantasy tight end.

How did it work out? Tight end 28 in 13 games played, 44 for 448 and 2. What went wrong? Yeah, I mean it was very disappointing. He was one of my favorite perceived values, you know, of the kind of five pack of tight ends that seemingly could vie for the number one spot, and he didn't. And when you watch the film, he didn't, he just wasn't good. He was not, you know, special in any way, shape or form. I know after the season,

there's been some talk whenever there's a down player, it's always like, oh, they were injured, but that's what, you know, they've had some talk about he was dealing with some injuries, but I mean, he was, he caught 80% of his passes as a rookie, and last year it was 59% of the passes. He just wasn't good on film, he wasn't producing, he wasn't breaking tackles, he wasn't getting open the same, he just won that good, and when you watch it,

it's like, maybe he's not that guy. And Josh Allen's gonna spread the ball around. I don't believe it's going to, I don't think he's going to emerge as a primary, certainly not the primary target in this offense. I would say a realistic expectation for Kincaid is probably around 75 receptions next year. I think that's about where you'd expect him to be if he was healthy through the whole year, which is not, that's not, unless he scores 10 times, that's not

going to move the needle for fantasy. He was a player that when you watch the games on a team that didn't have an established number one, you thought he could step into that role, but they took so many deep shots with Kincade, and none of them worked. He actually- Yeah, that was a big problem. He actually ran, I believe, the most go routes, if not the second most go routes.

Only Conklin ran more go routes. You know how many receiving yards he had on go routes? Percentage, I should say. How many receiving yards he had on go routes? I do not. Zero. No. He ran the second most go routes. Is that true? Yes. Zero receiving yards on those routes. So there was the attempt to,

and this is where I will agree with you on the fact that, you know, when you make the assumption, look, he wasn't that good. Yeah. I mean, if you never build that rapport with Josh Allen, when Mack Hollins is having a game here or there, when Keon Coleman can have a big play, there was no big place. Like if you're going to catch 75 passes, I'm cool with that. George Kittle, that's a go make a big play down the field or catch seven or eight touchdowns. I don't think that that is, like that range of outcomes doesn't exist for Kincaid moving forward because, you know, tight ends it takes a while,

but it was a really disappointing year. And fantasy players are gonna feel burned and probably not take that shot again. It's not just, he ran a much higher percent of go routes than tight ends. So 18% of his routes were go routes, a nine route, where the NFL average for tight ends. So 18% of his routes were go routes, a nine route, where the NFL average for tight ends is just under 12%. So big percentage increase, which would normally that would be very exciting unless for some reason people

are not connecting here. And then the other one he ran a lot of a much higher percentage of screens, which is I mean mean, those are fine, cheapy PPR points, but for the most part, those are not high value fantasy targets that we care about. Then you add in on top that the bills, their rush percentage in the red zone has, it's just gone up for three straight years,

almost 55% of their, I got it. 55% of their plays, they're running more. And we saw that with James Cook, he had a bajillion touchdowns. The snap percentage going from a 60% snap player to a 43% snap player on the season like and that's in games he played that does coincide with the the narrative that he was maybe Hurting more than we we knew about the the general public

He did miss three games of the knee injury in the middle of the year any it his ADP is gonna be in the middle of the year. His ADP is going to be very interesting. So right now in best ball, he's going as the tight end 14. So that leaves some margin. Kyle Pitts was considerably better than Dalton Kinkade last year as a fantasy option. Wow. I want that to be stated.

No. That's actually, I think that's all you need to say. Kyle Pitts is a full disappointment for fantasy players and he's still a top 15 tight end with more receptions, more yards, more touchdowns. And you talked about not connecting on the deep throws. I mean, that reminds me of Kyle Pitts. Yes.

Athletically gifted player. Like I think Kinkade is a pretty good tight end. And if a team made him a focal point, if that was in the cards, I think he'd be pretty productive. Like he could even ingram a season if you want. He's athletically gifted enough to do that in my opinion, but I don't see that in the cards

for the next handful of years. Yeah, I remember midway through the season talking about if you're in dynasty trade Dalton Kincaid because I don't think he's that guy and I don't think it's going kind of yeah you had made a declaration yeah and and so at this point he just doesn't have a lot of value left you're just hoping something clicks as he gets older I mean you know that was an MVP season from Josh Allen. Yes.

It's like, you can't ask for much more than everything he had opportunity-wise. So the stats here on tight ends, what season do they break out? And so I have the numbers of players drafted since 2014. And 19% of the guys who have a top 12 season, the first time they do it, it's year one. He did that? He was, yes.

He was tied at 11, year one. Yeah, so he barely snuck in, but it's like, then there's a weird thing of tight ends breaking out in year one and then not coming anywhere close to their ADP in year two. We're going to talk about those numbers later on in the offseason. But saying like to have a real breakout it has to happen in year one or year two or your percentage chance goes way, way down that you're going to be a truly viable fantasy tight end. Just historically speaking every player is their own individual case,

but if you're gonna look back on history, we're, it's not, it doesn't feel great right now. What flies in the face of that is just the fact that both these guys, I mean, Pitts and King K both did in year one, and then they dropped off. Like, Pitts has had three disappointing years in a row. Like, I'm staring this down, Jay,

you know, this everlasting debate of rookie tight ends. It's like, are you Hawk and Bowers? Or are you Pits and Kinkei, right? Or are you Ingram and Ninjoku took forever? Like, those are all- Hockinson was year two. That's six. Sorry, I didn't even mean Hawk.

Who did you, Laporta? I meant Laporta. Yeah, yes. Laporta and Bowers. But like those are all names that are all first-round tight ends and you're probably gonna have two more this year. Yeah. And so you know that they can make a big impact and you know, Pitts and Kincaid did in year one but it didn't carry on into... No. And neither Laporta in year one and it didn't carry on into, and Laporta in year one, and it didn't carry on into year two as well.

Yeah, the, But Bowers probably will. Yeah, Bowers is his own guy, but it's like, Engram broke out year one, then he was a hit for his ADP the next year, but both, I mean, you got Pitts, Laporta, Kincaid, were all not just misses, these were big misses where they finished two points under

what you would have, or more than two points under what you would have expected for their draft spot. So it's been a weird thing with Titans. We don't have a huge sample obviously because a breakout in year one is not the common. It's more of a season two. So TBD here on Will he be someone that is, you know, the normal strategy,

right? You take one of the stud tight ends or you draft them in the last round. Would you take Dalton Cacade with the last round pick next year as your dart throw? Oh, yes. Yeah, if we're gonna punt, then he will be I'll take him over a probably like a Ferguson style where I know the baseline is because I can just see what happens. Maybe Kincaid's more integrated into the offense for a few weeks, but you're not taking him

with a guarantee he's your starter. And that's what people were doing last year. Yeah. I think I'd rather take a shot on a rookie tight end in the late rounds over Kinkade. Yeah, I think that that's probably fair. We'll jump right in. ["Free Agent Frenzy"] Free Agent Frenzy.

["Free Agent Frenzy"] Mike, how would you describe the free agent period in 2025? I wouldn't, I mean, I know the drop is a frenzy. It's not a, I mean, it's like a gentle breeze. Not a frenzy? No, I mean, we all feel it. The free agency period has been slow.

And I guess it's just because of the free agents available. I'll feel it. The free agency period has been slow and I, the, I guess it's just because of the free agents available. It's it's old wide receivers or running backs when, why would I pay a running back when I could draft one of these five or six studs, which you could go even deeper. Like a lot of draft people are saying, no, there's, we got 10 plus running backs who are NFL caliber running backs, so why would I pay anybody right now? I think when T. Higgins was taken off the board as an available free agent this off season,

it took a lot of the wind out of the sails. Cause like you said, like I don't, I don't wanna talk about Javontae Williams at all. Right. Like that's not a headline maker I want to talk about. There's no Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, big, you know, awesome offensive weapons changing teams. Just sadness for Jason

because the Rams finally made it official. Stupid. Cooper Cup. He posted his farewell yesterday on social media, if you read that. Eight years as a Los Angeles Ram. Some people wanted to remind, I think Jason, that he's only a thousand yard receiver twice in eight years, that he had the one superb, outstanding season,

obviously, that kind of broke fantasy football and is a Super Bowl champion. But I think the debate is, is he done? Is this kind of, you know, Mike and I were talking yesterday, I think on the foot cast briefly, just about the fact it's pretty rare for a team that knows a guy that has been that guy for, you know, cupic up was the number one receiver for many, many years. When they make that call that we're not bringing you back, it's pretty rare for that guy to go and find success

at that same level elsewhere. You might get a Thielen. Yeah, Adam Thielen was the name that immediately popped up to me. It feels very, very similar. They didn't want to pay him. He was older. It could be Thielen. It could be, I mean, that would be the best possible outcome,

would be a Thielen type of change. Yeah. But there's a lot of players, too, whether it's Julio or Hopkins, where the team has made it, or Alan Robinson, where teams have made the decision that you're done, and you're done. Amari Cooper. The thing that will be incredibly difficult to reconcile

is when Cooper Cup first came back from his ankle injury, so they were talking weeks eight through 14, both him and Pooka are on the field. I mean, over that span, Cooper Cup was averaging over 15 points per game in a half point scoring format he was the wide receiver five in that stretch and it felt like oh all right Cooper Cup is back then week 15 of the playoffs happens for our fantasy playoffs and he it's a full goose like that was weird how does a guy how's a player being so productive put up a zero

a full zero was that also the game that Puka got kicked out of? I do not remember that part. I'll check Puka's stats. But then the next week, you're like, oh, Cooper Cup, no problem. Under four points, under four points. It went, the valve was completely turned off. He was no longer a part of what the Rams wanted to do on offense for that stretch.

And it was, it's so, we're in an impossible situation. We just saw this. Oh, please. We just saw. Who did we see it with? Stephon Diggs. We just saw the identical thing happen with Stephon Diggs in Buffalo. Yeah. He was.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yes. Your guy, your guy, your guy, the valve was turned off at the end of the season. They then is like, let's get out, get him out of town. And to be fair, Diggs was very good for the Texans. Obviously got injured and, you know, stopped being a Texan. But to start the season, you know, he, he came out and was very important to the offense.

Didn't look washed to me. I think he was out and was very important to the offense, didn't look washed to me. I think he was a different player, wouldn't you say? Would you say Diggs was not, he wasn't the tier of... No, he was not in his superstar form, but he was still very useful for the Texans. Here's the question I have for you. This will give us a lay of the land. If one is washed and 10 is the MVP season of Cooper Cup. So one through 10. One is washed, 10 is premier Cooper Cup. What number do you think he is at going

into next year? What do you think you get with a team? Four. Oh, you're at four? Yeah, I think he's on the downside of the career. That's pretty low. At this age. I thought you were gonna give him about a seven or a six. No, I.

That's just, that's his heart. Yeah. Heart's at six or seven. I love Cooper Cup and I just don't like that I feel like the Rams did him dirty, but I'm not saying that they're wrong. I think it's a four or five. I think I'd be a four or five. I'm at a, between a three and a four. Okay.

So he can go and help somebody. Odds that you think Cooper Cup will be a fantasy relevant wide receiver two next year? Entirely depends on where he goes. Jacksonville. Right now, yeah, I think he would be good in Jacksonville. New England. No.

No. With, with Drake May? Yeah, I don't, I don't think they'll be enough. I don't think they'll be enough. There won't be enough to go around. What. With Drake May? Yeah, I don't love the offense. There won't be enough to go around. What's the, Falcon, you just posted a graphic, I think, up on socials.

What is the other team that was mentioned with Cooper Cup? Did you say Patriots? Patriots. Yeah, Seattle. Oh, Seattle. Yeah. Seattle. Good work, Matt.

Yeah, good work, dude. Thank you for that. Nice. He spent most of the time finding the button. I could see. We switched him to another button, and he was looking for the button the whole time. Did you find the button?

Could you have answered? There you go. Good work. Seattle, what do you think about those three destinations? Put them in order of your favorite. Jacksonville, New England, Seattle. So you have Seattle at the bottom. Yeah.

I mean, obviously maybe Sam Darnold is leveled up and resurrected his career and is, you know, able to, to be great. But I think this is a team that wants to get more to the defensive side, more to running the ball. And I don't usually view Sam Darnold as exceptional. I'll go Seattle, New England, Jacksonville. You like Seattle the best? I do. Wow. I just don't think JSN has what it takes to fully, like Brian Thomas Jr. is it, right? And so Cupp is very 2-3 in Jacksonville with a Trevor Lawrence

that is leaving question marks. So I guess I just feel like Cup would be, like that would be his Carolina deal in destination would be Seattle. For target volume? For target volume. Yeah, I lean Jacksonville at the top because I think he needs a Brian Thomas.

He needs him on the other side. Okay. I think he needs it. And then, yeah, I'll go Pats, I guess, second for upside of the unknown, of Drake May. Jason, we were talking on the footcast yesterday as well, the fact that sitting out there on the waiver wire right now, waiver wire, on free agency, Cup, Keenan, Diggs.

And I was making the comment that like a team could, they could go one year on all three of the guys and bring them in and you just, you have a wide receiver room for a year. The ARP team. Like the Raiders don't have wide outs, right? It's like you could bring those three dudes in. The ARP team?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah that would be. I think you bring those three in cause you're hoping you get about one and a half receivers. But if you bring those three in, because you're hoping you get about 1 and 1 half receivers. If you bring them all in, one of them. What about the Giants with Malik neighbors on the other side, if you like to Brian Tuck? Superstar Darius Slayton?

Right, yeah. And maybe Aaron Rodgers goes in. I don't. Yeah, that's a quarterback problem there. Oh my gosh, Rodgers. What is this guy doing? Whatever he wants. We'll talk about that in a second. We'll take a break. We'll come back with some more news.

Before the break you mentioned your frustration with Aaron Rodgers because you know we've got offers on the table from Pittsburgh. It's been reported Pittsburgh's made him an offer. It seems like the Giants have made him an offer or are very interested and then you know he's not making a call and Adam Schefter comes out and he seems very... That was a very funny video. Seems very frustrated with... I'm not that mad. Yeah. Adam Schefter, if you've missed it, I'm sure you could find it but he's talking about Aaron Rodgers making a decision. And Adam Schefter seems personally attacked and personally frustrated that Aaron Rodgers

has not made the decision yet. I believe he compared making this call on his future home as a quarterback to picking a lunch destination. It's not that hard. He's like, you just pick a place to go to lunch. I go. I am in agreement. It is not that hard. He's like you just pick a place to go to lunch. I go I am in agreement

It is not that hard if you have an offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants You go to the Pittsburgh Steelers because you're 40 something years old and you have a year or two left You're not winning a Super Bowl the Giants When if you're I really want to live in New York Yeah, but you have enough you're not winning a super maybe already have a home in New York That still is You know, it'll be really interesting if he does if you were to choose the Giants. I think that says What his priority isn't you know who would pick teams like this is Kyle like if Kyle was on the free agent market

If he thought that all the like reporters. Oh, yeah, we're waiting for his information He'd be like I will hold back that information Until you're upset. I was not here to defend him. No, he's not but he knows it's true taking a shot Anyways, the Broncos they have signed their Joker tight end Evan Ingram two-year deal just 30 years old Last year was a complete bust They have signed their joker tight end. Evan Ingram, two year deal, just 30 years old. Last year was a complete bust. I mean, just kind of a lost season. But a near record breaking season the year before we, I'm excited about this.

I think Denver is right there. I mean, I love Bo Nicks. I think this is a huge move for the offense. I think it, Mike, you said it yesterday, it frees them up to be a focus on maybe running back or other positions. In the draft where they had been rumored around the rookie tight ins, they've been looking for a joker style tight end for a while, somebody that can go out and be versatile and run routes and take screen passes and be a

red zone presence and I think Ingram does enough of those things. And then their defense is getting stronger. Weren't they the home of Mr. Greenlaw? Isn't Greenlaw at Denver Bronco now? Yeah, and Hufanga. And Hufanga, yeah. So a couple 49ers landing there as they kind of get rid of all their players.

And so I think Denver is like one of my favorite playoff teams next year. They're gonna be fun. I am most interested to hear Jason because when we were talking about Engram on Tuesday's show you were pretty OUT on Engram still being a fantasy tight end. Are you good with the spot? This is about as good of a destination as possible. I think maybe the Chargers would have been slightly better

than this for fantasy football, but they don't have, outside of Cortland Sutton, they don't really have an established next target. And Sean Payton wants to use a tight end more, but he just hasn't had, he's had Adam Troutman who's not, you know. Watch it. Yeah, be careful. I gotta be careful what I say in front of Mike about Adam Troutman. Sensational football player. But for fantasy, this is really good.

I mean, you know, I would certainly rather have Evan Ingram next year than Duncan Cain. I was gonna ask it. Yeah. Yeah, that one's easy. You're taking a late round selection. Saints re-signed Joann Johnson, they're tied in to a three year deal, $30 million. He's always been just.

21 guaranteed. He's just always kind of sitting there as a player that has flashes but doesn't seem to be at the level you build an offense around. So I think that that's been figured out. I think that's a fair thing to say. He was their leader. He was second in receptions, and he led the team in receiving yards.

Yeah, but when that number's 548, it tells you a lot about that offense. Yeah, Joann Johnson is, I hoped he was gonna go to Denver, because I think that he is an exciting player should he have got put in the right position. Most people don't know who Joann Johnson is, but he is a good player. I've got 21 guaranteed to come back for the Saints so

fantasy wise though it it could happen I would not rule it out because he's had stretches of games not just like a game here or there he's had, so he is on the radar as a punt draft option. Meh. Fantasy players need to understand that tight ends get a lot of money, and sometimes they're not fantasy relevant tight ends. I mean, Luke Farrell just got $20 million from the 49ers.

You'd be like, who's that? And that's a fair thing to say. But he was a Jags tight end, and that's what Evan Ingram was. So he wasn't a fantasy relevant tight end, but they do a lot of work in the run blocking, and the versatility of a tight end gets paid for, but the fantasy value of every tight end is very different.

Yeah, I mean, this is, he's gonna be going into year six, and this is with the same team and the same system, he's never been relevant. You talking about Joann? Joann, same system, he's never been relevant. You talking about Joann? Joann, yeah. So he's a top 12 guy in 2022. Irrelevant.

Ooh. He had 508 yards that year. Smacks. That's seven touchdowns. Smacks of little Jaylen Warren under 10 points per game. Yeah, it does. Situation. Rico Doudo, Mike, one year.

Yeah. Woo hoo hoo. Don't let your kids grow up to be running backs. The Panthers signed Rico Doudo, Mike, one year. Yeah. Woo hoo hoo. Don't let your kids grow up to be running backs. The Panthers signed Rico Doudel one year deal, 2.75 base. Incentives up to six. I mean, we're all going to do that, right? But you're not going to hit your incentives behind Chuba. This is not, this isn't worst case scenario.

I will say that. I was holding out hope that Rico could get a more of a timeshare job where he, you know, or I mean a start, if he goes back to the Cowboys, yeah, they're going to get a rookie in there, but it's like, Dada will have some starts, I would think. But going to the Panthers, Chuba just got paid. This is Chuba's backfield. got paid. This is Chuba's backfield. However, in terms of high level insurance running backs, to me Rico Dowdle will be way up there because if Chuba goes down with the run scheme, with

the offensive line and with Rico Dowdle's just the way that he runs, I think this is a sensational signing for the Carolina Panthers. Like, Doudel would do work if he were given the job. He is going to get paid a similar base salary as Javante Williams, which the Cowboys paid three million base, but the incentives are double. So I want people to understand. Yeah. Like, everyone's like, oh, why would you not resign Doudel versus Javante?

There's so many variables Dowdell might not have been as content to be there you know yeah we don't know the behind-the-scenes stuff yeah if they if they've said hey we're probably drafting a rookie and you're not gonna be in contention for a start I mean you don't know probably just a depth piece if you had Carolina talking dynasty if you have Chuba what are you willing to send over to try and get we got a lot not much at all I I don't I think I think if Chuba goes down Rico is not a star here for the Panthers unless the offense You know if if Bryce Young

You know takes another step forward and becomes a great quarterback then then it would be far more exciting But I don't view the Panthers. I'd be more excited. Chuba was great. I would have been but I think Chuba is great Yes, exactly. That's the difference. Rico, I would have preferred to stay in Dallas. Because then if the rookie doesn't work out, Rico's pathway to those top 10 finishes is there. I feel less confident with that in Carolina, because they're not as good of an offense. But Carolina, ninth in EPA per rush.

And yes, Chuba's part of that. But seventh in pro football focus, run blocking grades. This is an offensive line. Rico last year was ninth in success rate for rushing. He was one of five running backs to gain five or more yards on over 40% of his rushing attempts. I don't get the Rico slander. He was not an elite, he's not Bijon,

but there's like four teams who have a Bijon type running back. I would say that his one year contract with 2.75 million tells you what we think about Rico Dow. Yeah, yeah. We do not, it's not slander, it's the market. If teams wanted Rico, he would've gotten a deal, I mean, do you think he's better than Najee Harris?

Because he didn't get nearly the money that Najee got. Do you think he's better than Javante? He didn't. Yes, I didn't bring him back. I think he's for sure better than Javante. So they the mark. We're not trying to be intentionally anti Rico. We're being we're just telling you what he got paid and where he got where he's going. It's a one year deal to be a backup. I also think you bring up a good point. If you're in a dynasty league and you've got Chuba draft season rookie draft season is coming up and and at during that time third rounders oh they will be so valuable because people will want whatever name is dropping in a draft they're not actually valuable your third round rookie picks so that's that's something I would trade

valuable, your third round rookie picks. So that's something I would trade for Rico to get my. That's what I meant. Yeah. Of like, I'm going to be on the side of, if you're insuring, in dynasty, insuring Chuba is a smart thing to do, and it will be cheap. And if Chuba goes down, Rico will be a top 24 weekly type of a starter.

Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen will return in 2025? Yes! He's waiting for it. I'm back! Yeah, he is, and he's 34, right? I don't know. Aaron Rodgers officially released, so he can go somewhere else after 49 million in dead money.

Dude! 49 million in dead money. I love that, I saw someone posting just the reality that a couple years ago you had a quarterback play so bad that a team was willing to cut him and take on, what was it, 60 million dead cap for Russell Wilson. Right. And then the Steelers are like, give me that.

And now the Jets are like, give me that. And now, now the Jets are paying 49 million in dead cap to get rid of Aaron Rodgers. And the Steelers are like, give it to me because they have Mason Rudolph. Yeah. The Steelers, they, they're scrambling. They're dealing with the member, the Colts, Wints, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers era? The Ravens signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one year deal. It's me, DeAndre. Yeah, I don't care at all. DeAndre Hopkins didn't matter in Kansas City

and he's not gonna matter a year older in Baltimore at all. Like this is a headline maker. This is cool, you got a veteran. I mean, who was, was it Dez Bryant that went and played in Baltimore a little while ago? Oh, Baltimore is, Baltimore soaks up all the. Julio? Didn't he play in Baltimore?

Was he there? I think he was. For a brief, I mean, OBJ was there. Maybe it was OBJ I was thinking about. Yeah, maybe that's what I was thinking about. Yeah, this is good. It makes sense for all parties. DeAndre Hopkins, I don't think will be relevant for fantasy,

but this is good for the actual Ravens. So Julio did not play for Baltimore, but I did come across a 2022 article in the off season that was like Raven's top landing spot for Julio Jones and T.Y. Hilton. So at this stage of the career when you're in the T.Y. Hilton leaving Indianapolis part of your career Baltimore's the home. Were you thinking of so yeah Dez was there, Beckham was there, Steve Smith was there for a couple years. D. Jax was there. And and Ant Quan. Yep. Ant Quan

spent some of his 30s in Baltimore. If you're 32, you should call Baltimore. And yeah. So if you're 40 and a quarterback, you should call Pittsburgh. If you're 30 plus and a wide receiver, call Baltimore in this division. But yeah, Hopkins, he'll probably have a couple games that he catches some touchdowns and gets some first downs.

There you go. Demarcus Robinson, 49ers picked up Demarcus Robinson that he catches some touchdowns and gets some first downs. There you go. Demarcus Robinson, 49ers picked up Demarcus Robinson on a two year deal from the Rams. I mean look, probably starting wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. It's possible. Yeah, that makes sense. I mean who else?

No Debo, no Ayuk. Yeah, Pearsall and Jennings will be. Yeah, but while Ayuk is recovering, Robinson is gonna be a starter. As a wide receiver three? Yeah. Mack Jones, two-year deal with the 49ers as they complete the full circle of,

ooh, we're moving up to take Mack Jones, just kidding, it's Trail Lans, just kidding, we're gonna get Mack Jones two later. They don't want, like, the Steelers. I don't think Mack Jones is an answer for anything, but if you're just scrambling to get a starting quarterback who might be able to win a couple games for you, how do you not look at Mac Jones? Why pay Mason Rudolph $8 million and you could pay Mac Jones $7 million?

Well, I mean, they're both backup quarterback contracts. And bringing back Mason Rudolph, obviously this is a player They're familiar with they know how he is in the locker room And they obviously liked it because they chose to bring him back, but you're right I'm thinking ahead cuz I they were backed into a corner. I just Mason Rudolph, but Mac Jones being with the 49ers is It's so funny to me because there were all the rumors. Yes about like It's so funny to me because there were all the rumors about like Shanahan wanted Mack Jones. That was who they actually moved up for

and then changed and pivoted to Trey Lance. And now the fact that the 49ers signed Mack Jones makes me go, maybe they had regrets. Well they still have to, I mean all these players leaving, they've got to pay a quarterback now. Yeah, they're burning it down right now. They gotta pay Brock Purdy or they have to, I mean, they don't technically have to pay him this year, right?

Correct, he's under contract. And he's gonna work. That would be brutal. Yeah, I mean, it says a lot to your team and future free agents and things like that. The problem is, the justification for paying Brock Purdy is the deals that two Lawrence have gotten, which are outrageous.

Yeah. And so then you pay, let me just play, you pay him $55 million each. Oh my goodness. You pay Brock Purdy that money. You come out and you're retooling because you've lost 8 to 10 players that are fundamental to your offense and you go 7 and 10. You think you're coming in, you think next offseason we're all feeling like Brock Purdy's

worth the $55 million? I think that just, that will depend on how he plays. If they win fewer games but Brock is playing well, I think we'll give him some grace. They are still the highest Super Bowl odds for the division. The 49ers post dropping all of their players. They're just taking suckers money. Not the Rams? Yeah, I'd go on the Rams.

That's actually genuinely shocking to me. You're saying not NFC, but just out of the West. Well, I wouldn't have put Seattle in there, and I wouldn't have put Arizona in there. So I guess it would have been between, I would have put the Rams in there. All right, we'll take a quick break. We got some more signings to talk about,

things to debate. The Steelers signed Kenny Gainwell, the Colts signed Khalil Herbert, the Eagles signed AJ Dillon, and the Bills re-signed Ty Johnson who kept showing up in fantasy football towards the end of the year, that run heavy offense. Any comments on those backup buddies? Nope, these are other, I mean Ty Johnson's a guy that every once in a while if you're really desperate you could throw in there, but there's other guys will be probably insurance. I guess the Kenny Gainesville one is what is that what is the

Steelers running back room gonna actually look like? Are they willing to turn over go back to the old Tomlin system of one back with Jalen Warren? I don't I don't know that that's the case so maybe Kenny Gainwell. Yeah I also Did you sign AJ Dillon in Dynasty? Did I get him? Did you sign him Mike? You can't quit these guys. Dude you gotta. You chilling? Chilling like a villain. Uh uh. Chilling like a villain. There is no chill. This is always grinding the wire boys. You know of all those backup jobs I would say Khalil Herbert for fantasy would be the

one that I would be most interested in because Because like the Ty Johnson, he's gonna be involved, but that's a three headed time share. And whereas I feel like in Indianapolis, you've got Jonathan Taylor who has a rich injury history. Yeah, he's very wealthy and- And so if he misses time, that's a good spot for an insurance back. Kyle Yuscheck also meeting with the Steelers, just so you know.

Let's go, Juice. So you know, Juice with another opportunity potentially. We had some other signings. Mike Williams, we're back, baby! One-year deal with the Chargers? He's only 30, feels like 40. Oh my gosh. He feels like he retired four years ago. It's a place, a quarterback he's familiar with, right?

We could get Mike Williams back there, he could do something. If they don't add, Mike Williams will be relevant. Post his ACL as well, so that's good. MVS one year deal with the Seahawks, Cardinals re-signs Zay Jones, Dolphins, Nick Westbrook-Ekene, where he can go score a touchdown, one pass a game. Van Jefferson one year deal with the Titans, KJ Osborne to the Commanders, back to the Commanders,

Mario to back to the Commanders. This is what you're talking about, Mike. I know, I just felt like I was losing, like people were turning off the podcast as I read those names. This is not a frenzy. That's not a frenzy. I know I just felt like I was loose like people were turning off the podcast as I read those names This is not a frenzy Not a frenzy. This is though. This is the light breeze

Yeah, but also it smells like sewer breeze. You know what I mean? This isn't like an ocean breeze where you're oh You're going to the blockbuster movie and they just keep playing the trailers Yeah, you're looking- They never stop the trailer. They never put the movie on. You're looking up and you're like, who am I downwind of right now? Like looking at who's left.

Yeah, let's talk about them because speculating on them is more interesting. They're still interesting names. I mean, especially- Cooper Cup. Yeah, Cooper- Keenan Allen. Amari Cooper, which,

the problem with this list is they're interesting names because they, once upon a time, were top tier NFL players. And now are they anywhere close? But like, J.K. Dobbins, I think his signing is still, it would be interesting when it comes through. Yeah, Nick Chubb is very interesting to me. Nick Chubb can he ever make it back? Probably not. That's where that's probably

not and these are the some of the reasons why these signings haven't happened is that we're entering the tier of free agents where you might want to see what happens in the draft or you you might wanna build a game plan around, what are you gonna do? Keenan Allen probably doesn't wanna go to camp. Yeah, that's a fair point. He might just chill and wait for someone to need him in the summer.

Is he in bulking season right now? Is he back? Didn't we have that last year? Yeah, last year. He was bulking season right now? Is he back? It wasn't, didn't we have that last year? Yeah, last year. He was bulking up, man. We had fat Keenan Allen. Everyone was so worried. If you like logged into a fantasy league

that had shut down back in like 2019, and you logged back in to see what your roster was, it would say Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Cooper Cup, Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, Russell Wilson at quarterback. These are the free agents left. It's the 2019 fantasy extravaganza. So you know I'm very I'm the most interested at seeing where Cooper Cup goes. a wide receiver of these of these names but that's I mean I'm not excited about I mean maybe JK Dobbins if it was a completely like if JK Dobbins goes to the Giants okay do you care is that a place you care

the Raiders the Raiders I do the Raiders or do you just or do you not care about either until the draft happens because they he just doesn't profile as toting the rock. The fact that we are this far away from the opening of free agency and the opening of the league year is concerning for all those running backs. Starting jobs seem, there's very few available, and I think these guys is gonna be wild. Yeah, yeah, I agree. So that is the remaining lowercase frenzy. Thank goodness.

For the Foot Clan. I flew back for this? I told you, you're dumb. Yeah, I mean, next year, next year. Next week we have trending or ending. We've got Liar Liar, we're dumb. Yeah, I mean next year, next year. Next week we have trending or ending. We've got liar, liar, we got a mailbag and you'll get a bonus episode, a bonus mailbag show at jointhefoot.com if you wanna check that out.

Otherwise, that is gonna do it. That is going to do it. Cooper Cup, let me know where you're headed and Rodgers Make a Decision. Talk to you next time. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter at the FF Ballers.