NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - FANTASY FOOTBALL EXTRAVAGANZA

Episode Date: August 22, 2019

A room filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling, Marc Sessler, and Gregg Rosenthal are joined by Adam Rank to talk unpopular fantasy opinions, and brand names who are oddly cheap. (6:45) The heroes also get to talk with the "Big Fish" himself, Evan Silva, to diccuss players to shy away from and nailing the top of your draft. (28:46) Where is Marc Sessler? Is he okay?Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 10th annual around the NFL podcast, Fantasy Extravaganza, presented by Sirius X-N. Now, here's your host, a man who's won his league of record once in like 20 years. The old zooser. Thank you, Jeremy, and welcome, yes. History. Ten years. We've been doing this, Greg.

Ten years. That's not true. I mean, we've done this podcast for, what, seven? This is our seventh season. Does ten years sound good? Sounds great. Do you think people will go back and check? No.

The 10th annual fantasy extravaganza. That's impossible. I mean, we're, I think we could just make up our own truth. That's what fantasy. The 20th annual. That's what fantasy analysis is all about. Absolutely. Learning.

All right. Yes. The old Susie. Thank you to Jeremy Bergman, who did it again. Check out his work on his IMDB page, kicking and screaming with Will Ferrell. He played a beefy supporting lead. All right, yes, I have one title in 20 years. Well, that's life.

What can you do? But I am joined by a who's who of fantasy minds for the fantasy extravaganza. On my right and my left, you know who they are. I don't need to tell you. They built Roder World brick by brick. and they're humble about it, but that's the truth. That website that everyone uses

isn't what it is today without Greg Rosenthal and Chris Wessling. What's up, boys? Hey, Dan. I forget being humble about it. Now that Silva's out the door, let's just own it.

You know, we didn't want to make him feel bad. Greg built it. I watched. Speaking of Evan Silva, he's coming up later today, the big fish via the phone. And joining us in studio. Oh, my goodness.

He is the face of fantasy here at M. NFL media. Adam Rank is in the building. What's up, Rank? What is happening? Finally, Adam Rank has come back to the Around the NFL podcast once again here to join you.

And I'm happy to be here. First of all, I do like that Evan Silva's the headliner. Like, he's Blink 182. I'm some 41. Here's the opening band. You know, you're shortening yourself a little bit there. You know, I'm going to come out. Fall Out boy.

You're bringing the rank amateurs to the table. And we welcome all of them. The rank amateurs, the rank and file. They're not, no. I'm here trying to clout chase off of your audience. This is where I'm coming to pitch. This is where I got it. Because everybody's like, hey, do you want to come on the fantasy pod to, you know, pitch your or, what is it, post?

What is it? Promote like Fantasy League One or the Adam Rank podcast. Like, nobody listens to that show. I'm going to come over to around the NFL where the people are. I see the numbers. I know where people. It's a global audience. Oh, my gosh.

It's insane. Like, the people, like, if you run into somebody from Wales, odds are they're huge fans of this podcast. And they're like, hey, it's nice to have someone else who goes third person within two seconds of being on the show, other than Dan. I don't even notice it when somebody else does it. Not coincidence that coal mining has a major culture in Wales. Connect the dots. Right? Everybody knows this.

Oh, I should also mention Mark Sessler's here. He's actually not in the physical studio. Mark's behind the glass How are you, Mark? Doing pretty good. I've never actually enjoyed the show. Let's stop there, but from this perspective. From behind the glass.

Very nice. Little murky, glass could use a cleaning. And as you know, Ricky. It's daunting sitting in his seat, by the way. Sitting in the Cessler. Not today, it isn't. I'm an assistant, too. Did you say Ricky?

You got to start cleaning the glass now, too, top of everything else I do for you guys. I love you, Rick. Mark, yes, you're also here. And as, as, you know, if you followed this show, the fantasy extravaganza, and we've done 15 of them now. Yeah.

You know that. Longstanding tradition. Mark is always the guy we throw to on the fantasy corner. He's not there yet. As we know, it's very dangerous on the corner. So, Mark, I imagine you've kissed your wife and your children goodbye. You've tied up loose ends as you head back to the old neighborhood. Yeah, they see.

seemed okay with the arrangement, but I'm hoping that some distance will create a little bit more need and attraction. All right. Well, why don't you head off to the corner and we'll check back with you a little bit. All right. Now, Rank. Yes, sir. One of my favorite Adam Rank bangers is unpopular opinions. Oh, thank you.

With Adam Rank. So what we're going to do here, we're going to go through all sorts of fantasy angles as your draft is hopefully right around the corner now with the third preseason game coming up in a third week of preseason coming up in a few days. so with rank we figured unpopular opinions rank will throw out some the brick by brick guys the brick layers I call them yeah they'll toss in some and maybe one out of 20 Zusser will throw in one of his own but let's start with rank

but your name is not pronounced Han Zeus no it's Zuss yes so wouldn't you be the Zusser you could now you've said that and I've always appreciated appreciated that because Damashik falsely put it out there that it was Han Zeus but I've been getting that my whole life Right, of course. Or at a certain point, you just say, you roll with it. I understand.

You could call me the old Zusser if you, if you please. Plus, it helps with, it doesn't have the Zip. With branding, you know, one of our listeners made little drawings and it's got, you know, Dan dressed up as Zeus. A lightning bolt and all that. That's fun. We have the ability to create it on top of Mount Olympus. But we can create our own backstory.

It's like, it's like, it's like, it's like Flashpoint where you go back in time and reverse back to the future and then everything changes. now he's the Zusser. I feel like how this is the 20th year of the fantasy extravaganza. An amazing two-decade run, it's been. I sense a potential Mr. Destiny scenario rolling out where if I tried to push old Zusser,

I'd be living at home in my parents' basement or something. Yes. You're a jet season ticket holder. Still wearing the same Richard Todd jersey from when you were a child. With like seven. How do you like them going back to their Richard Todd jerseys? I think they've really pulled off something at him

in that they've been able to match. What I like about the 80s look, the pop of the colors with the turn back to the future Bill Parcell's era, Namath era. I think they've done a nice job with it. If Mark wasn't on his way to the corner, he would counter that he thinks the helmets are too glossy. There's too much shine to him. I understand that. But on balance, I give it a hard 8 out of 10.

I really like the new unit. 100%. I'm a 9. I love that. I think it looks sharp, especially now that we've seen it in action during preseason. Looks good. stands out striking okay unpopular opinions with adam rank let's do some fantasy style throwing out there adam you know one of the things that i've done if you're in the last half of the first round

i have now really enjoyed taking travis kelsey in about the 109 spot and it's one of those things that i think what a lot of people will do when they approach it and grand barfield our fantasy managing editor and i were talking about this he was sitting there saying oh i hope that Travis Kelsey falls to me in the second. I'm going to take Julio or Michael Thomas or somebody like that. My contention was, instead of doing that, instead of hoping Travis Kelsey falls

to you, you go out and you grab them. And then in the second round, when your pick comes around, you can still get a top flight receiver like Mike Evans, Juju Smith-Schuster, and there, you can kind of build your roster from that spot and go forward. And as a matter of fact, in

Fantasy League 1, which Ricky Hollywood and I participated in, will be putting that over at great length. Coming soon. This is like an NFL media. NFL media creation. It's part of the all-new fantasy app. If you have enjoyed our fantasy app in the past,

I can't imagine that you did. Because it needed some improvements. We made those improvements. I'm going to be fair. I'm not going to sit here and snow the ATN audience. They're far too sharp for that. We can get stuff over on the NFL fantasy audience. They're whatever.

Mouth breathing. They're like circus seals. We're just throwing them fish. You know, we share a lot of the listeners, by them. Do we? Just be careful. Be careful for you. I don't know that that's the case.

I'm teasing. I love everybody. Circus seals. I love everybody. The thing is with the all new NFL fantasy app, it's the experience is amazing and Fantasy League 1 will be a part of it. I took Travis Kelsey there at 109, and I feel great about it, even though I've been besmirched and harangued on the internet.

Well, I think one reason why it's on. popular i think because there's not to me as big a gap at tight end as as some years where maybe gronk was way ahead of the pack i i don't see a huge difference between kelsey and kittal and irts and then the the next group is so nice and deep and and fine for me that it doesn't seem worth taking kelm for the record according to our nfl fantasy app which has really gotten a pretty facelift i will say kelsey is going around pick 16 so he's a second round guy so it's not a huge reach to go get him if you're picking, let's say, 10th in your league. Yes.

But it is a reach. It is a reach. And you also have to know who's in your draft with you because Graham was behind me and I knew that if I missed out, he was not coming back around. I think that when you look at it, Kelsey's been the top scorer amongst fantasy tight ends of the last three years. That trend is going to absolutely continue. He is the most consistent one.

I think that Zach Ertz could have a little bit of a regression this year because Dallas Goddert will start getting more into the mix. Alshan Jeffrey's healthy. They added Miles Sanders. I think there's a possibility for a little bit, not much, but I think that Kelsey and Kittle are closer to Hunter, Henry, and O.J. Howard than they are to Travis Kelsey. So I jump in for it.

All right. Give us another unpopular. Wait, hold on. I was just going to say, I agree with you in that if you have a strong gut opinion. Well, that's fair. Go with it. Go with your feeling if it's very strong. And I don't, forget consensus.

I hate consensus. Just go with the guy you want. But I also agree with Greg, there's a very attractive group of value plays. that tight end this year. There is. And you're going to have to be willing to make sure that you're targeting the right running backs in rounds three, four, and five. You've got to make sure you're not drafting a quarterback to the double digit rounds. But then even if the double digit rounds, you can end up grabbing somebody like Lamar Jackson, who before the show started, we talked about his first two games out of the gate or Miami and Arizona. You could also grab Ben Rathesburg.

There's a lot of value out there at the quarterback position. So you just have to be really confident in your overall plan. It's not something that you walk in and be like, I'll do this as a last minute thing. You've got to really have it prepared. All right. Give us another unpopular opinion. You know what? I really believe that Antonio Brown is going to be fine for the Raiders. And I know that everybody's making a huge deal about the helmet and everything. He knows but his ADP is now sliding into the third round and I just don't get it. He is he did not forget how to play football because he spent the past two weeks arguing about his helmet. He is still a very good player and he's going to a team. Everybody acts like Derek Carr is some scrub of a

quarterback. He's not too far removed from his 2016 season when he put up MVP type numbers. And so I look at the situation that he walks into and the overall construction of this team, you bring in Tyrell Williams to be the deep threat, you draft Josh Jacobs and now you add Antonio Brown. I liken it to what happened when Jerry Rice joined the Raiders back in the day, John Gruden's first stint with the team. Rich Gannon all of a sudden becomes an MVP candidate. I think that Antonio Brown is going to go out there and have another lights out season. And you look at it's not too hard for these guys to make an immediate impact. Look at what Amari Cooper did last year when he went to the Cowboys.

He joined that team midseason and instantly made them better. Antonio Brown's going to do the same thing. So anybody who's passing on him will look the fool. You know, I watched, wrote on Hard Knocks, I wrote the latest episode recap, And it was all about Brown. And they did a really good job digging into what's going on there right now. And you know what? It seems like things are going to be okay there.

It seems like the feet, it's not going to be an issue. He said there's a little burning when he runs and he has to sometimes take his shoes off. But that's all trending in the right direction. And I think the relationship between Gruden and Brown is really strong. And I think he's going to be on the field week one. So people that are avoiding Brown because they think this helmet thing is going to carry over. I understand your trepidation and stay away if you want. but I think there's a much better chance he's playing starting week one.

I'm avoiding him. I would not draft this guy at all where he's being taken. And it doesn't have anything to do with the helmet or the feet. He's sort of the bizarre. Derek Carr is the bizarro Big Ben. He doesn't take chances down the field. He's afraid to hold the ball and wait for a big play to happen. He doesn't specialize in broken plays.

He and Ben and AB had years to develop chemistry. And now we're going to put him in with Derek Carr, who to me is just the opposite of Big Ben. He is a little bit, and maybe that's why he doesn't get 1,800 yards this year, but I wouldn't be surprised. He didn't get 1,800 last year, not even close. I wouldn't be surprised if Antonio Brown is, you know, wide receiver 1 by the end of the year, top 2 or 3,

because they're going to throw it to him 180 times. They're just going to force it. And you're right. It's going to be 9, 8-yard passes, but Antonio Brown can make plays on his own and it'll get in PPR. Yeah, exactly, with a terrible defense. So it's like they're going to just be throwing the ball to Antonio Brown, like more than they should probably.

They're going to force the ball to him. They're going to be in a lot of deficits where they're going to have to be forcing the ball to Antonio Brown. He's their best player. He comes in and gets all the target in it. I'd only take a couple, maybe two receivers ahead of him. Who?

Julio and who am I thinking? Michael Thomas. I'm just going to go right into my unpopular opinion because it's about those two. Which is basically, I did take a look at the average draft position. That's not a big deal. I don't think people should be afraid to just take those two especially, in my mind, with the fifth or sixth pick.

Like, I would be, I would much rat, like, every year we see this, that running backs go the first seven or eight, or there's going to be nine or ten in the first round, and four or five of those end up being problems. When you've got just certainty, certain big numbers of Hall of Fame-type guys in the middle of their prime, in Michael Thomas especially, but I would put Julio in that group too, where it's just they're coming down with 90 or 100 catches.

They're filling up the stat sheets every week, and they're still running backs available in the third of, fourth round that I like. And so once you get past about four running back or so, I'm taking those two guys. That's fair. Anybody disagree with that? No, not at all.

Let's check in, by the way. Let's head over to the fan. I guess it wasn't that unpopular. A little bit. I think, you know what, though? It is unpopular. It doesn't seem like it happens. No, no, no.

Listen, there are a lot of fantasy people who love the running back. And if you like Hopkins better or you, you know, I could see that or whoever you like better, but those two for me are just money in the bank, a minuses. So if they're going, if they're going. or 12th overall. Who cares? There's no risk. You like it at 5 or 6? You'll take them at 5 or 6. Yeah.

Let's head to the Fantasy Corner. Mark Sessler, very bad neighborhood, as we know. Let's see. Mark, you there. Hey, guys. What's up? Wait a second. Where are you? Well, I'll let you know where I am. You know, as you can see, I think as you can hear,

the Fantasy Corner has polished up its image just a bit. The opiate salesman and the race track heavies have been replaced by fresh-faced young entrepreneurs. Why, just before the show, Rick Hollywood and I dined on $45 plates of probiotic-infused pancakes right here at the Rompter, a delightful new David Ely-owned eatery. As an example of how the neighborhood has changed. Oh, no. This same spot right here once served as a low-rent storefront selling used ladies' clothing and horse whips,

while churning out about 150 gallons of illegal whiskey per week. What spurned? This uptick, you ask? Well, I'm here with impressive 25-year-old urban developer Emery Saxonville to find out. Emery, how exactly did you rid the streets of so many untoward elements and devil-may-care thugs

to pave the wave for the changes that we're seeing here in the... Uh-oh. What? Mark, you're there. Okay, so it looks like the gentrifying hasn't totally taken over. Mark, you there. Some gentrification.

A few months. Let's get back on track. We'll check it with Mark. few blocks. That's always an issue. It's like the people have been there for a while. They're going to class with the hipsters that are coming in. You want to go get your avocado toast someplace, but you make the wrong turn out of that eatery and all of a side of your back. As a former Hoboken, New Jersey resident, I can tell you, the gentrification process does lead to clashing.

Well, you don't want premature gentrification. Never. No, never. Never, never. Okay. That's terrible. West, do you have an unpopular opinion you'd like to share? I do.

Stop using total fantasy points from the previous season to prove that the guy you want is a great value. David Johnson of the Cardinals is a prime example. I heard another fantasy analysts this week say he finished ninth overall at running back last year. It wasn't even a bad year. Stop. Stop what you're doing right now.

It was Matt Barry, everybody. Never use end of the year points. It was. It was Matt Barry, who is a heck of a nice guy, and I like him a lot. great analysts. But he knows what he's doing because he writes a whole article on misusing stats. Look, the end, you should know better. You want a week-to-week advantage in fantasy football. That's all that matters.

This guy gets artificially inflated numbers by the end of the year because better, well, not better, but more productive running backs fall by the wayside when they get injured. So a guy who's been a mediocre guy week-to-week all year has inflated stats by the end of the year. Just stop doing it. that's my unpopular opinion. And I know he, yeah, he finished top 10 ultimately, but show me one David Johnson owner from last year that won his league. Thank you.

David Johnson was a key player on his roster. Just I speak from experience, actually. It just he was a guy that because that offense was so overmatched and because the team was so bad, he's still because he would catch the ball and they'd give the ball a lot. He'd give you, you know, 10, 12 points. But he was not anybody that was a game changer. And you're looking for game changes where you're taking to David Johnson. Fantasy sports have always been and will always be.

about the difference makers and the game changers. That is true, but I think what Matthew's point is, because I'm kind of on board with him is that you could count on him week to week. He didn't kill you. If you didn't win your league, he wasn't really the biggest reason why. He didn't totally assassinate. He's a mediocrity.

I don't want mediocracies on my fantasy team. On 10th overall. Last year, yes. Yeah, but if you ended up picking up, if you picked up Damien Williams, Nick Chopp, and Philip Lindsay, and David Johnson was acting as your. flex that was fine that's my that's my point you can pick guys off the waiver wire who outscored him i don't like the show i have david johnson and zackerts no hold on

we're talking about last year though david johnson this year no no no we like him this year he i understand where i could see both got a mouse in your pocket i don't that's another unpopular opinion but i can save that one what one that you shouldn't keep mice in your pocket i mean i'm against it they're animals they're god's creatures there is way too much inherent trust in Arizona's offense. Maybe they have a high ceiling. They probably do, but you're going to need a canary in the coal mine to withstand the depths of that floor.

I'm with you. My thing with Johnson is just he's another year away in a bet. And that was the lowest ranked offense by DVOA and football outsiders in almost league history. And the same people are there. Yeah, but the coaches. David Johnson is someone that you've loved in the past. I just think he'll return more to form further away from the entry. on my better real life than fantasy team.

All right. The quarterbacks knew they've made some changes on the offensive line. Cliff Kingsbury's there. And one of the things that made Cliff Kingsbury a success, and you can say relative success, because in college football, Texas Tech was not winning national championships, but you're not winning national championships in Lubbock. That's just not going to happen.

One of the things that we really liked about. Well, you can win games, though. And many coaches did that better than Cliff Kingsbury. It's worth pointing out. But what we look at for his offense. Just saying. But like Mike Leach offense, and this is one of the things that trickled down to Cliff Kingsbury, is that the Red Raiders were sixth in the NCAA in throwing the ball to the running backs on early downs.

And of course, the teams that were ahead of them, Mike Leach at Washington State, Dale Holgerstrom at West Virginia, teams like that who come from that coaching tree. So that's what we really like about David Johnson is that when you have an offensive line that's not good, the best way to combat that is to get the ball into the hands of your playmakers, really quick. And I think that they're going to design more passing plays, especially on early downs for David Johnson. I'm sorry, guys. I'm nervous as heck about Mark Sessler, who, last time we heard from him, there was just a massive explosion. Mark, are you there? Guys, I am here. And Dan, I appreciate your concern. I will remind all four of you that we are,

we're to Jim here. We're at Equinox, Jim. We're a resilient community. And I'm over here working on some single-armed dumbbell rows, some hexbar deadlifts. And while you clowns, operate vicariously, trying to tell your friends to buy you a strawberry ice cream because you pick seven football players correctly. I'm over here turning my physical form into electricity. All right. Well, he's okay. After the way he was talking to us, I don't really care anymore, but... Life is good for Mark right now. Adam Rank. One more popular opinion before you go? I want to do, I want to build on, because I wanted to stump for David Montgomery, but that's so... Here's my unpopular opinion. All your stumping has actually, you know, raised

his value so high that he's no longer even. in a good value. That's been terrible. Well, you know, Matt Nagy's going out and combating that today, too, by saying, all the fantasy hype is like, okay, now he's like a third round pick. It's like, yeah, I'm not that excited about him. No, that's definitely the case. You know who I really like, though?

I think that Duke Johnson is a nice fit. Yeah, I'm with you. I think that that, I know a lot of people will point to Deshaun Watson, like, well, he's never thrown to his running back. Because he didn't have a, he didn't have a, he didn't have a, he didn't have a, he'd have a running back like that before. Like, it's like, I never drove until I had a car. Like, I get it.

like that's this is yeah he now has a running back he can throw the ball to and i think that with will fuller until he comes back and shows that he's completely healed from his knee injury that duke johnson could end up being their number two receiving option so i love that all day and i'm all about just talent over getting even crazy with the situation he's a better player than lamar miller i agree with the end i think he'll end up with more touches and more yards in i agree we have talked at length on the show about the weakness of the texans offensive line do we worry about that. But that's again what one of the best ways to combat the Texans offensive line is number one you had a bad offensive line. Number two you had Deshawn Watson holding the ball way too long.

If you have a running back that you can get the ball to you have that safety valve that is going to help improve all facets of that. Before you go rank. Yes sir. Who's some brand names out there who are kind of oddly cheap right now? Guys that in the past have been first round guys high second round guys they've been dropping, yet they might end up giving you elite production. Who are some guys that jump out for you? You know, one guy I would say that he's not necessarily a brand name, but somebody who was a starter last year that everybody was trying to fade during the offseason. But now, look, he's going to be a number one running back, Chris Carson.

That situation in Seattle, they run the ball almost more than anybody. I love it. And everybody wanted to put Rashad Penny up on a pedestal and say, no, they used a first round pick on this guy. Chris Carson has been the best back there. He will be the best running back. And if you get him in the third round, that is somebody, again, like when we're talking about ignoring some of those early running backs in the first round and you want to wait and go and get your running backs in the third, fourth round, you can get Chris Carson, maybe David Montgomery if you're lucky. And another guy, too, whose value is really starting to rise is Latavius Murray that as more leaks switch to PPR.

I just vomited on the table. You don't like... I've vomited too. He's got a role, though. He's got a... This is the type of thing where I think fantasy drafters always get into trouble

is looking at the role in the situation. He's this year's Chris Hogan. Latavius Murray's not that good. He's being drafted as if he's not Latavius Murray. He's like a poor man's Lamar Miller. He's just not that good.

I mean, he's going to get goal line carries, right? Yeah. He's going to have... You know who's one of the best goal line backs in the NFL? Alvin Camara! He's like, that's proven. He's a better goal line back than Latavius Murray.

Okay, you're not drafting Latavis. Latavius Murray in the first round. You're getting him in the seventh or eighth. Flex guy? I'm in. I'm in. I saw where he's burning your picture. I like the Chris Carson.

I'm so against that. I've got a running back. He's on my stay away, Evan Silverlow. Damn it. For the second time in three years, my answer to this question is Devante Freeman. I have no idea why this guy's going behind some of the guys he's going behind.

Who's going to challenge Devonte Freeman for carries there? How dare you besmirch Edo Smith like that? Well, this is where. Either Smith is not special. People who get too excited or get put too much into, what was his final fantasy point total the year before? All those jokers that you can take advantage of in your league, they'll overlook a guy like Freeman,

who is an absolute stud. A good football player on a great offense, draft Devante Freeman. T.Y. Hilton is one big name that I'm shocked as going as late as he is. He's another guy like whatever the odds are. Well, we can't do that. He's the guy who can lead the league in receiving. I'm expecting T.Y. Yelton to go crazy. And then Mark Ingram in that, he's a big name.

Oh, I love Mark. I'm kind of surprised that people aren't just like way too excited about Marking. If Gus Edwards can be a top five running back in yards after Lamar takes over, why can't Mark Ingram? Well, isn't the concern that they have a crowded backfield? But he's the lead guy, and he's the best player. And it seems like they want him to be the lead guy. Justice Hill broke more tackles last week than Mark Ingram ever broke in a game.

The two of them, nice little combo. Mark Ingram still, I think he's shown that he's shown that he. can play with somebody who is a dynamic playmaker and still go out there and carve a pretty good role. People still sleeping on Deshaun Jackson, too. What? Oh, yeah. I'll throw out all the Rams receivers, by the way.

Brandon Cooks and Woods are going in the same area in the fifth round. Cup coming up, the ACL's going a little bit later. But I don't know. Those guys, you can kind of put it in the bank, I feel like, that cooks and Woods, especially, both of them, really, are going to be 1,300, 1,300-year-d guys and score touchdowns and catch-up all-ton. For sure.

I love Cooper Cop coming back. Really? I feel like he's going way too high coming off. Week six. Week six when he was healthy, he was the wide receiver too. And if he started off the season on the Pup list, I would be with you. I'd be like I would be a little bit more concerned. But I think that what we've seen so far in the preseason, I'm ready to take him in the fifth round.

All right. Adam Rank, he is, according to his own Twitter bio, your favorite fantasy analyst, favorite fantasy analyst. That's true. You could see him an NFL network. all season. You could also check out the Adam Rank podcast. Thank you.

People talking. Streets talking. The street's talking. And follow Adam on Twitter at Adam rank. Sir, it was an honor and a pleasure and we promise it won't take this long to get you back in the studio. Why, what happened?

Was this my first time or something? I'm surprised it took you this long to complain after all the complaining you were doing downstairs. I'm not a complainer, but when the situation was broke. He sounded like he was ready to do. just come with that right off the game. So I admire your restraint. I expected it. Why make that show about that? We could come back and do that. This is for the people, for the fantasy advice, and I will get you all back in your own special way.

You're the best. Adam Rank. Thank you. Everybody. All right, before we get to Evan Silva, a reminder that every week NFL Films presents the Hard Knocks podcast hosted by the great Peter Schrager. every week Shregbong talks to people connected to the show and talks about each episode as it airs ending with the September 3rd finale.

I mean if daily Shreger is not enough it's not enough for me you get your Shregbom in podcast for him Hard Knocks. There you go. So check it out. A new episode will drop this week

and every week through the finale Hard Knocks podcast and NFL Films join Out the door goes Adam Rankin in comes via the phone right into the boat, the big fish.

You know who he is. A former rhodo-world man now breaking out on his own at Establishtherrun.com. It's Evan Silva. Welcome back to the Around the NFL podcast. Thanks so much for having me back, guys. You know, Rosenthal, Wesleyan,

you guys crushed the Rich Eisen interview. That was unbelievable. And Ricky and Zusser, you guys are doing a great job, too. You seem to leave. leave someone out. Appreciate it. Thank you, Evan.

Love Silva. All right, Evan. Listen, you're the big fish for a reason. I mean, before we get into the fantasy stuff, you want to just tell us a little bit about establish the run and what this is all about, how it's going to be different, how it's going to be the same. Get your plug in.

Yeah, I mean, look, you know, you guys are all subscribers. You guys all have access to everything that we're going to be doing. My matchup column, a weekly breakdown of every single fantasy relevant player in every game is going to be available on there. We're using a lot more data analysis this year with Pat Thorman, who projects snaps and pace for each NFL team each week. And also Josh Hermesmeyer, one of the foremost data analysts in media right now. He has an air yard by-low model that tells you that pinpoints receivers on a weekly

basis, which is the most difficult position to project in fantasy. You're trying to make people money in DFS. I'm smelling you're trying to make some money. Pinpoints receivers that are likely to regress back toward the mean on a week-to-week basis. So just and we're going to do multiple podcasts every week. It's just a comprehensive fantasy football website, whether you play season long, daily fantasy, best ball, dynasty, we cover it all. When this site takes off and goes next level, I'm sure it already is doing very well,

but when it goes next level and you're really deep in the black, that's when we could set up a real war between the NFL media and establish a run over our podcast. You bring us over, pay us a hefty sum, and then we fly. Yeah, I mean, we're looking for extra talent at all times. And you're a podcast host that there is, Zucer. So we'd love to be able to steal you from the big corporation that's sucking your blood right now.

Very good. All right, Evan. And so one of your pieces, many pieces on Establish the Run, the Shiaway 30, love this and the title you should be able to figure out what that means. It's the guys that Evan Silva, fantasy genius, would like to shy away from and is suggesting you may do it too come draft day. Who's a guy, where do you want to start with this? Who's a guy that jumps out on you when it comes to shy away from this man? And it's going to expand to the shyway 40 after the third preseason game, but I wanted to get 30 guys out early because there was enough interest in the column that, and there's enough drafts going on this weekend that people were asking me for it. But the number one guy on the list right now is Antonio Brown, whose average draft position has stayed inside the top 10 receivers, despite this strange foot infection thing, the helmet situation that has.

cost him all but 30 minutes of training camp so far, his extended absence from practice has prevented him from building any kind of rapport on the field with Derek Carr. And, you know, he's talked, he's been talking about retirement since March. You know, do you want to use your second round pick on a guy that has spoken about retirement repeatedly for several, several months, you know, and then last, and on the field last year, he had seven year low and yards per target and yards per route run. He scored a career high 15 touchdowns. So he showed signs of regression on the field.

And he also is probably going to regress toward the mean in terms of his touchdown count. And I think he's really severely downgrading quarterback play from Ben Rathesberger to Derek Carr. What about what he said on hard knocks last night? Men lie, women lie, analytics don't. Well, the analytics are not in his favor because. I guess it depends what you're looking at. Really? I mean, Matt Harmon still has him, like, in terms of getting open and everything.

Like, now he's no longer the number one guy every year, but he's a top five guy. So, and to me, watching him last year, I didn't, I just didn't think he had fallen off much. Maybe it's off the elite level, but we already talked about him with Adam Rank. So, Chris and Silva are anti-Antonio Brown, me rank, and Hansis are pro. He's going to be terrifying. We'll just have to see who the real brick-by-brick players are. Yeah, well, that's great. and I love tracking this.

It will be a great battle. But, like, for instance, my draft is on Monday. No one cares. But I'll tell you this. When Antonio Brown is staring at me when I'm late in the second round. Hey, enjoy the ride. Enjoy the ride. Well, speaking of enjoying the ride.

And I bet that Westling would be able to speak on this even more eloquently than I will be able to. But, you know, this is not going to be a good Raiders team this year in all likelihood. I mean, their win total is right around six, six and a half. Sports books are like begging people. to bet the over. No one wants to bet the over because they know they're going to be bad. And so what's, you know, how sold out to play for the Raiders week in and week out is Antonio, you know, Brown going to be when they're like one in six, you know, entering week eight. And you have Josh Jacobs, the rookie running back also on your list of players to stay away from.

I guess it's all tied into that as well, isn't it? Yeah, of course it is. And, you know, this is another guy who's ADP has stubbornly stayed inside the top 20 running backs, the Raiders have already lost their left guard, Richie Incognito, to a two-game suspension. Who knows what's going to happen with Richie Incognito on a week-to-week basis after he becomes eligible again. They lost their right guard Gabe Jackson to a torn MCL that's going to cost him at least the first month of the season.

I think that Antonio Brown, as the most dynamic player in the offense, has already caused a major distraction. And I think that Jalen Rashard, if you're going to take a running back on the Raiders, you take Jalen Rashard really, really late, you don't take Josh Jacobs early because this is a team that's going to be chasing all season. You have Melvin Gordon of the Chargers. Now there's a new report out today, Wednesday, that this is something that's going to bleed into the season.

I don't see Ezekiel Elliott, who obviously is a superior player, but the same situation when you worry about, where is this guy? So Zika is not a guy that you would worry about and you would potentially take him in the first round, but Gordon, you'd say, get me away from him? Yeah, Melvin Gordon is a guy that I've been running back 24 at this point, just dumped them real, real low. And, you know, it's not only the holdout. It's the offensive line situation. It's a bad offensive line on the right side.

And now we have a major question mark at left tackle in Russell O'Koon. And the left guard, they're counting on Forrest Lamp, who has been, this is his third season. He hasn't even played a snap, essentially, so far. So the offensive line is a concern. and we don't know if we're going to see him before mid-season. He can't hold out the entire year because he needs that accrued season to be eligible for free agency in 2020. And he seems really, really dug in here.

He was a big proponent of Levi-on-Bel's holdout last year, and I think that he feels a little bit empowered by that. West, do you want to throw in one of your own shy away, guys? Well, I was going to say I looked at this list, and only two names gave me pause. Philip Lindsay is one, but I'll be willing to chalk that up to better NFL player than fantasy player. The other one is Andrew Luck, who I think regardless of what his health is right now, he's worth the risk, especially with the way quarterback is in fantasy football, you can back yourself up with a guy with plenty of upside behind him. Take Andrew Luck because his upside is through the roof, and I think signs are out there now that he's doing better.

I hope that you're right. I hope that you're right. But I do have concern that the Colts might exercise some early season caution on Andrew Luck. I read the medical reports every day. You know, I've talked to Dr. Chowell extensively about Andrew Luck. The Colts do have a 17-game starter in Jacoby Brissette ready to go. So if they want to kind of try to take it easy early in the season, you know, they have an experience starter that they can utilize. You have actual one-on-one convoes with Chow, MD?

Oh, yeah, all the time. Damn, bro. Chow brag. Chow brag. What about Peyton Manning who said absolutely Andrew Luck will be on the field in week one? Yeah, that part... I hope that Peyton Manning is right.

I hope he's right. Because I've already drafted Andrew Luck enough that I'm invested in him. He's around, like, Cam and Breeze. I don't know if his ceiling is that much higher personally to me as those guys' ceiling. I think they're similar and there's a little less risk there. I'm going to throw a stay away.

How about Damien Williams? Everyone, like, I love Damien Williams. I love the story. I love what he did. His career high in touches or carries is 50. I mean, I look at Darwin Thompson, and I think I might rather, I would not be surprised remotely. I'll throw out my sleeper now, too. Do it.

If Darwin Thompson leads that team in yards. Love it. It just doesn't, why would that be surprising? You're talking about a journeyman in Danaeeman Williams, who they paid a backup salary, and they've talked him up, and maybe he will be their starter for eight, nine, ten games. What are the odds he's their starter for six? 16 games. I think it's almost infinitesimal, and I like Darwin Thompson as a guy who's going super late, who might end up getting 6, 7, 8 starts. What do you think, Evan Silva?

I'm all the way in on Darwin Thompson. Yes. Three for three. You guys have been talking about them. You guys have been talking about them. You know, we were going to talk about sleepers at the end. Yeah, I just, well, I figured Damien Williams was the most egregious stayaway in the whole game to me, so just why not combine it? The Chiefs, by the way, everybody. Yeah. Darwin Thompson last year ripped it up at Utah State, average almost seven yards per carry, over 15 yards per reception as a running back. He averaged 5.1 yards after contact per carry. The next closest Mountain West running back averaged under four yards after contact per carry. He reminds me a lot of Dionne Lewis. Lewis Riddick actually drew that same comparison recently. And I mean, look, you know, go watch his snaps in the prehist.

season so far. Darwin Thompson is ready to play in the big leagues. Let's take a quick pause here, Big Fish, to check in on the Fantasy Corner. And Evan, just so you know, the Fantasy Corner, a very violent place in past years, very dangerous neighborhood, gentrified, it appears. So we're going to check in with Mark Sessler. Hey, Mark, you there? Guys, I am here, and it's not hard for me to see why I'm not heavily featured on this episode

today. But I am in a good place. I've grabbed a stool at the Burley. Bear Brewery. A homie tucked in the wall gastropub just blocks away from the romper where we were this morning. I'm enjoying a nice 15% ABV Russian Imperial Stout

and you're not going to believe what I found at the cute little bookstore up the street. Check this out. A typewritten fantasy football report from 1973. Yes, it reads as follows. Aoy fantasy football enthusiasts. A thrilling new season is upon us, so keep it locked

on this hand-typed, mimographed, and snail-mailed newsletter. for all the latest NFL action, a bit of housekeeping for the 1973 campaign. Please remember, the NFL has approved a new numbering system for jerseys. Going forward, for instance, quarterbacks can only wear numbers one through 19, while centers and linebackers must pick between 50 and 59. Why does this matter for fantasy? Here's why.

There was a rampant speculation that Raiders center Jim Otto might sit out the season or even retire because his rare double zero jersey was initially no longer allowed in the NFL. He cared that much. Losing Otto would sink the fantasy stock of quarterback Kenny Stabler and trigger a huge arrow down on Raiders runners Charlie Smith and Marv Hubbard, not to mention the age 30 campaign of Fred Bolitnikov. An update today brings hope, though, as the league is informed Otto that he'll be grandfathered in and allowed to keep wearing double O's for the 1973 season. season. Equipment-based disaster averted for the Oakland Raiders. Still, the goal for all 250 of

you playing fantasy football in this great country of ours should remain the same. Do whatever it takes to get your hands on consensus. Top overall pick, OJ. Simpson, the Bill's star runner with a legitimate shot to cross 2,000 yards on TerraFerma come September. Gentlemen, back to you in the studio. Hello, Evan. Thank you, Mark. Enjoy that microbrew. And yeah, going back to one of Wes's old takes on fantasy. Draft the good guys. Draft the guys that are easy to root for. So get behind an O.J. Simpson.

I like Mark Hubbard. That's a good, I mean, he catches the ball out of the backfield. You're not hearing that in other fantasy shows. The Circle of Fantasy Life. Thank you, Mark. All right. You still there, Evan. Yeah, you know, this Cessler guy, you know, I met him in real life.

I love the guy, you know, but about 57% of the time, I have no idea what you're talking about. All right, Evan. Let's get to some sleepers. I'm about 77%. It comes with time. Sleepers. Who's somebody that you want to impress your friends and also you want to steal leagues

with guys that are taken deep in drafts? Who's somebody that's jumping out to you, Big Fish? Yeah, we talked about Darwin Thompson already. I think that Justice Hill is right there with him. As a guy that has been really, really impressive so far this preseason, I think he's going to have an immediate role behind. Mark Ingram in the NFL's run heaviest offense.

You go back to Justice Hill's college career, you know, as a true freshman, he played ahead of Chris Carson, who right now is the starting running back for the Seattle Seahawks and finished fifth in the NFL in rushing last season. Justice Hill runs 4-4 flat, and he had a 40-inch vertical and a 10-foot-10 broad jump. One of the most athletic running backs in this year's draft class, I think that he has a chance to be the Alvin Camara to Mark Ingram's Mark Ingram on a very, very run-heavy team and he's a better pass catcher. He's at least more dynamic

in the passing game than is Mark Ingram. I love that pick. I have him and Darwin Thompson. And I even have Tony Pollard in there as guys that I would like to take fires on. Wow. Why don't you throw an out one, Chris Wesley? One of my favorite wide receiver values later in the draft is Marquez Valdez Scantling. I feel like the Packers.

Packers told us what they thought about him when they did nothing in free agency. They did nothing in the draft at wide receiver. Aaron Rogers loves MVS. He's been talking about all offseason. And I just see this guy as, you know, he's going to be the number two there. I mean, he's going right spot to be. On NFL.com, he's going right around the same time as Geronimo Allison, Cortland Sutton, Golden Tate, Mikul Hardman.

You think MVS has a bigger ceiling, higher ceiling than all those guys? Yes. How about you, Big Fish? Big on Marquez Valles Scantling. You know, one of the fantasy analysts that I listened to most closely is Matt Waldman of football guys. Recently dropped a T.O. comparison for Marcus Vaudes Scantling. Marcus Vaudes Scantling is 6'3-2-10 and runs 4-3-7 flat. Last year, among all rookie receivers, no other rookie receiver gained more yards on 20-plus-yard targets downfield than Marcus Vowda-Scanling.

He looks like he's locked into that number two role, big, big upside this year. Greg, give us a sleeper. I'm going to go anti the stayaway list and go Mark Andrews. Oh, wait a second. Believe in the player. Oh, Silva. Believe in the player. Believe in the talent.

Believe in, you know, you get caught up in situations. Great players end up getting value for you. And he's getting taken pretty deep. Sterling Shepard, I'm surprised he's getting taken so deep. I would have thought he would have been on everyone's undervalued list. People get carried away. He's already practicing. He's fine.

He's going to catch so many balls in that offense. And then there's a time when at some point everyone just gives up on a player because they've been injured forever and they burned everyone. And at some point, they actually become a great value. And that's Jordan Reed this year. Oh, no. If you're taking him in the 14th round, he could easily be a top five tight end. Why not?

I don't want any Redskins on my team at all. No Redskins. What do you think about that, Big Fish? I mean, look, you know, I love Greg. I own my life, but he's clearly lost his main. This people don't touch. That's got to hurt. It's good to have voices from outside because Silva and the whole fantasy thing,

and I was there once, you get so far up your own ass by just doing rankings and everything all summer. You can't see the forest for the trees. And the key, which Silva knows more than anything, is to just be different than everyone else. when he's talking about that that Vegas is begging people to take the Raiders and that they can't do it in everyone's sake. It's like, well, no, Sylva, that doesn't support the reason to go against the Raiders. The public is an idiot. So, like, you'll always go against the public.

And Jordan Reed to me at this point is kind of an anti-public pick. I've got a question for our host. Yes. I need some advice on a late-round sleeper or a mid-round sleeper. Should Robbie Anderson be on my list? It's so funny, Wes, because I was just. about to bring it up to the big fish. I was going to throw out three Jets that I like a lot. And since I'm a Jets fan, I get too caught up in it. So I lose the ability to be

subjective about it. But I'll tell you this. Robbie Anderson seems like a guy that's going to really perform well in an Adam Gase offense, especially if Darnel takes the leap, which I think a lot of people that are smart think will happen. I love me some Chris Herndon, a good value, especially with people looking, oh, he's suspended. So I'm just going to completely skip over. And that could be a nice late round by. and you get to October and all of a sudden you got Chris Herndon

who could be a breakout guy and then James and Cratter their slat guy who I think can approach 100 catches in a beautiful world so yes Wes I'm all in on Robbie Anderson

making the leap and becoming 1,000 yard type receiver I'm curious what the fish thinks about these Jets players you know I do like the Jets and I really have to like what you've seen from them

so far in the preseason I think that the moves that Joe Douglas has made on the offensive line are promising. Before they hired Joe Douglas, they picked up Coletchi Osemolay in a pick swap trade, which was brilliant. And they brought back Ryan Khalil, who didn't have a great season last year. But I think that in terms of like leadership on up front and helping Sam Darno,

I think he's going to be a big upgrade on, you know, Jonathan Harrison. So that was my biggest concern for the Jets offense previously. I don't really have a concern about their weapons. It's just going to be, you know, a matter. of who's getting the ball a lot. Robbie Anderson, I think, is going to be up and down. He's going to have spiked weeks, and he's going to have weeks where he has two catches for 18 yards.

James and Crowder might end up being the most just Leveon Bell if he can stay healthy, you know, because he averaged almost four missed games per season over his first five years. I think he will be a beast and contend for the NFL lead and touches. And then Quincy Anunu, I think, is an excellent role player. It's just going to be a matter of way. Where is the ball going to go?

I love Sam Darnold at the end of the day as, like, your second quarterback pick. Silva, I'm going to text you every Mark Andrews touchdown and remind you of it more than I've reminded you about ranking Ernest Wilford ahead of Marvin Harrison back in 2005. Wow. Wow. Settling old scores. Which caused, you know, a total fracture in our friendship. Oh, I just remember one year when there was questions about Drew Bree's health, ranking Bruce. Bruce Radkowski, now a PFF analyst,

a head of Drew Brees and Dynasty League. Greg, is that true? Your response, I mean, I believe him that he said that. Nick Saban didn't we even want to sign him. He thought the shoulder was so banged up. You know, you got cut up and all that. And any guilt, Evan, of, you know,

I had started back at Road to World, the Tears of Heaven column every year. And now I've noticed you do tears of Evan. Any. Oh, now you're accusing him of. steal you. I totally stole that from me. I have no regrets. I'm just having. This is like that time that Simmons tweeted at Jonah Carey about stealing a column and everybody was like Simmons is showing his ass. Greg, I don't know, man. Can I throw out a couple of alternatives to Mark Andrews at tight end?

Yeah, of course. There are a handful of guys I just love this year. Evan Ingram, to me is this year's George Kittle where his talent is so obvious. His difference-making talent and what he did in the last month of the season last year, he was virtually unstoppable. I think people are thinking too much about Jared Cook, who has become a pro-ball caliber tight end, now going to an offense that moves the ball. And I know there's a lot of mouse to feed,

but to me the floor is really high there. He's the third bow, too. There's not that many. And my favorite tight-end value, Vance McDonald, who has shown intriguing receiving skills, and they have no one else at tight end there in Pittsburgh. Lockstep, Chris Westling, lockstep.

Love to hear it. I love it. All right, before we let you go, Evan, let's just go over what we've done here. So we have major drama on the line regarding Antonio Brown between Big Fish and Chris Wessling. No, I was on the opposite side. Him and Wes were in agreement. Me, you and Rank were. Okay, so that's a big one.

We have to track that. And I promise you, I will. Mark Andrews, a lot of heat over Mark Andrews. I'm just having fun. It's doing Fish and Rosenthal. I just miss. arguing over instant message with Evan Silva. This is the closest.

Hey, well. And Evan does incredible work. And this new venture, I have no doubts, will be successful with Silva at the reins. Thank you, Evan, for joining us. And good luck in your 475 leagues. How many leagues are you in? Do you have an actual number that does it even work? It'll be around 30 this year.

It'll be around 30. So how does it, like, how do you track it? it does it matter if you win or lose or is it all just what's happening doesn't it get to be like and that's not even counting your DFS which to me I'm guessing it takes up more of your anxiety and attention every week it absolutely does I mean I'm working one thing that I've liked to do in recent years is like team up with another person to in season long because season long takes a lot of work I mean just outsourcing his fantasy team I like to team up with someone whether it be, you know, another fantasy football analyst, whether it be a friend.

And, you know, we can just bounce stuff off each other. A lover. Listen, thanks so much for having you back, guys. It's always a blast to talk to you and keep up the great work. You guys are unbelievable. I listen to you guys, every single show. All right. Love you, Evan.

Thank you. Establish the run.com. He's got his own podcast, too, with Levitan. I mean, they're the two that started this company. Also, another Road to World Alumni, one of the sharpest people I've ever met in the business, and they have a great fantasy podcast. too. Oh, I just realized what's actually going to happen. Silva and Leviton are going to poach Wessling and Rosenthal.

And then Mark and I will just go back to the newsroom and become editors again. And now it just came to me. It just happened. All right. Well, Evan, good luck to you anyway. Evan Silva, the big fish. All right. Time for one final thought. That was good, by the way, Greg. It was. It did feel like we were back in your I-O-L-I-M client. Circa 2005 or whatever. I mean, you're just trying to cut. I mean, there was no talk of like cunning unnecessary words out of Rotterworld blurbs, but otherwise, yeah, it was good. What made a perfect Rotow World blurb when you were the editor?

Got to be a little snarky. Well, first of all, concision. Like, I really hated the long ones. Like three sentences max in the, like, you know, you have the factual stuff up top. You come strong with an analysis and an opinion right off the top in the blurb and then you support it but you support it thinking what is the most essential thing

here people don't need to be reading you know see poems as Mark Sessler would say I remember one of Greg one of the talking to talking twos I got from Greg as far as what a blurb should be and it was usually this needs more Wessling that was Greg yeah a little more it needs more opinion it needs more strong I didn't like the blah guys you know the body just they were just too afraid to bring the heat have a take all right one final thought before we say goodbye as our many listeners prepare for fantasy drafts. Leave them with a final thought.

Greg Rosenthal. I'm just going to go to the quarterback position because I haven't gotten there. I think Lamar Jackson is incredibly undervalued this year that he could be a top five fantasy quarterback very easily. I'm with rank. I don't think there should be any rules. You have to wait to certain rounds. but especially Lamar Jackson and James Winston to me seem like incredible fantasy values that both have top five potential and don't worry about taking him too early.

Like I would just take Lamar in the seventh round and be done with it and be happy. Although it is a real bummer. I know you guys are stronger and will as the bricklayers of Rotoworld, but you hate making a draft pick. And then in the little chat client, everyone's like, ooh, that was early. It's a horrible feeling. And I know if you're strong and wills, like, just get the guys you want, and you'll be fine. Yeah, that's cool. But sometimes you just want everybody to say, good job, man.

Hey, here's what you can say in back. I'm NFL Network's Dan Hansis. Where's your power rankings? It actually works against you. It works against. Oh, yeah. A little bit. They pay you for your football.

Expect you to get it. Yes, check out the power rankings every week on NFL.com. All right. Here's my one final. thought. Wes, I feel like you especially are going to disagree with this, but that's fine. Don't put all of your NFL eggs in one basket. So being a fan of a team, a lover of the team, is stressful enough.

And part of the appeal to me anyway for fantasy sports has always been that I have that second rooting option when the jets are in the tank again by Thanksgiving. It's not all over because I have this other team, this fantasy team. So you can kind of get in trouble if you love your really. team so much that you load up. So I was just saying, I love me some Sam Darnold. I love me some Crowder. I love Robbie Anderson. Lev Bell gets me excited. But I'm not going to go too heavy there. And does that mean you should avoid taking any players from your favorite team? Of course not. But just protect yourself. You know, there's a chance your team might suck.

Don't let that doom your fantasy squad too. That comes from a fan of an eternally downtrodden franchise. I'm with you. I like to keep it separate a little bit. And when Mark's not here right now, we're going to throw it back to Mark in a second. Maybe the Browns are the exception to the rule this year because I feel like I would love a team that had Baker Mayfield and David and Joku and O'Dell Beckham and Nick Chubb. But in general, be careful. Thank you for that segue. Every year there's an offense I love. I fall in love with it last year.

I believe I said go get Patrick Mahomes or Andrew Luck because those two offenses, that's who you want. Check the tape. I want as much Odell Beckham, Jr., Baker Mayfield, and Nick Chub as I can get. I just want them on every If I was doing the eggs in the basket The Browns best I want all of those guys I want them

And I want to ride that Brown's offense Yeah Chubb's one of those guys Who I thought would be like a value And now just everyone's on them And I'm with you who cares I still want them there As one of your top five backs Let other people worry about Kareem Hunt

I also want Tyler Lockett In every draft I also want You know who I want? Every year on Hard Knocks There's some guy that I fall in love with Hunter Renfro out of the slide Give me them 73 catches.

Bro! Poor guy, all insecure about his hairline. Fifth round rookie, who's maybe the fifth receiver on that team, if you're counting Jacobs. And Darren Wallet, if I was going to go for a crazy deep sleeper, I think I'd go Darren Waller there as my sleeper. Fro's got that 1999 Tom Brady body going for him. He does, he does. He looks good making catches in slow motion, though.

All right, for the last time, we throw it to the fantasy corner, and now, Mark, I've been told by my producer, he is at what once was an affordable housing community that was raised and turned into a live event space right now playing Mumford and Sons an exclusive concert for American Express Platinum members. Mark, you there. I didn't know you were a fan of the Mumfords.

You know, when I'm here, I just sort of slide into new hobbies and I just think the whole community here is really, So it's a new day It's a new day on the corner and all around the corner And I'll give you my one big thought I know you think I'm going to come with 10 reasons why you shouldn't have a fantasy team Can you move away from the stage?

Yeah, can we move just a... Can we possibly have the band quiet down just a bit? Those mumford it sounds really rock I am inspired by Evan Silva Being a part of 30 teams That would quickly result in a destruction of my family structure If I were to try that But I find it to be inspiring

I'm going to suggest that you do too. How about this? You do number one and you follow the advice of Rank and Greg and Dan and Wes and Erica and the Big Fishy. And you go win that league. You go win that league. But with the second one, I would do what you do is what I would do, the chaos theory. You look at this little ADP thing and you go to number 150. You start your draft at 150.

And for the exact reason, Dan, that you mentioned, the chat client where everyone's ripping on you stuff. I go number one, right on my ADP list that I looked at, number 152 is Mitch Trubisky, number one pick. Now, again, this is not the league. I'm trying to win. This is a league where I want to cause people concern about what is happening inside my front office.

You're an agent of mayhem. It must be total mayhem, and you want to stick with that ADP. No one's going to be touching that 150 plus ADP in the first umth rounds of this thing, right? So you grab Mikul Hardman in round one or round two. Let's say Tony Pollard, you go Alexander Madison,

And what I do at that point is you roll into the season. People think you're one of these guys at around week two. Either you did a terrible auto draft or you're just going to vanish in week two. Step two is the most important thing here. You must be making hundreds of transactions a week. And not to improve the roster, but just constantly churn it. And every time people log into the fantasy home base, they just see that your team has done 30 to 40 things overnight.

And they'll come to you. You're going to get a bunch of bros. They're going to tell you don't know what you're doing, and you stick with your system and say you're looking ahead. You've captured this thing. You know where you're going with it. You will be, here's a thing. Can you also tell them, hey, analytics?

Use analytics. Tell them you're doing analytics and they don't even know what you're doing. This will be the great thing. Your team will go. Keep picking up Kevin Hogan and then dropping them again. Pick them up, drop them. Your team will probably go over, but you will be haunting people's minds every single night

while they think about this league. Tell them your Sashi Brown and it's the process. There you go. All right, Mark. Well, enjoy the $18 beer. Yeah. Let's hear it for the Lumineers. And I'd say, you know, good luck getting home.

But it sounds like you're just going to get an Uber in one of those pickup zones. I think I am home. And, yeah. All right. Say so long to Mark. All right. That's it. That's it for the 35th annual fantasy extravaganzae around the.

NFL podcast. Thanks Adam Rank. Thanks, Evan Silva. Thanks, Mark Sessler. Thanks, Rick Hollywood for all your work. Thank you. This is Dan Hansa signing off. And good luck to everybody in your drafts. Remember, don't drink too much.

Let the other people get drunk. You stay sharp. Dan Hansa signing off on Weston's Greece for the mailman, the old boss. Quiet storm. Rick Hollywood, behind the glass. Till Friday. Can I, um, call back and reschedule probably in one of the other than we'll probably in an hour? Did I just hear a callback in her schedule on an hour?

Maybe she's talking to someone else. One of her other shows. If you thought this show was low on her priority list last year, wait until this season. She's moving her schedule around in the middle of our show. I'm trying to get him on the phone. I know, we're just, now Mark's like, God, these guys really are assholes. Starting to see it from her perspective.

This is an I-Heart podcast.