NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Preseason WK 2 recap & Fantasy Extravaganza

Episode Date: August 22, 2016

A room filled with heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling and Marc Sessler – break down the remaining Preseason Week 2 games including how Jared Goff did in his second game with the Rams and which Broncos QB has taken the lead in the Denver QB battle. Then the heroes dive into their “Fantasy Extravaganza,” sharing some over and undervalued wide receivers and running backs for the 2016 fantasy football season. Plus, we take a trip back to Sessler’s Fantasy Corner!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. Fantasy freaks and geeks. What is up? Why don't you check out the NFL Fantasy Live podcast? Yeah, NFL Fantasy Live podcast is Tuesdays and Fridays. You can find it on iTunes, on NFL.com. We always give you the top of waiver, wire pickups, starts, and sits, everything you need to win a champion. Everything.

A lot of Star Wars stuff. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You wear a tie and eat yogurt. It's great. Listen. All right, the Wiskin from Wisconsin, M.G, Marcus, Grant, Michael Fabiano, and me, James Co.

Every Tuesday and Friday on the NFL Fantasy Live podcast. The Around the NFL podcast doesn't care about your fantasy team. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I am joined by a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg. Rosenthal, what's up, boys? Hey, Dan. It's here.

The third annual. Fantasy, football extravaganza. Ah, the excitement. So high, sky high is the excitement internally that downstairs, when I said it was three shows this week, were you going to do it, I think, Mark, you went, really? And I was like, why would we do that? That's where we're at right? now but listen fantasy is one of the most popular uh things in the world so we're going to

talk about fantasy this week but just it's not going to be a whole show of fantasy you just want everybody to know in fact we won't even get to fantasy until the back end of the three shows this week but we will try to impart wisdom as i know a lot of you are drafting uh in the next couple weeks i mean it's the one week of the year that the sunshine and the happiness is wiped off Mark Sessler's face. That's how you know it's fantasy week. It is easily the most forgettable week of my entire year. And I will happily, you know, I just got corralled into today's episode. Don't assume I'll be here for the other two. How much of this does get tied into, Mark, in terms of an ego shot, that this is something

that's built around Greg Rosenthal and Chris Wessling, the guys that ran Rode a World once upon a time, and you feel as if you're being marginalized in your own podcast. I don't have any problem with magnifying the two of them. Their roles in the fantasy community are noted, but the concept that I'm not, that I'm just some guy that got dropped into the

show airlifted in, who's never watched football before, is obscene. Especially when you dominated your wife's fantasy league. That is exactly right. Another point. So just be careful. They beat some accountants who thought they knew stuff about football.

All right. So take that beating that you laid at the hands of those teacher aides and the accountants and take that and funnel it now to the street corner.

We'll be checking them to do occasionally. You can let the listeners be the judge who are the real the real insiders around here. You've got a platform.

Yeah, I'm just being very clear I'm extremely detached. That's, I like that you're up front about it. That's important. Yes, we, in addition to the fantasy extravaganza, We will also touch on all the action from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the NFL a lot of football games to talk about.

How many football games? I'll tell you how many. We talked about the seven games on Thursday. 16 minus 7 is 9. 9 divided by 2 is 4.5. We talked about 4.5 games. Did that check out the math? Not at all.

Oh, I went too far. I don't even think you had the correct number of games from Thursday, did you? I think there were six games, 30. Oh, okay. So that was part of the problem. Let me try it again. 16 games. Six discussed on Thursday.

I mean, Friday show? Ten shows. Excuse me? Ten games? Friday, Saturday, five each. Is that right? We're recording right now, you know. I don't even know what's happening.

We're going to talk about 10 games. Yeah, continue to divide by two, one step too far, but I think people get it. I got in the weeds a little bit there. It happens. So, yes, we'll talk about all the games from the weekend that we didn't talk about on Friday show. And I'm excited. Everybody get excited. Behind the glass.

There he is. There's actually somebody else behind the glass, too. Back from her sojourn. I imagine there were many trips to Disneyland during that time. Also a budding acting career that will get it. into at some point because we're going to get her back in the chair soon. Sidney's back in there. La Sid, back in the house.

Oh, yeah. But right now, in the chair still, not ready to give up the throne. The man that says, don't forget about me, I deserve to be on Mount Rushmore. The Irishman. What's up, buddy? Sorry to disappoint all the listeners that want Sidney back already, but too bad. But you know what? Something to look forward to for the people that do not like me.

Sydney's doing Friday show. Wow, how exciting. I guess I'll tease it right now. Wednesday show we'll have somebody else in the chair. We'll hold on the news, though, because I don't know if the news is out. So somebody else will be in the chair. Yeah. And not to mention later in this week, because this is, after all, the third annual fantasy extravaganza.

Bloop. Got a big fish from the fantasy community on Friday. But that's down the first. road. Let's now talk about some football games that occurred this weekend. And let us start with the defending Super Bowl champions who, let's face it. I mean, when John Elwood made the decision to let Brock Osweiler go, he needed somebody to step up in that room, quarterback room, Mark Sanchez, Trevor Simeon, Paxton Lynch. Nobody's done it yet. And that's the issue we're dealing with in Denver right now. They have a loaded Super Bowl ready team.

but a quarterback situation, Greg Rosenthal, that remains a mess after Mark Sanchez struggled, as did Trevor Simeon, but it will be Trevor Simeon that gets a week, three of the preseason start, which usually points to who starts the season. I think that makes a lot of sense when you look at the two preseason games from Trevor Simeon and the practice reports that we've heard. And it was unfortunate that Simeon, who had a great first drive and was playing well overall through this pick six. the thing I'd be worried about if I was a Broncos fan that when Simeon and Sanchez both made their first mistake, it seemed to affect the two of them. Simeon's worst drive was right after he threw that pick six.

Sanchez, who had a great first drive, again, had an eight-play stretch where he fumbled twice and he almost threw two other interceptions. So to me it was more like Sanchez was the big loser and Simeon was just there. Simeon, the pick six was noteworthy, but also his penchant for not testing defenses down the field when he's got one-on-one coverage with Demarius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders

and he opts for dump-offs. I think that's an issue, but with their defense, maybe that's preferable to Sanchez's pension for turnovers. I mean, if you're going to hold off on Paxton Lynch, as they should for a certain amount of the season, I could see all three of these quarterbacks starting. We've been saying that since basically this thing kind of developed the way they did. But I would easily go Simeon over Sanchez.

Simeon has a more natural throwing Watching him is just easier on the eyes And I watched him He's a seventh round picky Yeah I watched him right after Osweiler And maybe the comparison between the two Helps Simeon on that first drive look better

Before you're right, things started to crumble But honestly he looks better to me Than Brock Osweiler right now The only reason he was drafted at all Was because Gary Kubiak saw some film of him And said, this guy looks like he's got all the tools But I believe he had a torn ACL his last year In college and didn't play well

outside of a game against Notre Dame. Well, this is where Sanchez's track record kills him, I think, because at least Simeon, he's making these mistakes for the first time. I was just about to say that. I think there's a little like Sanchez bloat for anyone that's been covering the game for a year is that everyone has seen this guy. So he's not going to be different. He's going to be Mark Sanchez, which is some good but a lot of bad.

Simeon could be just as bad, if not worse. Let's face it. But at least you're taking a chance on something different. You're leaving yourself open to another path. How about a little game of over under, Dan? Okay. Paxton Lynch starts this year. Oh, what's the over under?

I'll go. You got to throw out the number. I'll throw out the number. Yeah. 13. Oh. 13. Well, I'm definitely going under.

I'll go under, but had you said 10, I would have been there with you. Yeah, I'll go under. I'm taking the over. I like Trevor Simeon. I know it's a little early to even like or not like, but I think he has a chance to start a lot of games. This is a great, a great, great job. it's not it's not going to be that hard to look good I feel I do as a former Jets player

I do feel bad for Mark Sanchez because he said it after the game he knows he blew this he had an opportunity to jumpstart his career with a defending Super Bowl champion but his lack of ability at a starting level just you know it led to his demise here on the other side of the ball guys

Wes Blaine Gabbard should have this 49ers job blocked up but he can't separate kind of leaving the door a little bit open for Kaepernick, but Kaepernick's got to do some things first. Yeah, Gabbert wasn't a train wreck. He was just okay, but I don't know. Do we really think Kaepernick's going to come back and win this

after he dealt with arm troubles, and he looks like he weighs about 140 pounds right now? I don't think you can count on Kaepernick for anything, but I don't think he's been hurt by, we're talking about teams where every quarterback's going to get a start. By not being out there, Kaepernick has not made the same blunders that Gabbert has. Gabbard, for all the good stuff he showed in terms of his mobility and they like his speed last season, he is 0 for four in dump-offs to Carlos Hyde.

I mean, he's just, he can't make the simple elementary throws in a Chip Kelly offense that would allow the running game and the rest of the offense to just do what it does. Do we think Kaepernick can make the way? I'm not saying it's just that by not being on the field, you're a quarterback that's helped yourself by not being kind of part of the chaos up to now. He was fine in this game, Gabbard. I mean, they'll both start eventually. I know you liked Devonty Booker in this game market.

I thought Virgil Green. I thought that was one real takeaway from this. This tight end job was wide open going into camp. Virgil Green has won that job. He looks pretty good. And they could really use a third receiver, and he would be that third. Well, we know Kubiak likes to use a tight end.

Virgil Green, I think across the way, Vance McDonald is set up for his career year, for sure. I think he saved Gabbard in the first game, and he continues to get open in the last game too. If you're going fantasy, you're taking Vance McDonald over Virgil Green. Let's move on. Let's talk about Jadavian Clowny, Greg Rosenthal, who looked like the guy that the Texans thought they were getting

with the first overall pick a couple of years ago against the New Orleans Saints. I mean, he looked like Jadavian Clowny. He looked insane, like he just couldn't wait to get back on the field because if you watched his first five snaps, all five of those snaps, he ruined the play. He made a huge impact on, which you just don't say. from defensive players a lot. Now, he kind of faded.

The biggest credit I can give to Clowny is, I just want to, well, he just makes me want to watch every one of his snaps. So even after Tom Savage, if he truly exists, entered the game and there wasn't a lot of starters in there, I just wanted to keep watching every single Clowny snap, just to see what happened. There's a play where Clownie just absolutely destroyed Zach Streep, just bull rushed him, went right into the quarterback,

and it made me right away tweet out Greg's making a leap because I think that Greg nailed this one. Clowny, look, that changes that defense entirely if he gives you that over 16 games. Streep wasn't the only one. He bullrushed Andrews Pete, too, and then he just threw Tony Hills like he wasn't even there. He's so strong. It's unbelievable to watch an NFL player make other hugely strong 300-pound men look so weak. You just toss them aside.

You don't see NFL defensive ends and outside linebackers doing this. But his issue is the same as it was. He just has to stay on the field. Even in this game, if you watched each snap, he was done. dominant for the first 10 snaps, and then he just, I think he needs to get his win back under him. He's not used to being on the field so much. Tom Savage is real.

Hey, on the Houston, elsewhere on the Houston side of the ball, Will Fuller, instant impact guy. Yeah, they're rookie-wide receivers. Braxton Miller and Will Fuller are playing with the first-string offense every down. And they both look good. Will Fuller, I know people have questions about his hands, but his speed is a difference-making element. And this, I think this offense went from one of the slowest in the NFL to one of the fastest. A question, though, for you because I watch Osweiler in the passing game because of him, you

watch Marriota and he at least seems so organized and well studied up in that attack. Osweiler, to me, still feels like he's getting comfortable. How many third downs is he going to throw four or five yards short of the stick? I mean, it's over and over with Osweiler. His numbers are misleading. I agree. There's so many new starters in this offense. He is taking forever to make these decisions to go through his reeds and make a throw. And that's it to be expected. It's a new offense. I think they might have 10 new starters out of 11.

That's tough to pull off. Wow. 10 out of 11 new starters? I think it's possible. Or at least some of the offensive linemen are in different positions. I think so. I mean, across the ones that are back. Across the board skill position.

Andre Hopkins and Dwayne Brown would seem to be too. Yeah. I think it was maybe the other night because their offensive line was so banged up. Brackson Miller though For a guy who people thought might take a little bit Already looks like he's got to be a factor I want to see more chemistry though between DeAndre Hopkins and Osweiler at this point

Yeah definitely Let's move on Mark Sessler That Prescott continues to steal the show What did you see from that kid Because he made the Miami defense Look like garbage I love what Greg wrote about it

In his very good write-up of that game Was that you get Tony Romo back on the field this is meant to be the guy that, you know, turns the whole engine for Dallas, completely outshined by Dak Prescott. And I realize it's the preseason, and I realize, you know, he's not playing against a full host of starters and pass rush, you know, scheming stuff. But he has looked absolutely unbelievable.

He's not afraid to be daring with the ball. His chemistry with his wide outs is incredible. He uses his feet to score. I mean, it's like Dallas was just piling up yardage and points at will. I don't want to undersell anything he's done. because this is the absolute best-case scenario that anyone could have expected for any quarterback in his first two pre-season games.

But you have to give the Cowboys coaching staff credit, and I've knocked them for their treatment of backup quarterbacks for years. But they're coaching him up really smartly. You leave Des Brian M. for the back shoulder throws. You put him behind a dominant offensive line with Alph Morris running all over the Dolphins' defense, and then you run play action when he's got all the time in the world

to look for his wide receivers. They couldn't be coaching this guy up any better. We got to give him, we've got to say, too. I mean, this came out of, you want to talk about revelation. This is Dak Prescott because we were just talking about after Kellan Moore broke his collarbone how the Cowboys blew it and this idea that they're going to have to go trade for somebody and Tony Romo is a ticking time bomb.

Now all of a sudden it feels like they have one of the best quarterback situations in the league. Well, let's, we should point out, though, that the Cowboys, did they know what they had? They had this guy behind Kellan Moore on the depth truck. That's what I mean. This is wild. Right, of course not. this guy every week.

It's a revelation to the Cowboys. They tried to trade up for Connor Cook. But the Raiders got Conner Cook instead of him. They tried to trade up for Paxton Lynch. That's what happens in the NFL. Sometimes you get lucky. David Johnson wouldn't be on the Cardinals if they didn't get a little lucky. Part of it is go.

I mean, it's a preseason, but the accuracy is what's really struck me. I mean, every ball is in the exact right place. And yes, he's gotten perfect protection. But, you know, that's what Cowboys quarterback's get these days. That passed to Bryce Butler, where Butler got called for pushing off. was perfect. Yeah. We had another TD.

This is why football preseason scores are misleading, Greg, because the Cowboys won 41-14. But if you were a fan of the team, you saw some good things from Ryan Tannahill. Yeah, you did, and that was good. And you have to be excited about Kenny Stills, I think, showed up, and some of the passing game was good. Tannhill's looked like.

But almost every other part of the Dolphins look like a tire fire. I mean, the back seven, the linebackers, the secondary, area. Really, the offensive line has a lot of questions. They lost Mike Pouncey to another hip injury, which is a huge problem for them. Arian Foster, I know it was just two carries, but you don't want to make a judgment off of two carries. Well, especially for him, though. But I'm going to anyways.

You want to see more carries out of him and see why. Because one of those carries was concerning. Moving on, the New York Jets and Washington Redskins played some football. And this was a game, at least from the Redskins side where you get upset because Matt Jones, their running back suffered a sprained AC joint, which is not good if you're a running back. We talk about how shoulder injuries can really affect a back. And the game we just talked about, Alfred Morris, who ripped up the Dolphins. You wonder if those two sides should have ever parted Alfred Morris and the Redskins

and whether it's possible a reunion can be had. So Kirk Cousins didn't play against the Jets. Colt McCoy did start. And I guess the first possession, Greg, we should talk about because not a lot of good things happen with Dorel Rivas or with the Jets in this game, but Dorel Rivas did look good in his one series. Yeah, I don't think there was a lot. It wasn't a good game for the Jets, but I didn't take a ton from it.

But all you need to do is see a healthy Dorel Rivas to put a smile on your face, right? Coming off the surgery, looking spry, making some open field tackles, nice interception. There was a lot of talk about some of his struggles last year and how much should be attributed to getting older. being a 30-year-old cornerback and how much could be attributed to the wrist injury that required surgery because his greatest skill set is his ability to rough up guys at the line of scrimmage

and within those five yards, which you couldn't do last year. I'm wondering if we're going to see a nice bounce back season or Revis is that top five type corner again. And by the way, your boy, want to take a ride on the geno coaster? Hey, you know, when you're on the geno coast, you're going to have some ups. The ups are crazy.

They're wild, life-changing ups. You're going to have some downs in the preseason. He's more of a big game player. He can't get up. When he sees Colt McCoy across the way as a starter, he's not going to... Are we going to get to the point, Greg, with Gino Smith, where, you know, the number one or two highlight to come out of a Jets preseason game is Gino Smith throwing a devastating interception

that has the entire Meadowlands on its feet, just wanting him taken out of the city. I mean... Well, he might be almost done with the Jets. If he doesn't have a... All series, if he plays poorly in the third preseason... It's close. He's very, he's right on there.

He could go from quarterback one to off the roster in a matter of a couple of a mark. His interception, he threw into triple coverage with a wide open guy underneath, which, listen, everybody messes up everywhere once in a while, but it's kind of like the Mark Sanchez thing. And a jet fan went from Mark Sanchez to Gino Smith.

You don't want to see these guys. You're sick of them after a while. That's good, because it distracts everyone from the fact that they took a second round quarterback that hasn't played a preseason snap. He's a project, right? It's just weird. Listen, he's a project.

It's getting redshirted. I don't have a problem with that. Back to the Redskins for a second. You're right, Dan. Their backfield should be the worst in the league. It's definitely the most shallow in the league. Well, Nate Burleson, for what it's worth, thought that this injury is so minor, it actually almost does him a favor that he misses the next couple preseason weeks.

It's an AC joint sprain, which is very minor. They'll keep him off his feet and they'll go into the season. I know you love Matt Jones, but that's not act like he had a good rookie year. No? He had a bad rookie. But I'm saying if there's no concern that he's going to miss week one, which it sounds like there is not any concern, then... But what, he gets banged up and you've got a much heavier dose of Chris Thompson

than anyone planned for? I mean, they just don't have a wide... Some joker named Rob Kelly. Yeah, they don't have a wide variety of kind of fill-in prospects, and I can understand why they came to their end with Alf Morris, but did they plan this position well? I mean, if you've got Kirk Cousins as your quarterback, you need to be able to run the ball.

How about the Redskins fan that paid for tickets for this game, and they showed up and all, like the nine best players on the team were just sitting out in the second week of the preseason. They got it. Never pay. They got cut one of these weeks out. Or a preseason game. Thank you.

You have to, though, if you get season tickets. Well, you don't have to. Well, right, that in season tickets. Accepting them. Right. If you're just a normal fan, hey, it's our chance to go to a football game. I could come up with 100 better things to do than a week two preseason the fair. Let's talk about Chris Wesleying, the Arizona Cardinals, the 2015 team,

of around the NFL, who were not looking very good on offense against the Chargers this weekend. Yeah, I would put zero stock in that. It's preseason. They're working on some things. We know what their talent level is. Wouldn't you be shocked if they're not a top five offense this year? Yes. I mean, I would put a little more stock into just, okay, Brandon Flowers looks better this year after being very overweight last year.

Who? You want to make flowers today? Oh, him. They have three cornerbacks now with Casey. Hayward, who made some nice plays in that game that can play inside and out. I like that cornerback group. I mean, by now in this time in the preseason, I would get worried about offenses with a lot of new players, and they don't look to be on the same page or rookies, not performing up to what you'd want.

But the Cardinals are returning every one of their skill players. I don't think this is a team that we need to be throwing up flares for and concern. Are the Chargers better on defense, Greg, than people realize? I believe so. I think it's a fun defense, especially if they get Joey Bosa back in the mix, but you expect they will. some point. I think at every level of their defense, they have real playmakers. Casey Hayward was a good signing, and it allows them to push flowers into the slot after they found out last year. He really struggled on an island outside.

Now they're making the leap guy, Perrimand, Denzel Paraman, all over the play. He looked good right out of the gate. Here's a guy that was never making him a leap, but always at my heart. Jeff Cumberland. I'm sorry to hear the news, buddy. Suffered a torn Achilles in this game, and his first year was San Diego done for the year. Hang in there. Cumbie. Never give up. Hashtag Cumbie. Moving on, the Panthers and Titans played football. And, ooh, Mark, more to get excited about with Marcus Marietta, eh?

I think Marietta, you know, he did some good things in that game. The interception was a little bit of a force throw. He looked a little locked in. But I think the story of the game, because if it was week one, we saw that they can run the ball if they match up well. In week two, it wasn't so much that I think they wanted to show that Marietta could make throws on passing downs and Tajay Sharp. Eight catches over two weeks, six in that game in a limited amount of time.

I mean, we're going to talk about some players that are underrated fantasy-wise. You look at where he is, ADP value. Give me a break, Chris Wesleyan. I loved how Tage Sharp looked, but my main takeaway is last year the Titans set Mariotta up for failure, with no running backs to run a play-action offense, a boot-action offense, smurf wide receivers who couldn't get open. Now you look at the team, their running backs from last year will not be involved. Their wide receivers from last year basically will not be involved.

Their offensive line is upgraded. They're setting him up for success now. Despite all the laughter and snark at Mike Malarkey's expense, they're running a good system for developing a quarterback and surrounding him with all the town he needs to be successful. I think it's also a major upgrade from Rustin Webster to John Robinson because in a very quick amount of time, John Robinson has changed the identity of the team.

And it's through actually getting better players. this kind of drifting draft a high wide receiver, none of them pan out. They found one right away, and they've redone the entire way you think about the Titans. Sounds like the team of A.T. West to me, Greg. The team of West D.L. This is not, this reputation has not been earned. You guys railroaded me into the Chargers two years ago. And then last year, you all wanted the 49ers after week one.

I was the only one to stand up for that. So you can fake me. The 49ers would have been like fifth on my list But, well, you voted for them Let's go back to the tape on that Please do, please do Brandon, will you find that tape for us? Listen, this is what I'll probably do

I'll probably be doing Because I know what the kissing cousins are doing here Greg will probably get on board I will do the West move I will go along with it If we want to go with the Titans But if this goes up in flames I'm going to have a lot of fun

We've been a couple weeks so far I mean, we got a couple weeks before we have to say anything. Yes, the team of around the NFL will be selected at some point by the end of September, I'd say. Any later than that. Derek Henry helps your chances. He looks fun to watch. I really think he's going to end up. He's not fun to watch on this team.

DeMarco Murray. I think he's going to end up cutting into DeMarco Murray more than people. Absolutely. What was wrong with DeMarco Murray? I mean, it wasn't the week one game, but it's fun. I guess I'd want to see the regular season. The week one game, he had one run that I think a lot of running backs would have made that run. So I want to see him in regular season, actually, like all these guys.

I mean, it hurts to me their team of A-Tale case that Zach Mettenberger isn't there. But maybe he'll be back because he might not even make the Chargers. Like Battenberger's be playing in a different league. Super Bowl 25 rematch in Orchard Park, the Giants and Bills, the Giants get shut out. Which you never, you know, listen, nobody cares about the results. But you just don't want to be shut out in a preseason game because that means you failed comprehensively in every level of your roster. Get it together, Ben McAdoo.

But Tyrod Taylor, who, you know, must be feeling good about himself right now. The confidence high, wrestling, as he continues to look good like a guy that you could build a team around. Tyrod Taylor does look good. That is one of my main takeaways from the preseason. And then the other side of the ball, you know, I'm really enjoying these Bucky Brooks preseason grades. Whenever you see grades, you'll see these guys really tepid. Oh, I can't give anyone below a C-minus. That's as low as they go.

So Bucky Brooks is throwing out Fs for the Giants backup quarterbacks who are abysmal. Massib and Logan Thomas, they're terrible, and they need a backup quarterback. Yes, they do. Four for 16. Rex Ryan went into this preseason trying to send a message. If you watch how his defense has played the last couple weeks, they have played aggressive like it's the regular season. They've played really well. I don't know how much to put in it or not.

Maybe they're just fired up. He does seem to have found a couple rookies. We've killed him for all the rookies. He's lost Adolphus Washington. and who's the cornerback Seymour, who now is in that mix. That's a nice cornerback group. I mean, I don't know. Crazier things have happened.

Tyrod Taylor threw. And his defense still being good? He threw a 59-yard connection, and the arm strength and just his ability on that throw, they found a quarterback, and it's been a long time. His deep ball was really impressive last year. That was never the issue. It's what can you do over the middle of the defense? I think the Giants are, and McAdoo said it after the game.

people have been quite he said everyone's been asking me about the right side of our offensive line isn't that a big problem because on paper it looks it looks pretty terrible and he and he went out of his way to say well how about the left side of our offensive line that's not looking too good either here's like eric flowers their first round back can end you who's not working you want to make flowers today to that point 1.9 yards per carry on 17 carries for the giants they're looking at the redskins be like hey we can match you their backfield was an issue last year by the way is bucky handing out any gentleman's

F's. What's a gentleman's F? A D-minus, baby. Why is that a gentleman's F? You know, a nice gentleman way to give someone an F is just to give him a D-Mind. That is a nice way of doing that. Sometimes you need a wake-up call with a full F. Fair, fair. Moving on Baltimore and Indianapolis,

Andrew Luck. Oh, yeah. Who wants to talk on Andrew Luck, who, you know, didn't tear it up? And I do love this thing on NFL.com where they're charting or they're offering video. recaps of every single throw. I watched that this morning. You can also check out the highlights of every Cairo Santos kick.

That's available. That's available on NFL.com right now. Who hasn't already done that? All three of his field goals. There you go, Mr. Santos. Besides a tremendous blitz pickup by Frank Gore, Greg Rosenthal, Andrew Luck was looking pretty good. He was looking good.

He was looking great. I know he got Wes very fired up, but he just looked like Andrew Luck. Which is the most important thing that the Colts will be able to take out of this preseason. His arm looked good. What are you laughing about? Just throw it to Greg for every game. I try to throw it to you guys. Nobody took it just now.

That's all right. Andrew Locke, I thought compared to last year when he was so frenetic in the pocket. And he wasn't making all the throws he made in the past. In this game, he was way more under control. He looked sharp, was the word I would use. He was under control, and then the sideline out that he threw. I'm not sure he makes that pass. Right.

That was the one. And Dorset's making a few more routes than he was running last night. They're going to need to score points, though. This defense, I mean, it's all right, we're two weeks in, but watching the Ravens make plays downfield. And it was Chuck Pagano came out today and said the secondary, what he's a little scary, and he's not wrong. I mean, on the first touch to Kamar Aiken touchdown,

there's two Colts defensive backs just colliding with each other, and he's completely left alone for the catch. I mean, you've got to get your action. Well, they're missing their two starters. They're missing their first four quarter. Right. So they're a bad defense. I think they're one of the most talent poor defenses and they're injured. We thought the front seven was going to be their biggest issue. Where's the pass rush? And now they can't cover anyone either. Hey, the Terrence West hype trains rolling pretty hard this summer. But why is he third on their depth chart in Baltimore right now?

I think that's respect out of Justin Forte towards Justin Forset. The one thing about Terrence West and, you know, West's hard. I hope their depth chart's not about respect. I think I think with Forstead. set that it very much is. That would be my guess. I don't think there's any guarantee that he's higher in week one. I don't think anyone knows what they're going to do. Kenneth Dixon, I think, I know is the numbers. I think he looks great too. They have four guys who are kind of close in value.

I would say West is second on the depth chart for early down runs, and then Buck Allen is the passing downback. I think that's the way it's going in Baltimore. He's going to see the field. I mean, Terence Wentz to me looks like a different human being. He went on like Craigslist and found someone else to be him and be faster and more plugged in than him because it does not physically look like the human being

and was on the Cleveland Browns at all. It's possible. I'm saying it's rape. I'm looking into this because it seems not just possible. How would that work? What if you tried to get someone off at Craigslist and you ended up getting Trent Richardson? Well, you probably don't have a lot to pick from, but...

I watched a forensic files yesterday where they iced some. dude that looked like another dude. They? Who's they? These two guys that were cahoots, a conspiracy for murder and then got the life insurance money of the guy that actually survived,

faked his own death, and then they went off to Rio together. That's a great plan. I don't know if that ties into the Terrence West thing at all, but... So you think the old Terence West might be living somewhere? He, yes. Okay, now let's piece it together. Terence West found a guy

that's a much better football player. And the deal was worked out. I'll let you be an NFL star. The catch is when you sign the big contract, I get 60% of the contract. See you. I'm going to Fiji. This is Baltimore. It sounds like an episode of The Wire.

Yeah, maybe, maybe. I've been a completely different version of Greg Rosenthal for nine months now. You guys didn't even know it. Oh, we know this. Oh, we've been called you the new Greg. The new Greg. Party Greg. Party Greg.

Who sits near us again, by the way. Oh, yeah. You get another seat reorg in the old newsroom for the 47th time in the past five years. We have moved all our seats. Greg, back with us. I'm back back with the crew. It's nice. It's nice to have you back.

Great. Welcome back. Thank you. Moving on, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars, Battle for Florida. That's what they are calling it across the universe. Blake Bortles looks good. His offensive line looks good. Everything about the Jacksonville Jaguars looks great, right, Wes?

I think he looks more mature. and more at ease running every part of this offense this year. And I think the Jaguar's offense is going to be lights out this year. They look phenomenal. I mean, Bordos has held that title of the most wow plays per snap for me for quarterbacks for the last, certainly the last year. And this preseason game was a good example. I mean, his best throw might have been one that was incomplete on the sidelines.

They ruled out of bounds, I believe. And he's insane. It's weird. You're talking about records. They're 0 and 2, and I think they've been the most impressive team in the preseason because they've had the most encouraging things. Jalen Ramsey looks fully healthy and good. Sendark Marks looks fully healthy and good. The starting offense is healthy and loaded. Chris Ivory is such a good fit. Chris Ivory was

one of the best free agent pickups because Yeldon could not do it alone, but the way that they're using Yeldon too, and when they get into kind of a flow with play calling and they set it up with their passing game, suddenly Chris Ivory's running over you for 18 yards. There's not a weak spot here. And they can't have a newcomer coming. in and steal the show. As that woman, as that fine woman pointed out, she's correct. She's saying Chris Ivory can't just come in and steal the show. Maybe that's why they're splitting the work that way.

We say not to get too carried away for the preseason, but we always do. No, we do. And I'll say before we look at, again. Like, I'm considering, I was thinking I'm picking the Colts all year, and now I'm thinking, why was I picking the Colts? I'm going to pick the Jaguards like everyone else. I was just trying to be cute. And they're going to split Chris Ivy's reps in a best case scenario with TJ Yeldon.

he'll still wear down in November. That's it. He's going to be awesome, though, for two months. Enjoy it. It is true. There's, like, preseason. I'm going to run with my pants on fire, Chris Ivory, and then there's late November Ivory.

You have a podcast where you review every preseason game. You don't have a choice but to overrate the position. All right. Go ahead, Greg. Answer to that. What's just said? I got nothing. And poor Roberto Aguayo.

Marron. Poor guy. I got, what, millions of dollars in a second round draft slot? I feel for him because it's not his fault. that he went in the second round. And now he, obviously, it's in his head a little bit. He's missed, I think, three kicks and two games. And all three of those are shorter than any kick he missed in college, I believe.

And it just, two things. That's crazy. That's crazy. And again, reminds you, there's no real automatic kicker. A lot of that is a mental game. And to use a second round pick, maybe he does straighten himself out as the best kicker in the league or is a pro bowl level kicker for a decade.

But that's the only way that pick makes sense. He needs to be a star and a star for many years. I have a recommendation for our listeners. The best thing I've ever read on kickers is a Michael Lewis article from the New York Times. It's called The Kick is Up and it's a career killer. And it's about the mental rigors of being a kicker in the NFL and exactly what you're talking about yips. It's a fantastic article. It's a scary gig.

Don't you think you're already a person that is seen as an outsider, not really part of the team a lot of times, unless you kind of have a different quirky kicker personality. And then you get off to a start where everyone's already saying, whoa, this team overvalued you, picking you with a second round pick. We've got a defensive tackle someone else. And then you start missing kicks all over the place. Talk about it.

I mean, you're in your own little alien world trying to figure out how to redeem yourself. It's the same thing as being like an official or referee or an umpire. You don't get noticed unless you suck at your job. Very few guys get really praised unless you're Greg the Legg-Zerline. A lot of praise. Adam Vinatari is one of the men. intensely toughest kickers in the history of the league, which is why he's been around for 20 years

and will be a Hall of Fame candidate. But he was a great high school athlete, so I'm not diminishing his talent, but his mental strength is what has set him apart. And he's a good example. We go to the Super Bowl against the Panthers. He missed a kick, got another kick blocked. And with the game on the line, what does he do, Greg? He hits it.

He also hits it when Bill Parcells tells him, you know, if you don't hit some kicks this next week, you're going to get cut. No, no. If you don't make this kick, it was right before it was his rookie season. He only got cut. And Parcell, and he already missed like two short kicks. And Parcell said, hey, kid, you miss this kick. Your ass is done.

That's why you don't spend a second round pick on a kick. It's funny because like Parcells gets to take credit in some way for that now. That's part of his legend. That's be, it's like he could have easily just missed the kick and then Parcells would be stupid. Well, that's not how works right. You know. We give Parcell's credit because he did plenty of other things. But that's not more like.

That's not like Parcell's the genius, but it does speak to the toughness of your boy. And finally, the Chiefs in L.A. Rams and another packed house at the Coliseum. Two fumbles in the first two possessions, Mark, for Jared Goff. He is not going to start in week one, is he? I mean, the second fumble was a little bit strange, but the first one was a flat-out turnover, and he does not look ready to me at all. He still makes the occasional throw like he did in week one. where you're thinking, yes, certainly he's going to be there at some point.

But, you know, the Rams, they saw this a lot sooner than anyone else did, and they seem primed to have him sit for a bit. And I have no problem with that based on what we've seen. Well, I was working with Kevin Patra Saturday night, and he was charged with watching this game. And afterwards, you know, we have to write an article on Jared Gough because he's the number one overall pick. How did he play?

And Patra said, how many different words can use to say one sentence he's not ready? He's got the physical gifts, but he's just not ready. I mean, his first four drives, 13 plays, 24 yards. He's not moving the ball. We're watching other rookies, and they're in a better situation than Jared Gough is, move the ball up and down the field. And then he does do it when he gets in with the deep reserves against the deep reserves.

That's been the case in both of these games, where he's finished off better than he's, not in both of these games, rather in this game. And he's the guy, I'd be more concerned in both games when he hasn't gotten them lined up for the score. scrimmage a couple times. He's taking delay games in both of those. And I think that's to Kevin's point that he's just... I mean, it's not a reason to... I think it's just you, okay, we get it now. He needs time. The Chief's offense looked much more effective to me. Keith Keenum scored

three touchdowns and four drives for what it's worth. He looks sharp. So he's given them every reason to start him, which is nice of it. I mean, he's made it more easy on him. Do you want to, Greg, one more time, act out the discussion between coach and center about how to take a snap properly in the NFL? This was about trying out. I mean, no one's I asked for it again, but I'll do it anyways. All right. You'll be the coach. I'll be in the center.

Hey, hey, he's going to stick his knuckle in your... Okay? That's what I told him. Get it in there. Let him feel it. That's a little deep. Give him some more pressure. Yeah.

That was unsettling. I know. I added the yeah part. The Greg role play there for some reason unsettled me. Well, it's because I get really deep into the character. I got into his motivation how he was feeling. Greg's definitely method. Yeah.

All right, it is time to begin the third annual around the NFL podcast, Fantasy Extravaganza. And today we will be talking about, in the first of three parts, we will talk about a little bit of a seg. Well, let me start this way. First, I want to introduce everybody.

All right, first up, do we have an applause drop or anything like that? All right, first, I didn't say to use it yet. I was just asking if it was there. I just figured it would better to use it than tell you. Sidney's like, I don't even want to get back in that chair. The look of fear in her eyes right now. To my right, no, Sydney can handle it.

To my right is Greg Rosenthal, who has run around the NFL since 2013. Ooh, this is old biocopy. You don't run the show anymore. It's fair. I don't think we've changed that. Greg Rosenthal used to run the Around the NFL team starting in 2013, including his role on the Around the NFL podcast. You have a role.

I think that's true. He previously spent nine years covering the NFL for NBC Sports, rotoworld.com, and pro football.com. Ladies and gentlemen, Greg Rosenthal. Thank you, everyone. To my left, here's a man that joined NFL media in 2013. He covered the league for six seasons as a writer for NBCSports.com and a senior NFL NFL.

editor at rotow world.com senior editor, Marron, Chris Wesley. Here's the full truth. I gave myself that title, senior football editor. No one ever gave it to me. I was just like, oh, yeah, that's what I am. Good nugget. And finally, Mark's here. You know what? I cannot wait for next Monday. This is the most absurd thing I've ever seen. I'll play along with your little charade.

What? listen he could have given you the applause drop there i didn't tell him that i guarantee if i were to go on your instant messaging candidates please don't play applause for when i give mark a one second intro actually it wasn't this is perfect it just strokes gregg's ego more strokes west is to keep him in a good mood keep it going that actually is good instincts from irish because i i did not tell i don't believe a word coming out of anyone's mouth anymore i like this because sometimes you know and Mark gets worked up and I almost feel like

he adds a little extra for the show. You know, it's showtime. But I feel like this one, he's underplaying how much he hates it. You know, listen, we've got about, you've got the rest of this show, another 30 minutes, 25 minutes, two more shows to get through.

Not sure I'll be there for all of them. Don't care. Here we go. All right. So today we're going to talk about, the segment will be called ADP insanity. I don't know. Sounds good to me.

There's a lot of fantasy podcasts out there We're trying to do something different So I rhymed ADP and insanity So right off the top, I feel like we're in a different space I don't see anyone else doing that And by the way, this website actually has an entire And many people listen to their podcast And read their content

The NFL.com fantasy team does great work So make sure you check them out A star-studded team of men a lot of good hair involved there between Harmon and franchise and Gellhar is like the father figure looking over the group in a way even though he's younger

you seem like he's almost like the dad trying to keep everybody in line and then there's Marcus and Marcus is you know he's smooth and people like Marcus Adam ranks there and he's kind of on his own corner in a way you know he's talking football

but he's also talking wrestling So he merges those two worlds And of course James Coe, who does a great job hosting both the podcasts and the television show Oh, don't forget to Michael Fabiano. Hall of Famer.

Hall of Famer, Michael Fabiano. I'm just going to keep talking. Lower and lower. Did I miss anybody? No, but your low talk gave it some gravitas. Okay, I'll work on my low talk. Maybe get it more involved. Anyway, so check out all the work those guys do.

But right now when I got the guys that built Roto World Brick by Brick, and you can see the calluses on Greg's hands from it, we're going to talk about some ADP insanity and we're going to focus on running backs and wide receivers right now and why do we start and we're also yes we had some fun but we will be heading very soon onto the fantasy corner Mark Sessler's Fantasy Corner

and it's a very edgy place over there so but right now we'll start with Greg and Wes Greg we'll start with you here who is on your well you take it wherever you want some ADP insanity. Well, I think we should go over guys who are underrated and overrated. All right, let's start with somebody that is underrated. Oh, underrated.

All right. I'm going to start. How about with a player towards the top? Devonta Freeman. We mentioned him earlier in the offseason. This was my big one too. And if you're going in the first two rounds, I'm talking that premium level running back. Devante Freeman is one of the few guys up there I'd rather have than a lot of these top receivers who are safer, safer bets.

How is this boggles my mind? Lamar Miller, ADP higher than Devante Freeman, and Devante Freeman is only a few places above Mark Ingram, who's never had a thousand-yard season, never had 10 touchdowns in a season. Devonta Freeman, 1,500 yards thereabouts last year, 73 receptions, number one fantasy back, and is awesome in the red zone. He is one of the best red zone running backs there is as a receiver and a running back. There's no downside to Devonta Freeman. Can I throw, and I'm just a regular dude, I'm no expert.

You know, I didn't work in HTML and physical brick to build a fantasy giant. But I will say two things. Devante Freeman, kind of a little bit of a tale of two seasons, right? Production-wise, last season, so maybe some people were spooked by a slower second half. By the way, most players in the NFL have a tale of two seasons. Well, his was maybe more exaggerated than others. And then Lamar Miller, the reason why Lamar Miller is going before him is because sometimes you've got to look into the future and see the guy that's going to make that leap.

Oh, superstar status. Here we come. Lamar Miller, 1,700 total yards and 12 touchdowns. I looked into the future and saw a running back who's never been a workhorse and they pound him into the ground and he's injured by October 30th. I like Lamar Miller. I like Atlanta's running game better. And the fact that they're going to be in a second year with that zone scheme, usually it takes a minute to get that up and running as effective as it was last year. Everyone's worried about Kevin Coleman.

It's like just don't worry about the offseason. You know, Roto World is great. but one of the things I found at Rotterworld, people overrated some of our blurbs sometimes that, you know, the coaches say Tevin Coleman's going to be in the mix. Trust who's a better player. By the way, that same coach in the same paragraph said he expects a better season out of Devante Freeman this year than last year. Wes, give us somebody else that's underrated.

Where Carlos Hyde is on this ADP, I believe he is early fourth round behind DeMarco Murray, who's got a major Derek Henry problem, behind Latavius Murray who's just not very good behind Thomas Rawls who I love but has a Kristen Michael problem I would take Carlos Hyde a full round higher than early fourth round I think part of that I had hide on the low list too

Am I allowed to say something here? Do we want to go to the corner? Let's go to it Well my corner issue is completely different Oh you came over here You know what I'll retract my comment I want to hear what you have to say about you? Are you on the corner or not right now? No Okay not on the corner

Go ahead. No, I think part of it is some of this ADP business has got to be behind the times because Kristen Michael is sitting down at number 45. Well, out of running backs, but we're taking the data from actually the last few days. And I was commenting to Wes, I bet two weeks ago at this time he wasn't even on the board. So to them, it's a 10th round pick. They see him as a backup. And that's why he's in the, I don't think it's behind the times at all.

But hide, though, to me seems low also because if people are, are watching preseason games and you're watching the Niners' offense. There's not a lot to like, but Hyde is going to get a ton of touches. And if Gabbard ever can connect with him in the passing game, he might have some passes too. All right. How about an overrated running back, Greg, in terms of ADP? Well, Dionne Lewis was overrated before he got injured. We didn't have time to mention his injury, you know, in the news, but he's going to be out for a while. So don't draft Dionne Lewis. It was a little crazy that he was getting taken in the fifth round anyways. And don't draft his backup James White. I think everyone.

will just kind of plug James White in there and here's a fun sleeper, I just would stay away from it. They're going to drive you crazy. That's fair. Wes? Jeremy Langford, who got a lot of good publicity, he's fourth round ninth pick in this ADP. So late fourth round,

you're drafting him as a strong running back two because he had one good series against the Patriots in the second preseason game. This guy averaged the worst yards after contact of any running back in the NFL last year. He's just not that good. I mean, he's not that great. I'd rather just draft players that are good. Thank you. People get so worked up about the situation.

Like Rashad Jennings is in a good situation, so he's getting overdrafted even at the beginning of the seventh draft. I just don't want to deal with it. Because you can find a great quarterback or a great tight end or a great wide receiver there and just draft players that have more potential than that. By the way, Arian Foster, I got to throw in there, is the most insane overdrafted person in this entire board. Even if you're just talking about where is.

talent level is right now that's fine but you have to throw in his injury history as well it's outrageous that he's getting taken in the fifth round so people are drafting taking arian foster without a chance of actually watching him play and be healthy yet this is that's a ways to this is how you win leagues because you take advantage of guys that really don't know people are drafting arian foster over larry fitzgerald uh let's now that's wild before we move on to the wide receiver discussion, uh, gentlemen, let's now, uh, take our first stroll over to a different area of the fantasy realm. Well, listen, I mean, okay. Okay, there you go. Oh, this is, I'm out on the corner. Now on the, Cessler's Fantasy Corner. I gave you a list of players last year to completely

ignore and I was 10 for 10, uh, without question. Ten for 10. And I'm going to lock it down with 10 running backs to avoid in fantasy circles. Just don't go near these guys. Number one, Bronson Eduardo Hill. Number two, Ali Rufus. Number three, Ike Saturn. Number four, Pope Troy Main. Number five, Penny Elijah.

Number six, don't go near this guy. Cameron Stingley. Number seven, Marshawn Kopprich. Number eight, Robert Otto B. three. Number nine, Tage Stingley, Spiner. And number ten. Last running back, you don't go near. I don't care what's happening.

Tom Animal Sphinx. Wow. There is one back on that. Wait, is Stingley Spiner-related to Stingley? I was going to say... Not directly. Last year... That's a bad brother combo.

Last year, Wes did point out one of the names you listed. He said, you've got to actually keep your eye on that. I got another one. You got another one this year? First of all, his name is Troy Main Pope, not Pope Troy Main. Okay. And he looked really good. late in the second preseason game for the Seahawks.

I know they have a depth chart that is stacked, but I would say keep an eye on. I just feel bad energy around him right now. I'm not saying his career is doomed, but you don't go near him yet right now. See, as you can tell, West, by the ambient noise, right now you're no longer in your cushy little fantasy office. You're on the streets.

I know, and I'm not as good there as Mark is. Yeah, Mark lives on the streets. He speaks from the streets. It's in his heart. It's in his blood. He picks up hitchhikers. Anything else, Mark, on the fantasy

Not on that position. Okay, we're going to come back to you. And yes, just when we now talk about the wide receivers, you feel free to come in off the corner. But just let me know if you're on or off. I'll let you know. I'll let you know. Okay.

Should we throw out rapid fire? Any quick last one? I mean, I'm just saying, like, this is going to be our one- fantasy thing. Can you be rapid fire, Greg? Be honest. It's hard for me. All right.

Rapid fire. One minute. I'm going to set the timer. Rapid fire. Go. Who's going for? First. These running backs are too low right now. Amir Abdullah, Ryan Matthews, Derek Henry, Kristen Michael, and Terrence West. I totally agree with Derek Henry. I throw Matt Jones in there.

The injury will knock him down. Matt Jones is way too high. Melvin Gordon. I would throw in there, Carlos I, Geo Bernard. And then the deep one, Spencer Ware, if you're looking for a really deep one, Kenneth Dixon, and Devante Booker. Wow. Nice speed round, guys. Didn't even need half a minute. Well, let's go overrated players, too, that you want to stay away from. I love Jonathan, but I don't want to draft Jonathan Stewart this year. I think last year was the year that you want Jonathan Stewart. I pretty much mentioned everyone else. I think stay away from Justin Forset and the rest of those running backs in Baltimore.

Yeah, I think we hit all of my. DeMarco Murray is overrated because of Derek Henry. Matt Jones is overrated. The guy's not very good to begin with. He's injured right now. A three-down back that'll probably get taken in the sixth or seventh round. Three-down back, who averaged 3.4 yards per carry with major fumbling issues last year. And I question his instinct.

I'm going to die on this one quick question. I know everyone is just saying, oh, take Ezekiel Elliott with the number one or number two pick, have a nice day with it. Is there any concern that there are other more proven players to take for your first pick in your draft? I have zero concern with Ezekiel Elliott. I would generally rather take the wide receivers that are getting taken there, but I don't think he's ranked too low at running back. I'd rather have him than Lamar Miller who's getting taken in front of him.

Absolutely. Stop it. Latavius Murray, a little overrated in might be. I agree. Throw that guy out there. All right, let's now move on to the Y receiver's ADP Insanity. See how it rhymes? Let me start with a doozy here.

Well, we need some sort of drop with the ADP insanity. I think that's an assignment. Okay, maybe for Wednesday show. For our special guest on Wednesday. Yeah. To really step it up. Wow, that's a great call. Go ahead, Wes.

Let's start this off with a banger. All right. DeAndre Hopkins. One eighth pick in the first round ahead of. of Des Bryant, who looks fully healthy, and Des Bryant, I'm sorry, is a better receiver than D'Andre Hopkins. Wow, West turning his back on D'Andre Hopkins. I love New Hopkins, but let's talk about this from a fantasy point of view.

Last year, they had nobody on the other side of him, so they had to throw it to him every time. Now they've got Will Fuller, they got Braxton Miller, they're generating touches for Braxton Miller, the offensive coordinator is, and they've got a stronger running game than they had last year. DeAndiard Hopkins simply isn't going to be targeted like he was last year. to mention he's got a new quarterback, and you already mentioned, how about the rapport between Brock Osweiler and Hopkins is not there yet?

Over under passing yards, Texans this year to last year. I don't think it's necessarily going up. And it's certainly going to be cut in a few more parts, as you mentioned. I agree. I like AJ Green to have a really big AJ Green season. He's getting drafted after him. And then Alan Robinson, who's after Hopkins is another guy who I'd expect to have a monster year. I would take Robinson after what we've seen in the preseason so far,

and him and Blake Bortle's absolutely on the same. Are you on the corner? I'm on the corner this time. But I would take Robinson over Hopkins for everything you mentioned. It's got to be a Texans coaching need and want to have a little bit less of the offense have to go to Hopkins over and over week after week. See, while we're near the top of the draft,

I'm going to throw out some love for Keenan Allen. I'm a little surprised is going late in second round. I mean, that's not a crazy undervalued guy. But I think in general, I am of the mind, and this has become a trendier thing to do, that most of these receivers are better bets than the running backs getting taken in the first three rounds. Demarius Thomas is another guy.

Why is everyone so freaked out about the quarterback situation in Denver for Demarius Thomas? It's not going to be worse than last year. Keenan. It's just not overall yards. And he was a monster last year despite all the drops. Can I throw something out there with that? Demarius Thomas, one of those guys that isn't really a fun guy

to have on your fantasy team. Because you don't like 1,400 yards and 10 touchdown. It's kind of a tough watch. I'm not going to go out for beers with him. Stuff watch. Keenan Allen I agree totally I don't know why Mike Evans is getting drafted ahead of him that's ridiculous Jordy Nelson is too risky to take over Keenan Allen this year Keenan Allen would have led the NFL in targets last year probably had he not gotten injured

I'm stunned that Jordy Nelson is getting taken in the middle of the second round it's a big risk I mean that that seems crazy he's someone where the preseason would matter if he played this week and he looks awesome great but he's 31 years old coming off a torn ACL this is much lower and it's not a taken too high scenario, but you're telling me that Doreal Green Beckham is at 61, and Tajay Sharps at 60? The hell's going on? Now, you're right. One made the other expendable. And by the way, they're saying that Josh Gordon, who's suspended for the first four

games as an absolute off-the-field wild card, is a spot more valuable than Larry Fitzgerald. Ridiculous. Well, that is one of the most overrated guys on this entire list, Josh Gordon. And it's not like a ranking. This is where they're going on average. Josh Gordon is running the sixth round. Josh Gordon might not, for sure, be worth a lot. the sixth round pick if he was playing

the whole season. And the other guy that you mentioned is one of the most underrated. How is Larry Fitzgerald being drafted behind these guys? He's coming off a great year. It's almost like Greg made this list. No, give me a break. I love Larry Fitzgerald. You're right though that we underrate Larry Fitzgerald every year. We do. We just talked about his splits last week.

He dropped in the second half of the season. Oh, I'm sorry you missed the really important playoff game that he won almost by himself. Sure, no, he had a great game, but just for that wasn't part of the fantasy playoffs. I'm just saying. Well, this is a problem with fantasy owners. It's also a blind spot they have for Kristen Michael because fantasy seasons are over by week 16,

and when he has a good week 17 in playoffs, nobody's watching. I think Fitzgerald could be a better player than a great fantasy player, just because, as we've talked about, there's so many mouths to feed there. Kelvin Benjamin. Talking about a guy with 109 receptions last year. There were reasons for that. He's good.

That's the best reason. He's good. Kelvin Benjamin, does it strike you as strange that he's still going in the top of 35? I have him on my overrated. Well, when Funches is down at 49. But he literally is a guy that they only played nine snaps this week because they don't think he can handle more. Yeah, but they rolled him out there in the very beginning of the game.

And thank you Street Corner Sound Effects. What's going on in the street? That killed the Hill and played the Street Corner Sound for two seconds and cut back out. Just absurd. Can I do it? And I love Larry Fitzgerald, but can I do a prop with you? Yes.

Less than 90 catches this season. which would be like a 15-catch drop-off. And if you think there's no reason if you're worried. I don't know if I want a prop where Larry Fitzgerald has an 88 catch season, and I'm wrong. All right, 88. That was good. 88 is a push?

88's a push. Talk about reeling in a fish. That was masterful by Dan there. Can we note that, Mr. Irish? Okay, thank you. I'll take 88. That seems reasonable. We will be, the season starts, what, in two weeks?

That's right, two weeks. Just a reminder to everyone that we will be doing our regular season sandwich props pod, which is always one of the best pods of the year, in my humble opinion, in the next 10, 14 days. So keep an eye out for that. Let's now, yes, now let's, in earnest, even though he ducks his head out from the street lamp that he leans on with the cigarettes rolled up in the t-shirt every once in a while. Let's now go there in earnest, the street corner, Sessler. What are you talking about? overrated, underrated, wide receivers.

Well, forget all that nonsense. Here are four things to do instead of trying to be some sort of amazing alpha male slash human savior who ranks wide receivers on a football podcast. Nice. Number one, travel to Syria and rake leaves outside a Syrian-based business of your choice. Number two, allow a trusted work friend to blindfold you while you also give him unlimited access to your checking account. Allow said work friend to purchase a one-way bus ticket to anywhere in the country.

With the blindfold on, allow the friend to guide you onto your designated bus. Once the vehicle is moving, remove the blindfold. You will go wherever your friend sent you and stay there for no less than 24 months, shedding your many layers of ego and emotional neediness to build a new life from scratch. Wow. That was Mark's dream last night. Number three. Which is that could happen.

Number three, instead of spending the entire football season obsessed with yourself, and your fantasy football jag. Use this autumn to become important in the life of a child. Number four, dive deep into Dungeons and Dragons. Dump all distractions and FD. Dive into D&D. Use important family money to fly to D&D conventions and become known in D&D circles as a fast riser.

Put your career and personal relationships a deep second as you allow Dungeons and Dragons to completely and dangerously absorb you. I love that last point because fantasy football, and Dungeons and Dragons are basically the same thing. Thank you. No. They are. Wait, but Dan doesn't like that, but it is.

You're basically just playing D&D, Dan. But you love D&D. You literally just posted like 20 D&D pictures on your Instagram. I do not love it. I find it a truly odd part of the 1980s. That you enjoyed. I did not immerse in it. Now I will.

That is kind of what a D&D guy who, You are, let's face it, with your history and your Instagram account, would say about fantasy sports. And they're one and the same. They're not. They're not. Of course they are. Exactly the same thing. They're not.

They're not. They're both fantasies. I don't want to get into the stereotypes of the D&D crowd, but I think you should look a little closer at the fantasy football crowd. Well, there's extremes at every sport or every phase of life. Whatever. Let's move on. Did we do underrated for wide receivers? We kind of went back and forth.

Let's throw out a speed round. Let's do a speed round. Let it rip. Let's go underrated. Jeremy Macklin, way underrated. This guy had a great year last year. Locked in is the number one. Alex Smith is in control of that offense.

Dante Moncrief, if he's not injured, guaranteed breakout season. You're going to want him. Corey Coleman, great guy to take a flyer on. And Mohamed Snoo is going to touch about 80 times in the Falcons offense. Take Mohamed Snoo, even if you don't think he's a good talent. He's going to touch the ball. That was wild to me that he's getting taken in the 12th round. I'm not super high on Sunni.

but that seems like easy money that late. I agree with you there. I agree, or I believe his old teammate, Mo Jones, is underrated right now. I like Golden Tate, but I'm surprised he's getting taken a few rounds after him. Jarvis Landry has the most catches in NFL history in the first two years of his career, and that often should be better. Why is Jarvis Landry going so late? And then Stefan Diggs.

I'm kind of buying the Stefan Diggs hype as the number one guy there. I can get on board with it. He has number one type abilities, or is he a number two that needs to work? two he's not an ex receiver but he could put up number one numbers i think just because i think they'll be a little better passing and i think he's the best receiver on that team by a decent amount i want to uh throw one out to all three of you gentlemen right now who will be the christin michael memorial that's funny because he could be the winner of this uh very category even though it's zero percent chance dan remember christin michael memorial what the hell was i thinking hindsight

is 2020 award not this is not a shot at him this is a couple years ago when he failed. Past winners include Corderle Patterson. Sure. You plug in that guy. In other words, you got sucked in by the hype, and then you're almost embarrassed to admit it later, where you took this guy in the draft.

Who is the guy that's so buzzy and everyone's confident about, but come December, you're really going to be cringing when you look at your draft board. Running back or wide receiver. I don't know who's buzzy because I'm not really plugged in on that, but Matt Jones was the first guy I thought of. Really? You are so down on Matt Jones.

I mean, Kevin White was the first guy that I wouldn't want to get anywhere near. He's like a seventh-eighth round. He's playing this pretty safe here. But that's a mid-round pick that you're just wasting on Kevin White. A round guys like Jordan Matthews and Devonty Parker, who I'd want much, much more than them. But all right, let me go up there. Throw somebody out there.

Somebody with a little name. Lamar Miller. You want to throw Lamar Miller? Go ahead. That's actually a perfect example. Here's why. In fantasy football, your first round draft pick cannot be a risk. He has to be a sure-fire guy.

Lamar Miller has never carried the load before and a lot of different coaching staffs it could be because all those coaching stats were truly inept. That could be it or it could be that Lamar Miller doesn't run well between the tackles isn't great and short yardage and might not hold up to a big workload.

I love Lamar Miller but that's a great example because that could blow up in people's faces. Fantasy Corner, you got one? I do, but it's going to be unpopular. It's here. Adrian Peterson. That's great. Wow. It's not that I doubt Adrian Peterson.

I don't want him as my, I'm number one in the draft. I got the first pick, and it's been the locked-in pick for years. I'm not doing it this season. Well, let me just say the Kristen Michael Award, nobody would be shocked that you used your first round pick on Adrian Peterson, though. Right. Am I not playing the game correctly? Not really, but it's okay.

I'm trying to understand it. It's like a guy that you're kind of banking on based on the excitement that's built over the last six months. Eddie Lacey's on that list to me. Why is he the same? Like, most guys after they have a terrible season, and do not go way up in terms of their average draft position. I'd won Eddie Lazy on my roster, but I'm with you.

I'm surprised I would have to use a second round pick on it. Like a high second round pick. That's wild to me. One guy that's later on in this, I don't like where Brandon Cooks. I'm not going to jump on the Brandon Cook's experience over some of the people that are behind them. I agree. I forgot my almost my favorite underrated receiver of the first three rounds.

Ty Hilton. I would not be surprised if T.Y. Hilton leads the league in receiving or is right in the mix. Really? Would that be that surprising? They've got a lot of mouths. I think they're going to be throwing the ball a ton, and I think he is set up for a career year. Over Antonio Brown and Holyo Jones.

I mean, this would be, obviously, I'm talking in the sense of, like, he has long odds to do it, but it wouldn't shock me if he is in that mix. Wow. Okay. Before we go, let's now check in with the, around the NFL podcast subreddit, where they have a thread, and make sure you get on there if you're a fan of the show. A lot of fun of that subred. it, where they have a mailbag for fantasy questions for the heroes.

Irish went through the bag, and this is what he got. The first one is, are there any... Who's it from? It is from My Kregal. Are there any rookie wide receivers worth drafting high? Rookie wide receivers. Ooh, I got one. The Fuller kid in Houston.

You're going to draft him high? I don't know. How high does he mean? Because Corey Coleman... Take a shot on, but not high. Let's see where Fuller is. No, I think the answer is no. There's none worth drafting.

I would take Corey Coleman based on where he's, is ADP, I believe, is like the 10th round or something. Yeah. I think Cory Coleman would be. Yeah, he's late 9th round. I would take him there, but when I hear high, I'm thinking fourth or fifth round for what? There are. Treadwell is a guy who's a red flag there for him. I mean, it's crazy he's still getting drafted.

He should not be drafted at all at this point, Laquan Treadwell. It's crazy. I agree on that. that he would be even in the mix. Sterling Shepard certainly had a lot of buzz. I like Sterling Shepard. How about Tyler Boyd as a late round, very late round? He's going 12th round.

That would not be high. That would not be high. No things. You guys are aware my situation with Shepard, right? You don't like him. You're not buying in at all. I know. Be careful, guys.

He actually could win the Kristen Michael Award. That's fair. I'll throw him out there. I think he's safe. I would take him on my fantasy roster. What else we got in this? the old mailbag. This is from Sam K. Butler.

What offenses are you avoiding completely? Half the league. Why do you say that was? I always avoid half the league. Yeah, like take the players on the high octane offenses. That's how you win fantasy league. I don't, I always was a, I never had hard and fast rules. I always thought hard and fast rules are stupid because there's, every player is its own,

its own thing. And so if you name me a team in the league that you don't think I could find a fantasy guy, I bet you could find a round where I would want one of those guys that have some value. What team is there? Name me the team. Probably not draft the Philadelphia Eagle. Jordan Matthews

to me is absolutely a good value where he's getting taken, I think. He's a seventh, eighth round pick. I like that for Jordan Matthews. He could have a monster. Yeah, there's no one else there. Probably wouldn't draft a Buffalo bill. I know we like Coleman, but they have Beryl Pryor and Josh Gordon in the top 60,

and I think that that offense is just going to be kind of fluky shots down field, and they've got Isaiah Crowell. I would never take any Brown running back. I wouldn't touch any. Coleman is the one guy that you take a little. You wouldn't take Lashon McCoy if he's still there. I would not take Lashon McCoy based on principle alone. I can't stand that guy.

Well, and look what happened to him last year. They got him into the red zone, and then it was Carlos Williams racking up the touchdown. I think Lashon McCoy. Who's that guy this year, though? They've got other good backs. Jonathan Williams is a good, I mean, they've got a pretty deep backfield, actually. I mean, if Reggie Bush is your number two and Mike Gillisley is the other guy, I don't know, that doesn't seem to deep.

I like Lashon McCoy. I mean, just in terms of, I like him in general. I think he played better last year than people give him credit for. Outside of a late-round flyer on Terrence West, I wouldn't touch any Ravens. That's in, that one, you might have me there. Ian Sizzler have a sandwich on Ben Watson. I would take, I would take, yeah, but that was, I made a massive calculated error. When I listened to that podcast, I wanted to be on the side where Ben Watson is going to massively underperform expectations.

Well, and I was on the wrong side. I have, Ben Watson. Can I get it on that one? Yeah, I try to. No, I'm not adding more people to what I'm saying was a terrible bet on my part. Yeah, jump on. Let me buy you all sandwich. The wager is that Ben Watson will have more than 825 yards.

That was crazy. You caught me in a scattered moment, if there's anything else. There are Crockett Gilmore's there that has pitiful. Max Williams, whom they drafted in the second round. If, like, 12 players went down in, like, a lost bus incident, then I'm on fire with that bet. If you were, like, picking the guy most likely to run the NFLPA, he could take a sandwich on it.

Very smart. Not drafting any Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What about Roberto Aguayo? Come back. I can't stand their uniforms. Mark's got a good point about their stadium during the sunlight hours. Wait a second. And everybody's way too high on James Winston this year.

Well, what about Doug Martin? What about Doug Martin? You watched every James Winston Chapin said you liked him. Everybody thinks he's better than Mario and he's not. Don't take it out on Mario. I'm taking it out on him. You can't stop me. Also, Doug Martin was a great pick last year because he was running.

Everybody now expects him to do what he did last year and I don't think he's going to do it. He's late second round. I'm just saying if he's there in the fourth round, then you're like, okay. I have a question, Wes. Honest question, because I don't know if it's a little schick or you're being honest. Like, you're a fantasy guy and you're trying to win a fantasy league. Why are you really going to avoid certain guys and certain teams because the way the sunlight hits the field?

Absolutely. First of all, we'll save this for, we can save a lot of this for the philosophy podcast. Yeah. The fantasy philosophy podcast later in the week. But this is a hobby. This is for you to go have fun. I agree. There are many ways to construct a winning team, put a stranglehold on your league

and still avoid players you don't like. Right. And it makes a good point because if you're going to be a good fantasy owner, you want to go watch these guys, whether it's game pass, wherever. and the Bucks Stadium, I don't know how many other ways to say this, is the worst sporting venue in the country to watch, much less on a replay. The way that it is, when it's early in the morning,

it's intense sunlight. It's kind of if it happens to you in real life. You get inside immediately. So you take it over the Georgia Dome. You know where I am with Dome's. Wes, and I don't want to question your integrity, which is through the roof. But if Doug Martin somehow slipped

in a league you're into like the fifth round, are you not going to take Doug Martin? Probably not. I usually stick to my guns on this kind of thing. If I don't want a guy on my team, he's not going to be on my team. That's your principal. I can find a way to win a league, Dan. I'm not worried about that.

Okay. All right. I was just checking. Seventh round, Doug Martin's there, but you don't like the way the sun hits. I trust my gut. Like, my gut's telling me stay away from Doug Martin this year. 15th round, everyone's falling into a cheap coma. Mike Evans is still on the board for some reason.

They forgot he existed. No, at that point, like, that's a sign. If he's still there at the 15th round, it's a sign that you should keep doing this stick. All right, sixth round, Mike Evans on the board, but a cloud cover is rolled into the Tampa area, and it's been sitting there all through the fall in winter. So no sunshine issues.

That I would do. Then would you take? No, I can't watch those uniforms. They're hideous. Anti-dome and anti-sunshine. No, no, no, no, no. Anti-uniform. Tampa Florida Sunshine, not all sunshine.

I was hung over. one Sunday morning was assigned to watch the Buccaneers in a road game and those uniforms made by hangover 10 times worse. All right. On that note, that wraps up part one of our fantasy extravaganza. We'll be back Wednesday with more. Football chatter will also continue our division-by-division preview. Moving on to the AFC, starting with the Eastern Division.

So everybody get excited. Make sure you tune in. And special guest producer under very, let's see. somber, a somber setting, or a setting of excitement, depending on where you come down on this person. Yeah, I mean, his opinion matters too in there. I could say bittersweet would work. Bitter sweet, might be.

Covers you both ways. Yeah. Gives you nice coverage. Anyway, thank you. This is Dan Hansa signing off for Quiet Storm. The mailman. The boss. and the Irishman behind the glass till Wednesday.

Thank you.