The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Dr. Roto Joins To Give His Perspective For NFL Week #1

Episode Date: September 5, 2025

Dr. Roto Joins To Give His Perspective For NFL Week #1

35. Roto, you don't know who he knows this. We're taking him to 135. We need 30 strong minutes from our leader. The greatest fantasy football mind in the world today. He's got 95 fantasy leagues. He's on 73 different serious XM shows. Dr. Roto, how the hell are you? That's about it. I'm ready to go, baby. 30 minutes of action. Let's do it. All right. So we've never done Fridays on a regular base. We're going to do this year because it was a little better for your schedule. We've got to take care of you. So it gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we saw last night. So we'll do that each week. What did you think about the fantasy performers in the Dallas Philadelphia game? You know, normally, I'm not a big Dak Prescott guy. He played pretty well. It was C.D. Lamwood didn't come up with the big catches.

I didn't really like the play call on fourth and three at the end of that game, but that was a catchable ball. Ferguson dropped a couple. I mean, that was a winnable game for Dallas. I think Javante Williams, people were down on him. And look, Chaden Bluton wasn't even active. So Jvon J. Vaughan Williams is the clear number one of that offense. Miles Sanders had a bad fumble, but he looked good, too.

On the other side, it's Jalen Hertz and more Jalen Hertz. Barkley look good, but you really have to wonder there. I know Dallas's cornerbacks played well against Brown and Smith, but Hertz is just a much better runner than he is a passer. I know there'll be good games for A.J. Brown, but I would be a little worried. All right. So Jalen Hertz proves, I don't need to throw for 245 and three scores. I'm going to use my legs a couple times per game. That should be a huge benefit for anybody that drafted Jalen Hertz, correct?

It is. I mean, and that's the differentiator. So look, even if he throws 20 touchdown passes, if he runs for 14, I mean, that's like throwing for another 20 touchdown passes. So as long as he stays healthy, he is fantasy gold. And we can say the same thing about Jaden Daniels, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. All right, let's get to the slate. We'll start tonight.

interesting locale again going back to Brazil for Kansas City and the LA Chargers. Two things I want to ask you about this game in particular. I did draft Travis Kelsey's my 10, my tie-in hoping for a bounce-back season. I thought maybe his downfall is a little early to talk about. But Justin Herbert's very, very slow starter, but still beloved by the fantasy football eyes. Give me a forecast about Kansas City, generally speaking, not only tonight, but what you see from them, and the charges this year, especially if Herbert is off to a slow start like he was last season. So the Chiefs want to open up their passing attack. They worked on their offensive line,

and Mahomes and has talked about it as well. They want to throw the ball deep. I think Xavier Worthy's absolutely a great play right now. He is. Kelsey's solid, not spectacular, but solid. I think they're going to ramp him up as the year goes on, but they're going to need him without Rishie Rice. or she rice is missing the first six weeks and then he'll be back after that. Pacheco is there and he's strong. But the problem what you have with what you have with the chiefs is without rice, you got Juju Smith-Schuster.

You have Hollywood Brown who's not 100%. You just don't have great other options. So I think you're going to see a lot of Pacheco and a lot of worthy and some Kelsey. But it won't matter because the chiefs always figured out. If they're down by six with two minutes to go, are you worried that Mahomes is not going to lead them to a score? they always seem to. On the other side, I really like what the Chargers are doing. Losing Rashon Slater was a

tough, tough loss. But Omerian Hampton and Najee Harris will help with ball control, which is you know how Jim Harbaugh wants to win games. Now, Keenan Allen is back. Ladd McConkey is sensational. He's a tough one to stop. But I think that the Chargers, they're not going to let Herbert throw it for more than 35 times. So I'm thinking this game right now, Vegas is seeing it as a 46 and a half. That seems about right. maybe 24, 23, Chiefs pull this one out at the end. If you've got a question for Dr. Roto, 713-212-790, we'll take them in segment number two of the show, 7-13-212-5-7-90.

We've got two quarterbacks that we didn't think would be starting this week. We're talking about Daniel Jones in Indianapolis, Joe Flacco in Cleveland. Forgetting about their individual numbers, how about the receivers and running backs they're going to use and their scope positions in those two particular games? Yeah, so I want you guys to think. think about Anthony Richardson as a point guard who doesn't pass the ball. And everybody else is running

up and down the court and they never touch the ball. It gets frustrating. So Daniel Jones will find Michael Pittman. He will find Josh Downs. I love Josh Downs this week. He will find Tyler Warren, their great new rookie tight end. Anthony Richardson was completing nine passes a game. I think this is actually good for the Colts. And if you play in DFS, I think Daniel Jones, you can get him on the cheap. You really can. So, I mean, I think he's in a better spot. than people are anticipating. I like that game to explode a little bit in the dome. Tua, a Chan, Waddle, I think that game could have 50 points in it. On the other side, look, Cincinnati and Cleveland, Cleveland always plays Cincinnati tough because they have a really

good pass rush and they don't give Joe Burrow enough time. Cincinnati's got a terrible defense. We know this. Would it shock you if Joe Flacco threw for 260 yards this week? It wouldn't shock me at all. I think you can throw for 260 and two touchdowns. They still have Jerry Judy. They have Cedric Tillman and they have David Nujoku, who I think is a great start this week. All right, Dr. Roto, again, with you on the phones at 713-212-5-790. If you have any questions for the good doctor, you'll take him in the next segment. Your gut feeling on Aaron Rogers going back to where he played last year and the thought of the Steelers quarterback at your age 41.

Yeah, I mean, this is desperate times, call for desperate measures, and bringing in Rogers just feels like a desperate move. But it couldn't bring them to the playoffs again. I mean, they might even win a game. But look, he's not going to throw for 300 yards. Jalen Warren is fine. He's a very good blocking running back and he can catch out of the backfield. I think he'll get about 12 fantasy points.

A lot of people have invested into D.K. Metcalfe, I don't think I have. DK's not Devante Adams. He runs different routes than Devante Adams. I think Aaron Rogers is just a guy that I really, look, you could root for the Steelers. They'll play great defense. This is not a good fantasy game. I mean, Justin Field should do well, but who are they having? to throw to outside of Garrett Wilson. Nobody. Maybe Breece Hall gets a few receptions. This is just

a game to stay away from. Why are so many people high on Drake May and the Patriots, especially is it because of their home schedules, because the Raiders are coming in? But Drake was getting a lot of, I would say, mid-level quarterback selections in drafts this year. I love Drake May this year. Look, he had nobody to throw the ball to last year. So what do they do? They bring in Stefan Dix. Now what do they do? They draft Trayvion Henderson, who they think is going to get 80 plus receptions. Oh, by the way, they bring in Kyle Williams,

who was a really good speed receiver from Washington State. Now you're giving Drake May some options. He was great in college when he had Josh Downs and DeVontes Walker to throw to. He just had nobody to throw to last year. Now you've got a real coach with Mike Vrable. I think this team is on to something. Now, the Raiders, it's going to be an interesting game. I really like Ashton Genty.

I think he scores a touchdown this week. But if the Patriots want to compete, this is a game they have to win. Drake May is also very mobile. Look for him. I would say about 240 passing yards, maybe one passing touchdown, maybe another 40 yards rushing. Texans this week in Los Angeles, Matthew Stafford, we've been told the back is okay. He's practiced for the last couple of weeks. Texans offensive line, still a huge question mark.

We've got probably, well, not probably. There will be no Christian Kirk this week. but generally speaking, I think this is going to be a low-scoring game. Does that mean I want to stay away for some folks in this game? Or am I still going to pick my normal Texans and my normal Rams when they meet Sunday in Los Angeles? No, Vegas agrees with you.

I'm talking about like 43 and a half points. Here's the issue. The Rams strength on defense is their pass rush. And what's the Texans issue? You know, protecting C.J. Stroud. So if they can give him any time, then Nico Collins is in play. But I think he's going to be under siege all games.

long. I mean, this is what the Rams do well. They don't have a great linebacking core. They don't have a great secondary, but they get to the passer. On the other end, it's going to be about the Kyron Williams show. Can the Texans stop Kyron Williams? I think they can. I think they could even hold Pukunakua in check. But let's not forget, Devante Adams is a ram now. So I think that the Texans, this is just a bad first matchup for them because the Rams do what the Texans do. They just might do it a little bit better. It's really about effort and his health. All right, before you go to our first break. Time now for the sports RV Ross, Villarreal, a obligatory

one question for Rodo per week. What you got? I'm giving you one question. It's a new segment. Because here, Rodo, we're playing each other this week and week one. Oh, okay. Well, you know, what is the best way to continue the excellence after back to back to back championships

and I'm like, okay, maybe I shouldn't ask him that. How we've, okay, tell me what you think about this, Dr. Roto. I was in three drafts. picking fourth and third, and every time it came down to Jamir Gibbs and Sequin Barclay, and every time I chose Saquan Barclay. How dumb am I, one to ten? Seven and a half.

Okay. Gibbs a great player. Are you not worried about David Montgomery? No. You know what we saw at the end of last year that Gibbs basically fed families? That guy brought you to fantasy championships. God bless you. John and Montgomery was out.

God bless you, Roto. God bless you. Yeah, if Montgomery's going to be hurt. Yeah. Hurtz did last night. Look at what Jalen Hertz did last night. That's the problem with Barclay. And that was Ross's obligatory question per week.

We'll do that again next Friday. I'm a seven and a half out of ten. But I'm still back to back to back champ. He's so cocky, too, Roto. Seriously. There's a lot of backs. I got lucky. I got lucky.

All right. Next up, your phone call, 713. And they never touch the ball. It gets frustrating. So Daniel Jones will find Michael Pittman. He will find Josh Downs. I love Josh Downs this week. He will find Todd.

Tyler Warren, their great new rookie tight end. Anthony Richardson was completing nine passes a game. I think this is actually good for the Colts. And if you play in DFS, I think Daniel Jones, you can get him on the cheap. You really can. So, I mean, I think he's in a better spot than people are anticipating. I like that game to explode a little bit in the dome. Tua, a Chan, Waddle.

I think that game could have 50 points in it. On the other side, look, Cincinnati and Cleveland, Cleveland always plays Cincinnati tough because they have a really good pass rush and they don't give Joe Burrow enough time. Cincinnati's got a terrible defense. We know this. Would it shock you if Joe Flacco threw for 260 yards this week? It wouldn't shock me at all.

I think you can throw for 260 and two touchdowns. They still have Jerry Judy. They have Cedric Tillman and they have David Najoku who I think is a great start this week. All right. Dr. Roto again, whether you're on the phones at 713-212-5-790. If you have any questions for the good doctor, you'll take him in the next segment.

your gut feeling on Aaron Rogers going back to where he played last year and the thought of the Steelers quarterback at your age 41. Yeah, I mean, this is desperate times, called for desperate measures, and bringing in Rogers just feels like a desperate move. But it couldn't bring them to the playoffs again. I mean, they might even win a game. But look, he's not going to throw for 300 yards. Jalen Warren is fine.

He's a very good blocking, running back, and it can catch out of the backfield. I think he'll get about 12 fans. points. A lot of people have invested into D.K. Metcalfe, I don't think I have. DK.'s not Devante Adams. He runs different routes than Devante Adams. I think Aaron Rogers is just a guy that I really, look, you could root for the Steelers. They'll play great defense. This is not a good fantasy game. I mean, Justin Field should do well, but who do they have to throw to outside of Garrett Wilson? Nobody. Maybe Breece Hall gets a few receptions. This is just a game to stay away from. Why are so many people high on Drake May and the Patriots, especially because of their home schedules, because the Raiders are coming in?

But Drake was getting a lot of, I would say, mid-level quarterback selections in drafts this year. I love Drake May this year. Look, he had nobody to throw the ball to last year. So what do they do? They bring in Stefan Dix. Now what do they do? They draft Treveeon Henderson, who they think is going to get 80-plus receptions. Oh, by the way, they bring in Kyle Williams, who was in.

a really good speed receiver from Washington State. Now you're giving Drake May some options. He was great in college when he had Josh Downs and DeVontes Walker to throw to. He just had nobody to throw to last year. Now you've got a real coach with Mike Vrable. I think this team is on to something. Now, the Raiders, it's going to be an interesting game. I really like Ashton Genty.

I think he scores a touchdown this week. But if the Patriots want to compete, this is a game they have to win. Drake May is also very mobile. Look for him, I would say about 240 pounds. passing yards, maybe one passing touchdown, maybe another 40 yards rushing. Texans this week in Los Angeles, Matthew Stafford, we've been told the back is okay. He's practiced for the last couple of weeks. Texans offensive line, still a huge question mark.

We've got probably, well, not probably. There will be no Christian Kirk this week. But generally speaking, I think this is going to be a low-scoring game. Does that mean I want to stay away for some folks in this game? Or am I still going to pick my normal Texans and my normal Rams when they meet Sunday in Los Angeles. No, Vegas agrees with you. I'm T.

We're talking about like 43 and a half points. Here's the issue. The Rams strength on defense is their pass rush. And what's the Texans issue? You know, protecting C.J. Stroud. So if they can give him any time, then Nico Collins is in play. But I think he's going to be under siege all game long. I mean, this is what the Rams do well.

They don't have a great linebacking core. They don't have a great secondary. But they get to the passer. On the other end, it's going to be about the Kyron Williams. show. Can the Texans stop Kairn and Williams? I think they can. I think they could even hold Pooka Nukuwa in check. But let's not forget, Devante

Adams is a ram now. So I think that the Texans, this is just a bad first matchup for them. Because the Rams do what the Texans do, they just might do it a little bit better. It's really about effort and his health. All right, before you go to our first break, time now for the sports RV, Ross, Villarreal, a obligatory one

question for Roto per week. What you got? I'm giving you one question. It's a new segment. Because here, Roto, We're playing each other this week and week one. Oh, okay. Well, you know, it is difficult. What is the best way to continue the excellence after back to back to back championships? Okay, maybe I shouldn't ask him that.

How we've, okay, tell me what you think about this, Dr. Roto. I was in three drafts picking fourth and third. And every time it came down to Jemir Gibbs and Sequin Barclay. And every time I chose Seekoine Barkley, how dumb am I, one to ten? Uh, seven and a half. Okay. Gives a great plan. Are you not worried about, you're not worried about, uh, David Montgomery?

No. I'm, I, you know what we saw at the end of last year? That Gibbs basically fed families. That guy brought you to fantasy championships. God bless you. God bless you, Roto. God bless you.