The Ringer NFL Show - Power Ranking the Best Players No One Is Talking About

Episode Date: December 7, 2022

We power rank the players who have played a big role in your team's success, but have gone underdiscussed and underappreciated throughout the season, a.k.a. the Steven Glasnbergs. We finish the show by reading listener emails and devolving into a chaotic argument about movie titles. Check out our Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings for positional rankings and more! Email us! [e-mail]. Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yo, this is Rob Harvilla from 60 Songs That Explain the 90s, the world's greatest loopy and perverse and inaccurately named music nostalgia podcast. We're doing 90 songs now because there's too many songs. Pearl Jam, JZ, Jewel, YouTube, Cher, Hootie. These are just some of the names people yell at me on the internet because we're back. More great songs, more rad special guests, more loopy perversity. Join us once more on 60 Songs That Explain the 90s every Wednesday on Spotify. I'm going to the ringer fantasy football show.

My name is Danny Hypatthat. I am joined by Danny Kelly and Craig Krollback. It is power hours. Wednesday, baby. So we are power ranking something every Wednesday. And today we're power ranking the players. We have just not been talking about all season. The players we've ignored.

The players sitting alone at the lunch table. We are power ranking the Glansbergs of the 2020 season. Like a fucking Steven Glansberg. Yeah, these are the players that we've just neglected, essentially. We just, for whatever reason. I don't know why we haven't really talked about them all that much. They've been awesome. They've been workhorses, you know, doing it for your team this year

and getting none of the glory. Well, that's what today's episode is for. I think a real blind spot is that, spoiler alert, media bias gets a lot of attention. Low-key, all media is actually biased mostly toward conflict, and, like, we're biased towards surprise. And so our main thing that we talk about is always like, oh, what's going on that we didn't expect? So when players are good that we expected to be good,

we kind of just never talk about them. Yeah. True. And then there's guys on bad teams who perform well, guys who don't score a lot of touchdowns. There's a lot of factors that come into play for why we don't give players the recognition they deserve. We'll get into that. Some of them we just don't like personally. True. Like on a personal level.

I don't know. Anyway, we'll go through them. So I, we all kind of, this one, we usually we do it on our own and we send players in and one of us ranks them. This one we kind of did as a group because we needed a group consensus what a Glansberg was. I kind of then ignored it and made my own rankings. based on whether I agreed. So I kind of just gave D.K. Craig, the illusion of control. Yeah.

So per usual. I'm shocked. So I'm going through, I'm going to rank in all the, like the Glanzbergs, the guys that we just haven't talked about enough this season. We want to give them some shine. So we're going to go through after every couple minutes,

you're going to hear this sound. It's a great song. Unbelievable song. So just on Monday Night Football constantly now. Every week we get tweets being like, man, they're stealing this. This is just blatant rip-off. Yeah. And really it actually is being played Monday to football.

It is. Shout out everyone watching Monday of football. Yeah, so we're doing a power style. So, Kai, our producer, start the clock. Let's do this. Number one, Stephen Glansberg of the season. Guy we've not been talking about enough. Craig, you pick this one.

Seedy Lamb, receiver for the Cowboys. The skinny, seedy lamb has not gotten hurt this year. He seems to be holding up well physically. This man has been a top 10 wide receiver this year. We just haven't talked about it. No one's talked about it. C.D. Lamb is kind of living up to the hype of his potential. And it felt like the reason why I think we have fallen off,

kind of the discussion around C.D. Lamb and how good he is, is because everyone thought it was going to happen last year. Because Dak came back from his injury. It was like the perfect time was last year. It all was supposed to be last year. And it just didn't happen. He had like 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. And after that season, it felt like I lowered my expectations for him.

And then this year, he's completely taken off. He already has as many touchdowns as he had last season. And he's on pace for over 1,300 yards. And this team is a team that is kind of like a ground and pound, you know, run the ball, good defense team. And he's still having a fantastic year. He's shown that he can be a number one, and he's been healthy. So C.D. Lamb.

I think the other part of this equation is he started out the year a little bit slow, the first two weeks. In fact, the first week, he had two catches for 29 yards on 11 targets. They played the box in that weird game where they had three points and then Dak got hurt so it was Cooper Rush Well that's the thing

I think the most we talked about Cady Lamb this year was again him being just frail and then Dak broke his thumb and we were like the sky is falling for the Cowboys We were like what is going to go on with the Cowboys without Dak

And then ever since then Cid Lambs has been unbelievable Cooper Rush was like oddly competent and then the Cowboys I have a friend who I convinced through fantasy football this year but he wouldn't draft anyone other than Cowboys because he's a huge Cowboys fan

He started the year like 0 and 8 he's now like five and eight because the cowl really just Cowboys players like Noah Brown in his lineup like literally all Cowboys players he's not scoring 140 every week because he's like the lions he's like the real life lions just making a surge

good for him I'm really glad he's doing well because I was having like a crisis of faith for a minute there because I'm like I really believed in my heart that CD Lamb is a very talented good player and then like for a while is like am I the crazy one like do I just have like am I just blind I can't really see

what's happening here, he's just actually not very good. But thank God, he's actually really is good. No, you're just deaf from Tom Tom. He must be drinking his milk this year. As a Giants fan, I had the with the opposite feeling to the same thing of like, is he not good? Because that would be so nice. You know, I was thinking that would be great if C-D-Lam was not good.

Yeah. Yeah. Especially the Cowboys just keep drafting good players, which is infuriating. All right. Next Glansberg here. Craig didn't want this one. I don't care. Austin Echler running back for the Chargers.

We argued about this. And Craig basically. it was like Echler's too, like, famous to be Glansberg. I am overruling because there's one reason. He's literally the number one running back in PPR scoring. Like he's literally number one. He's number two and half PPR. That's our fault.

We've like barely talked about him. It's because he's just really good every week. And I know, sure, maybe that we should be talking about Glansberg in number one. But here's the thing. Austin Eccler is literally on pace for the second most catches by a running back ever. Yep. He has 85 catches already in 12 games. Do you know how many people have done that,

85 catches and 12 games? How many players overall? Yeah. I don't know. One, Austin Echler this year. He's the first person to do that. Most running, this is running backs only?

You're talking about running backs. Running back. Yeah, no, not receiving. Oh, okay. Running back. No, no, no. No, but that makes sense. Well, now, now it's really detracted from my point

because, wow, it's much less cool. But he's the first running back to have 85 catches through 12 games. Like, I mean, if you're in a lot of, full PPR leak, this is crazy. He's fourth in the NFL and catches, like, including everybody. Again, this is like it goes back to what we talk about where he's not quite to this level because he doesn't have that much rushing yards, but it's like having two, like an extra player on your team, like just over your competition, just like having two players instead

of one because he catches so many footballs. In addition to running, you know, he's rushed for seven touchdowns. It's not like he's like a stiff on the ground either. Yeah, the funny thing was that last year, Austin Eckler had 20 touchdowns and the narrative around him was, well, he's not going to do that again. Regression, blah, blah, blah. Well, he's got 12 touchdowns and 12 games this year, so he's on pace for 17. So he's not exactly slowing down.

Right. There's always one guy. Craig, you nailed this a few years ago. Like, every year there's one running back that gets 18, 19, 20, and we're like, that guy can't do it again, but they do. Yes. It was Anne Jones a few years ago. And it's like regression, generally right, except for like that one guy who's really good. Sometimes not. Yeah.

All right. Next one here. Oh, look at the timing. Boom. Incredible. Great song. Next one, D.K. Yo. Number three, player, we have not talked about enough this season. Remind your Stevenson, running back for the Patriots.

This is such a good one. Yeah, to me, I don't know why we haven't really talked about him that much, because he's having a breakout campaign. Like, he's been really, really good. He's been everything I think a lot of people wanted him to be, and more, especially on a Patriots team that has in the past really relied on, like, a rotation at the running back position most of the time. You know, it's always been really frustrating to try and guess who's going to be the top

guy in this offense. this year, and it does help, I will say that Damien Harris got hurt, but I think he was already trending towards being like the main 1A guy in this backfield. Ramandre is just absolutely taken over. He has a full-time role. And since he took over that like

really, you know, dominating snaps and everything full-time role in week five, he is the running back six. He's the running back eight in points per game on the full season. But since taking over, running back six, he's fourth among running backs and targets in that time. So again, this is kind of like the Echler discussion. Ramadre has quietly turned into one of the elite receiving backs in the NFL.

Fourth in catches in that stretch. Fourth in yards, receiving yards in that stretch. Second in target rate in that stretch, 22.4%. He's essentially being used like Chris McCaffrey, Camara, Echler. Last week, he had 98% of the snaps for the Patriots. DK, you just took that from my mouth because I was about to say, like, the shortcut to finding, like, elite running backs is just like, how often are they on the field? Because unless you're Alvin Camara and you just, like, like, actually. score touchdown a game. It's basically like, you know, really good running backs are on 65, 75%,

75% of the time. And then anyone over like 80% of the time, if you're on the field, 80% of the time, you're elite. 98%? I missed one snap last week. Like Bill Belichick. It's the first, it just gave one player the backfield for like 20, the first plow in like 20 years. It doesn't happen though. I mean, obviously it helps that Harris, it helps Romandre's case that Harris has been banged up. And I believe he was one, one play without Romandre Stevenson in 2020. That doesn't happen anymore. It just doesn't happen. I think to me, and I'll all respect Tom, Tom,

just give me one more thing to say. But the big story really is that he has turned into one of the elite receiving backs in the NFL. And that's super important going forward. He's a sleeper pick for the most valuable draft pick of the season. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. On that note, next one. Craig, next player, what we have not talked about.

Enough. 2022. Glansburg, Chris Olavie, receiver for the Saints. This dude is ninth in the NFL in receiving yards. Like,

not only is this man a rookie, but he's pretty much been the only weapon on the Saints since week three when Michael Thomas went down and he's just still impressing. I mean, and he's a huge deep threat guy.

He's third in the NFL in air yards. He only has two drops on the year. Like, he's super smooth and silky. Like, he just immediately looks like a professional wide receiver. And of all the, the rookies this year playing wide receiver year. Drake London had a really hot start.

Garrett Wilson's had a really like hot last four weeks. Traylin Berks is coming on. Christian Watson's going nuts. Pickens looks like a legit start. Out of all of that, Chris Olavay's been the best rookie wide receiver and he's the least talked about. Yeah. And the offense has been so bad, which is probably why he hasn't been talked about.

But I think to your point, there's so many receivers who have broken out recently this year, but also last few years, Justin Jefferson, so many good rookies. And Dike, I'm curious if you think about this. I feel like we see that a lot about, okay, Justin Jefferson comes on the scene, Jemar Chase, you're like, wow, what an incredible athlete, what a talent. Olave isn't exactly that as much as Olave just immediately looks hypercompetent. Yeah. In a way that I feel like polished, in a way I just don't feel like rookies just come in looking.

And he was like that immediately. Polished is the best word, I think, that you could use for that. Like, he's just, he's already looks like a veteran running routes. Like the way that he creates separation, the way that. that he sort of lulls a defender to sleep. I mean, I will say he is extremely fast. Like, he runs in the four twos, four threes. So it's not like he's slow.

But I think just the way he plays is very, he just looks like a veteran out there. And so, like, the sky is the limit. I mean, he's already putting up numbers that would sort of, like, you know, compete with any of these superstar elite receivers that we've seen over the last few years. And so, like, I'm just excited to see

what he can do down the line, especially with a good quarterback, you know? we're not doing bad with the timer. Yeah, a lobby is, yeah, he's just really impressive to watch. Another guy impressed to watch. Next, Glansburg player, we're not talking about enough so far this season. Dude, Deontra Hopkins for the Cardinals. Yeah.

I don't know where to put him because he was suspended for six games. So it's like, what are we, you know, but every year there's a, not every year, but every once in a while there's a star who's suspended for four, six, eight games, and nobody drafts him or he goes for a way, way, like, deflated price. That always is, it works out. It's always a smart pick. to just take the 29-year-old superstar who's missing six weeks.

Because you get him for like eight bucks in the draft and he turns out to, hey, what do you think? He's DeAndre Hopkins again. Unless it's Will Fuller. But no, you're right. So since Deontre Hopkins came back in week seven,

the only receivers that have more fantasy points than Hopkins are Devante Adams, Tyree killed Justin Jefferson. Wow. He's immediately as good as you thought it was. I love that. He has the type of game and I think I said this on the show

the last show. He has the type of game that will age well to me. Like, he's just, like, so, such a good route runner. He knows how to use leverage. He's just obviously got a really big wingspan and catches the ball better than almost anybody in the NFL.

So, yeah, I mean, it's been really, really impressive what he's been doing, especially considering, I think a lot of people were afraid he was, like, falling off. You know what I mean? Yeah, I kind of feel bad for Daniel J. Hopkins because he's going to have one of the better careers ever at wide receiver, and has just, it's just usually on pretty shitty teams, man. Like, this guy's going to be.

30 years old soon, and I don't know how many times he's made the playoffs. I think he did maybe once or twice with the Texans. But it's just a been a depressing career from a success standpoint for DeAndra Hopkins. You also mentioned falling off, Traverius Ward as a cornerback on the Niners, literally called him steroid boy. And then DeAndre Hopkins said he wanted to fight him in a boxing ring. But did you see that one-handed grab he made against the Chargers defender? It's like the best four-yard catch you'll ever see. The one where he's like falling down and he reached up to pluck it out of the air. Are you talking about that one? Yeah,

Kyle just imagine Carla Murray throwing a dart directly to a defender linebacker between the numbers and DeAndre Hopkins goes to save him like a movie from a bullet and just catches it

just snags it like it was like a fan like a dad grabbing like a ball in a foul baseball The all time dad saves that's a good like wormhole to go down to go down through like

there's a bunch of videos of dads like catching their kids while they're like reading their phone or something you know it's just like all time it was like that that instant better play by eye.

Okay. Next, Glansburg here, another controversial choice. Player we're not talking about enough. Number six. D.K., you had Daniel Jones. Quarterback for the New York Giants. So, Hyfitz, he quibbled with my selection of Daniel Jones on this. And I think it's because we've talked about the Giants a lot.

But we haven't really talked about Daniel Jones specifically all that much to me, especially what he's doing on the ground. I mean, he's been pretty good. Like, he's, number one, he's cleaned up the turnovers a lot based on. where he was early in his career. I went back and looked at some of the turnovers, like the turnover rate he had early in his career. 2019, he had 12 interceptions and 18 fumbles,

including 11 lost fumbles in 13 games. That was his rookie year. 2020, 10 picks, six lost fumbles. Last year, he got a little bit better, seven picks, three lost fumbles, and that was in 11 games. And then this year, he only has four picks and three lost fumbles in 12 games.

So he's like really cleaned up in terms of turnovers, which is huge for him. But the rushes, thing is really what's important, especially from a fantasy point of view. He is the QB9 right now. He's a top 10 quarterback in fantasy. I don't think anyone really expected that. That was like maybe like his ceiling outcome because he is athletic and everything. But I think we need to celebrate the fact that he's been actually really good in fantasy. He has 522 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He's fifth among quarterbacks and rushing fantasy points per game. Behind only

Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. I, it's, yeah, I just doesn't want to say anything good about him. I think, and I get that just basically as a fan. Like, he's not trying to change. Don't worry. No, no, that's not it. That's not it. I think that what's weird is that if this season was, it's funny that they're in the

playoff mix because if this season is supposed to be one thing for the Giants, it was get an evaluation on Daniel Jones because the previous years have all been just utterly wasted either through injuries or coaching. And it's like the most injured the Giants have been. And that even with this great season, Brian Daibald, it's like, we still have no idea what Daniel Jones is capable of. Because is it impressive that he's got them with seven wins with like Isaiah Hodgins as a starting receiver? Or is he just like, you know, a game manager being schemeed up to his max right now?

I don't know. And we won't know. And they're going to have to sign or do an extension or not based on really never having an actual team around him. God, they can't. I think they're going to. He's never had skill players in his life. He played a Duke. He's never had.

He's never had good players around him for whole season in his entire, like NFL caliber starting players around him in his entire season. Bill threw out this stat on his show on Sunday. Daniel Jones is on track for 3,300 yards and 740 rushing yards. So 3,300 passing yards, 740 rushing yards. There's eight players in the 3,000 passing yard, 700 rushing yard club in NFL history. Cam Newton, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hertz, Russ Wilson, Robert Griffin, and Randall Cunningham. Those are the eight. And Daniel Jones, if he continues to play and hits what he's on track for, he'll be the ninth.

Isn't that crazy? I was shocked Michael Vick wasn't on that list, but yeah. Michael Vick caught really, really close twice. In 2002, he had 2,900 yards and 777 rushing yards. In 2010, he went over 3,000 passing yards and almost 700 rushing yards. So he was just like right below the cusp on those. But still, that to me, that's like impressively. I'm disrespecting Tom.

Tom, I don't care. My gut on Daniel Jones is he has absolutely earned my respect with the combo of taking physical punishment and lowering his shoulder and like he's willing to just get hit in a way that a lot of quarterbacks aren't and then also I used to worry when he kept turning the ball over his first years

I literally was like I wonder how he crosses the street because he had just no pocket awareness and they can't send him to England because he's definitely just not going to look the right direction. Yeah actually but I the plague calling has been smarter his decision making has been smarter

it feels like he's been neutered like he's just like no longer the like crazy yeah he's like it he's like your crazy college friend that you meet and you're like, oh, he is like a fiance and it's like normal and doesn't do drugs anymore. He like started dating a girl with a kid so he's like really grown up pretty fast.

Whoa, you're wearing a tie? That's weird. Going to a funeral? The on play. He's like, yeah, I got a job in sales now. You're like, oh, all right. He's probably hit his, I think this is close to his max than his floor. Anyway, I'm sorry, I could talk about it for him. All right, next one, player we're not talking about enough

this season. Number 17. You had Terry McLaurin. No, Craig, you had Terry McLaurin for Washington. Yeah, so Terry McLaren was an accidental draft pick of mine. We need to come up with a fantasy. It's like the condom broke or something. Like I didn't plan on having Terry McLaren, but I got him. I was basically in a bidding war with somebody in my auction draft

because I thought he was going for like a relatively cheap price. And then the other person just backed off and I just landed with Terry McLaren. But he's been so fun to watch this year, especially after Carson Wentz. I think we need to anoint. Harry McCloran as the new Alan Robinson. There always needs to be like an overly talented wide receiver wasting their prime years with mediocre quarterbacks. And it's McLaren, man.

I mean, in his career, here is who he has caught passes from. Case Keenham, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz, and Taylor Heineke. That's it. Garrett Gilbert. Dude, I do not remember Garrett Gilbert getting involved in that. That's the way that you said that. And he's been awesome.

He's the top 15 wide receiver on the season He's only got three touchdowns. He's doing it the old-fashioned way With catches and yards. So, shout out McLaren. Hatches in the yard. Craig's, we got some really good analogies with the condom breaking.

He's doing it the old-fashioned. He's the missionary position of fantasy stars. Just fucking points and yards. Back in my day. Hyphids, he just tore up your giants. How does it feel rooting against Terry McLaren? You know what? It's funny you ask.

I feel like an existential crisis in a lot of my sporting fandom because all the teams that I have to hate are filled with really likable people. Oh, McLaren's awesome. Terry McLaurin, like Washington, obviously easy to hate, but Terry McLaurin is like a very likable person.

I think the team of Washington is likable. I think the commanders are. They are, the players, too. Jonathan Allen, if you're Jonathan Allen talk, is like very likable. Dude, the Eagles, Jalen Hertz, how do you not like Jalen Hertz? How do you read against them?

It's like, no way. Cowboys, Dack is likable. you know, the Cowboys defense is legit fun to watch. And then like, no one cares, but like baseball. It's like, it's like, it gives your division with the Blue Jays. It's like, how do you root against Vlad Guerrero Jr? Like the Red Sox of Raphael Devere. Like all these teams I grew up hating, I kind of look.

I'm like, wow, do you seem like fun guys that are nice, but also they're having a good time. Yeah. And I don't know how to hate them anymore. You got to get your shit together, man. I don't know. Find a way to hate them. That's what fans do. Yeah.

I need to hate Terry McLaurin. You got to manufacture something. Next one here, DK, number eight player. We are not talking about enough this season. Brandon and Iyuk for the 49ers. My guy, Brandon. Quietly, he's been the best and most reliable 49ers skill player this year. Obviously, CMC coming in and kind of like steals his thunder.

And you could probably say he's more valuable and everything. But on the season, team high 56 catches, team high 698 yards, team high six touchdowns, 13.4 pbr points per game. I was actually surprised to find out that Debo has now scored more points per game than Ayyuk. because it felt like Debo or sorry, felt like Ayuk has been way, way more just consistent week in and week out.

He's just always giving you that floor. And an offense that is very just like all over the place it feels like. Every game, this has been sort of like the story for the 49ers. It's like every game, a different superstar steps up and like is the guy for them, whether it's Kittle, whether it's CMC,

whether it's Elijah Mitchell, whether, you know, Jeff Wilson was that guy for a little while. They got so many different players in the offense. But I feel like Ayukes, has quietly been super just consistent. And I've been plugging him into my lineups every week, and I've just been happy with it.

So I just wanted to throw that out there. Just that basically, he's one of those guys that I just haven't regretted drafting at all. Well, the Niners have so many famous skill players, right? Like George Kittle's super famous. Debo Samuel's super famous. Now they have McCaffrey's super famous. The Niners as an organization are super famous.

Right. And then there's just Ayuk who's really good and not even a fraction as famous as anybody else. So I feel like he does get kind of just brushed under the rug in the overall conversation about how fun and cool the Niners are, but he's probably one of the more overqualified number three options in the league. You have T. Higgins, who's like the best number two in the league. Ayuk is probably right there below him as a top five guy who's not a number one.

I think it's a good point. I think the left tackle, Trent Williams is probably more famous than Brin and Iyukas, honestly. How many people, like, close your eyes. You probably know what Trent Williams' face looked like. How many people actually know what Brandon's face even looks like, never mind what his voice sounds like. Yeah. It's hard to be on the same team as Devo Samuel.

Debo Samuel is like one of the coolest players in the NFL. You know what I mean? It's just, it's just going to overshadow him. Great song. All right. Next up here, this is the one that actually inspired this episode this week. Right. Number nine, Glansberg, player not talking about enough this season.

Tyler Lockett for the Seahawks. Yeah, he was the inspiration. He was the reason we did this segment. He just, again, we just don't appreciate him enough. And I think along this almost similar, lines as Iyuk. It's obviously, it's probably difficult to play alongside TK.K. Metcalf, one of the coolest, sexiest players in the NFL.

Just like big personality. Adonis. Literally the sexiest. He's extremely sexy. And then there's Lockett, who's been really just incredibly consistent all year. He's actually outscored D.K. McCaff this season. Lockett is the wider receiver 10. He's been consistent his whole life. Disciplined.

Well, in a lot of ways. Well, he has been very disciplined. Consistent, though, I would quibble with that term because I feel like he was a joke about what we talked about gotcha, gotcha. He consistently doesn't have sex. Right.

That was, yeah. He's absolutely because he has faith and discipline unlike, you know, other people. Okay. He's just, you know, him and DK just lead Metcalfe. I don't know about you, D.K., but D.K. Metcalfe and Tyler Lockett

lead different lives. That's, well, that's true. You know, different strokes, as Craig said. However, like, I'll point out, Lockett kind of got a reputation for being incredibly boom or bust over the years.

And part of that was like just those nature the Seacox offense over the years where it was run heavy and then throw the ball deep. And sometimes Lockett would catch like a big pass or whatever. And then sometimes he wouldn't. This year he has just two games with fewer than 11 fantasy points. Like that's like his floor, 11 points. And I know that sometimes that's not going to win you a week, but he's also not going to lose you a week.

So I just think I really appreciate what he's been doing. I went back and looked at the ADP. Metcalf was the wide receiver 19 in PPR in drafts. Lockett was the wide receiver 38. We do this every year with him. just we always underwrite and undervalue Tyler Lockett. I think we always assume it's a fluke. He's a deep threat guy.

Oh, Russell Wilson's gone. It's not going to work out this year. And every year he delivers. Yeah. Well, I think that the thing that was a joke that isn't a joke that's a joke that I kind of believe is Tyler Lockett. We kind of had pinned as a deep, deep threat because Russell Wilson was not tall enough to see him on the short and the intermediate.

And now Geno Smith can actually like see Tyler Lockett and he's even better. Yeah. But I'm also convinced that DK McKeff and like the Gino, Smith being good. If you got Lockett and Metcalf together, it's low-key one of the best things you could have gotten in the entire draft. It's like to have both those players. Next one here, players are not talking about enough. I think in the Glansberg scale, this is the most Glansberg, Glansberg, maybe in the entire list. Pat Friarmouth. Petty Friars. I don't know the last time we said Pat Friamuth's name on this. I don't think we have. It might be months, years. I don't know.

Of all of the 70-plus-yard games by a tight end this season, first place is. Travis Kelsey with seven. Second place is Pat Fryermouth with five. This dude came in as a rookie and kind of immediately lived up to his draft capital. He scored the fourth most tight ends in a season ever by a rookie. Touchdowns? Touchdowns, sorry. And then he kind of just hasn't looked back. Like he's been very good this year. He's been a little banged up, but he's on pace for almost 900 yards. And what's been more impressive this year, in my opinion, is that tight ends oftentimes survive on touchdowns. Once again, Friermouth do it the old-fashioned way. He's only got one touchdown this year. Catches and yards. And the dude is the number seven tight end on the season. He feels like a

stealer also. He's like a perfect fit. He's like reliable, sure-handed, tough. He's got the last name that the fans can chant. Like he's got the mood. Crucial. Which is perfect for Pittsburgh like Heath Miller. I think he's like officially, you know, next year in fantasy drafts. Friarmooth is going to be in that tier too. He's going to be with like Hawkinson, Kittle and Pitts, in my opinion. I completely agree. You know how like there are some players that are cool and you immediately you want to anoint to like the top of their position like Jim R Chase last year. You're like, oh, yeah, he's top five, top, you know, whatever, Craig with George Pickens. And then there are other players where you kind of begrudging, like even if you kind of know

that they should be elevated, you kind of just don't want to consider them higher than tier. It's the Brandon Cooks Award. You don't want to admit he's good, but he is. Exactly. I don't think I really wanted to admit how good Pat Friarmouth was a tight end, both in real life and in fantasy until the Steelers basically said that they traded Chase Claypool because they felt that his role was redundant with Pat Friarmooth. Oh, wow.

He's the number four tight end in PPR. Number seven and half you are. Yeah. Number four. He's the only wide receiver in the top 15 in points with one touchdown. Like, he's just cranking out yards and catches. The whole fashion way. Great tight end.

Great song. All right. Next up, but we got a bonus. 11th player. We have not talked about enough this season at True Glansberg. Really, maybe the leading Lansberg in the campaign. category. Miles Sanders, running back for the Eagles. He just exists. He's such a Glansberg, honestly. I don't have anything to say about him. He's fine. He's like a great rusher. He's a lot of

rushing yards. He has fewer catches than Derek Henry. Like, Eagles are good. He scored touchdowns this year. That's like the only thing. He scored touchdowns. Yep. Yeah, he did that. Yeah. Last year he didn't. This year he did. Talking back. The real reason I want to talk about Miles Sanders. We had talked on a previous episode, I think our last episode, about the old boxing myth but like that people really

like plenty of like majority of boxers still believe that you shouldn't have sex in the run up to a fight and it's like kind of like is that true because of biology or is that just like their trainers wanted them

to not go out and party and like focus on boxing just like gotta raise those T levels and so like football players like also subscribe just a lot of coaches do

so we were just like is that true? or like what and like who still believes in this? Anyway, just so happens. Miles Sanders. Did you guys see what happened? Like his DMs kind of leaked this week. Did you see?

No. No, I didn't see that actually. Basically a, like a pert. Like this like, I don't know, lady friend. I don't know. Basically like dumped all his DMs that they'd been DMing on like Twitter. And she made a TikTok of like it was like one of the day in the life videos. But it was like she called it a what's a sneaky.

Oh, what did the kids say these days? It's like a sneaky side piece, basically. And it was all these DMs. And he literally DMs her, if he can get, can I get, like, head before my game? So he does not subscribe to that idea. No, but here's the thing. Was this two weeks ago when he had like 140 yards and two touchdowns? Or was like three weeks ago when he had like 45 yards total?

We need the metadata. I want to see. Get the metadata. We have home road splits. We have like, you know, weather. splits. I kind of want to see the splits on this from Miles Sanders. That's interesting. What game was it that they played

that he had the 40 yards? Is it Tennessee? The Titans. I can't get the date though on these these DMs. Do you think he was like, hey babe, we're playing the Titans like they're going to lock me up anyway, so I might as well. Let me get my rocks off. They ain't going to be my day.

I don't need a testosterone this week. We also got, that's power hour, but I'm just getting jumping into like reader emails right or listener emails right now because we got an email about this too so this last episode we talked about this and Craig also made a joke in that episode about how I have all these dumb stats that are like the sports science guy who just sounds like a loser doing dumb stats and someone actually pointed out that somehow we didn't make the connection sports science actually did an

episode on this about sex before games really yeah did the guys did the hosts of the show test out the theory see if they're better at boxing after getting down dude a heavy they found a heavyweight boxer. I'm not going to lie. The whole thing really questioned my statistical rigor of the show. Right. Like, this is not necessarily the scientific method. They found one guy who is a former heavyweight champ. I did, I know there's like a thousand titles in boxing. I didn't quite, I didn't look up which. His name's Chris Bird. He said, this is something I've always wanted to disprove, which one I just thought was so funny. He's like, yeah, I'm really passionate about this. He's like, I've had sex before all my prize fights. I did great. And I was like, that's definitely

like science. Like, let's just find someone who wants to prove it. Just test that one guy. This is one guy's opinion. Yeah. Yeah. He just wanted everyone to know he was having sex. So. So,

good for you, Chris. That guy fucks. We also got emails. Oh my God. Okay. So last week, I don't even remember what we were talking about.

It doesn't matter. We were talking about Mike White. Okay, Mike White. And D.K. brought up the movie, The Legends of the Fall. Yeah.

To just stun silence from Craig and I. And then D.K. got so mad that Craig and I'm not seen Legends of the fall or heard of it. Wow. To be clear, you hadn't heard of it and Craig hadn't seen it. It has been a real thorn in our side this week. All the legends

of the fall content. Dude. Let me, let me just I cannot tell you how many people emailed us about this. How many? Give me an estimate. A lot. 30? More than you thought. More than saw the movie in theaters. This movie is sort of, this is an email from Sam. Sam. Sam. Sam writes,

let me preface this by saying I listen to every episode of The Big Picture, one of the ringers movie podcasts from Sean Fantasy. I am a diehard member of Sean Fennessy's currently on named Fanbase. I was a film minor in college. I spent multiple hours a week on the letterboxed app. I am an AMC A-list subscriber.

I've seen over 200 movies this year, new and old. I follow the Oscars like it's fantasy football from January to March, and I play several movie-themed daily games like Wordle for movies every morning. I'm establishing as Bonifides there. I think I can see where this is. You say bona fides?

Bonafides. Yeah. Oh. Okay. He's establishing his credentials. No, I know. Yeah. We'll move on.

Got tripped up there for a second. I think I can see where this is going and I'm loving it. High Fitz keep going. Sam says, I have never heard of Legends of the Fall. Fucking blows my mind. Ever. Not once.

My family literally comes from Montana. And no one has ever mentioned this to me. He's a cinephile. who's never heard of a movie that stars Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins like two of the biggest names in like movies history. Sam, as a film major,

as somebody who wants to work in film, as somebody who produces the rewatchables who watches, I don't know, 50 to 100 movies every year at least. I feel you. Let's talk. Here's my reaction. I probably overreacted

in the moment because it was more of like a generational, I think, dispute than anything. Like, I was just shocked you guys didn't seen that. I'm not saying it's like the most important movie in movie history. I thought it was bigger than apparently it is. I asked

Sean Fennacy about this. The guy, you know, this guy loves Sean Fennacy's podcast, so I asked Sean Fennacy about this. Here's what he said. I think it's understandable to be sub-30 and have not seen it, not have seen it. To not, to have not heard of it is definitely strange.

It's based on a beloved novel. Sean has heard of every movie that's ever been made. Sean is the last person you should ask. This man is so inside the bottle he can't read the label. What are you talking about? He's like the, he's the most expert person we could ask. D.K., that's literally the, okay, so if he's through the bottle, then we just got it. If this is your argument, Craig, we dismiss this guy too, who's like way too obsessed with movies. That's a fair point. I don't think that's how, no, it's not because you're asking a movie expert if they, the amazing part is that someone who's like an expert of movies has not seen it or heard of it.

That's the amazing part. He started this email saying he listens to every episode of The Big Picture and he's diehard member of Sean Fennesse's currently unnamed fan base. I asked Sean about it. Let me finish what he said. He goes, it's based on a beloved novel. It's directed by the guy who made Glory and Blood Diamond. And it's the first film that really launched Pitt into the stratosphere of fame. That was his reaction.

So he's absolving you if you're sub 30 and you haven't seen it, but he thinks it's weird if you haven't heard of it. And I agree. This is so perfect that you're doubling. down because we have another email that I wasn't sure if I'm going to read, but I'm going into it because it's half this and half low stakes conspiracy theory from John. John, John writes, D.K. postured so hard about Legends of the Fall and got exposed because I don't think he's seen the film because that segment was funny because D.K. dismissed Craig and D.H. for not knowing the film, but then asked several follow-up questions like what the movie's title is, the plot,

and became very dodgy about all details. I could feel his pulse run. I could feel his pulse rising. I think we were trying to figure out what the title meant, not what the title was. We asked why it was called Legends of the Fall and you couldn't really give us an answer. I don't know the etymology of the movie's name. I have seen the movie. But usually, if somebody has seen a movie, they can usually describe why the movie is titled, what it's titled. I think I could explain why a movie is titled, even if it's bad. I could explain why a title of a movie is the title for literally every movie I've ever seen. Okay, good try turning this around. I mean, none of this makes any fucking sense.

So here's the thing. John literally ends this email with saying. John says if D.K. will just admit he does not remember the movie at all. We can have a nice healing moment. And if he denies it, I will do the audio equivalent of Zepruder film analysis. Are you reading the same email with the guy that mentioned Bart the Bear? Oh, yeah.

Yes. Okay. Yeah. We also went from Oliver. Same thing. I'm a huge sinophile. Follow all the limited releases. I can say for certain hyphets crack, 100% right, not well remembered.

And as someone who has actually seen the movie. movie. Extremely boring movie. I think I turned it off before the end. Man, I can't... That, like, excludes you from having an opinion. Terrible, terrible take. It's a great movie. There's a reason why this movie has not endured. I can't say why. I haven't seen it, but there is a reason.

I feel like so many of these people are like, there's a reason this that hasn't endured. I haven't seen the movie, but there's a reason for that. It's like, come on. I am doubling to... The guy that thinks I haven't seen this movie, like that's the dumbest take this whole thing.

I actually can, I will backtrack on my shock that you guys hadn't seen it or heard of it because, yes, it's not like in massive pop culture still or whatever. Like, that's fine. It's not in the zeitgeist. It's not in the zeitgeist.

I was afraid to use that term because I didn't want to sound like, you know, a weirdo, but yes, I was thinking that. We might have to do a, could we do a, like a little spin-off of the rewatchables

and just do a one-eeper episode watchables and just do. Watch it one time. Don't ever watch it again. Watchable, watchable question mark. Okay, you guys, I feel like we're losing

the Force of the Tree. It has fucking Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins in it. Like, I, that's the whole take. Also, Bart the Bear is in it, which we talked about

but it got cut out there really fun. You know any movies Anthony Hopkins has been in? I don't know. How many? Bart the Bear is cool. This is the second Anthony Hopkins Bart the Bear movie.

How many movies has Brad Pitt been in? A lot. Have you seen, have you not seen a lot of Brad Pitt's movies? I'm sure I haven't seen all of them. You know what the funniest part of this is? He's like the most famous actor. Second maybe to like Tom Cruise. I think, D.K., what you're missing

is that you're like a very calm level. You guys haven't seen the movie. Fine, you're right. What I'm missing is you're like one of the more calm level-headed people I know. And you feel stronger about this than like anything I've ever talked to you about. I actually don't honestly feel that strong. Like I said, you guys are probably right. Like, it's not in pop.

Like, people don't quote it anymore. So, like, I get that. The fact that. Anymore. As if they ever did. You keep alluding. No, you keep doing it. It's not a quotable movie.

It's like a war movie. You keep saying it's not in the popular zeitgeist anymore, like, implying that it was. It was like the 18th picture at the box off. Again. Again, again, it was because it started fucking Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins, like two of the most famous actors in the world. What are you fucking talking about? Have you seen favor, the favor?

No. 1994, Brad Pitt. You didn't see that? Why not? Bill Pullman? Brad Pitt? Bill Pullman is not the same level as Anthony. I just say, I don't know.

Coming off Independence Day? What year was Legends of Fall? 1994. I was born that year. Oh, my God. When's your birthday, Craig? August 2nd. August, Legend of the Summer.

What's the favor about it? Well. So, wait, wait, wait, sorry. We had multiple. days. I don't think he's, I don't think he has a big role in it, to be honest. Hold up. Hold up, hold up, hold up. Sorry, seven years in Tibet. I haven't seen that. I've seen that. Wait, stop. Did we ever figure out why it was called Legend of the Fall? We had days to figure this out. It was in reference to, uh, it was, I think it was the name of the book that the movie was based on.

But what, but why? It's based on the legends of the fall is like the fall is like the fall from innocence or whatever. Yes, yes. Right. Adam and Eve. Okay. I think it's also like, I'll push back on your bullshit, like, accusation that I should know what every movie title is supposed to be in reference to. Like, there's a lot of really fucking vague movie titles. Give me one. Literally, Nate, what is one movie that you can watch the movie and then be like, I don't know why that is the title? There's been, there's many. I'll make a list.

I can't think of anything off the top of my head. I'm not saying it's like the most common thing. But it's definitely not uncommon. I'm not trying to be like a genuine question. I can't think of a movie where I'm like, I don't know why they named it that. Let's look up the list of Oscar winning movies and last like whatever. Craig, pull up the list. Independence Day.

No country for old men? Yeah, what's that mean? It means it's like hard to be old, hard to get old in Texas. What's that mean? Yeah, that's the theme of the movie. Okay. It's not an old man's game. I think it's pretty vague, though.

Let's go. If it's Google what that means. You thought it was about a waterfall. I was joking, you fucking idiot. God, dude. It says the old country for old men, no country for old men. It's about the meaning refers to the passing of time and generational change. Pretty much what we said.

No, that's not what we said. We said, oh, it's hard to live in Texas is what I said. Dicke, you were, okay, that was not the part we were going on. Dick, I think you were doing well, but like this is not the hill you want to die on. You don't have to tell me what fucking hill to die on, pal. That's what the hills are for. gladiator. I mean, I don't want to get too meta here, but like, you're the old man of this podcast, so I'm just saying. Yeah, I know. I embrace that. Uh, let's see here. The departed. No country. Yeah. Argo. Departed. People who died.

Argo. What's that? What's Argo? Argo was the name of the fake company they used to get into Iran, wasn't it? Yeah. Wasn't it, he says at the end? It's the name of the movie. I haven't seen it in 10 years. It's the name of the fake movie. Oh, well, Kaifitz, you're supposed to know automatically what the name of the movie means. I literally just did. You're fighting on Technicallet. What are you doing right now? No, you got it wrong. You literally just got it wrong. I'm sorry, company. You got it wrong. Are you, is this what it's like to talk to me all the time? Yes. 100%.

Name a few other ones. Best pictures. Spotlight. Birdman. Coda. What's Cota mean? It means... Cota isn't that the name

in sign language? I didn't see that. It's an acronym for Child of Deaf Adult, I think. Okay. I would say that's super obvious. Well, when you watch the movie, it is. What's the shape of water? My point is, if you've seen the movie...

What's the shape of water? You know what? That one you can have. that one you can have that's the that's the exception that proves the rule I've seen shape of water

and yeah what's that one beat what's a bird man Birdman's the name of the play that Michael Keaton's in in Birdman right no it plays the superhero the character is birdman

name bird man what's the hurt locker what's that mean well hurt locker is like a phrase meaning like you're in like you're in like a bad place like you're in a state of uncomfortability and pain which is like where

Jeremy Reiner's character is Yeah. No, that is what the hurt locker means. He's telling you. You ever use that phrase? I mean, the hurt locker. It doesn't matter if I use it. It's not a, he doesn't diffuse bombs in the Middle East.

I'm actually just going through all the lists here. It's fun. I literally. The silence of the lambs. That one's pretty fucking vague. If you would watch the movie, you'd understand what the silence of the lambs means. All right. Well, it feels like, do we get anywhere?

I don't know. I think it's ridiculous that you would say it's obvious what the movie title of any given movie means. I think it's obvious why they named it all the time. I think there's a lot of very vague movie titles that wouldn't be very obvious just like the layperson. I agree. I agree. Generally, I think you're right. Most of the time. Especially when the movie is named after like a book or something. Yes, sure. All right. Well, I can just skip this last email because. This is the whole email about how men are. This is from Chris.

Sorry, Chris. And it's basically he was like, he got in a long argument about how men are dumb and like beyond doing dumb things, men can have dumb arguments. And he was like, him and his friends had a four hour argument over the course of a week about whether highways or freeways or freeways or highways and like square rectangle. And they had all these arguments. And they had a fourth friend join. And here's the both sides in 20 seconds.

It immediately takes aside. And then they spend an hour. And they're like, you know what? Women would never talk about this from within 20 seconds. and then Chris ends the email with, So what stupid arguments do you guys have with your friends? But I think I answered that. Are the names of movies obvious and clear always?

I would still argue after having watched The Legends of Fall, it's not super clear what the title means. Like, maybe they needed a better title. Maybe the title is the reason you guys fucking haven't watched it. Who knows? Maybe it's just bad branding. Honestly, it's a bad title. Terrible titles.

All right. We haven't done the goodbye ever. everyone. Jesus. Age Christ. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,

D.K. Thank you to everyone who, A, emailed us to say we were right. Thank you to everyone who is going to email us after this at ringerfantasy football gmail.com

to weigh in on this and mostly thank you to anyone everyone who slogged through all that. Don't worry. It'll just be Craig and I. Thank you to Kai for production help. Thank you, Lauren. Thank you.

Legends never die. I don't actually know anything about that. this band. I've never heard of them. I don't know anything about this band. I just Googled Legends into Spotify. Did you just reveal your process? Is that what you've been doing this all that?

That's not my process. It turns out Legends Never Die as a song by the band against the current. Against the current is great because that's what D.K., that's the way he's swimming in this movie argument. And you know what's perfect about it? Got the name wrong.

Sean agrees with me, so that's fine. The guy who's seen the most movies ever. The person who knows the most about movies I know also knew this movie. This is, okay, first of all, again, this is the argument all these emailers are having. They all come out of the weeds saying they're the best experts on movies. They've never heard of this. You want to know a Brad Pitt movie I haven't seen that he's the lead in? And I think, I don't actually know if it was successful, but it's like a popular movie because I think it's so bad.

Or I don't know. some people love it, I'll stop caveating. Meet Joe Black. Yeah. I've never seen that movie, but it has that really terrible scene that, like, got famous fun. He gets hit by, like, a car and flies in the air and then just gets smushed by another car or something like that. He gets, like, very brutally murdered by a car. Well, no, he plays the human personification of death, doesn't he? I always scroll by that on TBS, and I just was like, me. I think he plays, like, the Grim Reaper or something.

I don't know. The devil. Have you seen? I have read the... I've read the description on the channel guide of this movie so many times and just never like stuck. DK., have you seen it? Yeah, but I don't remember it that well. Who else is in it?

Oh, I don't remember the name of the actress, but... Anthony Hopkins is in it, motherfucker. Anthony Hopkins is in it, too? Stop it. Stop it. They are the two leads of the movie, the poster. Anthony Hopkins grabbed it. Yeah.

Here's the deal. I've seen it, and I fucking. heard of it. Again, you're not making the point you think you made, Hyphitz. I don't know. Just funny coincidence. It is a funny coincidence. Wait, why is it called that? Again, I don't, I don't know what point you're making. All right. Well, anyway, this will be a fun fascination of why this podcast broke up. So I hope everyone enjoyed the last episode of the Winter Fantasy Football Show. Goodbye, everyone.