The "Zero RB" concept strikes the NFL

We've missed you. Triumphant return. Just gotta remember to turn the mic on. That is that's every episode after months in episode I Do I Do I It's it's my trademark. It really is very impressive. What else will be impressive over the course of the show is when we break

down every game. Fantasy Style will give you nine players upon whom you can take a chance, three tough questions, and we will give you premature speculation guys to pick up this week that everybody else will be trying to pick up next week, but you will be ahead of the curb. It is a brutal week in that it's the bye weeks and there's like a dozen starting running backsh are Hurt. It's really really nasty out there at running back in UM, I've got a league where I'm

gonna be starting Khalil Herbert and Alex Collins. His name is Khalil ground Bear. Thank you, good point, Kalil ground Bear and and Alex Collins. And it's a it's for like for my life here. So jeez, is it the one word together? I might die? I don't like dying breaking news. Uh, let's let's dive right into the matchups, shall we? Texans taking on the Colts. Maybe just get this one out of the way, right off the bat Scott, although maybe there's some there's some sneaky Colts plays in

this one because of the Texans side. But let's let's start with the Texans. No, I actually have a grades across the board every all Texans. I only have two startable grades for the Texans and one as kind of if he hat best. Brendon Cooks gets the A grade despite kind of having a dud last week. But the Patriots are known for taking away your best option, and the Texans really have one option, so they took it away last week. I think he gets back on the

board this week. Similar guys speedy like outside, the guys like cup or not cup It, lock It, Hollywood Brown, etcetera. Went for a hundred plus and two scores against the Colts. I think he gets that target chair back, so I do have an A grade on him here. Uh, Davis Mills, I'm giving a weird C grade here. Who thought that he would be the rookie quarterback to break that Bill

Barrel Belichick narrative. Shocking performance last week by Davis Mills, who legitimately looked good coming off a Nathan Nate Nathan Peterman esque game the week before. I was stunned that he shook off that game and then went out and battled Belichick. Really impressive. Yeah, just yeah, it's yeah. I did not see it coming either. The Colts have allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL, a ridiculous sev completion rate against their fourth worst against fantasy quarterbacks. It's

more of a super flex league thing. He could he could really turn back into a pumpkin. But I'm giving him a just a shot in the dark sea grade here. It's it's a good matchup. On the other side, I

have Carson Wentz on the bench. He's averaging uh, you know, three yards and two touchdowns per gamer last two weeks, and the the Texans are deceptive and they allow a lot of points to quarterbacks, but it includes a ton of rushing stats, and Carson Wentz on those ankles is not getting those rushings dats, so I have him on the bench. In the passing game, I'm only starting, uh, starting Pittman for the receivers. As you can imagine, the

Texans are our seventh best against fantasy wide receivers. It's it's a little yeah, you probably can't imagine as what I have. Let's sit here best as much as it's we don't have to throw to wide receivers, right, that could be too But Pittman's commanding a twenty five percent target share, which is pretty ridiculous. Six plus catches in four straight averaging about eighty five yards, and those he's the safe floor just because he gets a lot of targets. So I have a B grade on him. Moyley Cox,

I've going down to tight ends here. B grade on that the Texans are currently ranked last against fantasy tight ends. I think there's a lot of noise when you do ranks towards fantasy tight ends because they tend to be weighted towards who you've played. If you played, yeah, have you seen a really good tight end yet? Um? But there averaging the overagely line tight ends are scoring against them is seven for seventy five and they've allowed four scores in five weeks, so most notably Henry and Knox

put up big numbers. But I'm putting B grade on there because he's he's been in three four catches yards, So B grade there. Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, I'm giving an A grade too. He's looking like that Bell Cow gang. Yeah, it's a good man match up. He's a lock for sixteen plus touches. He's seen three plus targets in four or five In the Texans. They're allowing four point seven five yards per per tote and a hundred forty three combo yards per game. That's a lot of work there. Unfortunately,

I'm leaving Haines and Mack on the bench. Mac is getting a ton more work now, I see. I think Mac in a if you're really desperate a running back, which many people are this week, if you think the blowouts coming in favor of the Colts. I think Mac gets some fourth quarter work here beyond what he would normal to feature him a little bit. Are you trying to right? Yeah? Great angle, And you're trying to push me into a C grade. I'm not. I'm just I'm just I'm not trying to push you to a C

grade on him. But I think if you're if you're desperate enough, Marlon Mack, if only there was some sort of grade that was between C and F. But there's not, so we'll leave him on the bench. Mean, I mean he he had ten snaps last week, but he turned five carries into almost fifty yards. That's true. Uh, sorry, I'm leaving on the bench. Judge likes it. If you're desperate, though, I mean it's running backs in week six D alright, alright? Is that it's I wasn't sure. I wasn't sure that

that's what you meant. Raiders take on the Broncos Matt Josh Jacobs missed a bunch of time this week with illness, but is expected to go against the Broncos. What do you think of Josh Jacobs now that he's back? Is the mostly bell cow here? Yeah? It was a non COVID illness, so it looks like he's gonna be suiting up this weekend. I think the Steelers laid down the blueprint blueprint to beat this defense last week, and it was a bell cow performance by Naji Harris that did it.

Carries yards in a score that's kind of Josh Jacobs, and I think that's what they have to do this week to kind of set a tone with a new coaching staff. There. I gotta b grade on him. Every runner with more than eleven carries has scored on the Broncos this year, which is good because Josh Jacobs has played the bron Goes three times in his career. He scored twice in every game he's played against the Broncos. I did not realize it was that good. He tames

the Broncos like no other. Does he break the Broncos? Yes he does. Yep, yep. We never get to use that. We rarely get I'm like, okay, do we have a horn? We got every animal here, we must have the horse, and do we have a beeping car horn? Because Derek carrs on the bench in this game. First three games he averaged four one yards and two scores per game.

Last two games against the Chargers and Bears, he's averaging two one yards and one score per game, which is exactly half of what he's done in the first three. I think he adds that negative total as the Broncos are bordering on elite defensively against the past. They're allowing two or twenty two passing yards and one score per game. Uh, and they're almost averaging the same amount of picks as

they are touchdowns allowed. Uh. The only receiver I really have a starting grade on for him is Darren Waller, who I'm giving a B. The Broncos are actually a good tight end defense, allowing only three catches and thirty yards the position. However, the only tight end they faced who is on any fantasy rosters at all is Mark Andrews, and he went for five catches and sixty seven yards. Plus. Waller's gone over a hundred yards and two of his last three meetings with the Broncos, so maybe he also

can break the Broncos. The rest of the receivers i'd play in this order, but honestly i'd bench them all. Henry Ruggs first, then Hunter renfro then Brian Edwards. The trio of Kyle Fuller, Patrick certain and Brian Callahan. It's probably the best group of corners in the league. But Fuller is the one that can be attacked. He stays on the left side. Ruggs heads that way more than anybody else, so he's got the best chance of a long touchdown. Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams on the other side.

Gordon has been limited in practiced this week with a hip injury, so keep an eye on that. And Javonte Williams is like the apps lout statistical darling when it comes to guys who who are doing a lot with not a lot of touches. Yet he's almost splitting the workload with Gordon, but he's off the charts and his elusiveness ratings and miss tackles and all those fun nerdy stats, well,

and just look at him. In each of the last two games, he has had eye popping runs that make you go, man, there's like four backs in the NFL could that could have been on what I just saw? This dude looks like a top five back and he's just not getting the workload right. So if Gordon ends up not going this one, I'd give Javonte Williams an A grade in this spot, and if Gordon does go, they both get bees. The Raiders are allowing four point five yards per carry and have allowed the ninth most

rushing yards this season. They're also giving up a touchdown and a half to the wide receiver or the running back position. That I should say so I like both of these runners in this game. Both startable in a in a weird week of running backs, Teddy Bridgewater. He's on the bench though. The Raiders past defense has been awesome this year. Shockingly. Yeah, it's the pass rush. Their Their pass rushers are great, allowing only two seventeen yards and just over a score per game, both our top

five numbers. You can start Courtland Sutton with a C grade, but I'm gonna give him the Dead Sea grade since the Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on Earth feet below sea level, so it's like a subtracted sea level. It's it's like the lowest it's the lowest sea you can get h the Raids. The raiders one week spot in their past defense is a meek Robinson who may fill in a few extra snaps for the dinged up Casey Hayward or Nate Hobbs, both of whom are dealing

with some injuries this week. Robertson has been scored on twice and only thirteen targets on the season, so Sutton would certainly see him on the outside, and Noah Fant, I'm giving a B grade two. The Raiders have been dinged up by some mid tier tight ends recently, with Mike Gasiki going for ten catches and eighties six yards Jared Cook getting six seventy and one uh two weeks ago,

So why not Fant. He's averaging six targets per game, which only trails Sutton on the target leaderboard in Denver, so he's a B grade. Charges take on the Ravens. Austin Ekeler has been running great and he's an obvious as my factor is my top ranked running back this week. Ravens are getting killed by pass catching runners in particular, and that's Austin Ekeler's forte. I don't have a fantasy art Vark this week. If you'd like to give it

away you you can go ahead there. In the passing game, Justin destroyed the Cleveland defense that was very good up until now, So no hesitation. Here, the Ravens have allowed the fourth most passing yards three hundred fifteen per game, and oddly enough, justin air Bear is averaging three hundred fifteen passing yards per game, so let's put him on a three exactly three hundred fifteen yard passing game. Here.

Both the starting receivers have strong matchups and so do tight ends, and let's use that as our way to go to Keenan Allen. His nickname is the Slayer? Do we have an animal noise for the Slayer? Is there a slayer noise? We can probably not. There's probably music. Yeah, no, no, god no, we definitely not. O. No, we can't even

get the chip bugs take how about this? Known for their slaying ducks, Keenan Allen gets an A grade Baltimore stingy to opposing receivers, but their most vulnerable in the slot, and that brings in Keenan Allen, What am I doing? There's our slayer? Come on, we had it all along. Hunter renfro calif Raymond in Paris Campbell of all posted at least four receptions and fifty yards from the slot against the Ravens. Allen's obviously better than all those guys.

Tavon young Man's the slot for Baltimore. He's allowing a catch rate and one hundred two passer rating in his coverage, So Keenan Allen a strong A grade. Mike Williams is a game time decision. Didn't practice all week Nine times out of ten guys that do not practice all week don't play. But they're saying there's still a chance he

could go. He's been basically unstoppable, and even though the Ravens are above average and most wide receiver defensive stats, it's still it's Williams coming in, coming in hot, and he remains startable. Um outside cornerbacks Marlon Humphreys and Anthony Favorite couldn't stop Michael Pittman last week, and this is

a similarly physical Mike Williams. So I still like him here if he goes, and if he goes and he's at something close to full health, will give him a B. If he starts and I don't know this thing goes all the way down to game time, then I guess it's more like a CE. But I think if he's active, you have to play Mike Williams considering how good Now if he doesn't go. Jalen Guiton last year was like all slot guy. But I looked up his his to see where he's been playing this year, and he's all

over the board. So I think Jalen Guiton would get most of the work, not Josh Palmer, and Josh Palmer would probably see more time as well. Palmer is a more natural outside receiver, but Guyton could be a last minute a last minute swap there, and if you're feeling really bold, you could try Palmer. But let's talk about these tight ends. If these were combined, if if Jared Cook and Donald Palm were combined into one guy, we'd have an elite fantasy tight end. But they split this

up a lot, but it's a great matchup. Cook is getting slightly more snaps and target, but param is getting increasingly involved and he's been the end zone guy. The Ravens allowed the most tight end catches, the second most tight end yards, and are only one touchdown away from being the worst tight end touchdown defense as well. So if you need to throw a dart in a bye week, you could try Jared Cook or Donald Parham. Let's go to Baltimore. Obviously, Lamar Jackson coming up with an A

grade after what we saw on Monday night. Get this, Lamar Jackson has more yards than eighteen NFL teams. That's really not surprised. It's it's it's crazy, but it's all no waights some of the NFL teams. It's not surprising. Obviously, you're not gonna bench Jackson here. Uh, you know, but I don't expect a similarly explosive game against a good Charger secondary Pro Football Focus ranks the Charges with the sixth best pass rush and the sixth best pass coverage.

UM and it's just a mixed bag for his receiver. So we'll talk about now beginning with Mark Andrews. Not as much of a mixed bag here. He's an A. Andrews gets to follow up his career best game on Monday Night with a Charger's pass coverage that's allowed the most yards to tight ends over the last three weeks, and the Chargers have allowed a score to the position in all games but one. So I like Andrews a lot with an A grade. Markis Brown is a B grade. Uh,

he's not up to eleven touchdowns and eleven games. That's the most touchdowns over the past eleven games, m which we never would have guessed from Marquis Brown will talk more about that later on in the show. He's gonna need that momentum against a stingy Chargers defense. Charges allowing the four were the fewest receptions, the second fewest yards,

the sixth fewest touchdowns to opposing receivers. Only one receiver has cracked eighty yards against the Chargers all year, and his matchup, honestly is it's just neutral against Sante Samuel, Michael Davis and elite safety Derwin James. Is not gonna get beat deep. And that's where Mark Yes Brown hurts a lot of people. UM, I wanted to give him a C grade, but he's just been so good. I'm giving him a B grade here. But I don't love this matchup in particular. UM, I'm gonna talk a little

bit more about Littavius Marie next segment. Let's go to the other receivers. Sammy Watkins is out for this game, or Shot Bateman is gonna get his first ever start. I think that we can safely just because the difficulty of the matchup sounds and they they've said that they planned to work him in slowly, so I I I don't want to. I don't want to give you a starting grade of Bateman though, even though I think he

does have a nice NFL career ahead of him. Well too much, Devin duvername baby in this game for for my taste? Why do you say it like that? You said it like that, I was just mocking you. You made him sound like he's a mouth breather, which he's no caveman. I think he's a very sharp kid, you know. So we don't want to We don't want to suggest that that's the case. Hey, when we come back, take a chance on me. Nine players upon whom you can take a chance. Many are available on the wave or wire.

I just mentioned one of them that's coming up in a second. Find out who they are when we come back Fantasy Football Weekly, take a chance on me nine players not normally in your starting line. I will tell you you can pick up off the waiver wire and start this week beginning at the quarterback position. And Matt

Harrison going back to the well with Trevor Lawrence. He was gonna take a chance of me player last week and he finished Week five is a top twelve Fantasy quarterback throwing for two seventy three and a score added in twenty yards and a score on the ground, and the Jags are starting to design a little bit more running into Lawrence's game, which will help his points down the line. This week, he gets a Miami team in London who's allowing three oh five and two point four

touchdowns per game through the air. Like Trevor Lawrence now that rushing stuff is not trivial for him. If they keep using him on these designed runs, that's gonna it's gonna really change the arc of his fantasy runchtion for Trevor Lawrence, Scott, your take a chance of me quarterback. Give me Michael McCorkle, Mac Jones, McCorkle, that's his name. I didn't know that, alright, or I'd go by Mac two. Yeah, yeah,

because quirky, Yeah, quirky, the worst, the worst. I bet Colin mccockney and Michael McCorkle you could probably maybe together the only good court goodman. Everybody else every other cork he's bad anyway, give him to give him to me. In a likely negative game script the whole game against Dallas Cowboys. There against the third worst team against fantasy quarterbacks. Quarterbacks have topped three d total yards in every game this year against the Cowboys because they're not trying to

run their throwing passes. Oh and Trayvon Digs might not suit up, which could well. I don't know whether that helps or not, because he's allowing a ton of he's allowing a ton of passing yards. For all the talk of the inceptions, he's on pace to lead the NFL in interceptions but also passing yards allowed and uh penalties, no risk, no biscuit. Uh, well, you have paid on interceptions at that. He's like baseball Adam done ton of stick. Might take a chance to me? Quarterback is Taylor Heineke

going up against the Chiefs? At this point, I would start Billy Kilmer against the Chiefs. Kansas City has the league's worst fence overall. They're very bad against the past. In particular, they ran't dead last and points allowed, they ranked thirty first, and yards allowed their lasts and first downs they ranked twenty nine, and passing yards allowed. They give up the most rushing quarterback rushing yards and the most quarterback rushing touchdowns. I mean, there's every way possible.

Taylor Heineke can beat them. Daniel Sorensen might be the worst safety in the league. And if there are any Chiefs fans listening, they are nodding their head vigorously right now. He's allowed a league high two eight four yards in his coverage. Here comes Terry McLaurin with all of his speed. He's gonna blow through this defense on deep passes. Taylor Heineke love him. This week. Let's go to the running back position. It's Khalil Herbert a k A. The ground Bear.

With David Montgomery still out and Damian Williams on the COVID reserve list, the Bears turned to the ground bear this week. By the way, ground Bear had eight team carries for seventy five yards last week against the Raider, while Damian Williams had sixteen carries in that game. In fact, the only game in which a Bears runner has not received sixteen or more carries in a game this year was the Browns game, where Justin Fields was starting and the Browns were stacking eight in the box the whole

game and their defense was planned lights out. The Packers are the opponent this week. They've allowed an average of a hundred and fifteen total yards and just over a touchdown per game to opposing runners. My theory is groundbar gets all of the work here, So I like those odds. All right, You're take a chance to be runner Scott. You know, I'm gonna go with DeVante Booker. You might not like him against the Rams. It seems like a

tougher matchup. But the five the five main backs that have have seen sixteen plus touches against the Rams, four of them had over seventy yards and or a touchdown. Uh, they're actually producing a decent amount of So I'm gonna give him a Take a chance on me with a you know, a C grade. Okay, we're grade in there. Uh. Lottavius Murray's the back I did not talk about last segment, goes up against the Chargers. A negative game script last week led to a season low six carries for Murray.

But don't be dissuaded here. He's gonna bounce back against a Chargers defense that is very good against the past and very bad against the run, giving up a league worst one hundred thirty six rushing yards per game on five and a half yards per carry to opposing backs. Tyson Williams and DeVonta Freeman are basically non factors in this offense, and Murray's getting most of the work and it's a great opportunity. So we'll give Latavius Murray the start.

And for those that were looking for a letter grade on Murray, it is a B. Let's go to the receivers, Matt, I'm gonna channel my inner Brian Johnson here. Uh and and still a little smell of tight end comments, still a little thunder from Colin mccockney. It's not just a tight end. It's Dan Arnold, the tight end who's uh in his third game with the Jags and what brings a team together more than a great road trip to London.

Arnold must be a quick study because he went from eighteen snaps in his first week to fifty two last week, which was a seventy three percent share. He also saw eight targets six catches in sixty four yards last week. Yeah, he averages about ten yards per target. So does the Dolphins defense. When they let tight ends room free. They're allowing five catches and fifty yards per game to the position. With three scores in the first five games. I like

Dan Arnold to score this week. All right, that's strong. Uh, Scott, my time has come, Yeah, my time has come in that the Sun God, finally, the Sun God is finally with you on this. I love his chances this. I'm on raw st Brown. He's finally taken over. He has at least eight targets, at least six catches, and at least sixty five yards and back to back games. Cliff Raymond has disappeared and turned back into calif Raymond. Hockinson still hobbling a bit. Quintus cephas out a game that's

gonna be negative game script the whole time. Give me. I'm on raw this week. I am going with and I love this play. Told you much. I liked Taylor Heineke. Well, let's look at who we could throw the ball to. Obviously Terry McLarin sitting on a huge game we'll talk about in a couple of minutes here. But who else has he got? Well, Curtis Samuel's out for this game. Lorcan Thomas is on I r um there's he just doesn't have many people to throw too. Outside of Adam Humphries.

I already mentioned Chief's past defense has been brutal and Jerry McLaurin can't get one of the passing yards, so there's gonna have to be some other options working from the slot. Humphreys faces Legarius Snead, who is allowing an opposer passer rating of one hundred fifty two almost perfect. He touchdowns in the last two games. He was good.

Lugarius was very promising rookie last year. They've moved him into the slot where he's just a fish out of water, and so, I like Adam Humphries, I'm starting him in a couple of different leads a matter of fact. So take that, everybody. Let's get Let's get a matchup in here. Scott Bengals take on the Lions. Joe Mixon played gallantly through an injury last week. It looks like he's close to a full go in this one. What do you think about him and what should be a pretty juicy

matchup with the Lions. Yeah, everything we're hearing about about him for this week is that he's going to be a full go, full practicing now. Um uh. The Lions are allowing over twenty eight touches to running backs per game and the tenth most combo yards and the most combo touchdowns. This is a smashed spot for mixing. Who's averaging twenty two touches per game prior to the injury?

Uh A grade for mixing. In the passing game. I'm still giving Joe Burrow a B grade multiple touchdowns in every game, but now he gets a DV that is so bad against the run that they only allowed twenty seven pass attempts per game. Otherwise I would give Burrow a better grade, like he just might not pass enough, but he's gonna get some rodgers let them up, you

know a couple a few weeks ago. Uh Chase, I'm given an A grade too, because it's hard to do yards basically every game, and the lead wide receiver against the Lions has topped a D and twenty yards in four of the five games. That's probably le Chase, Higgins and Boyd. I'm giving them both SEA grades, but I don't I don't love it as much. Um with Higgins back,

both played back seat and split production production. Um. Given the volume passing against the Lion secondary though, I can't give him any higher than A. See there, they just might not be enough to attempts to go around on the other side, I mentioned aman Ras might take a chance on me player. Uh, Jared Goff should have you know, an okay outing here. I feel like since his big one week one outing, he has only average one yards and one touchdown per game. But the Bengals d has

been hit and miss as well. Uh. They've allowed opposing quarterbacks nearly forty attempts per game though, so I kind of like golf to to get some volume here. Uh, he'll he'll have st Brown and he'll also have Hawkinson, who's getting better off the energery. He's looked banged up. He's been banged up, he's he's been limited in practices. The Bengals haven't played any decent ends yet, so they're tough. Five rank against tight ends is a little deceiving, but

I'm still giving to Hawkinson a B grade. I think you have to. I think tight ends like this have down games once in a while, especially when they injured um DeAndre Swift. I'm giving the A grade. To remember when the Bengals allowed Naji Harris to catch fourteen passes against them, I do I think that's normally. I don't because Green Bay Backs also had nine grabs Minnesota Backs

also had ten grabs. There's a lot of pass catching to go around against this Bengals d an a grade first Swift, a C grade for williams uh Fourteen plus touches in four of the five games is hard to ignore. When you get that kind of volume, even if you're not the lead back, it's hard not to give you at least a sea. Yeah. Probably, we're gonna talk a little more about t J. Hockenson coming up in a couple of segments because his his story has been pretty fascinating.

After the two big games to start the season and then three really dry ones, what do you do about him? We'll talk more about that a little later on in the show. If you haven't tried a Guillotine League yet, you can still do so. There's still plenty of time left, and we're creating new Guillotine leagues pretty much any time there is an active game going Guillotine leagues dot com. It's the hottest new way to play fantasy sports, and all of my player rankings available for free at Guillotine

leagues dot com. When we return, Packers take on the Bears. There's some obvious plays like Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers, But what about trickier guys like Robert touny in A J. Dillon, what about any of the other receivers? Will tell you what to expect when we come back, final segment of our number one of Fantasy Football Weekly. I am Paul charchy and you can follow me on Twitter at Paul Charchion. My co host number one today Matt Harrison. He is

at Explosive Output. Oh, I'm co host number one, and number one b is Scott Fitch at Scott one. Plus. I'm just happy to be hopefully doesn't list just happy to be here. Packers take on the Bears. Matt obviously, Davanta Adams obviously sitting on a gigantic game, But I'm wondering what you think about the rest of the passing offense here. Yeah, Davante is an a Aaron Rodgers is too. It looks like Rogers will get both tackle Elgton Jenkins and center Josh Meyers back this week plus help the Bears.

Linebacker Khalil Mack and defensive tackle Achem Hicks both did not practice either Tuesday or Wednesday, so they're looking on the doubtful side of questionable. I almost gave him a B because but the injuries are always trending in the right direction for the pack and he's thrown four touchdown passes in each of his last two games against the Bears. So Rogers gets the A Robert Touny in I'm giving him just a C grade, uh, and I think that

that's generous a disaster he's been. Yeah, he was limited this week in practice with a knee injury, so keep an eye on that even if he does go. He's only averaging three point four targets one point eight receptions in sixteen yards per game. But he did score in both meetings with the Bears last year, so we're just hoping for a touchdown. No other Packers receiver should be in your lineup, Randall Cobb is only averaging two targets per game. The rest is a mess. Uh. Aaron Jones,

he's getting a B grade. Was a limited participant with an ankle injury this week, but has ninety plus total yards in the last four games he's played. So the interesting guy is A. J. Dillon, who has been much more a part of the offense in the last two weeks. Sixteen touches for ninety seven yards against Pittsburgh in Week four, twelve touches for seventy nine yards and a receiving touchdown

in Week five against the Bengals. By the way, Dylan is still available in thirty nine percent of lead, which is crazy. He should be picked up. He's a spot starter in bye weeks, and if Jones actually miss his time back instantly I give I give Dylan a starting grade of just a. See here, as the Bears defense is allowing a hundred and twenty six total yards per game in the position, they're a little bit better than average.

So uh, he's He's startable, but not super great. I like Khalil Groundbar as my take a chance on me runner. I'm giving him a B grade in this game. Actually, the receivers on the Bear side, I'll give Darnell Mooney the B grade and Allen's Allen Robinson a tepid C grade as he's been limited in practice and looking like a true game time decision. There is no JayR Alexander in this game. He's on I R and said both of them will see Eric Stokes and Chandon Sullivan. Now

I'm gonna jump in. Now. Stokes is fascinating because Mooney is super fast. Stokes is even faster, and he doesn't normally travel with any particular wide receiver. Normally he plays one side of the field. But man, this matchup screams, you know, with Kevin king Al j Alexander out, this matchup screams, just put Stokes on Mooney, neutralized the speed and then make a hobbled Allen Robinson beat you. Let's see if he can stop and cut and move with

Mooney though I mean speed on speed, he might. Mooney might make a cut. Stokes might be in the stands. He's just running. So faye, Stokes have been good. He's that kid. Looks like he's requisite of the draft pick they gave him. Yeah, Mooney has been fields preferred target this year, but Robinson has topped a hundred yards or scored in three of his last four against the Pack

and with j and that's with Jai year. So I think it should be a past heavy game script for the Bears, one at home, one with their newly anointed starting quarterback. I'm imagining they're going to throw a bunch, which is why I'm giving Justin Fields a C grade. And this is probably just positive thinking, but I just

kind of have a hunch about this one. There's more negatives than positives with Fields hasn't thrown for more than twenty passing attempts in any of his three career starts, just one touchdown, passing yardage totals of sixty two oh nine and one eleven. He's also only ran the ball three times in each of the last three teams, So stupid. Yeah, why is he getting no designed runs? Yeah, it's so frustrating, But the Packers have allowed the fifth most passing touchdowns

on the season at two point four per game. They've allowed the eleventh most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks. And when if he doesn't run well with no Gyrands Darius Smith, this defense is nearly a scary. So I'm gonna give him a C grade and I'm gonna talk about justin fields a little bit more later in the show. And finally, don't commit to me, bro Cole, Commit is on your bench. The less said, the more apparently about cold commit. Chiefs take on Washington. Um, these are two this like the

worst and the second worst defense facing each other. It's start, everybody. This is this is like a seventy five point total, it feels like it. Mahomes, Hill and Kelsey are all obviously as with deeply positive matchups, and we don't even have to expand on that. Let's go to Darryl Darryl Williams next. You're hoping for a touchdown here because Washington is allowing these second fewest rushing yards and the third

fewest receiving yards to running backs. In a nutshell, teams just passed so easily on Washington that they don't have to run. So really, you're just hoping that a bunch of pass oriented drives stall out near the five and then Darryl Williams runs it in, which is possible, and that's a C grade. Now, the other receivers beyond Kelsey and Hill, odds are some of them are going to get something done, or at least one of them are

get something done. But how can you know if it's gonna be Josh Gordon, Mi Coole Hardman, Byron Pringle or DeMarcus Robinson. You can't, You can't. They probably can't tell you with certainty. They're all gonna be on the field at various times during the game. They've all got positive matchups, but none of them are going to be on the field enough that you can know, and it's a total guessing game. So they'rell on the bench. Let's go to

the Washington side. Washington be playing without starting guard Brandon Sheriff and starting tackle Sam Cosmi rookie. Um. They've been ruled out of this game, which is too bad, Um, because it's although I still think this is it's still such a smash spot. I still like everybody. Antonio Gibson an obvious a against the defense that ranks twenty nine and rushing yards allowed and has given up the fourth most wide receiver receiving yards, although Gibson's not that active

as a receiver. But that brings us to J. D. Mckissic, who clocks in with a C grade, because the Chiefs, as I mentioned, giving up the fourth most receiving yards and running backs and that equals they've given up twenty eight receptions for two seventy yards. That's uh, that is

a ton. And if you think the Chiefs are gonna be playing from ahead in this game, then you've gotta figure mkissic is gonna be in in a past catching role throughout much of the second half, maybe the fourth quarter, maybe garbage time, so a C grade for J. D. Mckissic as a possible pivot in a tricky bye week for running backs and injury field week for running backs.

Taylor Heineke was might take a chance on the quarterback Adam Humphreys was might take a chance of me wide receiver and Terry McLaurin hamstring injury that he suffered in practice, but he's expected to play well. I think he's expected to play. The media reports around this have been totally varied. I've seen a unlikely to play. I've seen a definitely will play. We're just being cautious on on Terry McLaurin,

but it looks like he's gonna go. Um he's my number In fact, he's one of my top rank wide receivers for the week. I had him number one prior to the hamstring injury. Kansas City's allowed receiver the top one hundred yards or score multiple touchdowns in each of the past four games. They've given up six touchdowns to receivers in the past three weeks. That's how bad it is.

No matter where mclauren plays, and he lines up all over the field, he's got a positive matchup, whether it's against Mike Hughes, Lagarius sneed Chart, various ward who may not even go in this game. They're all giving up a passer rating of over one hundred ten and they combine to allow five touchdowns in this so far this year. It and and as I mentioned earlier in the show, if McLaren with his speed gets deep, Niel Sorensen's getting roasted. I love the matchup for Terry McLaurin and now uber

sneaky tight end play coming. Ricky Seals Jones on the field last week in relief of Logan Thomas for of the snaps and he had eight targets, which is more than Logan Thomas it had in any game. The Chiefs have allowed the seventh most catches and the most yards to tight ends. Ricky Seals Jones b grade it. Do you have a steal noise? Nor r? Thank you? That's that's it's not quite but it's in the ball. That's

our Ricky Seals Jones blended with a sheet noise. It is actually our final matchup of the segment is the Rams taking on the Giants. Scott Yes. Uh, Let's start on the Rams side with passing game. I'm giving Matthew Stafford a grade. He's he's just been really, really decent this year. Giants. Yeah, Giants have allowed multiple touchdowns to qbs in all five games. UH. Stafford has multiple touchdowns in four or five the one he didn't he at

three sixty five yards. Giants eighth worst against quarterbacks, allowing to nearly seventy completion rate against. UH. Stafford should have a good day here. Cup, He's he's back to He's gonna be back to liking his boy here, Cooper Cup again, A grade here. I think last week was a a traditional squeaky wheel gets the greaser, squeaky mouse gets the cheese or whatever you want to call it. Something yes, something squeak either. How we need a lot more. But

that's that's kind of pretty good. I would have preferred that to try to do it. But that's that's okay too. Uh, bring it, bring it eventually, like say the letters, and actually does obviously, oh Man Rubbert Woods the B grade. Uh. I could be convinced to an A, but I think they'll get ahead in this and maybe not need to pass as much later in the game. The Giants have allowed the ninth most receptions to wide receivers. I have

the rest of the wide receivers on the bench. Jefferson, you know he he shows up at times, but he usually needs a big play. D Jacks has seen his snaps go down, so no to him. Tyler Higbee with a C grade. The Giants have allowed a touchdown every week to tight ends until last week where Dalton Schultz was shut out, but we still went six for seventy nine. Yes, in the running game, Henderson gets the A grade. The Giants allowing the seventh most touchdowns running backs, fifth most

compo yards. Last week, henderson snaps came down a little bit. He wasn't the bell cow that he was early in the week. But even if you pencil them in for split should bring him around twenty touches for him, ten or oh for Michelle. They may be running down the clock late, so I'm actually gonna give Michelle a C grade. I don't love it, but it's it's very possible. We can see thirty touches out of these running backs in this one when by the end of the game over

to the Giant side, Daniel Jones has been cleared. He's gonna play I got a C grade on him in a game he should be trying to catch up. And those rushing yards they add up, they make him startable. You think that they reel in his rushing it off with him coming off the concussion. I don't know that they do. I just think you find get concussion again, we don't care. No, I I feel I feel like I feel like they're just gonna let him do it.

They're gonna when they put players back out after stuff like that, it seems like they just let him be them. You know. Uh, teams are averaging nearly forty pass attempts against the Rams, which is a little surprising, but yeah, they have to because they have to play catch up. That's that's where he's gonna get his points is in volume onto the passing game. His boys. Thirling Shepherd is back. And when I say it's his, I was a little shocked looking at the numbers of how Sterling Shepherd does

with Daniel Jones over the last year or so. Six plus receptions not targets receptions in ten of the last twelve games with him, and these are the last four games with with Daniel Jones, nine for seventy seven in a touch eight for one, twelve in a touch, good game,

seven for nine in a touch. I'll take that. I have a B grade on him, but I'm I'm I think I might even be willing to go a gread just because it's his it's his little woobie, what his little woodie like his that's like a security blanket for for a baby. Really, yes, say so do you have on? I do die? Because I'm actually familiar with Scott using this term. I am the podcast in the past. Canarius Tony, I'm giving a C grade two because when he gets the ball in his hands that the guys just electric

and he can make things happen. He's not going to get the volume that we saw last game, but when he does get it, he's able to make plays happen. So I'm gonna give a C grade to him. Evan Ingram, I'm giving a C grade for as well. He has four plus catches in two straight but the yards just aren't there, and the Giants haven't had a tight end score yet. But he's getting a C grade simply because there aren't a lot of options with all the injuries, and they're going to be playing catch up and of

course Booker was might take a chance on me player? Yes, m We've got about a minute a half. I want to talk about zach Ertz trade that went down. So Max Williams had been shockingly competent for the first time in his seven year career. Um now zach Ertz slots into that spot. Now there's a ton of competition for targets in that offense. Christian Kirk and A. J. Green and DeAndre Hopkins and Ron del Moore and Chase Edmonds

all guys who need to catch the ball. But zach Ertz is a huge upgrade and the best tight end we've seen in a Cardinals roster. And since Dan Arnold's Dan Arnold. What do you guys expect from zach Ertz once he's acclimated to this offense in a couple of weeks. What do you expect from zach ERT's going forward? I expect what we were seeing out of Max Williams, only on a more consistent basis, Like the seven Max had,

the five or sixty six and a touchdown. Yeah, those are almost elite Tightenhill, he'll have his He'll and what Earth's did last night or what it's on Thursday night. I guess um, I expect those kind of numbers, but on a more consistent basis, And I actually expect some of the other guys like Green and Rondell Moore and stuff to see a little less action. They're doing good work on lower snaps, like Rondell Moore is not getting a lot of snaps. What they're doing good work on it.

It's gonna be interesting to grade him because it's so hard to grade those wide receivers based on the matchups, but tight ends a little more clear to see whether or not the matchups good. So I think Earth's is gonna have a lot of starting grades down the pine here. Yeah, and hopefully a little later, maybe we'll talk a little bit about what this means for Dallas Goddard as well. If you're not familiar with the Guillotine League, the premise

is pretty simple. Instead of playing had to had every week, the low scoring team gets cut and their players go to the waiver wire, where it's a bidding frenzy for the rest of us as we bid on the remains of that team's roster. All you have to do is not finished last in any given week, and the last team standing wins the whole thing. New league's forming almost every day at Guillotine leagues dot com. We'll be back for our number two of Fantasy Football Weekly coming up

in moments. Our number two Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Charchi and Scott Fish and Matt Harrison from Shock Fantasy here to help guide you through the rest of the matchups, player ratings on every single notable player, and especially trying to help you find running back. Help all the guys on by, all the injured running backs, don't start those don't start. The injured running don't start the guys on by. That's the kind of insight we bring you on Fantasy

Football Weekly. But first the game we call three tough questions. Top question number one is Leonard four net and every week starter. Let's begin with you, Matt. Uh. It sure seems like that after he's taken control in Tampa with twenty three, sixteen and twenty eight touches in the last three weeks. Coming on Thursday Night, Ronald Jones from week four on six, six and six a trend. Yeah, Geo missed Week four, but he had six and two in

the last three or two games. Uh, it's now a two third snap shop time share for four NET and one six and one six for Jones and Geo and that offense. He's probably a top twenty running back and that's startable just about every week. Yeah, And I think the reason we I'm I'm the same. I think he's an every week start now and I think I think the biggest thing is that he's catching passes and he's making something happen with him. And that's what Tom Brady needs.

He's need someone you can trust to dump off too in the passing game. He wanted that in his later years in New England. He needs that now and uh for Net has proven over the last couple weeks that he can take on that role. Four Net is turning into the James White plus running at this stage for Tom Brady, which is fantastic. You know, in the past, you never knew week to week what you could who who was going to get the most carries, who'd get

the hot hand in New England. That then wherever Tom Brady goes, I meant Tampa in Tampa, but yeah, I'm just saying wherever Tom Brady goes, that's that is true. The worst you could ever do was listened to Bruce Arians, who was a bald faced liar, and he would tell you heading into a game, we gotta get Ronald Jones more work. He's he's been really running hard lately. We love his practice. We got to get a more work

and then the game comedy get three carries? Is it possible that for Net just was in bad shape and Jacksonville when getting traded to Tampa last year, he just wasn't in game shape and it took him a while because on the stretch of the playoffs he was a playoff so and he was. But the weird thing was Ronald Jones rolled into the playoffs. Is the better runner throughout the whole season? Go figure. But now we don't have to listen to Bruce Arians. The numbers speak for themselves.

You guys already articulated them well and a until that soft dish tissue injury pops up, and it will at some point. With Leonard four Net, we've got our opportunity to make him an every week starter. Tough question number two? Are you selling high on Marquis Brown? Scott will let you go first this time? I don't think so. I don't know that you're going to get quite the value want because I think a lot of people out there

are gonna feel similarly. They're gonna be a little curious whether it's for real or not because the touchdowns have been so high and those may regrets. But he's really only got two top ten defenses going forward that he has to face and the rest of the season. Uh. The argument, I guess is also that Bateman is coming back, He's going to progress slowly. But this is an offense throwing for over three yards of game and it's likely

going to be in a decent amount of shootouts. If Lamar Jackson's passing has improved to this degree, I'm gonna want the guy in that offense. I'll keep him hold on to him. Okay, Matt, are you selling high on Marquis Brown? I am selling. And Scott kind of articulated the points why his schedule is really soft. I can sell that to an opposing player. Uh. He's had eleven touchdowns in eleven games, which people love. When you put

in the comments why you should trade never work. But but how about this Lamar Jackson going backwards from last week touchdown passes for last week, the week before one, the week before that one, the week before that one, the week before that one, He's not throwing a ton of touchdown passes. And I need my wide receivers to have the opportunity to score touchdown passes. And now I think there might be a few too many mouths to with Mark Andrews and Rashad Bateman coming on, I I

do want to sell Marquis Brown. This was a hard This was a question, was actually tough, a false sense of security. I am selling high Markis Brown under the assumption that I can sell him as an elite receiver that that he's bet. If I can turn him into basically anybody outside of Davante Adams, then yes, I'm selling um. And that's probably what you can get from Marquis Brown right now. People want to be a part of a Lamar Jackson offense on their fantasy team. They've seen all

the touchdowns. They want to be a part of that. But for you guys who score just I'll add this to the point you've already made. Guys who score from distance are notoriously inconsistent, and to get this kind of touchdown production is not it just it the requssions coming. Doesn't he seem like Kansas city wide receiver. But he's just in one package, Like you just don't know if he's going to score any week, but when he it's on,

it's on. I feel like right now you're never, maybe never going to have a better opportunity to sell on Marquis Brown than right now. So I'm gonna take advantage of that and turn him into any receiver you like outside of Davante Adams. I think my theories you can't sell him for as high as you think you can. Yeah, you might be right. Maybe other people are gonna be onto this, but I don't think so. I think people.

I think people want those touchdowns. Tough Question number three, what is the appropriate level of concern for t J. Howkinson managers? Is it none? Some or a bowl loosening level of existential dread? Around here, we call that blowed. We begin with you, Matt. It's just some for me. He's been on the field for more than of the

snaps in every game this season. The problem is he's been a little bit dinged up, and some of the last couple of teams that he's played have just taken him out of the game after eight catches and a touchdown in each of the first two weeks. He's only tallied eight total catches in the three games since the Vikings and Bears were two of those opponents, and they rank among the top eight in teams against the tight end this year. The lines simply needed to scheme him

open more. He's their best receiver, and I I'm somewhat concerned, but I think I'll be okay. Yeah, for me, I'd almost want to say some because it's hard not to after three bad games in a row. But it's really none that this is what the tight end position is. They all have bad games like this. He's running a ton of routes, he's playing eighty three plus percent of the snaps. They have almost no other options. It's gonna come around, but there will be days like this. Mama

told me. The answer is some. He's obviously very good and by sheer talent, he's probably a top five tight end by just talent. And you know, the problem has been and by the way, team's always playing from behind and they're gonna be passing a lot. But we knew that going into the season, and that has not stopped him from having three straight dad games. And the knee injury is a bit of an issue. The double coverage is a problem. Teams are locking down Hockinson, making Aman

Rob beat you, calif Raymond beat you. Um. He's too good and he's too important to this offense to continue at at the same pace of these last three games. They have to get him involved one way or another. They have to do whatever it takes. I think they will. By the way running routes I was. I thought at one point maybe he was staying in blockings that offensive lines I'll beat up in Detroit. He's running routes, so I was going to drop that in there, and I just, yeah, didn't.

That's a saving Yeah he is. He's running a ton of routes. So still have some concern because I didn't think he didn't have any three game stretch like this, But not a bowel loosening level of existential dread. Fortunately, let's go back to the matchups. The Cardinals taking on the Browns Matt and for the Cardinals, they've acquired zach ERTs. They can't play him yet, So where is Kyler Murray going to send the ball um to the other players on his team? Tough question number four. I'm giving Kyler

a B grade and this one. The Browns are a good defense. They did just give up the world to air Bearer last week, and Miles Garrett is still limited in practice. That's good. But Murray gets the B because he's dealing with an injury of his own and it's his right shoulder. And this just in you don't want your fantasy quarterback throwing his throwing shoulder to be injured. That's usually a bad thing. Um the Cardinals receivers, let's talk about them. How about DeAndre Hopkins. He sat out

most of the week with an illness. He's not been diagnosed with COVID like teammate Chandler Jones did. Uh, And he did return on Friday, And if he's fully healthy, he's still in a grade. But keep an eye on

this one just in case something pops up. The Chargers receivers were clever enough to have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams each avoid Denzel Awards coverage last week for most of the game, So I imagine the Cards move Hopkins around to avoid Ward because it has been awesome this year, especially in the last three weeks, holding opposing receivers to five catches and sixty nine scoreless yards over the last three Christian Kirk gets a B grade from the slot

as he'll go against. He will go against Troy Hill, who allowed Keenan Allen to have a pretty good day last week. And if they can move Hopkins away from Denzel Ward, it probably means that A. J. Green is the sacrificial lamb here, So I'll throw him in. Ron Dale Moore on the bench, uh, and then we'll go to the running backs James Conner and Chase Edmonds. They're both on the bench for me. They're splitting touches almost evenly, which makes it tough to target them in a good week.

But this isn't a good week because the Browns defense is top ten against runners and basically every category yards, receptions, touchdowns, all of it worth noting that now might be a good time to acquire one of them in trade, though, because the Week seven bipocalypse is coming and the Cardinals get Houston next week. So uh. Nick Chubb on the other side, he has been ruled out. Cream Hunt is very questionable with a wrist injury and maybe a game time.

He's got melodies. I think he goes here. He did. He didn't practice on Friday, Um and the Cards. The problem is the Cards have allowed only one total touchdown to the running backs through five games. So it's just a C grade for me on a lot of people. I mean, tell tell me why he should be in the top ten. It's they're they're not allowing scores. He's just gonna get twenty plus touches and several receptions. It's been so good. He's my number ten right running back

this week. Um for me? Anyway, that's you know, it's up to you. The good backs have gotten it done against this defense. Cook, Robinson Henderson have have averaged one thirty three total yards per games. A lot of yards, not a lot of scores. The oh yeah, okay yards count. Yeah, I guess um, I'm keeping Baker Mayfield on the bench. I did mention that Chandler Jones looks like he's gonna miss this week but the COVID designation. But it doesn't matter.

Baker won't put up air bear numbers. He's averaging too and less than a score per week. Arizona is only allowing two yards and a score per game through the air. The only wide receiver that I can put on the field for me is Odell Beckham, who I'm giving just a C grade of Nightma Perimeter wide receivers have had the most success against the Cards this year. Picking on Marco Wilson, who missed last week due to injury but

has been upgraded the questionable this week. H Wilson has already allowed three scores in his coverage in four games. If h Wilson doesn't go, he's probably fourth stringer. Antonio Hamilton's who lines up with O'Dell. Still. The targets have been there, but the connection between Beckham and Baker has never quite come to fruition. I'm not starting any of the other wide receivers, and don't chase David and Joeku's box score from last week. It was huge, it was awesome.

But in the last seventeen games, the Cardinals have allowed ex actually one touchdown to the tight end position, and in that span only two tight ends have topped fifty yards. That's it. Remember when the Cardinals were just auto start hasn't been where every week years. They figured it out, fortunately for them. I think we should probably take a break. I'm trying to. I'm trying to think if I want to, I'm tempted to sneak in one more matchup, but I

really shouldn't. Don't get sneaky. Let's take a break. We come back, we get to talk about it. Dalvin Cook start the first. We can talk about Dalvin Cook and Christie McCaffrey too, right, Buzz. It would have been a matchup between the first and second overall pick by consensus and fantasy drafts, but now it will be mostly a lot of Dalvin Cook. We'll talk about you, Bohabbard when we come back. Fantasy Football Weekly. Welcome back to Fantasy

Football Weekly. We've got a block of matchups for you. We'll break down all these players fantasy style, beginning with Vikings and Panthers on Paul Charchi and my coast or Scott Fish and Matt Harrison on the Viking side. We get to see Dalvin Cook at what we believe is full strength for the first time since Week two. He was great in those first two games, and now he gets the Panthers. This is a bit of a schizophrenic Panther.

Panther run defense overall, they've been very good, but only one back has seen even ten carries against the Panthers, and it was Zeke and he destroyed them for one hundred forty three yards and a touchdown. And then Paulard added in a bunch more. Assuming Cook's ankle is going to be close to and it looks like he is not even on the injury report. Um, and he gets close. So the twenty one carries per game he was averaging through weeks one and two, I think he's looking at

some big upside here. Well over a hundred yards in a probable touchdown in this game. So and obvious a grade for Dalvin Cook in this one. Let's go over to the passing game, where it's a little bit murkier. Um. Both Justin Jefferson and Adam Feland did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but got in full practices on Friday. There's they've got an ankle and a foot injury, respectively. The presumption is that they're okay for this game. And I've

got a B grade on Justin Jefferson. Panthers allowing just one dwenty eight yards to opposing receivers. That is the fourth fewest, and they're really they're strong at every cornerback spot, but especially like Dante Jackson and even for that matter, a j Blue has also been shockingly good in the slot. Now that said, Justin Jefferson is way better than either one of them. He had a hundred yards in the first half of last week's game before the Vikings moronically

decided to just stop throwing at him. So the presumption is here that he's gonna be able to beat those guys that do at least some degree at a B grade for Justin Jefferson, let's talk through theland now. With Clint Kubyak offensive coordinator Clint Kubyak seemingly unwilling to throw down field, Theeeland has become oddly touchdown dependent, with fifty yards or fewer in four of five games. When those touchdowns are there, he's fine. But with that little yardage

you need those touchdowns. Uh. Fortunately he's got a chance against Carolina. They've allowed multiple touchdowns to receivers twice already this season, So we could be one to Jefferson, one to theel in here um. But yardage should be tough to come by. As I mentioned earlier, just the fourth fewest passing yards and so this might be sort of

typical feeling in this game. So that leaves us with kirk Cousins, despite winning the one of the best deep passing arms in the league, as I alluded to just a moment ago there, he's not being allowed to throw down field. In fact, the Vikings have the second fewest passes of more than twenty yards in the entire league, So the Vikings don't think he has one of the best downfield deep pass not which is absurd. Um Caroline is a defensive line is getting a fair amount of pressure,

which is pretty impressive. Considers a lot of anonymous names on that and on the back end, as I mentioned, they've got some decent cornerbacks back there. But I think between Justin Jefferson and Adam Feeland there's enough here for Kirk Cousins will be startable. But I've only got a C grade on him. Let's go over to the Carolina side, Touba Hubbard is you're starting running back. Christian McCaffrey will not play in this game. It's a nice spot for Hubbard.

Although you know, watching a lot of Hubbard's play, I'm not exactly wowed by him. I think he's good, I don't think he's great. I don't think he's a natural receiver. Although They did throw to him six times last game, and he caught five for thirty yards. But so he can catch, but he's not he's not Christian McCaffrey obviously.

And you know, we know that Minnesota ranks twenty nine in yards per carry and almost five yards per carry, and they're missing their run stuffing defensive lineman Michael Pierce. So Tuba Robert here actually with a pretty good ground game coming. I don't think he's gonna get a lot done through the air, as I mentioned. And get this, the Vikings have allowed one running back receiving touchdown in their last twenty seven games. So again, it's all got

to come on the ground. And that's why Chuba Hubbard is a B and not an A and an otherwise solid start. Let's go to the passing game. Sam Donald comes in with a B. I'm not fully sold on the Vikings as an improved overall defense. Um they have held three straight quarterbacks in check, but they've also faced a mixed bag of passers Russell Wilson, which was impressive. Then Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff together averaging just two eighteen passing yards and less than half a touchdown per game.

Vikings pass rush has improved and the Caroline has got a a bottom ranked pass blocking offensive line, and so it's possible the Vikings do get some real pressure on Donald, which would which would end up impacting his ability to get the ball down field if nothing else. Now, Donald's also been running for touchdowns. Get this, The Vikings have allowed one quarterback rushing touchdown in their last forty five games. So I will assume Donald's not going to help you

there either. So I've gotta be grade on Donald. But it's it's a wobbly B. And at one point I had him as a sea and then I went back to a B grade on Donald. Um, I think he tried to get around one. Now be grade on Sam Donald. D J. Moore is an A grade on paper. The Vikings past defense does look improved of late, but the receivers they face have been utterly punchless. With Detroit and

Cleveland and against the Bengals, Cardinals and Seahawks. Minnesota allowed to receive the top one hundred yards and find the end zone in all of those games. And more is the guy that gets virtually all the work. He's eclipsed one hundred yards and two of the past three games, and he's found the end zone twice in that span. He's also led the Panthers and targets in each of

the last three straight games. He lines up on the right side more than any Carolina receiver, which gives him the coveted but shod brelan matchup for DJ Moore, and that makes him an A grade. Let's talk Robbie Anderson.

Should we really need to so frustrating? Right? So, Anderson's got the size and deep speed to get past Patrick Peterson and siren Sam Donald's actually throwing to him more eighteen targets in the past two games to Robbie Anderson, and he was targeted last week in the end zone two times in either one came together in took in one of the plays, I think it was Anthony Avan made a diving, leaping tip of the ball did not get out of Robbie Anderson's hands and otherwise Anderson would

have had a long connection in last week's game. If he's gonna get another nine targets against the Vikings secondary, I think Robby Anderson gets something done for at least one deep hook here. White outs with eight or more targets against the Vikings average seven catches, nine yards and almost one full touchdown. I'm betting the under for Robbie. I don't think he's gonna hit those numbers. Um, Anderson only gets to see because I worried. As I mentioned earlier,

does Donald have the time to set up these deep passes? Um? But I do like him with a C grade in that game. Let's go to our next matchup, Dallas Cowboys taking on the New England Patriots. Scott Ezekiel, to my eyes, has looked rejuvenated. The offensive line has been awesome. Any reason to think twice about Ezekiel Elliott in this game? He's he's running hard, as you mentioned the twenty one

carries last week. He's he's averaging eighteen touches the game. Uh. Pollard's averaging like twelve point six touches and he looks good too. I have Elliott with an A grade and Pollard with a C grade. In this one. Elliott says he's fine after he landed on the pylon on his back. You know, he came in like two three days later

and scored a touchdown, so that's not a concern. Uh. Uh. The New England Patriots are allowing the ninth most running running back touches nearly twenty nine per game, so I can see a twenty to ten split here and I got both starting grades on both of them. In the passing game, Dak Prescott, I'm giving an A grade to shocking Dak Prescott three more touchdowns in four games this year. Pats have been solid against quarterbacks, but the high end. The only high end when they played was Brady and

they sold out to stop him. Um Davis Mills went for three hundred Prescott to Um on the in in the passing game. I have B grades on Cooper, Lamb and Shultz. I think it gets split up a lot and there's a lot of running because they'll get the lead. So I'm only giving B grades, but I'm giving them

on all of them. Uh, Cooper Lamb, neither of them exploded since that Week one game, but they's a little Lambi no and his voice will be heard yards and an occasional score is what they do basically every game, and I think they do that again here. Be great for Dalton Schultz. The Pats are great against tight ends, but you have to consider that the best tight end they faced this year was Cameron brad The absolute best it was Cameron Brad. Dawson has six catches in four

the five games. Six catches is a good good amount of work for a tight end, So I'm giving him a B grade. On the other side, by the way, the Cedric Wilson cats pretty good. When Michael Galla, Michael gaps in his contract here. When he's done, he's off the team. I think at the end of this year, Cedric Wilson's gonna be gonnas. Yeah, they're not gonna miss up. On the other side, mc corkle Jones was my take a chance on me player. Uh. Jacoby Myers, I got the C grade on him, but you could talk me

into higher. Uh. He now has a hundred and sixteen receptions and one thousand, three hundred ninety yards and no touchdowns in his career in the NFL, which is crazy as an NFL record for the amount of receptions with no touchdowns. The Cowboys they've given allowed the fifth most yards receivers, including six different receivers over ninety yards, five different receivers scoring. Myers is averaging nine targets per game. I kind of want to give him a be just

just to help him score down. That's it. I'm giving him a C grade. So he steps it up and tries to adown here fan fantasy. Fantasy experts love Jacobe Myers and they talk about him all the time, and this big bust out has coming. I look at him and I go when I watch him playing like he's okay, he's yeah, yeah, he's their only receiver. Yep. Hunter Henry has really stepped it up as of late, so I'm

giving him a C grade. He's got at least four grabs in three straight and at least thirty yards in each, which isn't a lot, but he's getting more and more work scored In two straight, every tight end to catch four passes against Dallas top fifty yards and they combined for three scores. So there's there's some work there for Henry. I'm giving up on John, Yeah, you kind have to it. It's just he's just not getting the ball enough. And I look, I don't get it. They loved him enough

to pay him an absurd amount of money. They identified the greatness that is John U. Smith and then they never give him the ball. I love the reverse jinks. You're trying to play off. I'm all right, I'm out. I'm just I'm bitter, I'm sad and broken on John U, JOHNU. I have the entire running game on the bench. Harris has been limited this week practicing. He split a lot with Stevenson last week. Bolden is the guy that gets the receptions and teams just don't try to run on Dallas.

They're they're all all the second least run attempts behind the bucks. I believe it's not a good situation for any of them. And now an exciting moment. We we he's out in the green room again. Yeah, let's go. Colin mccockney, he was here last you're nice enough to come in studio last week. Now Colin mccockney from from ye old London Town and that's uh y e O l d E London Town with dolphins and jaguars and call mc cockney, welcome back to the show. Hello, Hello,

great to have you back. Hello, little guppy boy, Fishy Fishy, we should we should get a picture together before you leave so I can tweet it out. We should, Fishy boys from Florida. Go Frog and Toad over the motion to go play some meat and orchestra stalls with the Kitty Boys from Florida. Wow. I can barely understand that, but Brian gave me a quick lesson on how to understand what you're saying. You're Cockney to English translation. Yes, and that just means the Dolphins and the Jags are

gonna play football in London this Sunday. All of those words, all right, all right? Ta has been bony and trap and Mickey bliss since the rubber dub for the Sweeney Todd Wow, TA hasn't been very good. He's only had multiple scores in one of his last seven games where he played the complete game. I think that something like that, you know your voice inflection had a lot of questions in there that I did not hear from Colin. Well, Bryant is the expert. He he gave me a quick

trading course. I've tried to understand the word why Oh's Jags have been roast park in a raspberry tart right up the sausage roll, rub a dub three and a few mince pies. See I think mince pies are Yeah, scores happen, so yeah, yeah, So this week he gets the Jags team that's allowed three hundred yards and or multiple scores to four the last five qbs they faced.

He's giving to a C grade. It sounds like boy Davante Grassy park Boy, he won't loop the loop, not get the jam Jar Waddle, Waddle, twot and Toddle gets an Irish pig, while he'll kick in prance. Okay, So this is getting harder and harder to read figure out. Davonte Parker is out this week, so while Jail and Waddle has had around seven targets per game. Uh, he faces a Jags defense that's allowing two yards per game to wide receivers, although only two scores to wide receivers.

So he's giving Waddle a B grade. Lady Godiva Big and Quickie Gasicky will hap an inch. He's schuffed because Twa gave him for duke of cants on an elephant's trunk. Now that's definitely touchdowns. Micasecky gets a C grade. He caught four touchdown passes from two in the last five weeks of the season last year, and the Jags have allowed four touchdowns to the position already this season. Miles Gaskin grade duck and dived do he Hank Marvin for a tuddy and dick cows and kisses. Jags gave a

Dicky dot to the chalk farm. See, I understood that perfectly. I'm watched. He gave Myles Gaskin in a grade. Gaskin hasn't scored on the ground this year, but the Jags have allowed the most rushing touchdowns to the running back position, with eight already this year. They're also allowing almost a hundred and thirty four total yards per game to opposing runners, and Gaskin had his most snaps of the year last

week with a nice sixty share. Oh, Danny Boy and Trevy two legs where Harrison's whistle and flute with a side of wonga, he said. He said Dan Arnold and Trevor Lawrence were Matt's take a chance, Yeah, take a chance on me Tossi tosser and catchy catcher. Lo Visca gets a syrup of figs and Ian Marvin gets a skyrocket. No trouble and strife with Tommy Tinder Ziah get a Sherbet dab on Xavian Howard on those tables and chairs, Well, it sounded like he gave Chinault and Jones two different things,

but they both mean B grades. Believe it. And the Dolphins were already one of the worst teams in the league against wide receivers, allowing two hundred and six receiving yards and a score and a half to the wide receiver position. Plus they're missing Zavian Howard this week. No one's watching the custard. A fat geezer turns Liza over but walks ride past the jam Roles. I don't know what that means. That didn't make sense, so I'm just

gonna give James Robinson, Okay, the Dolphins. The Dolphins red defense is allowing to odd average a hundred and sixty yards and one point six touchdowns of the running back position, and almost all of that goes to James Robinson. I'm gone down with the battle cruise that with Roger's rusted ions, Scooby Doo, Chacian and Guppy Boy. Scooby do. Nicely done, Colin, nicely done. Thank you, Colin. That was great. Send send Harrison back in. I looked put a mince what's in

a mince pie? By the way, it turns out, if mince pie has got mutton, suet, fruit and spices um all past thanks. I think he meant it. I think Colin said that like it's a good thing. Wasn't that too? Like two touchdowns? Was two mutton pies? Pie? What the heck happened in here? I wish we had four microphones in the student You know, we really need we need

feel like to go in here, cuppy boy boy. When we come back Premature Speculation, we'll tell you three players you can pick up now that other people will be trying to pick up next week. Find out who they are. When we returned to Fantasy Football Weekly, final segment of Fantasy Football Weekly, Paul Charchi and Matt Harrison and Scott Fish with you. This is a segment we call premature Speculation. We're gonna jump you into our next week time machine and tell you who to pick up this week that

other people will be trying to pick up next week. Scott, you want to go first? Sure? Why not? I'm going with the guy I had is my number two wide receiver coming out of college behind to Marrow, Chase Bateman. Oh yeah, go get him. He's coming back this week. He's gonna be working his way back into the offense. But as I mentioned earlier in the show. It's an offense that's getting three plus passing yards a game. They

need another pass catcher. He's gonna easily take the place of der Verna and James Proche and guys like that Sammy Watkins even before the injury. Uh. The opposite spawned spot versus Brown up opposite side of Brown is wide open. It's all him, four plus matchups coming up to Alright, Matt, your premature speculation player is I talked about him a little bit earlier. It's justin fields. I gave him a so so starting grade. Uh. He might not do as much as we want this week, but next week he

gets the Buccaneers and it's the bipocalypse. Josh Allen, dak Air, Bear Kirk, Trevor Lawrence all on by next week, including Ben roethlisbergers too. But you know whatever, the Bucks have given up a good fantasy day to every quarterback they faced. Even Mac Jones and Jacoby Brissette each went for two seventy five and two scores. So Jalen Hurts just scored twice on the ground to show teams that you can

score against the Bucks on the ground. Just now with a running back, so justin fields, he's an interesting play for next week. I'm gonna give you four reasons to roster Marlon Mack, Indianapolis running back. He might get traded into a better situation. He's looked good in limited action this year, including last week when he turned five carries

into forty seven yards. If anything happens to Jonathan Taylor, Mac would vault into top fifteen running back territory and Indy has the easiest run schedule for the rest of the year. You can dart throw Marlon Mack in tricky bye weeks. You know, whatever you need, if you if if you're in a spot, He's a plausible starter in weeks, kind of like this one right here where we talked about him as a possible potential starter. Doesn't get it. Only getting five touches of game is not not ideal.

But you know, in a pinch, you could do that. My runner up, by the way, and maybe I'll use this guy again next week. Nico Collins. Just keep an eyeing him. He's coming back for Houston and that used him like week one or whatever. I think Brandon could get traded that did not happen, but still possible Chris Conley, and you know weently on the show, but Chris Conley is not the future wide receiver for Houston, so they're gonna get Nico Collins into the game. A note on

your market. Marlon Mack coming back from the Achilles ending Joku had a huge week last week, came back from the Achilles. How do we feel about makers? I know it's, you know what, a little better. Nobody's ever really come back from anis No running back has come back from an Achilles to have a meaningful rushing career. But maybe medical science has just gotten to the point where, you know, we can do it now. I don't know. We'll watch Marlon Mack to find out. Seahawks take on the Steelers.

Lots of starters in this game. Let's talk through this beginning with the Geno Smith part of it, because that's, you know, everything kind of hinges on Smith. So we haven't seen Geno Smith for seven years really in any meaningful capacity. Now we're going to get him for a month of starts. We saw him for about a third of a game last week, and he looked pretty good for most of that game until he threw the game,

losing interception. Now, in fairness, on that play, tire Lackett fell down, so maybe it wouldn't have been an interception. But that's been what Geno Smith has been all about, is the turnover. What I can tell you for sure is Geno Smith eight throwing the beautiful pinpoint rainbow bombs that Russell Wilson throws. That is not in the arsenal for Geno Smith. So I expect fewer passes, fewer deep

passes here. Steelers past defense has allowed multiple touchdowns in every game since the opener, and I think Gino gets one, maybe two touchdowns here. But there's still risk with Geno Smith being Geno Smith. Hey, let Gino cook. Come on, let Gino cook. So let's talk through some of his targets now. DK Metcalf's got a food injury watch that we expect him to start when running from his most

common spot, the left side of the field. Metcalf's got a favorable matchup against sophomore corner James Pierre, who doesn't have the speed to hang with Metcalf and has given up a touchdown in both of his two starts this season. Metcalf's found the end zone in each of the past three games and he's averaging nine yards in those three games. That's great that you just pointed at me, and I knew you'd be I couldn't help it. Laugh my way.

My life is fluent in friends, so whenever I do in the French accent, it's it's about that be great on DK metcalf see great and Tyler Lockett because he needs those deep passes to fill his box score. And I worry that Gino Smith just isn't going to be sending those bombs his way, So still considered sitting him startable here. He's gonna line up most often against Joe Hayden, who is allowing of the passes in his coverage to be completed. So it's still was starting grade unlock it.

But we're gonna show some caution here. Gerald Everett returned from the COVID list. But the Steelers have been one of the best tight end defenses in the leagues that are gonna pass on him. Let's go to the running game. It's Alex Collins as the starter on in this Monday night game. Um, they've ruled out Chris Carson. You Um,

the Steelers have been a ferocious run defense. Though they haven't allowed of running back touchdown, and they're giving up just eighties six rushing yards and thirty eight receiving yards per game to the position. Now, if you have that together there, you know there's a hundred fourteen yards, so you know we wouldn't mind. Actually tomorrow, that's a hundred thirty three yards. I think if we can get all of that to Alex Collins, that would be that would

be a good game, and we would take that. But Alex Collins, frankly, isn't that good, so I've only got the C grade on him. Opposing runners averaging in the middle of the road four point three yards per carry. We're hoping for a short touchdown for Alex Collins. Let's go over to Pittsburgh, no Juju Smith Schuster, and what we have learned is when you take one of the key receivers off of the field, the other guys get fed big time in targets. And I'm expecting that to

be the case here, especially for Deonte Johnson. He's already a target hog, and now he gets tons more volume with Smith Schuster out. Seattle's defense is eighth worst in coverage per Pro Football Focus, bottom ten and every meaning meaningful statistical category against the past. And the funny thing is they cut Trey Flowers last week their cornerback, starting cornerback. They replaced him two ago with Sidney Jones. Sidney Jones is two starts at cornerback, has yielded a perfect passer

rating in his coverage. They just don't have anybody to cover. So I love Deante Johnson in this game, and I've got an A grade on him. I've got a a grade on Chase Claypool as well. He has got a play of twenty or more yards in three of his four games that he has played, and next Gen stats his Claypool ranked sixth among receivers in yards after catch per reception at seven point eight and fifth in yards

per catch over expectation. He's a big time playmaker and this is a Seattle defense that can't stop anybody, and he's got positive matchups all over the field. I was just gonna say, Deante Johnson has ten plus targets in twelve of his last fourteen games. That's that's a lot of target is now. Some of them are coming from Ben Roethlisberg, and those targets are one hoppers his direction, but still um Claypools, by the way, six ft four. No Seattle cornerbacks taller than five eleven, So it's I

love Claypool here too. So if I like those two guys, obviously I like Ben. And you know what you're getting with Ben. He's been very inconsistent, but he's coming off his best game of the year last week, and now he gets this terrible secondary that I've already outlined for you. Four straight teams have thrown for three hundred twenty two yards or move against Seattle. A B grade for Ben Roethlisberger and for those looking for a deep sleeper, Ray Ray McLeod yep, Ray Ray McCloud. He will go into

the slot. Not teams Washington might. Washington doesn't play outside. McLeod will face one of the most burnable slot cornerbacks in the league, Ugo Amati converted safety. Pro Football Focus ranks Ugo Amati at cornerback one D ten. Never thought I'd see a day where Cloud versus Ugo. This is it sounds like a video game um or some kind of a dance move. I got a little Ray Ray McCloud in me today. This is Ray Ray McCloud C grade take that. Yes, that's taking a chance right there.

Last guy in this matchup is Naji Harris. Despite his snapshare decreasing in three straight weeks, he's still seeing tons of rushing attempts, yards and in his yards per carving increase in every game, and even against a very good Denver defense last week. A lot of success coming this week against the Seattle team allowing the second most rushing yards and receiving yards to opposing running backs. Hundred and ninety total yards per game they're giving to opposing running

backs and Harris gets virtually all of that. A grade for Naji Harris and my highest grade of the week of his career and fantasy A. Fonzie is coming next and when we talk about the Bills taking on the Titans, okay, I'm injecting him into I'm injecting Fonzie into your matchup? Alright? Do you just want to do it for me? Is that that's all right? All right? I have started with the passing game on the Bill side. Josh Allen, Stefan Daggs, you just get throw these in, okay? Yes, I have

eight grades on both of them. Dude, uh I think it's pretty obvious. It's a it's a game where the over under his fifty four points. The Diggs is game ten targets a game, Josh Allen scoring three touchdowns a game if you can buy in the pass and rush. Uh, So they have eight grades. We'll go over to Emmanuel Sanders, who's actually wide receiver twenty on the year, where Stefon Diggs is wide receiver twenty five. Crazy enough, Emmanuel Sanders

outscoring Stefon Diggs. But that's what four touchdowns will do on the lower volume. He has topped to forty eight yards in every single game, and he's averaging six targets per game. It's okay production going up against the Titans team they're allowing the most yards to receivers, eighth most receptions and fifth most touchdowns. We're five weeks in and they've allowed twelve different receivers to top fifty yards. So I think that's that's like the minimum game in five games.

So I have a B grade on Sanders, but you could probably talk me into that A. But it's not quite the Fonzi A. It's a B grade special. He needs the touchdowns he's gotten him A couple of times, but he needs the touchdowns to get that A grade. Over to Dawson Knox. Five touchdowns four games. Yeah, he's racking up, and we need Dawson Knox. Yes, we need on the butt bar. We have a table man. We don't need the button bar. We could just keep doing that. I guess we will manually do that one. Uh, I

have a B grade on Knox. Uh, you can convince me to an A here as well. He's becoming a problem. He had four red zone targets last week alone. Um, I barely want to give him a see but uh, he's he's just not quite gained quite enough work, not quite enough targets. If the targets ramp up, then he's going to be a consistent A grade, but B grade right now. Over to the running backs, Moss B grade snaps have been increased every week. Over se Singletary is

on the bench because it's all Moss now. On the other side, I'm benching Tan Hill, Henry's and obvious A Julio Jones and A. J. Brown are both gonna play. I'm giving them both C grades on the I know that you're awesome after the catch, and if you get a little bit of volume. You'll be playing from behind.

You should do something C grade. That's the problem. They only get the C grade because they should get just enough work and they do so much after the catch and Derrick Henry obvious A grade every week, regardless of a week you did. I was just reiterating for our listeners. I'll reiterate that you can if you're listening to this over the air, you can check out the podcast version of Fantasy Football Weekly as well. We encourage you to subscribe, rate and review that as as you go ahead and

listen across your weekend. Best of luck in the first week next week. The Bipocalypse will help you through that tricky week next week when we return to Fantasy Football Weekly. Fantasy Football Weekly is a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.