Week 3: Wide Receiver Catastrophes!

Over the course of the show, we will give you nine players upon whom you can take a chance. We'll answer three tough questions and give you three players that we believe you should speculate on prematurely this week that everybody else will be trying to pick up next week. Tell you who they are. Near the end of the show, will break down every match up fantasy style with letter grades on every meaningful player. And we begin with the

Cincinnati Bengals taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. Last time we saw Cincinnati, Joe Burrow was throwing his arm out of socket practically and with repetitions. Joe Mixon wasn't doing a lot. What do you think of the key players for the Bengals. Matt Yeah, I'll start with Mixing. Remember last year he had an incredibly slow start to Uh. He only scored one time through Week six of last season, but it was Week three of the year last year where he

had his little peak of his early season slump. This year has been odd because he's had twenty one and twenty touches in his first tame plenty to work with. It's just he's come up a little empty handed. Uh. The Philly matchup looked tough last year, but through two weeks, the Eagles have allowed forty more yards per game to opposing runners, as well as three touchdowns in the first two weeks to opposing running backs. So I'm giving Mixing a C. It's probably you know, uh high see like

an Ecto cooler. I think that it sounds like he's a B. He's getting plenty of work and there's a bad defense. You know, if there was something between a B and A see, definitely give him one Ecto Cooler. Yeah. Joe Burrow, he gets a B grade. Burrow has kept things conservative and his first two starts, but he's been successful. He's averaging only eight and a half yards per completion,

but he's completing his passes. It's very good for us to start rookie similar to fellow first overall picked Jared Goff. That's how Jared Goff plays, by the way, Jared Goff had two sixty seven and three against this defense last week. So Burrow is a solid be uh. Tyler Boyd. I'm giving a B grade to A. J. Green gets a C. Green has had twenty two targets to Boyd's thirteen, but Green's then basically nothing, averaging four catches and forty yards per game. Well, Boyd is securing five and a half

catches for fifty three yards. Boyd and Green this week said that he still doesn't feel like he really knows the playbook and feels in sync with this offense. That's why, you know, I understand he missed last year, but that was last year. You had all off season everything else. Yeah, I didn't like hearing that from A. J. Green. He's averaging eleven targets per game, though, so you kind of have to leave him in lineups even though it's not

going well because he's gonna catch more of those. Eventually, it's going to happen. So Boyd has a better matchup this week, as Cooper Cup and Steven Sims total one thirty one from the slot. Well, Terry McLaurin and Robert Woods only managed seventy five from the perimeter. So I like Boyd better. We're not going as far as Mike Thomas or Drew sample. Uh c j Uzoma on I r with a torn achilles May he rest in peace? Uh Miles Sanders on the other side, he gets an

A grade while Boston Scott is on the bench. I like Scott more if he wasn't so past dependent. Chargers backs combined for twenty four yards and a score on the ground. Brown's backs to ten and three on the ground, but both teams only five receptions in twenty seven yards total, so Boston Scott's out Sanders had twenty of the twenty four rushing attempts last week too. Carson Wentz he gets a C grade. Everyone was all excited about Baker last Thursday.

He only put up to nineteen and two against the Bengals, but he did look good because it's the Bengals terrible pass rush. They gave him all the time in the world. The Bengals only have two sacks on the season so far, and I'd like to see when's kind of get it going. But the running matchups just so juicy, and he's got injuries all up and down the wide receiver corps. Jalen Reagor probably not gonna go with a thumb injury. He is he on I are now that's new to me.

Al Sean questionable with the foot. He might come back, but they're both on your bench. And Deshaun Jackson, he's only a C grade. He's averaging eight targets per game but has done barely anything and the only only one wide receivers hit the eight yard mark against the Bengals in their last six games. But Zach Ertz and Dallas Goddard are the guys you want to play. I'm giving arts An and got heart be there's still the best receivers on the roster. Goddard has seven teen targets on

the season, Urtsys has seven in each game. Hunter Henry had five catches for seventy three in the first week against this defense, which is fine. That wasn't a particularly little tough match up against the tight end either. They're gonna be just fine in this game. Yeah, I think so. Too. They're effectively the Philadelphia tight ends are basically wide receiver. Wanted wide receiver too. Absolutely, let's go to Houston taking on Pittsburgh gets the third in three straight brutal matchups

for your Texans. And if there's ever a time you're going to buy low on Texans, this is it heading into Pittsburgh when the owners have got nothing out of their Texans and they're looking at Pittsburgh going I can't even start my Texans right now. What tysans are there

there that you want to buy low on? But basically all of them because you'll pay pennies on the dollar for Deshaun Watson, Fuller Johnson, because because right now now, if you wait a week, the new the owner is gonna look at the schedule, which turns very soft and out and go, well, you know, I've waited out these three impossible weeks. This is the time to strike, I believe, before Sunday's games. Anyway, With that free amble, I just just killed all of your time to talk about the

Houston Texans foibles against the Putils pretty much. But yeah, let's pretend the owner just looks at Sunday's box scores and not the forthcoming schedule, and then you can really buy low on your Texans because it's a brutal matchup for basically everyone. Will start with DeShawn Watson, who is the most pressured quarterback in the NFL, and these Steelers lead the league and pressure rate and are the most splits happy team out there. So I quite frankly fear

for Deshaun Watson. And when I envisioned, like you know, when Sonic the Hedgehog would get hit and all his rings would fly out, that's all the money DeShawn Watson is to me. He's gonna fly out his pockets. That'd be pretty cool. So over to his pass catchers, it doesn't get much better. I'm gonna give Will Fuller a c desplite zero targets last week, squad dooche, but he was hurt then in his healthy now the story the

song remains the same for wolf Fuller here. Um, it's a brutal matchup, though, despite the fact that Darius Slayton roasted the Pittsburgh secondary for one oh two and two touchdowns in Week one, only one wide receiver top the hundred yards and scored multiple touchdowns against the Steelers. All of last season and they weren't even the same person. It was Tyler Boyd with the yards and Philip Door set of all people in week one with two touchdowns

before the acquired makeup Fitzpatrick. So just to see for Fuller, and I got Brandon Cooks on the bench despite the upticking targets last week because Fuller saw zero. I'm just not going to Brandon Cooks either. It's it's a brutal matchup and the tight ends. I was tempted to start one, but I got them both on the bench despite the fact Darren Fell Darren Fell scored last week, Jordan Aikins had seven catches. Jon Nakins is emerging. Yeah, but the

tight end usage is very intriguing in Houston. If one of these guys goes down, we might have a top twelve tight end on our hands. But they're both on the bench this week. And I should say, Brandon cook so put them in your line up for next week when they got the Vikings. But Benson this week and um David Johnson also gets to see The Steelers have allowed just ninety seven rushing yards on thirty eight carries so far the season. That's two point six yards per carry.

We all watch Sa Kwon get shut down in Week one, but Philip Lindsay managed ninety four combo yards and a touchdown catching garbage time last week. Johnson has that potential as well, so he gets a sea over to Pittsburgh. James Conner gets the A, even though I'm worried about him finishing the game. The bell cow was back for now. He also gets right guard David de Castro back who

missed the first two games this year. Houston allowing six point four yards per carries to imposing back, So an easy A for James Conner and an easy A for Deonta Johnson. I'm talking about him first before Juju Man, Well you should, yeah. Thirty two point three percent of Pittsburgh's targets in Week one, thirty one point seven in week to the third highest target share percentage in the NFL. Baltimore wide receivers were quiet against Houston last week, but

that was dictated by game script. Both Sammy Watkins and Tyree Hill caught a touchdown in Week one against Houston. So I love Deonta Johnson and I love the Juju in Week one gave him an a pacock no time for that, I know, but I'm gonna gieve him a be this week. He will play with the knee injury. His target share is south at which is troubling, but the explosion is clearly back. Two touchdowns in week one, seven catches last week. You cannot sit him right now,

especially against the Texans. You can sit James Washington, though, got him on the bench. Game script for reads me here, but I would still roster him, hold on to him in the most of leagues Eric he run on the bench, target totals of two and five so far this season. Mark Andrews was quiet against Houston last week, so he run on the bench. And lastly, Big Ben gets a b. He looks really good. That arm strength is only gonna get better following Tommy john surgery. Again, I'm just worried

about the game script here. It could be a Connor day. But Patrick Mahomes had three passing touchdowns only two hundred eleven yards, and Lamar Jackson didn't blow up the box score either against Houston. That's a little troubling. You can't convince me Houston is suddenly a great second Oh no, it's not just well, Ben Ben. I think he's capped at thirty thirty pass attempts. That's my only concern here. He still gets a very solid B no plus though.

Charge At some point we'll we'll talk more about Deonte Johnson, but I think he is a top ten Fantasy wide receiver overall. Washington takes on Cleveland in our final matchup of this segment, and for Washington, there's just a couple of guys you want to talk about. But I want to start with Logan Thomas, who I love this week, and I've got to be grade on Loto Loto one of the one of the many quarterback turned tight ends in history. Like, um, all right, well, I guess nobody's

ever a quarterback turned tight end. The Browns are the opponent. They've already allowed three tight end touchdown Marquis Gray quarterback. Oh well, there he turned tight end and like that, Like how that turned out? Browns have allowed the second most receptions and six most yards to tight ends. And get this, Thomas on the field for percent of Washington plays last week, only Darren Waller and Travis Kelsey have

seen more targets than Logan Thomas. In a juicy man jump B grade, staying with the passing attack Terry McLaurin. Through two weeks, he's accounted for forty six percent of Washington's passing yards just for him, Barry mclard. This week he faces a battered Brown secondary that's going to be without Greedy Williams. They've allowed the eighth most yards to receivers. Uh and that was despite facing you know, the Bengals with Rickie, Joe Burrow and a run centric Ravens team.

So we'll we'll start Verry Terry McLaurin with a B grade and then the only other player I want to talk about for Washington is they're starting running back in Antonio Gibson. He experienced a huge uptick in usage last week and hopefully that continues here. The Browns are allowing the third fewest rushing yards on a smothering two point nine yards per carry. Who are these Browns? If mark Ingram and Joe Mixon can't top forty six rushing yards or score, then I can't give a starting grade to

Antonio Gibson. This week, j K. Dobbins had a good game against them, and I believe Jio. Look, okay, just stoke. Maybe it's the second running back and that may pay. I hope not. I hope not. Let's go to the Cleveland side. We'll start with a running game. Nick Chubb gets a B. No team has allowed fewer Fantasy points to running backs and Washington's there's a little danger here. No runners scored and they held Kenyan Drake and Check

last week. Still Washington's just the middle of the pack run defense, their middle of the packing yards per carry. Chubb continues to get all the money carries near the stripes, so we'll give him the B. Kareem Hunt gets just to see only had a twelve touches and twenty snaps last week, but still turn it into a good game. But you worry if that's all the touches he's gonna get, it's gonna be hard to keep scoring two touchdowns a game.

Last year, Washington was terrible stopping runners through the air. This year they've looked better, but I doubt they've transformed doing a shutdown unit against guys at Kareem Hunts skill level. So he's still startable with a CE gright. Let's go to the passing game. Baker Mayfield looked incredibly poised and

comfortable last time. We saw him to thursdays ago. I think it continues here if Cleveland's overall overhauled offensive line is truly improved, because they're going up against this terrific Washington front four, a group that Profobot focuses ranks as the fifth best pass rush. Remember, they got four first round picks on Washington's defensive front line. The Washington secondary

looks improved, but the personnelity personal really isn't improved. I just think they're they look improved because the pass rush has been good. I think if Baker's line can just hold up, I think he'll do okay here. I've got a C grade on Baker Mayfield, a B grade for Odell Beckham. Against Washington, no receiver's topped sixty eight yards, but already five receivers have topped fifty yards, so I'd see an okay game coming for Odell Beckham. Jarvis Landry

playing hurt. He's scored one time in his last seven games, and he's um he's been. He goes up against the slot cornerback Jimmy Moreland, who struggled and last week alone gave up ten catches for a hundred six yards. So Jarvis land remained startable with a C grade. We've dropped off Austin Hooper out of our rosters entirely. We're not going to spend time on him. When we come back, take a chance on me. Nine players upon whom you can take a chance. These are guys not normally in

your starting line up. Many of these are available on the waiver wire, and man, do we need receivers this week. So many guys are out. We'll tell you who you can count on to pick up off the waiver wire and plug into your starting lineup. When we return to Fantasy Football Weekly. Welcome back Fantasy Football Weekly, getting you ready for Sunday's action. There is a segment week call take a chance on me. We give you nine players

upon whom you can take a chance. These are players not normally in your starting lineup, but they can be. This week. We beginning at the quarterback position and Brian Johnson, I have Philip Rivers at home against the Yets, and this is quite simply a professional quarterback against the worst team in professional football, the Jets. Second. Yeah, yeah, the verdicts still out there, but I'm still giving Jets the edge here. The Jets secondary has gone way South since

jettisoning JOm All Adams. They're awful ran pass coverage by a pro football focus, and they have surrendered two passing scores in each game so far. That feels like a pretty safe floor for Philip rivers and this one. So why not? All these kids will be cheering for this big game. Okay, Matt, you'll take a chance at the quarterback Nick Mullins of the San Francisco forty Niners spent

a while since we've seen him, Oh the Mulligan. Uh. He started eight games for the Niners and twousand eighteen he averaged two four passing yards per game, and those eight contests and through for multiple scores and four of eight. Nick Mullins is a good quarterback, and he gets Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator and head coach who gets to scheme for him for a week. He's facing off

against the lowly Giants as well. The Giants have allowed over two yards or multiple touchdown passes to six of the last seven quarterbacks they've faced, and they've already allowed five touchdown passes this season. Nick Mullins, go get him all right, I'm I'm with you on that and it's got to be a fantastic DFS. He is DraftKings the cheapest starting quarterback this week. There you go, my quarterback,

There we go. It's Happy Trombone Ski. I am surely jaxing the hell out of Happy Trombone Ski with his third straight starting grade and second appearance in this segment. But I'm doing it anyway because the matchup is so tantalizing. The Falcons have been blasted for almost eight hundred passing yards and another fifty rushing yards by quarterbacks so far, and that includes eight touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks and three

of them on the ground to Dak Prescott. And you know what, Happy Trombone Sky fleet of a rushing touchdown possibility here too. He's got great matchups, including Allen Robinson he can throw out of the backfield against a team that always struggles against running backs as receivers. By the way, every Falcons game this year, if you add up all the passing yards from Matt Ryan and opposing quarterbacks, it might be the most passing yards in history in games.

In games, it's gonna be eight hundred yards of game like almost every game I I contest. Just let the Falcons score three touchdowns if you're the opposing head coach, and then you're gonna you're gonna put up even more points against him if you super weak on side kick at them. This reminds me of the old Layola Marre Amount basketball All team Hank gathers Um that would say we would let them score so we could get the ball back. But I'm down for it. Let's go to

the running back position, Brian. They say it's your birthday, Dion Lewis, baby at home against the forty Niners. Birthday thirty Burger on the way. Yeah, I know. They just signed DeVante Freeman, and the narrative all summer was like, when is Deonta gonna choose someone to sign with. I'm pretty sure no one wanted to sign Deonta DeVante Freeman. No, because he looked cooked as all hell last year. There's no way it comes in after five days and leads

his team in touches. So I'm going the way of Dion Lewis against the forty Niners, who are basically missing everyone on defense right now, and the Jets running backs are awful who they faced the forty Niners last year, but they combined for twenty eight touches. Fifteen is a lock for Lewis, who will get most of the work in the passing games. Chase Edmonds caught a touchdown against San fran And week one, So Dion Lewis is playable, all right. I'm staying with the Niners and I'm going

with Jet McKinnon. Mullins favorite target could very well be McKinnon. Uh. The Niners have had a league high thirty seven percent of their targets go to running back so far this year, and McKinnon takes over for an injured raheem most dirt and even and even more injured Tevin Coleman, and he's been electric in his first two games, accounting for scores in each week, including a long touchdown run last week.

Plus last week, the Bears backs totaled seven catches for seventy yards and a score through the air against the Giants. It's gonna be Mullins to McKinnon all day long. Yeah. And if McKinnon's gone in your league, and he's gone in many, Jeff Wilson is a good start as well. We'll talk more about that in the match up. They always roll in that second running back at San France. Second running backs always relevant and he'll get the goal

line work. My take a chance of your running back is Josh Kelly of the Chargers going up against Carolina, ostensibly the backup, but it's really more of a one two punch there, and both guys will have a great opportunity. Kelly and Austin Ekeler as well. The Panthers historic bad run defense. They now have allowed running back touchdowns in fourteen straight games, and over those fourteen straight games, they're averaging two and a half running back touchdowns per game.

So both of them get paid here. Kelly's actually getting more looks inside the ten yard line than Austin Ekeler, So I feel like a touchdown here is all but inevitable for Josh Kelly. Let's go to the receivers, Brian who you got Cool Beasley at home against the Rams who are definitely going to bring bring the pressure in the toughest matchup for the Bills, who look great. Uh, this is gonna be a game where Beasley season at least eight targets easily. He has back to back double

digit PPR games to start the season. The Rams have allowed the eighth most catches to wide receivers. Jalen Ramsey will certainly be locked on Stefon Diggs and Beasley's matchup with Troy Hill is plus. Till has allowed catch rate in his coverage so far this season. Okay, Matt, go to t J. Hockenson of the Lions. He's the only Detroit tight end with a target this year and he's come up with five fifty six and one in Week one, four for sixty two you in Week two. Good numbers.

That's a that's a lack of shab right there in those numbers. Uh. And he gets the Cardinals and while they haven't allowed a touchdown to a tight end yet this year, they're do And it was Hockinson who started that party in Week one when he had six catches for a hundred and thirty one yards and a score in the meeting in the Desert. Last year, they went on to give up fifteen more touchdowns the tight ends last year. So the Cards are better, but it's not

night and day. T J. Hockenson's a sure start this week. I've got Adam Humphreys going up to Minnesota where he will perform well. He's been targeted six and seven times in the two games, including a touchdown reception. Last week, he goes up against an injury battered secondary without its starting slock cornerback Mike Hughes, and we don't even know who the replacement is for Hughes because the depth chart

is so wobbly in the Vikings secondary. It could be rookie Harrison Hand, who has never played a snap in the NFL. Hey, I'm Humphrey. We're gonna give him the Matt Harrison hand right there. Yeah, Harrison hand. Yeah nice, I like it. I like it. Let's let's go to one more matchup, maybe even two. Las Vegas takes on the New England Patriots and Matt. For a while there looked like Josh Jacobs might not go, but he's going to go in this game. How do you feel about

the running game against New England? Well, he is probably bruised up a little bit because he leads the league in touches through the first two weeks with fifty nine. It's a lot, that's a ton. Luckily, Jacobs is also second on the team and targets because the Patriots are still a tough run customer, allowing only three point nine yards per carry and four rushing touchdowns over their last

twenty three games. But Chris Carson was able to score through the air last week on the Patriots, and Jacob's usage is great there, so uh, he's a b start. I am putting Derek Carr on the bench. Twelve of the last fourteen quarterbacks to face the Patriots have been held under three yards. That list includes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen twice, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson. Derek Carr is none of those guys. Car has h only topped

three yards once in his last twenty one games. By the way, he's not He's not that good, even though he looked great on Monday night. Brian Edwards still questionable. Henry Ruggs is out, but they're all on your bench, so is Hunter Renfro. Four different Seattle wide receivers scored last week, but that was Russell Wilson at the Helm. Car is a bit closer to stew Beard than Wilson, and frankly, he's not even close to stew Beard. The Miami wide receivers were all held under fifty yards and

none scored in the first week. I think that that's what's on the docket for the Raiders. Wide receivers Darren Waller, he gets a B grade, also missed some time in practice this week, but was a full participant on Friday. Four yard games in his last seven games played, including sixteen targets and twelve receptions last week. Waller has more targets this season than Henry Ruggs, Hunter, Renfro, Brian Edwards, Nelson Aghilar, Jason Witten, Foster Moreau, and Za Jones combined,

basically the whole team. Yes, it's it's crazy. Cam Newton on the Patriots side, he gets an A grade. He's averaging two rushing touchdowns per game. He's averaging sixty one rushing yards per game. No one else on the rosters averaging thirty rushing yards. He's you're starting running back for the Patriots. There's no running back that you're going to play,

even with James White out this week. Again, outside of Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Alvin Kamara, no running back has topped fifty three yards against the Raiders since Week ten of last year. The wide receivers Julian Edelman and nikkil Harry. I'm giving them both a B even though they're both Patriots questionable. Edelman has been Cam's guy so far, so let's talk about Harry and his matchup. Boundary receivers have torched the Raiders so far, with Robbie Anderson going

for a hundred and fifteen yards in a score. Tray Kwon Smith even had five catches for eight six yards. Nice called by Scott Fish by the way, last week. Harry is at twenty nine percent of the Pats targets so far this year. That's enough to keep him in play. And there is no tight end that you want to play on the Patriots. No, there is not. That's it. That is it. Let's try to work in one more matchup into this segment, but it's it's got to be

fast Rams taking on Buffalo. Brian sorry with the Rams running backs, by the way, the most rush attempts at NFC, the Los Angeles Rams had right now, But it's Sarell Henderson the only one you want to start. He led the way last week, the only running back targeted Buffalo. Not a great matchup al though the they've allowed four yards per carry thus far, But it was the Dolphins and Jets running backs. Not much to write home about there, so I'm giving Henderson to see. Tyler he could be.

Higby gets to see as well, dominating the Snaps a tight end, playing over eighty percent of them. The Bills just gave up a monster game to Mikeasicki, but they were without linebackers Matt Mlano and Tremaine Edmonds. If they returned, that lessons Higby's prospects a little bit. But Chris Herndon had six catches in Week one, so Higbie's got a safe floor. He's the top twelve of tight end options. He's only a C. Only a C. If the linebackers come back, I'm gonna get to the quarterback, which I'm

not sold on. Who's throwing the ball to Higbee and his name, well, we'll get to him. Cooper Cup, though, gets a blot. Slot receivers, I've had success against Buffalo. Jameson Crowder had a hundred and fifteen yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Ford even had seven catches for seventy six yards against the Bills. I like Cup with a B. I don't like Robert Woods as much, sadly in a revenge game, just to see for Robert Woods likely to see tret Davias White on the outside for the most of the

day and therein lies the rub for Woods. Davante Parker did manage five catches for fifty six yards and a touchdown against the Bill so Woods is startable, but just to see for him, and even though he's off to a hot start, it's a dangerous spot for Jared Goff. He's on the bench for me. Stu Beard through three hundred plus and two touchdowns against Buffalo last week, but the Dolphins were in comeback mode and that game was

in Miami. Going back to the start of last season, just one quarterback has thrown for more than one touchdown and Buffalo and that was Lamar Jackson. And the Rams have only played the JV teams in the nfc E so far. This is a true test. So Goff is on your bench, don't don't be fooled. Josh Allen not on your bench though, Just to be though, Wentz was blanked from a passing perspective last week by the Rams

did run into touchdown. Deck was quiet in Week one against them as well, But you cannot bench Allen right now. Not a lot of tape, of course, but l A was flamed by flamed by mobile quarterbacks last season. Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray all went off against them. Josh Allen can certainly do the same. Stefon Diggs talk about a hot start just to see for him though, why Jalen Ramsey. That's about it, and Ramsey will shadow him? Oh all day. Marie Cooper did have ten catches and

Ramsey's coverage in Week one on fourteen targets. So if Diggs can get peppered like that, he could produce. I wouldn't bend him, but temper your expectations. They're also temperate

your expectations for John Brown. Just to see Darius Williams is no slouch at the other outside corner spot for l A. But the Rams have allowed the eighth most catches to wide receivers and fellow roadrunner wide receiver to Shawn Jackson managed six for sixty six for sixty four against l A last year, which should be a safe floor for Brown. I like Cole Beasley the most at all the receivers, to be honest, that's why he was might take a chance on me wide receiver and to

the running backs. Zack Moss is out, Dak Moss is out, Killing Singletary is gonna get a lot of work here. Yeah, I don't t j Yelden will be in the mix, but we're not gonna talk about him. But the Rams have allowed a hundred and sixty seven columbo yards per game to opposing running backs three total touchdowns. So if there's ever a time to start Devon Singletary with, it's

it so b for Singletary. We'll see if they give him a red zone carry though I don't know, well Josh Allen is going to get the better because I don't think he's gonna throw for much. We need him to pass no often. We are still creating brand new

Guillotine leagues at guillotine leagues dot com. This is the exciting format where fifteen now fifteen players start the season and every week the low scoring team gets cut out of the league and their entire roster goes to the waiver wire where you get to bid on a whole roster's worth of players. It's an exciting new format. The last team standing wins. You can play at Guillotine leagues dot com. When we come back Tennessee Travels to Minnesota

to face a battered defense. Are there any Titans you're not playing? Find out when we come back. Fantasy Football Weekly returns Paul charge In, Brian Johnson, and Matt Harrison from Shock Fantasy. I encourage you to check out Matt's work at chock fantasy dot com, including your waiver wire stuff. Oh yeah, we have a I have a podcast. Now it's just me. It's all alone. Usually I'm recording it from my car with nice sounding equipment, at least in a parking lot at a hockey arena as one of

my kids is waiting for hockey practice. I love it. But yeah, Shock Fantasy dot Com promo code Peacock gets you in the door for bucks for the rest of the year. Tennessee takes on Minnesota and the battered Minnesota secondary, which may be starting cornerbacks Holton Hill, who ranked Pro Football Focus ranks is the one hundred seventh best cornerback in the league. Jeff Gladney, who ranks eight six and is allowing a passer rating of one forty three, and

Harrison Hand who has never played an NFL snap. So I ask you, co host, who do you suppose is the highest scoring tight end in fantasy football? John new Smith? Which tight end has scored the most touchdowns? John new Smith? Which tight end is the most yards per reception? John new Smith? Is there a super peacock sound you can play? Which which tight end faces a Vikings defense without its strong side linebacker Anthony Barr or Anthony Bar's replacement, Anthony Ferkser.

John U. Smith? Which team which tight end faces a team that just allowed a third string tight end to roll up one yards last week? John U? Smith? Yes, John Eu with an A grade this week. I didn't know we set aside five minutes for the John Smith matchup, absolutely because we don't have to talk about Derrick Henry was an obvious A against the Vikings run defense that's bottom five in every meaningful rushing category. Ryan Tannhill a great as well, and the only thing that really hurts

him here is Derrick Henry, his own teammate. No no problem with the Vikings defense here, but Henry might just leave not enough on the table for Tannehill. Still a grade because if Henry doesn't take it. Tannehill's got the same four touchdown upside he had last week, and Corey Davis gets an A grade with a j Brown out, he'll face a secondary as I mentioned, filled with litterd with backups at the cornerback position. He's already uh and even when he gets their ostensible well, they've got at

any rate, Corey Davis sitting out a great game. By the way, I don't know, fire up the peacock for Corey Davis. One of my summer sleepers said, do not give up on Corey Davis. Peacock Roll and Tannehills might take a chance to meet quarterback last week, and Adam Humphreys might take a chance and for this week, get that peacock a lozenge. We're pre cocking for Adam Humphreys. Now the Vikings side, there's only two players you care about.

That's Dalvin Cook, who I feel like this is same script for Dalvin Cook as it has been the last two weeks, which is the Vikings will be way behind throughout much of this game. They're not gonna be able to run very much and hopefully Cook just gets enough volume to do Okay. I don't think you're gonna get gaudy stats because the Vikings just aren't going to be able to run enough for him to get there still if he can get to like fifteen touches, that probably

gets him to eighty yards and maybe a touchdown. So B grade on Dalvin Cook, C Grade and Adam Thelan. You know last week the Cold sent extra coverage to Theeling and it worked marvelously, holding him to just thirty one yards. You figured the Titans do the same thing here. Darn kirk Cousins to go to old A B. C. Johnson or Justin Jefferson, something he was unwilling to do

last week. Theland runs predominantly from the right side of the field, or he matches up with ancient cornerback Jonathan Joseph. Titans have only allowed one wide receiver touchdown on the year. C grade for him. Let's go to San Francisco taking on the Giants. Matt, you already talked about a couple of Niner players that you like. Yeah, McKinnon was, might take a chance to me, Runner mullins was, might take a chance on me. Throw our will mention. Jeff Wilson. Uh,

he's a capable backup. He's been trusted as the goal line guy in in in times pasted when Matt Breeder Tevin Coleman were out with injury last year. If you're desperate, he's a S grade. I think he's startle Uh. There's no other starter on the Niners except for Jordans Reid, who gets a be read scored last week kittles out again. The Giants have held Eric Ebron and Jimmy Graham in check,

but those two teams have healthy wide receivers. Through the last five weeks of the Giants gave up five touchdowns to the tight end position, and James Bradberry is a good corner by the way, He's gonna shadow either Kendrick Borne or Brandon a Uk. So there's not enough. There's not enough injuries that would make you go all the way to them right now. Uh. Dion Lewis was Brian's take a chance on me runner. DeVante Freeman's on the bench, though after replacing se Quan Is only averaging one point

eight yards per carry. With this line, what makes you think that three days after being signed, DeVante Freeman, by the way, was bad last year, can do better than say Kwan Now, Daniel Jones, I'm giving him a C grade. Even without Nick Bosa, d Ford and Solomon Thomas on the d line, The Niners still have a decent pass rush. Kyler and Donald were each held under two fifty passing

yards and only managed one passing score. Jones will likely be forced to throw more, but Sterling Shepherd hits I R with a toe injury, leaving Darius Slayton as a possible B start, maybe slightly worse than a B. How about like a reduced B. Is there like a reduced be? Okay, there's a bee. Uh. DeAndre Hopkins did manage a huge day against this defense just two weeks ago. Chris Hogan put up respectable numbers from the outside as well. All right,

I'll just give him a solid bee for Darius Slayton. Uh, And the Niners are still without Richard Sherman. Two. Yeah, I are Yeah. So Slayton has nine scores in his past ten games as well. Golden Tat's in the slot. How about this? In games without Shepherd last year, Golden Tate averaged six catches for seventy five yards per game. Not bad, not bad, And Braxton Barrios had six forty nine and one from the slot last week, So that's

attainable for Tate. He gets to see, I'm only given Evan Ingram a C grade, though you'd think with se Kwan and Shepherd out had like Ingram Moore. But the Niners are really good against the tight ends. They've only allowed three receptions to the position this year. They held Chris Herndon to one catch for five yards last week in a spot they were behind the whole They were behind the whole time. No wide receivers. Oh, it's kind of like this week, but you know the Giants have

a few more receivers. Evan Ingram's only a sea perfect segue to the Jets taking on Indianapolis? Are there any Jets to play here? They're wider, there's no wide receivers left standing. Well, it might be Braxton Burriosrouder last week ruled out Brashad Perriman not gonna play. They're both on the bench. The running backs are on the bench. Of course, even if Frank Gore gets twenty one, he's again last week. I don't even know. I don't want to even get

into that. But Braxton Barrios, I'm gonna give a C to Keelan Cole and Justin Jefferson both led their team and receiving yards against the Colts, and they run primarily from the slot. The Jets will certainly be forced to throw in this one, so Braxton Barrios his PPR garbage time savior. Also, he kind of just filled the Jamison Crowder rolling Crowder gets all those targets from the slide point. All right, I'm listening to that. You told me I'm

not gonna say start. Chris Hogan, who was the thing again playing for Game NFC's team, so he's on the bench, Chris earning him give him a ce. Tight Ends haven't done much against the Colts, but it was the Jagson Vikings, so not much to say. They're free safety and Lee Cooker did Terrorist Achilles last week, so that will help herned In Adam Gates needs to stop using him as a blocker, but I'm gonna get herned in the see here, Sam Donald on the bench, I just feel bad for

that guy. Nothing to work with. Poor Sam. Over to the Colt side, Jonathan Taylor, easy a. I'm giving him a Fonzie a instant bell cow status. The Colts are huge favorites at home, and the vaulted Jets run defense is fading, allowing five point yards per carry so far. I'm sorry if you've spent a bunch of your fab by Naheim Hines. He's on the bench this week, even in a in a blowout blowout spot. I don't know.

I think he's he'll clearly have more work than last week, but you can't trust him in seasonal he's like a he's a DFS dart throw you. There's no guarantee touches for Hines. I don't know if you charge, says behind Sea tweaked to him when he got me. I got him on the bench though. T Y Hilton, though, I'm going back to the well for the third time. He gets an a saw lesson of the snaps last week that was troubling, but he did drop a long touchdown

pass which would have surely salvage his stat line. I'm removing the San Francisco wide receivers from this equation because they basically don't exist. But in Week one Buffalo white Outs total twenty three catches, so there's enough to go around for t Y Hilton and Michael Pittman. With Paris Hilton, I'm sorry, Paris Campbell out. Also out, Paris Hillton would be a hell of it number two receiver for the Jets if she's available. I don't know if you're out there, Paris,

but Michael Pittman gets a see saw. I saw six targets when Paris Campbell went down last week. Should see steady work against the Jets would allow the third most red zone targets to wide receivers. Pittman has the size to thrive in the red zone and the tight ends. I was gonna give Moalley Cox to starting grade, but it's sounding like Jack Oil's gonna play, so that that's uh muddied Waters and Philip Rivers. Might take a chance of me quarterback against the most garbage team in the NFL,

unless the Vikings deciety changed that on Sunday. Alright, our final matchup of this segment is Chicago taking on Atlanta, and hey, that's me happy. Drom bon Ski was might take a chance on me where it's happy to have me try to take chance quarterback. I love Alan Robinson this matchup. This might be his best matchup of the year as he goes up against the hapless Falcons defense. They've allowed the second most yards to receivers, including multiple

receivers to top ninety yards in both weeks. So then I must like multiple Bears receivers, so you'll find b great on Anthony Miller, who dropped the touchdown last week but remained startable in a favorable matchup against slot cornerback dark keys dennerd Dennard has already allowed fifteen sixteen receptions in his coverage. That's the most in the NFL. And that's the matchup for Anthony Miller, a fantastic dark horse this week. And Darnell Mooney also getting into this act.

Remember last week I told you to put him on your watch list and he ended up scoring. They we're putting him in the starting light up of the C grade this week against this struggling secondary. Let's go to the running backs. David Montgomery B grade here. Falcons have allowed the eleventh fewest rushing attempts in seventh fewest rushing yards UH to opposing running backs. That's pretty impressive. And they faced his equality and Chris Carson, who are very good.

But Montgomery has been very active in the passing game. He's actually out targeted Tarik Cohen in both games so far, and he's holding a touchdown via the air. And the Falcons are struggling with running back receptions like they do every year for the past five years. So I like Montgomery as a ground air threat Tariko and gets a

C grade here for the same reason. Again, even even though he's not getting a lot of usage, I do like the fact that he will should be involved in this passing game against a bad falcons Uh defense against receiving running backs in case Mattnege comes to his senses and decides to throw to Kurt Rio, and I want to give him the C grade here. Let's go to the Atlanta side. Matt Ryan has been fantastic and get to the A grade here. And the Chicago secondary sounds intimidating,

but they've got these spots that you can exploit. For example, buster screen, their slack cornerback got worked by Danny Danny Amndola in the opener, and cornerback Jalen Johnson is making his third career start and to Shaun Gibson as a journeyman, so he's got spots that I think he can work with here. Julio Jones not expected to play in this game, and that does drop a little bit of my my esteem for Ryan, but he's still got so many good targets that I think you can still can you to

play him here? Calvin Ridley with an A grade. He'll get some extra work when Julio can't go in this game. Uh He's posted over one yards and multiple touchdowns in back to back games, and Hayden Hurst we'll see some extra targets as well. The Bears have allowed two solid games to two solid tight ends t J. Hockenson and Evan Ingram. Hurst went off last week against Dallas and is locked in as the focal point a focal point of Atlanti's high powered offense, and I think he gets

a few extra looks in this game. Todd Gurley C grade. Gurly only managing three point three yards per carry and has a whopping one receiving yard. So far, things don't get a lot easier against the Bears team that's giving up the eighth fewest rushing attempts, the tenth fewest rushing yards per game, and they haven't allowed a running back to have more than four receptions. So I don't think Gurley's gonna help you much through the air either. So really just the C grade on Gurley, who has been

a disappointment to this point. Guys who've got about one minute left. Is James Robbins in and every week starter going forward? Yeah, I mean we said Chris Thompson was gonna steal the third down work wrong. Nope, we said Jacksonville is not going to run the ball. Yeah, he's Jacksonville too far behind in every game to run the ball. Nope, that hasn't worked out. I think he's an every week starter.

I don't think he's an every week starter. I think he's a guy that you're gonna wonder about and you're gonna have better matchups and play. Uh, they've played some pretty easy teams so far this year. So and and you gotta remember, right well, Armstead and Divine Ozigbo, we're both ahead of him on the depth chart until both of them hit. I R when those guys come back, there could be Yeah, there could be a little bit there. He's not an every week starter that I see the

next Arian Foster on our hands. Maybe just maybe you mean his han he's gonna blow out his hands. Well, I was saying, it's that what you mean, Jackson's might have found gold in the in a big pile of dung man. It's it's it's it's what you called Jacksonville as possible, I think, except against the the truly elite defenses. James Robinson's gonna be a starter every week. Uh, you know you can be a starter every week if you go to Guillotine leagues dot com and check out all

my free player rankings. Every meaningful player rated graded and most of them have explanations for how they got those grades as well, and they're available for free Guillotine leagues dot com. We'll be back to play three tough questions coming up next. Welcome back Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Charchi and Brian Johnson and Matt Harrison with you. This is a game we paw call three tough questions. Try to go three and oh I'll be peppering my co host

with three brain busting questions. Begin with tough question number one. In single quarterback leagues, can you drop Drew Breese outright? Brian? Personally, I cannot because I was not drafting him all summer long. Because I'm reusing notes from this very show when I said Drew Brees past attempts sorry in have gone down from six seventy three to five thirty six to eight

nine to three seventy eight last year. During that same time span, his yard has gone down from d tot three to four thousand to under three thousand passing yards last year. He looks awful already. Taysom Hill probably is the better quarterback right now, no Michael Thomas for an

extended period of time, and going into the season. The Saints have the twenty three hardest schedule when it comes to quarterbacks, and these first two maps matchups are supposed to be easy with the Raiders and the Bucks and Breeze pretty much what the beds, So yes, you can drop the Drew Brees in one quarterback Leaga. He's still putting up some decent stats, but as I mentioned, the Michael Thomas high ankle sprain. Those can linger all season.

Plus Emmanuel Sanders isn't a good player anymore, and Taysom Hill stealing snaps something you shouldn't worry about from your starting quarterback on a fantasy team. Um, they're having Hill throw the deep throws, by the way, because breeze is range isn't what it used to be. He's only averaging seven point two air yards per attempt. That's Teddy Bridgewater. That's the guy they just got rid of if you're going to drop him, you might want to do it

right before a waiver period. I wonder what we might call a drop right before a fab run would go off. Oh, I think charges got it? Yeah, we do. It is time to sabotage drop Drew Brees. Yeah, for all the reasons you guys mentioned. He is all name and he has no production. I continue to believe Michael Thomas won't be until after the Week six bye. That puts him all the way out to week seven, and that in two of the next three games for the Saints, including

this week, are very difficult. And then there's the bye week mixed in. You got like one shot to use Drew Brees for the next month of play. No way am I sitting on that roster spot. He will be available in week seven again if you want to pick him up. Only a matter of time before Saints fans add an h to the end of the name plate on the Doe Drew Brees, Jersey breech Uh, you guys,

I'm on it. Sometimes. Washington running back Antonio Gibson saw a big uptick and uses last week going forward, is Antonio Gibson a running back to a flex or a bench player. Matt, oh, you're going to me first after the Briech, Yes, I don't. I don't want. I want. I want Brand to turn his mic off. That's what I really want. It's in interesting to note that when they won against Philly, it was Peyton barber toating the rock, and in catchup modor garbage time, it was Gibson. Maybe

it's gibbage time. Can I turn your seriously? Drew Brees's gold? Alright, So which mode will they be in more often? It's probably catch up mode. After this week's matchup with Cleveland, they get Baltimore, the Rams, the Giants, and then the Cowboys in the following four weeks. Three of those four matchups don't look like WS for the W's, so Gibson

should see the field a lot. I've only got him as a flex though, Okay, Brian, Yeah, Looking all the way throughout the season, there was some great spots for for Antonio Gibson, who has to be the guy right now and watching in his backfield. They're only passing the

ball at the time. I was thinking would be like at this point, that's that's that's true as well, But there are two games coming up with the Giants, which are a couple of smashpots the schedule of Detroit Cincinnati, and I'll hold any Washington running back as long as possible, especially Antonio Gibson for the Week six team matchup against Carolina. Right so, he's a flex player in my mind the end of the season, he could be here Championships back winner.

Right there. He is a flex player, dynamic guy who can raise some eyebrows with his running, and he can catch as well, especially if you give him some space. And I worry a little bit about an offensive line that's below average, not a lot of threat from the passing game. The big problem though, Frantonio Gibson is not who he is. It's not this offense. It's that when they want to pass, they throw to j. D. Mcsuckett. When they want the touchdowns they go to Peyton Barber.

And so that just leaves Gibson sort of in the middle of the rest of all of that. And unless his talent makes it so, it's so talented that they just can't get those guys on the field. Um, I worried that debt just leaves him as a flex guy where you gotta pick your spots like Week sixteen gibbage time. No not, Dalvin Cook has produced solid fantasy games despite the failings of every other part of the Vikings. Are you selling now while his value is still high? Or

are you keeping Dalvin Cook, Ryan Breech. Do the Vikings look bad, bear and shambles and everywhere? Yeah, they look like gibbage, including including their own line. Are we gonna restart the show now? But I'm holding onto Dalvin Cook. Just look at the running back landscape right now, healthy bell cot running back. I'm holding onto him and Cook, despite how bad the Vikings have looked, has matchups on the horizon that he can win you weeks on his own.

They are so juicy. And those are the Texans, the Falcons, the Lions, the Panthers, and the Jaguars. Those are all in coming weeks. So I'm holding on to Cook and hopefully he stays healthy and the Vikings can figure their s out. All right. The Vikings don't need to figure anything out. They stick with their game plan. They do their thing. They run the ball, they play bad defense. They run the ball, they play bad defense, they throw

it down. Feel old. They get tackled at the one Dalvin runs it in for a touchdown and then they give him a two point conversion because they're down by three scores. The matchups are tough. Dalvin gets injured every stink in year, but after this week it's Houston, Seattle, Atlanta, and Green Bay. He's going to continue to put up points. The problem is he gets hurt once a year, and his bad matchups are in the next few weeks. So if I can trade him right now and get value

back for him, I'm trading him right now. Yeah, we're trading him right now. The Vikings defense could be the NFL's worst, and that means that there's negative game scripts in almost every game. And granted, the Vikings will never fully go away from the running game because that's just who they are. They will be stubborn there. But what we've seen is that the volume just isn't there for Dalvin to put up the big numbers that you want

from an RB one. And he still has name brand value as a first round pick who has performed okay in the first two weeks. You can trade him for another first round pick right now, so you should. I don't believe he can keep up this current level of production even though it isn't even all that high. And as a reminder you you brought up the injury part, I'll mention this Vikings offensive line is just wayfa wafer thin. I'm thinking of Mr Creaso, but I can't do my brittant,

my French accent. You could totally trade him then for s Kwon Barkley Michael Thomas. Yeah, I agree with you there for a fellows round pick. I bet you could trade him for Derrick Henry right now, anything happened any you might be able to. He hasn't scored a touchdown to trade Derrick Henry for Dalvin Cook. But that's the trades and still makes got more fantasy. I don't think I am make correct answers. Yes, we're moving on from doubta. Uh,

Dallas takes on Seattle, Matt. This has been an explosive Dallas offense and a Seattle secondary that's really struggled. Do you love Dak Prescott as much as I do? This is uh what Brian and I on the old Fantasy Football Almost Daily podcast used to call a game stag. You get everybody in this game. Zeke gets an a, Dak gets an a by the way. Dak had three rushing touchdowns last week. Seahawks gave up two rushing touchdowns the cam last week. You don't think that Dad's gonna

get another rushing score this week. He is for sure. Uh Amari Cooper A grade, Ceedee Lamb A grade, Michael Gallop B grade. Uh Cooper has percent of the targets thirty scent of the air yards. Lamb is second on the team with fifteen targets and mostly stays in the slot. Gallop has only ten targets, but thirty percent of the

team's are yards, so he's gonna go off soon. And six different wide receivers have had seventy two or more yards against the Seahawks this year, with four of them topping one and both slot receivers Julian Edelman and Russell Gauge each top two hundred yards. That bodes well for Lamb, and the Seahawks have allowed a eleven yards per pass attempt to slot receivers that's the most in the NFL. Even Dalton Schultzel on the board here. He's third on

the team with fourteen targets. Blake Jarwin was just keeping the seat warm for Dalton silt. He likely won't total the nine for eight eight and a score that he had last week, as the Seahawks have been decent against the tight end, allowing just under twenty nine yards per game to the position. On the other side, Russell Wilson gets an a DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett get an a. Dallas lost slot corner Anthony Brown to a rib injury,

so Lockett is locked in. Metcalf just beat the defensive player of the year for nine two and a score, and it scored in five of his last seven bomb two d dk Metcalf was gorgeous, a perfectly thrown pass, and Gilmore had really good cover John him. I mean he's he's right, right I DK Metcalf. The past was just too perfect. DK Metcalf will be a top two receiver in next year's drafts. Watching watch top ten for sure. I don't know if I'm going top I think he's

top top two. Saucy Um avoid the tight ends. Will Disley and Greg Olsen are essentially splitting time and averaging one target per game. Chris Carson does get a B grade uh still out snapping and out touching Carlos Hide three to one, but all of his touchdown production has come through the air, which is weird. Malcolm Brown did have two goal line plunges against the Cowboys in Week one, and I expect Carson to hit pay dirt with a rushing score this week too, So he gets the B grade.

And that's it for this game. Start everybody, all right, we will start everybody. We encourage you to check out Guillotine leagues dot com. It's the freshest new way to play fantasy football. You start with normally seventeen teams at the beginning of the year, but now we're two weeks in, so we're gonna start with fifteen teams for leagues that start now. And every week the low scoring team gets cut and their players all go to the waiver wire, where you get to feast on a whole draft. It's

worth of players. Every week the low scoring team gets cut. That means the last team standing is the winner. You don't have to be the best team, just don't be the worst team in any given week. If you a last year last or first that last first, I like it. Well incorporate that at the quote leagues dot com. When we came back Tampa Bay takes on Denver. We'll tell you about what's happening in the Tampa Bay backfield and if you can trust Ronald Jones and or Leo for Net.

It's Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul In, Brian John's In and Matt Harrison with you back to some matchups for this segment. A little later on, we're gonna get too premature speculation. Tampa Bay takes on Denver, Brian. Last week, Ronald Jones started the game and had some success, but then Leo Fournette came in and had way more success. So who do you dare go with this week as they take

on Denver. It's gotta be four Net. But yeah, the stars were aligning for Jones a touchdown on like the first drive at the game, and then he fumbles and here comes Leonard four NET scoring two touchdowns a hundred plus yards on twelve carries. H Jones finished the game last week with seven carries. It looks like four NET

is the guy going forward against the Broncos. And then both lead runners to face Lebroncos so far topped a hundred yards and don't forget for Net looks like to be lead back for a Buccaneers team that wasn't at full force this season when it comes to the offensive weapons, So and Denver could be without two starters on their D line, Draymond Jones and DeMarcus Wall or Von Miller. Of course, on I R so, Leonard Fournett is safety,

but I've got I've got Jones on the bench. He looks like he's gonna be taking in the back seat the four net. The only thing that worries me, it's just Bruce arians so inscrutable. He wants Shawn Vaughan to get involved now apparently, but I don't remember the exact stat but there's like no Bucks running back who's had fifteen touches in a game and back to back games in like two years. I wouldn't surprise me. It's just that's so Ronald Jones is the way to go this

week because it doesn't make sense. He he isn't in daily U zig while other zag and that's what you should done. Last week when people all over Jones have been for net went off. But anyway where there are no question marks is a wide receiver for the Bucks. Mike Evans, he gets an a d percent healthy right now in a smash spot with a J. Bouyer now on I R for Denver per Pro Football focuses Jared Evans.

The Broncos have given up the league high and targets, catches and yards to opposing outside wide receivers Corey Davis and Deonte Johnson both when off against Denver. So so so love Mike Evans here, love Chris Godwin to gonna give him an A. He will make his return from injury running primarily from the slot. Fellow slot receiver slot receivers Adam Humphreys and Juju Smith Schuster both that solid catch totals against Denver six and seven, respectively. So I like

god One here. As for the tight ends for Tampa Bay, I do not like them. Both are on the bench. Bruce arians quote said his offense isn't built for tight ends to see consistent targets the end. And if John new Smith can only catch four passes against the Broncos, albeit one was for a touchdown, you got both the books tight ends on the bench. Sorry, gronk Uh. Tom Brady, though he gets a B, has both of his top

receivers healthy for the first time this season. Don't forget Von Miller on I are, like I said earlier, Denver has got a laundry list of injuries on defense, and they have surrendered two passing touchdowns in each game so far, and that's a safe floor for Brady and this one over to the Broncos. Philip Lindsay thought he was gonna be ruled out, but there's a chance he might play, even if he does. Brutal matchup. Brutal matchup, I'm going

on the assumption he's not playing. When I'm gonna talk about Melvin Gordon here, I'll give Gordon a b if Lindsay's out. To see if Lindsay plays. The Bucks were brutal against the run last year, and that appears to be the case as really good. They held Alvin Kamara

and Christian McCaffrey to paltry rushing totals. When it comes to yardage, both did manage to combine for three rushing touchdowns on the ground, though the Bucks have yielded the most red zone touches to opposing running backs, uh and opposing running backs have had good days through the air, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, but Mike Davis the best of them all with the patches for seventy four yards and half. Yeah, so Gordon will get bell cow usage. If Lindsay is out,

he could certainly catch the ball. So based on expected volume and be if Lindsay's out, see if Lindsay is in. Uh. Over to the receivers for Denver, Jerry Judy gets to see. No one questioning the Broncos taking a wide receiver in the first round. Now are they he still took the wrong one? It should have been ceedee lamb not Jerry Judy has three drops on fifteen targets, already has been

limited by a rib injury. Should play the better. Not let the Chargers team doctor doctor administer that painkilling shot though nobody did to uh Tyrod Taylor punctured aslong great DJ Moore and Robby Anderson both top two hundred yards against um. Excuse me? Who they playing again? The Broncos last week has been talking about Yes, the Bucks I mean, so I'm giving Judy a ce not going by the

way of Tim Patrick. Will talk about kJ Hamler or the other rookie wide receiver on Denver a little later, and no a fan the last guy I'll talk about. He'll get a se touchdowns in both games to start the season. Chris mann Hurts of Carolina did nothing last week, understandably, but Jared Cook had a decent line in Week one five catches for eight yards. The Bucks did allow the sixth most yards and fifth most touchdowns. Too tight ends last season, so you can start fant with confidence. Alright,

Carolina takes on the Chargers. Only a couple of Panthers to talk about here, Mike Davis. Everybody went to the waiver wire when grabbed Mike Davis. You only get a C grade this week. What I loved was that he was targeted eight times in the second half and he caught all eight and put up seventy four receiving yards UM. And the Charges are allowing the eighth most receptions to opposing running backs on nine targets per game on average, and all nine could end up going to Mike Davis.

So from a PPR standpoint, he's safe. But this is a very good run defense that's already shut down far better runners Joe Mixing and Clyde Edwards a layer, so I don't expect Davis to get anything done on the ground just to C grade for him. D J. Moore also the C grade without any real threat of a running game. I think the Charges are going to emphasize pass coverage and pass rush and make an already difficult

matchup even harder for DJ Moore. More will most often see corner Michael Davis, who has the speed to hang with more and is averaging less than forty yards allowed in his coverage. So just the C grade on d J Moore. Let's go to the charger side. Already told you that Josh Kelly was might take a chance on me running back, and I love him this week. But I also love Austin Ekeler. Both guys. It's the rare A grade for both running backs in a game. It

happens like twice a year. It happens every week that the Carolina That's just that, even though they'll cannibalize a little each other a little bit. I'll just reiterate some of the stats from earlier in the show. Carolina's last fourteen games, they've allowed a running back touchdown and every one of them, and an average of almost two and a half scores per game. It's just SIT's staggeringly bad. Actually,

Eckler is getting plenty of work. He's His thirty five carries in the first two games are the most he's ever had in a two game stretch, so he's getting plenty of work and he is still in a grade for this game. Going to the passing game. I've got a B grade on Keenan Allen. It's only a one game sample, but Alan was much more productive with Justin Herbert, who was going to be under center in this one, and he notched nine yards and ten targets. And Herbert's debut.

Carolina deploys rookie safety Jeremy Chin in the slot a lot, and he's been very good. But he's also never seen anybody like Keenan Allen. So far, He's covered Hunter Renfrow and Justin Watson. Obviously, Keenan Allen's way better, so he gets a B grade here. Mike Williams has really impressed me. Now, I didn't get a ton of attention last week, but that was the first game for Justin Herbert, who found

out he was the starting quarterback. When I found out he was the starting quarterback last week, did you hear he thought it was a joke. Why wouldn't Anthony Lynn walked up to him and he goes get your helmet, and he's like, yeah, whatever, right, you find out I'm during the coin toss that you're going to be the quarterback. Anyway, our team doctor killed the start the needle. This reminds me of Alvin Harper where the the team trainers cut the end of his finger off, taking tape off of

his hand. I wouldn't like that either. I don't regrab the punctured lung or to have the end of my finger cut off by the team trainer. By the way, is this the best way for a rookie to make his first start? Surprise? It probably don't think about right you don't you have all this time to think about it. I think there's something to do that. Mike Williams runs from all over the field, and when he's on cornerback Dante Jackson, he's got six inches and forty pounds on Jackson.

I think Mike Williams is a sneaky play this week. He is a C grade Hunter Henry a B grade. He's been easily the most consistent receiver on the team, regardless of quarterback, and he gets a match up against um rookie linebacker. Um. Oh wait uh, that's a weird name. That is a weird day. I have a type in

my note. Sorry, Tampa Bay's Tampa Bay's uh. Tampa Bay tight ends just totaled one catch against Carolina last week UH with Rob Gronkowski, but Darren Waller posted a solid forty five yards and in Week one against them, So I think counter Henry is still a safe start with a B grade for him. I don't know that I want to go all the way down to starting Justin Herbert in his second start, in part because of Panthers have now get a whole game of tape on him.

No surprise factor in this one, um, and so I don't have a pant even though I do like some of those receiving options this game. I got the name. It's linebacker mclineback face. Thank you, we'll go. We'll run with that linebacker, mclinebacker face. Yeah, we'll go. We'll go with that guy. He's Irish. Yeah, thank you very much. UM, when we come back. Premature speculation. Three guys you can pick up now that everybody else is gonna be trying to pick up next week, but they're already on your team.

Find out when you go on the time machine. With Premature Speculation. Fantasy Football Weekly. Final segment of Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Charchie and Brian Johnson and Matt Harrison with you. We have three matchups to get to, but first a segment we like to call premature speculation. These are three players that you can pick up now that we think people will be trying to pick up next week, but they are already on your team. It's like you've gone

forward in time. It's almost as if we've jumped into a time machine. That sounds that's our time, and that's what his time machine sounds like. We've decided yes, Um, we begin with Brian Johnson, who is your premature speculation player. Briefly mentioned him in the last segment. I'm going with kJ Hamler, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, rookie out of Penn State, drafted in the second round by Denver.

As you should know by now, Courtland Sutton has been put on I R, which should open up the door for Hamdler. Probably not this week against Tampa Bay. I didn't give him a starting grade, but moving forward, like him to move into that starting role. Uh usurped Tim Patrick, who's starting opposite Jerry Judy right now, and uh it's it's there's some really good matchups on the horizon for Denver, and we're hoping that Drew lock will come back. He's not on the shelf for the season, but matchups on

the rising for Hamlet to look nice. The Jets, Miami, Atlanta, Las Vegas all in coming weeks and he should see seven eight targets once he's put in the starting lineup, So kJ Hamler, even in redraft, intriguing prospect, and once Blake Bortles is in the game. I wanted I thought, I thought I was pressed for time. I wanted to I said, I wanted to say Jeff Driscoll on the bench for the Broncos, especially because border Potty on roster, and you just wanted to get that. You love that name.

Some of my finest work is the border Potty. I feel. Who is your premature speculation player, Matt I mentioned it in the preseason. The Colts love Trey Burton there. Their staff has been raving about him all throughout the preseason, and he got hurt right before the season start. He's on I R. But he can come back in week four and this is the team that Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle were both fantasy viable tight ends, and they

brought Burton into play that Eric Ebron role. And what's more, Paris Campbell is out for the year with an injury, and Jack Doyle is already dinged up and he's been oft injured in the past. They made mo Alie Cox look really good. Philip Rivers loves tight ends. After this week, the Colts have the Bears, Browns, and Bengals. None of the above is proving to be a tough tight end matchup. I think Trey Burton is gonna be a sneaky tight

end starter in some upcoming weeks. I like it, you know, with the end you Paris Campbell was going to cover a lot of the middle of the field and he's gonna be out. They didn't put it in. He's on i R. He's email for a while. I don't think he comes back before I don't know, Thanksgiving. So I kind of like the Trey Burton's team. I've got four options for you, come on a few, but I'm gonna go with Damien hair Rid who's coming off i R after this week, Sony Michelle, Sony Walkman averaging three point

three yards per carry. That's it, even by his lackluster standards. You know it's bad. You don't even have to walk to get three point three yards per full three three yards per car, that's right from a new ball. So Damien Harris was the best looking running back the Patriots had in training camp. Which hand and Cam Newton is gonna siphon off a lot of rushing touchdowns. I get that. I'm not saying Damian Harris is going to score ten touchdowns the rest of the way, But man, is that

starting job open? And in thirty two teams, there isn't a better prospect to steal a starting running back from the waiver wire than there is with Damian Harris right now. So let's go pick him up. Remember second round pick last year didn't get used for a variety of reasons and then looked like a different player in training camp. I think he performs well here and then I'm gonna give one more name. While we're talking about guys coming off,

I r Deebo Samuel available in a lot of leagues. Man, do they need somebody to catch a freaking pass for San Francisco? So there's an opportunity there as well. All right, let's go to our final set of matchups, beginning with Detroit taking on Arizona. Matt, do you like the passing game here? Maybe with Kenny Golladay or maybe not with Kenny Golladay. Um, it looks like Kenny Golladay is going to go. He says he's gonna try. If if Goladays

in and he's gonna go, I'm giving him an A grade. Uh, you can roll right in with him against Patrick Peterson who allowed seven catches for a hundred and twenty five yards and a score to Terry McLaurin last week. So Golladay is in, he's an A grade. If if Glad is going, Stafford is an A grade too. If not, I'll give him a B because I think that they're gonna have to be in catchup mode. Uh. Last year Stafford torched this defense for three, eight, five and three,

and the Cardinals second. The Lions secondary is in shambles, which means they're going to give up a ton of points. A shootout is on, and you want to have Stafford in a shootout. If Golladay does go, Marvin Jones gets a B. If not, we downgrade him to a C. It's science. Jones is just better with Golliday on the field. Sure, Jones is a number two receiver, not a number one receiver. He did catch a short touchdown last week in Green Bay. If Golladay's return does come, Quintess c fests back to

the bench. If not, I think he's startable with a C grade. Uh t J Hockenson was might take a chance on me tight end as well, So the rationale is good. I like Hockinson in this game. Yeah, I like him a lot. He's gonna be a good daily favorite of mine this week. To the second best tight end in this game, it's weird. Uh. The Lions running backs are all on the bench. Carry On led the team and snaps with twenty. Swift had nineteen snaps. Peterson

had fifteen snaps. That's a full time share right there. If you're starting one. It's Swift who led the team with ten touches. Ten touches and only five targets last week. I believe if memory serves well, he can't drop anymore, they won't let him. Uh. And what should be a heavy passing game script, Swift has the best chance of success where heem Mostert and Jerick McKinnon each scored through the air on the Cardinals in Week one. On the Cardinal side, Kyler gets an A and I don't need

to explain it anymore. DeAndre Hopkins gets an A as well. Christian Kirk has a groin injury and he is out this week, which brings Larry Fitzgerald and and both are Sea grades this week. Desmond Truffont still dealing at the hammy. We mentioned that they lost starting quarterback Justin Coleman last week. Fits had eight catches for one thirteen and a score last year against this Lion's defense. That was probably better. All right, get to the good stuff. Uh, Kenyan Drake

gets an A grade. Uh Drake had twenty two touches last week, and Chase Edmonds was on the sideline a bunch More had only six touches. Yes, Drake hasn't scored. Yes, those who drafted him are freaking out. But Aaron Jones just had two d thirty four total yards and three scores against Detroit last week. This is a big Kenyan Drake game right here. Um And finally, best for last, there's a Cardinals tight end that we need to talk about. Max Williams hits I R this week, So Dan Arnold,

I guess is a desperation C grade. Bob Tanyan and Jim Graham each scored a touchdown against the Lions this year from the tight end position. Dan Arnold might get a touchdown to damn A Are you calling it? Sure? Are you? Brian? Are you calling it? It's coming? For green Bay takes on the New Orleans Saints. And for green Bay, they could have had a softer two weeks schedule facing the battered defenses in Minnesota and Detroit. Now they get a real defense in the New Orleans Saints.

Do you think their level of success continues? Brian, Yeah, don't chase last week's box score too much. Starting with Aaron Jones, we all know he blew up, but just giving him a bee here, he's gonna come down to earth just a little bit against the Saints, most likely, who are allowing just three point four yards per carry.

No surprise. Aaron Jones leads the league in rushing yards, but he also has the most red zone targets among all players in the NFL as of right now, and the Raiders back Raiders backs just combined for six catches. Against the Saints last week, alec Ingold had a touchdown catch, so Jones can certainly get something done through the air be for him. Davante Adams is pretty much doubtful at

this point. He's not gonna play. I'm glad. I was fearing the decoy status for Adams if he did suit up, but you just have to go on the assumption Adams is not gonna play, So he's on the bench. And I was gonna give Alan Lazard and Mvs a c if Adams sat, but I preferred Adams played and active as a decoy here. But I will still give him both the Sea Lazard and Elds scant length. The Raiders receivers were quiet last week against Orleans, very quiet because

Josh Jacobs just going off and Darren Waller. But in week one both Scottie Miller and Chris Godwin topped seventy yards with essentially no Mike Evans. So with no Davante Adams, Alan Lazard and MVS are startable as Aaron Rodgers top two wide receiver options. Speaking of Rogers, just to see for him. Without Davante Adams probably would be a B with a healthy Davante, But I'm a little nervous for a a Ron here. Both quarterbacks you New Orleans have

fared well so far this season. Tom Brady to thirty nine and two tacked on a rushing touchdown. Derek Carr had two eighty four and three. But man, no Davante Adams gotta make it nervous for Aaron Rodgers him. I've got him ranked in the twenties. Do you guys think Jamal Williams is a sneaky play? When Adams was out last year, Williams is targeted a lot inside the red zone. I can dig that angle. I probably probably keep it on the bench, but he is take m fringe worthy

for sure. With Adams out, I'm not going to talk about the green Bay tight ends. There's like five of them, so we're not gonna go there. Over to the Saint side, Alvin Kamara, he gets an a it is a tougher matchup for him, but this offense will run end pass through Camara. Green Bay is allowing four point nine yards per carry and five catches per game to opposing running backs. Camara leads all running backs and targets and catches so far this season. Easy a for him. Jared Cook can

give him a b uh, Michael Thomas. They haven't ruled him out. They just okay, finally they ruled them out, and they can rule him out for the next two couple of weeks as well, probably while we're at it. But so no Michael Thomas from New Orleans means Cook should get the first read more than off more than usual in that offense. Green Bay has allowed only seven catches to tight end so far, but the pretty comparable T. J. Hockenson had a decent outing against Green Bay last week.

Four catches for sixty two probably a safe floor for Cooking. This one over to the wide receivers for New Orleans and Manuel Sanders. He looked awful. He and tray Kwon Smith. I'll give him a sea with no Mike Thomas in the lineup. Sanders wasn't visible last week against Las Vegas. One catch on three targets and two drops and two drops. Smith had the much better outing with seven targets five catches for eighty six yards. I guess Sanders is still the number one guy, but I don't know. I think

he might just be cooked. I know that he looks bad, but I'm gonna give him both the sea here. It is a good matchup on paper. The Packers have allowed four wide receiver touchdowns already. That's a lot for two weeks into the season. So they both get to see, well, garbage, it's the garbage time. And then I don't think there's gonna be garbage time in this game. I mean that's a good Packer. Well, with Drew Breeze and quarterback, there just might be some garbage time. But I'm gonna give

Breeze a see here. I'm not gonna put them on the bench. Uh. Kirk Cousins and Matt Stafford both tossed to two touchdown passes against the Packers, but that's probably the absolute ceiling for Drew Brees at this point in his career. Without Michael Thomas, he's gonna need Alvin Camaro to do all the dirty work in this one to live up to that se grade. The Monday night game is Kansas City and Baltimore a possible preview of what that's such a fun game. I'm so jealous that you

get to preview of this game. It's uh, it's a possible preview of the a f C championship game. Although I think the Steelers are going to find their way into this spot. But we'll say Buffalo might have something. Well, we'll find out. Um, the Vegas number on this is fifty four, and that's wrong. This These are two really good defenses. And to get ready to hear numbers, you're your grades that you are not necessarily expecting to hear.

Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelsey, let's talk about all of them. You're gonna start them all no matter what I say. But this is a difficult matchup. The Ravens completely shut down the passing of Cleveland and Houston so far this year, and Cleveland went on to looked very good after they got done. Since Week three of last year, the Ravens are allowing one touchdown pass per game. That's it. Now. What happened in Week three last year, Well, Patrick Mahomes

surer for three seventy four yards and three scores. But since then they've been really, really good. Kelsey remains very safe. Baltimore has allowed tight end scores in both games, and that was Darren Fells and David and Joku. And they're hardly you know, it's hardly Travis Kelsey, soh Kelsey remains very safe in my mind. Tyreek Hill I have a B grade on in this matchup because of the difficulty of dealing with both of the excellent cornerbacks that the

Baltimore Ravens give you. Now, if he works out of the lot, he's got a better opportunity, but I'm not positive that this is one of his better games coming up. Patrick Mahomes also just the B grade, which is unusual. Again, but we're talking about a Baltimore defense that's giving up eleven points per game. Clyde Edwards a layer, just a B grade. Baltimore is allowed a running back rushing score and six of their last nine home games. I like

that part. When the Chiefs played Baltimore last year, Lashawn McCoy and Darryl Williams put up a hundred nine combo yards and seven yards per carry. And this year Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb combined for a hundred thirty two rushing yards against Baltimore and the opener. Still, this is a pretty good run defense despite everything I just said.

And they have not allowed a running back to score on the ground or through the air this year, and I do believe there will be an emphasis to get Clyde Edwards a layer going in this game, because Baltimore is easier to run on than pass on. And uh, they didn't get Clyde going last week and they struggled and kept the Chargers team in it until the very end. I have a nickname submission for review. Are you guys ready?

I'm ready. He's got to have a good game, but if he does, we can call him Clyde Edwards Governor. That would only work if it was a London game, but it's not a game, and Colin mccockney needs to actually give that nickname. I think we'll have to. We'll have to find Colin and ask him to to certify that nickname for Clyde Edwards. Hilaire, let's go to the Baltimore side with Lamar Jackson getting Lamar Jackson's got an A grade in this game. But again, I'm kind of

nervous here. He faced the Chiefs in Week three last year he had zero touchdowns through the air. He ran one in which helps salvage a fantasy game that all the ways would have been miserable. Maybe it's the same kind of thing this week. Over Kansas City's last nine games. They're giving up just one passing touchdown per game. But both the quarterbacks to face the Chiefs have rushed in to score already this year. Man, so I guess we'll

count on him to rush one in. Jackson's receivers, um are not as good as the cornerbacks they're gonna face and you're gonna That's why I've got just a C grade on Markis Brown. He was at exactly five catches in both games thus far. One of those games of five catchess, the other one forty two yards. Marks Brown needs to hit that home run to be fantasy relevant. He's the next Will Fuller. Basically, he is a bit of hopefully slightly stronger hamstrings, very much stronger, let's hope.

Um it really it highlights the need for big place here and there's a team that doesn't often give them up. Now, he will run generally from the side of the field that is manned by fourth round rookie Ladarius Snead. You would think fourth round rookie, this should be a very positive matchup for Marcus Brown. But sneed was was has been pressed into service when self described a marijuana enthusiast Brashod Brelan got suspended. Now here's the thing. Sneed has

been great. He's got interceptions in both games and is allowing a passer rating of twenty nine in his coverage. We're talking about Willie sne It. I'm confused. No, this is the other other side of the field, Darius Sneed, so advantage Snead Comma Ladarius over Marquis Brown. Just the C grade there, Uh, stick you with the passing game.

Mark Andrews gets a B grade. He was almost invisible last week, although they did throw to him in the end zone once then and it was not a good past and he wasn't able to come up with it. This is a tricky matchup against Honey Badger Tyrone Matthew, who generally fares very well against tight ends but well note Hunter Henry logged six catches for eighty three yards against Kansas City last week. So success can definitely happen for Mark Andrews in this game, and he gets the

B grade. Now let's go to this frustrating set of running backs. So for Mark for mark Ingram. He hammered the Chiefs last season in the matchup for one thirty five combo yards and three touchdowns, but this year, in the first two games, he's averaging nine kerry nine times. Meanwhile, Gus Edwards is averaging almost seven yards per carry and j K. Dobbins has siphoned off gold line carries and

some garbage time usage. The Chiefs are a middle of the pack run defense in virtually every single way, and I think the Ravens will have some success running the ball, but does it come via Ingram and does he get enough volume? So really just the C grade on mark Ingram and I can't go to J. K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards. Dobbins just three touches last week. Maybe gets helped out through the passing game as a receiver, but then he's a very He's a very accomplished receiver in college,

but they don't use him that way so far. Maybe they have furl him here in the receiving game, but I can't count on that. So I got Dobbins on the bench, Gus Edwards not getting enough use, even though he looked really good last week, He's on the bench as well. I think this is gonna be a far lower scoring team game than Kansas City versus Baltimore Monday night. Sounds like, and I've got it's gonna be like that Chiefs Rams Mexico game where they scored a hundred points.

Maybe it ends up working out that way. I want to touch on the Thursday night game. Miles Gaskin running the ball very, very well for Miami. Do you believe Miles Gaskin has moved into a stratosphere where he becomes a starter most weeks. Yeah, he looks like the best running back on roster right now. I'm a little worried about Jordan Howard as bad as he looks, being a touchdown vulture. I gotta give vulture sound effect because he is the vulture. I gotta give credit to Evans Silva

on this tweet. He extrapolated Howard's numbers moving forward. Howard is on pace for like eighties six carries for sixty four yards and sixteen touchdowns. But outside of that, yeah, Gaskins is gonna be the guy. He'll still get some red red zone work he did on Thursday night. Uh. The encouraging thing is he's averaging uh, seventeen and a half touch is per game. That amazing. That's very encouraging. Considering everybody kind of thought Matt Brita would be really

involved in in at least the passing office. And Scott fish nailed this in the preseason when he said the vacated targets for the running back position for the Dolphins was just absolutely huge. And that's why four receptions, six receptions, five receptions for Gaskin. That keeps him in play. Now. He hasn't scored yet, and he's only averaging eighty one yards per game, but he's in play at all times.

And I think he's going to become better when ta becomes the quarterback and adds a little bit more of a running element to the quarterback position. Miles Gaskin passes the eye test. He is an NFL running back and I like what I see there. Let's pivot for a minute to Tua going into the season. I think most people believe to his time was coming sooner than later. Ryan Fitzpatrick's been good, and but you know that guy

is he stone cold gamer, has nothing but fight. The team loves him too that you absolutely love playing for that and to it loves him too from the way it sounds. So I think at this point we are looking closer to like a Halloween or Thanksgiving. It might take an injury, and it might maybe it's even all season. It could be all season, It could be and we may not see two effects. Painful, But is it? It's painful for me? For you? Who was my premature speculation

last week? It didn't really work out. No, I don't think it has briech did you? If you missed any part of the show, I encourage you to rewind back to the podcast. We encourage you to go to Guillotine leagues dot com for all of my player rankings available for free and explanations. Also so you can decide whether or not we've got our head on straight with all of our rankings if you agree with them and help your bench start considerations. Will be back next week for

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