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Fantasy Football AFC North Breakdown with Pat Pucci | Lamar, Burrow, Derrick Henry, Steelers Shakeup, Shedeur & More!
23 Plays20 days ago
Pat Pucci (Twitter: @NFL_FantasyPat) joins Bush League Huddle to break down the AFC North for 2025 fantasy football! We cover Lamar Jackson’s ceiling, Derrick Henry's RB1 value, Joe Burrow’s bounce-back potential, the Steelers’ new-look offense with Aaron Rodgers, Shedeur vs Flacco and sleepers like Roman Wilson and Dylan Sampson. Don’t miss this divisional deep dive loaded with takes and laughs.
Follow Pat on Twitter: https://x.com/NFL_FantasyPat📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bushleaguehuddlefantasy/🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/bushleaguehuddl🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebushleaguehuddle
#FantasyFootball #AFCNorth #NFLFantasy #PatPucci #LamarJackson #JoeBurrow #DerrickHenry #Steelers #FantasyPodcast #2QBFantasy #BushLeagueHuddle
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Transcript
Introduction and Special Guest Appearance
00:00:06
Nacc
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to another edition of the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast. though We've got an exciting show for you guys today. i am Nak. As always, I'm hosting the show with my co-host, Raj.
00:00:21
Nacc
And um one of our co-hosts actually is um vacationing right now in Italy and eating his way through Italy, it seems, as all the food pictures he keeps sending us.
00:00:33
Nacc
So we're super jealous, but Fab, we um hope you're having a great time and we're definitely going to miss you on this one. But we have someone taking his place today, a special, special guest, Mr. Pat Pucci from ah the Twittersphere, Mr. at NFL underscore fantasy Pat. Welcome, Pat.
00:00:53
Patrick Pucci
Hey, well, thanks. Appreciate it, man. Great to be with you guys.
00:00:57
Roger Emeka
yeah We replaced one Italian with another.
00:00:57
Nacc
Thank you. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, exactly. We did. We did.
00:01:02
Patrick Pucci
Good enough, right?
00:01:04
Nacc
no a great day
00:01:05
Roger Emeka
yeah yeah, there you go, Pat.
00:01:08
Nacc
No, great to have you
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens Analysis
00:01:09
Nacc
on, Pat. I really appreciate it. I know we've been going back and forth a lot on on Twitter. You've been helping us out, which is which is very, very cool. But thanks for taking the time and and doing this with us.
00:01:18
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, no problem. Thanks. Thanks for having me.
00:01:22
Patrick Pucci
What we talking about?
00:01:22
Nacc
Absolutely. So we've been... Oops, sorry.
00:01:27
Patrick Pucci
I said, what are we talking about today?
00:01:30
Nacc
Yes, so we we started off with our division previews like we did last year. We got into the AFC East last week. And this week, we are going to dive into the best division in football, which is the AFC North.
00:01:49
Nacc
Raj doesn't seem too enthused, but too bad, so sad.
00:01:52
Roger Emeka
i deal what I deal with you all the time, Nak. So just adding another Steeler, it's fine by me.
00:01:59
Nacc
you You're finally outnumbered.
00:01:59
Roger Emeka
Nak is two Steelers in one.
00:02:00
Nacc
You're finally outnumbered.
00:02:02
Roger Emeka
Nak is basically two Steelers in one.
00:02:03
Patrick Pucci
If you will.
00:02:03
Roger Emeka
So it's basically we have three right now. So it's it's all good.
00:02:06
Patrick Pucci
need another shot. Right?
00:02:08
Roger Emeka
Yeah, yeahs yeah.
00:02:10
Nacc
Well, we're usually, Fab is a Giants fan, so I'm usually outnumbered two to one So it feels it feels good to be on the other side of it now.
00:02:12
Patrick Pucci
oh
00:02:15
Roger Emeka
It's true. It's true.
00:02:17
Nacc
So the way this is going to go, we're just going to break down ah the teams in the FC North. Their quick last year stats and team stats, news and noteworthy additions from um either, you know, free agency and and and the draft.
00:02:32
Nacc
ah Run through a few position groups like the QBs, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and a few kind of players to to watch in camp as well as um as the um training camps roll underway starting next week.
00:02:46
Nacc
And I think actually the Chargers and who's so who else is playing the Hall of Fame game?
00:02:48
Roger Emeka
rookies
00:02:51
Nacc
Is Chargers Is it not Las Vegas, is it?
00:02:56
Patrick Pucci
Can't think who that is.
00:03:02
Nacc
Anyways, there's two teams that have already opened camp because they're playing a week early, but there should have done my research on that, but I digress.
00:03:02
Patrick Pucci
Great.
00:03:09
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:03:09
Roger Emeka
Chargers and the Texans.
00:03:09
Nacc
So...
00:03:11
Roger Emeka
No, no.
00:03:11
Nacc
Texans? Good.
00:03:12
Roger Emeka
Lions and Chargers.
00:03:13
Nacc
There we go.
00:03:13
Roger Emeka
Lions and Chargers.
00:03:14
Patrick Pucci
like
00:03:14
Nacc
Lions and Chargers.
00:03:14
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:03:15
Nacc
So they've they've already opened up um opened up their camps. I think it was today. So without further ado, let's get it started.
00:03:20
Patrick Pucci
right
00:03:23
Nacc
um We'll start off with the Baltimore Ravens or who Pat and myself refer to as the Dirty Ratbirds.
00:03:33
Patrick Pucci
Bye.
00:03:35
Nacc
So the Ravens finished 12-5 last year. Very, very strong ah regular season. They actually stumbled a little bit out of the gate. And then, thanks to the Steelers' collapse, were ah managed to win the division once again.
00:03:49
Nacc
ah They did lose in the AFC Championship game to the Chiefs. So Lamar Jackson and co. fall short once again. ah Quickly, there are 2004 stats, passing yards per game. They're ranked seventh with 234 yards per game.
00:04:05
Nacc
And first, obviously, in rushing with 193 yards per game, led by big boy Derek Henry in the backfield. um They did have um one one draft pick that that may have fantasy value down the stretch, a six-round pick, Lejonte Wester.
00:04:26
Nacc
Out of Colorado, played two years with Shadur Sanders and is quite a speedster. So, I mean, right off the bat, you have at the QB position, you have once again, Lamar Jackson and figures to be, again, a top three QB at the position.
00:04:45
Nacc
Pat, I ask you, is that someone that you're you're going after this this year ah without a doubt?
00:04:52
Patrick Pucci
I think I would, definitely. I think he's more of a probably top two quarterback, right? I mean, even though i'm still a fan, you got to take, put that aside when you're drafted fantasy football, right?
00:05:03
Patrick Pucci
So yeah, i like him a lot. He's a star. Not much offense either, right, from last year.
00:05:06
Nacc
yeah
00:05:09
Patrick Pucci
Dehop, I think, is about it.
00:05:11
Nacc
yeah and I'm not sure D-hop really you know push moves the needle too too much but another kind of possession receiver to have which is which is great ah but yeah it's really pretty pretty easy at the QB position I think lock and loaded top top two top three for sure finish
00:05:20
Patrick Pucci
ah
00:05:28
Nacc
And then, uh, Raj asked you in the, in terms of running backs, we know that they have, um, big boy, Derek Henry, and then just to sell Keaton Mitchell. I know last year we were both kind of harping that, Hey, this is kind of maybe the, the downfalls of, uh, of Derek Henry, but I think we both ate our words.
00:05:46
Nacc
Um, question one, are you once again, putting a lot of stock in him or are you going to be putting a lot of stock in him in 2025 and do justice hill and keaton mitchell have any value whatsoever
00:06:01
Roger Emeka
Yeah, i have a condo in Derrick Henry Island. I'm back, baby. No, but seriously, he's going to turn 31 in January. And i looked at some age 31 seasons.
00:06:12
Roger Emeka
And if you go back to like the Tiki Barber, he had 1,600 yards in his age 31 season with the Giants. Even Curtis Martin had 1,600 yards.
00:06:24
Roger Emeka
So like the Hall of Fame running backs, the guys who had been really good for a long time, Just because they're age 31, it doesn't mean they're necessarily, it's necessarily detriment to them falling off.
00:06:37
Roger Emeka
What I've seen is in that research, it's the age 32, right? So like Tiki Barber, for instance, he actually retired the year after. mentioned Curtis Martin, he had 735 yards the year after he had 1600 that age 31 season. So
00:06:51
Roger Emeka
so Once they get to 32, that's when the injuries start to happen. So I would predict another big year for Derrick Henry based off other examples of what as well, like Ricky Waters, Frank Gore, you know, Marcus, said like all those guys, right? Like, I think the it's the age 32 season that I would be worried about.
00:07:08
Roger Emeka
In terms of Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill, I think Mitchell showed a lot of promise two years ago. Then he his ACL. Hill is a really solid player to have um kind of in like a flex territory or like during buys because he catches a lot of passes. I think there was one point there a stretch where he catching about like six, seven passes on a weekly basis.
00:07:27
Roger Emeka
So it's kind of hard to trust between those two. i put a bit more stock into Hill just because he seems like the more reliable option. But I think Keaton Mitchell, let's see how he can develop as like a home run threat now, like almost a year and a half or almost two years coming out of the ACL. So, um but this is Henry's backfield. And if you look at his training videos, he he still looks as good as ever.
00:07:49
Patrick Pucci
like
00:07:50
Nacc
Yeah, this is ah there's obviously no-brainer of his. he's He's going, as right now, running back six in fantasy. So I think that's pretty much where where I see him as well. Anything to add to that, Pat?
00:08:06
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, I would say what most of his carries, what they were either leading or tied on what 81% his carries last year. so
00:08:14
Roger Emeka
e
00:08:15
Patrick Pucci
mean I mean, PPR, maybe not as much, but I mean, they're going to be rooting again, though, right?
00:08:18
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:08:21
Nacc
Yeah, and that's ah that's a great point, actually, because, um yes, usually when Derrick Henry is not running the ball, they are behind, and they tend to go away from it. And I still think it's a mistake, but, um you know, as a Steelers fan, you love to see it.
00:08:32
Patrick Pucci
Right. Yeah, me too.
00:08:34
Nacc
um But, no, I definitely agree. Anyone for the Raj, Raj, buckle in, Raj, strap in, baby.
00:08:38
Roger Emeka
How many Steelers mentions are going to have this episode?
00:08:43
Nacc
Two to one. I love these odds. Yeah.
00:08:44
Patrick Pucci
See?
00:08:46
Nacc
And in terms of the ah wide receivers, you've got Zay Flowers coming off a great 2024 season. i was i was kind of surprised at what the you know what kind of production he was actually able to
00:09:02
Nacc
you know able to to have and in in that offense because, you know as we said, he runs through Derrick Henry and then there's even Lamar Jackson's rushes to kind of compete with. But then you have Rashad Bateman who's like up and down kind of the speedster on the outside.
00:09:16
Nacc
And yes, they they they drafted a DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year deal. ah Pat, what do you what do you think about that signing?
00:09:27
Patrick Pucci
I like it. I like it. I think he's still got some left in the tank, right? I think he's higher than, what did you say, wide receiver? What was it, 69 or something? mean
00:09:35
Nacc
yeah.
00:09:36
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, I think he's higher than that. What's Bateman?
00:09:39
Nacc
Bateman right now is looking at the wide receiver 61.
00:09:43
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, see, I like Hopkins more than Bateman, in my mind.
00:09:46
Roger Emeka
Really?
00:09:46
Patrick Pucci
but
00:09:48
Roger Emeka
i thought Bateman was actually pretty decent last year. in
00:09:50
Patrick Pucci
He was.
00:09:51
Roger Emeka
In certain situations, more like the deep threat, but it's hard to rely on anyone in that wide. Even Flowers, like to your point, Nak, I was surprised at how good his numbers were.
00:10:03
Roger Emeka
like But and in my notes, I wrote, like is he going to get that 30-year wide receiver breakout that a lot of the wide receivers typically have in the 30-year? I feel like they spread the ball around too much with Lamar Jackson and that.
00:10:16
Roger Emeka
So it's hard to trust anyone. Like for me, Flowers flowers is WR26 is closer to WR2, but I personally seem I'm more comfortable with him as a WR3.
00:10:18
Patrick Pucci
I agree agree.
00:10:25
Roger Emeka
don't know what you think, Pat, but I see him more as a WR3. Yeah.
00:10:28
Patrick Pucci
Totally agree. I don't think we know who their number two receiver is.
00:10:29
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:10:32
Patrick Pucci
You know, you don't get a definitive one. I agree with that.
00:10:32
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:10:36
Nacc
Yeah, and then you have you still have Mark Andrews there. You have Likely there. So I think it's like they kind of play those guys as their wide receiver too in in some sense. and like Look, I think Hopkins brings you that name recognition that everyone knows.
00:10:52
Nacc
um i think he's going to be 33 this year. So getting up there in age, ah we did see some flashes last year what he did with Mahomes. So... um
00:11:02
Patrick Pucci
Great.
00:11:03
Nacc
I think he's going to be a very good receiver to have on third down kind of possession and a possession guy for or them.
00:11:08
Patrick Pucci
but
00:11:10
Nacc
um But yeah, I don't know. it's like i For me, it would be a toss-up between Hopkins and Bateman, but they're rated kind of right neck and neck beside each other. And then it takes me to Mark Andrews, actually,
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers Breakdown
00:11:24
Nacc
at the tight end position. Still solidified as as the tight end one, I guess.
00:11:31
Nacc
uh raj you see likely well i mean because last year was kind of like it was weird right like you got hurt and likely kind of stepped there or likely did it at the first game and then everyone blew their wad on likely and then that kind of turned and then it was like yeah
00:11:35
Patrick Pucci
but
00:11:37
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:11:43
Patrick Pucci
And there's that.
00:11:45
Roger Emeka
Yeah, you were there too bad.
00:11:48
Nacc
um so like do you see them again where we just mentioned maybe that lack of w r two or like solid WR2, like, do you see a likely Andrew split, Rog, or do you kind of still see Andrew's getting the majority of the work or targets?
00:12:02
Roger Emeka
So I think i training camp will be interesting on that front. I'm more concerned on Mark Andrews' confidence because after the drop... There was like a good week or so of like just all of sports talk, sports talk like TV, just like piling on Andrew. And we all know how sports talk likes to defend Lamar Jackson. I like to defend la mar Lamar Jackson too. And it felt like Mark Andrews took all the brunt of the blame and Lamar Jackson didn't take any of it. So I'm curious on his confidence coming into this season.
00:12:33
Roger Emeka
He is entering his age, i think, 29, 30 season. He did come on afterwards after the initial Isaiah Likely kind of initial surge. But if I look at where he's at in terms of the ranking to tight end nine, I mean, i i would rather take, you know how I feel about John O'Smith knack. Like I'd rather take flyers on John O'Smith at 12, even with your Steelers.
00:12:57
Roger Emeka
um Dallas Goddard, like 13th, which is, you know bit crazy to think of. Even Hunter Henry, like there's there's been a lot of talk about Hunter Henry this offseason. So there's guys that I actually think Mark Andrews is quite overrated ah so far um this early before training camp.
00:13:12
Patrick Pucci
People.
00:13:13
Roger Emeka
And then just the last thing I'll say is DeAndre Hopkins being there surely takes away from Andrews because if you think of kind of short and intermediate passing, that's where DeAndre Hopkins lives.
00:13:26
Roger Emeka
And I think that's where Mark Andrews makes a lot of his work as well.
00:13:31
Nacc
That's a great point, actually, yeah with the hop. Wow, I didn't didn't think of that. But yeah, that that is a great point. What do you think, Pat? Is he rated too high at tight end 9?
00:13:42
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, I think he's too high. i I don't want either him or likely. let it I just let it fall and work out, you know what I mean? I mean, I've seen what he had, 15 red zone targets last year and turned them into 11 touchdowns.
00:13:53
Patrick Pucci
I mean, that's that's hard to get, you know, were come back with that again. I mean, the touchdowns are not hard easy to replace.
00:14:00
Roger Emeka
Great stat.
00:14:01
Patrick Pucci
That's just my thought.
00:14:02
Roger Emeka
great stuff
00:14:03
Nacc
No, no, I definitely agree. um And honestly, some of those red zone targets, now that you think about it, are likely going to Hopkins as well, right?
00:14:12
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, I'm even more away from it.
00:14:12
Nacc
big Big target.
00:14:16
Nacc
Yeah, yeah, I definitely would would drop him down for sure a peg or two. um And then one guy just to watch in um and camp, Devontae Walker, wide receiver 131.
00:14:30
Nacc
Um, Rod, you want to tell us a little bit about, um, Devontae's?
00:14:34
Roger Emeka
Tez Walker played with Drake May, and there was a lot of ah hype about him at North Carolina. So he's entering in his second year. I think he was a fourth round draft pick.
00:14:46
Roger Emeka
ah So just just a name to watch, I think, for the... Look, like if you look at that wide receiver core, like obviously Flowers is well-established, and Bateman is pretty decent as well. um But there could be an opportunity for him to to shine. I mean, in college, his last year of college at North Carolina, 41 catches, 700 yards, 17 yards per reception on seven TDs.
00:15:08
Roger Emeka
And he was suspended that year. and so he only played eight games. So interesting ah name to watch in in camp, I think, potentially.
00:15:12
Nacc
Wow.
00:15:16
Nacc
Nice. Anything you want to add, Pat?
00:15:19
Patrick Pucci
No, not much. That pretty much nailed it.
00:15:21
Nacc
Fantastic. Fantastic. Well, yeah, they they look, the the Ravens are filled with ah with some fantasy production, especially at the quarterback and running back position with even Zay Flowers mixing in as a potential and know wide receiver ah two on your team. So um that'll do it for the Baltimore Ravens.
00:15:41
Nacc
And I don't think I can wait anymore. So let's just go and go into the Pittsburgh Steelers. me and Me and Pat's good old team here.
00:15:48
Roger Emeka
The floor is yours. The floor is yours.
00:15:50
Nacc
yeah the floor is mine.
00:15:51
Patrick Pucci
I don't even
00:15:51
Nacc
I know, Roger, you're not going to get enough.
00:15:52
Roger Emeka
I'm just going to edit.
00:15:53
Nacc
yeah
00:15:53
Roger Emeka
I'm just going to turn off my camera.
00:15:54
Nacc
Roger's going to edit all of this out.
00:15:56
Patrick Pucci
know how to do it.
00:15:56
Roger Emeka
to not Turn off my camera. i don't need...
00:16:03
Nacc
So yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers finished second in the AFC North last year with a record of 10-7. They did lose their final five games, including ah the wildcard bashing of the ah Baltimore Ravens.
00:16:20
Nacc
2024 team stats, in passing yards per game, they had 195, which was ranked 26th. That's been the trend for the last four or five years, has not been pretty. And then rushing yards per game, they were at 122, which ranked 12th.
00:16:36
Nacc
Although the efficiency wasn't wasn't a great. ah Key fantasy draft picks, you have obviously Caleb Johnson out of Iowa. um Seems to be the second... Well, a lot of people are saying he's going to be... When in the third round, a lot of people are saying that he's... They got a lot of great value in that pick.
00:16:59
Nacc
A lot of similarities to what we've mentioned before to Le'Veon Bell. So if that's the case, I will definitely take that. Then you have some... Some key additions in the offseason.
00:17:10
Nacc
um Obviously, you have Aaron Rodgers. I'm sorry, Pat. I was going to wear my Aaron Rodgers jersey, but it hasn't arrived yet.
00:17:17
Patrick Pucci
You have one for real?
00:17:18
Nacc
Oh, i'm I'm definitely getting one. Don't worry. Don't worry. Don't you worry.
00:17:21
Roger Emeka
We know how much you love Aaron Rodgers, Pat, from your Twitter.
00:17:21
Nacc
I'll have ah have a picture for you.
00:17:23
Patrick Pucci
Oh, I'm not a big fan, but I'm getting him.
00:17:27
Patrick Pucci
He's grown
00:17:27
Nacc
I told you you were going to get on board.
00:17:28
Nacc
That first TD on on the first Sunday, and you're going to go crazy. I already know it.
00:17:32
Patrick Pucci
way better than Russ. I can guarantee that.
00:17:34
Nacc
There we go.
00:17:34
Patrick Pucci
You know what?
00:17:35
Nacc
you See, now now you're speaking my language a little bit.
00:17:39
Nacc
ah You also had the big trade for DK Metcalf for a second round pick as well. He comes in, George Pickens gets shipped out. And then most recently they traded Minka Fitzpatrick for Johnnie Smith and Jalen Ramsey.
00:17:49
Patrick Pucci
Thank you.
00:17:55
Nacc
um
00:17:56
Patrick Pucci
ah
00:17:57
Nacc
So we'll start quickly with the quarterback position. As I mentioned, ah they did, They did pick up, finally signed Aaron Rodgers. ah Probably the best QB they've had on the roster since the departure of Ben Roethlisberger.
00:18:13
Nacc
So let's start off with you, Pat. I know you you had um your own kind of ah ups and downs with with the Aaron Rodgers debacle.
00:18:19
Patrick Pucci
ah
00:18:23
Nacc
So let's start with you. What are you what are you really feeling about Aaron Rodgers? And what are you what are you looking... How does he look like in ah in a fantasy standpoint as well? Currently going as QB 32.
00:18:33
Patrick Pucci
32 is too low. I mean, at first I i was not always drama, you know i mean? I don't, I don't like to, but I mean, this is the second year back from that injury he's had, you know, so I think that's a much better season he's going to after that. Plus a better O-line, you know.
00:18:48
Patrick Pucci
the defense is going to be a lot better. That's going to let him, you know, check down, throw, throw them tight ends a lot more, two tight ends now. Right. You know, he's getting, he's coming into Chuck and he's not handing ball off all day either.
00:19:00
Patrick Pucci
They didn't sign him to just hand off. So I'm, I'm, I'm leaning towards him. I'm learning to love him. don't know, but maybe a like a strong, like.
00:19:10
Nacc
A strong like. I like that. Do you think he could push for top 20 QB numbers ah this season?
00:19:15
Patrick Pucci
Yeah. Why not? He, he could throw frog What did he throw for last year? Like 4,000 yards?
00:19:20
Nacc
I think just under. 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions.
00:19:21
Patrick Pucci
Just under, so he could be just over that. i mean
00:19:26
Patrick Pucci
You can see 32 touchdowns, right? 4,200 yards maybe. Not that far-fetched. The Jets had a terrible line. He just took the sack how many times?
00:19:37
Nacc
Yeah, and he just came back from Achilles injury, 40 years old, so a year removed from that.
00:19:39
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:19:41
Nacc
But I know Roger's eager to speak.
00:19:43
Roger Emeka
those Pat, those are some good numbers. Those are like close to his MVP numbers.
00:19:47
Patrick Pucci
Really? That Okay.
00:19:48
Roger Emeka
Like the forty two hundred in his MVP in 20, 20, 40, 200 yards. i mean yeah I mean, he had... No, in 20, 21, 40, 100 yards, 37 TDs. But I'm curious how you see the relationship between him and Arthur Smith.
00:19:58
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:20:03
Roger Emeka
Because i've I've been telling Knack in our pod and in our various episodes that... I am not entirely sure of the fit between him and Smith, Arthur Smith, because he likes to run his own kind of offense, low amount of motion, ah more under center, you know, not a lot of play action, and which, you know, Arthur Smith did a ton of with the the Titans.
00:20:25
Roger Emeka
And then I know we'll talk about the right receivers later, but I just don't see DK Metcalf as his type of fit. He likes tactical route runners.
00:20:33
Patrick Pucci
He does.
00:20:33
Roger Emeka
So I'm just curious to see how you think he'll fit with Arthur Smith.
00:20:37
Patrick Pucci
I think it would be what, probably his first series, probably third down, he's going to just check out of a play. He's not going to.
00:20:44
Nacc
And I think...
00:20:46
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, he's not going to run up the middle three times. not going happen. That's it.
00:20:50
Roger Emeka
you think they're going clash?
00:20:52
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, things are going to clash. But but Roger will win because it's one-year deal.
00:20:53
Roger Emeka
Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:57
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:20:57
Nacc
and i think Well, look, there's also a lot of news always came out that, you know, Tomlin didn't give, you know, Russell Wilson um or Justin Fields or Kenny Pickett or Trubisky before him. Like, they didn't give him the options to, like, they had to run the plays that were called and didn't give him the chance to audible at the line.
00:21:17
Nacc
But there's no way they're going to tell Aaron Rodgers you can't audible at the line from what you're seeing. First of all, I think it's asinine to tell any quarterback to not to not do that because they're reading the field, right?
00:21:24
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:21:24
Patrick Pucci
I do too.
00:21:27
Nacc
So, But if you think Aaron Rodgers is going to come in and just be like the poster boy of run this play and like you said, run three times up the middle, like he's not going to have ah any of that.
00:21:37
Patrick Pucci
no
00:21:39
Nacc
and And to your point, I think, like you said, the defense is going to be better. And honestly, with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, I think he's going to be able to at least stay on the field longer as an offense and give the defense time to rest a little bit on the sidelines, which will make them better and fresher throughout the game, especially towards the end of the game. So I definitely agree. i Definitely agree on that. And I don't know for sure.
00:22:04
Nacc
QB 32 is incredibly low for... for Aaron Rodgers, especially like you're your kind of final dance, right? Like he doesn't want to go out like he did last year.
00:22:12
Patrick Pucci
Great point.
00:22:14
Roger Emeka
And especially for for us, Pat, don I don't think, I think we mentioned it you, like we focus on two QB leagues, like Superflex, two QB. So like for us, Q, yeah, like QB 32 is like, that's ah that's a that's a backup QB and like starting two.
00:22:20
Patrick Pucci
um minute
00:22:28
Roger Emeka
So like I'll happily take a flyer as Aaron Rodgers for my third QB.
00:22:34
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, definitely.
00:22:35
Nacc
I'd go as close. I'd go as far as QB2, I think.
00:22:39
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, why not?
00:22:40
Nacc
I think I see up a pretty decent year upcoming.
00:22:42
Patrick Pucci
With a good back, case he gets hurt, that's about the only thing I'm worried about.
00:22:45
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:22:45
Nacc
Yeah, that and that's the problem. He's going to be, what, 42 this year or 41 in December or something. So there's definitely that concern.
00:22:55
Patrick Pucci
I think you mentioned, what, that second year back from Achilles, that's big. First year, same.
00:22:58
Nacc
Yeah, we'll see.
00:22:59
Patrick Pucci
You're not the same.
00:23:00
Roger Emeka
totally
00:23:00
Patrick Pucci
that's I'm saying if he threw for, what, almost 4,000 yards first year back from it, think he can do that again.
00:23:06
Nacc
Yeah, and it was not with a great the greatest organization. It was kind of a a dumpster fire over there last year, which made them kind of clean house, right?
00:23:12
Patrick Pucci
Right.
00:23:16
Patrick Pucci
right
00:23:17
Nacc
um Let's move on to the ah running backs. I did mention that they drafted Caleb Johnson in the third round. He's going as running back 31 right now. Jalen Warren ah returning, ah running back 29. And they also added Kenneth Gainwell.
00:23:34
Nacc
And for some reason, Cordell Patterson is still on the roster. I'm waiting any day now for him to get, for him to get cut. I think really, i don't know what Arthur has on Arthur Smith, but yeah, I don't know any day now, any day to hear the, that Patterson has been cut, but um out of these, what's that?
00:23:41
Patrick Pucci
please I can't wait. I
00:23:48
Patrick Pucci
thought it was only me. I thought it was only me that wanted him gone.
00:23:54
Nacc
Sorry.
00:23:56
Patrick Pucci
I can't
00:23:56
Nacc
No, no. I think, I think everybody wants him gone and kind of like, doesn't know what he, what what he's really doing on the roster still. But yeah,
00:24:02
Patrick Pucci
wait.
00:24:03
Nacc
So as I mentioned, Caleb Johnson and Warren are kind of neck and neck in that RB 29 and 31. Raj, what are you, you know, are you trying to grab both? Are you really looking for one of them to shine? Yeah.
00:24:20
Roger Emeka
I go back to John Robinson's rookie year, and I'm not trying to compare Caleb Johnson to John tv be jean Robinson.
00:24:31
Roger Emeka
ah But this notion that Johnson's coming in and is going to take over for for take over for Warren, I think, is very risky considering how Arthur Smith... ah utilize Tyler Algier and Bijan Robinson because that first year Bijan was there everyone wanted him to to have all the carries and i don't have it in front of me but it was virtually ah you know 55-45 split in favor of Bijan in favor of Bijan for Tyler Algier the next year we finally saw that shift further when obviously Arthur Smith was gone but
00:25:06
Roger Emeka
Even last year, like, Knack, you could, Knack and Pat, obviously you guys could speak to it more, right? Like, I think Jalen Warren was the better running back. i I've personally felt like Jalen Warren was the better running back for the past two years. He's more explosive. He catches the ball in PPR.
00:25:21
Roger Emeka
But I think there's, like, always been an attachment to Najee Harris. and So I'd be very, very mindful of putting all my eggs in the Caleb Johnson basket as much as I love...
00:25:32
Roger Emeka
what he looked like in Iowa, that like Matt Forte, Le'Veon Bell, smooth running style. ah Because Warren's a good player and he could catch passes and he's been there for you know three, four years now.
00:25:44
Nacc
Yeah, the only... i definitely agree with what you just said. The only rebuttal I think I would have to that is that Najee um leaves with a void of 300 carries.
00:25:56
Nacc
So, yes, Warren is ah is was more of an efficient running back, obviously with less opportunities.
00:25:57
Patrick Pucci
Right.
00:26:03
Nacc
um Definitely, I think his yards per carry was over five. um But do I see him taking on more of a workload I don't think so. I think he's great in the role that he has.
00:26:19
Nacc
um And i the Steelers have shown that when they draft running backs, they're willing to, you know, kick, like, just run them into the ground type deal, right? They they they will run them and they will run them hard. Harris had 300 carries.
00:26:33
Nacc
350, I think, carries his first season as a rookie. Yes, they didn't have a Jalen Warren on the team, but um they tend to really let their their their running backs fly, especially if he's you know capable of doing so.
00:26:47
Nacc
I think, Pat, you can speak to the same thing.
00:26:49
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:26:49
Nacc
same thing
00:26:50
Patrick Pucci
I think, you know, I think, ah I think Johnson's going to get drafted ahead of Jalen Warren, though. But Warren's going to lead the team in rushing for at least the first four or five weeks. Then maybe it switches over. You know, plus pass blocking.
00:27:02
Patrick Pucci
He's better, at you know, you've to be able to protect Aaron Rodgers.
00:27:02
Roger Emeka
Yeah. Great
00:27:05
Patrick Pucci
You're not going to be on that field.
00:27:08
Roger Emeka
great point
00:27:08
Nacc
It's a great point. That's a, yeah, very soft. but But that's what I figure Warren is going to start hundred percent.
00:27:14
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:27:15
Nacc
It's, it's his backfield to lose, but I could definitely see Caleb taking over end of September, beginning of October.
00:27:21
Patrick Pucci
Same.
00:27:22
Nacc
Once he starts getting really acclimated to the, to the offense and to the NFL, I could definitely see a shift there.
00:27:28
Roger Emeka
But like, I don't disagree, NAC, but what do you what do you see as taking over? Like 60-40 split? Is it 55-45? And, you know, where he's being, like RB31 is flex play.
00:27:42
Roger Emeka
Do you see that like RB31 type ranking staying true up until the these the season? Which means he's a flex play, which is perfectly fine. It's just i'm I'm pushing back on like any he thought of him being a bona fide RB2.
00:27:56
Nacc
No, like Bonafide RB2 in his rookie year is going to be tough with Warren there. And then, like you said, like I mentioned, they also they also went to get Kenneth Gainwell, who's not just there to sit on the bench, right?
00:28:00
Roger Emeka
Solid player.
00:28:08
Nacc
Like they like his style, so he's going to do a lot of pass catching as well.
00:28:08
Roger Emeka
solid player
00:28:11
Nacc
So are they going to do, you know, get give them a series each, first and second down, and then bring Gainwell in on third down? Because he's a very good pass blocker as well. Yeah. um what What are they going to do?
00:28:23
Nacc
what are they going to figure out? but I could definitely see a 60-40 split in Caleb Johnson's favor as the season progresses only because Warren is better in that limited role.
00:28:33
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:28:33
Nacc
He's got more of that punch. He's got more of that. and I feel like if he fits that role more than the bell cow back. So if I have to see a ah sixty forty split, I definitely see it in Caleb Johnson's favor.
00:28:44
Patrick Pucci
Totally. But I think the defense is better this year, so they're going to carry the ball a lot more.
00:28:44
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:28:50
Nacc
Yeah, there's definitely going to be more opportunities and hopefully that O-line gets better and you know find they find more holes.
00:28:53
Patrick Pucci
yeah Yeah. Last year, too, you never played it down. that'll help.
00:28:59
Nacc
Right. And I also see i see a lot of dump-offs from Aaron Rodgers' way as well. And so PPR could be sneaky good for both these um both these guys.
00:29:08
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:29:11
Nacc
I'll move on to the wide receivers. Obviously we mentioned the big addition of DK Metcalf. They paid him $30 million dollars a year. So he's definitely locked in at that WR one. They let George Pickens go to Dallas.
00:29:25
Nacc
And then they have kind of like a battle going on in camp, whereas they see Calvin Austin as the as the number two. But then you have, you know, Roman Wilson, who's there, missed all of his his rookie season, but they really like this guy.
00:29:40
Nacc
Kind of a guy to to watch in camp, I would say. And then they went to get a Robert Woods. Kind of, I feel like, a Steelers player. um Like, Bonafide Steelers guy blocking, blocking wide receiver.
00:29:53
Nacc
So I ask you, Pat, what is, what are we looking at here? you know, apart from, you know, DK Metcalf is is looking probably in that WR2, WR3 position to start here WR24.
00:30:03
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:30:05
Nacc
But then after that, what are we, what are we looking at here? What do we have to be excited for?
00:30:09
Patrick Pucci
I like Wilson the best. I mean, Calvin Austin would be good. He's a big, deep ball gi getter, but he drops a lot of balls. that don't That'll get Aaron dr you know pissed off a little bit, I think, to where he gets, you know, punishes him a little bit, I guess.
00:30:22
Patrick Pucci
i don't know. I don't like
00:30:23
Nacc
Well, that's a that's a great point because that's a big factor in Aaron Rodgers' receivers is he's got to trust you. If he doesn't trust you, he's not throwing you the ball, whether you're open or not.
00:30:32
Patrick Pucci
it. like kept dropping him, that's it. That's why I think Wilson might pull ahead and query right away.
00:30:40
Nacc
Well, right now, they're their Calvin Austin is at wide receiver 95 and Roman Wilson at 96. So obviously, from what you're saying is you'll take more of a flyer on Wilson rather than Calvin Austin.
00:30:51
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, but I don't mind Austin if he if he can catch some balls this year, get on the jugs machine or whatever, you know. don't know, he just got to hold on to more balls.
00:30:59
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:30:59
Patrick Pucci
Great player, just to.
00:31:02
Nacc
Raj, anything to Yeah.
00:31:04
Roger Emeka
I think um Roman Wilson will play the Jackson Smith and Jigba role next to DK Metcalf. More slot player, bit more cerebral of a route runner.
00:31:16
Roger Emeka
His last year at Michigan, he only caught 488 balls, but he had 12 TDs. And they ran the ball like crazy in that, that last Michigan season, that was the national championship year with JJ McCarthy.
00:31:29
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:31:29
Roger Emeka
And he only caught 800 yards. So he's a good player. And again, I think he'll fit in a lot in the slot. So i see him as the guy to to really own, um, and again, third round, like D-Seminar draft capital.
00:31:44
Roger Emeka
so I see him as the guy to own similar to like a Randall Cobb type situation for, for, for Aaron Rodgers. I just want to...
00:31:51
Patrick Pucci
I like that comparison.
00:31:52
Roger Emeka
Yeah, go Pat.
00:31:54
Patrick Pucci
Good comparison.
00:31:55
Roger Emeka
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like, you know, Rogers has always had that slot receiver, you know, whether it's like the the Donald driver or or Randall Cobb. ah Jennings was a little bit of that, too. He's more of a like a bit of a slot and deep guy as well.
00:32:09
Roger Emeka
um So I think he's going to rely on him a lot. and And that's where I go back to just fit of, you know, DK Metcalf. If you look at Metcalf stats, like he hasn't really had a WR position.
00:32:20
Roger Emeka
one season since 2020 where he caught 83 passes, 1,300 yards, and 10 TDs. He's had some decent seasons, but lately he's been in a regression. He hasn't caught 90 passes since 2022, he's been at 66 catches since 2023 and 2024.
00:32:35
Roger Emeka
twenty twenty three and twenty and twenty four so i just I'm just curious about the fit. He drops a lot of passes as well. You know, Pat, you're talking about the jugs machine and just not as refined of a route runner.
00:32:44
Patrick Pucci
Maybe.
00:32:47
Roger Emeka
So if I think of like, you know, Rodgers loves the back shoulder passes, the fades, you know, the in-breakers, the precise in-breakers, the precise routes, that is not DK Metcalf's game at all.
00:32:59
Roger Emeka
So I'm really, really curious to see how that that fit will go. And maybe that's why they worked out together a lot during the offseason.
00:33:05
Patrick Pucci
a
00:33:06
Nacc
yep The only thing that worries me in terms of like a wide receiver 2 for fantasy purposes on the Steelers is that they play a lot of 12 and 13 personnel. So they're going to have 2 and 3 tight ends on the field a lot.
00:33:18
Nacc
um And that kind of leads me to my next segment here on the tight ends. They they did go acquire a John U. Smith who has obviously history with Arthur Smith. Then you have Pat Friermuth, who's probably going to be ah in line for a very good season with Aaron Rodgers. We know how he likes his his tight ends.
00:33:37
Patrick Pucci
Yeah,
00:33:37
Nacc
And then you have Darnell Washington also kind of there in the mix, blocking and can kind of catch passes.
00:33:42
Nacc
I'm um assuming he's going to be a red zone target for Aaron Rodgers. So I could see him vulturing touchdowns away from Smith and Friermuth. So um what do you think, Pat? What is the tight end?
00:33:54
Nacc
Like, are you, is that is this something to be excited about? Are you drafting one? Are you drafting you know
00:33:58
Patrick Pucci
yeah I don't know. One of them could step and be the two receiver on the team. Why not? mean I mean, like Jonu a lot. He's not more of much of a blocking tight end. He's more receiving, right? So, you know, he had, what, 800 yards last year or something like that?
00:34:13
Nacc
It is best year, 800 yards, 91 catches, I believe, and eight touchdowns, if memory serves me right.
00:34:14
Patrick Pucci
Yeah. yeah
00:34:18
Roger Emeka
Peter, yeah.
00:34:19
Patrick Pucci
Yeah. And he's in a contract year. I love those contract year players, you know.
00:34:25
Patrick Pucci
Good point.
00:34:25
Nacc
Yeah, you gotta it.
00:34:26
Nacc
And they gave him obviously a raise from his $4 million he was expected to make. He's scheduled to make $12 million this year.
00:34:30
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, right.
00:34:31
Nacc
so And he's been he's been singing the praises, right, though, where it went to the best best fit and best organization and and this and that. So he's saying the right things. But I'm just – I'm curious to see what it looks like fantasy-wise.
00:34:44
Nacc
Like you everyone's going to think – everyone kind of thinks, okay, Pat Frymouth, that's me the guy to own. But I feel like on a week-to-week basis, there's going to be a lot of vulturing from each of them, and it's going to be kind of like a headache of which one to start.
00:34:53
Patrick Pucci
Thanks.
00:34:55
Nacc
but What do you think, Raj?
00:34:57
Roger Emeka
That's a good point with Janu and how they use him um because he could be a slot player too, basically, or he could play out wide as well. um So I think you're right. There's going to be a lot of 12 personnel, like one running back, two tight end sets, but you're going to see Janu out wide or Janu in the slot and Frymuth cut in line next to the tackle.
00:35:17
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:35:20
Roger Emeka
He had a good easy year last year. Can he repeat it without Mike McDaniel? That'll be the the question to to ask. Because last year he benefited from Tyreek being injured, Tyreek being a bit hoddled hobbled, Waddle as well.
00:35:31
Nacc
Waddle as well.
00:35:34
Patrick Pucci
Good point.
00:35:35
Roger Emeka
i don't know if, I think A-Chan was injured for a bit too. I may be wrong.
00:35:38
Nacc
Well, Tua was also injured, but I mean, yeah.
00:35:39
Roger Emeka
And Tua was injured too. So, you know, he's going to have more mouths around him that need to be fed. So it'll be interesting to see if he could repeat that success.
00:35:48
Nacc
Yeah, I know. i' I definitely don't see a season happening like he had last year. I think it's almost impossible for that to happen unless like a Friar Muth gets hurt and, you know, they lose another receiver even potentially.
00:35:56
Roger Emeka
Hmm. Yeah.
00:35:59
Nacc
So, um,
00:36:00
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:36:01
Nacc
Definitely agree that it's going to be tough. So I think they're John who Smith right now, tight end 12 and then Brian with 22. So it's going to be kind of, I don't know. I feel like they should have been flip-flopped, but um I think it's going to change a lot. um Training camp is going to be a good eye-opening for it to see where that switch goes.
00:36:17
Patrick Pucci
Great.
AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals Insights
00:36:22
Nacc
So that'll do it for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We'll move along to the Cincinnati Bengals. who are finished the year nine and eight started on two for the, and want to say it was the fourth year in a row.
00:36:37
Nacc
um Actually, we're 1-4 at one point as well.
00:36:40
Patrick Pucci
eight
00:36:41
Nacc
um Came back towards the end of the season to to try to make a quick run to make the playoffs. Fell, obviously, slightly short. Their passing yards per game ranked first in league with 273 yards game, but their rushing offense was 30th with 93 rushing yards game.
00:36:55
Nacc
<unk>tieth with ninety three rushing yards per game So not many key additions on the defensive front, which was kind of strange. So they did a draft running back by the name of Taj Brooks out of Texas Tech to come in and maybe be a change of pace with with Chase Brown.
00:37:18
Nacc
And they did pay both of their wide receivers. So I don't know. i Maybe they're expecting Chase or Higgins to pull a Travis Hunter and play a little bit on defense as well.
00:37:29
Nacc
anything is Anything is possible, but we'll start off with the the obvious choice. QB, obviously Joe Burrow. I think he's um coming in with some fire and potentially going to have to put up some rock-solid numbers again if this team has any chance of succeeding, especially with the defense.
00:37:49
Nacc
ah Pat, he's at QB 5 right now. Are you comfortable with that QB 5? Would you put him higher, lower?
00:37:56
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, QB5 is about a good spot. I like them a lot. I mean, they're going to be throwing a lot. That defense is bad. Got worse, I think.
00:38:04
Patrick Pucci
and Yeah.
00:38:04
Nacc
Yeah, and they still don't have Hendricks signed.
00:38:09
Nacc
Roger.
00:38:11
Roger Emeka
Yeah, he's QB3 for me. ah Like, Allen and Jackson are are locked in, but I'd have him above Daniels. I'd have him above Hurts. um
00:38:19
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, me too.
00:38:20
Roger Emeka
like i'm I'm such a fan of Burrow. And, like, the thing with Burrow is he's just fun to own, too, I feel.
00:38:26
Patrick Pucci
This
00:38:27
Roger Emeka
Like, if you own him in fantasy, like, you just know it's going to be high scoring. You know, he has Chase as well. They're going to... The defense will, will so you know, if if it suffers a bit they're go have to come back like they did last year. Although i think they'll be a bit better. They hired the defensive coordinator from Notre Dame ah last year, and they were, i think, one of the best ah defenses in the nation. So it should, in theory, be better. But I love Burrow at three.
00:38:53
Nacc
I mean, you got to have the players at a certain point too, right? And and on that note, on Burrow, and they're going to be throwing a lot, what better QB to have in a garbage time situation than a Joe Burrow, right?
00:38:56
Patrick Pucci
Yes.
00:39:05
Nacc
That who's probably going to score that extra touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter when, even if it means nothing, right? So, yeah, I think there's not really too much to add. Again, kind of like the Ravens, very locked in, high-end QB that's going to give you producing you know, solid upper 300s, close to 400 fantasy points this year. So definitely lock and loaded as a top five.
00:39:31
Nacc
And then this is where it gets kind of um one to watch, I would say, is the obviously Chase Brown going as wide, excuse me, the running back nine And then the guy we just mentioned, Taj Brooks, running back 82. I'm curious to see how the dynamic works. I know we've mentioned it a few times, Raj, how we don't feel that Chase Brown is that workhorse kind of back.
00:39:56
Nacc
He did suffer some injuries last year as well, if memory serves me right. So what do you see with this kind of backfield, Raj? Are you buying RB9 or you have a little pushback there?
00:40:09
Roger Emeka
It's, he gives me some Austin Eckler vibes and I don't say that in ah in ah in a bad way. Like if you look at his stats last year, 220 carries, 990 yards, 54 catches and 36, 360 yards. That's that's in 10 games started.
00:40:23
Roger Emeka
So Brown can be electric.
00:40:24
Patrick Pucci
Great.
00:40:26
Roger Emeka
um He's a bit more diminutive. So I think that's why they brought in Taj Brooks who had a fantastic career at Texas Tech. His last two seasons at Texas Tech, 1500 rushing yards.
00:40:38
Roger Emeka
And i think he broke, he had like 2,900 yards in terms of broken tackles after contact. So he's a broken tackle machine. So if you think of like someone who could replace Zach Brown or excuse me, Zach Moss with the Bengals last year, i think that could be a ah possibility.
00:40:59
Roger Emeka
Running back nine might be a bit too rich for me. And it's only because of the fact that they drafted Taj Brooks, again, still a rookie. But it seems like they're very high on him. So if you look at the guys around him, like I'd rather have Josh Jacobs.
00:41:15
Roger Emeka
pat Pat, you have to know that I love Josh Jacobs. Like ask Knack, ask nack ask ah Fab, I love Josh Jacobs.
00:41:19
Patrick Pucci
I
00:41:21
Nacc
Yeah.
00:41:21
Roger Emeka
And I'd probably even trust, I hate to say it, but Kyron Williams over him.
00:41:27
Patrick Pucci
don't find that either.
00:41:27
Nacc
Ooh, wow. Okay.
00:41:30
Patrick Pucci
Better offense.
00:41:31
Roger Emeka
Yeah, for sure. 10.
00:41:33
Nacc
What do you think of the running back situation there, Pat?
00:41:36
Patrick Pucci
I love Brown a lot. i mean they They were top 10 for two years in a row until last season. You until the O-line, the wheels came off. but And like you said, he didn't even start. How many games did start?
00:41:47
Patrick Pucci
Not 17 or seven games?
00:41:48
Roger Emeka
ten
00:41:49
Nacc
10 games.
00:41:50
Patrick Pucci
So, I mean, I think he's going have a better season, actually, than last year. He's probably still at least the top 12 back, at least. But a good check down for Burrow.
00:42:00
Nacc
Yeah.
00:42:02
Patrick Pucci
You know, i mean, when you've got those just broken plays and where he's always getting. How many passes he catch last year, did you say, Rog?
00:42:09
Roger Emeka
fifty four
00:42:10
Patrick Pucci
if if I mean, that's pretty good for his first year. Yeah.
00:42:12
Nacc
And only starting 10 games.
00:42:15
Patrick Pucci
Only starting 10. Yeah. 17 games. It's crazy.
00:42:19
Nacc
Yeah, i I consider him a PPR kind of machine in a sense. Like, he's definitely locked in as the very high-end wide receiver, excuse me, running back two, ah but could definitely push, could have some definite solid running back one weeks for sure, just just for his PPR. I think he had a game with 11 or 12 catches.
00:42:43
Patrick Pucci
Right. Yeah.
00:42:44
Nacc
It was on prime time. I forget who they played, but they were like 13 catches that, that game. So he's capable. He's definitely capable. definitely pass catching back.
00:42:52
Roger Emeka
Against Baltimore.
00:42:52
Nacc
So yeah, against Baltimore, there you go.
00:42:53
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:42:55
Nacc
So um yeah, definitely a, definitely a running back room to watch. um Maybe not early on in the season, cause he's most likely to take, get all the, um all the work, but maybe as the season goes on next to mid season would be interesting to see how they include Taj Brooks.
00:43:12
Patrick Pucci
Well, from week nine on, too, only Barkley had more ah rushing opportunities than him. so
00:43:18
Nacc
Wow. Okay. Interesting. That's a very good stat.
00:43:20
Patrick Pucci
i mean But I like the rookie coming in like Rajshad.
00:43:26
Nacc
Yeah, definitely agree. Definitely agree. We'll move on to the wide receivers. um they Like I mentioned before, they'd paid Jamar Chase, highest paid non-QB in the league.
00:43:38
Nacc
He is fully locked in at WR1 on the season. I don't think anyone has any issues with that. Then you have Tee Higgins, who they also paid.
00:43:50
Nacc
um he was going as as as high as wide receiver 10, I believe I was seeing him, but we have him here as wide receiver 15. Then they have Andres Yosivas, why receivers seventy eight and germaine burton that wide receiver wide receiver 131.
00:44:05
Nacc
one thirty one So apart from obviously Chase Raj, who um I'm pretty sure everyone has him first on their on their boards, you know, kind of interchanging with maybe a Jefferson.
00:44:18
Nacc
But, you know, you can't really go wrong. But T. Higgins is the is the one that we've spoken about and kind of the one we're looking at. Like, are you are you good at wide receiver 15 with T. Higgins? Or, you know, are you looking kind of like, what do you see from um this wide receiver room?
00:44:32
Roger Emeka
Can't trust T Higgins. And we we talked about T Higgins in our do not draft episode. And he's never finished higher than WR17. Right. He's had really good points per game numbers when he plays.
00:44:46
Roger Emeka
But it seems like the last two years, think he's only played 12 games. So. It's really hard for me to trust a player like that who just cannot put a full slate of games through.
00:44:49
Nacc
Yep.
00:44:55
Roger Emeka
So he's the type of player that, you know, if I if i could get at ah like at a discount, happy to take it at a discount, but I'm not going to overdraft him. If I just want to go back to to Chase quickly, I think, Nak, we were having a discussion in real life where think it was you told me that, think of the past six or seven years, the has not, in one in the previous season, in the next season, has not been the same WR1 year after year, and I just checked it, and it's very much the case. So if I get a chance to take Chase, obviously I'm i'm taking him, but the WR1 year over year is extremely volatile.
00:45:32
Patrick Pucci
It's a great point.
00:45:34
Nacc
it's It's super hard to replicate. like you Remember Cooper Cup a few years back.
00:45:39
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:45:39
Nacc
like he went He went nuts. There was CeeDee Lamb two years ago that went and went bonkers. There was Justin Jefferson the year before that who went bonkers. and they just It's so hard to replicate year after year. and Again, yeah.
00:45:55
Patrick Pucci
Just if he misses one game with the way all these wide receivers crunch together, right?
00:46:00
Nacc
Yeah, that's that's what it is. One injury and it kind of you you you lose out on kind of kind of everything. But yeah, it's very, very tough.
00:46:05
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, guards base, whatever it
00:46:09
Nacc
I mean, what do you feel about T. Higgins, Pat?
00:46:13
Patrick Pucci
is. like Higgins myself. I think he's still good, but he can't stay healthy. That's his problem. you know I mean, I don't know. i just That offense is too powerful. I just think that Cincinnati is going to finally click one of these times, and this is the year maybe.
00:46:28
Patrick Pucci
I don't know. i like Higgins myself, but I don't like, now that you say the stat about him staying healthy, I just, it's true. And there's a lot of other receivers you could have at that point that, you know, discount I'll get, I'll take them.
00:46:41
Patrick Pucci
But like I had a question with him or Garrett Wilson. I mean, that's a really close one. I'm taking him, but i just because I don't like Fields as much. don't think he throws enough. but But now you talk about that injury and he can't stay healthy, and that's a big factor too.
00:46:56
Patrick Pucci
That kind of changes my mind a little bit.
00:46:58
Nacc
I just look at also like Wilson is the WR1 on his team, whereas you know Higgins is the WR2.
00:46:58
Roger Emeka
That's great point.
00:47:06
Nacc
There's so many like players in that kind of slot that you know that that are wide receiver ones, and it's like, I'm going to go pick Higgins this high, likely a what second or third round pick, and you're like,
00:47:20
Patrick Pucci
or pray Yeah, that changed my opinion a lot when Raj said that.
00:47:20
Nacc
Man, I could go grab a guy who's actually number one on his team with, you know, decent QB play and probably do better than than Higgins. And like Roger alluded to, best finish ever in fantasy football is WR17. So what's going to change now, you know? Plus injury prone. I just, I don't know.
00:47:40
Roger Emeka
we We talked about Tyreek Hill in the AFC East episode last week. Hill's going, or he's ranked at the BRS 17. He's two spots below Tee Higgins. I am 100% taking Tyreek Hill over Tee Higgins if I have an opportunity.
00:47:53
Nacc
Over T Higgins, 100%. No, for sure.
00:47:54
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, there's no doubt about that.
00:47:55
Nacc
no but no for sure
00:47:56
Roger Emeka
ah and
00:47:57
Patrick Pucci
No question.
00:47:58
Roger Emeka
And Pat, you saying Garrett Wilson. actually think Garrett Wilson going to really big year. he got the contract. And if you look at what he did last year,
00:48:04
Patrick Pucci
Great.
00:48:06
Roger Emeka
It was pretty impressive considering hobbled or like coming out of injury, Aaron Rodgers, they didn didn't have great chemistry.
00:48:11
Patrick Pucci
Mm-hmm.
00:48:14
Roger Emeka
i i think he's just, I still think he's a more talented player than Higgins and he's been healthy his entire career. So yeah,
00:48:22
Patrick Pucci
I don't think Fields – I like Fields myself. I wanted him to stay in Pittsburgh.
00:48:26
Roger Emeka
yeah.
00:48:26
Patrick Pucci
But think Fields Rodgers.
00:48:26
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:48:28
Nacc
We remember, we remember.
00:48:29
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:48:32
Patrick Pucci
I was so mad about that one.
00:48:34
Nacc
ah Now we have the goat.
00:48:36
Patrick Pucci
Now we get to go. You know, your Rodgers jersey, what, next week?
00:48:41
Nacc
Oh, I will show you. I will definitely, i will be tweeting that out and I will definitely tag you in that one.
00:48:46
Roger Emeka
You bought one, Knack?
00:48:46
Nacc
That's for sure. No, well, um look, I guess we're digressing a little bit, but um with my father's season ticket package, He's allowed a lot of perk every year. And the perk he chose this year is, um I think it's 20% or 30% off at the team store.
00:49:03
Nacc
So he's going week two.
00:49:03
Patrick Pucci
Oh,
00:49:04
Nacc
So he'll pick one up there at at a discount. Hopefully he finds one because they're all kind of sold out everywhere. Fanatics, NFL.com, they're all sold out right now. so
00:49:13
Patrick Pucci
wow.
00:49:14
Nacc
But I'll have one.
00:49:14
Patrick Pucci
Definitely.
00:49:14
Nacc
I'll get one. I definitely will get one. I promise you. I promise you that. um Quickly, I'll just touch upon the tight end position for the Bengals. Mike Kosicki, for me, not really a page mover right now.
00:49:28
Nacc
Tight end 20. Yeah, I don't know. I think with the the the ball distribution around, I don't think we have to take too much time on on Mike Kosicki unless anyone has kind of ah something to add on on him or any type of value he he brings maybe as a, you know, i if you want a second tight end on your roster.
00:49:46
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, maybe. but
00:49:49
Patrick Pucci
So he's all right. I mean, he's not bad. He might be their number three receiver. It might be.
00:49:54
Nacc
Yeah, and even at that, like...
00:49:55
Patrick Pucci
not but If Higgins goes down like you're talking, then then that changes things.
00:50:01
Nacc
Yeah, i think what I think Chase Brown probably caught more balls than Mike Kosicki did last year, right?
00:50:04
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:50:06
Nacc
So very tough to very tough to to to feed him as well.
00:50:10
Roger Emeka
Well, Yoshivas was pretty good in relief of Higgins.
00:50:15
Nacc
Yes, he was.
00:50:15
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:50:16
Roger Emeka
Or even just, even even when Higgins was playing, like he had a few two-touchdown games.
00:50:16
Patrick Pucci
um yeah
00:50:19
Roger Emeka
He finished with six touchdowns.
00:50:20
Nacc
Yep.
00:50:20
Roger Emeka
So um yeah, Gasicki, he did have 65 receptions, so not bad. It's just he doesn't really get into the end zone and really unreliable, in my opinion.
00:50:26
Nacc
Oh, okay.
00:50:29
Roger Emeka
be I think Pat said it perfectly He's just all right. It was a fantasy option.
00:50:33
Nacc
Yeah, week to week, hard to trust, for sure.
00:50:34
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
AFC North: Cleveland Browns Overview
00:50:35
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:50:35
Nacc
For sure.
00:50:36
Patrick Pucci
Bi-week feeling or something, right?
00:50:37
Roger Emeka
Exactly.
00:50:39
Nacc
So that'll wrap up the Cincinnati Bengals. And now we will go to the Cellar Dweller Browns. 3-14 a year ago. it seems this is just the laughingstock of the league. The gift that keeps on giving to everyone that enjoys a quick laugh at at NFL teams.
00:51:00
Nacc
I don't know what's going on with them, and I don't care who they ever get on their team. Until I see it, I will never, ever, ever believe it. I think it's gotten to that point. um So as I mentioned, three and fourteen last year. They ranked 22nd in pass yards per game with 206.
00:51:17
Nacc
Their rushing yards per game were ranked 30th with 95 yards per game. So that's pretty putrid. And they went on to have a pretty rollercoaster of a draft.
00:51:30
Nacc
Kind of a weird one. They did take Quinshawn Judkins in the second round, who's now facing battery charges, which is not a great look.
00:51:38
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:51:40
Nacc
He's not signed yet, which is about 98% of the second round picks who are still not signed because they want um after that. I don't know who the player was that got the guaranteed contract, but now they obviously all want guaranteed contracts, but ah Not looking good for their second round and second round pick, who's, like i said, yet to sign his contract.
00:51:59
Nacc
But they did pick up Dylan Sampson, who we loved in our running back show ah in the fourth round out of Tennessee. So that could be some someone who um we might take a look at a camp that might move up with Judkins, maybe suspension looming or even flat out released.
00:52:17
Nacc
Then they drafted Dylan Gabriel out of Oregon in the third round and to everyone's surprise, took another quarterback in Shadur Sanders out of Colorado after already signing Joe Flacco and trading for Kenny Pickett.
00:52:34
Nacc
So um I'm going to dive right into this because this could be a long discussion, um kind of not similar to the top three in this division with their QB position pretty much solidified.
00:52:38
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:52:47
Nacc
What is going on in that QB room? Pat, I want to get your your two cents here. Like, who's starting? Who's getting cut or traded? what's what's What are they doing with four quarterbacks? And with Deshaun Watson still kind of there for next year?
00:53:04
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, right. Well, Deshaun, I think the NFL rumors said he could play by, what, October or November, I think, but I don't think he plays one down.
00:53:11
Nacc
No.
00:53:12
Patrick Pucci
and And I think Flacco starts. I think, personally, I think Kenny Pickett gets cut ah really or traded. That's my thought. He didn't bring two rookies in to give Kenny a shot. I don't know. and they only would Would they trade a fifth round for or okay.
00:53:25
Nacc
they traded ah They traded a fifth round and ah Dorian Thompson Robinson. Right? Is that his name?
00:53:32
Roger Emeka
Yeah, DTR.
00:53:32
Nacc
DTR?
00:53:32
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:53:33
Nacc
They traded him to the Eagles for, I think it was, that's it, a fifth round and DTR for Kenny Pickett.
00:53:37
Patrick Pucci
yeah
00:53:40
Patrick Pucci
I mean, that's the Browns, though. you know Knowing them, they'll start Kenny Pickett. That'd be the one I'd let go myself.
00:53:48
Nacc
Raj, what ah what do you make of this QB room?
00:53:52
Roger Emeka
For anyone to have fantasy relevance, it has to be either Flacco or Shador. ah Fully agree with Pat. Pickett should be cut. And like Gabriel is interesting. I think he had a really good career or he had a really good one season at at Oregon and even a previous season at Oklahoma. So I do like him, but.
00:54:13
Roger Emeka
It just feels like the, you know, from like what you see about the players and what you see on training camp videos and what you you hear from the media, it sounds like Shadur has been better than Gabriel.
00:54:27
Roger Emeka
so i think it starts with Flacco. I think you just, you kind of don't have a choice to start it with Flacco. And then I think it's Shadur after for any fantasy relevance for for these guys.
00:54:37
Patrick Pucci
Totally agree with that.
00:54:40
Nacc
Oh, for for fantasy re relevance, I definitely agree. I just, i I can't wait to see, it's kind of one of those get your popcorn ready moments because either one of them is going to get traded. Like, I can't see them getting rid of a rookie, right? Like, you can't you can't cut one of these rookies. you're going to try to trade him, if anything. And I definitely agree. I think Flacco does have a slight inside track unless, like i said, Pickett or, you know, decides to do better in camp. But we all know who Kenny Pickett is and I can't see that happening. And then,
00:55:10
Nacc
You know, are they going play the media circus with Shader Sanders and like, oh, we drafted Gabriel before, but now we're going to start the fifth round rookie and and all that. But this is something definitely that you're going to have to watch all throughout training camp before before drafting. But I agree with both of you.
00:55:28
Nacc
For any type of fantasy relevance, I think we need Joe Flacco to start.
00:55:34
Patrick Pucci
but they They're only favored in one game, I think, this this year. pretty
00:55:38
Nacc
Well, I mean... i i wouldn't I wouldn't see them favored. i'm I'm shocked that they're actually favored in one game this year.
00:55:46
Patrick Pucci
Well, they're home against Tennessee. That's the one game. So maybe.
00:55:50
Nacc
Okay, maybe.
00:55:51
Patrick Pucci
Maybe.
00:55:51
Nacc
We'll see. We'll see. i We'll move along to the running back. So as I mentioned, they did draft Quinton Judkins um in the second round.
00:56:03
Nacc
Was likely going to play a huge role in this offense. Then they still have Jerome Ford. who's a running back 57 and they also drafted dylan Sampson at ah excuse me running back 61 so definitely that I think he's going to be the one to kind of watch in camp and i mean Ford hasn't been you know he had the chance last year and he really wasn't dominant didn't really solidify himself that even Chubb came back and they kind of wanted to
00:56:34
Nacc
give him more opportunities because Ford really wasn't doing it. So i ask you, Raj, Samson, do you see him flying up draft boards if if and when Judkins gets suspended or released?
00:56:48
Roger Emeka
Yes. um Great last year at Tennessee. 258 carries, 1,500 yards, 22 touchdowns. Extremely electric. And he didn't really show the bones for it. Only had 20 receptions, but he looks like a good PPR player as well. So um I think...
00:57:06
Roger Emeka
I think fantasy managers are going to pounce on him as a flyer. Judkin stuff, though, it doesn't it doesn't look good, especially since he hasn't been signed yet. And think there's been some video and some leakage as well in terms of the situation. Like, it obviously, we don't want to I might get into that, but like that's never a good sign.
00:57:23
Roger Emeka
um And then, like you mentioned, with Ford, just very average player. Just a guy you just want to have on your bench, if if at all. right so it's it's almost You could almost say their QB situation is better than their running back situation right now.
00:57:41
Roger Emeka
like i was I was looking at it, and like you know what? I think I'd rather have... You tell me take Flacco take one of those you know three running backs, I think I'd rather still take Flacco.
00:57:48
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:57:51
Patrick Pucci
Well, Rog, how's Dylan at pass blocking? Because I know seem to be the gem here at Rookies.
00:57:56
Roger Emeka
Yeah, pass blocking, I think it's always with rookies, is always ah is always an issue. And he played at Tennessee too, which Jalen Wright, um who was drafted by the Dolphins, so they went back-to-back years.
00:58:06
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
00:58:09
Roger Emeka
um So I think he they both kind kind of had the same issue with pass blocking.
00:58:13
Patrick Pucci
I don't have college like you do.
00:58:13
Roger Emeka
um
00:58:14
Patrick Pucci
That's why I was taking your advice on this.
00:58:16
Roger Emeka
Yeah, yeah. No, but like if I recall correctly, the the Browns have a decent offensive line, but
00:58:21
Patrick Pucci
yeah yeah
00:58:22
Roger Emeka
um
00:58:25
Roger Emeka
I'm stumped. I'm stumped with this running back room, honestly. ah This overall roster, to be honest.
00:58:29
Patrick Pucci
but mean
00:58:30
Roger Emeka
It
00:58:30
Patrick Pucci
I had Ford last year and he was just like, oh man, I thought with Chubb being hurt, he's going to have a great year.
00:58:33
Roger Emeka
was rough.
00:58:37
Patrick Pucci
It was rough, like you said.
00:58:38
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:58:39
Nacc
Yeah, it was ah it was a bummer. I think i had had a back-to-back pick and I took Ford and then Chubb, like just to have the have them both in case you know whatever happened. and That obviously didn't come back. um that they came but That definitely came back and and and bit me in the behind.
00:58:53
Patrick Pucci
Same here.
00:58:56
Nacc
think... i think
00:59:01
Nacc
Like, yeah, it's a good point with the pass blocking because, like, if you can't pass block, you're not getting on the field, right? And especially if you have to pass block for a 40-year-old quarterback, um going to be tough sledding. So, again, it's going to be one of those things where we said we have to watch the QBs in in training camp. I think it's going to be the same thing for the running backs.
00:59:22
Nacc
We've got to see what happens with Judkins as well. um The Browns are a team that um allows extracurricular activities to be okay. and And so maybe, you know, if there's no suspension, there's no suspension, maybe they, you know, maybe maybe Watson comes to talk to him and then, you know, he...
00:59:34
Patrick Pucci
That's the best way to put it.
00:59:43
Patrick Pucci
Would he get suspended this year? i don't know how that works. would he have to go to court?
00:59:46
Nacc
ah He has to go through it has to go through and he has to have a case and there's got to be like he's got to be sentenced or whatever before there's any punishment.
00:59:49
Patrick Pucci
Legal.
00:59:55
Patrick Pucci
Okay. Okay.
00:59:56
Nacc
So I guess he theoretically could play unless the league steps in and decides to suspend him before.
01:00:03
Patrick Pucci
Sure.
01:00:03
Nacc
But definitely something to take a look at. um We'll quickly go into the...
01:00:08
Roger Emeka
When, well, when it, look, when it's come, when it's come to domestic violence, when, as soon as there's evidence, right? Like we saw it with Kareem Hunt, we saw it with like Ray Rice, as soon as there's like, kind of like.
01:00:14
Nacc
Right, they're pretty quick pretty quick to trigger on that.
01:00:16
Patrick Pucci
Great point there.
01:00:18
Nacc
So I would i would probably, i'd be shocked if there wasn't some type of suspension coming.
01:00:18
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:00:23
Nacc
Easily easily four games, if not six, I would i would think.
01:00:27
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:00:28
Patrick Pucci
Same here.
01:00:29
Nacc
And then the wide receivers, you had Jerry Judy, who had a career season last year. ah Cedric Tillman, who was also pretty decent, and they added Deontay Johnson, who's not a lock to ah make the team.
01:00:44
Nacc
I think his contract was one year at the minimum and no guaranteed money, if i'm um I remember correctly.
01:00:49
Patrick Pucci
Yeah. but
01:00:50
Nacc
um i mean, Pat, out of all this is obviously Jerry Judy, but after after that, are you really is it is it kind of like a dart throw? Are you really kicking the tires with a Tillman or a Johnson?
01:01:00
Patrick Pucci
yeah
01:01:03
Patrick Pucci
No, it's pretty much a dart throw, like you said. And even Judy, if what if Pickett gets in there? I mean, if Flacco's in there, he's going to be good. Pickett gets in there, forget it. get Sanders, okay, Gabriel. Man, you don't want nothing to do with him if Pickett's in there.
01:01:18
Patrick Pucci
I'm not happy about any of really.
01:01:21
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:01:21
Nacc
Yeah, he easily easily go down the peg as soon as, ah if Pickett does take the reins. But I know, Rog, you were a big admirer of Judy. what do you Can he outperform wide c eight wide receiver 28? Yeah.
01:01:34
Roger Emeka
Yeah, so that's the thing. I wrote in my notes, like, how repeatable is the 90-catch, 1,200-yard season? And if you took out the monster game against Denver, like, he had nine catches for 235 yards, right?
01:01:47
Roger Emeka
So that that still becomes a good season, but he's not at 1,000 yards at that point.
01:01:47
Nacc
yeah
01:01:51
Roger Emeka
So the thing with Judy was... um So Jameis Winston took over week six. And if you look at when Judy started kind of breaking out, it was in week 10.
01:02:02
Roger Emeka
So Jameis was a huge, huge reason for why Judy looked good. But even when Judy, excuse me, even when Jameis was inactive the last three games, Judy still had games of 11 catches, 108 yards, catches, and six catches So i I heavily think a guy who chucks it, you know, who's willing to throw it in deep or intermediate, like a Flacco or like a Sanders, who Sanders did that in college a ton, Judy, I think, could still make up that type of ranking.
01:02:35
Roger Emeka
But if it's Gabriel or like weak-armed guys like Gabriel or... I don't know how Kenny Pickett is in the league.
01:02:42
Patrick Pucci
Me neither.
01:02:42
Roger Emeka
Like, I'm sorry. Like, and don't mean to go through a tangent here, but I don't want to, like, he wears two gloves and he has small hands.
01:02:44
Patrick Pucci
Or... Can you see
01:02:49
Patrick Pucci
them?
01:02:49
Nacc
ah Kenny two gloves.
01:02:51
Roger Emeka
like Like, so Pickett is a non-factor and makes it makes Judy undraftable.
01:02:52
Patrick Pucci
canny
01:02:57
Roger Emeka
So it's... They're going to figure out that situation really quick depending on when people draft because if if it's undecided and people are drafting, don't don't take Judy. If it's Flacco or it's cha Sanders, I think you could to get Judy at a discount and I like him at a discount concerning what he did at the second half.
01:03:13
Patrick Pucci
I love them in addition. Same here. And Pickett won't stay any long. So you might have a couple of bad weeks if you have them.
01:03:22
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:03:24
Nacc
Yeah, look, guys, once again, it's one of those things where we have to see where camp goes in order to decide where we're taking these guys. It's definitely go to definitely going to hamper our decisions for sure.
01:03:35
Nacc
And then that takes us to, obviously, David Njoku, tight end eight right now. I think he's also been injured a ton, right? So he misses quite a few games, but he he is pretty dominant, I guess, when he's on the field. He's pretty good, but I don't know, top 10 tight end.
01:03:54
Nacc
just For me, i always i never i never I don't know why didn't I never liked Ninjoku. I never wanted to take him in fantasy. He's very frustrating player for me, but Raj, anything to kind of...
01:04:09
Nacc
With Ninjoku...
01:04:09
Roger Emeka
he's just He's solid. I find him him solid. um He's the type of guy where, like, if I'm looking through his game log, you'll have he'll have one a game of 10 catches, 76 yards, a game of 9 catches, 81 yards, a game of 9 catches, 52, 8 for but then he'll have 1 for 14, or he'll have 5 for 29, right?
01:04:30
Roger Emeka
So it's just the ride with Njoku, the stats look good at the end, but the ride is really rough.
01:04:30
Patrick Pucci
Yeah,
01:04:30
Nacc
Frustrating.
01:04:31
Nacc
Very frustrating player.
01:04:39
Nacc
Pat, do you think?
01:04:41
Patrick Pucci
yeah I agree with that.
01:04:44
Nacc
Yeah, nothing. Honestly, it's kind of a player that i Look, personally, I'm avoiding anything to do with any Browns player in fantasy. um i think even if they do kind of figure some stuff out in camp, like I don't see myself starting a Joe Flacco. i don't see myself starting even Dylan Sampson.
01:05:05
Nacc
Maybe Jerry Judy. But again, if Kenny Pickett is named the starter, I don't want anything to do with Jerry Judy. so
01:05:12
Patrick Pucci
Yep.
01:05:13
Nacc
um
01:05:13
Roger Emeka
I think they're tanking. i think I think they're tanking this year.
01:05:16
Patrick Pucci
You think?
01:05:16
Nacc
but for But for what? They have a million QBs.
01:05:18
Patrick Pucci
Yeah,
01:05:19
Nacc
Like, even if, okay, so give you an example here. Even if they say they trade Pickett, right?
01:05:22
Patrick Pucci
what do they think?
01:05:24
Nacc
They'll trade Pickett and ah Sanders becomes the backup and Dylan has the clipboard.
01:05:25
Patrick Pucci
Okay.
01:05:30
Nacc
Next year, you're in the same predicament. Now you have, okay, maybe Joe Flacco's on a one-year deal. Then you have Watson coming back. Then you have Shadur and Dylan Gabriel. You're going to go out and draft...
01:05:43
Nacc
if you have the first overall pick, you're going to go draft a Neusmeyer or whatever. Like, is that is is that the is that the plan?
01:05:47
Patrick Pucci
Right.
01:05:48
Roger Emeka
Yeah, yeah, because next year's QB draft is nuts. Yeah.
01:05:51
Patrick Pucci
It is better.
01:05:52
Nacc
No, no, for sure. but um But I'm saying with Watson there and then Shadour and Gabriel, who you drafted two QBs the year before, now you're going go draft a Neusmeyer and have the same thing.
01:06:02
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, good point.
01:06:04
Roger Emeka
yeah
01:06:04
Nacc
i guess you're going to feel okay cutting one of those as well. But you traded the fifth round pick for Pickett and you invested draft capital.
01:06:08
Patrick Pucci
or Right.
01:06:13
Nacc
In Sanders and Dylan. like just The organization is just...
01:06:15
Patrick Pucci
Which one's most tradable?
01:06:16
Nacc
What's that?
01:06:17
Patrick Pucci
Which one's the most tradable quarterback?
01:06:19
Nacc
Right now? i would I would have to say it's they probably have value to trade Sanders or or or or Gabriel.
01:06:20
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
01:06:27
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, I would say Gabriel myself because Sanders fell that far. Obviously, teams don't want him, right?
01:06:31
Nacc
But do they want to?
01:06:32
Patrick Pucci
But I like more than Gabriel.
01:06:34
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:06:34
Nacc
Yeah, but do they want to? They invested that third round pick in Gabriel.
01:06:37
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, that's true.
01:06:37
Nacc
Do they want to trade him?
01:06:39
Patrick Pucci
Not unless they're getting a third back, but who's going to give third?
01:06:41
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:06:41
Nacc
And no one's giving them a third.
01:06:43
Patrick Pucci
Nobody's giving him a third for that.
01:06:43
Roger Emeka
Yeah. And i honestly, i don't I don't think Watson's playing another down in the NFL.
01:06:48
Patrick Pucci
Yeah, don't either.
01:06:48
Roger Emeka
Like, I don't think he's playing for the Browns.
01:06:49
Patrick Pucci
Totally agree.
01:06:50
Nacc
agree.
01:06:51
Roger Emeka
And, like, what you what team is going to bring him in?
01:06:51
Patrick Pucci
For anybody.
01:06:54
Nacc
Yeah, I don't think so.
01:06:54
Patrick Pucci
Right.
01:06:55
Nacc
Especially hasn't looked good since his return, right?
01:06:56
Patrick Pucci
That's a great point, Raj. Thank
01:06:57
Nacc
So.
01:06:57
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:06:59
Nacc
Well, that about wraps it up for our AFC North fantasy preview.
Guest Acknowledgements and Social Media Shoutouts
01:07:04
Nacc
Pat, I want to thank you so much for taking the time, guys. It's follow him on Twitter, please. Very, very good follow. Lots of information all the time.
01:07:15
Nacc
It's at NFL underscore fantasy. Pat also follow um NFL rums, which is NFL rumors. Also a great, great account for up-to-date rumors.
01:07:28
Nacc
He has a show a few times a week. Make sure you tune in into that. Had Brian McFadden actually on his show last week. So super cool. Has great guests. So again, Pat, thank you so much.
01:07:39
Patrick Pucci
Thanks for having me. I had had a fun time, guys.
01:07:40
Roger Emeka
It was awesome, thank you, Pat.
01:07:40
Nacc
Absolutely. And above all, obviously, don't forget to follow us on all the social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, ah Twitter.
01:07:41
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
01:07:49
Nacc
and We're also on YouTube, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcasts. So tune in
Preview of Next Episode: NFC East
01:07:54
Nacc
next week. We will um we will be doing the and NFC East next week.
01:07:57
Roger Emeka
NFC East.
01:07:59
Nacc
So big, big fantasy division. So you definitely don't want to miss that.
01:08:03
Roger Emeka
It's my turn.
01:08:04
Nacc
um
01:08:05
Patrick Pucci
Yeah.
01:08:05
Nacc
My turn. Let's do it with
01:08:06
Patrick Pucci
Can't wait to tune in for this one.
01:08:07
Roger Emeka
yeah yeah
01:08:08
Patrick Pucci
See what Rod's got.
01:08:09
Nacc
oh by will We just i just got we we just gotta to be thankful Fab is not here for the Giants episode.
01:08:09
Patrick Pucci
Rod's will be smiling the whole time.
01:08:10
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
01:08:14
Patrick Pucci
All
01:08:14
Nacc
That's ah that's that's a win in our books, but the Fab, we miss you.
01:08:18
Nacc
So on behalf of myself, Raj, and our wonderful guest, Pat, thank you so much, and we'll see you guys next week.
01:08:25
Patrick Pucci
right, man. Thanks for having me.
01:08:29
Nacc
Yes, another one. Pat, that was amazing, man. Thank you.
01:08:35
Nacc
Super good. Super, super good.