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Free Agency Frenzy: Fantasy Hot Takes & The Overreaction Meter
114 Plays14 days ago
Fab, Roger, and Nacc are back after a one-week hiatus and diving headfirst into the NFL free agency chaos. This week they're running the Bush League Hot Take Gauntlet — each host owns a position group, drops their spiciest take, and the others roast or co-sign it. Then every major move gets rated on the Overreaction Meter.
Kyler Murray to Minnesota. Kenneth Walker to KC. DJ Moore to Buffalo. Jalen Waddle to Denver. Romeo Dobbs as a top-12 WR? Travis Kelce's final season? Isaiah Likely's breakout? It's all here.
Perfect for your commute, gym session, or draft prep. New episodes every other week during the offseason.
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Transcript
Podcast Returns & Schedule
00:00:12
Speaker
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back. Welcome back to another episode of the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast. How we doing? How's it going, everyone? We're back after a little bit of a one-week hiatus. It's going to be the the trend going forward while the news is still trickling in from an NFL perspective.
00:00:28
Speaker
One week on, one week off. You know, like us two are allowed to have an off-season. But
Free Agency Chaos & Fantasy Comparisons
00:00:32
Speaker
it's okay. We're back. We've got to and a fantastic episode for everybody right now. We've got all kinds of free agent stuff. Has everyone been paying attention to the free agent fiasco that is happening today?
00:00:41
Speaker
That legal but not legal tampering period that took place. Those trades that are being rescinded just like in your regular fantasy football league. They're happening in real life too. Like is this is this real life? This is amazing. Anyway, so we got a lot of that stuff to recap for you guys this episode.
00:00:57
Speaker
But before we jump into that, please follow us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter ah for all the usual fantasy football breakdowns and podcasts. Even just some overreaction theater that might happen whenever there are moves.
Jalen Waddle Trade Breaking News
00:01:12
Speaker
And just like recently, just like today, for example, like Jalen Waddle got traded to Denver Broncos. We're going to get into that though. Like hold your horses.
00:01:19
Speaker
Guys, we're going to get into that. We're going to talk about it, but this is breaking news. This happened today. Like a bunch of first round picks and it's like, well, not really. i mean, went for a late first round pick. as well be a second round pick. But anyways, like semantics, semantics.
00:01:31
Speaker
But were we got, we got that to talk about. We got all kinds of stuff. like It's exciting. It's exciting. But by anyways, please, please don't forget to follow on us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple a podcast, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. I'm Fab.
00:01:42
Speaker
I'm joined with Roger and NAC as always. And so, Real quick, I mean, free agency has been a chaos in the last few weeks. So instead of just recapping moves like every other fantasy show, we're doing something a little bit different
Introduction to Hot Take Gauntlet
00:01:54
Speaker
tonight. We're running a Bush League Hot Take Gauntlet. boomo that fine say Say that five times fast. Bush League Hot Take Gauntlet. Yeah, there it is. Thank you. Thank you. That's why that's why I do the neutrals. Whoever owns the position starts with a hot take and the other two hosts get the roast or co-sign it. In my case, most likely roasting it.
00:02:16
Speaker
And then we run the rest of the moves through the Bush League overreaction meter. So what is the overreaction meter? So we got league winner. We got major fantasy upgrade. We got solidcy solid fantasy upgrade, little of a neutral and wait and see approach, a fantasy downgrade and fantasy killer.
00:02:33
Speaker
So we've each taken a position. I'm dar starting with quarterbacks. Roger has wide receivers. Knack has running backs. And then we're each going to take a little our own little hot take for for tight ends at the very end.
00:02:45
Speaker
So without further ado, let's get into the first segment, quarterbacks.
Kyler Murray to Vikings Discussion
00:02:50
Speaker
And you guys know there's been a lot of quarterback movement, this free agency. I think there's been more dead cap from a quarterback perspective ever.
00:02:59
Speaker
And apparently veterans are, are just getting, they're like, get all you're seeing is contracts for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million dollars contracts. Cause everyone's getting cut. Everyone's doing what the Denver Broncos did with, with Russ Wilson, a few, a few years ago. they're like, you gotta, you gotta respect it. You gotta love it. So there's been a lot of names that have been changing from one team or another, but the one that I like the most from a fantasy football perspective that I think will actually pay dividends is Kyler Murray.
00:03:27
Speaker
Kyler Murray going to his home, his his childhood team of the Minnesota Vikings for a dirt-cheap contract going up against J.J. hey McCarthy in training camp.
00:03:41
Speaker
They haven't announced who the starter yet is, and I don't think they will necessarily, they but you have to just love, love, love this move from a fantasy football perspective. and And honestly, if if Kyler Murray finishes as a top 10, even top five fantasy quarterback next year with Minnesota, I would not be shocked.
00:04:00
Speaker
That offense always has fantastic weapons. We always talk about a Kevin O'Connell ah offense and how great that is. Listen, you have J.J. You have J.J. Eddis over there as your wide receiver. And Kyler Murray is a very, very, very good quarterback. It didn't work out
Quarterback Moves & Fantasy Impact
00:04:14
Speaker
over there in Arizona. We understand. we get it. It didn't work out.
00:04:18
Speaker
But he's a fantastic quarterback. He was picked first overall for a reason. It's not by mistake. The guy can sling it. The guy can run It's going very interesting offense. Who you trying to convince? You're back on it. I'm back it. Are you really back on it? I'm really back on it. I love this move from the second it happened. bashing him for the last 100 years. I think you've been a very, very... Yeah, I know. My tune has changed.
00:04:43
Speaker
We're allowed to change our opinions. From bust to a very good quarterback. Yeah. I'm very shocked by this. He's this guy. He's a first round, first overall quarterback.
00:04:54
Speaker
Cliff Kingsbury likes him because he you drafted him. Kevin O'Connell likes him because he went after him and signed him even for a vet league $1.3 million. dollars What I like too is that he bet on himself in this contract.
00:05:05
Speaker
Look, lot what songha works but look look if you if you look at his stats, right? Like you take his season, completion, yards, touchdowns,
00:05:20
Speaker
if jj mccarthy just did that last year where are the vikings They're in playoffs. So you factor in McConnell, you factor in all the players that are going to around, they're supporting cast. factor in a good defense as well. You factor in actually like a decent ball. Yeah, very good defense.
00:05:40
Speaker
I mean, he's a competent quarterback. And like at the very least, he's a competent quarterback. And is he better quarterback to JJ McCarthy? Objectively, yes.
00:05:52
Speaker
like And then and you can you can argue with the wall if you want. that like I don't see how this is a bad move for Minnesota. I don't see how he doesn't start day one. I really don't. And from a fantasy perspective, I think this has a lot of a lot of upside potential.
00:06:04
Speaker
if he can't beat out McCarthy in training camp, there's real, real serious issues in that organization. And then you could be talking about Kyler Murray being, you know, kind of done because if you can't beat out JJ McCarthy, it's, it's pretty, pretty sad actually, especially when you have now, like you said, the Kevin O'Connell effect, yeahp I'm always going to give him the benefit of the doubt with a new quarterback because we've seen it year in and year out with a different guy. And it's been able to happen last year.
00:06:33
Speaker
Not so much, but that's probably more because J.J. McCarthy just doesn't have it coming off injury. He was injured as well. just It just didn't work out last year with McCarthy. I'm not saying he's a bust just yet, but it's just doesn't seem like it's it's worked out so great.
00:06:50
Speaker
But top five? Yeah. I think it's in the realm of possibility. I don't think so. He's still short. He still can't see over his offensive linemen. That's my worry. That'd be my worry. didn't grow he didn't grow in in in the last year and coming into Minnesota. We got to stop knocking the guy from the game. Depends where. depends where it Well, no, shorter quarterbacks just can't see the field like taller quarterbacks. It's just... Yeah, I think that... i Yeah, Drew Brees would beg to differ, but yes. yeah understand i think they would I think they'll scheme some... I mean, the needle in the haystack ah example that you're choosing is you compared it to a Hall of Fame quarterback. so
00:07:31
Speaker
He still threw for 4,000 yards, even being short. I'm just saying, it's there, it exists... And I think the the short... the The knock on him being short, I think, is a little bit old now. We've got to move on from that.
00:07:42
Speaker
That's just my two cents. and For me, this is a major fantasy upgrade. Teetering on the edge of league winner. Wow. Teetering on the edge of league winner. Yep. I'll say it.
00:07:53
Speaker
Put my foot down. Ten toes down. What day is it? March 17, 2026, the year of our Lord. Kyler Murray, starting for the Vikings. You get him in that offense. He's your QB1. You're going to be happy.
00:08:04
Speaker
You're going to be happy to come draft it. going be happy. You're going to draft him? What's that Kevin Costner? You're going to draft Where are drafting him? Where are drafting him? What round? If I can snag, oh, what round? He's going to go in the second round for sure.
00:08:17
Speaker
For sure he's in the second round. He's not making to the third. He's all yours, bud. Yeah, I agree. He's not making to the third. If he's making it to the third, he's a C. I fold.
00:08:28
Speaker
But so i just want to hear I just want to hear, like top five fantasy quarterback, you're thinking you have Josh Allen, you have Lamar Jackson, you have Jalen Hurts. Lamar Jackson, I wouldn't was in there. I don't think you have Lamar Jackson this year.
00:08:43
Speaker
Top five? think have Lamar Jackson. Where did he finish this year? you're you're You're picking Kyler Murray. So you're picking Kyler Murray over Lamar Jackson this year.
00:08:54
Speaker
That's a spicy hot take. That is a spicy hot take. i would I would feel equally uncomfortable probably with taking that.
Free Agent Updates on Rodgers & Cousins
00:09:04
Speaker
Because Lamar Jackson... You're going to take Kyler Murray over Lamar Jackson. That offense, plus with Jesse Minster right now as the coach, I think they'd be much more defensive driven.
00:09:12
Speaker
i don't know how... And and Lamar Jackson has hasn't... Am I the only one who's been like, he's been falling off? Look, the new OC is Declan Doyle. He worked with Ben Johnson. I believe he was the passing and coordinator. So it's going to be a lot of two tight end sets.
00:09:27
Speaker
Let's see how they use Zay Flowers or they try to use Zay Flowers little bit hot, like how the Bears use DJ Moore and Luther Burden. It's going to very running based though. like how we saw ah the Bears play action, running, bla maybe maybe not necessarily any one focal point at the wide receiver position, but I actually could see that offense being very good, similar to how the Bears were very good with with Caleb in that first year with Johnson. But there's just way, I feel like there's just way too many, like there's Caleb Williams who's like,
00:09:58
Speaker
Yeah. Well, we say this, we we say this every year. we have to rank the top five. um Yeah. But Kyler Murray, we're talking about Kyler Murray here. i mean, i yeah, I know. I know he's the first quarterback on my list. We can keep on going down, but I'm just saying it's a chance of him being top five and I don't think it's crazy. I don't think it's crazy at all. I think he can have a very good season. I think he has a number one wide receiver. I think he has a very good offensive, offensive minded coach. He has the capabilities and the tools.
00:10:21
Speaker
But well let's revisit this in a few months from now. And listen, if I'm wrong, you know, I'm wrong. But we got another major signing. We got Malik Willis at the Dolphins.
00:10:32
Speaker
Signed a very, very nice, very lucrative, little cute little contract. And i was a lot I was a lot more positive with this move earlier in the day.
00:10:45
Speaker
Now I really don't know why they signed Malik Willis to trade all of their... Is Devon Achan going to get 60 carries a game? like
Running Back Moves & Fantasy Analysis
00:10:54
Speaker
I mean, this is... i guess we have to see what they do come draft day because they have ah they have like 11 picks this year. So you know that one, probably two are going to go to some skilled position players.
00:11:08
Speaker
Definitely a wide receiver. Most likely even a tight end too because I think they're lacking that department as well. So I wouldn't be surprised if they do invest in that. So I'm hoping... Holding reservation. I'm more of a, um' I'm switching more to a wait and see for Malik Willis. It was more of a fantasy, solid fantasy upgrade, but I'm just downgrading that right now.
00:11:24
Speaker
um Like you love Devon Echan and you love the fact that he has that weapon and there is rushing upside with Willis, but I mean, who is he throwing to, right? And how is the offensive line going to shape out for Miami? So they're, Miami's a, and they're a bit of a dumpster fire and I don't think any Miami fans going to disagree with me on that. And they want that because,
00:11:41
Speaker
You know, they're they're in a rebuilding phase right now, you know? So um i don't know if you guys disagree with me or not. This is even a downgrade. I think we're all on the same page here. i mean, it's and I think it's upgrade over Tua.
00:11:54
Speaker
In that vacuum, but I tend to agree with you in terms of like what kind of what's the vision like I was listening to some podcasts and basically they're saying look if there's a slight chance that the the Green Bay contingent who worked with Malik Wills thinks a 10% chance that maybe thinks he could be a franchise quarterback.
00:12:13
Speaker
The contract that you give him is is is nothing, right? And if it doesn't work, it's ah it's basically quite a two-year deal. ah You have arch Arch Manning potentially next year, Lenore Sellers, all those other guys. um i think just the rushing upside to me gives me more hope than what you saw from from Tua.
00:12:32
Speaker
the issue i have is that offensive line is completely depleted you have a very bad offensive line and their top three wide receivers as it stands today are malik washington jalen tolbert and tutu atwell yeah those are his wide receivers I have to say, i wouldn't say downgrade at this point, but I would say neutral right now.
00:12:57
Speaker
Just because there is way. He can't do it on his own. And again, there's obviously A-Chan who's going to be getting a lot of work this season if they don't go ahead and trade him um in the coming weeks. But um yeah, I don't know. i can't I can't put my pulse on this one as i agree with Fab. I don't know what they were thinking.
00:13:19
Speaker
and grabbing him if they were just going to trade all the skill players around him ah like also call me crazy but I'm not I'm not like over the moon happy that they gave this all this money to a guy who's played like three games in five years that's another that's another story in itself I think we all agree with that i like sorry like i'm looking at from the bigger picture here it's like yeah he has great stats cool he's played like three more games than I have 20 million a year for a starter is is is pretty cheap money. And I think yeah as Raj mentioned, the contract could be cut short after two years. it's It's definitely high risk, high reward of a contract. Sorry, high risk and low reward. Sorry, no, low risk, high reward. Low risk, high reward. Yeah, yeah because they can, and a lot of these deals now you're seeing it too. Like a lot of these these guys got three year deals and and like the the last year is basically a dead cap year.
00:14:07
Speaker
Like it's it's a two year contract with an outdox of that. It's it's becoming more the norm. So I think we're on the same page about that. However, the next don't think we're on the same page for Daniel Jones. Looks like he's returning to the Colts.
00:14:19
Speaker
He signed a contract. Or is he on a, he's on a two year, 100 million. Oh, 100. Yeah. Two year, 100 million. Like that is that that's money.
00:14:30
Speaker
That's money for a guy who is, who's tore his Achilles. Great agent. the thing of hes He's had really, really fantastic agent. He's, he's made, he's had 300, 299 million in contract value dollars since being in the NFL.
00:14:44
Speaker
Basically the next Kirk cousins. Pretty much, pretty much. I, for me, this is very much a wait and see and a lot of it is contingent on, on where he is with his Achilles recovery. He's younger than a lot of the quarterbacks we've tear their Achilles. So you would imagine that he'd be able to bounce back a little bit quicker. So there is some optimism in that regard.
00:15:02
Speaker
ah The Colts did trade Michael Pittman Jr. over to the Steelers. So there is one less weapon. However, we saw how good the tight end played. We saw how good their wide receivers played. played I don't necessarily think it's a big loss, to be honest with you, from ah from a production perspective. but And Daniel Jones, you do get that running yeah value. so I don't know. Coming off an Achilles is going to be... The rushing is going to go way down, I feel. That's a great point. That's why I mentioned more weight and see.
00:15:28
Speaker
I think more so the fact that Jonathan Taylor just came off an amazing season. If if he continues to stay healthy, that's huge. for It's always been a big ah factor last year, least for Daniel Jones.
00:15:40
Speaker
Yeah. And you saw how much better Jonathan Taylor played when Daniel Jones was healthy and playing well. like it It just helps the offense when your your two stars are are operating.
00:15:51
Speaker
So I think we're, I think weight and see approach. I think we're all we're all on the same page of that since. yeah i Agreed. Agreed. So now the Falcons, oh this is a this a spicy one. Tua Tagovailoa has taken his talents over to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons right now are the only team in the NFL to have two two left-handed quarterbacks, which kind of makes sense from an offensive perspective that they would sign Tua over another quarterback for a league minimum. I feel like they don't have to adjust their offense all that much.
00:16:16
Speaker
But listen, I have been on record and I've said it too, is not a bad quarterback. Like, yeah, he has an injury history as a concussion history, but the guy at one point in time did. lead the league in passing yards. He did. He also had the highest completion percentage of, if I'm mistaken, too, at the end of ah at at one point in in in that season that he was leading the NFL in passing yards. He's not a bad quarterback and he's going to a team like the Falcons who have a lot of offensive weapons. You can argue you as many of offensive weapons as the Dolphins had in that season that they were ripping it and scoring 80 points against the Denver Broncos.
00:16:51
Speaker
So I don't see this necessarily as a bad move. It's and it's it's definitely a moderate FASC upgrade because we don't know. like at i mean, Michael Penix Jr. has his third ACL tear in like five years.
00:17:04
Speaker
You don't know what... There's a big question mark there. if you're the Falcons GM and the head coach. So you need to hedge your bets. You need to bring you in a quarterback that can run the offense from a capable standpoint and also happens to be left-handed just like the guy that you kitted your offense to.
00:17:25
Speaker
It's an easy plug and play. And so he's throwing to Drake May. Sorry, he's throwing to Drake London. He's throwing to Kyle Pitts. He's throwing to Bijan Robinson. it sucks that they lost Darnold Mooney.
00:17:36
Speaker
I love Darnold Mooney that offense. but I'm pretty sure they'll be able to find somebody to replace him. Like a wide receiver. So far, it's Jahan. So far, I think, I believe it's Jahan Dotson, which I'm going talk about it later at the wide receiver spot. Jahan Dotson's a very capable wide receiver. Great.
00:17:51
Speaker
but he's beenpoli for um He's been a bust. He's been a bust so far. And look, that was fair that was the issue that they had. anyway Anyways, we'll talk about WRCs later, but that was the issue that the Falcons had. They did not have enough depth behind Drake Linden. I agree with you, Fab. A million and change for Tua.
00:18:06
Speaker
As much as we want to poopoo on him, this is a... And he's the perfect guy because... He's not going to overtake the room. ah Look, if if the Falcons are really, really good, then you have to have a discussion. But as long as he's just like average or below average or just holding the seat warm, Penix is going to go back in. they need to see it's It's a key year for them to see what they have at out of Penix.
00:18:27
Speaker
Yeah. No, I agree. I don't think he's a starter for the whole season. um Again, I don't know ah how far along Penix is with his injury recovery and all that, if he's even slayed the start the season or and all that stuff.
00:18:40
Speaker
But this is a very low, again, very low risk, very high reward, because if Penix does get injured again during the season, you have a guy that can plug in and then operate the offense very capably. And I think this is a fantastic, I think it's a very smart move from an asset perspective. All these quarterbacks go up for 1.3 million. Backups are making 5 to 10 million. These are no-brainer signings. For one year, it's impossible to pass up these signings.
00:19:07
Speaker
it's It's unprecedented, honestly. like i don't remember I don't think it's ever happened before. It's almost an like a key and interesting team-building strategy where we've constantly seen year after year these quarterbacks that kind of just get...
00:19:21
Speaker
thrown in through the wayside and the being signed for, you know, one to 2 million. Every every single is at least two or three of these lately. Yeah. Yeah. and it And it makes you wonder philosophically the quarterback markets.
00:19:36
Speaker
Is it a little bit? It's it's inflated it's I think it's I think it's just been easier. It's become easier to digest with the rising cap the
Wide Receiver Free Agency Analysis
00:19:45
Speaker
way it is. Yes. Yep. You know what? true If a cap goes up by 30 million dollars and you got cut a QB and you were looking at 50 million.
00:19:54
Speaker
dead cap and now it's realistically only 20 like yeah very much easier to digest three years exactly post-June cuts and then spread it over two years it becomes so much easier to digest with these with these huge cap increases so as as long as the cap keeps going up I think you're going to see more and more of these because teams are showing that it could happen look at the the the Dolphins this year 176 million dollars in dead cap out of 301 this year yep and seven of those players are not on the roster but Yeah, and they don't seem to care, which is crazy.
00:20:27
Speaker
Another guy that doesn't seem to care is Aaron Rodgers. He hasn't been signed yet. um I think he's on ah is he on a retreat. I don't know. um He's worried. He's not worried about anything right now. Aaron Rodgers is still very much a free agent. Hopefully he signs with your Pittsburgh Steelers in that.
00:20:42
Speaker
But until that happens, let's assume he does signs with the Steelers. Very neutral. Ah, neutral. No. What's one tier above neutral? Solid fantasy upgrade? About there, i would say. He's a reliable QB, too. He's still a very good quarterback.
00:20:58
Speaker
And the addition of Michael Pittman there will be interesting for sure. And also a very very new running back, which we're going to get to later on with and Enrico Dowell. You always like to have a good quarterback with a nice running back, so that's going helpful.
00:21:09
Speaker
But again, right now, you can't say anything about it because you still have free agents. i Speaking of another free agent too, and these ones are going to rapid fire. Kirk Cousins, still a free agent. I don't think he wants to get a backup spot anymore. I think he's still looking to start, so that's probably going to happen. I think he's waiting. I feel like there's no way he signs with someone before the draft. He's not going to do that again, you know?
00:21:35
Speaker
it looks look like I see him in Vegas for some reason. i see yeah yeah that's a smart it's a It's a smart, but I think he wants to start. well it sounds like they It sounds from what I've read, from what I think you guys have probably read the same thing, they don't want to rush into starting Mendoza immediately, especially with Brady there. Brady saw the impact that he had his first year sitting behind Bledsoe and whoever else was. i think he was even the third string QB at that point in his rookie league.
00:22:01
Speaker
I agree with, I think we all agree with that. Yeah. Good. Honestly. and And it's really ah hundred percent. And it's not as if you need to, like you need to sit the whole season. You sit like a month, a month and a half.
00:22:12
Speaker
Like that's, that's way more experience than you'll ever get. And, yeah and you learn so much more anyway. So yeah, I fully agree with that. I'm always, and then finally we got the Marcus Mariota who are resigned as a backup. Yeah.
00:22:23
Speaker
Finally, got Marcus Mariota, who we signed as a backup for the Commanders. He was very serviceable last year from a fancy football perspective and from a real football perspective when he had to come in for relief for Jaden Daniels.
00:22:34
Speaker
So that's another name to keep an eye on in the event that Mr.
49ers' Receiving Strategy Additions
00:22:38
Speaker
Daniels doesn't go down with injury, which hopefully doesn't happen and he doesn't go down the same route as a former highly drafted Washington Commanders quarterback of that regard.
00:22:51
Speaker
ah So that was our quarterbacks. A lot of stuff happening. Super exciting. We know what else is exciting too? The running backs. And that's why we're going hand it on to Knack right now. We're going hand off to Knack for the running backs. Nice. He's going to punch it into the end zone over there.
00:23:06
Speaker
Nice. Thank you, Fab. Yes, as you mentioned, a wide receiver, there was a running back. There was a lot of movement in the offseason, not just in the way of free agency, but also on the trade front.
00:23:22
Speaker
The first gentleman we're going to speak about was the, or is the reigning Super Bowl MVP in Mr. Kenneth Walker. was funny because i found, they made you know how the GM made the joke on the on the float at the parade saying that he was already trying to like negotiate a contract with him. And like you kind of saw Walker was like, what the heck is he talking about? And then you know fast forward a few few weeks later and he becomes a Kansas City Chiefs.
00:23:52
Speaker
This is a very interesting one. Obviously, the the it's it's been known across league circles that the Kansas City Chiefs have been looking for running back help for a long time. They thought they found something in Pacheco, but ah the running style and the injuries just hasn't worked out. He becomes a lion. We'll talk about him later.
00:24:16
Speaker
But hot take, Kenneth Walker will finish as a top three fantasy running back in Kansas City. Now,
00:24:28
Speaker
I can't, he's, look, he's been splitting time in Seattle with Charbonnet
Alec Pierce's Expanded Role Discussion
00:24:34
Speaker
his, pretty much his whole career, right? He's never really been that bell cow, and he's also been very injury prone.
00:24:42
Speaker
I think that's what takes it away from me from even pushing him into like a top five spot. um Even though I know that with Mahomes now injured coming off an ACL, they're going to tend to run the ball a lot more. And obviously with the money they paid him, they figure he's probably going to get his his fair share of of the looks in more of a three down capacity.
00:25:07
Speaker
But I just, the the injury just scares me. I don't know what you guys think and in terms of injury fronts and in terms of how Andy Reid is going to use him, but I just, I'm scared to go all in. Like, you're talking top three fantasy running back, you're talking first round pick in fantasy football. Like, are you are you right now telling me that you're picking Kenneth Walker III in the first round of fantasy drafts this summer?
00:25:30
Speaker
No, I'm not. I'm not. And it's not for a lack of talent. It's not for lack of opportunities, just for a lack of, I think history, if I want to call it that. I mean, listen, he's going into a situation right now where look at who are the other starting, who are the running backs in that running back room? Rashard Smith, Amari De Mercado and Sean Derek Powell, who have been signed.
00:25:53
Speaker
Like Kareem Hunt is still a free agent. We don't know what's going on with there. Like it's a running back room where, yeah, it's, Kyle Walker, it sorry, it's Kenneth Walker and everybody else. But I don't, it's hard for me to see a path to top three. It's hard for me to see a path to even see the top five.
00:26:08
Speaker
Top 10, I definitely see. i think I think that offense is going to run heavy enough that it's going to be very beneficial from a running pass perspective because don't forget forget who the OC is now, right? It's Eric Benemy. And we all know how well he does with running back usages. You saw how he did in Chicago last year as a running backs coach.
00:26:24
Speaker
So it's going to be run heavy, and I think it's going to benefit Kenneth Walker a lot. I do fully agree with the injury concern and all that stuff, but we've also been on record over here on this pod, and I always refer back to that three touchdown game versus Detroit where he backflicked over somebody or whatever it was.
00:26:42
Speaker
And it's just, i kid the guy's good. he's He's a fantastic running back. If you give this guy full control the backfield and he's healthy, I know that the if he's healthy, he can apply to pretty much any any any player there, but if he's healthy, top five is really not crazy.
00:27:00
Speaker
It's not. He's that good. And the offense is there.
00:27:05
Speaker
I agree with Fab. I'm not going to draft him in top three, but the talent is insane. and And we do talk about, yes, it seemed like he was injury prone last year. He he played all 17 games.
00:27:18
Speaker
And I think last year they were putting him on a pitch count. because we saw he was way more unleashed in the playoffs. He was way fresher than he had ever been. We saw, obviously, in the Super Bowl, he became Super Bowl MVP.
00:27:31
Speaker
And if you look at his kind of overlying metrics, like his rookie year, he was at 4.6 yards per carry. Then he went to 4.1 2023, 3.7 in 2024, back to in twenty twenty five so i think they're going to try to be more efficient with him ah The Chiefs will be. They're going to have to improve their offensive line a little bit, I believe. um And from what I've read, one of the big issues with the Chiefs is they run a lot of gun shotgun runs.
00:28:01
Speaker
Kenneth Walker is more of an under-center running back. considering the type of speed he has, kind of like the the speed he needs to get to the hole. So that's a change they're going to have to make, whether schematically, whether with offensive line. That would be maybe a slight hesitation I have, but i would I would be happy to scoop him up in the second or third round.
00:28:21
Speaker
I think some people might be more trigger happy and get him earlier because it's Chiefs, it's Mahomes, it's Reid. But i I could see top five finish very easily in my opinion. Yeah, people tend to see the the Chiefs, and it's going to have that similar to Clyde Edwards-Alaire effect when he went in the first round of drafts when he was drafted.
00:28:43
Speaker
um So i could definitely see him I could definitely see him get drafted in the first round because they're going that Chiefs kind of... you know, offense on, on the brain. But I do agree. Second round, third round seems a bit more ah plausible. And yeah, again, to to touch upon the injury concern, I think this was the first year in his career where he played all, um, every game in, in a season. So, um, definitely well we're all hoping that the trend continues because to your point, Raj, he definitely has the, um, uh,
00:29:15
Speaker
skill so excited to see what it looks like in a in a chief's uniform definitely gonna look a lot different next year then we had ah prior to free agency actually we had a nice little trade which uh ended the sonic and knuckles regime in detroit david montgomery was traded to the texans uh i don't know about you guys but i absolutely love this move and Similar to the Chiefs, they were looking for a running back. It just didn't work out last year. I know that they had and Joe Mixon, who was injured all year.
00:29:48
Speaker
They had drafted Woody Marks, who came on strong, but then you know tailed off towards the end of the year. They also had ah Damon Pierce, who the year before was good and now kind of you know also tailed tailed off. So the the running back room was kind of a mess last year.
00:30:02
Speaker
I think they're going to have a nice little... um three down potential running back in in David Montgomery, but definitely early down work is definitely going to be the runner. ah You probably have Marks come in as that pass catcher on on third down, but I love, definitely love this move. Take a little pressure off of CJ Stroud as well, running the ball. So,
00:30:25
Speaker
um yeah i see this as a ah really really good move and the casio has is it casio casario he's had he's had really really good um has a really good track record of bringing in running backs and them doing really well um when they brought in joe mix and joe mix in that thousand years to use it in his first year so I see this as a major fantasy upgrade if we were like thinking about how like we see the overreaction meter. We forget also David Montgomery caught 54 passes in 2020 with the Bears.
00:30:54
Speaker
He's had 2,000-yard seasons. And those 800-yard, sorry, those 700-yard seasons with the Bears, and with the Lions, including that one 1,000-yard season, two out of the three of those, I believe, were with Jameer Gibbs.
00:31:07
Speaker
So we know what he could do even in a timeshare. Being the lead back, I think he's going to have He's going to be undervalued for sure because he's one of those players that's like David Montgomery. you know You've been angry burned by him because he's in the timeshare. But I think with the offense, with Nico Collins, with CJ Stroud, looks like they're going to be improving the offensive line. Again, i I really like this. and like it's To me, it's a major fantasy upgrade for sure for the Texans compared what they had before.
00:31:36
Speaker
I'm just concerned there's going to be a regression touchdown a touchdown there's a we gonna be aression for touchdowns in this ah offense. that's That's my only concern. I love the usage I do because you're looking at from his first three years in Detroit. Well, his three years in Detroit, that guy scored 32 touchdowns. So it's like he's averaging 10. Is he going to get to 10 this year? i'm not really sure on that offense. I don't i i think i'm I'm the opposite on that. I think he definitely gets to 10 touchdowns. Oh, yeah.
00:32:07
Speaker
No, I see it a lot more difficult to be honest with He got 10 touchdowns with Gibbs there. Fucking double digits. We're playing with Gibbs. Yeah, but that offense is much better than than for sure. agreeon not Texans were last tied for last in red zone attempts. So to Fab's point, red score red zone scoring attempts. pretty I mean, how many times did you see Woody Marks running for a touchdown last year?
00:32:35
Speaker
like Like in the red zone? We're comparing Woody Marks to David Montgomery. No, but I'm i'm comparing to the opportunity. I'm comparing the opportunity that's going to exist. And I think there's a reality that exists out there that he will have less opportunities in Houston than he had in Detroit. And I think it's just the reality of it. Yeah, I think I i tend to agree with you, Fab. I think the flip side is a guy like Montgomery...
00:32:57
Speaker
like from a success running rate perspective, like the Texans, I own Woody marks. They were so efficient. They could not convert third downs. They were very bad third and short team. I think that's an area where David Montgomery can help improve to get them to to the, to the end zone, to the, to the red zone. But to your point, I agree. We have to kind of see it because we saw what they were last year, which is one of the worst teams and getting in the into the red zone.
00:33:20
Speaker
Yeah. And we always preach about how the Houston Texans have a horrible offensive line. Like has that changed? I'm not sure. and And I love this move. I think it's a great move from like a Houston Texans perspective and and also for fantasy football perspective.
00:33:34
Speaker
But do you know what I see David Montgomery as going forward? i think i see him as a new version of James Conner. I see as like a very dependable RB2. He's going to get you your 11, 1200 yards because I think he's going to hit that mark now with all the extra volume going to have.
00:33:49
Speaker
And he's going to get you your eight touchdowns. And he's going to get you maybe 10 total touchdowns with the passing work and all that stuff. I think that's realistic. I don't think that's crazy. But is he going to have an overall touchdown regression? I think so.
00:34:03
Speaker
He's an RB2. He's a great. He's a quintessential WR23. Yeah. He's the new James Conner. w r like twenty three yeah like and he's a that's he's he's the new james conner He's the new James Conner and you're going to be drafting him. He's like, ah, he's not going to look that great. It's David Montgomery, but someone, he gets you those carries and he gets you those nice 1315 fantasy points in a PPR league there for an RB two. You're not going to be upset about it.
00:34:26
Speaker
Exactly.
00:34:30
Speaker
Okay, we'll move along to Mr. I don't even know how to call this guy's name anymore since he came out in. Is it Travis Echen? Echen?
00:34:41
Speaker
Echen? Rod, you have the better accent. My guess is I think it's Creole. That's the only i could think. I think it's a Creole type thing. He's like c like Cajun because he's from New Orleans. That's the only thing I could think of. yeah Obviously, for China, it's Etienne for us, but.
00:34:57
Speaker
Yeah, I know it's a, it, it, we've heard so many different variations of it, but when he said it, it was like completely different than what everyone has ever called it in the NFL.
Darnell Mooney's Potential with Giants
00:35:07
Speaker
Just, just, just quickly s start interrupt you.
00:35:10
Speaker
na He is of Louisiana Creole ancestry. So you are correct, Roger. Yep. Yeah. that's probably That's what I think. think Well, yes, so he did go to the New Orleans Saints. Definitely clear starting role in that offense. We're still waiting to see what happens with Alvin Kamara. Is he calling it quits? Do they entertain some kind of trade if he wants to keep playing? I know that Kamara has been in pretty...
00:35:36
Speaker
been an advocate of of staying in in New Orleans for for his whole career, so we'll see how that plays out. But this is definitely a major fantasy upgrade on on my side. He had a tremendous year last year.
00:35:49
Speaker
i think in that offense, too, in New Orleans really started to come along. And honestly, throughout the whole year was was really good, but when Tyler Shuck took the reins, I think it um it exploded.
00:36:03
Speaker
And I think he's going to have every opportunity to be a major major component in that offense next year agreed then we move forward with uh rico dowdle who was
Jalen Naylor's Role with Raiders
00:36:17
Speaker
signed to the steelers two years um joins uh mike mccarthy who he had his best years with in dallas I think I'm more neutral on this one to, to, to, to start off only because I've been hearing rumblings of, he may be the, um, the early down work with Jalen Warren converting to the passing down, uh, work. Warren is obviously better pass catcher than, Rico Dowdle is.
00:36:45
Speaker
I'm curious to see how this works out. Again, this is going to depend on who the quarterback is as well. It's just, um, it looks like it could be a, a nice one to punch like they kind of had last year with, with,
00:36:56
Speaker
gain well but i i think i i see warren probably figuring to have more of fantasy relevance because he's going to be more of the pass catcher there uh in pittsburgh i'm gonna avoid this one personally yeah so much after after the dowdell chubbo chuba hubbard situation um i'm gonna avoid that one it's a i'll be avoiding chuba hubbard though this year for sure Although Jonathan Brooks, I think Jonathan Brooks will be back. back Yeah, Jonathan Brooks will be That's true. that's Hopefully the guy, like, cross our fingers that he can actually say hello. They took him a second, think it was a second rounder. Second and round, yeah. yeah He looked good in college. We were talking about it. were hyping him up, man. yeah He looked good in college.
00:37:39
Speaker
Yeah, they invested a lot in him. Then you had Rashad White who left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to go with the Commanders. yeah I think this is a really nice pickup by the Commanders. They needed some type of pass catching back in that offense. I know that they had um pickckler Eckler there who got injured. i don't know if he's I don't know if he's still on the roster or if he's a free agent. I'm not sure, but I think his time with the Commanders is... um done if not coming to an end very very good pickup I feel here they have ah who's the starter that they have in place they had Kroski Merritt in there for a bit they had Chris Rodriguez who signed elsewhere yeah um but yeah I think it's huge huge upgrade i think this is going to benefit Jaden Daniels a lot and fantasy wise very very good very solid the solid fantasy upgrade
00:38:35
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I like this move a lot. It's very smart. Then you come up to a weird one. This was, I think, the weirdest one um and for running backs. Tyler Algier signing with the Cardinals who gave Connor a revised contract who still have uh trey benson on the roster as well um yeah demarcato is still there i believe i don't know demarcato signed with the chiefs oh it so shit yes yes yes but i'm just confused he's such a like he has rb1 value in like let's say call a real real football style like he could be an rb1 somewhere why did he choose to
00:39:18
Speaker
signed there which was it was kind of weird from like his perspective as well and then like talk about fantasy um fantasy backfields to avoid this is definitely the one i'm staying way way way far away from so well i actually i think i think for all the reasons no i was gonna say i think for all the reasons just mentioned nag i think that's why he signed there because James Conner is getting long in the tooth and Trey Benson is clearly injury prone. I think there is a pretty clear path. There's a, there's a clearer path for him to start there in other committees, you know, like what if you go to Pittsburgh, for example, or if you go to commanders and you know, like ah you can go on and on and on. Right. I think, I don't think it's even the Ravens we talked about.
00:39:59
Speaker
Yeah. The Ravens. yeah I don't think it's a bad spot at all. There's no way he was going to start behind Derek Henry. I think here, there's his starter day one. Right now, no, I can't say that. As long as James Connors on that roster, I can't say that with confidence that that Algiers is the starter from day one.
00:40:15
Speaker
But it's also like if James Connors is the starter from day one, he's the starter. Like it's it's written in pencil. You know what i mean? Like it's not. This is a true committee, 100%. one hundred percent And I think it's Tyler Algier who can turn it into like the lead back of the committee if if injuries happen, you know, and then performance.
00:40:35
Speaker
I changed my tune on this one as well, where I felt it was like, what are you doing to kind of agreeing with Fab? Benson can't stay healthy. He only played 13 games in his rookie year. Last year, he played, I believe, only four games. He was injured immediately. he was supposed to come back. He never ended up coming back afterwards. Connor, as you said, he's going to be, I believe, age 31, 32. And from a scheme fit perspective,
00:40:57
Speaker
Algier was with ah previously the the Zach Robinson offense. That was like a lot of outside zone. Now he joins Matt LaFleur. McVay offense, a lot of outside zone as well. So I think there's a scheme fit where I think actually, i wouldn't be surprised actually if Algier is the the week one starter.
00:41:14
Speaker
i think he's very talented. So it'll just be interesting to see if it's, is it like a clear week one 2026 or are you gonna have to wait till him to really be that mean guy yeah i just i just can't see them going away from all the running backs uh or like so is he's you're you're saying he's the running back to own at the moment wouldn't worry about benson i i wouldn't worry about yeahson because when when connor was the guy i don't even think benson was getting the full backup looks No.
00:41:44
Speaker
DiMarcado was still there. Bam Knight was still there. So that's why like Benson's not really worried. And if Conor, maybe they put him on a pitch count just because he's older, because it's his final years. i think I think they brought Algern for a reason to to take over that backfield.
00:41:58
Speaker
Right. Then we have J.K. Dobbins returning to the Broncos. Kind of a neutral wait and see here. He had that he started off really hot at the beginning of the year. A little bit of injury history. missed Missed a lot of games down the stretch. And then you have the risk of ah potentially RJ Harvey breaking out in in year two. So and we also know how Sean Payton likes to mix it up with his running back. So it's always kind of, um you know, risky play here for a JK Dobbins.
00:42:31
Speaker
You had ah Kenneth Gainwell going from Pittsburgh to the Buccaneers. Apparently that was his number one destination even last year. um i don't know how this is going to play out because bucky i know bucky irving was hurt but he came back and he was lights out as soon as he came back from his injury again they like to mix in running backs too in in in tampa i know that rashad white still had a lot of looks and then they they brought in and know sean there sean white tucker is no longer there yeah but um
00:43:06
Speaker
I think they don't trust Irving's size. Yes, yes. yeah I 100% agree. i just that I feel like it's a downgrade on both in yeah in a sense. like What are you going to like How high are you drafting Bucky Irving and how low are you willing to wait on Kenneth Gainwell? Or do you you know you avoid that? It's just...
00:43:29
Speaker
Gainwell, again, you know, he showed that he can catch the ball. He had, I think, 70-plus catches last year, so that brings something. But Bucky Irving also catches the ball. It's a weird backfield. <unk>ck they're they're tendering and They're tendering Tucker, so he he will be be back on a one-year deal. And we saw when he did run, he looked looked very, very good. So who knows? they might They might still fit in Tucker there. as a He might still into feet yeah feed into to Irving's carries.
00:43:57
Speaker
yeah it's well cant we just Can we also just assume that Kenneth Gainwell is taken over from the Rashad White role? Yeah. So the same usage that would exist before from ah like from a pass-catching running back standpoint, like Bucky Irwin is still going to be the guy, and they're going to mix in Gainwell on third downs?
00:44:13
Speaker
Yeah. I don't like this for for Irving at all. I don't like it either, but I don't see that. Because of how valuable Gainwell showed he could be, I think. I think that's what hurts him yeah most. Yeah.
00:44:25
Speaker
You had ah some some kind of underwhelming ones as well. Isaiah Pacheco to the Lions. I think this is just Gibbs to the moon. i think Gibbs becomes your RB1 100% the next year um off the board for sure. i don't think Pacheco, there's there's no, but there's this not David Montgomery here. I think this is really Gibbs backfield and Pacheco just becomes the backup.
00:44:50
Speaker
Emmanuel Wilson went to the Seahawks, another depth move piece after losing Kenneth Walker. So Charbonnet, I think I like him next year as the lead back. Hopefully he as well can stay healthy. You know, we've had his injury injury problems.
00:45:05
Speaker
Chris Rodriguez Jr. we just spoke of went to the Jaguars. They obviously had to replace Etienne.
00:45:13
Speaker
I'm not sure it replaces him completely, but they have made a a cute little death move. And then Keaton Mitchell, this is a sneaky, sneaky stash one to me as well. I think he went to the Chargers.
00:45:25
Speaker
The way, now with Mike... Mike McDaniel there as well. Kind of interesting to see how he's utilized in that offense. So ah definitely one I'm keeping an eye on and could be, you know, obviously looking at training camp and preseason games, maybe kind of like a late late round stash on your bench.
00:45:46
Speaker
similar built to ancient i agree with that yeah if we could just quickly go back to my emmanel emmanuel wilson looked quite good in relief of josh jacobs i don't think it's a foregone conclusion that charbonnet takes over the role and there's the george that george holani guy who was a rookie last year they also really liked in camp so that's could be a backfield to avoid as well but i could see wilson potentially coming out on top
00:46:14
Speaker
And then just a couple of players that are still free agents that are looking for a landing spot, Najee Harris. um Still, apparently, he's rehabbing well and um looking for his next opportunity. And then there's Brian Robinson Jr. I think it would make sense for the 49ers to bring him back. He see he looked like a a nice backup to um cmc That'll do it with the running backs. I will pass it off to Raj. Are you going to pass it? you're going to Pass it? through pass it yes yes Yes. I can do that too. HB option. so This is the position...
00:46:50
Speaker
Go ahead, Rob. Yeah, it's a position of zooms but everyone's been waiting for. this is the These were the bells of the ball, the wide receivers. So I would say this is one of the more underrated wide receiver free agency classes that has come up. there's quite There was a few trades as well. So we're going to dive right into it. In terms of my hot take for the wide receivers, Romeo Dobbs.
00:47:14
Speaker
I believe Romeo Dobbs is going to be a top 12 fantasy wide receiver next year. Just a few a few underlying metrics. 26th in yards per route run.
00:47:25
Speaker
15th in red zone targets among wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. He's had 23 touchdowns in four seasons despite never reaching over 60 catches per season. He gets away from the socialist wide receiver core in Green Bay.
00:47:39
Speaker
And he's the bona fide wide receiver one with a coordinator who's done a good job of getting wide receiver ones a thousand yards. Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, Brandon Cooks as well with regards to Josh McDaniel. So I think Romeo Dobbs, he gets away from that situation.
00:47:57
Speaker
he's an amazing ball winner against man coverage. We saw what he did against the Bears. I really like his outlook for 2026.
00:48:06
Speaker
So, okay. Now we just want to get this straight for a second. you You do your fantasy draft. you finish finish you're Finish. Finish. Finish. Not draft. No, no, no. No, no, that's fine.
00:48:20
Speaker
No, he's going to finish. But if you're if he's going to finish as a top 12 fantasy, then you're okay with him being your WR1 on your fantasy roster. from you By virtue of him finishing 12, yes.
00:48:34
Speaker
That is wild. Wild. It's not a crazy take. Yeah, yeah. It's a hot take. That is a hot take. Last year, we were saying how Lab McConkie was going to finish top 12 this year, right? I mean, like, this is...
00:48:50
Speaker
Romeo Dobbs finishing top 12. I think, listen, I love this move. I was pissed that it happened for the Patriots because I i really wanted the Giants to sign him because I don't think he even went that much money. was like, what, like 20 million a year or something like that? Like, it's very, very respectable from a wide receiver standpoint.
00:49:06
Speaker
And I love Romeo Dobbs. I think he's a fantastic wide receiver. I think he was in the wrong situation and in in in Green Bay. Regardless of the socialist wide receiver core, like Jordan Love has fallen off. Yeah.
00:49:17
Speaker
and And, like, it you were... Oh, I don't... That's for another... festival that just I think he had his best year. Yeah, I don't know about that. Yeah, he was very good last year. Drake May. Drake May is on the up. Kyler Murray is the best. Fab is on one. Drake May. Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah Drake may is on the up and up. I love this move. I really do. I, I, wide receiver top 12. I don't think it's out the realm of possibility. I would not be drafting him that high, but I see him as a very but like every week in week out wide receiver to like, no problem. Sign me up.
00:49:51
Speaker
Like, knock, I have a question for you. have a question for you. The wider receiver 12, without looking the wide receiver 12 this year, guess how many receptions yards and touchdowns they got? Well, just like that.
00:50:03
Speaker
Yeah.
00:50:07
Speaker
um Probably 1,000 yards, maybe six touchdowns, and i don't know, 65 catches. My God, it's it if it feels like if we prepared that. That was very good. It was Jamison Williams, 65 receptions, yards, seven touchdowns.
00:50:24
Speaker
Wow. that was myation you man That's we have Zay Flowers finishes wide receiver nine. um Exactly. So, hold on a second. yeah You're right. like Jordan Love falling off? he could He could easily have that kind of season. You're right. So, Jordan Love falling off. That's right.
00:50:42
Speaker
Realistically, so just before you guys rip my head off. This has nothing to do with the wide receivers. the get guitar much to get your again How many how many two yards passing the Jordan Love have last year? How many yards passing Jordan have last year? No. 3,300 yards, 23 touchdowns. And the year before that, he had more.
00:50:57
Speaker
And the year before that one, he had even more. So, yes, he's falling off. He was hurt. yeah He was hurt. Okay. He missed some games last year. He played 15 games out of a 17-game season. not doing this now. This is not your segment. your segment This is not your segment. I'm done. I said i said what I had to say.
00:51:14
Speaker
said what had to say. I'm on of record. This is recorded. be done because I didn't let you begin. ah Just my last thing, and quickly on this, was just if you look at what Stephon did last year, which was basically 1,000 yards, four touchdowns, I think Dobbs could double that almost easily because he's been a touchdown a touchdown machine.
00:51:35
Speaker
We're going to move on to trade. So obviously, if I've talked about it, Jalen Waddell has been traded to Denver. So I see that as a solid fantasy upgrade for the Broncos. Cortland Sutton moves in more into a number two X wide receiver role. It slots down Troy Franklin more as a number three than Marvin Mims.
00:51:54
Speaker
And I know there's been a lot of potential about Pat Bryant. They slot down as well. Mims could act as more of a gadget downfield guy. Waddle, you know, I was prepared to come into this and say, hey, he hasn't really lived up to his sixth overall bill ah pick billing. And then I looked at his stats again, and he's had three 1,000-yard seasons. He's had a 1,300-yard year. He's not as injury-prone as we think. He's only missed, I think, five or six games throughout his career, even though it feels like he's always injured.
00:52:18
Speaker
I think this is a very good move, and he fits in well into what Bo Nix does from a short-passing game perspective, but also deep gadgets. I really like this move.
00:52:32
Speaker
Yeah, I got nothing. I agree. I think it was i think it was a i agree yeah i think we're very calculated trade. because it And I mentioned it earlier in the episode, right? like a they' They're traded a very late round first pick, which might as well be a second round pick.
00:52:48
Speaker
and Yeah, well, there was a third and a fourth as well, right? there was it It was still a hefty price tag. They're getting back fourth. it was a great crash they're getting back and forth They got Jalen Waddle and a fourth.
00:53:00
Speaker
So like they're really only trading a second and a third. If you think about it from that perspective for Jalen Waddle, who's still a first and a third. Yeah, it's a lot. I think it's a lot. I think it was long. think this guy is in his prime. I think this is a great move. From from an asset perspective, like Cortland Sutton is obviously on the way out. And now you have Jalen Waddle to stay there for the next half a decade, let's say, and still produce at a very high level.
00:53:24
Speaker
Yeah, he's under contract and all that. And I think it's a great move. Another trade that we're going to break down here. So DJ Moore to Buffalo. i see that as I believe it was for a second round pick.
00:53:39
Speaker
A lot of circles are saying that also kind of was an overpay because they're eating most of the contract. DG Moore is going to be 29, 30 years old soon. However, I still see that as a major fantasy upgrade. Again, we talked about it in a previous episodes when you were throwing to Brandon cooks in 2026 the playoffs.
00:53:57
Speaker
to save your season or to advance to the conference AFC championship game. There is something wrong with your wide receiver room. Now, Khalil Shakir moves on. He slots in perfectly as a, he's a perfect number two. You have Keon Coleman, whatever happens with that situation. Otherwise, this is a very good wide receiver draft for Buffalo to also still get kind of ah a bigger wide receiver because it's,
00:54:19
Speaker
It's a bit of a still small wide receiver room with DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir both under, i believe, 6'0". And DJ Moore has had experience with Joe Brady.
00:54:30
Speaker
running kind of those like crossing routes. He ran a lot of deep routes last year with Caleb Williams. He's done that before with Josh with Justin Fields as well when he got 1300 yards. If you look at his 17 game average, he's at 80 catches 1100 yards and five TVs. That is exactly what the Buffalo Bills needed in the wide receiver room.
00:54:51
Speaker
So a major fantasy upgrade in my opinion. I think they they wanted they were going after Waddle but and they had the better the better first round pick, but they just didn't want to trade him in the division.
00:55:08
Speaker
Yeah, I think yeah I think two two very similar players. I think Waddle has a bit more speed, but I think they play very similar. Again, not the biggest guys. um But this is a move that Buffalo obviously, obviously they needed to make. Yeah, they need to admit this they this is a great move. And this this upgrades even like Josh Allen even more if you think about it right? Because he finally has a serious wide receiver to throw to. Yeah. um So now this is a fantastic move. This needed to be done. i know Roger said it was an overpay.
00:55:32
Speaker
Sometimes you got to do it because I think yeah sure there they're even, they're even feeling the pressure. It's like they have it. They got to get it done. They didn't get done this year when it was the year where he didn't have to face Patrick Mahomes and all that other stuff. And he still couldn't get past, yeah you know, the yeah better cutting the sam so overpay in this situation makes um more sense than I think the overpay in the Broncos situation. Cause that room was pretty beefed up already. I find.
00:55:58
Speaker
I mean, they lack no lack speed. I mean, and they have Mims, but Mims is too much of a gadget player. I think they needed, I they i think they probably expected a bit more from Troy Franklin and they didn't get it. Yeah, I agree.
00:56:10
Speaker
um Sure. they They didn't have premier talent. And Jalen Waddell is in my opinion. He's a premier talented wide receiver. he's He's easily top 20 in the league. You can argue he's top 15. He's a very, very good wide receiver.
00:56:22
Speaker
And the amount of years he spent with Miami, he was always behind Tyreek Hill. That's good point. Right? and And we still saw flashes of how good he could be. He was still cracking a thousand yards, even behind Tyreek Hill, which again speaks to how good Tua is.
00:56:39
Speaker
well Sorry, I just have to pull it back a little bit for a second. But I... DJ Moore, Buffalo, we're done. It's fantastic. I like this move a lot. This is really good. So we'm going to move on to two 49er moves. So the 49ers signed Mike Evans. So that's a really, really good deal. i believe it's $16 million guaranteed, only $14 million a a v And then they also got Christian Kirk as well. So to me, Mike Evans, I see that as a solid fantasy upgrade compared Juwan Jennings at his later stage career.
00:57:12
Speaker
think Mike Evans can still get it done, but he had quite a few injuries last year, the collarbone specifically. But when he was healthy, he did ball out in in quite a few games where he was he went like five for 130 and a few touchdowns. So I think he's going to a red zone monster. It's good insurance for Ricky Persall. The Christian Kirk move to the 49ers, I think that's more of a wait and see. It's a cheap deal. think it replaces a bit of what Kendrick Bourne did in those games where he he came in in relief. and again more insurance for for ricky personal he's a really good slot demon which will it fit perfectly with brock pretty i feel like the the 49ers just like injury prone players what's its it's it's just crazy it's just pretty crazy to like kirk kirk too missed a lot of he did yeah a lot of time yeah and he's only a few years from station that substation is licking its chops man
00:58:02
Speaker
I think he's three or two or three or four years removed from that 1,000-yard season with the Jaguars that got him. Or was it with the Cardinals that got him paid moving on to the Jaguars? so He's a good player when he's healthy. He just he he cooked the the Steelers in the playoffs last year with Houston.
00:58:19
Speaker
Remember? He had that really good game against Pittsburgh. Totally. We'll move on to Alec Pierce. He got an extension, $28 million, 11th. $28 million That's the at the position.
00:58:34
Speaker
I see it as a solid fantasy upgrade just because of, again, we'll talk about it after, the trade of Michael Pittman. Alec Pierce was really good on deep deep passes last year. i owned him in a few leagues. He ended up turning into their best option at receiver.
00:58:50
Speaker
But as we said it in the show notes and previously before we we jumped live, 11th AAV at the position, he has to have a bigger route tree than just running ah downfield routes. Yeah.
00:59:02
Speaker
I think he can do it, and but he's going to like he's gonna have to have 80 catch, 85 catch, 1,200, 13-yard season, eight touchdowns to really live up to to this contract. That's where the concerns come in for me is I don't know if he's that type of player.
00:59:21
Speaker
just yet i'm just i'm that's where my concern he's a great he was awesome last year i had him in in in in a few leagues i dropped i feel like he was like a player who was added and dropped a lot last year But um um I'm just worried. I'm worried he doesn't live up to the price tag. I mean, look, this is what wide receivers are going for these days, but um going to be interesting there without Pittman.
00:59:46
Speaker
this This was a head scratcher for me. Like 11th at the position, the guy hasn't even had a season where he caught 50 passes. He's been the league for four years already. Like I get the whole thing like, yeah, he's good. and then he Average is 20 yards a catch and all that. That's great. But what else can you do? And now you're getting paid money to do more. Like, he's going to have to show up or else in two years, this guy's going to cut.
01:00:10
Speaker
Yeah. Like, it's... And Anak, you said it like he was on your team. It was great. But the guy was also on waivers half the time. So how good was he? And I think you guys are making me think this might be more of a wait and see approach type thing because think last year, like, well, right. He lost Daniel Jones. Yeah. And that's why I agree with wait and see. That's why I agree with wait and see, too, because.
01:00:38
Speaker
First, like if it's not Daniel Jones, who is it? Is Anthony Richardson or did he ask to get traded? Like, is he still on? He's still on the roster because I think he's still on a contract with with his with his rookie contract there. But what round are you guys taking? Alec Pierce.
01:00:51
Speaker
Oh, my God. This is what we're going to take your wide receiver three. But this is very difficult. yeah like that that's where i'm that's where i'm looking at he's not my wide receiver too i'll tell you that much i won't be i won't be excited if he's my wife i'm definitely more optimistic i think he's gonna i think he has the skills to do it but at face value it's very hard to be like hey i'm gonna take him in into the third round and you know like low key i think i i think pitman leaving opens up more of a door for josh down course than than it does necessarily for Alec Pierce. I think Alec Pierce's role was solidified.
01:01:26
Speaker
Like, i think I think it is what it is and maybe he gets more volume and he probably does with Pippin gone. But I think like, like Josh Downs, like Josh was really good last year. Yeah. Like for, for a period, it was like, it's him and Alec Pierce. And then Pierce really took over. But Josh Downs was always very much in the mix.
01:01:41
Speaker
I think, I think that's the one that received a lot people are. think, I think they were like always interchanging games. Yeah. One of them went out of the game. They were both on waivers. They were both like, kind of like pick one up, pick the other one up.
01:01:51
Speaker
it was we We could segue to Michael Pittman. So he got traded to Steelers and signed a deal, $23 million dollars at AAV. So I see this as It's actually cheaper.
01:02:02
Speaker
It's cheaper than that. It was like 19. Really? Maybe my numbers from over the cap are wrong. But I'll take your word for it, Nak. I see this as a major fantasy upgrade compared to the WR2s that the Steelers had or tried to try it out. where that goes the um Who was the guy from the from the Wolverines who I thought... ah ah Calvin Austin? Roman Wilson. Roman Wilson. romanna if They never gave a shot. Calvin Austin, who they tried to make a thing.
01:02:32
Speaker
I think he's the potential... i i I strongly have conviction on this. I think he's in the WR1 in Pittsburgh. I think he just fits better what Rodgers likes to do. More crossing, more slant. He's like a slasher type player. Better route runner. Better better run better route runner. Way more polished. I think this is a major upgrade. And I think I think DK Metcalf will will kind of slide into ah more of a WR2 role in Pittsburgh.
01:03:00
Speaker
um next one wando robinson so to the titans he goes from the giants to the titans 17 million dollars aav 38 million dollars guaranteed solid fantasy upgrade just because the titans had absolutely nothing before i like what i saw at chimeri dk um ayo manor had a few good games I think this still keeps them in the running for like a Carnell Tate or a Makai Lemon. We'll start talking about our draft coverage in a few weeks.
01:03:35
Speaker
But i think he's going to get a heavier target share. He's still with Ridley there too. And, God, let's... He just reworked his deal. Nope. Ridley is back. That's disappointing, Nir.
01:03:49
Speaker
Fab, i think the I think the thing with Wandel that you would agree with is he he first came into the league as more of a kind of you know, low a dot, more of a gadget type route runner. think he improved his average depth of target by three yards last year.
01:04:03
Speaker
He became more of a deep shot guy. I think that's exactly what the Titans need. Yeah, by necessity. That's exactly what the Titans need. By necessity. Yeah. For sure. But they have cameron Kamari Dike. I don't know. i repeats your first time Yeah, he was he was very good.
01:04:18
Speaker
yeah And honestly, I think, i think well, I'm happy Wallendale got paid. I think he deserves it. This is this is great. It's sad to see him go, but he's going to a very familiar offense with with Brian Dable there as the OC and and Cam Ward as a great quarterback. So I think this is going to help Cam Ward more it's going to Wendell Robinson.
01:04:33
Speaker
um because Wendell's a very good route runner. He's going to be able to get underneath quite a bit. But listen, Roger, Giants fan, I mean, he was getting bullied off the line sometimes because of his small frame.
01:04:47
Speaker
So that's the concern that I have too a little bit from a fantasy perspective. He's small. He's playing X. If he was a number one guy, like he's going to be put in X. He can't he can't be in X. That's why I think they happen to me they have to get Cardinal Tate.
01:05:03
Speaker
yeah They have to draft because Cardinal Tate is a real ex-receiver so that Wandel could play off off the line. Yeah, oh that's a very good point. We'll move on to Rashid Sheets. we We'll kind of go quickly now so we can move on to the tight ends. He stays with the Seahawks. $17 million AAV. $34 million guaranteed for a guy who never...
01:05:22
Speaker
He never had more than 800 yards received. And didn't use him much with this as a space. They didn't use him at all. Somehow he's already 20. He came in handy. Yeah, he did. From a special teams perspective.
01:05:34
Speaker
if if I thought he was younger than than what he is. He's already 27 years old. So obviously not super old, but... I don't know. this is I'm going to wait and see on this.
01:05:46
Speaker
ah Just from a usage perspective, I'm curious to see what they're going to do. Clint Kubiak isn't there. He had the the recent history with him in New Orleans. This is ah a wait and see for the first few games because everything is going to still get funneled through JSN.
01:06:01
Speaker
ah Then you have Darnell Mooney ah goes to the Giants on a one-year $10 million dollars deal. I like it. I think it's a very good, cheap, cost-effective move. It's still a wait and see if he can do exactly what Wanda Robinson did.
01:06:16
Speaker
Amazing move. Even if he gets close to that, he's he's been 900-yard goal. a nine hundred yard ah receiver twice, once with the Bears, ah two years ago with the Falcons. So I think this is a very good move, and he complements well what Wandel was doing. He had a down year last year. He had down year, injuries, yeah. His best season came with Matt Nagy as a head coach.
01:06:37
Speaker
Great call. coordinators yeah right I think I like this move more from a real football perspective than fantasy. But again, wait and see. Great, great call. ah The last one we'll go deep into before doing a few more quick hitters. Jalen Naylor to the Raiders. $11 million $23 million dollars guarantee. I like this as a solid fantasy upgrade. Very promising ah game. He had five for 125, one touchdown versus the Baltimore Ravens. He had the two touchdown game against Dallas.
01:07:05
Speaker
I looked up, I saw a few stats. As a perimeter wide receiver on 141 routes, he was sixth in separation and 13th in route win percentage. So obviously there's not lot to go around. He only had 440 touchdowns.
01:07:20
Speaker
ah receiving yards. So very small sample size, but I really like this move for the Raiders. They need to kind of redo their room, figure out what they have in Jack Besh, figure out what what they have. I believe Trey Harris is still there and some of the other guys. So, ah not Trey Tucker. No, Trey Tucker. So, and obviously Brock Bowers is a big, big component on that front.
01:07:40
Speaker
And then some of the the other moves, ah other ancillary moves, Jahan Dotson went to
Taequann Thornton's Upside with Chiefs
01:07:44
Speaker
the Falcons. I see that as a huge downgrade over what Darnell Mooney gave them. Taequann Thornton stays with the Chiefs. I see that this as a very nice upside stash. He was 19 receptions, 438 yards,
01:07:56
Speaker
twenty three yards per reception three touchdowns Chris to see what he could do potentially with um you know more more looks.
Debo Samuel's Free Agency & Role
01:08:04
Speaker
ah Debo Samuel, I believe, is still a free agent. He has he has a declining role. I know there's been talks of maybe a reunion in San Francisco. If he's used as a gadget player, I'd like that. If he's used as a focal point, I don't see it anymore.
01:08:18
Speaker
Somehow Juwan Jennings is still available. i find I think we're all big fans of Juwan Jennings and on this podcast, especially UFAB. I can't believe he's still available. um i know we' they've thrown floated around the Panthers.
01:08:31
Speaker
I think this is a solid move regardless of where he goes personally, but we'll wait and see on that.
49ers Trading Brendan Ayuk Discussion
01:08:39
Speaker
There's Brendan Ayuk, who is a free agent. He was cut by the 49ers. They still have him. They still have him. They didn't cut him. waiting They're waiting to see if they can get like a seventh round pick for him.
01:08:51
Speaker
Just to see if they get anything. And that was floated around. Apparently, they're waiting for the commanders to offer Luke McCaffrey for him.
01:09:00
Speaker
Yeah, why would they do why would they do that? like they dont know He's going to end up being... he's gonna be yeah because he he's he's Either way, was a post-June 1st cut to to to obviously split his dead cap into two years, but they're waiting to potentially see if they can get any type of draft pick for him if anyone's going to decide to take a swing.
01:09:22
Speaker
What a waste. No one's going to touch that contract. Yeah. no yeah No one's going to touch him. Well, hopefully hopefully when he's a free agent, and someone will grab him.
01:09:33
Speaker
Yeah, but...
Risks for Free Agents Diggs & Hill
01:09:36
Speaker
Stefan Diggs, there's age, injury risk. There's also legal risk as well. I think he'll find himself with a team, but that's going to be... Maybe back to Buffalo.
01:09:49
Speaker
o Are they still divorced, him and Josh Allen? Or do they did they make up? and They say good things about each other. i think there's been some maturity... I don't know. um Speaking of age and injury risk and legal risk, Tyreek Hill, he's also a free agent. Pregnancy risk and maturity. I don't know if it's a foregone conclusion that he goes to the Chiefs. um I think that'll be, I think him and Diggs will be either like in a few weeks and a few months or maybe after the draft or closer to training camp.
Hollywood Brown's Deal with Eagles
01:10:22
Speaker
Keenan Allen and Hollywood Brown round out the list. ah Hollywood Brown went to the Eagles. Yeah, he signed with the Eagles. Is that today? Yeah, today. Okay. um i don't know if that's that's interesting.
01:10:39
Speaker
That's interesting. and it's appreciate too It's a one-year deal. i want to say it's like $10 million or something. that's I don't even think it's that high. That's rep play that's replacing Jahan Dotson for sure, but...
01:10:53
Speaker
Trying to make Hollywood Brown anything in 2026 is foregone. Sorry, worth worth up in accurate right it's worth up to million. Yeah, it's very, very cheap. Yeah, very cheap. Yeah.
Chigakuanquo's Breakout Year Prediction
01:11:03
Speaker
ah We'll stick with me on the tight ends. So same thing. We'll kind of just do one hot take each on the tight ends.
01:11:10
Speaker
No surprise if anyone has listened to this tight end that this show, they know how much I have an affinity for Chigakuanquo. I think this is a year that Chig makes it as a top 10 tight end finishes as a top 10 tight end. He finally has a situation where there's a QB in place.
01:11:28
Speaker
new situation. um And if you look at some of the underlying metrics, he has a career 1.46 yards per route run and 5.8 yards after the catch per
Isaiah Likely's Role with Giants
01:11:41
Speaker
reception.
01:11:41
Speaker
So very, very athletic player. i think he's primed for a big year in in Washington. So that'll be my hot take on the tight end side.
01:11:52
Speaker
Well, I'm going to continue with the hot takes. My guy is Isaiah Likely, where I think there's going to be a likely amount of fantasy points to be had. Quite likely indeed, I do say so myself.
01:12:06
Speaker
ah Like jokes aside, I mean, that it was the most scripted move that was going to happen this offseason, I think. If anyone's paying attention after John Harbaugh took over as a Giants head coach, Isaiah Leigh was a free agent and Mark Andrews is still very much under contract with Baltimore.
01:12:24
Speaker
it just made sense. I mean, the Giants were lacking that quality in the the in the tight end room, especially with Theo Johnson, who Had some fumble issues and not a lot of depth really after that. And Bellinger went on to sign with the Titans as well. So it just made sense. And honestly, I think that this leads likely to a starting role, like right off the bat. And i think you're going to see a lot of heavy two tight end sets in Baltimore.
01:12:51
Speaker
And I think he's he's good as a pass blocker, but he's also going to be a like a mismatch player. demon, if you want to call it that, like going up against the linebackers, even some cornerbacks. like it's It just makes a lot of sense. And I think this is going to be... Listen, said I'm not projecting him to finish as like top five, you know but the top 10 is definitely in the realm of possibility. I like that a lot too.
01:13:13
Speaker
And I also think this gives a big boost to Jackson Dart because he's going to have a safety blanket now with Isaiah Likely there. And also... You had the fact that Malik Neighbors is going back. You had the fact that there's Darnell Mooney on the other side too, which is a little bit scarier than than Darius Slayton. I think Isaiah Likely going to have a lot of easy matchups this year.
01:13:34
Speaker
I like this a lot. I'm i'm i'm liking the Giants ah offense more and more. i just just, can we get rid Skatgots? I'm not saying that. not saying That's the way we're going to draft Jeremiah Love. We're going to draft Jeremiah Love. I can't have this clown the team anymore. But I agree with him.
01:13:51
Speaker
like the call on Isaiah. think he's going have big year. at least it's fine i like the column is they like i think is's gonna have a big ear i think so And my hot take at the tight end spot is going to be
Travis Kelsey's Final Season Predictions
01:14:07
Speaker
Mr. Travis Kelsey returning for age 36, going to be 37 season, his last season in the NFL.
01:14:16
Speaker
My hot take is that he finishes it off with another top five finish. Finished tight end four in 2025. And I say there's one last ride. I think the Chiefs are going to be dangerous this year.
01:14:30
Speaker
um i think he finishes in the top five to end out his career come at me with justin fields
01:14:42
Speaker
maybe your boy my boy oh my boy your boy just he's your favorite player he's been passed around more than bonnie blue lately man wow That will do it, ladies and gentlemen, for another edition of the Bushley Cuddle Fantasy Football Podcast.
Podcast Conclusion & Send-Off
01:14:58
Speaker
Be sure to follow us on YouTube, is Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.
01:15:04
Speaker
We'll be back in a couple weeks. Raj, you know what to do. Cue the music. Matt, go take a shower. What's wrong with you? need blue catching strays, man. Catching strays. It's spring break in the States. Spring break.
01:15:21
Speaker
It's parting with a belly. ah my good Oh, my God. my God. oh By the way, Travis Kelsey plays in an offense and when he was really good. Do you guys remember when his offensive coordinator was Matt Nagy? And who's the offensive coordinator for the Giants right now?
01:15:37
Speaker
It's Matt Nagy. I Blue, bro. Fab's preparation for the podcast. Let me just research Matt Nagy. His name came up like 17 times. It came up like a few times. It just tells you the offensive powers that exist. It just tells you how much of a homer you are.
01:15:56
Speaker
good ladies and gentlemen good night everyone hi peace out everyone bye