Transcript
Speaker: Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back. Welcome back to another episode of the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast. How's everybody doing this fine summer evening? We are July 7th, 2026. It's been blistering hot in Montreal the last few days, and it's been a wonderful, wonderful way to kick off this, finally, this summer. This summer, night a lot of people go on vacation, but lot of us are sticking around over here. Speaking of vacation,
Speaker: You'll probably notice if you're if you're watching us on on Spotify, which you can do now, or on on YouTube. we're We're still one man down over here. It's ah myself, Fab, we got Raj, and Nass is still in the motherland. He's still in in the land of cannolis. He's really enjoying himself down there. He's on his way back, though I think he's flying out tomorrow morning.
Speaker: Hopefully he flies out tomorrow morning because... with the the whole mount or mount Mount Vesuvius? or No, its ah Vesuvius is in my part of town. That's in Napoli. That's in the Campania region.
Speaker: ah NAC is currently in Sicily right now where aetna Mount Etna has been very active the last few days. So hopefully he he arrives safe and sound. So NAC safe travels if you're listening, which you should be.
Speaker: um you You absolutely should. think There's no question in my mind should be. So yeah, so that's why we're we're still one man down, but it's okay, ladies and gentlemen, we still have a wonderful episode planned for you guys, don't worry about it. We're going to be talking about some post-hype sleepers for 2026, this episode, which is very interesting. So before we get into that, right, I'm sure you guys are asking, what is a post-hype sleeper? Well,
Speaker: Like every draft has like a sort of like a graveyard of names that were once untouchable, you know, that are now being ignored a little bit. Like the talent really hasn't changed amongst these guys, but the price kind of has. And that's the interesting part. And we're going kind of dive into that in this episode right now.
Speaker: Like the gap where league winners are found really comes in and in these types of scenarios. Right. So again, what is a post height sleeper? You can kind of break it down to three phases a little bit. Like the first one being the hype, you know, like so top prospect.
Speaker: Beck, Sky High Expectations, all that stuff. I'm sure we have a lot of names we can roll out right now just from phase one. And then phase two happens. Sophomore slump, the letdown, the injuries, the bad team, managers lose faith.
Speaker: So then what happens? Phase three rolls around. Phase three is the buy window. when the ADP craters, situations improve. And this is where you strike. This is where league champions are typically made, believe it or not, where guys that weight on players that have huge upside with minimal, minimal risk because you're getting them at such a deep, deep, deep discount.
Speaker: So that's what what we're going to be covering today on this episode. But before we jump into that, ladies and gentlemen, please, please, please follow us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. For all the weekly fantasy breakdowns all season long, send us all of your questions. I mean, the drafts is...
Speaker: literally around the corner. I think training camp is going to start going to be starting up in a few weeks. End of July. and of July, which is very exciting right after the World Cup. So right after France beats Argentina in the World Cup please or or Argentina ah wins it because, you know, that thing, art by i mean the World Cup of all the the major, major tournaments in the world, the World Cup is probably the one that is the the most honest. I think there's the least amount of colluding that takes place.
Speaker: and Special guest referees, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, like special guest referees all the time. You know, it's it's the one where government intervention does not take place. yeah And where, you know, where work where red cards stay red cards and are not rescinded. It's the equivalent of the fast one, two, three count in WWE. That's all my God. That is, that's good. That's really good. That's really good. And love how like, i love how every single NFL pundit has become a soccer analyst overnight. And I'm not trying to stand here like a soapbox and say that I know soccer better than those guys do because I don't, or I probably do, but whatever. And like and it's just, all of a sudden they become so passionate about it. And it's like,
Speaker: How is this possible? Well, of course it is. That's not a tackle. The guy studs was out. He almost ripped off his calf. But yeah, sure. USA isn't united. They lost. The United States lost because they are not united. RG3, like, horrible. Horrible takes. I never want to read. I think i start I'm sorry to this like r g three starting Starting? Yeah, more than Dave Portnoy. And that's saying a lot.
Speaker: That's saying a lot, that obnoxious little. Anyways. a little what well He's not little. He's he's big. You ever see him run the 40? It takes 14 anyway so Sorry, guys. That was crazy tangent. Post-type post-ty sleepers type sleepers so yeah so that's it so We got that breaking down in three phases right now.
Speaker: We're going to go by position like we always do. So going to get the ball rolling. I'm going to start off with with quarterbacks. um And this guy is probably on top of everybody's list as as a potential post-hype sleeper. He was the darling in his rookie season.
Speaker: He had a fantastic, fantastic rookie season. Everyone thought he was going to be the next big thing, the next Peyton Manning, whatever Tom Brady, CJ Stroud. CJ Stroud, earth-shattering rookie year.
Speaker: Immediately crowned lead quarterback one. And then there was the sophomore slump, which is kind of typical amongst quarterbacks, right? Like, I don't want to completely put this CJ Stroud's shoulders, but it was kind of typical amongst amongst quarterbacks. And that might happen to a few of them this year as well.
Speaker: The O-line regressed terribly, and that didn't help him at all. But, you know, in this offseason right now, the O-line was retooled. Like, the situation is improving around him. And from an ADP standpoint right now, he's being drafted well outside the top five.
Speaker: He's being right now drafted as QB 22. The market forgot what he looked like. And I kind of like this from a I got from a value standpoint, right Because you're looking at more or less the same weapons of anything. The weapons like last year, the weapons improved and and and those weapons got a year older with a year more year more of experience. They also added a great running back in David Montgomery, which I think is really going to help him as well, because even from a past protection from from a running back standpoint, Montgomery has been pretty good.
Speaker: Better online. So you know what? Like, am am i am I going all in on CJ Stroud? Absolutely not. Am I a little more confident with him as my QB2 as I would have been last year? Yeah, I am. And this is coming from a guy who drafted him in his sophomore when he slumped.
Speaker: And it was sort of like X-ing him out for the rest of his life. yeah i kind of CJ Stroud is one of those guys where you can definitely get value at the right spot from a QB2 perspective.
Speaker: um I'm not lining up to draft him, but at the same time, if he's on my team as my QB2, I'm okay with it. I'm okay with it. Love the take. you're gonna He's going to come at a QB3 cost, and he could easily be a QB2. And with that with that supporting cast, Tank Dell is back, Jaden Higgins, he could end up being low-end QB2 or high-end QB2, low-end QB1 potentially. So I love the take, Bob.
Speaker: And you always like it when a quarterback has a good defense to play off of. Cause they're going to get the ball back right away. yeah And Houston Texans probably on paper right now have the best defense in the NFL. And, and I don't think it's necessarily even, i don't think it's that close.
Speaker: Uh, the, and all they did in the draft is just shore up their defense. They got that, uh, defensive tackle. I think is out of Georgia. Caden Daniels. I think his name is or something like that. I'm butchering his name. He's a big, big, big defensive tackle.
Speaker: Um, so that's another reason why too, it's like, you know what? Both sides of the ball are very strong over here. So yeah, CJ struck could be super interesting from a post high sleeper. Uh, the next one I have on my list right now, and this is, um, we spoken about him earlier. Your favorite player in the NFL.
Speaker: ah I never thought that those words be uttered out of my mouth, quite frankly, um because I've never been a fan of his. But I think the situation is just a little bit too good for him right now.
Speaker: And he he did have like a former MVP level style of fantasy season. Kyler Murray, the the future QB one for the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker: He's going right now as quarterback 17. So a little bit richer, I guess you want to call it that, for than CJ Stroud. But he has more of a body of work where you can so you've seen him produce, and he's coming off of a bad situation with the Cardinals.
Speaker: Yeah, of course, man. Kyler Murray? Kyler Murray had like had a bunch of top five seasons. Not a bunch. He had like a few top five seasons. here's a Yeah.
Speaker: i don't I don't mean to cut you off. He has a body of work. Do do I like that body of work? Not necessarily, but... So, Kyler Murray in the one, two, three, four, five, six, seven seasons he's played, like two of them have been shortened by injury.
Speaker: He's finished top ten four times. Yeah, ah I'll admit, I'll admit that his better days were very much in the beginning of his career. Very, very much. I'll admit that.
Speaker: But again, the situation has changed. He's in a different environment. He has great weapons around him. He has a very interesting offensive mind and coordinator under Kevin O'Connell. And I do not think JJ McCarthy will sniff a blade of grass on this season with Keller Murray there. I really, really don't. And I think there's a possibility where Keller Murray, I know I,
Speaker: Super hot take is that he finishes top three. I said that earlier in episode and all that stuff. like that's we where I'm not saying it's... That was our bold prediction episode. you can't but You can't roll those back right away. I wasn't rolling it back. I was going to say he's going to finish this QB number one. No, I'm kidding. um I just think there's the upside is huge here. The upside is huge and you can't you can't discount it. And you're forgetting about a QB 17. Like, like, why not, man? Why? Why not? The upside?
Speaker: Massive, massive. but My my counterpoints are how will he fit with Kevin Ocolino? Yes, the Kevin O'Connell is a reason to like him, but that is an offense that not is that isn't necessarily tailored to his strengths. And you meant you mentioned it, Fab, like the injury history.
Speaker: To be a post-type sleeper, you have to play. You have to be on the field. Availability is your best ability. So that's something that Kyler Murray has not been able to do. Those are um those are my only counters, but the he he is a valid post-type sleeper at QB for sure.
Speaker: I think so. And I think it can be overlooked. They can't just look at the name, tell them, oh, he's garbage, use this, that, whatever. It's like, the guy's in a good situation. The guy's in a good situation where he can perform and put you up like weekly top five numbers.
Speaker: Realistically, it's not impossible. They have the weapons. They have the wide receivers. They have the tight end. and They have the running backs. It's all there. he He needs, the last thing I'll say, he needs a big year because this could be a precursor to a huge payday.
Speaker: If he has a bad year, he's like he's he's not going to get ah another payday again. He's going to kind of fall into the Justin Fields type of realm of spot starter here and there. So you got to be able to beat out JJ McCarthy.
Speaker: Yeah, which like, honestly, like, I don't think it takes much to beat out JJ McCarthy. No offense, JJ, if you're listening, but my God, man, shape up. Anyways, ah moving on from to number... Relax there, Diana Rossini.
Speaker: She was on a cruise. TMZ caught her and her family and took pictures of her kids on a cruise. Like, guys, give it a rest. Let her let it be, man. She's on a cruise. Jesus.
Speaker: TMZ, how do they get this stuff?
Speaker: Quarterback number three that I have right now. There's a lot of movement in those pictures. Yeah, this is PG-13 show. I just said there's movement. That's it. Well, yeah, because the boat was rocking.
Speaker: Don't come and knock. Quarterback number three. We got Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons. Ranked this quarterback 31. So this is a very, very, very deep cut over here.
Speaker: Partial ACL tear. no No offense with the deep cut. No offense with the deep cut. Poor guy. all it All this guy does is just get ACL tears. ended 2025 with nine games.
Speaker: But he has so many weapons around him. Surrounded by London, Pitts, Bijan, Kyle Pitts. I think he's what is the rank? Does he's is he the highest paid? release Newly signed Kyle Pitts. Is he the highest paid or he's close to it? Right.
Speaker: His ADP is like quarterback 31, like as a super flex, you're not to throw a dart at this guy, Michael Penix Jr. Like knowing that he's going to come out as a starter, because I think there's going to be a bit of a competition between him and Tua.
Speaker: So let's just say like Michael Penix Jr. or Tua here, right? Which ironically, I don't know how many teams I've ever had two left-hand quarterbacks on the same roster ever. I don't think the playbook is going to change all that much for these two guys, which I think is hilarious.
Speaker: But again, you're you're putting a very capable quarterback, assuming a very capable quarterback, in a very good situation. Michael Pendis can sling it. He can sling it.
Speaker: he He's got to stay on the field. And you've seen a bit of chemistry happen between him and London and Bijan towards the end of the season. so you just got to hope that that really translates again.
Speaker: So this is another guy that like he you could draft him as your QB4.
Speaker: realistically as your QB four and he can give you back certain you know some spot starting returns when your QB two is underperforming because he didn't draft Calumari.
Speaker: Yeah, it's underwhelming. i'm not going to lie only because um he hasn't been cleared for 11 on 11 drills yet. So apparently that's going to that's supposed to happen soon.
Speaker: um But similarly to Kyler Murray, like he needs he needs to play this year because it's a new coaching staff. It's a new GM. It's Matt Ryan that's in now. So if they don't see anything from him this year, he is not going to be on the team next year.
Speaker: it's They're going to go after him. I agree. order mike for sure And similar to Kyler Murray, they went and they got Tua. like Tua got cut and all that stuff and they knew what they knew the type of like what the product they're getting from Tua i'm much much safer you know what i mean like I'm not gonna say Kamara is safer but the upside is is more or less there in the sense that they have that body of work they they've played football for at ah at a high level for a majority of seasons so just how col Michael Penick's
Speaker: To your point, this is a make or break year for him. This really is. i think i think he's going to have to really show out if he's going to have any sort of future in the NFL. Totally. So those are our early, our post-hype sleepers, excuse me, for 2026 from a quarterback perspective. Raj, I'm going hand it off to you and you can take care of the running backs.
Speaker: Yes, thank you, sir, Fabio. So i'm going to start with the running backs with a post type sleeper who a lot of people thought was going to be one of the best running backs in the NFL at this stage. And I don't think it's necessarily his fault. And that's Brees Hall. So Brees Hall has been in top five discussions few years ago, would say, 2025, he, sorry, in 2023, he was a rookie he was behind Michael Carter and a few other guys. And then he had that really breakout season in 2023 where he had almost 1,000 yards, five touchdowns, 76 receptions. And ever since then, I think, think we've been yearning for more. You know, he had some injury issues. Last year in 2025, it was solid production, 1,065 rushing yards, but he finished only as the RB20. Karil low in targets and only five touchdowns. That killed his
Speaker: I think what makes this an upside play for Brees Hall is the fact that he got a contract extension. Raise your hand if you thought Brees Hall was not going to be a Jet by the start of this offseason. think a lot of us thought maybe he was destined for Kansas City or Houston. So the fact that they gave him an extension, this new regime, that bodes very well for them. Now with Kenyon Sadiq, they brought in. Omar Cooper Jr., they brought in. Geno Smith. Off field issues aside, that's a considerable upgrade over the quarterbacks they've had previously. And Frank Reich, who say what she will about his time in Indy and in Carolina, he knows how to conjure up at least a decent offense. So I think things are looking good for him for Brees Hall. If you look at what he's ranked now, he's going to have the So that's pretty middle of the pack for a guy who has talent. So I very much like our Brees Hall at the current cost that he's in. I think he's a very valid post type sleeper 2026.
Speaker: Yeah, I like this too. um The only pushback want to have is really brilliant Allen, right? I think really think that they want to carve out a role for him in this ah offense. I do like Brees Hall. I do like him at this value. And I agree with everything you said. I think there's a lot of meat on this bone from a running back perspective. There's a lot of untapped potential.
Speaker: And I hope we get that out of him this year, especially since he signed a bigger contract. I'm just concerned about, you know, the the committee aspect because Berlin Island is a big boy, right? So it might be of a situational scenario for Brees Hall in some aspects.
Speaker: But Alan was injured last year, right? don't get injured Yeah, that's why Brees Hall had his career high in carries of 243, which is actually really, really good. Yeah. um I don't know if you'll get that again to your point, but I think from a PPR standpoint, there's value here, which is where he might he might outplay his ADP, right? I mean, it's the RB 14 is good. Yeah, it's good. But he can finish as a top 10 back just from a PPR perspective.
Speaker: Absolutely. ah Moving on to the next post-type sleeper at running back. So I think this this guy's a really valid post-type sleeper, and that's RJ Harvey. i think we all agree during the 2025 draft, from a pre-draft perspective, scouting perspective, RJ Harvey's name was bandied by really bandied about really, really strongly. think he had 1,800 rushing yards at ah the University of Central Florida. He was known for his past past catching prowess. And i think looking at those two aspects combined with going into a Sean Payton offense led people to be really, really optimistic about how he's going to perform. What's interesting is he actually had relatively decent season, all things considered. When I was coming looking at all the stats, noticed that he actually had 12 touchdowns in 2025. seven rushing, five five cat catching, 16.8 PPR points per game from week 11 on. But it it still felt disappointing for some reason. And I think that's because of, J.K. Dobbins was there. There was Jaleel McLaughlin. There was Tyler Bidet. And now they also drafted, think his name is Ronnie Coleman, something, Coleman from Washington. They added they added another running back. So i think people are are a little ah you know little ah less optimistic about RJ Harvey.
Speaker: The fact that he tore a labrum in the AFC Championship as well didn't help it either. But I think there's still optimism for him. He was drafted as a second-round pick. ah with with the Denver Broncos looks like he should be fully healthy. And again, that PPR aspect, I think he can be a huge pass catcher in the Denver Broncos scheme that heavily relies on running back catches. And J.K. Dobbins is on the team.
Speaker: I hate to say it, but he's never healthy. He's never healthy. And that opens up a lot of opportunity for R.J. Harvey.
Speaker: And at running back 31, there's a lot of value there because he's slated to be the starter or the starter alongside Jakey Dobbins, at least at the beginning. So you're getting quote-unquote starting running back as your RB3. There is value to be had there. The pushback im going to have is the whole shame Sean Payton thing, right? Like we we don't know which running back to trust on a week-in, week-out basis from Sean Payton. But you getting 12 touchdowns in your rookie year, i don't think that's an – that can't be an accident.
Speaker: Because that means it's just being used in various different types of situations. And that would translate to future success in year two as well. So I don't hate it from that standpoint.
Speaker: And to your point, Raj, you know what? Like the best ability is availability, right? And if he's going to be on the field and JK Dolphins isn't, it's something you have to keep in mind and and look for. So he, um I like this price on RJ Harvey.
Speaker: But if he stays as my RB3 for the rest of the season, that wouldn't surprise me either. That's the only thing. He's going to be a depth piece. But again, if you look at the last, I want to say five games, yeah, five games of the season from week 14 to 18, he had 17 carries, 19 carries, 7 carries, 14 carries, and 15 carries. The efficiency was not great at all, but the volume was absolutely there.
Speaker: And i despite the fact that they drafted a rookie, We know Sean Payton doesn't trust rookies. because We saw it because literally RJ Harvey went through that. So now he's a second-year player. So I much like his his ah the ah the optimism for him ah coming in as a second-year player and hopefully getting more carries and more trust from a pass-catching and pass-protection standpoint with visit Sean Payton.
Speaker: RJ Harvey might have won a lot of people with championships last year. 100%. Because in the semifinals and the finals, he finishes RB11 and RB11. 100%. So, yeah. This could be a dynamite flex play in the long term.
Speaker: Totally. One quick honorable mention at the running back position. just We talked about him in our, was it our bold predictions that ah that we that we discussed? Jonathan Brooks. Running back for the Carolina Panthers. Again, just want to remind everyone because a lot of people would have forgotten about him, but this was the first running back taken in the 2024 draft.
Speaker: Two ACL tears in three years have completely suppressed his draft value. So he's not played any meaningful snaps since week 14 of the 2024 The Panthers did let go of Rico Dowell. They let him go to Pittsburgh. Only Chuba Hubbard is there as really the only viable back. And we saw that he wasn't you know yet he he lacked a bit of explosiveness. he He got some carries taken away from Rico Dowell. So and Brooks has fully been cleared for workouts. So no restrictions heading into training camp. So this is someone who, if I look now, he's being ranked, let's see...
Speaker: I can't even find him on rankings. Neither can I. I cannot find him so he's probably He's going undrafted right now. He's definitely going undrafted. So this is someone just to keep in your queue. And definitely you could have at an amazing cost who could end up being, not going to say league winner style, but you know maybe a guy who could fill in your bench during bye weeks.
Speaker: it It stands to reason that he'll have a role. It stands to reason that they drafted him knowing that he's going to be a big part of the offense. And the fact that they got rid of Rico Dalton, who was like leading the league in rushing last year for like three games. Yes, you good point.
Speaker: And they were like, you know what? We don't need this guy. We have... Chubba Hubbard, who we paid, and Jonathan Brooks, who's waiting in the wings now. You might be a year ahead. You might not. But rather be early. that like you know and um You're never wrong. You're just early. People say that a lot. And I think this is the case with Jonathan Brooks right now. I know I was like in my rookie, in his rookie season, I had him on my bench for the entire season.
Speaker: i was waiting for this guy to play never did play so so he's going he's going he's going rb 41 right now so that's like like instead of instead of going after like i don't know chris rodriguez who's backing up baot or jacori crosskey merit you know who's gonna be behind ah you know like rashad white like take a flower on jonathan brooks Swing for the fences, man. We're here to have fun. Don't play it safe. Absolutely. So that's it for the ringbacks. Fab, I'm going to throw it to you on a deep dig for the post-hype sleepers, for the wide receivers.
Speaker: I'm going fall off my chair. yeah i got i got wide receivers um yeah so uh brian thomas jr is my first one jacksonville jaguars he's ranked right now as wide receiver 36. so he had like a like a ridiculously stupid rookie season um and then he had a ridiculously horrible sophomore season um So he finished top 12 of our receivers are working 2024. The poster child really of this category, I think we can call it like the d ah perfect boomer bus.
Speaker: Wrist and shoulder injuries wrecked his 2025 despite missing only three games. He led the team in 1,300 air yards. Deep start ability is real and proven. Another year in Liam Cohen's ah offense. Sixth highest scoring attack in 2025. There's a lot to like about his situation that he's in, and you really saw Trevor Lawrence come into his own towards end of last season as well.
Speaker: Really started to look like the quarterback that you expect him to be. From an ADP standpoint, being drafted well outside has proven top 12 ceiling. The injuries were the story and not really the talent was the issue in 2025, but I think a healthy Brian Thomas Jr. in a top six scoring offense. We're looking at a potential division.
Speaker: be a wide receiver two on a week-in, week-out basis. I know that's crazy to say he's going as wide receiver 36, but i there is tremendous value to drafting this guy as a wide receiver four who can put up weekly, let's say low-end wide receiver two numbers, but still.
Speaker: There's just too much talent to be ignored after what was a very, very bad 2025 season. And you saw what he can do because did in his rookie year. i don't think that was an accident. It was not. um Are we sure he's the best right receiver on on the team?
Speaker: No, we're not. But that doesn't matter because we're talking about ADP. Yeah, but you want talk about him versus Parker Washington. Parker Washington is going like ADP 38. I know. so if you talk about that From the context of what the show is for, Roger. oh No, I get it. No, absolutely. No, I i get it. it's Sorry. What I'm saying, Fab, is that I fully agree with you. What I'm saying is this is an interesting situation where you could you have to choose between Parker Washington or Ryan Thomas Jr. from a value perspective. And even Jocowi Myers is there as well.
Speaker: Like... Yes. So it's that's that's what more like that that's that's where I'm getting at is that like even i was going to say like is even the second best wide receiver on the on the team. So i I fully agree. The upside is really absolutely there.
Speaker: um What we have to see is, hey, the injury issues last year, are those resolved? Because apparently that was a big reason why, you know, drop drop passes over the middle, middle so on and so forth. um But he has to be better over that. He has to be better at catching the ball.
Speaker: period no I fully agree. And those points are very well taken. the ADP is something that needs to be considered because that's, it's, it's, it's, it's huge.
Speaker: Yeah. and Brian Thomas jr. Was a first round pick. He's an LSU product wide receiver. We all know how good the LSU wide receivers are. Yeah. And he had one very good year and one extremely sub par year.
Speaker: And it's only subpar because of the expectations that followed after his rookie season. So I'm tempering expectations, although I am a little bit higher over here. Cautiously optimistic. I think wide receiver two, top 20 finish, top 21 finish, I think is realistic over here. i don't think it's,
Speaker: Crazy to say this is obviously assuming he's healthy, right? The cost is bonkers. The the cost yeah and potential output is insane. Like someone who could literally be top five in terms of yards and be be had at like, you know, draft as your WR three.
Speaker: Yes. like You want to want Brian Thomas Jr. as wide receiver? Agreed. Agreed. I just, again, I think there's so much negativity around him. There's so much negativity around him like the offseason, during the season. I think people are going to see him as do not draft territory as well, which, again, I think that would probably be a mistake.
Speaker: No, I fully agree. And I and i think, and I know there's a lot of people that listen to this episode right now and they're saying that, you know, we're, we, we have no idea we're talking about because Brian Thomas Jr. probably destroyed a lot of people's drafts last year who took them as a wide receiver one.
Speaker: And I get it. I fully, fully get it, but you know, take a look at it in this year, especially at the value standpoint, because you have to forget a little bit about last year too. Yes.
Speaker: That's such a good point. You can't, that's really a good point. you can't stick to your priors too much because you're going end up missing out guys like how what we're talking about yeah and like even the next guy too potentially potentially marvin harrison jr that's where it stops this one this one is a little bit that's where it stopped this one is tough this one is tough this one is tough but He was supposed to be a can't-miss top five pick coming out of Ohio State University, the wide receiver university.
Speaker: One of the most hyped wide receiver prospects in recent memory. Two seasons, derailed by concussion, heel issues, ah appendectomy. 41 catches, 608 yards still he's so young Elite route running and pedigree has not changed.
Speaker: New QB situation could unlock him entirely. We don't know. We'll see. The ADP angle is going as wide receiver 31 right now. A little bit richer than Brian Thomas Jr. So I can understand there's more trepidation on this. i understand that people want to jump over Marvin Harrison Jr. and say, nope, it's not for me. It's not for me.
Speaker: You still have to look that potentially the market has completely given up on him and in a healthy season with a competent QB, there's a realistic avenue for a top 15, top 20 wide receiver finish.
Speaker: And the talent is there. He is a dynamite, dynamite wide receiver. It's bit dysfunctional in Arizona right now. It was in his rookie season. It was in this season too, in last season too.
Speaker: All I'm saying, all I'm saying is open your mind to the possibility of drafting a Marvin Harrison Jr. as your wide receiver three and be very happy when he gives you back returns of wide receiver two, maybe a wide receiver two once some week. Maybe.
Speaker: You know what, Fab? it um depends It depends on who's QB because Jacoby Brissett had really, really good chemistry with Michael Wilson, who Michael Wilson, his ADP is 39.
Speaker: So he he even has a lower ADP than than Marvin Harrison Jr. And you know we know how well he did despite the fact that it was you know kind of end of game situations. Or it's Carson Beck, rookie.
Speaker: yeah Right now, it's it might it seems like I don't think they resolved Jacoby Brissett's contract issue, so it it could be Carson Beck. But for me, this is one that I was burned too much last year. I'm i'm i'm out of the Marvin Harrison Jr. business.
Speaker: This is one I cannot fully understand. so hard I think anyone who owned them, will be it's going to be very hard for them to and endorse Marvin Harrison Jr. as a post-hype sleeper. I'm just giving the the kind of devil's advocate viewpoint. and And people like you, and what do you mean people like me? People like you who who advocate with that mindset will allow people like me to draft him as my wide receiver fight.
Speaker: And then there I am holding a lottery ticket. Because this guy has tremendous, tremendous, tremendous. He has upside. don't care what anybody says. And when you're drafting that later on, when you're looking at your wide receiver fours, wide receiver fives, you're not looking for guys that are going to be weekly staples to get you your points.
Speaker: You're looking for lottery tickets. i Realistically, what what round do you think he's going? Yeah. what What round do you really say? Right now he's going as wide receiver 31. I mean, i don't like asking I don't like when people ask me the question what round someone's going in because all depends on their on on the way that their draft set up. It's just there's the opportunity cost.
Speaker: I agree. There's the opportunity cost to say. There's Jacobi Myers, Michael Pittman Jr., there's Jordan Addison, Wanda Robinson. Those guys are going even way further back. so yeah is this This is going to be a good debate as we get towards the season, I think, with with Marvin Harrison Jr. for sure.
Speaker: Okay, Wanda Robinson is a great example. Wanda Robinson, very safe floor. Very low floor. Very safe floor. And it's a low floor because he's in a different offense right now and he's not the number one over there unless Carl Tate gets injured.
Speaker: So Marvin Harrison Jr. right now, who is you're chasing up? I have a hot take. and say and I'm the thing. And thenll I'll stop there. I'm questioning how good Marvin Harrison Jr. actually is because. That is a massive. hunting He did not look fast.
Speaker: He did not catch the ball very well at all. He has huge catch point issues. The route running. I didn't see. Like, I think a lot of people didn't see the route running either. So that's where, like, I don't see him as like a guy like, a you know,
Speaker: where Where he was drafted, which was like ah a Nico Collins type or Jamar Chase type or, you know, even a Malik Neighbors type. Like that's that's my issue is very interesting. It'll be really interesting around him.
Speaker: All I know is that if he burns me this year, i'm never touching me again. Quickly for a honorable mention, very quickly honorable mention. We have a graphic for this guy, but Chris Goblin Jr. He's going right around the same area as Brian Thomas Jr. and Marvin Harrison Jr. And he's a junior as well. So I figured why not just throw him in here.
Speaker: um Chris Goblin Jr. Like at the beginning of 2024 was like, it was wide receiver four in the first like six games. And then he got injured.
Speaker: and then he came back a little bit last year. There still is that connection with with Baker. Baker still likes him a lot. He's still very much part of that offense. And they just got and and the Bucs got rid of Mike Evans without really replacing him from any sort of wide receiver standpoint. Mecca Buka is still there for sure. you know But we're still talking about two guys that are going to be taking up a lot of the targets right now.
Speaker: And he's currently going as wide receiver 35. And this is another guy too where injury history aside, you know he does get healthy and he does come back. and assuming he's going to be some level of the player that he was before he got injured.
Speaker: There is some nice upside here. There is some weekly, weekly wide receiver, high-end wide receiver three, I want to say, even low-end wide receiver two from week-to-week basis. And it could pop again, too, because Baker likes his guys, right? So it's just something that I want to mention before we jump into your tight ends, Roger.
Speaker: Yes, thank you, Fab. we're gonna finish off with the tight end. So I'm gonna start with Mr. Sam Laporta. He, one second. There you go So, Mr. Sam LaPoria. Sammy the door.
Speaker: Sammy door. Tight end three in his rookie year. Tight end eight in 2024. He was on track to being elite for years, but just nine games in 2025 under a struggling OC in Johnny Morton who was fired. At the end of the season, we all recall that Dan Campbell took over play calling duties at in the middle of the year.
Speaker: And i think he wanted to go into more of a kind of smash mouth, less deep throwing. They brought in offensive coordinator Drew Petsing, who Petsing was the OC at Arizona.
Speaker: And we know, obviously, how much Trey McBride was peppered with targets over the past two two years in Arizona. So I think the angle behind this is ADP tight end eight. being drafted much a little bit later maybe than you know what you would expect from Sam Laporta. But I think the market is penalizing him on what he did last year. I think Petsing's system will really allow him to see more targets and be a bigger factor in in in the equation in in Detroit. now Again, i think they're going to go with more smash mount, less deep throws, maybe less reliance on Jameson Williams, more middle-of-field throws like they did with Laporta during his rookie season.
Speaker: ah like um Next one, we have a real... So I have to have two... I'd say these are real true post-hype sleepers. so we're going to start with Jatavion Sanders. Maybe some people might have forgotten about him, but he showed real promise as a rookie in 2024. think we all agreed that talent was always there.
Speaker: 2025, there was Tommy Tremble who played a lot of tight end for the Panthers. And in his 2025, Sanders' 2025 was ruined by a hankle sprain and a broken bone in December. He only finished with 29 catches and 190 yards and a TD. But it sounds like he's already running, cutting in spring practices and is entering 2026 fully healthy.
Speaker: if you recall this was a guy i believe drafted out of texas who there was a lot of promise some really good highlights really good tape about him from college um to throw mcmillan jillian coker chris brazell you know there's a there's a good wide receiver core there so i think he's going to be able to potentially carve out a role as a tight end there and the adp angle is he's going as tight end 35. this is a free free upside dart you might not even be able to draft him You can maybe just wait on him. you can you can maybe get him as a free agent. So ah no other tight end was signed with the Panthers.
Speaker: Tremble is more of like a blocking guy. I think they're going to try to feature Dutavion Sanders and see what they get out of him from an upside perspective. Yeah, I like this call a lot. He's definitely on my my very deep sleeper list. And it's just, so again, like one of those dart throws you throw at the end of your draft if you just want to start starting tight end.
Speaker: Tight ends are very deep. like they I feel like in the last four or five years, they've been super, super deep where you can grab pretty much anyone who's starting and they're going to get you your yourre five to eight PPR points, right? then Then you have the tier above and the tier above for those elite guys.
Speaker: But Jatayvon Sanders, I like the cut of his jib. You know what I mean? like this is like This is a... Yeah, like this, this is there's a lot to like here and it and just to correct you quickly, that's tied in 45 rank, not 35, 45. So even deeper discounts.
Speaker: And another one of those guys. Yeah. Another one of those guys that nobody's talking about that you should be putting on your radar, which is why you should be listening to our podcast and tell your friends about it, too.
Speaker: And last one, and yeah, to your point, Fab, like tight end is back to being a streamer position. Totally. um Last one we're going to do actually is we're going to go back. ah Michael Mayer.
Speaker: ah this was Michael Mayer is a tight end. I've always liked Michael Mayer. When he came out of Notre Dame, I thought he was the prototypical tight end 6'5", 250, 260, kind of like a mini really like Bud-like Gronkowski. I thought he was going to be a really solid player. They ended up drafting Brock Bowers and kind of the rest was history. You saw how good Brock Bowers was. The thing with Brock Bowers is he's not a real tight end.
Speaker: he is in in He is more of a move tight end, a could play in the slot, a guy who could play out wide. And what I like about Michael Mayer is with Clint Kubiak being the coach now, Kubiak ran the eighth most 12 personnel. So one running back, two tight end sets in the NFL last year with the Seahawks.
Speaker: If you look at the Raiders wide receiver core, it still has Trey Tucker, Jack Besch, Jalen Naylor, who they signed, none of and Dante Thornton Jr. None of those wide receivers are really scaring you.
Speaker: So there's an opportunity for Brock Bowers to play near the... play either obviously close to the line, but also play at the wide receiver position as well. And for Michael Meyer to carve out a role as being, you know, that secondary tight end, we saw a little bit with David Njoku and Harold Fanning. we We're going to see it a little bit with Rondé Gatson and David Njoku as well. There's more and more prominence of two tight end sets and two tight ends being able to eat. I'll show you just the last four games. um Sorry, in four games without Brock Byros for Michael Meyer.
Speaker: He had five for five targets, five catches, seven targets, 50 yards, one TD. ah He had a game where he had nine catches for 89 yards with the Giants. Even a game for three for 47 against the Chiefs. chief So I think he's not only an elite handcuff,
Speaker: With Kirk Cousins, he could be way more useful, but I'm calling that he's actually going to have a productive season, maybe 40 to 50 catches, 400 to 500 yards, maybe five to seven touchdowns with the Raiders this year. I really like him as a sleeper, post-type sleeper tight end pick this year.
Speaker: Is that with Brock Bowers being healthy? Absolutely. Interesting. So you are putting, you're putting 10 toes down right now that a rookie quarterback is be able to sustain two tight ends.
Speaker: It's not going be a rookie quarterback. I mean, Kirk Cunns is going to play the entire season. Yeah. Yeah. Kirk Cousins, I think he's going to play the entire season. I like that. If that's the case, I do like i like that for Mendoza. I think that's smart for Mendoza from a, from a QB development standpoint.
Speaker: Totally. Yeah. Okay. Interesting, Roger. Interesting. and Yeah. so And so that, that, that kind that kind of does it guys for this episode of the Bush league huddle fantasy football podcast. So a big thanks for hanging out with us through the post hype sleeper breakdown. I'm Raj on behalf of fab and we back with more sleepers.
Speaker: more breakouts, bus, a whole bunch of preview episodes before the season starts. Make sure you're following us everywhere so you don't miss a beat. Links will be in the bio and description, and we will catch you next time. Goodbye, everyone.
Speaker: Peace out. We'll be back with NAC too. Let's not forget NAC. Yes. Welcome back, NAC. Bye, guys. Welcome back. Welcome back. Welcome
