Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Is CJ Stroud Still Elite? Can Cam Ward Deliver? AFC South Preview Inside!
0 Plays2 seconds ago
The AFC South is WIDE OPEN in 2025 — and we’ve got the full fantasy breakdown for every team!
Bush League Huddle co-hosts Rog, Fab, and Nacc are joined by special guest (Tiktok/Youtube) @themarshallexperience to dive deep into one of the most chaotic divisions in the NFL. From C.J. Stroud’s bounce-back hopes to Anthony Richardson’s job security, and the arrival of #1 overall pick Cam Ward in Tennessee — we’re asking the big questions that’ll shape your draft strategy.
🔍 In This Episode:
- Will CJ Stroud return to top-5 QB form?
- Can Cam Ward lead a Titans turnaround?
- Is Daniel Jones really pushing Richardson in Indy?
- What should we expect from Liam Coen’s new-look Jags offense?
- Should you trust Trevor Lawrence again in fantasy? Is Travis Hunter a real WR3?
- Breakout candidates, ADP values, and trap picks from each team
Whether you're prepping for redraft or dynasty, this episode is packed with must-know insights from training camp, early depth charts, and beat reporter buzz.
💥 Don’t miss our bold predictions, camp storylines to watch, and breakout watchlists from this high-upside division.
🎧 Catch up on our other divisional previews on YouTube playlists:
NFC North | AFC North | AFC East | NFC East
🔗 Follow Us
YouTube | Spotify | Apple | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter/X
🎙 Featuring: @themarshallexperience, https://www.tiktok.com/@themarshallexperience
#FantasyFootball #FantasyFootball2025 #AFCSouth #Superflex #2QB #CJStroud #CamWard #TrevorLawrence #AnthonyRichardson #TravisHunter #FantasyPodcast #BushLeagueHuddle #NFLFantasy #DynastyFantasyFootball #RedraftStrategy #FantasyFootballSleepers #FantasyFootballBreakouts
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:04
Roger Emeka
Welcome to the Bushley Cuddle Fantasy Football Podcast. On today's episode, we deep dive into the AFC South. The Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans will go through key player ADPs, breakout picks, and fantasy landmines.
Recap of Previous Episodes
00:00:19
Roger Emeka
Before we get into it, don't forget to catch up on past previews, the AFC East, AFC North, NFC East, and NFC North. I'm Raj, along with Fab and Nak.
Fab's Return and Guest Introduction
00:00:30
Roger Emeka
Fab,
00:00:31
Roger Emeka
Return of the Fab, hey, hey, hey, hey turn up the fat paul fab is back from a nice vacation in italy welcome back
00:00:37
Fab
I was back. I was back.
00:00:41
Roger Emeka
he was telling us that the podcast has not been the same since he's been back since ah since he's been gone
00:00:45
Fab
I mean, it's you guys did a very good job while I was away, you know, like, I'm not going to say you didn't, but it's just, you it's the trifecta, you know, like, it's,
00:00:52
Roger Emeka
we miss the offthe cuffness the randomness the
00:00:56
Nacc
I misspelled names.
00:00:56
Roger Emeka
the
00:00:57
Fab
Roger, last episode I heard you butchering everyone's name and I was like, you know what? That's my job. That's not yours.
00:01:06
Fab
i mean, come on, man. I'm already getting replaced here. Jeez.
00:01:10
Roger Emeka
And speaking of being replaced, we are joined with a special guest. Chris from the Marshall Experience will be joining us to break down the AFC South. Chris, welcome aboard the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast.
00:01:22
Roger Emeka
Thank you for joining us.
00:01:23
Fab
Yes.
00:01:24
The Marshall Exp
Absolutely. I appreciate you guys having me on.
00:01:27
Roger Emeka
Awesome. So you can find Chris on TikTok and YouTube at The Marshall Experience. And of course, you can find us, subscribe and follow us on YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, X, and of course, Twitter.
00:01:41
Roger Emeka
So before
AFC South Team Overview
00:01:42
Roger Emeka
we get into it, um we'll talk we'll start with the Texans, the division winner. Just a quick AFC South overview. So Texans, I think they were if you look at last year, they regressed offensively despite the playoff berth.
00:01:54
Roger Emeka
Colts, if you look into it from last year to this year, still can't decide on a QB. Jags and Titans were in the hunt for the number one overall i'll pick. But if you look at 2025, looks like there's some hope. Hopefully, Seiji Strahd has a bounce back season.
00:02:08
Roger Emeka
Daniel Jones pushing Anthony Richardson at camp. Liam Combe joins. Jackson's able to revamp the offense. And of course, we have Cam Ward, who was the number one overall pick for the Titans.
00:02:18
Roger Emeka
And that brings about a new level of optimism there. So we'll start with the 10 and seven Texans.
Texans Performance and Predictions
00:02:25
Roger Emeka
A quick recap. They won the division for the second year in a row. Stroud has ah had his sophomore slump, whether he was doing too many podcasts, he was traveling too much.
00:02:34
Roger Emeka
He was big brothering Caleb Williams and other QBs too, too often. And obviously injuries derailed their offensive momentum as well. Some noteworthy changes on the roster, Stephon Diggs is gone.
00:02:45
Roger Emeka
Tank Dell is injured again. They added Christian Kirk as a slot receiver. Nick Chubb joins Joel Mixon in the backfield. And then there's some rookie wide receivers in Jaden Higgins and Jalen Noel drafted in the second and third round, respectively.
00:03:00
Roger Emeka
And finally, i think this is a big one. They replaced Bobby Slowick at OC with Nick Caley, who was the previous Rams passing game coordinator. coordinators so we start with the position groups at QB, obviously there's CJ Stroud.
00:03:13
Roger Emeka
Many picked him as a QB5 in preseason last year. He is ranked as QB19 this year. He is nestled in the Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, J.J. McCarthy, Tua Tunga-Vailoa area.
00:03:29
Roger Emeka
One of the key stats to mention is that he led the NFL in pressure rate at 35%, but is a bounce back candidate with new weapons and a revamped offensive line. Chris, I'm going to go to you as a newbie here today.
00:03:43
Roger Emeka
Are you trusting CJ Stroud to have a bounce back year with the new weapons, revamped offensive line and new offensive coordinator?
00:03:52
The Marshall Exp
it's It's hard for me to wrap my head around, and and I'll explain why in a minute. you know I think this is the the most stress that C.J. Stroud is going to have on his season is this next season. All he has is Nico Collins, two rookie wide receivers, and running backs that you know they're getting up there in age.
00:04:11
The Marshall Exp
So you know a lot of this is going to be on C.J.
CJ Stroud's Fantasy Potential
00:04:14
The Marshall Exp
Stroud, but for C.J. Stroud last year to finish as the quarterback 28 in fantasy points per game,
00:04:20
Fab
Thank
00:04:22
The Marshall Exp
makes it easily him easily the biggest faller from his ADP at quarterback five. okay So you know that that downfall speaks a lot into what happened last year.
00:04:30
Roger Emeka
Fab,
00:04:33
The Marshall Exp
Yes, there was injuries on the offense, and and we can we can chalk that up. He lost Stephon Diggs. But this next year, it's hard for me to see him back into that top five performance with what he has on the table.
00:04:49
Roger Emeka
you're shaking your head
00:04:51
Fab
I agree. Like I definitely don't see him being in the top five, not even the top 10. QB 19 is, is, is it's, there's value there because he could turn back QB 15 numbers. I feel like you're just looking at that crop that are there and in that tier four that you have around there right now. So like he's, he's, hu he's, he's hovering around Jordan love, Trevor Lawrence, JJ McCarthy and Tua Tagovailoa.
00:05:16
Fab
Um, there is some optimism like, it ah Marshall experience, like you got it right. Like he he does have a lot of pressure on his shoulders there, but I do like the fact that they added more weapons. I do like the fact that there is a different passing game coordinator because the Bobby Sloak experience to me wasn't it, my opinion.
00:05:30
Roger Emeka
Nope.
00:05:31
Fab
And I feel like that they did, they did go out and they did what they could to to help with that offensive line, which was an issue for him, right? Like he did lead the NFL in pressure rate, which at the same time, he kind of like the the weapons around him, if they stay healthy, I think we're going be looking at and a better season for CJ Stroud.
00:05:48
Fab
I mean, for me, he's still QB2 range. I'm not banging the drum over here to think he's going to come back as a QB1. QB5 in his rookie season was just ridiculous. i don't know if that'll ever be repeated, quite frankly. But i'm I'm a little more optimistic on him.
00:06:01
Fab
And as a bounce-back candidate, he finished as QB28 last year, 27. It doesn't get much better than that as a bounce-back candidate, but I would be okay with him as my QB
Nico Collins and Texans' Receivers
00:06:13
Fab
too.
00:06:13
Fab
I do like the upside and his floor, even with his bad games are not that, that bad.
00:06:20
Roger Emeka
So Chris, one thing to know is obviously, you know, we're focused on two QBs, two QB and Superflex. Fab has always been bullish on CJ Stroud. Knack was kind of the the whisper, QB whisper on this sophomore slump coming. Knack, I don't know if you have any thoughts, if you feel a bit better about CJ Stroud coming into the year after, you know, maybe he's been a little bit humbled, new OC, new offensive line.
00:06:44
The Marshall Exp
Yeah. I think that the offensive line were upgrades, but I don't think they were the upgrades that that really were... you know, that move the needle.
00:06:55
The Marshall Exp
um You know, for me again, at the quarterback 19, like i agree with fab there is a value. um You know, there's that potential for that bounce back season. um I, I will say that I think that he is a top 15 quarterback.
00:07:11
The Marshall Exp
And the reason I say that is because I am so high on an, as an individual on Nico Collins this next year, I think the target share for Nico Collins shoots through the roof.
00:07:22
Roger Emeka
Yeah, what but we'll get to the wide receivers.
00:07:22
The Marshall Exp
I mean, I, Sorry, but ahead. Yeah.
00:07:26
Roger Emeka
I want you to save that for for when we get to wide receivers.
00:07:26
The Marshall Exp
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:07:28
Roger Emeka
Chris, Nak, are you buying or selling CJ Stroud?
00:07:33
Nacc
I'm selling. i'm I'm still thinking, like, I think what what Chris just said, the offensive line, yeah, it's remade up, but is it really remade up to a point where it's going to make that huge of a difference?
00:07:45
Nacc
I'm going to say no. Mixon is already but bad banged up, excuse me, in in the backfield out of camp. It's supposed to miss some time. Nick Chubb has got two bad legs, and I don't know how that experience is going to work out really much. And I don't know. I don't see ah an avenue where he finishes top 15. Like, Goff right now is at 15, right? And then, like, I even like Drake May over that. I like Jordan Love over that.
00:08:11
Fab
Thank
00:08:11
Nacc
I even like Trevor Lawrence over that with Liam Cohen in in Jacksonville.
00:08:17
Nacc
Matthew Stafford's going at 22. There's even Bryce Young that I like even more than than Stroud.
Texans' Running Back Analysis
00:08:24
Nacc
He's got two rookie receivers, right? They're going to be good players, but it's going to take time to figure out the offense. I don't think it meshes and clicks right off the bat, right? You're going to need some rapport with these guys. So I don't know. I'm i'm selling on, on CJ Stroud. I it's one of the quarterbacks I think I'm avoiding. Cause I, I think there is a question mark there and I don't want to be around to, to, to see the answers. i'd I'd rather go, I'd rather go with someone else, even, even lower to to push for closer to that top 15.
00:08:53
Roger Emeka
Yeah, I think the talent is there with Stroud. I think he's still a very talented passer. offensive line additions, they completely revamped their O-line.
00:09:04
Roger Emeka
every new player Every player they added, ah or it's going to be a completely new line, whereas there's no no one who's coming back from their previous year.
00:09:12
Nacc
And that takes time to familiarize each thing.
00:09:13
Roger Emeka
And it takes time to gel.
00:09:14
Nacc
Yeah.
00:09:15
Roger Emeka
it takes time to gel as well. So i think it'll be interesting to see. We talked about, we'll move on to the running backs now. We mentioned Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb. Joe Mixon is rated as RB, ranked as RB19 right now, 29
00:09:33
Roger Emeka
He looks like he's been declining a little bit as if you look at the second half of last year. I owned him in quite a few leagues. He was the RB5 prior to his ankle injury when he got hip drop tackled.
00:09:47
Roger Emeka
But still he has ankle and foot injuries prior to camp. And then there's Nick Chubb who was added, who we all love Nick Chubb in terms of what he was with the Browns. He was a fantastic player, league winner potential, league winner overall.
00:10:03
Roger Emeka
Fab, how are we seeing this backfield?
00:10:07
Fab
Just ah in the time that you created these show notes, which I very much appreciate because they are very helpful. Joe Mixon has dropped like eight spots in his ADP.
00:10:19
Fab
Like right now his ADP is running back 27.
00:10:20
Roger Emeka
Discount.
00:10:22
Fab
No, like and he's falling and he should be falling. Like this is a running back room to avoid, quite frankly. um I am rooting for Nick Chubb just because I root for Nick Chubb and guys that come back from these sorts of injuries like you want him to do well. And Nick Chubb is a bona fide baller. We've all seen him do what he did for the Browns. So give the guy a little bit of credit here. I hope he does have ah have a good season. But, you know, those are gruesome injuries that he's coming back from.
00:10:47
Fab
And Joe Mixon, you know, he's we saw him decline towards the end of last season. Now he's injured during camp and all these other things that are propping up that you wouldn't expect him to prop up. So, no, I mean, the there aren't any running backs that i'm really targeting on this team come draft day um even Even from a flyer standpoint, maybe Woody Marks, and you know, the elite pass catching profile that he has at college. He's rookie.
00:11:13
Fab
I'm not really sure what year he was drafted out of. Well, sorry, not round he was drafted out of, but he does come up with some interesting stats and he has a big body of work in college. So that could be interesting. But then again,
00:11:23
Roger Emeka
he's been He's been talked about a lot in camp. There's been a lot of talk about Woody Marks recently out of USC.
00:11:25
Fab
yeah
00:11:28
Fab
So definitely a name to consider and to look into. And you could be like one of those guys that you pick up with your last pick of the draft because you have nobody else to look for. But apart from that, I mean, it's it's a lottery ticket that you're looking for with any one of these ah RBs. And I'm um moving on to a different RB room, quite frankly.
00:11:47
Roger Emeka
Nak, what do you think?
00:11:49
Nacc
Yeah, I don't
Colts Quarterback and Offense Discussion
00:11:50
Nacc
know. I'm i'm definitely out on Mixon. I think Chubb right now is going as RB49. forty nine So, I mean, if if that injury lingers for Mixon, maybe you get a bargain in in Chubb later in the later rounds, 11th, 12th, 13th rounds.
00:12:07
Nacc
And, you know, maybe he starts, maybe he takes the reins. You don't you don't know. But I think Fab said it best. they're Definitely a running back room to kind of avoid. right now give me you know pacheco at 27 caleb johnson jalen warren at 31 like there's there's so many other guys i don't know i think there there seems to be a lot of stock in this in this houston offense for a team that didn't do so great last year right so uh yeah again i'm i'm it's a team i don't really like at all this year i'm not i'm not really high on the on the texans like you said there's just a lot of changes that go around and
00:12:46
Nacc
It's not a team that I'm really looking forward to, or I'm not a team i'm I'm going to be high hopes for, basically, um this year.
00:12:55
Roger Emeka
Chris, what do you think about that? Pacheco or Mixon? Or even there's Pacheco at 26 right now in the fantasy pros composite. Mixon at 27. Caleb Johnson at 28. Or even Brian Robinson Jr.
00:13:06
Roger Emeka
at 29. Who would you take out of those?
00:13:08
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, I mean, theres there's some definite better options. But my my ultimate question would be here is how much do we think Nick Chubb is actually going to eat into Joe Mixon's workload?
00:13:20
The Marshall Exp
You know, for me last year, Mixon was running back two in points per game behind only your, your own Saquon Barkley. Okay.
00:13:28
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:13:28
The Marshall Exp
He started off a real hot in weeks one through 14.
00:13:30
Roger Emeka
yep
00:13:33
The Marshall Exp
That was before the injury, like, like Roger had said, um you know, but then after that had worked as running back 37 in points per game at 8.2 you know, obviously wasn't um living up to the hype and the fantasy playoffs.
00:13:47
The Marshall Exp
Now I think with, having that support system in nick chubb i'm a big nick chubb fan too of myself um i think alleviates the pressure joe mixon has which possibly potentially could make him better i mean he's like
00:14:03
Roger Emeka
does he Doesn't that become, sorry to cut you off, Chris, doesn't become a committee then, which makes even more undraftable?
00:14:08
The Marshall Exp
no because because of the offense for me and this this goes off of what nack said
00:14:11
Roger Emeka
Hmm.
00:14:15
The Marshall Exp
the offense is bad, right? But in these bad offenses, there's always a player that has to have the target share has to have moved the offense. Okay. It's going to be Nico Collins in the receiving game, but I mean, you can't tell me that's it.
00:14:28
The Marshall Exp
This is going to be a lot of key, quick passes, lot of dinks and dunks. And Joe Mixon is going to see a lot of that because let's be honest, he's the better receiving back out of him and Nick Chuck. Okay.
00:14:37
Nacc
Yeah, I think so.
00:14:37
The Marshall Exp
I do like what he marks. However, I don't think that he's on that level yet.
00:14:40
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:14:43
The Marshall Exp
So, you know, that's that's my question.
00:14:45
Roger Emeka
Yeah, I think it'll be interesting to see what comes out of Woody Marks in terms of camp, what comes out of it in terms of preseason, how much he's used.
00:14:50
Fab
Yeah.
00:14:54
Roger Emeka
I think he's going to get drafted for sure in fantasy leagues as well. But um if the only thing I'll take out of this is they're they're getting Nick Kaley from the Rams. And this is something I've talked about a lot in terms of Rams coaches, Rams coaching.
00:15:08
Roger Emeka
The Rams coaching infrastructure always favors one running back. So you know whether it's McVay, you kind of even saw with with zach it Zach Robinson last year with the Falcons where they they obviously featured Bijan Robinson more.
00:15:22
The Marshall Exp
you
00:15:23
Roger Emeka
i think it'll be interesting to see if they try to hone in on on one running back. um But Mixon, 29 years old, 30 years old, he doesn't have that crazy superpower that like a Derrick Henry has with regards to speed and power, right? He's always trying to kind of gotten through with guts and will, a bit of slashing and and cutting.
00:15:40
Roger Emeka
So if he's he's already hobbled, I tend to agree with with, I kind of agree with all of you guys, really, that you know it's a backfield to to avoid. Especially Fab who really stated it that and I don't want anything to do with this this backfield.
00:15:54
Roger Emeka
We talked a lot about Nico Collins, talking about CJ Stroud, just talking about this overall offense.
00:15:54
Fab
but
00:16:00
Roger Emeka
Key stat to talk about is Nico Collins averaged 60 yards per game without Stefan Diggs in Tank Dell. But he did see a first reach here spike to 37% when they were when they were out so Can Nico Collins maintain WUR1 production without Diggs and Dell?
00:16:18
Roger Emeka
I'll give it over to NACC.
00:16:23
Nacc
Look, i when you're when you're talking fantasy football, target share is a big one that you want to see, right? And when you're close to 40% target share, you're going to get... ah You're going to eat at some point, right? like yeah and We mentioned that Stroud may not be whatever, but like we said, he's he's still a talented quarterback. He's still going to get the ball out, and he's going to get the ball out to Nico Collins.
00:16:48
Nacc
Now... I think he's he's jumped to wide receiver four right now on the board. He leapfrogged Puka Nakua, I think, with the injury to Stafford. the The Rams players are somewhat dropping, but it seems like like in that second tier with a Nico Collins, Nakua, Neighbors, Thomas, Samarand, St. Brown, like I think Collins is going to have a really, really good season. I think i'm really that's the player, if I had to pick one on the team to...
00:17:18
Nacc
you know, go after and go for would definitely be Nico Collins because as I mentioned earlier, those wide receivers are going to take time to gel. And even those screen passes, like we said, the offensive line might not be best. So he might get catch some short screens with with room to run.
00:17:34
Nacc
i don't know. i I personally, I like Nico Collins this year for sure.
00:17:38
Roger Emeka
Chris, what do you think? Yeah. I know you had some thoughts on Nico Collins earlier in.
00:17:41
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, I second that. um You know, if if we're talking about C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins connection, I mean, Nico Collins is one of the single handedly best wide receivers in fantasy.
00:17:53
The Marshall Exp
Last year, he was wide receiver eight in points per game, yards per route run, number one, targets per route run, number nine. I mean, he's he's up there. um You know, he should be in top 10 real life for me.
00:18:07
The Marshall Exp
But I think he earns top five consideration in fantasy land thanks to the potential to breeze past 150 targets to, you know, an offense led by just him and Joe Mixon.
00:18:22
Roger Emeka
Yeah, and and Fab fa will know this more than anyone, but prior to his injury, he had games 117, 135, 151 yards. And he still had his two other games were of 86 and 78 yards. So Fab, you've always been kind of the cheerleader of Nico Collins' fan club.
00:18:41
Roger Emeka
i would assume you are also all in on him this year, despite maybe any trepidation you have like with CJ Stratton in offensive line.
00:18:49
Fab
The trepidations I have with Nico Collins have nothing to do with CJ Stroud nor the offensive line. The only trepidations I have with him are his injury concerns.
00:18:57
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:18:58
Fab
Like he did miss about four games last year. ah he hasn't played a full season. Like he's missed one game or two games here and there. And then there are some seasons where he missed like four or five. So that's, that's the only concern that I have.
00:19:09
Fab
ah But even with that, he's still a top 10 wide receiver. He's still argue, arguably a top five wide receiver because when the guy plays, he balls, he balls out. Like there's, like he's he's fun to watch. He's fun to have on your team. And you know he's you're getting 40% target share. like What more do you want?
00:19:26
Fab
I feel like his production in the beginning of the season might be slowed down a little bit just until the rookie wide receivers like sort of understand the playbook a little bit better. So I feel like until the offense starts to to start humming a little bit more. Like i I could see that that being an issue for him because he gets more double teamed and all that stuff, right? Even though it's a big body wide receiver, it's still tough when everyone is focusing on you.
00:19:51
Fab
But, you know, assuming he stays healthy, like, yeah, you're looking at a potential top five wide receiver next year. This year, sorry.
00:19:58
Roger Emeka
I had forgotten how much time he missed. He he's he has not completed a complete season since he's been drafted. And you talk about the other wide receivers.
00:20:04
Fab
That's the only thing against him.
00:20:07
Roger Emeka
Sorry, sorry, repeat that? Yeah.
00:20:08
Fab
I say that's the only, that's the only knock I have against him because when he does plays those, when he does play those 10 games or those 12 games, like it's wide receiver, one numbers assignment close.
00:20:10
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:20:19
Roger Emeka
Yeah, and and just quickly on the other ancillary pieces at the wideout position, Jaden Higgins jaden higgins and Jalen Noel actually both played at Iowa State. They both had really good careers there. Higgins, pretty much the same body type as Collins, 220, 22.
00:20:34
Roger Emeka
He seems like a big catch radius touchdown guy. So from what I've been reading, he looks like he'll start opposite Nico Collins. And then Jalen Noel, if anyone listened to our pre-draft shows, I was very high on him in terms of a fast slot player.
00:20:48
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:20:48
Roger Emeka
i think he could replace kind of the tank Dell.
00:20:51
Roger Emeka
and from And then lastly, from what I'm seeing, looks like Christian Kirk, he might be odd man out depending on what happens in camp, what happens in preseason. We didn't talk about him much, but ah he's another guy who just absolutely can't stay healthy at all.
00:21:04
Nacc
Yeah, injury, I was about to say, injury prone another injury-prone player added to the mix
00:21:07
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:21:10
Roger Emeka
Yeah. And then ah lastly, we'll go quickly. ah Dalton Schultz at tight end. ah He is currently ranked as considered a low volume tight end. i mean, i won't I won't go through a round table here, but I think, you know, from a tight end perspective, Schultz at tight end 27, it's, you know, he's around the Jatavian Sanders, Juwan Johnson, Elijah ro Arroyo area. You know, you take a fly on him, but he's more of ah a streamer tight end.
00:21:34
Roger Emeka
Any disagreements on that?
00:21:35
Fab
no
00:21:36
Nacc
no
00:21:40
Roger Emeka
Awesome. So we'll move on to the Indianapolis Colts who finished eight and nine, very inconsistent season for the Colts. There was flashes of brilliance from Jonathan Taylor, who, you know, when you, we'll talk about it more, but when you look into the the numbers, he had a fantastic season.
00:21:58
Roger Emeka
um But I think that the the key thing with the Colts is what's going on with the quarterback position. Obviously, Anthony Richardson, there was serious development concerns with regards to season he had. He got injured again.
00:22:10
Roger Emeka
So that'll be kind of the storyline from a fantasy perspective and how that leads into the rest of the the roster. Some no-threaty changes.
00:22:16
Fab
you
00:22:18
Roger Emeka
Daniel Jones was signed. One year, $14 million dollars was guaranteed. They drafted Tyler Warren at tight end in the first round, and they also lost two starting offensive linemen. It felt like a lot of what the Colts did was on the defensive side, which they improved their secondary.
00:22:31
Roger Emeka
ah so it'll be interesting to see how they fare from an offensive perspective. perspective It starts at the quarterback position. Chris, I'll ask you, is it time to give up on Anthony Richardson considering he has fewer than 350 career pass attempts and he's barely at 50% completion rate
00:22:52
The Marshall Exp
I don't think so quite yet.
Jaguars' Key Players and Strategy
00:22:53
The Marshall Exp
And right now, we you know we all know what the what the biggest money getter in fantasy football is, and it's on the ground, right? Quarterbacks, dual threat quarterbacks get the job done um and don't necessarily have to throw for 350 yards to get you a big game, a.k.a. Jalen Hurts.
00:23:11
The Marshall Exp
um you know But for me, listen, the quarterback most fantasy points per game from purely rushing the last three years, okay,
00:23:14
Nacc
Nice plug. Yeah, with about a
00:23:21
The Marshall Exp
Jalen Hurts at number one, 9.6. nine point six Anthony Richardson is next at 8.2. Okay, so that and a lot of his fantasy points are coming from the ground, which we understand.
00:23:28
Nacc
yeah with about ah
00:23:33
The Marshall Exp
He does need to work on his passing game. He needs to work on his health, i'm staying on the football field. You know, there's there's a there's a lot of things that need to happen, but because of his rushing upside, I'm not so sure I'm um'm ready to ready ready to hit the panic button.
00:23:51
Nacc
That second place, though, that 8.6 you mentioned, that that's in how many games that he's played? Like six? Eight? Right?
00:23:58
The Marshall Exp
Yes.
00:23:58
Nacc
When you're comparing to a Jalen Hurts, it sounds so much more impressive because he's played how many more games, right? And that's that line. So, yeah, for sure. Anthony Richardson is a QB that any given Sunday could put up 30 points.
00:24:12
Nacc
The problem is, is any given Sunday, he could turn around and put up 6.9 points, and you're crying at the end of the week.
00:24:17
The Marshall Exp
yes
00:24:19
Nacc
And it seems that there's a lot more of those 6.9 points that happen, and then he's injured. So for me, look, I guess I have a a little bit of um a saltiness too to him as well.
00:24:29
Roger Emeka
you
00:24:32
Nacc
I went, I had first overall pick last year, it took Josh Allen in a 2QB league. And then on the turn, Anthony Richardson was there. So I went for the home run. hit of Josh Allen and Anthony Richardson thought I was going to win the league with 30 points each a game. And after the second game, he was hurt and ended up dropping him, whatever the case is. It's just, he's too volatile right now, but I guess like he's, and he might not even start.
00:24:58
Nacc
He might not be the starter this year. That's the other point, right? Like Daniel Jones is the better thrower of the football. I never thought I'd say that in a sentence. But he is the better thrower out of the two of the football.
00:25:08
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
00:25:11
Nacc
So with now him not even starting, again, so the colt on the cold side, I'm not going to give up on him. Still a rookie contract. Still got control. That's fine.
00:25:22
Nacc
But if you're going to get beat out of camp by Daniel Jones, that's very, very telling to me.
00:25:29
Roger Emeka
But did you guys think, Fab, do you think he'll actually get beat out? Daniel Jones, supporter number one, still.
00:25:34
Fab
yes Yes, Daniel Jones always shows up to camp. It's the regular games that he forgets to play.
00:25:40
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
00:25:41
Fab
um But just to add on the Anthony Richardson thing, like from a fantasy football perspective, right now he's going against QB 29. So in leagues like ours where you're drafting two QBs, Superflex, all that stuff, he is the definition of a lottery pick.
00:25:57
Fab
you're You're taking him as your third quarterback, assumingly after you drafted your starters. And this is the guy that's like, you know what?
00:26:03
Nacc
maybe even fourth.
00:26:04
Fab
If he hits, he's a league winner. If he hits and stays healthy and plays more than six games, like Chris said, but based on his sample size, like if he plays more than those games, like he he is a league winner.
00:26:09
Roger Emeka
Thanks.
00:26:17
Fab
He is what Knack wanted him to be last year. And, you know, like, yeah, you win fantasy. Like, you get fantasy points more with your legs than do with your arms, right? We've seen that with a bunch of different players, especially from a quarterback perspective. So, yeah, obviously, there's there's there's interest, especially at QB 29.
00:26:34
Fab
Like, you're looking at the guys that are around that spot. Like, I'm not taking Joe
Titans' Roster and Player Impact
00:26:38
Fab
Flacco over Anthony Richardson. I'm not taking Russell Wilson. I'm not taking Aaron Rodgers. Those guys have very solid floors, but, like, they have no ceilings.
00:26:47
Fab
Cam Ward, we have no idea what he is. Sam Darnold, we're assuming him that he's going to be the Sam Darnold of old and seeing ghosts and all that stuff, right?
00:26:53
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:26:54
Fab
So it's like, okay, if I got to throw a dart somewhere at QB 29, this is my third QB off that um that I'm adding to my team. Yeah, I'll take Anthony Richardson. And worst case, I drop him. Big deal.
00:27:05
Nacc
Thank you.
00:27:07
Roger Emeka
Chris, do you have anything to
00:27:09
The Marshall Exp
No, no. I mean, I think, I think that Daniel Jones definitely gets the job.
00:27:10
Roger Emeka
No.
00:27:13
The Marshall Exp
I do agree with the Mac on that.
00:27:13
Roger Emeka
Really? i So that the way the... Apparently Anthony Richards is starting the first preseason game. Daniel Jones is starting the second preseason game. Shane Steichen and the offense, they need to look at Justin Fields and say, how do I get Anthony Richardson to just be Justin Fields?
00:27:33
Roger Emeka
How do I get him to utilize his his legs, but at least increase his accuracy by... get to 60% accuracy rate, right? Get him to at least...
00:27:45
Roger Emeka
do two progressions instead of just, you know, maybe not three progressions or maybe just one one read looks, right? Look at Jalen, you're wearing an Eagles cap, Chris.
00:27:56
Roger Emeka
Look at Jalen Hurts. Everyone talks about how Jalen Hurts, he's just a runner. He still is not, you know, maybe he's at a top 12 passer, right? But he's able to make just enough plays and not make boneheaded mistakes.
00:28:08
Roger Emeka
Anthony Richardson, could just start making some of the layups that he's given, run the offense for him, he might have a chance to actually revive his career.
00:28:11
The Marshall Exp
Yes.
00:28:16
Nacc
And maybe not take unnecessary hits every two seconds.
00:28:19
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:28:19
Fab
Yeah. He has to avoid contact.
00:28:20
Roger Emeka
and not And not do that.
00:28:22
Nacc
Yeah, and definitely not pull out of the game.
00:28:22
Fab
He has to not look for contact when he's rushing to the end zone. Like I, he, dude, you're built like a linebacker.
00:28:25
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:28:28
Fab
Don't play like one. You're a quarterback. What's so hard to understand?
00:28:30
Roger Emeka
Yeah. i still I still think he... We talked about this in one of our old shows. I still think he wins the the role just because they they need to figure out once and for all what they have in him. And if this isn't the year, then they move on.
00:28:41
Roger Emeka
um One guy who i don't think we have to ever doubt his spot in terms of running back rankings is Jonathan Taylor. He is listed as the RB11 right now.
00:28:52
Roger Emeka
He finished RB13 with 11 catches and he missed three games. So I went through his but his game log and I did not realize how dominant he was. He averaged 32 carries in a hundred and 173 yards and 2.3 touchdowns over his final three games.
00:29:08
Roger Emeka
He's a complete zero in PPR. They sometimes don't utilize him on third down.
00:29:11
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:29:14
Roger Emeka
But to me RB11, Chris, is he the best bargain in terms of a running back at what the cost you get versus the production in the league?
00:29:23
The Marshall Exp
What scares me with Jonathan Taylor is the injuries. Okay. Now reminder that JT ran for 1,431 yards and touchdowns in just 14 games last season, which was 102 yards per game, which is, you know, the fantasy community is, is, is wonderful.
00:29:39
Roger Emeka
ye
00:29:45
The Marshall Exp
um You know, but his last full healthy season was 2021 Um, and that was 2,171 total yards and 20 touchdowns.
00:29:56
The Marshall Exp
So you do see the production, how it increases when he can stay healthy. Now, however, the, the last three years we have obviously had the, uh, the high ankle sprains. Um, he started the year on the IR with, uh, a back injury apparently in 23 and then the torn thumb ligament that pulled him out for the rest of the season.
00:30:15
The Marshall Exp
You know what i mean? So like, there's just, there's, there's just always something and he's missing these games.
00:30:15
Fab
Yes. Yeah.
00:30:17
Roger Emeka
ah Yeah.
00:30:20
The Marshall Exp
Um, Now, however, I'm happily scooping him up in like round two of fantasy drafts this offseason. um I do think around like the Derrick Henry's and the Ashton Jente's because of the workload and what that I mean, like I said, if he can stay healthy, that production, that 20 touchdown production is fantasy gold.
00:30:43
The Marshall Exp
And at that value.
00:30:43
Roger Emeka
Yeah, exactly. his
00:30:43
The Marshall Exp
yeah Yeah.
00:30:44
Roger Emeka
he has He has no competition.
00:30:44
Fab
yeah
00:30:46
Roger Emeka
There's no one of note that that's behind him.
00:30:47
Fab
Zero.
00:30:49
Roger Emeka
Fab, I mentioned where he is listed in terms of kind of that tier three running back range. Right after him is one of your favorites, Kyron Williams. Who do you trust more in terms of kind of an RB1, Jonathan Taylor or Kyron Williams?
00:31:05
Fab
ah I like Jonathan Taylor. I had him last year in a few of my leagues. The injury concern is there for me. I agree with Chris 100%, but he's like a lunch pail, blue chip type of player when it comes to running backs.
00:31:17
Fab
I mean, as a low-end RB1, which is where he's being ranked right now, like RB11, think it is. you can do a lot worse. um I might be just a little bit more higher today on Kyron Williams than I was yesterday just because he signed that contract. So I figured they're going to get at least one good year out of him.
00:31:17
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:31:34
Fab
And we all know how Sean McVay is with his running backs, but a punt returner, Kyron Williams, that he returned a total of zero punts last year.
00:31:35
Roger Emeka
punt Punt returner Kyron Williams.
00:31:42
Fab
um i can't, what what a mess that was. But anyways, I like Jonathan Taylor. I do like, sure. I might like Josh Jacobs more and Bucky Irving more, but I won't be totally upset if,
00:31:54
Fab
you know I might reach for a different wide receiver or a quarterback and then say, you know what, I'll take Jonathan Taylor on the turn later on after. I'll be totally fine with that. He gives you back proper RB1 numbers despite not having any PPR value.
00:32:10
Nacc
Yeah.
00:32:12
Nacc
I think it's, there's not many of these guys that are just pure runners left in the league, right?
00:32:13
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:32:17
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:32:17
Fab
No, there really aren't.
00:32:17
Nacc
Like there's really not, there's all these running backs that are catching balls now.
00:32:18
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:32:21
Nacc
And this guy is still that pure, pure runner. And I think you're happy to have them. And honestly, they figured to run a lot with two QBs that, that struggle with consistency. So he's going to see a lot of the, a lot of the ball and,
00:32:34
Nacc
It'd be nice to have his catches over over that 18 mark this year. But, um I mean, yeah, I think they're going to – again, he's got to stay healthy. If he can only miss one or two games, you're happy with that. And hopefully it's earlier on rather than, you know, playoff time. But, yeah, I'm i'm i'm for sure all in on Jonathan Taylor.
00:32:56
Fab
just Just wondering, if Daniel Jones start, is that better or worse for Jonathan Taylor?
00:33:04
The Marshall Exp
In my opinion, better.
00:33:04
Nacc
I think better.
00:33:05
The Marshall Exp
Because he's the he's the passer.
00:33:05
Fab
Yeah.
00:33:07
The Marshall Exp
He's the better passer.
00:33:08
Fab
Yeah.
00:33:08
The Marshall Exp
Richardson is going to take away from his rushing.
00:33:11
Fab
that's that's that That's my logic as well.
00:33:13
Nacc
Daniel Jones runs also, but I mean, Daniel Jones could probably sustain more drives than Anthony Richardson as well.
00:33:15
The Marshall Exp
No. yeah
00:33:18
Nacc
So he'll be on the field more also.
00:33:21
Fab
i can't I'm so happy this podcast is being recorded so I can have these little
00:33:21
The Marshall Exp
Agreed.
00:33:25
Fab
Those sound bites of Knack propping up Daniel Jones every now and then.
00:33:28
The Marshall Exp
yeah
00:33:29
Nacc
I feel sick to my stomach while speaking today.
00:33:31
Roger Emeka
Well, Chris, you mentioned the 2021 1,800-yard, 18-touchdown season from Taylor and toinein in 2021.
00:33:38
The Marshall Exp
yeah
00:33:39
Roger Emeka
Carson Wentz was the QB. and you Counting stats, Carson Wentz was good, but everything I read or or remember from that season, Colts fans did not like him at all.
00:33:49
Roger Emeka
He was just a very, very bad player for them, and ah they ended up going with Matt Ryan the year after. and then, as we know, that kind of started the merry-go-round of quarterbacks for the Colts. So,
00:34:02
Roger Emeka
We'll move on to the pass catchers, the wide receivers. Josh Downs, Michael Pittman, funny enough, ranked wide receiver 42 and wide receiver 43. Knack, who do you like out of those two?
00:34:15
Nacc
I like Josh Downs.
00:34:16
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:34:16
Nacc
um I'm a Josh Downs guy. Pittman is just a guy that they I think way overpaid that that had that one like great season.
00:34:21
Roger Emeka
Yes.
00:34:24
Nacc
um And then look, ah like we're saying, if hopefully Daniel Jones starts, Downs had a pretty good but a good time with... um with Joe Flacco when he was in there, right?
00:34:34
Roger Emeka
Yes. 15 fantasy points per game.
00:34:35
Nacc
When someone was actually, as I'm saying, that he could actually pass the ball and get it over the middle.
00:34:37
Fab
Yes. Yes.
00:34:40
Nacc
um Huge, huge PPR guy as well. And he he could turn on the jets, this guy. i was surprised to see how fast this guy was.
00:34:47
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:34:49
Nacc
um i had also had him in in a couple of my leagues and was struggling when Anthony Richardson was there. So if Anthony Richardson starts, probably a little bit more, you know, down on downs, no pun intended in there.
00:35:02
Nacc
But, um yeah, i don't know. I definitely like him over Pittman if I have to see. Like, if when you're looking even at rankings at 42 and 43, give me downs over Pittman all day.
00:35:13
Roger Emeka
Yeah. What do you guys think Fab or Chris?
00:35:15
Fab
I'm on board with that. I like it.
00:35:16
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:35:16
Fab
I mean, I, I, I'm upset for Michael Pittman. Like after that one season i and he cashed in, I was like, okay, this guy is actually legit. You know, like in that a hundred year, hundred, hundred reception year and all that stuff. Like he, he looked like he was balling and it just didn't work out last year.
00:35:31
Fab
Maybe Daniel Jones can help turn that around a little bit. I can't believe how many times we've said Daniel Jones on this podcast. ah But ah too much.
00:35:37
Roger Emeka
Too much.
00:35:39
Fab
But I do like the Josh Downs idea, though.
00:35:39
Nacc
Way much.
00:35:41
Fab
I think there is a lot of value there.
00:35:41
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
00:35:42
Fab
Wide receiver 42 right now. and And I think people might be sleeping on that because there is some talent over there. He's super reliable in the slot. I like it.
00:35:51
Roger Emeka
Yeah, and and there's also AD Mitchell who they picked in the second round. I actually completely forgot about him until I saw a tweet about him today at training camp. I completely forgot he was on the team, but second rounder, let's see what they you know they think about him.
00:36:03
Nacc
Out of Texas, right?
00:36:05
Roger Emeka
Texas, yeah, and I think Pittman, think that contract was you know already a few years ago, so...
00:36:06
Fab
Yeah.
00:36:10
Nacc
And stay tuned.
00:36:11
Roger Emeka
And I think i think there you know it'll be interesting to see if they make downs the focal point. What do they do with A.D. Mitchell? um Another guy to factor into, maybe maybe the the biggest person to factor in into, is Tyler Warren out of Penn State.
00:36:26
Roger Emeka
Chris, I want to know your thoughts.
00:36:26
Nacc
and stay
00:36:27
Roger Emeka
What are realistic expectations for Tyler Warren considering the year he had? Last year at Penn State, I think it was over 1,200 yards, something 80 or 90 catches or so. 10 and 13 right now.
00:36:42
Roger Emeka
What are your thoughts?
00:36:42
The Marshall Exp
I think tight end 13 is super valuable. um Warren's potential range of outcomes really in 2025 seemingly go from the number three option or number four overall you know overall target in that offense. in ah and know Even if Daniel Jones is the starter in an okay passing game, it's not you know it's not like it's Joe Burrow or Josh Allen or
00:37:08
Nacc
Yes, he took us back down to earth. I love that. Thank you, Chris.
00:37:10
The Marshall Exp
You know what i mean?
00:37:10
Fab
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
00:37:11
The Marshall Exp
So, but to be, you know, the future featured wide receiver inside an offense that generally gotten the most out of its quarterbacks under Shane Steichen, big Shane Steichen fan.
00:37:24
The Marshall Exp
um I don't, I, I, I, I agree with the tight end 13, but I think that he will end up More than tight end 13. We don't know what he's going to be. He's going to be a super gadget player.
00:37:39
The Marshall Exp
They were talking about in camp how he was going to be the next Taysom Hill. How he was taking snaps at Penn State from the Wildcat.
00:37:46
Roger Emeka
well Well, that's what he was at Penn State. was like H-back-ish.
00:37:50
The Marshall Exp
Yeah. Yeah.
00:37:51
Roger Emeka
I don't think he's Brock Bowers, which Brock Bowers also played H-back.
00:37:53
The Marshall Exp
No.
00:37:54
Nacc
No. Dallas Clark.
00:37:55
Roger Emeka
he was Brock Bowers is a big run-after-catch guy at Georgia. i don't think Warren is that. I just don't think he's athletic enough. Titan has been an absolute wasteland for the Colts.
00:38:07
Roger Emeka
Honestly, I don't think they've been able to have anyone since Eric Ebron. And I think before Ebron, it's, you know, is it Dallas Clark?
00:38:11
The Marshall Exp
Dallas Clark.
00:38:12
Fab
Dallas Clark. do clark
00:38:13
Nacc
yeah clark
00:38:13
Roger Emeka
Yeah. it's It's been a disaster position. I think it's interesting in terms of how Shane Steichen will use him considering, you know, maybe they'll go back to some of the the Dallas Goddard, Zach Ertz years in terms of how they use him.
00:38:28
Roger Emeka
um Knack, Fab,
00:38:33
Roger Emeka
Like, I don't know, like, if if if you're our buddy Lucas or or Guido, who, you know, they seem like they love drafting our tight ends early. is this so Is this one you you guys are are kind of banking on trying to draft early, just maybe thinking he might be the the tight end one?
00:38:50
Nacc
No, i i don't i don't I can't see it. um Tight end one. i don't I don't see a way he gets into the top 10 realistically with with what's out there right now.
00:39:01
Nacc
I've got a little hopes for maybe someone else that could that can come jump in. But ah it's going to be... He's going to have, like you said, he's going to have to be used as a gadget and he's going be reliable gadget. like He's going to have to be... Yeah, I don't know.
00:39:16
Nacc
it's It's tough as a rookie. Like you said, he's not Brock Bowers. like Brock Bowers came in and destroyed the league. and't i just Like you said, not athletic enough. i don't I just don't see it. I wouldn't put my eggs in in this basket.
00:39:26
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:39:27
The Marshall Exp
no
00:39:27
Fab
Yeah, neither would I, and it has nothing to do with Tyler Warren for me. It has everything to do with the quarterbacks. Because even Daniel Jones, like when he was playing with the Giants, he wasn't exactly targeting his tight ends often. And Anthony Richardson doesn't target anyone.
00:39:38
Fab
So I don't, like Tyler Warren, like he's going to have to be the Taysom Hill of that offense to get any sort of fantasy value. And it sucks because like you look at him as tight end 13, As a rookie, highly touted rookie, there could be something there.
00:39:52
Fab
Because after the top three, top four guys in tight ends, like everything is just a wash, in my opinion.
00:39:58
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:39:58
Fab
I know you guys have mentioned it while i was on vacation. Like it's kind of sort of been the feeling for tight ends this year. And you think like, okay, you know what, tight end 13, there is some value there. But unfortunately, not for him in this offense with the quarterbacks they're throwing to him, in my opinion.
00:40:15
Roger Emeka
Great points on all. We'll move on to the four and 13 Jacksonville Jaguars. Just absolute coaching disasters. I saw you, Nak. Go for it.
00:40:25
Nacc
Duval. Duval. Duval.
00:40:26
Roger Emeka
Thank you. ah just saw your face like i i missed your duvacu
00:40:31
Nacc
ah
00:40:31
Fab
how How was it supposed to be pronounced?
00:40:34
Roger Emeka
Duval cue.
00:40:34
Nacc
duval
00:40:35
Fab
Duval?
00:40:35
Roger Emeka
Duval. Duval.
00:40:36
Fab
So he like butchered that, eh? In the press conference?
00:40:37
Roger Emeka
Duval.
00:40:38
Nacc
ova
00:40:38
Roger Emeka
Yeah. Completely butchered. Do have a Duval for us, Chris?
00:40:40
Fab
My goodness.
00:40:42
The Marshall Exp
Duval.
00:40:44
Roger Emeka
that's That's probably worse, actually.
00:40:45
Nacc
That was pretty good.
00:40:45
Fab
That was...
00:40:46
The Marshall Exp
There
00:40:46
Fab
and was i yeah I wasn't that bad.
00:40:46
Roger Emeka
But you did perfectly.
00:40:47
Nacc
That was good.
00:40:47
Roger Emeka
it's good That was the goal.
00:40:48
Fab
That wasn't...
00:40:48
Roger Emeka
The goal is to be worse than Cohen. and
00:40:50
The Marshall Exp
it was.
00:40:51
Roger Emeka
Speaking of Cohen, new coach again for the Jaguars.
00:40:51
Nacc
That was good.
00:40:54
Roger Emeka
It's been an absolute disaster for Trevor Lawrence. He started with the the Urban Meyer disaster. And then and know we thought maybe Doug Peterson might be able to right the ship considering his Super Bowl run with your Eagles, Chris.
00:41:06
Roger Emeka
That did not work out. So and then another new coach, we have Liam Cohen, as we mentioned, coming in. There's been Etienne, lack of inefficiency. And, you know, what are we going to do with this team?
00:41:18
Roger Emeka
in terms of noteworthy changes, we mentioned Cohen. Obviously, Travis Hunter is being added to Brian Thomas Jr., who had a sensational rookie year. Bashal Tootin was drafted in round four to join the bank backfield with Etienne along with Tank Bixby.
00:41:33
Roger Emeka
And now with Evan Ingram gone, there's Brenton Strange, who seems to have been promoted as tight end one for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence, QB 18.
00:41:45
Roger Emeka
We're about three to four years away from the 4,100-yard season, 25 TD, 8 INT playoff year where they upset the Chargers. Fab, what are we doing with Trevor Lawrence?
00:41:58
Roger Emeka
Is it make or break? Are we but past the make or break standpoint?
00:42:05
Fab
I like it's been make or break for him like for the last few seasons. I don't know if there's been a quarterback that's had a longer leash than Trevor Lawrence. And at QB 18, for me, i'm I'm weary, to be honest with you. like i'm very I am optimistic because of Liam Cohen, and we saw what he did with Tampa last year.
00:42:25
Fab
But to be fair, like Baker Mayfield had a good season prior to Liam Cohen. So i'm I'm not totally saying it's because of Liam Cohen that he had a better season or as good of a season, but I am optimistic that Trevor Lawrence can get back into the relevant quarterback area.
00:42:44
Fab
But at the same time, I'm, I still have some cause for concern. i don't have a lot of confidence in him. And, you know, we've we've talked about other guys in that range that could be more interesting, like the Drake maze of the world, but,
00:43:00
Fab
I don't know. If I can avoid it, I will, to be honest with you. It's not really a thought process that I want to have in my head.
00:43:07
Roger Emeka
What do
00:43:09
Nacc
He sure seems like the guy that I feel everyone is so far away from that could come in this year
00:43:14
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:43:17
Nacc
be drafted really low and become that top 10 guy. Like, yeah like it's, it's something that like we, everyone forgets he was a first overall pick. He did dominate everywhere at every level, high school, college, he won everywhere.
00:43:31
Nacc
So it's like to give up on him is, is I feel like it's crazy, but I, I could also say that like, this is it. Like this is your year. Like this is the time to do it, to show up, show out.
00:43:47
Nacc
Because or else, like, you've got the Brian Thomas Jr. You now added another weapon in Hunter. You've got another running back to play with. Like, you've got some toys. You've got some shiny toys to play with. And, like, Liam Cohen, like I said, he kind of revived Baker Mayfield.
00:44:03
Nacc
But this is a guy that I feel like is sneakily going underneath the radar. Everyone's sleep sweeping him underneath the rug. And he could come in and surprise
00:44:12
Roger Emeka
Chris, i I want to go back to you. so you're wearing that Eagles cap. You're a big Eagles fan.
00:44:16
The Marshall Exp
Mm-hmm.
00:44:17
Roger Emeka
Doug Peterson brought you guys a championship and then he would believe he was fired. And then Doug Peterson came to the Jaguars and it was fired. Is there anything from your from Doug Peterson's time with the Eagles at the end that, you know, in terms of what happened in Jacksonville, gives you optimism that he's no longer there and being replaced by Liam Cohen?
00:44:42
The Marshall Exp
I was never a Doug Peterson fan. um I thought that it was Nick Foles and frick Frank Wright that wreckck that that won that Super Bowl. it wasn't Doug Peterson in my opinion.
00:44:54
The Marshall Exp
um Wasn't necessarily happy to see him go because I didn't know what the next step was. um But you know when he went to Jacksonville, I i kind of seen this coming. It's a bad situation. And I i lean on that for Trevor Lawrence. I got two sides to this.
00:45:11
The Marshall Exp
Trevor Lawrence, he was a high draft pick. He succeeded in college. I like what Liam Cohen did with Baker Mayfield. On the other side of that, Baker Mayfield is not Trevor Lawrence.
00:45:25
The Marshall Exp
yeah Again, I agree with Fab. Baker Mayfield has had that better better season already and but prior to Liam Cohen, so Liam Cohen had fed off of that. It's going to be a little harder with Trevor Lawrence now that he's gotten into this rut.
00:45:38
The Marshall Exp
um you know But with that said, i'm not I'm labeling Lawrence as one of my quarterbacks that I'm not having to need to go out of my way to draft.
00:45:49
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:45:49
The Marshall Exp
yeah Again, around guys like Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, even J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy is the only one that hasn't demonstrated a higher ceiling than Lawrence during their respective careers.
00:45:57
Nacc
Thank you.
00:46:02
The Marshall Exp
So it's just it's sort of a depth that makes waiting at quarterback... you know, okay. But again, I agree with Mac that this, I mean, he, if he clicks with Liam Cohen, he could click.
00:46:15
The Marshall Exp
I mean, he could, he could be top 12 potential in my opinion, if he, if he works out in this ah offense with the weapons he has, but it's ah it's a big risk, big,
00:46:20
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:46:23
Roger Emeka
i I feel like everyone is looking at drafting him as like, ah like especially in two QB Superflex, QB3. Like, hey, I'll take him at QB3 and you know if I see proof of concept for three, four weeks, I'll
00:46:32
Fab
Oh my god, yeah.
00:46:35
Nacc
Oh, he will go QB3. He's going to go in the top 20 for sure.
00:46:36
Fab
He's going to go sooner though. He's not going to make it.
00:46:38
Roger Emeka
He always goes sooner. some
00:46:39
Nacc
he's go to go in the top twenty for sure
00:46:40
Roger Emeka
He always goes way earlier than, especially in our in our league, in Bush League, he always goes earlier than I would dare take him.
00:46:41
Fab
Oh yeah.
00:46:47
Roger Emeka
um If for some reason he doesn't, i'll be happily I'll happily pounce, but I don't want him as a QB1 or QB2. We'll move on to another questionable position for the Jaguars, the running back position.
00:46:59
Roger Emeka
Travis Etienne Jr., RB31. was the RB3 2023. he was the rr b three in twenty twenty three
00:47:05
Nacc
Yeah.
00:47:06
Roger Emeka
Last year, he averaged 3.75 yards per carry on 417 carries so over the last two seasons. I've always said his biggest issue is inefficiency in short yardage.
00:47:19
Roger Emeka
That's why they have Tank Bigsby, who is ranked at RB42. I don't know, Nak. We talked about the Texans. To me, this is ah another running running backfield to to avoid. i don't know if you feel the same way.
00:47:32
Nacc
Yeah, I think, well, look, like, Tootin and Bigsby, I think, are are perfectly rated or where they are, like, in drafting position because I don't even see Etienne finishing the year with the Jaguars this year.
00:47:45
Nacc
Like, i don't I don't predict them to be, you know, vying for that that division crown either, right?
00:47:45
Fab
I agree.
00:47:52
Nacc
So it could be... Trade deadline, maybe they they want to get rid of him or or something like that. Like, something's got to give here, right? there There's three capable guys in this in this backfield. I don't think it could stay that way forever.
00:48:04
Nacc
And Tutin, I think, is the most um interesting one out of the out of the three. definitely has explosive speed and future passing down back right so i i just the value is there more with taking a a shot with let's say a tootin than would go even it's yen like it's yen you're that's that's that's flex territory are you okay with putting it's in in your flex week in and week out like i'm i'm not know about you guys but i'm not
00:48:30
Roger Emeka
Not even.
00:48:31
Fab
No, I'm not.
00:48:34
The Marshall Exp
No, absolutely not.
00:48:35
Fab
No, I agree.
00:48:38
Roger Emeka
i feel we all feel the same way about this backfield. It's it's one to avoid.
00:48:40
The Marshall Exp
Well, and and for me, I think the best case scenario or the, but well, they have the best case scenario and that's Liam Cohen.
00:48:40
Roger Emeka
It's, uh, yeah.
00:48:41
Fab
yeah
00:48:48
The Marshall Exp
Liam Cohen with the Bucs last year racked up the league's fourth most rushing yards.
00:48:48
Roger Emeka
Hmm.
00:48:53
The Marshall Exp
Okay. While ranking third in yards per attempt. Now we go off of that. Now is the, is the Buccaneers running back room that much better than the Jacksonville Jaguars? Possibly.
00:49:04
The Marshall Exp
Right. But I think Liam Cohen brings that energy.
00:49:05
Nacc
think it's miles ahead. Hmm.
00:49:07
The Marshall Exp
and I think he likes to run the ball and I think he likes to utilize his running back in several different ways, a.k.a.
00:49:09
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:49:14
The Marshall Exp
Bucky Irving and Rashad White. And, you know, um I think that he can do that with with with the Jackson, with the ETN and and find a role for Tank Bigsby.
00:49:16
Fab
Yeah.
00:49:24
The Marshall Exp
Tootin, the one thing that scares me is the fumbles. The fumbles was an issue in college and it makes me a little nervous, but you know, I, I, I gave, I gave everybody a chance and he gets his.
00:49:39
Roger Emeka
yeah that's a good point on Cohen aspect for a rushing perspective. um the I think that the issue is the run blocking, right? Like how the Bucs have an all-pro on the offensive line. They have a pretty established and pretty tenured offensive line. I think that's that's an area where the Jaguars are still...
00:49:55
Roger Emeka
are still struggling. um We'll move on quickly to the wider receiver position. Chris, I want i want to know, how are you how are you thinking about drafting Travis Hunter considering the recent news that he was going to play, it sounds like 80% of his snaps were on offense.
00:50:04
Fab
you
00:50:13
Roger Emeka
But then there is there's talk about he's in 50% of the defensive meetings, 50% of the offensive meetings. Seems like there's a lot of back and forth stuff. I tweeted out today that I don't think we're going to know anything de definitive until week one.
00:50:25
Roger Emeka
Any noise you hear about his type of usage, whether on offense or defense, I think that's just noise right now. Do you see him as a bona fide WR30 right now, which ranks him as in fantasy? Yeah.
00:50:38
Roger Emeka
in fantasy
00:50:40
The Marshall Exp
I think he has the potential to, um you know, for me right now, right now he's playing first team offense, second team defense. um But I mean, what's there not to get excited about?
00:50:51
The Marshall Exp
I mean, the the kid's good. I mean, we can't, we can't argue that Liam Cohen is going to take this, this new toy and he's going he's going to utilize it right now. How, how often is, is, is the big question?
00:51:02
The Marshall Exp
I think, I think that this will kind of stick. Okay. I think that if you look back, Okay. Into the Deion Sanders days. I think we are done with that. Okay. But I don't think that, you know, him playing 70% offense, taking a series off.
00:51:18
The Marshall Exp
And then, cause they have Deami Brown. I mean, Deami Brown's a good guy that can, a guy that can take off the top.
00:51:22
Roger Emeka
Great call.
00:51:24
The Marshall Exp
Right.
00:51:25
Roger Emeka
He was really good.
00:51:25
Nacc
Yep. Yep.
00:51:26
Roger Emeka
he was really good at the end of the season for the commanders, especially the playoff game against the the Lions.
00:51:28
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, absolutely.
00:51:29
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:51:30
The Marshall Exp
Yes. So, you know, um they have a capable wide receiver to body. That's already done it before. So he takes the series off and then he goes back on defense. I mean, I think it can be done.
00:51:42
The Marshall Exp
and It'll be a really fun season to watch, but it's it's hard for me not to get excited about Hunter.
00:51:48
Nacc
that I think from from your point, that's what I think scares me a little bit is the percentage of plays that he's going to play on the offensive side of the ball. Should it be more offensive?
00:52:00
Nacc
I guess, like I said, it seems like it will be, but it's also, I feel like it's going to be a lot of game script, right? So if he's going to be needed more on defense, maybe he's going to play more on defense.
00:52:12
Nacc
If he's going to be, you know what i mean? Like it's just, it's going to be one of those things where it could flip flop every single week, right?
00:52:14
Fab
Yep.
00:52:17
Nacc
So Maybe one week he plays 70% offense and the next week he pays 70% defense. Then what are you going You got him in your lineup and then what are you going to do, right?
00:52:22
Roger Emeka
That's such a good point.
00:52:24
Fab
yep
00:52:24
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, that is't that is an excellent point.
00:52:25
Nacc
So I feel like it's never going to be 50-50 or 60-40 every single week. It's going to change every single week. And that's why, to me, wide receiver 30 is outrageous because you just never know. what like You're putting him in your lineup as your third wide receiver and you just don't know what you're going to get week in and week out.
00:52:46
Roger Emeka
Such a good point, Nak.
00:52:47
Fab
Yeah, I agree.
00:52:51
Roger Emeka
And then we have at tight end, Brenton Strange. Looking at his game log now, he actually had some some pretty good games. ah He had 5 for 59 game against the Packers. he had an 11-catch game against the Jets for 73 yards, and he ended the season with 4 for 60 yards.
00:53:07
Roger Emeka
I think he's a really solid option at tight end with no Evan Ingram, obviously. i think it's another one, maybe better than a streamer than say a Dalton, Dalton Schultz.
00:53:19
Roger Emeka
Any thoughts on Bretton strange? I know was at fab you, you had him a bit in our Bush league last year.
00:53:24
Nacc
ah check out
00:53:25
Fab
No, knack at him.
00:53:25
Nacc
so check out is i did yeah and Go check out his YouTube highlights as a Nittany Lion.
00:53:26
Roger Emeka
Not kind Yeah.
00:53:27
Fab
Knack at him.
00:53:31
Nacc
Just go check it out.
00:53:32
Roger Emeka
X Nittany line too.
00:53:33
Fab
i don't even I don't need to do that.
00:53:33
Nacc
Yes, he is.
00:53:34
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
00:53:35
Fab
He's the number one tight end on an offense ah that needs a tight end, and he's going as tight end 20 right now, and he's good.
00:53:35
The Marshall Exp
yeah
00:53:41
Fab
Like, for me, that is all I need to do.
00:53:42
Nacc
Yeah, he's a good he looks good.
00:53:43
Fab
Like, yeah, he he had a few... had some decent games last year, and he figures he's going to be heavily... heavily Featured in the offense, right? Nax's point is very good. You don't know what type of role Travis Hunter is going to play from one game to another.
00:53:58
Fab
And I think that opens the door for more targets for Brenton Strange, too, just to get him involved in in in those types of scenarios where they need another pass catcher and Travis Hunter is more focused on defense.
00:54:10
The Marshall Exp
Absolutely. i mean, especially with Travis, you don't know what Travis Hunter situation, right? Obviously, when he's off the field, Brenton Strange's target share goes up immediately.
00:54:15
Fab
Now.
00:54:18
The Marshall Exp
I do think that, you know, this is one of those players that's the Puka Nakua type, right? Last year, week week two waiver wire hits, and we're all going after the same player, and it turns out to be the league winner.
00:54:33
The Marshall Exp
Brenton Strange has that ability to, you know, with the target share and the just the full time role. I mean, it's it's ah don't be afraid to use at least ah a late round pick on a potential top 10 breakout.
00:54:46
Fab
Yeah, like nobody's talking about him.
00:54:47
Nacc
Love it.
00:54:49
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
00:54:49
Fab
People are drafting guys like Hunter Henry and Tyler Warren before him. and
00:54:54
Roger Emeka
especially Especially Henry. like it'ss
00:54:55
Fab
um so Especially Hunter Henry.
00:54:56
Nacc
He is the most boring player ever.
00:54:57
Fab
Oh, yeah.
00:55:00
Fab
and
00:55:00
Roger Emeka
feel it's been there, done that for Henry.
00:55:00
The Marshall Exp
I kind of agree.
00:55:02
Roger Emeka
ah So I agree with you guys on Brenton Strange. And ah with all this hoopla about Travis Hunter, we obviously glossed over Brian Thomas Jr. He's going ah ranked as WR eight now, ah just after Nico Collins, right before Drake London and Aja Brown.
00:55:10
Fab
oh yeah
00:55:17
Roger Emeka
I think that's a perfect rating for him. I personally like him ah more than Drake London. And again, the the A.J. Brown stuff, we've talked about A.J. Brown in previous episodes. um just Just always unsure about the the Philly situation because they run the ball so much. And I feel like his target share is going less and less. But if there's no agreement disagreements here, WR8 for Brian Thomas Jr. ah in line for another breakout, a potential bigger season than last year ah with a new offensive coordinator. I think that's perfect for him.
00:55:45
Nacc
Agreed.
00:55:47
Roger Emeka
We shall move on to, last but not least, the Tennessee Titans, the 3 and 14 Tennessee Titans. Bottom five scoring offense, fully rebuilding now with Cam Ward.
00:55:59
Roger Emeka
Gone or out for the season is Will Levis. that This is a big year for that coaching staff, for for Brian Callahan. um He came in from Cincinnati. Honestly, the team didn't look good. Levis didn't didn't improve. They looked disorganized.
00:56:14
Roger Emeka
Didn't seem like they had a great plan either. They even they fired their GM, ah the GM that I believe fired Mike Vrabel. So there's a lot of ah well lot of work for this organization to do after they let go of Mike Vrabel, after they they traded AJ Brown.
00:56:28
Roger Emeka
In terms of all their noteworthy changes, as mentioned, Cam Ward was drafted number one overall. They still have Calvin Ridley as the WR1. They didn't really add any anyone of note except for ah fan of... A favorite of mine, Xavier Restrepo and Gunnar Helm at tight end.
00:56:46
Roger Emeka
And they obviously have Tony Pollard and TyJ Spears and in the mix. So... It's no secret anymore. i am a big, big supporter of Cam Ward. I think Cam Ward is going to have a very good rookie season.
00:57:00
Roger Emeka
Actually, if i I looked at some of the previous rookie seasons ah from number one overall picks, Cam Newton had the best one in terms of fantasy points at 370. Then was Jameis Winston 281.
00:57:10
Roger Emeka
then it was jamus winson at two eighty one ah with the Bucks, Baker Mayfield at 260 with the Browns, Peyton Manning at 241, Trevor Lawrence at 211, and then Joe Burrow, who was on pace for way better, but he only finished at 193.
00:57:26
Roger Emeka
I personally think Cam Ward could finish in the kind of 280 realm.
00:57:30
Roger Emeka
I think he's going to ton of yards.
00:57:30
Nacc
Wow.
00:57:31
Nacc
Wow.
00:57:32
Roger Emeka
I don't think he's going to throw a lot of touchdowns because the the ah weapons are not necessarily there.
00:57:34
Nacc
wow
00:57:35
Fab
Really? I mean... Yeah.
00:57:39
Roger Emeka
Go at it. who What do you guys think? I'll let you guys figure it out.
00:57:42
Fab
i mean
00:57:43
Roger Emeka
who What do you guys think about that take?
00:57:44
The Marshall Exp
He's just, he's not that high for me. um
00:57:46
Fab
yeah
00:57:46
Roger Emeka
Really...
00:57:47
The Marshall Exp
You know, you I know for me, well, look, the Titans last year were just one of eight offenses to allow 50 plus sacks and wound up ranking a low 30th in support cast rating.
00:57:58
The Marshall Exp
Okay. Just the team around him is bad. The offensive line is bad. Calvin really, I mean, I get it.
00:58:01
Roger Emeka
They improved it though. they they They signed your guy, right, Nak, from the Pittsburgh Steelers?
00:58:06
Nacc
Yeah, the guy that gave up the most sacks last year.
00:58:09
The Marshall Exp
Yeah. I mean, it's, it's, it's, it's not Will Levis.
00:58:11
The Marshall Exp
Let's get back it.
00:58:11
Roger Emeka
It's a new guy.
00:58:12
Roger Emeka
It's a new guy.
00:58:13
The Marshall Exp
It's not Will Levis, but I, yeah, I gotta, I gotta see it to believe it.
00:58:14
Fab
Wow. Wow. Guys, I'm going to take a backseat on this one, okay? I'll see you guys at the wide receivers, all
00:58:20
The Marshall Exp
Yeah. ah It's he's, he's quarterback 27. I think that, you know, maybe the rushing upside, if we get to see a little bit of that since he was in Miami, um you know, if we get to see it a little bit of rushing upside, I, I liked the, I liked the value at quarterback 27, but yeah, I'm definitely not 280 points is, is top five.
00:58:40
Roger Emeka
Amazing.
00:58:41
The Marshall Exp
Yeah. That's, that's craziness.
00:58:42
Roger Emeka
keep Keep underselling my guy Cam Ward. I will take him.
00:58:45
The Marshall Exp
All right.
00:58:46
Roger Emeka
I will scoop him up at round 11.
00:58:47
The Marshall Exp
Hey, I stand in the paint. i'll beat them I'll be the first one back.
00:58:49
Fab
Thank you.
00:58:51
Roger Emeka
and Since Fab punted on this, Nak, you think?
00:58:54
Nacc
Yeah, they signed Dan Moore to that massive, massive contract, which is going to get the Steelers um a nice third-round pick for that.
00:58:58
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
00:59:02
Nacc
And he allowed, in 2024, he allowed the most s sacks in the NFL with 12. well So they just gave him $80 million dollars to protect their their new prized possession, and he allowed the most sacks last year.
00:59:15
Nacc
um That's why, and like you said, the support cast, that's a great stat that you pulled out there, Chris. That's what i that was where I was going is the the team around them is just bad.
00:59:27
Nacc
I like the player, Cam Ward. He's a good player, good quarterback. He just went to the absolute worst situation I think he could have done. And I've said it on many parts pods beforehand. The Titans are a boring team, and I've always been that boring, boring team, I feel.
00:59:43
Nacc
It's been a while since they've been really relevant. um Even when they went, they were first overall um in in the AFC with Vrabel. They were still boring team, I found, you know?
00:59:55
Nacc
I don't... I think he's going to have a good career.
00:59:57
Roger Emeka
Yeah, but just because you're boring doesn't mean you count you can't be a good, like boring doesn't doesn't do anything.
01:00:00
Nacc
Right. Right. But I don't see, i don't see him. 280 is a lot of fantasy points.
01:00:04
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, boring boring doesn't produce fantasy, though.
01:00:08
Nacc
That's what, that and that's where, like exactly.
01:00:09
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
01:00:10
Nacc
Thank you for, for, for that, Chris. But I think he's perfectly placed at that 27 mark because you have, you have Darnold there. You have Aaron Rogers, which you don't know what you're going to get.
01:00:20
Nacc
You also have Wilson who might not play out the whole season. they're probably going to go to the rookie. Yeah. Daniel Jones and Richardson are are are there because we don't know who's starting. And then even Joe Flacco, like he's perfectly rated in that QB three range for me. He's definitely a QB three. There's no way I'm starting him week in and week out on this Titans team, unless I have him on my team as a QB three and he decides and there's, there's promise and he, he puts up points, but i think there's going to be a lot of 12, 13 point games in the future for Mr. Cam Ward this year.
01:00:52
Roger Emeka
those are all great arguments. I'm, I'm betting on the player I saw in college.
01:00:53
Fab
Yeah.
01:00:58
Roger Emeka
I'm betting on the play style as well. That's going to be there. They're going to, they're going to throw the ball a ton and his play style is throwing the ball a lot. And that's why, that's why I mentioned where i think he'll get a lot in yards and he'll get some rushing because he has capability.
01:01:11
Roger Emeka
The touchdowns is where, you know, TBD on that front. But I actually, I really disagree on the boring part. Like watch him play. He's going to be super fun to to watch. Like, The rolling around, the throwing a deep, the extremely quick release.
01:01:25
Roger Emeka
like that's that's That's why I fell in love with him.
01:01:25
Nacc
To who?
01:01:27
Roger Emeka
I think that's going to be actually really... He's going to be really fun player to watch. i think they're going to make a ton of mistakes. ah But i i I could see him carving out you know like ah a low-end QB2 niche for for the Titans.
01:01:39
Nacc
Wow.
01:01:40
Roger Emeka
It's okay. i'm It's good. I want everyone to look away from him.
01:01:44
Nacc
ah We already know that's your quarterback that you're targeting.
01:01:46
Roger Emeka
It's my guy.
01:01:46
Fab
I...
01:01:46
Roger Emeka
He's my guy.
01:01:46
Nacc
We've we've've we've said it before, but top 20
01:01:47
The Marshall Exp
yeah
01:01:47
Roger Emeka
He's my guy.
01:01:49
Fab
I...
01:01:50
Nacc
is like insane with the players that are above him.
01:01:52
Fab
Well, top 24.
01:01:53
Nacc
Like there's no room for him. If he finishes top 20, Raj, I don't know what I'll give you, but I think we have another bet brewing already early on this week, but there's no way he finishes top 20.
01:02:02
Roger Emeka
kind Okay. Okay. Okay. 25, 25.
01:02:04
The Marshall Exp
how many My question is, how many how many leagues do you have Cameron Ward in?
01:02:04
Roger Emeka
You're right. 25. None so far. We haven't dropped it yet, but. none so far we haven't drafted yet but
01:02:10
The Marshall Exp
Okay. All right. Okay.
01:02:12
Roger Emeka
everyone Everyone knows I'm high on him on on Bush League. Another guy that... um Well, move on to the running backs first before we talk about a guy that fa Fab has always been high on. um Tony Pollard, RB27.
01:02:24
Roger Emeka
He's nestled in the...
01:02:25
Fab
ah
01:02:27
Roger Emeka
Excuse me, RB25. He's nestled in the Joe Mixon, Caleb Johnson, and Brian Robinson Jr. range. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry in the second half in 2024, but I thought he had surprisingly good season. He was able to to get to 1,000 yards.
01:02:41
Roger Emeka
It was his bounce. I believe it was his bounce back season after the 20 CL with the Cowboys. And there's obviously Tajay Spears at running back 38. Very efficient player, but he's a smaller guy. He lacks end zone work.
01:02:56
Roger Emeka
This might be the best kind of committee backfield in the division. Obviously, Jonathan Taylor is the best back in the division. But in terms of what you could get out of Tony Pollard and Tajay Spears, think those are two usable players, be it as an RB2 and a flex.
01:03:15
Roger Emeka
Chris, any thoughts on that? Like, how are you feeling about Tony Pollard this year?
01:03:19
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, I'm just not a big Tony Pollard fan. um You know, last year he was really handed the reins there for a second to only finish his running back 22 in points per game. Okay, that's not bad, but it's also, you know, not not the same as as DeAndre Swift or Rashad White in the same same ADP level.
01:03:39
The Marshall Exp
um You know, I do think that he's in a committee because I think that they are both – ah Pollard and Spears are both an injury away from but what place and the other.
01:03:52
Fab
Yeah, I agree.
01:03:53
The Marshall Exp
So I think that Pollard's workload would go up and Spears would obviously be the workload. But, you know, um it's it's it's tough for me to chart to, to again, 30th in support cast rating.
01:04:05
The Marshall Exp
<unk> It's hard for me to take anybody off this Tennessee team that isn't Cameron Ward right now.
01:04:12
Nacc
Yeah, and honestly for me, I think they're they're both nothing more than flex plays. I can't see my so i can't see myself putting one into my RB2 slot.
01:04:16
Fab
yeah i agree
01:04:22
Nacc
And then again, the weeks where you do put them in your flex and the other one goes off, you just want to shoot yourself. you know like it's just you you just like It's such a tough backfield because they both, like you said, they're both they can both put up those 15 to points at any given Sunday, but it's like which one you roll the dice with on any given week.
01:04:29
Roger Emeka
Hmm.
01:04:30
Fab
Yeah.
01:04:41
Nacc
But Either way, for me, it's um it' flex play at best.
01:04:47
Fab
Yeah, the the variance is going to be an issue with them because you know what the floor is going to be from a week-in-week-out standpoint. You don't know who's going to pop. um Yeah, so I agree. i'm with the flex play on that as well. there These aren't guys that I'm necessarily targeting. These are more of the, okay, I need someone to put in my flex.
01:05:03
Fab
Here's Tony Pollard. Which, you know something? like He does play it better when he gets less reps. I felt like when he was the guy in Dallas for that last year, that was when everything sort of went off the rails and he sort of
01:05:09
Nacc
Mm-hmm.
01:05:15
Fab
He had some good production last year, but again, we're talking about flex numbers here. We're not talking about guys that you're going to be looking to start week in and week out.
01:05:24
Roger Emeka
Well, the Dallas series, he was at five yards per carry.
01:05:27
The Marshall Exp
Yeah, dallas Dallas, he was good.
01:05:27
Roger Emeka
um
01:05:28
Fab
His last year where he had the most...
01:05:28
Roger Emeka
Yeah. yeah
01:05:30
Fab
um he He was at five yards per carry when he was playing the backfield with Zeke.
01:05:34
Roger Emeka
Yes, yes, yes.
01:05:35
Fab
When Zeke left after and he was the guy with all that volume, it was unsustainable for him.
01:05:41
Nacc
Thank you.
01:05:44
Roger Emeka
Agreed.
Calvin Ridley's Fantasy Evaluation
01:05:46
Roger Emeka
We'll move on to the wide receivers. Fab's favorite player, Calvin Ridley. Fab, what do you think about Calvin ridy Ridley? So he actually ranked second in deep targets last year in 32 deep targets and actually first in air yards. Not air yards completed, but overall air yards.
01:06:03
Roger Emeka
That's attempts and completion at almost 1900 in 2024. He's being ranked as WR35.com. he's being ranked as w r thirty five ah right now in fantasy at fantasy pros so are actually now with the latest update wr31 so he's just before george pickens jerry judy aforementioned travis hunter and rome adunze you've been quite critical of him are you still critical of him okay set your case
01:06:18
Nacc
twenty seven
01:06:27
Fab
I have.
01:06:30
Fab
I am not. No. Um, so from a value perspective, from a sheer target volume perspective, from the body of work that we saw last year, where he had Mason Rudolph throwing to him and Will Levis throwing to him. And he did have games where he absolutely blew up.
01:06:49
Fab
Um, I like Calvin Ridley a lot, especially at this spot. I mean, if he was ranked like 10 spots higher, I would be like, okay, let's pump the brakes. But as a wide receiver 31, especially considering the the other wide receivers that are going in that range, I think he has the highest upside out of all of them. You're talking about Chris Olave that nobody wants to touch with a 10-foot pole.
01:07:09
Fab
You're talking about Jameson Williams, who is good, but you know we're not really sure if he's going to continue his ascent.
01:07:14
Roger Emeka
volatile.
01:07:15
Fab
It's very volatile, thank you. George Pickens is like the only player that I would take over Calvin Ridley in that area just because he's been going off at cap right now. and when You guys mentioned and in your NFC East podcast, when Dak is healthy, he could potentially be an MVP style player. He can definitely be a top five player.
01:07:33
Fab
I know Dak was very heavy on Dak being an MVP. So like, and then you have like Jerry Judy, you know, it for, yeah, I know was aware of it.
01:07:38
Nacc
No, that was we were, we were joking. and case you Sorry, I didn't catch that.
01:07:41
Fab
Sarcasm, man. Come on, get with it. I like, uh,
01:07:43
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
01:07:44
Nacc
I didn't catch your sarcasm there.
01:07:46
Fab
I like, ah I actually, i like Calvin Ridley and Cam Ward is what makes Calvin Ridley interesting to me. Like, I know that everyone was poo-pooing on you, Roger, earlier about like, you know, saying 280 fantasy points or whatever it was. And I do think there's going to be a lot of yardages that are going to come from that.
01:08:04
Fab
um I think realistically, Cam Ward can probably throw for somewhere around like 3,800 yards and maybe flirt with like 22, 25 touchdowns, which is not crazy. for a rookie and even considering the supporting cast ish ish I said flirt flirt and messinaig's gonna happen possible
01:08:16
Roger Emeka
I mean, that'll get you the 280, bud.
01:08:17
Nacc
that's um but That's a lot. That'll get you over 280.
01:08:20
Roger Emeka
Ish.
01:08:21
Nacc
No chance. 25 TDs.
01:08:24
Nacc
No chance. 25 TDs.
01:08:26
Roger Emeka
Come on, Mike. Come on the dark side, brother.
01:08:28
Fab
ah it's but it's hard for me to say he's going to a good season because the cast is not great.
01:08:28
Roger Emeka
Come on the dark side.
01:08:28
Nacc
node and twenty five tds
01:08:33
Fab
But then again, you look at the other side of it, there's still Kevin Ridley there who can still ball out. But, you know,
Roster Changes and Division Commentary
01:08:38
Fab
from a fantasy perspective, I like him as ah as a weekly wide receiver three with some potentially wide receiver two upside. I think there is a ah possibility that he pops little bit this year.
01:08:50
Roger Emeka
Yeah, I would be remiss if we didn't mention that ah Tyler Lockett, I'm not advocating as this being a good move or not, but they did add Tyler Lockett, a veteran presence. They got rid Trelon Burks. That experience was an absolute disaster.
01:09:04
Roger Emeka
x Xavier Restrepo had the worst 40 of probably ever ah for wide receiver, 4.9, but an absolute dog.
01:09:09
Nacc
You
01:09:13
Roger Emeka
Like, perfect type of player for them to have.
01:09:15
Nacc
played with that word.
01:09:15
Roger Emeka
Like, he's... He's going to, yeah, he played with Cam Ward. So he played with Cam Ward as did, um sorry, no, Elik Ayomanor did not play with Cam Ward, but he's another of the rookie wide receivers that they just picked up.
01:09:18
Fab
Exactly.
01:09:29
Roger Emeka
He had a really solid two-year career at Stanford, 62 catches every each year, 1,000 yards in his ah first season at Stanford, and then 830 yards his second season. So I think they are trying to revamp the roster a little bit.
01:09:42
Roger Emeka
I agree. It's not the best roster. I think that's a great stat that you pulled up, Chris, in terms of support cast rate. I think they're going to throw the ball a ton. And I'm curious to see how Ward and Restrepo.
01:09:54
Roger Emeka
And last but not least, I don't know why I'm i'm always high on the Titans. don't why i'm ah so high on the Titans.
01:09:57
Nacc
Your boy. Your boy.
01:09:58
Roger Emeka
so so
01:09:59
Nacc
Jawan Jennings and this guy every year.
01:10:01
Roger Emeka
So, Chris... I don't know, like i'm Chris, what do you think about that? I'm a big, I don't know why. i just i Every year I think Chika Kwon Kwon is going to be a thing.
01:10:08
Nacc
love his name. That's what I love about him. But then it stops there.
01:10:10
The Marshall Exp
I think yeah i mean he's definitely he's definitely in an environment to be, right?
01:10:12
Roger Emeka
Every year I think it's going to be a thing.
01:10:13
Nacc
Shig.
01:10:15
The Marshall Exp
I mean, you would think. But for me, Ridley, I think, would be, if I had you know had to take somebody from Tennessee, it would be Calvary Ridley.
01:10:21
Fab
Rogers won win on this episode.
01:10:28
The Marshall Exp
comprint It's just because of the targets. I mean, he's obviously going to be cam Ward's guy. um <unk> just i just don't trust the environment. It's a bad offensive environment. I avoid bad offensive environments as a fantasy drafter.
01:10:45
Roger Emeka
I think that's very sound advice. think that's very sound advice. This is the worst division in football. It has been the worst division in football for the last few years. It likely may be again.
01:10:56
Roger Emeka
and the The division winner likely will probably win 10 games, 10 games max or nine nine to 10 games. So we will see
01:11:03
The Marshall Exp
Yeah.
Conclusion and Farewell
01:11:04
Roger Emeka
what will happen.
01:11:06
Roger Emeka
That'll do it for today's episode, the AFC South Fantasy Football Preview. Thank you so much, Chris, from The Martial Experience. Again, you can catch him at The Martial Experience on TikTok and YouTube.
01:11:15
Nacc
Thank you, Chris.
01:11:21
Roger Emeka
Thank you, Nak. Thank you, Fab. Fab, welcome back again. Great to have you aboard going forward.
01:11:26
Fab
wonderful to be here.
01:11:28
Roger Emeka
You could follow us on YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, X Twitter.
01:11:28
Fab
Peace.
01:11:33
Roger Emeka
See you next time for the NFC South Fantasy Football Preview. That is it for us for today.
01:11:39
Nacc
Talk about bad division.
01:11:40
The Marshall Exp
Thanks for having me, guys.
01:11:42
Fab
hey
01:11:45
Nacc
Awesome. That was great.
01:11:46
Fab
The martial experience. hearing
01:11:50
Roger Emeka
Bye, everyone.