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Way-Too-Early 2026 QB Rankings, Tomlin Exit & Divisional Round Preview | Bush League Huddle
28 Plays1 month ago
Wildcard Weekend delivered — and now we’re rolling straight into the Divisional Round with picks, matchups, and a whole lot of chaos across the league.
On this episode of the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast, we cover:
🧯 Mike Tomlin Steps Away — what it means for Pittsburgh, the locker room reaction, and what happens next📈 Way-Too-Early 2026 Fantasy QB Rankings — risers, fades, sophomore skepticism, and how coaching/play-calling changes everything
👀 Malik Willis landing spots + why this offseason could reshape the entire QB board
🏈 Wild Card Recap (Stafford’s heater, Bears shocking the Packers, Bills surviving, Texans defense dominating)
🧠 Divisional Round Preview & Picks (Bills/Broncos, Niners/Seahawks, Texans/Pats, Rams/Bears)
🎠 Coaching Carousel Watch — top names, domino effects, and where the biggest openings could land
We tally the picks and we’re running it back next week.
Job your love. 😤
📺🎙️ Follow/Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | TikTok | Instagram | X (Twitter)
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Transcript
Introduction & Mike Tomlin's Departure
00:00:13
Speaker
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. Welcome back to another episode of the Bush League Huddle Fancy Football Podcast. How's everybody doing? How's everybody doing on this fine, fine wildcard weekend extravaganza moving into divisional round? This is exciting stuff, guys. NFL playoffs is always one of my favorite times of the years.
00:00:31
Speaker
Wildcard weekend. Definitely did not disappoint. So we've got a fantastic episode for you. Ready to jump into a lot of stuff that happened over the last few days, including the unfortunate um dismissal, if you will, of a one Mike Tomlin. The standard is the standard. standards a Standard standard.
00:00:47
Speaker
You know, if if my aunt had, you know what, she'd be my uncle. And, you know, sometimes we got we're trying to put eight pounds in a five pound bag and all the other Tomlinisms that exist out there.
00:00:59
Speaker
Don't blink or else there tear off your eyelids.
Impact of Mike Tomlin & Coach Search
00:01:02
Speaker
there it is there it is so knack has a we got a segment dedicated to knack and mr mike tomlin uh the only coach in nfl history to have a winning record in the first 19 seasons of his coaching career uh so very wonderful segment dedicated to and also return to knack return of the knack ladies and gentlemen turn and of the knack in this last week he's here again this week he's chock full of energy ready to We're rip and roar right now for what we got as a fantastic division round weekend update coming up.
00:01:32
Speaker
But before we get into all that fun stuff, because this is ah this is a fantastic episode, we've got some cubi rankings, and obviously we're going to go over the playoffs or that are currently on way right now in the NFL. But before we get into all that, ladies and gentlemen, please follow us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter for for all of your weekly updates.
00:01:49
Speaker
football related fantasy stuff. um Even even non fantasy related questions and inquiries like and interacts and it's whatever you want. Like we're we're NFL fans before we're football
QB Rankings & Fan Engagement
00:02:02
Speaker
fans. We want to make that very clear, know, so we're at the edge of our seat every single playoff weekend with every single game we've got going on right now so that's super exciting for us so send us all your inquiries and all your questions even for next year too you know what like Roger has a bit of a QB ranking segment going on this episode where he's going dive into some of some of the QBs and how they ended at the end of the year and where he thinks they're gonna fall I'm not really sure this is a segment that we're just flying into right now so it's gonna be new to everybody right now but all this to say ladies and gentlemen I'm fab I'm not we got Roger on the horn as well so please follow us on YouTube Spotify Apple podcast tick-tock Instagram and Twitter we're gonna we're gonna jump right into this snack you want to want to say a few words and pour one out for your boy Mike Tomlin
00:02:44
Speaker
yes the longest tenured
Coaching Hires & Trends
00:02:46
Speaker
head coach uh in the nfl was uh or or stepped away from from football as as they say we'll never know exactly what happened but apparently he told the roonies um in the morning and then had a 2 p.m meeting with the team he he told the team apparently there was a standing ovation in that room after there and everyone kind of you know waited and dapped him up um on on their way out.
00:03:13
Speaker
A lot of Instagram posts, Twitter posts from former players, which is which is really nice to see. He was really a player's coach. And obviously you could tell that it wasn't because the word got stale in the locker room that stayed throughout his 19-year tenure. Never lost the locker room once. It was always loved. And a big reason why Obviously, Aaron Rodgers came this year, and roone Rooney also mentioned it in his presser today that when he was asked, is Rodgers coming back? And he was like, well, he came here to play for Tomlin, so um it might muddy those decisions. It's going to tough for next year. Yeah, it does not seem like Aaron Rodgers will be back. But yes, it was an up-and-down 19 years, obviously ended with seven
00:04:02
Speaker
straight defeats in the playoffs and uh by a large margin as well so I think Tomlin from what rooney said it was time he wanted to just step away it looks like he's not even gonna coach this year or in the near future so we'll see what that yeah we'll see what that holds i know that bill cowher said he would return and and never did so maybe it's one of those uh one of those things but i think it was just time this is why these things happen i think it was look it was 19 years that does not happen often i think bill belichick did it for 19 years uh was it shula was there for 23
00:04:37
Speaker
I believe, I think was the, law oh no, sorry. Noel was in Lombardi. There was Lombardi. um Noel was 23. Who was the highest tenured?
00:04:48
Speaker
I saw it. With the same team? With one team? Yeah, with one team. I think it was Shula. I think it it could have been Shula. 23 years I think it's Tom tom Landry. was tom Landry, years. that makes sense yeah yeah That makes sense. That makes sense.
00:05:05
Speaker
But 19 years, you don't see that um very often these days, right? Harbaugh was there for 18 years, another one that you don't see quite often. But um I think it's very exciting time because you know you have a bunch of you know young up-and-comers here in this new cycle. The only thing that might hurt them is that there are nine open fields um at the moment.
00:05:28
Speaker
um But if I was me, The first guy on my list would be k Chris Shula. I know that da've they've already requested in the short period of time, they've requested interviews from Chris Shula.
00:05:42
Speaker
ah Nathan Steelehouse. That's the passing coordinator. Passing coordinator for the Rams. Jesse Minter, DC for um the Chargers. Anthony Weaver, DC for...
00:05:55
Speaker
the Dolphins Brian Flores DC for the Vikings and Robert Sala DC for the 49ers so there is a trend here the past three coaches were um defensive coordinators and they were 37 and younger when they were hired yeah this is what the Steelers go after and by the list that they just gave us um It looks as though they're going to be continuing in the same direction, which, look, it does make sense for for this team. I would have liked an offensive-minded coach change it up, but I think they're just going to go after... i think their main folk their goal is to get Chris Shula and Nathan Shilhas.
00:06:35
Speaker
yeah as the OC. I think that's probably why they're interviewing him. not He's probably not going to make the the the jump for the head coaching job, but if they could get Chris Shula there, maybe they get him
Coaching Strategies & Team Futures
00:06:47
Speaker
as the offensive coordinator. And then the dream scenario to... to to cultivate the whole McVay tree cycle is hiring Raheem Morris as the defensive coordinator. That would be, i think, dream scenario for, for Pittsburgh. I don't think, or Brian Flores as the DC, but I, pretty sure he gets a head coaching gig. Yeah. Yeah. This time around. I was to say, i think Brian Flores is looking out for a head coaching job and and rightfully so. Right.
00:07:13
Speaker
and Those are those those are a bunch of fantastic names to be honest with you that the Steelers have lined up over there. So I think whoever they get within that Wonderful crop of individuals. gonna be very happy with I like Chris Shula a lot.
00:07:27
Speaker
I like him a lot. That's it. That is a name that That I'll be very jealous that whoever whichever team lands him either as a DC But most likely as a head coach will be very very jealous yeah So i i was i was a bit curious. So I tried to kind of line up all the head coaches with current roles. So just to go quickly, like Giants and Harbaugh seems like it's going to happen.
00:07:52
Speaker
Browns, I put... I don't want to jinx it. He left the building and he's going to Tennessee. Hold on a second. That doesn't mean anything. Harbaugh is a man of his word. He said he was going to meet with the Titans and the Falcons. And on top of that, the Titans are coming to him.
00:08:11
Speaker
I also, I want my coach to do is I want the coach to do deal due diligence and to make sure that the Giants are the right role for hundred Anyways, Browns, I put, there's a lot of talk of this. Grant Udinski, he was the OC for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I'm sure he had a big part of the resurgence for Trevor Lawrence. Titans, I think Stefanski. think Stefanski goes to the Titans personally. That's lining up to, well, Harbaugh's going to go the Giants, I think Stefanski with Cam Ward makes a ton of sense. Cardinals, it looks like Vance Joseph. That's what I've been seeing, whether on Twitter or even Cardinals Reddit. He was there before as their previous DC.
00:08:44
Speaker
na i actually think Steelers go for Flores. The Steelers are in a position where whenever they go for a coach, it has to be someone who's going to be there for the long haul. I don't see Flores getting many roles with the impending and current lawsuit with the NFL, but TBD. I think the Ravens, this one is tough. I think it's going to be Jesse Minter just because he's been in the building before and they also probably want to go defensive. Dolphins, I put Salah.
00:09:09
Speaker
then the falcons i had kubiak so honestly i i was just curious i just kind of wanted to place everyone but i really think it's like a huge pandora's box and if you factor in the oc roles that are open there's the eagles there's the chargers there's the commanders there's the buccaneers Those are four really, real lions really... Lions. Lions, too, yes. Lions. Yeah, Lions. I forgot about the Lions. So, like, McDaniel could go there. I would love if Dable goes to ah the the Giants. ah Sorry, not the Giants. I would love for Dable to go to the Eagles, for at least for Jalen Hurts, because he's he coached Jalen Hurts in the past. And Bama, yeah. bla Bama, even Cliff Kingsbury would be interesting um in in Philly. So... um
00:09:52
Speaker
The Raiders was the last one that I didn't mention. i think Kingsbury could be an option there too. So the crazy coaching carousel, it's I think it's the wildest it's ever been. And it's really going to be interesting to see where where it where it ends I think we're all waiting for that first domino fall, right? And obviously, I think we're all waiting for to see where Harbaugh signs because that's going to be contingent for everybody else that's making their decision. Mind you, if you hear if you hear things like Stefanski signing with whoever, let's say the Raiders next week, probably it probably means that you know those those other teams are out of the Harbaugh sweepstakes. So it's something to keep an eye on too when other dominoes start falling. But it's definitely one of the wilder coaching carousels.
00:10:34
Speaker
Yeah, and there's also the fact that the there's there's teams in the playoffs where you can't you can't um you can't set up interviews face-to-face. It's all through Zoom. So, dr um you know, Shula and everything like that. um But, no, I think it is it is going to be interesting. And, honestly, for the first time as ah as a Steelers fan, I'm hoping...
00:10:55
Speaker
The new blood, you know, they came in, all these young guys came in and, and, and, you know, Tomlin wanted China wasn't his team per se, but want a championship and got to another one. Yeah.
00:11:05
Speaker
They just need some, some, some younger, you know, they got to modernize as, as everyone's been saying it, right. it' So, um, I mean, It's coming. I'm i'm hoping, like i said, Chris Shula, Nathan Schielhaus, and potentially Raheem Morris as as DC.
2026 Fantasy QB Rankings: Top Prospects
00:11:22
Speaker
i mean so We'll see. some um Some exciting times as a Steelers fan. Just got hope for that QB now. But wait you know what? One interesting one, the last word here, one interesting one that I i saw is if they can't get Matt LaFleur signed in Green Bay, Steelers grab Matt LaFleur and Malik Willis in free agency and run that show in Pittsburgh.
00:11:46
Speaker
Now that caught interest. like that. I like that a lot because Malik Willis needs to be signed. Malik Willis needs to be signed somewhere. And that's actually a really good segue because we're going to kind of talk about QB rankings in 2026. And Malik Willis was actually one very interesting case study in terms of where to put him in the rankings because he played very well with the Green Bay Packers. And and obviously he's going to be a free agent. So let's just jump right into it. So.
00:12:12
Speaker
This is the second year we're going to do the way, way too early 2026 fantasy football QB rankings. Why not? We're all kind of in off-season mode now. Obviously, those who won, good for you. But now we're in this we're in this scenario where we're starting to already think about whether it's Dynasty, whether it's Redraft, an NFL Draft coming up now. So...
00:12:31
Speaker
what I wanted to do here is just kind of, you know, do a reset of this. So I think some factors to consider are, well, who's going to be the play callers? Who has a really good player caller currently?
00:12:43
Speaker
What are kind of the coaching situations that that are maybe going to lean on or are going to happen as well? ah One of the kind of criteria i looked into this as well is not blindly crowning sophomores just because of hype. I felt that was something that we did as a group a lot last year. And I think a lot of people in the fantasy football space media space, quote unquote, do as well. And also dinging injury prone players a little bit. Obviously, the production has to be there.
00:13:09
Speaker
But if there's no lack of production or medium production and you're injury prone, well, I think that has to ding you as well. So I'm just going to go through the top 1 to 14 and then maybe a little bit skim through the 15 to 28. But I think there's no surprise Josh Allen, the number one fantasy QB again. I think it's going to consensus QB won for the third straight year. ah Rushing floor year-to-year stability. i think he has the safest elite ceiling, especially in Superflex.
00:13:37
Speaker
Drake may I had put number two. He's going to be either first or second in an MVP voting likely going to be second. He was QB two in total points and points per game. He's already playing like a fantasy cheat code in year two and he has the rushing upside as well. And I think a really good play caller in Josh McDaniels who is very unlikely to ever go back into the head coaching cycle again.
00:13:59
Speaker
Lamar three huh yeah Lamar three so this one it's if you look at his history every time he's had an amazing season he's come back with maybe a more mediocre one we saw it after his first MVP season where he had 36 touchdowns he came back with two average years and then came back afterwards I think that's where he had Todd Munkin coming in as an OC he won the MVP again afterwards and then he he still had a very that's where last year he had his 41 one touchdown season. So I expect a bounce back. He's bounced back many times before after mediocre seasons. So I think, again, it'll depend on who the OC is or even the head coach. Maybe it's Mike McDaniel, but TBD.
00:14:42
Speaker
i was gonna say munkin munkin is no longer the offensive coordinator yeah this is yeah and munkin is along the offense quarter i'm saying he has bounced back especially when they went from greg roman to todd munkin as the oc that propelled lamar even further uh fourth place joe burrow again this is another one if you were to put the injury proneness aside joe burrow is easily in the top three I put him as four just behind Lamar Jackson from the rushing upside, but I have a hard time still putting Joe Burrow anywhere below a top a top five or five ranking.
00:15:17
Speaker
And if you look at down the stretch, he looked very good. There's Jamar Chase, there's Tee Higgins, there's Chase Brown. That offense is still going to be in place. Zach Taylor somehow is the only and nfc AFC North coach that didn't get fired, which is crazy. The Bengals just like, yeah, I want more of this. Makes no sense, but he's going to have some continuity.
00:15:36
Speaker
um Trevor Lawrence at five strong finish. Wild. past Elite pass casting. Crazy. That group we we were talking about in our in our group chat guys like Parker Washington looks like a stud.
00:15:49
Speaker
Yep. Jacoby Myers made a huge difference. Liam Cohen to me is force multiplier where because of him being there in the second year in that offense, I really think Trevor Lawrence, he is worthy of this top five pick. The major difference with Trevor Lawrence in the first half of this season versus the second half the season.
00:16:11
Speaker
Massive difference, but the biggest difference, but they were utilizing his his rushing ability so much more, so much more. so many two So many two touchdown games.
00:16:21
Speaker
Yes, yes, yes. Goal line. And he's he's efficient on the ground. Like he's efficient enough. And yeah, know that that was this a nine rushing touchdowns. You can't expect that every single year, but. um you know I think it forced the defense to be a lot more honest. right so yeah to it's That's a gutsy call having Trevor Lawrence at five, but it's hard to disagree. it's hard It was hard, especially if you factor in all the injuries that happened previously this year. and as We'll go through it, but Dak Prescott at six, fantastic year, finished as QB six, 4,500 yards, 30 touchdowns.
00:16:54
Speaker
My issue with Dak Prescott, and he's kind of the opposite of ah Lamar Jackson, whereas every time he has a big year, he has a stinker or he gets injured the year before, the year after. It's almost a given.
00:17:06
Speaker
But Pickens, another year in the same offense with Shoddy. Obviously, CeeDee Lamb, you know you expect maybe they'll'll they'll do a bit more with the run game. Gervonta was there. So I think Prescott is still worthy as... Pickens.
00:17:19
Speaker
Pickens right now is free agent. Franchise. Yeah, franchise. You're right. He might get franchise tagged or we'll see what happens. I put Caleb caleb and Bo Nix, 7 and 8. think Caleb finished at QB5, Bo Nix QB7.
00:17:34
Speaker
Slight, slight edge to Caleb just because of the kind of the the play caller, I think, with Ben Johnson. I think he he looked... to ascend a little bit more ah than Bo Nix, but I think you could intertwine them either way. Nix, as well, I think had a very good year. I was down on Nix, but as the season grew along, i'm growing to appreciate him more. 83 carries for Nix, 77 for Caleb Williams. Both guys run quite a bit. Both guys can scramble. I think it's looking way up for them.
00:18:03
Speaker
Jalen Hurts at nine, Jaden Daniels at 10. This is where Jalen Hurts gets a little bit dinged because of just the overall season. um You know, the kind of the air of that season left, I think, a bad taste in a lot of people's mouth. He still finished as QB eight, but you have to think less tush push, depending on who the offensive coordinator is. 3200 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions. This could go either way, depending on if it's a Mike McDaniel, it's a visited Brian Dayball.
00:18:32
Speaker
But he I feel like he just naturally had to get dinged a little bit. just kind of like the penalty of the season they had. Jaden Daniels is the one that he really it really scared. I think we're all kind of bearish on Jaden Daniels. Injury prone. i think you have him high here. Yeah.
00:18:47
Speaker
yeah I like, honestly, I like Brock Purdy in like that 10 spot. ah Yeah. Brock Purdy is a very safe QB one, high-end QB two.
00:18:57
Speaker
Very, very safe. And he's, he's been, there was a period in time this year where Mac Jones and Brock Purdy were averaging over 300 yards passing per game. Cause won't, point Brock Purdy was injured and Mack Jones was playing. It was like a period of like one game in, one game out. And that offense is just so high octane.
00:19:15
Speaker
So fun to watch. Obviously with Kittle tearing his Achilles, don't know what's going to happen for next year. I think that should be baked into his ah ranking a little bit. But Brock Purdy very, very nice blue-chip type of quarterback to have your roster.
00:19:29
Speaker
I really liked him, especially when he came back. that You could tell they pushed the ball further. I don't think it's fair to compare it to Mac Jones. They really pushed the ball. The rushing ability was more unlocked when Purdy was back as well. Nak, I agree with you. I had a really hard time with Jaden Daniels. I kept moving him along.
Mid-tier QB Rankings & Performance
00:19:43
Speaker
I moved him almost to the point where he was at 14, but I felt, look,
00:19:47
Speaker
Upside is still there, but I feel you on that one. In terms of and number 11, Patrick Mahomes, i'm my gut tells me he's going to be available week one. i just i think knowing what we know about Patrick Mahomes, he's going to attack that rehab like there's no tomorrow.
00:20:03
Speaker
ah But you just have to ding him. It's an ACL. it's It was the second to last game of the season. i wouldn't There's not a guy would I would count out less than him, though. fab you're like yeah would you just you I would draft Mahomes before Lamar Jackson.
00:20:19
Speaker
Wow. It's an ACL. It's an ACL. As of right now, like if he's he's ready week one, I'm sort i'm taking Mahomes over Lamar Jackson. The guy was on fire this year.
00:20:32
Speaker
Mahomes. Fire. I agree. and and and that The offense is the offense. the only The only thing you can knock on him from an offense standpoint is like a is Like, now Kelsey's going to be retired most likely, but feel... hell hot Hell hath no fury like a quarterback who scars fab. so Yeah, that's true. A quarterback who scars fab he, like, just, like, puts the...
00:20:59
Speaker
look the hex on them. It's not very true. um ah But if we're looking all things all things equal in in ah in ah in a bubble and all that stuff, I would take Mahomes over Lamar Jackson. That's fair.
00:21:11
Speaker
Yeah, and Lamar, there's a lot of question marks for where he's going to be. Anyways, let's keep on. We can spend all episode on the QB rank. yeah for sure um Stafford and Herbert I think interchangeable this is only the age thing like if if Stafford was like 31 I think we'd all probably rank it um it's like the top five it's wild that you have Matthew Stafford ranked as a QB two when he finished like QB one overall I know i just just like i I understand where you're coming from and I get your point of view and I don't disagree with it I get it because I was some
00:21:42
Speaker
when he has to fall off and maybe next year is the year. but Where would you place him? I would place him more around like I would probably place him right above Caleb.
00:21:53
Speaker
I would place him at the 7th spot. Stafford? Yeah, and move everyone down a peg. it's a big It's a big outlier year for a 38-year-old. I just just try to It's of low-end QB. And it's just like try to go through try try to go through like the list of quarterbacks who at 30... Maybe it's just Aaron Rodgers. And if they win the Super Bowl...
00:22:15
Speaker
He might be riding into the sunset. That's true. Are they going to spam one-yard touchdowns again like they did this year to try to get him MVP? Are you going do that again next year? I don't know. so um And then when we when we look at 15 to 28, I think Jackson Dard. Jackson Dard was one I struggled as well, too. I felt could have gotten hit him a little bit higher. I put a little bit of a sophomore tax on him just because we've seen this. Yeah. He's off and love.
00:22:45
Speaker
yeah love is love Love has go for not done love has not done anything to merit QB1 consideration. Since the two years ago season since a two years ago season. Since the game against... His second half of the years are where he yeah he lived. yeah it's it's ever whenever toyota It's whenever Toyota has their sales. The Toyotathon era, like that's when you want to have... there there is There is a body of work that speaks to how well Jordan Love plays when Toyota has their Christmas sales.
00:23:13
Speaker
And that's so true. It's called the Toyota. Like it's a, it's a thing. So I think the thing Baker, sorry, Baker is a Liam Cohen issue, right? And I fully, and you, you see it with Trevor Lawrence and not the, not to knock Baker because Baker's fantastic, but you really saw a difference.
00:23:30
Speaker
The second half of the season for the bucks versus the second half of season for for the Jaguars. um Tyler Shuck being ranked above Baker and CJ Stroud and Sam Darnold to me is a little bit... so so So Shuck was the one where I knew you guys would provide some pushback on that one.
00:23:47
Speaker
ah Yes, second year. But look, 15 to 20 guys, especially in a 2QB, Superflex, you're all QB2s, right? It's not were all It's not so much that I don't like Tyler sch Shucks ranking. It's more that Sam Darnold needs to have a little bit of respect put on the guy's name. In the last two years, in two different offensive coordinators, two different coaching systems, he's performed well.
00:24:10
Speaker
he was I owned him. He was very inconsistent. Guys, he had he had games down the stretch of three three points, 11.3 points, 6.1 points, 8.8 points. Yeah, I think it was masked a lot from that Seattle defense. They were scoring touchdowns by the yeah truckload.
00:24:27
Speaker
He had a lot of games. He had like two games of four touchdowns and a game of three touchdowns and everything else was two touchdowns, two INTs, one touchdown, one INT. He had the old touch zero touchdown, four INT game against the Rams. So um just quickly back to Dart, quickly back to Dart, I think It'll be really interesting to see what type of coordinator he gets. Will the coordinator do more RPOs to keep him running? Or will it be kind of a more of traditional offense? How many games does he play? And how many games he plays. So I'll be really, if it is Harbaugh, if it's Harbaugh, he brings in Greg Roman, he's going way down. It's the second year QBs, man. And the second year QB aspect. The trust is just like way down right now. Oh, yeah. Miss me on the second year QBs, man. The stock and trust right now is way down. Yeah, miss me on the second year QBs. I'm out.
00:25:15
Speaker
and And guys, like well yeah and that's why Shook, at 18, the price isn't that crazy to rank in there. whereas you know I'm seeing Dart places top five, top eight. I'm all not touching that. makes That makes no sense to me i'm not I'm
Wildcard Weekend Recap & Divisional Preview
00:25:29
Speaker
not touching that. No, no, no. And then maybe just to wrap things up at at the the bookend, Cam Ward, Bryce Young, I think,
00:25:37
Speaker
I would keep Cam Ward there. Bryce Young looked fine, but you know from a fantasy perspective, he's still a QB three to me. Very hard to give me a very hard player to start. Malik. Yeah, go ahead.
00:25:48
Speaker
Yeah, I was going to say Malik Willis is going to jump up draft boards depending on where he's where he signed. So outside of Pittsburgh, where where else would would you think would be a good fit?
00:25:59
Speaker
Man.
00:26:02
Speaker
and wait And even if he signs with Pittsburgh, like how higher are you bringing him up 24? Like, you're bringing him. I'm saying depending on where he goes, as he jumps off the board, right? like Yeah.
00:26:16
Speaker
Man, I don't know. He's not going to go to the Raiders because they're going to take Mendoza, right? You have Arizona needs a quarterback. you have Indianapolis who's in the market for a QB potentially.
00:26:31
Speaker
we So basically the four the four teams that are on this um list, the four teams aren on this list yeah are the Browns, ah the Dolphins. ah Dolphins would be a nice spot. Dolphins be very interesting. I had the list before.
00:26:45
Speaker
Browns, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Jets. cardinals the cardinals and jets The Jets too are looking for a QB. ah He's going to want every QB in this list up until 23.
00:27:01
Speaker
Penix maybe, but i think I think I'd rather just roll with Cousins. And I think Daniel Jones would probably put a stop-up option. I think Ryan Leonard looked good enough where I would role just roll with him.
00:27:12
Speaker
But there's still AR. Everyone forgot about Anthony Richardson, right? like There's still AR there. he still He still has the orbital fracture. That's a big injury. Yeah, it is a big injury. So um so yeah, these are the QB, way, way too early QB rankings. Guys, any any other final thoughts?
00:27:29
Speaker
do you think? How would you rate it? This is going to look so different in six months from now that we should probably keep and just like revisit this. So guys, remember the end? Yeah, I mean, we'll end up doing, think, like obviously in the offseason, we'll end up doing like our tiers. Yeah.
00:27:43
Speaker
So like tiering it for for for pre-draft will probably be like a better better way to do it. It's that like to 13 to 20 rank. yeah yeah yeah it's like that thirteen to twenty rank Where it's just so hard to predict.
00:27:57
Speaker
So, so, so tough to predict. The Jordan Love and the Justin Herberts and the Tyler sch Shucks and the C.J. Strouds and the Baker Mayfields. You just throw them on a board and see and see what happens. That's where they're to end up. So hard to predict.
00:28:08
Speaker
For sure. Well, um either way, we have a great playoff great playoff matchups coming up. So let's let's move on. Fab, you want to talk to us about the wildcard recap and the divisional divisional preview?
00:28:22
Speaker
Oh my god. Yes. Yes. Oh my goodness. So listen, wildcard weekend was fantastic. like there were ah The games were very close despite the spreads supposed to be a little bit bigger, but... so fantastic like It's probably one my favorite weekends of the NFL season, this wildcard weekend, just because of all the games that are happening. So quickly, so the Rams beat the Panthers thirty four to thirty one thanks to a 304-yard passing and 3 TD effort by Matthew Stafford. Jalen Coker, our league turner on for now, and one touchdown. Something to look to next year with the with the Panthers.
00:28:57
Speaker
Very, very nice little offense there. The Bears beat the Packers in like what the first time in 85 years or something in a playoff game. Some record like that would wonderful, exceptional, very.
00:29:10
Speaker
Yeah, that was a great game. And Caleb Williams put the team on his back, man. 361 yards passing, two touchdowns. ah Colson Loveland, how are you? Welcome to the show. A reception is 137 yards. Just absolutely balled out.
00:29:23
Speaker
We got the Bills beating the Jaguars, which in a very close game, we got to give the Jaguars credit for this. Their defense played really well. And they they did the best they could to stop what looks like to be the Michael Jordan right now. and yeah and they should have won I felt they should have won that game.
00:29:40
Speaker
Yeah, me too. They felt they should have won. I really feel ive co bad. yeah I feel bad. But at the same time, the Bills now have a very potential path to the Super Bowl.
00:29:51
Speaker
And Josh Allen, I don't like the Bills, but i you got to give credit where credit's due. And it's hard not to like Josh Allen. So I hope they go ah do well, and I hope they go very far. And Parker Washington really came on for Jacksonville too. east How fun would a Bills-Path's AFC championship be?
00:30:09
Speaker
It's possible. It is possible. It's possible. It would be very nice. It would be very fun. And i think the ratings will blow up. You know what else was fun? The Niners being the Eagles. 23-19. So happy to about this. so For so many reasons. So many reasons. But so happy about this. Very happy for the Niners. I've always been a bit of a Niners fan. And I've never been an Eagles fan. You too, huh? Joey Nick.
00:30:31
Speaker
Joey Nick over here. at least At least I have one team specifically that I root for, and they never had them in the playoffs in a minute, so I'm just grabbing on to whatever coat hills coattails I can find. The Patriots beat the Chargers in what was a little bit of a lackluster game, and I guess the defense is a little bit better than boring we expected to do, 16-3. It was quite boring, I must say, ah but you know better days are ahead for Drake maybe in that offense.
00:30:56
Speaker
Jake May had 10 carries for 66 yards. So um even if you stop him in the air, he can still punish you on the ground. And they get that one 48-yard run, though, in that game. It still counts. Skewed the stats a little bit. it Still counts. Still counts. The Texans beat the Steelers 30-6. I think this box score is a little bit exaggerated. If we're going to about exaggerations. and Think towards the end.
00:31:18
Speaker
it was like It was closer up until the fourth quarter, and then I think the Steelers were just playing a little bit too loose. and Because this was more... That Texas defensive line just dismantled O-line.
00:31:32
Speaker
That is a defense... They wore them down, and it was... Not even games. That is a defense can win you Super Bowls. like When you rush four... And you get to the quarterback and drop seven consistently. Yeah. That is a recipe for success. curious to see how Drake May and that offensive line does against that that front. That was... That is a wonderful, wonderful segue, Nak. You missed one episode and didn't skip a beat. Now we're going to right into the divisional round right now. That's happening this Saturday and this Sunday, January 17 and 18, 2021.
00:32:04
Speaker
six in the year of our Lord, ladies and gentlemen. First on the docket at 4.30 on Saturday, we got the Bills at the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. The spread over here is Denver's favorite by.5.
00:32:18
Speaker
I'd like the Broncos to win this. I think defense wins championships. And we've been talking a lot about the Texans defense and Jaguars defense, but we can't stop. We should not, we should not forget to mention the Broncos defense in those conversations. This is a team that has led the NFL in sacks.
00:32:32
Speaker
They have Patrick's retained a second in their defense. They have so many linebackers in defensive end, just hitting all kinds of sacks right now. This is a game where I think it's going to be tough.
00:32:45
Speaker
Funny you talk about defense, but the the Bills have the number one pass defense in the league. So I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the Broncos win.
00:32:56
Speaker
I don't know. I just see that there's a path here that no Mahomes, there's no Lamar Jackson, there's no Burrow. This is the time where Josh Allen has to say, it's my turn. And I think it's just like, it's it's turned. There's a switch that's going to be turned. And look, you saw it last week, came back.
00:33:16
Speaker
game winning drive. And then obviously that that pass defense got that last interception. So so so the Bills actually beat the the Broncos last year in the playoffs, 31 seven.
00:33:28
Speaker
And a lot of the same players are still there, right It's hard to bet against Josh Allen, which is why I'm surprised at the spread. You're saying Broncos favored by a point and a half. I know it it was the bills early. Early on, the bills had a point and a half. I believe the spread has since changed. I think it's because everyone was betting the bills spread his move spread his move.
00:33:53
Speaker
They're going to put the ball in Josh Allen's hands. Obviously, the the jackson the Jaguars, we know how good their defense was. ah The Broncos have the second best run defense in terms of yardage as well. And so they they know the formula. James Cook didn't do anything last week. He probably won't do anything this week as well. They're going to put it on Josh Allen. I have a hard, like Fnac, I have a really hard time betting against Josh Allen. I'm not. There's no way.
00:34:13
Speaker
yeah I've already placed my bets and it's on Josh Allen. Well, duh. Okay, so two against one, Bills versus Broncos. That's fine. i Listen, for I win either way. I think the Broncos are going to win, and I would like Josh Allen to win the Super Bowl. So I win either way. That's all going to put.
00:34:29
Speaker
We got the next game at 8 o'clock on Saturday night. 49ers versus Seahawks in Seattle in Lumen Field. It's a bigger spread here. see Seahawks are favored by 7. Seahawks, again, defense.
00:34:43
Speaker
Yeah. It's too much. Their defense is very good. But the Niners defense isn't playing all that bad despite their injuries too, right? I mean, I had i'd been fred warner i think the spread is little bit too high for me. Yeah. His practice room windows open, right? Yeah, and he looks good in practice. I saw some of those highlights. yeah um One of the key things I saw was that so Seattle has a very good run defense. ah they had They held San Francisco to three points in the season finale. But Seattle defense allowed the most running most run back receptions in the league this year.
00:35:13
Speaker
And obviously, they're facing CMC. We saw what CMC, I think it was two touchdown catches he had against the... like He looked like a wide receiver. Like the way he caught both those balls, the routes he run he ran.
00:35:27
Speaker
Mike McDoll is an amazing play caller, but Shani looks like he's in his bag. And Salah. Salah and Shani is such... Shanahan is such a good combo as an OC play caller in DC. like Great combo. Salah, I'm tempted to go for the Niners here pick-em. At least against the spread. At least against the spread, even as a pick-em.
00:35:49
Speaker
I got the 49ers at plus 7.5. The spread was that high. I was shocked. Kittle's not there, but... I don't It's fine. Yeah, it's very good. and And you saw like Denard Robinson came out of nowhere. This is Ron Jennings. Like, I feel like Ricky Persol is due for for a good game once he's once he's once he gets to the point where he's healthy enough to play really well. He plays really well and then he just gets hurt again. But um I don't know. I like the Niners here, at least the cover of the spread. And I wouldn't be surprised if they went out right either.
Playoff Predictions & Closing Thoughts
00:36:22
Speaker
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, January 18th, Texans versus the Patriots. Probably will be the most like Looking at the logos of these two teams, the most the most American matchup that you can find, the Texans versus the Patriots.
00:36:36
Speaker
um Just looking at a lot of stars, a lot of red, a lot of white. um Obviously, in Gillette Stadium and Foxborough, New England's failed by 3.5. This feels like a trap game. Also, the lowest total for the week at 40.5 points.
00:36:50
Speaker
So this game is going to finish like 18 to 13 or something. um It's hard to bet against the Patriots, but that Texans defense is legit. and they're legit on all fronts. And I think it's going to very tough day for Drake May. The difference here comes down to if CJ Stroud can put one out of the bag. i think it's gonna be tough without Nico Collins because he his he's going to probably most likely miss this game. He's still in concussion protocol. It's very rare for a player to come back on Monday.
00:37:18
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. So, Chancellery's to miss this game. But then again, he hasn't really been a focal point of the offense all that much whenever CJ Stroud is playing, in my opinion. Apart from what David Mills plays, like he doesn't doesn't necessarily see a ton of targets. So, maybe that might be a benefit for them.
00:37:31
Speaker
I don't know. and so um'm speaking of ah Speaking of low totals, the 40.5, last week's was it Houston and Steelers was 36.5. Did you see that extra point that was missed at 36 points? Yeah.
00:37:47
Speaker
It was the first time I've ever seen an extra point missed under the bar like that. that a, what are you trying to say? What are you trying to? Nothing. I just, I thought it was curious. I thought it curious. It was another low. It was a low over under that didn't hit. Roger, Roger Goodell is a listener. Roger Goodell is a friend of the podcast. Well, he should, he should listen though. The NFL, the president of the NFL PA is, is a member of our, of our forum community. I'm kidding. I think the key will be the Patriots pass blocking.
00:38:18
Speaker
So their third best PFF pass block rate. But you said it, Mac. They play straight up. They don't have the skies. It's four-man rushes. They don't need Four-man rushes and get they get home. Hunter and Anderson is a force. They're a god. 27 sacks in the regular season for both of them. yeah and what's What's that YouTube video? Hunter. god and Dog. Daniel Hunter. I think i was listening to another podcast. I think it was a Pat McAfee show. Someone was saying it. He's 31 years old. He has 115 career s sacks.
00:38:53
Speaker
He has like six or seven years where he has at least 12 sacks. He is on a Hall of Fame trajectory and no one talks about him. Yes. Crazy. No one talks about him. He doesn't get the respect he deserves. I i looked at his profile reference. I like couldn't believe it.
00:39:07
Speaker
So I'm going to go Texans here. As long as CJ Straub doesn't lose his mind like he did last game. This would be a massive upset. It'll be different. It'll be different. Three turnovers versus the Patriots will hurt a lot more than three. You couldn't catch the ball. He couldn't catch the shotgun. for sure He had five fumbles on Monday night. Five. think he was on drugs.
00:39:27
Speaker
You know who didn't have any fumbles?
00:39:31
Speaker
Any one of the players. Caleb Williams. Caleb Williams. Because they got the Bears and the Rams. big sunday night 6 30 on nbc soldier be cold it's gonna be cold very cold i mean very very cold they you know what matthew stafford's record is in in cold games i do tell me one and eight or is it all nine one and nine one and nine one and nine i was i was close whatever this is mine is that way so i i don't think this is a very good game for matthew stafford The Rams are favored by three and a half points, which is ridiculous to me because especially since the Bears are at home. The total is 48 and a half. I like the Bears here to win outright, quite frankly.
00:40:13
Speaker
so the bear went on right Especially since the Bears' defense are ball hawkers. They lead the NFL in interceptions, and I think you're going to see a lot of them trying to... anyways a lot of that happening, too. so Really crazy stat. Teams are 3-158 this year when they're down 10 points with five minutes left in the game.
00:40:35
Speaker
Caleb Williams and the Bears are 3-3 this year. yeah That's mind-boggling. um The thing, so the Bears defense, they played a lot of man against the Packers, which they're able to kind of figure out at the end.
00:40:50
Speaker
Going to be very hard to do against Puka Nakua and Devante Adams. I think they're gonna have, if they don't run the ball better, which they had 3.3 yards per carry against Green Bay, they're their're toast. I think this is a tough, tough matchup for ah the Bears.
00:41:05
Speaker
As much as I love the Bears so far, I still to go with the Rams. I think it's a little bit too much too soon for the for the Bears. Yeah, I agree. i don't i don't i don't know.
00:41:19
Speaker
not sustainable. It's not sustainable to keep coming back in the fourth quarter. That's what I'm saying. it It catches up to you in the playoffs, right? Okay, you did it against the Packers. Packers have a little bit more injuries. i don't know what happened. Packers going to Packer. But yeah, I don't know. i I think it's going to be closer than people think, but I think the bears, I think the bears need to keep it close because the Rams defense is not going to go and just blow a 21 point lead at one point. I think McVay is smarter than that. And especially in the playoffs,
00:41:55
Speaker
You need to of convert in the in the red red zone. I think the Bears were like three and two and seven in the red zone. Like the fourth downs, field goals last game. ah you can't keep... You got to run the ball. You got to run the ball better. And so enough, Ben Johnson, enough with these like weird DJ Moore end-arounds. Just play straight-up football. like Swift and Mononguy were really good this year. Just play straight-up.
00:42:19
Speaker
I fully believe in the Bears. Good, better, great. Better better better now, better, great. Whatever it is. i'm full I'm fully on board. I think the Bears of mine are my favorite team in the NFC after after after the Giants. You too, huh?
00:42:37
Speaker
You too, huh? i just I like the Rams. I really do. I like Matthew Stafford. I always have. I've always i've always rooted for Matthew Stafford, even when he was with Detroit. just There's something about this Bears team. and I'm saying they're going to make the Super Bowl, but I feel like i feel like they'll they'll i feel like they have a chance to beat the Rams, and then they'll lose to either the Seahawks or the Knights, I think. You guys remember sam Sam, the Bears fan, who was We text all the time. like This year, because the Giants are so bad... He must be super happy, man.
00:43:06
Speaker
So like he texts me all the time about the bears. Like it's, it's fun because Caleb's cool. Ben Johnson loves him. Like it's, it's a really cool. Yeah. Yeah. It's fun. Do you remember when he said that they going to have 11 wins in their first season? And we laughed at him.
00:43:19
Speaker
I mean, he, they did not have 11 wins. Like it's not as if we came out of nowhere. We're laughing with that. They had 11 wins their second season. Hey, he was off by a year. You're never wrong. You're just early. ah So ah quickly. So who are we? Bills and Broncos. Now, who do you have?
00:43:36
Speaker
I have the Bills. Bills? Roger, have the Bills? Bills. Okay, I'll take the Broncos. Perfect. i just want to keep us honest for the episode. Niners and Seahawks. Knack, who you have?
00:43:47
Speaker
I think I have the Seahawks at the at the end by a field goal. Perfect. Roger? Niners pick them. I'm just going to pick them, so it's Niners. Niners for me, too. Love it. Texans and Patriots. Knack?
00:44:01
Speaker
I think Drake may figures out the, uh, figures out the Texans. I'm going to, I'm going to say again, in a close one, the Patriots, uh, Patriots prevail. Roger. Texans.
00:44:13
Speaker
Yeah. Texans for me too. I think they do not figure out the Texans and I think they do not prevail. um i That defense is just... How original. It's like, you rush four, you drop seven, and they have good cornerback. Anyways, Rams and Bears.
00:44:30
Speaker
Yeah. Rams versus Bears. Knack. Rams. Roger? The Bears. I'm going to go Bears. Here we go. You are the best. Never let it rest. The good gets better. And your best gets best. All three. One, two, three. Bears. It sounds like the intro song a Rocky movie 1990. You're the best around.
00:44:47
Speaker
bit three one tooth it some hair it sounds like the song of like ah it's it sounds like the intro song of a rocky movie nineteen ninety um you're the best around All right, that's it for me. Yeah, so that's we're going to tally these up, guys.
00:45:02
Speaker
And we're going to revisit this next week, I think, and see. It's basically Nat versus Raj and Fat. No, you guys are. I like some of the bills. It's true, the bills. Yeah, what is new? Yeah, you're right. What is new? That's very true. What is new? Yeah. Guys, don't love your job. Job your love.
00:45:20
Speaker
job perfect segue guys that will do it for another edition of the bush league huddle of fantasy football podcast like always please remember to follow us on youtube spotify apple podcast tiktok instagram and twitter we will be back next week raj to the music
00:45:44
Speaker
Job your love. Oh my goodness. Anyway, Mac, great to have you back. Yes. This was episode. Great episode. How do you win against a team that rushes four and drops seven?
00:45:55
Speaker
can't. yeah the old buck It's like the old Bucs with Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice. Dude, it's like the Giants when they won in 2011. It's crazy. Or even, yeah. Or 2007, if you want to just. Obviously, it's always going to come to mind.
00:46:09
Speaker
stuff Good night, everyone. Enjoy Divisional Weekend. Have fun. Peace out. Thanks for coming out. Goodbye. night