Transcript
Speaker: football podcast. How we all doing today, ladies and gentlemen? This is a fun episode we got scheduled for you guys right now. Get ready because this one is the inaugural official unofficial kickoff of our, our, our, the Bushley Cuddle Fans Football Podcast, our, our season. This is what this is right now.
Speaker: So. This is the first of many episodes for 2026 where we're going to be detailing a lot of our bold predictions. That might be a hint into this episode. Going over, obviously, our our favorite draft picks for 2026, who we like, who we don't like, like what scheme is going to work in their favor, what coaching staff is going to make the most impact, who got drafted where, who...
Speaker: You know, it's all the fun stuff that's going to be happening right now leading up to the beginning of the NFL season. That's why that's what you guys have in store right now from June 9th today up until... so Someone tell me when the kickoff September 4th-ish, more or less, whatever. Let's just assume it's that, around Liberty.
Speaker: That's what you can expect, along with some drafts as well, as long as some... some but We're to doing a lot of mock drafts from a two-quarterback perspective, from a one-quarterback perspective, from Superflex League and all that fun stuff.
Speaker: But this one... This episode, we got three hosts, the usual, myself, Fab, we got Knack, we got Roger. Two very attractive gentlemen with me right now.
Speaker: We got a pool of about 20 bold predictions that we've put together. And we're going to be doing a snake draft, which is very exciting. Very, very exciting. So how the snake draft works, I'm sure everybody's very well attuned with how a snake draft works. There's only three of us. so it's going to go me, Raj, Knack.
Speaker: And then it's going to NAC, Raj, Fav for round two and blah, blah, blah, et cetera, et cetera, up until about round four. And how this is going to be is that we each picked our bold prediction that we stand by.
Speaker: And we're going to have to defend it all season long. And that's going to be the fun part because some of these predictions are wild. But it doesn't matter. that I guess that's the that's the exciting part of it itself. um So, yeah. So, the draft itself is, you know, it's every...
Speaker: every every no one knows who's picking what no one knows who's gonna be taking who so all the like all the reactions you're getting right now on youtube are gonna be live and there's gonna be a lot of banter back and forth is gonna be a fun episode i'm um i'm super uh but before we jump in yeah before we jump into that guys please follow us on youtube spotify apple podcast tiktok instagram tweet twitter uh for all your fancy breakdowns all season long um all as usual, send us to your questions. I know the season is about to wrapping up and a lot of draft guides are coming out and all that stuff, but we're, we're in the thick of it all the time. You know what I mean? We're always listening to the news and everything, even though the and NBA and NHL playoffs are going out right now. Go Knicks. Go.
Speaker: But at the same time, we're always here for all that fun stuff. So please send us all of your questions. Follow us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. I'm Fab. That's Nat. That's Raj. I guess we just get into it right now. I mean, is there... There's no there's no draft chime. I don't have a draft chime. What's the Yahoo draft chime? It sounds like Mr. mr Bean. did it do Yeah. did he So that unfortunately I have a draft chime except for that, that horrible vocals you just heard right now, but I'm going to jump into it all the same money anyway. So my, my first low prediction that I am standing, I'm guys, I'm standing 10 toes down on this.
Speaker: and toes out on this from dave love that we started with five i love that we started with and i'm and i'm ready to go it's go pick the the biggest one right out of the yeah no yeah only that crazy i take to i'm makinging one it's yeah one hundred percent i'm signbag and everyone this one um and this one also i was jaded last year so it's a little bit that in this too jaden daniels finish outside the top ten and quarterbacks yeah you're jaded nice forhaing there i'm very jaded i'm very jaded listen um Hold did a little bit of research on this because I don't think it would be fair to Mr. Daniels if I didn't. But ah from a points-per-game basis last year, he was QB 18. And he did play five full games out of the seven. His apple size is small, but we've seen what the team is looking like right now.
Speaker: So him finishing outside the top 10 quarterbacks, when you look at how quarterbacks have been playing lately, I'm sorry. To me, this is, I really see this.
Speaker: I really, really see this happening and this is not a, not a stretch of the imagination whatsoever. Jane dan and Dan is finishing outside the top 10 quarterback guys. Come at me, you know, let's say what you want. I'm ready.
Speaker: Let's go. a I agree. this was This was pretty high up on my on my draft board, if you want to call it to call it that. But yeah, injuries, like you said, it hurt him last year.
Speaker: And the offense doesn't look that promising going into the season. I think we spoke about this off camera a little bit at your ba this weekend. Yes, we did. yes we did and met your mad we playinging ah yeah Ladies and gentlemen, sorry, Nag, let me just into interrupt for a second. um but I'm very sorry.
Speaker: Here we go. we got it This first pick was done. Come at me, okay? I'm a man. I'm 40. Come after me. right? Okay, now we're done. That's it. I just turned 40. Did you have it for your 7, 8, 10 time that we have to give you your flowers?
Speaker: Come after me. I'm a man. I'm 40. um Yeah, so I was speaking about Jaden Daniels and how he was injured last year before, you know, Fab had to cut me off because he's a man and he's 40 for those of you didn't get that.
Speaker: um But ad playing in a very tough division now that really got significantly better on the defensive side of the ball, right? So there's six games right off the bat that are going to be super tough for Daniels coming off an injury as well. So yeah, like I said, this one was pretty high up on my on my draft board. i I don't see an avenue. There's got to be a lot of QBs that get injured in in order for him to sneak into the top 10, in my opinion.
Speaker: Agreed. I don't I'm okay missing the potential Jaden Daniels redemption arc if it does happen don't feel like they did enough on offense the wide receivers they they only really relied on rookie wide receivers Terry McLaurin is still kind of in an island. Yeah, they got Chica Conquo but even the running back situation is not great. I i don't i don't trust them and I think he's an injury awaiting to happen.
Speaker: All right. So we're all in agreement. Fantastic. So moving on to pick two of round one. Roger, take it away. Yeah, I struggled with this one. Those there was two I really struggled with. But if there's one I really want to die on a hill is Colston Loveland as the overall tight end one. I had Colston Loveland in a ton of leagues last year.
Speaker: He was absolutely fantastic, especially if you look at in the fantasy in the playoffs. some of the fantasy playoffs, but also in the real life playoffs, he averaged 16.7 fantasy points per game. We saw what he did obviously against the Rams. We saw what he did against the Packers as well. We saw what he did even earlier on in the season against the Bengals. He looks like he's going to be an amazing, amazing player. player. Obviously, DJ Moore was traded to Buffalo, so he becomes the first but de facto potential first option. We saw Caleb gain amazing amount of chemistry with Colson Loveland, especially in the second half of the year. And we know Ben Johnson's system is very tight and friendly.
Speaker: Even if they have still a Cole commit, I think they drafted another tight end to to me be more of a blocking tight end. But I think he's Caleb's a comfort blanket. And I think I'm I'm all in on Colston love and all all in on in him. And I really think this one is is very feasible that he's the overall tight end one.
Speaker: Yeah, overall, and one is a is a very sorry, Nak overall. time And one is is is too rich for my blood. I like him a lot this year. I think he can definitely push for top five.
Speaker: But you're going have a resurgence of Brock Bowers who didn't play well last year at all. There's still Trey McBride out there who commands a lot of the offense. And you would think that Jacoby Brissett back in that offense too, it's going be going back to Trey McBride a ton. and you saw him If he's back.
Speaker: If he's back. Well, yeah. carson why after True, true. But you you just saw how that offense really blew up in in McBride's favor the second they started throwing him the ball. and And I don't see why that would stop.
Speaker: But listen, i'm I'm not pushing back too hard on this. If it does happen, I think that's great because I think Chicago was a great offense this year. ah ah Number one overall is too rich for my blood, though.
Speaker: Look, I had it as ah one of my one of my picks for sure. I don't know if I would have gone this high with this one, but he did look. He finished as tight end 12 in his rookie year in in PPR formats, but he really came on down the stretch.
Speaker: As Fab alluded to, you still got to deal with McBride, who's most likely going to, I feel, retain that title. And then there's Brock Bowers, who was injured most of last year, only played a handful of games that that's coming back. I know with a rookie QB, so maybe be a little bit more difficult.
Speaker: But he's still got some pretty heavy hitters in front of him. I do definitely like it. I just... it's it's going to be it's going to be tough for that tight end one overall, but um but i do I definitely do like his upside this year.
Speaker: It's a bold one for sure. Yeah.
Speaker: That leaves me with number three. Yeah, yes so yeah so you're number three, NAC. Excellent. I am going to go with, let me see, right here.
Speaker: I'm going to go with Kenneth Gainwell outscores Bucky Irving this year in fantasy football. So reasoning behind this is Bucky Irving still not healthy in the off season, battled back injuries, leg injuries all of last year.
Speaker: Obviously for a running back, that's not great news. Then they went to get Kenneth Gainwell and we saw what Kenneth Gainwell did last year in somewhat of a starting role as well when, um,
Speaker: Warren went down. ah He had a couple of 30-point games mixed in to to end the the year. Great pass catcher out of the backfield. I think it's going to play well um in in that offense. and i just see I could see Bucky Irving missing you know a good chunk of time again this year and Look, when even when Warren came back, it was it wasn't more than a 50-50 split. like Warren wasn't getting the ball more. Maybe they're just going favor him. If if Kenneth Gainwell gets is doing better than expected, they're going to give him or find more ways to give him the ball. So give me Kenneth Gainwell to outscore Bucky Irving this year.
Speaker: PPR man, he was amazing in PPR last year. And I think there's a lot within Bucky Irving from a p size standpoint that I'm starting to be concerned of the fact that he's still not a hundred percent healthy after an injury that happened pretty much mid year is very concerning in my opinion.
Speaker: Yeah, I think Kenneth Gainwell is going to bring back some solid RB2 numbers throughout the entire season this year. You have no idea what's going on Bucky Irving. It's very concerning, and he's a PPR merchant, like we just said. I like this pick a lot.
Speaker: He was very high up my back. He's a way better Rashad White. look at it that way like yeah think about rashad white exactly the opportunities getting touched i like that are points he's better runners better than richard right he's a better runner as well exactly he's rashad white wasn't a good runner he can actually run and it just showcased what he could do i don't think he ever got that type of opportunity in philly right that's what that's what kind of lacked that that's what kind of got him that that small contract last season but look how look how the tides have turned remember when you guys thought rashad white was an rb1
Speaker: So moving on to next. day
Speaker: I'm up again. i um are you? Is it you? Yeah, Snake Draft. Yeah, it's Nat goes back to back. Yes, I go twice. So whose grass am I cutting now? Let me see. i believe I'm cutting Roger's grass.
Speaker: I'm going to call it right now. i know I'm calling it right now. and this is Parker Washington finishes as a top 15 wide receiver. there's a lot that There's a lot of them that I liked. There was a lot of them I liked. Yeah, know. i just like I saw this. just rogerva cutter for sure I I don't know there's for sure more that you more that you like. But yeah, Parker Washington really came on strong last year. Obviously to the demise of BTJ, who kind of just didn't show up.
Speaker: And down the stretch, man, that guy was putting up double-digit fantasy points, even like 18-plus fantasy points per week at one point, um just dominating with Trevor Lawrence.
Speaker: And it just really continued. i think it was like the last 10 games of the of the year, they really, really ah went after part Parker Washington. Wide receiver, too, all day, every day with Parker Washington this year.
Speaker: Love how he plays. Yeah, so quickly, yeah i love this pick too, and he was very high up on my board as well. He finished last year with as wide receiver 27. That's a little bit ah deceiving because the end of the season with three straight games of nine at least nine targets, at least 87 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Speaker: And we were saying it all throughout the end of the last season, like Parker Washington, Parker Washington. Now Brian Thomas Jr. looks like such an afterthought in that offense. Yeah, he led in air and yeah yeah led the team in air yards after week nine. like I was telling you guys, like I felt he he has some Amon Ross St. Brown in him, like just the way he plays, the toughness he plays with. He actually likes going over the middle. so this was ah There's quite a few of them I liked, and this was one that I am very, very bullish on with regards to Parker at parker Washington.
Speaker: ah So I'm next. Yeah, I'm next. So this is what pick ah my round two. This is my second pick. pick Yeah. um e I'm going go very bold here. and I'm going to say McConkie leads the league in receptions.
Speaker: It's what lad McConkie leads the league in receptions. um So the Mike McDaniel factor, in my opinion, is, is, look guys, these are bold picks. We're we're we're not, we're not here to, we're not here to sand. Yeah, no, no, for sure. Yeah, no, no, no. Hey, I'm so go for it.
Speaker: Part of my reasoning is the Mike McDaniel scheme scheme. We've seen what he's done with other wide receivers. He's been able to scheme other WR ones into having elite type of seasons.
Speaker: We know lad McConkey can be a PPR machine. Yes, it was a down year last year with the chargers offensive line, a Greg Roman offense that is always abysmal from a passing standpoint. I love the fact that they're going to be going to multiple tight end sets. Mike McDaniel is one of the most ah double tight end sets, offensive coordinator in the league. And typically in two tight end sets, you're seeing obviously less wide receivers on the field.
Speaker: So I think Vlad McConkie is going to play a ton of routes, a ton of snaps. TBD, who's on the other side, whether it's Trey Harris or Quinton Johnson. But I think they're in for, this is going to be the year, in my opinion, that just we say Justin Herbert is really going to be an MVP. And for me, it's all the big time, the Mike McDaniel factor.
Speaker: Yeah, listen, I'm, He would have to double his receptions from last year for him to finish as as as top and in in in receptions. So that that's my only concern.
Speaker: And I like Ladd McConkie. I do. you know Is he going to get 125 receptions this year? Hey, man. From your lips to God's ears, Roger. So quick counter. Who who here thought JSN was going to have 119 receptions?
Speaker: Yeah, no, for sure. 100%. But I don't think we should be comparing JSN to Ladd McConkie. Even from a standpoint two years in the season. They were drafted very similar last year. and they were we no I don't think anyone saw js what was going to happen with JSN. And one of the things I've constantly been saying is, and it's it's factual, that we have not seen the same wide receiver one back-to-back, I think, since Antonio Brown in, like, 2013 or 2014. That's fact. I think he did it three years in a row.
Speaker: yeah with memory if memory lack knock mac would have that that would have that tattooed on his arm most likely yeah the thing that's on his side is there's keenan allen's 122 targets that left town and you're guessing he's 122 years old no 122 receptions that that left town uh target excuse me yeah so there's going to be a target share um For sure, that's going to be going to Lab McConkie. And honestly, he's he's definitely like bounce back candidate central for for this offense. And I think that Mike McDaniels factor, you hit it on on the head, Raj. 130. Like that's usually like 125, 130 is what you lead the league in
Speaker: like Again, I'm not going to compare him to his last year's stats because last year is just it's not who Lab McConkie is. I think he's more of what we saw the year prior.
Speaker: Man, this one, it's definitely bold. It's definitely bold. Not impossible. Again, I i don't know. well Well, I guess time will tell, but it's not as far-fetched, I think, as people will make it out to be.
Speaker: He is a PPR monster, especially that that first year was insane. His rookie season. Yeah, his first year at 82 receptions. For a rookie, it's fantastic. And a run-dominant offense with a run-dominant offensive coordinator. But to counter all these points, he only had six less targets in 2025 than he did versus his rookie season.
Speaker: So it's not as if the volume wasn't there that much this year. Sorry, last year. yeah that quality of target The quality of targets probably wasn't as good because their offensive line was a bit of a mess. yeah I think Herbert really liked Allen too, though. He had that security blanket with Allen. And that's what like that's gone now. you know that was a mess But that security blanket doesn't it it doesn't ah it doesn't give enough reasoning for the difference in targets. It's only six targets. We're not talking about like 100. You know what i mean? We're not talking about ah it's six targets.
Speaker: Again, caught less. Yeah, I think the all fair points. Yeah, they have um got the tight end there. That was all around. They got Gatston. Yes, um they're going play. They I think they drafted the tight end. They signed another tight end that ah um David Njoku.
Speaker: so they're going to play a ton of two tight end sets, which means they're going to play way less three and four for wide receiver sets, which I think opens up a lot of room for for McConkie.
Speaker: um fab you're next you know what i was i was gonna have i had one i had the two that i really wanted i got them in my back pocket right now because i can go back to back but i want to throw a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of spicy oil on this right now so roger i'm going to continue on the same theme that is mike mcdaniel's in the offense and i'm going to go with our mario or marion hampton fish that top three back yeah i love that one um He was RB 16 in a very limited time that he was playing as a rookie.
Speaker: He's shown flashes. Now he has the entire backfield to himself. Sure, there's Kamani Vidal there. No problem. You know what I mean? But I think right now you're going to see a big, big, big increase in his volume. And you're going to see what Mike Medano can do with this guy.
Speaker: And it's going to be very exciting. and And a lot of people are talking about how this could be a Lydini and Tomlinson-esque. Let's pump the brakes over there. Let's pump the brakes. Yeah. Let's pump the brakes. But that that would be good enough for top three. So that's where I'm liking Omarion. Omarion happened this year a lot. from From a draft perspective, I'd be very comfortable to having him on RB1 this year too. I really like how this offense is going to be very focused on him.
Speaker: And again, Mike McDonald being there, that's a big, big, big, that's a big jump. And we can't forget what he did with the Devon A. Chan. And in that offense in Miami. And now he's just the offensive coordinator. Not just the offensive coordinator. But he only has to worry about the offense.
Speaker: So I think he's going to be lot more focused on how well this offense will run. So that's what's very exciting for me. So that's why for top three Fassie running back. Yeah, 100%. I think I'm totally totally on board with that.
Speaker: If I could just add something quickly, i believe he caught 32 passes last year in just like nine games. That's like a 60, obviously 60 catch pace. Like you didn't, no one really saw him necessarily as a PPR guy.
Speaker: no he could do that as well and rush the way, you know, Fab you're saying he, he can rush. Like, I don't think your pick or mine can both be true. ah Yeah.
Speaker: I went with the bold one. I think yours is probably more likely. But I really know I like I went with something that's bold that because I i believe in Ladd McConkie, especially with like more two tight ends. But I think yours is probably from a from a it has a higher floor, so to speak.
Speaker: yeah i see what you're saying this one was one of the ones i had i think at the bottom of the list i think there's just way too many ah for me to way too many running backs like a gibbs a robinson taylor genty in the year two there's still cook that's there there's still like saquon barkley they're saying is going to have a bounce back here kenneth walker in that chiefs offense i'm just like there's so many guys that this one was really, um really towards the bottom of the list for me. omaine ha like and i And I like the talent and I love the the McCarthy factor as well. That's a huge one um as well. It's just that this is, I feel like this is way too rich. Like you're, you're telling me this would say to me that in a in a, let's say regularly you're drafting Omarion Hampton third or in the first round, which you don't need to, I don't know.
Speaker: You don't need to get him that early. Yeah. No chance you need to get out early. Our top three finish? Like if we're projecting top three back finish, that's a lot of points. Yeah. But I don't think you're, I think, i don't know. Look, i I think ADP, I don't think ADP matters right now. Although it exists. It doesn't matter. sure Sure, sure, sure. I guarantee if people, whoever's drafting even in like a month from now, Amiron Hapton's maybe going second round or third round.
Speaker: 100 yeah i see and then two qb yeah third third makes third makes sense for me but yeah for me it's just this one was uh personally was just at the bottom of the of the list of bold this one's really bold let's just say
Speaker: Well, that was my first pick of, sorry, that was that was the last pick of round two. Now we're going to be going with the first pick of round three. um This one might not be as bold, but I'm still standing 10 toes down on this. And Roger, I'm sort of piggybacking a lot of you the players that you like, but just on a different side of the that a fence a little bit. Caleb Williams, top three fantasy quarterback. um When I saw this, I'm like, there's no way. And then I'm looking into I'm like, there's a big way.
Speaker: There's a, there's a, this, this is, um, yeah. Like, I mean, they got fished as quarterback five last year. Like he, it's been Johnson i injured last year.
Speaker: Who was injured last year? Who was injured last year? A lot of guys, but there's injuries every year. That's what I'm saying. that's so thats That would be my rebuttal. but So then he can get injured or more people can get injured and he fished this quarterback one?
Speaker: Because that argument goes both ways for you. theyre about one Everybody can get injured every single year, though. Like the fact of the matter is that the guy had a great season last year.
Speaker: It's another year in the Ben Johnson offense. There's more weapons to his disposal. He's getting more comfortable with the dunes. You saw Luther Burden come in, Colson Loveland. Hey man, their offensive line is good. They're running the ball really well and he works great in that offense. So yeah, you're going to tell me about how he can't finish as a top three quarterback.
Speaker: No, he only finished. He was 30 points out. and Top three. And you know if Nak, like, sorry, Fabian, Nak, you're typically the second-year QB whisperer. Like, he got better in a second QB, second year, in a new offense, in a very difficult new offense.
Speaker: the devil's advocate is hey like he has to hit his layups like he can't just rely on the jump man throws and the freaking run backwards and throw it to colston loveland like he needs to see clear progression on that front but uh very very high on caleb as you guys you guys know and i think this one is is pretty pretty feasible as well yeah so like i said my my devil's advocate to that is am i saying he's a bad qb absolutely not he did finish qb5 last year i think that is his his, his ceiling is that QB, QB five, in my opinion, with the big hitters that are still in here. We're talking to Josh Allen's, even Drake may Joe Burrow when, and if he's healthy. And I think, as you mentioned before, Joe um Justin Herbert is, this is the year that he's got to perform. And I think with that offense, it's, it's going to be a great, he's on a great trajectory, Caleb Williams, and we're talking fantasy QB.
Speaker: I just don't think he has enough to hit that, that top three.
Speaker: And those are my back-to-back. Roger, we can continue with with your pick now for round Yeah, I'm going to go with another bold one. i think I'm just going to bold ones. I think you guys are going laugh me off the pod. But Chris Alave finishing as a top three fantasy wide receiver. Look, he caught extreme amount of fire last year, like 24 catches, 352 yards, four touchdowns across his final three games. Tyler sch Shuck was tremendous. i think, Nak, you had him in Bush League, if I'm not mistaken, at the... I don't know if you had him or... either way whoever had whoever whoever had him lucus lucas lucas adam yeah whoever had him was really reaping a lot of benefits at the end of the season we saw him ah him ascend and
Speaker: Kellen Moore runs like a very fast paced type of offense. I think this benefits Chris Alave. Obviously Jordan Tyson being drafted really helps too. you know, they made some improvements on the offensive line as well. And again, I'm just banking on the fact that there's kind of the top of the wide receiver room or chain in fantasy is always different. So this is one that I really like. as well I was happy to get it this late, but this is one i really want him in in many of my teams next year.
Speaker: This coming year, sorry. The injury concerns always hurt yeah hurt me with Olave. He's like that one one hit away from like career ending. just it just like it It scares me, this topic. But you're right. He had an incredible year last year. And hopefully hopefully for him, like I'd love for him to continue. like I love the player. just scares the The injury with him just scares me. And that's one of the reasons why he went so late in drafts last year.
Speaker: Yeah, that's a good point, but I think he's getting a lot less hospital balls with Shuck in that offense. and and i think that And I think it shows, right? Because it's he's but he's been the guy who's getting all the freaking hospital balls, and we saw that from all the quarterbacks that were throwing to him.
Speaker: Now it's different. Now I guess he's getting a lot more safer balls, and then you add the fact that they added... What was that wide receiver there that they drafted? Jordan Tyson. I forget his name. Thank you, Jordan Tyson.
Speaker: I mean, yeah, you would you you can argue there's going less targets for him, but the same there's also going to less pressure on him, too. going to less coverage on him as well, because now Jordan Tyson soon would be promoting the two. i had I had him pretty high up on my draft board, actually, this one. So I'm um um i'm right there with you, Raj. I like this call a lot better than Lab McConkie. Put it that way.
Speaker: I think this is much more reasonable. Yeah, um that's fair. I think also we forgot to mention Travis Etienne. think that's the new spelling. Travis Etienne as the new ah running back in New Orleans. Let's see what happens with Alvin Kamara. There's talk that he might still come back. And if Kamara's back as a backup running back, third down guy, i think that offense becomes a really, really interesting unit.
Speaker: yeah na it's just Yeah, just one final one final thought. Again, where we spoke about it before, the sophomore QBs. I'm curious to see what Shuck looks like in his second year with tape on him now.
Speaker: Curious to see what he's going to look like. Yeah, that's always that's always a fair point. For sure. Nak, you want to close off was it round three? Yeah, round three. Round three.
Speaker: Yeah. I will go with
Speaker: Here we go. Malik Neighbors plays less than five games in 2026. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I knew nobody else was going to pick this except for Max. This is just for the asset. I know I could have gone this way. I could have gone with my last pick on this. could have been This could have been your first pick overall. It would have made sense.
Speaker: No, I had to play my play my odds here. um Look, what odd is the injury news the injury news has been terrible all offseason. had to have another surgery on his knee, um looking like he may not be ready to start the year. And there's also rumors of him starting on the PUP, which would have him miss the first six games. So right off the bat, you're at 11. Yeah.
Speaker: um Look, he's been injured every single year that he's he's played, and he's he's missed a lot of games in his short NFL career. um i don't think it's as bold as a prediction as people would think. Maybe less than five. It's kind of bold, less than five. But yeah, I don't know. He's he's just... the Injury troubles all all his whole career up to date. So I'm just not optimistic about Malik Neighbors in 2026.
Speaker: The concern I have is the type of injury that it is. um you know is it Does he start off on the pup? And if he doesn't start off on the pup, is it you know they try him out a few games, they realize that it's not working out, then they sit him.
Speaker: And if the Giants season isn't going well, we hope it goes well. But if it's not going well, is it one where they just say, like let's just let's just park him for the rest of the year? Yeah, players hate that, though.
Speaker: Yeah, for sure. Players come back, but if if they can, i guess, but it there's a lot of a lot of not and like there's a lot of missing information in this. You've seen him in training videos and you see him actually cutting and all that stuff. And then you see him playing a softball game where he's gingerly limping over it to first base. So like I'm not really sure how to how do to feel about this. i think he's I think he misses like six games in the season. I really do. I think that's more realistic.
Speaker: But if he plays less than five games, then like I really hope it's because... Like they sat him, you know what I mean? Like he comes back at the end of the year and is like, screw it type thing. I, the thing ah that I don't like about this bold prediction is that him missing five, him playing less than five games means he got injured again. Yeah. And that's just what I don't want. You know, that's, that's sort of where I'm at on this, but yeah, we'll see.
Speaker: No, I could see you again. Yeah, first pick of the last round. It's going to be... i'm actually curious as to how this stayed on the board this long, but I'm going to go Devon HN outside of the top 15 running backs this year. Yeah, I like that.
Speaker: The team right now is completely, completely, completely. It's nobody. That offense is horrible. It's literally A-Chan and that's it. There's going to be some Malik Willis in there as well who's going to potentially steal some um some fantasy points from A-Chan.
Speaker: But that team is going to be behind in every single game this year. They're just they might they might literally go 0 and 17. Like it's very it's legitimate possibility with the team, with the roster they have on offense.
Speaker: And maybe like you said, it's going to be one of those things where they're going to they just signed in price possession. Like if you if you get to a point where you're 0 and 10, you're 0 and 12, like are you trotting out A-chan full go?
Speaker: for this whole season or are you going to try to limit his touches to go into next year ah fresh and hopefully not get get injured i'm just concerned about everything miami right now and i just wouldn't back it a chance to get to get into the top 15. i got nothing against this i'm fully on board this was pretty high up on my board as well um yeah he's the only thing in that offense so they're going to be stacking the box period that's it that's how i see it you know like uh Yeah, it's going to be tough sledding for Devon HN in that offense this year. I'm not very i'm ever excited about it.
Speaker: ah Yeah, I'm concerned about his receiving yards, especially with a rushing QB. Much easier for the rushing QB is just to run instead of throw throw to the flats. Mm-hmm. ah My turn with my last pick of this draft. I'm going to go back to the old well, a safer one. Derek Henry, top three in rushing yards at age 32. This one is is hard, I think, because we keep trying to say, like, when is Derek Henry? When is the, the you know, the...
Speaker: Father time going to going to going to grab him. But I think the Ravens brought in in a new offense coordinator. So Declan Doyle was the OC with the Bears and we saw how good the Bears rushing attack was. They're going to leverage a ton of two tight end sets.
Speaker: They're going to stay with the same type of zone running scheme that Derrick Henry usually loves. And i think with a lot of pre snap motion, multi tight end sets, i I still think Henry is prime for at least one more top rushing season.
Speaker: we need We need Lamar Jackson to obviously stay healthy, but we saw what Henry did, especially last year towards the tail end of the of the fantasy playoffs. He was he was absolutely fantastic. and Most notably the Green Bay game.
Speaker: I was going back and forth. You cut my grass, Roger. Yeah. Yeah, i was I was going back and forth with with this one. i was just like, that and I think Father Time, this is the time where Father Time says, okay. you think that's it?
Speaker: i don't think he's like, man, top three in rushing yards. This is going to be, like, if he does it now, it's like truly, truly impressive. Like really, especially with the miles he has and the beatings, he like the the hits that he takes and break, like it' it would be very impressive. I'd be very impressed if he if he does that.
Speaker: Guys, guys, question, question Derek Henry's aptitude at your own peril. Yeah, I was going to. Yeah, we got God. I was going to take this and I was going to this one. Number one overall.
Speaker: That's how I was so because this year, last year, he finished second in rushing yards. The year before he finished second in rushing yards. 2023, he finished ninth or something in rushing yards. 2022, second in rushing yards.
Speaker: Like I know history doesn't always repeat itself. And I'm sorry. Like I i will continue to pick Derrick Henry until the wheels fall off. I'm sorry.
Speaker: I'm sorry. The only negative I'll say to this pick for next year is that about, I think like 400 of his rushing yards came in the last like five games. Yeah.
Speaker: So that that's the only, like there was a lot of it was back loaded. So from a fantasy perspective, this might be a little bit more of a tougher sell. But in real life, I would not bet against Eric Connery not finishing in the top three in rushing yards. Yeah.
Speaker: ah Another devil's advocate, they lost Lindenbaum. They did gain um the new guard, Vega. Tucker Vega, Tucker. and Yeah.
Speaker: uh from from penn state hey only yeah thank you uh but there has been 1 000 and even close to 1500 1500 yard rushers at age 32 i think thomas jones walter payton you know emmett smith's done it uh so i know that's like a lead company like and derrick henry's elite company derrick henry is he's he's gonna be the benchmark Yeah, he's not going to be just a comparison anymore. He's going to be the benchmark. I'm not counting him out until he I see it. I mean, when I see it that he's and done and because i got it in the tweeter yeah I counted him out two years ago. You guys got got anger got you. your You two got got two two, three years ago. I said he was absolutely done and i and I completely regretted it. I told myself I'm not I'm not counting him out until he actually has that down here.
Speaker: uh so who's gonna finish um last pick ah draft last big of the draft we're gonna make this one a doozy ladies and gentlemen uh bijan robinson breaks 450 fantasy points and the all-time record for rushing and receiving yards let's do it nuts let's just nuts i loved it but this one's nuts let's why not why you know why you know why because it's year one without algier who's been in his backfield ever since the guy got dropped And it's about time this guy just blows up like he's supposed to, like he's expected to.
Speaker: And you know what? him For him to hit 450 fantasy points versus what he had last year, it's an extra 4.7 fantasy points per game. It's not crazy. It's not crazy to do.
Speaker: It's not. It's like we'll multiply that by 17. seventeen That's pretty that's the crazy part. It's it's well, that's how I got to that number. I divided by 17. So like just to say it's not that crazy and he's not that far off. And I think it's very realistic. And I think this offense can pop and he's going be the reason why.
Speaker: So I am um um I'm booking this in. I'm sending another 10 toes down on this. I like my predictions. I think all my predictions are happen. that just Of course you do. No more no Algier and no R3. Yeah, Fab loves his team. What a surprise. Come on. And no Tyler Algier.
Speaker: This is the year he can do it. If there was a year to pick... This one is super bold. Beautiful. I'm drafting him. I'm drafting him overall. Thank you. You can have the exact same argument. I know this isn't a bold prediction, but Jameer Gibbs and B. John Robinson will feed families this year with everything that I've been hearing about them. They will feed families this year. Like you were picking them. And they fed families last year. Imagine. So this year, everyone's going to everyone's going to really well. But so, yeah, I don't know. I just like how this is going. I like the trajectory. And yeah,
Speaker: So that's it. So those are the ones that we had. Want to just recap quickly um which ones we did not pick that did not make it. um So we had Eli Stowers, Stowers, Stowers, I believe, um outproducing Dallas Goddard.
Speaker: we had i like that one. I like that one, too. I'm not that crazy. i was one of that was That was one of my ah my yeses. yeah i had I had that one high up, too. Josh Allen below 10 rushing touchdowns. Yeah, this one was not even on my board at all. 14, 12, and 15 rushing touchdowns in the last three years. That's really hard to take. He's basically either goal line or short yardage back. That's what it is. 100%.
Speaker: hundred percent Yeah. Puka Nakua and JSN finishing outside as outside the top five wide receivers. but I actually had this a little. I had this. it was One of them, yes. I think one of them is fair. One of them is both yes. That's that's tough. both is really tough i Quickly, I have an argument for both of them on how it could happen. Puka, the whole thing about the rehab and everything, and just maybe he just falls off from a professional standpoint. but Who knows?
Speaker: Jason might regress from a, from a Darnold standpoint. If defenses have figured out that offense a little bit, just, and I'm saying regress to the point where like he goes down to top five. i don't like I don't like the Darnold regress because he's now he's done it two two different years and two different offenses. I think Darnold is him now. I think we got to respect Darnold.
Speaker: It's more you have to you have to fair you have to think Drake. you know A lot of people thought Drake London would be top five. What happens with AJ Brown? Does he jump in? CeeDee Lamb. CeeDee Lamb's going be back.
Speaker: you like Yeah, that's true. He's got to compete with Pickens. yeah That one's going to be tough for top five, but we'll see. yeah Another one we had that we didn't pick was Kyron Williams finishing outside the top 25 running backs.
Speaker: I thought you'd take that one. I was very close. 25 was rich for me. loved Kyron way too much to take that one. 25 was rich for me. I thought if it was top 20, I would have said yes. That's high.
Speaker: That's high. But I can see it i can see him as a low-end RB2. But then I was looking at his numbers. I mean, the guy had... just he had more yards uh he was it was more efficient this year than last year sorry it was more efficient in 2025 than he was in 2024 despite having less carries so i don't i think the fact that um i think the fact that he's gonna be a little bit more fresh is really what they're gonna want to do and they're gonna the the rams are playing for the for the super bowl like they're gonna need him when the when the games really comes Um, another one that we had was Jalen hurts throwing for 33 punch touchdown 33 plus touchdown passes.
Speaker: Never in my life was I ever going to choose this one ever. Zero. zero Zero. I think, I think he's, he's the most, he's that he's, he's due for a bounce back. i think he has a huge chip on his shoulder. I think he's been doubted so much this off season that he's going to want to show people what he could do under, under center with an OC who's going to force him to play under center and force him to throw over the middle.
Speaker: It's funny, he's his best year in passing touchdowns was actually last year and it was 25. He's had 23 or less in his whole career.
Speaker: Every season. I don't know how he got out. And now AJ Brown is left. So he loses a ah pretty good talented wide receiver. Yeah, but now you're forgetting who we got doing.
Speaker: Yeah, still a rookie. Exactly. um Another one that we didn't pick was Brock Purdy, 40-plus total touchdowns. No, this one, too, was... He never had more than 33 total touchdowns than I was in the 2023 season. That was, like, his most productive season. It's a boring one. 31 passing. Yeah, well, it was another two rushing touchdowns. He's a good runner. Like, he's an underrated rushing player. But, yeah...
Speaker: Wasn't thrilling, that one. And the the last one that we did not pick, right? Two more. There's two more. there's two more There's two more. or There's a Devante Smith overall, wide receiver one. Yeah, I like that one a lot.
Speaker: and Overall, wide receiver one season? I like that one a lot. Like, wide receiver one overall. Top 12. In fantasy. think he's I think he's going to show up and show up this year. He's an amazing player, and he's going to show why he he was Heisman Trophy winner as a wide receiver.
Speaker: Listen, I never had anything against him. I always thought that the guy was brought into an offense. He was never the guy. didn't draft him. I didn't draft him, so I should show you how much confidence I have, but I really like him as a player. And again, bold prediction. It could happen.
Speaker: What's the... ah Sorry, guys. From my account... Tyler Algier outscores Jeremiah Love. It was the last one. I didn't like that one. You know, I wasn't, I was middle of the pack on this. I was middle of the pack on this. I figured maybe they might bring in the rookie a little bit slower and Algier might still have a role in this ah offense because they did sign him to have a role and maybe he might be that big bro to Jeremiah Love in the beginning.
Speaker: ah So I can see them being, being very close to each other throughout the season. Until eventually, maybe Jeremiah Love does take over. But I didn't i didn't hate this one.
Speaker: I didn't hate it. think when you draft a guy that high, he's going to be your starter and he's going to be forced to play. Like Alshon Gentry the year before. And just like all of these high profile, big picks, running backs. When you pick one that high, like that guy's in your starting offense and he's he's playing every down.
Speaker: Algiers is for sure going to spell him, but I just i can't see ah an avenue where this guy gets outscored.
Speaker: We'll see. I feel like Algiers almost did that. I feel like he he almost did that Bichon's rookie year. but He was really annoying. He was really annoying to have. It was very frustrating. It was very frustrating. It was very frustrating. It was annoying.
Speaker: Yeah. yeah Excellent. And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. These are bold predictions for the 2026 fantasy football season. I mean, I think I speak for all of us on this phone call when when I say that Fabio killed this draft, but that's just my idea. his own Phone call?
Speaker: ah Sorry, this is a podcast. um That's just my idea. But ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for listening to this wonderful episode. This is going to be some of the content that we have ready for you guys in 2026. So a lot of lot of similar stuff like this where there's lot more banter conversations and and bold takes and ten-toes positions that we've got to be taken down on. So this is going be a lot of fun stuff.
Speaker: And that pretty much wraps it up for this episode, ladies gentlemen. Thank you so much for listening to us. Thank you so much for... They're sticking on this ride this whole time. You can follow us, as usual, on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.
Speaker: For the Bushley Cuttle Fans Football Podcast, I'm Fabio. That's Knack. That's our resident New York Knicks fan, Roger. Thanks for coming out, everyone. Peace out. The bodega knows my order.
Speaker: The subwall smells position suspicious. The rent's too high. Knicks and five. Knicks and five.
