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All right, all right. All right, welcome to the show. This is the Franklin Fantasy football podcast. We are your hosts, Frankie and Johnny. Welcome, frankie, how you doing, brother.
Speaker 1:You're a great baby. After this past weekend, I'm still riding on from some of the fantasy wins and, of course, the upset of the week. Do I say that? With the Browns beating the Ravens? Was that not the upset of the?
Speaker 2:week. Oh, I thought you were talking about you beating me. This week was the upset of the week when I have a bigger, better record than you already.
Speaker 1:It's not an upset. It just means I'm a dominant force.
Speaker 2:Just first of all. Okay, it was bullshit. Okay, you pop two hundred and twelve points on me. You were projected like a hundred or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, now, I was the second highest point score, by the way, and you were the first highest. But that's happened to me twice this year. My God, two weeks in a row Actually it's happened to me. You know, we're going to experiment with this guys and experiment with this. We're going to do the matchup based scoring in one of our leagues next year and that's where you get your head to head and obviously the highest points you get a win, but then the highest, the top half of point scores, get a win, the bottom half of point scores get a loss. So you can get two wins or two losses in a week. I highly recommend you guys try that. It's really you start banging that drum when you have a couple of guys and we have in one league to where they've been the second highest point score and they lost to the highest point score. So interesting things you can do to mix things up. I really enjoy it. The one issue I have with it is that it really separates the good and the bad teams. You got those guys now that are sitting at two and eight. Their record in that point scoring system could be even more brutal, so that's the only downside to it, but I do recommend trying it.
Speaker 2:We're going to try it next year, especially after these past two weeks with me. It's sick of it, man. Hey Frankie, how's it going? Man, I'm calling, I'm coming in live from Arizona. I should I should have worn my cardinal stuff today. You know I'm here to welcome Kyler Murray back, I suppose. There you go. Yeah, talk about Kyler. How did you think he looked on his debut coming back?
Speaker 1:I thought he looked good. I thought he looked good he was scrambling out of the pocket. Well man, he was making fairly good decisions. I mean connecting very well with the tight end and McBride. I mean overall. I think. If I think you should be pretty satisfied watching watching Kyler Murray play.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean it's good for fantasy. You get James Conner coming back Totally. It makes Trey McBride very relevant. He loves his tight end.
Speaker 1:Very relevant.
Speaker 2:Makes Marquis Brown, hollywood Brown, relevant again. So we'll see. I think we're going to talk about him here a little bit. Welcome to the show, everyone, don't forget. You can follow us on Instagram at frankly fantasy football, and you listen on audio everywhere podcasts are found. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel. Watch us on YouTube at frankly fantasy football. Today we've got a great show.
Speaker 2:Guys, we're going to do a little different stuff today. We're going to mix things up. You know, we episode comes out Wednesday. We talk about ice and fire. It's a little late. After all, this stuff has happened and now we're in crunch time of the season. We've got four games left of the regular fantasy football season. Man, I know, so we want to. Yeah, four, so we need.
Speaker 2:I know everybody scrambling on our leagues. It's a log jam. Everybody's right in the middle there and it's we're fighting and scrapping and trying to manufacture some wins here. But we're going to talk about some of the guys that did well ice and fire. But we want to talk about what do we do with them moving forward? How are we going to handle them? What approach are we going to go with? Are we sitting them? Are we starting them? That type of thing, how do their schedules look, moving forward. So I think that's going to be the most valuable information for you guys in this first episode every week here. So that's what we're going to be doing. All right, we're also going to do the Thursday night preview, but first we're going to get into the news.
Speaker 1:All right, frankie this one here.
Speaker 2:we're going to kind of take a victory lap on this one because we called this in the preseason, we were right. It finally in week 11, we get redemption and we can say that we were right and take our victory lap. Jaylin Warren, running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, named the Steelers RB one. He is named the starter over Najee Harris. Talk to me about this man. How do you make, how does this make you feel?
Speaker 1:It's great. It's great for the Steelers, it's great for fantasy, and it needed to happen. John we you know, this to me is the Echler overtaking that of Melvin Gordon. They played very similarly. I'm talking Jaylin Warren in comparison to Najee, and then obviously, you know we're talking Echler to that of Melvin Gordon. So for me, man, this is brilliant. I think that this is going to be a great move for the Steelers. They're six and three. It's kind of a rough six and three, if I'm being honest with you with a lot of the teams that they played really haven't been at their best. But either say they're still six and three, it's hard to win in the NFL. So for me, man, this is great for that team, for fantasy and love that we nailed this call.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm looking at Najee Harris here looking in his contract. It looks like he's designed that contract in 2021. It looks like a four year deal.
Speaker 1:I'm just wondering if this is something it's still on his rookie contract, his rookie contract for sure, so they don't even have to pay. Actually they're paying both of these guys on their rookie deals. So right now it's not really a loss. I mean, outside of you know, maybe some guarantee they had to pay Najee for a first round or first round draft pick, but it's not that much. So it's a big time.
Speaker 2:Well, I could see that that could be something where they move on, moving forward with Najee.
Speaker 1:Very well could.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're not going to pay both these guys, and if their name and jailing were in the starter right now, that doesn't bode well, man. All right, let's look at something else here. Who's going to play this week? Who's not T Higgins unlikely to play on Thursday night? We're going to get into the Thursday night preview and talk about that. Zay Jones really hasn't been relevant all year. He was arrested for domestic battery. Don't need to say any more about that. You don't need him. He's gone. Looks like Baker Mayfield will play. Looks like Matt Stafford will play. That's excellent news. Desean Watson is questionable. Looks like he should be good to go. I mean, is there a bigger game than this weekend for the Browns? No, Did you see? I set you a meme on Instagram, frankie? It was the Mark Wahlberg from. Was it the other guys?
Speaker 1:The other guys yeah, it said.
Speaker 2:Desean Watson Is he going to play this week? And Marky Mark, just like, maybe, maybe not, maybe, fuck yourself. That's how I feel every week with DeSean Watson. Maybe, maybe not, maybe, fuck yourself. We need him, we need him out. Yes, we do need him out there. Keep an eye on DeSean. He should be good to go this week, but keep an eye on that.
Speaker 2:A couple of other guys that are going to be questionable here Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett, a wide receiver in tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers, day to day right now. Keenan Allen would be a huge blow. I've got him in a few leagues, yeah, and I know you do too. Keep an eye on him to see if he's going to go this weekend. Michael Thomas, wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, significant knee injury. He's gone. It sounds like he's going to be out for the rest of the season. Probably done for, probably done for a career, but we'll see here. I think he had some legal issues as well, but you know, we'll see what happens there.
Speaker 2:Derek Carr in concussion protocol this guy just can't get on the field and can't get healthy. Man, it's killing. A larvae it's killing, you know. I mean, come on man, get on the field here. But with concussion protocol it's unlikely he'll end up playing. But keep an eye, just in case he does. All right, we got some guys coming back here soon. We've got some IR guy. Here we go, let's get excited. Devon Achan, he's back. He's back. Okay, he's off the IR. He is expected to be practicing this week. He could play. Keep an eye on that, but it sounds like they just kept him out as a precautionary thing and I think he is good to go. But keep an eye, just in case. Devon Achan, what do we do here, man? Because that offense, it hasn't done the same things it did with Moster and Achan. Do we just assume it's going to go right back to where it was? Do you fire Achan up with all confidence? What are we doing here, frank?
Speaker 1:I'm firing up Achan with all confidence. If I find out that he's playing, I'm firing him up. John Moster has not been the same. He's also been banged up In the offense. I don't want to say he's stalled by any means right, but they've stalled a little bit. They haven't done as much as what they have earlier in the season when we were seeing all of these different plays, designs and motions and with Achan and Moster on the field at the same time, and even when Moster wasn't on the field was dominating, was purely dominating anytime he got the ball. So for me, man, I mean we look at what most are done over the last three weeks five points, 10 points and 13. And then he had to buy for me and, by the way, he didn't practice on Monday, so I think it could be another rest, or maybe there's something else going on For me, man, I'm firing up a Chan and running wild with him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean you have to right, have to, you have to. Yeah, I don't know if they're going to go back to doing that, but you're right, I mean their offense hasn't been the same without that. And this week you got the Raiders. You know you can run on the Raiders man. You got the Jets, you've got the commanders Tennessee Jets, again Dallas.
Speaker 2:They've got a tough schedule, but what I will say and this is the week to play, for sure, if he does but what I will say is that what they were doing with that offense, it was almost. It almost didn't matter what the rushing defense was. You kind of have to throw that out the window, because they were doing such exotic things and giving options to guys doing fake reverses, and sometimes they'll give it to them, sometimes they'll give it to a Chan, sometimes they'll go to Mostard, sometimes, I mean, they'll hand it off to Tyree Kill. So they did a lot of cool shit. That it may be match up proof, but maybe it's just me as an HN owner getting excited and wanting to get him back out there. John.
Speaker 1:I think, though, there's some validity to what you're saying, though. I mean, you think, Tyree Kill, being able to take the but take the blowing off the top end of the defense, jalen Waddle being able to do the same, devon Achan was a true difference maker out of the backfield, from a receiving perspective as well as from a motion side of things, which we rarely even consider outside of pretty much Shanahan's offense. And so, for me, man, I think I think you're onto something when you actually say it's kind of rush proof, because, yeah, he was excellent with rushing, but he did so much more than that in the receiving game, and, knowing that you have those two other guys taking the tops off the defense, it now becomes a one to one battle with Achan against a linebacker, and I'm taking that all day, every day.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah yeah, there's no linebackers that can cover Achan, no way. All right, let's keep going here. Pat Fryermuth expected to return from IR. May take a little time for him to get on the field, but I will tell you that Kenny Pickett really does like tight ends. Pat Fryermuth was a very important part of this offense. He just hasn't been on the field that much. Keep an eye on him. He may not be back this week, but he could be back next week. Another guy could be back next week is Kyren Williams. He may return in week 12. And this is interesting because that backfield really hasn't had much value. Of course, he also lost Matthew Stafford for a few weeks. What are you doing with Kyren Williams moving forward if he returns in week 12?
Speaker 1:I'm firing him up, john. I mean Kyren Williams. He was a guy that was absolutely a difference maker for that offense. They have not had super great production since he's gone out. They've been splitting the backfield more times than not between Royce Freeman and Na'ev Henderson. They traded away Cam Akers and, god bless the soul, he just kind of his career's really hurting after that Achilles' tear. So for me, man, I think that you really really need to look at firing up Kyren Williams when he comes back. That's just my personal opinion on it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're going to get a couple of good games out of him, most likely, but he's going to run through a buzzsaw real soon he's. He's Kyren Williams, making a trip up to the AFC North and you know you don't want to start running backs against that entire division. Basically, jesus. But week 11, not going to play at Seattle week 12. If he returns at Arizona, great matchup for Kyren Williams. Yeah, I mean that's, that's a must start there. But then he gets Cleveland at Baltimore. I don't like any of that at all, but what's?
Speaker 1:interesting, John, for the playoffs, though. If you end up making it to the playoffs and you have Kyren Williams, you're now looking at Washington, the Saints, which the Saints are tough, yeah but then the Giants for potential Super Bowl. So you have Washington Saints Giants. If you can make it to the playoffs, Kyren Williams could absolutely be a elite winner for you down the stretch.
Speaker 2:Oh my God that. Is there a better matchup than the Giants? And you're super bold.
Speaker 2:Oh God. Well, I was just going to say that. That also means if you make it to the Super Bowl Cooper Cup against the Giants Pukinacool against the Giants, that's tasty baby Hell you could start Matt Stafford with absolute confidence when you're Super Bowl. That's awesome. That's the stuff I want to be talking about. Yeah, who are these guys that can win your league? We only got a couple of weeks left. Who's going to make it through, you know, slide through the playoffs? I mean at this point, is Kyren Williams? Then, knowing that Super Bowl schedule, is he a trade for candidate?
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, hard, yes, I'm not even, I'm not even like taking a step to think about that. Yes, yeah, and the great thing is is the person that's had Kyren Williams more than likely didn't draft Kyren Williams. And if he did, you didn't draft them to be the guys. You're one or two RB, so you know that the person out of sparring an injury that has him more than likely needs help elsewhere. So, absolutely, guys, you can put together a package of some sort to get Kyren Williams, maybe even for low amounts, because he's been out. There's a lot of uncertainty for people that aren't as bullish like myself or you, John, on like him coming back. So, absolutely, by low, by candidate Kyren Williams to get you down the stretch, no question about it.
Speaker 2:And now's the time to do it. I brought it up because he's still hurt. He's not playing this week Exactly, he may return next week. So now is the time. Once it's all in the news and all the podcasts and everybody knows he's coming back, starts talking about a schedule. It's going to be really difficult to get him. So now's the time. We're trying to get you, get you in a little sneaky early so you can get some value out of that. All right, a possible return for Justin Jefferson this week. Okay, jj might be on the field this week. How's JJ's schedule? Looking here, man? I mean, are we looking at a cake?
Speaker 1:I want a big old slice that put the whole fucking cake in my mouth, john. That's what I want. John, we're looking at week 11, right, if he is able to play. Denver, week 12, chicago, week 13 is by, so he's able to get healthy again. Then he goes Vegas, bangles, detroit, green Bay. That is a very, very enticing schedule for the number one receiver. And previous to him getting hurt, john, he had 20 points, 19, 26, 23 and four. So he four was when he got hurt. So he was dominating, dominating, and this team's on fire.
Speaker 2:I mean, this is one of the hottest teams in football right now, you know, really give Josh jobs the opportunity to throw to JJ. That sounds fun to me. I'm excited.
Speaker 1:John, I'm ready to shave my eyebrows, like those other people that are doing it, to be more like Josh Dobbs out there. Fuck man, If JJ comes back, I'm not going to have eyebrows next week because you know it's gonna be like this and I'm going to be wearing a Josh Dobbs jersey. Frankie, I will do anything.
Speaker 2:Please, everyone comment. I want Frankie to have no choice but to shave his eyebrows. I want the fans must speak here. The people must speak out. Shave your eyebrows, that would be wild. Shave your eyebrows, that would be wild. Maybe we do a bet, and first of all, no way. Okay, I'm a professional, I'm traveling for work. I'm not shaving my goddamn eyebrows. Okay, I'm trying to hold on to any miniscule amount of good looks and hair that I have at my age, absolutely.
Speaker 1:You're taping your hair back on it and that falls out from the shower. It's like, yeah, I'm with you, man, I got some serious shit going on up here. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. But, john, here's a question that I have for you. Jj it was brought up, actually, for those listening and watching, it was brought up. Do you trade JJ in a redraft league? Mind you shout out to sleeper Best app, not even close. Do you trade JJ for a potential redraft pick next year? And if so, where is the value, knowing that in a redraft we're talking a fourth or fifth round? That is high. That is a lot. That is a lot of very much so, because you're not getting JJ next year, that's just to get JJ for your run this year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Would you do that? Yeah, we allowed. I wanted to experiment with this and test it on the commissioner and I allowed future draft pick trading, even though it's not a dynasty or you know Lee gets, it's a one player keeper. You can only keep them one year, but it's a 14 team double flex and I allowed you can trade players for future draft picks. I just wanted to experiment and see what this would look like. I don't know, and I did it because I think it'll be super rare.
Speaker 2:But, jj, it's been tossed around in our text thread that you're looking to do that. I don't think I can do it, man. I really have to be honest with you. I would rather try to manufacture wins with the team I have Because, you're right, anything above a sixth round pick it's just going to kill your redraft for the next year. I'm never willing not in a redraft Am I willing to sell the house to win now and suck next year. I just don't want to do that. To not have a fourth or fifth round pick, it's too important, man. I mean, those are the guys that explode on your team. That's where you win your leagues and win your drafts. When you get those diamonds in the rough in the fourth, fifth, sixth round. I don't want to not have that option, just have.
Speaker 1:JJ this year. If you had JJ this year knowing, let's just say, you're two and eight, okay, and just estimated with injuries, you're two and eight, jj is on your team, right, it is what it is Would you trade your seventh round pick to have JJ this year? It's still high.
Speaker 2:It's still high. Seven I probably would anything above seven. I'm not, those are just two valuable picks, but seven I might. I might do that, my dabble I might. Yeah, that's possible.
Speaker 1:Especially the team I have as well. High point man, that's Christian.
Speaker 2:Kirk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's Christian Kirk that you're giving away next year right away that you double flex, like all I'm saying is it's interesting. It's an interesting thought because in a double flex that now that seventh round pick is, on it, unbelievably important, especially in a 14 man on top of it, and so I am a guy that's actually considering it. I haven't made an offer yet, but I don't know if I can. I don't know if I can, and it's one of those things to where I'm just it was very, very fascinating had to stop and pause on it when we're talking about JJ, because I guarantee there's other people out there that are thinking about this. Yeah, it was just an interesting thought.
Speaker 2:You can. But yeah, you're right Giving up that draft capital in a redraft, and sure you don't get that pick. You can just pick somebody up off of waivers immediately after the draft. But yeah, you're giving up that. I mean, that's the range five, six, seven. That's where you're finding those guys that are going to be your keeper for the next year. That are the surprises. Guys like Rashad White I mean look at how valuable he's been recently. Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara was a sixth round pick, seventh round pick last year, right, because of the suspension. Yeah, so I I'm talking myself out of it completely the more guys we start talking. I mean, you're looking at Drake London. Was there Probably Drake London?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, man, I'm talking myself out of it here. It's just not happening for me. All right, let's move on here, man. All right, let's get to. We've got our ice guys here. We've got our some guys that we want to talk about. That didn't do well, but you know, we need to know what to do with these guys. Moving forward, frank, we need your help. This is our island of misfit toys. What do we do with these guys? Oh, charlie, that's why I'm a misfit toy. My name is all wrong.
Speaker 2:No child wants to play with a Charlie in the box. So I had to come here. Where's here? The holiday season? We got to pull up something like that. Right, who wants to play with a Charlie in the box? Charlie, I remember Christmas. This I had. I was a child. This has got to be my God. 30 years ago Probably more than that, actually your father, frank Laurie senior, was dressed up in grandma's nightgown with a bow on his head.
Speaker 2:We've been drinking. They'd been drinking all night. I was a kid. I'll never forget this, though. He's sitting there and he's playing with the jack in the box and he's doing this and it kept popping up. He had it in his lap Like it was a boner popping up and it kept popping up and he goes. Who ever heard of a Charlie in the box? I'll never forget that shit. Frank, I know you're watching this funniest memory, one of the funniest memories I ever had. That was at our house in Hartfield, down at the basement in the bar. You're wearing the red and white nightgown. We've got on a video. We'll have to play the video sometime. I'll find it. We definitely should.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you remember? On that note too, do you remember, like, going down inside bar We'll talk about this for 20 seconds here Grandma's basement, grandma's basement, with the bar, all the kids around we're playing cards, and then it turned into, you know, you know a couple of dollar bets here. By the end of it we're all hammered sitting there. The thing Brian is bringing out the poker chips and now we're playing till three in the morning Like dude, just oh yeah, good stuff.
Speaker 2:Great memories, man, great memories. Let's talk about a couple of these guys here. Frankie, give us a rundown on a couple of quarterbacks here Didn't have good weeks and give us an idea of what the hell we're going to do with these guys moving forward.
Speaker 1:John the first is Will Leviss. Will Leviss had a really, really tough week against a good defense. You got to give the buccaneers the flowers. They are very underrated. Will Leviss had 19. He threw, completed 19 passes of 39 total throws. He had 199 yards. In one interception he had three total points.
Speaker 1:Now, john, this is his worst fantasy performance in the last three weeks. Week one he had 34 points that he started, week one being week eight and next week, week nine, against Pittsburgh Very tough defense, 5.6 points, and against another very good defense, two points. So, john, when looking at Will Leviss guys, you're never going to start him in a single quarterback week. I am a guy who has been rotating him in a super flex leak and it's burned me this past week. So when I'm looking at his schedule moving forward, we have Jacksonville, carolina and the Colts, and then Miami.
Speaker 1:Those four games actually terrified me a bit and I say that because Jacksonville's defense is actually a decent and they're coming off of a game where they just got trounced by the San Francisco 49ers Absolutely embarrassed. So that's going to be a massive bounce back win for them and it's a divisional game Carolina Panthers. This should be a game where Will Levis comes in and dominates. We need to see it right. But then you go to the Colts, which their defense has been looking stout out of nowhere, and then Miami, with Jaylen Ramsey coming back making an impact. So for me, man, I'm leaning towards. I was high on Will Levis. We need to continue to see more. I am not going to be firing him up this coming week against that of the Jacksonville Jags, though.
Speaker 2:It's a typical once they get some tape on a guy like that and they can find ways to confuse him. He's a rookie still. Yeah, I mean you usually typically, unless you're CJ Stroud, you'll have that come back to earth situation here. Well, let's talk about his partner in crime here. D hops on this list too. Deandre Hopkins, wide receiver for the Titans, Didn't have a good showing again. He's kind of going to go with Will Levis here, but what are we doing with him? How do you feel about him moving forward, specifically this week even?
Speaker 1:John, I'm still buying him. I'm still buying him. Guys, this is a guy that you still should look to buy and trade low on right. You can get him, knowing that the last two weeks, right after that huge week against Atlanta, with 35 points and a half PPR, he had 8.5 and now 4.2. But the key here, when you start peeling back what's actually happening in those last two games where he didn't perform very well 11 targets and eight targets. So he is being targeted and with D hop, it's just a matter of time. You're giving him the opportunity to make these catches, and so I really still am very bullish on that of D hop playing well, even if that, if Will Levis overall, isn't performing super hot.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's getting the targets. It's just a matter of connecting those. And yes, we don't like Will Levis to start, but that's because we're not going to get 250 and three touchdowns out of them. But could we get 150 and a touchdown or two? Sure, yeah, and where's that all going to go?
Speaker 1:It's all going to go to Adam feeling. Think about that. That's a great comparison. Right Will Levis D hop.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, the quarterback is not going to give you a ton of volume, but the receiver is getting the volume and he'll get. You know, piece those together. Well, I mean, let's stay in the flames here, man, we're still in Tennessee. Let's talk about Derek Henry then as well. I mean, he only had two and a half points last week with only 11 carries for 24 yards. Jesus, okay, that was a good defense. He played Tampa Bay, then he had Pittsburgh, we got Jacksonville, we got Carolina, we got India, miami. Now I can tell you right now, derek Henry with Carolina, that's all you're going to see. Yeah, they're very tough against quarterbacks statistically, and that's only because nobody throws on them. You don't have to. They run the goddamn ball. So you know that's going to happen with Will Levis behind center, what else? How was she feeling about Derek Henry, though you like him, against the Jags this week?
Speaker 1:I do, and it's strictly because of a legacy type of game. And what I mean by that is if you were to pull up the stats on Derek Henry against the Jags specifically, it is going to blow your mind. For whatever reason. This dude performs out of his fucking mind when he plays against the Jags. So I don't know if it's. It's kind of like the who was at T Y Hilton when he would play against that of the Houston Texans. It didn't matter what defense Houston Texans were playing or who shaded him, he was going nuclear, very similar to that of Derek Henry. So for me, man, I think it's just working out how he's going to be really working with that of Will Levis. I'm still high on Derek Henry and I'm telling you I'm starting him as well.
Speaker 2:Let's go to the Jags. We just talked about him, calvin Ridley, one of the most confusing players in the world. Man, he really, really is. Three points, yeah, two catches for 20 yards. What do you do with Calvin Ridley here? I mean, is he flex consideration unless you have better options at this point?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it sucks to say that this was one of my champions. This was the guy who was beating the drum on. I was high as hell on coming into the year and he started off the year somewhat decent. John, I am no longer in that camp. He has been really, really tough. I still accept him as my champion, but unfortunately it has not worked out very well.
Speaker 1:John, he had only two targets or, excuse me, three total targets last game. Two catches, three targets to Calvin Ridley Unacceptable, unacceptable. It doesn't matter who's at quarterback and how bad you're playing. Secondly, then you go to Pittsburgh. He had 10 targets, which was good, 83 yards.
Speaker 1:But John, the kicker is he has two touchdowns on the entire year. Right, two touchdowns, that's it. On top of it, he's the 43rd ranked receive or 42nd, excuse me, in half, ppr and fantasy football. So the last, if we want to go to the last four weeks he played the Colts 4.6 points. Played the Saints one point. Played the Pittsburgh Steelers 11.3,. Played San Francisco 49ers three points. You're telling me that he's going to go to Tennessee, houston Bangles and then Cleveland and it's going to improve. I would say hell, no. So for me, guys, as bad as this sounds, and as much as I don't want this to be the case, I think if you can offload Calvin Ridley and try to get another piece for it, maybe you do Calvin Ridley and somebody else to get maybe a Devonta Smith or somebody along those lines. Right, I like that a lot. So, john, I'm it's unfortunate, I'm really not high on Calvin Ridley anymore.
Speaker 2:You know you could try to make a move to the T Higgins owner Teahiggins is out this week. Calvin Ridley, he's going to play. That person may need with the buys and everything as well, you might be able to get it and get a deal there. I mean that that would be a steal in my mind. Calvin Ridley for T Higgins, even though he's going to miss a game. Try to do it. That makes sense to me. All right, let's talk about one more guy here that's on the ice here, for the sake of time. This one is tough and really confusing as well Tony Pollard. Frankie, 15 carries, 55 yards. They blew the socks off in that game of the New York Giants. Is it just situational? I mean, tony Pollard was a smash play and he gets five and a half points. What are we doing here, man? Are you worried about Tony Pollard?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, john, I am starting to get worried about Tony Pollard. You know he was a guy that I've been beating the drum on. You've been beating the drum on like this dude is going to pop, it's going to happen. Yeah, well, the reality situation is it has. He's the number 23 running back, right, he's barely barely holding on for their life in RB two at this point time. And then you start looking at his schedule moving forward Carolina this week should be a grand slam, washington should be good, seattle is going to be tough, philly is going to be tough and you know, buffalo and Miami are kind of wild cards at this point in time, from a rush, from a rush to perspective. So, john, he should perform well.
Speaker 1:The problem is is he should have performed, he should have a legacy game last week against the Giants and with shit. And what makes it even more concerning is actually that his backup right, and that's what. That's what's kind of, that's what's kind of tough. And it's Rico, uh, I don't know Like. Thank you, rico Dowdle. Yeah, dowdle, he scored and had. He had 20 more yards rushing than Tony Pollard did last week. So for me, man, this is a problem, because now they're starting to work in another, running back to take away some snaps, and so now this starts to happen. Meanwhile Dax playing really well and the receivers are all firing on cylinders. This is starting to make me nervous with Tony Pollard.
Speaker 2:I feel differently. I'm not concerned about Tony Pollard and watching that game. I obviously I watched the entirety of that game very closely. I said to trade for Tony Pollard because of this upcoming schedule and because he was playing the Giants that week. But that was a weird game. Uh, dak was playing out of his mind. I mean they're, they're up multiple, multiple scores and they're going forward on fourth down. They're throwing the ball in the fourth quarter when they were up. You know, four million to 10 or whatever the hell it was. It was a weird game. They got aggressive, dak had a boner and they just threw their nuts off. Man, I mean that that's not going to continue. I don't think. I do think that they're Mike McCarthy is a ground and pound guy. Slow the game down, play good defense.
Speaker 2:I, I'm going to give Tony Pollard another chance here and with the schedule coming up, um, it looks nice, man. I mean at Carolina, this is it, should be great, this is it, this is it. If it happened, if it doesn't happen this week, frank, I'm with you 100%. Then I say freak out, freak out on Pollard, make some moves, do something, trade them. It'll be panic mode, but this is this is the get right game right here, then you've got Washington Seattle very nice matchups. Um, you know, for the running back there, I think you can see Tony Pollard give you three really strong weeks here, man, all right.
Speaker 2:All right, let's talk about, uh, let's, let's see who we had on fire here and see what. Uh see what Frankie wants to do with some of these guys. Man, I'm a little Jimi Hendrix, oh yeah, and desire Let me stand next to your fire. Hey, yeah, love that song, man, all right, frankie, let's talk about some of these unusual guys that typically aren't lit on fire, that were this week, and what are we going to do with them? Moving forward, um, let's start. We talked about Jaylen Warren. Okay, let's start with Jaylen Warren. He's now named the RB one for the Steelers, which is a valuable role, especially with his past catching ability out of the backfield. Last week he had 101 yards and a touchdown 19 points. Now, knowing he's the starter, is he a must start?
Speaker 1:Yes, outside of this week. This week is the point of the brows and we've seen the Browns. Truly, I mean, dude, it's been unbelievable. Now for me, man, I'm still, if I have, if I have Jaylen Warren, I'm I'm, unfortunately, or fortunately, however you're looking at it, it's still going to fire him up against the Browns. It's the reality of the situation. I say that because we look at what Keaton Mitchell did right had a couple of breakaways for that at Baltimore. We look at what CMC did right.
Speaker 1:We've seen some running backs have some success against the Browns. Now it's been very limited. Very, very few running backs have gone nuclear. Okay, I don't see a nuclear game. I do see maybe 60 yards and you know rushing and four catches for 25 yards, something like that. A serviceable day. That's why I'm saying I would still fire him up, right, because Kenny Pickett's going to need a nice little dump off outlet with the way this defense is operating. They're rushing the passer at an insane level. So, yes, john, he's a must start in every other week, but this coming week. But I would still fire him up, yeah.
Speaker 2:I think he scored against Cleveland the first time they played, just kind of had. You know, I wouldn't expect a lot of yardage, although the passing game to get past that pass rush, I could see some quick dumps and some screens. To Jaylen Warren specifically, that's where he needs to eat and that's what we need to see what the transition is going to be, because Najee was still getting targets. Najee was still getting. You know they were about 50-50 there, you know, all year so far. So it'll be interesting to see how much more is he just going to be the starter in name or is he actually going to get more than 50% of the carries? Because it has been legitimately an even 50-50 since week one 40, 64. Very, you know. So we'll see. But yes, he's running back 28 right now after Cleveland.
Speaker 2:Decent schedule Cincinnati, arizona, new England love that Indy Cincinnati and Seattle for the Super Bowl. Yeah, he's a guy with injuries and with by weeks you can play him this week temporary expectations, but I think he's going to be a slam dunk moving forward. He's been very, very good. All right, give me a can. Here's two quarterbacks here. Man that did well Came in. Probably will play again this week. It was James Winston with Derek Carr and concussion protocol. Is this a guy you can start this week? I don't want to spend a ton of time on James, but double quarterback league super flexes you may have to cover for a by week this week. Is this the week for James? James Winston for you.
Speaker 1:So with the by weeks, James is actually on a by week this week, John.
Speaker 2:So for this it's going to be sitting.
Speaker 1:But let's just say coming out of the by week. Right, let's just play devil's advocate. Let's just say Derek Carr still banged up, not really passing concussion protocol. We're looking at Atlanta Falcons. Hell yeah, hell yeah, atlanta Falcons do have a decent defense.
Speaker 1:But the thing with James is he gives his receivers the opportunity to catch the ball. Whether he's thrown it in traffic or not, he's going to throw it up and try to make a play, and that's what we saw with AT Perry, that's what we saw with Chris Olave when he went in right. And so James Winston threw for 122 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. Is that not the most James Winston stat line of all time? I mean, he is, he is Josh Allen, he's Josh Allen. But Josh Allen is just the elite version of James Winston. It's pretty much what it is. And so, yeah, man, I think that if James Winston does truly come out of this by week and they end up, you know, naming him as the guy over car, if car still can't go, then yeah, I think you absolutely can fire him up.
Speaker 2:All right, let's look at. Let's look at some some Minnesota Vikings here. Frankie, interesting pickup waiver wires. Hopefully you grab this guy, ty Chandler, backup, running back in Minnesota. He's backing up Alexander Madison. Madison did leave the game with a concussion. His status right now is unknown. He could play. Ty Chandler could also be the starter this week, this week at Denver. Ty Chandler, he fires his ass up, or what Hell? Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:John Against Denver, certainly, I mean. I think that I mean we look at what would take Latavius Murray just in at 33 years old, against that of against that of the Denver Broncos Right, and then even James Cook getting the opportunity to get in there on the Monday night game. So, absolutely, this is certainly a guy that you can fire up. And, john, with the way Josh Dobbs is playing too, I mean it's absurd, it's. I mean he's playing at such an unbelievably high level that this is opening up that run game as well. So, yeah, I definitely think that you can fire him up.
Speaker 2:And Josh Dobbs as well here.
Speaker 1:I mean at Denver, you're playing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you playing Josh Dobbs this week at Denver oh yeah, I'm writing in the flames with this student.
Speaker 1:I'm shaving my brow too, yeah.
Speaker 2:He's got Denver and then Chicago Love, love, love it, man, love it. All right, let's look at all right. So this week we'll talk about Tyler Boyd in the preview here. Noah Brown just absolutely crazy here, man, for the Houston Texans. Noah Brown, 27 points here. Is this a guy that that you can start every week, or is it kind of a fluky?
Speaker 1:situation, john, I would say it's a fluky situation, but here's the deal. If Nico Collins is out or Tank Dell is out, noah Brown is a must start Right. Because the real the reality of the situation is is the Houston Texans now have a shit ton of mouths to feed. You're starting to see Robert Woods come back to play Dalton Schultz, tank Dell, nico Collins, noah Brown. That doesn't even include Devin Singletary having a career game, right, and also getting passed out of the backfield. So for me, man, looking at Noah Brown having back to back weeks of 20 plus fantasy points a game and have PPR, it's too that's too much to ignore. So for me, if I'm looking at this and saying, ok, do I start him over over a gig, davis, or like you know, take a risk on somebody else for a flex position, right, if that's the game you're playing, I would be very careful and I say that because I'm playing that game and I'm firing up Noah Brown in that flex position over majority of people If one of those guys are hurt, if they are not hurt, I need to see more, because that immediately lowers his ceiling to a seven, eight, 10 point ceiling and his floor is zero Right, compared to.
Speaker 1:If one of those guys are hurt, then his ceiling is 26 points with what we're seeing, 30 points with what we're seeing today. So you've got to monitor what's happening with those other players. Because here's the deal CJ Strad doesn't give a shit who he's throwing the ball to, he's throwing it to everybody. So that's also keeping this in mind. So Noah Brown's tough man, he's tough to judge, but 27, I mean seven receptions on eight targets, 172 yards for 27 fantasy points is really hard to ignore. Really hard to ignore, yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean to simplify it. To me it seems as if you know, with Dalton Schultz, I think is a great start every week with the way CJ Strad's been playing Absolutely, he loves him, especially in the red zone. Other than Dalton Schultz, it seems simplified he can support two receivers. So whoever those two guys are, flex them, play them. Wide receiver to flex, whether it's Tankdale, noah Brown, nico Collins, one of them, start to you know one of the two or three of those guys. Two of the three are going to work, but all three or not. It's the way I'm looking at it. Yeah, all right, man, let's. We've got some more guys we can save for later this week in our next episode.
Speaker 2:We'll look at the Thursday Night preview here. Frankie, we've got the five and four. Great game here, man, great game. Yeah, five and four. Cincinnati Bengals at the seven and three. Baltimore Ravens AFC North Battle. As Browns fans, we're going to be watching this with Bated Breath. Man, we're going to be Bengals fans this week. Right, we are. Ravens are favored three and a half at home over under a 46. Break down the Bengals here. For me, frankie, we're probably missing T Higgins. Everyone else seems to be good to go. What are we doing here, man? Who do you love? You got to fire it.
Speaker 1:Obviously, jamar Chase is always and forever will be a must start. John, you got to fire up Tyler Boyd. Guys, we called it last week. We'll dive into that a little bit more in our starts and sits. Hit it and quit it episode. But let me tell you, you have to fire up Tyler Boyd If T Higgins is out. It's tried, it's trued and trued, trued and it's proven. You got to do it, ok, john.
Speaker 1:The other guy that I'm bullish on is Joe Mixon. The reason being is because this Baltimore Ravens defense is no fucking joke, right. Number two, walking in, number one in terms of past coverage, all of this information. Right, the Browns were able to run all over the Bengals or, excuse me, the Ravens. You're telling me that the Bengals aren't watching that game film and saying this is how the Browns attacked that Baltimore Ravens. Very aggressive defense.
Speaker 1:So for me, man and, by the way, joe Mixon just calling it how it is is a better running back than that of Jerome Ford and Cream Hunt, like it just is what it is, and so I really think that Joe Mixon could be a pivotal point in this game. So I mean, you write the Browns at 178 yards rushing or 170 yards rushing. I think that that has to be the key to open up Joe Burrow, to throw to that of Tyler Boyd and Jamar Chase. So for me, man I love, joe Mixon got to fire up Jamar Chase and Tyler Boyd and fire up Joe Burrow. This is going to be an electric game. This is going to be such a good game, man, such a good game.
Speaker 2:All right, let's talk about the Ravens now. Obviously, lamar. You know he's up and down in fantasy but you know, sometimes he just doesn't have to do very much with some of the games these guys have played, but he's, he's been playing awesome. I mean he really has Lamar Jackson, you're obviously firing up Mark Andrews. You're obviously firing up. Those two are just in in Sympatico here. You got to do it. What else do we like on this Ravens team? The rest of the Ravens confuse me. What do we do, john? I'm firing up Keith Mitchell. I'm 100%.
Speaker 1:Firing up Keith Mitchell this week. What he has shown since he's been able to come back after not playing in that week a realm and really not doing much the entirety of the year because he was hurt. Since he has come back First game back 23 points. Second game back 13 points. Now, granted the 23 points right, he ended up having nine carries. He still had 138 yards Last week against the Browns a stout, super stout defense. In three carries he had 34 yards. He had one reception for 34 yards. He ended up also scoring a touchdown. John, this guy is doing it without much playing time and I'm telling you, I'm telling you, this guy is earned the right, the guys are in the right to get more playing time and that is what I've been hearing and reading from. What the Ravens are saying internally is one of the things that I've been hearing, but the Ravens are saying internally as well. So for me, man, I am absolutely no questions asked. Firing up Keith Mitchell this week from a Redneck perspective over Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.
Speaker 1:Definitely over Justice Hill, gus Edwards. John, you could still potentially start if you feel inclined. I would actually lean, starting Keith Mitchell over over Gus Edwards, over Gus Edwards even.
Speaker 2:I mean just the eyeball test. To me Keith Mitchell seems like a better running back. Yeah, I mean he just looks. He looks like Jalen Warren to me. That's the. That's what it reminds me of when I watch Gus Edwards and it's kind of like watching Najee Harris, just kind of plotting down the field. But Keith Mitchell reminds me of Jalen Warren. He's just got the juice.
Speaker 1:You know who else he reminds me of a little bit Jameer Gibbs. The way he positions himself in the backfield, the way he's more upright rather than he's really hunched over, the way he's making these shift angles, like he's not super shifty, he's not going to make you miss quite often, but it's his speed and the angles that he's taking to get around the defense. That's what makes me like, oh shit, man, that's kind of Jameer Gibbs like a little bit. But I love the Jalen Warren as well, because he's so quick when he hits a hole to your point, he's north and south and so, yeah, the other cop that comes to mind cream hunt.
Speaker 2:That's a very good comp right there. Right, it's a good comp from a north and south perspective for sure. Yeah, yeah, he's violent like a Tasmanian devil. You just got to hope that he gets he stays this efficient. But you know, we've seen that already with guys like Achan. Yeah, you know these speed guys that only get a handful of touches, but when they do, they make the most out of them. All right, I like that. That's interesting. What about the receiving core for the Ravens?
Speaker 1:Yep, it's just going to be Zay Flowers. For me, that's the only one I'm firing up. Zay Flowers has come back to life. Even against a very, very good Browns defense, he ended up having six targets, five catches for 73 yards. And, john, I really see that if, in order for Lamar to be successful, he has to continue to find Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. So it's definitely you're always firing up Mark Andrews, always, but for me, this is a very interesting week that I think you can actually start Zay Flowers in your flex Now. Granted, I'm not saying it's a smash play, but I'm saying if you're on, buy, if you maybe have Olave or maybe you have right, rashid Shahid or somebody like that that you are used to plugging and playing, zay Flowers could absolutely be the next guy that you plug and play.
Speaker 2:He's such an important target for Lamar Jackson. I mean he's really the only legitimate target other than Mark Andrews. I mean, he's the guy in the middle of the field and he's open everywhere you know. It'd really be helpful if they had a better receiver other than Odell Beckham Jr opposite of him, to just to garner respect, and you'd see Zay Flowers open all over the field like he is already. Yeah, I love it, man. I love this game.
Speaker 1:It's going to be a hell of a game. Guys Make sure to tune in. I mean, this is going to be thank God we finally have a good Thursday night game, because they've been brutal lately. And so this is.
Speaker 2:I mean get your popcorn ready baby, this is going to be a good one. This is AFC North showdown. Then the Browns have the Steelers on Sunday. Afc North is wide open. Every team has three losses, right. Well, the Bengals have four.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, oh, this is beautiful man, let's go. I want to see every team in the AFC North in the playoffs. Is that even possible? It is possible. There's totally positive Out of the team, right? Yeah, love it, man. All right, everyone, thank you so much for joining us. That's our show for today. I hope you like how we change things up a little bit. Give us some feedback, because we'd like to do this moving forward. I think it's just much more valuable information for you guys. And don't forget to follow us on social media. On Instagram, frankly, fantasy Football. You'll listen to us. I, we know you do. We see the stats. We see who's there. You'll listen to us all everywhere. Audio podcasts are found. Watch us on YouTube. Please Subscribe to YouTube. It helps us out. We want to get to 500 subscribers. Help us out here, guys, we've been crawling like crazy. We want to keep going. Right, any parting words, ma'am? Guys, tune in for Friday's episode.
Speaker 1:We're going to be going over our start and sits and I get it and quit it, so get ready, it's going to be a blast episode. Enjoy this Thursday night game.
Speaker 2:Go Bengals. May the fantasy gods mine on you. Bye anyway, thank you for watching. See you soon.