Starts of the Week + Week 5 Breakdown, BOGO - Fantasy Football Podcast for 10/8

The confidence level in Mike Evans is a, it's a sliding scale compared to other players. So on the Evans scale, I'm 100% fine playing him with what he put up last week. Number six overall, wide receiver. Jason, your thoughts? Yeah, it's always a matter of can you pivot. I think you're safe to play Mike Evans if you need to. If you had an option like a Devante Parker, who we'll talk about later, it's like.

I could throw him in my lineup and bench Mike Evans. I would do that in a heartbeat. Tyler Boyd versus Baltimore. I would rather have Tyler Boyd. I would play Evans easily over Boyd against Baltimore. I've got Evans in the Dynasty League, and the difference is... I don't feel great about it. Yeah, the difference for Mike Evans is he can win your week, and he did it last week with a bum ankle. Yeah, but it was the end of the game last week when he came out with that touchdown. No, it was not. He got hurt and came off the field early in the game. I know, and I'm saying at the end of the game, he on that second touchdown.

He came down again and re-agravated it. So I just worry how serious it really is. He did play last week with a bum ankle and was great to your point. There's certainly a risk. I mean, Evans has come off the field injured more frequently than not. So if you're not comfortable with the risk, if you're worried about getting goose to start your week on Thursday night, then that's fine. I mean, Boyd's been good. So take Thursday night football players out of the flex.

And get them in those, like if you play Evans, play them in the wide receiver spot. Correct. Especially in these times for fantasy players. Any other news, Brooksie? You got anything else for us, Sheriff? Nothing yet. Okay. All right, let's get into the forecast. Fantasy forecast. You look confused, Jason, like, because I called him Sheriff. I heard Chef.

Oh, not chef. I was confused. I was like, did you call him chef? I feel like, I mean, that's my job. He's our chef. He's all these things. I cook for all of you. I would love to cook for all of you. I was going to insult you then I remembered you made me a steak. Yeah. And it was delicious. It's not going to be the last time I make you a nice steak, ain't. Okay. Thank you. You are in the process of collecting grills at this point, right? Yeah, I'm up to three. You're thinking about going multi-grill.

But same time use. That's 100% correct. How much can you eat? I'm building an L shape of grills. And it's excellent. Do you put the chef hat on when you're grilling? Oh, I got to get a chef hat for sure. You're not a chef. You're not a chef. Multiple times proclaiming your chef. And you don't have a chef hat? Hey, I apologize. He needs an apron too, right?

With your name on it? It's really about the hat. Yeah. I'm on it. Yeah, he's going to buy a chef hat right now. All right. The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans in Houston, a battle of, well, the Jags are 1 and 3, Houston's 0 and 4. The Texans are heavy favorites in this one, 6 point favorites. It's a 54 point over under. What? The Texans are 6 point favorites? It has not been pretty for Jacksonville the last three weeks.

I understand that. Houston was, well, they were one close Will Fuller touchdown call away from winning that game last week against Minnesota. I don't know. The line seems too big to me too, Mike. That's like three. Okay. That's fine. You give them a three point edge, but six is all right. All right. Maybe this has something to do with it. Jacksonville's lost four straight against the Texans. Maybe the freedom of no Bill O'Brien roaming the sidelines. The bump.

Deshaun Watson, I mean, you're playing him. Yes, you are playing him. He's got a good matchup here. Jacksonville is 20th against fantasy quarterbacks. Now, if Deshaun Watson doesn't come through here, he was a top 12 quarterback in week one because he made it right to number 12. But if Deshawn, what do you need to see from Deshawn Watson? What kind of a fantasy finish here or points do you need to see against this great matchup to? Top eight.

to return that confidence. Top eight. Did you see him make the eight? Yeah. We all, didn't we all sell them? We did. Top eight option on yesterday's show. I made reference to the fact that, you know, you talk about these last four games against Jacksonville where Houston has won the game. He hasn't been great against them. If you look at his fantasy finishes, he's gone 22nd, 12.

22nd, and 11 over his last four games versus weekly finish. Let me ask you a question, Jason. Do you score more fancy points with an elephant sitting on your back or more when the elephant is removed? More without, but I prefer without and still having DeAndre Hopkins. So now you have a Hopkins list Watson. I don't see Deshaun Watson as someone you have to start. Okay. I think you hit the panic button if this game isn't a good one for Deshaun Watson.

Gardner Minshu, it hasn't been great for fantasy purposes lately. He's got one top 10 finish on the year. This doesn't seem like a good matchup. Texans are 10th against opposing fantasy quarterbacks. I am sitting Minshu. I'd certainly play Watson well ahead of him. Yeah, I would agree with that. I think Minchu is still a fine stream, though.

How do you guys see the over under? Because this has a high over under, 54 points. That would be, if that hits, then you're going to have plenty of fantasy options here. And so, you know, looking at these players, I'm hesitant to go in on Watson and Minchu, but that over under makes me go, maybe I'm looking at this game wrong. And the two poorest defenses are going to give up a lot of points here. But, you know, in these divisional matchups that are so often low scoring and defensive.

Do you think there's a good chance to hit the over? I think it is certainly possible. You're looking at Jacksonville, the points that they have given up over 30 points the last three weeks, averaging 32. It is about the defenses. The Houston, Texas are going to be able to score. It's just whether or not the touchdowns come through for Gardner Minshu. Both of these defenses, the Jaguars are ranked 27th against running backs.

The Houston Texans are ranked 28th. These are good matchups for the running backs. I would, even with the divisional, I would still lean the over. James Robinson, David Johnson. They're both in your fantasy lineups for sure. Yes. DJ Chark last week, a nice welcome back week, two touchdowns, but more importantly, nine targets, eight catches, 95 yards. You can play him.

Absolutely. Will Fuller. You can play him too. Absolutely. Last week, seven target, six catches, 108, and one had the second touchdown that was so close at the end of the game, and he's been good three out of four weeks. Outside of those players, like I brought up, Leviscus-chanalt is an interesting deeper league play. But beyond that, I don't think you really have anybody to talk about in this matchup. I mean, there's going to be questions about Brandon Cooks, but he's stunk.

You know, he was a top player in, what was that week? It was the week that Fuller went out. Yeah, and outside of that, it's been Fuller. So I don't know that you're going to be able to rely on him. Cobb two weeks ago was good. I would say the Jags do allow a lot of receptions to slot wide receivers. So Randall Cobb, to me, is in play as a deeper league. Yeah, I play Cobb well ahead of where Cooks is being involved in the offense. Sure.

All right, football fans, before we get to this next matchup, we want to thank today's sponsors. And look, are you an Amazon Prime member? Do you know you can watch? Thursday night football live on Prime video. Nice. It's the future of football. I love Thursdays. Yes. You can catch all the action on any device, almost anywhere in the world. I love how the technology has matured over the last five years as we've been doing this show and how you can just consume.

These games, give me the control. Wherever you're at. You can choose your favorite announcer. That's one of the cool features on here. You get next gen stats, and you get to watch in-game replays on demand. You get those sweet, sweet, advanced analytics that have come to fruition here, powered by AWS. No more waiting around. You can access them any time. You want to know how your fantasy player is doing. This is the ideal.

ideal way to stay up to speed. So if you're a streamer or simply want the most custom way of watching Thursday night football, tune in live every Thursday, starting October 8th. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. and kickoff is at 8.20 p.m. Eastern on Prime Video, also available on Fox and NFL Network. NFL Network, simulcast subject to change Thursday night football is presented by Bud Light Platinum. Oh, they say Thursday is the new Friday. That is what they say. First Leaf Wine Club.

Every day can feel like a Friday. First Leaf Wine Club, they deliver high-quality wines from around the world right to your door, and it takes the guesswork out for you. This is the best part. You go online. You take the First Leaf wine quiz, so First Leaf can learn all about what you like, what you dislike, from the sweetness of the wine to your food preferences. And once you've completed it, they will send you six bottles of wine based on your likes, your needs, your preferences. You rate them?

And then they use your feedback to improve your future shipments. The subscriptions are very flexible. You choose when and how often. Firstly, also has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don't like a specific bottle of wine, they will credit it back for you. You know, I don't want to stand.

in a store looking at these wines, acting like I know anything about them. Oh, yes. Tell me about this one. I don't know what to get. You decide for me. That's what I love about it. Join today with our link and you'll get six handpick bottles of wine for 2995 plus free shipping. Just go to tryfirstleaf.com slash footballers. That's six bottles of wine for only $5 a bottle and free shipping at tryfirstleaf.com slash.

Footballers join the 100,000 plus people who are already enjoying the most personalized wine club. All right, the Arizona Cardinals at 2 and 2 take on the New York Jets at 0 and 4. The Cardinals are 7 point road favorites, which is really, that's a lot of points on the road. Yeah. 47 point over under. And the reason why, well, the New York Jets, they're making a quarterback change. And they were already the 32nd ranked in terms of total yards, 31st, points 4, 30th in points against.

It's been ugly in New York. And now Joe Flacco gets to take the reins on this on fire caravan. No, it's was hyper? Hyperdrive. Sorry. Yeah, the spaceship. Yeah. This is not a good spaceship. This spaceship is not getting very far. Off the ground. Yeah. Mr. Gays, do you understand the concept of hyperdrive? This is a spaceship with the engines on the top pointing down.

This is a spaceship that is a cardboard box and make-believe. I drew the word spaceship on the side of it. Let me push the hyperdrive button. All right. Lev Bell should be back, though. That is really the storyline in this game. Lev Bell should be back this week, and you can flex Lev Bell? Yes, you can. The Cardinals have been atrocious against running backs. Now, James and Crowder generally, when we talk about the Jets, you're kind of like looking at him as that one bright spot.

That possibility came back from the injury was the wide receiver 20 last week, frequently targeted, and yet this variable exists now where San Darnal's not there, and Darnold was the quarterback targeting him so frequently. Do you have confidence in playing James and Crowder this week? I do have confidence in playing him this week. I am playing him with confidence in my own league. Joe Flacco, the change from Sam Darnold to Joe Flacko is.

is pretty much inconsequential to me. I realize that there's, I mean, who else can you target? Brashad Perriman, oh, nope, he's not playing. Chris Herndon is probably going to be into block as he's been. And so I think there really isn't a choice, whether it's Darnold or Flacco or you, Andy, you got to throw the ball to Crowder.

If you have time. And the one thing about Darnold in this offense is he's been able to escape this pressure sometimes. Sometimes he just falls over. But I think Flacco being so immobile is going to cause some issues. Arizona is third in terms of fancy points given up to opposing wide receivers because they love giving up fantasy points to running backs and tight ends. It's their favorite. It does give me a little bit of pause with the confidence level. But a lot of fantasy players are in different situations this week too. And I mean, if you're going to start one, he's the guy.

And that's the end of the list for the jet side. Yeah, it's Crowder and Love Bell. And then some crazy dart throw DFS for Hernan who has done nothing. I would not start him in any of your regular leagues. But, you know, the Cardinals can be a salve to tight ends. On the other side, you're starting Kyler Murray without question. I believe he's the only quarterback with top 12 finishes in all four weeks. That's not true.