Week 2 Matchups + Losing Impressively, Wheel of Shame - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/17

early in the off season. He was my bust candidate. You did, yes. Because I wanted to paint a...

truthful story about what he's been like without Eli Manning even before the injury. But I don't think this, this level of what we're seeing. I'm not scared that he is going to be, he's not washed. He's not a bum. He's not going to be uninvolved. And I think that this was a, keep in mind, this was a short week of rest. He hasn't done anything with that knee forever. And now he gets in and wasn't sure he's going to play week one. He goes in there. And there were, you know, interviews before the show or before last night's game talking about how,

Sakewan was, you know, his knee was sore, and this is really the first experience waking up this morning. He was going to have to see how he is. And that, you know, that extra day of rest would have helped him. Now he goes from a short week to a long week because, you know, of the Thursday night game. So I expect that starting this next week, we're going to get a little bit better Sakewan than we've had. That would be by low opportunity after two weeks. Yeah. Because it's been disappointing 51 target pace. Obviously that rookie year was 1201 targets.

73 the next year in limited work. So this is your time to buy if you believe that he's still got juice and he's going to feel more comfortable. Yeah. Let's talk news. News and notes from around the league presented by Sleeper. I'm going to blitz this news and you guys jump in wherever you want to. We have nine matchups to get through today. We have a wheel of shame to spin later on. We do. So Josh Jacobs wasn't.

present for Thursday's practice, toe ankle injury. Today's the day to pay attention. So if you are supporting us to join the foot, you'll have the injury blitz podcast after the Friday practice reports from Matthew Betts, our injury expert. But today's the day to look for for Josh Jacobs. Try to trade him now, try to bench him this week. Yeah, I would pivot. He's playing Pittsburgh. And he already, he looked banged up last week.

DeAndre Swift and Jamal Williams were both limited on Thursday. Groin injury for DeAndre Swift. I imagine that. I hope that is maintenance from the early part of the offseason. That is what it seems like because I haven't heard any new news of reaggravation. And the greatest personality in football, Jamal Williams, limited due to a chest injury. You guys saw the clip. I've seen it multiple times because it's so fabulous. I have not.

So for those who don't know what we're talking about, there's a clip. They're asking Jamal about him changing teams. And he uses this whole metaphor about how he's like, I didn't choose to leave. He's like, they dumped me. So they didn't want me. But now I got a new relationship. They're feeding me. They're taking care of me. Taking me out to dinners? He's just such a delightful man. I recommend everyone try and find the Jamal Williams clip.

Will Fuller is out in week two with a personal issue. The mispractice yesterday was due to personal reasons, not due to an injury. So he won't be here in week two due to the personal situation. I don't know anything more than that. Yeah. Hollywood Brown returned to practice after missing Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury. That's good. Maybe takes Watkins off the board as a spot start. Johnny Smith limited in practice on Thursday with a hip.

situation. You don't love midweek situations, but let's pay attention to today. Jameson Crowder was activated, but limited due to a groin injury. So, man. I mean, it's always interesting when somebody's activated from injured reserve or COVID list, and then all of a sudden you're still hurt or you got hurt during that time. Zach Ertz limited on Thursday. I think he's playing.

And then Trace Sermon will be active for week two against the Eagles. Thank you for clearing that up, 49ers. Yeah, it is something. Did anybody ask about Elijah? Yeah, we're going to sit Elijah this week. That would be difficult for me emotionally. That would be difficult for the entire fantasy football world. Trace Serman should run behind Elijah? Yes. And as somebody who paid $91 for the missile, I hope he fumbles.

Is that wrong to say? You hope Trace Sermon fumbles is what you want to clarify that. Because what you put out in the world is that you hope that Elijah Missile. That is what you said. I'm sorry. I do not help that. That was today's news and notes brought to you by the leader in Breaking News Alert. Sleeper, grab the Sleeper app. You probably have it because you're probably playing a league on there. But if you don't. Megalable. Yeah. Yeah.

You're playing in the mega. I am. My team is looking good. I went zero RB and I added Elijah Mitchell. And you're having a good time going zero RB. It's been a good experience for you. Into the forecast. Fantasy forecast. Bengals, bears, Texans, Browns, Rams, Colts, Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, 49ers, Eagles, all on yesterday's show. So if you want those matchups, you're not going to find them here. You're going to find them on that excellent show from yesterday. Oh, it was so good. It was.

All right, nine games left. Raiders, heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Draft King Sportsbook line, Steelers minus six and a half, over under is 47 points in this game. Raiders with the, you know, very predictable week one win against Baltimore. Steelers, they survived. Their defense, special teams. And not a lot from Buffalo. So.

Looking at this game, you got short rest for the Raiders. They have to travel east on paper. The Steelers should mop the floor with them, right? You should take care of your home field and take care of this game. And then you have a situation with all of the offensive pieces in Las Vegas because you're facing a tremendous defense that slowed down a much better offense in Buffalo last week. So Josh Jacobs, you're looking to pivot.

I'm not chasing Brian Edwards or Henry Ruggs in this matchup. Agreed. I mean, there's one man and one man only. Oh, yeah. And that's how Derek Car feels. Did you, well, that's how John Gruden feels. That's how Gruden feels, too. Because Gruden came out. I don't know if you saw it. His quote was, he's the best player I have ever coached. I'm going to keep looking for him. It was kind of a in your face when you say don't give him 19 targets, which as a fantasy manager of Darren Waller,

I mean, put the court up on the wall. That thing is amazing for your team. Yeah, I mean, he is as sure as anyone in the league. He's going to get his targets, his yards, his catches. That's not the issue. I think the question is what we saw at the end of the game with Brian Edwards. Will he be involved enough to be a flex option? He actually kind of was last week, even though he wasn't involved for 98% of the game. Is he just a...

Keep your eye on him. Is he a complete absolutely can't start because of the Steelers defense? Yeah, he's on the bench. He's on the bench. And Mike's the one that's authority here. I'm the resident Brian Edwards truther. But one, let's see one more week. The hope is that they saw the end of the game. And Derek Carr. He's part of the game plan. Derek Carr goes, oh, that Brian Edwards guy is actually pretty good. I should throw to him some more. But until we see that again.

This one's easy for the Raiders. I'm playing Waller and nobody else. I think we learned that John Gruden calls plays for Darren Waller. Yeah. And Derek Carr, that's the first read on the play. And he doesn't generally pivot from the first read. No, he does. No, he does not. So it's a little bit of Gruden and it's a little bit of car. And I think it's the right thing to do, at least with the evidence we have so far. And those plays that are called for rugs, that's when Carr audibles out. And he's like, I'm going to throw it to Waller.

I am on the other side, I'm a little concerned about the Steelers offense. This is, I think, the perfect matchup because the Raiders are not a rollover and die defense at all, and they're also not the Buffalo Bills from last week. They're, they're, I see them as.

Completely average. And the Steelers really didn't get anything going last week. Big Ben didn't look good. Naji obviously didn't look good behind that offensive line. So this is one where I'm going to start these guys. I'm going to start Naji. I'm going to start Diante Johnson. I think you could start Chase Claypool and Juju. The matchup and they're at home. What about Big Ben? Well, yeah, sure. I'm going to throw him in the lineup too. I think that the projection is that they have good performances. But there is the thread behind the scene of saying, I.

I could see. You got the binoculars. If it goes poorly, I'm going to sound a red alert because Big Ben is older. And this is a defensive team. I think Big Ben actually said after that game, he's like, yeah, we're going to win games with our defense. It's like, well, you're the quarterback who say, say better things about your offense. Well, and the offensive lines are not good in this game.

And I was impressed with the defensive line from Las Vegas last week. I think this is a defense that has made massive improvements. Some of the names that they brought in there. You saw Max Crosby putting pressure on Lamar, and that's not an easy thing to do. Right. And if this offensive line is struggling for Pittsburgh, because, you know, Naji had 100% of the snaps last week, not a great game.

Yeah, it'll be a bit of an alert for fantasy players. Before we move on to the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers game, we want to thank today's sponsors, keeping the show going. Let's start with stamps.com. Quick question for you, Mike. Are you still going to the post office and paying full price for postage? I'd rather be dead. Right. That's not pleasant. Post office? Death or the post office. Get out of my face. Post office. Is this the 1800s?

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The one and no Saints traveling to Carolina to take on the one and no Carolina Panthers. DK Sportsbook line, Saints minus three and a half, over under is 44 and a half. It's not too high. No respect for what the Panthers did in week one. Correct. You won't have March on Lattermore out there. I mean, that's going to help the passing attack for the Panthers. Or either quarterback options this week. I mean, I guess you'd stay away from Darnell completely, but.