Week 3 Matchups + Packers in Peril, Wheel of Shame! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/25

You've got to start giving Bucky Irving even more work. You need to pick your spots and give some easier completions to Baker Mayfield, which should be a Bucca. They're like Bucky's been on a, we got him on a snap count right now. Bull crap. 15 opportunities, 21 opportunities. What are they going to do? What's going to happen? They're just counting as snaps. No, I love it. I mean, obviously, Bucky has been.

a good pick so far, very involved. And I think that the worries of this is going to be a 50-50 timeshare with Kenny Gainwell that they brought in is that's already been an answer. That's not the case. But against this Minnesota Vikings defense, I'm not excited for anybody. I'm certainly not excited for Bucky either. Am I starting him? Yeah, he's going to get the opportunities. You're hoping for a touchdown somewhere. Probably a bad game. I'm not starting Baker. Honestly, I think Abuka is a player that if you have other good options,

Um, I would... Abuka or Downs. Downs is now the measuring stick for the week. All right. Let me actually look at that one. By the way, Abuka is a rookie. Downs is one spot ahead of Abuka for me. Outside the last three games, the last year, he's 24% target share as a rookie. He had games at 30, 35% target share. The fact he's at 17%. He did that one time in his first 14 games. And now he's done it through two games. It is problematic. They seem like a team that may be the, I don't know who the leading candidate for a midseason firing is.

To me, it's Todd Bulls. Yeah, he's got to be up there. I think I would still play Abuka over Downs, just because Downs has an equally bad matchup against Houston. He'll be fine. Hopefully, I hope so. But there's plenty of players, you know, the Jalen Coker tier, Jameson Williams, who's been bad, those type of players I would be playing over Abuka. Let's go to Rio, Baltimore, Dallas, we're in Brazil. Bonjour.

Baltimore minus three and a half, over under 53 and a half. Both teams are one and one, right? Both teams, I believe, are one and one. This is, Zay Flowers is traveling with the team, but he has not practiced yet. So him traveling, I thought it was very strange. Like, how do you, if he's not, he hasn't practiced yet, on track to not play, went down to Brazil. Then I saw a video of, uh,

One of the Ravens player posted it, and they're in this, like, fancy hotel pool. That might be why he went. I was like, oh, that's why he went. Oh, okay. I'm not missing out on my trip to Brazil. I got this passport for a reason. Okay, I guess they're human beings. And maybe he just was like, I'm going to Brazil. So we have some news. Ronnie Stanley did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. Offensive tackle for the Ravens, something to keep in mind. Dallas, I mean, you're playing.

You're playing both quarterbacks, obviously. Dak and Lamar gets starts here in Rio. This game could be awesome. We got a 53.5 point over under here. We don't know what the field condition will be if it's anything like the other Brazil game. Are you surprised is Baltimore minus three and a half when you might not have Zayflowers on the field after what their offense looked like last week against Saints? To me, I'm a little surprised. Yeah, I get that it's, well, I guess, I mean, it's like a neutral sight.

Yeah, it is. If you gave Dallas the home field advantage, then I think I'd be more surprised about it, but in a completely neutral head-to-head. It's like, I would take the Ravens. You playing a Buker or Rashad Baitman in this game with no Zayflowers? That's a legit question. I think that in this game against Dallas, if Zay Flowers doesn't go, I would rather play Bateman. He will fly up my rankings when we get confirmation that Zay Flowers is out. And alternatively, if Zay Flowers plays, obviously you've got.

issues with possible reaggravation, but there's no world where he would be out of my lineup. I mean, against Dallas in a 53.5 point over under, you want the exciting pieces. Lamar Jackson, Derek Henry, and then wide receiver one, whoever that is.

which is either Zay Flowers or Rashad Berman. And I know you released him and he doesn't have a lot of upside, but I think you could do worse than Mark Andrews this week as a spot start at tight-in. The targets have still been there, six and seven. If Flowers is not there, seven targets to the tight-in position with a chance of a touchdown, is in play. We've talked a lot about Giovante Williams this week. You're obviously playing Lamb and Pickens. Javante is a kind of must play still. Yes. Don't let our discussions about Javante.

dissuade you from starting him. We're just, we're concerned long term. But as of right now, he is the workhorse and he's going to get all of the opportunity. Dallas is going to score a bunch of points. Did we ask the Chuba versus Javante rest of season question? I don't think we did. These ones are just popping into my head today. And that's another one where I'm like, I think I'd rather have the Chuba side. That one, I'm going to take the offense of the Cowboys, but I, they're in the exact same tier. I would take the Javante side.

I don't think anyone is coming to take Giovante's job. And while Brooks is injured for six weeks and it will be a long stretch, could see towards the fantasy playoffs that becoming more of the time share. Wait, look, you got to let Jonathan Brooks go. It's done. It's done. It's done. It's not happening. Your fears now would lie with A.J. Dylan. Okay. So you don't think Brooks is coming back at the end of the year? Zero. Oh, he might come back to the team. I mean, he was healthy, by the way.

to start this year and they don't use them you just yeah i don't see it yeah not this year anyways austin eckler

On the way, maybe. We'll see. Las Vegas 2 and O Saints 1 and 1 Vegas line is New Orleans minus 3. See, that one, that one's confusing because I say the Vegas line, but then it's like the Vegas. Oh, I see. Okay. All right. So they set their own lines there in Vegas. New Orleans minus. We're favorite again, guys. They're giving themselves bullets and board material here. Over under is 43 and a half. And I already got one this week, but why not do another? Oh.

Mr. Raiders over here. Andy's almost upset of the week. Andy tries to walk around the office like he's not a Raiders guy. I mean.

He's like, I'm sorry, you know, I sort of a Raiders. He does that. Everyone knows you freaking love the Raiders. What's funny is when he was saying that. This is me VU this week. This is our auxiliary teams. Yeah, when he was saying that earlier outside of the studio, he was wearing a Raiders helmet. He's like, I don't understand. People don't know. Has it come through that I might believe a little bit in the Raiders? And I will say this. And Max Crosby and that rookie corner and defense. I love what Kubiak is doing. I think that the team looks good.

They are, honestly, it's not surprising. What do they look like? Stable. Yeah, it's not, I mean, you're not just going to Kubiak a good coach. You're going from a broken version of Pete Carroll and Sons last year that was totally inept. And so I do think the Raiders are a good team. I don't think that they are a bad team. However, I think the Saints are a very good team. This is their home opener. And that,

I mean, that stadium is going to be wild. They are so excited for the Saints. So this is going to be a tough sledding for the Raiders. And if the Raiders go in there and win, they will make a statement. Here's what's impressive to me about the Raiders. They have shown me something on the defensive side of the football and they've won two games without their best offensive player and one of the best players in the game. Brock Bowers, who should be returning this week. So adding Brock Bowers to the equation, adding Bowers to the equation, look, I'm not going to feel as confident about that upset of Bowers sits it down.

But I've talked about the fact Kelvin Banks is out for this offensive line. You're going to see Tyler Shuck deal with pressure the whole game. He may deal well with it at home. But, you know, I don't know what in the world's going on in the running game for the Saints, but I don't know if they have one right now. H.N. Jr. limited on Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring. I think it's hands off. I think the Raiders win this game. Oh, you said it. I think the Raiders win the game.

It's going to be interesting. The only thing that you just need to keep in mind because I know that they have looked really competent, really solid. Max Crosby's amazing is that they played against the Chargers who now we are questioning if they're good and the dolphins who we don't have to question. We know. So we haven't seen them really pushed yet. Will the Saints push them? I mean, it's a 43.5 point over under. We're not expecting big scores in this game. That's a low over under.

It's lower. It's 23 to 20 in that line. It's a lower one. I think that the plan for the Raiders is play good defense, run the football 30 times. That's the one area of the Saints have been beat through two weeks. It's 26.2 fancy points given up through two weeks for the Saints. They have the workhorse and Gentie to do that. And you've got Trey Tucker and hopefully Brock Bowers back in the equation. Fantasy-wise, play Gentie. Play Bowers if he's active. Play Tucker if you're desperate. Olave.

Of course. Velae would be. I think Vailay is a, if course, has a flex. Yeah, he's viable. Nine targets, seven targets. The volume will be there. And then the running backs, I don't know if you can play one. It's really, really tough. The only way that I think you could play one is if it turns out that one guy is active alone. I feel like it's a trap. It feels like a trap. Kendrae Miller did not practice, but it was illness.

And so he was inactive last week. I presume that that was because Alvin Camara was active. So this is like kind of a roulette table where I'm like, the ball is bouncing around. And it could be Travis H.A. Jr. is active or inactive. Kendrae Miller's active or inactive. And Alvin Camarra is relevant. He is not a good enough player at this stage of the career to put him in. I mean.

He could literally touch the ball 20 times and be a bad play. I was going to give you the numbers. This is why it's a trap to me. If H.N. Jr. is out and you're like, maybe Camara. Alvin Camara had 15 opportunities last week. Incredible. How many targets? That includes six targets. Wow. More valuable than carries. 15 opportunities. And he put up 4.7 fantasy points. You're not going to convince me that Kendra and Miller gets more work than Camara. That's for sure. And, and.

No, but my point is. But Kendra Miller's like the only one of this group who could do anything. If Kendra Miller got eight opportunities and Alvin Kamara got 14, I would assume more fantasy points to Kendra Miller side. But I agree. I think your hands off in the running back room right now. And we've talked extensively about Tyler Shuck. You can use the start tool on the website, the fantasy footballers.com, to throw in all these other quarterback conunders. Of course. Jwanson is fine. He's fine. It's not a, I mean, I'd play. It's not a plus matchup.

I would just be chasing the higher over-unders with the Johnson tier of tight ends. Sure. So you're going Mark Andrews over Joanson? I'm okay doing that. Yeah, I like the targets there. I mean, it's been a couple of big plays for Joanson so far. I mean, he's only had three catches and four catches, and he had a huge run down the sideline and a touchdown in week one. I'm not taking anything away from the player. I just don't know if the targets are going to be where you want him to be.

We'll take a break. We'll talk Sunday night, Monday night football, and we'll get into the fantasy faceoff. Well, this one should be fun. The Rams, one-on-one, Denver, taking on the one-on-one Denver, the Rams minus two and a half. In Denver. Over under 44 and a half. Mike, you got Blake Corerman as your start of the week. Kyron and Blake, you're playing them both? Yes.

And then Puka, not expected to play again. Devante Adams was insane last week. He was 32% target share, has a 42% targets per outrun with Puka off the field as a ram. And, yeah, you know the equation here. I mean, Terrence Ferguson is the fun, exciting upside secondary target because you saw nine targets. You saw a concerted effort to make him.

a focal point in the passing game that led to 14 and a half fantasy points and a touchdown. And he dropped two big plays. Like he should have had a bigger, a bigger day. Yeah, I mean, he's super like it's sort of cheat code-esque because Ferguson really is like a big slot receiver and you get to play him a tight end. Seems to be the rules. If your last name is Ferguson and one of the top targets. And one of the top wide receivers is out, then you're a great option for fantasy football.

Fantasy is so simple. Just look for the name Ferguson. I would say, so looking at him on Sleeper, what I am seeing is his roster percentage at 23%. So still pretty widely available. And I would agree, like, if you're in the Juan Johnson tier. Oh, my gosh. And you get news that, I mean, I think it'd be pretty shocking at this point with what we're hearing that if Puka plays. But once you get the official word that Puka is going to be out,