Trade Targets, Snap Count Surprises, Shark Bait

Brandon Cook's has been a revelation. He's changed the passing game. He really has. He's opened it up for everybody. It's not just Brandon Cook's production, which has been fine. Brandon Cooks is doing what they helped Sammy Watkins would do, which is be an ever-present threat, be a downfield threat, and all of a sudden Robert Woods is on fire. Cooper Cup is taking the next step. Go ahead. Stack the box against Gurley. It's an absolutely great offense. And then Gurley's doing what Gurley does, which is, you know, score every game and be.

You know, over 100 yards rushing last week. I have offered, I offered David Johnson, Sony Michelle Amari Cooper, and a second rounder. And your first born child? Yeah. Say, what else did you include? That was a full away suitcase full of players. For Todd Gurley in our League of Record. Oh, I'm going to be shocked. He said no. He said no. Yeah. He made the right call for the record. But that is the kind. Look, you get the best player back and a guy on a winning team. He's got everything you want.

talent, opportunity, amazing team, and a head coach that actually calls plays correctly. We were talking on Sunday how they get around the goal line and they look like they're going to do something really cute and they don't. They hand it to Gurley. They look like they're going to do something cute. Yeah, but they disguise it. You don't do that jumbo crap. You don't hand it to your fullback when Marshall and Lynch is standing in the backfield and that touchdown could have won you the game. Because McVeigh understands, in today's football, you don't have to say, okay.

You know we're going to run, but we're going to run it on you. Why? Why? Look like you're going to pass and then run. It's far more successful. Read a book. Read a book. And wash your butt. And wash your butt. I'm getting heated today. You are. You're on fire. So let's talk actual fantasy plays. The real questions are all on the other side of the wall. It's Kurt Cousins. It's Dalvin Cook.

The hamstring, he's day-to-day, you know, do they take the chance to put Cook and a hamstring out there on Thursday night football against the Rams? And I don't think they do. I don't think Dalvin Cook plays. His own words of painted poor picture. I mean, he has said straight out that, yeah, he thinks he could be available. Now, the week prior, it was. That went from like definitely. Yes, the week prior was I'll definitely play the next week. And then you just.

realize what happens if he does or does not play. This is a Thursday night football game. If he does play, it's less rest. He's getting in chance to re-injure. If he doesn't, it's extra rest before the next week because it's a Thursday night game. So I can't imagine them starting him. And I was worried about Adam Thielen and Stefan Diggs. But with the injuries to Akeep Taleb and Marcus Peters.

you know, the two-star cornerbacks, I know that there are good backups for the Rams, and this is still not going to be an easy matchup, but you have to start those guys, and I wouldn't pivot away because of the Vikings. What about Cousins, though? Yeah, I would start Cousins as a top 12 guy. This is, I mean, Vegas expects there to be, you know, a high-scoring game. Yeah, almost 50 points. Both great defenses here are currently dealing with some injuries that have shown a little bit of weakness, or I could show for the Rams sake.

I am going to go out on a limb here, and I am 100% benching Kirk Cousins. I am not playing Kirk Cousins on Thursday night with a terrible offensive line against Nadamakong Sue and Aaron Donald after he just got pulverized by Buffalo. I think this is one of those situations where, look, maybe it works out. But if I can find another option, I'm going to be real happy to find it. Yeah, he, Kirk is not.

Probably not going to end up top 12 in the rankings, but I do think you can... Setting his phasers to bench. To sit? Nah. To pass? I think he sent his phasers to stun. He sent him to stun? Yeah. Like, you know, he's not setting him to kill. To done? He's just sending him, it's just like a... Yeah, he's going to... I mean, it's... To me, he's going to go out there, he's going to get you 20 points.

if you're in a six point per touchdown league, which is, it's okay. Not good enough anymore. It's fine. But, yeah, I mean, it's not good enough. We just brought this up. Russell Wilson hasn't had a game under 20 points. He's the 17th ranked quarterback. Right. That's not true standard. That is not how it usually goes. He's dealing with the competition likes of Joe Flacco. Yeah, that's it. Well, Joe Flacco is two spots ahead of them. Well, Mike, would you start and will you start Kirk Cousins?

I asked Jason because I was asking for a friend. I have Kirk Cousins all over the place and I don't want to play. You've got Kirk Cousins and Ryan Fitzpatrick in your Dynasty League. Who are you starting? I don't know. Thanks for helping the people there, Mike. That's the honest truth is I'm actually considering playing Ryan Fitzpatrick. The rankings will be up in a few hours. You'll be able to see how your final decision. Well.

My Wednesday decision, then check on Thursday. Are you starting Kyle Rudolph? You saw the Rams give up 180 yards to Jared Cook in week one. I will start Kyle Rudolph in this matchup for sure, because I do think the Rams will score. And if that puts, you know, if you don't have Dalvin Cook and you're not able to run the ball, Kirk's going to have to throw the ball. And with, you know, their defense, I think Rudolph is a great way. Let's say Cook is out. Are you going back to Latavius?

After the... Yeah, I wanted to bring that up. Jason, you... To the Poo Show? For my recollection, one of your teams says Delvin Cook. I'm not sure which team. I think a super team. It was the super team that had him and Freeman, Devont Freeman next to David Johnson. Somebody posted a picture of the Lakers when they had Old Steve Nedge, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Paul Gasol, and Ron Ardest as a comparison to Jason's super team. Yes, I saw it. How to make you feel inside? It made me...

feel like I need to steal up and make some moves. And I made some moves. And I've got more moves coming. And I'm going to win the championship. Yeah. Didn't you just trade away starting running back? I got other people back. That's actually pretty funny because you need a starting running back. I got Alex Collins as well. And I think Alex Collins is better. How much of your Coldstone creamery adventure last night was related to baseball and how much was related to your fantasy team? 50. By the way, in case you're...

I brought up Jared Cook's 180-yard game. He's gone out to put up 49 yards and 31 yards. That's what Jared Cook does. I just want to point out. I think it's more cook. I want to point out that that is what always happens when people are freaking out. Without further ado, I think it's time to jump into the mailbag. Mailbag. Feels like it's been too long. But, I mean, Mike's voice was ready for it. It's always ready.

If you have a question, go to the website, the fantasy footballers.com, click the submit a question button. Or dial our voicemail hotline, Jason. You can dial if you have a question. 302-464 TFFB. Jason's like, what do I do help me? All right, voicemail question to kick it off. Hey, ballers, this is Matt from California. Thanks for listening to my question. Just like Jason.

I'm 0 and 3, and currently looking forward to setting the world on fire with a 10-game win streak. Yes. I have Patrick Mahomes and Deshawn Watson on my team. Obviously, I want to start Patrick Mahomes, but my opponent next week will be starting Wolf Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins. Would it be in my best interest to start Watson over Mahomes? Because he'll be throwing to my opponent's players. Thanks again and love the show. That only works against you. No, I don't agree. I want to debate it at least. Let's at least debate it.

I don't think it only works against you. It's based on the other players on your roster. Yes, there's a situation. If your opponent's entire wide receiver core and you can protect against that with Watson, I don't think that's always a bad decision. If it's a one guy situation, I almost always say don't worry about it. But Watson's a viable starting quarterback. And your opponent, I mean, Mike, I would love to hear your thoughts because Jason was like vehemently against it. I want to explain that.

that thought. The reality is, so if the rest of your, take all three of those players out of the equation, if your team matches up against his team and it looks like they're very, very even and fair, and so then you're deciding between those two players, you can't beat him because the points that Will Fuller score and DeAndre Hopkins score are more valuable. They get a point for every 10 yards.

They get six points per touchdown if your quarterback maybe only gets four points for passing touchdowns. The wide receivers will outscore the quarterback in that situation. That's what I'm saying is that I'm not saying you do it. I'm saying that you have to look at the matchup and see.

how the rest of your players do, because it may be advantageous to wipe out his wide receiver core. And you basically will. Yes, they're a little bit more valuable, but Watson's not throwing 100% of his passes to those two guys. And there's the chance he throws a touchdown somewhere else. I would say 85% to those two guys. The Houston Texans are playing the Indianapolis Colts. Delightful, juicy, juicy matchup. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes.

On the road, divisional matchup against the Broncos. Does that affect your decision at all, Jason? You know, it doesn't. I don't know how after three weeks you could bench Mahomes. Vegas has it as a 56 point over under. I mean, ultimately you're right there. I mean, that's... I mean, I realize Denver is, we talked about this, right? Denver is the type of team that could maybe corral Mahomes that could make it not work.

We got the NBA Jam rule in full effect. He's now on fire. He's not heating up anymore. He was heating up after week two. He's on fire. It seems like the best start here is Mahomes. If we were talking about maybe a tier that's not the S class that Patrick Mahomes is right now, say I'm going to play Philip Rivers or I have Cam Newton and Deshaun Watson, maybe then okay, because he has the two.

top pass catchers for the Texans. When it's one, it doesn't affect my thinking at all. But the two is, it's gotten, it's got me in there in the brain. Keenan Allen has had two down weeks. Is he a trade target? asks Phil in St. Petersburg. Would you go after him with someone like Marvin Jones? Oh, heck yeah. Jake, I'll trade you Marvin Jones for Keenan Allen. You can, uh. I got you. All right. All right.

Go somewhere. He passed. Okay, yeah, I think you do target Keenan Allen, no doubt. Eric and Rancho Santa Margarita. Amari Pooper cannot be trusted in his dumpster fire of a game. His value continues to plummet. Would you trade Cooper for LaShawn McCoy straight up if you need a running back? Yes. Yes. Yes. And that's not a I want LaShawn McCoy. I do think McCoy is an interesting target. Yes. With the production. Do you? Yeah, with the production that you saw from Ivory last week, Josh Allen moving the offense.

Like I said, though, I would look at him. Average starting position of the opponent's 40-yard line changes. Yeah, oh, of course it does. So does an improving defense with a new defensive play caller that gives him opportunity. I mean, McCoy has done nothing, but be productive in crappy situations when in Buffalo. That's all I'm saying. Not just in Buffalo. I mean, McCoy has shown value. With Peterman, he put up 9.7 points in week two.

Right. So I think he is a target. And not only that, but to add to it, yeah, I agree that he is. Look, Ravens, Chargers, Vikings. Those were the first three weeks for the bills. That's, you know, we kind of knew that the bills were going to have a rough start. Plus he was injured. So I don't know necessarily that Shady's great this week. I don't know that he plays this week because he's still dealing with the ribs. But I think you can buy him for nothing. People, I've seen people.

Ask me questions of should I trade Shady for garbage. So just go find a couple guys you want to get rid of on your team that you're like, oh, I need to cut these guys and see if you can get Shady. People want to cut Shady. All right. Chiefie in Dayton says Keel and Cole or Quincy and Noonwa. Quincey. That's the rest of season. Oh. Yeah, Cole. It's probably still Quincy for me. Yeah, I think I'm going to take the upside of Cole. I'm going to take the shot at having a.

top 15 type of wide receiver. Quincy can't do that. Quincy safer. Agreed. But I'll take the shot at Cole. Yeah, Will and Vancouver, would you trade James Connor for Dalvin Cook in a half point league? No. Yes. No. Man, yes, I would. Things are trending. Yes, there is. They're better for James Connor. 100% agree. Who is actually playing football right now. If I had depth at the position.

I would... I think I'd rather have cook. I'd rather have cook. What do you guys think about? This is from Cahill in Kauai, Hawaii. Oh. I'm surprised I didn't get a bonjour. This is still the... I'd just surprise you know that. What do you guys think about starting both Alex Collins and Buck Allen in your lineup? Ooh. I don't like it. Do you have an eye mask? I mean, do you... Is there a way that you could...