Starts of the Week + Week 5 Games, Smooshed! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 10/8

Or am I running back start of the week? It's an and or situation. Or and or both. Yeah, no, that's, you know, Swift and Menungai. Mm-hmm. Just Manungai? Just Swift. Swamongai. They're both. Swamongai. Here's the thing. They get to play the Green Bay Packers. Mift. And the Bears' identity has been to run the football without Caleb Williams. 30 carries for Kyle Monongai last week. He hurt his thumb. Swift coming off the hamstring.

Both guys didn't practice history. There was a point this week where Jason and I just had, he had Swift. I had Menungai a start to the week with the practice reports. We're like, hey, let's just go. Bears running back. Bears running back this week. I mean, I think Menongai is the better pure runner. I think DeAndre Swift obviously had some more versatility. Last week was dominant for Monongai on the year, 5.4 and 4.5 a carry. Yeah. That's like the, that's insane. So.

Great rush success rate, but Monongai's on fire. If they're both active and I had to choose one, I would choose Monongai this week. I'm less worried about a thumb than a hamstring taking you off the field. Swift, he fumbled, right? He fumbled, but he had 35% of snaps. Like, that was his total for the game. And that happened in the third quarter. I imagine that the limitations because we thought Swift could miss the game are there as well. Yeah, I'm fine starting either one, both and or. At wide receiver.

Michael Wilson, we, you know, to pair with Jacoby Brissette over there with Mike, you want pieces in this Detroit game, 54.5 point over under, lion's secondary is bad. And the important thing is Michael Wilson is what we saw at the end of last year with Parker Washington and Michael Wilson, who's like, is this real? Well, they looked great. They passed the eye test and they had great runs of fantasy success. But coming into this season, will it stick around? The answer is yes. The answer is they're the best wide receiver on their team.

30 targets the last two weeks, you've got to keep starting Michael Wilson. They, through the first two weeks, they tried not to. Right. Like the Arizona Cardinals is like, we're going to try and be more balanced. We'll spread it out. Just seven targets in week one, seven targets a week two. And then, what, 30 over the past two weeks? Yeah. And if you heard, you know, LaFleur came out yesterday and talked extensively about how impressed he is with Michael Wilson and how much better he has gotten. Denmark.

Well, that's for sure. But I think one of the things that's been said before is, hey, he's always going to be the second target to Trey McBride. Hasn't been the case so far this year. Like McBride's had a couple of like medium weeks and the targets have gone Michael Wilson's way. So there is a kind of like dominator factor taking place in Arizona where when you throw the ball to Michael Wilson, it is a high probability play compared to going, you know, certainly to Marvin Harrison or Kendrick Bourne. So I love it. I think he is ascending and I think the matchup is just another way to cement himself. Mike, who do you got?

I'm going Devante Adams against the Buffalo Bills. We had a down week, Pooka's back, yada, yada, yada. I still believe in Devante Adams. I mean, like weirdness. He's yet to see a target inside the 10. Devante Adams, last year's goal line wide receiver. That's very bizarre. And then the matchup, the Buffalo Bills, the terrifying Buffalo Bills, their defense is completely in shambles. 29th and explosive play rate allowed. We love that.

and 31st is scheduled adjusted to the position. So I have no, I have no concerns that, like, oh, no, Pook is back. We've got to take the back seat. No, Devante Adams still a great play. Drop the touchdown last week. He catches that ball. You don't have any perception of a down week. I'm going pickings light at wide receiver started the week. Jamo. I'm taking Jamison this week against Arizona. You have to live with the ups and downs of Jameson Williams. I thought there was a concerted effort last week to get him more involved. Caught a big play down the field.

had some big first downs. We saw this last year. I mean, he was at eight fancy points per game, similar reception, or sorry, receiving yards per game before he took off last season. Where do you want to take off? How about Arizona? Dead last and schedule adjusted fantasy points to wide receiver. None of us are going to sit here and say, hey, play Al Monra. He's an auto start every week. But Jamo this week against Arizona who cannot defend the wide receiver position, you know, we lost Will Johnson already on the year and doesn't have the depth of secondary to control Jamo. I think it's a good start.

Yeah, tied in. I'm going with Colston Loveland. Oh, baby. The current, you know, bust pick that was not helpful for the first month of the season. But last week started heating up, had as many targets in that game as he had the entire season. His target share 10%, 12%, 29%. Most importantly, it was with Tyler Bejja. So this is, you know, I expect him to be really involved in this game. You look at last year against the Packers.

15 targets. He was 8 for 137. It's a matchup that they know how to exploit. And at some point, you've got to play the more talented player. The other thing that I really like is he, I can't believe it didn't happen in week one, but he started playing more and more of the single Titan snaps over Cole Komet, which should have happened, but we're seeing that happy, barely leaves the field right now. So I'm fine starting Loveland. He's off the bench back into the lineup. Mike, I'm going with Isaiah likely.

of the New York Giants against Washington. We had to hold our breath for two weeks after what looked like he was going to be the breakout late round tight end, him and Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Dart goes down, James comes in, it's a disaster for two weeks in a row. Well, last week shows that maybe James is still James that, yeah, the mistakes will be there, but the big plays, the good stuff, the fantasy gold will be there. He, in fact, through the first month, leads all tight ends and targets here.

Like this is, he is absolutely being utilized. Take the first two Jamis games. I'm setting them to the side, at least for now. He also, talking not likely, he leads the Giants of first downs and red zone targets, plus the matchup against Washington is delicious for the position. And I mean, is there going to be any lag? They had to come back from overseas. I like them. All right, I'm going back to back lines on mine. I am taking Sam LaPorte against Arizona. Did you know?

T.J. Hockinson had 13 targets last week. I did. Did you know Leporta had 13 targets last week? I did not realize. 13 targets last week. This is a team whose defense is just not getting it done. Arizona should be able to put up points. And when you are moving down the field, you're going to have Sam Leporta wide open tied with McBride. Most red zone targets among tight ends. Most routes run among all tight ends in the NFL. Currently the tight end for...

Number one in end zone targets. I mean, Arizona, they can't defend wide receivers, right? They're dead last. Oh, wait, they're 29th against tight ends. So really, bottom of the barrel, secondary play. Linebackers can't keep up with Leporta. He's played outstanding this year, so I'm going to make him start of the week. That was starts of the week brought to you by Applecard, applying the wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Applecard issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA, Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at applecard.com. We'll take a break. We'll jump into the forecast.

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Chopped League or a guillotine league. You guys know I'm in a desperate situation this week. I want you to go discover how desperate this man over here is to survive a week where Jamar Chase and Ken Walker's unby. And Camp Scataboo is banged up, which we should have mentioned, and I'll mention right now. But I added a little player that I have to play this week. How desperate? Oh, baby. Whose hands am I in to survive a chop league where I have a bunch of injuries and by weeks? Marvin Harrison Jr.

See you later, guys. Wow. By the way, we should have mentioned it. I don't know why it wasn't in the news, but yesterday Cam Scataboo played in a non-contact jersey. Right. So one of the things you can do there is Najee Harris is available in most leagues everywhere. If you want to kind of ensure that start, if you have Scataboo, that's what I would do. Let's go into the forecast. Fantasy Forecast, presented by prize picks. Yeah, according to the Falcon, he dropped Marvin Harrison as a landmine. Yeah.

Well, here's the problem. Bide receivers like I can play over him right now. Jamar Chase. Okay, okay, I'll play Jamar Chase. Yeah, except he might not play. Okay. DJ Moore. How are we doing? If he plays, I would play him over him. Okay. How about Chris Bell? Oh, wait, he showed up as questionable on the injury report yesterday. Hmm.

Would you play Trey Harrison and Marvin Harrison? That's the decision I actually have. That's my actual start's hit decision. I don't hate Trey Harris this week. I know. I know it'll be the difference in being alive and dead, but there you go. We have another London matchup. Are we doing this? We're doing this again? Yeah, I think from like, what is it, here on out? We're going to get a good game here. Philly two and two taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars 3 and 1, Vegas line Jacks minus 7. Over under 41.5.

Hmm. That is the second lowest implied point total for Philadelphia. So Philadelphia this week alone, Seyquan got hurt. Tank Biggsby to IR. Devante Smith could miss multiple weeks. I doubt he plays and travels. We'll see. You lost Lane Johnson to retirement, and you traded Cam Jurgens and you're going to move forward with a different center. Hmm. And Darius Cooper is getting picked up in leagues.

Cool, man. Cool, cool. They should have spent a first round pick on a wide receiver. They did. Oh, they should use him and throw him the ball because he's open all the time. Is Jalen Hurts a startable fantasy asset? Yes or no? No, not in a single quarterback. Especially not this. The Jags are for real on the defensive side. Dude, the fact that we can be listing all those things off, we've like, you got to get weapons. You should have taken a wide receiver. You did.

And they did. What about a stud pass catching tight end? And they are not. Like Eli Stowers. Well, swinging to me sometimes. That does happen. It was high draft capital. Mackay Lemon is far more like that is malpractice. What are you doing? You need. He's out there. With Devante Smith gone, you need to just tear it all up, build it back up and say, how do we feature Mackay Lemon? Yeah.

The weird thing is the routes, like I, you know, I've watched a ton of his film and he is out there. He has used in every single way. He has gimmies. He's got middle of the field. He's got intermediate. He goes deep sometimes. Jalen Hertz just does not look his way. He just, I don't know what Mackay said to Jalen Hertz, but it's personal. He's got a problem with the reptiles. I do think it will change. I do. I think that the talent will win out on the opportunity.

this week? He's returning to practice, I believe. Jalen Hurts' prize picks projection is 193.5 passing yards. That is his lowest of 2026. He is average 176 a game. He's not getting enough. He's not scoring enough. If the offense is not near a tush-push zone, you're not getting any of that. And so, you know, if you have to make a decision, Jason, you could chase Darius Cooper and his touchdowns. He's had three of them. You can chase Dantavian Wicks and his

Sort of like hit and miss nature. His peripherals. I mean, he's actually out there running and getting targets. Man, but I watched him run a route one time last week, and I was like, I don't know about that. You got to watch more then because he's got plenty of great routes. And then Mackay Lemon. Yeah, I think if I had to start them, the order I would go is Wix because he's getting the deep shots. So the chance that one play hits your week. And then I would go Lemon for talent and routes. And then I would go.

Cooper. Cooper had 28% of the targets last week. I'm kind of in on the Cooper. Like you're like, hey, maybe you'll get a touchdown. I think I'd go Wix Cooper Lemon, which is crazy. Crazy. Trevor Lawrence on the other side going up against. Hold on the running backs. Like, are you playing Will Shippling? Oh, I'm so sorry. Yeah. Like that's really the biggest conversation, I believe. Damien Pierce is playing for me in a league this week. All right. I'm not proud of it. I said it out loud, but I'm not proud of it.