Fantasy Football Week 5 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sits, Flex Plays & Touchdown Picks (Ep. 2249)

0:00 Hello, everybody. Welcome into the Fantasy Pros Football Podcast. I'm Ryan Wormley, joined by Pat Fitzmaurice and Jake Seeley from The Athletic. And we are talking starts and sits here in week five. Fitz, we are a month into the season. How are you doing?

0:14 Doing great.

0:15 Excited about my Milwaukee Brewers having advanced to the National League Championship Series. But we're here to talk football, so we'll skip the baseball talk.

0:25 I actually almost wore a Brewer shirt that I have for you today, Fitz, but I'm going to save it for when they make the World Series. They're taking down the Dodgers. I am knocking on wood, crossing my fingers. I'm not betting on it because I'm not stupid, but I am hoping for it for sure. That's where my heart is for the rest of these playoffs. Jake, how are you doing?

0:43 I'm doing good. I'm enjoying the baseball playoffs. I have nothing to root for except for, yeah, please, no more Dodgers. But it would be nice. It would be nice to see at least– if you guys can't do it, Fitz, just make sure the American League can take care of it.

0:54 Yeah, I don't know about that.

0:57 Yeah, I kind of feel like this is the World Series in the NLCS, which I know is what a lot of people are talking. Rays are good. They're a good team.

1:03 I was about to say, why are you guys besmirching the Rays?

1:06 Mostly just because they're in the division of my favorite team. That's why I'm happy to besmirch them. Yes, as Fitz says, we're here to talk about football. We're going to go through our typical Thursday show. We've got some starts, some sits, some waiver ads. Are we starting or sitting them? And then our touchdown calls. As always, reminder for everybody, as I always give, our weekly consensus rankings and tiers can be found at fantasypros.com slash rankings. Let's start off with the popular waiver ads of the week. And if you guys are willing to start or sit them right away, we'll start with Will Shipley, who felt like the biggest name, obviously, with the injuries going on in the Eagles backfield around him.

1:42 Despite the fact that he has this opportunity here, it's a very different looking offensive line after a trade and a retirement. It's going up against the Jacksonville defense, which is pretty good against the run. It's in London. A lot of stuff just feels broken with the Eagles offense right now. But it's an opportunity for starting running back. Jake, I'll start with you. Are you willing to start Will Shipley this week? Willing?

2:03 I think the word should be desperate to start Will Shipley because I feel like that's where we are. I threw out this tweet earlier this week. since week one of last year, the leading rusher for the opponents facing them. The highest is 74 rushing yards. That was 21 carries by Jonathan Taylor. Second highest, 70 rushing yards on 21 carries by Jonathan Taylor. You take out Jonathan Taylor, the next highest is 63. They have held the opponent's lead running back under 50 for the majority of those games.

2:35 So this is, I do not want to start running backs against the Jaguars in general. let alone Will Shipley, which I think will be volume-reliant, which is why I have him as a low, well, I was going to say in the low 20s as a high-end RB3. He's not even a low-end RB2. Because also, like, Damian Pearce, they did activate him. That's the one I expected to have happen. Damian Pearce, for whatever he's been, has still been, if you look at the numbers, actually more efficient than Will Shipley. There's not the biggest sample for Shipley. But all that being said, I don't want to start him, but there's a lot of people out there, including myself, who have Kenneth Walker on a buy or something like that and are kind of desperate and do need Shipley

3:11 as your RB2.

3:13 Yeah, he's ranked as RB31 in the– No, I'm actually higher than.

3:18 That's surprising. It might be because I have Kamara lower and I know I'm really low on Ja'Cory Krosky merit. So I think those are probably the two that are probably ranked in front.

3:29 Those two are both ahead of Shipley.

3:31 Okay.

3:31 So there you go. um yeah Fitz what do you think I mean it's not like one you feel great about but at the same time he's ranked in a range where there will absolutely be managers out there who are forced to start.

3:41 In oh definitely and um yeah the Eagles offense is in a pretty bad way right now with all the injuries to the the skill position guys and all the tumults on the offensive line but you would think that Shipley probably has a baseline of 12 touches as the last man standing in that backfield and I know it's going to be some Damian Pierce, too. I suspect that Shipley's going to get the majority of the snaps. And I think there's the potential for closer to 20 touches.

4:09 I'm not sure if the Eagles get it going in the running game, as Jake pointed out, that the Jaguars have been fantastic against the run. That has not changed with Anthony Campanile as the defensive coordinator. But Shipley is a capable pass catcher, and the Jaguars have given up the second most catches and second most receiving yards to running backs.

4:28 Yeah.

4:29 Shipley was the big name this week. I did want to throw out a couple of the Bengals pass catchers, Mike Gesicki, Dante Myers, just given all the injuries going on. You know, Jamar Chase with the concussion coming off the last game, T. Higgins with his groin issue. So between Gesicki and Myers, is there any interest here? Fitz, I'll start with you on this one in starting these guys and in a very primo matchup against the Dolphins.

4:52 There is.

4:52 If both Chase and Higgins are out, I am going to have Gesicki just inside tight end one range. at like tight end 11 and i'm gonna have dante myers just outside the top 30 a wide receiver.

5:05 Okay uh giziki actually is tight end 10 right now he was a little bit lower when i put the sheet together yesterday but he's jumped up a bit here as we get into thursday so yeah he is already inside that top 10 range in the consensus rankings i'll pull up myers here jake what do you think about these two.

5:21 Yeah, I'm more Gusecki than Myers. I would actually even go higher. I reference this to some people in my articles. I have Gusecki right now at 14 because I always go the other way. Where would they rank if they play? So I ranked Chase and I ranked Higgins because that answers the question before people need to ask it. If they're both out, I put Gusecki at eight in front of Jawan Johnson and in front of Dalton Kincaid and in front of Harold Fannin to give you an idea because he's already been the guy when one of them haven't been off the field. And I think that you really see Joe Burrow turn to him because the thing about Dante Myers, I would have him as a wide receiver three, not quite as high as Fitz, but still

5:57 in that conversation. I know Zach Taylor was like, oh, he's like Jamar Chase. Get the hell out of here, Zach. The truth is, if you want a bangle to compare him to, former Andre Hawkins. If you want a current player to compare him to, Wandel Robinson. And that's really the truth. But the thing is, we saw Wandel Robinson last year with the Giants.

6:14 It can work.

6:15 He just needs volume and he can hit some of those big plays. That's why I think Wanda Robinson's a really good comparison. But you can also see how it could go wrong. Like if he only gets four targets and they did bring back Mitch Tinsley, who's familiar and actually got some work in that game last week. And I really do think that if both are out, they're just going to say, hey, we're facing the Dolphins. Let's lean on Chase Brown and Samaj P. Ryan if you're desperate for a running back, by the way. And I think you see a lot out of the backfield with Gasicki also, like I said, taking a big step forward.

6:42 We've seen this before too with Yoshevis when both of them have been out. you know, you get some of those games where it's like, oh, Yoshevis popped off. He was top 25. And you get somewhere, it's like, okay, he was 45. So I think the bigger thing that I would come back with is that I feel like we're in the same range Fitz and I are in Myers, but that's going to be wrong. Either he's going to be much higher than that, like top 20, or he's going to be wide receiver, like 40 something. And that basically that 30 to 35 ranking is just going to be wrong.

7:06 Jake, one of the reasons I'm not inside the top 10 on Gusecki was actually because of a point you made, I think, on the Waver Wire show this week that We're probably going to get an annoying number of targets and receptions for the other Bengals tight ends this week, too.

7:20 Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, maybe Eric All.

7:25 I feel like a lot of people are going to be on Gesicki, and I would not be shocked if he had three targets and two catches.

7:32 Yeah, that's a fair point. I'm I'm thinking if Joe Burrow still throws touchdowns, they're probably going to Gesicki. Similar like if you see Goddard back for the Eagles this week, he's like the red zone presence. So you're not wrong. But I'd be the sucker to chase it. We'll put it that way.

7:47 For sure.

7:48 But if the Mike Gesicki people are mad on Monday morning about the output, it's going to be because like those– Well, yeah, right.

7:54 You're right. The last two games, three for 37 and three for 40, touchdown, touchdown. If you take away the touchdown at either one of those games, you're angry about the Gesicki output.

8:03 Yeah.

8:04 You guys are roughly in line with Kosicki with consensus.

8:07 Myers.

8:07 You guys are actually had, he's ranked as a wider receiver for he's wide receiver 38 in consensus right now. He's sandwiched by the two Buffalo guys, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. He's actually two spots ahead of Marvin Harrison jr, which is just hilarious to think about at this point. I mean, Harrison doesn't get the Detroit defense.

8:21 That's too high for Harrison.

8:23 So even against the lions, you would, you'd rather play Myers than Harrison.

8:27 Jake, his snap count went down. It was one catch for a touchdown against the giant secondary.

8:32 Like what, what are we doing?

8:34 Um, I was going to toss this one. I know you're the host, but I want to toss this to Fitz. I'm looking at my ranks. On the other side, I think I would still start Malik Washington over Dante Myers, but that's the range that I would put him in, like the valet Malik Washington. But I think I would still start Malik Washington. I'm kind of curious where Fitz would land.

8:54 I've got Malik Washington ranked ahead, but right now my assumption is Higgins plays and Chase doesn't. Because I thought we'd gotten a report Higgins practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, but then I thought maybe I saw later that he didn't actually practice.

9:10 He didn't, yeah.

9:11 That was the update later.

9:11 So, yeah, if both of those guys are out, I will probably vault Dante Meyer's past practice.

9:17 Malik Washington.

9:19 Like Malik Washington, some of the target share and area share numbers are great, but they're averaging 25.2 pass attempts a game. Second fewest in the NFL. So area yards and target share doesn't mean as much when you're such a low volume passing attack.

9:33 The are they playing tool on fantasypros.com. Chase has a 20% chance to play Higgins 68%, but that is like, keep an eye on that after the Thursday practice stuff, because that I think will make a pretty big difference in what those numbers look like. Let's go to our plant your flag segment here. Jake, I'll start with you. Who are you planting your flag on this week?

9:53 I thought this was going to be pretty common to have him as a QB1 this week. And then I saw it and I'm like, well, I guess I'm on a limb here. So I guess I'll plant my flag. And CJ Stroud, we're talking about one of the past happiest offenses in the league for good reason. The backfield just stinks. And I know the Titans defense has been good.

10:11 It's finally kind of like, I saw a report yesterday talking about how solid defenses takes a while to get the grasp. And once it does is where it becomes fearsome. But at the same time, it's like, I'm still not that scared, especially in the passing department. Maybe I should be, but CJ Stroud was already producing without Nico Collins, was producing with Nico Collins, continues to throw a ton and averaging 300 some odd yards a game. I just, I don't see how like I'm looking at this list and right behind him, like I don't want to play Shuck going against Brian Flores in that defense.

10:39 I don't.

10:41 I'm not playing Jalen Hurts at this point. And with that offensive line on top of it, like the touch push isn't even working well for them. And now we're dying onto the, like the Kyler Murray, Bo Nix, Sam Darnold range. I'm just like, I'm playing CJ Stroud over all of these guys. So I was actually surprised to see that I was.

10:56 So far ahead.

10:57 Like I am a 12 and that's three ahead of consensus. And I was actually surprised by that. So I guess that's where I'm planting my flag is that I think CJ Stroud is going to go out there and throw 300 yards and two plus touchdowns again.

11:08 It's actually four ahead of consensus. Stroud is at QB 16 right now. Fitz, for you, is that too high, too low, or just right?

11:15 I'm at 13, and probably the only guy I have in behind who it sounds like Jake has Stroud ahead of is Jalen Hurts, and I don't know if I feel great about having Hurts higher than Stroud.

11:27 Yeah, they're back-to-back in consensus, those two. Yeah, I mean, the Titans defense before Lamar went out was getting absolutely shredded last week. I thought Stroud looked great last week. Nico back. I'm willing, you know, in a one QB league, maybe I'm not quite as bullish as Jake, but I'm like definitely willing to start him if I need it.

11:44 And in a super flex, I'm feeling really good if he's my QB too this week. I think he's a great play. Fitz, who is your player flag player?

11:51 It's Travion Henderson.

11:53 Ramondre Stevenson went down awkwardly in the final minute of the Patriots' win over the Bills last week. I'm no doctor, but I did stay the holiday in last night. It looked like it could have been a high ankle sprain or a sprained MCL. Ramondre supposedly got in a limited practice on Wednesday, but it seems like there's a real question about his availability on Sunday. And if he's out and Travion Henderson gets all the work, well, when Stevenson missed three games last season... Henderson had 330 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns over those three games. He was RB3 in fantasy scoring over that stretch. And even if Stevenson is able to play, pretty good bet that Henderson leads the New England backfield in touches against the Raiders

12:36 because of the Stevenson injury. And I am betting on Henderson to pop this week. Right now, I've got him just outside the top 20. He's at RB21, Stevenson RB28. But if Stevenson is scratched, I'm going to have Henderson well.

12:48 Inside the top 20.

12:50 Yeah, I think it was that he was expected to not practice, but then actually did get listed as a limited participant eventually, I think to the surprise of the people covering the team. I'm not really sure what that's going to look like the rest of the week. I mean, based on our tool, if a guy gets a limited practice in on Wednesday, it thinks there's a pretty good chance of him playing. So right now, our site has Stevenson as very likely to play. But again, this is another one where you want to keep an eye on that.

13:15 This practice reports over the next couple of days. Jake, where are you at on Trayvon Henderson, you know, with if Ramondre were to play and also if Ramondre were not to play?

13:24 So, yeah, I have Henderson in the 20s right now with Stevenson in the rankings. If there is no Stevenson, I also referenced this in the article. I even said, like, if there's no Ramondre Stevenson, Henderson will be an RB1. As in, like, I'd put him up there. I'd play him in front of DeAndre Swift even going against the Packers because– They don't need to force the issue with Swift.

13:46 I'm not even considering the fumble. And then he barely was on the field after that, if at all. Because part of it was he was banged up heading into that game. But to give you an idea, I bring that up because I have Swift at 12. And I would play Henderson in front of him with no Stevenson because we've seen how much– like you're talking about bell cow workload for Henderson. Like how do you turn your nose up at that?

14:05 Yeah. If Stevenson's out, it's pretty exciting to– Have Henderson on the roster. Before we get to the next segment, I need to tell you about this new prediction market called Polymarket. It's a stock exchange for sports buying in and selling out on your terms. When your team goes down to 20%, you can buy in and sell it off at 40% when they come back to double your money.

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15:05 I actually have Judkins ranked one spot higher. And I think workload is the appeal for both guys. With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Aaron Jones has averaged 23 touches a game and 108 scrimmage yards per game over the last three weeks, although he has not scored a touchdown. Judkins is averaging 18.5 touches a game this season. He's had 20 and 23 touches the last two weeks.

15:30 But the new wrinkle.

15:31 For Judkins, which I appreciate, is his pass catching. He's already got 15 receptions this season. He had 26 receptions all of last year in 14 games. Both guys have pretty good matchups this week. Jones gets the Saints, who've given up the most rushing yards and fantasy points to running backs, and it seemed like they gave up about 500 fantasy points to the Falcons' backs last week.

15:53 Judkins gets the Jets.

15:54 They've given up the sixth most fantasy points, fourth most rushing yards to running backs. The reason I have Judkins ranked higher is that the Vikings might be without two key offensive linemen. They're definitely going to be without left guard Donovan Jackson. who just went on IR with a torn meniscus, and it looks like they could be without left tackle Christian Derrissaw, who has a concussion.

16:15 Jake, what do you think?

16:16 I was actually a little surprised. The fact that not that they're close, that you just had them ahead. I'm going Aaron Jones mostly just because I think if you look at these matchups, they're both top five in my opinion, the Saints and the Jets for the run defense, and I get what you're saying about the offensive line concerns, and maybe that's enough. Bet people will agree with you and push the Judkins. I just look at the ecosystem of the offenses and I just trust the Vikings more.

16:40 I know that it's been shaky because of the quarterback situation and Colin Murrell, that type of stuff. But you brought it up. The touches for Aaron Jones are just gift. And I look at the inconsistency with Judkins in the receiving game and that's my concern. It's like, is this going to be a week where he does get the five, six, seven targets? Or is this going to be like two weeks ago, just two weeks ago? And week one where it was like two. So it's just that volatility. I have a little bit of a gap. I think it's like four spots from Aaron Jones to Judkins. But they're in the same conversation where like this isn't one where I'm going to be like, oh, I need to watch this and see if I can joke with Fitz and

17:13 be like, ha-ha, you were wrong on it. Like I feel like you're in a decent spot if either one of them you're RB to this week.

17:19 Some of the names that these guys are ranked around in the consensus rankings this week, DeAndre Swift, Bashel Tootin, Jeremiah Love, Emanuel Wilson– Jake, do those names sound like about the right range for Jones and Judkins or are there guys you like a lot better there?

17:33 No, and that's the point is like I think that the fact that they are both in the conversation with those names, like I'd even throw Braylon Allen on the other side of that and Jenty against the Patriots defense and not knowing if he's still 100%. He says he's getting there and might be whatever. But like all those names, I think that's the biggest takeaway from this is like you should feel good about both because they're in the conversation with those guys.

17:55 Yeah.

17:55 Is it crazy to think maybe the Browns offense is just better than the Vikings offense though? I mean, right now, EPA per play, Browns 18th, Vikings 27th.

18:05 They have been better this season. The consistency of usage is my concern.

18:09 That's all it is.

18:10 And I think like Judkins is, is he even averaging three yards a carry at this point still?

18:14 I think he's right at three.

18:16 So like, again, you're not wrong. Like the overall offense, like I know people don't want to give any credit to Deshaun Watson, but the player is playing better than anybody thought it would. And the offense is clicking. This entire team is playing worlds better than anybody thought it would.

18:32 The thing is, it used to be like you kind of needed a touchdown from Quinshawn Judkins to have him.

18:39 Pop for you.

18:40 But there were terrible odds of him getting a touchdown in any given game. And now I think there are actually respectable odds.

18:47 Decent chance. He only has one.

18:49 Got his first touchdown last week against the Steelers, but I think there's at least something close to a 50-50 chance in any given game.

18:57 Do you guys think that Deshaun Watson specifically, but then by extension the offense, is going to come crashing down at some point this season? Or have you seen enough to be like, hey, we'll be at least competent throughout 2026? Or do you feel like you're playing with fire here, Fitz?

19:10 Well, if Watson comes crashing down, they're going to put in Shadur Sanders, and I think he can prop it back up again to at least just respectable levels. I mean, Shadur's not going to go out there and play like Josh Allen, but I think between the two of those guys, they're going to have enough to make Denzel Boston, Harold Fannin, Casey Concepcion go, and I think that's just what everyone is hoping for. They know they're not going to get sterling quarterback play from the Browns. Just give us enough to make the pieces of that offense functional and fantasy relevant.

19:49 Yeah.

19:50 Jake, let's go to our next running back debate. You already mentioned this guy, Corey Krosky Merritt. I've got him up against O'Marion Hampton for you. They are back-to-back in ECR. They are the last two RB2s in the rankings, RB23 and RB24. Bill Kroski Merritt is the guy who is one spot ahead. You mentioned being pretty low on him this week. Do you like him better than O'Marion Hampton, or do you like Hampton?

20:12 Not even close. I want nothing to do with this commander's backfield. I've said it time and again. I had him in the drops for waivers last week. And then no Rashad White. And I'm like, oh, I guess I have to put Krosky Merritt into the RB20s. And that was the wrong call. I should have stuck with like, just don't play him because the backfield's a mess. I know they get Jaden Daniels back and I know nobody expected Zach Galifianakis to be a quarterback. And yes, I said that because I'm not messing with the other name.

20:35 It was a Kaliak. Are you supposed to pronounce the K or not?

20:39 I believe it's Ethan Kaliak-Manis.

20:41 Kaliak-Manis.

20:42 Kaliakmanis.

20:42 So you do pronounce– because I keep hearing it differently. Like some people say Kaliamanis and some people say Kaliakmanis.

20:48 I pulled up– on the old Minnesota college website, he pronounces it for you on his like bio page.

20:56 Oh, does he?

20:56 That's how he says it. So that's what I'm going with unless it's changed or something.

21:00 Big 10 guys like Worm and I know about these things, Jay.

21:03 Yeah.

21:05 Back in the day when Tariq Cohen came out of college, everybody was like, is it Tariq or Tariq? And I found a clip of his mom saying his name. So I'm like, if she's saying Tariq, then it's like this.

21:13 I used to get yelled at in the comments for saying Tonga Vailoa for Tua. And I was like, guys, I'm a Maryland guy. I watch his little brother on my TV every single week. I know how to pronounce his family's last name.

21:25 Well, no, because I'm not with you on that one because that's the same as Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski, you can't tell me that's how your last name is pronounced. You can't just– you can't add pronunciations to letters that.

21:33 Aren't even there.

21:34 Stop. But anyway, so we go to this.

21:37 The whole point here is that now they have Austin Eckler in the mix, which we already saw last week and still has something left. But it's just– it's a mess. Even Katron Allen is still being involved and I don't expect him to be involved this week. Rashad White is healthy and it's not like– losing Brian Burns is a massive death knell to the offense as a whole.

21:54 But it's still.

21:55 Quality enough that it's like, oh, I'm not just going to smash Krosky-Merritt to my lineup. I know it's been gross for the Chargers. I know they're down 15 offensive linemen. Like, it's just everything was going to be fine this year. Slater and Alt, out again. And the other one that has the concussion on top of it. So, you look at Penning. So, this entire offensive line is a mess.

22:12 The entire offense is a mess. I'm still going to take Hampton. I don't want to– this is another one. I don't want to start either of them. Like, I'd rather– if I had the choice and I could say put in R.J. Harvey– I'd put an RJ Harvey over both.

22:26 Over both these guys. Okay. He's ranked a few spots behind in ECR. He's at RB 27. Again, these guys are 23 and 24, respectively. Fitz, yeah, Jake did mention, like, obviously, it's kind of a gross situation for both of them. Jane Daniels is coming back for the Commanders. They sort of made that more official this morning, this week. So, Jacory Krosky-Merritt or Marion Hampton? Who do you prefer?

22:47 It's Krosky-Merritt for me. And it's kind of a big gap. Actually, for me also. So Jake and I are far apart on this one. Jaden Daniels, his return is part of that. I think that boosts the touchdown odds for Ja'Cory Kroski-Merritt. I was disappointed, certainly, that Ja'Cory Kroski-Merritt didn't have a better game against the Colts and their terrible run defense last week. Nine carries for 15 yards, although he did have a season-high 35 receiving yards, did Bill. He's averaging about 15 touches a game, and the Giants' run defense might not be the pushover that it was last year, but Jake mentioned they just lost Brian Burns. It's no worse than a neutral matchup, probably a good one for Bill.

23:28 O'Marion Hampton is a committee back now. Keaton Mitchell led the Chargers running backs with 26 snaps last week against the Seahawks. Hampton and Kamani Vidal both played 25 snaps. It was nearly one-third, one-third, one-third. Mitchell had the most touches, 15. Hampton had 11. Nine carries, 45 yards. Got the touchdown, which kind of salvaged his fantasy day. Two catches for eight yards. And right now the Chargers offensive line, every bit as much of a train wreck as the Commanders offensive line. Left tackle Rashawn Slater, high ankle sprain, he's out for sure. Joe Alt, the right tackle, neck injury, not sure about his status. And once again, the middle of the Chargers offensive line, really bad, just like it

24:12 was last year. So I prefer Bill. I just think better matchup, Giants versus Broncos. Giants are the softer matchup, and I feel a little bit more certain about Bill's usage.

24:24 Where did your rank come from?

24:26 I've got Bill 24.

24:26 RB 24.

24:27 No, we're not that far apart. I've got Hampton 31.

24:31 Okay.

24:31 So Hampton's pretty low for you. Um, Hampton or like, you know, RJ Harvey, like he said, it sounds like you'd prefer Harvey fifths.

24:43 Yeah, I would. Let's see. Um, yeah, I've got Harvey 25. So, and I, Jake might have a good.

24:52 Point about Harvey versus, uh, JCM right now. I've got cross key merit two spots higher, but, I'd have to think long and hard about that if I had that dilemma.

25:01 Well, here's the real one. How about Will Shipley versus a Mary Hampton?

25:04 That's exactly what I was just about to say that day.

25:07 I have Shipley between Bill and Hampton. I'd start Shipley over Hampton. Yes. Wow.

25:15 I don't hate it because the biggest issue is that Hampton doesn't fit Mike McDaniel's offense very well. He needs to be more power. And the one thing I will say is I saw, I forget who said it that floated out there that there's been interviews where Harbaugh is starting to make it sound like alluding to that he might step in a little bit with McDaniel. And if that's the case, maybe there's hope left for Hampton, but this was never like the Hampton fit with McDaniel was never the best. And I don't think anybody, myself excluded, didn't expect it to be this bad though.

25:44 I think Hampton has a better chance of getting a touchdown this week than Will Shipley. And that's why I would prefer Hampton. Like Shipley, like again, it's such a tough matchup. They have to travel across the ocean. It's a really like retooled offensive line. It's a non-functioning offense right now. I just like, I really would like to get away from Shipley if it's at all possible. And maybe Hampton gets a, you know, close carry and gets in. That's, that's the hope. I don't feel great about either, but let's go to some wide receiver debates here. The first one I'm throwing out might sound interesting. It's obviously based a bit on the quarterback health. Zay Flowers versus Christian Watson. Flowers,

26:20 of course, has been amazing this season. One of the best receivers in football when he's been on the field. But Lamar, I think, is unlikely to play this week. They're still sort of holding out hope and not ruling him out as of when we're taping this morning. But you talk to some people and they're like, oh, it's like day to day. Let's see what the practice looks like on Thursday. And then you talk to other people and they're like, this is like probably a multi-week injury.

26:40 So.

26:40 I lean towards thinking that they're not going to play him, especially coming up. They have a divisional game against the currently tied for first place Browns next week. So I would imagine they would want to do their best to get Lamar ready for that and not push him against an NFC opponent, even though it's on Sunday Night Football.

26:55 Having said all that, if it's Lamar Jackson, of course, we're playing Zay Flowers. If it's Tyler Huntley, how far down the rankings are you guys looking to move Zay Flowers into that range against Christian Watson is where I'm asking it. Jake, I'll start with you. Who do you prefer here if it's Tyler Huntley, a quarterback?

27:11 So my ranks do have Tyler Huntley in and I'm not counting on Lamar Jackson. So without Lamar Jackson, Save Flowers has actually been targeted on 28.2% of his routes compared to 23.5% with Lamar Jackson. But as the great person would say, not so fast, my friends, because the difference is the yards per reception with Lamar Jackson, 14.4%.

27:32 With anybody else, 8.3%. That's over six yards per reception difference. I'm still starting Zay Flowers as a wide receiver two, but that's all you need to know is that he's a wide receiver two and not a wide receiver one. He is three spots behind Christian Watson, assuming Tyler Huntley is that quarterback. I would actually even play Adams and a healthy Justin Jefferson in front of him, which might actually happen this week, just because it's a huge, huge efficiency loss for Zay Flowers with Tyler Huntley.

28:04 Yeah, you are lower than consensus, Jake. He's wide receiver nine right now in ECR.

28:08 And if it was Lamar.

28:09 Jackson, absolutely.

28:11 No question about it. You could argue that's low with Lamar Jackson.

28:15 With Lamar, I would argue that's low, even though there's other really good receivers. He's just been so amazing. But yeah, without him, it's night and day. The offense is night and day. I'll give you a comparison. Sorry to jump back in.

28:26 The Zay Flowers, I'm struggling with. Malik neighbors versus a flowers versus Parker Washington with Tyler Huntley. And I think I might feel a little bit better about Malik neighbors and Parker Washington, because also they don't have, um, Quinnian Mitchell this week.

28:41 Anyway, those guys are a wider receiver, 12 and 14 respectively. So in that same range, you're talking about Devante Adams too, as you know, kind of where you're ranking flowers with Huntley in there fits. What do you think about this one? Flowers and Watson, both top 10 in, uh, in ECR right now. But again, the question mark with Zay.

28:57 I've got Zay ranked a little higher. He is the focal point of the Ravens' offense. And, you know, I realize that maybe it's a slight drop-off with former Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley in instead of Lamar Jackson. No, it's a drop-off for sure. But, yeah, I mean, it diminishes the outlook a little bit, but Tyler Huntley can throw a spiral. Like, he's going to do enough to get Zay Flowers across the finish line for fantasy, I believe.

29:26 So I have a smidge ahead of Christian Watson.

29:31 Tyler Huntley I felt like was a better backup fit for Lamar in the Todd Munkin and Greg Roman offenses I don't know that he does the things as well as Lamar that have made Lamar so special in the Declan Doyle offense, like throwing over the middle and the under center stuff. So I'm a little nervous about that from the Ravens offensive perspective that Tyler Huntley is a, in a vacuum capable quarterback, but maybe not as strong of a fit with Declan Doyle. he also came in in the second half, very cold against the Titans. He said that he didn't even realize he was starting the second half until like two minutes beforehand, basically like right when it was getting kicked off. So he was like, you know, this wasn't something he was mentally preparing for

30:10 all week. Like he is going to be this week. So I'm, I'm hoping that they would adapt to his skillset and, and continue to find ways to put Zay Flowers in positions to succeed. But it does make me nervous, at least when he's ranked inside the top 10, you know, just given how much of a drop off it is a quarterback with how good Lamar has been. So, I wanted to make sure to ask about him, even though in every other week this season, when he's been healthy, he's been pretty much a no-brainer start. So what did you say you actually have him ranked, Fitz? I know you said he's higher than Watson for you, but where actually is he ranked?

30:39 Wide receiver eight.

30:41 Eight. Okay.

30:41 So you're actually even ahead of consensus then. So you're very on board to say. Let's go to another wide receiver debate here. Josh Downs or Carnell Tate. Tate coming off of a great game against the Ravens. Downs, obviously somebody who's had some opportunity this year. These guys are ranked close to each other. Last I looked, let me double check where they are right now. Josh Downs, wide receiver 25. Carnell Tate actually moved up a bit. He's wide receiver 21. Fitz, I'll start with you here. Who do you prefer, Carnell Tate or Josh Downs?

31:09 I've actually got Downs ranked higher. And I know Downs is coming off a disappointing game against the Commanders. Three catches, 16 yards on four targets. And I know a lot of people are going to want to abandon Josh Downs because of that performance. Pittsburgh defense, not necessarily a great matchup for Josh Downs. The Steelers have given up the sixth most fantasy points to outside receivers. The ninth fewest fantasy points to slot receivers, according to fantasy points data.

31:38 But Downs, he did have 20 targets outside. in weeks two and three, 12 catches in weeks two and three. He's just such an important cog in the Colts passing game. And Carnell Tate hit the big breakout game last week. Nine catches, 145 yards, 12 targets against the Ravens. Faces a Texans defense that surprisingly has given up the most fantasy points to wide receivers. I still find it really hard to trust Cam Ward. to make it happen for Tate on a consistent basis. I'm certainly willing to come around on that, but my stance right now is basically that was a neat trick.

32:13 Do it again.

32:15 Jake, are you viewing this Houston defense as a particularly difficult matchup for Carnell Tate or like just kind of giving any weight to the preseason expectations or, and you know, in doing that saying, well, listen, they face the bills and Bengals and Cowboys. And that's part of why those numbers look so bad. Or are you, adjusting those expectations for the defense moving forward and maybe not viewing it as that tricky of a matchup for Tate?

32:37 A little bit of both. I don't think they're the dog-worst wide receiver matchup, as in they've just been getting waxed. I don't think that's going to continue. Demeka Ryan said he's taking back over play calls. He's frustrated. I don't think anybody expected it to be this bad. This is a fantasy defense. People are drafting as a top three fantasy defense. So I think that we'll see better part of it, like you said, was the matchups. For what Fitz said, actually, to argue with him for Josh Downs, let's also look to talk about who people have faced, the Steelers. Well, week one, Drake London did nothing. Like, just throw out week one. But I want to talk about specifically the outside versus the inside receivers versus them.

33:13 Week two, Dobbs on the outside of the biggest game. It was the Patriots over the slot receiver. Week three, the Bengals.

33:19 Oh, T.

33:19 Higgins, Jamar Chase outside. Nobody cares about the slot receiver. Week four, Denzel Boston. But oh, by the way, Casey Concepcion, eight targets, five receptions, 64 yards. So they're not like, it's not so much that like, oh, they just get destroyed outside and dominate everybody over the middle. Part of it's who they face too and what the abilities of the offenses they're facing.

33:38 So I'm with him.

33:38 I'm on the Josh Downs train because the other part of it too is like, Which do I believe more? Do I believe the Houston-Texas defense is terrible, or do I believe that Cam Ward is finally good? I'm probably going to lean less so than the fact that the Texas defense is this bad. I'm with Fitz. I want to see it again. I'm way behind consensus on Cardinal Tate.

33:58 I just don't trust Cam Ward. I don't trust that offense. I still think it needs more time coming off one game where like, yeah, this is the Cardinal Tate– I feel like that was more of Carnell Tate doing the max effort that he can with what Cam Ward was doing than it was Cam Ward really helping Tate finally beat Tate. So I'm going Josh Downs. I'm going Josh Downs for a bounce back this week.

34:16 Where do you have Carnell Tate, Jake?

34:19 Apparently, I hate Carnell Tate in his entire life because that's all anybody keeps saying to me is like, why do you hate Carnell Tate? I have him at 32. I'm behind Denzel Boston. Behind Denzel Boston. And that's the thing. He's behind Boston, Odunze, Downs, Diggs, which potentially no Terry McLaurin. Burden, Dobbs, Metcalf, Waddle, I'm not starting Tate over any of those names. And maybe I'm wrong, but those names I trust more than one game of Carnell Tate.

34:45 Yeah, you are definitely– I'm not saying you do hate him, but you are significantly lower than.

34:49 I also, to be fair, he's inherently going to move up three spots if there's no Chase, Higgins, and McLaurin because I have all of them in my rankings.

34:56 Sure, there's some room to get higher too. That's a good point to note that context. All right, you can take the guesswork out of your start-sit decisions with the Fantasy Pros Start-Sit Assistant. Instantly see your optimal lineup based on your roster scoring settings and advice from more than 100 fantasy experts. You can even set your lineup with one click. Get started at fantasypros.com slash start-sit. All right, guys, we've got some more quicker start-sit decisions we'll move through.

35:22 We usually call this rapid fire. We have a little time to work through. We don't have to like literally lightning around this thing, but We'll start off with another running back one. How about Tony Pollard or Ollie Gordon this week, Jake?

35:32 Can I recuse myself from this nonsense? We talked about it on the Wavers show. Jalen Wright got the first touches. Ollie Gordon did have a good game. Even if you erased the 53-yard run, still decent production on the touches that he had. I am saying that because I am worried about Jalen Wright. I still think this could be a 50-50 split in a bad offense. but I'm starting Gordon over Tony Pollard. Again, I don't necessarily believe the Titans offense. The Houston Texans run defense is at least still good, unlike their pass defense. And if you start getting a little bit more pass happy, we still see Spears sprinkled in. So I'm going Gordon over Pollard, but they're both in tier four running backs. They're in the

36:12 names of J.K.

36:14 Dobbins.

36:14 I don't want to start these guys, but I know we're already in buys and so many injuries you might have to.

36:19 They're RB26 and RB28, respectively, in consensus right now. Fitz, what do you think?

36:25 Yeah, I'm kind of where consensus is, and I have Pollard just a little bit higher. I just trust the volume more with Pollard. He has had, in the Titans' last three games, 15, 21, and 18 touches. So he is clearly the Titans' lead guy, and it's the same thing Jake said. I don't fully trust that Ollie Gordon is squarely ahead of Jalen Wright. in the post Devon H and Miami backfield. Um, and dolphins head coach, Jeff Halfley said this week that right is going to get more work.

36:56 Now, I don't know what that means.

36:58 It doesn't mean more than Gordon, maybe not, but, more than he had last week when he got, what, out-snapped like 22-12 and out-touched 11-5. So I also worry about the matchup for Gordon, who's primarily an inside runner, and the Dolphins playing the Bengals with Dexter Lawrence in the middle. I think it's generally easier to run outside against the Bengals, and maybe that's more of a Jalen Wright strength than an Ollie Gordon strength.

37:26 Wide receiver here, Debo Samuel or Romeo Dobbs? Jake, I'll start with you again. Samuel or Dobbs this week?

37:34 I have intrigue for both of them. I go Dobbs slightly just because Debo Samuel strangely has been doing a lot with very little and also gets the Seahawks. That's really what it just comes down to. I don't want to start any wide receiver against the Seahawks unless I absolutely have to. So I would go Dobbs, who's been the one and May turned it around. I will say I do have slight concerns about Drake May. I am not fully 100% back on board. Looked confident, yes. But the biggest issue that he had for the first three weeks is that teams were getting pressure on him without sending extra defenders. And that's what he was struggling with so much is 5-6 dropping to the coverage pressure in his face. The Raiders can do that too. It's crazy

38:15 to say this in week five, but this is going to be my baseline of if I trust Drake May again is if he can do it against the Raiders defense. But all that being said, I'd rather go Dobbs versus the Raiders defense than Deebo Samuel against the Seahawks.

38:29 Dobbs is wide receiver 24. Deebo is wide receiver 26. Fitz, who do you prefer?

38:34 I prefer Debo.

38:36 I don't have any stats to back this up, but I feel like Debo's Swiss Army knife usage makes him maybe a little more matchup resistant than some other wide receivers. So Debo scored three touchdowns in four games. They're using him as both a receiver and a runner. Kyle Shanahan has given him at least one carry in every game.

38:57 And last week, Debo had three carries for 44 yards against the Broncos. Um, he's had a five catch game and a six catch game so far this season. Whereas with Dobbs, I, I just don't know what his role is going to be in any given week. Um, no AJ Brown and it's just an ensemble cast of pass catchers in new England and Dobbs weekly total, uh, target totals so far this season, three, four, four, nine last week.

39:25 And I know he got the two touchdowns last week. I'm just, I'm not chasing that. I think I, prefer the more consistent involvement of Debo.

39:33 Yeah. Debro was all over, uh, the matchup for Dobbs and the defense he was going up against as like a particularly friendly matchup. So he was, um, very spot on about that with Dobbs last week. And, you know, you wonder how that'll pan out, uh, with this week's matchup. Let's go to some flex questions here. I do want to throw in here with Will Shipley because I think given where he's ranked, it's possible people are playing him at running back, but it's also possible people are thinking about playing him in the flex. How about Will Shipley versus DK Metcalf fits? This is tough.

40:04 I'm going to go with Shipley for the relative touch certainty that I think he's going to get a dozen touches guaranteed, maybe a lot more. Whereas Metcalf going against the Colts, now their outside receiver, slot receiver disparity is a little more trustworthy maybe than the Steelers. Colts have been really good against outside receivers, largely because they've got Sauce Gardner in coverage against some of those outside guys.

40:29 So that would seem bad for DK Metcalf, but the Steelers did... move DK Metcalf into the slot quite a bit last week against the Browns to get him out of Denzel Ward's coverage, and he did some damage against the Browns' other cornerbacks. Five catches for Metcalf, 115 yards in that game. Maybe the Steelers do the same thing to get Metcalf out of Sauce Gardner's coverage.

40:51 But I'm still going to go Shipley here.

40:55 If I was a clear underdog, I might roll the dice with Metcalf just because it's easier to lean into a player with a boom or bust profile when you're an underdog. But under most circumstances, I think I'd play Shipley.

41:07 Just because we're talking about the Steelers receiving room, Adam Schefter just tweeted that Michael Pittman re-injured his foot and is now expected to miss multiple weeks. That's according to Mike McCarthy via Adam Schefter. So just throwing that out there. Jake, what do you think about this one? There's a pretty wide gap in ECR. I just really wanted to include a Shipley one, and I also really wanted to include a DK Metcalf one. Fitz is against consensus here. Metcalf is ranked well ahead.

41:33 Oh, is he?

41:34 I was going to say, I thought that I might be the odd one. I would go Metcalf over Shipley. I am super close in flex rankings, but I would. We're talking about somebody who's top 10 in targets. I know it hasn't been super efficient, but Aaron Rodgers looks for him, looks for him, looks for him. He's got 10, 9, 5, and 9. The 5 is the low output against the Bengals, which everybody expected more. I'm not even going to say, oh, he scored a touchdown in that game. We want more than the 5 targets, but that's the thing. I'm looking more at the 10, 9, and 9, and I'm looking at the games where Like the offense is working, you know, against Atlanta. I think you only had like four catches, but the volume is just there. No Pittman adds to

42:07 it where I was already going to say this before that. Pittman's basically been irrelevant anyway. So I just, I'm going Metcalf. I just really don't expect anything from Shipley. And I wouldn't count on it, but I wouldn't be, like, I wouldn't come out, like, if we're doing the waiver show on Monday and we're like, well, I guess we're picking up Damian Pierce because it was a 50-50 split. I wouldn't be shocked. Like, I don't think that's going to happen.

42:28 But it's not like Will Shipley's proven so much. This isn't the Braylon Allen, Isaiah Davis situation, in my opinion. I don't think there's enough with Shipley where he can say, oh, he's walking out with 80% plus of those touches. And if he only gets 60%, I guess the Jaguars defense, that's why I'm worried about Shipley.

42:45 I didn't prep this debate for you guys, but if I had put DK Metcalf against the receiver, Jalen Waddell, they're back to back in the rankings. I thought that was an interesting one too. So just any, yeah, you're kind of shooting from the hips since I didn't prep you for it. But do you guys have a preference?

42:56 I mean, Waddell, obviously like, Sean Payton is now taking back over play calling duties in Denver. So like, does that change how you're viewing Waddle? Like, what do you think about this one, Jake?

43:06 I think that's more of what we talked about. I think we talked about it on this show or another fantasy pro show where I said that like play calling is more of like, it's not necessarily they do something different than what Payton would have called. It's like in game adjustments. Payton might just be seeing things and be like, hey, I would have adjusted to this. I would have adjusted to that. And maybe that helps a little bit. But I go back to the biggest thing I said about Waddle is that if a team wants to take him away and focus all their defensive coverage attention on him, they can because he's Waddle. If they spread their defense out and focus on everybody, Waddle will do Waddle things.

43:37 I don't think the Chargers can do the former. I think they're going to be the latter, which is why I would go Waddle. I would go Waddle easily over Metcalf. I think this is going to be a decent game for Waddle.

43:47 Fitz, what do you think about that one, Metcalf or Waddle?

43:49 Waddle for me.

43:51 Okay.

43:51 Waddle is ahead, but only by one spot. They're back-to-back in receiver rankings. Let's do another flex here. Tucker Kraft, I like throwing in a tight end every now and then. Tucker Kraft or Denzel Boston fits?

44:02 Denzel Boston, the budding star. So he's averaging 71 receiving yards a game. That's almost twice as many as Tucker Kraft, who's averaging 37 receiving yards a game. I think the gap narrows a little bit in full-point PPR, but I would still take Boston regardless of scoring format.

44:21 Jake yep yeah i agree i'm like part of it is like haha i told you guys to stick with tucker craft but at the same time it's like he's still touchdown reliant like i'm gonna go with denzel boston who's also big play and touchdown reliance that's that's the thing um it was kind of embedded in what fitz was saying there like with the ppr side of it but boston can get one catch for 50 and it probably takes three catches for craft to get 50 so like that's why i'll lean slightly to boston.

44:47 Another flex here jordan addison or blake quorum jake.

44:52 If Justin Jefferson is back, Blake Corham. If Justin Jefferson is out, Jordan Addison. This goes back to my Kyler Murray opinion is Kyler Murray is wide receiver slash tight end, not wide receiver, wide receiver, then tight end throughout his career. And you just saw it last week. The one thing additionally too, and I looked deeper into this for the Kyler Murray thing, when under pressure, he does target his tight ends more, which is what happened last week. That's why you saw TJ Hawkins said pepper, pepper, pepper, peppered.

45:15 This isn't a week we have to worry that much about the pressure. So this is an opportunity like Justin Jefferson smashed top 10 if he's playing If not, Jordan Addison's going to be top 20 like a lot of people had him last week. I'm going right back to him because this is an opportunity where the matchup is even better for Addison than it was last week.

45:33 Fitz?

45:34 There are a lot of moving parts here with the Addison-Jefferson situation. So Addison's got a hamstring injury. And last time I checked, the fantasy pros, are they playing too old? on Thursday morning, Addison had a 49% chance of playing Jefferson at 66% with his ankle injury. So that's going to largely determine this. I mean, if it is Addison and not Jefferson, then yeah, I think you have to play Addison over Coram. And I think we saw last week that Coram is kind of worthless in the rare cases where the Rams are in a negative game script.

46:07 Like they were in catch a mode for most of that game against the Eagles and Coram just is not a pass catcher. And we saw that there was a, a target to Corum that he almost bobbled into an interception. And Corum is just better in games where the Rams are playing with leads. Rams are playing the Arizona Cardinals.

46:25 I maybe want to start Blake Corum there. But I just don't know if they're going to have that sort of game this week against the Bills in what's probably going to be a shootout. So I want to play Addison here, but the injury situation might not allow it.

46:40 Another flex one here fits Devon Vale or Brian Robinson Jr. coming off his three touchdown game.

46:45 I mean, it's nice that Brian Robinson has had at least nine carries in every game this season. So maybe there is a little bit of standalone value here, but he is not really involved as a pass catcher. And he's facing a Baltimore run defense much tougher than the Saints run defense that let the two Robinsons go on a Monday night rampage. Um, Ravens have a lot of the 10th fewest rushing yards to running backs, giving up 3.8 yards per carry to running backs. So it's a tough matchup for Robinson. Give me Vele despite the suboptimal matchup he has against the Vikings.

47:16 I don't know.

47:18 If you look at the game log, I mean, Brian Robinson's on trajectory to score 35 this week if he keeps going the way that he's been, so. I'm actually with Fitz on this one. I don't think it's a great matchup for LaValle, but as mentioned, Brian Robinson, three targets, three receptions through three games. The three touchdowns were a hell of a lot of fun, but that's also your banking on that is that Brian Robinson, if anything, this is kind of something I said in the waivers is he should have been and always should have been in the conversation with Blake Corham and a Monongai and all the like these high end backups that like we were on him last year for this reason. And then Christian McCaffrey just happened to stay healthy and everybody's like, well,

47:53 forget Brian Robinson. Like, this is why. So there is, I'd say, certainly floor with Brian Robinson because you brought it up, Fitz. At least nine. He actually has 11, 10, and 14 in the last three games. So you're going to get five, six, seven points probably from Brian Robinson, but that's only if that's.

48:09 All you need.

48:10 If you needed, like, a normal play, Vele would still be my pick. I'm in agreement with Fitz on this one.

48:15 Any concern for you, Jake, with just Vele's matchup against the Vikings defense?

48:20 Mildly, but Vele's been, like, The big thing about it is it's not just– it's the clear second option for Shook. I brought up Shook. I do have concerns. That's why Shook is further down. I'm behind consensus and rankings for Shook. But he's the clear number two. But the big thing about it is Vele is not just the escape valve when he can't go to Chris Olave. He gets shots downfield too. That's what I like so much about Vele is he does both things and fills those two roles in like that one number two role for him.

48:46 Let's go to a quarterback one here. How about Jacoby Brissett? Very popular streamer this week. It's the pretty much best matchup you can have against that Lions defense versus Jaden Daniels coming back. Obviously the better quarterback, but first game back from that elbow injury, he gets the Giants. Who do you prefer here, Jake?

49:03 I easily prefer Jaden Daniels and then just don't watch the game. Because you're going to stress yourself out. Because if Jaden Daniels stays healthy throughout the entire game, it's Jaden Daniels against that Giants defense. Maybe if there's no Terry McLaurin, you might get me to say it's closer. And that actually is looking like that might be a possibility.

49:20 And I know everybody's on Jacoby Brissett, the number one wide receivers against the Lions, the number one wide receivers against the Cardinals. Like this is on paper a shootout. It's just, we've done the Jacoby Brissett dance before. He's not too dissimilar from Jameis Winston. Like we want these huge games. We're expecting these huge games to match up as cake for him. And then every once in a blue moon, Like it's one of those like, well, Jacoby Brissett went back to being terrible Jacoby Brissett. And I think that's the thing is like a healthy Jane and Daniels.

49:45 And I know the elbows are risk, which is why I said don't watch the game is that it's Jane and Daniels still. And he can run against that Giants defense and throw against that Giants defense. So I'm going Jane and Daniels. But like I said, if I have if I'm starting him and I am in one league, I'm just not going to watch that game. Like, I just don't want the stress of watching that game.

50:04 Fitz, I've got.

50:07 Jacoby Brissett, a little bit ahead of Jaden Daniels. Jake's making a good case for Jaden Daniels. I'm going to have to reconsider this. And the one thing that kind of scares me about Brissett, I mean, other than the maybe inevitability of him turning back into a pumpkin, he lost left tackle Paris Johnson to a torn biceps.

50:25 And that is a huge loss.

50:28 Detroit's secondary might be completely flammable, but they can still get after it with a pass rush. So not having Parrish Johnson is kind of a big deal for Jacoby Brissett. And it makes me a little nervous that as good as this matchup looks like on paper, maybe it's not as good a situation for Brissett as everyone thinks. Jake, let me ask you, where do you have Brock Purdy against Seattle in relation to Brissett and Jaden Daniels?

50:57 I go Jaden Daniels, Brock Purdy, Brissett. I have Purdy two spots in front of Brissett. I'm just Purdy for me. at nine is the only reason he's down at nine is because he's facing the Seahawks. Like I think that Purdy, if we, if you strip the Jersey name off, he like, and just said, look at Brock Purdy is like entire resume and look at what he's doing, especially this year.

51:19 And he's on the 49ers and people didn't think he's Brock Purdy. He'd be in tier one.

51:24 Let's be honest.

51:25 Like the way that he has been playing, he's been honestly, he's been playing more consistently than a Joe Burrow. And people would be like, Oh, I'm starting Joe Burrow against the Seahawks. You should be saying the same thing about Purdy, in my opinion.

51:35 Yeah.

51:35 I've got, so I've got Brissette, QB8, Purdy, QB9, Jordan Love, QB10, and Daniels, QB11. But, like, I feel like I could reorder those four guys any which way, and I wouldn't feel totally great about it.

51:50 Yeah.

51:51 Yeah. Jake May mixed in there in ECR as well. It goes Brissette at 7, May at 8, Purdy 9, Daniels 10.

51:58 Love 11. I've May ranked highest.

52:00 Of those guys.

52:00 Yeah. All right, let's do a tight end here. Colston Loveland or Juwan Johnson this week? Fitz, I'll start with you on this one.

52:08 Loveland.

52:10 The Vikings are really hard on tight ends. They've allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year. Last year, they allowed the eighth fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Slow start for Loveland, and he will be playing with a backup quarterback again, but it's worth remembering that the last time Loveland faced the Packers, eight catches for 137 yards on 15 targets in the playoffs. So I've Loveland ranked just a smidge higher.

52:34 They're back-to-back in ECR. Loveland tight end 11, Juwan Johnson tight end 12. So both low-end tight end ones. Jay, who do you prefer?

52:42 Yeah, this is one where Fitz just made the argument for me to flip them because I have them back-to-back. I have Juwan Johnson as of right now, one spot in front of Loveland. I want to. I want to believe this is happening and that Tyson Badgett was like, hey, this is all we wanted from the Bears. Target three people.

52:56 That's it.

52:57 Just don't mess with Kalief Raymond. Don't mess with everybody else. This is exactly, we got what we wanted. And they're going to kind of alternate because it was the Odunze game more so than it was the Luther Burden game. But Loveland was involved. And like, this is what we want to have happen. I'm also a little hesitant trusting Tyson Badgen, just in general, let alone the fact of like, does he do it again? And that's why I had Jawan Johnson one spot in front of him. But it's enough that, yeah, you do bring up the Minnesota defense as a concern. So, and I talked about it with Shuck.

53:25 I think there's enough that I could flip-flop in this one. I think that, In PPR, I'd still give Juwan Johnson the bare minimum edge, that one spot. But if it's non and half, I think Fitz is right in saying Loveland.

53:38 Gasicki ahead of both of these guys, Jake?

53:41 If both Chase and Higgins are out, I would feel better about Gasicki.

53:45 Fitz, same question. Gasicki ahead of both of them?

53:48 Right now, I've got Gasicki one spot behind Loveland and two spots ahead of Juwan Johnson.

53:54 Okay.

53:55 Let's wrap up with our touchdown calls contest. I am on running back this week. I will go with Basial Tootin. Had a couple of opportunities taken away from him based on penalties in last week's game. I'm saying he gets in this week. So Tootin for me at running back. Jake, who's your receiver?

54:12 I jinxed myself. I said it was going to happen last week. It was so easy too. And then Jeremiah Love with his 17 mysterious, I don't feel 100% things. And Tyler Algier gets the touchdown against the Giants. I even said that was going to happen. I was like, I'm going to get vultured by freaking Tyler Algier.

54:25 It wasn't even a vulture.

54:26 It was from far out too. So anyway, I'm going for one of my favorite buy lows for this. Weirdly, we get everything we wanted from this wide receiver from last year. We get everything through the first three games. One bad game and everybody's like, oh my God, it's over for Parker Washington. No, go buy low right now.

54:42 He was already in a good spot against the Eagles. On top of it, no Quinnian Mitchell. Parker Washington, huge bounce back, gets in the end zone. If you get a buy low window, it is right now. Take it and don't look back.

54:53 Fitz, you are on the inenviable, unenviable, whatever the word is, spot of having to pick a tight end here this week. He got it last time.

55:02 I did get it last time.

55:03 You did a good job. I still would prefer not to have to pick one, but you did a good job last time.

55:06 Yeah, well, you guys both have Jaguars, so are we just going to assume that the Jaguars are going to truck the Eagles like 49 to 10 in London, and I should take Brenton Strange?

55:16 You should take Brenton Strange for sure, yes. That would be so good, actually.

55:20 I am actually not going to take a Jaguar.

55:22 I'm going to go with Harold Fannin, who has three touchdown catches in his last two games. He's the guy Deshaun Watson looks for. When the Browns get into the money zone, Fannin scores another TD in week five.

55:35 I do think the Jags are going to truck the Eagles, by the way. So I wouldn't be surprised if all three of them do end up getting touchdowns. It wouldn't totally shock me.

55:42 I thought he was going to go with one of the Lions Cardinals as a layup.

55:45 Good in that matchup.

55:47 Yeah.

55:48 So our official picks here are Bashel Tootin at running back, Parker Washington at receiver, Harold Fannin Jr. at tight end. If you think you can nail this week's touchdowns, join our free touchdown calls contest. On pick sheet, pick a running back, wide receiver, tight end, and a bonus flex with the flex being worth double. Weekly winners get a $ 25 Fantasy Pros gift card, and the season champ wins a signed Reggie Wayne jersey. Play at picksheet.com slash fantasypros.

56:12 We'll wrap things up there. Best of luck, everybody, setting those lineups for week five. For Jake and Fitz, I'm Ryan Wormley. Thanks for tuning in. We'll see you again next time. Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast. If you love the show, the best free way to support us is by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts at fantasypros.com slash review or on Spotify.

56:33 Follow us on X, Instagram, and TikTok at Fantasy Pros and subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com slash fantasypros.