you know, I go back to the Will Ferrell,
you know, I go back to Days of Thunder if you're not,
not Days of Thunder, I'm
sorry. I go back to Ricky Bobby, right? And get Bobby
out. Is Talladega Nights,
Talladega Nights. Thank you. If you're not, first, you're last,
right? And so, I think, I think generally speaking
early on you want to go safe first two rounds, I always say,
you can't win your league in the first two rounds.
You can lose it,
right? So you want to make sure you don't want to be reaching
too, much of the first two rounds. But after that, I think
it's about upside. The way you win your league,
is with the Cooper cups of the world
with a Jonathan. Taylor's of the world,
you win your league with the Jalen, Waddles down
the stretch. Those guys, right? You you when your league by picking
up Devonta Freeman off the waiver wire, you know and using
him for a couple weeks and getting it to an injury spot
like that's how you win your read. And so for me
It is again I think a little bit of going safe early
but then it is swinging for the fences because again no one
remembers second
except for me like where I'm just like yeah
a couple times that is such s of the War Room language you know
still rankles me.
Yeah you mentioned a couple of fake names.
You mentioned a couple of big names and Jonathan Taylor, and
Cooper cup that that one a lot of leagues last year.
Who is the player or players? Layers
that you get asked about the most heading into the 2022
season who's got the most Buzz around them going into this
year?
Well, I mean, I the biggest question I get is who's my
fantasy writer died last year? Was Austin Eckler. Everyone had
him as a second round pick and I'm like guys
guys he's going to be a top five fantasy running back this
year and everyone called me crazy. And then what happened?
Here's the top five twenty times girls later. Yep.
Yeah. They're like, they're not going to use with the goal line
to get to the goal. Mike it.
They got Joe Lombardi's there. No out there. Going to use them
like albums, Barrett guys are going to use them like out with
mayor anyway. So but
so I got a lot of questions is my fantasy ride or die. I'm
going to announce that on the road will draft guide, show,
Wednesday, August 17, 8 p.m. on peacock. He said, I am already
a company, man,
but I think I get a, I think,
you know, there's a lot of questions coming up like so on
football night in America, I mentioned that I Jalen hurts as
a top four fantasy quarterback, people are asking A about Jalen
hurd's. We get a lot of questions about
some of the sleeper quarterbacks you like Trey
Lansky like Trevor Lawrence. You like Justin Fields,
those guys, come up. And then I think it's a for me, it's also
the unsettled situations.
Kansas City's are true Enigma. Right with Tyree kill Dawn. Is
it Juju is it mvs? Is it me called Hardman?
Who's going to be the starting running back? Do you know? Are
we, are we believing once again in
you know in Ronald Jones
Clyde Edwards. You layer. What about, what about Jerick
McKinnon,
Sky, more is getting a lot of buzz in that camp. What about
Isaiah Pacheco? The the running back. So
I get a lot of questions about
about Kansas City
and the other big question I get and let's talk this through
is what what are what are the
who's this year? Cincinnati
you know who's this? Here is
kind of an offense is going to look like
we know the ears are going to be a really good offense,
right? We know the Packers are going to be a really good
offense. Like there's a couple office that we already know
Kansas City right?
The Chargers we expect to be a very good offense, right for
Commodities. Yeah.
Proven commodity so.
So let's talk through some of these. So here's some
look, I think the charges can take another step. I think
Indianapolis with Matt Ryan under Center that operates
a wine. I think they're really interesting, right? I mean,
think about what, Matt Ryan has done
as a QB for wide receiver, whether it's Calvin Ridley,
whether it's Julio Jones like over the years. Matt, Ryan has
always been tool support at least one very fantasy relevant
wide receiver, one top 15
guy and so I think Michael Pittman might be a little
underrated this year because Always going to get
a tremendous Target share.
So I think that's a very interesting offense,
I'm high on Philadelphia this year, you know, again, starting
with Jalen hurts and the addition of AJ Brown second,
year of Devante Smith, second year of the syriana offense,
and a great offensive line of pretty good schedule.
I'll give you two sort of sleeper
offenses, that I haven't heard a lot of people talk about.
Number one is Minnesota.
Okay, the Vikings come across,
Kevin O'Connell, Kevin O'Connell and West Phillips
coming from Sean. McVeigh coming from a past first
offense. Like we know that Vikings put up numbers, her
cousins the top 12 fantasy quarterback. Last year.
Obviously, Justin Jefferson was awesome. David Cook was
awesome.
Adam thielen had his moments when he was healthy. So we saw
KJ, Osbourne emerge,
we'll all those guys are back.
Plus a healthy herb Smith
and they did all that last year Michael
under Mike Zimmer.
Is a defensive coach, but conservative in nature. They
were parent, 14, Indiana, they were bottom 14 in the NFL.
In passing rate, the Vikings were. And now, here comes
O'Connell.
Here Comes Wes films. They're going to throw,
that's an offense, it's going to air it out
and I think they have
they have better weapons Than People realize again
with Osborne as a third
and Herb Smith. And of course, the running backs as well.
I just look, no one ever gets excited about Kirk Cousins but
he's absolutely solid. And I think that's as I think that's
a sneaky offense, that I think is going to score a lot more
points than
Realize
and also say the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars. It's a ridiculously easy schedule.
Everyone, like you want a bag on the Jaguars. Okay, I hear
you. I get it. It's a franchise. That is
That is certainly struggled for a long time,
but
Doug. What is Doug Peterson? Doug, Peterson is a former NFL
quarterback who came out of the Andy Reid system
is a pass for a sky.
He got an MVP year out of Carson Wentz
and I know, you know, Frank Reich is the guy that always
gets the credit. So is Frank Wright, but then you look at
Carson Wentz last year in Indianapolis under Frank Reich
me like you know what? Maybe Buzz Doug Peterson.
You know, at any rate, I just think Doug Peterson, former NFL
quarterback, former very successful head coach,
nowhere to go. But up, there's a reason why
Trevor Lawrence. In one year, didn't forget how to play
football.
Yeah. This is a guy that coming out of college. Was he's
the next Andrew Luck? He's the next Peyton Manning. He's the most
NFL ready Prospect to come out of college in the last 20
years, right? He's
he's that guy and the whole offense was a mess and Urban
Meyer, you know as bad at coach as bad a fit It
and, you know what? I don't even beat that horse, but
the fact is that under Doug Peterson
and they give him some weapons, right?
So you've got Marvin Jones, but they added Cristian, Kirk, they
had, it's a Jones added, everything from things. They've
improved that offensive line as a, I'm a Commander's fan to
Brandon scherff down there,
like he's going to Anchor, help, anchor, that line.
I don't know.
Travel, I think, and by the way, I think the offense is
still getting crappy getting Travis etn back as well.
Healthy,
I don't know. I think there's I think the Jags are going to be
a sneaky good offense, at least for Fantasy purposes
because I think they're going to have to throw a lot.
Hey it'll be their offensive philosophy and be just because of
the nature of the game and their defense is going to be
bad again this year or will struggle. I think in some what.
Yeah, no I love that that that that's a lot of good
information there. One
look forward to finding out who your real ride-or-die is
because it sounds like you really ride with Jalen hurd's.
I love to hear who you riding or dieting dying.
With more than gentle hurts this part
at this point. The second part of all that is
love, just getting a piece of good offenses,
whether you can get a Justin Jefferson or not
like let's say you get a Kirk cuz let's say you thinking
about, you know, taking a job, she'll know Lamar Jackson
early, maybe you think twice and say, let me get a
another solid wide receiver or a running back or tighten even
here and wait on a Kirk Cousins that could still when your
league
and as far as Jacksonville goes,
You had as much playing time as there are stars, so we're still
looking forward to seeing what they do this preseason. If
the Doug Peterson effect
ends up manifesting itself early on, or not, do you have
anything else before we move on? And I was going to ask you
about this first full weekend
of preseason action. You had something else you want to add.
Yeah, I was just gonna say it like, I know and Jacksonville
terrible in the preseason game against. I think they were
going you know purposely fairly vanilla at least especially in
that game. And so
you know, there's definitely stuff that you can take away
from the preseason but there's also you don't want to
overreact too much. The procedure will talk about
preseason here in here in a second.
What I would say
the what's really interesting is some of the young wide
receivers
and well, you know, we talked about sort of questions
I'm all-in. I'm all-in on,
Gabriel Davis. He's a very polarizing player in fantasy
circles half. The has been seeing if she believes, he is
overhyped. The other half, is sort of like,
it's gave David season.
I'm among the Believers
that it is game to save his season,
you know. Yeah, no me too.
I wrote a column on
on Roto, world.com, NBC Sports edge.com called hundred facts,
okay?
300 sacks and I'll give you a,
I'll give you a couple of facts that I think is pretty
interesting about
Gabriel Davis, right? Think about this. Okay?
Last year he was 98, he was 98 and targets, like that's low,
right, 98th, and targets, and yet,
and yet despite that and he had 11 different games.
Sorry,
Hey Davis 98th and targets. Last year, 11 different games
we're and fewer than 20 rounds
and yet still top five in the NFL. Among wide receivers in
End Zone targets when they got in close, despite the fact that
had Emmanuel Sanders and cold Beasley and Stefon Diggs
and Dawson Knox.
He was still looking
for Gabriel Davis.
They're only five games last year Michael, and they're only
five games last year in which gave Davis saw at least five
targets.
He scored in four of them.
And now, Emmanuel Sanders has gone. Cold, Beasley is gone
Gabriel Davis. Another year in the NFL, by the way, still just
23 years old.
And it's his third year, in the NFL, I believe.
So yes, they had a Jameson crowd and we expect a bigger
role for Isaiah Mackenzie, but make no mistake.
This is going to be one of if not the best offensive
football. We know about Alan dates but gave Davis is coming
and you saw it in that playoff game against the Chiefs for
the four touchdowns. Like
I ain't saying it's get four times every game.
What I'm saying is that wasn't a fluke either
that was it a fluke?
Yeah, I mean just look at those numbers are on the screen,
right? 35 4549. Six touchdowns.
He was 98 and targets.
There were ninety, seven other receivers. They got more
targets than gave Davis
98 their targets, and he put up, you know,
almost six out, you know, over 500 yards and
I don't know. I'm in on game Davis. Dave Davidson a big way
this year saying.
Yeah, no, it looks only one team is going to get Josh out
of a. Give me anybody to sketch. It drops down and
passes. I might be an oversimplification. I just like
having pieces of great offenses.
So your point about these other,
Meanwhile, friends is like Minnesota and Jacksonville that could
produce some as you say, fantasy goodness, across
the board. All right, so
before we wrap this up, let's kind of like Turn the Page to
the first full weekend of preseason.
It is Thursday.
August 11th week you know so we get the preseason action
tonight. Friday
Saturday who are you looking forward to seeing an action
provided they get you know,
somewhat meaningful playing time or aren't a healthy
scratch but we'll be looking forward to Seeing maybe it's
a new phase in a new place. The stick with this theme of
you being at NBC Sports and peacock. Now, who you looking
forward to seeing this weekend?
Quick question. Ideally, what you're hoping for is a couple
of things you're hoping for some clarity, that's all small
sample size. So you're sort of having to read the tea leaves
here but some clarity on
on on roles that were
that were curious about
right?
Like Miami. Miami is a fascinating team this year.
Now, again, does to play this Tyreke play. Probably not.
We'll see. But can we get some clarity on the running backs?
So you've got Chase Edmunds, who
The big deal to come over,
but then you've got Rahim most dirt who
I love, you know, wind healthy Rahim most are gonna play.
And you're obviously reunited, Mike McDaniel coming out of San
Francisco. His former running back and so they've also got so
many Michelle in the house. They are. So
how that running back situation shakes out, that's pretty
interesting to me in Miami and and what the usage is there, we
talked about Kansas City already. Hearing a lot of Buzz
about guys like Sky more. Do you see anything there?
You know, would love to
would love to get some,
you know, some look at the Dallas offense beyond
the obvious guys, right? So, it like that, Jailer towards
somebody, that I'm really excited about the rookie wide
receiver. Do we see him because again?
No, Cedric Wilson.
No, Amari Cooper,
Michael Gallant banged up. So
somebody's going to catch passes, besides CD lamb and
that offense, who is it?
I'm putting my money on Tolbert at the moment but I think it's
interesting. So that's what you're hoping for is. Can you
get some Already on some stuff.
I think a lot of people, we expect that Thursday night game,
the Hall of Fame game, and it raised a lot of eyebrows. The
Josh Jacobs, got the
no Derek Carr, no Davante Adams. But Josh Jacobs is get
carries the first two series
and you're kind of like
first game of the preseason and he's getting this much work.
Like,
you know, I think that certainly raised some eyebrows
in terms of. So it's Michael it's not just usage but
it's you know, do they get you?
Used and you know and and how do they get used? Who are they
on the field with
something like do you feel better or worse about Josh
Jacobs after seeing him with, in essence, the second here?
Last week,
yeah, I feel worse.
Listen I mean, is
say coach made me feel worse the moment he got hired. I like
Josh McDaniels a lot is it as a coach and as an offensive mind.
But we know the running back games
that he played for a lot of years in New England. So
you know, you can never you can't. I don't know if he can
count on any Raiders running back to be a Bell. Cow weekend
or week out.
Yeah, it's that point, by the way, there's rumors, there's
rumors that perhaps Damien, speaking of Patriots running
backs, the Damien Harris is on the trade Bloc.
Wow,
and so that's pretty interesting because if I love
remodeling Stevenson, I think a lot of people do and if Damien
Harris were
top 20 fantasy running back like he's got and that's going
to be, that's going to be a run. First offense, once again.
He's a true three down back. They've got other guys there.
I get it. But Stephenson is is great. And so for whatever
reason, Damien Harris was
on his way out, that's pretty interesting.
So to that end, like with Patriots play does Damien
Harris suddenly get a lot of run early on as sort of a trade
show.
Okay sir. Yeah
so I think you know
those are all the things you're looking for and also just you
know
you get some rookies. Like do we get to see for Biscay at
all? I mean I traversed you do we get to see Kenny ticket at?
All right. Do we get to see
some of these rookies? Do we,
you know, even if Aaron Rodgers is it out there and he won't
be. But what is Christian Watson do,
right? You know
What if what if some of these what are some of the,
the rookies do it? That's always interesting to see.
Well, man,
I think we should leave it there because there's no
shortage of storylines. Even though, like you said, you
don't want to overreact to the
first full week in a preseason. But
I mean, send a lesson to be plenty to unpack.
After we see,
you know, these teams in action for the first time you are, no
rookie. I'm No rookie as great to be reunited with you, man.
This is just a
Glimpse of what? We're going to be bringing
to the rodeo World draft guide, show
this coming Wednesday, August, 17th, 8 p.m. all peacock
and every Sunday,
help you set your lineups
for fantasy football, but you win your league? We're not
like you said, wait, we're not trying to help you such
a winner. We're not afraid. We're
okay, we're not play without playing for a second. We're
trying to help you win week in and week out. And when your
league Matthew Berry, welcome aboard. My friend is good to be
reunited with you, man. Looking forward to working with you
again.
And happy for you man. And
let's have some fun.
I appreciate it. Michael, thanks so much for this could
be great.
All right, man, talk to you later.