Adam Caplan's Insider Notebook: Bears, Bucs, Commanders & More

0:00Band-Dool is now available everywhere in the U.S. So you can get in on the sports action no matter where you are, including these places. May this year most rewarding season ever with Band-Dool. Agent location restrictions apply. Product availability varies by market. C-FanDool.com for eligibility. Gambling problem called 1-800-Gemma. Hey, what's up? John Hansen here. Brian Drake and I are back with another edition of the Fantasy Points podcast and it is not just a regular old edition. Mr. Adam Kaplan is back. Mr. C, we chop it up for about an hour. He's had his little mini training camp tour. We talk Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Box, D.C. Commando's, the Eagles, Giants, Lions Packers, Patres, Rams, and much, much more. Thanks for subscribing and throw us a bone with a good comment. And as always, you're welcome.

1:01All across the fantasy universe. It's a show that so many of you wait long and hard for. It is the return of Mr. C and the guru. It's a show that I really, really enjoy. So I can just sit back, relax, let Adam open up the insider notebook. John, this is a fun show that we've done. I think this is your three now of getting you and Mr. C together. There's always good nuggets that come from it. John, how you doing, pal? I'm doing very well. Very excited to bring in our guy. Let's just bring him on in right now. Mr. C, the people, I still get questions all the time. Like, when are you doing something with Mr. C? And we like to make the people happy. But how you been? How's your summer? Good, man. Yeah. I have my little East Coast training camp tour. Unfortunately, I included the dolphins because they were with the commandos.

2:02So. Yeah, it was, it was a bug Daniels. It's incredible. We'll talk about that. But no, it's good. You know, it's good to get out there and get back to the fall weather. Hopefully very, very soon as you know, so it's been kind of crazy out here at outies. But although you're down south now. Yeah, yeah. I was in Boston though. I was up north, uh, let's go. Oh, where are you? Yeah, for Patriot Eagles. Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My son going to college, he could see Fenway Park from his dorm room. Oh, that's really cool, man. That is just pretty wild. Any who, uh, well, let's get into it here. You are Mr. Philadelphia Eagles inside the birds podcast. Now, you know, what? This is an interesting exercise because we have not had a chance to talk. So let me give you, let me give you how I think things are looking and going to go. And let's compare it to, you know, your inner inside or notebook. Okay. Okay. First and foremost, I think, I think the vibes are decent with Manion.

3:02I just think it's going to be a little slow off the mark. I think Barclays a good pick. I'm still in on skinny Batman. I'm probably going to pass on McCoy lemon. But I think Don Tavian Wix is probably their sleeper. I'm not targeting Jalen Hertz, but I, I think he's seemingly in a pretty good place here. So I, I think big picture. I feel pretty good about the Eagles. I'm in on Barclays. I'm in on Devonte. That's about it. But I do like Don Tavian Wix as a deep sleeper. Yeah. So I would say with Philly internally, you know, within the, the football operations, they're super high on Manion where the fans are not sure what to think. Yeah. This is the first time play call our ass is ironically the guy he's going to be coaching against David Blow. Yeah. He's younger and week one for the commando. So look, yeah, that's what I call them. But the, but the thing with Jalen Hertz is he's got to get the timing down. And unfortunately all three quarterbacks really struggle with it.

4:02Right. With the West Coast system, Dalton's planning it before, but this is a different one. Right. But the terminology is the same. The town of McKee who's been they, they call him the Humor and Missile, you know, with his arm strength. Yeah. And he's got a lot of calls him that, but he did not have a great training camp. He was off of the timing. He was over thinking and that's you're right. It's going to probably slow off the mark effect. I would be shocked if the passing game looks good early on. It's going to take probably four to six weeks. Reliance on Barclay though early in the season. I feel like it's going to rely on regardless. Yeah. Big time. Reliance. How about it? It's going to start with him. The off. How about his walkies on this team? Yeah. They're going to have a run one first mentality, which they never had in the history of Jeff Lurie and Joe Banner when they came in. But they've been up to five and twice a year. So they've been down and down to nine to nine to four, but it changed with Barclay. You know, maybe some questions about you know the outside zone. But I think under center more will help and maybe more action in the passing game for Barclay. Oh, yeah. Yeah. They're they'll be where, let, let, let, let.

5:02Look, the hope is, it hurts. If Hurts runs the defense of the past game like it's supposed to be done. Is that they could have a good balance attack, they could get off to a good start, or in a game like when like when they're throwing the football. And sometimes over the years, you would check out a past place. Yeah. And that clearly was a problem. And the hope is that it all works. It all sinks together. The offensive line by the way, it's a big deal. They're healthy. They look healthier. We won't know guys because they don't play their starters in the preseason. We won't know exactly where they're at, but I could tell you where it really mattered was in the joint practices. I was at a couple of weeks ago. They're all offensive line dominated in the run game. That was and will shiply not to you would one for fantasy. Now, Barclay got hurt. He'd have some value. That things was clear to the tool, but they would they would use both guys. The running backs and Barclay, they've taken to this outside run scheme. They're not it's not like just so you know the way it works. No NFL team runs 100% of what you think they run.

6:03Right. It's going to be majority certainly outside zone, but they'll run some inside zone. They're not going to completely get rid of it. Talking with our guy Adam Kaplan, you know him, love him from his days with the guru on serious XM now you can find them on inside the birds a show I listen to with Jeff Mosher every single week and Andrew DeChico. They do great work over there. You could follow him on the socials at Kaplan NFL. And Adam, let's go into the Chicago Bears. It's a team that there's a lot of hype for with this passing game with Luther burden, with Colston Loveland coming off the board as the fourth tight end and Roma Dune Zay. Maybe the odd man out, but I think a guy who could lead this team in receptions, what's your thoughts? What have you seen and heard from Chicago in the year two of Ben Johnson? Yeah, I think what Brian, I think one of the issues with Dune Zay is the fantasy public thinks it's all about burden and Loveland. And I understand the love for burden who's very explosive. The issue is for him is what kind of target of eye amazement he's going to get in the team that could go a variety of ways. Now what helps him, really any of their past targets,

7:05it's a three-passed target offense. It's a Dune Zay burden and Loveland. They just don't have, they're just not very deep with their past target group. The fact that's probably one issue that I would really have a problem with. Yeah. Is if burden, you know, if burden got hurt again or Dune Zay got hurt, they got a real problem. They just, Cleaf Raymond is really a special team's attorney or really a fourth receiver slot receiver. Zay, if you have Thomas, we'll see who's a rookie and we'll see what, if he can get a role here. But burdens, the guy that I'm very high on because he's explosive. Route running is certainly something that has to improve, but he's really explosive. And Dune Zay could help them in a variety of ways. And you know, remember him and Williams came in together in 2024 that matters, that always matters. Yeah. And guys come in together. And one thing that I've learned with this business is you play to your personnel. They're going to play plenty of 12 personnel. If Loveland and Comet, they're going to play plenty of 12 facts. They'll be more 12 than you think they will be.

8:07That don't pigeonhole Ben Johnson into anything. Oh, that's the same route. Same route looks like a factor. Yeah, if you could, yeah, we'll see. Now Comet's going to be their Y and Loveland will be their F-Ted end. That's the MOOC-Ted end. I know this offense really well. So, and then look, they're offensive line. Tune shocked me last season. He looked like he was on the very much the downside and he revived his career. He was great. Jonah Jackson here, back again and Bradbury because of the retirement of Dolman. And Darnow writes an absolute superstar. Left tackle is a little bit shaky. We'll see if a trapello could get the job done. But or Braxton Jones, but overall, I'm bullish on this offense. And Ben Johnson is very cocky, but he backs it up. He's phenomenal. Did a hell of a job of John Drey Swift last year. I'm still in on Swift this year with that zone runs. Monunga is the man gap guy. Swift's a zone guy.

9:07And Ben Johnson knows how to push all the right buttons. And of course, Monunga also hurt all summer. How about Tampa? I got some suspect vibes here. Overall, I mean, I feel like Todd Bowles is kind of dead man walking if they don't have a good year. A baker with a contract, a buka with the injury. Boy, no Mike Gavin's. I do like Jalen McMillan as a late pick, but I'm not picking anybody from Tampa here. What do you see? Yeah, we'll see about a buka with this to injury. Exactly what it's going to look like him from early on. I wish I wish I had a good feel for where that's at. And we'll learn more of the next couple of days. But overall, maybe I like him a little bit more than people do because McMillan in the limited time. I know he had the serious injury. I mean, you saw a couple games where he just crushed it. Yeah. And a book of once Mike Evans came back, his numbers completely plummeted.

10:08But there's no more Mike Evans in the chemistry that Baker had with Evans. He don't have that red zone guy. In Godwin, we just don't know how well we could run anymore. Right. That's something you have to continue to look at. I'd run him inside predominantly, quite frankly. Yeah, I would agree with you. I would agree that's the, well, he's going to be because that's he hasn't run as well as he used to. But overall with Tampa, I like them a little bit more. And by the way, our guys back at tight end. So it's very good. Oh, I'll say that. Yeah, I'm ready. Yeah, I'm going to get out and back. So the past are good group for Baker's fine. It's and we'll get to the running backs because you can better be careful with Bucky Irving. And I'll I'll I'll going to clean into a couple things here. Go ahead a minute. But I like this past again way more in Ted Hurst. Ted Hurst is a major project, but dynasty league alert. Like it's way down the line. Obviously it's not going to happen for for this season. But Godwin's not going to play forever. And eventually, Hurst is going to play down the line.

11:10Yep. It's not going to be a guy Adam Kaplan here. And we're talking a little Tampa Bay Bucks. You mentioned Bucky Irving and this is a crowded backfield. They brought in Kenny Gainwell, those head stops in Pittsburgh. Obviously started in Philadelphia. And they also have my guys Sean Tucker who they just gave a new contract to it. A little less money. So there's a lot of guys here and Bucky Irving, someone who we've seen in fantasy really explode. But I'm with you Adam. I'm very curious about him because he had the shoulder issue. And there's just a lot of mouths to feed in this backfield that I haven't found myself clicking him a lot in draft this summer. Understand something they. I mean, the get the contract that Kenny Gainwell got shocked me. I know he had a great season. He led Steelers and receptions to which who the hell saw that coming. But you know, as an Eagles fan, Brian, that he's a phenomenal pass protector. One of the best pass protecting backs in the league. Incredible. Idean pass rusher. He's just a lead at it. And he's got great hands. He's tough as hell. Coaches absolutely loved him who've worked with him, whether it's the Steelers or the Eagles.

12:13You said that from his college coach, I recall. Well, his college coach is a friend of mine with former college coach. Ryan Silverfield is now the Arkansas head coach. Ryan told me about him, how they used him. In their past game, in fact, he came to Memphis as a slot receiver. And they moved him to running back. And he's, look, he doesn't have a lot of juice. He's not explosive. But he's going to have a significant role. The contract dictates it. Yeah. Guys, he is going to make seven million in cash fully guaranteed year one. He's going to have a huge role. So if you're a Bucky Irving fan, good luck to you. Yeah. Because Sean Tucker could get goal on carrying a beast. You know, I've been high on him to his drafted. Every time I like him, he does well. He's a, he's a very talented back. More often not when he gets a chance at extended flying time, he comes through. I see this as a committee that dreaded RBBC. I don't see any way around it. Yeah. Let's take a quick time out here, guys. Then we come back. Let's take a trip down to the nation's capital and talk about those commandos as Mr.

13:16C. likes to call him just getting started here on the fantasy points podcast. Welcome back in everybody. Brian Drake, John Hanson and Mr. C Adam Kaplan. And if you guys were listening to this on Friday, you should go back and listen on demand to the serious XM morning show as Mr. C and John are going to be competing the FBI. It's the new formation of the ACI, which we've all competed in. So good luck to you guys there. That's going to be a blast. I look forward to listening to it. Let's talk about those commandos, Mr. C because they've lost author offensive lines. So they're down to tackle. And it's a significant injury with letter of me tonsil gone. We had Ben standing on the show a week or two ago. He was kind of clueing us into this team. What do you see from your time watching Washington with Jaden Daniels and now there's kind of new look past game with Stefan Diggs and toe. All right. So the offense has completely changed. I mean, you couldn't ask for a completely different scheme change and philosophy change. Flip Kingsbury scheme.

14:18It was more wide open. This is going to be more of a controlled passing game. It's West Coast. David Blowell, that's the system that I'm told he's bringing in. It's good to see a ton of 12 personnel with John Bates as the Y. That means in line Ted N and Chugacon, close to the move, Ted N who. The contract's significant. I'm shocked, Brian, at the money they gave him. I just don't see it with him. Ben Senate has it worked. It's not going to work. They kind of moved on. I know this because Chugacon, quote, was taken the role that they drafted before. Yeah. He's the he's the ref. So Bates is one of the best blocking tight ends of the NFL. It's going to be heavy 12, some 11 heavy 12. And the issue for Stefan Diggs is what can he do because he had problems getting separation and getting down field. He's more of a slot receiver now. And it's his own beta. Yeah, but he's an inside receiver. He cannot get down field like he used to. I could tell you that's an absolute fact. And people studied him, which I like McClaurne. They're going to move him all around. Yeah, he's played. He's played the slot.

15:19He's played X. He's played Z. Anthony Williams, long term, will be the slot receiver who's a stud of a talent. And I'll tell you what, Traylon Burke's, he's going to play into this. He's going to play it. He's going to get a chance. They're just not great on the outside. And he, he, him and Daniels have great chemistry. In fact, the data I was there, guys, my best passes I've ever seen. Daniels in a seven step drop got rid of the ball and won't like 1.51.7. And and and Burke's what right by me. I'm like, where's he going? The ball was there, guys. Like a second before he got there. And he just laid into his hands. And he is Daniels has taken Brian. This West Coast scheme, like you cannot believe. And as I learn in this business, you don't have to have great talent around you to be a great West Coast quarterback. Look at Brock Purdy, who destroyed the Eagles with backups in the playoff game against Eagles. He, he housed the Vic Fangeo defense. So I think Daniels is going to be a super sleeper fantasy. But Brian, you brought it up.

16:19Tons of won't be back until the playoffs. If at all, he will not play in the regular season. Left tackles an absolute disaster. Brandon Coleman, the reason why they trade for Tons of Lis. Coleman didn't make it as a left tackle. Chris Paulson outstanding run blocker. He's a power player. Does not, he's not great in pass pro centers a major problem, guys. Right side will be fine. Cosby's a year and a half from move from the ACL. And construction and kind of is the absolute superstar. It's center left and left tackle. Really are a problem, guys. And that, that is going to be the issue. We'll get the running game too. I got some juice on that as well. Yeah. Jocory Croskey married. Like is he going to do anything in the passing game? I mean, to me, I kind of handed that role to Rashad White. Yeah. And I tried to warn people. I think the less time I was on with you, John, there's a reason why they'd sign all those running backs. Croskey Marit. Not only is he not great on third down, he's not a power player. He can't handle short yardage. His lower body is the problem. He's not strong enough. Though I did see him at training camp, but he did look like he walked up up here.

17:22But he's got problems with functional strength. And you've got Rashad White, who's going to be a goal line guy. Not saying go get every goal line. He'll be a factor on goal line. And we'll see about K-Tron Allen for the future for dying ceiling people. Be careful with Croskey Marit. The blooms off the rows a little bit. Rashad is just, I know he doesn't have any juice. That's not where they sign him. They sign him to pass pro goal line. He's just a very good football player when he does. Yeah. Yeah. Played with Jane Daniels for the year. They're at Arizona State as well. And they're pretty good friends. Mr. C, you were very high about four months ago on a certain receiver who's a rookie. You told us, and now it looks like he malachai fields. Might he start for the Giants? They were all over him in the pre-draft process. This was the guy that they wanted. Yeah, because the thing with this offense, with what they're going to do, it's going to

18:26start with the running game, though. They're going to be heavy, heavy, 12, and 21 personnel. That's why they got Patrick Ricard. That's why they brought him in. But Malachai fields is a foxhole guy. You want him downfield, he'll block. He does everything he's asked. He wants it from what I've heard. Beckham's going to be a back of one play very much. Darius Slate, and I don't know exactly what his role is going to be. We know he can run. Malachai fields for dicey league people. This is a guy I want to target late. I wouldn't spend, like, if you're in an auction and a dicey auction, I'm not spending a lot of money. And it's not like I think his numbers are going to be great, but long term, he's going to start opposite neighbors. And it's going to look, they've got their past our group is actually very good. It's actually very good with likely, but it's going to start. Likely though. What's that? You buying likely not really. I mean, look, I know he's there because of Harval and Greg Romans is going to help Matt Nagy with the concepts as they want to run, you know, because it's good.

19:27Matt's really not a run game guy and Roman is. So they're going to be buying forces there. And they're all lying if they could just stay healthy. Malachai, their first runner, Lumer has been a little bit better than people thought. And Andrew Thomas, it's always with him staying on the field. He's got so many problems, but they could be a sneaky team and yeah, a little better than we think it for fantasy. How about Cam Skataboo in the fourth round? Healthy. They had Nagy. Yeah, he, he, he was, I told you, three or four months ago, he's healthy. He's going to be better than people think. Now they're going to have to help him with some. He can't handle alone. Tracy is the juice guy and coaches love Singletari because some of these guys were with him in Buffalo. But we know, we know what Singletari is. He's just an average player. He just doesn't have any juice. Nagy, I mean, he was bad. You know, the enemy's career with Pittsburgh. Yeah. He's an insurance policy because they want, they want to have a power game. But overall to me, it's Skataboo. He just does, he's not explosive. That's just what it is. Do you think they're going to try to change Jackson Darts play style at all or it's

20:31just he is what he is. He's going to go out there. Wait, the slide, the day, he did slide. It was so funny. Brian, the day I was there for, for one of their practices, they actually slid and the coaches went out of their mind. They were so happy that he slid, you know, that he's hopefully going to be smarter. He needs to play, he needs to play more on a control. He just, he doesn't always see process all that well. Sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn't. But now you're changing the offense now. And it's, this is another one where you got to watch him early on. Like you got to be patient. If you've got him in a two quarter backly, you got to be patient here. How about the Detroit Lions? I am certainly feeling really good about a monoraw. I mean, I think the under reported story is how thin their pass catching group is like if they have an injury to Jamo, a monoraw or a la porta, make wearing trouble. I mean, Tesla is an interesting story. We got to understand. He's a possession receiver that's got good size. He's not right. He's not right. He's not right.

21:31I just going to say he's, I talked to so many receivers coaches. None of them liked him. He was a little bit better. He got pressed in the service. He's okay. But you're right, John. It's kind of like for Chicago, so I'm better not get hurt. But look, they're going to be, they're going to be heavy 12 personnel. That's going to be their off. It's going to change with group petting. It's going to change. His, his forte is run. Is the run game? Yeah. They're going to, they're going to try to play their defense. But I say that and I got problems with their secondary. They don't want to throw the ball a lot. They may have to if certain things happen. But it, look, it's, we know about Gibbs. We don't need to go into him. He, everybody knows about how explosive he is. But don't expect major numbers in terms of pass attempts. Control pass in game. And it's all the fun that it's going to be funnel through, through a monoraw. We'll see about how the portal looks, but it goes through a monoraw. That's certainly not going to change. This might be the oldest, the oldest secondary.

22:33I've ever seen Avant de Mags and Chuck Clark, your safety's on this team. Yeah. Avant de Mags on the league. They have so many, they've had so many injury problems. You know, they were my team four years ago. It was my breakout team. But no one's really talking about them. And I've been back in them. I backed off them last season. I didn't like the roster as much. Then they've brought that all these injury problems. And they haven't really fixed the problems. They're correct in the problems in corner. And obviously, you know, about Terry on Arnold. So yeah, they're a team that I'd be fairly surprised if they make the playoffs. I don't. They're going to play, shoot out city. They play a million games in domes down the stride. They would have like 12 games in domes this year, John. Yeah, yeah. They're projected to score like the third most points in football. I don't know what that means because it's a different. I don't either. Yeah, it's a different. Yeah, I don't either. Like we still haven't replaced Ben Johnson with a good. And by the way, Petsing does not come from that tree. He comes on a ski tree. Him and Kevin were of known each other forever. And he's more of a West Coast. They're going to keep the same terminology I'm told.

23:33But it's I'm a little bit wary of of goth for fantasy. I know some people like my two quarterback leagues. But here's the thing with Gibbs. I mean, they got to find a good quality second back. I mean, we'll we'll we'll we'll we'll we'll we'll we'll have to see that breaks down there. They're made obviously if you can't play for a week into their major trouble. You know, Pacheco and I are there. Yeah, that's my point. I don't know where they're going to go here. Yeah. Yeah. Let me ask you, Mr. C, you're on the clock and a PPR league. You have the number one overall pick. Are you taking Jameer Gibbs or you taking B. John Robinson? PPR in America. It's a great question. Actually, one of the one I had was watching something on. There's a show a fantasy show on TV and they actually it's the same question. I would probably say just I would say Gibbs. I know there's negatives to each one. You've got the terrible quarterback situation at Lanna, which is very concerning.

24:35Yeah. And then to true you've got the new play caller who doesn't come from the bench hands in tree. So there is just with each. I don't think you can go wrong to be honest to answer that. You can't go wrong. I'm happy with either one. I don't. If I had the first pick overall, gosh, I have to look at this this draft we have. I'm going to speak. I really would have to crunch the numbers and using all the fantasy points data stuff. You know, I'm an info guy, but I like data to tell me to give me background. What do you say fantasy points data? Two point L, baby. Nice. I know. I believe in it, man. Yeah. That guy Ryan Pagnetti. Yeah. He's a friend of mine. Yeah. He told our Scott Barrett that what we have would be worth $100,000 a year for a team. He gives you guys credit. Pags is Pags is this absolute stud. He is one of the few because you know, he played football him and his brother. His brother TJ is with the Saints in in Kalimor, but Ryan is one of the few people in analytics

25:36who gets fantasy understands it and understands information. He's not just an analytics guy. He combines. You know, he was the brains behind the Eagles Super Bowl run in terms of data and you combining data with information that he connects well with coaches. Jim Schwartz loves him. He's one of those rare analytics guys who gets everything. He doesn't think anything. One thing is he doesn't swear by analytics. Yes, he believes in it. Obviously, but he takes everything in as what you should do. If you're smart, you're good coach, you take everything you can in and then make a decision. Yeah. That's the way you have the 10th pick. Okay. I'm trying to get more. Friday morning's FPI draft. I have the 7th pick. Oh, I... Joe Dolen has the first overall picked. I actually listened to how Paul and Joe came up with it. It was a video game Royal Rumble where all of you guys were cartoon wrestlers.

26:38We got our asses. Whoever got thrown out first had the last pick. I think Paul Kelly got thrown out second. So he has 13th and he got all the way down and Joe Dolen survived. He is the Royal Rumble champion and he'll have the different world. Royal Rumble. I never went to one of those. I went to... I went to Summerslam and Atlantic City, I think. I don't know, whatever year that was, but... Yeah. Oh, that's great. It's an 88. If you guys out there are excited about fantasy points, data 2.0 and you're looking to do something this week to get that edge on your competition for your fantasy draft Labor Day weekend, use our code F-P-F-O. That stands for fantasy points front office. F-P-F-O is going to save you at check out 15% Office Subscription at fantasypoints.com. Use it this weekend to draft your team. It's like having the guru or Scott Barrett over your shoulder helping you pick your team. And then in season, you can upload your rosters. It'll help you with waivers, roster management, trades, setting your lineup. So go over there at fantasypoints.com. Use our rankings. Go out like an old school boomer like I'm going to do all weekend long.

27:39F-P-F-O is the code to save 15%. And everything actually works at them unlike the previous website. I don't know if it's a little bit more in the name list. Let's go to... Well, let's go to my... I don't know if you know this, but in my draft plan article, I rank my favorite 50 picks. And it's not like rankings per se. It's like, this is my favorite pick because I can get them in the sixth round. Russian Watson's my number one favorite pick. I love him, but John, the only issue with him is target volume. It's got to go up. Well, it's going to go up, but it's okay. And also how you drafting. What's his ADP? Do you know what, fans? Sixth round. That's fair. That's fair. Very fair. One of the things that I'm really happy with him, like the entry thing is what it is. The hands. Despite the hands of... You have to remember how bad his hands were in college. Brutal. Super raw. He's worked super hard at it. He's one of the most improved hands receivers.

28:40He had awful technique. I've said it for two years now, they've been back to last year. The best improvement I've ever seen. From a guy who had multiple seasons struggling, catching a ball. But I like where he's coming, where he's going. Now the only problem is they have a lot of guys that got to get the ball to. Not as many now though with Don T even Wicks and Romeo Dobbs. I don't like that. Dobbs is the one, but again, Golden's got to get the ball. He's not going to be a hard, high target guy, but he's going to be involved. Sure. He'd have felt the tight end. But they're going to throw it more. They're going to throw it more. They're going to have to. Well, I know where you're going. This is in my notes. It's funny you say that I wanted to touch on this. Caleb Johnson will get to him in a second, but yes, obviously without Josh Jacobs. As much as I'm not a Matt LaFour fan, I can't. Stan Lee's coaches are so married to the run game. Yeah. These Shanahan people like they're like obsessed with balance.

29:42He's fighting for his job now. Well, he got it. Well, not really because he got an extension. So I wouldn't say that. But look, if they don't make the playoffs, he sure as hell would be. But he's too married to balance. And this is why he struggles in the playoffs, man. When you got, he doesn't play the matchups all that well. Not a bad coach. I just think he's too married. I think he's way too. He's into a system. And that's it. Like I'm running my system. I know, but he's too conservative with his flight call. Right. Con with this past target group, which is explosive. They got Watson's explosion and land. Reed is a really good inside receiver. Golden's explosive. Now he's got to prove it over full season. And with those tight ends, there's plenty here. Offensive lines are not the most talented, but they're really well coached. That's the problem. I know it's not it's not talented, but they're well coached. But getting, let's get to the running backs before we move on to the next team. If Marshall and Lloyd could stay in one piece, I know that's a lot to ask. We don't know what volume you can handle. Caleb Johnson's interesting.

30:42What I'm told with him was, I put this out on Twitter the other day. The Steel Trans didn't like it. So I put out that they were trying to move them. They were going to, they basically would have taken anything for them. They just didn't, they don't want them. Two staff are down on them. Arthur Smith staff. He's a terrible, terrible fit for Smith's own scheme. Then they go to more of an outside run, not a good fit for it at all. He just didn't get the timing down and they were done with him. So, but I say that on your point, what you were looking to earlier, the only guy that could give volume to. Right. I got at least give a shot. Yeah, because Marshall and Lloyd's, he's got some limitations. Great zone runner. It's not like, right. Like when I say small, he's, he's got bulk to him, but he doesn't play to the bulk. Right. He's to a scape back. He's more of a scape back than a feature. He's got a weird body. He may waste, see, this is inside football. Some players play smaller than their listed size.

31:43He does, right. Right. But he's got great versatility. But we haven't seen anything for for two years because he's, he's been nothing but hurt. Yeah. Now, he's going to have a role. Caleb Johnson, he just got there. He's got to learn the scheme very quickly. But it's same terminology. He's got to help himself, but he does have size. The Pittsburgh things behind him. Nobody wanted him there, but he's now with Green Bay. They traded for him. They're going to give him a shot. We have no idea about Josh Jacobs. What's going to happen with him? But Caleb Johnson, despite all the negativity that I told the truth on, he's going to, he's going to have a chance to be reborn here because they need, they need this kid. They're going to need it. Let's take a time out here, guys, when we come back. We're sticking to the AFC champion New England Patriots talk about their new wide receiver AJ Brown and see other backfields going to shake out with Mr. C. Right after this, it is the fantasy points podcast. Back at it here, Brian Drake, the guru John Hansen and our guy, Mr. C Adam Kaplan. You covered the Philadelphia Eagles in depth on inside the birds and a topic all off season

32:48was, why are they going to move on from AJ Brown? It wasn't even an if, it was kind of just a win. The win dropped and he was traded to the New England Patriots. So now the Patriots have their alpha wide receiver. He looked, and you were there. I'd love to get your thoughts on it by all accounts great in the practices against Philadelphia. What do you think AJ Brown ceiling is and, you know, with the health, with the knee and how far can this passing game expand with a true alpha on the outside now? It's a Brian going back in my reporting at the time. The trade in 22. The reason why the Titans moved them is because they did, they were worried about his long term issue with his knee. One of his knees is, is just, I don't know what is degenerative or just chronically sore. His last year with the Titans, I think he had every Wednesday off. This is going back a long time ago. So I don't remember exactly, but I know they just did all they could again for the season. So I was not, and they offered him a deal, which was kind of insulting for his level of play. It's important to their coaching staff.

33:48They thought he's one of their leaders and he gets, you saw what happened in 22 with with Jalen Hertha was incredible. He's clothing not the same player. It doesn't, he's not, let's put it this way. He's probably 75 to 80% of what he once was. That's pretty good. So let's fast forward to the practice out of the two practices. I was at, particularly that that Wednesday. They kept Brian running the same, the same plays skinny post, bang eight, which is the, bang play action, which is play action quick slant, which they ran in Tennessee. And he kept beating Rick Wollen. And I was like, oh, you got, they kind of like try to, they're going to try to play physically on the, on AJ Brown here. Like they kept running the same damn play. The team drills. They kept beating him. So he could still play and they know that they're like five or six coaches on the staff with AJ in Wigland. I mean, with Tennessee, they know about his, his knee. But he looked guys. He looked really good. Now my draft was my first fantasy receiver. Tell me who's else is in the board. And I'll tell you who I'm drafting.

34:48Is I got him in wide receiver eight. That's his ADP. I'm not over his ADP. I'm not under. I'm like, right there. I'm expecting success though. The two guys going right after him are Drake London and Nico Collins. Yeah. Oh, okay. I think I like Nico more, but I definitely like AJ more than Drake. Okay. I can't. If London had a confident quarterback, it's not anything with thinking about. I'm turning the card and straight London every second. Okay. There's no question. There's nothing not to like about him as a talent. It's the damn quarterbacks. Mm-hmm. And then with our guy, Nico, he's phenomenal football player. He's been every, it took him long enough. He's kind of like Michael Wilson's a junior case, although we're not talking to Cardinals today. Michael Jackson forever. Injuries, bad quarterback play. Collins is an absolute stud, but he got the injury probably. Seemingly always gets a minor injury, but he's a stud. Yeah, but yeah. How about the how about the running game here? Yeah, let's get to Travegan. I you know, I try to educate people on this.

35:49You know, I got I don't answer questions on Twitter. So man, I still get them on Travegan. You know, I try to explain to people. Yes, he was a phenomenal pass protector under Chip Kelly. Okay. Joshua Daniels, I'm told, runs a very sophisticated scheme for running backs to pick up. He struggled with it. The blocking for the running backs. Then the lactic instinctiveness, he's got an issue where as explosive as he is, he's not going to shirt yardage and he doesn't always see the holes correctly. And I think we probably all had a little bit too much of expectations, probably too much hype on him. I tried to cool it down when I was on the show last summer. And then obviously whenever I talked to you after that, I said, Hey, man, be careful. He's he's behind. It is understanding of the offense, and particularly the past concepts and past protection. That shit matters. Excuse my language. You cut that out if you want. How dare you. Yeah, but that stuff really matters. And I've you know, I told John, Brian, when John, I started working together in early

36:522000s. Once I understood from coaches what it means about past pro, we don't put the guy out there. It doesn't matter if it's the first pick or raw if he can't pass protector or ID pass pressure is correctly. I didn't understand that then, but I sure as hell after 20 years did sure. And they trust Ramondra. I tied a tie. I mean, I'm big time on him Ramondra, seventh, eighth round, man. That's a great. I love him. Yeah, we've been high on him. You and I, when we were working together, we loved them for the very first day. Now, it doesn't mean that Henry's Henderson is going to have a role. The bigger role he's going to get will depend on how he handles past pro, be more instinctive. They just, he's just got to, I know they really like him, but he's got to be better. Bottom line. Their ADP is almost identical now. Oh, I'm taking the mantra. I'm taking the mantra. Yeah, Ramondra coming off the board, 65 picks into a draft. He's RB 26. Travian still going earlier at pick 58. They're in sandwich in between them is Seattle rookie, Giderian price.

37:52So you can have your choice. What price has got the role to himself pretty much show that? Oh, I love Giderian price style this year. That's a nice pack. I have them in our time. I'll trade them to you. No, I'm just kidding. Oh. Uh, let's talk one final team here. And it's the Los Angeles Rams on their way to Australia to play the San Francisco 49ers. What nuggets do you have on this passing game? Yeah. Anything with the tight end because there's a sleeper out there that a lot of fantasy folks think are going to finally break out at this tight end position? Uh, well, I want to explain some things because I think what happens is people just assume because they saw it's going to be the same. Uh-huh. Well, last year, I know McVeigh shocked us with a 13 personnel, which you've never done before. But you played your personnel. They didn't have a three and they didn't have a four last year at receiver. So smart coaches don't try to shoehorn guys who shouldn't be on the field very much. So he went to, he did, they had Higby. They had Parkinson, it was great in the playoffs.

38:54They had Terrence Ferguson and Davis Allen. So he went to heavy 12 and heavy 13. That's coaching. You, you, you, you, you're playing a personal and by the way, Stafford loved it. He was phenomenal with it. You're going to see a lot of that. That's why they trade for our guy three, three at wells, what I call him. Uh-huh. He was really, I mean, he's barely an NFL player. I mean, they, they missed one. He was one one at well last year. Yeah, I know he's a half half. Yeah, he's, they, they, you're going to see. Heavy 12, heavy, heavy 13 probably, well, a lot of 12. Now the question is because they don't really have a three. Could Terrence Ferguson be that guy? Yeah. Terrence Ferguson could see a lot of time. No, the problem is Higby's still there. He's not going away. It's unbelievable. The agent's Higby. Parkinson's still there. He's their why. He's their main why. Take a lot, get paid a lot of money. You know, if you, if you want to back up to Dan Ferguson, no, would you like Max Claire? I'm not going to Max Claire. That, that, how about that? Back to back ears of the second round. Tydan, that's insane. Crazy. By the way, Max Claire, when I watched him, I'm like, he looks like Zach Hertz.

39:57Have you, have you heard that rumor that the Eagles might be looking at Rio and I would have just, they know, they know Zach, Zach will go in their Hall of Fame. But he goes Hall of Fame when he's done. They, here's the problem. Well, first of all, he's coming off, I think, his second ACL surgery. He's 35. But if Dallas got a good shirt, they're in major trouble, Tydan that, because the kid hours, he's so far behind. So far behind. So you must, how, how he rose, Mendogea is great at maintaining relationships. I know him and Zach, you know, they, Zach didn't get his extension. They traded him. It wasn't great between the two of them at the end, but time heals all wounds. Zach is a great guy and a great football player in his day. But he's 35 years old. I mean, he's near the end. He, I never rule out anything when it comes to how he, if God, it's hurt, they got to do something, guys, they have a problem. So on your question, I don't rule that completely. But right now, like, and by the way, you would want to sign into your practice quite first.

40:58He has, he's got to work. We don't know if he can run anymore. He's coming back from a serious injury. Couldn't run for the last five years, but just to be able to get over, I don't know if he can move anymore, you know? He's, it's like Antonio Gates. So back in his last couple of years, like, the guy ran like three routes. He ran like an old man, but he's still got open gates. Do you remember when I told you about Antonio Gates? I was all over him that myself. What? What? I forget what happened. I forget what happened. But I know I know what I know about the incident to this. The NCAA tournament, because I was really, I'll give you my story real quick. I was playing against David Boston. He's all jacked up. Remember that? As late in the, late in the game, I had a very precarious lead. I see this big guy catch a touchdown, like, oh, no. And I'm like, wait a second. Wait a second. Who the hell is this Gates guy? It was Antonio Gates. And then he had like two good games. And then I was the next year I was like all in. What happened was he did really well. I think in the preseason. Yeah.

41:58And they thought so little of him. He got a $5,000 signing bonus. So I asked someone with a chart and said, what? I like this. I said, it's Tony Gates. I watch him and see tournament. Yeah. He played and goes, so he hasn't played football since high school. But this kid has got a chance to be our starter over time. I'm like, how do you know this? He's like, because we saw it when we worked him out. Yeah. Like, he's got rare ability. He's got really good cognitive ability. Like he saw things as a basketball player. Right. Right. I was like, okay, good enough for me. And then he did really well in the preseason. I remember you and I talking about it, watching the preseason. We're like, oh, God, this is the special awareness and stuff. It's like, so I really, and I remember telling you, you and I were exchanging notes. And we're like, we're, this is, this is probably when they're real sleepers. Oh, yeah. It's a big sleeper, John and I. I think I believe, I know we were working together. I don't know if we were doing our show then. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Early 2000. It was oh four. Yeah. That was our first year together. Yeah. I remember.

42:58I can legit name the sleepers that you guys came with during the show over the years. I was like, I'm a monster, Travis Kelsey. There was another, another, another, another, another, another, Jimmy Graham, another tight and Nico Collins was a great one. Yeah, that was a reminder. But I was John Creton, Travis Kelsey. I could talk him off of sleepers. I could not talk him off. Because Kelsey was annoying me because he should, I knew he was going to be good. But I got, I kind of feel the talent. And I'm like, you know, enough of this guy. He keeps on achieving. That was the year he went off. Well, nobody, nobody believes me. But I was ahead of on anyone on Travis Kelsey. No, he was. I, I, I know people make fun of John. He's in on everybody and then, you know, whatever. That's not true. But yeah, they do make fun. Should have gotten a bite into the wedding. No, exactly, exactly. But John was the only fantasy expert that I couldn't recall was in, you couldn't tell him. You could tell him Travis Kelsey's got bricks hands. He can't, he's got a club foot. John would care. He's like, I don't give a shit. This is my guy. That's exactly right. That was pretty good. That's exactly.

43:59I always remember I knew a friend of mine was a beat writer for the chiefs. He had that microfrax. Yeah, he had that microfrax surgery in year one. Going into year two, nobody was really talking about him. I was getting daily updates on Kelsey from mini camps that year. So again, it's one of those things where I, no one really cares. No one believes me. But yeah, probably the greatest tight end of all time. That was all it. That was the best. I don't care what anyone thinks. I love when you, because you hate the fantasy industry anyway. You're like, if these guys, I don't know what they're talking about. It was like me with Alan Robinson. And you know, I wouldn't back off. I came back from training kept. This might break up player of the year. You're like, how could you say with Blake Bordles? This is dude. I'm telling you. And this was that the year really 35 touched. By the way, by the way, on an account, I told him when I met him at the, at the combine three years ago, I said, dude, you won't believe this. I know you don't, you know, you may not play fantasy. And I don't really talk about a bunch of NFL players. I said, I was so into what you were, you and Blake were doing. I was mesmerized.

44:59I go, Alan Robinson is my breakout player here. Go ahead. We had, we had an, we did a radio segment. Alan was great. I love that. Great guy. Yeah. Yeah. That was like a couple of years ago. Yeah. Now, I will say I felt the same, very similar to the Kelsey with JJ McCarthy. I am looking forward to JJ bawling out in 2032. But we're not there yet. But man, what a disaster. As much as I was down on him, you and I were in an opposite spectrum. I'll say this. You don't, you don't see, he got a raw deal. I'm not a impologist for him at all because I didn't like, I, I knew he was overdrafted when it happened. Yeah. I said third round at first. But he, I was told by someone that no longer the, what's this guy still? I can't remember. He started to really get it for me towards Maniscus. So he's like, he looked great in the radar game where you got hurt. Yeah. And then he got hurt. He kept getting hurt when he came back. He looked great in that first Lions game. He's so far behind. And he is no, he is no, remember the GM was fired to draft at him.

46:00And he is no sponsor. And when Kevin O'Connell can't get the quarter back to play well, probably not going to happen. But you know what? This Lee, not saying he's caught one, obviously, he's 23 years old. You never know at that rich Ganon, our buddy Rich Ganon, come on. He was a journeyman. He couldn't play as a starter. He was just a journey back up. And then he finds the West Coast offense and become a superstar. Rich Ganon called me the other day. He's like, I'm on the beach in Ocean City with a couple of guys who are fans of yours. I want to get your thoughts. So I get your thoughts. Yeah. Yeah. He's great. I didn't think that was that well. That's pretty cool. Yeah, pretty well. Yeah, great dude. Big fans. Well, how do you think? I think Kyler's. Kyler, here's my prediction from March. Kyler Murray is going to have a rejuvenated season. He's going to lead them to the playoffs. He's going to continue their lucrative history of shitting the bed and the playoffs. That's what I think. Look, if O'Connell could reach him in any play, if he plays within the scheme for the first time in his career, look out because he's got the arms to rent.

47:03I know he's really short, but O'Connell knows how to manage quarterback. So I'm looking for this, this fantasy season is going to be fun, by the way. There's going to be some surprises that all Cowboys going to kill. Cowboys going to kill. Big on deck. I mean, they brought back all 11 starters and offense. Yeah. Now he won't have to, he shouldn't have to pass this much because they're going to run on Fangio in defense. They've upgraded the talent level. I know the secondary could be a disaster. But I mean, back to me, is he going, where's he going to drive? He's like QB eight or nine. Okay. All right. The only problem is he doesn't run, but he could run a couple and real, if he doesn't get at least 30 touchdowns, if he plays 15, he's shocked. Yeah. Ryan Flornoi and then Pickens is ridiculous and lamb and all that. I got to ask you about Sam Frando, your thoughts on the substation? Are you drafting McCaffrey or Big Mike? I got what I was doing. I'm not doing it. Because I remember, I don't, whatever draft I had the first pick and I took them.

48:04And I'm like, I'm just going to do it. I won't ever do it again. You can hate it if you want to turn. I turn it up to be right. If there's no way in hell, I am so, you can't ask twice. You can't do it again. I can't do it. That's it. We're on the same page and stripling though looks like the real deal. You know, it's about opportunity and fantasy. He is no with Ricky Pierce all who's been hurt since he was drafted. He was actually a free gut draft. I record poor Ricky. I know. But it's about opportunity. And I mean, you look at, you look at a kid will come back from a major injuries near the enemy's career. It's dribbling who not a lot of teams liked and he's probably overdrafted in the NFL, but you know what? The opportunity guys is a throwback to you and he's going to play it. He's going to be a starter. And could he be their second pass target? Probably, maybe with an injury or two, yeah. Well, honestly, they're not, they're not going to be heavy 11. And I don't know what they're, I mean, honestly, I don't know about Debo.

49:06Right. True. True. There. Struggling's got to start with Debo can't run that well anymore. I don't know what you are from him. At the end of the day, like, there, he has to be a huge fact. Like, we're not getting through the season with big Mike and Debo. And then like, Decarc is Robinson still around unbelievably. So and one more, I'm going to crowbar in some more. Just, just, just your general thoughts. Like, I'm very high in the charger. So I'm, I mean, I've never, I've never done this. But I loved McDaniel. I love the roster. I mean, the starting center was an issue. So how you, how you feel about LA? Yeah, I mean, their offensive line has got real problems, real problems. And the interior, but the tackles were both out last season or back. Yeah. McDaniel, it's the past game. It's going to be Maconkey and Johnston who kind of surprised me last season. Yeah. That's it. I mean, Charlie Colors making a lot of money, but I don't see him getting the ball a lot. Yeah, I believe in the play collar and good play call and could sometimes overcome an

50:10offensive line. I hope the interior holds up. And they're going to have a full back alloc in gold who's actually good broadcaster, by the way. Yeah. Now, hi on them. It's all relative. I like them better than the previous regime. So, you know, okay, love it. It's our guy Adam Kaplan, follow him on the socials at Kaplan NFL. And I have some announcements coming down the pike about his future that he's clued us in too. So we're all waiting around to see where Mr. C is going in the future. Adam, thank you so much for the time. We really appreciate it. We really appreciate it. We really appreciate it. Anytime. Anytime. Let's do another one in like a month and review the first month. Yeah. Yeah. Because again, they're going to be some surprise that we didn't anticipate every season. No matter how much research you do and how much data you have, they're going to be some things you can't plan on. Yeah. And plus injuries dictate a lot or, you know, just understand offenses. And we've said this John and I've talked about this for nearly 30 years. We've worked together.

51:11Not quite 30. Over 25. A lot of offense that starts slow, but hanging with these guys. Yeah. You know, I'm so old, I used to say this about Chris Carter in the Hall fam because he notoriously would start off slow and just dominate. Yeah. Cream. We've used the cream always rises top most it usually does. He just got to be patient. All right, guys, enjoy your drafts this Labor Day weekend. Be safe out there. Send us some screenshots. I want to see how those drafts came out at Drake fantasy at fantasy underscore guru. John and I will be back next week. John, we're going to be maybe doing a listener league draft over the weekend. So stay tuned to the socials. You'll see John and I tweet that out and you can come draft against the guru in myself late Sunday night. So just be on the lookout for that. So for Adam Kaplan for the guru, I'm Brian Drake. We'll see you next time on the fantasy point podcast.