TRANSCRIPT 🔗
Park City Lions: you And welcome to the League Down Under. It's the podcast that takes you inside the inner sanctum of our dynasty league and it asks the question, which team are you going to side with? Your host Ben joined as always by my two co-hosts Kenyon Hod. How are we boys?
The Grouse: very well. Good evening, buddy boy. What's happening? I think by the time everyone's listening to this we'll be deep into the first game of the NFL season, Hod. How exciting. exciting, buddy boy. Good. Hey this is episode We've made it. We're here.
Hodcast: Very exciting, buddy boy. We are we are we have made it We've we've made it to
Park City Lions: We're on the cusp.
Hodcast: the Melbourne game
The Grouse: Mm.
Hodcast: How good has it been watching
The Grouse: Love the nonas.
Hodcast: the n absolutely the Rams can just get fucked.
Park City Lions: So this is, the Rams actually were the team that were announced from the very beginning to be the team that comes to Australia. And it was always about who are they, who's their opponent going to be? You would swear it's the other way around with how this has played out.
The Grouse: Well, you've made
Hodcast: What
The Grouse: a made a really good point. Sorry to jump in there, Hod. But I think the Aussi way is to get behind the team that shows the Aussies some love. And right now the Niners are doing that and the Rams are doing the complete opposite, if we're gonna be honest. So I can see there being
Park City Lions: They're not even on the plane yet.
The Grouse: a massive Niners crowd in the at the MCG tomorrow.
Hodcast: Well not only get behind the team that's giving us some love, it's get behind the underdog, which the
The Grouse: Yes.
Park City Lions: Yeah.
Hodcast: Niners will be as well. So there should be a very large sea of red in the
The Grouse: Hm.
Hodcast: stands. And also the Niners are one of the most historic franchises, so I think there would be a fair amount of supporters anyway.
Park City Lions: There'd be a fair 49er contingent,
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: I agree. And I think the thing that tips them over, not only the fact that they've been here, but did you see what they got up to on the weekend? They were at Bunnings on the sausage
The Grouse: Yeah, sausage sizzle.
Park City Lions: sizzle for like a local primary school, just cooking the snags. Could you imagine going to the Bunnings that day and see them all packed into one of those little marquee things? It wouldn't be much room in there, but no, they've absolutely
The Grouse: Yeah. It's good.
Park City Lions: knocked it out of the park and just, I'm still floored and I still... I'm fascinated to see how it's going to pan out that the Rams, as you're listening to this, they're probably just getting off the plane. I reckon is how
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: it will pan out. So, but we, have a game before that as well, which is pretty exciting. So football
Hodcast: Mm.
Park City Lions: starts, as you said, Keeney, this pod will drop on Thursday morning, Melbourne time. And only a few hours later will there be kickoff for the first game of the NFL season. So it's pretty exciting times. I'm, I'm up and about.
Hodcast: That's a cracking cracking games to start the season. You got the Super Bowl rematch. Then you've got a potential NFC championship preview in the Rams and Niners. The Niners will be featuring at some point in the pointy end. it's a fantastic schedule to start the season.
Park City Lions: Sure is, and I don't know if you've noticed, I've for anyone watching on YouTube, and
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: if you're not, jump on YouTube, league down under. I've busted the, the jersey. It's come out of its, come out of its shell
The Grouse: Fine.
Park City Lions: behind me. I've gone and put, that's a Devon Singletary top up on the wall behind me for sure. Odell Backham.
The Grouse: All you players you like leave.
Park City Lions: I get to, I've, I've retired this jersey. I thought, no, he's done with the Giants, but there you go. So now my hope is if I put Saquon's jersey up. behind me that the same thing might happen in a few years time.
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: But enough of that. Let's get into the news. Every newsman in this city is laughing at us and I don't like it. And I'm sure last weekend was everyone finishing up their drafts, getting their teams already. We're currently in the process of one of our final drafts that was an impromptu 18 team chop league. How we feeling about our drafts over the weekend? Do feel like you've nailed it or you hate your team already?
The Grouse: well yeah.
Hodcast: Chop League or the
Park City Lions: Well,
Hodcast: two
Park City Lions: let's go with, let's go with the auction league, cause that's always a fun one.
Hodcast: Well, for me it was well documented. I was not happy on the night, but then looking at week one projected scores I'm third highest. So I can't have done too badly.
The Grouse: On ya Fernando. I I like the I like the DFF strategy of just spending up. There's always one that spends, blows
Park City Lions: Yep.
The Grouse: their load in the first five to ten minutes and then just has to sit on his hands for the rest of the night. So
Park City Lions: It's the worst.
Hodcast: the the str the double stranger. But
The Grouse: that was the DFF on Saturday.
Park City Lions: You
Hodcast: What what I said to you today, Ben, offline, via Textage,
Park City Lions: Yeah.
Hodcast: that the DFF might have got the scoring formats wrong, reversed in our leagues.
Park City Lions: for this chop league. He's definitely got it wrong, I reckon.
Hodcast: Well, he's gone double tight end real early in a single QB PPR, full
The Grouse: Single title, no premium.
Hodcast: PPR, no tight end premium, and
Park City Lions: Yep. Full PPR. Yep.
Hodcast: then he's tripled down later. And that is the format that would work very well and what I tried to him deploy in our tight end premium league.
Park City Lions: Mm-hmm.
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Hodcast: So I'm not sure what well we're never sure what he's doing, are we? But
Park City Lions: It's even more fascinating when you got 18 teams and you just know that a lot of talent's going off the board between picks to go back to back tight ends when there's no premium there. Interesting play, but he will have
The Grouse: No super flex? Hmm.
Park City Lions: the last laugh, I suppose, when he's eliminated week one.
Hodcast: He always does.
The Grouse: Hay
Park City Lions: we'll keep you updated on when we all get inevitably knocked out of that chop league. but let's, let's go to some NFL news here and we'll kick off with, I reckon this is probably the most interesting one. did say that the Patriots Seahawks game is 1020, Melbourne time here, but Trevion Henderson is still
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: in doubt, with that ankle injury. So it's a watch this space because I mean, it's twofold. Raimondo Stevenson's value goes up. significantly if he doesn't suit up for this game. yeah, just an interesting one to watch this space. I think that he probably will suit up for it, but yeah, if you're, I mean, Keeney, you are the Trevion owner.
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: How are you feeling confidence wise about that?
The Grouse: I hate these ones. I hate these ones. You almost don't want him to go. Because then it's an easy decision. When they're fifty fifty line ball game time decision,
Hodcast: Mm.
The Grouse: it makes it tricky whether you actually should start them. I feel like whatever you do, the opposite probably happens. So yeah, I'll be that's a ten o'clock game, so I don't have to wake up early to work it out, but I sort of hope I get some clarity before the game. We'll see.
Hodcast: Or we'll be talking about him in stock up, stock down a bit more.
Park City Lions: We sure will.
The Grouse: We will.
Park City Lions: Christian McCaffrey, we've spoken about him a lot off season. He finally is at practice. He is looking absolute certainty to suit up for this Melbourne game. And that's just going to be exciting to see because we can guarantee that we will see CMC live in person. George Kittle on
The Grouse: That's awesome.
Park City Lions: the other hand is, he's likely to play coming back from that Achilles injury. So probably a good chance he will suit up and then it will just be a usage situation at that point. Luther Burden fully healthy looks like he has shaken that groin injury and he's a good lock to start in week one. Egbuka though is a bit of an injury watch still with a turf toe. So that is a bit of a watch this space. I mean, we talk about when players like this are under an injury cloud, the upside of Godwin is certainly
The Grouse: Hm.
Park City Lions: on display there. And then yeah, Jacksonville. wide receiver room, getting healthy, all three options there in Parker, Washington, Brian Thomas, junior Jacobi Myers looking to start there in week one. They've all returned to practice. Carolina running back situation, Truba
Hubbard and Jonathan Brooks dealing with injuries. So geez, you hope this Jonathan Brooks one out of the two of them is just more like a precautionary. don't want to overdo it with this bloke. Cause I mean,
Hodcast: It's
Park City Lions: he's had the worst luck of any player start in their career.
Hodcast: It's just s just stiffness. So it's very precautionary.
The Grouse: He might be just be excited, Hod. Hey, with George Kittle,
Park City Lions: You
Hodcast: Yep.
The Grouse: with George Kittle, are you surprised? Like he did his Achilles not that long ago. Is this a this is an astonishing return if he suits up and plays at the MCG, is it not?
Hodcast: But you say surprised. This there's a new norm now. And there is a
The Grouse: Is it?
Hodcast: difference in technique. Yeah, there's a speed bridge technique which is stronger, gets them back quicker. And but everyone that's doing an Achilles now is back within nine months. And I know we're at eight right now, so he may be even ahead of that curve. But it's yeah, it's it's astonishing what modern day medicine is doing to these
The Grouse: Mm.
Hodcast: athletes. And it It must be held in the athlete sphere because they are doing the proper rehab every day. It's not your normal.
Park City Lions: Yeah.
Hodcast: but yeah, it's it's really impressive what they're doing. And just on Kittle, I can't see how they would have flown him all the way across the world for him to not suit up. That they would they ha they'll have him on a snap count for sure,
The Grouse: Mm-hmm.
Hodcast: but he will absolutely be out there. I'd be very surprised
The Grouse: Got.
Hodcast: if he he wasn't.
Park City Lions: mean, it's great for us to get to see all these players in person.
Hodcast: First touchdown.
The Grouse: Cool.
Park City Lions: Now, I haven't seen this written anywhere. Now, Aaron Donald has come out of retirement. Is there any confirmation that, and we don't know because they haven't got on the bloody plane, but is he a chance to be here?
Hodcast: Yeah, he's Yeah, yeah, he's he will be here.
Park City Lions: Jesus, this is going to be exciting.
The Grouse: It's gonna be great.
Hodcast: He'll play thirty snaps a game, but yeah, he'll be here.
Park City Lions: Amazing. Yeah, and then probably the last one. I mean, Nick Bosa expected to play. It's a defensive player. We don't really care too much about that when it comes to fantasy. So very, very excited with all those injury news there. It's looking very favorable for our matchup that we are to be able to see. And if you can't tell we're up and about to finally see an NFL game here in Melbourne. Interesting if you're on the first level though. just an oval shape and a rectangular feel don't tend to gel. I'm very glad that I'm up a little bit higher to watch this one because I think it's going to be a better vantage point.
The Grouse: Mm-hmm.
Park City Lions: Yeah, just an interesting way to fit.
Hodcast: It'll be you're spot on. It was definitely the first thing in our ticket selection, but you'd just be ecstatic to be there. Hundred thousand people, first of its kind, it's gonna be an electric atmosphere, that's for sure, and good on the Niners for getting out here, getting to the AFL. it's
Park City Lions: Mm-hmm.
Hodcast: just it's just all happening here for us, down under.
Park City Lions: Sure is. Now, speaking of all happening, this trade went down after we recorded the pod last week and it's, have to discuss it because it's got massive dynasty implications that saw the DFF getting Jalen Milrow and Drew Lock in. The guy who doesn't trade got those players in
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: and saw OJ's legal team getting Jim's 2027 fourth and the DFF's 29 third. I don't think there's an awful lot to discuss here.
The Grouse: Hod. Hod, this is a big jump ship first round player. Did he not take him in the first round? Milro?
Hodcast: Bottom twelve.
Park City Lions: Mmm. A hubris pick.
The Grouse: One twelve and eighteen months eighteen months later, he's selling him for a third and a fourth.
Hodcast: Yeah, well I mean, we've sung the praises. It's ironic that it's against the DFF who does quite the opposite. He'll hold them until they retire for no value. But that's what Jake does. He recognises that, yep, I may be made a whiff and we'll s just get rid of him for as much as
The Grouse: Something.
Hodcast: he can and this is the team to do it. to give it Jalen Milro to the Sam Darnold owner. So it's
The Grouse: So he's got three Seattle Cubans, is that right?
Hodcast: Yeah, so interestingly though interestingly
Park City Lions: Locked up.
Hodcast: the DFF had a chance to get Kyler and have the Minnesota quarterback room, but he has now chosen the Seattle
Park City Lions: True, he pivoted.
Hodcast: quarterback room. so that will be an interesting
Park City Lions: Mmm.
Hodcast: one to watch those
The Grouse: yeah.
Hodcast: two offences unfold this year.
The Grouse: Great detail.
Park City Lions: And Keenie, why don't you fill us in on some some league news or updates?
The Grouse: Yeah, just more broadly for the league. Finally got our Shit sorted for this year. So looking forward to it all getting started. But we have made a slight tweak to the the winners pool, and that is that we're going to employ a at what's called an empire dynasty pot where we'll keep collecting funds that sit in a high interest account and we'll accrue some interest, which will go towards some some league activities, some rookie night shenanigans hod. but At the end of the day, the first team to win three rings from this point on will be given the bounty of cash at the end of it. So it might take five years, it might take ten, it might take fifteen. But either way, there's some legitimately big coin on the line. And I am interested to see if we are in weeks eight, sorry, year seven or eight of this, how serious some trades get. If teams are s are on two rings and they're looking for that third one, we're talking Big
dollars here. So will teams get really aggressive to try and win that third ring, take home the Empire Dynasty pot. But a nice little fun wrinkle, boys, that we're going to introduce this year, and I think it's been well received and should add some spice, and everyone gets a go. Everyone, whether you're rebuilding or contending, three rings is very hard to do. We're in year seven, and no one's done it yet. So look forward to seeing where this one goes.
Park City Lions: Well, we've done the sales pitch. We've introduced all the teams and introduce you to everyone's personality and asked you to decide which team you're going to align with. This is the perfect time to get in Keeney. If you can align yourself with the team now that takes away that pot, you might even be able to get in on those winnings when this is a massive enough league and the fans are going to be able to jump on board there and help get it over the line. So now get in on the ground floor. It's the perfect time to be jumping on here. So let's finish. this series that we've had this mini series of getting divisional with our final division to review here. Divisional, divisional, wanna get divisional? Let's get divisional, let's talk division stuff. Never gets old. We are finishing with,
The Grouse: Good. That's good. I'm gonna miss it.
Park City Lions: yeah, it'll go into retirement for a little bit of time there. We're gonna finish now with the, as we've already covered, the most competitive division on paper right now, and that's the Vontay Mac division. It includes yourself, Keenie. It is tough sledding when you look at the Vontay
The Grouse: yeah.
Park City Lions: Mac lineups on paper here. So we'll just quickly start with. your team, the Grouse, are favored in the projections on Sleeper in six games out of 14. And then based off your formula of getting percentages of wins, let's round it up. 6.92, we'll round it up to seven wins just to put you slightly ahead of that. How you feel with going into this season looking as a six-win team?
The Grouse: I gotta be honest, it was a little bit jarring when that number came out. I thought I th I thought my team might win
Park City Lions: So yeah, the best
The Grouse: a few more games than six. I'm I'm I think I'm at the same wins total as Jim, but that's a bit sobering to think. But it it is because I look at my six divisional games and I'm underdog in all six, which speaks to the strength of the division. but I'm gonna have to try and jag a couple of wins early and a couple of wins late to be competitive in this one.
Park City Lions: Well, I'll just go back here because you compare yourself to Jim with the same number of wins here. However, you are facing an average of 120 points against and he's facing 103 points against. So that's where wins can
The Grouse: Yeah, well. Thanks hot.
Park City Lions: be stiff in this league. And as you said, a competitive division will certainly do that, but Iron sharpens iron mate, so it
The Grouse: That's it.
Park City Lions: does mean that if you come out of this division and make the playoffs you are in a very good position there. So time
The Grouse: Well
Park City Lions: for some stock up stock down on the Vontay Mac division. Now Keeney, we're gonna flip it here so you can be the decider. Hod and I are gonna
The Grouse: That's all.
Park City Lions: give our points about your plays and then you ultimately have to decide who makes the best argument. You might just align yourself
The Grouse: Look forward to it.
Park City Lions: with the stock up person every single time but... We shall see. So I'll kick it off with the first player for the Grouse, which is Tech McMillan. I am a stock up on Tech McMillan. I just think at his age with what he produced in his rookie season. Yeah, he's got Bryce Young as his QB. But I do think from a dynasty point of view, he's shown enough already that it doesn't really matter if you're rebuilding or contending. I think he is a stock up and someone I'd be looking to get in on.
Hodcast: Short and sharp.
The Grouse: Don't you dare.
Park City Lions: Gotta keep it moving today. We went probably a bit too long in the last episode.
Hodcast: Short, sharp, and punchy. just like this offense isn't. So I'm stocked down on Tet. I think love the talent. don't love the quarterback situation. I think that's a massive thorn in his side for this coming season. Bryce has to take an astronomical jump for Tet to really rise above this ADP because he is a su a young superstar talent. Has the draft capital, has everything, the size, prototypical X receiver, which is the best receiver to have when they work. But the offense is run heavy. I think we talked about it. I might have said, I might have given a narrative for stock up for Bryce, but that's the best case scenario. And I'm just not sure how this is going to translate for Tet, given there is just not enough targets in this offense for him to. really push into the top echelon, like the Drake Londons of the world, eight and above.
Park City Lions: Okay, verdict.
The Grouse: Nice Hod. I'll I'll use your thoughts on Bryce Young against you because you did say that the Panthers were gonna play with a bit more tempo, throw the ball a bit more this year under Dave Canales. So I'm gonna agree with you in that sense, and I do think there's enough target share here for Tet McMillan. I I just think year one wide receiver fifteen, he just needs to basically replicate that again or a little bit better, and his stock will either stabilize or go up. Like I it's such a great platform. To start. I think if he has another good year, then people will be buying into this as a top 10 dynasty wide receiver. So stock up for me on Tet.
Park City Lions: Okay, kicking off your first player with a stock up. Let's see how we go for player number two.
The Grouse: I'll be I'll be measured.
Park City Lions: Trevion Henderson here. And I'm kicking it off because I'm stock up on this bloke here. He's, what
is he on? Keep Trade Card. He's RB 18 going into this season here. He's 23 years old. He had an indifferent year. I'd say probably a frustrating year. as the Trevion Henderson owner with the amount of talent that was projected about this guy. Had more carries than Ramondre Stevenson last year, 50 more carries in the end, but the snap count was slightly more in favour of Stevenson. So my takeaway here, I know you're probably thinking, well, why am I stock up on this guy, but... I liked his efficiency last year. He's 911 yards on 180 carries, which puts him at 5.1 yards per carry. So to me, going into season two, that's usually when a bit more trust gets put into rookie running backs because they know more of the playbook, they're able to pick up on blitz covers more. So they have the confidence of the coaching. group there so I think that he's going to see more snap count percentage on the field this year and if he continues that efficiency I think that getting him his RB18 at 23 years old is a nice stock up option for me.
Hodcast: I agree. There's there is a world where that second year jump happens and the rookie is no longer a rookie and the coaches show a lot more faith in the player. But wouldn't we have seen that already by now, with a really solid offseason? Wouldn't we be hearing that Ramondre or not hearing that Ramondre Stevenson is still the better running back, still the better pass protector in this offense and I can't help but have the New England grain of ball security, and pass protection. They both go hand in hand and that's just something that I think is a shadow for Henderson at the moment. Ironically it came into the NFL with pass protection as a pro, rather than a con. And then his first year he was no good at it and this whole offseason has been Tainted by the fact that he can't do it still. So then you mix in this ankle injury. I just worry that he did eleven hundred touchdowns, eleven hundred yards and ten touchdowns last year, and that
The Grouse: Stuck up.
Hodcast: and that delivers an RB eighteen ranking. I mean that's a good year, but he has to do that again, and I just don't like the likelihood of that happening when Ramondre's still the number one back.
The Grouse: Yeah, he's clearly a very, very interesting player in Dynasty. I full disclosure, I've had some offers for him and I just can't do it. I probably should, but I can't do it. and for all the reasons Hod outlined, I would be ironically stocked down on Travian. There's just too many unknowns at the moment, but I can't let him go. I'm certainly not buying into it if I was on the opposition. Yeah.
Park City Lions: stocked down, just not selling him. Well, some people are named names.
The Grouse: Well, I'm not doing it.
Park City Lions: JK Dobbins is the next player up. Hod, you'll stock up on him. Hit us off.
Hodcast: I am stuck up on him because the only thing that held this guy back is injury. And last year he he did get injured ironically, but he still played
the thirteen games and the two years that he's played thirteen or more games, he's he's been an R B two or better. And this is a this is a pretty nice offense to be in and he is definitely the starter. in this offense. RJ Harvey is there. They drafted Jonah Coleman as a fourth rounder. It's good depth. But this is the starter. He's the first and second down back. So I'm going as a reliable when healthy, he's very proven reliable on the on the park. He's pr like what is he? RB forty. I just think that's a tremendous value for a starting running back in one of the Better teams in the NFL who I project to ha have eleven wins or more and win this division this season. So strong defense, run the ball. JK Dolvin's a starter. I'm that confident, other than injury, that he will be better than an R B forty this time next year.
Park City Lions: Hmm. I think there's a few, you made some excellent points there, but I do think durability is just the thing that I can't buy into with this guy. He had a resurgence last year and he had some excellent games, but he still only played 10 games last year, played 13 the year before that. And then outside of that, his rookie season in 2020, he played 15 games. So he's had some horrible injury luck. He is coming back from it, but. I'd like to see more than 10 games if I'm going to buy into a player like this. He's 27 years old. He's had some big injuries under his belt. The other part that I just worries me about him is he just doesn't catch passes. And I think when you don't have that role carved out for you on an offense as a running back, it just means that you can get game scripted out really easily. And you said that they're going to be a very handy team this year and there probably will be games that they are favored in and a head in. Actually that doesn't make my point so forget that part right there. I can't believe that I said that.
The Grouse: Nah, that's good.
Park City Lions: Anyway don't worry about that. The fact is that I see that RJ Harvey is going to find his way onto the field more often this season so for that reason Keenie it's a hard argument to pick.
The Grouse: Ye y you had me. You had me until I realised they're gonna be good and they're gonna run the ball a lot when
Park City Lions: You
The Grouse: they're in front. So
Hodcast: Yeah.
The Grouse: you did have me before then. Nah, I just I I think you're both right. I think it comes down to health with this guy. I think when healthy, extremely talented, extremely efficient, always has been. At the price I'm buying into it, I just think it's cheap for someone who is very efficient and very productive when he's out there. So it's a it's the type of price you'd take a swing at if you're an opposition team, I reckon. I'm not trying to sell him, but if if you only had to give up a small amount for him, and he's healthy, provided healthy, no brainer.
Park City Lions: Done, stock up. Colton Sutton will stick with the Broncos.
The Grouse: Hard your boy.
Hodcast: Speaking of no brainers, I mean you can't win
The Grouse: You love this part.
Hodcast: this one, Ben, because the man above us here on a screen bought into this for
Park City Lions: Yep.
Hodcast: this coming season because all this man does is finish as a wide receiver one. Or wide I'm I'm including wide receiver thirteen as wide receiver one because he's wide receiver fifty six. There is no player in the history of the NFL that finishes wide receiver twelve and thirteen in consecutive seasons. With an up and coming star quarterback, if he's not already, who's finished quarterback seven in two years, again criminally underrated at quarterback fifteen. All this offense does is throw the most in the league. So yes, they got in Jalen Waddle, but there's still going to be targets for Cortland Sutton in this offense. And I actually think that Jalen Waddell, in the type of player he is. He can do it at all three levels, short, intermediate and deep. And all that's going to do is open up what Cortland Sutton hasn't had the last two years as the number one receiver is the best corner with even double coverage at times. So Denver's going to score. They pass the ball a lot. And Cortland Sutton, whether Waddle eats into his opportunities or not, he still will be the number one red zone threat. And I think that is a absolute shoe-in to deliver above wide receiver fifty-six. Wide receiver one to a wide receiver five. Nothing's changed in that offense. Spare
Park City Lions: Yep.
Hodcast: me.
Park City Lions: It is, it's an excellent point for single season fantasy formats, but we are playing dynasty. This guy's 30 years old. He's got Jalen Wattle coming into the team, as you said. Yeah. He had a fantastic season last year or the last two years, but he's got competition and he's aging out. So, I mean, you can be buying players in, but if you keep buying aging players in for single season outputs, you're going to quickly lose value on them. I think it's about balancing out your roster. And I really do wonder at this point of the season right now versus this point next year, will he be of greater value or will he be significantly less value? And I think that the room for him to move up or down favors him moving down. he needs to produce what he did last year with more competition to even be considered. And the fact is, like you pointed out, wide receiver 12 and 13 and the general consensus still views him as wide receiver 56 tells you that he is trending in a downward direction. Even with output, I just don't see him producing the same level of talent on field this year. And for that reason, I see him trending down. So I'm selling him. Or stock down, whatever the name of it is.
The Grouse: Yep. so yeah. Don't get misconstrued, Hod, with my love for Cortland Sutton. The real reason for the trade was to get off my defensive player and send him to you in Travis Hunter and pick up some draft capital as well. no, but with with that said, I don't mind him as
a contending sort of depth piece, but I I'm with Ben on this one. I see why he's wide receiver fifty six. He is thirty one shortly this year. If he has a off year and we're talking he becomes a wide receiver two, almost his price might plummet again. Waddle, yes, but don't forget about my other man, Pat Bryant, in this offense who's got a lot of buzz. He's
Park City Lions: Patty B.
The Grouse: the one that could take some opportunity off Cortland Sutton. It might be a bit premature, but there's big things they're saying about him. So I'm with you on this one. Benny, stock down.
Park City Lions: Last one here. You got him in another player. You got in from another host here, Pat Mahomes. and I'm stock up on him. Look, I know I was just talking about dynasty and age and he is, I think just 30 or he's 31 is yep. Which is, mean,
Hodcast: Almost thirty one. thirty one. you
The Grouse: Young.
Hodcast: can't buy them.
Park City Lions: No, but
The Grouse: Da ha.
Park City Lions: QB is very different from a wide receiver and the proof is in the blokes who are still rolling around at 40 years old in that position and it has been done. This guy is showing that he has got the arm talent. He doesn't need his legs. Yes, he's got the legs. And that's, I know he's coming off the knee injury and that's sort of why he's dropped down significantly from his lofty standards. But that's the reason why I'm stock up on him. I actually think this is probably the only time for the rest of his career, barring the last couple where he is going to be this cheap. He's QB11 on Keep Trade Cut right now. I reckon three years ago, if you were able, two or three years ago, if you were able to get Pat Mahomes at QB11 prices, it would be an automatic buy. I just, I can't see the Andy Reid, Pat Mahomes combination slowing down, even with him coming off a knee injury. And the fact that he is well and truly on track to start week one after that knee injury coming off a season where he had, you know, 3,500 yards, 22 touchdowns, 62 % completion. I just, I can't see it changing, and staying the same if not getting better. So buy, please, or stock up at QB 11 value for me.
Hodcast: Well you say the Mahomes and Andy Reid combination, they were pretty ordinary record before up to the point he got injured last year. So I feel like there is a Kansas City I don't know what you want to call like the aura of Kansas City,
Park City Lions: tax.
Hodcast: it's opposite to attacks, but we just fall fall in love with this team because of what they were. And what Mahomes isn't anymore is a Is an accurate deep passer. The last three years he's been in the bottom third in the league, and that's what we we know them as. But since Tyreek Hill's gone, he hasn't been a good quarterback in the deep passing game anymore. And then last year, for his quarterback 11 finish, he did miss three games at the end, but he had an outlier five touchdowns and a lot of rushing last year, which that is not happening this year. Because we've seen the evidence that the first year back from a serious injury like the ACL, they take a significant reduction in design run plays and running plays at all. So when you combine what the offense is now without Tyreek Hill and they don't have that deep threat, combine that with the deep the injury, the lack of rushing, and then you bring in Kenneth Walker. I think this is going to be a very heavy run scheme for his first year back. I think the defence is still good, so that ties into that. And I do think he will be at what quarterback eleven or even as low as thirteen or fourteen, and in a year's time will be the perfect time to buy him because then he might have the bounce back because he's one year removed from the injury.
Park City Lions: points.
The Grouse: Yeah, very good. You did say it at the start, Hod. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing. And Patty Mahomes' knee, mate, don't worry about his knee. He will be rushing and he will be rushing this year. The he has hubris, mate. You know this. This is Patty Mahomes we're talking about. He will not let a little ACL get in the road of him pumping the crowd up because he's rushed for a twenty-yard scamper down the sideline. I can see it right now, mate. He's rushed for three hundred yards six years in a row. We're talking about a first ballot. Hall of Fame quarterback. QB11 is a ludicrous price on this guy. Stock up.
Park City Lions: Hey, just to recap, has he gone four stock up on his play?
Hodcast: Let's let's go ba yeah,
The Grouse: No.
Hodcast: let's let's just make a point.
The Grouse: Went two down.
Hodcast: When I did this exercise, Ben, you were very dogmatic on please listen to our point of views. Keeney has not listened to
The Grouse: I'm done.
Hodcast: any one of your or my points there. He had his whole thing rehearsed before we'd even finished. So this is a flawed segment. Ship off.
The Grouse: Next.
Hodcast: And put Ben back in this driver's seat and I can't wait to wipe the floor with you for the next three teams. That is a disgrace.
Park City Lions: Four out of, four out of five.
The Grouse: I did two stocks downs.
Park City Lions: You did four stock up mate.
Hodcast: That is bias Ho Ho
Park City Lions: you might have done three. don't know. You might. Either way, it's hilarious.
The Grouse: I did two downs. Come on.
Hodcast: Curiosity, respect.
Park City Lions: now for apologies for anyone
The Grouse: Hmm.
Park City Lions: listening. Hod is it's that's fired him up. He's screaming into the microphone right now. So apologies if that's
The Grouse: Courage.
Park City Lions: bursting your eardrums, but the man is passionate about this segment. Let's move to the second team here. I'll, I'll take the wheel
The Grouse: That's good.
Park City Lions: again. Pappas punishes. They are a favorite in 10 wins. I also I mean, I don't think we kept to our one and a half to two minutes per player. We
Hodcast: Now we got excited.
Park City Lions: got very excited. 10 wins.
He's favored in out of the 14, which is pretty handy. But when you go to the projections, 9.2. So
The Grouse: Mm-hmm.
Park City Lions: that tells me Keeney that there's a lot of games that he's favored in, but only by small margins. If it comes out slightly under or in the other games, he's getting absolutely blown out of the park. So.
The Grouse: Well, and th again, three and three in division games in terms of favoritism. So they will
Park City Lions: Mmm.
The Grouse: as we know with this division, they're gonna be absolute swing games. There's three early, three late. Crucial
Park City Lions: I
The Grouse: as always.
Park City Lions: like this one, Hod, week 11, he's projected to score 118, not too strong for a contending team, but he's coming up against another mighty opponent in the Humdingers who are projected now to score 23 in week 11. So an average week
The Grouse: What what have you done to your roster, mate?
Park City Lions: for the Punishers and he could win by 100. That's incredible scenes.
The Grouse: twenty three Nothing to answer for. That's it. As
Hodcast: No, I'm off ya. That was a terrible, terrible performance by you.
The Grouse: Get out of here. Come on, let's go.
Park City Lions: Alrighty, let's move on to the punishers themselves. First player up for us to talk about here is Caleb Williams. Keeney, your favourite. Stock up for him.
The Grouse: Yeah, I'll yeah, stock up slight stock up at QB three, can't get much higher. I think it's probably about right to be honest, but if I had to lean one way, I'd buy in just because I love the coach and I love the mindset of the coach. He has come out publicly and said, I know what the highest scoring team on record was. It was Denver with Peyton Manning. I want to break that scoring record this year. I want to pile on the points. I want to win by big margins. So Ben Johnson is motivated to put up massive amounts of points throughout this year. Caleb Williams will be the beneficiary. And I can see him having a monster year under Ben Johnson. They see stock up.
Hodcast: Well, I want a million dollars under my pillow when I go upstairs and I want a toasted cheese sandwich with jam on it after I find that money. We can want all we want.
Park City Lions: Good call back.
Hodcast: Ben Johnson, I'm not even sure he wants Caleb because
Park City Lions: Yeah.
Hodcast: he loves a system quarterback, and Caleb was mastery
Park City Lions: I
Hodcast: last year, but only in one area, fourth quarter comebacks. He actually wasn't a good quarterback, which Ben Johnson wants for four quarters in three of the other quarters of the game. So fifty eight percent was his completion percentage last year. So he isn't Exactly setting the world on fire. I'm really shocked by that current ADP of QB three. Are we absolutely sure that's correct?
The Grouse: Yes. Yeah.
Park City Lions: Mm-hmm.
Hodcast: Cause that's that's definitely news to me. It just makes my argument even more because I I thought he I thought he
should be around QB seven. so at this price, QB three, this is all based on positive regression for not only Caleb but the Bears for this coming season. Their schedule is way more difficult than what it was last year. He p he faces a lot harder defenses than what he faced last year. So I'm love the talent. I love Ben Johnson. But at QB three, he has to put up four thousand yards, which no Bears quarterback including him last year have ever done. He has to do that. And he probably has to get the Joe Burrow area of that thirty five to forty touchdowns. I'm just not sure we're going to see that from Caleb unless he's completion percentage goes up from fifty eight to sixty five plus.
Park City Lions: Good arguments. I'm gonna go stock down because I agree. I think this is his ceiling right now and I think there is a lot of cake baked
Hodcast: That's crazy.
Park City Lions: into everyone's mind is the crazy playoff fourth down play that he pulled off that
The Grouse: It is high.
Park City Lions: I think has rocketed him up as a young QB. Alright, next player because we've got to keep this moving. Drake London. Hod, you're high on this play.
Hodcast: I am. I think the community is because it's it it's just youth, it's talent, and it's the unanimous number one target. I think he's gonna get a plethora of targets this year. He's proven that look, we don't know about the quarterback yet, they haven't played together, but Tua has thrown the most passing yards in the league and he targets the best wide receiver. We s we saw that with Tyreek Hill and then Jalen Waddell when he wasn't there. So he does have a quarterback that can deliver in that aspect. I think we're gonna see a hundred and sixty plus targets, and that's what this game is. It's targets equals points. So if he's catching 120 of them, which would be a pretty average percentage of catches to targets, I can only see how this guy is above QB eight at the youth or the age that he has on his side going forward.
The Grouse: Yep. stock down for me. That's all good and well to say to us throwing the most yards in the NFL one year. That was about six years ago. and he had
Hodcast: It was three.
The Grouse: he had Tyra Kill Jalen Waddon Waddle and Mike McDaniel at the helm. So I don't think Kevin Stefanski with Bijan is going to be conducive to Drake London and to sling it all over the yard in Atlanta. There's too many uncertainties here for me with the offense, with the team in general, and I also think there's some rises in In the wide receiver land a bit below him. I'm talking guys like Mecha Begbu, some Luther Burden or Adunze, whichever one of those pops in the bears might both of them. Tet McMillan was spoken about. What if Ladd McConkie goes to another level in LA? I just think there's types that can leapfrog him at this price at wide receiver eight. Stock down for me.
Park City Lions: This is a hard one, I think, because I mean, you made the point there, Hod. He's safe as houses if you just want
to talk about targets, but then QB room and situation isn't great there. But I don't see him absolute ceiling with this guy breaks out this year and has an unbelievable season. So I'm pretty on the fence here, but I have to pick a side and I'm going to slightly lean to the stock down. Just mainly the tour stuff, I don't trust that guy's ability to put, he might give him 160 targets, they might be on his shoelaces for 110 of them. So, stocked down just slightly. We'll move on to the next player, Jackson Smith Njigba. Hod, you are stock up on this. Jace Jackson's super, Jesus super Njigba, sorry, is the, I forgot the nickname we gave him.
Hodcast: yeah, stock up I think for a few reasons.
The Grouse: On two.
Hodcast: Stock up, yeah, I was just gonna say it doesn't mean he's going up to one. I just think at this upper echelon a win would be staying at two
The Grouse: You're buying in. Yeah.
Hodcast: or even three. I think it's Puka, Chase,
Park City Lions: Mm-hmm.
Hodcast: and JSN. and if he's there at this time next year, I think that's a win because that's what you're asking your top receivers to do at the yeah, upper echelon. Nothing has changed in this offense. I think this might be the most disrespected Super Bowl winner of all time. Everyone is just riding them off. It's all about the Rams. I think they're going to have a chip on their back. And there is no one other than Rashid Shahid in this offense that is going to take targets away from him. He's he's going to be the same as Drake London. It's going to be a ridiculous amount of targets, but Drake London is in one of or what's going to be maybe a lesser offense to your points, Keeney. That's not the case with this offense. they are going to keep striving. And what I do like about this year is Seattle's got a much harder schedule. So they might not find themselves up as much as they were last year. I th I think they'll still have a good record around the ten to eleven wins, but I think they're going to be in much closer games than what they had last year. And that just means that there's going to be some more targets and throws by Sammy D. So stock up.
Park City Lions: Alright Kenny, Hod's taking up most of the time there so you're have to have a quick retort.
The Grouse: No, all good. Slight s slight stock down for me. And I do like that Hodd said that it's a stock up, but he'd be happy if he went from wide wide receiver two down to wide receiver three. I find that interesting. Last time I checked when you invest and you go down in capital, that's normally not a great investment. But anyway, we'll push on. I think Chase and Jefferson are are the clear still the clear two top top two wide receivers in this league. And I think someone like a Puka is nipping at his heels, someone like a neighbours is a wild card. I just think he sits With Armon Ra and CD in that tier, a little bit of a rung below. There's still, whether you like it or not, there's still a little query on the QB, let's be honest. So I just think he sits a little rung below. I love him. I just think QB2 is a little too high stock down.
Park City Lions: QB2 would be very high for a wide receiver. I am going to Keeney,
The Grouse: sorry. Why does have two?
Park City Lions: look, to use your own words in the past that superstars are not easy to buy.
The Grouse: Mm-hmm.
Park City Lions: People aren't selling them. So to me, to Hod's point. Even if he does sort of maintain his value, will slightly dip to a wide receiver three. I still think that this guy produces, he's consistent. I like your points, Hod, that nothing has really changed on that offense outside of Kenneth Walker disappearing. So it just leans more into the pass game there. So give me stock up. I see your points there, Keeney, but I'm going to finish with the stock up here on JSN. Moving on quickly now to Monty here, who finds himself in the Texans and Hod, you are stock up again.
The Grouse: I'll I'll start this one. I've had enough of hot starting this. I'm starting it. No, no, no. You can just you can read the other thing can
Park City Lions: Okay, it's changing the format. Hey, this is the other thing I'm to introduce. You guys need to time yourself. You get a minute and a half each. And if you go over, there's going to be penalties in my adjudication.
The Grouse: Alright. Okay, well you can you can retort to this old hod. Montgomery's stock down for me at running back twenty-seven. I can see the appeal for this year, but he the reality is he's 29, 30-year-old next year. We know how the dynasty community reacts to 30-year-old running backs. I just think he could be in the window for the Texans to outdraft him in a year's time. I see the appeal for this year. I worry about his age and the competition levels in a year's time. So for me, running back 27 could be a plummet.
Park City Lions: HOD
Hodcast: Mm Well RB twenty seven for how old is he?
The Grouse: Twenty nine.
Hodcast: twenty nine. So they've signed him to a three year deal. It probably will be a two-year deal. So I'll take a two-year deal with this running back that has the unanimous best defense in the league. They are going to give this offense a tremendous amount of short fields to work with. I won't spoil anything, but the next player that we're talking about is his quarterback, who I like to bounce back this year. And This guy's a shoe-in for 10 plus touchdowns. I think he's a shoe-in for a thousand yards given they are going to run the ball heavily, because that's what you do when you have the best defense in the league. And he still can catch the ball as he's proven in Detroit, even though he had Gibbs there. He still had a healthy amount of catches. And the only guy behind him is a fourth round running back from last year who proved he cannot be a number one or eat into a workhorse role. Which he would have to do to move Montgomery's stock down. So I really like the player for this year. I really like him for the next year after. even
if they do take one of the running backs in this draft, I think he still might hold a role for a year and that's still valuable for next year.
Park City Lions: I thought you were gonna get the time delay there came in just under. Yeah,
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: the point of the players coming in next year is certainly a worry. He's a two year player, but this is the year he's got his value running back 27. I'm gonna lean stock up here, sorry Keeney, but Hod made some very good points with that strong defense and run game. I do see that being the style for this
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: year, but Hod, you're about to now argue for CJ Stroud. So you've just made a point for how the run game is gonna be a solid play. Now you're gonna make a point for the
The Grouse: Yeah, this would be good.
Park City Lions: passing game too.
Hodcast: That's a very good point by you.
The Grouse: Yeah.
Hodcast: the only the only reason I well I like it with the defense being short field. I think there is the opportunity to score points. They're a middle ling offense in terms of implied point total, which is better than what they were last year. And this guy has to, after the playoff performance that he had last year, if he's got any ticker, then he has to bounce back. And it is the most pivotal contract year or year of his career so far. If he flames out, then they go in a different direction. So we like players in contract years. We like players that have proven that they can be a quarterback one in their rookie season. So he's got it in there and I think he'll be extra motivated to deliver this season and that's has to be then with his age going to be higher than QB twenty one. in a year's time with the bounce back.
The Grouse: We do we do like QBs in a contract year, but we also like them not to be awful. and that's the big question I've got on CJ because I can't get that playoff game out of my head. He was truly terrible in that one against New England, albeit in tough conditions against a pretty good defense, but For me, he's just a really risky dynasty asset, even at the price of QB twenty-one. You're right, he's put his own contract negotiations on hold because apparently the offer the Texans had in front of him was at the lower end or the middling end of the QB, and he's backing himself in to be worth more than that in twelve months' time. I think this could backfire and they could move in a different direction at the end of this year. So stock down for me on CJ Stroud.
Park City Lions: He's an interesting, I'm glad we picked this player because he's certainly a polarizing figure in a dynasty, league here. So, Hod, you made the point before that, you know, we could wish for a million dollars and wishing for him to, to bounce back from, last, his last playoff game. I think his best season has been his rookie season. And I still think that that was heavily touchdown dependent and he's still finished, I think, fringe QB one. now I know he's QB
21. So. I just, yeah, I'm kind of with you Keeney. I can't get that last game out of my head and I don't want that to be considered recency bias, but, I haven't been blown away with this by this guy and he loses tank Dell, you know, in this off season. He's I know he's not out for the season, but he just, he hasn't got as much
The Grouse: Tryden Higgins.
Park City Lions: Higgins is out. He's got Nico, which is always great. Nico is going to be a huge beneficiary, but I still come back to the fact that that defense is going to be good and it's going to be more game script dependent. And you know, he might do well from a real life point of view. don't necessarily see it from a fantasy point of view so stock down for me on that one. All right, let's, let's move now to our penultimate team in the Vonte Mac division here. The straight catch homies, we get to the McMahon finish here, the last two teams. Now this guy has gone and he has purchased this off season. He's really gone for
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: a tilt here and he, it's showing in he's favored in 11 games out of the 14. And then funnily enough though, you go to the projections and he's only 0.08 better than the punishers.
The Grouse: Mm-hmm.
Park City Lions: One game better in the favored, but only 0.08 better in the projections at 9.28. So we can round that down to a nine, just like the punishes. So I think it just highlights how competitive your division is going to be. I think that ultimately, when you, when this is all sort of said and done, that just highlights how good your division games are going to be to watch at the start and the end of the season. So, averaging 138 points. for the seasons, no slouch there and we didn't say it before, the punish is 135 average for the season two. So it says a lot. So let's get into the the first player here as I get my computer sorted for our stock up, stock down and that is Jaden Daniels.
The Grouse: Jaden Daniels.
Park City Lions: Kani, you're up.
The Grouse: Well, boys, I think at QA6 it is relatively in the top end of the the Q Bay ranks, but I think we're I think we're just quick to forget about how much of a rookie sensation Jaden Daniels was after one year. Pretty firmly entrenched in the top two dynasty QBs comfortably after that rookie season. We've seen him do it once, but very different of CJ Stroud. He didn't rely on touchdowns with his arms. He had multifaceted ways of scoring points, which we know how important that is in dynasty and at the QB position. So the dual threat element for me. He's so he's below Joe Burrow and above Justin Herbert. He should be way above both of those. That are more of your traditional pocket passes. the the floor he has with his legs, if he remains healthy, clearly a big if on the health, but it's only one year where he hasn't been. If he gets it all right, this guy will be an enormous riser in the offseason because he is a game breaker in Dynasty.
Hodcast: Yeah, I am taking the stock down on this. this is why I'm a little bit interested by the ranking because I commonly see him at QB three and Caleb at QB six, but I'll still go with the narrative. amazing rookie year, as you just pointed out. Eight hundred and ninety one yards and five touchdowns on the ground is basically a good running back season. So it's an absolute cheat code. And he tried to do it again in his second year and didn't just get one injury, he got three separate injuries, which shows the fragility of this player. And then when you take away your best, arguably the league's best left tackle in Laramie Tunsil, who was out for the year. That just screams alarm bells for me. Their implied point total is middle of the pack, but their implied win total is very much at the bottom. It looking like a top ten draft pick in next year's draft. So that doesn't scream well for the offense. I know they brought Diggs in. They've still got scary Terry. The run game's not gonna set the world on fire. So it is gonna again come down to him and David Blau is the new offensive coordinator in this system. Jaden Daniels has never played under center. And David Blau is now bringing their their offense to play from under centre. And that is an awfully scary prospect when you take your left tackle out. So he's going to have his blind side open the whole time if he is truly playing under centre like they want him to. The beat reporters have said this offense has been woeful against their defense and it's not a good defense. So it screams regression for me and stock down on this fragile player.
Park City Lions: You make some excellent points there and I was leaning your way Hod in the stock down category, but then the timer had it at 149 and I did give you a clear one minute 30 there. So it's taking some hits there and it's going to lead to a stock up for a, points penalty on you. No, no. Hey, hey, I make the rules.
Hodcast: Okay. That has nothing to do with what we're talking about, but sure. Sure.
The Grouse: That's rough.
Park City Lions: Our next player here, Puka. Is this guy going to suit up? this week. still remains to be seen. He's got suspension looming over his head so stock up for you Hod. How do you argue this point?
Hodcast: all you can argue is he's one of the best receivers
The Grouse: Yeah.
Hodcast: of all time in his first two seasons, and I don't see any reason for that to go away. Devontae Adams will probably regress. I could see him having more touchdowns than what he did. That was the only thing that held him back early in his career, and he answered that call last year. So he's more prominent in the red zone now. He's going to have an awful amount of targets in this coming season and I don't really have much more to add to that because I'm scared to get a penalty.
The Grouse: Yeah. No, you f you you said enough, I think. Look, I even though I am stocked down at the price of wide receiver three, I do think he is a star when he's on the park. He has had he did have an
injury sort of riddled season a couple of years ago, but he was a bit more healthy last year. I think he only missed one game last year. But we know what he can do when he's on the park. I just think he's a little bit similar to JSN for me in that sort of tier. I just think there's some murkiness about his future that l keeps me off wide receiver. receiver three prices. I think there's only there's only probably one way he can go this time next year and that might be drifting slightly down a little bit. And if it goes really if it you know there's some serious suspensions or anything else untoward or you know he just loses his mind full stop then we've got a problem. So I would just be fading him slightly at the price.
Park City Lions: Fair call there. And I do think the suspension side of things has to weigh into your thinking here, but he has shown that he is a star player on the field and I'm going to show the optimistic side here in it and pick a stock up because when he is playing and when he's healthy and when he's on the park, is unbelievable to watch. So let's hope that that continues in that sense, stock up for me. This guy here. Keenie, you've selected stock up for Kyle Pitts, the tight end at Atlanta, and I'm very intrigued where you're going to go with this.
The Grouse: Well, have some patience, boys, because good things take time. And this guy has taken his time, but there is no doubt he was Riddled with injuries, we had high expectations on this guy, high talent, obviously. but I thought last year he started to put it together. And we actually saw that in terms of, you know, targets, he was a second ranked tight end, receptions second ranked, receiving yards for a tight end number two, air yards number two. So we're starting to to stack together some good numbers here. And in these last six weeks he was a tight end one of the season for Atlanta. So That's some consistency we haven't seen for Kyle Pitts throughout his career. I made the case with London that the offence is a problem. I maintain that, but I also think Tua could absolutely short yardage under over the middle, you know, could feed him more so than getting it out to Drake London and others. So I'm actually optimistic that this guy, if he has another tight end one season, people will go, well, hold on, this bloke was talked about as the next great tight end, and we're starting to see it, and we'll buy into it. So tight end eight.
Hodcast: Now, rules are rules. If you are stocked down on another player in the same offense because of the quarterback who can't hit a shoelace, then
The Grouse: I didn't say that.
Hodcast: I'm not talking about you, talking about the host, the mediator, the one that's deciding this. then why is that going to be any different? And spare me on consistency. He had a quarter of his season's points in one game last year. If you take that game out and still give him ten points in that game, which is still whatever, he's the tight end twelve on the year instead of two. And he's been nothing but inconsistent for his five years before that. I I can't stand the player. I think Drake London is the alpha in this offense. And like I said, if you take that game out, even of the six consistent games, if you want to call it, it's just It it s ruins the whole season, like the ranking of the player, and I think it's just heavily skewed because of that one game. So
The Grouse: Do you know what he scored that week, by the way?
Hodcast: forty nine.
The Grouse: I want someone who can put a fifty burger on the board. Thank you. Case closed.
Hodcast: yeah, he needed another catch for that. But yeah, no. It's
The Grouse: No? Okay.
Hodcast: well that's one game in his six years that he's done that. So I don't know if you can say I don't know if you can
The Grouse: How many have done it? How many have done that?
Hodcast: say that. Drake London wasn't in that game either. So if we're not
The Grouse: Has Drake done fifty?
Hodcast: if we're not gonna project injuries, then Drake London's there when Carl Pitts is there. Stock down.
Park City Lions: We've picked, we've picked a perfect player here for the listeners to just hear the two of you. It is, this has brought up some raw emotion, which I love as the mediator here. look, Hod, I typically hate the argument when people are trying to make a point to say, if you just take out the very best that someone performed, then this.
Hodcast: I only brought that up because
The Grouse: That's right, but
Hodcast: he mentioned consistency, that's the complete opposite.
Park City Lions: And that, and I will agree with you on the conceal the lack of consistency part. The other thing I really don't like when talking about tight ends is using the, the, the data metric of he was a tight end one. I don't really give a shit if someone's tight end 12 it's that's pathetic. I want them to be tight end one, two, three consistency every year. So unless I'm guaranteed or I'm confident that this guy is going to produce in a tight end three manner. I really don't want tight end eight right now and I'm don't have the confidence that he's going to pull out another 49 burger. I will be pleasantly, wrong or happy if I'm wrong in that sense, because if this guy does turn into what he was touted to be as a rookie, then the league is better for it. But I just can't get around, outside of what he's produced already. So stock down for me. Sorry, Kenny. we will move
The Grouse: All that.
Park City Lions: flat. We'll move to the QB of Denver Bo Nix who's coming in with an ADP of QB9 I'll just stock up on the man with very few syllables
Hodcast: I certainly am. This would be one of my what was that segment we did earlier in the year? If you could have any player in the league, you would. I think
Park City Lions: Hiya.
Hodcast: at this price, QB nine, for what he's delivered, QB seven in his first two years, I think that's a great buy. It's the perfect quarterback to buy stock into at his age, in this
offense, in this team, under this head coach, which Keeney knows all about and loves. what I have heard and read about Denver and Bonix is Sean Payton has had the training wheels on him for the first two years. He hasn't given him the full playbook and all that's done is delivered QB seven. So I can't imagine what he's going to do when you add Jalen Waddle into the mix now, which whether you like Sutton or not, Sutton's been great, he'll still be reliable. But now most people view Waddle as this super weapon wide receiver one that the offense needs to really unleash it. and I like this team to go twelve wins in the season. So I I figure him to feature very heavily again and I wouldn't be surprised if we're looking at a QB top five QB in Dynasty this time next year.
The Grouse: Interesting. He's an interesting player. He's he's quite polarizing because if you actually watch him last year, they were the kings of the comeback, Denver. I think they won eleven games by under a touchdown. And he saved his best for last, Bo. He he often his first three quarters were pretty ordinary, to be fair. And then his fourth quarter was when he pulled out all the stops and and came back. The the interesting thing I wanna talk about about his profile, so his in his first two years he's had n 92 rush attempts and 83 rush attempts in his first two years. Coming off that gruesome ankle injury, Hod, are we are we convinced they will just hold back Mahomes style and not make him throw the ball a bit more, maybe not run as more. He's you he's obviously run for 400 yards both years with five and four touchdowns. That's a lot on the ground. So he's sneaky on the ground, probably more so than people realise. And I just wonder if that injury is going to hold him back. So I think the inconsistency. of him plus that rushing maybe downfall or or step back slightly is cause for me just to sell at the price.
Hodcast: This is the biggest contradiction ever after your Mahomes argument. You ignored the injury and said he's gonna run, run, run.
The Grouse: Mahomes. He's got hubris.
Park City Lions: Different injury.
Hodcast: What is it? What is it, Ben?
The Grouse: Correct.
Park City Lions: Yeah, no, and I think, cause you made a very good point with the Mahomes stock down, that is why Bo Nix is stocked down here. I also didn't really like how it ended last season when they lost and the whole Sean Payton talking about him with the injury and yeah, it was a very weird way to finish. And that certainly has been swept under the rug. So let's move on to the final, cause I'm very conscious of time now. final player for the straight cash homies and that's another Denver player, RJ Harvey. Keenie will stock up despite being
The Grouse: This
Park City Lions: stocked down on the QB.
The Grouse: Yeah, but this is different, isn't it? This is great conversation.
Park City Lions: you
The Grouse: I I'm quite enjoying the the back and forth tonight, Hod. You're very good at it. I just I just think
this is a disrespectful I think we've I think even you've spoken about this, Hod, so I'll be interested to hear what you say. But at running back thirty-two off the back of his rookie season, which consisted of double-digit touchdowns We're talking about six weeks where he had twenty PPR points as a rookie. he got going in the back half of the year. I I understand they've brought in Jonah Coleman. I understand J.K. Dobbins was injured last year, but I still don't think they're just giving up on this bloke. Sean Payton picked him specifically a year ago. He's still their pass catching back. I actually think he's got a relatively high floor, and at running back thirty two, I didn't think. he did a whole lot wrong as a rookie to warrant those prices. I I can't believe he's not firmly and firmly in the running back two region in the in the 20s. this seems a massive overreaction to Jonah Coleman. So I will buy in at running back 32 in dynasty.
Hodcast: You are correct. I did similar to Sutton it's something about this offense. similar
The Grouse: Mm.
Hodcast: to Sutton, similar to Nick's. I I do feel that nine hundred yards, total yards, and twelve touchdowns as a rookie is nothing to balk at. But it's not about what we think. It's about what Denver and Sean Payton thinks. And i with all of that information, they've still got JK Dobbins. as the RB1. They still went and got Jonah Coleman. And I think that's just a depth piece. so let's not make that too much of an argument. But I think what it is is it's the one of the worst rushing averages in the league in 3.2 yards per carry. It really wasn't great when he gave when he got the keys. He didn't run away with the starting role and that's what I'm going off for this coming year. As well as he's now been given the third down pass catching role and I just don't know how much this offense this this team is going to be trailing for that role to really flourish. So hence why I'm up on JK Dobbins because of the role. So I naturally have to be down, but I do agree it's pretty harshly done by for a pretty productive rookie season.
Park City Lions: I like your consistency, Hod, with your JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey. think it's hard to argue with what he did in his rookie season and it was a relatively slow start for him as well. So I do see him having value purely as that pass receiving, running back option there. So I'm going to have to go stock up just with where he is based. I do think that that offense. Being the receiving back is better than running back 32 from a dynasty point of view at his age. we will move on now because we have to move relatively quickly through here and we've saved the very best to last according to not only this, projection, but when you speak to the man himself, he's got a very high opinion of where his list is at and he's not short of telling people about it. It's prestige worldwide. They are favored
The Grouse: But yeah.
Park City Lions: in 13 of the 14 games with the very last game
of the season is the one he is not favored in by under three points. So it's that's how close it is. He's averaging 148 points projected for the season with 113 against projected for 10.66 wins. So let's round that up to 11. That is easily the best of anyone in the league. It is prestige worldwide. So let's, let's see what players we can go with here. And I think Hodge, you are up first and you absolutely love this player. And that's the pocket rocket
Hodcast: I certainly do.
Park City Lions: Devon Achan.
Hodcast: I certainly do. one of the most bulletproof players in fantasy football. The only argument against this guy is going to be the offense this year. But the offense hasn't been good in the last two years. And he's still finished RB five and RB six. He is a seventy yard touchdown waiting to happen anytime. And so that means even if they're getting the ball deep in their own territory, he can still score. He just needs one gap. He is they're gonna be playing from behind a lot. So he is still going to be the number one offensive threat, both on the ground and through the air. So he cannot be game scripted out. And the big unknown is Malik Willis. We've got six game sample size. Is that enough to say that a running quarterback won't pass to this weapon as the pass catching option out of the backfield? I think When Malik Willis is faced against all sorts of challenges in his first year at the helm, I think this is going to be safety valve and he is going to continue to be a top five R B in fantasy football and he will maintain his stock up.
The Grouse: Yep. I'll I will strongly go stock down on running back six, a couple of things. I think you've mentioned it. I mean, it's the elephant in the room. The offense could be that bad that it actually really hurts this player. certainly in the next twelve months. I mean and the other big unknown which you touched on is Malik Willis. And I understand you're saying that sample size of six games, we're not you know, we can't be convinced that just because he hasn't done it in the first six games doesn't mean he won't look to feature a running back out of the backfield, but I think it gives us a good idea because I just I I don't see many running QBs that actually feature dump off passes to their running back. That's the whole point. So I think the situation with Tua was perfect last year. We spoke about it this time last year where they needed to get the ball out of Tua's hands for obvious reasons quickly and he was the main beneficiary. So I just think with the names around him like Kenneth Walker is rated below him. Chase Brown is rated below him. Brees Hall is rated below him. I can see these guys, James Cook, I can see these guys leapfrogging. I think HN jumps down a little bit to running back 10 range by the end of the year. So stock down for me on HN.
Park City Lions: Look, yeah, bad offense. knew that was always going to be the argument for a Miami player. But when you look at their wide receiver
room, like Washington, Bell, Douglas, it's, it's pretty putrid. think 2-2 Atwell might even feature in there. But, look,
The Grouse: Try it in.
Park City Lions: it's, it's been done before. And I'll go back to an Owen 16 team that featured an RB 11 in Duke Johnson. I do think Devon A-Chain is better than Duke Johnson. And I do think that the dolphins might even squeak out a win if they're lucky. so Joe Mixon on a two and 14 team, you know, like there are players that can produce and if there's anyone that can produce on a bad offense with the poor wide receiver room, it's going to be a Chan and I've got to go stock up, because there's more than just this season as well. And I do think that this offense, when they get this rookie QB class coming through with a bad year this year injected into their, this guy's going to be. way higher than RB6 looking at next season. So if you bought him now at RB6, stock up going into next year. I'm looking at the long-term play on that one. Kenneth Walker. Now this guy got brought in for an absolute bag
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: for the Chiefs. Keenie, you'll stock up on him at RB9.
The Grouse: Super Bowl MVP, if you don't mind old Kenneth. I've done a big 180 on this bloke at the start of the season versus or start of the fantasy sort of research versus now. I'm all in on Kenneth Walker this year. don't have him in enough redraft leagues, but the more the merrier. You made some some interesting points around him previously, Hod, around their willingness to run the ball a bit more. I just think there's not only a potential for that to happen, because you know, you've got to you've got to look at all potential options. I also think the efficiency attached to Kenneth Walker in this offense will be the difference. He is a home run hitter. He will be able to break off big chunks of yardage at a time. And he's a featured running back with no competition. In I still think will be a respectful, if not above average, offense in Kansas City. I really like how they're going to use him. And I just think, as I spoke about with A-chan, I'd be shocked if he's not rated above Han this time next year. So stock up for me on Walker.
Hodcast: Well, you're consistent with that because you brought him up in the A chain argument that you think that he should be above him or will be above him. I just like players that have done it. And so this is completely a projection. It is the off-season darling, and that concerns me. I agree that they're going to use but I I wouldn't say that they're going to entirely use him because he's proven every year in Seattle he always had a 1B. it was Charbonnet always behind him. So something always stops some very good offensive coordinators from giving him the bag. And I think they worry about the durability of this player and that he's not an alpha running back that can handle a full workload. So RB sixteen was his average over the last three years as a dynasty running back and not playing one down in this upcoming season, he's up to R B nine. I just think that is an absolute ceiling price and I like the chances for him to not return on that for this year, considering he hasn't run down yet. So stock down.
Park City Lions: I just out of curiosity was part of your argument for stock down on my homes that Kenneth Walker was brought in.
Hodcast: yeah. Or the investment on the running game, yes.
Park City Lions: Okay, investment on the running. Okay. Yep. No, that's a fair point. Look, I went into this thinking I'd be selecting stock up, but you do make an excellent point on the amount of rise that this guy's had just purely by talking alone. It's probably too big a rise right now. And I do think that if you were getting him at RB 18 prices, then I'd absolutely be smashing the stock up. So I'm kind of with you on that one. don't, I have never really trusted his durability and that is still the big question mark. Over this play here. So I'm gonna go stock down with you. Hold you you swung my opinion there So very good debating on your part. What about this? offseason darling Bachel toton He's Matt's got some real hyped up players on his list now that
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: we start to look at it So how do you all stock up on this guy?
Hodcast: I am, and it's purely a Liam Cohen argument. This guy all he does is produce good offenses with good running backs. And last year Basel Tootin came on really strong at the end of the year. He's one of these athletic freaks, so can't ignore that a lot of this is projection given that he hasn't done it over a big sample size, but the end of last year was pretty encouraging. So encouraging that Jacksonville have not invested in a starting running back through the free agency market or the draft following the end to last season when he came on really strong. so if he is given the keys to this offense, they have a pretty high implied point total of 23 points for this coming season. And I like him as the starting running back in a Liam Cohen offense. So Stock up on R B twenty two, if he cements this role, I think we're going to be looking at a borderline R B one for the season a ahead next year.
The Grouse: Yep. stock down for me at running back twenty two and talking about Like to see someone do it before I invest in it hot. This bloke has rushed for 307 yards in his career and he's running back 22 in Dynasty. he has gone from running back 40 all the way up to running back 22. Very, very buzzy. And if you didn't think Kenneth Walker had done it, what's this bloke done? I'm not convinced he's an alpha running back either. And I think, yes, the front office like him. Wanted to get off the ETN contract, but I can absolutely see them going a different direction in the draft coming up. I also think there's a reason he didn't feature much last year. There was concerns on his ability to run between the tackles and ability to see vision. I think those concerns remain. I think it's a big, big leap of
faith to suggest this guy's just going to be an RB1 just because he gets opportunity. So stock down, not buying that.
Park City Lions: It's a very good argument you have there Keeney and I can't help but get past the key word you kept bringing up there Hod, if given the keys, if he's the number one running back, what his potential looks like. I'll just quickly run you through some numbers here of 1,440 total yards and 12 touchdowns on 238 touches. What might I be referring to? Chris Rodriguez Jr's college
The Grouse: Ooh.
Park City Lions: production when he had Liam Cohen. as his offensive coordinator in Kentucky. So
The Grouse: very good.
Park City Lions: there's a big if there. And for that reason, and possibly being the, the Rodriguez owner, am stocked
The Grouse: Ha ha.
Park City Lions: down on Basial Tutin.
Hodcast: I'm glad you glad you made reference to that.
The Grouse: no. Good.
Park City Lions: All right. CD lamp. Let's go.
Hodcast: C Darien
Park City Lions: Stock up, you win.
Hodcast: Stock up, thank you. Arrest
The Grouse: Yeah. I've got I got that.
Hodcast: my case. I think the impact of George Pickens is real. is he the one A to the one B now? You probably have to argue yes, but I just love this offense. The number five implied point total, over twenty-five points a game for this coming upcoming season. I really think that CeeDee Lamb is being a little bit slept on considering where he was for so many years around the up wide receiver three and four. And he has faced a little bit of injuries the last two seasons. But when healthy, he is still the alpha in one of the best offenses in the league. And I'm more confident that CeeDee Lamb returns to what he has done for his whole career. than George Pickens' outlier to repeat for his second year in Dallas. So I don't really have too much more than that. I just think that it's a nice price for CeeDee Lamb and someone that if I was contending, I'd be trying to get with the anticipation that he jumps back into the top five wide receivers for next year.
The Grouse: Yep, and I I don't have a lot on this guy either. If it cost me the the little stock up, stop down win, fair enough, I'd be a slight lean down. I'm not hugely committed to it because I think he's right I think he's a priced about right. He will be twenty eight next year, which is starting to get to the point where I c it this is just a dynasty formula. This is just what happens, rightly or wrongly. so I just think the pickens factor factor is is I think he's better player than Pickens. and I still think Dallas will be good. So I'm I'm okay with the price because I think that's probably about his ceiling. So it's just a small lean to stock down for me, basically because I think just the way Dynasty treats receivers when they hit that age curve is the reason he'll slide a little bit.
Park City Lions: Yeah, you both bring up some excellent points. And I think Keenie, you kind of hit the nail on the head from a dynasty point of view that that 30 number is the scary number for a wide receiver that tends to see people jumping off. So 28 jumping off before you see that 29 figure tends to be where people get wide receiver seven though for a superstar is fantastic value. So I guess it really just comes down to what way do you want to lean? Do you want to run the gauntlet of will he produce, you know, wider seven, wide receiver seven to five numbers this year, with a Pickens regression to give you a position to possibly sell next year? Or do you just ride this guy's career out because he's an absolute star. I'm gonna lean in favor of, even as a rebuilding team, I'm still gonna go stock up just because you know what this guy can produce. I don't see Pickens producing to the same level again for second consecutive season, so give me a wide receiver of 7 value for CD-LAM, why not for a stock up here. And we'll go to the last player and we picked the most polarizing for last, T Higgins. For the Bengalis, this guy talk about consistency, can put up a 35 burger and can also just be
The Grouse: Mm.
Park City Lions: game scripted out if his counterpart Chase is dominating. So Hod, you are stock up on this guy. Talk us through it.
Hodcast: I certainly am, and yes, it is always concerning. you can't sugarcoat that when you have the best receiver in football opposite him. But you also have one of the best quarterbacks and the best offences in the game with the highest implied point total. So pick like we just talked about, Pickens and CeeDee Lamb can both be wide receiver ones and there is zero reason why T. Higgins and Jamar Chase they can also be the same. Wide receiver twenty-three is the lowest he's been ranked in dynasty in two years. And I'm not sure where that's coming about. Maybe it's all of these young receivers that are coming up and getting paid. But I like this receiver who has outperformed wide receiver twenty-three in four out of the last five years, the only season being when he played two thirds of the season. So I'm just looking at the adjacent wide receivers around him. Marvin Harrison, Jamison Williams, Rasheed Rice, Roma Dunze, Jalen Waddle, Zay Flowers. Outside of Jalen Waddell, personally, I think I'd take T. Higgins over every one of those wide receivers who all have question marks on them.
Park City Lions: Hmm.
Hodcast: So for me, I think he's gonna be borderline wide receiver one this year. He's still only twenty eight, so until he's thirty plus I think he's gonna return on that value.
The Grouse: Very good hod. stock down for me on T. Higgins. I can tell you why he's the lowest he's been in Dynasty. Because in the words of Queen, I want to break free. And he wasn't able to break free from Jamar Chase with a extension of his contract. And so all Dynasty players were worried about was him moving to a new team and being the number one man. And guess what's happened? That ain't happening. Over the last five years, top 12 finishes at the position. T Higgins 18, Jamar
Chase 34. This is a problem for him. Whenever he's he's he's just locked into the number two receiving role, whether you like it or not. And to be honest, if you didn't have both of them, like Thais does. He'd be a hard one to start. Like week in, week out, knowing what you're gonna get. I mean you probably have to at this point, but I I honestly think it's all to do with he's locked in at the Bengals and his upside is capped. So with that said, with the age increasing, I'm a stock down. And for the singing, surely I get the vote of approval.
Park City Lions: Look, there's a few factors at play here. I, I think Hodger up against it on this one for a number of reasons. One that Keeney broke out a Queen song mid argument. That's a pretty hard sell point. So you went one minute 32 in your,
The Grouse: give him a spell. No, he's he's getting angry, mate. He's getting angry.
Park City Lions: I'm a man of my word on the time. But, the, and the final reason, and you're really not going to like this is that I invested in this guy last year in a redraft league to be my wide receiver one. And he had a shocking year with injuries. So I think I've just been burnt for that. And for that reason alone, I just don't know, you know, it's, it's an emotional game fantasy. and as much as you
Hodcast: No it's not.
Park City Lions: try and bring data and analytics into it, we all fall into the trap of, of, emotion. And for that reason, Hod, sorry, you're up against it, it is stock down. Four T Higgins there. Now we did say we'd try and keep this one a bit faster and we've gone basically the same amount of time as last week, but well done boys. They were some excellent arguments. And if
The Grouse: Mm mm.
Park City Lions: those discussions don't get you up and about for the start of
The Grouse: Yeah.
Park City Lions: this season, I don't know what will.
The Grouse: You got me hot. Eight to seven, I've been keeping track.
Park City Lions: very good.
The Grouse: Yeah.
Hodcast: It's a jewel.
Park City Lions: Well, it just highlights how balanced our arguments were and the points that were brought up there. Well done, guys. That was an excellent exercise in just trying to provide a counterpoint. know that it's sometimes hard. It's like a debate. you might not necessarily have fully agreed with what you were launching into, but you just it's always good to present a side there. So how do we feel about those points there? But more importantly, how do we feel about the season starting?
Hodcast: Pretty pumped. Question without notice boys. Fantasy MVP. Who is it?
The Grouse: Brock Bowers.
Park City Lions: goodness gracious. I am gonna go Jamar Chase.
Hodcast: Jimir gives for me. The one one
The Grouse: yeah.
Park City Lions: Yep, very nice. The one you got in the Chop League, not a bad way to start.
The Grouse: Your man. Nuclear. But to answer you to answer
Hodcast: Ha ha.
The Grouse: your question, Ben, I reckon the the benefit of doing an exercise like that is to acknowledge that fantasy can be random and there's range of outcomes and different things that can occur. So it's good to look at devil's advocate and go, Well, if this happens, then you know, don't be so single minded in in your approach to to fantasy. I think that's important.
Park City Lions: Absolutely and don't be afraid to relate it to a Queen song. So that's all from the League Down Under. Whether you're rebuilding, contending or convincing yourself that next year's your year, thanks for tuning in. Hit us up on Instagram for all the league banter, that's the League Down Under on Instagram. And subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode or bonus content. We'll catch you next time when we can actually discuss some results. And remember, flags fly forever but so do screenshots of terrible trades. Get excited boys, season start.
The Grouse: Good luck everyone. Up the grass.
Hodcast: Elbor.