0:00all across the fantasy universe. Welcome in to the Fantasy Points podcast, Brian Drake, joined alongside the guru John Hansen. And John, very
0:08special show today as we welcome back one of our great friends of the show, Adam Shfter. And he's always out there
0:14breaking so many news articles on, you know, contracts for players in the NFL and NBA. And we're happy to say here,
0:22he's got a new contract with ESPN. And guess what he did? The first thing he did, John, he's coming to talk to you
0:28and I on the Fantasy Points podcast.
0:39>> How you doing, brother?
0:41>> I'm doing well. You You got to love it.
0:42And And Adam is is so busy. And as I've stated a million times, I am very hesitant to send him texts, especially
0:49during the season. I don't want to bother him. I know he's got a family. I know he's got a life. So, uh, this
0:55become a little bit of a tradition. I kind of just just release all my questions here heading into training camp. So, as we gear up for Mr. Shfter,
1:06let's welcome him right now. Adam, how are you, sir? Thanks for your time. You ready for the season?
1:11>> Well, whether I'm ready or not, John, it's starting, so I have no choice but to be ready.
1:16>> All right. Well, I I came up with a bunch of questions and you know, I know you don't like to delve into all your
1:24insider notebooks and all that. You like to talk fantasy with us and that that's what we'll do. But of course, most of
1:29the questions are veiled insider questions and we just try and get the answers through how you would react to fantasy. So, let me start with one that
1:39I've mentioned here on our podcast a couple of times and I even said I even dropped her name. I'm like, I'm going to
1:44ask my guy Adam Shfter about George Pickkins. So, let's start there. We all know not signed a hasn't signed a long-term contract. He's playing under
1:55the franchise tag. So, should I be worried about George being a little upset? I've interviewed George. He's a he's a very combustible guy. I mean,
2:06when he harnesses it for positive, he can be unbelievable. But I do worry about George being a little ticked off.
2:12So, what's the latest in in your mind on George Pickkins?
2:16>> Well, here's what I would be on that, John. He cannot sign a contract extension this year. He cannot.
2:22>> So, July 15th deadline came and went. He is officially on the last year or that one year French.
2:30>> Oh, >> 27.3 million deal. So, if he gets traded before the deadline, he can't sign an extension. Dallas loved what he did this
2:39year. Can't sign him to an extension till after the year. He's on the one-year deal. So, what I would say to
2:45you is this. I was on George Pickkins last year. I took him last year. I had him on one of my fancy teams in my two
2:51leagues.
2:52>> Yep.
2:53>> He is an incredible [clears throat] talent that has never been in question.
2:57He is as talented as any wide receiver in the National Football League.
3:03I would say this about him this year just as I would say it about any player who was playing on a tag who didn't get
3:10a long-term deal. What happens if Dallas isn't winning later in the year? What happens if George Pickkins hamstring is
3:20bothering him? What happens if there's any sort of injury? Is George Pickkins pushing through when free agency is ahead? Now, he may he's going to say all
3:31the right things and I'm questioning his competitive spirit. I'm speaking practically about any player who would be in that situation. And we've seen
3:41some over the years.
3:42>> Yep.
3:43>> They are as interested in securing and procuring their future as they are in fighting through an injury to be out
3:52there on Sunday. Is George Pickkins going to be the guy that grinds through when he's on that last year of a deal?
3:58He might be. He might be. That's not a bet I'm going to make.
4:02>> Adam, the first overall pick in the draft, Fernando Mendoza, went to the Las Vegas Raiders and then they go out and
4:08they they bring in Kirky Cousins, who, you know, we love here on the show.
4:11John's been a big fan for a long time.
4:13There's talk out there that, you know, maybe they don't want to play Mendoza right off the bat. And I'd love to get
4:18your thoughts on how long until we actually do see Mendoza and what kind of dip because you're a fantasy player just
4:25like us. We've got two Raiders going off ADP-wise in the top 25 and Ashton Genty and Brock Bowers and you know their
4:32fortunes are tied to this quarterback position. So what's your thoughts on the QB play in Vegas?
4:37>> I think that they want to stick with Kirk Cousins as long as they can into the season. I think they want to get a
4:44chance for Mendoza to be acclimated and get used to the NFL game, observe the way that Mahomes once did. But if we
4:53look at their schedule, right, like there there's a difficult stretch, but if you look, they have a buy in week 13.
5:01The Raiders do a buy in week 13 and come home for three straight home games against the Chargers, the Broncos, and then
5:12uh Bron Chargers, Broncos, Tennessee at Arizona, at Casey in the last game of the year. who knows what anybody's playing for in that last game. So again,
5:23if we're just going to say on paper, just looking at it, that would be a natural time for me to bring in my
5:29rookie number one overall pick for three straight home games. But again, maybe Mendoza outplays Cousins in camp.
5:38Maybe his talent shines through. Maybe he outdles Kurt Cousins. You know, Kurt Cousins is such a crafty veteran. I just think it's going to be safe and easy to
5:46start him to open the season.
5:49Do the Raiders win some games? Do they stave off the conversation for Mendoza?
5:55I mean, if we go back and look, I think it's the last five quarterbacks selected number one. They've all started the
6:00opener. So, Mendoza would be the first one not to and like the last five or six number one overall picks. He'd be the
6:06first one not to. Now, I again, I think the Raiders want to start Cousins in week one. I think they're planning to
6:13start Cousins in week one. The Raiders play in week one. They play the Miami Dolphins at home before a road game at
6:20the Chargers. Again, I think the plan is to go with Cousins right away.
6:24>> We had the great Leenian Tomlinson on this very podcast, Adam, two weeks ago, and I asked him about Ashton Genty, and
6:30I was a little surprised. He said that Ashton Genty last year on a bad team remind what he saw from Genty last year
6:37reminded him a lot of LTZone rookie year back in 01. He's kind of all in on Genty. Look, I get it with Kubak. I'm
6:46really into Bowers. I'm feeling it. But what about Genty? You Yeah. Okay.
6:52>> Me, too. On Bowowers? Oh, yeah. I feel the same thing on Bowowers. Absolutely.
6:56>> How about Genty? You would Are you willing to take him on the round one two turn? You know, let's say he slips to
7:02pick 15 in your ESPN war room league.
7:0515. Would you take Genty there or >> I I'm not there yet, John.
7:09>> Okay.
7:10>> I I I'm not hesitating on Bowers at 20, 18, 19, 20. Like, not hesitating.
7:15>> Gotcha.
7:16>> Is ADP Genty? I I I have to hear more, see more, learn more before I'm going there.
7:22>> Talking with the great Adam Shester here on the Fantasy Points podcast. We just saw yesterday, Adam, that uh Alvin Kamaro restructured a contract with the
7:30New Orleans Saints. And that raised a few eyebrows in the fantasy community because so many of us thought that Kamar was kind of going to be put out to
7:37pasture. They're going to release him, whatever the case may be. So now you've got this backfield with Travis ETN and you've got Alvin Kamara. I mean, I've
7:44been in on ETN all summer. I think he's he's going to be a really good player. I love anybody in a Kell Moore offense,
7:50but this throws a lot of cold water onto it because you got to think Elvin Kamaro is going to play a significant role on
7:55third downs and that just takes so much off the the shine off of ETN. I I don't know. I don't think I could draft ETN at
8:03that ADP right now.
8:05>> I always say follow the money. They paid my running back. And Chamra, I think the idea here is first of all,
8:14he's a fan favorite there. He's a franchise legend. And I think the idea is he has not been healthy. They need to
8:21preserve him. So you use him where you need him in certain spots. I don't think that that diminishes the type of year
8:28that they're expecting from Travis Han refers to himself. Han, not >> Travis Han. Um and that's going to be an adjustment too to say that. But
8:38>> it's terrible. It's tough for us old guys here on the show.
8:41>> Yeah. I I have tough enough time with technology, no less pronunc uh to do both all in one fantasy season
8:48is very hard as you guys know. To me, I'm okay with Travis Hchan. Like I get no problem taking him. Uh I've done a
8:54couple of best ball drafts. I like to just do it just to see how the draft unfolds and and I took Han in one draft.
9:02I'm okay with that. Um and but I'm not worried about the fact that Camaro is back and how [clears throat] it cuts
9:08into his role. I think Camaro will come in. I'm going to guess he plays a certain number of plays a game. He has
9:14some some big plays, but they're going to lean into a Chan.
9:18>> Adam, you are pretty close and you've been uh you know pretty close to the Shanahans for a while dating back to
9:24today's covering his father Mike in Denver. So, a couple of Niner related questions. I think we go here every year. You're a little bit of an aegis
9:32like I am. So, we ask the question again. Are you willing to take CMC at like seven overall? And how about George
9:41KD? Are you into the depressed cost uh to that it would take to acquire George or does the advanced age and the injury
9:49comeback worry you a little bit?
9:52>> You know, CMAC, how many touches he have last year?
9:57>> Million. What's the history of running backs, veteran running backs, coming off however many touches he had last year?
10:05>> 414.
10:08>> Okay. What's the history of guys who have touched the ball over 400 times in a season the next season? Almost.
10:13>> Not good. I think a Larry Johnson on the Chiefs. The last time CMC did it in 2019 had 400 touches. The next year he only
10:20played three games. Look, look, that guy is a freak and maniacal in the way he takes care of himself, his body, how
10:28seriously he takes his craft. Like, he is he is the standard by which all that is true. But he still is older. He still
10:38had the 415 touches. And it's hard for me to imagine that wouldn't have some type of impact on him. the data, the
10:46rushing data was really bad for for uh McCaffrey based on, you know, what he's put on tape before. It's all about the
10:54receiving, you know, getting 100 plus targets really puts it over the top.
10:58>> Yeah. Yeah. I I uh I have questions just because of all the touches.
11:04>> Yeah.
11:04>> Question about the kind of player he is and how he takes care of himself, but the record the track record of players
11:10who have had those touches is not favorable.
11:13>> Right. How about KD because he's kind of defying father time up until the injury last year. But, you know, I know the
11:19recovery has been a little atypical here from that Achilles.
11:23>> Yeah, those guys are freaks. You know, McCaffrey and KD both. Um, the thing about the tight end class is like I'm
11:30rooting for George KD to come back, but in fantasy, I'm probably looking elsewhere for tight ends. There are so many good tight ends.
11:36>> There are >> values at tight ends. Like I'm I'm I'm probably not going to gamble on a guy coming off a major injury as great as
11:44George KD is. And to me, he's a Hall of Famer.
11:46>> Yeah, >> we're doing fantasy, right? Fantasy.
11:49>> I I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll go younger and healthier. And by the way, I may regret that.
11:56>> Please tell me you're in on Tyler Warren in the fifth round because I think that is the easiest click on the board for
12:04me, Adam, this year is Tyler Warren in round five. I was in on Tyler Warren last year. I had him on one of my two
12:09teams.
12:10>> Yeah, we were too.
12:11>> Loved having he he he like the rest of the offense. Tailed off after Daniel Jones went out. Nobody on that offense
12:18was the same. It seemed like um I like him. I I I wouldn't hesitate, but I I don't view him as the easiest click on
12:26the board. That that that's not that's not how I I view him as a guy that I I have no problem taking. Right.
12:32the way you do, John.
12:33>> Adam, I'd be remissed if I didn't ask you about my Philadelphia Eagles here.
12:37We're going to have Shawn Manion calling the plays now. Uh, you know, the Kevin Patulo era is over and with that, we see
12:43new values for Jaylen Herz, for Saquon Barkley. Saquin, you had to draft in the top five last year. That's no longer the
12:48case. You can get Saquon Barkley in the second round. I said recently that I think Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens being healthy for a full season will be
12:57more impactful on the Eagles offense than losing AJ Brown. I'd love to get your thoughts on the Eagles offense, the new play caller, which is an unknown to
13:05all of us, and you know, are you buying into Jaylen Herz in this new kind of timing and rhythm offense where maybe he
13:13doesn't get all those tush pushes and you know, we know the rushing upside so valuable and and if those offensive linemen are healthy, Saquon Barkley, I
13:21think, is a massive value in round two.
13:23>> Uh, I've been big on the Eagles offensive line and the health of it for a while. like I do a weekly spot on
13:30affiliate radio station. I've been saying that for weeks now that the key to this team isn't the offensive coordinator. It isn't Jaylen Herz. It's
13:38how that offensive line holds up. If they hold up, they'll do well. Now, you know, the thing about the offensive coordinator, too, Shawn Mang may be
13:45great. He may be great. And I know that they think he's going to be great. He's also, I don't think, ever called a game
13:53at the NFL level. I know he's played quarterback. I know he's been around great minds. he has not his own game and
14:01there is a difference in the way that that happens. And so again, um that's the kind of thing you just you can't
14:10predict.
14:11Uh hold on one second. Hold on a second.
14:14Hold on a second.
14:15>> It's all right. Adam Sher is uh doing some work literally right in the middle of the podcast. But that's what he does.
14:22You know, how many times you see him on camera on ESPN and he's not listening because he's replying to an email or
14:28text from a GM.
14:29>> Thank you, John. So, again, you know, Shawn Mang has to show everybody what he can do as an coordinator and the
14:35offensive line has to stay healthy and so all those things tie into the value of Saquon Barkley and how Jaylen Herz
14:42performs. They're all kind of interconnected in way. and it's set up for them to have a nice strong season, but you still have to see it from them
14:50before you can sign off on them.
14:53>> I'm totally with you, Adam, on the importance of the play caller and all that, the experience uh of the coordinator. So, among, you know, and I
15:02I get it from the team's perspective.
15:03You're always looking to catch lightning in a jar with the next Shawn McVey, basically the next young guy. So among the new guys this year, the
15:11aforementioned Shawn Manion, Laflur in Arizona, David Blau in DC. He's never called plays. I mean, it was a third string quarterback just a couple years
15:20ago, and of course the clan Doyle. Is there any one or two of those guys based on everything that you've gathered or
15:27heard that you you're feeling pretty optimistic about this year?
15:31Uh again, all of them come with great reputations and high expectations, but I don't think any one of them is called plays in a game.
15:42>> Right. Right. How about the Ravens coming in with the second highest expected win total? I was shocked. Uh based on what, you know, I mean, any
15:52thoughts there? Because it certainly bodess well for Derrick Henry, you know, Mr. I Produce when the Ravens win. Um certainly both I like Mark Andrews to
16:02bounce back but do do you make anything of that? I mean the only thing I can think of it's the books are looking at
16:07it as an addition by subtraction with the old staff out.
16:11>> Um listen the Ravens Lamar has fared well under new play callers over time.
16:16Every time he gets a new offensive coordinator he's an MVP candidate. Uh maybe even has one MVP if I'm not mistaken.
16:22>> Wow. Yeah.
16:23>> And so he's got a bright young offensive play caller and Declan Doyle. again, Declan Doyle work with Shawn Payeyton, work with Ben Johnson. Um, still hasn't
16:34called his own game and and people love what the guy can do. He's he's, you know, he's an ascending coach. He's got
16:39a great future, but we got to see him call plays in a game to learn his style.
16:44Haven't seen it yet. So, and there are some questions on these guys, and I always come back to that when I'm
16:49drafting players. Like I know Seattle won the Super Bowl last year and Jackson Jigba is has been a dominant wide receiver, but what is he going to be in
17:01Brian Flurry's offense? What is that going to look like? I don't know.
17:05>> Not going to look as good as last year.
17:06He's definitely bound to regress.
17:09>> Again, Clint Kubak's gone. Brian Flurry's calling the plays. Brian Flory has a great reputation. The Seahawks loved him. Hasn't called plays in the
17:17game. What does that look like? I just think that's a it's a big question on a lot of these people. You can't bank on
17:24Jackson Smith and Jigba doing that because he's got um a a new play caller and we could apply that to any of these
17:31places that have new play callers and a lot of them do.
17:35>> Adam, a lot of these teams are searching for new play callers because really the NFL has changed the way they play
17:41defense. We can attribute some of that to Patrick Mahomes and everyone now playing these two high safeties. So, it's changed how the running back, it's
17:48what's old is new again, and people are drafting running backs early. So, you're a big-time fantasy player. Anytime I see you on a show and you get a chance to
17:55talk fantasy, your eyes light up. What are you doing in the early rounds? Are you back on like that old school
18:02training? You'll go RB RB early. Do you like to mix it up? Like, how does Adam Shfter go into a draft? Will you take a
18:08tight end?
18:09>> I I I I go I go into football and basketball drafts the same. I just there there are certain guys that I just like.
18:14There's certain guys that I I have not enjoyed going up against recently and and I try to I I'm a big young guy. Like
18:22I you know, Christian McCaffrey, as great as he is, wouldn't be a pick for me. Like it's just I'm not into
18:28>> Same.
18:29>> It's just not I'm not going there with my early picks. I'm just not doing that.
18:32I want a guy that's early in his career, still hungry for that first contract, you know, maybe just got paid, you know,
18:38like Jamar Chase and wants to prove it like, you know, mid20s like that. That's what I'd like. Early to mid20s.
18:46Um, so what what am I doing? I have to see the pick numbers that I have this year before I can even answer the
18:51question.
18:52>> We know you're taking Brock Bowers in round two if you get a crack at it. As am I. Adam, uh, we heard the name uh,
18:59Brian just mentioned, Mahomes. How about this KC offense? I actually feel pretty good. I think they're going to be looking to return to the roots with Eric
19:08Benemy. I think that was what the Kenneth Walker signing was all about. I think as our friend Leenian did say in
19:14this very podcast two weeks ago, they probably got a little too cute um you know with Naggie out there and maybe a
19:21little bit more of a commitment to the run which ironically could open things up downfield for Mahomes. Any thoughts there?
19:27>> Well, that's what I'm expecting with Benny. I think that they're going to lean more into the run like they have in
19:31the past. I think that'll be a major part of this offense. Mahomes is coming back from the knee injury. I have no
19:36doubt that he's going to be out there on opening night. I just don't know how effective he's going to be coming off a
19:40sign.
19:41>> I think it's going to take a little time. I mean, he's he is unbelievable the way he bounces back. So maybe back
19:47the first night and he looks like Patrick Mahomes and I'm not going to be surprised by that. But it's hard for me
19:51to think that he's going to be 100% week one. Like I I just don't think that that's physically possible. You know,
19:57the fact that he's he's back. One second. I got people. This is crazy. One second.
20:02>> That's okay. Adam Shfter answering another very important text right now as he continues to do his job. Hardest working man in the NFL. Still to this
20:11day answers text faster than my wife does. So, >> um, and so again, he'll be out there, I
20:20believe. I just don't know. Is he 80% of homes, 90% of homes? When does he become 100% of homes? Maybe it's not this
20:27entire I don't know, but it was a major knee injury. Major knee.
20:32Adam, you're on the clock in your fantasy draft. End of the fourth, early fifth round. Both Bears wide receivers are on the board. Roma Dunay, Luther
20:41Burton. We know everyone in the fantasy industry is all over Luther Burton. The guy literally did it in like one game
20:47last year at the end of the year in the fantasy playoffs. Which one are you leaning on? Who do you trust? We know
20:53we've got a Dunes with the foot. We got all the hype in the world for Burden. We got a great play caller behind him. What
20:58is Adam Shfter doing?
21:00>> So, you're taking a Doom, aren't you?
21:01Huh.
21:02>> Yeah.
21:02>> I like it.
21:02>> Couple rounds later, Adam.
21:04>> Oh, the ADP is not that crazy. I mean, they're like a round apart.
21:08>> Yeah. You know, it's kind of weird.
21:10Dunes was I think the 10th overall pick in the draft.
21:12>> Yep.
21:13>> And and was viewed as this like receiving prodigy and all of a sudden people are valuing Burton over him and
21:20and Luther Burton did look amazing last year at the end of the season. So, uh I like both those guys. I got no problem
21:28taking either one. I think I think both should eat, especially without DJ Moore there.
21:32>> Okay. How about the Jaguars? Um, arguably the hottest team in football down the stretch, the best offense in football down the stretch. Are you
21:42buying that they're still ascending under Liam Cohen or do you have some skepticism about their ability to just pick up right where they left off last
21:53year? They did lose a Chan, Travis Achan, and it's going to be a Bashel Tutin, a little Chris Rodriguez, and maybe a little bit of our guy from
22:02Syracuse. But are you buying the Jags?
22:05>> I am. And what were we talking about throughout this podcast? Inexperienced play callers.
22:11>> Right.
22:12>> Liam Conn is not. Grant Yudinsky and Liam Con worked together last year. They had that offense performing at a high
22:19level. And so they lose a ch. They loved Toutin last year. They like Chris Rodriguez an awful lot. Uh Laquaint Allen came on and contributed. Like I
22:29think they're going to lean on all the guys.
22:30>> Yeah, I do too.
22:32>> I think all of them could step forward and have a role at some point in time.
22:35But I don't have doubts that that offense isn't going to shine. Like I think they're going to be good again. I
22:43just that's just what I expect because that's what that coaching staff has done. They've elevated the level of play of their players consistently. It's why
22:51Jacksonville hired Liam Con away from Tampa and it's why why would it fall off in year two there? If anything, it
22:58should be better.
22:59>> Okay, I'm No, I'm with you. And and look, last year one of the worst things I did was give love to Brian Thomas, but
23:05I thought Liam Cole would >> do very well with Trevor Lawrence and that happened. What about those receivers? Because they're all going off
23:13the board, Adam right around the exact same time, you know, like sixth, seventh round. Parker Washington was probably the most impressive of them all, but
23:23Brian Thomas has had a good off season.
23:25Jacobe Meyers, did you do you if let's say they all go in around seven at 88 overall, you had your choice of all any
23:33of the three. Do you have a favorite among those three?
23:36>> I I think Huh.
23:42I I like them all. I I don't have a strong lean one way or another. Okay. I I I don't. But I think if I'm going to
23:50put all of them in a basket, the guy that I would probably gravitate towards is Parker Washington just because >> I mean he he he really produced last
24:02year at Kmart. And I'm trying to think if they I know they resigned Jacobe Myers last year in the season. Did they
24:07resign Parker Washington? They get a deal done with him. I think they did.
24:09>> Not yet.
24:10>> Not yet.
24:12>> Okay.
24:12>> Yeah, that helps too. Yeah. One thing about the data is I remember seeing this and this is why we did fantasy points
24:18data because when remember Jacobe Meyers left he goes to the Raiders who had Hunter Renfro but our data showed that Jacobe Meyers could win on the outside
24:29and kick ass and he did and that's the exact same case with Parker Washington.
24:33The numbers you know he was slot but the numbers uh for Parker Washington outside were very good. Like you saw the
24:40preseason, you saw the and then he was one of the most impressive receivers in the league last year, Adam, I think.
24:45>> Oh, he was he was unbelievable. And look at his numbers down the stretch, John.
24:48And so that's like I was trying to see, did they sign him? Were they trying to sign him? What's going to happen there?
24:53If if we see a deal done for Park, it's a nice healthy number. I'm going to be uh justified and and that's going to
25:01prove that yeah, I got no problem taking him over the others. But I I I do think Jacob is going to produce. Do you think
25:07Brian Thomas gonna I think there's a role for every >> two wide receivers got traded in this off seasonason. Well, among the players
25:13traded there were Jaylen Wadd going from Miami to Denver and DJ Moore going to the Buffalo Bills. I happen to think DJ
25:20Moore is going to have a really good season in Buffalo as the GM was bullied by the fans into making a trade
25:28and getting someone on the outside for Josh Allen. And we know, you know, the great talent that Jaylen Wadd has going
25:34out now to Denver to play for Shawn Payeyton. Between those two guys, who do you think can have the bigger season and
25:41and I, you know, DJ Moore, I just keep seeing that middle to end of fifth round ADP, you know, Adam, and I my eyes light
25:48up and I just go, this guy has the chance to get double digit touchdowns in Buffalo and everyone's kind of sleeping
25:52on him.
25:54>> Well, because the Bills like to spread the ball around.
25:57>> Yeah. Yeah. So does Denver. John and I, we complain about that every Sunday.
26:02>> Correct. And by the way, like I've spoken to some people in Denver about this. I'm like, you know, I'm talking
26:06fancy. I'm like, how how do you think it's gonna shake out? And they're like, Shawn Peyton loves to spread around to
26:12all the guys. One week it could be Courtland Sutton, another week could be Jaylen Wadd. Another week it could be Adam
26:17>> Lucas Croll. Oh, >> it you you just don't know how it's going to go. And I think that's that's the frustrating part. as great as Jaylen
26:26Wadd is, they have a lot invested in him, >> right?
26:29>> A first round pick. So, so I think he's going to have a lot of good weeks, but there are going to be weeks when
26:34somebody else Troy Franklin and they step up and you like what happened to Jaylen Waddle here just I mean, think back to Shawn Peyton in in
26:44New Orleans like Jimmy Graham was probably the only guy that you could consistently count on and that was for a certain period of time and then it was
26:51all over the place, right?
26:52>> Totally. Like and that's just what he does. Shawn Peyton, he he tries to be unpredictable. He tries to keep a lot of
27:00people happy. He spreads the ball around. A lot of malice to feed. When's the last time we saw one guy I mean
27:06Marcus Coloulston was a consistent performer in New Orleans.
27:09>> Yeah. Yeah.
27:09>> But [clears throat] but then all of a sudden De Henderson would have a big game and then Mike Thomas had one great
27:14year or a couple of great years, you know, before he got hurt or or off like injury. So, I mean, there there's
27:24Buffalo and Denver are similar in that regard that they like to utilize all their people, which works against both those wide receiver acquisitions.
27:32>> Well, Adam, I always bring it up, but 16 years ago, I was on the TV show The League, uh, playing myself, getting a
27:42fantasy football question, and one of them was about Robert Meechum, and I said, quote, "Shawn Peyton is evil for fantasy football. He's the Dr. Evil of
27:51fantasy. He is currently right now working on route combinations for receivers you've never heard of and he's just that's nothing's changed. He's the
28:00he's the same guy. So, I got to I got to ask you about my Vikings though and and what happened with JJ McCarthy. Clearly
28:07the worst thing that I got. I blame my hubris on this one. But, you know, then again, the offensive line was in
28:15shambles.
28:16What what is there a story here or was it just McCarthy wasn't ready and he stunk and they brought in Kyler and I
28:24certainly understand that and by the way I think Kyler is going to do very well but I know you're a Michigan man so I'm
28:29hoping that you're loyal to McCarthy because I'm certainly not giving up on JJ McCarthy.
28:34>> Nor am I. I'm not ready to write him off yet. I I think we're going to hear from him again at some point in time whether
28:39it's the start of the season, during the season, after the season, whatever it may be. We're not done with JJ McCarthy.
28:44We've seen enough comeback stories in the NFL in recent years. Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold.
28:50>> Yeah, >> we go on and on with all these with all these stories that have been coming in.
28:56Um >> Doug Williams, let's go back 40 years for Doug Williams.
29:00>> Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Um so, uh to me, it's a case where I think at some point in time Jay McCarthy is going
29:10to get another crack. I think last year um was his that was his second year first year he was hurt he hasn't been
29:18healthy at all has for a full season the offensive line wasn't great like there's a lot of reasons why it didn't and by
29:26the way like some of it is selfinflicted and self-induced but >> of factors it's not just one thing it's not like JJ McCarthy stinks and it's
29:35time to write him I don't think that's my opinion and we'll see out over time >> I remember after that first game, all
29:42your colleagues at ESPN, you know, Jeff Saturday and Damen, they were all just waxing poetic about the brilliance of JJ McCarthy with the comeback and it and it
29:52was surreal. Uh, but man, everything went went downhill from there. Well, that's good stuff, Brian. Adam has not given up on JJ. Neither am I.
30:00>> Well, somebody that is being given up on in fantasy drafts right now is Malik Neighbors. Adam, that there's folks that
30:08a month ago his ADP was still in the second round and now he's fallen off.
30:12He's in the fourth round now. People are kind of wishy-washy on him. They don't know if they want to buy uh the dip on
30:18the injury. Uh I don't know what you may know behind the scenes about Malik Neighbors and when he could come back,
30:24but if Malik Neighbors on the board in the fourth round, is Adam Shfter drafting him?
30:27>> I haven't drafted him in baseball much.
30:30>> Okay.
30:30>> Uh boy is that guy I I drafted him as a rookie. He was incredible. incredible and that injury last year scared me and
30:40Metife scares me and um I mean it was a serious injury and I really want that guy to come back because he is dynamic. He is incredible.
30:51He has enough talent to be as good as any wide receiver in the league. Am I picking him over other certain guys? I'm
30:57bulking this year just because you know it takes a while to come back from these ACL especially that position. Um, >> so I like the guy. I want the guy to be
31:07great.
31:08>> I think he will be great again.
31:10>> Are you taking him over some other guys?
31:12Like what's what's his ADP right now?
31:13About 30 35.
31:15>> Uh, he's going to say, but >> 38.
31:19>> 38 in baseball. He's going right after Lad McConi, right before Ted McMillan and Garrett Wilson.
31:25>> Yeah. Would you rather have T McMillan or Garrett Wilson over him? I mean, that's, you know, it's an interesting question, right? Like
31:31>> it is.
31:32>> The the the upside is there. The upside we know is, but you know, is he gonna miss the start of
31:38the season? Is he gonna be on Pop?
31:42Um, I don't know. I I want to see more there. I need more information, more data before I'm signing off one way or
31:49another on. But >> how about Cam Scataboo? We've seen people >> they love that guy.
31:54>> Need need some time to return from that injury. But I look at the way they're constructing the roster. They brought in
31:59Patrick Ricard clearing the path for Derrick Henry for a number of years. The O line looks pretty good. I think they're going to be all about power
32:06football with Cam Scataboo. And I like Scataboo in the fourth round.
32:09>> Modernday John Rigggins is what it certainly seems like. And you know, there period last year when you watched him, you're like, man, this guy's a
32:16dynamic fancy running back. And it looks like he's healthy. It looks like he's going to be back. If he's back and he's
32:22healthy, uh should be a bonafide player.
32:24Like if I if I didn't get a running back early, like I'm not going into the dressing like I'm going to get Cam
32:29Scataboo. But if all of a sudden I I went wide receiver, wide receiver and all of a sudden it rolls back around and
32:37I'm I need a running back and he's there, I'm fine with that. Like I'm okay with Cam Scaboo there.
32:41>> We have um a man, Drew Davenport, who's an attorney who does, you know, comes on this pod and we we talk the legal cases
32:48and he breaks it all down. He is not that worried about Josh Jacobs. But we ask you again, you're on the clock. ESPN
32:57war room draft. Jacobs is at that point.
33:02It worries you. Okay. What What do you got on Jacob?
33:04>> Well, I I don't know what's going to happen with that kid. I I don't know enough about it. Like the guy that comes
33:09on, why is he not concerned about it legally?
33:12>> He said that uh a lot of the times with Well, the reason he was arrested, it's a Wisconsin law. someone has to be
33:19arrested in that domestic situation and uh and with that and some of the things the attorneys are saying behind the scenes where it it looks like it could
33:26be pushed to a 2027 issue and not necessarily it's something this year I've missed out on guys because I'm worried about discipline taking hold
33:34like you know I'm on on um I think we were waiting on I'm trying to think who it was there have been various guys through
33:43the years I just I [snorts] don't think the league messes around with that stuff and Even if it's not what some people
33:51might have thought allegedly or it is like it's still an incident. It still could be subject to discipline. The league is not going to error to the side
34:01of caution. It's going to error the other way.
34:04I don't know. I don't know enough about it legally to say, well, I'm comfortable taking him early. And then that goes on
34:10top of the fact that he's a veteran that's had a ton of carries. A ton.
34:14>> Yeah. So, we got the physical questions, we got the off the- field questions, and and as great as he was, and he was
34:21on my team last year. I loved having the guy.
34:23>> Just a couple more real quick, Adam, we'll let you run. Uh, the great Adam Shfter, but please tell me you're in on
34:28his teammate, by the way, Christian Watson, because that was a case of I don't know if I've seen a guy improve
34:34his hands in year three or four as well as he did last year. And now you got Dobs and Wixs gone. I do think they're
34:41going to be concentrated targets. We'll see about Tucker Craft and his injury, but are you in on Watson?
34:46>> I I like Watson. I like Jaden Reed. I like Matt. I like I like all those guys.
34:50Um it just seems like they've taken out some of the options and it looks like there, you know, there are fewer mouths
34:56to feed, so to speak.
34:59>> Almost guess and Green Bay has been like Denver and Buffalo in previous years.
35:03You never know which guy was going to pop off. It just feels like fewer guys could pop off this year to me. That's
35:09what it feels >> real quick. Go ahead, Brian. I was gonna say concentrated target trees is it's something we talked about a lot and and
35:16you could go back to the Kansas City Chiefs we referenced earlier and I want to ask you about Rishi Rice who last
35:22year in the eight games he played averaged almost 19 PPR points per game going off the board third round pick I
35:29dare say he should be an end of the first early second round pick if he's going to play you know a full season for
35:34the Chiefs he's going to finish as a top five PPR wide receiver what are your thoughts on Rice and uh you know can he
35:41play a full season. Can he stay healthy?
35:43Can he stay out of trouble? And there's just not target competition there for him in Kansas City. I don't know why
35:48he's still slipping to the third. It's not based on skill, that's for sure.
35:52>> Well, and again, I don't know the answer. Is is is there any chance that he's going to be subject to any
35:56discipline this year or we pass? I don't I don't know the answer. I should know that, but I don't know that right now.
36:01>> Yeah. I mean, it's Well, there's, you know, it's like a part-time job just keeping up with the police blotter on
36:07Mr. Rishi Rice. But he he he he violated his probation.
36:14>> Um maybe what he violated it for is permissible under the collective bargaining agreement. So, does that mean the league
36:25will not discipline him or will it be like, "Well, you were incarcerated for 30 days and therefore we argue like and
36:34and you've had a history, so I like he's just he's playing all year. That's it."
36:41I mean, maybe I maybe, but I don't know that. I don't have that answer.
36:50>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, plenty of time to figure it out too before season.
36:54>> I like I like clean simple things, right?
37:00Seem to be clean and simple right now.
37:01Josh Jacobs, whatever it may be, doesn't seem clean and simple. Malik Neighbors doesn't seem clean and simple. Now, I guess in fantasy, where you roll the
37:10dice and where you gamble, if you hit, that's how you win championships in fantasy. But if you miss, that's how you
37:16lose championships. That's how you miss out on the playoffs. I'd rather just take the single doubles than swing for the home run and wind up with a
37:23strikeout. That's me.
37:24>> Tyler Warren clean. Christian Watson clean. Brock Bowers clean. George Pickkins potentially unclean. Uh so
37:35that's some of the things we learned uh from the great Adam Shfter. We really appreciate the time here in mid to late
37:42July. Adam, we're recording here on a Friday afternoon. Thank you, sir, for giving us a couple of moments of your life.
37:48>> I [snorts] only have four calls to return from the from this conversation.
37:51That's it.
37:52>> Only four. Well, you know, I won't be bothering you now for a number of weeks or at least until the season uh starts.
37:58Thanks again, Adam. We really appreciate it.
38:00>> Thank you guys. I appreciate you having me. Enjoy the rest of the summer.
