Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Texans! Winners, Losers & Biggest Week 5 Takeaways (Ep. 2258)

This is an I Heart podcast guaranteed human. Hello everybody, welcome into the tailgate. I'm Ryan warmly joined on this Monday morning by Andrew Erickson and my Derek Brown. We are reacting to everything we saw in week five, a very fun week of football. A very long day of football starting off with a London game and a very exciting finish there. Finishing off with a very exciting finish in the Sunday night football game over time for the third time in five weeks. I believe they were staying on the broadcast and remembering correctly. It's been a lot of prime time over times so far this season. So a very long day of football, very exciting day of football. You know, Deebro, there was a lot of big touchdowns early on in the early window slate. Just like a lot of action. There were injuries as they're always were, but not as many as we've had the last couple of weeks. Not these huge, big name injuries at the same level as the last couple of weeks. So just overall like a pretty positive, fun day of football, I think. Pretty positive, fun day of football. Unless you happen to be a Washington commanders fan, I'd say you were you were having a good Sunday. Outside of the Washington commanders, can we quickly talk about that boys? What the heck? Well, we are going to get to it later in the show. We can quickly say WTF and, you know, what is going on? It was remarkable. We will dive into it in a little more detail later in the show. But yeah, I mean, I think we're out the bad. That was like the biggest thing that people were talking about. I mean, it was blowing my mind, Deebro. How often red zone kept cutting back to that game after it was over and replaying that highlight. I was like, you're just like twisting the knife for commanders fans at well. I mean, deservedly so. I mean, honestly, just twist in the knife on Dan Quinn, but we'll get to it later. We'll get to it later. Yeah, very hilarious finish there. Erickson, how are you feeling after week five? Feel good feeling more rested than I was very busy weekend for me. A lot of driving weddings all over the place. But it was nice to come home on Sunday. So in the couch and just watch football and really that's that's really the only thing I wanted to be doing. So I had a lot of fun watching the game. So my Patriots coming out laying the hammer on the Las Vegas race. Another five touchdowns for Drake, man. He's now been QB one and back to back weeks after being nowhere near that to start the first three weeks of the season. So maybe Drake, man, he's not all the way back. But when he plays bad defenses or less than a week defenses, he plays pretty well. I always forget Erickson at the top of the show. And our news and notes sections to pitch it to you for our update on the tailgate fantasy league we have. So I'm going to do that now before I forget because I always forget. How are we looking here in week five in the tailgate league? In week five, we made some mistakes. Me made some. Weeks we. Yeah, we set up on time. Who is this? I forgot to submit Dallas Goddard and for Jake Ferguson. So we lost some points there. I also forgot to take Patrick Mahomes out of the starting QB one slot who's on by week. But I at least had the forward thinking to quickly pivot pick up Tyler Huntly. And I'm having a pretty solid fantasy outing got that rushing touchdown at the end, which really kind of saved his bacon. So we're actually up by four points heading into my net football. Our opponent has DJ Moore and Devonta Adams. But we got Pugano Kua. So. And Pugano shot. There's a chance. So we'll see if we're just trying to avoid that punishment that we still haven't agreed to exactly what it will be. But we will do something that three of us if we if we fail to make the playoffs in the league against our beloved listeners. Let's get into the actual news and notes here. We normally really just treat this as an injury roundup. We are going to do that. But first we need to talk about the trade that went down this weekend. First of all, just ridiculous reporting on Sunday. Let's see me Saturday morning. I was live on our Saturday morning YouTube stream with Tom Stracken previewing the week and answering start sick questions like four minutes into that stream is when this trade broke. You know the news broke because I put in air quotes because it kind of hard. Half wasn't news. Yeah. And so we spent the entire stream be like are there updates what's going on and we kept getting people who would join the stream late and be like, why aren't you guys talking about Margaret Harrison Jr.? It's like, hey, we already did be what are we supposed to talk about where he's going yet. And then of course it started coming out like, well, the Texans are really strong contender, wink, wink. It's like, okay, so he's like going to the Texans. At any rate, what we have here now is that Margaret Harrison Jr. has been traded the Texans. The main part of the compensation is for a 2027 second round pick. There's other smaller picks in there. But that's the main part. I couldn't believe you got that much. I have said on other shows on the Dynasty show fits was like, well, hey, do you really, if you really believe in Margaret Harrison Jr. that much, would you want the Ravens to trade for him? And I go, yeah, like a fourth round pick. I would take that swing a second. No way did I want my team to make that trade. I was shocked that I'm not surprised that they were holding out to try and get it. I'm shocked that they actually got that the Texans are one and four, obviously coming off of a win. They certainly need the help at past catcher with, you know, Higgins is injury and just, you know, the injury risk with Nico Collins. But I don't know how much help they're getting from a guy that is really underperform relative to his draft capital. And I just give up a second round pick in a stacked draft and you don't have a very good record right now. So, Debra, I was really shocked by the compensation here. I was shocked by the compensation to there's so much that we could chew on with this trade. One, I called it after the, I mean, dude, for that type of insider reporting, I could be an NFL insider. This guy is getting traded and he's going to go to one of 31 other teams. Stay tuned for details. Like it's so stupid, but outside of that, I kind of call this whenever I was like, okay, so he's going to go to Houston and then they were like dragging their feed. And I was like, so Houston's basically saying, if we win this week and there's some mathematical possibility of making the playoffs, we could talk ourselves into, then we'll make the trade. If we're 0 and 5 and we lose to the freaking Titans, then no, we're not giving up a future second. So, that's the way that I like contextualize all of it, but as far as the second, that's absolute and total insanity. And I think that Marvin Harrison Jr. is not nearly as bad as anything that he has put on film this year. I think everything he has put on film this year has been he is not part of the offense. He has never been part of the offense. He's not a first, second or even a third read. He has been the lone ISO guy or the guy in the concept of every passing play that they have of drawing defense deep, taking away coverage. And he's never the first or second or third read. So basically Marvin Harrison Jr. has been given a route tree by the Arizona Cardinals for this season of you ain't got to run it all the way. You don't have to get open because we're not throwing you the ball anyway. All of that and people got their clips and takes and all that kind of stuff, that's all BS. As far as the talent of Marvin Harrison Jr. I think he has been absolutely miscast, misused and just thrown into whether it's injuries or just a horrible role because we talked about this for multiple seasons into being a player that he is not. He deserves and he needs the Drake London diet. He should be playing 50/50 or 60/40 perimeter and slot. You should be using them on a ton of in breakers. He should be your chain moving guy. Now to say all of that with this trade, do I have any possible possible faith that Nick Kayley will deploy Marvin Harrison Jr. and the way that he should be deployed? Hell no. Hell no. No way. No shapeformer fashion. But do I have hope for the 2027 version of Marvin Harrison Jr. that where maybe Nick Kayley gets fired and good Lord CJ Stroud will have Jaden Higgins Marvin Harrison Jr. and Nico Collins to throw to? Okay. I'm a little bit excited. Well, you mentioned Stroud there at the end, Debro, obviously getting paired up with his college receiver now. You know, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Stroud overlapped at Ohio State where Marvin Harrison Jr. was played the best football of his life in terms of his production and looked like this elite, you know, maybe not generational, but an elite level wide receiver prospect coming out of the draft when he went forth overall. So Erickson, do you have any interest in Harrison in like fantasy leagues, just given the connection with CJ Stroud? I mean, we often see in season receiver trades often don't pan out all that well. You think about like the Amari Cooper's of the world, like, even if you say, oh, talent seems like a fit schematically, it's just hard to do that in season. But they do have the added bonus of this history together as a QB and what receiver pairing. Yeah, I think that's really the one way to spend this the most positive way for Marvin Harrison Jr. is now he has a quarterback that I think has the most buying with him because from day one, it was never there with Kyla Murray, Kyla Murray at their first game with Marvin Harrison, you said it's not my job to get in the ball. That was the first thing and then Jacobi percent obviously had a much better built in rapport with training pride and Michael Wilson, whereas Marvin Harrison Jr. has not had that at the NFL level. He has not had the complete buying and trust from his quarterback until now with CJ Stroud. And I'm assuming that CJ Stroud co-signed on this type of deal where we got to get more weapons. The defense is going to be fine. We don't need more draft compensation for weapon for defensive guys. We need offensive pieces here because the trade of location booty. He's been underwhelming in the Texans offense. Is that because of him or because of the offense of Nikkei remains to be seeing out with D Rose answer is one thing I will point out though is I don't understand why this team just doesn't use jail and no more dude. They kind of another game. They hate it. other monster game. And I'm like, dude, like I could totally see him having like a Parker Washington type of career arc where it's like, it's just so underrated and he's so talented and they just don't ever use him as much as they should. And now I'm adding another piece just to suggest to me, yeah, this means, if this means less routes for Jalen Null, then it's bad in my opinion. So. Well, I want to, I always loop it to the Arizona Cardinals. I almost threw that out there. And I was like, I do, I wish he was traded there as on him because Houston doesn't deserve him. They don't, they don't. I want to loop in get us going on the injury roundup section because one of the injuries was David Montgomery. So do you guys think what this trick? Because now, I mean, still no Jaden Higgins, obviously this year, but now it's Nico Collins, Jalen Null, and Marvin Harrison Jr. And the running game takes a hit like what he marks, okay, but he wasn't that good last year. So do you think that this is just going to become a very pass heavy offense, Debro? I mean, it has been a pass heavy offense. But even more so without David Montgomery and then adding Harris. I mean, sure, because they can't run the ball like people don't like people like lay this at the feet of David Montgomery. Dude, this is their offensive line. Their offensive line cannot open up holes. And don't show me what he marks getting 60 rushing yards as hope. Like, come on, dude. Like it's against the Titans. First of all, and second of all, both of these running backs have had no room to run. And again, going back to the Nick Kayley of it all, you put David Montgomery, you trade for David Montgomery. And you categorically don't understand the type of runner runner that you have. You put him in a committee situation for a volume back that get in the game flow. And you, you nerve him into being a committee back with Woody marks, because that's going to solve anything. It doesn't. And yes, could they lean even more pass heavy? Yeah, but sure, they absolutely could work because they can't run the ball. Is this good news for CJ Stratt, Erickson in terms of, I mean, I think Stratt's looked pretty good. The season and like, he's looked good enough that he told me he looked to this good, just it went with no other information before the year. I would have assumed the Texans were like, five, you know, because I would have thought the defense was going to be so good that if he was this good, that they'd be a juggernaut. But is this good news for him like in terms of fantasy managers, right? Like just going to pass so much and have more of these weapons. Is this good news for the offense as in general to say like, hey, David McCarrie, which by the way, growing injury, sitting might miss some time, we'll still kind of see what the actual timeline looks like later today, where it sort of forces their hand to not run the ball so much. Is this better for the Texans, just in terms of as an NFL team? I think so. I don't think you get worse by acquiring Marvin Harrison Jr. The less routes that Xavier Hutchinson runs on your offense, the better. So as long as Marvin Harrison Jr. is replacing him and his role in this offense, they keep an all in the field. They have a healthy Niko Collins who can create yards after the catch into Debrose Point, right? Just put Harrison Jr. in a position to move the chains and let Niko be the number one guy that can create yards after the catch. Obviously also a big threat in the red zone. Both these guys can deliver in the red zone. Even Marvin Harrison Jr. was underwhelming his first two years in Arizona. That was one big thing that he did a lot was win down field with air yards and also see a lot of red zone opportunities. So I think this is good for CD Stroud and his touchdown opportunity. And you're going to see a lot of passing in this next game against the Jags. We know the Jags are a past funnel defense. You don't run on them. Texans can't run the football. They just got a new wide receiver. So yeah, you're going to see them throwing the ball a lot in London and we're going to get to see Marvin Harrison Jr. I think in action pretty quickly. I can't wait to see Jared Wayne and Xavier Hutchinson run more routes to Marvin Harrison Jr. after giving up a second forum over the next few weeks. I just can't wait to see it. I can't wait to see it because, you know, Nick Kayley and wide receiver groupings, as it were. Other injuries this week. Debo Samuel, hamstring, casey, concepcion, obviously took that really bad hit because just throwing it out. That was that was really tough to watch. He got the concussion. Obviously, it was rolled out pretty quickly. Draven Henderson had an ankle injury that they're still looking at. Will Campbell also for the Patriots knee sprain that Brable this morning was saying, you know, they're getting more information on. Obviously, that would be a really big hit to a Patriots offense that was looking like it was bouncing back. TJ Hutchinson left his game with the concussion. Will Shipley has a torn plantar fascia muscle and his foot is going to miss some time. So another running back down for the Eagles. Kenny Tadeek had a concussion. Aaron Glenn was saying that he wasn't really that concerned about that one. And then Michael Pennix on Sunday night football left the game obviously late with the rib injury. They're still gathering information on that. The only quarterback on this list are probably the most impactful, especially given just a difference in production for that offense before, you know, you have compared when he was on the field of not. Couldn't be more night and day. But yeah, where do you want to go with this injury roundup, Debra? Is anybody that you want to particularly highlight? I think you're you're spot on with the Michael Pennix call here. Can he play will he play with the ribs? We have to be seen. I mean, it's going to be a pain tolerance and mobility type of thing. Like, I don't think that it was it's his effective side. It just botched in the game last night. And again, I didn't stay to holiday and express. But like, I don't think it's his throwing arm side. It looks like it was the right side of his ribs. Like we're he kept motioning towards on the sideline when they pan to him. Michael Pennix coming back to Earth, and a competitive game too was very stark to see for all the Pennix believers. But dude, if this is too under center for the next few weeks, good luck Falcons. It's all I could say. But like, the only other thing I'll throw out here too is Debo Samuel hamstring injury. I mean, the 49ers are down to Mike Evans, who is a total frickin warrior. Where are we talking about this in the key questions episode? I said, he was the X factor going against the Seattle Seahawks. And he absolutely was total baller. We still do not appreciate Mike Evans nearly enough. But the 49ers, I mean, do losing Debo outside of Mike Evans and George Giddle and CMC, like not a whole lot of healthy bodies in that offense. So they got to, you know, wrap those guys in bubble wrap. Eric, so what do you want to highlight from the injury roundup? Just two things here. So we'll show up with the foot injury adding to the CVS list of injuries that the Eagles are dealing with now. Do they make a trade for Tony Pollard? Should be like, hey, like the Titans are all in five. He's going to be free agent. And we just need a running back that is serviceable. Like I could see that potentially. I know Pollard's been floated out. He was one of the guys that chef to rumored about last week, along with Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison Jr. Just got traded. I don't think it's long until we see it to see Tony Pollard get moved. I wonder if it's more. I don't think it's the the fact that the division is so getable makes it like the Eagles shouldn't just sell off. But I wonder if we're more likely to see them trade away players as opposed to trade. Yeah, that's where I'm going to put this season. I don't know. Well, I just wanted to mention that as maybe an option that they do again, just dealing with so many running back injuries. And then TJ Hawkinson getting the concussion being knocked out early in that game. And the fact that the Vikings didn't really change of their game plan because they were featuring the Bartholomew guy, the other tight end of their team. And he's like absolutely peppered with targets. I think it's so funny when teams that they're like, right, we built the whole game plan around Hawkinson. He goes out. Who's the next tight end? And we're just going to use that guy the exact same role. Again, I had no idea who this guy was. I'm like, who's making all these plays than Kyler Murray actually missed him. Like he was open deep. And they would have had a monster chunk gain against New Orleans Saints defense that apparently cannot stop tight ends. Another one of these tight end funnel defenses. That was just something that I just brought to my mind as he comes up on the injury list here. Obviously, it sucks to because with Kyler, have we seen him play with Jefferson Aston and Hawkinson at the same time at all this year? I feel like someone's always been out or missing time. So again, we'll talk about the Vikings, but I mean, the fact that they are undefeated and they actually have not actually had their staple of offensive players at any point in any game is just a credit to like the defense is so good with Florence. Oh my god. I mean, Chuck, Chuck had no shot in that game. Yeah, like no shot. All right, before we get to some more reactions, if you want a chance to win one of the most unique pieces of NFL fan gear out there at the large NFL PA wall smack courtesy of our good friends at trophy smack the number one destination for epic fantasy football hardware. Then this is your shot. They're oversized officially licensed NFL PA wall smack are bold statement pieces that are perfect for your fan cave office or living room wall. It's not just decor. It's a way to wrap your favorite players in style to enter all you need to do is subscribe to the tailgate YouTube channel right now and drop a comment below on any of our videos. That is it will be announcing a winner right here on the channel. So make sure to turn on notifications. So you don't miss your chance to claim this epic prize. All right, guys, we're a streamlining the show a bit this week rather than try to go in a bunch of different categories. We are just each coming to the show with three talking points that we want to discuss with each other. These can be questions. We want to ask these can be odds. We want to examine these can be just headlines reactions from the week. Whatever you want to do, we each have three talking point discussions. That will be the show this week. Erickson, kick us off with your first reaction. So there's defense. I not a elite unit by any way, shape or form. They were the scheduled merchants over the last couple of weeks after looking like they regained form after getting giving up a ton of points to the Panthers. They had a lot of easy matchups, the weather works in their favor. So it was like, okay, like maybe this pair is even so bad. I know warm. I think you brought it up last week, but it was not one of these like defiant statements. I brought it up as a question. Yeah, I put I pushed back very lightly last week, whatever we had this conversation. I was like, no, no, no, no, they are they are not good, especially when you give up basically a career day for Jordan love, 137.5 pass rating was the highest ever in a game that Jordan love started 0.43 EPR for dropback set a new season high clock. Then is one of his 10 best single game marks in Jordan loves Green Bay Packers career. So The Bears despite being on the road as favorites in this matchup get absolutely destroyed boat race Jordan love could do Basically anything downfield Matthew golden and Christian Watson. We're just having absolute field days against this Bears defense That also lost three more guys. They were a dingbo went down Tariq Stevenson went down teacher Edwards went down three starters across every level of the defense all got hurt for the Green Bay pack or for the Chicago Bears Green Bay out came Chicago 428 to 246 7.3 yards per play compared to 3.6 They won 31 to 7 without a single turnover in the Chicago. We know turned all turn them all over five times including two Tason Bayesian interceptions K. K. M. Pick adjoons a fumble and Keenum had a strip sack fumble So yeah, the Bears defense is still one that is not good and I don't Wasn't it wasn't just that love had a great day. It was how he did it most completed area yards He's ever had in a game in his career 252 completed area Huck in that thing down the field. Yeah, Christian Watson's amazing love was very good in this game too And yeah, the Packers just like never let up they kept throwing deep and it kept Numbers to contextualize how bad the police's second highest rushing success rate Fifth highest pass explosive pass rate allowed and they are also 14th in explosive run rate allowed They are bad bad bad with a capital B So in fantasy do you guys see this as a defense to aggressively target the way we expected at the beginning of the season or do you see it more It's just like they're bad, but in the way that a lot of teams are bad and not like outlier bad where a holy cow start Everybody. Oh, no, we are starting with you know, whatever you run him back You got a mid running back that we're like, oh do I do I flex you if you get a touchdown. Oh, no You're you're grace in the line of this week, baby. If they're facing it in offense that is just anywhere competent Then yes, it's like fire up everybody the only time you're like pressing positive. Oh Speaking of competence next week How much faith do you have in two uh versus the Chicago bearer see that would be where you're like Mm-hmm. I mean as long as you get 15 targets straight London might be screwed though Yeah, no, let me ask you guys this if we don't end up believing in the Vikings to win this division right now They're five who know every other team of the division is three and two if we rule out the Vikings because you say okay I don't believe in the offense whatever which I'm not saying you guys feel but I'm just saying for the sake of argument Who wins this division if not Minnesota because these teams are all three and two but with all pretty big flaws lines lines Got reigned defense is worse. No, they're getting guys back. They have they have a legendary offense They can make it. No the lines are winning this division. No I don't I don't know that I agree that division or to me that defense has been so horrific that like I When guys come back, I don't I don't think we should just automatically assume that they're gonna be good This has been but also they played the Packers without an offensive line They played the bears which Caleb Williams got hurt They played the Buccaneers and Baker sucking. They played Malik Wilson. They played Tyler shock Like who have they played to look like this legendary level defense Well, but I'm saying like they've they've looks legendarily bad wait or I started with a Viking so the yeah, you know I'm talking about the Vikings defense If we're gonna take like this is to me is like who are you gonna take as far as like the best best strengths of the teams have the Vikings Defense or the ran or the Lions offense. I'm taking the Lions offense. I Think that's fair. I don't disagree with that I just think it in terms of the entire division as a whole like I I still think I would prefer to bet on the bears Or maybe even the pack pack probably not the packs but I think I prefer to bet on the bears with Caleb coming back Over the Lions to win this division because I the Lions defense is So it has made every player that's played at this season Look amazing, but we just tore down the Bears defense. You're willing to back the Bears offense and what that looks like with a bad defense behind it over Backing a legendary Lions offense with a bad defense ball. I mean the Bears offense started start off looking like it might have a legendary season And they do more if he comes What can they have an I Caleb will they've been on the backup quarterbacks I think it was came was a savior. He was amazing I was saying that I think we can't we can't hear and say we can't sit here and say that Oh, the Lions defense can be okay because they have guys coming back But they not give that same credit to the Bears offense when with Caleb come back when they we have actually seen the Bears offense Look incredible this season with Caleb on the field. We haven't seen that with the line I'm not saying that what I'm saying is if you give me both of these offenses when they're humming at their best I'm taking the Lions over the bears. I think it's close though all four of these are humming at their best Yes, all four of these teams are going to get Better because the Lions are going to defensive guys back the Bears are going to get Caleb back the Vikings are gonna Eventually have Addison and Hawkinson and Jefferson on the field at the same time and then the Packers are going to get Micah Parsons back So there are arguments to be made that none of these teams have even hit their final form and just a matter of okay Well, what's your record at that point like is it a little is it too little too late essentially at least with the Vikings perspective They have built that margin of error because they have won all their games versus some of these other teams where if you keep losing games It doesn't matter when these guys come back because it's too little too late I will say I think Green Bay is ultimately going to be the worst team in this division even though I don't think they're terrible I just think like strong division They're plus 800 bears and this is consensus odds and betting pros.com bears plus 355 Lions are plus 260 and the Vikings are plus 107 the gap with the Packers being as far away as they are makes them an intriguing bet In my opinion even though I don't think they're going to win the division But I think those that gap in odds is actually too big because I agree They like they are going to get micro parts is back eventually like I think at Derek's point every team in this division will get better throughout the course of the year Oh a fun like heated start to the show. This is this is great. Why is that I'm loving it. Debra, let's go to your first reaction here Where does Parker who Washington's contract extension come in at because after the game that he just had and the numbers And I'm gonna give some context before we got to getting the diving through numbers here Parker Washington after week five among 66 qualifying wide receivers for everybody out in the comments when I said Okay, this is what I think he's probably gonna get in terms of AAV amongst wider receivers I said there's no way in hell. He doesn't deserve that. Okay fine among 66 qualifying wide receivers right now Parker, Washington 11th and target chair. He is the elite alpha for Jacksonville Fifth in yards per out run behind CD lamb 12th and EPA per target. So Whatever you look at he is an alpha level wide receiver in the NFL and just for some context before we start kind of get in the numbers here The 15th ranked wide receiver right now in AAV is Alec Pierce at 28.5 million To me, that's the starting point. I think considering all of this I'll go ahead and lead this. I think Parker Washington's gonna get in the neighborhood of 29 to 30 million per year Now everybody said that's a sign and insane Guys is that so insane right now? So so that's interesting. I while you were talking I pulled up the list of you know why I was super contract ranking in terms of average annual evaluate like you were referencing here And I was actually going to aim a little higher when I said I think it's higher or lower than this So I maybe I am just as bullish as you are Debro, but I was thinking the number would start with a three not a two I agree with you. I think it's 30 million probably. I think you're looking at he's not not only has he been awesome It's not like he's old right? Yeah 24 years like like he Will you would think would be good for a long time is clearly a great fit with Trevor Lawrence is clearly just a really good player who's ascending And like like I wasn't gonna you know the the When I was looking here I was okay like he's not gonna get as much as a flower said like surprise you $35 million your contract I don't think he's getting to that. No, but then you start to you start to get lower than that And it's like man like why shouldn't he be getting a bigger contract in some of these other guys I think in that 30 to 32 million is where I would be I'll put it like this That's at least where I'd be comfortable paying if I was Jackson. AJ Brown for 32 million. Terry McClore in 32 million per year DK Metcalf I mean like superstar receivers just get paid and a guy like Zay has looked like made that worth it Even though we all thought it was an overpay in the offseason Oh a lot of people did it was a big talking point and Parker Washington gets 32 I bet you hear similar talking points and I bet he makes them look just as foolish So yeah, to me like Alex Pierce that's aiming too low. I think Parker Washington's getting 30 million a year Erickson, what do you think? I agree. I think that he's worth it and I think that jaguars will get a little bit of a Quote discount compared to those other numbers you just mentioned just because Parker Washington wasn't like a first-round pick Because for some reason some players can't knock the draft capital and the fact that he was a day three pick That's always going to be helping in some in some like shape or form But it's still going to be you got to pay your best receivers Especially when it's so obvious how well he fits with their quarterback and Trevor Lawrence, right? If they're quarterback long-term and Trevor Lawrence, then you've got to lock up his number one guy Who's Parker Washington? They're clearly not going to extend prime Thomas Jr To anything they already paid your Kobe Myers But he's more of that veteran type of presence guy more of a depth Get number two number three receiver that can kind of play all over the formation Whereas we're Washington. He's your game breaker. He's your stud. You saw it against Eagles And when he did that one handed catch My wife was watching that game or the highlight and she's like that looks like the old L back of junior catch Yeah, because this guy's that good Well, yes or no, will it be a top 10 wide receiver contract in average animals? and you will value when it is signed. - Yes, that means it has to be over 32 million. - And I think it should be because not only do you take what he's done in the field, like again, you add the age component, you add also you're adding the final, this is like the final infinity stone to the gauntlet for Jacksonville, like they've already extended, they have Jacobi Myers locked up, they extended Brenton Strange. So Parker Washington, you lock him up, he's your White receiver one, you trade Brian Thomas Jr., you go find somebody else that fits whatever you want out of that role to take the top off of a defense, in the NFL draft or what have you, and you just roll on as an offense. And they still have basal tooting on a rookie contract, like they're set, man. So go pay the guy. If anything, James Gladstone, bro, you should have gotten this done before week one. - Yeah. - You knew what was about to happen. Parker Washington bettered himself. Now, Cha-ching, pay that man. - It really is the reverse, not to just keep referencing the raven, but to the reverse of the Z-flowers, where they did pay early and were like, hey, let's get this done because we know what he can be in this offense and are expecting a breakout. And now I'm not saying it looks like a steal, but it looks like a totally worthwhile contract in the eyes of everybody. And you miss that opportunity with Parker Washington, if you're Gladstone, you could have done the same thing here. Yeah, this is a good one, D-Bro. My first reaction here, NFC Least, which is not an original joke. This might be the worst week ever for a single division, excluding weeks where a bunch of guys got hurt. Like taking a setting aside injury, this is one of the worst performing weeks for an entire division I can ever remember. Two teams played each other in this division and yet the division went winless in this week. Obviously the tie in Commander's Giants was hilarious and a complete botched job by both sides. Just an absolute mismanagement of the clock and everything we can talk about that in a little more detail here in a second. But also the Cowboys lost as the biggest favorites of the week at home in prime time to a rookie free agent quarterback backup plague for the box. And also the Eagles somehow lost a game in which they took the lead with eight seconds left. They lost in regulation. They did the anti-Cowboys in Rio against the Ravens where they kicked the touchback and gave the Ravens time, no time off the clock. They did the reverse where they kicked it and said, oh, we'll make you return it. And then they gave up a big return and lost the game to the Jags. I mean, this was just a remarkable comedy of errors for the entire division this week. And I'm not even sure. I mean, the place to probably start Ericsson is that Commander's Giants game. But I think you could easily start with the Eagles performance too and how they finished that game as one of the most laughable performances this week. Just an all, all, all time bad week for a single division. - I mean, and it was in the prime time slots, it seemed like 'cause it was Thursday night that we saw the Cowboys just lay a turret against the Buccaneers. And then in the London game, everybody's watching early in the morning. Oh, it looks like the Eagles are gonna get a win. Nope, just kidding. And then as we're transitioning from the early slate to the late slate, there's one game on still. Commander's Giants, in overtime, like what's happening here? As the other games are kind of getting kicked off and started and the reason I didn't get to watch the beginning of the Seahawks in 49ers, 'cause I had to watch a tie. That's why I didn't get to watch the beginning of that game 'cause I was watching a tie 'cause I let these two teams just fumble over each other. Again, the Giants should have won 'cause Camp Scatiboo, but he fumbles the ball, the Commander gets the ball back and then they're driving and they're gonna win and they're gonna kick the field all. And then they just botched the timing of it. What, Rashad White gets down like 50 seconds left. Something like absolutely ridiculous and how much time they had to actually use and they just have no idea what they're doing. Just goes to show bad coaches for bad teams and this is what the result is. I mean, you just lost a division game or didn't win a division game because of just poor mishandling of the clock. And I mean, it's always so weird watching coaches and players shake hands and do the press conference after a tie because everyone's just like, I don't know how I'm supposed to feel like. - Nobody's happy. - I think most, I think they just treated more like, we just both lost because we're pissed because we didn't win. So yeah, I could not agree more. I definitely the worst way. - It feels closer to a loss. - Oh yeah, you're not happy. And now it comes with the silver lining where I think Camp Scatiboo on the side and I was like, we'll take the tie, right? Because he obviously put the ball on the ground so he was like, we're gonna lose because of me. Well, we only tied because of me because the commanders were dumb and didn't figure out their own stuff. So yeah, this is a really good pull by you, Lauren. - I mean, not only like, like just the bad play call like why you even run a play? Why not just, you know, spike your throw to a bounce or whatever, but like, even after the tackle on that last play, D-Bro, Jay D-Bro is just laying there for a few seconds. There's zero urgency by anybody in the team. I'm like, did they think they had a tie though? Did they think they needed to burn clock so they wouldn't give the ball back to the other team? Did they not know the overtime rules? It is astonishing. And like, Dan Quinn is, this is his job. He's like supposed to be the culture guy who can do the game management stuff and just like, oh, he's always got like-- - C-C-O head coach, right? Like the C-O head coaches are not doing well. - I know his background is on defense, but he's a C-O head coach. So John Harb has always been a C-O head coach. - C-O head coach, not doing great. Oh, John, John's doing okay. And what is false? - John's doing it. - But it's her, okay? John's doing a pretty good job so far. But to all of this, Dan Quinn and Nick Ciriani should be fired this week, unequivocably, should not have a job. They call it what it is. The Eagles vibes, the locker room, everything. Like, I don't care. Bye-bye, Dan Quinn, bye-bye. The Washington stuff, you wanna know what people like, you wanna talk about scenarios where people say the NFL is rigged, there's a script and also the kind of crap. Look, point to the commander's game. Like, nothing makes any sense of any semblance of what the heck were you thinking. None of it, because everybody theorizing, oh, well, they thought they still had a timeout. Okay, fine, let's play that out. This team thought they had another timeout because in regulation, you got three versus overtime, even though at overtime, at the beginning of it, the referee clearly explains all the rules. And second of all, the reason that I can throw the most cold water is, this team did not think they had a timeout, because simply put, when Jane Daniels got up off the turf, did you see Jane Daniels or Dan Quinn doing this? No, so they didn't think they had a timeout. There's no way possible that they had a timeout, 'cause nobody is motioning like they thought they had that timeout. So I don't understand what the hell they were doing, because they're literally taking all the time. You could have just rolled the field goal unit out there for the final play, let the clock go all the way down to freaking zero, or Jane Daniels throws the ball out of bounds and stops the clock. Any way shapeform or fashion of any of those things happening, and yet none of that happens, and we're left with the ending of a game that nobody can properly describe as to what happened, what were you thinking, what was your thought process, and how did this come to be? Like nothing makes sense, guys, nothing. And yet, at least those two teams got a tie. The Cowboys lost as the biggest favorites of the week, and the Eagles lost the game they led in with eight seconds left, and they lost in regulation. So like that was, it was hilarious and bad, but they, at least those things didn't lose, like the other, I mean-- - Do you guys agree with me, the Dan Quinn? - China's covered. - Do you guys agree with me, the Dan Quinn and Nick Serionne should be fired or not? Like thoughts on that, because I am very firm that those of them should be gone. - Easy, yes, on Quinn. - Yeah. - Harder? - Yes, on Serionne, but I, like Serionne to me feels like somebody you fire in the off season. - Why? - But no way, they've been, I think, you fired. - This is nothing new, two weeks. - Like I feel like they always are in situations where they string together a couple really bad losses, and they're like firing Nick Serionne, and then they always kind of pull ourselves out of it. Like, because guys, I mean, what have these scenes is going to win the division? Somebody has to mathematically. - And like, if you think that the giants fall off with the backup quarterback eventually, then it's gonna be one of the Eagles Cowboys to commanders. And so like, you know, two of those teams that you're talking about firing the coaches might be division winners this year. - I think the Cowboys win the division for simply put, the same reasons what we just talked about the entire NFC North, the Cowboys offense is still a really good unit. And to all of the problems with the Dallas defense, we still haven't seen JPJ on the field. So like, his impact on that trade still has been yet to be felt. So how can he transform that? - I'm with you on the Cowboys as the team I want to be betting on in this division right now there. And as a total crap show, it's over the Eagles. - Yeah, there are plus 165 Eagles or plus 177 as consensus odds. So like, I would take the Cowboys or I'll take the giant. - I don't think the Eagles or commanders are gonna be division guys, no. - Giants are plus 327 consensus odds. - I'll take that bet. The Eagles matters plus 7, 7, 4 on betting pros.com. So yeah, terrible week for the NFC East. Hilariously bad week, actually. - NFC. - Before I move on, I need to tell you about this new prediction market called polymarket. It takes stock exchange for sports, buying in and selling out on your terms. When your team goes down to 20%, you can buy in and sell it off at 40% when they come back to double your money. They are so confident you'll never go back to the other guys. They're giving you a free $25 on your first trade when you deposit just $10. Now they've launched a new feature squads, a group chat where you can see what everyone is trading on. So download the polymarket app today and use FPPOD when you sign up. That's FPPOD to get $25 free after you deposit just $10. Erickson, what's your next discussion point here? - Can the 49ers keep this up? That is my one concern about this team that is obviously look like a juggernaut. You know, one of the best teams, if not the best team in the NFL through five weeks, going up to Seattle in a back and forth contest. Again, a lot of turnovers were in this game. The 49ers had more giveaways in week five and takeaways than they had in their first four games of 2026 combined. Brock Purti definitely faced the toughest defense of the year. I know you mentioned this last week where I'm where he had not been sacked through the first four games of the season was actually mind blowing. That was not obviously the case here in Seattle. Purti was pressured on 17th and 34 dropbacks, right around 50%. Third highest pressure rate he had faced in a game in his career. But still this team did not waver. He made plays off script, which is why Brock Purti is such the perfect quarterback in this Kyle Shannon offense because it's when the scripted plays aren't there, he can still create on his own, which is what I think separates him from all the past Kyle Shannon merchants, right, at quarterback, whether it was Garoppolo or Nick Mullins or any of these guys who put up gotty numbers, but ultimately always fell short of really reaching that peak. And Brock Purti I think has shown that no like I can reach that peak in this offense. And the fact that he's doing it with just this potential. Hodge podge of receivers besides Mike Evans and George Kittle, right. Mike Evans in that one drive. I don't remember. I think it was in the second half master class between Brock Purti and Mike Evans. Just Mike Evans is not necessarily creating a ton of separation. But he's finding ways to get open. He's winning his contested catches. So Mike Evans in this game led the team attend target seven catches 113 yards. That's the most against anyone that has faced Seattle this season. According to next 10 stats caught a touchdown contested catch machine 31% catch rate over expected the highest from a receiver with at least 10 targets in a game this season. Five catches in tight windows tie for third most by any player this year. He looked like he was 27 year old Mike Evans. I was blown away by how great he looked. And then you add the contact that this guy's playing with like broken ribs. Like it is like, oh my god, dude. But that brings up the question of is this sustainable? Right, like constantly they're going to the sideline, Chris McCaffrey is getting worked on. Mike Evans is beyond broken ribs. Debo Samuel has already heard again, right? Like is it actually? Can you rely on players like a Brandon cooks? Like is he going to have to play a role in his offense long term for them to have sustained success? That's my big question for the 49ers is that because right now they're at the, you know, I'd like to say that the healthiest that they are because it's the start of the season or we're five weeks in. But I don't know are we talked about the NFC North and how they're going to get guys back. And I know the 49ers are missing Nick Bosa. So he's someone that they're going to get back. But when out the 49ers, like is this a chance where it's like you should sell high on the 49ers? Like they're not going to be able to keep this up. Or is this just hey, their injury luck maybe is working a little bit more in their favor compared to last season where it was like absolutely terrible? That's kind of what I was thinking because right now this team on paper looks really, really great. And obviously they're undefeated. But what happens as the season progresses? I would say that as long as Brock Purti and Fred Warner are healthy, then yes, like they can keep that Fred Warner is awesome. We know what he how he changes his defense. And Brock Purti is no longer playing really good quarterback with people around him. He is playing really good quarterback. Despite the people around him and elevating the people around him. Like he has been good in the past. Debro, but this is the first time where it's just really like, oh, he is elevating the offense. And obviously it's already very strong offense given the pieces and, you know, who are healthy and the couch handhand of it all. So like I think absolutely they're minus money to win the division, which is kind of insane considering that to division with the Rams and the Seahawks. And I think it's dessert. But like right now they're minus money consensus odds of betting pros.com. They are not the super bowl favorites that is still the Rams. Consensus odds of betting pros.com. Obviously we'll see how that game plays out tonight Rams versus Bills is a really interesting one. But they are favorites to win their division at five and oh. And I think it's really deserved. And I like yeah, to me the simple answer to this question, Erickson is actually they're not favorites to win the division, but they know. So they are consensus odds to win the division on betting pros.com is worse than the Rams. Correct. It's minus 176 to win the division. It's a better game than the Super Bowl. It's all hard. The Rams are plus 612 consensus to win the Super Bowl. Nires are tied with three other teams at plus 800. So it's close on both. Let me check the Rams division odds. I'll go back to that page here. Rams on the division. Because I mean, it's like there's three wins behind, right? Like there is, yes, Rams are plus 275 to win the division. So there is a sizable gap there in the division odds. But Super Bowl still getting preference to the Rams. I think the 49ers keep this up. And it's the Kyle Shanahan of it all. Because again, what do we see last year? Mac Jones, parts of pieces, Kendrick Born Weeks, all these other guys like Jiktongus coming out of the woodwork, like scheme and coaching fricking matters. And Brock Pertie playing in an MVP level. Christian Café is still healthy. George Kiddell is still healthy. Could they make a trade for anybody? Hello, Brian Thomas, Jr. Not saying that that happens. But could they make a trade for anybody to reinforce this? And also then you look at their schedule. Okay, let's walk the schedule. Boys, they got five wins. Commanders. Okay, that's a sixth win. Falcons. I think that's a seventh win. The Raiders. That's an eighth win. Cowboys, probably a ninth win. Didn't they get the Viking Seahawks? Fine, let's get those as toss-ups. Giants, tenth win, Rams. Okay, toss-up. Chargers, eleventh win, chiefs. Okay, fine. We'll just give them an L. Eagles, Cardinals to finish the season. Yeah, the 49ers are for real. Yeah. I think the point that you made warm about if Fred Warner and Brock Perty are healthy, that's all that matters. I think that is the biggest point. Yeah, and it used to be that you would say, oh, if Christian McCaffrey's healthy, that's all that matters. But now it is Brock Perty on the offense. He's just looking awesome. Not a system. And I have this guy. You'll pull it up too, deep, bro. I was going to say, like, yeah, like even if you give them say, like, oh, they lose one of Dallas, Minnesota, they're probably going to split with Seattle. So give them another loss there. And then, like, let's say they lose the second Rams game, like, and the chiefs. That's like four losses at the most. Now, things could happen, right? You could trip up somewhere else that it's unexpected. Like, right, maybe Pentax is back for the Falcons game and then Bijon just goes off, right? Like, like, like, stuff can't happen. Brock Perty, even if he gets hurt or something like that again, we got Mac Jones. So we're good. We're good. Yeah, I think this is a really great team to be thinking of as the one seed at the NFC this year. Like, regardless of what, if we're everything to actually win the Super Bowl, I think the one seed at the NFC is like a really smart thing to be looking at for the deep row. Speaking of legitimate contenders, you want to talk about the Vikings here. Let's have the conversation, boys. Are the Vikings a legitimate Super Bowl contender? No, next question, I don't think they are either. But I think people are going to look at the five in a record. They're going to look at how good the defense has played. They're going to say to your point, we have not seen Calla Murray with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tidia Hockinson on the field, all together. They would stood off its of line injuries. Okay, OC, uh, uh, and all the other things in between. I don't think they're a Super Bowl contender. I think the defense is really, really talented. But also, again, walking the schedule, they played the Packers, they played the Bears, they played the Buccaneers, the Dolphins and the Saints. And yes, they get Daniel Jones, who cannot move in the cults next. I think the real litmus test is going to be they get the lions and the bills after them. And people are going to cool their jets on the Vikings a lot. After those two games, I don't look at them as a Super Bowl contender. I still do not believe in Calla Murray as a fit for this offense. And for this team. So no, it's more than just those two games from week eight and through, through week 15. Oh, yeah. They played the Lions, Bills, Packers, Niners, Falcons, Panthers, Patriots, Lions. Yep. Like, even the worst teams in that group, if the Pentax is healthy, Falcons offense has looked like a wagon. Panthers offense has looked so improved this year. Patriots offense seems like it's recovered. Green Bay, like, if Jordan Love is hitting those deep shots to Kristen Watson, that is eight straight weeks of potentially very high level offenses. Now, this is a very high level defense. I do believe it is totally a Super Bowl caliber defense. I do believe that. But I don't think it is such a good defense that it can overcome. Like, I can't sit here and say Calla Murray is the quarterback of a true Super Bowl contender. I just, I haven't seen it. The other thing with this defense and we haven't seen it to this point. But it's going to happen at some point. Now, I think it's either it happens against the Lions or the Bills. The high variance world that Brian Flores lives in with these blitz rates and the 70s and 90s percent. You are hedging that your pass rush and your blitz destroys the opposing offense when you are wrong and that does not get home. This is also a defense that historically has given up high explosive play rates. So when if there's any kind of small hole in the dam that where a team is good enough to withstand this, the quarterback play or the running back or all those parts of pieces in between, this defense can also hemorrhage explosive plays. We haven't seen that to this point. I think that more is in line with the teams they have played to this point. But does that happen after they play the Lions and the Bills and some of these other teams? Because then they get the Packers and the 49ers right after that can say, "Oh, okay, see how that worked. Let's try that." They're obviously very strong favorites to make the playoffs. When you start a five-and-oh, you just have the mathematical advantage, Ericsson. But as a litigitimate Super Bowl container, I don't agree. I'm pretty sure we talked about in the offseason how there was a reminder about the Vikings and that when you looked at their opening schedule, you looked at Kyla Murray's track record of a guy that's been a hot starter. Right. He is traditionally played a lot better in September in October. I know that there's a lot of jokes I have to get thrown out about. Some certain video game being released around the end of October and then he starts to play really bad. But that's just because Defits has figured out what he's doing. So my agree, he would, this team would be a sell for me where we talked about the 49ers as a goodbye. Again, it's not surprising looking at the Vikings and who they've played and why they're five and oh, now I know that you wouldn't really expect to be this way where we would expect how I'm ready to play better in a five and oh start for the Minnesota Vikings. Now it's not on him because you did get hurt in the first game of the season. He's missing playmakers. I felt that he has looked a little bit better just from week to week, but it is still a really hard to be super defined about it just because he's not playing with his full allotment of weapons. And when it looks like he finally develops something with TJ Hawkinson. Oh, well, he immediately gets knocked out of the game. But he's still missing throws, which you're an NFL quarterback. There are throws that you have to make, especially in this offense. And when you're playing better offense is on the other side and you can't rely on Brian Forrest to bail you out. I just don't see a scenario where Oh, Kyla Murray Vikings are down. He gets the ball in the fourth quarter and he's going to drive 80 yards to get them the win. I would bet against that happening against some of these tougher matchups. So I would agree to probably a team. Yeah, maybe they make the wild card, but we're not surprising if they just get immediately bounced. Also, can we quickly talk about the fact that if Aaron Jones continues to sustain 25 touches a week, he will not hold up for the rest of the season. He just, he won't. He can't. They have a by week this week. So they should get Mason back in week seven. So does Super balls right now, plus 2200 teams with shorter odds include the Broncos. And this is consensus odds on BenningPros.com. The Broncos, the Bears, the Bengals, the Patriots are tied, the Jags, obviously, Siox Ravens, Bills, Chiefs, Niners, Rams, or all have shorter odds than the Vikings. And I think those are all correct for the most part. Maybe the Broncos, you could argue not, but like the others, I think yeah. I'll go quickly on my second reaction because we kind of talked a lot about the Texans during the Marvin Harris and Junior trade update there. But my question was really just did the Texans write the ship or did they just happen to face the Titans this week. So again, I think we keep this one quick because we talked a lot about Houston already, but Eric said I'll start with you. Just what do you think about the answer to this question? I think it was just the Texas kind of just like checking out the box. Right. We gotta get a win. Let's just take the layup here. We're facing the Tennessee Titans because watching this Titans every offense every single week, what is this offense trying to be? Like what in the ideal world is this offense? It just seems so out of sync and they have no identity. Do they want to run the football? Do they want to be a spread off? Like what's the point? I don't know. I don't know what they're doing. And it's not helping Camor because it's really hard to get justification of like, okay, he can be our franchise quarterback because nothing I've seen from him through five weeks is oh yeah, like this is the direction that they should be going in. It just seems like an offense that's totally lost. That doesn't have an identity. So the Texans obviously took advantage of a really bad opponent like they should. And I think next week is going to be more about the litmus test for the Texans against the Jaguars who are obviously a actual competitive team in AFC South. Debra. Yeah, I think this is more than facing the Titans. I think now to the point of this, their schedule is about to do them a few different favors. The Jacksonville Jaguars I think are going to thump them this coming week. But after that, they get the giants and chargers. So then they could, you know, be rolling into after that with like three wins. I think they can beat the giants and beat the chargers so people still have hope and stuff. But now I don't think this is the Texans figuring it out. I think they just beat up on a bad team of the Titans. All right, let's get to our final reactions. Each of us, Erickson, what was your number three? Drake May five touchdowns for Drake May, who was officially back, at least back against the bad defenses that he faced, but going into this matchup, the Raiders were looked at as, okay, like this is illegitimate defense. They had one of the better pressure rates entering the game. But in this particular matchup, I don't know. Joshua Daniels was kind of in his bag with the past protection. Drake May had plenty of time to throw. And he was just absolute masterclass with the deep ball. Two weeks in a row, the Raiders would be getting cooked by explosive plays and Drake May on throws of 10 plus area yards, eight of 11 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Third time in his career, he completed over 70% of his downfield pass attempts, according to next gen stats. He just had a field day going down field. And it was one of those two where he's dropping back to throwing just kind of like lofting it up there. And just these guys are wide open making big plays. Basically everyone except Romeo Dobbs was catching all their downfield passes because that's the Romeo Dobbs experiment. But kind of Williams was getting involved. Mario Douglas was like wide open. And he's just in his position as he continues to make plays. So practice squad player have heard only Erickson practice squad player. Persa per C. J. Gardner Johnson. He didn't even in his. I'm like, come on. Do you guys know where Drake May is ranked for fantasies? Point score on the last two weeks. Yeah. Do you know where he is on the season after his unbelievable star? After week three, they're like, oh, he's like QB 34 in points. So do you know where he is so far this QB 10 because the last two weeks are just a bit higher. I'm getting a sec. He is QB seven. Yeah. And out 40 points against Alan is already ahead. So unless unless Stafford drops 30 fantasy points tonight, he will stay at seven after Monday night football. That's where 40 fantasy points against the Raiders 39 points. He's had two wild games, dude. Career high against the Las Vegas Raiders. And again, the context behind no AJ Brown last two weeks. AJ Brown's coming back at some point. And then you get to find seed again, going back to teams that are getting guys back. The pictures are one of those teams. They invested so much in AJ Brown. We haven't even seen that yet for a full game between Drake May and AJ Brown. Drake May can keep up this. I think that AJ Brown can at least help when they do face cover defenses. And losing trivia on it's not that big of a loss. I hope you trade back. I'm going back. I hope you traded for him in fantasy. His next five weeks, Jets, Bears, Dolphins, Packers, Lions are the next five games he has before the buy. So this might continue to be on a real upswing trajectory for his production. Debra for you is Drake May, you know, again, back is sort of like a tough word sometimes. And is almost uses like a meme. But like, is this schedule related? Is this him getting back to close to what he was last year? Where do you come down on Drake May right now in terms of how you project him? Not even to think fantasy production because obviously those are some easy matchups coming up. But just like where you would rank him amongst NFL quarterbacks just for the rest of the season, where do you come down on him? I mean, I think, you know, with the first few games of the season, the overreaction when people also, you know, putting together his playoff run was a bit overblown. I think that, you know, I'm back in on Drake May. I'm like in the sense of like also like Josh McDaniels is doing smarter things to help his young quarterback. He's not focusing on one player. He's spreading the ball around. He's giving with the, with the defense is taking him because the biggest thing when I go through his film was he's just forcing plays and doing things that are stupid. If he plays his game and makes better decisions, he's going to play better while also utilizing his legs more like, yeah, like I think Drake May, you know, we could roll through like a top five top 10 list. I think he's somewhere comfortably in there. Now, where we want to put him in the, in the top, say seven quarterbacks in the NFL, I think is very debatable considering where everybody's played and how all that, you know, especially with the sample size of only five weeks. He, you know, obviously the turnovers with big issue early on and could be go for like weeks two and three, even when he wasn't producing fantasy numbers, he was still throwing for nine and a half or eight yards per attempt. Like those are still good numbers. Like I tend to think that it, it was an overreaction to early season, just like I said, a lot of turnovers that we'll smooth out throughout the season. I'm not going to say they're going to go away entirely, but I think they will continue to smooth out as they have the last two weeks. And he's going to be just fine. So just, just the will Campbell thing, though, is the one like, sure, is a, sure, I'm losing when you're starting tackles is never idea. I mean, just ask the chargers, right? It's not idea for even to give him the opponents again. Like David Bailey in the New York Jets, like David Bailey's coming off a monster monster game. So he's going to be pinned his years rushing the passer next week when the Jets take on the pass to all the main two robots to the McDaniel stuff real fast. Over the last two weeks, the Patriots are 12 in motion and 11th and play action rate, which they were bottom five in the first few weeks in both of those metrics. So McDaniels or yeah, Josh McDaniels, like, screwing his head back on straight has been a big thing too. What's your next reaction? Debra, I'm going to ask the question, and I did not tweet these stats out because I didn't want anybody to see this, but I'm going to ask the question, boys, is Jalen Warren the most underrated running back in the entire NFL? So first of all, amongst all running backs in AAV, he is 27th in average annual value of contract right now. Let me just read off a few names in the same area code as old Jalen Warren, Alvin Camara, Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Chris Rodriguez, Rico Dowdell. Jalen Warren, since 2022, among 76 qualifying running backs, Jalen Warren is 15th and explosive run rate ahead of Kenneth Walker. He's 11th in yards after contact for attempt right ahead of Derek Henry and Bajon Robinson. Jalen Warren is also 6th in Miss Tackle's Force Per attempt ahead of Nick Chubb. Oh, and let's look at his receiving stats, shall we? 78 qualifying running backs is as receiving options. Jalen Warren, 8th in yards per out run ahead of Gibbs, Austin Eccler, Alvin Camara, and 5th in first downs [BLANK_AUDIO] run ahead a Devon Hamp is Jalen Warren the most underrated running back in the NFL. I think emphatically. So what do you all guys think? I think this is a great call and a correct one because when you ask the question, I started trying to think who else I would want to make the case for. I'm like, okay, well, it's a great case. Let me think about where else I would go. And I'm like, looking through the names just in case I forget. I don't think anybody really stands out to me as somebody that I would you serve Jalen Warren in this conversation. And this are the running backs that are underrated. But I think not to the degree that Jalen Warren is. Erickson, what do you think? Couldn't agree more because I think that Jalen Warren has been pitching hole into. Oh, yeah, he's like this like scap back guy that was Naji Harris is back up and that was another guy's back up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And now the Steelers have had their hand forced at least last couple of weeks having to play him in a full time role. And what do you know? It's awesome because Jalen Warren is freaking awesome. And I think going back to his profile, I think people will be shocked when you look at Jalen Warren. He's five eight two hundred and four pounds because I think people think Jalen Warren is like a hundred and eighty five pound running back, which is why he's always been put into this committee role when now this guy can carry a full workload and does exceptional with it as both a Russia and receiver. I mean, the guy is ripping off 50 yard touchdowns as a Russia and receiver weekend a week out. And we always knew that he was super efficient. It was always a matter of, okay, well, the Steelers are never going to let him run away with the job. And even that was the talks entering the season where it's going to be split between Rico Dattel and Jalen Warren. But I know that Rico Dattel has a chance to come back. Rico Dattel knows how this rolls, right? He was with Carolina when he was balling out. He got the rock when he was not in missed time. And Chuba Hubbard took over like he's not coming back to his starting role or a big role at all, in my opinion. So I think that the Steelers realize are now being in a position where to do that. Yes, let's continue to feature Jalen Warren because he is so exceptional. He makes our offense go so much more efficiently than with Rico, especially as a receiver with Aaron Rogers. Rogers loves you to check the ball down to receiver out of the backfield. So yeah, it's a great poll, Debra. Dude, and the big thing that I want to I want to tie a bow on this because everybody has discounted Jalen Warren's talent every single year because of his size, the role that Pittsburgh has played him in and said that he is, this is small sample variance. Just for everybody at home, just understand that this, this sample size that I pulled from 2022 all the way to this season up, including last week is a sample size of 627 rushing attempts. So almost like two full seasons of a full time elite bell cow workload and also 892 routes and 215 targets. This is not a small sample. He is that freaking good. The only name I'm looking through that I could even try to make a case for is like maybe Chase Brown, just because I like the draft capital. I think it's still held against it. But I definitely think Jalen Warren is more underrated than Chase Brown. We think Jalen Warren, Chase Brown, Shreya, I think as like an actual running back on the field that I watched and play, I think Jalen Warren is bad. And Chase Brown has a better role here. He has had a better. I agree with that. But I'd rather have Chase Brown a fantasy, but I think Jalen Warren is the better one. Chase Brown can't even touch anything close to what Jalen Warren has done as a receiver in the NFL at all. Nothing. I mean, Chase Brown can be a good receiver. Yeah, but on a, on a, he had a, he had a 11, 10 point. No, but on an official standpoint, he's not even in the same ball. I know, but the way you said that it sounded, it sounded like Chase Brown is bad at that. I think Jalen Warren is better. I'm not saying he's bad, but Jalen Warren is elite in every metric of every, no, I think Jalen Warren is the better NFL running back. I think Chase Brown is the better fantasy running back. But he was the best closest one I could think again. I'm like looking, I'm like overrated and underrated. Yeah, I'm like, I'm like, city girl, like, could you make the case that Bijan is actually a little underrated because the offense does him no favors and he's even better than, but like everybody knows he's amazing, right? Like there's, there's aren't that many options out there. So I think it's a great shout out, Diver. And I haven't really thought about Jalen Warren in that context before. So I think it's a really good thing to bring up. My final reaction here is, and I know they were on by this week, but I think the chiefs at only the fifth best Super Bowl odds right now is an absolute gift. We are talking about the best quarterback ever outside of Tom Brady for in some people's opinion, my opinion included. And a guy who has been the best quarterback certainly of his generation in terms of playoff performances and winning Super bowls and making Super bowls. I had coached that a lot of people think is one of the best ever. And offense that finally has an explosive running back who has been just a hand in glove fit in this offense and has completely changed the way defenses have to defend this team. A defense that is led by an excellent, excellent, even in the especially in the playoffs defensive coordinator that has a lot of young guys that are going to get better throughout the course of the season and already is pretty talented right now. And this team is already undefeated to start the season so far. The four know they've just had their bites in early by which can hurt later in the season. But man, I'm just like looking at this team. And I'm like part of this too is you look at the other teams in the NFL. We really like the Niners, but yes, maybe it is a bit of a house of cards situation in terms of the injuries. If they get one injury too many down the line, you know, the Jags didn't look good against what we think is not a very good Eagles team. There's like, you know, it's one game. I'm not totally ruling them out as a super bowl contender. Of course, I still like them, but they didn't look great this week. The Vikings, we just talked what we don't think is a real super bowl contender. Those are the those are the three teams that are like closer to the chiefs in record. Right now, you know, the Ravens, I think are good, but like the Mars banged up right now. Now, you know, the Seahawks have two losses. The Bears a couple, you know, the the bills. I think Alan has looked shaky the last couple weeks in terms of the turnovers. The point is you can go through and really poke calls. You know, the Rams are two and two right now. You could poke holes in the other teams that are real contenders here. And the chiefs not only do they look really good this season, they also have the pedigree of these guys have been there before they've done it before. You look at the other teams that are the top of the NFL standings right now. They haven't done that, right? The Rams have done it before, but they're not at the top of the standings right now. The Seahawks have done it before. They did it once. And again, they have two losses already. Niners have been there. They haven't won one recently. Jags haven't been there. Vikings haven't been there. This Ravens iteration hasn't been there. So I mean, again, to give me the fifth best odds for the cheese as opposed to like first or second, where I think they should be, I feel like we're going to look back on that in December and say what it gets. We could have bet them at plus 900 back all the way back in October, Erickson. Yeah. I mean, the fact that it's that long of odds when they haven't lost a single game yet. We were supposed to get the bad version of the homes to start the year. So I assume that we're just going to see him look better and better as the season progresses. I think the main question mark is just the receiver room right now and how it's set up. We know that type one Thorin is out and definitely rushy rice hurt his hamstring. Last time we saw him Xavier worthy. Can he step up to make a trade for one of these wide receivers Travis Kelsey. I don't think is going to necessarily play his best ball in December in January, just because of his age. So those are the only question marks. But at the same time, you have an elite running game with Kenneth Walker. I think they're going to use more of Emma Johnson, especially to make sure Walker stays healthy throughout the entire season. And hasn't there starting left tackle and not even played the season? Josh Simmons has he just like missed the entire start of the I mean, the fact that doing this without one of their best offensive line men is also credits to just the depth that they have across that O line and a credit to Andy Reed and the play calling in the fact that they decided to get rid of Matt Aggie and bring back Eric the enemy. So that's why the good teams stay good because they make the smart decision moves when it comes to personnel when it comes to coaching when something doesn't work, they don't try to stick it out. They make the move, they cut bait, and they move on. So trusting in Patrick, my home seems like investing in your 401k, just seems like a good thing to do. It's always a smart. And by the way, like deep row, I think we would all agree that the three best teams in the AFC not named the chiefs are bills Ravens, the Jags in some order. If any of those teams is going to arrow head in January, who are you picking? You're picking the chiefs. Yeah, I don't disagree. They think I'll say it here. My biggest question mark is the same thing that Ericsson has is what do we do with this wide receiver room? Like Rishi Rises is hurt. Who is he in this offense, how effective is he? We know Xavier Worthy is a nothing burger. Like he's just whatever role you play him in, he's just non-existent. So he's a non-factor. So you're talking about a passing attack, which my homes is the dude. I thought I forget was week two, week three, one of those weeks where my homes that was the best passing performance. I have legit best football. I've seen my homes play in like the last three to four seasons. But with this wide receiver room, do we see that moving forward? Like, I mean, asking people like asking Jalen Royals and Cyber Salon to step up and be those difference making guys is a lot. Could they trade for somebody? This is like the commanders just say, okay, we're tossing it all in for this season. Could they trade Stefan Diggs? Maybe. But they definitely need wide receiver help from somebody. Because I don't think that again, talking about a team's final form and being a super bowl contender, I absolutely can see it. But I think that they need to get to that final form. They need another wide receiver here. It's partly that I think this seems really good. And partly that I don't think there's an obvious juggernaut that like, there's not a juggernaut to like maybe the Niners is the best case you can make, but they have injury concerns as well. Every team has laws, dude. Every single team as a team, yes, a hundred percent. So I'm like, yeah, like, if you're, if there's no perfect team out there, why should we fall back on the pedigree of this organization who also looks really good right now? And you can go out and trade for a receiver. Obviously, we just saw one happen with the Texans. Like that is doable. Who would they go out and trade for? Walker says healthy. Like outside of like, okay, a step on digs trade. I don't think Brian Thomas Jr. is walking in that door. I don't think that's a trade they make. No, I don't think the Jaguar is about to help the chiefs. The Jags, no, I think that would make a lot of sense if the Jags were in the NFC and the AC, the jack, like we say, and we're not helping him. Yeah. But to that point, what wide receivers should have been the target for them, which it sounded like they weren't in on that. So like, what wide receiver is walking in the door that's going to help them. I'm like, what is Brandon? Are you answering the phone? Do we know? Oh, no, I think he's, he's buying properties in other countries. I don't think so. But I, but I mean, maybe step on digs, but outside of him, I'm like, it's probably somebody on the margin. It's like, it's probably like Jalen McMillan from tip or somebody like that where it's like, it's like a team that's not very good. They're willing to move a receiver, but it's not going to be a storm on the Titans. Chris Godwin at the buck on his rod of it. But, but is he a needle mover at this point? I mean, I don't think they need a needle mover. I just think they need a guy who can be competent and fit. I mean, that's something like Calvin. I mean, look, it's really hard to get a gauge on this Titans passing attack on the broadcast that we're talking about. Yeah, we really want to get Calvin really going. And he caught a pass on the first drive. And then I don't think I'll have to pass with the rest of the game. I mean, if Philly really does end up selling off like Don Tavion wicks, maybe, oh, I thought you were going to go like full ham mode like Devonta Smith or no, I don't think. I don't think they I don't think Philly. But yeah, like wicks or somebody, you know, somebody like that, maybe kind of comes. Because that's that's the head scratcher part for me. It's like they need wide receiver help. But where the heck are they going to get it, man? Like, yeah, at the end of the day, as I said, I just I don't think the odds are correct to be for them to be behind, you know, some of these other. I think the command, I think the commander's thing that you mentioned, Debro, with Diggs. Diggs is like that makes the most veteran and the one year deal and the UB and she and me obviously has connection with the commanders. Obviously he wasn't there with Diggs, but Diggs, I think was rumored to be in the market for the Kansas city when he was still a free agent. Obviously, he ended up going with Washington, but he doesn't want to be. I mean, Diggs, been the Super Bowl last year, right? For sure, he wants to need dude. He wants to be a container. It's NFC AFC. If they clean house, Dan Quinn is fired. If I'm out of Peter's, I'm like, oh, I can get draft picks for a veteran wide receiver. That's probably not going to be a team next year. I got I got the fever dream boys. They trade for Stefan Diggs and they signed Tyree kill. Oh, we got Tyree. I forgot. Oh, he got the answer. It's Tyree. Is that the answer? Did I just definitely will, I don't know if it will be the answer. It definitely will be something they try. Like there's obviously I don't know if Tyree can be ready to like, I mean, whatever form he's in till November. Right. But who cares? I mean, he's got a package of plays type of role. That's all you're asking out of him. And then Stefan Diggs and Rashee rise to the full time guys. Who says now? Go bed and the chiefs now would be my recommendation because I don't think those odds are going to get worse. I think they're going to get worse to bed on. I think they're they're only going to get shorter. So we'll go ahead and wrap things up there. Things are ready for checking out. Are we five reactions here on the tailgate for Ericsson and Dubro? I'm Ryan Warmley. We'll see you again next time. This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.