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The 5th Down: Tier 4 Fantasy Football Rankings · The Poi N Soy Podcast

• Keoni McKeague: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm your co-host Kenny McKee. Get with me today on the fifth down is my boyfriend the fifth down Nolan Chang. Stay with us up to the pod Nolan. Nolan: Baby! Keoni McKeague: That we are and we are wearing different outfits this time because it's a different day. So ⁓ for those who are wondering why we were wearing back to back similar outfits yesterday, well, that's because we are well, last week, I guess, is because we have to knock out these recordings because Nolan is about to go on a ⁓ honeymoon of sorts. Is this your honeymoon? Yeah, right. OK, I was just saying I was like, it's hard to explain because, you know, the multiple wedding thing and all that sort of stuff. Nolan: I was like, what are you talking about? I don't know. I don't know. Honeymoon? Yeah, I would say honeymoon. We call it the honeymoon, yeah. Yeah. Again. Keoni McKeague: You know what mean? Anyway, for life locked up. I'm just like, yeah, I know. Just want to the same thing. Anyway, we are here to talk some NFL fantasy football. I know if you've been following our series thus far, you've seen us talk about tiers one through three. This is going to be tier four of our players for fantasy football. As we mentioned before, obviously, this is not. Nolan: Ball and chain! Keoni McKeague: solely for those who are drafting in like typical leagues. You know what mean? This is more kind of our way of thinking because these are the players that we are prioritizing. So as you go through the positions here, you're probably here. Very big differences from the from the guys over at Fantasy Pros. And like we've mentioned before, not sponsored fantasy pros dot com. Check out their rankings. They have the best rankings for all of fantasy football just because they compile all of the different expert guys for fantasy rankings. And we use them very often. So With that said, before we get into our own tiers and rankings, we've to give a shout out to our partners over at W Energy. Fantastic tasting energy. All of the energy you need to get through your day, you head on over to w.gg or use the W Energy app in our promo code, which is POI and soy. That's P-O-I-N-S-O-Y for 10 % off your order. Nolan, let's talk some NFL fantasy football. Nolan: Yes, my lord. Keoni McKeague: That was a lot of words. Anyway, so like I mentioned before, going to start off with our tier four players, but we have to first mention the tier four players in fantasy pros rankings. So tier four for them at the quarterback position, which is where we will start today. Matthew Stafford, Bo Nicks, Jordan Love, Jared Goff, Malik Willis, Baker Mayfield, Tyler Shuck, Kyler Murray and CJ Stroud. Wow, some of those are actually kind of surprising. I didn't even realize. Like Kyle and Murray was that low on their rankings. But anyway, Nolan, who is in your tier four and how many do you have in that tier for quarterbacks? Nolan: I've got eight. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Yeah, okay, yeah. We're about on the same page. Nolan: I feel like yeah, I think once we got to like the three, four and five tiers, they're pretty much like the same amount for each one, but at least for QBs. But yeah, my first one starting off, I got Tyler Shuck. ⁓ I think like on paper, if you're looking at it from like a baseline, Tyler Shuck has shown a lot as a very capable quarterback. ⁓ And now that his team is getting a lot stronger, he's moving up the rankings for me as well as having the potential to be a tier three. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: But that's why I mainly put him at the top of tier four, because I do think he has those flashes last season ⁓ with minimal, you know, ⁓ depth. I'll say that for the the Saints. Next, I have Jared Goff. Now, ⁓ obviously, this is lower than the consensus rankings. This is probably higher than I'm assuming you have Jared Goff at. But the only reason I still have Jared Goff up there is just because for. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Nolan: The purposes of my tier lists, he still has a tier one wide receiver, a tier one running back, running back that also works out of the past game a lot, which is gonna affect his production as a fantasy QB. And he also has a tier two for me, tight end. ⁓ All that being said, there's a lot more that goes into it than just what you have as your arsenal. It's a lot of your protection, how this team is gonna look now that they've lost a lot of players, especially on the line. ⁓ But Jared Goff has shown through his career that he can get the job done. And it's not like his weapons have really fallen off. ⁓ They're still there, they're still very effective. So I'm gonna keep them a little higher on that tier four. ⁓ Next up, I got Jordan Love. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Nolan: Really the main thing that we're looking at here is what is the timeline for Tucker Craft? ⁓ Potentially gonna miss the start of season. Reports have said that he could be ready for the start of season. We'll find out sooner rather than later. ⁓ But I do think there have been a lot of questions with this offense in the past of like there's just too many options. Like what are you gonna do? They got rid of Dobbs. You nail it down a little bit more. You got... ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Nolan: Watson, got Reed and you have Golden. Then you have Tucker Kraft. Then obviously in the backfield you have Josh Jacobs. Jordan Love, not necessarily a mobile quarterback, which is probably why he's lower down the list for me. ⁓ But he does have a lot of offensive weapons. The Greenway Packers are always a team to look out for because they're very tough and gritty when it comes down to how they're playing the game. So Jordan Love is still going to be a great option. ⁓ Next, I have CJ Stroud. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Nolan: mainly you know CJ has I think from year to year continued to move down my rankings ⁓ I don't want to necessarily say it's anything that he's done but maybe what he hasn't done which is just improve more and more as he's gone through his career ⁓ whether you yeah yeah but I'd still think that he has a lot to give especially with this young team that's kind of moving forward ⁓ Keoni McKeague: He's got worse and worse. Nolan: The main thing looking at it is he still has Niko, I think. mean, when you got Niko on your team, you're in a good spot to start the season. So I'm hoping that he kind of capitalizes on that, especially because their defense on the other side is probably going to get a lot of three-and-outs for them, get them back on the field. So I'm going to assume that it's going to be a lot more opportunity plays for CJ to get stuff done. ⁓ Next up, I got Malik Willis. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah. Nolan: ⁓ You know, I put him kind of smack in the middle of my my tear I didn't really want to put too much I Guess on him because now that waddles gone You're you're really just gonna be a question of what kind of chemistry you can build with any draftees They have or the young guys that they they still have Malik Washington. They got to to at well ⁓ There was one more wide receiver that he got I forgot who it was Keoni McKeague: It's not really anybody even note. Yeah. Nolan: Yeah, yeah, exactly. No, exactly. Exactly. ⁓ And we're looking at him building a new team with a new coach staff. So everyone's going to be on the same page from day one, ⁓ the first page, technically. So ⁓ hopefully that kind of pays off for him. just like we mentioned, I mentioned with Jared Goff, Devon Achan is another guy who runs what? Tolbert. There you go. ⁓ But Devon Achan is another running back who works very well the past game. Keoni McKeague: Haha. Jalen Tolbert was the wide receiver. Nolan: Affecting the productivity of Malik Willis when it comes to fantasy ⁓ Next up. art cam ward ⁓ He got Wandel ⁓ I We talked about that last pod. It's not a it's not a fluke I would say that they picked him up knowing what he just did last season with the Giants ⁓ and you're getting a Capable quarterback that has a lot to prove and if you're give him a wide receiver one Keoni McKeague: ⁓ Nolan: I this is the best time to do it. And who, ⁓ sorry, Ridley. Yeah, so Ridley, the rumors are coming out that they're gonna restructure his contract so that he can stay with the team. You know, maybe that means he's gonna take a step back, but also mentally take a step forward ⁓ as a leader on the team because of how he performed last season. Yeah. I'm hoping that's how he approaches this season. Get that tatted. Anyway. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: bars. Take a step back, we'll mentally take a step forward. Nolan: But yeah, I'm excited for year two Cam Ward. Hopefully that this is a big step forward. Keoni McKeague: You know, I was going to hit on that pick when you said it, then after the exposition, I like it. was like, yeah, I was like, that makes a ton of sense. Nolan: And then we'll figure out about who's going to be the three. Chimiry, Deke or ⁓ yeah. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Next on the list, have Fernando Mendoza. know, he is going to be a number one draft pick, most likely. ⁓ He's coming into a team that is going to be on full rebuild. Keoni McKeague: Elec Iomenor, yeah. It might not even be Calvin Ridley as a tool, know? We talked about that already, yeah. Mm-hmm. Nolan: if they haven't been already for the past couple years. But I think that there's a lot of what people saw of him in college that gives a lot of hope for how it's gonna translate over to the league. He's not a transcendent quarterback or anything like that, which is why he's obviously a bottom of my tier four. But I do think he has a big capability coming into the league and you're gonna have Brock Bowers, you're gonna have Ashton Gentry. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: They're going to figure out what they're going to do with their wide receivers. I don't really know yet because I don't know how you kind of approach the season with Trey Tucker as your one. It just doesn't make sense. ⁓ But we'll kind of see how much he can move up in my rankings as ⁓ the season approaches. Last in my tier four, Justin Fields. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Nobody does. Yeah. Nolan: It may be disrespectful to have him so close to tier five, bottom of tier four, but it's more of, you know, what, what, what have you shown me lately? Yeah, you got to prove it. I can't award you any sort of grace. ⁓ if you're not going to actually go from, if you're going from different systems, different teams and not do something with whatever coaches you're working with you for that team. It just doesn't make sense to me to give you any sort of credit. Is he going to potentially his best situation that he's had since he's entered the league? Keoni McKeague: Gotta prove it, yeah. Nolan: Technically, yeah, hypothetically he is. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: think this is his best situation. Technically, it's the Kansas City Chiefs, that's Nolan: Yeah, I mean, I mean that in this- Because I mean that we don't know if Patty's starting. That's... yeah. Not because... You never know. Keoni McKeague: Oh, he's not starting. Come on. Let's keep it a buck. You know what I mean? I was like, this dude, I don't know why we keep trying to like better yet. I hope they do rushing back because when he hurts something again and they're looking at this, oh my gosh, can't believe we rushed him back scenario of like, it's all on you, Kansas City. This was your fault. Nolan: Hmm My knee bent backwards. Keoni McKeague: You have a ready-built team that you can definitely be insulated from his injury and not have to worry about him coming back right away. I don't understand rushing him back. You got Kenneth Walker this offseason. You have everything you need in order to make this team go without him. So. Nolan: That is true. That is true. Keoni McKeague: I'm just saying, man, that would be pretty dumb of that team to rush him back. But I do think that there's a possibility, which I'm just like, why? Why? Why do we have to rush people back? You know what I mean? Nolan: No, you're not wrong. You're not wrong. ⁓ But yeah, I would also add right before I let you get to your tier ⁓ Also reason he's lower is because we've talked about it. We want to have dual threat quarterbacks He is yet to show he's a dual threat and he's more on the run side than he is on the pass side Which shows me that you know, he has Yeah, yeah, how dare you yeah, so Keoni McKeague: Yeah, and he only averaged 20 points in fantasy when he was just running. yeah, so speaking facts, it's like he just rushed for like 40 yards and two touchdowns. It's like, what does that even get you? know, it's like, who cares? That's nothing in fantasy. Nolan: Nothing. Shut up. Anyways, prove it to me Justin Fields. Go ahead Cuny. Keoni McKeague: I was like, I had it. You proved it to me, Justin. I was like, I know you can do it. ⁓ At least in fantasy. Real life. But fantasy-wise, darling. ⁓ Anyway, yeah, mean, it's pretty much. Nolan: Nuh-uh. Keoni McKeague: A lot of the names that you said are in here. Some of the names that you mentioned last week are in here as well. But I have seven names in tier four for me. At the top of the list is actually Jared Goff. So I thought it was ironic that you said you're going to have a lower than me and I had him higher than you. You said second in your tier four. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Nolan: Well Technically by tiers by by tiers. What is your overall ranking technically? Keoni McKeague: it by numbers. just... Nerd! Nolan: Mine's on a Google spreadsheet. That's why I... It's the best way to move things around! Keoni McKeague: Yeah, mean, yeah, probably. I just did. Mine is just by lists on my whatever. But anyway, I'm at the top of tier four. It really just comes down to, I mean, my belief that quarterbacks that don't run. Nolan: Mwahahah! Keoni McKeague: are just guys that I'm not super interested in. And he is one of them stand in the pocket guys. ⁓ Don't get me wrong, always produces real life football wise. Would love to have him as my quarterback. ⁓ I think he's a great player, all that sort of stuff. But from a fantasy point, I just. I like my guys to be able to move. like the mobility. I like the added points of them doing that. especially nowadays, as we get closer and closer to a point where like the half PPRs and like the extra receptions or whatever it might be, those little things make a big difference. So having the running definitely helps a little bit. So really, that's the only reason I have them here in this tier. But right after here, I might have Jacoby Percet. Again, similar but different. Obviously, different situation, not as much rapport. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: with the team but he built a lot of chemistry with the group I think he's actually still a great quarterback option I would love to have him as a quarterback too ⁓ if I was drafting this low at this point but end of the day you know not much in the way of rushing he is a pocket quarterback stairs on the Cardinals, you know what mean? How many points are they going to be scoring this year? Probably more than last year, I think. I don't know. It's kind of hard to figure out what the Cardinals plan is. You know what I mean? They signed Tyler out here to an already crowded backfield. So. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: lot of weird situations going over there. Right after that Jordan Love. ⁓ Again it's funny because as you can tell by the tone of my voice all QBs I'm not super excited about you know there's a reason why I've dropped them to this tier. Jordan loves part of that group. mean yes consistency is key and no he does not have that. So when it comes to the Green Bay Packers you never know which Jordan Love is going to show up for you on a daily basis. Some games he looks brilliant sometimes he looks like He is a top five QB. In other days, he completely disappears. So in my mind, Jordan Love is just not a great fantasy asset. You don't want that if you want something from your quarterback position. It's consistency, which is why I lean towards guys who run, because when the throwing is not working for a team. the non throwing guys do absolutely nothing. that's why I'm like, at least with the running, there's the ability to get out of pocket and make some moves. You know what mean? They'll get me point five points just running five yards. So anyway, moving on to CJ Stroud. I mean, I didn't even feel really good about having him here in this tier, but. I don't think I could have faded him below some of the guys that I have here because, well, two of them for sure. One of them I'm still iffy about, but if anything, it's kind of a 1A, 1B situation with him and the guy that's right after him, which is Sam Darnold. Really, just because I don't really have... Like I said, I just not super high. you know, it's ironic is all five of these guys are the five cubies that I'm not super stoked about drafting anytime they're on my board or on the board, which is why I have them so low in my tears. Again, just comes down to the non running factor with Sam Darnold. Same weapons, but he's not counted on to really use utilize those weapons as much, you know. And I mean, of course, that might change. You know, last year, they had Clint Kubiak. They also had Kenneth Walker on the team. It'll be very different. very different system who maybe this is the year that he throws for like 6000 yards. I don't know, but you know that at present, Sam Darnold, his offense, C.J. Stroud, his offense. Neither of them really excites me. We saw what happened with at least C.J. Stroud's part of it. That defense carried Sam Darnold. That was partially an argument for a good majority of the year. He obviously displaced those arguments when it came to the playoffs. But, ⁓ you know, if Sam Darnold from the playoffs plays all year, very different stories. So that would be the guy that I would buy hard on for quarterbacks. ⁓ And then my tier four ends with the two rookies that I wanted to put in this class or in this tier because Fernando Mendoza that's an obvious, you know what I mean? He's gonna end up with the, wow, Oakland Raiders, the Las Vegas Raiders. So he will be there playing with them. I think that he has a great chance to be a really top. If anything, in my mind, I wasn't gonna place him above because obviously that would be just straight disrespectful to the quarterbacks that are already in the NFL. If I was going to be drafting somebody from this tier, would probably be Fernando Mendoza. Like, I am going to skip past, yeah, I'm going to reach for the guy who I feel has higher potential. ⁓ Nolan: Take the reach. Keoni McKeague: And it's not really for anything because again, he's not really a rushing quarterback either. He's not somebody who's known to go out there with his legs. But on the flip side of that, there's sort of like the high ceiling, super low floor deal where it's like, you know, there's a chance he could be the next guy. Obviously, they've touted him as such. They think he's that, you know, he's very he's a very skilled thrower. He's obviously very smart. He's very good in the pocket, knows how to make the right throws at the right times, really good with his time. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: me really good with his footwork. There's a lot of things to like about him. All the mechanics are there. you know, it's one of those situations where if I was here, I probably am taking the big swing just because and hopefully this is my third QB. You know what I mean? This isn't my second QB, all things told, that's you know, that's about where I'd be with him. And then, of course, I have Ty Simpson because. A lot more news coming out about Ty Simpson. I actually had him in the tier below this, but from the last couple of weeks, Dave, I mean, he's been getting interviewed by all of the quarterback needy teams out there, whether it's the Jets, whether it's the Browns, whether it's the Jets or the Browns. ⁓ But realistically, I mean, he's been caught up by teams that I feel like do need quarterbacks. ⁓ If he does land with a team like the Jets or the Browns or. Geez, there's one more and I just cannot think at the top of my head what the other team is, but ⁓ who else needs a quarterback? Am I tripping? ⁓ the Steelers, duh. ⁓ But yeah, I mean, if he lands with a team that is obviously picking him to be their at least bridge guy, because who knows what everybody's talking about the 2027 class or 20. Yes, 2027 class is being the quarterback class. So. Either way, I think he gets a shot to start somewhere. I would take that swing just because I feel like from a talent perspective, he's he's very, good. And then if he ends up in a situation where he starts. That's what you always draft for. You know what mean? Especially in these super deep super flex type leagues, which we're in. I mean, you're going to be probably grabbing every single starting quarterback in your league because that's exactly what happened last year. Right. think we had all 32. Yeah. So I think we've had some backups that were drafted, but. Nolan: Cuz you gotta. You got 32 options everybody. Keoni McKeague: Not on purpose for some anyway. ⁓ Yeah, so that out here and tier four for us. We're going to move over to the running back position. Let's start off with the fantasy pros list, which has. ⁓ it's actually pretty big list. right, here we go. Javonta Williams at the top of it, Travis Etienne, Trevion Henderson, Kam Skataboo, Deandre Swift, Quinchon Judkins, R.J. Harvey, David Montgomery, Jaylin Warren, and Baishal Tooten. Again, if you're here with us last week, you already know that a lot of these names are already stated in our list. But that tells you what we emphasize more in drafts as opposed to what I guess they're putting here with their rankings. ⁓ To be fair, though, you know, one thing I was thinking about is like this is the positional rankings, whereas like, if we were to probably do their like full tier rankings, it's probably a lot different, you know, like there's probably, yeah, there's probably a lot more of these names in line with where we're drafting. But anyway, ⁓ those are the names they have. How many names do you have on your list? Right on. Nolan: little. Starting off Rico Daddle. ⁓ think he's, I've talked about him before in our pod. I think he's going to start week one as the RB one. ⁓ He showed a lot last year of why teams wanted him after his breakout year in Dallas. And I think that he's probably going to get an opportunity this, cause I mean, I'll get to it, but Jalen Warren is not Chuba Hubbard. You know what I mean? I think that there is a lot more of a discrepancy in what Rico can show compared to Jaylen Warren on the Pittsburgh team. And I think that's gonna pay off a lot more. Yeah, I said it. ⁓ Ironically, next on my list, Chuba Hubbard. I mean, that's why Chuba Hubbard's below him. ⁓ So yeah, Chuba Hubbard, same idea. He's gonna be able to man this Carolina backfield. Keoni McKeague: You're right, he's better than Jubil Howard. you Nolan: without having Rico breathing down his neck, coming for that position. So I think that that's gonna be a big thing for. Keoni McKeague: Now it's Jonathan Brooks. Have Nolan: he's healthy finally yeah I know ⁓ next I got Bejel Tooten ⁓ I think that it's the same thing he is now kind of given the keys to the the to the whip he's gonna be going for it ⁓ the fact that he's at the car you know don't do this don't do this ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Who's that playing? Why'd you say whip? Can it just be used to the vehicle or the car? Nolan: Vehicle, the vehicle. Keoni McKeague: like you had to be keys to the whip. Why whip? Where'd that come from? ⁓ Nolan: to speak to our younger audiences. Keoni McKeague: How do you think they say that? You're in that other category of old guy now. We're in our 30s already, you know what mean? People be calling us unk and stuff. Nolan: ⁓ Don't let them know! ⁓ But yeah, think he's gonna, ⁓ with a Liam Combe offense that has shown what he can do with running backs, think that Basil Tooth is finally gonna get ⁓ space to run. Next on the list, Jaylen Warren. I still think Jaylen Warren is a very effective running back. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: ⁓ yeah. Nolan: So I didn't want to put him too far away, but I didn't want to stack him with where Rico Dada was in my rankings. I do think that Jalen Warren is going to have a spot in this offense for the Steelers and it's going to be probably more in the pass game. I would kind of anticipate, but you may know more on that. regardless, that's my fourth. ⁓ Fifth on the list, got Ramandre Stevenson. You know, Ramandre had a very interesting year. ⁓ prob- I know, I know. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: I hate him so much. I wish I could have dropped him out of all of the tears, but I can't. Nolan: He wasn't supposed to be where he was, but he did and then he did well and then it was a big hoopla of where Where's Trevion? Where where is Remandre? We don't know I had to keep him up a little higher in tier four just because I don't know what variable has in mind to start the season ⁓ But he did do well he got the goal line looks he was product product productive. Sorry. I was gonna say productivity Keoni McKeague: Yeah Productive. Vehicle. Nolan: productive. ⁓ So ⁓ next on my list is JK Dobbins. ⁓ I don't think outside of the injury that he sustained last year, I don't think JK Dobbins is done. I still think he is a very aggressive, strong running back ⁓ in the Denver offense. And regardless of who's going to be the one A or one B or one and two. Sean Payton knows how to use dual threat running backs or duo of running backs. And I think that JK Dom's is going to have a big part of this offense, ⁓ which is why I still kind of have them up there. Next on the list is actually Blake Coram. ⁓ Yeah, you know, as a Rams fan, Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Whoa. Nolan: I prefer Kyron, but Blake Coram has continued to grow and grow and grow on the team. And I wouldn't be surprised if at some point during the season, if Kyron is not pulling his weight, Blake ends up taking his spot. I'm not going to assume that Kyron's going to kind of fall off, but having Blake Coram as that backup for him. is very disastrous for him individually because if there's any sort of slump, Blake Coram has been rearing and ready to go since he's been on the team. ⁓ Next on that list, Tony Pollard. I only have him here because we don't know who they're drafting yet. Yeah, I mean, Keoni McKeague: share my love. Come on. I hope it is. mean, I'm not going lie. I know there's heavy rumors that share my love, but there's a possibility it could be a defensive player because there are very good defensive talents at the top. And Robert Sala is a defensive-minded coach. If you're counting it as a season with Tony Pollard as your number one running back, you know what mean? Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like, come on. Nolan: We'll see you in the top 10 draft next year. Yeah, I mean, everyone will point to it. Tony Pollard had this one crazy breakout game, which I think he had like three touchdowns or some odd yards or something like that. It was crazy. ⁓ Don't expect that week to week from Tony Pollard. He's maybe liable to get you 10 points a game. That's why he's probably so deep in my priorities, because if you know, if I need him to fill in for a bye week. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, yeah. Nolan: It could be just enough to get me by, but nothing more than that really. If he's like, you're running back to off the board, just pay your dues and walk away. ⁓ Next on list is Tyler Algier. You know, I, we, yeah, we don't know what this whole situation is with the Arizona Cardinals, ⁓ but. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, for real. Wow. Nolan: I think Tyler Algier has shown enough in the past seasons being very limited as a backup to Bajan Robinson, where I think we can assume that Tyler is going to be probably the running back one to start the season. I don't really know where James Connor is recovery wise. I don't think James Connor by any stretch of the imagination is done, but I do think Tyler Algier is the younger, bigger, stronger running back at this current point in time. and I do think he has something going there. ⁓ With all that being said, they also still have Trey Benson who was slated to kind of usurp James Connor. That's another thorn in the side of this whole situation. ⁓ I would be precautious taking him, but I think I would take the risk if I had ⁓ a good three running backs already and wanted to see where Tyler Elger could kind of land as the season goes. ⁓ Next on the list, I'll say it as a ⁓ stack, Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones Senior. ⁓ Main reason I have Jordan Mason above Aaron Jones is because he's reworked his contract, which means I'm assuming there were talks going into it saying, hey, we want to have Jordan kind of starting off and then use Aaron Jones, as you said, as a better passing back. ⁓ I think that could be a fantastic thing to do. Also, it would help kind of alleviate the wear and tear on Aaron Jones because we do know that he gets a lot of what? Keoni McKeague: On Ammons Raw, on Aaron Jones, come on. Nolan: This is why we can't get anything done here, everybody. Keoni nitpicks every slip. Keoni McKeague: You know, it's just the ones that sound like they're eating you in, playing with almonds raw, playing with Aaron's drones. It's just, you know. Grow up, Nolan. Come on. Get your mind out there, gutter, playing with Aaron's drones. Let's move on. Come on. Here we go. Pick it up. Be professional. No, I'm just kidding. There was nothing. There was nothing. didn't know. Nolan: Anywho... You grow up! The gutters. Jakori Cross Get Married is the next one. ⁓ I know, I mean... This is because if they don't draft Jeremiah love, this is a running back one in the bottom of my tier four. That lets you know everything you need to know about this situation. Also, he has a running back ⁓ quarterback that is very good on his legs. So take that with a grain of salt. know, ⁓ next on the list is James Connor. ⁓ Just because I his injury, I believe, was like week two. Keoni McKeague: Hmm. Take it. Nolan: two-ish or three-ish. ⁓ It was an ankle injury, I think, very similar to what Kam Skedabo had. ⁓ I think he's gonna get a full recovery off of that, because it's not necessarily any ligament tear damage from his knee, or it's not any sort of ⁓ full rupture of an Achilles or anything like that. It was a, I think, a broken foot and dislocated ankle, ⁓ which is much easier to get back to, I think, for him than it would be. It was bad. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Jeez, so many guys got injured last year. Damn, man, I know. Nolan: So that's why I still have him in the same tier as Tyler lower than Tyler But I do think that he has something left to give he's getting a little bit more older kind of So we're gonna have to kind of see what he looks like in training camp, but I do have some faith that he's gonna show up next to I Don't know why it's it's two color Jersey sets again, but I have common unguy and woody marks stacked back-to-back like that common unguy is mainly because Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: Deandre Swift is doing great as they're starting running back, but he's not doing enough where I don't think his job could potentially be in jeopardy if he doesn't show up. Especially with Ben Johnson as his coach. ⁓ I think that's a possibility where Kyle Mononga may get some more play into it, ⁓ but Kyle Mononga actually has to show up and prove that he deserves it. And then Woody Marks, you know, we talked about it last pod when we were giving our ⁓ statement on Montgomery. He's gotta prove something. If not, you know, it's a nothing burger and we'll see from there. And bye bye. And I'll do it. Keoni McKeague: Bye bye. Yeah, I was like legit. Yeah, I was like, we're woody. That situation is so weird. Anyway, running backs wise, Camp Scatterwoo is at the top of this one for me, tier four. I know a lot of experts have them higher. Biggest reason really just comes down to everything that's. Nolan: How many do you have by the way? Keoni McKeague: ⁓ 12, I believe, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 12, yeah. Cabs Catabou, like I said, just comes down to the situation with what's been said this offseason ⁓ and knowing Harbaugh and his sort of propensity for running out two different running backs. You had the Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell slash ⁓ Justice Hill combo. ⁓ Nolan: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: That easily could have been a thing where... they get more run as far as like Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell because as far as like Derrick Henry, he's breaking off big plays. you know what I mean? Like if he's not breaking off the 80 yard plays, maybe every third down, he's being swapped out for one of those two and that kind of stuff. That's a hardball thing. know, he's been doing it for years. He always has. I mean, look back when he had J.K. Dobbins, was J.K. Dobbins and geez, what was his name? Went to Gus Edwards. I was like those two combo made for one of the best running back duos. in all of the league. So with Kamaskataboo, just gotta imagine something else is coming down the pipeline, even if it's utilizing Tyrone Tracy more, if it's utilizing, I believe they still have Devin Singletary listed on their depth chart. I mean, there's been rumors that they tried to go out and sign some of the other names that were available. He has interest in Alvin Kamara if he gets cut. So there's just so much going around that situation where I don't feel comfortable drafting him any higher than this. And at the end of the day, Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: His biggest ability is going to be his availability. And if he's not available at the start of the year, I just imagine him getting usurped pretty quickly. Right after him, I have Kyle Menunggai. I actually have sort of the opposite take on the situation with him in Chicago. I do think that there is a really good chance. So I DeAndre Swift at the bottom of my tier three rankings. Tier four starts off with Kyle Menunggai because I do believe they are that close. ⁓ DeAndre Swift performed admirably and was fantastic in his role. He was really great, has looked really strong over the last year and a half. Nolan: ⁓ Keoni McKeague: I still think that the offense that Ben Johnson wants to run is going to come through his guys, which as we saw at the end of last year, Colson loved it. Kyle Mononga had a game or two where he showed up and was an RB1 type of player. I think that that is coming. think that that version of his offense is coming. That's probably the next evolution of the Chicago Bears. And I do think that Kyle Menunga is going to be a part of that. So I'm not fully bought as De'Andre Swift being 100 % the guy. I think that there's going to be more of a 60-40 split, you know, just to kind of get the things working and see how it all plays out. But I do think that eventually this becomes that same situation that De'Andre Swift dealt with in Detroit. I mean, at the end of the day, I think he's fantastic as a running back, you know sometimes schemes don't fit and players don't match those schemes. anyway, really high on common on guy. I really believe in his talent. Moving on to Ramon Stevenson. ⁓ Can't put him any lower. It's annoying, but you have to leave him here. ⁓ He's going to be taking away reps from Trivion. For what reason? I don't know. saw Trevion can clearly be the workhorse back. He doesn't need Ramadre in there, but clearly Mike Verbal loves him and will continue to use him. After this, this is probably my one more hot take from this tier. It's Rashad White. I do think that there is a big possibility that Rashad White takes over the Washington Commander's backfield. I think that there's a really good shot that he steps in, builds that rapport with his college QB in Jaden Daniels, and does eventually usurp jacorri crossing merit jacorri crossing merit proved absolutely nothing in his time with the washington commanders had the chance to be the number one guy and didn't take it you know he lost reps to guys like chris rodriguez Really, at the end of the day, it's like how much of a leash do you need in order to really build your rapport with your team? He had all the opportunities. So I think that there's a really good shot that Rashad White returns to form and becomes sort of the running back that he was when he was blowing things up for Tampa Bay. Anyway, after him, I have Blake Coram. So I was with you. I do believe that there's a chance that even though I do really believe in Kyron Williams this year, I mean Blake Corum is not going away. I mean, he's too talented. He's really, really good as a backup. When he started, he was very, very, very good. ⁓ At the very least, he's probably the most elite handcuff you have here. And I do think that there is a really good chance that he does start to take slight steps into eating away at Kyron Williams' touches. We'll see how that plays out. You know, I still think Kyren gets the majority workload. It's probably going to be more of a 75-25 to start type of deal. But I would not be surprised if that ends up looking more like a 65-35 or 60-40 split at the end of the year. ⁓ Just because, I mean, at the end they do also want to keep Kyren healthy. So that's part of it, right? I think that's why they started using him again this year, right? Like there was like a nagging thing with Kyren and they had to throw him out there. So anyway. Nolan: Mmm. Keoni McKeague: That is number five for this list. moving on, have J.K. Dobbins. J.K. Dobbins, not a lot to say about him. Consistent, still really good. Probably still going to be in the mix for starting for this team. hopefully it's all things go with R.J. Harvey and then it's let's see where J.K. Dobbins is at. But I do think that there's still a possibility it comes out of training camp as RB1 and then they still or RB1A, I guess, ⁓ in this situation. yeah, anyway, moving on. Chris with G guys. So I had Bajaj Tutin in my last tier as well. I think this is where Chris Rodriguez fits in. do think that he's actually a super underrated signing ⁓ from this offseason with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think he fits that system really well. think he actually is like the perfect complement to what Bichal Tooten is. Bichal Tooten is sort of a speedy back. Chris Rodriguez is more of a burly back. I really like that combo together. I do think that there's a possibility that Chris Rodriguez ends up being the goal line back for this team, even though Bichal Tooten is really good in that role. I think there's a really, really strong possibility that Chris Rodriguez takes over at least that role for him so that he can be the yardage guy. ⁓ So this is a backfield that I'm kind of low key very interested in this draft season. But ⁓ right after him I have Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones. I'll do the same thing. Put them back to back with each other. Or did you not have them back? Did you have anything back? OK, yeah. I was like, same situation, same deal. mean, Jordan Mason, again, agreed with everything that you said. Technically, he should Nolan: Mm-hmm. I did. Keoni McKeague: be the RB1, you know what mean? We'll see how that plays out, right? I was like, I mean... Nolan: should be. Yeah. He was supposed to be last year, but it didn't, it didn't happen. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, exactly. I was like, we all I bought so hard on that with you. I really thought he was going to take over. We saw what he did in San Fran. He's going to be the guy I might avoid and he will probably pop off. So yeah, because Loki, I do think that there's that weird because Aaron Jones is still so consistent in the things he does. Obviously, yards are yards have to touch it down and all those sorts of things. The metrics are all there. But Nolan: We still believe in you, Jordan! Keoni McKeague: When you needed him to make big plays, he was making big plays. Like on a third and long or a third and four or whatever it might be, he was the guy that they really clung to when it came to those big moments. And I think that Aaron Jones still has that in his tank. So I was really hoping he was going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Was not even thinking about the Rico Dotto signing. So when that happened, I was kind of like, ⁓ OK, well, that works too. So yeah, I was just like, OK, well, I didn't think that was an option. Anyway, yeah, so. Nolan: That's better. Keoni McKeague: I like that pairing right there. The next one I have here is the Cory Kroszki Marriott. mean. Technically speaking, he's starting right now. You know what mean? I think that that changes during training camp. But again, I couldn't move him any farther down this list because we don't have any of that information yet. But we'll see how that plays out throughout the summer. Obviously, from a drafting perspective, you're going to have all that. I'm hoping that, or I'm not hoping, I shouldn't say that. That's terrible. But I am thinking that Rashad White is going to be the guy that ends up looking really good coming out of that training camp, barring them going out and drafting Jeremiah Love, which I Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: don't think it's gonna fall to them. I know that's their pipe dream, I don't think that's happening. ⁓ After him, I Tyler Alger. I'm with you on the same thought of like, this Cardinals backfield is not set. Brand new coach, brand new, well, just brand new coach. I'll just say brand new team, but they're not a brand new team. Brand new coach, new situation. I mean, I still hate that he signed here because I do think that there's, there were a lot of. Nolan: So many other teams that could have used them. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, there were so many openings that I was like, people forget that this was the running back of the future for the Atlanta Falcons. They just happened to stumble upon. what was like a generational talent in B. John Robinson. I mean it's it's it's not like Tyler Algear was a terrible running back. He was a very very good running back. ⁓ I know because I know the Steelers were going to try to trade for him at some point so that he could be there starting running back. ⁓ That obviously didn't pan out in any way shape or form. But I think that he has all the talent in the world. This guy I believe wholeheartedly. I agree with you. He to me is and I'm. I haven't used this yet because I've been saving it sparingly for certain names. to me, he is the league winner guy right here. Yeah, I'm putting my star on the Tyler Alger signing because I do think that, you know, maybe not in the first couple of weeks. Who knows? Maybe starting out at training camp. Maybe that is what happens. Maybe you serve straight banshee right off the rip. But if they are trying to go with like the familiarity approach and then they let those guys run it out. Nolan: You heard it here first everybody. Keoni McKeague: I think that there is a distinct possibility that Tyler Algeria becomes the star running back for this backfield and ends up being a league winner for you in your fantasy football season because you're going to be drafting him in the 10th round or something like that. You know what I mean? So Tyler Algeria, man, that's going to be the guy that I'm putting my star on for. Nolan: He's our, he's this year's Jordan Mason everybody. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Why did you have to put it that way? Jordan Mason was terrible. You know what's funny? I also had, I was like, who did I draft? Isaac Garendo, who was like the other guy that everybody's like, ooh, and then Brian Robinson Jr. had to get traded. A week after I drafted both of them, I was like, oh my gosh. Nolan: Hey, but you were still able to make something happen. Keoni McKeague: talk about that. ⁓ Anyway, ⁓ ironically the last name I have on here is actually Brian Robinson Jr. It was Woody Marks that moved me into my tier five flares. Really it just came down to the fact that I just, know, Woody Marks again, similar to Jacory Crossing Merritt. He got his opportunity and he did absolutely nothing with it. Given that that offensive line was terrible, you know what mean? There were some moments with Woody Marks. I do think that that's a thing, but Nolan: you Keoni McKeague: Clearly they didn't believe in him enough to not go out and get themselves a guy like David Montgomery. Now they have David Montgomery in tow. So that's why I pushed him down out of this tier for me. ⁓ And yes, I did end this tier with Brian Robinson Jr. I know it's going to be a headache for those drafting this year because you're going to see B Robinson on the Atlanta Falcons and everybody's going to be panicking. Look for the junior. You know, that's that's that's your best case scenario. ⁓ So anyway, yeah, I mean, and hopefully you have one of those ones that has a little picture of the guy because some of them don't. So you know, actually ours did it this year, right? So but we've had other years like that one right there that I'm looking at 2024. Anyway, but that's even if you know what he looks like. anyway, but yeah, Brian Robinson Jr. I think he's still one of the better running backs should be a starter. Washington should never have let him go. I don't even understand that, you know, trade release. I forgot how they traded him, right? Nolan: No, it didn't. No, he was a free agent, I think. Keoni McKeague: Did they? Oh, was he? OK, well, either way, I was like, why they let him go. Don't understand it. Brian Robinson Jr. deserves to start somewhere. I was kind of sad that he ended up signing. I actually I was more surprised that he ended up signing here. I thought there was a really distinct possibility he was going to end up with the Seattle Seahawks. And if that had happened to the moon with my guy. But anyway, he lands in a situation where he's probably going to play the Tyler Algeria role, which means you'll probably get a lot of those like, I don't know, this week, maybe next week. I don't know. We'll see. But I do think he's an elite. handcuff which is why I put him here and I think that there's a very good possibility if anything goes happens to Bijan whether it's just something small nagging whatever if that's the week that you have him on your roster that's the week that he explodes so ⁓ anyway let's move on to the wide receiver position that'll do it for our tier four running backs Nolan let's read off the ⁓ Fantasy Pro's wide receiver rankings. So tier four, have Devonte Adams, Zae Flowers, Lad McCunkey, Jamison Williams, Luther Burden, Terry McLaurin, Devonte Smith, Jalen Wattle, Mike Evans, Christian Watson, and Emeka Ugbuka. Wow, some very different names from last year, that's for sure. I would say even some of these were in like the tier twos last year, which is kind of wild. They dropped pretty far. But anyway, how many names do you have on this tier and who are they? Nolan: Yeah. Yeah. I believe I have... let me double check this... 15. 15 names. ⁓ Starting off, got Alec Pierce. ⁓ Obviously, he is a wide receiver that I do believe deserves to be higher in my tiers, but I'm a little bit more pessimistic just based off of the fact that I don't know who the quarterback is going to be. You did bring up a great point last pod with if it's Riley Leonard, Riley Leonard is able to kind of get him the ball. ⁓ To be fair, technically Anthony Robinson. Keoni McKeague: Go ahead. Go ahead, girl. Nolan: Richardson, sorry. We said Robinson a lot in past. Keoni McKeague: you Just like Anthony Jackson and whatever. Nolan: Alright. did make Keoni McKeague: like Antoine Johnson so he's pretty good. Don't just make up names Nolan come on. Nolan: Shut up! I'm trying get through this pod, man! ⁓ Alec Pearce technically did become a notable name with Richardson as the quarterback during his rookie season, so I'm not going to say that he's going to be completely off my list if Anthony Richardson is the... It wasn't. It was two seasons ago. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Isn't crazy that that wasn't that long ago? Doesn't it feel like Anthony Richardson? Yeah, I know. It feels like Anthony Richardson was like from like the 2015 season or something. have no idea. Nolan: Yeah. ⁓ but yeah, so I'm, I'm holding out hope that he's going to be skyrocketing through my rankings. ⁓ after that, I do have Devante Adams. ⁓ there has been a lot of talk about potential trade rumors, ⁓ or potential trade, which did transpire. Trade talks did transpire from a report that came out today. ⁓ but nothing has happened thus far. So for the time being if he's still a Ram then you gotta give him credit where it's due because he Sean McVeigh knows how to use him at this point in his career and he uses him very effectively. The next one down I got DJ Moore. New situation he's on the Bills now Josh Allen is a dual threat quarterback who can sling the ball. DJ Moore potentially has maybe the best quarterback in his career I would say. Keoni McKeague: Is he? somebody, no, no, sorry. Yeah, he's the best quarterback he's ever had. But so I was like, somebody brought this up and I was kind of like, I gotta think about that. Is Josh Allen a dual threat quarterback? Nolan: trying to think, well, who else is he? I would say so. Keoni McKeague: How many, like, like you would look, if you look back at the seasons that he's had, minus the Stefan Diggs season, he has not had a wide receiver that has gone over thousand yards. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: It's like everybody touts him as being throwing QB, big guy, big arm, that kind of stuff. But how often does he actually throw the ball? I mean, this last year, that dude was just running more than anything. I don't even think I even saw that dude throw the ball more than like 20 times. You know what mean? Nolan: Yeah, yeah. True, true. True. True. I mean, I feel like, but he's had, you know, he's had scrub wide receivers outside of Stefan Diggs. Keoni McKeague: I would say outside of him at Kalashnikar. I gotta give Kalashnikar his due, but yeah. Nolan: Yeah, close to cure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, regardless, I think he's no, no, no, you're you're you're I see I see the vision there. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: now. just thought it was a good point. I just bring it up. I'm not saying that I'm not saying I agree with this, but yeah, because I was like, had to think about it. was like, no, he throws the ball, right? And I was like, oh, yeah, when was the last time you heard of any Bills wide receiver being like a baller because Josh Allen's been just chucking balls at that dude. Yeah, I was like, Nolan: Doesn't True, true. Either way, DJ Moore has some potential here for this season. Next on the list I have Michael Pittman Jr. ⁓ He's still a great wide receiver. get him in his atandum with DK and Matt Kafe. ⁓ DK is very close, not stacked, so I didn't mention them both together. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Just food for thought, ⁓ Nolan: But I do think the question is once again, what's going to be the QB situation for you guys entering this season? But Michael Pittman is kind of one those wide receivers that I think can flourish in whatever situation he's in as long as he's actually getting the ball. Next on the list, Wondell Robinson. You know, we we harked on it thus far. He is a wide receiver one now for a team that is trying to rebuild. And it looks like they're they're picking up some steam, especially with Sala now at the helm. I that Wondell Robinson, he, you know, I know you had him your last tier. I think that at this point, you know, if he, because technically where I have him placed is still higher than where Consensus has Wondell Robinson. Wondell Robinson will be a league winner if you pick him up and reach for him. Keoni McKeague: That was my other star guy. And I kind of forgot to mention that on the last spot. I only thought about that concept on this one, but I was like, agree wholeheartedly with you. Wholeheartedly. What is it? Like the value for the Way more than that dude is going to be ranked at least. Nolan: No, you're good. Yeah. ⁓ Mm-hmm. Yeah. ⁓ Next on the list, Cortland Sutton. He is probably one those guys that I'm liable to move down a bit. Just because now that Waddle's there. ⁓ Sutton was never in my perspective a clear and away wide receiver 1 for a team. So now that Waddle's there, do think he's gonna get kind of shifted down a lot. in rankings and in productivity. ⁓ But we'll see how they use it. mean, you had random spurts from players like Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin last season as the wide receivers two and three. So you may get a random opportunity here with Sutton kind of stepping into that role and having some big breakout games. ⁓ Next on the list is DK Metcalfe. I mentioned him a little earlier. I think DK Metcalf has a lot, he's a very vertical wide receiver, big strong bodied wide receiver. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: ⁓ wow, I just realized that you had Michael over him. Nolan: Yeah, I did. Because I just just feel like Michael's more versatile. I feel like Metcalf is definitely the deep ball. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: Wow, yeah. Oh no, I agree with that. Yeah, that's independent for sure. just, yeah, didn't even catch that until you just said it. I don't know, I thought you already mentioned him in your last year. That's why I was like, yeah. Nolan: Yeah, so hopefully, ⁓ no, no. ⁓ So hopefully we'll see what kind of happens with it. ⁓ But I do want to say I feel like he has slowed down. I don't know if it's just because of the situation with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Keoni McKeague: He's like he had to slow down because Aaron couldn't throw the ball. He's like, please throw it. Nolan: Exactly ⁓ I'm ready Next on my list Jordan Addison. I did originally have him lower ⁓ but Because Kyler is there now I moved him back up my list ⁓ Because I do believe we've talked about it enough where him and Jeddah's are gonna have a kind of Keoni McKeague: for each sister. Nolan: What's the word? A crescendo year again. Like they're gonna come back up. Like this is the year for them to show something is that tandem. So I'm very excited to see how it plays out as the season progresses. Next on the list, Marvin Harrison Jr. Once again, a receiver that can move up my list. It's just gonna be what the new coaching staff wants. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: You know what happens with Michael Wilson? Obviously, I'm very high on Michael Wilson, but Marvin Harrison Jr. Still has something to prove because I do feel like he took his foot off the gas a lot last season. And it was, you know, whether it was just based off of reports or what it looked like on the field, there was there's something there was there was something off. ⁓ So I'm hoping he did some resetting mentally as he enters this next season, his third season, and is able to show out and move back up my rankings at least. Keoni McKeague: this. Mm-hmm. Nolan: ⁓ Next Chris Godwin I you know Where I saw him on my list compared to where you had him last segment I was like, maybe I am being a little too pessimistic on him but I Just you know the Chris Godwin pre-injury to where he was in his rehab year last year or elite rehab season ⁓ It was a it was a big difference than what we had anticipated I hoping that he is a player that moves back up the rankings. He would be someone that I would reach on because I do trust in Baker, I do still trust in the situation over Tampa Bay for the offense, ⁓ but we'll have to kind see on that one. Next, I'm going to do a tandem name drop for both of these guys. Brian Thomas Jr. and Jacoby Myers. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: We're still similar. know because I was like, have them tandem as well. So. ⁓ Nolan: Yeah, yeah. They, ⁓ don't get me wrong. Don't get me wrong. I like where the direction that Jackson v- I'm not drafting them early, you know, I'm telling you that. Keoni McKeague: Nolan's not drafted these guys. Like the type of thing where just like, yeah, well, I mean, they play football. Nolan: Big skin, throwing it down the field. ⁓ No. Keoni McKeague: Just completely no buy-in on these two names you just said. Nolan: This one, these guys are the coin flip players. ⁓ Like if they fall to you at some point in the draft where you have them on your consensus rankings or whatever it may be, or you're looking at them and trying to figure out, it's gotta be a coin flip. Who else is left on the board? What have you heard? Because these two have the makings of being great wide receiver 1-2s on the season. But last season was kind of ⁓ a big step back for both of them. I don't know. mean, clearly where Brian Thomas is being ranked this year compared to where he was ranked before season last year, that tells you everything you need to know. ⁓ So if you want to take the risk on them, I feel like it is a big payoff if they do return to form. If not, where you're taking them, it's not necessarily the biggest risk in your life, right? So it just depends on where you are at that point, who you got on your team already. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Yeah. ⁓ yeah. Nolan: Next up I got QJ, Quentin Johnston. ⁓ All the reason we've talked about it, I still think that he's got something going on. He took maybe like two steps last season from where he was in his rookie season. ⁓ I think they used him very, very beautifully ⁓ to highlight his talents. And now once again, we're mentioning it because we can't go with a pod without mentioning it. They got Mike McDaniels. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: ⁓ yeah. Nolan: And think that's gonna it's gonna it's gonna pay off for him and he is also someone that could shift up my rankings as well ⁓ The last two I have in this tier I Put them there because of what I've heard. I haven't necessarily watched the tape on them. I've seen a couple games or highlight plate Yep, two rookies Makai Lemon and carnell tate ⁓ These two guys I've probably heard the most of just some based off of my surroundings or whatever ⁓ Keoni McKeague: That's true. Rookies. Nolan: who may have a big effect on whatever team that they land on, but it does depend on what team that they're going to land on. And that'll do it for my tier four. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree with that take. Yeah, so my tier has 17, I believe, two, four, six. Like I said, ⁓ as you kind of noticed with my tears, first three were pretty light on the wide receiver position. As I get to the four fives, this is like I said, this is the my biggest gripe with the wide receiver position. Any number of these guys that I'm going to mention here and any number of guys that are in this area of the rankings. can perform on one day, not perform on the next. They're pretty all over the place. They're kind of inconsistent. mean, sometimes they look like wide receiver ones. Next week, they look like wide receiver 20s. So I don't know. In my head, that's where I put these guys. That's why I'm like, if any of these guys follow me, that's fine with me. They're probably going to be hopefully my second at the very most. But second or third, not really. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: a big distinction for me between these receivers and those positions. anyway, ⁓ at the top of this one, I actually have AJ Brown. ⁓ I faded in pretty far from where he's ranked in normal rankings. Yeah, I mean, for one, the situation with the Eagles, who knows what's going to happen with that. I still firmly believe he's going to end up on the New England Patriots by June 1st when that trade or when the CAPS based deal ends up happening. Nolan: Clearly. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, and if he ends up there, he obviously skyrockets up. But as of right now, as a Philadelphia Eagle, I do have him down here because I just don't believe that he's going to be doing anything ⁓ of note. We've already had the version of Aja Brown we're probably going to have for the next year if he ends up staying there ⁓ for the last two years. The one that's there for one great game probably got you a win that week. And then for the next three weeks, he's nothing burgers, one after the other. So ⁓ yeah, that's where I'm with AJ Brown. That's why I have him down here. And that's where I have that's why I also have his running mate in this tier as well. So anyway, number two I have in this tier is actually probably my hot take, I guess. So it's actually Carnell Tate. ⁓ Carnell Tate, best wide receiver in this draft class. I do think that there is, you know, I am somebody who is always looking for. Nolan: I should have prefaced also. I did not put Makai, Lemon, and Carnal Tate as like, I just stacked them next to each other just because I don't really know who's gonna, not that I think, yeah. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ yeah, yeah, I got you. I got you. Yeah, I got you, I got you. No, mean, truthfully... This is a pretty stacked wide receiver class. There's a lot of good guys in this. So truthfully, there's probably going to be a good majority of them that end up sneaking into our ranks at some point. But as of right now, none of them are drafted. But this is just going off of the intel that we have, which is draft intel from some of these guys over at Fantasy Pros or some of the guys you see on Twitter, the main experts, the ESPN guys, those kind of guys. Anyway, Karnell Tate for me, tremendous talent, really good player. Coming out of Ohio State was a big and why they were a powerhouse team. Him and Jeremiah Smith looked really, really good in college. But most importantly, Carnel Tate ⁓ is probably going to be drafted in the first 10 picks. And if rumors are true, if it's not Jeremiah Love, then it's probably Carnel Tate for some of these teams. Looking at the Giants, who could probably use a guy like him to be the opposite of Malik Neighbors. Looking at the Titans, who obviously could use another really, really good wide receiver if they really want to compliment what Wanda Robinson does and they really want to get good weapons for Cam Ward. Looking at the Washington commanders who are the right now the consensus pick for Cardinal Tate to land and if that ends up being the case because more than likely Jeremiah Love is going to be off the board before they get the draft. I think Cardinal Tate with Terry McLaurin is a fantastic fit. mean, he's a big wide receiver. You know, he's a go up and get it kind of guy. I really like his fit in that system. And I think Jade and Daniels can build a really good rapport with him. So to me, he's one those guys that I'm putting high up there just because the upside is crazy. So right after I have Mike Evans and Devante Adams, ironically, spoke about a guy who has a very ridiculously high ceiling. These are my ridiculously high floor guys. Nothing going to be flashy about them. this season. Maybe Mike Evans a little bit more than actually I don't really know. I was like we don't know yet what Mike Evans right. mean. In reality, he should be the, you know, the X receiver. He should be the guy that gets all the red zone targets, all that sort of stuff. Obviously, we've never seen the play together, so we don't know. Devontae Adams, we already know he's going to be that guy for Sean McVeigh's offense. I think that these two guys have very safe floors for you. I would not mind drafting them at this point, because I do think that that's the reason why you're going to draft to them is that you think that you need a guy who can be consistent enough for you and not necessarily be somebody who's winning your league for you. Maybe they do. Who knows? At this low of a rank, you know what mean? You're buying on the potential of that. anyway, Jordan Addison is my next one here. Minnesota, we already talked about it. Kyle Murray coming here. He obviously bumped up the rankings for all of the Minnesota guys. That's why for me, Justin Jefferson run up into the wide receiver one rankings, tier one rankings. And Jordan Addison, think he has a very distinct possibility of being even higher, but we still have to see. what Kyler Murray brings in. knows? Maybe it's not even Kyler Murray. Maybe it ends up being JJ McCarthy who shows on training camp. I don't even know. And then after this, I have the Jacksonville Tandem. So Brian Thomas Jr., Jacoby Myers. I put Brian Thomas Jr. above Jacoby, even though Jacoby probably had a better end to season because. Still buying high on what Brian Thomas Jr. can do. I still believe he is a really, really good talent. But more importantly, there is a big possibility that he gets traded somewhere. And sometimes a change of scenery is all you need. know what mean? When I'm looking at teams like the Oakland Raiders who could be using him, that would be a great fit for Brian Thomas Jr. just because he gets to start over. Yeah. OK. Bye. Nolan: ironic Because Jacobi Meyers came from Raiders? Keoni McKeague: Oh, yeah. OK, gotcha. was like, oh, what are trying to say? Yeah, but Brian Thomas Jr. I think could be a great fit with the Raiders just because I do think that that's a team that needs a wide receiver, needs a young receiving core to build around Fernando Mendoza. Also looking at the Giants who had rumors around trading for him. I mean, there's more than a few teams. The Steelers were another one of those teams. If he becomes a number three with that team, that'd be ridiculous. But all things told, I think that there's a possibility he ends up on a different team. mean, if not, he's playing out of contract here, which means that he's going to try to show out. And that's exactly what I expect him to do this year. So Jacoby right after him, consistent guy, really good guy, really changed what that team could do on offense. He was the difference maker for them, especially ⁓ adding in the fact that Trevor Lawrence was playing outside his mind at the end of the season last year. So ⁓ after them, I have Christian Watson. ⁓ Probably wonder why I have him so low. Nolan: Mmm. Keoni McKeague: it's the Green Bay offense. I mean, I'm sorry. I will never buy high on a Green Bay wide receiver because I don't think Green Bay's wide receivers are ever consistent enough to be bought high on. ⁓ They haven't had that sort of quarterback play since Aaron Rodgers left. I love Jordan Love as a player. I think that he's still really, really talented, but I don't think that he is a use this guy over and over type of guy. And they don't have a use this guy over and over guy because Christian Watson could have been that guy. Then he kept getting injured. So ⁓ right after him, I have DK Metcalf, ironically, because I do think DK Metcalf is the keep abusing this guy guy on the Pittsburgh Steelers. And if Aaron Rodgers does return, which it sounds like he still will return. D.K. Metcalf is clearly the guy that he's going to be throwing the ball the most to. ⁓ I still think that there's a possibility Michael Pittman slides in there, but you know, D.K. Metcalf is right now the guy who built the most rapport with him. Right after him, I have the other rookie, Jordan Tyson. So I did put him above Mackay Lemon, mostly because there are rumors that Mackay Lemon ends up in two spots where I don't like him landing. ⁓ I think he fits those teams. think he helps those teams. But from a fantasy perspective, not great landing spots. I'll talk about that when I get to him. But Jordan Tyson, on the other hand, ends up in a lot of spots where I do like him landing. ⁓ Maybe that is Washington, because there is rumors that if Carnell Tate is also not on the board and Jeremiah Love is also not on the board, he could be the guy that Washington ends up taking. ⁓ If it's not there, a lot of rumors around the Miami Dolphins picking him, which would also be a great fit for him. A lot of rumors around the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbing him. If he lands there, that would suck I would not grab him here but I was like those other spots I talked about great landing spots for him I mean there's a there's more than a few teams that Jordan Tyson can land at he's another big-body wide receiver I think he's another guy who could go up and get it and he's the type of guy who will make an impact for his team so as the As one of the top three wide receivers in this class, I have to put him here because I do think that the potential is there. ⁓ Right after him, have Zay Flowers. Zay Flowers, we've kind of already said it. ⁓ Him and the guy I have after him, who is Devante Smith, similar for me as far as like in situations, not great with the QB. We'll see if the QB can throw the ball a little bit more to them. I think they're both really, really underrated talents. Very, very good. But when the QB can't throw the ball to you, it doesn't really matter. you know what mean? Yeah, so that's where we are with those two guys. Moving on, it's Parker Washington is my next one. ⁓ I do think that Parker Washington steps into sort of that. Nolan: You Yep. Keoni McKeague: time share role where he has to prove himself to be a number one and or prove himself to be a solid number two. The Miami Dolphins are obviously or excuse me, not the Miami Dolphins. ⁓ The sorry, the Jacksonville Jaguars are obviously at this point where they might not have Brian Thomas Jr. around for very long. Parker Washington stepped into a role that, you know, Trevor Lawrence clearly really liked him in. ⁓ And I think it's getting to that point where it's kind of like we said with Calvin Ridley situation. Yes, Calvin Ridley has the namesake, but is talent there. We don't know. I think Parker Washington is the proven guy and I think that there's a big possibility that he ends up usurping. somebody in that offense and it's likely going to be BTJ if BTJ does not show up but I still have them ranked the way I do just because talent wise and right now wise those guys should be you know as they are right now in the rankings but anyway right after DJ Moore again I said it all in Nolan's part is Josh Allen somebody who will make a guy a wide receiver one I don't think so I think he's gonna end up falling into that space where he's just kind of meh and he has a lot of bad games mixed in with some okay games and Nolan: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: And that's where I'm going to leave him ranked here near the bottom of this tier four. After him, Cortland Sutton again, same situation as the Devontae Smith's a flower situation, except even worse now because now he has Jaylen Waddle stealing touches away from him. He's no longer the number one wide receiver in this offense. I don't think anymore. So. Nolan: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, Cornland Sutton takes a step back. He was already taking a step back last year. That's where I have him. ⁓ Next, I have Marvin Harrison Jr. Nolan said all the good points, so I'm not going to really hark on that too much. That's just where I have him. I still think upside's there. And at the very bottom of this tier is Mackay Lemon. I did put him here because of the situations where he's slated to land, supposedly. ⁓ Nolan: is slated. Keoni McKeague: There's so right now there's two teams that are looking at him. One of them being the Miami Dolphins and the other one being. Yeah, exactly. And the the other one being the Baltimore Ravens. either of those situations happens for Michael, I mean, I will feel terrible for him because even though I think that he is a talent that could be a number one wide receiver and I think that there's a possibility him and Malik Willis could build like this really great chemistry. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: We have yet to see the Malik Willis that throws the ball like 30, 40 times a game. Mekai Lemons, he was like the type of guy you'd want to pepper with targets. A lot of people are comparing him to Amon Rasane Brown. I think that's actually a really good comp. He's a really good route runner. He's got kind of like those really firm hands that can catch the ball in all these really tight spots. That could be great for Malik Willis and building and all that kind of stuff. But as far as fit on paper, the team. Who knows if they'll even be scoring or in situations where they'll be trying to score. So for McKinley, I mean, that's just a and then with the Baltimore Ravens, similarly, Zay Flowers has not showed up for fantasy. Imagine him being the number two on this offense now. Yeah, that'd be terrible. So. Anyway, let's round this out with the tight end position. who do you have in your? ⁓ excuse me. Let's read off the tight end rankings first. ⁓ the for fantasy pros, tight end four rankings are wow. They have a lot in for. Adrian Bartner, T.J. Hawkins and Terrence Ferguson, Chigokan Kuo, Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, David Njoku, Theo Johnson, Gunnar Helm, Eli Stowers, Coby Parkinson, Pat Friarmoose, Kate Otten and Evan Ingram are all in this tier for fantasy pros. Nolan: Get in Jogger, sign in. Keoni McKeague: David and Joe Guida is not signed. Yeah. yeah, we'll see where he ends up landing. I know there's a few teams that are eyeing him right now, but no, nothing yet. How many do you have? Nice. OK. Nolan: Okay, I was gonna say. ⁓ So I have seven. ⁓ for this one, will, you know, obviously because this is, this is a very strict position. You're only really going to be playing one tight end per week. You may only need one tight end per season. So these guys are kind of like potential, but also you might be streaming them or free agent pickups to see how they're doing, whatever you'd maybe keeping them just on your bench to see what transpires for the season. But starting off. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Unless you have Charlie Stelci and rookie Sam Laporta. Remember that season where I had both of those guys? And I had to start them because I had nobody in my flicks. It did pay off. I was like, they were balling together. Nolan: Factual, factual. Yeah, freaking A. Hey, would've paid off, didn't it? Heh. ⁓ Starting off I Brenton Strange. Only reason I have him there and not in tier 3 is just because this is another situation of like too many cooks in the kitchen. ⁓ You just kind of went through it with your tier 4 wide receivers, you got all three of their main wide receivers right off the gate, all three of them reliable to do something amazing at any point during a game. There's a possibility that all three of them could do it in the same game. Where does that leave Brenton Strange? Kind of on the outside looking in, but Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: He is exactly that's all you need. ⁓ But ⁓ yeah. That's all I need. ⁓ No but Brenton last season when there was troubles with BTJ, when there was injuries also that were going around, he was the most reliable receiver in that group. So there is a possibility for him to move up. Just keep an eye out on him. I would not. Keoni McKeague: One reception, one touchdown. Hell yeah. I mean, looking at the tight end position, it's like eight points. Yes. Yeah. Nolan: be surprised if I draft him just to keep on my bench. I have a starting one already. ⁓ Next up I got Chigokonkwu. No no no no, I got this. I got this. ⁓ No I have Chigokonkwu next just because we've talked about it. I think you had him in your tier 3 if I remember correctly. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah. It's like, no, you don't even have someone starting. Put it in. You're like, nope. On my bench. Nope. Nolan: He's stepping into where Zachary's was. Zachary's had a renaissance ⁓ in his career once he went to the commanders with Jaden Daniels. I think that's going to be another situation here with Chig. So I'm very high on what he can actually bring to this Washington team. ⁓ Right below him, I have Jake Tongues. ⁓ Look, he stepped in admirably last season when Kittle was injured. I think that that was no fluke. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: the team that is also kind of rebuilding what their offense looks like I think Jake is gonna be kind of at the forefront of that so he is someone that I would also be reaching for to keep on my like to stash on my bench if I need to ⁓ because they have consensus ranking has him all the way down to 36 so if you if you're like You're just getting to that point you want to take a swing on him. I think that's that's a high high reward low risk ⁓ Next I got Hunter Henry, you know Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Nolan: Like you mentioned in the wide receiver ⁓ section, safe floor. That's really all you really get from Hunter Henry. He has random games where he'll pop off, but he has a safe floor, especially for that offense. ⁓ Same thing with the next guy on this list, Dallas Goddard. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Nolan: there's not much more to be said about the Eagles receiving. He is the most vanilla, but like he'll get you the vanilla numbers you need. ⁓ And then Dalton Schultz. ⁓ This is he's also someone that's just been here and there. But once again, a safe floor ⁓ for what the Texans do. They don't really kind of. Yeah, yeah. So the finishing player on this list, I actually have Mason Taylor. Keoni McKeague: He's the most vanilla titan ever. Yeah. That's true. She's a lot of hype for that one for nothing. Nolan: I want to see what this Geno Smith-led offense looks like. Mason Taylor showed a lot of flashes last season. Nothing crazy, but he showed that he is a very strong, reliable, young, tight end. I think now that he has potentially an upgraded quarterback, like his people keep saying, he actually could show up a little bit more and take that big step for his second season. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. was like, that's a guy who I have on my list. yeah, was like, I mean, the thing with the tight end position is you're probably not going to have, I mean, for me, there's like a. There's a really distinct set of tiers with these guys. There's the guys that you already know for sure 100%. They're basically wide receivers. Those are the tier ones. Tier two, three, four, five is you're basically taking like, OK, do I want? There's 12 points here, then eight points here, then six points here. You know what I mean? It's like everybody in the tier. mean, this is the. Nolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: probably the most distinct tiers. anyway, tier four for me starts off with, mean, this ironically, because all of my guys who I have here are guys who are touted to Ohio every year and I just don't understand why. anyway, number one here I have here is Dalton Kincaid. He's just like a disappointment every single year, but for some reason they keep touting him as this guy. He's supposedly the supremely talented tight end and I don't think that that's not true. again, yeah, proven to the point of Josh Allen. Is he even a throwing QB? I don't think so. So here we are with Dalton Kincaid. Nolan: Hehehe. You sure about that? Keoni McKeague: If he's so talented, why doesn't the kid get the ball more? So don't think you can't tear for starts off right after him. I actually have Gunnar Helm. This is where I start taking the upside swings. You know what mean? Gunnar Helm to me with the Tennessee Titans. They clearly believe in him. They got rid of Chico Conquo, who was supposed to be like the star guy for them. He actually had a really good season this last year, at least for a tight end. Gunnar Helm to me stepped in. in the spots where they needed him to did the things that they wanted him to. They drafted him last year. Obviously, it's a different head coach and all that sort of stuff. But I do think that there's some buy in on Gunner Helms potential. And I do think that there's a possibility he steps into an even bigger role because coming out of Texas, he was known to be a receiving tight end. And I think that that that role is something that he's going to cling on to this year. So at number three, have Travis Kelsey. ⁓ Well, I'll say just say the next two together because I feel like similar situations. Travis Travis George Kittle. George Kittle obviously a little more injured. He should be higher. But I put these two together because for Travis Kelsey, getting older, different quarterback. So we'll see how that works out for him. We'll see if Patrick Wilms comes back. The older situation is just a big thing. He obviously had a very different version of himself this last year. wasn't quite the Travis Kelsey of old. George Kittle. Similarly, because they were trying to use him more in a blocking role because he is one of the best blocking tight ends in all of the NFL. But more importantly, he's going to be interested to start the season most likely. And he probably will be dealing with that because for the last couple of years, he has been dealing with nagging stuff every single year. So I just think there's a possibility he doesn't really play all too much, which is why I have Jake Tongass right after him. And I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. I think he stepped in swimmingly. I think he's a really good tight end. I think that there's a possibility. ⁓ Nolan: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: He could be even higher than this for fantasy rankings. But as of right now, with the way the team is, with Mike Evans being on board, I would have said even higher if Mike Evans didn't get signed. But ⁓ because I do think he would have been the go to red zone target. But Mike Evans is there now. There will be some sort of, you know, give and take for those two guys put together. But anyway, again, next, I have my Mr. Vanilla in Dallas Goddard. Actually, ironically, I have probably three Mr. Vanilla's in a row, which is Dallas Goddard, Mark Andrews, Hunter Henry. ⁓ Those three. Nolan: Hmm Keoni McKeague: Similar situations, similar sort of, you know, reports with the quarterbacks, similar sort of production with their tight end roles. ⁓ And all three of them, I mean, could go off on any certain day and could just be absolutely nothing burgers the next. My last two I have are Mason Taylor and Dalton Schultz. ⁓ Mason Taylor, I put here because I do believe what you said, you know, with him stepping into the starting role with this tight end or excuse me, with this Jets team. More than likely will be the de facto one for the squad. We'll see how that works out for Geno Smith. mean, signs point to Geno Smith utilizing him a lot considering that he utilized Brock Bowers a whole ton. So hopefully that is a thing. We'll see. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But he also sort of. Nolan: Mm-hmm. mean, he's Mason Taylor in No Brock Barres, but... ⁓ Keoni McKeague: is that guy that's like I'm not saying he's gonna be a league winner but I'm I'm putting that like maybe guy because with Gina Smith there there's a distinct possibility he ends up getting a lot more receptions than yes Nolan: He's the prime candidate to stash and maybe win a league with. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, I would agree with that. Stash and maybe win the league with Dalton Schultz. He's just here, I guess. I know. I had to put him somewhere. Clearly, I wasn't going to not rank him as a starting tight end, but sure, he's there. Anyway, that'll do it for our tier four players. Nolan, do you have anything you want to say to the people at home before we bounce on out of this one? Nolan: He's there. Sure. No, good luck out there everybody. Keoni McKeague: Good luck out there indeed. now it must be the end of April that you're seeing this episode. you know, we're getting well, actually, we should be almost to the end of the or to actually should might this might be the week that the NFL draft is happening when you're seeing this. Now think about it. Yeah, it like it would be like April. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right around someone's 35th birthday. No, but yeah, anyway, I was like, I know. Nolan: Yeah. Yeah! Keoni McKeague: But yeah, I mean, yeah, so realistically, you'll probably be seeing this win and then all their ticks will be off because some of these guys won't even get drafted or get drafted to different teams. But anyway, that'll do it for this episode of the Fifth Down and our Tier four conversation. But yeah, it has been a pleasure. It has been a joy from all of us here at Poi and Soy. Bang, bang. Nolan: Vabs and love everybody.