Fantasy industry vets Joe Dolan and Tom Brawley are bringing it all season long on the fantasy free agents podcast unrestricted, unaffiliated unparalleled fantasy football analysis. Greg Cosell might be off today, but the fantasy free agents are not off today. I am Joe Dolan from fantasy free agents.com. And that's Tom Brawley. And if you don't know well now, you know fantasy free agents.com is up and running and it's a place to get our our rankings and our thoughts Tom. I got to be honest. We've already published more articles than I thought we were going to we have a bunch of rankings breaks Downs like breaking down our rankings breaking down some a P values your you're delving into post type Sleepers at every position and I wrote an absolute Treatise on my most drafted players thus far that went up yesterday. I'm really enjoying what we're doing up there at the blog and I think the people are enjoying it as well. Yeah. I liked your best ball. You know what you have in the wall at article there. I think we'll probably Mabel just like alternate weeks just were you know, you do one week and I'll do the next will update it every week so that you know, that's up there every week going into the season and you know the post type dates it just kind of taken a look at you know, every guy that was kind of going very high last year and whether there's reason to believe in them or not. So I've had a lot of fun doing that and you know kind of discovered some guys that you know, hey, we'd like these guys a lot last year. Why don't we still like them? So, you know, we've been having a little bit of fun with the podcast podcast and now we're getting a delve into some writing again. It's a lot of fun. So in case you're wondering where Greg is he's out west he's on in La he's on set with Howard this week so he'll be back next week as we start to actually break down some real actions some real preseason games Tom. I believe the Hall of Fame game is tonight. This is August 1st. Yeah, we probably should talk about that. There is some football tonight. You know, I think the I saw some lines and stuff like that. It's two and a half. I believe that from the gay audience generates 34 and a half is the over under he's so yeah real if you want to get in on that action. The Broncos are the the small favorite against the Falcons. There are a lot of people in the industry who disagree with me. I do not play DFS in the preseason. I don't trust myself. I know there's people who think they can get an advantage by doing so and that's wonderful. I don't do it. I don't bet really on the preseason. I use this is when I focus my time on the regular season Tom and this is when I have usually to best ball drafts going at all times and every time I have a spare 45 minutes I pick up an envelope. And enter a fast one. So that's what my focus is on. I don't know if you handle it any differently and reasonable people disagree with me. I know the some of the guys I listened to her better as they think there's an advantage to be gained in the preseason. I just don't think I'm that smart. Yeah, I'll place the occasional bet on a side if you know, I I'm getting you know reading articles or whatever where it looks like, you know, one team might be playing it starters longer or you know, it's better players longer. But yeah, I don't get too much into I mean I'm more for you know looking. At the usage of these players, especially the younger guys that are playing, you know behind the first team offense to see if anybody's kind of emerging or that's what I really use for the preseason here. So Tom, I want to remind people just really quickly if you like what we do. There is a PayPal donation link up at Fantasy free agents.com the support we've gotten has been outrageous. We are so excited about that. So thank you very much. You can also support the podcast with a monthly donation for as little as Since a month there's a link to do that in the show notes and really quickly Tom you and I are both participating in the Roto wire online championships at the nff. See I am drafting on August 20th at 9:30 p.m. You are drafting on August 27th at 9:30 p.m. In the beat Joe Dolan and beat Tom Brawley contests. I know those spots are filling up really quick because I've been checking them if you want to get in and compete against us for the two hundred thousand dollar grand prize, make sure Sure you do that. There's instructions to do. So in the show notes as well and reach out to us on Twitter, and we'll help you through the process, but Tom before we get into our interview with college football expert Matt Brown because this is college football season. This is predominantly going to be a fantasy football NFL podcast, but you and I follow college football as a hobby. It's kind of an escape from the NFL for us, and I love making bets on college football and Matt helps us through that. He's going to talk to us for about 40 minutes. It's going to be a great interview. You're into college football. But before we get to that, I do want to touch on some of the news from training camp and Tom we talked about it on our last podcast, but we've got it now. Now that we have more information readjust AJ Green yet. Again. He did need surgery on that. Ankle. He's not expected to miss a ton of time but head coach Zack Taylor came out and said it's looking like he's going to miss some regular season games and it now feels like the worst case scenario is on. On the table. I said on the last podcast I said the worst case scenario to me is they hold him out through their week through their week 9 by put them on IR dfr that seems like it is now on the table their hope is that he misses just a game or two of the regular season, but you now have to take that worst-case scenario into account when you're drafting AJ Green when you're considering AJ Green, what does this do for you Tom? I'm going to make this a three layered question. What does this do to AJ Green for you? What is this due to Tyler boy for you? And what does this do to Joe Mixon for you? Yeah, I've moved him down a little bit more. I'm not taking it as Grim Outlook as you are, but you know, I think you know before we were kind of like hey, maybe he doesn't miss any time. Maybe it's three or four games. Now, I would lean more towards the three or four games. I've adjusted the rankings a little bit more drop them behind Tyler Lockett and Cooper cup. He's 21st overall, you know, I'll still give it another. A week or two here. Maybe we'll get a few more reports and but I mean there's a chance he could sink even further. I you said that you you're going to be taking Tyler board over them. Now. I moved to either buoyed up a little bit. So now they're 21 and 24 overall, you know, if we don't get positive reports in a couple weeks Boyd will definitely be ahead of AJ Green and a little bit here. So you still have green ahead avoid. Yes. Okay. Well, yeah, I mean see I personally would have would have boy to had a green right now. I don't know where I'd take green probably seventh round but it is something you need more information on at this stage. Yeah, I don't want to totally over at because I you know, if it's just two games AJ Green could be a massive value at that level. So, you know, obviously there's a little bit more downside now with how you know Taylor basically, you know, he's going to miss time. So, you know, you don't like to hear that, you know, usually coaches are more vague and like hey could this time so for him, too? Definitively to come out and say you know that he's going to miss time definitely puts this more on the negative side Michael Thomas from the Saints Tom signs a 100 million dollar extension. It makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in the history of professional football. I doubt this does anything to the rankings because we weren't worried at all about him not appearing in Camp. He just wanted to get this deal done. There was indications. It was closed. Does this change how you feel about Michael Thomas at all? This doesn't change how I feel about Michael Thomas, but you know, I also just like this getting done. That means you know, we got holy oh Jones. We got a Mario, you know, we have other receivers looking to get contracts done. So we get one of the big Domino's out of the way, maybe more will fall here. This is good for everybody. You know, this is kind of what we want to see what the running backs what we want to see one of these running backs get a deal done. Maybe that helps get other deals done. So this is just a good piece of information here, you know, hopefully we avoid other situations Kalin balázs is banged up and dolphins Camp. Tommy hasn't practiced in a a couple of days but reading a report here from ESPN's Cameron wolf. He's projecting basically a 50-50 touch split with Kenyan Drake and kahlan balázs. I have not drafted Drake a Tall Blond has been much cheaper. I even did a draft last night Tom in the in the play Draft mini basketball championship. The five-dollar entry balázs want the 11th round. I mean, he's still affordable and you can think the Dolphins are going to stink but a guy who could lead the team in rushing being drafted in the 11th round. Hell of an investment to make in a best ball league. Yeah, I won't be surprised with all the news coming out here that you know, he starts to sneak up into the ninth 10th rounds of giraffes here in the next week or two. All the momentum seems to be going towards balázs and you know Drake just can't yeah that just can't earn the trust of you know, multiple cult coaching staffs now there I mean there has to be something behind this. So Drake has been on my undrafted will list all summer just like you And I don't see that changing May tie, you know, maybe if he starts to, you know, maybe if their ATP start to get kind of similar then I would start to like Drake because you know, he does have that passing Dimension. So, you know, I'm not totally off Drake but it's going to take him fall start falling into the seventh eighth ninth rounds before I really start to consider them in Green Bay both their top running backs, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are sitting out with hamstring injuries. I don't think either looks particularly serious, but it is noteworthy that Aaron Jones Miss time. Training camp with a hamstring injury as well. And he's missed time with knee injuries. Each of the last two years. I'm still in on Jones Williams is cheap at the end of drafts, but it's probably time if you're in best ball or in a dynasty or deeper League that we start looking at the rookie Dexter Williams out of Notre Dame. Yeah. He's getting a some first team work here. Now, you know a guy that's pretty readily available towards the ends of you know, 17th 18th rounds of drafts so might be time to start considering him a little bit here. I'm with you though. I've taken a lot of Jones and I've taken a lot of Williams in my draft so far and you know, I don't like to see what you know hamstrings are one injury that can linger into the season, you know, what you know, these guys aggravate them all the time. So this isn't the best news coming out of camp out of Packers Camp Tom. We are getting some significant hype out of Redskins Camp. Yeah, baby ready for this on two particular players and I want to ask you about them both one of them one of them. You are just not going to talk me off of because Ray Quinn is tied for my most drafted wide receiver because I drafted him last night even after I wrote the article of my most drafted players. I added another tray Quinn share last night. And I mean, he's has the slot job locked down. I saw a report literally today from Redskins camp that he made a one-handed catch. I believe it was from Craig Hoffman. He made a one-handed catch catch on a pass thrown by Case Keenum, and it seems like the reporters. They're all in that health is the only Question for Trey Quinn, he's he's his ATP is finally going to rise I had to take him in the sixteenth round last night time. Why don't the bank? Oh, yeah, I mean, but seriously, but there's also hype on Jordan Reed. Jordan Reed says, he feels explosive that's good because he didn't look explosive last year. He didn't have any offseason surgeries. I saw heaven Silva bring that up that you know, he's recovering. I haven't drafted read it all because I just saw what he looked like last year and I was like this guy he Move, but I can see the value in it for sure as a tight end to and best ball drafts. What is your feeling on Jordan Reed and Trey Quinn? I'm right there with you. I've taken a lot of Quinn to not not nearly as much as you have. But you know, he's been a guy that I've been targeting towards the end of drafts with Quincy and noon was well and you know, I took Josh Gordon and you know as my seventh receiver and some spots earlier in the summer, so, you know, I'm all-in with Quinn, you know, I don't think he's going to be awesome, but I do not know but I think he could average 8 to 12 points a week, which is you know it with some little bit upside if he scores a touchdown, so and that's valuable the read stuff. I mean, I like the positive reports, but I haven't been too excited, but he just did not look right last year. Maybe maybe get some of that explosiveness that explosiveness back, but I'm not quite buying into the hype just yet. And I mean this goes the same for you know, Trey Quinn, but you know this quarter Situation isn't exactly the most to get excited about so I've liked other tight ends in his general area there. I've been taking more shots on, you know, like a jack Doyle or know if Aunt and Mark Andrews in those spots, so maybe I'll start getting a little bit of read, but I really haven't draft them yet Tom we used to do an article called mr. Relevant at our old site and we're probably gonna have to retitle that but we're probably going to do a sister but you know, mr. Plus 150. Yeah, yeah, so I don't know what will come up with creative name for that. But we're gonna what we'll do that. We'll do that as a podcast but let's bring up two guys here who are who are getting Camp height first and foremost Maurice Harris and Patriots Camp. I mean, they're basically considering this guy a full-time starter at this stage. That's a wonderful guy to add late in your drafts and also, He's come out of retirement. Keyshawn Johnson spelled differently than the Keyshawn Johnson who's on TV but Keyshawn Johnson the rookie receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. He's a guy making impact. I know Hakeem Butler was kind of the better Prospect and obviously Andy Isabella who's also having a nice camp, but Keyshawn Johnson looks like he's somebody to keep an eye on that a Cardinals Camp somebody to watch in the preseason. Those are two guys Maurice Harris and Keyshawn Johnson who you might want to start adding to the back end of your bed. Ball rosters. Yeah, they're guys that have played better than ever, you know, the guys that were thought to be ahead of them. So, you know, Keyshawn Johnson is you know, he's even playing ahead of Isabella I saw here so, you know making a little bit of noise here. We know Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury probably going to throw it over 600 times this year. So I think you know Cristian Kirk and Fitzgerald of kind of you know, emerged here at the top. I haven't taken very much Isabel II haven't liked his price all summer. I know. For Life. Yeah, and now I don't like it even more so maybe Keyshawn Johnson is a guy to consider toward that back end Maurice Harris. I want to see this Patriots thing play out a little bit more, you know, he did flash a bit for the Redskins over the last couple of years, but I kind of want to see how this Patriots wide receiver course shakes out a little bit more Demaryius Thomas really hasn't taken the field yet. I mean, Don Chao Inman has been very solid every time that he's gotten a chance to play the last couple of years. So I'm a little more hesitant on the Maurice Harris stuff. All right, Tom. We're going to get to Matt Browns interview here as we look at some college football betting which is going to be fantastic. You guys are going to really like this if you're into college football and after we wrap up that interview with Matt Brown, we're going to talk our team to a days and wrap up the podcast. So thanks everybody for listening to the news and make sure you check out the map around interview will get right to it after this. What's up listeners? This has been kookiness producer of the fantasy free agents podcast on anchor FM podcasting. I've been producing podcast and chose for my friends and colleagues Joe Dolan and Tom Bradley for years now. So when we decided to start the fantasy free agents podcast, it was imperative. We find a hosting platform an app that was easy to use Quick to record and post and track our stats and that's exactly what we found in Anchor. It's the easiest way to make a podcast and gives you everything you need in one place from either your phone or your computer. Their creation tools makes my life easier and I felt great knowing that anchor handles the distribution of our podcast to their other platforms like Spotify Apple podcasts Google podcasts and many more and don't worry about any difficult process to monetize your podcast. You can easily make money with no minimum listenership. So go download the anchor app or go to Anchor dot f m-- to get started today and thanks for listening to the fantasy free agents podcast unrestricted, unaffiliated unparalleled analysis for your fantasy football and bedding. Tom and I are now thrilled to welcome in former fantasy industry writer current college football writer and editor at the athletic matte Brown matte is our good friend used to work with me at Fantasy guru.com, but he has branched off to bigger and better things for sure at the athletic. Make sure you're checking out his 150 years of college football series at the athletic 15 articles one for every decade. He has published 13 The 90s were his latest article with all-decade teams. The best teams of the decade. It is a phenomenal series and soon. He'll be writing in depth about the AP poll. He is a voter he will write about his process and voting historical context and opinion all mixed in we are thrilled to welcome mat to the program at how are you doing? I'm doing great. Thanks for having me Joe. So guys just for context. This is a fantasy football podcast. It will be a fantasy football podcast 95% of the time but Tom and I love watching college football. We it's like an escape for us because we don't have to we don't have to focus on every little thing the way Matt of course does and we love to bet on college football and last year Matt Brown gave us some phenomenal picks for season over under wins the biggest bet I ever actually made was last year based on one of his pics. Now, of course Matt isn't betting on these because he's Tom Bradley and I are among the most unethical people you could ever meet. So we're hey, it's our job. This is what we do. We gamble we're doing fantasy. This is this is our job Joe. Well, I mean, so we take Matt's advice which he is not monetizing and we monetize that advice and then what do we got? We got him a beer or something deposit beers. And yeah, thank you to the Buffalo Bulls. Yeah that yeah. So anyway last year we were sitting I believe on the side of a mountain at a wing. Festival like a hot wing festival and we were going through wind totals and well actually we weren't even going through wind totals and I don't know where you just said, you know, what fix got a shot to be really good. This year is Buffalo and I was like Buffalo and I looked at my phone for a sports book and found a win total and that was like what six-and-a-half Tom and and Matt was like, I think they could win 10 games. So I didn't know what Matt was talk. I thought he was talking about the Buffalo Bills. I'm like, are you crazy like a district judge? Jalen it's a stinking up. He's like no the bulls with Tyree Jackson who's now their backup quarterback. But so at six and a half wins, we've put a significant sum on that. It was I mean, it was the least stressful bet Tom. I think I've ever made because they covered it by like mid-october. It was awesome. Yeah, we had fun casting that one. Those are the best whenever you know, well in advance that you're on the right side of the bed so Matt, what we want to do here is since you're not going to monetize. Sighs your advice we're going to let us and the listeners do so, so we're bringing you in to talk some college football over under wind totals playoff odds, whatever the heck you want to talk about and Matt, let's start at the top. Let's start playoff odds National Title odds odds on favorite got to be Alabama and Clemson again, I would say it's boring except. I mean the games are almost usually exciting whether they be closed or whether they be just damn impressive with what Clemson did last year Trevor. Orange is back. He's not even draft eligible to attack of eylau is finally draft eligible. They are the two favorite teams. Give us a give us a read into I mean just how big a favorite they are. But also some teams that can come in and spoil the party. Yeah. It just seems so obvious right now that inevitably we're going to be wrong. Now these were the top two teams in the preseason last year and they ended up meeting for the title. But usually when everybody is this confident we end up being wrong, but you know, their number one and two for a reason we're going to be number one in tune for a reason. The overwhelming favorites for a reason, you know, you mentioned Trevor Lawrence into its son of Allah are being back. These are just loaded rosters. You have a great track record of success. There's no reason to believe that they aren't the favorites but you know, I there's still an opportunity. There's still other teams that recruit really. Well, you know, I Georgia is right in there. They've played really well in the Kirby Smart they recruit. Well, you know, even though I don't buy into it necessarily this year, Ohio State always has the talent to compete. We'll see if they can do it under Ryan day instead of Urban Meyer. Oklahoma, they've always been around Jalen hurts at quarterback. Now the Alabama transfer one thing that is kind of lower on the board that I maybe if I had to say you take a flyer on somebody and it sounds crazy since they can't seem to beat Alabama but I do like LSU this year. I think they're gonna be my present up for I'm seeing them at +5000 win the championship and you know, you just look at the teams that are actually capable of getting into a playoff and beating multiple teams that are playoff caliber. / and there's not that many but LSU the only teams over the last four years according to the 24/7 rankings that have recruited better than LSU or Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State three top seven classes in the last four years. They lost their two best defenders, but have a ton of talent back there the past for us is going to be better. Their secondary is always really good. They have one of the best coordinators in the country and they brought in Joe Brady from the New Orleans Saints to open up. The offense is the passing game coordinator and Some optimism there. I think Joe Borough showed some flashes at quarterback. The receiving Corps has experienced it ovens experience. So if they can beat either Texas or Alabama, I think there's a chance unless you could go 11 and want to get in the playoff. It wouldn't be favored in the playoff. But I think it's if you're looking for a long shot that isn't comes in or out or Alabama. I do like the talent at LSU and would you like maybe placing a bet on Borough? I'm looking at his odds on a for the Heisman. In here, he's a hundred-to-one on sports book, you know, he started to kind of emerge at the end of last season is is that a big reason why you have some optimism karelis you I just think you know the good things I've heard about Brady and what the offense could do and that they might actually kind of stop being like a dinosaur offense. I don't know if I would go that far with Borough if I had to take if you're going to lead me into the Heisman sake or if I had to take some a an underdog for that. Do like sammelan. You're from Texas who again? Maybe I think they could be a kind of a long shot National Title team. They lost a lot of their defense but I do trust what Tom Herman is doing there. They've recruited at a very high level. There's a lot of young Talent again, they play LSU and week too. So, you know, one of those teams championship hopes could be dashed right there and Heisman hopes do but I do like Ellen Gro. I think he was kind of unnecessary. Really polarizing he's gotten some criticism this year some some backlash. But you know, we had 41 total touchdowns last year and that offense wasn't even explosive last year. I think the Texas will be more explosive this year. They have some really good young players can't say Ingram at running back Colin Johnson is one of the best receivers in the country and ehlinger did not make mistakes completed sixty five percent of his passes and was a really good running threat to and if Texas gets over the hump and wins the Big 12 elegir could have that narrative around him to that always helps for the Highsmith. And we've talked about to and Lawrence they're going to be the favorites. But if Texas could go 12 and 1 and when the Big 12 and get into the playoff you have to think say melting your will be in that Heisman, right? So if I like somebody who's not, you know, maybe among the top four or five guys for the Heisman it will be a longer because I think you could make a push and he kind of get that narrative momentum around them, which is always helpful in Heisman race. Yeah. It looks like he's about 20 to 1 right now. He's the eighth guy down the board at sports book. I'm just curious. I just saw a name really far down the list and and I guess all the buzz is awesome. I'm seeing Khalil Tate at 75 the one you know, he was a guy two years ago. That was getting a lot of Heisman Buzz. Is there any reason to maybe put down like a half a unit on that? I mean Arizona really struggled last year, but he had the ankle injury and adjusting to a new offense New York coach, you know any reason to maybe have some interest there at seventy five to one. It's not beyond the realm of possibility last year was definitely strange. I mean you look at what he did. Stretch mid season two years ago. I mean he didn't even start the first four games and ended up rushing for 1,400 yards. He had 327 yards rushing in the game at 2:30, you know 206, you know teams kind of caught up to them a little bit at the end of that season and then last year. Yeah, you mentioned the ankle injury. He just wasn't right the whole year they transition to a new offense. So I don't know if he can read its he would have to recapture what he did midseason 2017 because Arizona I think maybe they could surprise that the the Pac-12 South isn't isn't very good Beyond Utah. There's certainly some openings for wins, but I think it's probably too much of a hill to climb especially when you have kind of established guys like Trevor Lawrence. And so it's a novella that it's not beyond the realm of possibility. I think he Bounce back this year, but I don't know if he bounces back enough to and you know again, we are talking about a huge long shot. So yeah, I could see him I could see him rushing for, you know, 1,500 yards and you know throwing for close to three thousand yards, and maybe he does get some buzz, but it is a big hill to climb and a big bounce back to kind of have to have after after what happened last year. We're talking to Matt Brown from the athletic college football writer and editor follow him on Twitter at Matt Brown CFB. That's College. Football for those of you who need it some translation Matt. What are the chances? I know what the I know what Vegas says but what are the chances Oklahoma goes 3 for 3 with 3 different quarterbacks in a row winning the Heisman with Jalen hurts coming in as a transfer from Alabama. I just think the bar has been set too high. Now, you know Baker Mayfield set the pass efficiency record in college football two years in a row and then Kyler Murray comes back and at the time of the Heisman had exceeded him to ended up setting the record but both of them. Past Baker so, you know caller Murray threw for forty three hundred yards 42 touchdowns. Last year was a great Runner average of them point six yards per attempt to Heaven Hertz is a very good player who kind of got a bad rap, I think at some point in Alabama because it's ago I got can't throw he did get I think even in limited opportunity got better last year with Danny no says his quarterbacks coach and you know with Lincoln Riley there's you know, arguably nobody better. He's going to put up numbers. He's going to play for a team that's going to be successful that's going to wind up. Valdez you games but can he I think can he get close to what Marie and Mayfield did as a pastor. I have my doubts about that. So I think people are gonna be looking for reasons to not vote for an Oklahoma quarterback this year. I don't think he can live up to quite what they did. Even if he's going to be a successful quarterback for an offense that will average 45 points a game. I just have my doubts that Oklahoma, you know that anybody could have it could any school In the Heisman three years in a row and I don't think he's even if he maybe gets a bad rap as a pastor. He just doesn't have the upside as a passer of kind of marine Baker Mayfield So I'm looking at the FanDuel sports book app, which by the way just launched in Pennsylvania were based out of Pennsylvania. FanDuel hint hint. Hey sponsor the poem. Thanks, Tom. Thanks for the yeah. So he's tight. He's at he's 20 to 1 he's tied with allinger. He's tied with Justin Herbert who I want to talk about in a little bit. He's tied with Jake from from Georgia and then the other guy 20 to 1 probably the guy you've least likely to have heard of from this list. If you're just a casual college football fan, but holy crap is this team getting life this preseason Adrian Martinez the quarterback from Nebraska Matt 22:1 tied with I mean these Legacy guys like Jake from Jaylin hurts Justin Herbert these guys who are all big names and have been big names in college football for for You years now Martinez is a true sophomore. He's without. He's with Nebraska didn't even make a bowl game this year and Nebraska's odds to make the playoff are like outrageous. What's the deal with Nebraska Scott Frost? Everybody sees what happened? So it's two things Scott Frost at UCF inherited a winless team. He went five hundred basically his first year the next year, they go undefeated and win a major bowl game. And now he's at Nebraska. He inherits a team that went for Nate what foreign aid his first season. They were Dreadful the beginning of last year, but clearly got better down the stretch beat Michigan State. Although lexcorp was 9 to 6. But Adrian Martinez is clearly a great fit for one what he wants to do ran for six hundred twenty nine yards last year. It's pretty solid as a pastor. That's as a true freshman. And you know, the upside is clearly high from Martinez. I just think we're getting a little it might be just Nebraska fans people are getting a little ahead of themselves, you know, their defense still has a long way to go. You know, they lose their lead. Crusher I think the running game will be fine. They have some receivers but I don't know the Big Ten West gets a lot of criticism, but I think that division is just deeper than it's been Minnesota's on the way up Purdue has Jeff brohm. They've been kind of on the way up Iowa and Wisconsin are still good teams think I was probably my favorite to win that division this year, so, I don't know I think The hype is just getting a little too much right now. And I think we're better off talking about Nebraska for 2020. I think they can win 8 games this year. I think they could win that division. It's wide open but you know to win the Heisman Nebraska's gotta win ten eleven games and being a major bowl and I just think it's a little too early for that. You know this it's still a team that's got to play Ohio State gotta play Wisconsin got to play Iowa, you know, the schedule isn't as is beatable for a Big Ten schedule, but Let's look slow down. I just because Scott Frost went from winless to undefeated in his you know, second year at UCF doesn't mean you can do it in the Big Ten and we were talking about these playoff odds a little bit last night Matt and you know, we see Nebraska here eight to one there the you know 11th favorite to be one of the four finalists, you know going a little bit farther down the board here. We're talking about some of these pac-10 teams. They got left out of the playoff last year anybody here that you see With some decent odds, they're all at 10 to 1 or greater. Anybody you like coming out of the Pac-12 Pac-12 to maybe sneak into the playoff here and cash a little bit of a longer ticket. Yeah, if you want to take a you know, a fire on somebody seems like that's the best bet now the Pac-12 had troubles with the getting into the playoffs. They have a nine-game conference schedule. They tend to schedule well out of conference, you know, Oregon opens the year with auburn type of thing where if you bet on or again to make the playoff that could look really bad after one week because then they'd have to pay problem most likely have to run the table in the Pac-12 and that's non conference games plus a conference Championship game and to be in the same division as Washington Stanford and Washington State and then to you know, probably have to play something like Utah in the Pac-12 title game. That's a steep climb, but still I do like organ a lot this year. I think I'm leaning toward them as my packable favorite Justin Herbert if he stays healthy is a phenomenal quarterback. Justified first round projections for the NFL draft, you know, I think they're going to they're going to run the ball. Well this year their offensive line is really experience. It was a liability a couple years ago because it was so young and now all those young guys are experienced veterans and they have three for all Pac-12 candidates on the offensive line their defense, you know, they him Levitt the coordinator who did a great job there is gone but I think kind of a foundation has been established that there are certainly better much much much better than they were four years ago. You know, so in 2016, they gave up 41 points per game last year. They gave up 25 points per game. Troy diet linebackers fantastic player. So organs and experience deeper team than it's been their starting a well. So I think they're my favorite of those seams. Just again the problem is they play Auburn week one. I think they're going to win that game Auburn has, you know, a still a quarterback battle. They're going to be Young quarterback. It's a lot for week one in a neutral site, but still it's a tough path, but You know if you want to go, I guess maybe it's slightly more of a sleeper, you know, if you take a flyer on Utah, you know twelve and one Pac-12 Champion stands a good chance of getting into the playoff and Utah has a beatable non-conference schedule. They don't play Stanford and they don't play organ in the regular season. There is a good path to 10 wins, and maybe they can get to 11 and regular season win the Pac-12 not not beyond the realm of possibility for Utah to do, you know, like Michigan state did a few years ago and maybe They're not actually a top 14, but maybe they get some breaks and get in any way. Yeah, we have Oregon, Utah Washington all at 10:00 to 1:00 to make the playoffs here. Justin Herbert will be getting a lot of Buzz as the number one pick if we're going would make the playoffs. I would guess and fantasy football drafters would get to know him a little bit more next summer. I'm just looking at these Alabama and Clemson or both - 600 to make the playoffs. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. You know who you know between the two who Has the better chance of not making the playoffs at that, you know extreme odds there Alabama just because it's you know, even though you look at the schedule and say okay, who are they going to lose to like they don't plan on covering sort of game. They played Duke as their biggest non-conference game, which they're going to win by 50 and Atlanta, but you know, Alabama still has to play LSU who's really talented as much as they've dominated them LSU is still a talented team and I got to go to Auburn at the end of the year. You'd think Auburn's quarterback situation might be better sorted out by then. You got to go to Texas A&M Which you know put a scare into Clemson last year and has a lot of talent and a good coaching staff. So, you know, there's there's opportunities for a lost their and then if they get to the SEC title game there presumably going to play Georgia and we know they could lose that game. They've almost lost twice to Georgia. So do I think Alabama is going to lose two games in the regular season? No, but they're more likely to do it than Clemson Clemson does play Texas am as well this year get them at home though, but you Look at the ACC. I mean I can say is there is there anybody within two touchdowns of Clemson on a neutral field? Right? Syracuse has done it the last two years. Yeah, they beat them two years ago last year. They lost by four, but that wasn't with a healthy Trevor Lawrence didn't play that whole game and I was his first start see look at look Clemson has loses all of its starting defensive lineman from last year, you know, there are some questions about the defense but they still have you know, Xavier Thomas is gonna be one of the best defensive end. Entry there's still so much talent. They're such good coaching there. We're basically debating like who's the second best team in the ACC? Is it like Syracuse or Virginia or maybe Miami so it's just kind of a ridiculous conversation Florida State's still down there cross division games are against North Carolina and Georgia Tech who has a new coach. So just how could Clemson possibly lose more than one game this regular season? I just don't see it. That I remember a couple of years ago. Tom and I were watching a late night Mountain West football game that we had both bet on and see because he this is how Tom and I bet we don't actually know anything about the teams that were betting on we just look at advice and look at numbers are like let's do it which is probably not a winning strategy long-term. But I remember placing a bet on the Wyoming Cowboys a couple years ago and we knew about the running back at the time Brian Hill and we're like, all right, this guy, you know, he's a good Runner he's going to get drafted and then we're watching this game and I texted Tom and I'm like, holy shit. Are you watching this quarterback and Tom's like I was just texting you the same thing and it was a it was a gentleman by the name of Josh Allen who I mean, I don't even know if the passes were completed but he threw em like 95 yards in the air. So we're like the hell is this guy? Is there anybody like that out there maybe in like it happens every year Carson. In Wentz obviously from North Dakota State Josh Allen from Wyoming and then Daniel Jones from duke. Is there somebody who you think might not be from your Alabama's your George's who are going to get your quarterbacks drafted because we know Herbert from to of they're all they're all getting drafted. Probably early. Is there anybody from more of a of an under-the-radar school or even a group of five school who you think could jump into that conversation that the real football guys the scouts are gonna love I don't want to make any bold claim that somebody's gonna be like a first-round pick. But if you're looking for a guy to watch like at the group 5 level and you're looking to watch 10:30 p.m. Eastern games on ESPN 2. I always am check check Utah State, you know, they they now the problem here is they lost pretty much their entire offense and their head coach Matt Wells and a great offensive coordinator. But Gary Anderson comes in at Utah State who was the head coach a few years ago came back. He won 11 games with them with Chuckie Keeton at quarterback. Back in 2012, you know, I don't have High Hopes as early for Utah State this year. But Jordan loves a guy who is 6 for 220 pounds through for 3500 yards last year 32 touchdowns six interceptions and they scored 50 points a game. I don't think they're going to score 50 points a game again. Just because again, they lose a lot on offense. They lose all of the receivers basically, but they're still gonna put a points. I think Jordan loves a very good player and he's the type of guy who's going to be fun to watch ands. You know there I think again, I don't think he's that some first-round pick but he's a good quarterback who could end up being a useful at a fellow player and who's going to be entertaining which is also what we're talking about here. So he's one guy to watch. You know Cole McDonald on Hawaii isn't going to be a first round pick or anything, but they converted to the running shoot last year, which is kind of throwback for them and he played hurt much of the year and still through for 3500 yards. They put up numbers. They were better and I think They could you know, they're going to be a salad bowl team again. So those are guys I would watch you know, Blake Barnett USF was a five-star recruit and bounced around from Alabama to Arizona State now USF wasn't a hundred percent healthy last year still a guy who was a big-time recruit. We know there's Talent there has some size that you know, I don't totally buy into it yet, but it's possible. Maybe he unlocks that potential does a senior he's worth at least keeping an eye on it's funny you mentioned Utah State because they're running back from last year is a Fantasy football sleeper this year because he plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. That's Darwin Thompson. He he's he was a sixth-round pick this year that you used to when you work for Sports on Earth you used to do like an all underrated team or it was that the premise of it the all underrated team. Yeah, and you have is a big-time guys who became big-time fantasy guys on that list. I remember Kareem hunt was probably your big one. Can you throw for the for the fantasy players the the young quarterbacks that you just talked? About usually you're not that usually those guys don't make a fantasy impact until a couple years down the line but guys like cream hunt come in and make an impact right away who are some guys who the draft Community might be starting to think about this year who maybe now might not be a big star name, but could end up making an impact Spencer Brown for UAB. I love glove UAB. They didn't literally did not have a football program in 2015 to 2016. They come back they win 8 games 2017. They win 11 games in Conference USA last year. Now they lose so much because to revive the program they leaned heavily on transfers junior college and major other major college transfers, but you know, they still have some good players here at Great coaching staff Spencer Brown is a guy who's 220 pounds. He's rushed for 2,500 yards over. His first two years is average per carry went down last year, but he's still a good player who's handled a heavy workload now, that's not necessarily great for going into the pros because he's probably going to get 270 carries. But he's a good guy. He's a good player who kind of flies under the radar. He's at a team. That's kind of exceeded their expectations in a big way. I like him. And you know, that one watch is Michael Warren at Cincinnati who you know Cincinnati made a huge leap forward last year. I think they could win the American Athletic Conference this year. He's you know again about 220 pounds average five and a half yards per carry last year 1300 yards 19 touchdowns. He's a junior and he's a really good player and you know could be really the best player in that conference this year. Okay. Yeah, we touched on the at the top of the podcast about your Buffalo Bulls over under season bet you were also pretty high on Utah for us. Last year was a nice winning bat for us. You have you been able to go through some of these totals that are that are out there that these wins and losses the over wind totals anybody that you have a little bit of a lean on you know, one way or the other now, I will There's nobody I feel as strongly about his Buffalo master. I just thought that was it sounds weird to say about Buffalo which has like no football history outside of Cleo Mac, but they were just so obvious to me for like the talent they had back and just the indicators that they would get better. So, I don't know if I have a one that feels that strong but I do, you know, there are several that I like I just talked about Cincinnati, you know, I'm seeing them at seven and a half and it's on FanDuel here at seven and a half and it's awesome. 120 missed the team that one of us won 11 games totally sure what 10 games in the regular season and I understand their team that kind of sometimes when you make a big jump you're going to regress a little bit and I understand Maybe This Time indicator is pointing down. They have a much tougher schedule this year. They got to play at Ohio State they play UCLA who they beat but tough game it played Memphis and Houston on the road from the AFC West. So yeah, I am giving reasons to kind of fade Cincinnati this year, but I just like What they have in place, they have talent. They're one of the better recruiters at the group of five level. Desmond Ritter is a good quarterback. It was a was efficient last year can run as a freshman Michael war and I mentioned they have most the receivers back. I think they're going to the line of scrimmage. There's you know, a lot of guys gone, but I trust Luke fickle on defense the good in the back seven. So I just I don't see any I think they are going to win at least eight and I think they could win 10. He even with the harder. Schedule so I like Cincinnati this year over seven and a half couple make sure you hit that and FanDuel. It's plus 120. I'm looking on. Yeah, that's the one that stood out. Well that has it - 135 to the over. So at some books they've been getting a lot of over action and other books they've been getting some under actions. So maybe a little bit of you know, people are can't really decide one way or the other here. Yeah. Another one. I'll give you a now the it's - 140 but, North Carolina. Over four and a half. You know, I would skeptical about the Mac Brown higher but I like the staff he is built around him and they were a team that was kind of a hard luck team last year really. They had caught a couple years and wants three games till 2017 to a nine with a game canceled last year a ton of injuries two years ago. I think, you know, it's pretty experienced roster coming back. They lost it over double overtime to Syracuse last year the Boston over time to NC State. They lost by 7 to Duke tend to Georgia Tech tend to Virginia tunnel. Close games and usually that's an indicator that you can you know, kind of up your window till next year. And again, I like what Mack Brown is done with surrounding himself with a good staff J Bateman the defensive coordinator coming in from army fill longer. They office coordinator coming in from Ole Miss. This is a good staff where I think they can go bowling in Mack Brown's debute, you know schedule has some tough Parts they do play Clemson, but I kind of I do lean over North Carolina. I think they can get to a bowl game. I guess. I do need to give out an Since I can't just give a hunch over. Oh, you don't have to you can be optimistic about every team if you want. I'm going to talk about to what we talked about Nebraska. I think eight eight and a half. I do like them to probably win 8 games they could go over but I might lean under there Indiana. I'm seeing here at 6:00. This is a team that has not gone over 6 in the regular season since 2007. They've done that like once in the last 25 years. I mean Indiana ceiling seems to be six wins. So if it's On the dot like yeah, I could see them winning six games and going to a bowl. But are they going to win seven in the regular season playing in the Big Ten yeast? I strongly doubt that. So, you know, I do think Tom I'll have the salad coach. I don't think their defense is a strong as it was a couple of years ago again. They got to play Michigan say Penn State Michigan and Ohio State every year now, it isn't easy non-conference schedule, but it's just you look at their history their just you know a team that is 500 or worse. Every year and I just have my doubts that they're going to win seven games so might go under on Indiana. No one other one. I do like as an over. How about Florida International? They are seven and a half and I just, you know, everybody was so obsessed with Lane kiffin there and not really noticing that Butch Davis has a better record now in two years at FIU than his rival Lane kiffin 1 8 and 5 and his debut after inherited in 4 and 18. They went nine and four last year 8 Shoulders back on both sides of the ball. They get a transfer quarterback from Bowling Green and James Morgan who through 26 touchdowns last year was going to have a better Supporting Cast now they have you know, their whole supporting cat's back and a lot of their defense back and they have a really really weak schedule. You know, they're non convert. They play Tulane who it's a tough game on the road two lanes pretty good. They play Miami, but you know, other than that, I just think there's a lot of winnable games in a winnable conference. So I think FIU could win. Nine ten games and they're my favorite to win Conference USA. So I like what Butch Davis is doing finds a little bit under the radar somehow despite his pedigree just because everybody's obsessed with lame. So FIU over seven and a half is definitely what I like. All right. I'm not asking you Matt to make an over under bed here, but who do you thinks the most overhyped team in the country? Based on the betting markets, Nebraska we already talked about that was my I was wondering if that was it. Um, well, let's see, you know, if I look at the preseason consensus pool, you know, the actual coaches poll is going to be out soon. The AP poll will be out of a couple weeks. I'm a voter there. There's a website stassen that compiles kind of consensus is all the magazines and computer a rankings preseason in a fart at number 8 in that right now. Now I think they could repeat what they did last year go nine and three get to a made get to a good bowl and maybe win that go tend to 3, but I worry about their offensive line. I worried about the schedule even though they play to FCS teams, even though they have three by weeks because they play Miami on August 24th schedule is a little bit tougher. They play Auburn from the SEC West they get that Miami game, which I think they're going to win but it's not it's not a gimme. So I farted was probably going to be around 14 and 54:15 on my ballot. Which is due on Monday. I haven't totally decided yet, but I don't think I'm going to have them in the top ten for number eight right now as I'm looking at the consensus ballot. Don't say them beyond that Mississippi State. I don't really trust as a top 25 team this year. I love Joe Moorhead, but they just lose so much and I felt talents their defense on their defense. We still have to see it for Tommy Stevens as a passer and Penn State transfer and it is play. You know, they're in the SEC West where I think there's four teams better than them. So I don't think 21st which I'm seeing the consensus rankings here is you know outrageous for them. There's not going to be on my top 25 ballot. I think they could be that but if I did look at a couple of teams on this kind of consensus top 25, I would lean there. I know you want Joe you want me to say, Michigan? Oh God every freaking year every year over it. I I'm I'm think I'm buying in. I think I think In the Big Ten so so you think this is the finally to hear it all comes together for Michigan. Now, look we have to see what Josh Gad us who's a first-time play color, but he was at Alabama last year and he was studying under Joe Moorhead at Penn State a couple years ago. I think what he's going to want to do with more of a spread RPO game fits much better with shea Patterson at quarterback than what our ball did is kind of a ground and pound type team. Their offensive line has gotten better. You worry about the running game a little bit because on higden's gone. They don't have a proven guy at tailback their defense loses several top guys and they did look awful against Ohio State last year, but Don Brown is still an excellent defensive coordinator. So yes, I understand the reservations about Michigan. They got to play Notre Dame who's going to be very good again. They kind of actually beat Ohio State which they've done once in the last 15 years. You got to go to Penn State who I think is going to be good and has talent but you know, it's maybe it is the type of I'm still wavering. Whether I think Michigan's going to get to the playoff if they win the Big Ten. I think we could see a you know, ten and two Big Ten champion this year and have maybe Michigan Ohio State tie or Penn State at 9:00 to 3:00 right there and kind of crowded but you know for all of the Curtis Justified criticism of horrible, they were literally inches from going to the playoffs in 2016 against Ohio State, you know last year they fell apart at the end the Florida game - I think there were a couple things that factored in including some of those guys who bolted before the bowl game. But you know, they were still good most of last year. They were crushing teams most of the year until they just fell apart against Ohio State. So I understand skepticism against Michigan and all the hard ball hype it's very annoying but they've recruited well enough and maybe they can take advantage of Urban Meyer being gone to finally do it this year. I think they have a decent chance of doing it. Let's say one or two more teams and get you off the podcast here Matt, but let's try to make Joe feel a little bit better hear it. I'm looking at this Notre Dame nine-and-a-half that feels like an under being they played a lot of close games last year lucked out got into the playoffs, but they lost, you know, like miles Boykin on at receiver Julian love in the secondary Tillery on the defensive line. Tell me that this team is Bound for some regression here this year. I you know, I have gone through and given ever like I do an exercise every year where I pick every game and I have records. I'm still yeah I have Completed it. Although. I'm probably going to fiddle with some of them. Now. How long does that take you that has to be a long process. It's a lot but it's fun. Are you Notre Dame? I have it done in three, but if I had to, you know pick a side I would lean under you know, what you said the last year they beat USC by seven Pit by five Vanderbilt, Iowa State game now again, they did make a quarterback change after that. So they started, you know couple close when it gets Ball State a vendor billion book was just a Passer than running wimbush. I do think there is a ceiling and on Ian book you was officially completed almost 70 percent of his passes. I think we saw that ceiling show up when they lost 32 3 in the bowl game to Clemson. Now, you know, it's Clemson, they crushed everybody including Alabama so it doesn't tell us everything but here's what Notre Dame does have going for their Pastor should be excellent. I have think they're coordinators are very good ship long on offense Clark legal defense, you know, they have experience on the offensive line. And you know, I do worry a little bit. About the running game. I don't know if Ian book has that upset at quarterback, you know, you look at their schedule they play at Georgia at Michigan at Stanford who I think Stanford might be a little bit undersold going into this year another one. They're seeing on FanDuel Stanford six and a half. I would go over on that. I'm not saying they're like a playoff team or something but Stanford consistently wins eight or nine games. So there's another over for you. But so yeah, if you look at the schedule, it's not like Look USC is not what it could be. Virginia Tech is not what it could be Louisville is just way down. That's their Labor Day game, but you know, there's it's not like it's an easy Road schedule. So if I have the lean in the direction, yeah, I think Notre Dame is much more likely to win nine eight or nine games than 10 or 11 this year. All right Matt. So obviously you're pretty much in tune with Penn State here. You're going to be I think I can tease this you're going to be doing a little bit of a podcast this year about pain. In state very young offense here. So for the Nittany Lion fans, what's your outlook for them this year? I I'm struggling to fear away from the consensus which seems to be you know, eight or nine wins. I have them down for nine. The over-under I've seen is eight and a half which seems to be about right, you know, this is a so much new unknown on offense John Clifford quarterback who we haven't seen much of through turn seven passes. You know, they have a bunch of very very very highly regarded recruiting Talent at running back at wide receiver. You know, Ricky Slade was a five-star recruit Justin shorter at receiver was the number-one receiver recruits years ago didn't didn't play last year really as a true freshman because partly because he was banged up but you know, I think they have more bodies on the offensive line than they've had there's obviously upside here and their defense should be fantastic defense was very good for much of last year after some early struggles. You know you tore go Tigers mottos looks like a first-round pick a defensive end Michael Parsons, the five-star recruit a linebacker led the team in tackles despite starting one game last year, which is pretty insane and he was defensive end in high school. So he's learning a new position. So I think Penn State should have a very very good pass rush their secondaries in good shape and they have a back loaded schedule. You know, you look at their first five games they play, Idaho Buffalo pit, Maryland and Purdue if you're breaking in all these new guys on offense, that's the way to do. Yep, so we don't play Ohio State until November 23rd. They get Michigan at home. Now. They have a tough stretch, you know, Purdue at Iowa, Michigan at Michigan State at Minnesota is their midseason stretch. It's a tough stretch. So look, I think they're probably a nine and three type team. But if you also look I'm looking at FanDuel and to win the Big Ten East is plus 750, you know, that's not a bad long shot because they have talent Urban Meyer's gone if your Skeptical about Michigan and you look at the back loaded schedule. I think Penn State is kind of under valued as a Big Ten title threat. I don't think they're going to do it. I think 2020 is the year, they're kind of pointing to but with the defense and maybe if if the offense comes together just a little quicker than expected there is upside there. So I am cautiously optimistic about Penn State this year. I think 2020 is he better bet for you know thinking they could win the Big Ten Championship, but I think they could be a little bit. They're valued in that race. There are probably a number 13 14 or so on my preseason AP ballot. There's some upside here great defense that I think there's reasons for optimism. Hey, he doesn't make the bets himself. So you need to make them for him wealth of information Yong Phil steel over here Matt Brown Trauma from the athletic college football follow him on Twitter at Matt Brown CFB. Make sure you hit that Cincinnati bet or that line is gonna move based on Matt's Buffalo advice last year, Matt. Thanks so much, and maybe we'll check in before before the season starts because well, maybe they're hopefully there isn't a whole lot of Fantasy Football news from training camp because news is only bad at this time of year. Appreciate you guys. Thanks for having me over been fun. Thanks, Matt. What's up listeners? This has been kookiness producer of the fantasy free agents podcast. If you're listening to this you obviously like podcasts and I'll go out on a limb and say you like music too. It used to be looking for podcasts on one app and listening to music on another but now on Spotify you have all your listening needs including the fantasy free agents podcast for free. No, you don't need a premium account Spotify has a huge catalogue of podcasts on every topic and you can follow your favorite podcast. So you never miss an episode download So listen offline, wherever you are and easily share what you're listening to with your friends via spotify's Integrations with social platforms, like Instagram spotify's the world's leading music streaming service, and now it can be your go to for podcast as well. Just search for the fantasy free agents on the Spotify app or browse podcasts in the EU or Library Tab and follow us. So you never miss an episode and now back to the unrestricted unaffiliated unparalleled analysis of the fantasy free agents. Thanks to Matt Brown from the athletic college football for his time really great interview. I mean, literally a walking Encyclopedia of college football. Every time I have a thought I throw it out there to Matt and he's very useful this time of year. Tom for are degenerate asses as we look to bet on basically every college football team that there is it's my favorite time of year what I mean, literally I enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy fantasy because it's not a job for me to bet on college football. Yeah. Matt's been useful for In my career, I basically got my start in the industry because of him he moved on to write about college football and I took his job, you know working with John Hanson there. So when working with you so, you know, I have Matt to thank for getting me into the fantasy industry. That was always his passion Tom. He was always going to he he was a he's free as a bird. He was always going to fly away when it yeah, I mean they call it football man. I mean you've let's just listen to the interview, you know, he knows his shit. So well Tom, we know our shit. To I'm at least I like to think so and so we're going to talk about our team two days for the day one NFC team one AFC team. Let's start in the NFC with a little bedding and fantasy preview for the New Orleans Saints. Okay last year, they finished 13 and three lost in the NFC Championship Game to the Rams. Everybody remembers the controversial call at the end. They flop. What was that? I don't know if Tommy Tommy Lee was in it or something. I can't remember they easily finished over there nine. If win total last year total offense 379 yards, which was eight scoring offense 31 and a half points, which was third place for games sixty three point six, which was 13 key players lost Mark Ingram been with Watson Max Unger and Tommy Lee Lewis. There is a key additions Jared Cook latavius Murray Eric McCoy bunk of a bunk Alan's gone now. I need to update my list here, Nick Easton unaccounted targets 78 from Last year, which is 23rd most available 2019 win total is at 10 and a half with a little bit of money going towards the under it - 130 even if you want to bet the over so Tom. Yeah, they did lose Buck Allen to ir. And I mean in true ruthless Sean Payton fashion his number 37, they literally just took it and put it on Rob Kelly who they brought in to replace Buck Allen. So Buck Allen, he will not be getting any sick of this table here. Yeah sure you're devastated by that. Yeah, but now Rob Kelly's there to soak up and they've been working out Theo Riddick. So good God in heaven, that could be a thorn in our side for Fantasy Tom. If you want to bet the over you're betting on Sean Payton and Drew Brees here because what we mentioned at the top of the Pod they signed Michael Thomas to to his big extension. They have Chimera and they brought in Jared Cook, but there's really not a whole lot of depth here. I mean, it's really kind of at the receiver position its precarious if Thomas goes down I think That's why some people are liking Jared Cook a lot. I mean, he's there there's kind of been a big three and then another big three right behind the tight ends and Jared Cook is probably, you know, probably the best bet to maybe crack that top six and that's why he's going right after that group coming off a career year Breeze really hasn't had that seemed Target here recently since Jimmy Graham left town. So, you know, he's been getting a lot of love, you know, we're waiting on a number two. There was some hope for trequan Smith, but he really wasn't used all that well or used often last year Ted Danson, you know, he's getting up there. It'll be 30 40 years just 34 years old this year, you know had the knee issues last year. So a lot of competition for targets behind Thomas and kemara here. I don't know how it's going to break down. I've taken some shots on Jared Cook at his price. I love Jared Cook at his price as a matter of fact, so yeah, I've been drafting him quite a bit just because I want to Get a tight end. I feel good about so he's been one of those guys. He's in that tear with Vance McDonald like those are two guys who I think are they're not getting the hype of the OJ Howard Zinn the Evan Ingram's of the world. But those are guys I'm comfortable going into the year as my starter with. Yeah. I'm with you there. He bronzed kind of in that same tier with those two guys to and you know, he's been a guy up in kind of fading here. So, you know, and we'll see how this backfield kind of breaks down here Mark Ingram's been out of the picture here probably like Kamara a little bit more just because Latavius Murray hasn't been nearly the receiver that Mark Ingram has been during his career. So maybe there's even a little bit more ceiling potential for Alvin Kamara. And that's why he's been a top for pick most of the summer. We'll go from a Super Bowl contender in the NFC to a Super Bowl contender in the AFC Tom the Los Angeles Chargers, which still sounds awful to say, I'm a big fan of San Diego. I love that City, but they are in La now, they're playing in a soccer stadium, but they are a damn good football. Team the LA Chargers. Yeah, and they finished 12 and four last year loss to the Patriots in the divisional round finished over their win total at nine and a half total office offense three hundred seventy two point six yards, which was 11th scoring offense 26.8, which was sixth only 59.7 plays. I mean, that's about the only reason to be down on this offense. Oh, it's slow deliberate finished 28th overall with that, you know those number of places. Bottom-5 in that category key players lost pyro Williams key additions Tyrod Taylor on account of talk targets a hundred ten, which is 17th. 2019 season win total is at nine and a half with a lot of money going towards the over at minus 165 plus 135 to the under so not a whole lot of movement on the offense here. Pretty much the same only Tyrone Williams really leaving the picture here. Well that me elephant in the room, which is Melvin Gordon's hold out Tom and you No, we can't just update with every little media negotiation. Can we I mean, we can't we can't start every podcast saying, oh the Chargers are saying this and Ezekiel Elliott Scamp is saying this with the cowboys that we can't do that when we have solid updates will bring them to you but obviously the targets that the available targets could change significantly if Melvin Gordon holds out and or if Antonio Gates returns to this team, yeah, it's kind of up in the air here a little bit. I mean, you know Hunter Henry, you know the tide. Philip Rivers will Target it and it didn't really have a viable option last year, you know, so we targeted the running backs a little bit more which was you know, a big help for Melvin Gordon and Austin Eckler last season, so you have to wonder with Henry back is that change that Dynamic at all and you know, what do we do with Mike Williams, you know performed over his head and the touchdown Department with ten scores last year, but you know didn't get a lot of volume. I would expect some regression the touchdown department, but He's probably going to get a nice boost in volume as a receiver. So I've had a tough time pigeonholing him here. This this this summer here with this current draft price, you know, that's typically in the fifth round. All right, Tom, that'll wrap it up for this edition of the fantasy free agents podcast. I really want to thank Matt Brown for his time given us a hell of an interview here to not to replace but in place of great Cosell who will be back next week Tom. That's gonna do it for us this week. Justin Barnes will be back with the eye. BP podcast believe he has an interview with been fennel from the athletic this week. We're all over the athletic this week to talk defensive football. That'll be great Tom. We are going to be doing International shows of the fantasy free agents podcast next week. We will be recording in the United States on Monday, but I'll be in Canada in Toronto for the rest of the week. So we're going to be doing multiple shows from Canada. Probably going to end up taking Tuesday off, but of will be back Wednesday from Canada so expect us Monday and Wednesday next week and then great Cosell returns next week ago Wojo, we're going to be paying international rates on the Skype calls. It gonna be like five five dollars a minute. Actually, we're gonna have to condense the the the podcast down into like five minutes. I need to I think I need to look into that. I mean Skype Skype is good for international calls, right? I mean I think so, but I do it when people are abroad I got to look into that. Hey many International listeners out there that might have some knowledge. That's please hit us up on Twitter. Yeah, please do I'm dead serious about this if we're recording. For Skype are we? Destroyed by have Wi-Fi fees I have to I do have to look into that. Oh God. Okay. I did a quick Google search. It says Skype to Skype calls are free internationally. But uh, you know will might want to look into a little bit deeper here. Okay, so I'm gonna do that and I'm also because Greg Cosell calls in via phone line, so I definitely have to check into that. Oh, yeah, you need to check into that. Oh boy, or maybe I'll have you do it this week. Anyway, what we're talking through we're talking through our podcast will do this off there. But there you go a little lower. He can to the process of the podcast. Hey, Tom, and I have had a bunch of Articles up at Fantasy free agents.com in addition to our rankings which are updated every day. We Tom we're trying to not be reactionary. We don't want to overreact to every little piece of Camp news, but we want to give it some time to simmer and we do make adjustments pretty much daily with Camp nou so just look for that if you guys are drafting if you're doing a best ball, we do try to update those every day and we have a bunch of content up there as well as fantasy. Free agents.com. So check that out if you guys are interested follow Tom on Twitter at Tom Brawley. Follow me on Twitter @ FG underscore Dolan. Thank you guys so much to this edition of the for listening to this edition of the fantasy free agents podcast and thank you for Matt Brown yet again. We'll talk to you guys. Thanks for joining us on the fantasy free agents podcast. Remember to subscribe rate and review on the app of your choice. Our next episode is just around the corner.
We're pleased to welcome Matt Brown (@MattBrownCFB) to The Fantasy Free Agents Podcast. Matt is a college football editor at The Athletic, and he previews the college football season through a betting lens (15:43). Matt takes us through national title odds (18:55), potential Heisman winners (21:38), and playoff odds (30:10) before hitting on some notable win totals (41:05). Joe Dolan (FG_Dolan) and Tom Brolley (@TomBrolley) start the pod with the latest news on A.J. Green (5:03), Michael Thomas' extension (7:38), and Kalen Ballage (8:24). The guys end the podcast with another segment of Team Two-A-Days on the New Orleans Saints (57:50) and Los Angeles Chargers (1:01:23). A special congratulations to our own Joe Dolan for finishing #1 in Draft Accuracy for the 2018 season among 140+ sites and experts! This was Joe’s second #1 overall and third top-3 finish in the last 5 years, making his rankings THE most accurate preseason fantasy football draft rankings on average since 2015. Check out the complete list at fantasypros.com/nfl/accuracy/multi-year-draft.php. To draft against Joe, join the Rotowire Online Championship and select the online draft time of 8/20 at 9:30 PM Eastern. To draft against Tom, do the same on 8/27 at 9:30 PM Eastern. Play for the $200,000 grand prize! 