SUMMARY KEYWORDS
texans, david johnson, draft, week, deshaun watson, quarterback, touchdowns, cooks, yards, year, wide receiver, fuller, season, games, watson, pay, play, houston, fantasy, contract
SPEAKERS
Chris, Alex, Derek, Kevin
Intro 00:05
You’re listening to the good old boys fantasy football podcast. Now here’s your host, Kevin, Derek and Alex.
Derek 00:13
Alrighty. And Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to another episode of the good old boys fantasy football podcast. I’m Derek and I’m joined as always, by your co hosts, Kevin and Alex, we are joined by Chris Pinto from belly up, he’s here, he’s gonna be joining us fan tastic guy, we’ve had him on the show last year. I’m sure you all remember him. He’s gonna be chiming in here. So guys, let’s go ahead and move on over to the Houston Texans coming off of a bit of a lackluster year, but we’re gonna start where we always do and that’s in the running back room. David Johnson, who was acquired in the offseason, via trade from the Cardinals, he finished at running back in 19 had 147 yards or 147 rushes 691 yards, six touchdowns on the ground 33 receptions on 46 targets with an additional 314 yards through the air and two touchdowns through the air as well. Guys, your thoughts on David Johnson.
Kevin 01:11
I think that he kind of performed how most people figured he would kind of that RB two type level. The Texans in general have did struggle to run the ball this year. And it didn’t matter whether it was David Johnson or Duke Johnson, or, you know, pick a guy off the farm pile and just stick them in there. Like they just vary. All their success came on the arm of Deshaun Watson, he will that team two wins this year. Their running game, really let them down in most cases. But David Johnson, I think he showed he still can play in the NFL, he is not the same guy that he was in in 2017 and 2018. Right, but I think he did show that there’s a role for him, right, you find that role, it’s definitely more of a to back system that he needs to be in, he’s not a lead back caliber any longer. He does still have a nose for the end zone, he can still catch balls out of the backfield, which helps. But he just he lacks some explosiveness guys like and that’s really what it is, I think you’re gonna see a another slight step down based in fantasy rankings in 2021. Although I think his numbers might be kind of flat, I don’t know. I think it’s gonna be more more So guys, outperforming him then him having a reduction in performance himself, if that makes sense. So he’s going to be floating with that, you know, top end RB three, kind of that flex area. He’s the guy that you’re going to be able to get later on in drafts. I think people are going to be disappointed with what they did this year after trying to what he creeped up as high as what the fifth round in in a lot of places. Right before the season kicked off this season.
Derek 03:07
Yeah, he had him ADP 49, 49th off the board running back 23 off the board.
Kevin 03:13
Okay, so right there at the beginning beginning of the fifth, they’re in a in a 12 team league. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that drop to three rounds. So instead of fifth, I think you’re looking at something like the eighth and and depending on roster construction, that may not be the greatest eighth round pick. But if you go zero RB and you’re looking for a little bit of security. It’s not the worst thing in the world if you’re doing something different with the roster construction, but overall, I do think his upside is is very much just kind of that RB three flex territory, he’ll give you a couple weeks where he’s, you know, one or two weeks where he’ll fall into RB one, a couple weeks where he’s going to fall into RB two but then there’s going to be those weeks just based off of game flow where he’s just kind of forgotten right? And then he’s gonna end up as Rb 60. And you’re gonna wonder what the hell happened?
Alex 04:06
The Texan sure can use a first round draft pick. Let’s Yeah,
Kevin 04:13
they’d get a couple of them as soon as they decide to let Watson go.
Alex 04:17
Right right. That’s fair. Yeah, I totally agree with your assessment there. Kevin. It was kind of a ho hum year for David Johnson. I don’t think he lived up to what a lot of people drafted him but again, you know, he wasn’t awful so that that’s what I think is going to be the the case for for him again this year is okay. Not awful, but not great. So him dropping to the seventh or eighth round I think is reasonable in most cases, but yeah, it’s there are so many things surrounding this team that scare the bejesus out of me when it comes to Two drafting notes. I just don’t know what they want to be. Next year.
Chris 05:05
My big thing is with the Houston Texans obviously is cap space. I mean, the cap space is going to be crazy right now we’re almost $20 million over right. And we got to fix this. David Johnson sell on this 339 contract till 2022. from Arizona, right that the Texans took over. Right now. Well, we have to evaluate, in my mind is his hit, obviously, right? His work right. And you hate to say that, but it is worth to the Houston Texans. Is it worth them? spending the next year giving him $13 million? Or do we look to trade him and get away this dead cap and everything like that? When you break it down from what David Johnson did? He was a huge part of our offense this year. He was third in routes ran under Brandon cooks and well fuller at 273. His running it like like, like we mentioned or like y’all mentioned, his explosiveness was not there. But he was still efficient, right. 28 evaded tackles, and his juke percentage was close to 18% with 18, big runs of over 20 yards this year. So he was effective, right? He can still be played, and so he had in the NFL, but it has price. I’m looking to probably move him because that’s a lot of money that the Houston Texans have to have or spend on him. So well, we’ll talk about it more when we get to Deshaun. Watson, but I would think that David Johnson is no longer a Houston, Texas at the end of the year.
Kevin 06:40
Where do you see David Johnson going? And the reason I asked that is I don’t know how many teams are going to be lining up at the door to sign a 29 year old running back with now a bit of an injury history to a two year $26 million deal. Unless they’re really trying to fill a goal or you know, fill a need. So where do you see Johnson going that would make sense for for Houston to be able to unload him
Chris 07:07
Miami? short, sweet answer, right, Miami, obviously, we’ll get to it. We’ll get to one of these into Deshaun Watson. But the caveat of David Johnson is with a proper offense with not a banged up offensive line like the Texans had. I mean, the dude is still efficient, right? He exceeded expectation by 13 points this year, he was in PPR ranking, right? He’s the 18th runningback overall, and points per game. So he’s still efficient. He’s gonna score in the red zone, he runs routes extremely well, he knows how to separate. He’s a good block. That’s the one thing right? When we get down to it, Miami will no longer have to. So they’re gonna have a young quarterback or a new quarterback that will need someone to block for them. David Johnson gives them that ability to do that. So Miami also has a cap to do it. So we’ll talk about that later.
Derek 08:00
I mean, for a guy that you draft him as a 23rd running back off the board, when he finishes in 19th and a half point PPR scoring like that’s one of those checks, you got a little bit of a win on draft day with that one, right, as far as draft capital spent there, from a consistency side of it was actually like the 12th running back and consistency there. Because you take out the games that he didn’t play, he missed several games due to some injury there. But the games that he did play, he was consistently in the top 20 for several weeks where he had, you know, top 12 finishes, where he had five top 12 finishes, and Miss Shawn puts a shot on some people. He does, he does. But when you look at it, too, he also has a lot of work inside the the five zone there, right like, and for a guy like David Johnson, it’s kind of like, I see him almost having a similar role to what Jordan Howard had a couple years ago with the Eagles were Yeah, he’s not going to get a ton of work work room inside the from the 20th to the 20. But inside when they start getting in the red zone, you’ll see him get in there again, as well as the fact that third down type of back because he is an exceptional pass blocker, he’s got some good hands and can still work the pass game, they’re a little bit so I think he’s got some value, but I don’t think he’s got value near what that $11 million type of contract that he’s got coming up this year. So it’s one of those for fantasy for fantasy I’m looking at and putting him on there. Maybe it’s a fourth or fifth running back on my roster. Which planet plays right into what you were talking about there Kevin, where you’re talking, you know, an eighth round seventh round, something like that kind of guy where you if I can get him, you know, as a running back 30 off the board running back 35 somewhere in that territory, you probably are getting some pretty good value there. So it’ll be interesting to see how draft day kind of comes along and what all the makeup in between there also happens. So he’s got some value, but I don’t know what that is quite yet. But I think it’ll be decent as a flex type of play down the road. Guys, let’s go ahead and look at Duke Johnson, who is also on the Houston’s roster finishes running back 60 last year 77 rushing attempts, 235 yards, one rushing, touchdown, 28 receptions 35. targets for 249 yards to the air and one touchdown through the air. Your thoughts around David Johnson.
Alex 10:27
I see you did it too. Sorry. Yeah, you can probably cost some people some some money because they went with Duke Johnson
Chris 10:36
real name is Randy.
Alex 10:38
Right. Randy Johnson, also a name that’s taken in the sports sphere. But But you aren’t the only person to draft Duke Johnson thinking, Oh, I’m getting David Johnson. Because it’s a D. Johnson from the Texans. I think a lot of people would be happy if Duke Johnson got the heck out of town just so that they wouldn’t make that mistake again. But, guys, I know I know that I it’s piss poor radio to say what I’m going to say. But because the Texans don’t have a head coach yet. I don’t frickin know what they want to be next year. And it’s it’s so hard to project what this offense might look like, based on who’s coming to town. So, you know, it is, it’s so tough to say and I know that you guys have the numbers and you will crunch them needlessly and endlessly. But I just it’s so difficult from 1000 foot view of the Texans to figure out what they want to be next year, will they be a team that prides themselves on running the football? Well, they have a defensive minded coach that’s gonna come in there and try and, you know, limit what the offense has to do, because you plan on stopping a team every, you know, three, three downs. It’s just going to be so it’s difficult talking about it right now. It’s difficult talking about these guys right now, because you just don’t know what their roles are going to be in the future. That being said, I think of Duke Johnson. Yeah. That’s probably not a guy that you really, really, really want. If it’s a super deeply Yeah, take your flyer on him late, but it’s probably not a guy that I’m going out there and actively looking for even in a handcuffed situation. That doesn’t entice me at all, I’d rather look elsewhere for for better running back.
Kevin 12:31
The scary thing about Duke Johnson was he was he was always supposed to be that change of pace back and catch a couple balls out of the backfield and, and do some things in space. And this past season, that didn’t even happen guys like 28 receptions. That’s nothing like Dave, old man, David Johnson, who we just got done talking about completely took over that backfield. And in games where Johnson was healthy. Do Johnson struggled to even see 30% of the snaps. Like you can’t do anything with that. And as far as the Texans make up, I would argue that we do know what the Texans are going to look like because they’re so cash strapped. They’re either going to be young at quarterback if they get rid of if they trade Watson. JJ most likely gone you know if if David Johnson is going to be gone, right? So you have will fuller and you have Brandon cooks for one more year? Well, okay, that might be something but the offensive line is old as balls right now. And they haven’t hit on any of their draft picks in the last three years. As far as offensive line goes, so they’re struggling in that position to like, this team is just going to be behind a lot. So I don’t think you can count on productive numbers from the ground, no matter who is playing running back for him next year. And no matter what system you’re playing it in, because they’re just not going to have the offensive firepower. If Deshaun Watson is not there, if he is there, you at least know you can count on him to make things happen and put up really good fantasy numbers and and statistical outputs. But if Watson’s not there, if they if they trade him to Miami, and to a comes over, it gets even worse guys. Like, I’m sorry to say it, but but it does, like they’re gonna have to dig themselves deeper in the hole before they can climb out. They have no no draft capital, no cash, no youth, like this team is struggling. They are over three in the big things that you need to be successful. And because of all that, they’re going to go through a few years here where it’s doom and gloom unless they can get a true haul for Watson to speed up the rebuild.
Chris 14:49
So along with my narrative that we’ll talk about later, obviously I keep alluding to, but Duke Johnson Jr. Right Randy? From the you. He’s born and built there. All package deal that the Texans in the Miami Dolphins are gonna do. So Duke Johnson, Jr. Right? Obviously, everyone was like, oh, coming from the Cleveland Browns. He’s a change of pace guy, oh, he’s never got a huge workload, let’s give him a huge workload. And that never happened because he’s not that guy. He didn’t even do that in college. What I can tell you about this cat is Texans are about to pay him either $6 million, one way or another, because I’m one more year on a contract of 5.9. And if we can pay it for him, he’s gonna stay on the team, if we can get rid of them, and not your ability and train them or package him, someone will pay it for him because he will be a change of pace back somewhere. Hopefully, we can make something happen where we don’t have to pay back 6 million, because between David Johnson and Duke Johnson, that’s $30 million. Right there, boys. So that’s my take on that.
Kevin 15:53
Yeah, it’s a lot of money tied up in a position group that you’re not going to utilize just due to the construct to your team.
Chris 16:00
And to Alex’s point, we really don’t know what truly is going to happen, except for our GM. The GM they right now. I mean, he’s got something working. And it would be really crazy to have Bieniemy come finally, at the end of everything, right? That would be absolutely wild and then Watson to stay and that would just turn everything upside down. But
Kevin 16:23
that’s been my pick for weeks. It hasn’t really come to Houston. It’s been my pick for weeks.
Chris 16:29
I mean, I think there’s a lot of frickin sense. I think it all played out the narrative all the hubbub like it just
Kevin 16:38
yeah, I think there’s some weight with this Leslie Frazier deal and you guys bringing him back in for a second interview? Like I do think there’s a little bit of weight there that I probably wasn’t paying enough attention too early on. But I do I do think the enemy, this is kind of that next logical step. But on the flip side, if you’re Eric be enemy, and you can stay in Kansas City for another year, you get to coach Patrick mahomes you get to learn from Andy Reid, or you come down to a franchise? Yeah, you get your head coaching gig. But you’re all pro quarterback is saying Austin lavista. Like, get me out of town, Sally, like, for sure. I’d almost rather stay in assistant unless you can guarantee me my quarterbacks coming back.
Chris 17:22
I’ve said that to my guys. I was like, if I was gonna be like, why would I leave?
Derek 17:26
Why? Yeah, there’s other ways around that too. And they could very easily do a shot. Kyle Shanahan type of contracts for him. Because you’re right, if you’re an assistant coach looking to move into a head coach, and that’s easily a three to four year rebuild with the way things are currently sitting right now. Like, why in the world are you wanting to put yourself through that, because after your two, they’re going to start looking going and maybe this just isn’t working out. But the fact that they are, they are rather experienced in the in the age category, they’re rather, you know, light on draft capital and they’re rather heavy on on salary cap, like, that’s just the overall poor construct that that you don’t want to be be that guy that has to go in there and try and fix it. Unless the team is going to really put the weight behind it from a contractual standpoint saying, hey, you’re our guy and we’re gonna put you have 789 years type of a contract up to for you to do this.
Chris 18:28
And that even
Kevin 18:29
No, they’re not giving out a Jon Gruden type contract especially for first time head coach,
Derek 18:34
guys any desire to talk about drop, Dontrelle Hilliard or a Buddy Howell
18:40
none
Kevin 18:41
zero fantasy relevance.
Derek 18:43
Okay, so moving on to the wide receivers you’ve got will fuller the fifth who is going to have a shortened season next year we’ll just start off saying that one having some PDE issues, even when he’s healthy can’t play a full
Alex 18:59
season. Like how incredible is that? This dude we tell you every year will fuller you’re only gonna get him for like maybe 10 games and what does he do? He goes out and gives you 11 games this year. It’s unbelievable that will fuller can even play a full season when he’s healthy. Typically it’s injuries that sideline the guy but unbelievable he was great in those 11 games but he was nothing when you needed him at the end of the year.
Derek 19:25
Well season total he finished as wide receiver 2853 receptions 75 targets head about 14% of the target share 879 yards through the air eight touchdowns. Guys your thoughts on willful or the fifth
Alex 19:41
and you extend that out another five six games or five games he played 11 so extend that out another five games and you’re probably talking to him wide receiver. Top one he stopped
Derek 19:56
before he was suspended. He was I believe wide receiver Six on the on the year, like dude was
Alex 20:03
playing incredible 890 yards and 11 and 11 games. Like that’s, that’s pretty good eight, eight touchdowns in 11 games. That’s pretty friggin incredible. And then he went and got himself suspended he was on he was in track to get paid to. And that’s probably not going to happen. It’ll probably get on the cheap if the Texans keep him around. That’s the other thing. Will they keep him around? You know, Is that too much of a liability? I know Deshaun Watson doesn’t have anybody to throw to but at the moment, you don’t even have Deshaun Watson to throw to anybody. So why would you keep him around? Especially when he’s probably going to be asking for money that you don’t have.
Kevin 20:42
And I think that’s mainly where it is. And Chris being down there, you might be able to speak to that a little better. But I think the Texans would like to have him back. I don’t know that they can financially get him back like fuller did just enough like he’s gonna go somewhere and and quite frankly, it he could go a lot of different places, right? He could go to New England hell, he could go to the jets and do something kind of cool. He could go to the bears, right? Because they’re gonna lose Alan Robinson there’s a lot of different places will fuller could end up to be a serviceable wide receiver. And Texans I think you’re gonna be out of that just lack of funds. Right? Like, he got that. You know, his suspensions. What? He’s got one game left, is that right is the sixth gamer he set out the last five games. So sitting out week, one of next year, he did that on purpose, because he wanted to be available for next year. He knew what was coming up. He knew he had a good enough season to get paid. That was a business decision guys like that was that was a straight business decision. You know, maybe maybe something like that works out for him. I think it’d be I think it’d be kind of crazy to see willful or and stefon Diggs on buffalo together. Like, I think that’d be pretty wicked. For Josh Allen, like holy shit. I don’t know if that’s feasible, but just, you know, again, fantasy realm, just put that on paper. Hell, I’d like that. That’d be pretty fun. So he showed he does have the talent. He’s got a vertical, he’s got a vertical game that few can compete with. His catch rate was much improved this year, even on those deep passes. He avoided the injury with the exception of what week week two, right? Didn’t he didn’t he dig up an ankle or hamstring just for that one week. in week two, and outside of that, he was very, very good. Catching touchdown passes, catching the deep ball, he was clearly deshawn guy that he would go to when he got into trouble. And even more so. And Brandon cooks had to sit games out because the concussion issues and the lingering effects that cooks had so fuller is the guy depending on where he goes, is the guy that you can, somewhere in that wide receiver to category again, right, like you kind of take him in. Maybe that same area where you’re looking at a Kenny golladay or a Tyler Boyd right. I think I think Tyler Boyd might be a pretty good thing. He’s a wide receiver solid wide receiver too. So you’re looking at that option. Maybe a Juju, if if he’s leaving, he’s kind of back in that wide receiver to category after showing just enough with Pittsburgh, so he falls into that area nice and neat. But I don’t know. I still don’t know that I trapped him. I you can’t trust the guy to play a whole season like that’s scary. And whether it’s his hamstring like I get it missing a game like that. I get that but Dude, you got to get past these four five week absences for us in the fantasy community now. I get it. He doesn’t give a shit about us. But selfishly. Come on guy like, I get it. You’re you’re young and you have lots of money and you’re trying to be all you can be to get paid and set yourself up. But come on guy don’t listen to Brian Cushing handing you the PDS.
Alex 24:02
He’s missed 22 games in four years. He has missed an entire season in four years, and then a season and a half. Yeah. in four years. It is so frustrating, which is why I stayed away from him with 1000 foot pole this year because I was not falling into that trap again. But that’s what’s so frustrating about well, fuller is you just cannot count on him week in and week out.
Kevin 24:29
He really mirrors Keenan Allen’s career trajectory, especially coming into this season. And really he was going to even match that like they were on almost the exact same plane until this suspension came up for the PDS. You know, the first three years you’re injured no one was quite sure if you were actually going to pan out and then your four hits and boom, it clicks and you start going and going and going. He was he was on that plane and then this came up so It’s possible we’re gonna end up, you know, doing some more research, we’ll see where he lands and see how we kind of feel about it. He could end up a wide receiver one Keenan Allen did for the better part of the next six years for five years, excuse me, after his little stint, and trouble Growing Pains there in San Diego now la with the chargers. So I’m not saying he’s a lost cause. I’m just saying, buyer buyer beware. Like there’s a lot of guys in that area that are a lot less risk when you’re trying to build a winning team.
Chris 25:34
Yeah, I think I think we’ll fully I mean, first foremost $9.8 million is guaranteed money to this cat. So like, someone’s got to pay him he’s in Texas can whatever or someone else will. This is like will fuller is the quintessential DFS play right. And as we mentioned, I mentioned earlier right? You can’t count them in redraft if you owe them in dynasty. Sorry, but DFS is where you want to get this guy right because whatever his bill is, you’re going to want to pay it for certain games. But I mean, he like you mentioned Kevin over the games that he did play amazing connection with john Watson right eight type songs this year. His yards per target were 11.7 his air yards per game. were close to 90 like the dudes are flat out flyer like everyone knows I’m a Notre Dame right the for to speed. It’s the Brian Cushing like, if ever anyone’s ever seen the program, like that’s what came into my mind when I saw this happen. Like, you got Brian Cushing over there like Vladimir just doing shit and will fuller walks in with his dreads. What’s going on, coach? Take these. Okay, whatever. I have nothing else to say that willfully. Like, I hope he’s a Texan will he meant will he be a Texan? Probably not. And I’m not gonna draft him, but if you are gonna draft him, he’s gonna be like wide receiver two or three for sure. But let someone else draft him in your league.
Derek 27:05
He he kind of falls into that landmine type of player where you leave him sitting on the board and let somebody else go ahead and step on that one and just see what happens to their roster. Because when he plays, he does phenomenally well and he’ll win some weeks out there but overall is and he’s he’s kind of proven that he did. He can’t. He’s just not gonna be that guy for your roster and not gonna be that guy that you want to have to count on. week in week out for your fantasy makeup. Guys, let’s go ahead and move on over to Brandon cooks. Brandon cooks was also acquired over last offseason finished as wide receiver 15 on the year 81 receptions, 119 targets 1150 yards, six touchdowns. Guys your thoughts around Brandon cooks.
Chris 27:55
Real quick. I’ll go because I see Kevin over there touting it. So I’m assuming he already knew that brain cooks in America where he was gonna go was on 1000 yard season is most or not most, as some smart analyst thought. So Brandon cooks man phenomenal fit with Deshaun Watson. the Houston Texans paid him a fraction of the price of the Shawn or a D hop. No one ever thought that cooks was going to do what de haut did, but for the price. You got to go with it and he paid off for the Texans. I want cooks to stop being a journeyman and stay with the Texans. He is a poor man’s new Hopkins because he’s been with a bunch of different quarterbacks and still produce a number so it doesn’t matter who’s behind the helm for us. Let’s keep Brandon cooks here and pay him his what was his salary? Let’s look at that. Brandon cooks. Oh, wow. $21 million. Okay, yep, we’ll pay him whatever.
Kevin 28:55
Absolutely. I got into so many Twitter battles. So many Twitter battles telling people that cooks was going to rank higher in fantasy than will follow and a bunch of people just you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Okay.
Chris 29:12
He is a number one
Kevin 29:14
isn’t number one. Um, yes, will fuller had a great season. We already talked about well, for Brandon cooks. We called that 1000 yards, you would like to see his touchdown numbers climb a little bit, right. Like I was hoping for more than six. Maybe somewhere in that. seven to nine range is really I’d like to see that. And it’s only one more touchdown. Yeah, but it just, it’s spread out a little bit better, right? It just looks better over 16 games. But he was he was very consistent when he played right. He only had one game that he kind of missed because he got dinged up with that concussion. had another one in week four. I believe it was where he left early and I believe that was a high ankle sprain. turnaround played the next week and had At eight for 161 and a touchdown
Alex 30:02
so
Kevin 30:04
yes he does have a slight bit of an injury history with him as well much like will fuller but he has the career track record of I played in the league for five years now I’ve put it excuse me six years now I put up 1000 yard seasons I get good rapport with my quarterback I have a good catch rate I can run the deep route if I have to. That was much more his thing his first couple years in the league now he’s very that he’s the intermediate receiver right they let will fuller go over the top and they bring cooks in on a on a deep end or a deep out, did some curl routes worked the sidelines a little bit tried to keep him out of the middle. Because those concussion issues that’s my that’s my only fear with him is concussions affect everybody differently. And for whatever reason whether it’s a genetic makeup or just how your body and your hormones kind of handle that they do concussions ring his Bell a little bit harder than other players. And that’s not a knock on him. That’s just the physical truth of what we’re telling you. So overall, I love Brandon cooks and you got him at a value you’re picking Brandon cooks up in the ninth round. Yeah, in the ninth round you’re picking up Brandon cooks wide receiver 15 what a better what a better flex play. Seriously most weeks then when then Brandon cooks because you got him it’s such a value. And you know what if you’re able to tag it off right and pick those weeks where he went gangbusters, then they really played off right and outside of that he was a serviceable flex play. So I expect more of the same regardless of who the quarterback is, I do expect him if it’s to uh, he will be under 1000 yards. Like, there is no doubt in my mind if two happens to be the quarterback in in Houston. There will be a regression in the yardage. However, if the Texans are able to kiss and make up a deshawn I expect these numbers to be the same or even better coming into next year. Since they’ll have a full offseason to work together you have that rapport and and just kind of that chemistry that naturally happens between a quarterback in his receiver so I would expect those numbers to improve if to Shawn Is there anybody else?
Chris 32:24
Yeah, they might be a little bit up in the air. But the dude has dropped down the dude is a good wide receiver and in distant out you real quick because I was just looking everything real quick on my spreadsheet. I’m sure you mentioned this and everyone who’s listening to these guys the good old boys not you have to know this. What I’m hearing from Kevin is he’s tired of this and I’m gonna believe him because look at these numbers from Brandon cooks guys. He led the team in receptions. 70. In receptions per game. He was the highest on the team at five yards per game per reception, targets 103 targets. That’s 30 more targets than the next closest guy. And Kevin is extremely right where Prior to the season, his air yards were at 14.1 for Brandon cooks. This season was 9.6 they kept him safe. They kept him on the field was the deal. Kevin Rhodes with the All Star Elite analysis,
Alex 33:21
your point? counterpoint, no, he was great. He was great as a flex option. He was fantastic as a flex option, but up until week 15 week 16 which if you had Brandon cokes on your roster and you are in a championship week in week 16 congratulations on your championship because that dude went bananas on that week. And actually, if you had him in week 17 and you are one of the silly ones it still plays in a week 17 championship. Also congratulations on your championship because he did even better the next week. But up until week 16 hit three touchdowns guys, and I know that you know, the six touchdowns is great, but he had three of those in week 16 and 17. So the three touchdowns are great. He was he played a lot of snap percentages were great. But in terms of yards, I mean, yeah, you had a stretch there where he was really consistent, but also had a stretch where he had you know, six catches for 39 yards and five catches for 85 excuse me six six catches for 59 yards before the last two weeks of the season. So as a flex play. Yes, Brandon cooks is where he should be. But I don’t know. I like it was 1000 yards but man was it it was 1000 yards with 300 in the last two weeks. That’s a 700 yard season to me, you know, it’s like Yes, he was good. The overall numbers look good.
Kevin 34:52
How good is tired I think that those because I still had shit weeks too.
Alex 34:57
I know. But I think that those numbers are deceiving. I think Those final numbers are deceiving because he had 300 yards and three touchdowns in the last two weeks of the year.
Kevin 35:05
So Tyree kill had 200 yards in the first half against Tampa Bay. So does that mean that he’s the best wide receiver in the league? No. Or is he really like, yeah, maybe he’s like 789. And he just plays with a great quarterback that can give him the ball.
Chris 35:18
I mean, I’m gonna have to agree real quick with Kevin, like the body of work, though, like the body of work that Brandon cooks has done, not just this season. But overall, I feel like greatest ability
Kevin 35:30
is availability. And in a season where injuries were rampant, and COVID was just spread throughout and some teams got hammered. He was absolutely a benefit to have on your roster. Yes, it was a safe he was like, and that’s and that’s
Chris 35:44
you guys and drafted him where you needed to draft him.
Alex 35:48
But I just the overall numbers are a little deceiving. Because the final two weeks of the season, which are championship week, and dead week, in fantasy football, he had 300 yards and three touchdowns, basically a third of his yards, and half of his touchdowns in week 16 and 17. So while I agree that he was a great play as a flex, his overall numbers are deceiving. Based on the entire body.
Kevin 36:18
idfs bank account think Tim, by the way.
Derek 36:23
Are y’all ready for me to prove all of you, right? Oh, hell, there’s a way to do it. Okay. So Alex, to your point, right, you’re talking about you weren’t necessarily happy, some weeks yada, yada, yada, right? Like, you’re speaking to the point that he was the 35th, consistent wide receiver out there on the season, right? Like that’s not at all where you want to be, especially when you look at the fact that he finished his wide receiver 15th on the year, so overall finish was 15. But the consistency rank was 35th. Right? Like, that’s the point that you’re speaking to, and I get it and I can subscribe to that one from the standpoint that you don’t necessarily want to have a bunch of guys that are boom, bust types of plays. But on the flip side of that, you don’t want boom bust type of guys that are you’re taking in the top four or five rounds, when you start getting into right around the 100th overall pick which Oh, by the way, his ADP was 100.5. So he was right at the 100th pick off the board, wide receiver 37. That’s a guy that you wanted there, right? Like that’s a guy that you’re putting on your team as most likely a fourth or fifth wide receiver and a guy that drastically outperforms his his ADP and outperforms his draft capital. They’re like, that’s a guy that you want. So in essence, everybody can be right on this one. From a consistency standpoint, No, you didn’t necessarily want him. But on the overall standpoint, he drastically outperformed his ADP. And that’s something that you’re looking for. If you can get every player on your roster to outperform their ADP, you’re going to win a lot of fantasy games and most likely put some championships on the mantle,
Kevin 38:02
I think coming into 2021, also, you’re going to be able to draft them in basically the exact same spot. I do not think his performance in 2020 elevates his 2021 draft stock. So it’s it’s something to keep in the back of your mind. Again, you can draft him later, have some assurance and some solid depth at the wide receiver position. And whether you’re riddled with injuries or floating around by weeks or whatever, like pay attention to the matchups and see if you can key in on some of these big weeks and avoid avoid the down weeks. I’m not saying draft him in the top four rounds. That’s not at all what we’re getting at and the consistency speaks to that Alex and that’s absolutely right. But if I can turn around and get him in the ninth round again next year, I’m gonna pick him up like I just am and then I will have to do my own homework to see when is the right week to slide him in there and and make my you know, evaluation accurate, right get paid off of drafting him. And then he’s gonna go back to the bench because he’s not a set it and forget it type guy.
Derek 39:09
Right. And so this is where I’m also going to give you some kudos, Kevin cuz I just pulled up our preseason rankings. And when we were going through that, you picked him to finish as the 16th overall wide receiver. He finished his number 15. So we’ll count that as a win there. And I’m, I’m not so sure that because of where he flashed as well. When you think about it, right. Most fantasy players if they didn’t make the playoffs, which is half of most leagues, they tune out after week 13 right when they really stopped paying attention to the fantasy side of things a lot of times once they don’t make the playoffs. And then you look at the teams that start getting bounced early in the playoffs. So by the time that that he really boomed when it came into week 16 week 17 which really kind of put the cherry on top for a season total There’s a bunch of, you know, fantasy analysts and a couple of the folks that were still in the end the championship games that really saw and are going to notate that performance. I think you’ll actually see him slip when it comes draft season and probably be the 45th, wide receiver off the board. So I think he’ll actually get taken slightly later this year than what he did this past year.
Alex 40:21
Yes, and no, and I think that, you know, people who are paying attention No, and here’s why I say that. It’s because people who are paying attention will keep him in that ninth round area nice and dry. Whatever it is, they’ll keep him there because they know what he is. And they know that again, these 1000 yards are a little bit deceiving, but people who aren’t paying attention will see 1000 yards, six touchdowns, and they might bump up his stock slightly because they’ll see him as a wide receiver 15 that he finished last year. So I think this he’s gonna be an interesting case to see where his ATP kind of lands. Excuse me, because to me, to me he is the man behind the green curtain at this point, you know, it was it was a good season Don’t get me wrong, but for fantasy purposes, it was 700 yards and three touchdowns. It was not 1006
Derek 41:16
any desire to talk about Randall Cobb or Keke Coutee a legend to Keke Coutee keep them in Houston
Alex 41:22
that doesn’t mean that he’s got a little bit of sneaky upside but it’s not weekend a week out basis. That’s a pick your poison, you know?
Chris 41:31
Waiver Wire, DFS
Alex 41:34
DFS DFS he’s got scary good DFS potential But beyond that, yeah, he’s now maybe dynasty but
Derek 41:45
even then. No man. Alrighty guys, let’s go ahead and move on over to the tight ends. And you’ve got Darren fells there finished as a tight end. 2621 receptions 28 targets 312 yards, four touchdowns. Any thoughts on Darren fells,
Kevin 42:03
Darren Fells and Jordan Atkins are kind of the same guy, right, you’re not going to draft them. They’re inevitably going to get picked up once or twice throughout the regular season to fill in for a bye week or chasing points. If they end up with one of those random Darren fells two touchdown games, someone’s going to plug them and try and copy that out. But to this point, the offensive scheme in Houston has not been very favorable to the Titans. They used them sporadically. They also had three of them on the roster that they all kind of split evenly as far as the target share went. So you never knew who was going to boom, who was going to bust. I think that trend kind of continues they don’t really have a guy who’s primed to take over that tight end room. So I think you’re gonna see some of the same it’s going to be tied in you know, 23 to 30 is kind of where both of those guys are gonna fall fells maybe slightly ahead of Atkins. But six and one half a dozen the other. I’m not drafting either one. And quite frankly, I’m not even looking at them on a waiver wire because I’m not going to chase the random week where they decide to go off. Yeah,
Alex 43:11
you say fellows ahead of Atkins because touchdowns. See Yeah, yeah. Okay. Um, yeah,
Derek 43:18
yeah, Fells was tight in 26. This last year Akins was tight end 27 Chris, any thoughts on that before we move on
Chris 43:26
your house accurate on that I’m not touching them and you’re spot on with bells over actions.
Derek 43:32
Alrighty, guys, that’ll take us all the way to the quarterback room and much. We’ve kind of alluded to this one a lot throughout the show. And so now it’s time
Alex 43:43
where we’ll match shop and up this offseason match. couch. He retired that shop anymore. Oh, all right
Derek 43:51
now, we’ll end up on his on his couch because he retired. So okay, let’s go ahead and talk about the Shawn Watson who finished quarterback number five on the year had 382, completions, 544 attempts, 4823 yards, 33, passing touchdown, seven interceptions, 90 rushing attempts, 444 yards on the ground and three touchdowns on the ground as well. Guys, your thoughts around Deshaun Watson.
Chris 44:22
I’ll kick it off and start off. I’m huge on Watson fan. Obviously. I’ve seen the guy from Clemson to the Texans from New getting below Brian and everything like that his rises fall, his storied career and obviously I’m a I’m a Texans fan. I’m a football fan. I’m also a fantasy football fan. And I’m a realist, right. The Texans in Deshaun. Watson are not happy. We’ve seen what’s happened in Houston just as a microcosm right of Houston athletes leaving right now. Deshaun Watson has no trade clause in his column. on track, so he’s either gonna go to Miami or the Jets, right? In my mind he’s got, he’s got a pin now in Miami, he’s already got the, the background with the Kardashians and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So they got the store down there so you can probably go help and stuff like that. But here’s the real deal, right? his contract evaluation, he’s the number two quarterback out of 2010 out of 115 $156 million $75 million are guaranteed to this guy. There’s only one team, there’s two teams that could afford him. There’s one team that will do it. It’s Miami if anyone has seen any given Sunday, this is the this is gonna happen right? He’s gonna go down to Miami and be the dude we’re gonna trade for. It’s gonna be this huge deal to me like two and the third and the 18th. Two seconds to Detroit possibly with a matt Stafford Kenny golladay will fuller a four team type shuffle to get Deshaun Watson out of Houston to Miami, and ending up with the Texans having Matt Stafford at some at some point, and that’s what I think with to being in Denver. So
Kevin 46:16
Oh, God, I swear to ends up in Denver. I’m turning in my season tickets.
Chris 46:21
Why? I called Tom Brady made, like 100,000 people. Oh, here we go.
Alex 46:30
Chris, well, here’s the deal. I don’t think the show goes anywhere. Mainly because I don’t think that that contract nobody’s going to take that money on. That’s that was the big determining factor. I think for Doug Peterson getting fired in Philly was it nobody was going to take Carson Wentz his contract. And so if the coach doesn’t work for the quarterback, well, guess what, I’ve got a heck of a lot more money invested in that quarterback than I do in the coach by coach, hey, quarterback who we’ve decided to invest a ton of money in. I don’t think Deshaun Watson goes anywhere. I think he does have. There will be a lot of tough conversations like it had over this offseason. And maybe there won’t be and maybe he just plays this season out of spite they restructure after this year and try and do something that way. But I think that Deshaun Watson stays. I hope they get him a few more weapons. A few more consistent weapons. I know that they need help. Bill O’Brien did his best to destroy the Houston Texans to steal a word from Philip Rivers dead government, he almost did, but i think i think that Shawn stays, I think that, you know, he has another fantastic year, because even when he was angry and upset with the franchise, he still went out and put up, you know, 4800 yards or whatever it was 400 yards, rushing, crap ton of touchdowns and only seven picks. So I think I think he stays I think even if he’s, if he plays out of spite, I still think he’s dangerous. And he will be one of those quarterbacks that you’re gonna have to, you know, keep your eye on because he’ll be after that, you know, first tier and I don’t even know that Lamar Jackson’s in that, you know, Patrick mahomes tier again, he probably is gonna have to go back and you know, reevaluate everything. But you know, after that, I think, you know, Deshaun Watson, is that next of the next you know, so I think that’s where you’re gonna have to see him. So if you’re not paying attention come draft time in a redraft. He’s gonna go off the board before you realize it.
Kevin 48:32
I think QB five about sums it up because of the sum of parts in Houston. I think Deshaun Watson himself could easily be top three. But I think for fantasy purposes, QB five about sums it up. He doesn’t have the best offensive unit around him, but he’s able to make a lot out of the situation there. I everything that I’m reading everything I’m listening to screams that Deshaun Watson played the ultimate pro card right? He went out, he battled he competed. He did not give up on his team. He made sure that the pressure was off of him. And now that we are in the offseason, he’s letting his voice be heard. And when you have Andre Johnson and Arian Foster come out of the Woodworks and say that this franchise is backwards, upside down, inside out and just FUBAR. Like, players don’t talk about their old teams like that. Like especially players that stayed there for their entire career, the exception of one year in Miami fairing and foster but I think there’s a lot of credence to that like Deshaun Watson obviously feels hurt. He felt like he was promised a say in the general manager and the head coach and for whatever reason was not granted that or they just decided to oversee that part of the conversation or thought well, because he’s out of town and in some remote island with with his lady friend that we’re not gonna bother him with it like whatever the reason was it irked him, like it hurt him bad he was already irritated coming into this season because of the bill O’Brien deal and then he lost nuke and and he was more frustrated by that than he’ll ever let on. Because he doesn’t have anything against David Johnson. This isn’t an anti David Johnson thing this is I want my boy and you just let him walk out the door. Like, there’s a lot to that and and I just don’t see how they’re gonna keep him there. I don’t see how he’s gonna tone down the rhetoric. I don’t see how any sort of remote off for that the Texans can get. They’re gonna say alright, deshawn Here we go. And he’s instantly gonna waive his no trade clause and say, ah, still a visa and get the hell out of dodge. Like, because that’s one thing that we need to remember. He has a no trade clause. So he has to want to be wherever the team is that’s offering all this capital up. And if Miami’s the place, so be it, like I tried for a couple of days to try and figure out some mathematical way for Denver to get Deshaun Watson and it just can’t happen like the the cap numbers don’t work out, right. I mean, we could give Houston to first drew lock Jerry, Judy, and two thirds, and it still doesn’t equal. What Deshaun Watson brings to the table so Best of luck to him. I hope the guy gets what he wants. I like Deshaun Watson, he’s a he’s a consummate Pro. You don’t see him whining and complaining. Like this is the business part of the offseason and that’s what he’s doing. He’s He’s whether it’s posturing or making a stand or letting his voice be heard. It’s his right to do that as the leader and the face of the franchise. And I hope it works out how Deshaun Watson wants it to because he’s a hell of an NFL player and and wherever he is. I think that QB five number kind of fits no matter what organization he ends up with.
Derek 52:14
Yeah, well Deshaun Watson has been QB five on on several of the past few years going back that just kind of seems to be where he kind of slots in as far as fantasy is concerned. Alex kudos to you looking back at it you actually called Deshaun Watson as QB five before the season started so good job on Yes sir.
Alex 52:34
Even a blind squirrel fellas even a blind squirrel.
Derek 52:36
Well, that’s about accurate, but Deshaun Watson was consistency number three as far as quarterbacks go, and again, even outperformed is ADP. One of the few quarterbacks that did QB six was where you took him off the board and finished QB five, you’re happy with that one, especially when you’re looking at a consistency. He was very, just very, very consistent throughout the year. So as far as everything else kind of going on down there. I don’t know that his contracts as prohibitive. As you know, we’re thinking it to be the no trade clause makes a makes it rather difficult to navigate that part of it. But when you look at the top tier quarterbacks in the league right now, and I think we can all easily say that Deshaun Watson is a top tier quarterback. Not just for fantasy purposes, but from actual NFL gameplay purposes. He’s the top tier guy his contract would fall in right in line with what the top tier guys are out there getting paid this year. And that actually set up set up to play through over the course of the next few seasons there as well. Like if you’re gonna franchise tag a quarterback, yeah, it’s gonna cost you 35 34 million. Well, the Sean’s Watson’s price tag over this contract isn’t that much more than that? And it’s actually less than what what the Bucs are paying Brady this year. It’s right in line with what mahomes is getting out there in Kansas City. So freeing up that cap space might be a bit of an issue for some teams just based on their their construct on what they’ve got but his contract isn’t so far in the line as far as you know, when we talk about it being a big contract when we talked about a lot of wide receivers or running backs or or those types of things just because of you it’s so much higher over a positional rate than where they’re going to perform at so you what you what you’re going to pay in that contract about what you’re going to get out of them and that’s I think that’s very alluring for some teams whether whether teams can put together the the capital and a package that that remains to be seen at this point.
Kevin 54:37
Chris, we appreciate everything man. Like it’s always a blast. We love you. We love belly up and and the fantasy platform, right? The Enterprise as you guys continue to grow, getting into basketball, baseball, hockey. I mean, pretty soon you’re gonna be telling me you’re all about horse racing and my jaw is gonna hit the floor man and it’s all
Chris 54:58
good. So hey, Bo. str.com I’ll give you the link.
Kevin 55:05
Fair enough, man. Well, it hit us up with your socials one more time. Let everybody know where they can get a hold of you and
Chris 55:10
you can always find me my personal handle is at Eddie campus said you can see right there or you can just follow me. Then you can always find me at at belly up fantasy. tag me whatever you want to do. Me and my guys are always there. Someone will answer you but if you have a personal question for me, just say hey, Pinto, or Hey Chris, answer this. I should be around.
Derek 55:33
Well, Chris, again, we thank you for coming on. It was a blast. As always, guys, I do believe that that’s going to wrap up yet another episode of the good old boys fantasy football podcast. Make sure you’re hitting us up on the socials at good old boys. FF we’ve also got the new website goodoldboysff.com. For Kevin and Alex. I’m Derek Have a good one. Be safe.