The Weekly Bender: What a Fool Believes

Fri Aug 8 5:20pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

Williams has time to figure it out

If we were in the bonus round of the $25,000 Pyramid, I would be saying things like “marble floors,” “sanded wood,” “freshly Zamboni’d ice,” and “a baby’s butt.” If you failed to guess the common thread, I would add in “Michael McDonald” and immediately you’d shout, “Things that are smooth!” Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Is there anything smoother than the velvety-soft, dulcet tones of Michael McDonald? I think not. That’s why he’s the Yacht Rock legend. From the Doobie Brothers to Steely Dan to an amazing solo career, McDonald is the smoothest character out there and to celebrate him, today’s topic stems from one of his finest tunes, “What a Fool Believes.”

Training camp hype, coach-speak, beat-writer opinions instead of actual reporting – this is what we get nowadays. There’s no straight reporting anymore. Coaches keep everything close to the vest and beat writers who try to nose their way in for the truth are often met with resistance. In fact, we’ve seen coaches ban some beat writers from the locker room if they don’t report exactly what the coaches are telling them to report.

I remember a few years back, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan specifically told the beat writers to not report on JaMycal Hasty while he was being forced to sift through his back-ups in the wake of a Christian McCaffrey injury. Hasty had been practicing with the first-team and Shanahan wanted to deploy him as a “secret weapon.” All of the beat writers complied and fantasy owners went bonkers when Hasty, from supposedly out of nowhere, dominated. One beat writer eventually admitted that Shanahan gave this directive to the media and they’re no longer welcome anywhere near the San Francisco locker room.

So how are we to determine what is actual news and what is coach-speak or beat-writer hype? It can be difficult. Most beat writers now say things like, “I expect to see…” or “it is my opinion that…” but really, who’s to say what is true and what isn’t? I spend most of my nights watching as much video as possible – whatever is available – and make certain assumptions based on what I’m seeing AND what I am hearing. An exact science? No. But with my knowledge of the coaches, the schemes, the rosters, the tendencies and everything else I’ve spent 20-plus years doing, I have a pretty good idea as to what’s going down on the street.

So let’s see what the fools believe and what’s real.

Caleb Williams is Struggling to Learn Ben Johnson’s Offense

This is actually true, but not to the effect that fantasy owners should be avoiding Williams and his receiving targets. It just takes a little time to adjust. Ben Johnson’s offense is a Erhardt-Perkins/Spread hybrid that can be very challenging, especially to a kid who found so much success at the collegiate level and is now learning his second NFL playbook in as many seasons. The verbiage is short and coded, the receiver routes on any given play are not only abundant but also have numerous alterations based on what they’re reading from the defense and every decision is made within a two or three-step drop. It will take a little bit of time to smooth out all the kinks here, but I am confident in Johnson’s ability to coach and teach and I am confident that Williams and his receivers can get on the same page in a month’s time.

Justin Fields Looks Awful in Camp

Second verse, same as the first. Fields is now on his third playbook in as many seasons and in both cases, he was working in a west-coast-based offense that catered to improving his short-passing game. Now he’s with Tanner Engstrand, who came over from Detroit and is installing a scheme very similar to what he ran with Ben Johnson in Detroit, except now he is adding in more RPO work. The RPO work is plenty familiar to Fields, but the rest of the surrounding offense is going to take some time to develop. It also doesn’t help when you only have one legitimate wide receiver. Having Garrett Wilson gives him familiarity, but having Josh Reynolds may even prove more valuable as he has experience in this scheme from his Detroit days. Similar to the Bears situation, I am not out on the Jets for fantasy and you shouldn’t be either.

After Watching the First Preseason Raiders Game, Ashton Jeanty Truthers are in Trouble

Hahaha! I love trolling the nervous. No one is in trouble and my opinions of Jeanty do not change in the least after watching him struggle for yardage in his first preseason game. The Raiders offensive line was tweaked in the offseason to improve both its run and pass-blocking and still needs some time to jell. DJ Glaze was their biggest issue last year and that was on the pass-blocking side. They added veteran guard Alex Cappa and drafted two string linemen in Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers. Both should be great additions for what Chip Kelly wants to do with this offense. Fear not, Jeanty-truthers. All is well and everything will be all right.

R.J Harvey Listed Fifth on the Broncos Unofficial Depth Chart

While the statement itself is true, do not believe what is being said about the depth chart. What never gets publicized but has been happening for years is that head coach Sean Payton ALWAYS lists his rookies at the bottom of the depth chart. Always. He did it to Michael Thomas, he did it to Alvin Kamara and he did it to Jimmy Graham. Payton believes the rookies must earn their spots atop the depth chart and he is simply giving them an opportunity to do so. Are there questions about Harvey’s pass-blocking right now? Yes. That’s why J.K. Dobbins is the lead back. But there is no way, outside of a debilitating injury, that we will see Harvey work behind the likes of Audric Estime or Jaleel McLaughlin. Breathe deep, people.

Jaydon Blue is Lazy

These were the words of former Cowboys assistant coach Glenn Smith and the fantasy community went nutso and immediately started to pivot away from Blue. I love the overreaction. But current head coach Brian Schottenheimer clearly took issue with the comment and specifically came out and praised the rookie running back, not only for his talents but for his work ethic. Then we started seeing Blue running with the first team and we began to see a shift. He was hitting the holes with gusto and was really looking strong. Fewer mentions of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, though both will still likely be ahead of him on the depth chart heading into Week 1. But I still believe (Am I a fool? We’ll see.) he will be the Cowboys lead running back at some point this season. A bruised ankle is sidelining him for a couple of days right now, but expect to see him back in action, ready to strike.

Chris Godwin is Right On-Track with his Recovery

This is what Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles keeps saying but literally every other report that follows discusses how Godwin could open the season on the PUP list and miss the first few games. Watch the ADP and look for Godwin to start falling a little in drafts. Despite Bowles’ continued efforts to sound positive, it is apparent there is little confidence in his words. Start paying more attention to where Emeka Egbuka is being drafted. I’m a big Godwin fan, but if he opens on the PUP list, there’s really no guarantee that he only misses the first four games.

So is Brandon Aiyuk

Can I say second verse, same as the first again or do you want something different? Maybe rinse and repeat? It is almost the exact same story with Aiyuk that we are seeing with Godwin. The head coach says he’s close to returning, but then every other report intimates he could miss a few games. I mean, when do we ever believe anything Kyle Shanahan says anyway? I’m a big fan of Jauan Jennings, but Ricky Pearsall could be a really nice addition to your roster, provided his ADP doesn’t start to climb more.

It’s Still Safe to Draft Rashee Rice

It depends on how much risk you want to take. Fortunately, his ADP has been dropping ever since the news that Jordan Addison would be suspended for three games, so that’s encouraging, but it might not be dropping enough. Addison got three games for a DUI arrest that saw him get handed fines and one year of probation. Rice was given 30 days in jail and five years of probation, so you do the math. My guess is six games, which he and the Chiefs will plead down to four, but there’s no guarantee there. If he gets six games, that’s half your fantasy regular season. Sure, he could come back and salvage your playoff dreams in Week 7, but is that what you want from your fifth-round pick? Me neither.

Same with Tyreek Hill

I mean, the oblique injury he’s sitting with is aggravating for sure, but this guy is causing all sorts of problems. Not only is he a health risk, but he’s clearly not making any friends in the locker room right now. His latest comments that the best way for the Dolphins to convert a 3^rd-and-1 is to take De’Von Achane off the field might be true, but you don’t say that out loud or at the least, in public. The Cheetah is not the player he once was and I’m just not sure we’re going to see the explosiveness we are hoping to see when we are drafting him in the third round anymore.

Chargers Signing Keenan Allen Will Hurt the Value of Ladd McConkey

Allen works beautifully out of the slot and was a monster in PPR formats, serving as Justin Herbert’s security blanket. But then he went away and McConkey came in to take over the role. And take it over he did. Over 100 targets, over 1,100 receiving yards and seven touchdowns? What a rookie campaign that was and what an outstanding eight-round pick he was last year. Now he’s a late second-rounder and people are freaking out that Allen is back and will cut into his workload. I’m not buying it. If Allen’s presence is going to hurt anyone it’s going to be Tre Harris. Quentin Johnston, too. Chargers OC Greg Roman loves 12-personnel, which means only two receivers on the field. McConkey will always be one of them. Allen should see the majority of work on the other side but he will share the work with Harris and Johnston. When they go into three-receiver sets, it will be McConkey and Allen while Harris and Johnston mix and match. Either way, McConkey will be just fine.

Kyle Pitts is Working with the Wide Receivers, Not the Tight Ends

This is actually great news. It is also something to believe in. With Darnell Mooney on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, Zac Robinson is wisely turning to Pitts instead of forcing us to watch Ray-Ray McCloud or KhaDarel Hodge. Obviously, it won’t stay that way once the MoonBoy comes back, but for now, this is something to be encouraged by. If Pitts can build up enough of an on-field rapport with Michae Penix Jr. then we could finally see the Pitts we’ve all been dreaming about since his 1,000-yard rookie campaign. Wishful thinking and my fingers are crossed, but this is definitely a situation to monitor.

Isaiah Likely Could Be Back for Week 1

Even if he does return, I’m not biting on it. Nope. No way. I’m not saying there isn’t talent here because there is, but this is exactly what happened with Mark Andrews last season. Granted, Andrews got into a car accident and the injuries weren’t as severe as Likely’s broken foot that needs surgery, but even if he does return, are we buying into the fact that he’ll be just fine? Andrews wasn’t last year and it took him a number of weeks and a lot of time spent on the fantasy waiver wire in some leagues, before he got back to doing what he normally does and that is catch touchdowns from Lamar Jackson. If anything, this solidifies Andrews as the true No. 1 and Likely is nothing more than a handcuff you can pick up off waivers.

That’s the scoop for now! Go back and listen to some Yacht Rock and we’ll have even more information for you next time!

Bender out.

The Weekly Bender: What a Fool Believes

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