7/13 MON
(8:34amET)
Today/tomorrow
-- Rookie/young TE OTA notes/research report posts today...#2 of 5 in the series.
-- Working on the HOLY series this week. Each position report will drop as they are completed. Next up: The HOLY WRs.
After WRs, we’ll do HOLY TEs...and then we’re going to gather all the HOLY players to discuss Rounds 1-2 redrafting strategy (at this point).
-- New TST video posting today...a re-look at WRs we hated but the public/analysts are smitten with. Can their 2025 pro tape change our mind?
Our two-part series on two WRs -- Are they done?/Do they still have it? Posted last week.
Part 2 was Mike Evans: https://youtu.be/pIXRQGfiWQ8
Part 1 Davante Adams: https://youtu.be/y14F5QTBpb8
-- Miscellaneous reports on things that come my way and more scouting reports to come. I have a backlog of them to get published already.
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NEW DISCORD NOTIFICATION SYSTEM/INVITE: FFM Discord Notification System
*This is not a chat room. It is a one-way channel for FFM notifications about newly posted items and critical breaking news.
This Week’s/Month’s Agenda…
-- DRD rankings will now update rankings and add/update commentaries, etc., every THU or FRI for the rest of the preseason.
-- Dynasty and Best Ball rankings audits/updates weekly +/-.
-- Holy series QB and RB done. Holy RB Handcuffs underway (on hold for draft, since we’re this close)
-- Full scouting reports on various prospects from now until the NFL preseason. Deeper looks at Cyrus Allen and more all on deck.
-- Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.
-- New coaching staff hire’s analysis series...trying to slot/schedule this. Once the Draft Guide is set, I hope/plan to turn to this.
== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==
-- HEADLINE: ESPN’s Stephen Holder reports DJ Giddens “didn’t develop as quickly as the Colts hoped during his rookie season.”
Beneath the surface of that reported RotoBlurb, with a little research, is... BUT the Colts are seeing nice progress this offseason. It’s a ‘gotcha’ headline that is misleading. I’m not saying that DJG is golden and Seth McGowan is nothing in this #2 RB battle, but this headline makes it seem like Giddens is dying off.
I was supposed to have a call with one of my Colts guys this weekend, but it got pushed to today...I wanted to get more insight as to how this #2 RB fight is going. I’ll report it out ASAP and change the HOLY Handcuff report if I need to.
-- HEADLINE: Pittsburgh Union-Tribune’s Chris Adamski believes Kaleb Johnson is “not assured” a spot on the roster this year.
That’s the first domino to fall in this Kaleb downfall. It looks like the end is near.
I am also hearing trade rumors...the kind where the Steelers are just dumping him for like a 6th- or 7th-round pick. Green Bay and Seattle are the first two teams I heard mentioned, but that’s not rock-solid intel...just rumors/talk.
-- A total sidebar into baseball...(and there’s a gamble/bet item here if you make it to the end)
I’ve been watching the baseball much of the NFL offseason. 98% watching the Astros, ‘my team’ you could say. So, most of my limited opinion on baseball is from (half) watching a ton of Astros games and then also the 3-6 games they would have faced ___ opponent. So, I have a small sample size to judge other teams outside the division. Except for...
My youngest son has not cared a wit about sports his whole life. He was a decent youth soccer player but stopped playing when he hit high school (his school didn’t have a team). He played some little league baseball, and church basketball + church flag football. But he never watched a sport or collected cards or anything.
NOW...now I finally have my joy...my youngest son has fallen ‘in like’ with baseball. Why? A YouTube streamer he followed was a big Mets fan and would play video games on a stream but also passionately follow his baseball team at the same time...and my son started getting interested in what he was watching/reacting to, so he got an MLB TV monthly subscription and started sampling ‘baseball’.
I told him he better be an Astros fan, like most of his family...which was likely the kiss of death for that to happen. He kinda liked the Mets because that guy on YouTube did, but he was shopping around. Of course, I kept pushing the Astros. He kept checking over teams. And then he landed on one and has stuck by them--and it’s now officially HIS team.
I asked him after a week or so of watching MLB back in April--“Did you pick a favorite team yet?” And he said “Yes.” Then he said, “Don’t be mad but I think I like the Pirates.”
I tried to contain myself. I set him down and explained--“Son, the Pirates suck. They’re always in last place. They always sell their good players off. It’s gonna be a miserable experience when your team is losing a lot and never in the playoffs, etc.” Well, he liked their new city connect jerseys and hat.
How could I argue with that?
As long as he was getting into baseball, I was happy.
So, from then on in we’d lightly and intermittently talk about the Pirates and he’s ask me questions trying to learn the game a little, etc. In April, I noticed the Pirates were hanging around 1st-place at the time, so I was like “Look at that! Enjoy that while it lasts!” Then they faded back to a ‘in the wild card’ team in May...and then fell outside of the Wild Card in June, but still ‘in it’.
But I started watching them more in June to talk about them with my son. And the more I watched, the more I thought...this is a scrappy good, young team. Good for them. Good for my son. Then I watched more and more, and the more I’ve watched the last couple weeks, I’m like--this Pirates team is really good, promising...exciting. Each week I saw more and more people in the stands at Pirates games.
I was so impressed, I put $5 down on the Pirates to make the playoffs a couple weeks ago at +176. Just for fun...and because I was so impressed. They’ve definitely got ‘something’, I thought in June. Then I’m watching them into July, and they are starting to become ‘monsters’. That Pirates offense is something...WAYYY better than the Astros, and everyone in the Astros division...by far. Then I watched them this weekend spank the 1st-place (in their division) Brewers this weekend, sweeping them in a 3-game series...and then when they were totally rocking Milwaukee with a 10-run 4th-inning on Sunday--I put $10 down on them to make the playoffs at +217.
I’ve watched most of the teams in baseball play a few games or more this season...including the top names like the Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, Rays, Yankees, Brewers now. The best accumulation of offensive players/the best offense/scariest offense that I’ve seen this season--the Phillies #1 then I’d say the Pirates #2 and gaining. I don’t know what the league numbers/stats are but my eyes say it’s the Phillies and Pirates. Pittsburgh is LOADED with young talent, young hitters, and young/live arms on the mound. I wish the Astros were as good and deep and promising as the Pirates.
Pittsburgh may fall short of the playoffs in a loaded NL, but I think they are better than most NL teams...and they are gaining ground/getting better every week even though two of their best players have been out hurt. One is coming back soon. They don’t have the experience, but they have the talent that may overcome. I now have two favorite teams. It’s really been a blast watching the Pirates. I can feel the Astros window closing on them...and when it shuts at the end of this year, it’s gonna be some time to retool it, I think. The Pirates--they are way ahead of the Astros now and for the future. Looking forward to watching my new co-favorite team into the future! If they keep all this talent instead of selling it to the Yankees, which it looks like they are really trying to stay intact under new ownership.
Just an FYI story for baseball fans and bettors at their who may be looking past the Pirates as if they were the Cleveland Browns of baseball or just want something to root for until football season starts. Maybe it’s under the radar some or maybe it’s the story of the year in MLB, but since I do not follow baseball talk AT ALL--I couldn’t tell you.
I have not looked at team baseball stats in years, decades...before there was RC the football god, there was RC the baseball nerd wannabe. So, I had to go look at the team stats just to see the current team offensive stats...
Batting Average: The Pirates lead the league (.263) *Astros 17th.
Home Runs: The Pirates are 6th (1250 and climbing. *Astros 3rd.
Runs Scored: The Pirates are tied with Washington for 1st (516) *Astros #11
Totals Hits: The Pirates lead the league (886) *Astros 12th
Total Bases: The Pirates are 2nd (1,437) *Astros 6th
A flaw...Strikeouts (hitters): 2nd most in the league (917) *Astros 17th most.
== QUOTES & QUOTABLES (pulled from an internet A.I. search, I try to make sure it’s accurate but some of it is ‘trust in AI’) ==
-- Stefon Diggs ranks himself atop NFL's No. 2 wide receivers: "Everybody got a 1," Diggs said. "Opportunities aside, people might say there's seven real 1s. In my opinion, I can compete with anybody, but take those as your 1s. You can't name a No. 2 better than me. There's not a No. 2 on a team. Let's presumably give people the credit and just say, 'OK, you want to take the No. 1 spot away.' Name your No. 2 receiver right now. Tell me how much he makes. My last question is: Is he better than me?"
-- Josh Allen to 'entertain' idea of broadcasting after NFL career is over
-- At $2m, was RB Rachaad White ‘the biggest steal of free agency’? https://thepewterplank.com/commanders-are-quickly-learning-what-the-buccaneers-already-knew-about-rachaad-white
-- (from YAHOO): JALEN HURTS STAT OF THE WEEK: Jalen Hurts has had at least one touchdown pass and no interceptions in 39 of his 82 career starts. The only QBs in history with more games with at least one TD pass and no INTs through their first 82 starts are Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson, both with 42. Carson Wentz is fifth on that list with 37.
Roob Eagles report: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/roobs-observations-understanding-just-predictable-070000825.html
Your moment of Zen for this day...
-- The hang time grandpa gets here: https://youtu.be/aIiMSCBHThA?si=KErvy-TcOAZ-RvEg
-- Well, the 60’s weighed in: https://youtu.be/US8Lf83ciUM?si=I_RKlJMR8Ec2EFD1
== Daily Series ==
Let’s check in on the top receiver groups for a fun little tournament all July. We’ll do one matchup per day. The top 3 WRs facing off, then #4 matchup is the lead receiving TE, then #5 is the #4 WR matchup. Best of 5 matchups, first to 3 wins...and we’ll stop it when hit the three wins.
I will pick the WR that I like best as if I were an NFL GM...and just for having them for the 2026 season...based on talent not age/injury worries. Strictly talent I covet.
PHI v. NYG
1) Malik Nabers d. DeVonta Smith (NYG 1-0)
2) Makai Lemon d. Darnell Mooney (1-1 tie)
3) Dontavion Wicks d. Darius Slayton (PHI 2-1)
4) Isaiah Likely d. Dallas Goedert (2-2 tie)
5) Calvin Austin d. Hollywood Brown (NYG 3-2)
I did not see this coming. I thought Philly had this, without thinking about it too much. Neither group runs deep right now with a lot of flaws. NYG somehow won this one. Could’ve gone either way.
Into the Sweet 16:
NE d. NYJ (3-2)
BUF d. MIA (3-0)
PIT d. CLE (3-0)
CIN d. BAL (3-2)
JAX d. TEN (3-1)
HOU d. IND (3-0)
DEN d. LV (3-0)
LAC d. KC (3-0)
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NYG d. PHI (3-2)
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