Practice podcast 2

In this podcast, the host discusses various topics related to the NFL, fantasy football, and gambling lines. He mentions teams that have started the season with a 2-0 record and those that have started 0-2. He talks about the Dolphins' win over the Patriots and praises the Dolphins' performance. He also discusses the Patriots' struggles and their need for a wide receiver. The host mentions a blocked field goal in the Patriots-Dolphins game and predicts that we will see more of these throughout the season. He talks about the success and patterns of teams like the 49ers, Cowboys, and Ravens. He believes that the Chiefs are still the team to beat. The host also discusses the Rams' decision to kick a field goal as time expires, which affected the betting spread. He talks about Joe Burrow's struggles and the injuries to running backs Saquon Barkley and Nick Chubb. The host mentions the Jets' quarterback situation and advises against bringing in another quarterback. What's going on everybody, welcome to our house, this is the screenplay podcast, I'm your host Evan Grenis, follow us on Instagram at screenplay underscore podcast. We're going to be getting into everything NFL, everything fantasy, and most importantly, those gambling lines, letting you know where to throw those shuckles. Let's get right into it. Through two weeks, I mean, got some good teams up there at 2-0, and some good teams down there at 2-0. We got Chargers 0-2, Bengals 0-2, Patriots 0-2, and then we got a slew of teams at 2-0. We got Eagles, Dolphins, Ravens, Cowboys, Niners, and a bunch of teams from the NFC South at 2-0, but I don't think anyone thinks those teams are real contenders for the season. Let's get into the Sunday night game. Dolphins take down Patriots in a close one. Patriots, you know, they held the Dolphins in check, they kept Tyreek in check, they kept Tua in check, but just couldn't get it done. The Dolphins are good, they are fast, they are running all over the field, they are scary. Probably one of the best teams in the NFL, we'll take a deeper look at that when we get to our top 10 power rankings. But yeah, Mike McDaniels has that team looking really good. Just wide receivers, open everywhere, running the ball well, scheming it well. Can't do much better than what they're doing right now. But yeah, the Patriots, they're interesting. They got their tight ends, they got no line, they got a running back, they got a decent quarterback, and all they're missing is a wide receiver one. Matt can't throw the ball to anyone, can't put up points. So a little disappointing there. One note from the Patriots-Dolphins game on Sunday, did we see that blocked field goal? Kind of crazy, had that player running in trying to time the kick and blocks it. I think that's something we're going to see throughout the league's rest of the year. It's like a copycat league, you know, people are watching, taking notes. A lot of things happening in the NFL, but there's a lot of things that we've seen over the past few years that aren't changing. I mean, we're seeing the Niners get off to a great start, the Cowboys get off to a great start, the Ravens get off to a great start. These are things that we've seen before, and they kind of always end up the same. We see the Niners have a stacked roster, play great all year, get into the playoffs, win a couple games, and just can't get to the finish line. And we hear it with the Cowboys every year, how good they are, how this is the year, how Cowboys are going to win it all. And the same thing happens. They get up a good record, win a playoff game, and then they're out. Ravens always play well, get off to decent starts, and then injuries hit them. I'm kind of feeling the same thing for this year. I mean, we've seen this story before, it's probably going to happen again. Will any of these teams finally get over the hurdle? At this point in the season, I mean, I'm really thinking it's Chiefs versus the field. Yeah, they're one and one. But they're a team that kind of, no matter what happens to them, they get it done. They find a way to make it to that Super Bowl and get it done. If it's Chiefs versus the field, you got to take the field, but I mean, Chiefs always find a way. I mean, so we'll see what happens with them the rest of the year. Let's go to the Rams game from this weekend. Little interesting tidbit that happened there at the end of the game. So the Rams are down 10 points with a minute and 34 seconds to go. Down 10. They get to a third and two with 19 seconds to go. Stafford spikes the ball. They kick a field goal as time expires to lose by seven. The big note here is that the line is seven and a half. So what is McVay doing kicking that field goal as time expires to lose by seven? I think everyone's thinking he knows the line. He wants to see some upset fans, so they kick that field goal, cover that spread. He says it's for the playoff picture at the end of the year and tiebreakers, but that can't be the case. I mean, we haven't seen that in the NFL in forever. Three points tiebreaker. I don't think so. I think he knew the spread. Think he wanted to break some hearts. Yeah, let's get into Joe Burrow. Not looking good. Not looking good for Joe Burrow at all. 0-2 start. Bengals can't move the ball. He's hurt. Is he going to play? Is he not? That calf injury is one of those lingering injuries that just stays all year. I mean, we saw this last year with Burrow getting off to a rough start, and they came back and they had a great season. I think it's a little different this year. This might be a rough year for the Bengals. Ever since they went into Burrow head, they haven't won a game since. I mean, I don't want to say a curse, but you tell everyone you're going to Burrow head in the playoffs, you lose there, and then you can't get a W after that since. This feels a little weird. I don't see them turning it around this year like they have been in the past. Got a couple injuries of notes. Saquon Barkley, Nick Chubb, running back injuries. These guys want big contracts, and I mean, they can't stay healthy, can't stay on the field, and this is why they're seeing it. Luckily for Saquon, only looking like two or three weeks good for me. I got him on my fantasy squad, but you know, Nick Chubb out for season. It's rough. I mean, the NFL is violent, the NFL is dangerous, got the inherent risk of getting hurt, but these running backs up and down the board, if you got 17 games, most of them can't see 17 games, so real tough to try to get these guys high-paid contracts when this is happening. We got the Jets, Wilson, what is going on there? Huge anticipation to start the season. Aaron Rodgers coming in, four plays in, out. Yeah, I mean, there's so much talk going on right now, like what are the Jets going to do? Who are they going to bring in? Should we call Kirk Cousins? Should we call Tom Brady? Should we call blah, blah, blah? I'm tired of hearing it. It's not going to happen. Stop. Just like, it's not happening. You're not going to rent out Kirk Cousins for 10 games so you can go eight and nine and miss the playoffs with Rodgers coming back next year. You're not going to, I mean, I'm tired of hearing Tom Brady talk, he's done. He's a part owner of a franchise, can't play if you own a franchise. I think the Jets got to ride this one out with Wilson and hope they sneak into the playoffs and maybe get a little playoff experience with the guys they got there that could be useful for next year. But yeah, I mean, who are they really bringing in that's going to help their team for the rest of the year? I just, I don't see it. Chicago Bears, people were high on this team this year coming into the season. Justin Fields, got him more weapons, third year in the system, 0-2, can't move the ball. Fields is getting sacked everywhere. It looks like trash. I mean, we saw the highlights of the game. We see the camera angles. He's got guys open all over the field, holding the ball for four seconds, five seconds, five seconds plus, just can't hit them. Not running with the ball either. I mean, it's ugly. It's year three and it hasn't happened. I mean, he hasn't had one game of 300-yard-plus throwing in his entire NFL career. I mean, that's got to say something right there. With this entire draft class coming in of quarterbacks, where we're looking at five, six, seven quarterbacks going to go in the first round potentially next year. If it doesn't work now, you got to get rid of this guy. You're not paying him. You're not signing another contract with him. He's got to turn it around now or this is over. I mean, it is not good in Chicago. Let's get into our top 10 power rankings. At 10, we got the Jacksonville Jags. One and one, they're a toss-up kind of every week a little bit. You don't know what we're getting. Could be a high-powered offense or could be something lackluster like we saw this week against the Chiefs only putting up seven points, but they've been together for a while now. They've shown they can win and I think they'll put it together this season, get something good going. So we got them at 10. At number nine, we got the Falcons at two and O. Desmond Ritter leading the way, Bijan Robinson in the backfield. A lot of people were high on this team this year and two and O start. I mean, they're kind of proving it that NFC South is weak. If they can get to eight, nine wins, I mean, they might take this division home and get into the playoffs. At eight, we got the Lions, another team people were high on this year. One and one right now. Kind of a crappy performance in week two. But these guys got players, Jared Goff's playing well, Amon St. Brown playing well, got that receiver Reynolds playing well, Jamar Gibbs. I mean, this team's doing well. I think they'll make a run at that division title over Green Bay this year. At seven, we got Buffalo. For the first week, people were just doubting them saying, this is it, it's over. And then they come back week two and just smash the Raiders. And I think that's what we'll see this season. Probably going to win the AFC East. They got so much firepower. They'll be up and down, but they'll put wins together. At six, we got the Eagles. Scary thing about the Eagles is they have not played a good game yet and they are two and oh. I think, I mean, this is another playoff team right here. They haven't put it together yet and they're still figuring out their offense after losing their OC. Still getting wins. They're going to be scary. At five, we got the Chiefs. One and one again, but this team has a lot of W's on their schedule. There's no way they missed the playoffs as long as you got Patrick Mahomes back there. Travis Kelsey's back healthy. I mean, this team's going to creep up into that one, two, three power rankings eventually. At four, we got the Ravens, two and oh. Good start. They normally do have a good start. It's just about those injuries. Beckham hurt. J.K. Dobbins hurt. But they got Lamar back there. As long as he stays healthy, this team should be able to get eight, nine, ten, eleven wins and make the playoffs pretty easily. Three, we got the Cowboys every year. People loving the Cowboys. Maybe this is the year. Maybe it is. I don't know. We'll see. They haven't gotten over that hurdle yet, but that Cowboys D is so good. Dak doesn't have to do too much. Again, when you've got a defense like that, you've just got to focus on not turning the ball over. And they're going to see some Ws. They're going to blow some people out this year. Let's see what they do against the real tough competition, though. They haven't really played anyone yet. At two, we got 49ers. This team is stacked. Weapons, weapons everywhere. Brock Purdy's the perfect QB for this team. Doesn't turn it over. Tosses the ball where it needs to go. Again, they get to the NFC championship game and can't get it done. So let's see if they can do it this year. And at one, we got the Finns. They look really good. Mike McDaniel has this team dialed up. Tyree Kill is all over the field. Two is accurate. They had a running game. Right now, this team's in the one spot. They're looking fast and fiery. Let's get into Fantasy. I mean, Fantasy is insane right now. If you're playing Fantasy, you know how the injuries have struck early in the year. Let's just go through some of these players that are out. We got Barkley out, Richardson out, Gainwell, Johnson, Cup, Jones, Beckham, Taylor, Chubb, Burrow, Eckler, Cooks, Myers, Akers, Watson. I mean, the list goes on and on and on. I think I've developed the mindset now that, you know, like, drafting a high-powered running back in the first two rounds in Fantasy just may not even be worth it anymore. I mean, these guys can't stay on the field. Might as well stack that wide receiving core and just hope it takes you to the promised land. I had the 11th pick in our draft this year, 12-man PPR league. I took Barkley, and he was playing great through two games, and he's hurt. He's out. Luckily, it's only two or three weeks, but I mean, it's just that these running backs, man, it's just a toss-up as to whether they can stay healthy all year, and the waiver wire is hot right now. I mean, it is sizzling. People go into that to grab anyone they can for just backup running backs everywhere. Let's go through some of these players who will be slotting in in place of some of these injuries. So, Barkley's out. You got Brita. I don't see much upside for him here. He's not going to be putting up 20, 25 points in his place. It's going to be running back by committee with Brita leading the way. I just still don't see him as high enough point getter to put him in your RB1 or 2 spot. With Gainwell out in Philadelphia, Swift saw some more action this week putting up 27 points. With Johnson out on the Steelers, Pickens had a big week. Got him in my squad. Probably going to toss him in the lineup this next week. With Cooper Cupp out, we got two guys stepping up here. We got Puka Nakua. I have never heard of this guy until recently. Got the most catches in the NFL through two weeks for a rookie ever. I think it's 27. Something crazy. And then Tutu Atwell, who was supposedly a bust, and now he's not. It's not like he hasn't gone. So those two guys are keeping up the tab pretty good for the Rams. With Akers out, Williams has stepped up to the plate. He's going to be the RB1 for the Rams. I'm sure someone has snatched him by now, but if not, he's been a waiver wire guy that will still that RB1 spot on your team. Cooks, he's out. But Collins has come in and created a ton of targets for the Houston Texans. Eckler's out. We got Kelly taking over his place with the new OC. Kelly's put up a good first week, didn't quite do as well in the second week, but still a good guy. Good for a flex spot, really. And then with Taylor out still for the first four weeks at least, Zach Moss at the RB spot. Definitely someone you're going to want to put in your active squad. And then the biggest one everyone's talking about is Ford, which all year, Ford is going to be the guy to go to. This isn't like a guy you take and keep on your bench. This guy will be your RB1 or 2. We saw how he did in that first game he came in, put up 20-something points, 22 points. I mean, this guy is going to be a workhorse for the Browns for the rest of the year. And some upsides and downsides to a lot of big players this year, calling them busts so far. Najee Harris, complete disappointment. Steelers can't move the ball. He's getting minimal touches. I think he got 10 attempts last game. I mean, it's just not enough to even have him in your starting squad. Jamar Chase, with Burrowhurt and the Bengals playing, I'm like, crap, can't score points. Probably not really his fault, but 17 points through two weeks is not going to cut it, especially when you're drafting either top three or four in your league. Fields, complete disappointment so far. Probably your fifth or sixth QB off the board in fantasy. Burrow, same thing. Hurt and just not playing well right now. One of the top QBs off the board. Players that are playing well, though. Bijan Robinson, definitely some skepticism about taking him in the first round as a rookie, but he's playing really good. Puka Nakua, who we talked about off waiver wires, is on fire. Mike Evans down in Tampa is connecting with Baker really well. CeeDee Lamb, always playing well. Christian McCaffrey, putting up big numbers every week. I mean, let's hope he can stay healthy. Keenan Allen's looking really good. Number one wide receiver for the Chargers. He's going to be targeted a lot this year. Zay Flowers, rookie for Baltimore, going to be getting a lot of looks. Tyreek Hill, if he's on your squad, I mean, he might just win you weeks like that. We saw it in week one. He's going to have some crazy weeks looking for 2,000 yards. Like you said, we'll see if that happens. The Bengals, they're going to have some crazy weeks. Like you said, we'll see if that happens. Devonta Smith up in Philly has been Hurts' main target through the first couple of weeks looking good. Justin Jefferson, despite being 0-2 on the Vikings, is still putting up points. Still a great wide receiver one, obviously. Anthony Richardson got a concussion, but he's proven to be that he might be that next top five QB for fantasy with how he's running the ball. Just got to stay off that injury list. And then Tony Pollard is putting up consistent numbers week in, week out with how Dallas is running the ball. A little more committed to the run this year. Let's get into what everyone wants to hear. The gambling, the lines, where to throw your money. Through two weeks, we're 6-4. Not bad. 60%, hitting at a decent rate. Our goal for the year is 54%, 55%. If we can hit that, then we're happy. Let's go through the lines, and then we'll tell you what we like and where your money should be thrown at. I'm not telling you who to bet. I'm telling you who I bet on. So let's get into it. We'll go through all the lines here just so you know what's on the board this week. We got Giants at 49ers. 49ers favored by 10. That is the Thursday night game. We got Chargers at Vikings. It's a pick-em. They're both 0-2. Who's going to win this game? I don't know. You don't know. No one knows. I mean, it's a coin toss. Texans. I'm sorry. Titans at Browns. Minus 3 for the Browns. Texans at Jags. Jags are favored 9.5. Patriots at Jets. Jets getting 2.5. Saints at Packers. Packers favored by 2. Falcons at the Lions. Lions minus 3. Colts at the Ravens. Ravens favored by 8. Panthers at Seahawks. That's a long travel. Seahawks minus 6. Cowboys at Cards. Cards are getting 12.5. That is the biggest spread of the week. Tied with this, Bears and Chiefs. Chiefs giving 12.5. Our Sunday late night window. Steelers at Raiders. Raiders are minus 1.5 favorite. Eagles at Bucs. Bucs are getting 5. And Rams at Bengals. Bengals are favored by 1.5. That's interesting. Our plays of the week. I've locked them in. This is what I'm taking. I love them. I mean, I love these plays. I think these plays are going to be money. We're taking 49ers minus 10. Giants traveling out to the 49ers. Without Saquon Barkley. Proving that they haven't played good football. We got 49ers minus 10 covering. Pats minus 2.5. I love this. I mean, we got the Patriots playing the Cowboys next week. They're going to lose that game. Do we really think the Patriots are going to go 0-4 under Belichick to start? I don't think so. I mean, we got to take the Pats here. They're going to get a win on the board before they get to the Cowboys and take an L there. So we got Pats minus 2.5. And then Chiefs minus 12.5. It's a big line. It's a really big line, but I like it. I mean, the Bears have proved that they can't do anything. And with that Chiefs D, field is going to be struggling. I think the Chiefs win this one by 14, 17 points. Cover the spread. Lock it in.