News, Week 5 Sit/Start + Mailbag

Matthew Berry (0:09)

You know what, Beetle, it is 1 o'clock on the East Coast, which means, of course, it's 5 o'clock somewhere. Happy Hour Bar is officially open. Michelle Beetle, Mo Hassan are here with me as well. Matthew Berry, your friendly neighborhood bartender, ready to get you set for Fantasy Football here in week number four.

Michelle Beetle (0:26)

A lot to get to.

Matthew Berry (0:27)

Yeah, let's do it.

Michelle Beetle (0:28)

We got some news today. Yes, ma'am. I just now, from now on, I'm just going to point here on your QB.

It looks like he's going to start week five, so how high are we ranking him, and what does it mean?

Matthew Berry (0:38)

He's on track to start week five, so it's not officially yet, but I believe it will be, look, I have him as QB five. I always forget which way to point, but yeah, you see it there.

Michelle Beetle (0:49)

It's because we're not weather-

Matthew Berry (0:50)

faith in five, I'm not at all. But look, he's never thrown an interception against the Giants. He's 3-0 against New York in his career. And by the way, he ranks eighth among quarterbacks in fantasy points per drop back so far this season. When he's been out there, and it hasn't been a ton, but when he's been out there, he's been productive. Meanwhile, New York allowing passing touchdowns at the sixth highest rate. They're 30 second in pressure. So I think Jaden Daniels is gonna have a clean pocket, should be able to pick him apart. Hopefully, we get McLaurin back as well. But yeah, I think assuming Jaden Daniels starts against the Giants in a must win game for Washington, I'm as a top five play this week.

Michelle Beetle (1:25)

OK, we're staying in the division. We got news yesterday, a little bit surprising, actually. Eagle Star offensive tackle Lane Johnson is retiring.

How big of a problem, by the way, is that for Philly?

Mo Hassan (1:38)

Huge for an offense that's already been struggling. I mean, the numbers with Lane and without Lane are staggering. I mean, in just the Jalen Hurts error by itself since 2021, they've won 75% of the games with him and 41% without him. And that's already a group that's now completely decimated on that side of the ball. They can't run, they can't pass protect, and now they lose the all-pro tackle Lane Johnson.

The other part to me that I think not a lot of people consider is just because you're replacing one part of the cog, that's five offensive linemen, doesn't mean you just plug another guy in. Like, you start shuffling the deck with those guys.

And offensive line is a unit that thrives on chemistry. Like, sometimes the tackle will look at the center and the guard, and it will just be kind of like a little tick of like just eye contact, or a little point, and we'll know how to pass off on some of these stunts. It's a group that doesn't have a lot of continuity, right? So like two years ago, when they won the Super Bowl, that was their strength. They were able to run the ball as Haekwon was rushing for 2,000 yards. It would protect as well. They're doing none of that, right? We mentioned it earlier, for 17 on third down. They can't do anything against the Blitz. It just makes everything so much more difficult for them.

Matthew Berry (2:46)

It really does, and this one's a weird one, Mo. Literally just an alert that literally I just got while you were talking here, but this is from Adam Schafter, who says, the Eagles are sending two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Juergens, and a 2027 seventh round pick to the Ravens, in exchange for a 2027 fifth rounder and a 2028 second rounder.

SPEAKER_5 (3:06)

So trading Cam Juergens for picks.

Michelle Beetle (3:09)

What's happening?

Mo Hassan (3:10)

Is this a full rebuild?

Matthew Berry (3:12)

That's what it feels like.

Michelle Beetle (3:13)

Now it's happening?

Mo Hassan (3:14)

That is shocking.

Matthew Berry (3:15)

That's right. What am I missing? Like that's such a weird one. I know it's, I mean, this is Adam Schafter's reporting, and it's on the ESPN app, so I assume it is accurate. I don't know why.

Mo Hassan (3:28)

So is it now only Maylotta and Tyler Steen, I believe, are the only two guys from the past few years? It's just a huge reshuffling. Your two running backs are already out. Wide Receiver One is out. Your entire offensive line is decimated.

Are we just going to throw Jalen back there and say, just figure it out?