2024 NFL Week 6 Predictions

Buffalo heads to New York. Find out which AFC East team wins on Monday Night football.

Chris Ransom Last Updated: October 10, 2024.

San Francisco 49ers 2-3-0	Versus	Seattle Seahawks 3-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

I'll be introducing a brand new segment to Draft Utopia for the Thursday Night Games called Unfiltered Al. It's basically a parody of all the savage things that Al Michaels could say after blowing people out of the water with his comments on Amazon Prime last year.

Unfiltered Al: Welcome to Thursday Night Football. San Francisco faces Seattle. San Francisco has made Seattle their bitch the last two years, but Christian McCaffrey played a massive role in Kyle Shanahan making the Seattle Seahawks his bitch. Can San Francisco cease control of the NFC West Division without Christian McCaffrey Kirk?

Kirk Herbstreet: It won't be easy. Jordan Mason has to be man.

Unfiltered Al: That's right Kirk. If San Francisco can run on this suspect run defense like the Detroit Lions did in week 4 then San Francisco has a chance to beat Seattle.

Kirk Herbstreet: That's the key for San Francisco. Seattle is healthier than San Francisco, but beating the San Francisco 49ers at home is key if the Seattle Seahawks want to cease control of this division.

Unfiltered Al: San Francisco gets set to face Seattle. Kickoff will be back after this.

Why the San Francisco 49ers Will Win: Brock Purdy has a terrific offensive line with Trent Williams at left tackle, Aaron Banks left guard, Jake Brendel at center, Dominic Puni their 2024 third round pick out of Kansas at right guard, and Colton McKivitz at right tackle. Jaylon Moore was suprisingly effective at times when filling in for Trent Williams as a backup left tackle over the last two years during the regular season. Nick Zakelj will be the backup left guard to Aaron Brooks. Ben Bartch the former Jacksonville Jaguar is the backup center. Spencer Burford is the backup right guard. Brandon Parker is the backup right tackle. Outside of Jaylon Moore the backup left tackle and Spencer Burford the backup right guard, there's not a backup on this offensive line that I'm satisfied with.

San Francisco has Deebo Samuel as their flanker receiver, Brandon Aiyuk as their secondary receiver, and Jauan Jennings as their slot receiver for week 1 with San Francisco's 2024 first round pick Ricky Pearsall going on the NFL injured list for week 1. Jennings will be the number four wide receiver once Ricky Pearsall returns. Ricky Pearsall is still on the NFL injured list which is why Jauan Jennings has played a lot this year. Jacob Cowing is the number five wide receiver and Danny Gray is the number six wide receiver. San Francisco has Ronnie Bell their 2023 seventh round pick out of Michigan as the number seven wide receiver. San Francisco might be deeper at wide receiver than last year if everyone can stay healthy. Ricky Pearsall is the only injured wide receiver at the moment entering week 6.

George Kittle is San Francisco's starting tight end. San Francisco's tight end depth is much weaker than last year, so San Francisco is in trouble if George Kittle goes down. George Kittle got injured in the Minnesota Vikings game and will be a game-time decision. George Kittle did not play in week 3, but returned in week 4. George Kittle played in week 5 and was a full practice entering week 6.

San Francisco has Christian McCaffrey as their starting running back whose considered the best running back when fully healthy after dominating in 2022 following his trade from Carolina to San Francisco. Elijah Mitchell is their backup running back after starting some as a rookie in 2021 as Elijah Mitchell will begin this season on injured reserve. Jordan Mason is the third string running back and he will be the backup running back with Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve to start the season. Isaac Guerendo a 2024 fourth round pick out of Louisville is the fourth string running back, but will be the third string running back until Elijah Mitchell returns from the injured reserve list. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is the best fullback in the NFL. San Francisco has the best running back, fullback, and depth of any team in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey missed week 1 and Kyle Shanahan said he would be out for multiple weeks. Jordan Mason has started with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve with McCaffrey still on injured reserve and Elijah Mitchell out for the year in the final year of his rookie contract. Christian McCaffrey could be back as early as next week in week 7 against Kansas City and he could be back as late as week 10 when San Francisco travels to Tampa Bay after the bye week in week 9.

San Francisco has Nick Bosa at 4-3 right end, Javon Hargrave at 4-3 defensive tackle, Maliek Collins at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Leonard Floyd at 4-3 left end as their starters on the defensive line. Yetur Gross-Matos is the backup 4-3 right end behind Nick Bosa, Kevin Givens is the backup to Javon Hargave, Jordan Elliott the former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle is the backup to Maliek Collins, and Robert Beal Jr., San Francisco's 2023 fifth round pick out of Georgia is the backup 4-3 left end to Leonard Floyd. San Francisco's depth on the defensive line doesn't excite me like it did the last two years and Maliek Collins feels like a guy who actually could be upgraded on this defensive line. Javon Hargrave is out at 4-3 defensive tackle in week 4 and got placed on injured reserve prior to week 4. Jordan Elliott is also out this week, so San Francisco will have zero depth at 4-3 defensive tackle if Maliek Collins and Kevin Givens fatigue. Drake Jackson is also still on the PUP list as a backup 4-3 defensive end.

San Francisco has De'Vondre Campbell filling in for an injured Dre Greenlaw at 4-3 right outside linebacker as Greenlaw got injured in Super Bowl 58 and Fred Warner at 4-3 middle linebacker. These two start in these respective roles regardless of whether San Francisco runs a 4-3 base defense or a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Demetrius Flanigan-Fowles will start at 4-3 left outside linebacker if San Francisco decides to use a 4-3 scheme. Dee Winters is the backup 4-3 middle linebacker.

San Francisco has Charvarius Ward at field cornerback, Isaac Yiadom at boundary cornerback, and Deommodore Lenoir at nickel cornerback. Renardo Green, San Francisco's 2024 second round pick out of Florida State who I liked is the dime cornerback. Rock Ya-Sin is the quarter cornerback. Talanoa Hufanga returns at strong safety with Ji'Ayir Brown the San Francisco 49ers 2023 third round pick out of Penn State as the starting free safety. San Francisco drafted Wake Forest safety Malik Mustapha in the fourth roud of the 2024 NFL Draft and he's the backup safety. Talona Hufanga is off of the injury report and will play in week 5, but Talona Hufanga got placed on injured reserve prior to week 6 meaning the earliest Hufanga will return is week 11.

San Francisco has Jake Moody their 2023 third round pick out of Michigan starting at kicker, but he got injured against Arizona. Matthew Wright will take Moody's place until Moody returns. Mitch Wishnowsky is San Francisco's punter after being a 2019 fourth round pick after the former Utah punter won the Ray Guy Award in 2018. Ronnie Bell is the kick returner and Jacob Cowing is the punt returner.

Why the Seattle Seahawks Will Win: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has every starter in 2022 back with Charles Cross at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson at at left guard, Connor Williams at center, Anthony Bradford Jr. at right guard, and George Fant at right tackle with Abraham Lucas the starting right tackle on the PUP list. Anthony Bradford is the backup left guard after being a 2023 fourth round pick. Stone Forsyth is the backup left tackle, Sataoa Laumea Seattle's 2024 fifth round pick out of Utah is the backup left guard, Olusegun Oluwaitimi, Seattle's 2023 fifth round pick out of Michigan won the Rimmington Award is the backup center, Christian Haynes Seattle's 2024 third round pick out of Connecticut is the backup right guard, and Michael Jurrell Seattle's 2024 sixth round pick is the backup right tackle until Abraham Lucas returns from the PUP list. George Fant got injured at right tackle. All three of Seattle's right tackles are injured heading into week 2. George Fant could come off of injured reserve in week 6, but Seattle may bring him back in week 7. I'm guessing Abraham Lucas will be activated off of the PUP list sometime in week 7 and make a return in week 9 or week 11 after Seattle's week 10 bye week.

Seattle has D.K. Metcalf at flanker wide receiver, Tyler Lockett is their secondary wide receiver, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle's 2023 first round pick out of Ohio State will be the slot receiver. JaJake Bobo, Dareke Young, and Lavisaka Shenault Jr. are the backup wide receivers. Unlike last year, all of Seattle's wide receivers are fully healthy.

Seattle has Noah Fant as their starting tight end. With Will Dissly gone, Seattle's depth at tight end is much weaker compared to previous years if anything ends up happening to Noah Fant.

Seattle has Kenneth Walker III as their starting running back after Michigan State's former running back dominated as a rookie with Seattle in 2022. Zach Charbonnet a 2023 second round pick out of UCLA is now the backup running back. Kenny McIntosh, Seattle's 2023 seventh round pick out of Georgia is the third string running back after being the fourth string running back as a rookie. Kenneth Walker III returned to the lineup in week 4 after missing weeks 2 and 3.

Seattle has Dre'Mont Jones at starting 3-4 right end, Jarran Reed at 3-4 nose tackle, and Leonard Williams at 3-4 left end. Seattle also has Jonathan Hankins and Byron Murphy their 2024 first round pick for depth on the defensive line. Byron Murphy is out with an injury.

Seattle has Uchenna Nwosu at 3-4 right outside linebacker and Boye Mafe complimenting him at 3-4 left outside linebacker as these two guys are the starting edge rushers in Seattle for the 2023 season. Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson are the starting 3-4 middle linebackers. Uchenna Nwosu has been ruled out in week 1. Both Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe have not practiced this week. Jerome Baker hasn't practiced this week either at 3-4 middle linebacker. Tyrel Dodson may be out too as he got downgraded from full participation on Thursday to limited participation on Friday leading up to week 4. Uchenna Nwosu missed weeks 1-4 before returning in week 5, but now he's on injured reserve again. Derrick Hall did well in relief of Boye Mafe, but Boye Mafe is a game-time decision for week 6.

Seattle has Devon Witherspoon back at field cornerback. Tariq Wolen dominated number two wide receivers at boundary cornerback during his rookie season out of UTSA going even as far as to be a finalist for Defensive Rookie Of The Year after being a 2022 fifth round pick. Tre Brown is the nickel cornerback. Nehemiah Prichett their 2024 fifth round pick is the dime cornerback. Tariq Woolen is out in week 6 and this makes things so much easier for San Francisco because now they just have to throw away from Devon Witherspoon by targeting Tre Brown and Nehemiah Pirchett.

Seattle will have Rayshawn Jenkins at strong safety and Julian Love at free safety when both safeties are fully healthy. Seattle's depth at safety feels a lot weaker after losing starting strong safety Jamal Adams and starting free safety Quandre Diggs.

Seattle has an under the radar top 10 kicker in Jason Myers at kicker. Michael Dickson isn't a bad punter. Laviska Shenault Jr. is the return specialist at kick returner and punt returner.

Prediction: San Francisco is a 3 point favorite at -3. The over or under is 47 with 66% of the public betting on San Francisco. The money line is -160 for San Francisco and +135 for Seattle. Take San Francisco to win and cover with the over at -160. Bet $240 on this game for San Francisco and win up to $400 as long as the 49ers win by 4 or more.

Final Score 49ers 28 Seahawks 20

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Jacksonville Jaguars 1-4-0	Versus	Chicago Bears 3-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

You can check out US Football Tips our newest partner with us at Draft Utopia. Feel free to compare our point spreads to theirs.

Why the Jacksonville Jaguars Will Win: Trevor Lawrence got extended at quarterback. Jacksonville has Cam Robinson at left tackle, Ezra Cleveland at left guard, Mitch Morse at center, Brandon Scherff at right guard, and Anton Harrison at right tackle. Walker Little is the backup left tackle, Cole Van Lanen is the backup left guard, Luke Fortner is the backup center, Cooper Hodges is the backup right guard, and Javon Foster is the backup right tackle. Jacksonville's offensive line can be lethal if they avoid injuries and I love the backups in their respective roles which is one reason why the Jacksonville Jaguars could contend again in 2024.

Jacksonville has Gabriel Davis as their flanker wide receiver, Brian Thomas Jr. as their secondary wide receiver as a 2024 first round pick out of LSU, and Christian Kirk as the slot receiver. Devin Duvernay is an okay number four wide receiver, but I saw him enough in Baltimore to know he's nothing more than a quality backup at best. Parker Washington is the number five wide receiver. Jacksonville is in trouble if Gabriel Davis, Brian Thomas Jr., or Christian Kirk gets injured at wide receiver.

Evan Engram is Jacksonville's number one tight end with Luke Farrell as their number two tight end. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville's 2023 second round pick is the third string tight end which makes sense since Strange ranked twenty out of twenty on my tight end rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft. Engram's self esteem and confidence skyrocketted in Jacksonville which led to his extension. Jacksonville is in trouble if something happens to Evan Engram. Evan Engram missed week 2 after getting injured in warmups and he's expected to be out of the lineup once again in week 3. Evan Engram could be back this week.

Jacksonville has Travis Etienne as the starting running back, Tank Bigsby as the number two running back, D'Ernest Johnson is the third string running back , and Keilan Robinson a 2024 fifth round pick is the fourth string running back.

The only position where I'm comfortable with the backups from a depth perspective on the Jacksonville Jaguars offense is the offensive line. If something happens to Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Gabriel Davis, Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk, or Evan Engram then Jacksonville is in trouble. Mac Jones did sign with Jacksonville to be a backup to Trevor Lawrence, but I'm not sold on him as he peaked after his rookie season. Evan Engram missed week 2 with an injury after getting injured during warmups. Evan Engram missed weeks 2, 3, and 4. He may be back in week 5, but it sounds like Brenton Strange will be starting his fourth game in a row at tight end.

Jacksonville has Josh Hines-Allen at 4-3 right end, DaVon Hamilton at 4-3 defensive tackle, Arik Armstead at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Travon Walker at 4-3 left end. Roy Robertson-Harris is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle, Jeremiah Ledbetter is the other backup 4-3 defensive tackle, Maason Smith a 2024 second round pick out of LSU is the number five 4-3 defensive tackle, and Jordan Jefferson his LSU teammate that Jacksonville drafted in the fourth round is the number six 4-3 defensive tackle playing with Maason Smith on the third string defensive tackle pairing. Jacksonville doesn't have much depth at 4-3 defensive end, but has depth in spades at 4-3 defensive tackle. Josh Hines-Allen should be cleared to play this week despite getting a concussion in week 4 as he practiced this week.

Jacksonville has Foyesade Oluokun at 4-3 right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense and Devin Lloyd at 4-3 middle linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Chad Muma is starting at 4-3 left outside linebacker, but will also play backup middle linebacker in a 4-2-5 defense. Jacksonville also has Yasir Abdullah as the backup outside linebacker at both right and left outside linebacker. Devin Lloyd might be back in week 5 as Doug Pederson said he will play. Foyesade Oluokun got placed on injured reserve prior to week 4 and he will be back in week 8 at the earliest.

Jacksonville has Tyson Campbell at field cornerback who they recently extended, Ronald Darby at boundary cornerback, former Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage is the new nickel cornerback, Montaric Brown is the dime cornerback, Jarrian Jones a 2024 third round pick out of Florida State and De'Ante Prince a 2024 fifth round pick out of Ole Miss are competing for the quarter cornerback job. Antonio Johnson will be the new starting strong safety with Andre Cisco at free safety. Andrew Wingard is the backup free safety and Daniel Thomas who signed a team friendly extension is the backup strong safety. Darnell Savage has missed weeks 2-4, but might be back at nickel cornerback in week 5. Jacksonville saw Tyson Campbell get injured against Miami. Yes, the Jaguars do have great depth in the secondary, but Tyson Campbell is the one player Jacksonville's secondary couldn't afford to lose for extended time. Tyson Campbell is off injured reserve, but it is unlikely he plays in week 6. He could be back for week 7 against New England if he practices well this week and next week.

Jacksonville replaced Cam Little at kicker which I think was an excellent decision by the Jaguars at kicker. Logan Cooke doesn't excite me as a punter yet he's back. Devin Duvernay replaces Jamal Agnew as both a kick returner and a punt returner.

Why the Chicago Bears Will Win: Caleb Williams the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft takes over as the starting quarterback. Chicago has Braxton Jones their 2022 fifth round pick out of Southern Utah who won the left tackle job as a rookie entering year three at left tackle, Teven Jenkins at left guard, Coleman Shelton is the Chicago Bears starting center, Nate Davis enters year two as the Chicago Bears starting right guard, and Darnell Wright rounds out this offensive line after the Chicago Bears drafted the Tennessee right tackle tenth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Chicago has Kiran Amegadjie their 2024 third round pick as the backup left tackle and Ryan Bates as the backup center.

Chicago has D.J. Moore as their number one flanker wide receiver after trading the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft away to Carolina for D.J. Moore. Rome Oduzne, who was also drafted in the top 10 along with Caleb Williams is the number two wide receiver. Keenan Allen the Los Angeles Chargers number one wide receiver joins Chicago and is now the slot receiver. Tyler Scott is the number four wide receiver. Velus Jones Jr. got demoted to the number five wide receiver spot after losing the number four role to Tyler Scott last year. DeAndre Carter is the number six wide receiver. Dante Pettis the number seven wide receiver is on injured reserve. Keenan Allen was out in week 2 and is out once again in week 3. Keenan Allen is expected to return in week 4 and this will mark the first game since week 1 where the Chicago Bears will have everyone at full health since week 1.

Chicago has a special tight end in Cole Kmet who got a contract extension after being a 2020 second round pick out of Notre Dame. Chicago also added Gerald Everett the number two tight end to Tyler Higbee on the Los Angeles Rams as well as the Los Angeles Chargers starting tight end last year as their backup tight end, and Marcedes Lewis came back for one more year as a third string tight end. Chicago has D'Andre Swift as their starting running back, Khalil Herbert as the backup running back, and Roschon Johnson the backup to Bijan Robinson at Texas as the third string running back.

I love Chicago's depth at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end as Tyson Bagent the backup quarterback to Caleb Williams looked good in the preseason despite not having a high ceiling and a good floor.

Chicago has Montez Sweat at 4-3 right end and Demarcus Walker complimenting him at 4-3 left end, but both guys are versatile enough to play edge rusher on either side. Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter are both starting at 4-3 defensive tackle. Austin Booker a 2024 fifth round pick is the backup 4-3 right end. Zacch Pickens was the Chicago Bears 2023 third round pick to kick off the third round out of South Carolina and he's entering year two as a backup to Andrew Billings. When Billings fatigues, Pickens can be used as a situational defensive tackle. Darrell Taylor, a former Seattle Seahawks pass rusher is the backup 4-3 left end. Zacch Pickens will be out again in week 6, so Chicago will not have depth at defensive tackle despite every starter on the defensive line being fully healthy.

Chicago has T.J. Edwards entering year two at 4-3 right outside linebacker as well as right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Chicago Tremaine Edmunds as their new 4-3 middle linebacker as he will also play middle linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Jack Sanborn will play 4-3 left outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, but when Chicago runs a 4-2-5 nickel defense, he will be a backup to Tremaine Edmunds at middle linebacer.

Chicago has Jaylon Jones at field cornerback, Tyrique Stevenson at boundary cornerback, and Kyler Gordon is currently holding the nickel cornerback job. Terrell Smith, Chicago's 2023 fifth round pick out of Minnesota is currently the dime cornerback. Jaylon Jones returns as the quarter cornerback with all of Chicago's top five cornerbacks from last year returning. Terrell Smith might be out in week 6 when Chicago goes to London.

Jaquan Brisker is the starting strong safety. Kevin Byard is the starting free safety. Chicago added Jonathan Owens for depth at safety as Owens is the backup free safety. Elijah Hicks is the backup strong safety. Jaquan Brisker will be out in week 6 in concussion prototcol.

Chicago has Cairo Santos as their starting kicker and Tory Taylor as their starting punter. Velus Jones Jr. will be the kick returner and DeAndre Carter will be the punt returner.

Prediction: Chicago is a 1 point favorite at -1. The over or under is 42.5 with 55% of the public betting on Jacksonville. The money line is +160 for Jacksonville and -190 for Chicago. Take Chicago to win and cover with the over at -190. Bet $210 on this game for Chicago and win up to $400 as long as the Bears win by 2 or more.

Final Score Bears 23 Jaguars 20

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Washington Commanders 4-1-0	Versus	Balitmore Ravens 3-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

We're back for the 2024 NFL Season. You can follow our weekly predictions crew. Jesse Lucas won the first year in 2014-2015. Jason Bantle and myself now have two championships after I won the NFL Pickem Champion Trophy for most accurate predictions against the spread in 2020-2021 and had the most accurate NFL predictions again in 2022-2023. Oren Shiri, Tanya Holmes, and Wes Langley have one pickem title too back in 2021-2022. Lisa Donovan got her first pickem Championship last year the best record in the country last year in 2023-2024 I'm hoping to pass the torch onto someone else if you can supplant Draft Utopia in 2024-2025. Send me your predictions on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to be eligible for prizes should you have a perfect week.

For the fourth year in a row Draft Utopia defeated the maintstream media in NFL Predictions. After I had the best record in 2020-2021 going 181-74-1, Wes Langley went 189-95-1 in 2021-2022. I went 190-92-3 in 2022-2023 allowing Draft Utopia to become the first sports website in the world to three peat in NFL predictions. Last year Lisa Donovan went 199-86 on the year before her and three other staff members left the site following this NFL Season. We still got seven of our eleven from last year trying to keep our run against the mainstream media for a potential fifth year in a row for the 2024 NFL Season.

Matt Bowen of ESPN went 15-1 in week 1 and that is the best start in week 1 since people starting keeping track of mainstream media predictions in 2014. Matt Bowen ended up going 7-9 in week 2 which puts Matt at 22-10 on the year. Matt Bowen went 9-5 in week 5, but maintains the best record in the country for the second week in a row and the third time in the first five weeks entering week 6.

Andrew Kermish is one of three people with a 49-29 record tied for second nationally behind ESPN's Matt Bowen. Doug Burrell of Gridiron Experts and Jason Bantle's grandmother from the Yahoo pickem pool are the other two. Andrew has had the best record in the 2024 NFL Draft Utopia Pickem Standings all season despite being tied with Jason Bantle entering week 5 last week.

Wes Langley is one of three people with a 48-30 record on the year. Wes Langley is tied with ESPN's Stephania Bell and Twitter handle SportsInStats for the fifth best record in the country. Wes is second in the 20424 NFL Draft Utopia Pickem Standings.

Jason Bantle is the only person in the country with a 47-31 record on the year. I will update this if I find someone else with a record that good, but as it stands Jason is eighth in the country

Tracy Porter of Draft Utopia is tied for the ninth best record in the country at 46-32. Tracy is fourth in the 2024 Draft Utopia NFL Pickem Standings.

I''m now 42-36 on the year. I'm tied for twenty fifth in the country and am fifth in the 2024 Draft Utopia NFL Pickem Standings.

Joseph Potter is 39-39 on the year. Joey is tied for thirtieth in the country and is sixth in the 2024 Draft Utopia NFL Pickem Standings.

Oren Shiri is 38-40 on the year. Oren is thirty fourth nationally and is now seventh which is now last place in the 2024 Draft Utopia NFL Pickem Standings.

There's a lot fewer NFL picks records being posted this year as I only have 60 in my database and that includes Tony Mario's picks which aren't posted on the site he emails me his winners each week. If you want me to feature yours email me at chris@draftutopia.com, where I will respond and post your prediction records to the site.

Why the Washington Commanders Will Win: The Washington Commanders have Jayden Daniels starting at quarterback as the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU will start at quarterback after winning last years Heisman Trophy. Washington has Brandon Coleman a 2024 third round pick out of TCU at left tackle, Nick Allegretti at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Sam Cosmi Washington's 2021 second round pick out of Texas is at right guard, and Andrew Wylie the right tackle. Washington doesn't have a lot of quality depth players on the offensive line. Nick Allegretti did not practice entering week 4.

Washington has Terry McLaurin as their flanker wide receiver, Dyami Brown secondary wide receiver, and Olamide Zaccheaus is the slot receiver. Washington has Luke McCaffrey their 2024 third round pick out of Rice as the number four wide receiver, Jamison Crowder as their number five wide receiver, and Noah Brown as their number six wide receiver. Byron Pringle is the number seven wide receiver. Washington is starting two wide receivers that were number four wide receivers last year. Jameson Crowder is the only key player on injured reserve for the Washington Commanders in week 5 and he's eligible to come off injured reserve before Washington travels to Baltimore in week 6. Noah Brown is also out in week 5.

Washington has Zach Ertz as their starting tight end, John Bates their 2021 draft pick out of Boise State is the backup tight end, and Ben Sinnott their 2024 second round pick out of Kansass State is the third string tight end. Washington also has Brian Robinson Jr. as their starting running back with Austin Ekeler as a solid backup running back as Ekeler will be the change of pace running back to Brian Robinson Jr. Washington's third string running back is weaker than last year as the Washington Comanders will rely heavily on Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. Austin Ekeler is going to be out in week 4. Austin Ekeler is trying to clear concussion protocol and Brian Robinson Jr. didn't practice. If both running backs are out Washington may be in trouble.

Washington has Dorance Armstong Jr. at 4-3 right end, Jonathan Allen at 4-3 defensive tackle, Da'Ron Payne at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Clellin Ferrell at 4-3 left end. Sebastian Jean-Baptiste their 2024 seventh round pick is the backup 4-3 right end behind Dorance Armstrong Jr., Jer'Zhan Newton, Washington's 2024 second round pick out of Illinois is the backup to Jonathan Allen and was my top ranked defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft, Phidarian Mathis is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Da'Ron Payne, and Dante Fowler Jr. is the backup 4-3 left end behind Clellin Ferrell. Clellin Ferrell has been ruled out in week 3 and will be out for a second week in a row. Clellin Ferrell could be out for a third week in a row in week 5.

Washington has Frankie Luvu as their 4-3 right outside linebacker, Bobby Wagner is the 4-3 middle linebacker, and Jamin Davis the Washington Commanders 2021 first round pick out of Kentucky is the 4-3 left outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, but he's also the backup middle linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Washington has good starters at linebacker, but there's not a lot of depth at linebacker.

Washington has Benjamin St. Juste moving from nickel cornerback to field cornerback, Michael Davis is the boundary cornerback, Mike Saintristl their 2024 second round pick is the nickel cornerback. Emmanuel Forbes is the dime cornerback after being Washington's 2023 first round pick. Noah Igbinoghene is the quarter cornerback. Jeremy Chinn is the starting strong safety and Jartavius Martin now known as Quan Martin is the starting free safety. Darrick Forrest is the backup safety to both Chinn and Martin.

The Washington Commanders cut their kicker Cade York, but Austin Seibert was great at kicker in his debut in week 2 making seven field goals in one game. Byron Pringle is the kick returner and Jamison Crowder is the punt returner.

Why the Baltimore Ravens Will Win: Lamar Jackson is coming off of his second MVP regular season as the Baltimore Ravens quarterback since being drafted with the last pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Lamar Jackson has Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, Andrew Vorhees at left guard, Tyler Linderbaum at center, Daniel Faalele moving from right tackle to right guard, and Patrick Mekari is starting at right tackle. Josh Jones is the backup left tackle and Roger Rosengarten is the backup right tackle. The addition of Josh Jones gives Baltimore even more depth at offensive tackle compared to the last two seasons.

Baltimore's top three wide receivers are Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor playing in the slot. Baltimore has Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, and Deonte Hardy for depth at wide receivers. I like Baltimore's depth at wide receiver, but outside of Flowers and Bateman there doesn't feel like a third starting wide receiver in this group. Baltimore might use some two tight end sets and some two running back sets to mask this weakness in their offense and I wouldn't be suprrised to see some option plays incorporated into this offense too.

Mark Andrews is still one of the leagues best tight ends and he might supplant Travis Kelce as the leagues top tight end in 2024. Baltimore also has Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar giving Baltimore ridiculously good depth at tight end.

Baltimore has Derrick Henry as their starting running back, Justice Hill as their backup running back, Keaton Mitchell as the third string running back once he returns from the PUP list and rookie Rasheen Ali is the fourth string running back when the top three running backs are healthy, but he's been placed on injured reserve leaving an opening at third string running back with both the third string and fourth string running backs for the Baltimore Ravens unabile to play in week 1. Patrick Ricard is the starting fullback on the Balitmore Ravens and is one of the leagues better fullbacks. Rasheen Ali has been cleared to practice, but Keaton Mitchell is sitll injured.

Baltimore has depth at running back, wide receiver, tight end, and offensive tackle if injuries occur at those positions. If anything happens to Lamar Jackson the Ravens are screwed. Same could be said with the Baltimore Ravens interior offensive line.

Baltimore has Justin Madubuike at 3-4 right end, Michael Pierce at 3-4 nose tackle, and Broderick Washington at 3-4 left end. Travis Jones is the backup 3-4 nose tackle.

Baltimore has Odafe Oweh at 3-4 right outside linebacker and Kyle Van Noy at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson are quite the tandem at 3-4 middle linebacker. David Ojabo is the backup 3-4 outside linebacker. Yannick Ngakoue is the backup 3-4 left outside linebacker. Adisa Isaac is now the third string 3-4 outside linebacker when he comes back from injuries.

Nate Wiggins is the field cornerback, Brandon Stephens is the boundary cornerback, and Marlon Humphrey is the nickel cornerback. Arthur Maullet last years nickel cornerback is back at dime cornerback coming off of injured reserve this week. Ar'Darius Washington who played nickel cornerback in week 1 is now the quarter cornerback. T.J. Tampa, a 2024 fourth round pick out of Iowa State is currently the number six cornerback.

Baltimore has Kyle Hamilton at strong safety and Marcus Williams at free safety. Baltimore replaced Geno Stone with Eddie Jackson as their situational backup safety. All of Baltimore's defensive starters from last years team that returned are fully healthy. Baltimore's only injuries are at third string running back with Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali injured. Everyone else on the Baltimore Ravens is fully healthy entering week 5 as the Baltimore Ravens are fully healthy on defense for the first time all season entering week 5.

Baltimore has Justin Tucker at kicker and Jordan Stout at punter. Justice Hill is the projected kick returner on Baltimore with Tylan Wallace being the punt returner on the Baltimore Ravens.

Prediction: Baltimore is a 6.5 point favorite at -6.5. The over or under is 49.5 with 52% of the public betting on Washington. The money line is +260 for Washington and -335 for Baltimore. Take Baltimore to win and cover with the over at -335. Bet $365 on this game for Baltimore and win up to $700 as long as the Ravens win by 7 or more.

Final Score Ravens 42 Commanders 20

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Arizona Cardinals 2-3-0	Versus	Green Bay Packers 3-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

Draft Utopia airs on Talkshoe. We have a show on as well as our usual weekend show on Talkshoe and Restream which livestreams what I do on Talkshoe to Youtube showcasing the visuals I use when breaking down things on my podcast. The Draft Utopia podcast is already underway with season 14 of Draft Utopia kicking off you can watch the videos in of season 14 and season 13 on Restream in the playlist below.

Why the Arizona Cardinals Will Win: Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray seems to have matured this offsesason and it is refreshing to see him take responsibility. Arizona has Paris Johnson Jr. at left tackle after playing right tackle as a rookie, Evan Brown, the Seattle Seahawks center is Arizona's new starting left guard, Hjalte Froholdt is Arizona's starting center, Will Hernandez is back at right guard, and Jonah Williams signed with Arizona on a one year deal as a bookend to Paris Johnson Jr. after making the transition from left tackle to right tackle with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. Arizona has Kelvin Beachum as their backup left tackle who will now be the main swing tackle with Arizona's backup right tackle on injured reserve the first four weeks, Isaiah Adams Arizona's 2024 third round pick is the backup left guard, Trystan Colon is the backup center, Jon Gaines II is the backup right guard, and Christian Jones is the backup right tackle once he returns from injured . Arizona has Will Hernandez on injured reserve at right guard and Jonah Williams at right tackle after Jonah Williams got injured in week 1. Kelvin Beachum has a hamstring injury, but rookie Christian Jones was a full participant in practice despite dealing with an ankle injury. Christian Jones might get his first NFL start at right tackle in week 6.

Arizona got a true number one flanker wide receiver for Kyler Murray in Marvin Harrison Jr. who was the best receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft. Michael Wilson is the number two secondary wide receiver. Greg Dortch dominated training camp to the point where he's supplanted Zay Jones as Arizona's slot receiver. Zay Jones is now the number four wide receiver. Zach Pascal was a number four wide receiver on the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl 57 team that Jonathan Gannon was a defensive coordinator on, but he's a number five wide receiver on this roster. Former Colorado wide receiver Xavier Weaver, who I had a fifth round grade on, made Arizona's final 53 man roster as an undrafted rookie and begins the season as the number six wide receiver on this depth chart. Xavier Weaver remains that role, but Arizona has a ton of depth in terms of wide receiver.

Trey McBride, Arizona's 2022 second round pick out of Colorado State took the starting tight end job from Zach Ertz in the second half of the2023 season after seeing limited action as a rookie when Ertz got injured in 2022. Elijah Higgins who showed promise down the stretch as a number two tight end is the backup tight end. Tip Reiman a 2024 third round pick out of Illinois is the third string tight end. Trey McBride returns in week 5 after missing week 4 with a concussion.

James Conner remains the starting running back. Trey Benson, Arizona's 2024 third round pick is a good backup for James Conner in Arizona. Arizona will rely heavily on those two in the running game. Arizona has the best wide receiver depth, tight end depth, offensive tackle depth, and guard depth that Kyler Murray has ever had in his career. Arizona doesn't have a number three running back or a quality center as I'm not sold on Froholdt or Colon.

Arizona has Justin Jones starting at 3-4 right end, Roy Lopez starting at 3-4 nose tackle, and Bilal Nichols who played with Justin Jones in Chicago as their starting 3-4 left end. Dante Stills who led Arizona's defensive line in sacks as a rookie is the backup 3-4 right end. Khyris Tonga who entered the season as the favorite to start at nose tackle is now on Arizona's second team as the backup 3-4 nose tackle following the emergence of Roy Lopez and Darius Robinson, Arizona's second 2024 first round pick is the backup 3-4 left end. Arizona will have a lot of depth on this defensive line when everyone is fully healthy, but Darius Robinson will begin the first four weeks on injured reserve. Khyris Tonga the backup 3-4 nose tackle on the Arizona Cardinals is out with an injury in week 4.

Arizona will start last years 3-4 right outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck who underperformed in 2023 thanks to B.J. Ojulari tearing his ACL at 3-4 right outside linebacker after redshirting behind Gardeck last year. Dennis Gardeck will start at 3-4 right outside linebacker with Zaven Collins Arizona's 2021 first round pick out of Tulsa complimenting him. Kyzir White and Mack Wilson Sr. are the two starting 3-4 middle linebackers. I don't like the depth behind Ojulari, White, Wilson Sr., and Collins. Unfortunately for Arizona, they will have to rely on Dennis Gardeck without B.J. Ojulari this season.

Arizona Cardinals 2024 second round pick out of Rutgers, Max Melton is covering Marvin Harrison Jr. in practice and actually breaking up passes Kyler Murray is throwing Marvin Harrison Jr.'s way which means he's taken the number one field cornerback job from veteran free agent Sean Murphy-Bunting whose been a number two cornerback his entire career even dating back to Central Michigan as now Sean Murphy-Bunting can be a boundary cornerback against number two wide receivers while also mentoring rookie Max Melton on how to be the best number one cornerback he can possibly be. Garrett Williams, the Arizona Cardinals 2023 third round pick out of Syracuse is the projected nickel cornerback. This cornerback room is going to be better than I initially projected them to be if Max Melton is the field cornerback covering number one wide receivers. Jalen Thompson is back at strong safety with Budda Baker back at free safety, but both safeties are versatile enough to play both safety roles. As long as these five defensive backs stay healthy, Arizona's secondary may force some turnovers to bail out Kyler Murray when he has Call Of Duty flashbacks during NFL games.

Matt Prater is Arizona's kicker. DeeJay Dallas is the kick returner and Greg Dortch is expected to go from return specialist on both kickoffs and punts to just returning punt returns this upcoming season.

Why the Green Bay Packers Will Win: Jordan Love became the highest paid quarterback after going 9-8 and taking Green Bay to the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs last year after Green Bay's 2020 first round pick finally replaced Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay has Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Elgton Jenkins at left guard, Josh Myers at center, Jordan Morgan at right guard, and Zach Tom at right tackle. Green Bay also has Andre Dillard as the backup left tackle, Jacob Monk as the backup center, and Sean Rhyan as the backup right guard with better depth on their interior offensive line for quarterback Jordan Love. Jordan Love got injured at the end of the week 1 loss to Philadelphia and returned in week 4.

Christian Watson, Green Bay's 2022 second round pick out of North Dakota State finished his rookie season strong after missing the early portion of the season with injuries and enters year three as the flanker receiver and number one target. Romeo Doubs Green Bay's 2022 fourth round pick out of Nevada is the secondary wide receiver, but will be Green Bay's number one receiver unless he gets ruled out too after being listed as questionable for week 1. Jayden Reed Green Bay's 2023 second round pick supplanted Romeo Doubs as the number two secondary wide receiver on this depth chart after winning the slot receiver job as a rookie. Dontayvion Wicks is the number four wide receiver on the Green Bay Packers. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs could be back this week.

Green Bay has Luke Musgrave their 2023 second round pick out of Oregon State as the starting tight end. Tucker Kraft was a starting tight end on South Dakota State before the Packers picked him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Green Bay has a good starter and backup tight end on rookie deals for three more years and both tight ends can perform like number one tight ends when fully healthy. Luke Musgrave got placed on injured reserve.

Green Bay has Josh Jacobs as their starting running back and Marshawn Lloyd is the backup running back, and A.J. Dillon is the third string running back, but he will begin the season on injured reserve. Marshawn Lloyd the backup was inactive in week 1. Emmanuel Wilson who was supposed to be the third string running back got promoted to backup running back at the last minute. Green Bay has depth at running back, wide receiver, tight end.

Green Bay is moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. Preston Smith will start at 4-3 right end, Kenny Clark will start at 4-3 defensive tackle, T.J. Slaton will start at 4-3 defensive tackle beating out DeVonte Wyatt for one of the starting defensive tackle spots, and Rashan Gary is the starting 4-3 left end. Lukas Van Ness is the backup 4-3 right end as the backup to Preston Smith, Devonte Wyatt one of Green Bay's two 2022 first round picks out of Georgia is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Kenny Clark, Karl Brooks is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to T.J. Slaton, and Kingsley Enagbare is the backup 4-3 left end is the backup to Rashan Gary. Colby Wooden is Green Bay's third string 4-3 defensive tackle despite being drafted two rounds ahead of Brooks in 2023. Kenny Clark has not practiced this week.

Green Bay has Quay Walker as their 4-3 right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense with Isaiah McDuffie projected to start at 4-3 middle linebacker. Ty'Ron Hopper a rookie drafted in the third round is the backup to Quay Walker and Edgerin Cooper is the backup to Isaiah McDuffie right now, but something tells me Edgerin Cooper is starting for Green Bay by next season at the very latest with McDuffie in a contract year on the final year of his rookie deal.

Green Bay has Jaire Alexander as their field cornerback as the Green Bay Packers 2018 first round pick out of Louisville is still the teams top cornerback. Eric Stokes is the boundary cornerback after being Green Bay's 2021 first round pick. Keisean Nixon is Green Bay's nickel cornerback. Carrington Valentine is the dime cornerback and Corey Ballentine is the quarter cornerback. Green Bay has Xavier McKinney at strong safety and Javon Bullard at free safety. Jaire Alexander missed week 4. He might be back in week 5, but he could also be out this week. Jaire Alexander should be back.

Brayden Narveson beat out both Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph for the starting kicker job. Keisean Nixon Green Bay's nickel cornerback is the return specialist at kick returner and punt returner.

Prediction: Green Bay is a 5.5 point favorite at -5.5. The over or under is 49.5 with 68% of the public betting on Green Bay. The money line is +195 for Arizona and -245 for Green Bay. Take Green Bay to win and cover with the under at -245. Bet $255 on this game for Green Bay and win up to $500 as long as the Packers win by 6 or more.

Final Score Packers 27 Cardinals 21

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Houston Texans 4-1-0	Versus	New England Patriots 1-4-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

I've been uploading film to our Youtube Channel for the 2025 NFL Draft. We're even incorporating that film into our mock drafts. If you do film cut ups, add me on Twitter @DraftUtopia and message me. I'm also posting full College Games On Rumble as well as older games which are currently archived on Bitchute like LSU's National Title win over Clemson that got 8,500 views on Bitchute, but I'll probably focus more on Youtube and Rumble since Bitchute wouldn't let me upload content.

I posted a film cut of Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton VS Notre Dame.

Why the Houston Texans Will Win: C.J. Stroud the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State ended up winning Offensive Rookie Of The Year and took the Houston Texans to the Divisional Round as a rookie. Houston has Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, Kenyon Green at left guard, Juice Scruggs a 2023 second round pick out of Penn State at center, Shaq Mason at right guard, and Tytus Howard at right tackle. Blake Fisher is the backup left tackle, Kendrick Green is the backup left guard, Jarrett Patterson is the backup center, and Charlie Heck is the backup right tackle. Unlike last year there is depth everywhere on the offensive line outside of right guard and also this offensive line is fully healthy which should frighten the rest of the league. Tytus Howard missed week 5 and Blake Fisher did much better at right tackle compared to left tackle. Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, and Tytus Howard did not practice entering week 6.

Houston has Nico Collins as their number one flanker receiver, Stefon Diggs as their number two secondary receiver, and Nathaniel "Tank" Dell as their slot receiver after Stroud told the Houston Texans to draft the Houston Cougars wide receiver as a receiving target. Houston took Tank Dell in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Houston. Houston has John Metchie III currently the number four receiver on Houston's depth chart, Robert Woods is the number five wide receiverm, Steven Sims is the number six wide receiver. Xavier Hutchinson is the number seven wide receiver on this depth chart. Tank Dell will be back this week. Houston placed Nico Collins on injured reserve entering week 6.

Dalton Schultz is the starting tight end. Brevin Jordan has been the backup tight end in Quitoriano's absence before Houston cut Quitoriano. Brevin Jordan is out for the year. Cade Stover is now the backup tight end as he showed big time playmaking in the Hall Of Fame game after being a 2024 fourth round pick out of Ohio State after entering training camp as the fourth string tight end. Cade Stover's rapport with C.J. Stroud dating back to their time at Ohio State is incredible.

Joe Mixon is the starting running back. Dameon Pierce is the backup running back. Cam Akers has started the last two weeks and has emerged as a player that will probably be the Houston Texans third string running back when Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce return. Cam Akers will make his third straight NFL start in week 5. Dameon Pierce could be back in week 6, but it looks like Joe Mixon will be out another week. British Brooks is the starting fullback. Davis Mills and Case Keenum looked good as backups in the preseason, but both were going against second team players on the Chicago Bears in the Hall Of Fame game. Davis Mills is the current backup to C.J. Stroud while third stringer Case Keenum is on injured reserve.

Houston has Danielle Hunter starting at 4-3 right end, Folorunso Fatukasi starting at 4-3 defensive tackle, Mario Edwards Jr. starting at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Will Anderson Jr. their third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama starting at 4-3 left end. Jerry Hughes is the backup 4-3 right end until Dylan Horton gets back with Derek Barnett as the backup 4-3 left end. Denico Autry may start when he returns from his suspension if Mario Edwards Jr. struggles at 4-3 defensive tackle in absence. Tim Settle Jr., the former Buffalo Bills defensive tackle is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle. Jerry Hughes is still on injured reserve. Derek Barnett the backup 4-3 left end missed week 5 and looks like he will be out in week 6.

Houston has Christian Harris a linebacker from Alabama at 4-3 right outside linebacker, Azeez Al-Shaair at 4-3 middle linebacker, and Henry To'oTo'o at 4-3 left outside linebacker. Christian Harris and Azeez Al-Shaair will be the only starters at linebacker in 4-2-5 nickel packages, but I'd start Henry To'oTo'o over Azeez Al-Shaair since I beleive Henry To'oTo'o has a higher ceiling. If any of those three linebackers get injured Houston won't have any depth with Henry To'oTo'o being the only depth Houston has at linebacker when the Houston Texans choose to operate a nickel defense. Christian Harris did get placed on injured reserve and is out the first four weeks. If Henry To'oTo'o isn't starting where Christian Harris usually plays, that is a weakness that opponents will be able to exploit in the first four weeks.

Houston has Derek Stingley Jr. at field cornerback, Kamari Lassiter took the boundary cornerback job from free agent Jeffrey Okudah, Jalen Pitre will transition from free safety to nickel cornerback, Jeffrey Okudah is the dime cornerback. Jimmie Ward is starting at strong safety while Calen Bullock is starting at free safety as a 2024 third round pick out of USC. Eric Murray and M.J. Stewart remain backup safeties with Eric Murray as the backup free safety and M.J. Stewart as the backup strong safety. M.J. Stewart is out in week 1, so there won't be any depth behind Jimmie Ward if he goes down with an injury since Houston opted to move Jalen Pitre to nickel cornerback which was a position Pitre played situationally at Baylor despite mainly being a strong safety and free safety at Baylor. Jimmie Ward is out in week 4 and is game-time decision for week 5. He missed the Wednesday practice heading into week 6. Kamari Lassiter didn't practice on Wedensday either. Jeffrey Okudah is on injured reserve.

Houston has Ka'imi Fairbairn at kicker. Tommy Townsend the Kansas City Chiefs punter signed with the Houston Texans. Dameon Pierce is the kick returner and the punt returner despite seeing less carries in Houston's backfield with the arrival of Joe Mixon.

Why the New England Patriots Will Win: The New England Patriots have three quarterbacks in Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, and Joe Milton who was drafted 190 picks after Drake Maye with the one hundred ninty third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. Jacoby Brissett won the starting job despite Drake Maye outplaying him in the preseason. Drake Maye will finally play and New England might play spoiler and win some games with Drake Maye. New England's offensive line is bad, but I'm convinced Drake Maye cannot be any worse than Jacoby Brissett regardless of how bad his supporting cast is.

Drake Maye will have Vederrian Lowe at left tackle thanks to Chukwuka Okorafor leaving the tem, Sidy Sow at left guard, David Andrews at center, Layden Robinson a 2024 fourth round pick at right guard, and Michael Onwenu at right tackle. New England does not have a good left tackle. Cole Strange the starting left guard is on the PUP list and may be out until week 8. Sidy Sow who was supposed to start in relief of Cole Strange was ruled out in week 1 as well, but he returned in week 2. Caedan Wallace is the backup right tackle after being New England's 2024 third round pick. Vederrian Lowe and Caedan Wallace are injured at left tackle. Cole Strange is injured at left guard. David Andrews is injured at center and might be done for the year. Michael Onwenu's been at right tackle while Sidy Sow and Layden Robinson have started at guard. Jake Andrews the New England Patriots 2023 fourth round pick out of Troy will take over as the starting center.

New England's has Ja'Lynn Polk their 2024 second round pick as the flanker wide receiver, K.J. Osborn as the secondary wide receiver, and DeMario Douglas as their slot receiver. Javon Baker is now the number four wide receiver, Tyquan Thornton went from pushing Osborn as well as Douglas for the top target in week 1 to falling all the way down to fifth on the depth chart at wide receiver. Kayshon Boutte is the number six wide receiver. K.J. Osborn didn't practice this week, but he's questionable.

Hunter Henry will remain the starting tight end. Austin Hooper is the backup tight end and Jaheim Bell a 2024 seventh round pick out of Florida State is the third string tight end.

New England has Rhamondre Stevenson as their number one running back. Antonio Gibson is the number two running back. I'm not big on JaMycal Hasty, but Hasty is the third string running back. Antonio Gibson started in week 5, but Rhamondre Stevenson got injured in week 5 and did not practice on Wednesday leading into week 6.

The weapons are there for Drake Maye to succeed in 2025 and beyond as I believe Polk and Baker are the future number one and number two wide receivers on this depth chart. Until then, New England just needs to get through this years NFL Season unscathed by injuries. Drafting a left tackle like Will Campbell out of LSU or Kelvin Banks out of Texas will go a long way in protecting Drake Maye's blindside as Maye has gotten better in training camp, but still hasn't done enough to cement himself as the top quarterback on this depth chart.

New England has Christian Barmore at 3-4 right end, Davon Godchaux at 3-4 nose tacke, and Keion White at 3-4 left end. New England's best depth player on the defensive line is Deatrich Wise Jr. Christian Barmore is on the non football injury list and as long as he's out, New England's defensive line will struggle to get pressure on the opposing quarterback. Keion White has stepped up in his absence and New England's defensive line culd be scary good once Barmore comes back.

New England has Anfernee Jennings at 3-4 right outside linebacker who should be an every down player regardless if New England is running 4-3, 3-4, or a 3-3-5 nickel. Raekwon McMillan is the starting 4-3 middle linebacker as well as the 3-4 middle linebacker now that Ja'Whaun Bentley who had 100 total tackles for New England the past three seasons got ruled out for the year. Raekwon McMillan has a lower floor than Bentley, but a higher ceiling as well. Jahlani Tavai will play left outside linebacker and 3-4 middle linebacker regardless of whether New England is running a 4-3, 3-4, or 3-3-5 nickel. Josh Uche will play next to Anfernee Jennings at 3-4 left outside linebacker in 3-4 schemes only. Sione Takitaki is off of injured reserve, but is not ready to play this week.

New England has Christian Gonzalez their 2023 first round pick who should be the number one field cornerback. Jonathan Jones is the boundary cornerback next to Chrstian Gonzalez. Marcus Jones last years nickel cornerback will play nickel cornerback. Kyle Dugger is starting at strong safety and Jabrill Peppers is starting at free safety. Kyle Dugger got injured in week 4 and is questionable in week 5 after not practicing all week. Jaylin Hawkins who looked good in the preseason as a backup safety will start if Kyle Dugger is ruled out in week 5. Kyle Dugger missed week 5 and did not practice on Wednesday leading into week 6, so he might be out again.

Season ending injuries to Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez crippled this defense in 2023 before New England traded Judon to Atlanta for a 2024 third round pick. Christian Barmore is the only player injured on the defense right now, but he should be healthy for week 1. If New England's defense is fully healthy then this defense will be problematic for opposing NFL teams as this defense has the ability to limit what your offense does when the defense is fully healthy. With Christian Barmore out of the lineup, teams with fully healthy offensive lines should be able to give their quarterback a clean pocket.

New England has Joey Slye as the starting kicker and Bryce Baringer a 2023 sixth round pick out of Michigan State who was my top punter in the 2023 NFL Draft as the starting punter with those two entering year two as a starter. Marcus Jones is the return specialist at both kick returner and punt returner for the New England Patriots.

Prediction: Houston is a 4.5 point favorite at -4.5. The over or under is 41.5 with 70% of the public betting on Houston. The money line is -310 for Houston and +250 for New England. Take Houston to win and cover with the over -310. Bet $390 on this game for Houston and win up to $700 as long as the Texans win by 5 or more.

Final Score Texans 28 Patriots 21

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-2-0	Versus	New Orleans Saints 2-3-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

Tony Mario's 2024 NFL Power Rankings are updated. You can check them out each week.

Why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win: Baker Mayfield did well in his first year as a starting quarterback, but I'm not sure he does as well without his offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Baker Mayfield has Tristian Wirfs at left tackle, Ben Bredeson at left guard, Graham Barton their 2024 first round pick is the starting center, Cody Mauch is at right guard after being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 second round pick out of North Dakota State entering his second year, and Luke Goedeke is entering his third season as well as his second season at right tackle. Luke Goedeke went into concussion protocol this week and will be out in week 2 and he's out for the second week in a row in week 3. Luke Goedeke is now out for the fourth week in a row missing weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5. Royce Newman the backup left guard and Robert Hainsley the backup center are the only quality backups on the offensive line.

Tampa Bay has Mike Evans as their flanker wide receiver, Chris Godwin is their secondary wide receiver, and Jalen McMillan their 2024 third round pick as the slot receiver. Trey Palmer, Tampa Bay's 2023 sixth round pick out of Nebraska was the slot receiver last year as a rookie, but is now the number four wide receiver this year. Sterling Shepard is the number five wide receiver on this depth chart, but showed he could still be a serviceable slot receiver in week 5. Tampa Bay feels deeper at wide receiver than last year, but their depth outside of those four wide receivers isn't great. Jalen McMillan is out in week 4 and Trey Palmer will start at slot receiver in week 4. Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer are out in week 5. Jalen McMillan could be back in week 6, but Trey Palmer could be out another week.

Cade Otton Tampa Bay's 2022 fourth round pick at tight end enters his second season as Tampa Bay's starting tight end. Payne Durham their 2023 fifth round pick is the backup tight end. Ko Kieft a 2022 sixth round pick out of Minnesota is the third string tight end. Devin Culp their 2024 seventh roun pick out of Washington is the fourth string tight end. Tampa Bay has incredible tight end depth as they look stronger in terms of depth than last year despite not having a star tight end.

Tampa Bay has Rachaad White as their starting running back, Bucky Irving their 2024 fourth round pick out of Oregon is their backup running back, and Sean Tucker last years fourth string running back is now the third string running back.

Tampa Bay has Logan Hall at 3-4 right end, Vita Vea at 3-4 nose tackle, and Calijah Kancey at 3-4 left end. Greg Gaines is the backup 3-4 nose tackle and William Gholston as their backup 3-4 left end. Tampa Bay will have their defensive line at full health for the first time all season in week 6.

Tampa Bay has Yaya Diaby at 3-4 right outside linebacker and Joe Tryon at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Tampa Bay also has Lavonte David and K.J. Britt at 3-4 middle linebacker. Anthony Nelson is the backup 3-4 right outsie linebacker, SirVocea Dennis a 2023 fifth round pick out of Pittsburgh as their backup 3-4 middle linebacker, and Chris Braswell a 2024 second round pick out of Alabama is the backup 3-4 left outside linebacker. Tampa Bay has quite a bit of depth on the front 7 despite Shaquille Barrett leaving the team and retiring shortly afterwards.

Tampa Bay has Zyon McCollum at field cornerback, Jamel Dean at boundary cornerback, and Tykee Smith their 2024 third round pick out of Georgia as a nickel cornerback. Jordan Whitehead is starting at strong safety and Antoine Winfield Jr. is starting at free safety. Antoine Winfield Jr. missed weeks 2-5, but will finally be back in week 6. This will be the first game all season where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is fully healthy.

Chase McLaughlin is the starting kicker. Bucky Irving is the kick returner for Tampa Bay as a rookie. Trey Palmer is the punt returner for Tampa Bay, so he will still have a pivotal role on this team despite being demoted from the slot receiver to the number four wide receiver.

Why the New Orleans Saints Will Win: The New Orleans Saints have Derek Carr at quarterback. Jake Haener the 2023 Senior Bowl MVP who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints is the backup quarterback. Spencer Rattler the 2024 Senior Bowl MVP was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of South Carolina is the third string quarterback. Derek Carr will be out multiple weeks. Jake Haener struggled in relief of Derek Carr. Spencer Rattler will start the next two games for the New Orleans Saints and could start longer than that if he does well. If he does poorly, Derek Carr will probably start when he returns from his injury.

New Orleans has Taliese Fuaga at left tackle, Lucas Patrick at left guard, Erik McCoy at center, Cesar Ruiz at right guard, and Trevor Penning at right tackle. Landon Young is the backup left tackle, Nick Saldiveri is the backup left guard. New Orleans might have the worst starting left guard situation in the entire league after losing Andrus Peat. Lucas Patrick left week 1 with an injury, so Nick Saldiveri the 2023 fourth round pick out of Old Dominion might get his first career NFL start in week 2. Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz got injured in week 3. Erik McCoy got placed on injured reseve and Cesar Ruiz has been ruled out in week 4. Lucas Patrick is also injured at left guard, so the entire interior offensive line for the New Orleans Saints is out with injuries. This will be the third week in a row the Saints entire interior offensive line is out with injuries.

New Orleans has Chris Olave as their flanker wide receiver and Rashid Shaheed is the secondary wide receiver. New Orleans also has Cedrick Wilson Jr. as their slot receiver and Bub Means a 2024 fifth round pick out of Pittsburgh as their number four wide receiver.

New Orleans has Juwan Johnson as the starting tight end, Foster Moreau as the backup tight end, and Taysom Hill as their third string tight end. Foster Moreau did leave week 1 with an injury. New Orleans has Alvin Kamara as their starting running back, Jamaal Williams as their backup running back, and Kendre Miller as their third string running back.

New Orleans has Carl Granderson at 4-3 right end, Nathan Shepherd at 4-3 defensive tackle, Bryan Bresse, the New Orleans Saints 2023 first round pick out of Clemson now starts at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Cameron Jordan at 4-3 left end. New Orleans has Chase Young as their backup 4-3 right end, Khalen Saunders as the backup 4-3 defensive tackle, Khristian Boyd a 2024 sixth round pick is the other backup 4-3 defensive tackle, and Payton Turner a 2021 first round pick out of Houston is the backup 4-3 left end. Isaiah Foskey is the third string 4-3 right end and Tanoh Kpassagnon the current third string 4-3 left end is on the PUP list. John Ridgeway III is the third string 4-3 defensive tackle.

New Orleans has Willie Gay Jr. at 4-3 right outside linebacker, Demario Davis at 4-3 middle linebacker, and Pete Werner at 4-3 left outside linebacker. Jaylan Ford is the backup 4-3 right outside linebcker, D'Marco Jackson is the backup 4-3 middle linebacker. Not only does New Orleans have good starters at linebacker, the New Orleans Saints also have good depth at linebacker. Willie Gay Jr. did leave week 1 with an injury, so Pete Werner may end up starting at 4-3 right outside linebacker with Jaylan Ford starting at 4-3 left outside linebacker and Pete Werner playing right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 if Willie Gay Jr. cannot go in week 2. Willie Gay Jr. has missed the last three weeks and is not going to be back when he returns to Kansas City in week 5.

New Orleans has Marshon Lattimore at field cornerback, Paulson Adebo at boundary cornerback, and Alontae Taylor at nickel cornerback. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the dime cornerback. Jordan Howden a 2023 fifth round pick is expected to start at strong safety with Marcus Maye no longer on he roster and Tyrann Mathieu will start at free safety. Will Harris is the backup strong safety and the backup free safety.

Blake Grupe is the starting kicker. Lou Hedley is the punter. Rashid Shaheed is the return specialist at both kick returner and punt returner.

Prediction: Tampa Bay is a 3.5 point favorite at -3.5. The over or under is 44.5 with 57% of the public betting on Tampa Bay. The money line is -180 for Tampa Bay and +150 for New Orleans. Take Tampa Bay to win and cover with the under at -180. Bet $220 on this game for Tampa Bay and win up to $400 as long as the Buccaneers win by 4 or more.

Final Score Buccaneers 20 Saints 10

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Cleveland Browns 1-4-0	Versus	Philadelphia Eagles 2-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

I started a new show called Under The Bleachers with William Yannish and Brandice Bell. Here's a playlist of all the episodes.

I started a new show called Utopia Football Insider with Oren Shiri. Here's a playlist of all the episodes.

Why the Cleveland Browns Will Win: Deshaun Watson has Jedrick Wills Jr. at left tackle, Joel Bitonio at left guard, Ethan Pocic at center, Wyatt Teller at right guard, and Jack Conklin at right tackle. Cleveland also has James Hudson II as their backup left tackle, Javion Cohen as the backup left guard, Nick Harris as their backup center, Zak Zinter as the backup right guard, and Dawand Jones as the backup right tackle. Both Jedrick Wills at left tackle and Jack Conklin who was going to move from right tackle to left tackle have been ruled out as Jedrick Wills Jr. only played in week 3 before getting injured again. Wyatt Teller also got injured at right guard in week 3 before getting placed on injured reserve. This means James Hudson II will start at left tackle with Dawand Jones complimenting him at right tackle in week 1. James Hudson II and Dawand Jones struggled in week 1 and those two missed week 2 before Dawand Jones returned in week 3. Ethan Pocic got injured in week 4 and did not practice on Wendesday. James Hudson at left tackle, Joel Bitonio at left guard, Nick Harris at center, Zak Zinter at right guard, and Dawand Jones right tackle should be the starting lineup on the offensive line if the current injuries on the offensive line remain in tact. Jedrick Wills Jr. is back, but Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin are all dealing with injuries on the offensive line.

Cleveland has Amari Cooper as their flanker wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy as their secondary wide receiver and Elijah Moore as their slot receiver at slot receiver. Cedric Tillman is the number four wide receiver and will only be used in four wide receiver sets situationally for now, but if one of Cleveland's top three receivers gets injured look for Tillman to grab a starting spot and potentially not give it back. David Bell goes back to being the number five wide receiver and Jabari Thrash the Cleveland Browns 2024 fifth round pick is the number six wide receiver. Cleveland has David Njoku as their starting tight end and Jordan Akins as their backup tight end. David Njoku returned to practice in a limited practice and will be back in week 5. Cleveland has Nick Chubb as their starting running back, Jerome Ford has been the starting running back since Nick Chubb got injured in week 2 last year, Pierre Strong Jr. is the third string running back, but the backup until Nick Chubb returns, and D'Onta Foreman is the fourth string running back, but the third string running back until Nick Chubb returns. Pierre Strong Jr. is the fifth running back. All of Cleveland's five running backs practiced in a limited capacity, but Nick Chubb still hasn't been cleared to play in week 5 despite practicing with the Cleveland Browns this week. Nick Chubb is practicing in a limited capacity for a second week in a row, but it is more likely that Nick Chubb makes his NFL debut this season in week 7.

Cleveland has Myles Garrett at 4-3 right end, Dalvin Tomlinson at 4-3 defensive tackle, Shelby Harris at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Z'Darius Smith at 4-3 left end. Cleveland has Ogboninna Okoronwo as their backup 4-3 right end to Myles Garrett, Quinton Jefferson is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst III is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Shelby Harris, and Alex Wright is the backup 4-3 left end as well as the backup to Z'Darius Smith. Cleveland has a lot of bodies as well as depth on their defensive line. Myles Garrett did not practice on Wednesday neither did Alex Wright. Maurice Hurst is still on injured reserve and Alex Wright is now on injured reserve after getting injured in week 4. Myles Garrett didn't practice on Wednesday leading up to week 6.

Cleveland has Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah at 4-3 right outside linebacker, Jordan Hicks at 4-3 middle linebacker, and Devin Bush at 4-3 left outside linebacker which is a good trio of starters to have when all three are fully healthy. Tony Fields II is a good backup 4-3 right outside linebacker to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Nathaniel Watson is the backup 4-3 left outside linebacker as Cleveland's 2024 sixth round pick. Cleveland doesn't have depth behind Jordan Hicks at middle linebacker if he goes down, but I'd imagine Devin Bush moves to middle linebacker and Nathaniel Watson plays at 4-3 left outside linebacker when Cleveland depoys a 4-3 defense. Jordan Hicks is on injured reserve now at 4-3 middle linebacker. Cleveland's run defense will be suspect until Hicks returns. Jordan Hicks may be back this week and until he returns the Cleveland Browns run defense will remain a bottom five run defense as Cleveland ranks twenty eighth in the league in run defense.

Cleveland has Denzel Ward at field cornerback, Martin Emerson Jr. at boundary cornerback, and Greg Newsome II at nickel cornerback. Grant Delpit is the starting strong safety and Juan Thornhill is the starting free safety. I liked Cameron Mitchell coming out of Northwestern and he was a good addition in the 2023 NFL Draft as Mitchell did enough to win the dime cornerback job. Rodney McLeod is the backup strong safety and Ronnie Hickman is the backup free safety. D'Anthony Bell last years backup strong safety is now a third string safety.

Cleveland has Dustin Hopkins at kicker after Cade York unraveled on the Cleveland Browns last year. I'm not sold on Corey Bojorquez at punter, but the Cleveland Browns like him. Cleveland has Pierre Strong Jr. as their kick returner.

Why the Philadelphia Eagles Will Win: Philadelphia has Jalen Hurts at quarterback. Philadelphia has Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Landon Dickerson at left guard, Cam Jurgens at center, Mekhi Becton at right guard, and Lane Johnson at right tackle. Philadelphia also has Trevor Keegan as a backup left guard, Matt Hennessy as a backup center, Tyler Steen as a backup right guard. Lane Johnson missed week 4, but he was a full practice following Philadelphia's bye week.

Philadelphia has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith two wide receivers that are capable of being number one options at wide receiver. Smith played flanker receiver as a rookie, but became the secondary wide receiver once Philadelphia traded for A.J. Brown in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Jahan Dotson is the slot receiver. Johnny Wilson, Philadelphia's rookie wide receivers drafted in the sixth round is the number four wide receiver. Ainis Smith, Philadelphia's 2024 fifth round pick is the number five wide receiver. Philadelphia has all of their wide receivers at full health following the bye week.

Dallas Goedert remains a top 10 tight end in the NFL making him another asset in the passing game for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Grant Calcentera remains the backup tight end to Dallas Goedert.

Philadelphia has Saquon Barkley as their starting running back, Kenneth Gainwell as their backup running back, and Will Shipley the former Clemson running back from the 2024 NFL Draft as the third string running back. Philadelphia is deep at a lot of positions offensively and will be a force in the NFC as long as Jalen Hurts is healthy at quarterback, Jordan Mailata is healthy at left tackle, and Lane Johnson is healthy at right tackle. They have depth to reload if others on this offense outside of those three get injured, but those three must play all 17 games for Philadelphia to go on another run to a Super Bowl. I also believe offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will do well as the Philadelphia Eagles new offensive coordinator.

Philadelphia is moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. Jalen Carter is going to start at 3-4 right end, Jordan Davis will start at 3-4 nose tackle, and Milton Williams will start at 3-4 left end in a contract year. Byron Young who got cut by the Raiders is the backup 3-4 right end which is a scheme he's better suited in while Moro Ojomo is the backup 3-4 left end.

Philadelphia has Josh Sweat at 3-4 right outside linebacker, Zach Baun starting at 3-4 middle linebacker after playing outside linebacker at Wisconsin and on the New Orleans Saints, Nakobe Dean starting at the other 3-4 middle linebacker spot, and Bryce Huff starting at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Philadelphia has Nolan Smith one of their two 2023 first round picks after Jalen Carter as their backup 3-4 right outside linebacker. Oren Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. are the two backup 3-4 middle linebackers. Brandon Graham is the backup 3-4 left outside linebacker. Patrick Johnson is the third string 3-4 right outside linebacker and Jalyx Hunt, Philadelphia's 2024 third round pick out of Houston Christian is the third string 3-4 left outside linebacker.

Philadelphia has Darius Slay at field cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell is the boundary cornerback, and Cooper DeJean is Philadelphia's nickel cornerback as he looks as good as advertised. Avonte Maddox is the dime cornerback and Kelee Ringo is the quarter cornerback. Isaiah Rodgers is the number six cornerback.

Philadelphia brought back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to start at strong safety and Reed Blankenship will start at free safety. James Bradberry is the backup strong safety. Sydney Brown their 2023 third round pick out of Illinois is the backup free safety.

Philadelphia has Jake Elliott at kicker. Jake Elliott is the only asset Philadelphia has on special teams, but having a top five kicker is crucial when you need points.

Prediction: Philadelphia is a 6.5 point favorite at -6.5. The over or under is 44 with 60% of the public betting on Philadelphia. The money line is +260 for Cleveland and -320 for Philadelphia. Take Philadelphia to win and cover with the over at -320. Bet $380 on this game for Philadelphia and win up to $700 as long as the Eagles win by 7.

Final Score Eagles 27 Browns 20

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Indianapolis Colts 2-3-0	Versus	Tennessee Titans 1-3-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

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Why the Indianapolis Colts Will Win: Anthony Richardson the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Florida started the year before a season ending injury shut him down early in 2023. I feel like Anthony Richardson is poised to rebound in 2024 and as long as he's healthy the Indianapolis Colts have a shot to make things interesting in the AFC South Division. Indianapolis also signed Joe Flacco to be his backup this season. Joe Flacco came in for an injured Anthony Richardson in week 4 and the Indianapolis Colts still won largely due to the play of running back Jonathan Taylor. Joe Flacco made his first NFL start in week 5. Anthony Richardson will be back from an injury and will start this game in week 6.

Anthony Richardson has Bernard Raimann at left tackle, Quinton Nelson at left guard, Ryan Kelly at center, Tanor Bortolini at right guard replacing Will Fries whose out for the year after Bortolini finished in the top five among centers as a rookie the last two weeks when Ryan Kelly was out, and Braden Smith at right tackle. Matt Goncalves a 2024 third round pick out of Pittsburgh is the backup left tackle, Danny Pinter is the backup left guard, center, as well as the backup right guard, and Blake Freeland one of their draft picks out of BYU is the backup right tackle. Jake Witt a 2023 seventh round pick out of Northern Michigan is the third string left tackle. Indianapolis didn't have Ryan Kelly in week 4. Ryan Kelly will be back in week 6 after missing the last two weeks at center.

Indianapolis has Michael Pittman Jr. as their flanker wide receiver, Josh Downs as their secondary wide receiver when fully healthy, and Alec Pierce as their slot receiver. Adonai Mitchell the Indianapolis Colts 2024 second round pick out of Texas is the number four wide receiver. Ashton Dulin who scored a 54 yard receiving touchdown in week 1 is the number five wide receiver on this depth chart. Anthony Gould a 2024 fifth round pick out of Oregon State is the number six wide receiver, but he feels like nothing more than a career backup. Michael Pittman Jr. is out for multiple weeks and may get placed on injured reserve. Josh Downs now becomes the flanker wide receiver with Alec Pierce as the secondary wide receiver and Adonai Mitchell as the slot receiver until Michael Pittman Jr. returns.

Kyler Granson is the starting tight end. Mo Alie-Cox is the backup string tight end. Drew Ogletree is the third stright tight end thanks to Jelani Woods going on injured reserve for the second year in a row after staying healthy and starting in the second half of his rookie year. Indianapolis remains stacked at tight end.

Indianapolis has Jonathan Taylor as their starting running back, but the Colts are in trouble if he goes down again. Trey Sermon a fourth string running back on the Philadelphia Eagles last year is the backup running back. Evan Hull a 2023 fifth round pick out of Northwestern whose better in pass protection than Sermon is struggling to jump Sermon on the depth chart after missing most of his rookie season with a season ending injury so far in his second NFL season. Indianapolis had Zack Moss last year which is why they were able to stay competitive at times even without Jonathan Taylor and I'm not sure that's the case again in 2024 if Jonathan Taylor goes down as Taylor is the most important player on this offense with a lack of quality depth options behind him. Jonathan Taylor missed week 5, but he practiced in week 6 on Wednesday, but did not practice on Thursday. Both Jonathan Taylor and Trey Sermon look like game-time decisions at running back.

Indianapolis has Laiatu Latu their 2024 first round pick out of UCLA at 4-3 right end, DeForest Buckner at 4-3 defensive tackle, Grover Stewart back at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Kwity Paye their 2021 first round pick at 4-3 left end. Dayo Odeyingbo a 2021 second round pick out of Vanderbilt is the backup 4-3 right end with Samson Ekubam tearing his ACL, Raekwon Davis will be the backup number three 4-3 defensive tackle, Adetomiwa Adebawaroe a defensive lineman out of Northwestern that I loved in the 2023 NFL Draft is the number four 4-3 defensive tackle. DeForest Buckner got plced on injured reserve leading up to week 3 and will be out for one more week. Samson Ekubam is out for the year on injured reserve and so is Tyquan Lewis. Indianapolis doesn't have a lot of depth at 4-3 defensive end, but Kwity Paye will be back to compliment Laiatu Latu in week 6.

Indianapolis has E.J. Speed at 4-3 right outside linebacker in their 4-2-5 nickel defense and Zaire Franklin at 4-3 middle linebacker in their 4-2-5 nickel defense. I'm not sold on Jaylon Carlies as a linebacker since he played safety at Missouri.

Indianapolis will have Julius Brents their 2023 second round pick out of Kansas State as their number one field cornerback. Jaylon Jones a 2023 seventh round pick out of Texas A&M is the boundary cornerback. Kenny Moore II last years nickel cornerback remaining at nickel. Julius Brents is having season ending knee surgery at field cornerback which could hurt the Indianapolis Colts. Kenny Moore II got injured in week 3 and missed the last two weeks, but Kenny Moore II could return in week 5.

Indianapolis is starting Julian Blackmon at strong safety. Ronnie Harrison Jr., Nick Cross, Trevor Denbow, and Rodney Thomas II have all struggled to win the free safety job with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley stating he has no idea who will start at free safety across from Blackmon. Daniel Scott who got injured as a rookie is still on injured reserve entering year two. Indianapolis wisely opted to name Nick Cross the starting free safety across from Blackmon as Nick Cross was a 2022 third round pick out of Maryland. Julian Blackmon is starting at strong safety and Nick Cross is starting at free safety. Nick Cross leads the NFL in total tackles through four weeks despite the Indianapolis Colts having questions at free safety heading into the year.

Matt Gay is the Indianapolis Colts starting kicker. Some guy named Rigoberto Sanchez who I never heard of is the Indianapolis Colts punter. Anthony Gould will be both the kick returner and punt returner for the Indianapolis Colts on special teams. Matt Gay didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but he showed up on Friday.

Why the Tennessee Titans Will Win: Will Levis took over for Ryan Tannehill in the second half of last season as the starting quarterback as the 2023 second round pick out of Kentucky did well enough to remain the starting quarterback without getting benched. Tennessee added former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, who started in Pittsburgh's wild card loss to Buffalo as their backup. Mason Rudolph came in for an injured Will Levis in week 4 and won the game for the Tenenssee Titans. Will Levis was a full practice on Wednesday and might start again in week 6.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis has JC Latham Tennessee's 2024 first round pick switching from right tackle at Alabama to left tackle after being drafted seventh overall, Peter Skoronski Tennessee's 2023 first round pick who was Northwestern's left tackle entering year two at left guard, Lloyd Cushenberry III at center, Dillon Radunz is the starting right guard, and Nicholas Petit-Friere will start at right tackle. Jaleyn Duncan is the backup left tackle, Dane Brunskil is the backup interior lineman at all three interior spots. Will Levis got injured and backup quarterback Mason Rudolph did a much better job leading the Tennessee Titans to their first win in week 4. One has to wonder if Mason Rudolph will be the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback moving forward.

Tennessee has DeAndre Hopkins as their flanker wide receiver, but they signed a second wide receiver that can play the flanker if DeAndre Hopkins is injured in Calvin Ridley as DeAndre Hopkins is a gametime decision for week 1. Tyler Boyd signed a one year contract to be the Tennessee Titans slot receiver. This means Treylon Burks, the Tennessee Titans 2022 first round pick out of Arkansas goes from being a number one wide receiver as a rookie replacing A.J. Brown to being the number four wide receiver. Burks might get an opportunity at redemption with Ridley and Boyd if Hopkins is out in week 1. Tennesseee also has Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as their number five wide receiver as well as Jha'Quan Jackson their 2024 sixth round pick out of Tulane as their number six wide receiver. Tennessee has an abundance of wide receivers, but they are in trouble if Hopkins or Riley miss any significant time due to injuries.

Tennessee has Chigoziem Okonwko as their starting tight end and Josh Whyle as the backup tight end. Tennessee has Tony Pollard as their starting running back and Tyjae Spears their 2023 third round pick out of Tulane entering year two as the backup running back. Tennesee has depth at wide receiver, but that feels like the only position the Tennessee Titans have depth at.

Tennessee has Jeffrey Simmons at 3-4 right end, T'Vondre Sweat, Tennessee's 2024 second round pick out of Texas will start at 3-4 nose tackle, and Sebastian Joseph-Day will start at 3-4 left end replacing Denico Autry. Tennessee also has Keondre Coburn for depth at nose tackle as Coburn mentored Sweat at Texas when Sweat was a freshman.

Tennesee has Harold Landry at 3-4 right outside linebacker and Rashad Weaver at 3-4 left outside linebacker until Arden Key returns from a six game suspension with Key starting next to Landry once his suspension is over. Caleb Murphy is the backup edge rusher to Harold Landry giving Tennessee four good pass rushers. Kenneth Murray will start at 3-4 middle linebacker and call the plays on defense with Ernest Jones IV a starting 3-4 middle linebacker on the Los Angeles Rams complimenting him. Jack Gibbens and Cedric Gray, Tennessee's 2024 fourth round pick out of North Carolina are the two backup 3-4 middle linebackers. Tennessee has quite a bit of depth at 3-4 outside linebacker and 3-4 middle linebacker when everyone is fully healthy.

Tennessee has Chidobe Awuzie at field cornerback, L'Jarius Sneed at boundary cornerback, and nickel cornerback Roger McCreary enters his third season at nickel cornerback. Jarvis Brownlee Jr. a 2024 fifth round pick out of Louisville is the dime cornerback. Chidobe Awuzie got placed on injured reserve in week 4. In week 4, Tennessee started Jarvis Brownelee Jr. their 2024 fifth round pick at field cornerback, left L'Jarius Sneed at boundary cornerback and left Roger McCreary at nickel cornerback. Jarvis Brownlee Jr. will start as the number one cornerback on the Tennessee Titans for the next three weeks and could become a permanent starter in this secondary depending on how he does the next three weeks with Chidobe Awuzie's injury history.

Tennessee has Amani Hooker at strong safety and Quandre Diggs at free safety. Tennessee also has Jamal Adams as the backup strong safety and Mike Brown as the backup free safety.

Tennessee has depth at nose tackle, 3-4 outside linebacker, 3-4 middle linebacker, cornerback and safety. Tennessee doesn't have depth at five technique if Jeffrey Simmons or Sebastian Joseph-Day get injured at 3-4 defensive end.

Tennessee has Nick Folk at kicker and Ryan Stonehouse is back at punter. Tyjae Spears is expected to be the kick returner while Jha'Quan Jackson is expected to be the punt returner.

Prediction: Indianapolis is a 1 point favorite at -1. The over or under is 42 with 60% of the public betting on Indianapolis. The money line is -125 for Indianapolis and +105 for Tennessee. Take Indianapolis to win and cover with the under at -125. Bet $175 on this game for Indianapolis and win up to $300 as long as the Colts win by 2 or more.

Final Score Colts 20 Titans 17

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Los Angeles Chargers 2-2-0	Versus	Denver Broncos 3-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

You can go to Fanpicks and enter the Promo Code draftutopia to win $20 dollars. We also have a Draft Kings advertisement on our home page so you can go there to sign up for Fantasy Football as well.

Why the Los Angeles Chargers Will Win: Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has a good offensive line with Rashawn Slater at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Bradley Bozeman at center, Trey Pipkins III at right guard, and Joe Alt, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft at right tackle. Los Angeles has Jordan McFadden as their backup left guard and Jamaree Salyer as the backup right guard. Los Angeles has a good starting lineup on the offensive line along wity quality backups at both guard spots. The lack of offensive tackle depth is still an issue, but as long as Slater and Alt are healthy this team will be tough to stop defensively as Justin Herbert will have a clean pocket. Both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt missed week 4 before the bye week. Slater was ruled out while Alt was questionable before being ruled out. Both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt practiced in a limited capacity. There's a chance the Los Angeles Chargers get both of their starting offensive tackles back in week 6 after Rashawn Slater had a pectoral injury and Joe Alt had a knee injury which kept both offensive tackles out in week 4 before having another week to rest during the Los Angeles Chargers bye week in week 5.

Los Angeles has Ladd McConkey thier 2024 second round pick out of Georgia at flanker wide receiver. Josh Palmer is the secondary wide receiver. D.J. Chark is the slot receiver. Quentin Johnston, the Los Angeles Chargers 2023 first round pick out of TCU won is the number four wide receiver on the Los Angeles Chargers depth chart. Derius Davis is the number five wide receiver. Simi Fehoko is the number six wide receiver rounding out the second string wide receivers and Brendan Rice a 2024 seventh round pick as well as the son of Jerry Rice is the number seven wide receiver on this depth chart. D.J. Chark got placed on injured reserve for before week 1 and Quentin Johnston has been a top three wide receiver on this depth chart in D.J. Chark's absence.

Los Angeles has Will Dissly as their starting tight end and Hayden Hurst as their backup tight end. Hayden Hurst could be back this week, so you could see more two tight end sets. The Los Angeles Chargers also have J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards as their top two running backs with both running backs capable of being a number one running back in this backfield. J.K. Dobbins is the starter and Gus Edwards is the backup, but both are getting treated like number one running backs in a run heavy ofense.

The Los Angeles Chargers have Otito Ogbonnia at 3-4 right end, Poona Ford at 3-4 nose tackle, and Morgan Fox at 3-4 left end. Justin Eboigbe a 2024 fourth round pick out of Alabama is the backup 3-4 defensive end and Teair Tartt is the backup 3-4 nose tackle.

The Los Angeles Chargers have Joey Bosa at 3-4 right outside linebacker, Denzel Perryman at 3-4 middle linebacker, Daiyan Henley at 3-4 middle linebacker, and Khalil Mack complimenting him at 3-4 left outside linebacker with both edges having the ability to win one-on-ones against left tackles or right tackles. Los Angeles has Bud Dupree as their backup 3-4 right outside linebacker, Junior Colson a 2024 third round pick as one of their backup 3-4 middle linebackers with Troy Dye as the other backup 3-4 middle linebacker, and Tuli Tuipulotu as their backup 3-4 left outside linebacker to Khalil Mack after playing 3-4 left end at USC as well as edge rusher in a 3-4 defense on USC's defensive line leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. Los Angeles has more depth on the front seven than a year ago. Joey Bosa missed week 4. Khalil Mack started at 3-4 right outside linebacker with Tuli Tuipulotu starting at 3-4 left outside linebacker in week 4. Joey Bosa hasn't practiced after the bye week and it is looking like Joey Bosa might be out once again in week 6.

The Los Angeles Chargers have Asante Samuel Jr. at field cornerback, Kristian Fulton is the boundary cornerback, Ja'Sir Taylor is the nickel cornerback, Elijah Molden is the dime cornerback as Molden did get an interception in week 2, Cam Hart a 2024 fifth round pick out of Notre Dame is the quarter cornerback only seeing the field in five cornerback sets, and Tarheeb Still another 2024 fifth round pick out of Maryland is the number six cornerback. The Los Angeles Chargers have more cornerback depth compared to a year ago and Kristian Fulton has rebounded with the Los Angeles Chargers after struggling with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Los Angeles has Derwin James at strong safety and Alohi Gilman at starting free safety. The Los Angeles Chargers have good cornerback depth if their rookies can step up, but they lack safety depth and are screwed in the worst way possible if anything happens to Derwin James. Neither Kristian Fulton or Ja'Sir Taylor practiced on Wednesday while Asante Samuel Jr. practiced in a limited capacity. The Los Angeles Chargers may have to start Elijah Molden at boundary cornerback across from Asante Samuel Jr. and Cam Hart at nickel cornerback if neither Kristian Fulton or Ja'Sir Taylor can play.

If all of the Los Angeles Chargers top three cornerbacks are out in week 6, Elijah Molden the Chargers number four cornerback and backup free safety would be covering Courtland Sutton in one on ones. Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still, the two rookie cornerbacks the Los Angeles Chargers drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft would be starting as rookies.

The Los Angeles Chargers have Cameron Dicker as the starting kicker and JK Scott as the starting punter. Derius Davis ended up as the return specialist as a rookie starting at both kick returner and punt returner which comes as no surprise to anyone who saw him in Mobile at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl.

Why the Denver Broncos Will Win: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix won the starting quarterback job as a rookie after being Denver's 2024 first round pick. Bo Nix has Garrett Bolles at left tackle, Ben Powers at left guard, Luke Wattenberg at center, Quinn Meinerz at right guard, and Mike McGlinchey the former San Francisco 49ers right tackle enters year two as Denver's starting right tackle. Denver's offensive line is better than you would think if their starters can stay healthy. Mike McGlinchey went on injured reserve in week 3 and Denver has gone 3-0 in thieir last three games with Alex Palczewski filling in for Mike McGlinchey at right tackle. Palczewski has a high ankle sprain, but Mike McGlinchey will be back in week 7.

Courtland Sutton is the flanker wide receiver. Josh Reynolds replaces Jerry Jeudy as the secondary wide receiver. Marvin Mims Jr. is the slot receiver. Lil Jordan Humphrey is the number four wide receiver. Troy Franklin, Bo Nix's teammate at Oregon and Denver's 2024 fourth round pick is the number five wide receiver, but I believe he's good enough to supplant Reynolds as the number two wide receiver down the road since he's currently the backup to Reynolds. Devaughn Vele is the number six wide receiver as Denver's 2024 seventh round pick. Denver signed former New Orleans Saints wide receiver A.T. Perry to be the number seven wide receiver.

Adam Trautman Sean Payton's former tight end in New Orleans is now re-united with Payton in Denver as the 2020 third round pick from Dayton enters a contract year. Greg Dulcich was the starting tight end late in the season and he is the backup tight end. Lukas Krull is the third string tight end.

Javonte Williams is the starting running back for the Denver Broncos back from his season ending injury in 2022. Jaleel McLaughlin is the backup running back. Audric Estime, Denver's 2024 fifth round pick out of Notre Dame is the third string running back.

Denver has John Franklin-Myers at 3-4 right end with D.J. Jones at 3-4 nose tackle. Zach Allen is the 3-4 left end. Denver's defensive line looks pretty good on paper with this trio.

Denver has Jonathon Cooper at 3-4 right outside linebacker, Alex Singleton at 3-4 middle linebacker, Cody Barton at 3-4 middle linebacker, and Baron Browning at at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Jonah Ellis is the backup 3-4 right outside linebacker after being Denver's 2024 third round pick. Nik Bonitto is the backup 3-4 left outside linebacker. Denver has depth at edge rusher, but thanks to Drew Sanders season ending injury they will not have depth at 3-4 middle linebacker. Alex Singleton and Cody Barton can be solid inside linebackers if both stay healthy. Baron Browning is out in week 3, so it is uncertain whether Jonah Ellis or Nik Bonitto starts at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Alex Singleton tore his ACL at 3-4 middle linebacker and is out for the year and his backup Drew Sanders is also out.

Denver has Patrick Surtain II at field cornerback, Riley Moss is the boundry cornerback, Ja'Quaun McMillian is the nickel cornerback until Damarri Mathis returns from injured reserve, Levi Wallace is the dime cornerback, and Kris Abrams-Draine their 2024 fifth round pick is the quarter cornerback. Damarri Mathis surprised everyone when he took control of the boundary cornerback job as a 2022 fourth round pick out of Pittsburgh. P.J. Locke is the starting strong safety and Brandon Jones is the starting free safety. J.L. Skinner looked good in the preseason and he might supplant P.J. Locke as the starting strong safety at some point this season, but he's been ruled inactive in week 3. Denver's backup free safety Dellarin Turner-Yell is on the PUP list.

Denver has Will Lutz at kicker and Riley Dixon at punter. Marvin Mims Jr. is the return specialist in addition to the slot receiver at both kick returner and punt returner.

Prediction: Los Angeles is a 2.5 point favorite at -2.5. The over or under is 37 with 62% of the public betting on Los Angeles. The money line is -150 for Los Angeles and +125 for Denver. I like Denver to win and to cover with the under at +125. Bet $175 on this game for Denver and win up to $300 as long as the Chargers win by 2 or less.

Final Score Broncos 20 Chargers 16

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2-0	Versus	Las Vegas Raiders 2-3-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

I will be doing a 12 team College Football Breakdown of myy top 12 teams in College Football Each Week. This will be replacing the Bill Clinton College Football Playoff Selection Special that I've done for many years meaning you will get an authentic take from yours truely. I will also rank my projected SEC, Big 10, ACC, and Big 12 Champions in the top 4 overall since that's how the final College Football Playoff will be formatted with teams 5-11 also being power 4 teams as well as one group of five team.

Texas

Texas has Quinn Ewers at quarterback and Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle. Texas crushed Michigan in week 2. After Quinn Ewers got injured, Arch Manning came in and balled out. Texas is now my new number one team in the polls after beating Michigan. I moved this team down to 5 after Alabama defeated Georgia, but with Vanderbilt defeating Alabama and Arkansas defeating Tennessee, the Texas Longhorns are the lone undefeated team in the SEC.

Previously Ranked: 5th

Ohio State

Ohio State has a ton of talent returning and they might be a more complete team than Georgia. Georgia has Carson Beck at quarterback while Ohio State has former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard coming in from the transfer portal to replace Kyle McCord whose now at Syracuse. Lots of seniors returned to Ohio State and this is the preseason number two team in the country as well as the consensus favorite to win the Big 10.

Miami FL

The Miami Hurricanes are my ACC winner. I think with the additions of Cam Ward at quarterback and Damien Martinez at running back, the U finds a way to climb back into relevancy after attacking the transfer portal. Xavier Restrepo is a good wide receiver that Ward can depend on. Miami FL's offensive line has Jalen Rives at left tackle, Zach Carpenter at center, Anez Cooper Jr. at right guard, and Francis Mauigoa a potential 2026 first round pick at right tackle. They have the number seven offensive line with four returning starters up front and number twelve defensive line in the country according to Phil Steele. Miami barely beat Virginia Tech and California, but the best team in the ACC is 5-0 on the year.

Iowa State

Iowa State is the highest ranked Big 12 Team in the top 25. Iowa State's win over Iowa gives them the landslide edge over BYU with both teams tied for the best record in the Big 12 as unbeaten teams.

Previously Ranked: 11th

Oregon

Oregon has one of the most complete offenses in the country. Dillon Gabriel is the starting quarterback, Evan Stewart as well as Tez Johnson are the top two wide receivers, Terrance Ferguson is the starting tight end, Josh Connerly is the blindside at left tackle, and Ajani Cornelius is the bookend offensive tackle at right tackle. Oregon clobbered Oregon State in the Civil War.

Previously Ranked: 8th

Penn State

Penn State has Drew Allar back at quarterback, Nicholas Singleton back at running back, Tyler Warren back at tight end, Sal Wormley back at right guard, and Abdul Carter back at right outside linebacker. Penn State also added Julian Fleming Ohio State's slot receiver in the transfer portal. Penn State's toughest game is a home game against Ohio State as they do not play Oregon or Michigan. Penn State is 3-0 and plays Illinois.

Previously Ranked: 10th

BYU

BYU leads the Big 12. BYU is the only undefeated Big 12 team that is 2-0 in conference play.

Previously Ranked: 4th

Indiana

Indiana is the fourth unbeaten team in the Big 10. They are the only Big 10 team 3-0 against the Big 10 so far in 2024. This makes Indiana my 8 seed in the 12 team playoff with only 12 undefeated FBS teams left.

Previously Ranked: Not Ranked

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is 5-0 for the first time since 1991. When Pittsburgh won the ACC two years ago they lost to both Western Michigan and Miami FL at home. Their redshirt freshman quarterback was a four star recruit from Alabama and he looks more promising than Kenny Pickett so far.

Previously Ranked: Not Ranked

Liberty

Liberty is the first of three undefeated group of five teams. Liberty comes in these rankings at 10.

Previously Ranked: Not Ranked

Army

Army is one of the 12 undefeated teams left in the FBS. Them and their rival Navy are the only two unbeatens in the AAC.

Previously Ranked: Not Ranked

Navy

Navy upset a Memphis team that was favored to win the AAC. Navy rounds out this top 12 for now.

Previously Ranked: Not Ranked

Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Will Win: The Pittsburgh Steelers signed two quarterbacks to one year deals. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both got one year contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think both of these quarterbacks are massive upgrades over Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Russell Wilson will start in week 1. Russell Wilson got ruled out in week 1 with an injury, so now Justin Fields will start in week 1. Justin Fields has won the first three games for Pittsburgh, so he has the starting quarterback job locked up.

Pittsburgh has Broderick Jones their 2023 first round pick out of Georgia finally starting at left tackle after easing him in last year, Isaac Seumalo is the left guard, Zach Frazier Pittsburgh's 2024 second round pick out of West Virginia will start at center, James Daniels is the starting right guard, and Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh's 2024 first round pick out of Washington is the starting right tackle. Fautanu was a blindside to Michael Penix Jr. at Washington, but has experience at both left tackle and right tackle making him an ideal bookend to Broderick Jones since he doesn't have the high ceiling Jones has. Troy Fautanu had knee surgery and is out for the regular season, so Pittsburgh opted to start Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle and moved Broderick Jones back to right tackle where he played as a rookie after he started two games at left tackle. James Daniels is out for the year at right guard too. Spencer Anderson has also started in relief of Isaac Seumalo at left guard, but Seumalo is back this week. Pittsburgh enters week 6 with Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle, Isaac Seumalo at left guard, Zach Frazier at center, Mason McCormick at right guard, and Broderick Jones at right tackle. There is a chance Spencer Anderson starts at right guard, but Mason McCormick looked a lot better in pass protection than Spencer Anderson which leads me to believe McCormick will start at right guard this week.

George Pickens is the flanker receiver and has been Pittsburgh's number one wide receiver the last two years. Van Jefferson is the secondary wide receiver as Pittsburgh essentially replaced Diontae Johnson who started out as the flanker receiver when George Pickens arrived with Van Jefferson since Johnson was no longer performing like a number one receiver the last three years with constant drops. Calvin Austin III is the slot receiver. Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh's 2024 third round pick out of Michigan is the number four wide receiver. Scotty Miller a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver who played under Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta last year when Smith was their head coachis the number five wide receiver, but since Roman Wilson got ruled out in week 1, Scotty Miller will be the number four wide receiver.

Pittsburgh's wide receiver depth is respectable, but there's not a guy in this group outside of George Pickens that has the star power you want from a wide receiver. Roman Wilson could be that guy eventually, but the fact that he failed to win a starting wide receiver job does say something and he's also out in week 1.

Pittsburgh has Pat Freiermuth as their starting tight end, Darnell Washington was my number two tight end behind Michael Mayer in the 2023 NFL Draft despite falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round. Washington showed me why he has starter potential when filling in for an injured Freiermuth despite entering training camp as the third string tight end before beating out Zach Gentry for the tight end two job as a rookie. Pittsburgh is also moving starting fullback Connor Heyward into the third string tight end role since he outplayed Gentry like Darnell Washington last year. MyCole Pruitt who was Arthur Smith's third string tight end in Atlanta is the fourth string tight end in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh has Najee Harris their 2021 first round pick out of Alabama as their starting running back coming off a third straight season with over 1,000 rushing yards. Pittsburgh chose not to place a fifth year tender on Najee Harris despite his consistency due the emergence of their backup running back Jaylen Warren who showed he could be a number one running back on Pittsburgh. Warren is an RFA after this season and will be cheaper to retain than Harris which is probably why Pittsburgh didn't place a fifth year tender on Najee Harris. Pittsburgh also added Atlanta Falcons third string running back Cordarrelle Patterson who entered last years training camp as the first team running back before being supplanted by both Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in Atlanta. Patterson knows Arthur Smith's offense since he was the bell cow when Arthur Smith was first hired as Atlanta's head coach so having Patterson in this running back room to teach Harris as well as Warren concepts in Arthur Smith's offense is a major asset in its own right despite the fact that he's currently on the NFL injured list for Pittsburgh. Ptitsburgh also has Jack Colletto a former Oregon State running back as their starting fullback managing to reload at fullback after moving Connor Heyward to tight end.

Pittsburgh has more depth at running back and tight end than last year. I think they downgraded at wide receiver and will be dependent on George Pickens for big plays as I don't see Van Jefferson doing much in Pittsburgh's offense. The quarterback play as well as the lack of experience on this offensive line with Broderick Jones finally starting at left tackle in the NFL after being Pittsburgh's 2023 first round pick along with Fautanu a 2024 first round pick at right tackle and Zach Frazier a 2024 second round pick at centr means this offensive line could dominate down the road, but might also have some growing pains this upcoming season. If Isaac Seumalo is out in week 1, Mason McCormick would be the third rookie on this offensive line to start in week 1 as Seumalo got injured in practice last week.

Pittsburgh has Cameron Heyward at 3-4 right end, Keeanu Benton at 3-4 nose tackle, and Larry Ogunjobi at 3-4 left end. Dean Lowry is the backup 3-4 right end after being a starting 3-4 right end on Green Bay and Minnesota in 2023. Montravious Adams started at nose tackle prior to Benton beating him out for the nose tackle job as a second round rookie out of Wisconsin in the 2023 NFL Draft, but Adams has done well as the backup nose tackle. Isaiahh Loudermilk last years backup 3-4 right end to Heyward is now the backup 3-4 left end when Lowry is healthy. DeMarvin Leal, Pittsburgh's 2022 third round pick out of Texas A&M is now being listed as the third string 3-4 right end and Logan Lee, Pittsburgh's 2024 sixth round pick out of Iowa is the third string 3-4 left end.

Pittsburgh has a top 5 edge rusher duo in the league with Alex Highsmith at 3-4 right outside linebacker and T.J. Watt at 3-4 left outside linebacker as this is one of the better pass rushing tandems in the NFL. Patrick Queen left Baltimore to go to Pittsburgh with Baltimore's 2020 first round pick and Elandon Roberts as the two starting 3-4 middle linebackers. Nick Herbig is the backup 3-4 right outside linebacker as the 2023 fourth round pick out of Wisconsin showed promise down the stretch as Nick Herbig is now the number three edge rusher in Pittsburgh as the main 3-4 outside linebacker thanks to Markus Golden retiring. Payton Wilson, the Butkus Award winner that Pittsburgh drafted out of North Carolina State in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft is the main backup 3-4 middle linebacker. Pittsburgh feels thinner at 3-4 outside linebacker and 3-4 middle linebacker in terms of depth.

Nick Herbig will start at 3-4 right outside linebacker next to T.J. Watt at 3-4 left outside linebacker in week 4. Alex Highsmith got injured in week 3 and will miss a few weeks. Highsmith missed the last two games and Pittsburgh has lost their last two games without Highsmith.

Joey Porter Jr. came in as a 2023 second round pick and ended up becoming Pittsburgh's number one field cornerback by midseason. Pittsburgh let both Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace walk. Pittsburgh traded for Carolina Panthers field cornerback Donte Jackson who will get to cover number two receivers at boundary cornerback instead of number one receivers. Jackson had to face Julio Jones, Mike Evans, Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin, Drake London, and Chris Olave when he was fully healthy in Carolina. Now he will get guys like Rashod Bateman, Tee Higgins, and Jerry Jeudy which will be good competition, but also probably more managable for him when facing AFC North teams. Pittsburgh also brought back their former cornerback Cameron Sutton who was the Detroit Lions field cornerback last year. Cameron Sutton got suspended for the first eight games and will not be back until after Pittsburgh's bye week in week 9. Beanie Bishop Jr. an undrafted rookie out of West Virginia ended up beating out Corey Trice Jr. and Darius Rush for the nickel cornerback job until Cameron Sutton returns from his suspension which mans Corey Trice Jr. will be the dime cornerback and Darius Rush will be the quarter cornerback in the absence of Cameron Sutton.

Pittsburgh signed DeShon Elliott who did well for Miami at safety last year as their new starting strong safety. DeShon Elliott will compliment Pittsburgh's Pro Bowl free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick quite well. Miles Killebrew remains the backup strong safety while Damontae Kazee remains the backup free safety. I did not like Terrell Edmunds as I had a fifth round grade on Pittsburgh's 2018 first round pick and gaslit the Steelers front office for allowing Lamar Jackson to fall to a Division Rival. Turns out I was right on that one yinzers. As far as the Pittsburgh Steelers current safety tandem entering 2024, this might be the most encougaring safety tandem Pittsburgh has had since Troy Polamalu lined up at strong safety with Ryan Clark at free safety there's also good depth behind those two safeties as well.

Pittsburgh has Chris Boswell at kicker and Cameron Johnston at punter. Cordarrelle Patterson will be Pittsburgh's kick returner while Calvin Austin III will be the punt returner. Quez Watkins could end up as Pittsburgh's kick returner if Cordarrelle Patterson isn't healthy enough to play by week 1.

Why the Las Vegas Raiders Will Win: The Las Vegas Raiders have Aiden O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II competing for the starting quarterback job. I don't trust either guy, but Gardner Minshew II won the starting quarterback job. Gardner Minshew II got benched against Denver and Aidan O'Connell will be the starting quarterback moving forward.

Las Vegas has Kolton Miller at left tackle, Cody Whitehair at left guard, Andre James at center, Dylan Parham at right guard, and Thayer Munford Jr. at right tackle. Andrus Peat is the backup left tackle, Jackson Powers-Johnson is the backup interior offensive lineman at all three interior spots after being a 2024 second round pick, and DJ Glaze a 2024 third round pick is the backup right tackle. Thayer Munford Jr. missed the last two games, but he should be back at right tackle. Kolton Miller did not practice on Wednesday leading into week 6.

Las Vegas has weapons in the passing game. Davante Adams is arguably a top 5 wide receiver in the NFL and is going to be the primary flanker wide receiver in Las Vegas for the third year now. Jakobi Meyers is the secondary wide receiver. Tre Tucker, the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 third round pick out of Cincinnati will be the slot receiver. There's literally zero wide receiver depth if injuries occur and I'm not sold on Tre Tucker as the slot receiver. Davante Adams will be out for the third week in a row.

Brock Bowers, the Las Vegas Raiders 2024 first round pick is the number one tight end. Michael Mayer is the number two tight end in two tight end sets as well as the backup tight end after being my top ranked tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame as well as the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 second round pick. Harrison Bryant is the third string tight end. Michael Mayer will be out in week 4 which means Harrison Bryant will be the number two tight end.

Zamir White is the starting running back. Alexander Mattison is the backup running back. Ameer Abdullah the backup running back two years ago returns as the third string running back.

I don't like the Raiders depth on the offensive line, but the Raiders starters on the offensive line are decent for once. Tight end and running back are the Raiders two deepest positions as I don't trust the depth that the Las Vegas Raiders have at wide receiver.

Las Vegas has Malcolm Koonce at 4-3 right end, Christian Wilkins at 4-3 defensive tackle, John Jenkins at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Maxx Crosby at 4-3 left end. Tyree Wilson is currently the backup 4-3 defensive end to both Malcolm Koonce and Maxx Crosby entering year two. Las Vegas is very thin in terms of depth on this defensive line outside of Tyree Wilson. Tyree Wilson, the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 first round pick out of Texas Tech left week 1 with an injury. Maxx Crosby will be out in week 4. Maxx Crosby played in week 5, but did not practice on Wednesday entering week 6.

Las Vegas has Divine Deablo at 4-3 right outside linebacker. Robert Spillaine is the starting 4-3 middle linebacker. Tommy Eichenberg a rookie middle linebacker and 2024 fifth round pick out of Ohio State is the backup 4-3 middle linebacker. Divine Deablo has missed the last three games, but he might be back in week 6.

Nate Hobbs did well as a number one cornerback during his rookie season despite being a 2021 fifth round pick out of Illinois getting the Raiders to the playoffs despite Jon Gruden being fired. Hobbs missed some games with injuries, but is still the field cornerback entering his contract year in 2024. Jack Jones is the boundary cornerback on the Las Vegas Raiders complimenting Nate Hobbs. Jakorian Bennett, the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 fourth round pick out of Maryland is going to start at nickel cornerback right away as a rookie and maintains that role heading into his second season. Darnay Holmes is the dime cornerback and is now the number four cornerback on the Las Vegas Raiders depth chart. Decamrion Richardson a 2024 fourth round pick from Mississippi State is the quarter cornerback. Marcus Epps is the starting strong safety and Tre'von Moehrig the Las Vegas Raiders 2021 second round pick out of TCU enters year four as the starting free safety. Las Vegas doesn't have any depth at safety.

Daniel Carlson is a top 10 kicker, but not a top 5 kicker. Some guy I've never heard of named Tyreik McCalister is the return specialist at both kick returner and punt returner.

Prediction: Pittsburgh is a 2.5 point favorite at -2.5. The over or under is 43.5 with 54% of the public betting on Pittsburgh. The money line is -115 for Pittsburgh and +105 for Las Vegas. I like Pittsburgh to win and Las Vegas to cover with the under at +105. Bet $195 on this game for Las Vegas and win up to $300 as long as the Steelers win by 2 or less.

Final Score Steelers 14 Raiders 13

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Atlanta Falcons 3-2-0	Versus	Carolina Panthers 1-4-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

I got College Scoreboards from the Scorestream app as well as NFL scores. I just feel like posting ten different scoreboards before getting to the article will cause readers to lose interest. Scoreboards for the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, and Mountain West are now up.

Why the Atlanta Falcons Will Win: Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to a four year contract in Free Agency before drafting his successor Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft to groom behind Kirk Cousins.

Kirk Cousins will have Jake Matthews at left tackle, Matthew Bergeron at left guard, Drew Dalman at center, Chris Lindstrom at right guard, and Kaleb McGary at right tackle, but Atlanta's got even less depth on this offensive line than a year ago after everyone stayed healthy in 2023 as Jovaughn Gwyn a 2023 seventh round pick is the only backup offensive linemen Atlanta drafted while their other four backups outside of Gwyan are all UDFA's with the only notable name among those four backups being Storm Norton. If Jake Matthews or Kaleb McGary gets injured, Storm Norton will be playing and the last time Storm Norton played, Jacksonville caused a storm in Sofi Stadium back in 2022 against the Los Angeles Chargers thanks to Storm Norton, the Norton Antivirus of offensive linemen in week 3 following the torn biceps by Rashawn Slater. I'm a little concerned about the depth Atlanta has on the offensive line, but Minnesota did the same thing with Kirk Cousins relying on the starters to stay healthy which worked in 2022 before backfiring in 2023. Drew Dalman got injured in week 3 and is on injured reserve for the next four games. Kaleb McGary also got injured at right tackle and did not practice on Wednesday entering week 4 as Kaleb McGary got ruled out for week 4. Kaleb McGary might return this week meaning Atlanta will have both offensive tackles and guards at full health in week 5.

Atlanta has Drake London as their flanker wide receiver, Darnell Mooney who began his career as a number one wide receiver in Chicago before being supplanted by D.J. Moore last year is now a number two wide receiver as he compliments Drake London quite well. Rondale Moore was supposed to be Atlanta's slot receiver, but he suffered a season ending injury in training camp. I like Ray-Ray McCloud on special teams as a return specialist. He's a solid number six or number five wide receiver, but I don't see him thriving as a slot receiver.

Atlanta still has Kyle Pitts their 2021 first round pick drafted fourth overall out of Florida as the main starting tight end. Kyle Pitts can thrive as long as he's healthy. My issue with Atlanta is their depth at tight end was so much better a year ago with Jonnu Smith and MyCole Puritt were on this roster. Charlie Woerner, San Francisco's third string tight end last year doesn't move the needle for me as a pass catcher despite being an okay blocker in San Francisco. Woerner would start at tight end if Kyle Pitts gets injured.

Bijan Robinson is the starting running back and Tyler Allegeier is the backup running back. Both running backs are expected to see lots of carries with Allegier getting significant playing time despite being the second running back on Atlanta's depth chart. Avery Willaimson is the third string running back, and Jase McClellan Atlanta's 2024 sixth round pick out of Alabama is the fourth string running back. Atlanta feels just as deep at running back as a year ago despite the departure of Cordarrelle Patterson. Robert Burns the starting fullback on Atlanta is currently on the PUP list.

Atlanta has Grady Jarrett back at 3-4 right end following the departure of Calias Campbell, David Onyemata at 3-4 nose tackle, and Zach Harrison at 3-4 left end. Ta'Quan Graham enters year four as the backup 3-4 right end in the final year of his rookie deal. Eddie Goldman is the backup 3-4 nose tackle. Kentavius Street is the backup 3-4 left end. Ruke Orhorhoro is the third string 3-4 right end, and Brandon Dorlus is the third string 3-4 left end. Atlanta's three deepest positions are quarterback, running back, and the 3-4 defensive end spot at five technique.

Matthew Judon is the starting starting 3-4 right outside linebacker. Kaden Elliss and Troy Andersen are good starting 3-4 middle linebackers. Lorenzo Carter is the starting 3-4 left outside linebacker after starting at 3-4 right outside linebacker in 2023. Nate Landman a UDFA whose shown some flashes in Atlanta after being a former Colorado middle linebacker and J.D. Bertrand Atlanta's 2024 fifth round pick out of Notre Dame are the two backup 3-4 middle linebackers. Landman and Bertrand are nice depth pieces at linebacker, but I am not sure either guy can start more than 2-5 games without gettingn fatigued after those 2-5 games despite being solid depth pieces at inside linebacker. Arnold Ebiketie is the backup 3-4 outside linebacker and situational pass rusher in Atlanta. Troy Andersen is out at 3-4 middle linebacker and so is Nate Landman. Kaden Elliss and JD Bertrand the starting 3-4 middle linebacker on Notre Dame will be the two starters.

A.J. Terrell, Atlanta's field cornerback is the only healthy cornerback at the moment. Atlanta is starting Mike Hughes who was awful at nickel cornerback for Kansas City and just as awful at dime cornerback for Detroit at boundary cornerback against number two wide receivers. Dee Alford is the nickel cornerback job. Clark Phillips III who won the nickel cornerback job as a rookie before missing time with injuries early in the season, has been demoted to dime cornerback. Clark Phillips III has done well in training camp, but Hughes and Alford have done more to warrant playing time. I still think Clark Phillips III has a chance to beat out Dee Alford for the nickel cornerback job. Alford did intercept Cleveland back in 2022 when he was the nickel cornerback before getting demoted to dime cornerback after Atlanta drafted Clark Phillips III. Strong safety Justin Simmons and free safety Jesse Bates III give Atlanta one of the better safety tandems in the NFL. Atlanta also has Richie Grant for depth as a number three safety for depth.

Younghoe Koo is one of the best kickers in the NFL. Atlanta's kicker asserted himself as a top 5 kicker last season.

Why the Carolina Panthers Will Win: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama got benched for backup Andy Dalton. Andy Dalton will have Ikem Ekwonu at left tackle a second year left tackle as well as Carolina's 2022 first round pick out of North Carolina State, Damien Lewis at left guard, Austin Corbett at center, Robert Hunt at right guard, and Taylor Moton at right tackle. Austin Corbett and Taylor Moton got injured in week 5. Neither Corbett or Moton played in week 5 and both could be out in week 6.

Andy Dalton has Diontae Johnson as his number one flanker receiver, Xavier Legette a 2024 first round pick out of South Carolina as his secondary wide receiver, and Adam Thielen as his slot receiver. Jonathan Mingo goes from being the number two wide receiver as a rookie to now being the number four wide receiver.

Carolina has Ian Thomas last years backup tight end as the starting tight end. Tommy Tremble, Carolina's 2021 third round pick out of Notre Dame last years third string tight end is the backup tight end. Carolina drafted Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft as Sanders was my second best tight end behind Brock Bowers. I figured Ja'Tavion Sanders would be starting at tight end, but he's currently the third string tight end on Carolina. Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble were both out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday heading into week 1, and if both players get ruled out then Ja'Tavion Sanders would be thrown into the fire starting in week 1 despite being a fourth round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Tommy Tremble returned in week 3.

Carolina has Chubba Hubbard as their starting running back, Miles Sanders is the backup running back, Jonathon Brooks was their 2024 second round pick out of Texas and he's still on the NFL injured list. Jonathon Banks could be back as early as this week in week 4.

Carolina has Derrick Brown at 3-4 right end, Shy Tuttle at 3-4 nose tackle, and A'Shawn Robinson at 3-4 left end. Derrick Brown the best player on the Carolina Panthers defense will be out for a while as the 2020 first round pick out of Auburn got extended this offseason, but an injury will keep him out for the year while which will cripple Carolina's defense. Carolina has D.J. Wonnum replacing Brian Burns at 3-4 right outside linebacker once he gets back from the PUP list, Shaq Thompson at 3-4 middle linebacker, Josey Jewell at 3-4 middle linebacker, and Jadeveon Clowney at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Carolina's defensive line is better than last year, but their edge rusher play at 3-4 outside linebacker is worse with Brian Burns being traded to the New York Giants. Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell are both dealing with injuries at 3-4 middle linebacker.

Carolina has Jaycee Horn at field cornerback, Michael Jackson at boundary cornerback, Troy Hill at nickel cornerback, Xavier Woods at strong safety, and Jordan Fuller at free safety. Carolina added Nick Scott as the backup strong safety. The cornerback depth Carolina has is not good if injuries occur.

Carolina has Eddy Pinero at kicker. Johnny Hekker is the punter. I feel like an upgrade over Raheem Blacksheer at return specialist could be made though.

Prediction: Atlanta is a 3 point favorite at -3. The over or under is 44.5 with 64% of the public betting on Atlanta. The money line is -160 for Atlanta and +135 for Carollina. Take Atlanta to win and cover with the under at -160. Bet $240 on this game for Atlanta and win up to $400 as long as the Falcons win by 4 or more.

Final Score Falcons 24 Panthers 20

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Detroit Lions 3-1-0	Versus	Dallas Cowboys 3-2-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

Hank Hill from King of the Hill and assistant GM and Director Of College Scouting Dale Gribble finally got back to the playoffs since taking over for Lumberg in 2020. Dallas is 44-26 since 2020.

Here is this weeks hot take from Hank Hill.

Kick Detroit's ass. We beat Detroit last year and I expect you to beat them again this year.

Why the Detroit Lions Will Win: Detroit Lions starting quarterback Jared Goff has a strong offensive line once again He's got Taylor Decker back at left tackle, Graham Glasgow at left guard, Frank Ragnow at center, Kevin Zeitler at right guard, and Penei Sewell at right tackle. Dan Skipper is the backup left tackle and Colby Sorsdal is the backup right tackle. Detroit has good starters on the offensive line, but the depth you'd like to see isn't there. Detroit Lions 2023 third round pick Hendon Hooker is the backup to Jared Goff after redshirting as a rookie quarterback. Frank Ragnow missed week 4, but he's expected to be back in week 6.

Jared Goff has Amon-Ra St. Brown as his number one flanker wide receiver, Jameson Williams is the secondary wide receiver, Kalif Raymond is the slot receiver. Sam LaPorta had a great rookie season last year and managed to emerge as a top 10 starting tight end. Brock Wright is the number two tight end. Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to be the number one running back with David Montgomery complimenting Gibbs. Last year David Montgomery started with Jahmyr Gibbs complimenting him with Gibbs being eased in. Detroit has two number one running backs in their backfield. Craig Reynolds is the third string running back and Detroit Lions 2024 fourth round pick Sione Vaki a safety at Utah is the fourth string running back.

Detroit will have Aidan Hutchinson at 4-3 right end, D.J. Reader at 4-3 defensive tackle, Alim McNeil at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Marcus Davenport at 4-3 left end as their starters on the defensive line. James Houston IV is the backup 4-3 right end with John Cominsky on injured reserve, Levi Onwuzirike is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to D.J. Reader, Mekhi Wingo is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Alim McNeil, and Josh Pascal is the backup 4-3 left end to Marcus Davenport with John Cominsky on injured reserve. Marcus Davenport is out for the year at 4-3 left end as Josh Pascal will now be the regular starter next to Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit's defensive line for their 4-3 defense is strong enough to remain a force once again under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Alex Anzalone is moving from 4-3 right outside linebacker, Jack Campbell Detroit's 2023 first round pick out of Iowa will start at 4-3 middle linebacker, and Derrick Barnes at 4-3 left outside linebacker. Malcolm Rodriguez is the backup 4-3 right outside linebacker as well as the backup right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Derrick Barnes is the backup to Jack Campbell in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is the backup 4-3 left outside linebacker as well as a third string right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense.

Detroit currently has Carlton Davis at field cornerback, Terrion Arnold their 2024 first round pick out of Alabama is at boundary cornerback, Brian Branch as their nickel cornerback, Amik Robertson is the dime cornerback, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. their 2024 second round pick is the quarter cornerback. Ifeatu Melifonwu is the strong safety and Kerby Joseph is the starting free safety. There's some speculation that Brian Branch moves from nickel cornerback to strong safety with Amik Robertson starting at nickel corenrback, but Robertson isn't that good, so I'll believe it when I see it.

Jake Bates is Detroit's kicker. Jack Fox is punter. Craig Reynolds is the kick returner and Kalif Raymond is the punt returner.

Why the Dallas Cowboys Will Win: Dak Prescott has Tyler Guyton their 2024 first round pick out of Oklahoma at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, Cooper Beebe, the Dallas Cowboys 2024 third round pick out of Kansas State at center, Zack Martin at right guard, and Terence Steele at right tackle. Dallas has great starters on the offensive line, but the depth isn't what it was last year. As long as Dallas stays healthy on the offensive line, this will be one of the toughest offenses to stop after Dak Prescott got $60-million a year for the next four years.

Having weapons like CeeDee Lamb as your flanker wide receiver and Brandin Cooks as your secondary wide receiver helps since Dak Prescott has two wide receivers who have experience as a number one wide receiver. Jalen Tolbert is the slot receiver when Dallas runs three wide receiver sets after being the number four wide receiver in his first two seasons. Jalen Brooks a 2023 seventh round pick out of South Carolina is the number five wide receiver is now the number four wide receiver. Ryan Flournoy a 2024 sixth round pick from Southeast Missouri State is the number five wide receiver. KaVontae Turpin is the number six wide receiver. Dallas has three wide receivers on this depth chart with the upside to be good and has enough starters as the backups are solid, but not spectacular meaning the backups can make plays, but they won't move the needle like hte top three wide receivers. Tight end Jake Ferguson is the starting tight end, Luke Schoonmaker a 2023 second round pick out of Michigan won the backup tight end job. Dallas does not have a good third string tight end which makes the decision to release Peyton Hendershot even more puzzling. Jake Ferguson got injured against the Cleveland Browns, but he will only be out one to two weeks. Luke Schoonmaker got his first NFL start this week in week 2 before Jake Ferguson returned.

Dallas placed Brandin Cooks on injured reserve prior to week 5 meaning Jalen Tolbert is now the number two wide receiver after being the slot receiver. Tolbert got a game-winning touchdown in his first start as a number two wide receiver. Dallas doesn't have a good slot receiver until Brandin Cooks returns which will be week 10 at the earliest.

Dallas has Ezekiel Elliott as their number one running back. Rico Dowdle is the backup running back. Dallas drafted Kansas State runing back Deuce Vaughn in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Kansas State. Dallas has depth at running back and wide receiver, but they are thinner at most positions offensively compared to last year.

Dallas has Micah Parsons at 4-3 right end, Mazi Smith at 4-3 defensive tackle, Osa Odighizuwa at 4-3 defensive tackle, and DeMarcus Lawrence at 4-3 left end. Marshawn Kneeland the Dallas Cowboys 2024 second round pick out of Western Michigan is the backup 4-3 right end with Sam Williams on injured reserve, Linval Joseph is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Mazi Smith, Jordan Phillips is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Osa Odighizuwa, and Chauncey Golston is the backup 4-3 left end to Demarcus Lawrence. Dallas has a lot of bodies and depth on the defensive line and could be better than last year. Micah Parsons could be back by week 8 after the Dallas Cowboys bye week. Demarcus Lawrence got placed on injured reserve prior to the week 5 game against Pittsburgh. That means Demarcus Lawrence will not be back until week 10.

Dallas is starting DeMarvion Overshown their 2023 third round pick out of Texasat 4-3 right outside linebacker and Eric Kendricks at 4-3 middle linebacker. Dallas will also have Damone Clark their 2022 fifth round pick out of LSU as a 4-3 left outside linebacker, but he will also be the backup right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Marist Liuafu the Dallas Cowboys 2024 third round pick out of Notre Dame is the backup 4-3 middle linebacker. DeMarvion Overshown got injured in week 4.

Dallas has Trevon Diggs at field cornerback. Dallas has DaRon Bland back at boundary corenrback. Jourdan Lewis is the nickel cornerback. Caelon Carson is the dime cornerback. Dallas has Andrew Booth Jr. as their quarter cornerback. Isreal Mukuamu is the number six cornerback. Dallas could get both DaRon Bland and Caelon Carson back at full health in week 6. This will be the first game this season where all of the Dallas Cowboys cornerbacks are fully healthy.

Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are the starting safeties with both safeties having the versatility to play strong safety or free safety. Dallas doesn't have the safety depth they had last year.

Former Notre Dame center back Brandon Aubrey is now the Dallas Cowboys kicker. I actually found an archive of my Aubrey scouting report from the 2017 MLS Super Draft when Toronto F.C. took Brandon Aubrey in the first round of the 2017 MLS Draft. After Aubrey failed in the MLS, he went to the USFL and had success as a kicker there before receiving a contract to join the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. Brandon Aubrey dominated in his first NFL season. Bryan Anger is the punter. KaVontae Turner the number six wide receiver on the Dallas Cowboys depth chart is the kick returner and punt returner for the Dallas Cowboys.

Prediction: Detroit is a 3 point favorite at -3. The over or under is 52 with 54% of the public betting on Dallas. The money line is and -155 for Detroit and +130 for Dallas. Take Detroit to win and cover with the over at -155. Bet $245 on this game for Detroit and win up to $400 as long as the Lions win by 4 or more.

Final Score Lions 31 Cowboys 27

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Cincinnati Bengals 1-4-0	Versus	New York Giants 2-3-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

All ten teams in the BFFL League have team logos. I'll use this section to rank where the 10 teams stand on Yahoo.

Millenial Menace 5-0

Bantle Bowl Championships:
0

Bantle Bowl Appearances:
0

BFFL Playoff Record: 0-1
Millenial Menace actually had the leagues best regular season record in 2021 and was the one seed. Unfortunately, Millenial Menace lost to eventual league champion H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes as the top seed back in 2021.

Manager:
George Pabst

Rival: Mitch Pabst

All Time Winning Percentage: .529 37-33 is Millenial Menace's All Time Record from 2020-2024 with 37 wins in 70 total games played gives Millenial Menace a .529 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Millenial Menace drafted Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry with their first two picks. George used a third round keeper on Ja'Marr Chase and a fifteenth round keeper on Nico Collins. George is stacked at wide receiver, but is relying on fourth round pick Matthew Stafford and sixth round pick Baker Mayfield as his two quarterbacks.

Projected Record: 12-3 Millenial Menace is projected to go 11-4 and get the last playoff spot after winning weeks 1 and 2 as an underdog. Millenial Menace was projected to go 9-6 in the preseason, but won all of their first five contests as an underdog which changes their season projection to 12-3 on the year. We'll see if that holds up as the season progresses. Millenial Menace ranks first in wins, first in points scored, and his projected record improves from fourth to being tied for third now. Millenial Menace scored 198 points last week and faces my team this week.

Threat Level Midnight 4-1

Bantle Bowl Championships: 3
Bantle Bowl III (2017), Bantle Bowl IV (2018), and Bantle Bowl V (2019)

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 3
Bantle Bowl III (2017), Bantle Bowl IV (2018), and Bantle Bowl V (2019)

BFFL Playoff Record: 6-2
Threat Level Midnight formerly known as Breez Nuts was the only team to three peat in the BFFL over the past eight years. This team was known as Breez Nuts when Drew Brees played for the New Orleans Saints, but was later renamed Threat Level Midnight after Drew Brees retired. This team is 6-0 in their last six playoff contests despite being absent from the playoffs since 2019. The 2017 Breez Nuts Team and the 2022 Gangster Squad teams are the only teams to win the Bantle Bowl and be crowned league champion after finishing with the leagues best regular season record. Breez Nuts went 12-2 in 2018 getting the 2 seed after being swept by my team during the regular season, yet still ended up defeating my team in the playoffs and a 13-1 Chosen One's Team that had the leagues best record in 2018. Breez Nuts would defeat The Chosen One's in a 2019 rematch of Bantle Bowl IV during Bantle Bowl V to three peat after The Chosen One's upset top seed H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes while Breez Nuts handed my team its fourth playoff loss to the eventual league champion in five years.

Manager:
Mitch Pabst

Rival: George Pabst

All Time Winning Percentage: .623 101-61 is Threat Level Midnight's All Time Record from 2015-2024 with 101 wins in 162 total games played gives Threat Level Midnight a .623 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Mitch loaded up with weapons like Christian McCaffrey at running back, Garrett Wilson at wide receiver, Puka Nacua at wide receiver, Travis Kelce at tight end, Amari Cooper at wide receiver, and Aaron Jones at running back. Mitch drafted Aaron Rodgers as his second quarterback in the seventh round while getting Terry McLaurin as a flex player. Mitch used a ninth round keeper on Alvin Kamara another potential flex option and a twlelfth round keeper on C.J. Stroud whose his first and main quarterback. His other picks included Devin Singletary, Tony Polard, Jameson Williams, Taysom Hill, Bo Nix in the fifteenth round as a third quarterback for depth during bye weeks. Jake Moody the San Francisco 49ers kicker is his kicker and the New York Jets defense are the defense Mitch drafted.

Projected Record: 12-3 Threat Level Midnight had the best draft according to Mitch's simulator and Yahoo. They are projected to finish 12-3 after losing as favorites in week 1 and entering week 1 with a projected 13-2 record on the year. Christian McCaffrey got placed on injured reserve prior to week 2, but Mitch still found a way to win. Mitch is favored to win in week 3, but barely over The Chosen One's in a game against Jason Bantle which feels like a pickem game. Mitch defeated me in week 4, but with Christian McCaffrey out in week 8, he is an underdog against me in our week 8 rematch. Mitch is projected to finish the season tied for first.

Previously Ranked: 3rd

The Avengers 4-1

Bantle Bowl Championships:
0

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 2
Bantle Bowl III (2017) and Bantle Bowl VII (2021)

BFFL Playoff Record: 2-2
The Avengers went 12-3 securing the 2 seed in 2017 and then went 10-5 getting the 3 seed in 2021. The Avengers are 2-0 in the Semfiinals, but 0-2 in Bantle Bowls.

Manager:
Gary Bantle

Rival: Jason Bantle

All Time Winning Percentage: .454 147-174-2 is The Avengers' All Time Record from 2003-2024 with 147 wins in 324 total games played gives The Avengers a .452 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: The Avengers used their first round pick on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was their second round pick. Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans was The Avengers third round pick. Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was The Avenger's fourth round pick. Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was Gary's fifth round keeper. Gary also used a sixteenth round keeper on Jayden Reed. Gary drafted Stefon Diggs in the sixth round before taking Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram to be his starting tight end.

Projected Record: 9-6 The Avengers are projected to go 7-8 this upcoming season after a surprise week 1 win in a game where they were underdogs. Right now, The Avengers are third in the league as far as records go as well as third in the league in points scored, but their projected record at the end of the year is still the seventh best projected record which is why I ranked them at third after Yahoo ranked them at 1 following week 1. The Avengers lost in week 2 as expected, but are now favorites in week 3 after previously being underdogs in that game. The Avengers won as underdogs in week 4 which changes their projected record to 9-6.

Previously Ranked: 4th

H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes 3-2

Bantle Bowl Championships: 2
Bantle Bowl VII (2021) and Bantle Bowl IX (2023)

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 2
Bantle Bowl VII (2021) and Bantle Bowl IX (2023)

BFFL Playoff Record: 4-5
Both of H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes two playoff wins came during their championship season in 2021 which was a year where I missed the playoffs. He defeated George Pabst as the fourth and final seed before defeating The Avengers in the Championship round back in 2021. H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes went 12-2 back in 2019 and had the leagues best regular season record that year before losing to The Chosen One's in the playoffs two years prior to winning Bantle Bowl VII. H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes saw both Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson go down with injuries when attempting to repeat in 2022 before losing to eventual league champion Gangster Squad my team. This year H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes were healthier as far as injuries went knocking out The Chosen One's getting his first playoff win over long time friend and league commissioner Jason Bantle in the BFFL Playoffs. He also defeated Riley in last years Championship to secure a second Bantle Bowl in three years. My playoff win over Heath two years ago is the one thing that kept Heath from three peating.

Manager:
Heath Berman

Rival: Chris Ransom

All Time Winning Percentage: .498 130-131 is H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes All Time Record from 2008-2024 with 130 wins in 261 total games played gives H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes a .498 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Heath drafted New York Jets running back Breece Hall, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Los Angeles Rams widde receiver Cooper Kupp, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Wtson, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, and Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb in the first eight rounds. Heath used a ninth round keeper on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Muray and a tenth round keeper on Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London. Heath also has Jordan Addison, Jonathon Brooks, Austin Ekeler, Curtis Samuel, and Rico Dowdle for depth. Ka'imi Fairbairn is his kicker and the Seattle Seahawks defense is his defense. Heath's starting lineup might be the best outside of Mitch's team if his quarterback trio of Daniels, Watson, plus Murray steps up. His depth players aren't great, but his starting lineup of playmakers if fantastic enough to warrant respect. My guess is if Heath will replace his depth players with the waiver wire if those players underperform.

Projected Record: 10-5 H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes are projected to go 10-5 after losing as favorites in week 5. They entered the year as the projected two seed in the 2024 BFFL Playoffs. Heath enters week 6 ranked fourth in wins, fourth in points scored, and fourth in projected record at the end of the year.

Previously Ranked: 2nd

The Chosen One's 3-2

Bantle Bowl Championships: 3
BFFL League Champion (2010), Bantle Bowl II (2016) and Bantle Bowl VI (2020)

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 6
BFFL Finalist (2010), Bantle Bowl I (2015), Bantle Bowl II (2016), Bantle Bowl IV (2018), Bantle Bowl V (2019), Bantle Bowl VI (2020), and Bantle Bowl VIII (2022)

BFFL Playoff Record: 9-6
The Chosen One's, also the commissioners team are the most consistent team in the league making the playoffs seven out of eight years while also appearing as a finalist in six of the leagues last eight Bantle Bowls. The Chosen One's won the league as a 4 seed in 2016 and he won the league again four years later in 2020. The Chosen One's best regular season came in 2018 where the team had a 13-1 regular season before losing to a 12-2 Breez Nuts team in Bantle Bowl IV. This is also one of the shrewdest and most aggressive teams in Free Agency on the waiver wire. This is a team that made the most draft day trades in 2020 and 2021 while making the second most draft day trades in 2022 and currently trails me by 2 or 3 trades in our ongoing 2023 BFFL Draft.

Manager:
Jason Bantle

Rival: Gary Bantle Jason's rival will be Gary Bantle. Jason will have the advantage in this matchup, but this is the best team Gary has drafted in a while, so do not be surprised if Gary splits with Jason despite the fact hat Jason is favored in both games.

All Time Winning Percentage: .586 204-143-1 is The Chosen One's All Time Record from 2003-2024 with 204 wins in 348 total games with The Chosen One's having a .586 All Time winning percentage.

Team Summary: The Chosen One's drafted Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the first round. Jason drafted two running backs afterwards in Saquon Barkley and De'Von Achane. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams was the first wide receiver Jason drafted in the fourth round. Jaylen Waddle was the second wide receiver Jason drafted. Balitmore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is the starting tight end. Jason used keepers on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. at wide receiver in the ninth round and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in the twelfth round.

Projected Record: 8-7 The Chosen One's are projected to go 8-7. Jason is the fifth and final owner at 3-2 entering week 6 so far.

Gangster Squad 2-3

Bantle Bowl Championships: 1
Bantle Bowl VIII (2022)

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 2
Bantle Bowl VI (2020) and (2022)

BFFL Playoff Record: 3-5
All five of Gangster squads playoff losses in the BFFL came to the eventual league champion when getting eliminated in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 despite making the BFFL Playoffs in six out of eight seasons since I started calling the BFFL Championship game the Bantle Bowl before buying the eventual league champion the first Bantle Bowl trophy when working part time at T.J. Maxx. Gangster Squad missed the playoffs twice in 2017 with a fifth place finish at 7-7 and in 2021 with a sixth place finish at 8-7. Gangster Squad is the only team in the BFFL to have 0 losing seasons in the past 8 years since I started tracking the teams on the site. Gangster Squad once formerly known as Hobo Jungle went 2-2 in third place games from 2015-2019, so if we take those third place games into account Gangster Squad is actually 5-7 All Time in the playoffs, but I'm not counting a third place game as a playoff game for me since there's nothing on the line except for a bronze participation trophy courtesy of Yahoo Sports. Gangster Squad didn't win their first playoff game 2020 when when his 8-6 squad defeated a 13-1 team with the leagues best record if you decide to exclude the third place victories back in 2015 and 2016 back when my team was the one seed and had the top regular season record in the two years I finished third place. Two years later, Gangster Squad became the 2022 league champions by winning Bantle Bowl VIII in a rematch of Bantle Bowl VI where I had the best regular season record for the third time in eight years before securing my first league title. I went 9-8 and failed to repeat, but I'm the only owner without a losing record over the past nine years.

Manager:
Chris Ransom

Rival: Heath Berman Heath is my rival again. This will be the first season with one division of ten teams so there won't be two separate divisions.

All Time Winning Percentage: .613 92-58 is Gangster Squad's All Time Record from 2015-2024 with 92 wins in 150 total games played gives Gangster Squad a .613 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: I drafted Patrick Mahomes with the first pick before trading CeeDee Lamb to draft Lamar Jackson at 6. I also got Travis Etienne at running back. My wide receivers include D.J. Moore, Zay Flowers my twelfth round keeper, Tee Higgins, George Pickens, and Jerry Jeudy. I also have Trey McBride as my starting tight end. Harrison Butker is my kicker and the Baltimore Ravens defense is my deense. I got David Njoku as my second tight end for depth. Running back two might be my weakness, but I like my options with David Montgomery and Javonte Williams. Trey Benson was my final pick in the seventeenth round.

Projected Record: 12-3 My team is projected to finish 12-3, but I was expected to lose to Heath in week 1 before getting swept by Threat Level midnight. My team is 1-3, but I'm projected to win out. Basically from this point forward, my projected record will be updated for every game I lose to. Right now Millenial Menace, Threat Level Midnight, Gangster Squad, and H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes are the projected top four at the end of the year.

Taco Corp 1-4

Bantle Bowl Championships:
0

Bantle Bowl Appearances:
0

BFFL Playoff Record: 1-2
Selvan is 1-2 in the playoffs, but he's 3-2 if you count their third place win over H.B.'s Vinegar Strokes last year and his third place win this past season. I'll leave that record up for debate between Selvan and our readers.

Manager:
Selvan Thamilavel

Rival: Jimmy Dicken

All Time Winning Percentage: .357 50-90 is Taco Corp's All Time Record from 2015-2024 with 50 wins in 149 total games played gives Taco Corp a .357 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Selvan chose to draft Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first round before taking Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in the second round. Selvan used his third round keeper on Jahmyr Gibbs. Deebo Samuel was Selvan's fourth round pick. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was Selvan's fifthr ound pick. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was Selvan's sixth round pick. Rhamondre Stevenson was the third running back Selvan drafted in the seventh round, Ladd McConkey is the number three wide receiver on Selvan's depth chart. Daniel Jones in the eighth round is the backup quarterback. Selvan also took Keenan Allen in the ninth round and then took Zack Moss after trading up with me. Selvan used his fourteenth round keeper on Sam Laporta and did not draft a second tight end.

Projected Record: 8-7 Taco Corp should go 8-7. I think they will be one of the tougher teams to beat in the consolation bracket. Taco Corp started 1-0, but is in a four game losing streak.

Car RamRod 1-4

Bantle Bowl Championships:
0

Bantle Bowl Appearances:
0

BFFL Playoff Record: 0-0
Andrew might the only owner without a playoff appearance, but I seriously believe he will break that drought in the BFFL this season since he's had a strong 2023 Draft. He also has his own Fantasy league which I take part in, but don't feature on the site. I did feature the league draft for his league on Restream which is on the Draft Utopia Youtube channel by the way. Andrew also helps with NFL Predictions, the Draft Utopia podcast when available, and also helps me run my Fantasy Hockey league on Yahoo.

Manager:
Andrew Kermish

Rival: Riley Stokosa

All Time Winning Percentage: .346 47-89 is Gravity Suck's All Time Record from 2015-2024 with 47 wins in 136 total games played gives Car RamRod a .347 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Gravity Sucks took Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first round before taking Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff in the second round. Gravity Sucks selected New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave in the third round. Gravity Sucks selected their third quarterback Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence in the fourth round. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was Gravity Sucks fifth round pick. Kenneth Walker III was the first running back Gravity sucks drafted in the sixth round. Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was the seventh round pick for Gravity Sucks. DeVonta Smith was one of the keepers that Gravity Sucks used.

Projected Record: 3-12 Gravity Sucks is projected to finish 3-12. That's tied for the eighth worst record. Only Riley or Andrew will get that last spot in the consolation bracket. Andrew is sixth in the standings after week 4 because his team has scored more than mine. He lost to me head to head though.

One In A Williams 1-4

Bantle Bowl Championships: 1
Bantle Bowl I (2015)

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 2
Bantle Bowl I (2015), Bantle Bowl II (2016)

BFFL Playoff Record: 3-1
One In A Williams was named Jimmy after the manager of this team when Jimmy won Bantle Bowl I back in 2015.

Rival: Jimmy Dicken

Rival: Selvan Thamilavel

All Time Winning Percentage: .465 60-69 is One In A Williams All Time Record from 2013-2024 while leaving from 2019-2021 before returning in 2022 with 60 wins in 129 total games played gives One In A Williams a .465 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Jimmy used a second round keeper on Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. He also acquired Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in a trade I made. Caleb Williams is Jimmy's starting quarterback.

Projected Record: 2-13 One In A Williams is the worst projected record in the BFFL in 2024. I have them winning one game on the season based on Yahoo projections for each team, but they are only projected to lose to my team in week 3 and have an outside chance to pull an upset this week. One In A Williams ranks seventh in the league in wins and points scored through three weeks, but he's tied with another owner for worst projected record. He beat my team head to head, so I'll move him up in the rankings this week since he's not the only owner with an 0-3 start.
Tua's My Njigba 1-4

Bantle Bowl Championships:
0

Bantle Bowl Appearances: 1
Bantle Bowl IX (2023)

BFFL Playoff Record: 1-2
Hallsmahomsey formerly known as TaylorDactals formerly known as RES Express, Done, and Kerryon My Wayward Son went 13-1 back in 2020 after this team replaced former 2014 league champion Anti-Bantle. Kerryon My Wayward Son ran into my 8-6 team with Tom Brady, Dalvin Cook, and Stefon Diggs back in 2020 and the rest is history as my team got its first playoff win over this team. Kerryon My Wayward Son changed their team name to TaylorDactals in 2021 after drafting Jonathan Taylor with their first round pick. Halls Mahomsey made Bantle Bowl IX before losing to H.B's Vinegar Strokes.

Manager:
Riley Stokosa

Rival: Andrew Kermish

All Time Winning Percentage: .500 48-48 is Hallsmahomsey's All Time Record from 2018-2024 with 48 wins in 96 total games played gives Tua's My Njigba a .500 All Time Winning Percentage.

Team Summary: Riley took Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor with his first round pick. Riley drafted Anthony Richardson in the second round. Riley used his third round keeper on Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Riley drafted Tua Tagovailoa in the fourth round. Christian Kirk was the first wide receiver Riley drafted this year if you exclude his third round keeper. Zamir White his sixth round pick will be the number two running back, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba will be the number three wide receiver. Riley also drafted Rome Oduzne in the eighth round on Dalton Schultz in the ninth round at tight end. Riley also used a sixteenth round keeper on Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.

Projected Record: 2-13 Tua's My Njigba is projected to go 2-13 after losing week 1 as favorites. That's why this team could make a drop. Tua's My Njigba is tenth in the standings and is currently the only 0-3 team in the BFFL entering week 4.

Why the Cincinnati Bengals Will Win: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will have Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle, Cordell Volson at left guard, Ted Karras at center, Alex Cappa at right guard, and Amarius Mims at right tackle. Cincinnati's depth is horrible on the offensive line outside of Trent Brown as the backup right tackle. Amarius Mims is out in week 1, so Trent Brown will get the start at right tackle. Trent Brown started weeks 1, 2, and 3 before suffering a season ending injury, so now Amarius Mims will get his first start at right tackle in week 4. Amarius Mims did well in week 4 and will gain more experience in week 5.

Cincinnati has Ja'Marr Chase as their flanker wide receiver, Tee Higgins as their secondary wide receiver even though you can argue he's good enough to be a number one target when Chase is injured, and Andrei Iosivas is the slot receiver. Trenton Irwin remains the number four wide receiver job. Jermaine Burton is the number five wide receiver, but he's pushing both Iosivas and Irwin for the slot receiver job despite being a 2024 third round pick out of Alabama which is encouraging. Charlie Jones, Cincinnati's 2023 fourth round pick out of Purdue is the number six wide receiver.

Mike Gesicki is the Cincinnati Bengals starting tight end. Drew Sample is the backup tight end. Tanner Hudson last years backup tight end is the third string tight end.

Cincinnati has Zack Moss as their starting running back, Chase Brown Cincinnati's 2023 fifth round pick out of Illinois entering year two as the backup running back, and Trayveon Williams their 2019 sixth round pick as the third string running back. Cincinnati has depth everywhere except quarterback and as long as Joe Burrow is healthy the sky feels like the limit for the Cincinnati Bengals over the next five years.

Cincinnati has Trey Hendrickson at 4-3 right end and Sam Hubbard complimenting him at 4-3 left end. Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill compliment Hendrickson and Hubbard at 4-3 defensive tackle on the inside. Joseph Ossai is listed as the backup 4-3 right end with Myles Murphy probably taking over as the backup 4-3 left end now that he's no longer on injured reserve with Cam Sample out for the year.

Zach Carter, Cincinnati's 2022 third round pick out of Florida and Kris Jenkins Jr. a 2024 second round pick on Michigan's 15-0 are the two backup 4-3 defensive tackles. Jay Tuefele is a third string defensive tackle and so is McKinley Jackson, Cincinnati's 2024 third round pick out of Texas A&M. B.J. Hill will be returning from his injury which he suffered in week 1. Sheldon Rankins played the first two weeks before missing the last three weeks, but Rankins looks like he will be back in week 6.

Cincinnati has Germaine Pratt at 4-3 right outside linebacker and Logan Wilson at 4-3 middle linebacker with both guys locked up long-term which is outstanding news for the Bengals who run a combination of a 4-3 base defense, but mainly utilize a 4-2-5 nickel defense with Pratt being the starting outside linebacker and Wilson playing middle linebacker on the inside. Cincinnati can use Akeem Davis-Gaither as a 4-3 left outside linebacker, but he will probably be the main backup outside linebacker to Pratt. Cincinnati doesn't have the depth they used to at middle linebacker, so the Cincinnati Bengals are in trouble if Joe Burrow or Logan Wilson goes down.

Cincinnati has Cam Taylor-Britt at field cornerback, D.J. Turner took the boundary cornerback job as a rookie as Cincinnati now has their top two cornerbacks on rookie deals for the next two years, and Mike Hilton as their nickel cornerback. Daxton Hill, Cincinnati's 2022 first round pick is the dime cornerback who could move back to nickel cornerback next year when Mike Hilton becomes a UFA assuming Mike Hilton leaves. Josh Newton, Cincinnati's 2024 fifth round pick out of TCU is the quarter cornerback. Von Bell will start at strong safety with Geno Stone starting at free safety. Jordan Battle is the backup strong safety and Daijahn Anthony a 2024 seventh round pick beat out Tycen Anderson for the backup free safety job. Mike Hilton has played every game this season, but has missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Cincinnati has Evan McPhearson at kicker in the final year of his rookie deal at kicker and Brad Robbins from Michigan in the 2023 NFL Draft at punter. Trayveon Williams is the kick returner and Charlie Jones is the punt returner.

Why the New York Giants Will Win: New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones got the bag after his 2022 season where he guided the New York Giants to a playoff appearance with a win in the wild card round. The New York Giants have Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Jon Runyan Jr. at left guard, John Michael Schmitz a 2023 second round pick out of Minnesota starts at center as a rookie, Greg Van Roten is the starting right guard, and Jermaine Eluemunor is the starting right tackle. Joshua Ezeudu is the backup left tackle and Evan Neal is the backup right tackle. New York might also bench Daniel Jones for Drew Lock.

New York has Malik Nabers their 2024 first round pick out of LSU as their number one flanker wide receiver. Jalin Hyatt, a 2023 third round pick out of Tennessee who won the Billetnikoff Award in 2022 is the number two receiver on this depth chart and the complimentary wide receiver. Wan'Dale Robinson is the slot receiver wide receiver. Darius Slayton is their number four wide receiver. Malik Nabers got injured near the end of the week 4 game and got ruled out with a concussion. There's a chance Nabers plays in week 5, but also a chance he gets ruled out due to concussion protocol. Malik Nabers looks like he is out again.

The New York Giants have Daniel Bellinger as their starting tight end. Theo Johnson is their number two tight end.

Devin Singletary is New York's starting running back. Tyrone Tracy Jr. a 2024 fifth round pick out of Purdue is the backup running back. Eric Gray a 2023 fifth round pick out of Oklahoma is the third string running back. Tyrone Tracy jr. might start soon.

New York has Dexter Lawrence at 3-4 nose tackle and he's the only good player on this defensive line so he will get triple teammed like Aaron Donald did when he was on the Los Angeles Rams. I don't trust Rakeem Nunez-Roches at 3-4 left end and now he's starting at 3-4 right end.

Kayvon Thibodeaux enters his third season in the NFL as the starting 3-4 right outside linebacker with Brian Burns complimenting him at 3-4 left linebacker. New York signed Bobby Okerke to a 4 year contract at 3-4 middle linebacker. Micah McFadden is starting next to him and McFadden is a guy with the floor to be a really good backup, but he's not an ideal starter at 3-4 middle linebacker. Carlos Basham is the backup 3-4 right outside linebacker behind Kayvon Thibodeaux. Azeez Ojulari is the backup 3-4 left outside linebacker.

Deonte Banks, the New York Giants 2023 first round pick out of Maryland won the field cornerback job as a rookie and maintained it. Adoree' Jackson is the boundary cornerback. Dru Phillips, the New York Giants 2024 third round pick out of Kentucky is the nickel cornerback. Tyler Nubin, the New York Gians 2024 second round pick out of Minnesota is the starting strong safety and Jason Pinnock is the starting free safety.

New York has Graham Gano as their starting kicker. Gunner Olszewski is the return specialist at both kick returner and punt returner.

Prediction: Cincinnati is a 4.5 point favorite at -4.5. The over or under is 46.5 with 69% of the public betting on Cincinnati. The money line is -220 for Cincinnati and +180 for New York. Take Cincinnati to win and cover with the over at -220. Bet $280 on this game for Cincinnati and win up to $500 as long as the Bengals win by 5 or more.

Final Score Bengals 28 Giants 21

Who Everyone Else Picked


Oren Shiri	Jason Bantle	Joseph Potter	Andrew Kermish	Tracy Porter	Wes Langley

Buffalo Bills 3-2-0	Versus	New York Jets 2-3-0

Chris Ransom's Pick

I just cannot stand ESPN's Monday Night Football Coverage. Monday Night Football On KDKA is back with Bob Pompieni, Mark Madden, Andrew Filiponi, and newcommer Rich Walsh. Tonight the gang is in New York.

Pompieni

Madden

Filiponi

Walsh

Pompieni

Madden

Pompieni

Madden

Pompieni

Why the Buffalo Bills Will Win: Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Josh Allen has a great offensive line with Dion Dawkins at left tackle, David Edwards at left guard, Connor McGovern at center, O'Cyrus Torrence at right guard. and Spencer Brown at right tackle. Buffalo and Tampa Bay were the only teams that weren't effected by injuries on the offensive line in 2023. Buffalo is moving Connor McGovern back to center where he played at Penn State after losing Mitch Morse Morse with David Edwards getting a second chance to start at left guard on a team friendly deal after being a backup to Connor McGovern at left guard in 2023. Sedrick Van Prann, a 2024 fifth round pick out of Georgia that I had a third round grade on is the backup center as center is the one position that Buffalo has depth at on this offensive line.

Buffalo has Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, and Khalil Shakir as their top three wide receivers. Keon Coleman, Buffalo's 2024 second round pick who was expected to be a number one wide receiver right out of the gate is the number four wide receiver on Buffalo's depth chart entering week 1. Khalil Shakir got injured in week 4. He hasn't practiced on Wednesday or Thursday and should be out in week 5. Keon Coleman will start in relief of Khalil Shakir if he is ruled out in week 5.

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo's 2023 first round pick out of Utah supplanted Dawson Knox as the starting tight end following the injury to Dawson Knox. Quintin Morris is still the third string tight end.

Buffalo has James Cook as the starting running back as he enters his second season as a full-time starting running back. Ray Davis, Buffalo's 2024 fourth round pick out of Kentucky seems to have the backup running back job secured after jumping Ty Johnson on the depth chart with a strong showing in training camp. Ty Johnson is the third string running back. Reggie Gilliam is back at fullback. Buffalo will have to win games with Josh Allen, their tight ends, and their backfield if the depth chart reports about Keon Coleman beginning the season on the second team are true.

Buffalo has A.J. Epenesa at 4-3 right end, Ed Oliver at 4-3 defesive tackle, Daquan Jones at 4-3 defensive tackle, and Gregory Rosseau their 2021 first round pick as the starting 4-3 left end. Von Miller is the backup 4-3 right end with DeWayne Carter Buffalo's 2024 third round pick out of Duke as the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Ed Oliver, Austin Johnson the Los Angeles Chargers nose tackle as the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Daquan Jones. Dawaune Smoot signed a one year deal in Buffalo and is currently beating out Javon Solomon Buffalo's 2024 fifth round pick out of Troy for the backup 4-3 left end job behind Gregory Rosseau. Buffalo has Casey Toohill as their third string 4-3 right end and Javon Solomon as their third string 4-3 left end. Austin Johnson hasn't practiced the first two days heading into week 5. Von Miller is suspended the next four games.

Buffalo has Dorian Williams at 4-3 right outside linebacker and Terrell Bernard at 4-3 middle linebacker on plays where Buffalo deploys a 4-2-5 nickel defense. Buffalo's best linebacker Matt Milano is out until December again. Terell Bernard has missed weeks 2, 3, and 4 now. Terrell Bernard might be back this week after missing the last three weeks after Baylon Spector filled in for Bernard.

Buffalo has Christian Benford at field cornerback covering number one wide receivers, Rasul Douglas at boundary cornerback covering number two wide receivers, Taron Johnson is out this week so, Kaiir Elam, Buffalo's 2022 first round pick will be the nickel cornerback in relief of Taron Johnson as Taron Johnson has missed weeks 2, 3, and 4. Taron Johnson might be back in week 5. Kaiir Elam has done much better in training camp to the point where he's pushing both Rasul Douglas and Taron Johnson for the boundary corneback job across from Benford. Buffalo has Taylor Rapp last years backup strong safety back on a team friendly deal as the starting strong safety replacing Jordan Poyer after showing he could start in relief of an injured Poyer. Damar Hamlin is projeced to start at free safety. Mike Edwards who did well as a backup strong safety on the Kansas City Chiefs the last two years is now the backup strong safety. Buffalo also drafted Cole Bishop the Utah free safety with their second draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft which is something I actually predicted correctly in my 2024 NFL Mock Draft as Cole Bishop is the backup free safety to Damar Hamlin. Taylor Rapp is still in concussion protocol, but it is uncertain whether backup strong safety Mike Edwards or backup free safety Cole Bishop gets the start in relief of Taylor Rapp if Rapp is out in week 5.

Buffalo has Tyler Bass at kicker. Tyler Bass is the only asset on Buffalo's special teams. I don't trust Sam Martin at punter or Brandon Codrington the return specialist at both kick returner and punt returner.

Why the New York Jets Will Win: New York got Aaron Rodgers to be their starting quarterback thanks to a pre draft trade with Aaron Rodgers leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. This time, the New York Jets hope Aaron Rodgers stays healthy at quarterback. The New York Jets have Tyron Smith at left tackle, John Simpson at left guard, Joe Tippman at center, Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard, and Morgan Moses at right tackle. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, the New York Jets 2024 first roundp ick out of Penn State is the backup left tackle and Max Mitchell is the backup right tackle. Morgan Moses got injured at right tackle in week 3 and Olumuyiwa Fashanu came in and played right tackle in relief of Morgan Moses looking good in limited snaps at right tackle. Olumuyiwa Fashanu will make his first NFL start at right tackle in week 4. Neither Tyron Smith or Morgan Moses practiced on Wednesday. Tyron Smith had a resting day and will start at left tackle, but Morgan Moses is still injured at right tackle.

The New York Jets Garrett Wilson as the flanker wide receiver, Mike Williams is the secondary wide receiver, and Xavier Gipson is the slot receiver. Allen Lazard is the number four wide receiver and Malachi Corley, the New York Jets 2024 third round pick is the number five wide receiver on this depth chart.

Tyler Conklin is the starting tight end. Jeremy Ruckert last years third string tight end is now the backup tight end. The New York Jets feel weaker at tight end compared to last year, but I'm okay with Ruckert as a number two tight end.

New York has Breece Hall as their starting running back, Braelon Allen their 2024 fourth round pick as their backup running back, Isreal Abanikanda a 2023 fifth round pick out of Pittsburgh is the third string running back. New York has a lot of depth at offensive tackle, wide receiver, tight end, and running back. Tyrod Taylor is a better backup quarterback than Zach Wilson, but if Aaron Rodgers goes down again the New York Jets are in trouble.

The New York Jets have Will McDonald IV a 2023 first round pick starting at 4-3 right end following his 3 sack game after Jermaine Johnson II, the New York Jets 2022 first round pick tore his achilles, Quinnen Williams as their starting 4-3 defensive tackle, Javon Kinlaw as their other starting 4-3 defensive tackle, and Hasson Reddick as their 4-3 left end. Michael Clemons a 2022 fourth round pick is going to start at 4-3 left end until Hasson Reddick reports to the New York Jets as Reddick continues his holdout. Solomon Thomas is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Quinnen Williams, Leonard Taylor III is the backup 4-3 defensive tackle to Javon Kinlaw, and Will McDonald IV a 2023 first round pick from Iowa State as the backup 4-3 left end to Hasson Reddick. New York has a very strong defensive line in terms of their starters and depth players.

New York has Quincy Williams at 4-3 right outside linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense and C.J. Mosley at 4-3 middle linebacker in a 4-2-5 nickel defense. I'm not sure whether Jamien Sherwood or Zaire Barnes would start at 4-3 left outside linebacker when New York deploys 4-3 personnel, but the New York Jets are going to run more nickel plays than 4-3 plays this season. C.J. Mosely missed weeks 3 and 4, but he may return to London.

The New York Jets have Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner at field cornerback covering number one wide receivers. D.J. Reed is the boundary cornerback covering number two wide receivers. Michael Carter II is back at nickel cornerback. Chuck Clark is the strong safety. Tony Adams is the free safety. I think Tony Adams is a player that the New York Jets should consider replacing after this season.

Greg Zuerlein is the starting kicker. Thomas Morstead is the punter. Xavier Gipson is the return specialist at kick returner and punt returner.

I know New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is taking over for Robert Saleh as interim head coach. I don't really put that much stock into that since the New York Jets have the better depth chart.

Prediction: New York is a 1.5 point favorite at -1.5. The over or under is 44.5 with 54% of the public betting on New York. The money line is +105 for Buffalo and -115 for New York. Take New York to win and cover with the under at -115. Bet $185 on this game for New York and win up to $300 as long as the Jets win by 2 or more.

Final Score Jets 27 Bills 17