The Top 10: The Cliff's Notes
- Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker may have rendered the Bucky Irving-Rachaad White debate moot.
- Chargers RB Kimani Vidal showed why the Jim Harbaugh-Hassan Haskins tie was narrative.
- The Ravens' defense stretched Jayden Daniels, but it didn't break him. That's a promising thing.
- Baker Mayfield struggled against the Saints, but where he has improved is his saving grace.
- Chris Godwin's excellence is emerging from the shadow of Mike Evans in fantasy and real life.
- DK Metcalf is a very good receiver who limits himself from becoming a great one.
- Brock Purdy is illustrative of what national "film guys" still have lessons to learn about QB evaluation.
- George Kittle's route-running craft is what separates him from the rest of the fantasy tight-end room.
- Drake Maye survived his first start. That's the good news, but it's about to even get harder.
- Five fantasy insights: Spencer Rattler, Bub Means, Tyler Goodson, Alec Pierce, and Stefon Diggs.
1. Is Sean Tucker the Answer to the Irving-White Debate?
Last week, I showed why the Rachaad White-Bucky Irving referendum on talent was a bad argument and their committee dynamic would stay in place. White has power and receiving skills but his decision-making isn't special and he's not extraordinarily explosive. Irving is slippery, has receiving skills, and his decision-making is good, but he lacks top-end speed and power.
The real question waiting below the surface of this debate was one I raised this summer: Is Tucker the underrated fit in this Tampa Bay scheme? If we're being accurate, it's also one I raised last summer:
"...Tucker's big-play ability as a cutback runner could earn him significant playing time. I think Tucker is a superior talent to White, but White has a full year of professional experience that could give him a tenuous edge for now. If White hasn't improved the details of his game, Tucker has enough of them to generate yards that White leaves on the field.
If the offensive line doesn't perform well, it just might come down to which back has more breakaway ability. Tucker is the answer."
Fast-forward to the present and we just watched Tucker deliver 190 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns against the Saints with Irving healthy and contributing. My friend Dwain McFarland characterized Tucker's touches at the end of the game as "garbage-time touches," but I don't think that's accurate.
Garbage time is when the opponent has the lead and defenses are playing soft coverage to bend but not break. This leads to fantasy points.
Tucker earned "close-out" touches. Coaches give these touches to backs when the offense has a lead and the defense knows the team wants to run out the clock. Those close-out touches began for Tucker in earnest with 11:36 left in the game and up by 17 points, not 4:19 left and up by 24.
Although Tucker earned 64 yards on that final drive with 4:19 left, he still had 126 yards from scrimmage and a score before that final drive. Tucker, Irving, and the Buccaneers' offensive line wore out the Saints defense all game and Todd Bowles gave Tucker the spoils--trusting him to keep the outcome secure.
A coach awarding close-out touches can be a significant milestone and an indication of future opportunities on the horizon. Irving earned them with his acceleration, cutback running, receiving ability, and deep speed.
Sean Tucker’s acceleration is the best on this depth chart. #BuccaneersvsSaints pic.twitter.com/ax1mkggNSJ
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 13, 2024
Sean Tucker picks his way for a first down. pic.twitter.com/pcjbyGW0Jg
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 13, 2024
Sean Tucker ?pic.twitter.com/Qn6lqf8FnK https://t.co/lhbd2iQjv1
— wetkittybandit (@wetkittybandit) October 13, 2024
Is Tucker the immediate answer to the Buccaneers' ground game? He should be, but that's not usually how it works. Starters don't lose jobs due to injury.
However, the starter could spend more time in recovery because the backup is hot, and when the starter returns, he could be splitting time with a third back and have a shorter leash. Todd Bowles characterized his running back rotation as a "three-headed monster" on Monday.
Tucker is worth adding to your roster as an RB4-RB5 who has a top-15 fantasy ceiling in any given week due to his breakaway speed and overall skills. He has the best mix of skills that White and Irving offer separately.
2. Is Kimani Vidal the Future of the Chargers Backfield?
If J.K. Dobbins gets hurt, Vidal's future would be now. Otherwise, he's skilled enough to claim at least a committee role with Dobbins if the Chargers take the potential "out" with Gus Edwards' contract.
Dobbins has performed well enough that if he stays healthy, he'll be the odds-on favorite to earn a contract extension with Los Angeles or a second deal in 2026. Vidal will still factor and based on his pre-draft scouting report and what we saw on Sunday, there's reason for optimism.
Kimani Vidal TD pic.twitter.com/b8OjqHeKmq
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024
Kimani Vidal on Toss pic.twitter.com/AD48CdcNzX
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024
https://t.co/zle8nA6c9u pic.twitter.com/iGEAEFrrwC
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024
Why some of us liked Kimani Vidal, the prospect. Pass pro. #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/tIfIeozrjX
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024
Vidal displayed the acceleration, power, contact, balance, and passing-down skills that made him the Rookie Scouting Portfolio's No.6 RB in this class. I compared him favorably to D'Andre Swift "with more acceleration, power, and better vision, but off-brand college resume that will affect his draft stock."
Other players in Vidal's comparison range included Ahmad Bradshaw and Jaylen Warren. If he surpasses all expectations, Maurice Jones-Drew is at the top of the spectrum.
3. Jayden Daniels Got Stretched--And It Was Good for Him
Four things stuck out with the Commanders-Ravens game concerning Jayden Daniels.
- The Ravens limited the effectiveness of the Commanders' short passing game and forced Daniels to throw downfield more often.
- The Ravens walled off the edges with their pass rushers and got interior pressure, hemming in Daniels at key moments. This forced some inaccurate throws and interceptable targets.
- When forced to throw downfield, Daniels performed well outside of those pressure-filled moments.
- Tony Romo oversold Daniels' ability to use his eyes as a manipulation tool in this game. Many of the plays we saw had built-in look-offs as window dressing for a primary read. Daniels is promising here, but not as extraordinary as Romo characterized.
Baltimore was Daniels' sternest test so far, and he acquitted himself. There is a chance the Ravens are just the beginning of schematic tweaks that could impact Daniels' performances in the coming weeks, but I only see four teams with the personnel to test him:
- Chicago in Week 8
- Pittsburgh in Week 10
- New Orleans in Week 15
- Atlanta in Week 17
Other than the Steelers and the Saints, I'm optimistic you can start Daniels at will without fear of a significant regression in play. Watch for injuries to the Commanders' offensive line and skill talent. Enough hits to the surrounding talent could alter this projection. Otherwise, fire away.
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