Welcome to the latest edition of AMA Recap! We'll be summarizing our bi-weekly Discord AMAs, leading up to the 2025 NFL season. This week, Footballguys Analyst Matt Waldman
Everything's Coming Up Tahj
Dogjer213: I know Tahj Brooks is one of your favorites. Do you believe the Zack Moss cut was a direct result of what Brooks has displayed thus far? If so, Perine can't be a real threat?! Maybe I'm too far out over my skies! Help!
Matt Waldman: I think Moss was cut because of the injury, first, and that they have proven depth with Perine and a promising guy in Brooks. Perine is a good pass receiver, blocker, and an absolute short-yardage dump truck. Still, I've been bold on Brooks and will remain high on him as the second-most likely target getter. I projected that before Moss got cut.
The 425 Degrees of Chris Godwin
McGuireOnFire: Chris Godwin: is he cooked? And am I cooked if he's on my roster?
Matt Waldman: I don't believe so. I'm going down with the Godwin ship. A follow-up surgery was a clean-out. Not a massive issue. I bet he'll be ready within the first month of the season and on his way to remaining one of the top two fantasy producers in that passing game.
AR: Year Three
Opihi Jim: Hey Matt! You've been a supporter of QB Richardson and trusting his maturation process. What are your thoughts on him going into the 2025 season, especially from a dynasty perspective?
Matt Waldman: I like that Richardson worked with Josh Allen. Part of my comp spectrum was Allen. I like it because Allen had to mature as a game manager and read the field better. Having a player like Richardson in many respects serves as an example of how he made it to the other side of acclimating to the league is valuable. I also think much of the criticisms on Richardson had some merit but were overblown. As long as the OL is better, I think Richardson will make progress this year and hold off Jones. Richardson manipulates defenders well when he sees the field correctly. Getting more experience with coverage disguises should help him.
Through the Years
bu11dog: Which year did you release the first version of the RSP? I downloaded my first copy in 2009…I think it was a part of my FBG subscription.
Matt Waldman: My first year was 2006. Locked myself in a hotel down the street from downtown Athens, Ga. Spent nearly 130 hours that week studying tape to finish up. Knew then that I had the sickness. Finished the writeups and analysis over the next 2-3 weeks and released at FFToday on April 1, 2006.
Marathon Career Steps
Lou: Matt, I've been following your work since, well, before Footballguys. If you were coaching someone to do what you do, where would you tell them to start, and what would you encourage them to do next?
Matt Waldman: Thanks for following that long! I'd tell them first that it's an ultramarathon, not a sprint. I'd tell them to learn how to tell a story with a voice that's relatable and engaging. I'd also advise them to work hard on learning the game. Not the stats, but the actual techniques, concepts, and athletic archetypes of the positions. Create your own standard of what you study and how you study it. Don't veer from it, but adapt it to what you learn. Being wrong is simply an opportunity to learn more. Box out the outside noise. Read others, but for your admiration of their writing or specific information that you can learn about football and apply directly to whatever you're doing.
If you'd like to join the conversation for our bi-weekly Discord AMAs, you can JOIN HERE . We have a great lineup of Footballguys analysts in the coming weeks, including Hutchinson Brown, Joey Wright, and Mike Kashuba!
