MISSION
The mission of this column—and a lot of my work—is to bridge the gap between the fantasy and reality of football analysis.
The goal of this feature is to provide you with actionable recommendations that will help you get results. The fundamental mission is to get the process right.
While it's a rush to see the box score or highlights and claim you made the right calls, doing so without a sustainable process makes success ephemeral.
The Top 10 will cover topics that attempt to get the process right (reality) while understanding that fantasy owners may not have time to wait for the necessary data to determine the best course of action (fantasy).
My specialty is film analysis. I've been scouting the techniques, concepts, and physical skills of offensive skill talent as my business for nearly 20 years.
The Top 10 will give you fantasy-oriented insights rooted in football analysis that have made the Rookie Scouting Portfolio one of the two most purchased independent draft guides among NFL scouts. This is what Atlanta Falcons Area Scout and former SEC recruiter Alex Brown has told me over the past 8-10 years.
Sigmund Bloom's Waiver Wire piece, available every Monday night during the season, is a viable source of information to kick-start your week as a fantasy GM.
This week's Top 10 has a theme..."It." The necessary skill or skills to meet or exceed expectations.
STRAIGHT, NO CHASER: WEEK 4'S CLIFF'S NOTES
- All Ashton Jeanty needed to deliver elite fantasy production was competent blocking.
- We also learned that the Bears' rush defense is as bad as the Cowboys' pass defense.
- Ken Walker III earns criticism for making decisions like an early-career Saquon Barkley. False.
- Elijah Arroyo looks good, but AJ Barner is going to hold him back this year.
- Jaxson Dart spearheaded an upset over the Chargers? False, he was the figurehead. Big difference.
- Finally, Atlanta had a week where they used Kyle Pitts Sr. closer to his skill set. Will it last?
- Has Travis Etienne Jr. shut the door on Bhayshul Tuten chatter? Let's take it outside...
- Was Kenneth Gainwell's day against the Vikings a sign of things to come?
- The Titans organization is not doing Cameron Ward any favors with his development and that may hurt most of his teammates' fantasy upside.
- Odds and Ends: Notes on various players...
1. All Ashton Jeanty Needed Was Competent Blocking
Not everyone saw it this way, including former NFL DB-turned-color-analyst, Adam Archuletta. He characterized Jeanty's struggles as two-fold during his pre-taped analysis. They show during the initial drive for the offense: 1) The offensive line, and 2) Jeanty not seeing rushing lanes when they were available.
Archuletta used this play below as an example of Jeanty not seeing the rushing lane. It's not a good example.
It’s not that Ashton Jeanty “didn’t see the lane…”
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) September 29, 2025
Jeanty guessed wrong with the LB and the bigger cutback he hoped to create.
Big difference: One implies fundamental vision issues. The other is a talented back trying too hard to pop a big gain. pic.twitter.com/DLIUAdd3Is
It's ok, Archuletta is a former DB. I've found that former DBs who haven't studied running backs but talk about them on TV and social media aren't the most reliable sources of expertise about RBs.
What we learned on Sunday is what most of us thought in the first place: All Ashton needed was competent blocking. Whether it was Jeanty or three-time healthy scratch, Raheem Mostert, the Raiders running backs tore a new one through the Bears' defense.
It was a sigh of relief from GMs who nabbed Jeanty early in re-draft formats this year.
Let's enjoy a moment of Jeanty's skills on display when the Raiders' makeshift offensive line did its job.
Ashton Jeanty with a nice lane to the outside and the DT shoots his shot and misses after shedding the OL to the inside.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) September 29, 2025
Jeanty excels against ankle bites. https://t.co/RdTuDaz765
Feeling good? Yeah? Sweet. Take another victory lap around the office.
Sobering news ahead, but no wet blankets.
2. Chicago's Rush Defense Is As Bad As Dallas' Pass Defense
Pull this video of Jeanty tearing through the Bears' defense one more time. Hit the pause button and move the advance button to the very beginning.
See how the Bears were in a nickel defense? Hat-tip to Footballguy Nick Whalen for noting this detail, which was present in Chicago's defensive alignments during this game.
Not only were the Bears playing personnel who were at a distinct disadvantage, but this unit also entered the game as the 26th-ranked rush defense in the league. This point doesn't invalidate what Jeanty did on Sunday, but it adds context that Jeanty's elite performance is matchup-driven at this time -- at least until the Raiders' unit stops making egregious mistakes like this...
#DaBears get huge gift 9’ 4th and 1 from the Raiders C
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) September 29, 2025
Wow. Andrew Billings is a human landslide into the backfield pic.twitter.com/yQUUBp73n5
Fortunately, the Raiders face more favorable run matchups than bad during the next six weeks: the Colts (24th), Titans (4th), Chiefs (10th), Jaguars (25th), Broncos (9th), and Cowboys (6th). The lower the number in parentheses, the more generous the rush defense for running backs, which is encouraging for Jeanty if the Raiders' line continues its improvement.
Because the Raiders were so bad up front until Sunday, keep an eye out for rocky moments ahead and be prepared to pivot if injuries pile up along this makeshift line. Otherwise, there's reason for cautious optimism you'll get more RB1 weeks from Jeanty if Pete Carroll doesn't suddenly split the rookie's touches with Mostert.
See what I mean about Cautious optimism? There are sobering potential realities to consider.
As for the Bears? Commanders, Saints, Ravens, Bengals, Giants, and Vikings' RBs get to enjoy fresh fish.