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.
The theme this week...Details aren't nitpicking, but the difference between the players considered the best in the world.
STRAIGHT, NO CHASER: WEEK 12'S CLIFF'S NOTES
- Davante Adams is a greater teacher for aspiring WR scouts. The lesson: making movement meaningful.
- James Cook is a small back with wins in heavy traffic. The lesson: Footwork and hip mobility.
- Woody Marks has good footwork, but can he become the James Cook of the Houston Texans' offense?
- Shedeur Sanders has the technical tools for a fantasy future. Was he being held back in Cleveland? Yes, but not in the conspiratorial way described in the national media.
- J.J. McCarthy's accuracy issues have been the headline, but be more concerned about his game management.
- John Metchie III has a valuable fantasy outing for the Jets, but there are reasons to doubt his game offers long-term starter production.
- If you're seeking a receiver in Metchie's role with greater fantasy value this year, roll with Greg Dortch.
- Michael Wilson's play and insights on Jacoby Brissett further indict Kyler Murray as the problem with the Cardinals' offense.
- Harold Fannin Jr.'s rookie season was encapsulated in one play. Can Fannin become a top-five fantasy TE?
- Welcome back, Brenton Strange: If you need a stretch-run option at TE, consider Strange.
1. Making Movement Meaningful: Davante Adams
This segment on Adams is also about two top wide receiver prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. Jordyn Tyson is a popular option at the top of many fans' boards. Long, lean, fast, and coordinated, Tyson is a highlight machine.
Carnell Tate is also a popular name on the list of top receivers. Tate also has all the moves.
Both wide receiver prospects have the talent and skills to have strong careers. If I had to choose one today, I'd roll with Tate. The reason: Both may know all the moves, but Tate shows a better grasp of how to make each movement meaningful.
Tyson does this on occasion. Tate's grasp is closer to becoming a habit.
What does making each movement meaningful look like? Let's consult the best in the game at this aspect of wide receiver play: Davante Adams.
What separates Davante Adams from so many WRs is his patient but sudden execution of release footwork. The slow work up to this foot-switch is so important. It gives the DB time to actually react to DA's movement.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 24, 2025
He sinks into the switch and explodes outside. Although the… https://t.co/rKLzGYSR5G
Whether it's a release from the line of scrimmage or a setup of a route during the stem, Adams executes the move at a pace where the defender can react to it. He's giving the movement a chance to breathe and have an impact.
All too often, Jordyn Tyson delivers the move so fast that the defender doesn't even have time to react -- and that's not good when the reason for the moves in question is to bait the defender. Right now, Tyson is the young construction worker walking on the job site with a toolbelt stuffed with a ton of tools, but he doesn't know how to maximize their value.
Adams is like the old master who can use a hammer in ways the layperson hasn't fathomed. It's why his red zone success looks so effortless, and, with Puka Nacua as his teammate, prolific.
Davante Adams receiving TD distance this season:
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 24, 2025
- 16 yds
- 44 yds
- 10 yds
- 2 yds
- 1 yd
- 1 yd
- 3 yds
- 4 yds
- 2 yds
- 1 yd
- 1 yd pic.twitter.com/3TW1I9HqWK
When operating in a compressed area of the red zone, especially the green zone (inside the five), the more you can make with limited space, the better. Adams' mastery of allowing his moves to breath bait defenders into reacting before Adams even begins his stem.
This is valuable at every phase of the route before the break, but it's lethal at the line of scrimmage in the red zone. It's why Davante Adams leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns.
2. Feet and Hips: James Cook's Secret Weapons in Traffic
Remember when the Bills were going to draft a bigger back to complement James Cook? Remember when Ray Davis was going to be Buffalo's David Montgomery?
Didn't happen. I thought it would, because I rarely trust NFL teams to allow a smaller back the opportunity to be the primary option, much less the featured guy. Cook's ability to work between the big boys was always intriguing to me:
"Where James’s usage at Georgia could lead one to conclude that he has a career along the lines of Tavon Austin, at best, the skill to work in tight quarters could make this member of the Cook family a premier scatback in the league — one who generates enough meaningful volume to rely on as a lead option in an offensive game plan. "
The general public just wants the right answer, but I live for difficult evaluations like Cook because they present multiple realistic potentials for what could be based on the coaching staff's philosophy and the scheme fit. Fortunately, the Bills adapted their scheme to Cook and let him be all he can be. As good as Cook is, many teams wouldn't go this route.
What makes Cook so good is his ability to change the length of his stride and flip his hips. These are the most efficient and dynamic ways to set up blocks, avoid pursuit, and create big rushing lanes.
The more a back can change direction or set up blocks with minimal space used, the more likely he'll reach open space. Cook excels at both, and it's why he's the best example of a small running back in a power offense today.
James Cook #BillsMafia
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 24, 2025
Excellent example of adjusting stride length to set up a crease and accelerate out of it.
Once he flipped those hips downhill from behind the line of scrimmage, he set himself up for a long run.
Very good control there. pic.twitter.com/khSldjePsC
James Cook #BillsMafia
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 24, 2025
No panic when he and the backside T pulling across aren't synched up immediately.
Quick adjustment in stride and pace and gets downhill. Good pads under the box defender.
Lemons into Lemonade. pic.twitter.com/hs82I0QOzt
Cook's speed is the facet of his game that most note, but it's how his feet and hips create space to set up his acceleration and speed that makes his game special. Speed is a nice-to-have. Efficient movement is a must.
3. Is Woody Marks the James Cook of the Texans?
A good receiver from the backfield, Marks has been Houston's lead back for the past month. Although neither as diminutive nor as explosive as Cook, can Marks be that scatback who leads an NFL backfield like Cook?
The footwork is promising.
Woody Marks #Texans
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 24, 2025
Efficient footwork as he reads the leverage of the defense during the exchange.
Excellent downhill cut and gets knees/feet high through backside pursuit.
Impressive. pic.twitter.com/3h1XYB0ekJ
So is his ability to go from reactor to aggressor within a split second.
Woody Marks #Texas
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 24, 2025
- Good read of Bills' slant
- Finds backside gap
-Drops pad on inside shoulder of DB. pic.twitter.com/kFaCuypsyE
Twice this year, Marks has produced over 100 yards from scrimmage. Otherwise, Marks has only exceeded 60 yards from scrimmage 4 times in 12 games.
The line is the weakness of the offense, and the skill talent is young and inexperienced overall. These factors are in Marks' favor to earn another year as the lead back.
What weighs against Marks is substantial. If Joe Mixon can convince the Texans he's ready in 2026, Mixon is the better back on paper. If not, the Texans have a favorable contract with Mixon that could lead to Mixon's release at the end of this year.
The NFL Draft is filled with startable running back talent in every round, and there are often compelling undrafted options. Look for the Texans to address its offensive line at least twice in the early rounds, but the later rounds could lead to a new face in the running back room.
If the Texans want a bigger back to deliver as a meaningful complement to Marks short-term while given the opportunity to prove he can become the lead option, there will be options on Day Three in the UDFA market. There will also be a healthy free agent market next year.
Marks has shown good things, but so has Nick Chubb. Based on what I've seen from both earlier in the season as well as last Thursday, Chubb could easily start ahead of Marks, but the team wants to give its young back opportunities to grow.
I'm not making a strong long-term investment in Marks. He appears replaceable and likely serves as a change-of-pace or as a passing-game committee option.
