Welcome to the Fantasy Island Midseason Bum Parade! We're serving up a feast of underwhelming performances and questionable decisions by your favorite players. It's a buffet of disappointment, so grab your forks, and let's dig in!

First up, Joe Burrow, the quarterback sensation turned fantasy head-scratcher. Is he practicing the art of QB origami, or did he accidentally sign up for the "How to Baffle Your Fantasy Owners 101" class? Buckle up for the Burrow breakdown.

Next on the chopping block is Justin Fields, the young prodigy with a knack for making fantasy managers question their decision-making skills. Is he on a quest to become the Jedi Master of Interceptions, or did he accidentally activate the "Confuse Your Fantasy Owners" cheat code?

Trevor Lawrence, the heralded savior of franchises, now starring in the role of fantasy's disappearing act. Is he auditioning for the Houdini of Inconsistent Quarterbacks, or did he accidentally stumble into the Bermuda Triangle of Fantasy Success?

Tony Pollard, the elusive RB who teases fantasy managers with flashes of brilliance. Is he playing hide-and-seek with consistent fantasy production?

Saquon Barkley, the once-mighty running back, now starring in the sequel "Injury Woes: The Saquon Chronicles."

Austin Ekeler, the electric RB who lights up the field but leaves fantasy managers in the dark. Is he perfecting the art of Thrilling but Inconsistent Fantasy Performances?

DK Metcalf, the dynamic wide receiver, showcasing chemistry struggles that could make a physicist cry. Is he conducting experiments in Quantum Fantasy Inconsistency?

Calvin Ridley, Is he mastering the art of "Route Running Mind Games," or did he accidentally step into the Labyrinth of Wide Receiver Woes?

Deebo Samuel, the 49ers' elusive playmaker, now starring in the sequel "Catch Me If You Can't: A Fantasy Tale. Is he creating a new genre of "Fantasy Hide-and-Seek?

Kyle Pitts, the highly-touted tight end, now crafting a narrative of "Fantasy Potential: The Untapped Saga." Is he practicing the art of Waiting for Stardom?

Mike Gesicki, the tight end navigating a sea of offensive struggles in Miami. Is he orchestrating a symphony of Dolphin-Infested Fantasy Waters?

Dallas Goedert, the tight end battling through injuries in the City of Brotherly Love. Is he starring in the Philadelphia Phases of Fantasy Frustration?

Join us in the Fantasy iisland Midseason Bum Parade, where we dissect the trials and tribulations of your fantasy stars. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, a maze of confusion, and a buffet of disappointment. Buckle up, and hold onto your coconuts.

Got a problem with us? Think you know better? Prove it. Shoot us your scorching hot takes or icy hate mail at getatus@fantasyiisland.com. We'll read it, laugh, and then keep on schooling you. Hit subscribe, unless you enjoy being the laughingstock of your league.

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Fantasy iisland Mid-Season Bums

[00:00:10] We got Bombo, I'm Sweet Tea, and we're going to go ahead and get into this one. But before we do, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, hit that notification bell. If it tickles your fancy, if not Bombo can go over there and tickle your fancy for you. He likes doing that. He's got a big feather. Just saying guys.

[00:00:47] He had just gotten hurt up until that point He really hasn't done much last couple games prior to getting hurt. He started looking better He started looking like himself, but his numbers Bumbo have not been stellar to say the least He is number 17 in the fantasy quarterback list right now. He has only had 2, 300 yards passing.

[00:01:30] The issue with Burrow started in preseason when he had to be carted off for a calf injury. When he had to be carted off with a calf injury, started the season playing through it and not clicking at all in that offense. Then there was what we thought was the resurgence of the bangles for like a two week span and now we have burrowed down for the year Let's just start off by saying to you like a wish him all the best Hope he comes back in balls out for fantasy manager starting next year But busted wrist on the throwing hand means we're not seeing burrow for the rest of the year and going forward I'm not sure about all the rest of the weapons in Cincinnati because his backup did not look too good and we on the island like to tell you how All these moves are going to affect the rest of your season.

[00:02:21] crying Bombo because I have Jamar Chase and he only got me 10 points.

[00:02:40] Wasn't prepared to come in and we'll see what happens after a week of the

[00:03:14] Justin Fields is not having a great season. The reason why he's on this bum list. Yes, it's year three only, but at the same time, this was the year he was going to make that leap. This is the year that they went and got some weapons around him. They tried to upgrade that O line. Now that O line has struggled because of injuries.

[00:03:56] Even though, you know, the struggles with that. Bad coaching. Bad OC. What do you think?

[00:04:25] And if he's healthy, he's going to take the field for the Bears. And hopefully he's a gamer enough that he's putting up good performances, regardless of what he thinks his future will be with the Bears. Because if he gets moved from the Bears, he's not Trey Lance. He's not going to go to a team and hold the clipboard.

[00:05:03] And I know you, me, King have been saying that DJ Moore is quarterback proof. So is Justin Fields Baller performances as a passer because DJ more is that good of a receiver? I don't know, but that's why he makes this list because it's just so many question marks around Justin Fields and he was being drafted as a guy that you can just put in your lineup and he'll get you 30 every game.

[00:05:46] And he's proven it. He's taken some big, big throws to the house. I mean, this guy is just amazing to watch. But to your point, though, it's a little bit painful to watch Justin Fields at the moment. He does have those baller games, but he has made this bums list and it's unfortunate. It hurts. It's painful, but Hey, that's what we're here for, right?

[00:06:33] Trevor Lawrence, Mr. Trevor Lawrence, a lot of people are going to say, how the hell do you got Trevor Lawrence on this bums list? Well, guess what? He's number 18 overall in fantasy points for quarterbacks. He's behind Baker Mayfield. He's behind Jordan Love. He's behind Brock Purdy. This guy. It's supposed to be the next coming of Jesus.

[00:07:14] But this season has been a tough season for him. He is definitely struggling. He has 2, 100 yards passing 300 attempts. He's only got nine touchdowns and he doesn't really run that much, but he's got 223 yards rushing, but he's just not getting it done. I mean, honestly, he's one tick above Derek Carr right now, who by all means, Derek Carr is not having a Derek Carr season because you and I are a lot higher on Derek Carr.

[00:08:00] Definitely not out of pocket, uh, speaking from a fantasy sense because the Jags are winning games. I mean, they got smashed by San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, but I mean, it's San Francisco. The Jags are improved on the defensive side. They have weapons on the offensive side, but it does come down to Trevor Lawrence has not taken the next step because the Trevor Lawrence has Experience was supposed to be elevated.

[00:08:43] He's, you know, in a class of his own as far as running backs, but Trevor Lawrence has not taken that fantasy step forward. I don't think the Jags are worried about Trevor Lawrence performing for your fantasy team. They're trying to win games and try to win this division, but we all expect a lot more out of Trevor Lawrence because the talents there, I said it once.

[00:09:16] Oh, shots fired. But you know what? Facts. Facts. I love

[00:09:22] All right, I'm going to go ahead and get into our running back bombs. Now my face is kind of smiling, but I'm kind of torn a little bit when I'm looking at this name, because quite honestly, Bumble, you and I were hype on this guy, just.

[00:10:21] And he's played nine games. He's not hurt. He's not playing, you know, banged up while everybody is, but to kind of level the playing field with everybody, he's not, he only has 529 yards. What in the world is that 529 when you got a guy like CMC at this point, same point with 747 and I'm talking rushing, not all purpose, just rushing pure rushing yards.

[00:11:16] He's not doing it. So he makes the number one running back bum on this list. At least that's my rant. That's what I feel What do you think

[00:11:44] Tony Pollard has been 100, the Cowboys have been 100 percent healthy all year. Cowboys have been balling out ever since they're by, if you listen to the show, we've been Cowboys. Our offense is rolling. Except for the one bad wheel, that one, that one Walmart cart wheel, which is Tony Pollard and the sad part about it is where you drafted him.

[00:12:27] Tony Pollard needs to be used in space. The problem is, they don't really need to do that because C. D. Lamb is crazy open down the field. Dak is now trying to play for his job and throw it down the field, and he's doing a really good job of it. So Tony Pollard is getting game scripted out of his own offense.

[00:13:05] We're going to say it one more time because trade deadlines are coming up. If you can get Tony Pollard, if you can get value for Tony Pollard in a trade, trade him to that Cowboys fan, trade him to that guy that thinks like T and I that hoping that this dude is a, you know, a 25 point game in a heartbeat off of two plays.

[00:13:39] And like we've said in the show before, starting running back for the Cowboys isn't a measurable stat.

[00:13:57] Yeah,

[00:14:15] He is not having a Saquon Barkley type of year, and he's healthy. He's a little dinged up because he's the only part of that offense, but he's relatively healthy. It's not like the Saquon Barkley in the past where he's missed, you know, he played three games and missed the rest of the season. No, no, no.

[00:14:56] So to see that, to see him trying to hold out for all kinds of money saying I'm worth it and then to come back with a performance like this. I don't put it on him 100 percent just because that whole entire team around him is dog shit. But still, you know what you were coming back to, you know what the situation is, you got a great head coach and nothing else. Saquon is the whole offense and he only has 568 yards rushing and one tutty. That's sad. I just don't know what to say anymore beyond that. What do you think Bombo?

[00:15:50] Stop me, stop me. If you heard this before, Tyrod Taylor comes in, looks good for two quarters and then has a devastating injury where he needs to go to the hospital. I feel like that happens every year.

[00:16:01] Every time. Yeah. So the reasons why you weren't drafting Saquon super high in the first round are the reasons why he's on this list because he's the best player on a bum offense with a bum quarterback, with the too many question marks everywhere else on the field.

[00:16:37] Danny Dimes was never really doing anything to improve the offense. Waller never came in and did anything for the offense. So you got 11 guys on the other side of the ball, just watching Saquon Barkley get a handoff and get stuff after two yards. The only thing that's for anyone that has any stock in Saquon is he's going to get that volume and The one thing that I will say that could probably help him.

[00:17:18] Oh, for sure. But let me, okay, so let me say when I say that he's been relatively healthy, he's played seven games. Giants have already had their bye week. He's played seven. That means he was only an unavailable for two games. All right. Who has played seven games that is light years ahead of him. I'm just going to throw this out there.

[00:18:01] This guy's played seven games. And he is not performing and I get it. You're right. It's that offense. I get it. You got nobody else but him, but at the same time, if it's just a steady dose of him, he should be able to do something more than what he's doing. So I don't know what's going on over there. I just, it's painful to watch as a, as somebody who is, uh, rooting for Saquon in fantasy, even though I don't have any, any stock in him.

[00:18:53] Rider die, and he was just getting us mad fantasy points for two years straight. He has been solid fantasy RB one, and all of a sudden he's fallen off. Where did this guy go? What the hell happened to this guy? Now, granted he's been hurt. He's only played six games, but that being said.

[00:19:39] He's catching. He's all world for them He is everything that they need. He is like the ultimate and this year nothing crickets Am I off? Should I temper my expectations? Giving that this guy was like one of the top guys overall in the league in fantasy points, two years running. And now what the hell happened to him?

[00:20:27] They're just a mid team, a mid organization with a bad coach and. Everything you said about Eckler is 100 percent true. So on the island. We let you know what your options are, your options right now, take advantage of that trade deadline and move him off of your roster and get a haul for him based off of his name.

[00:21:12] If they were to throw some money at them and invest in that position, we wouldn't even be talking about that. We'd be talking about this guy breaking records and I think the organization's holding him back. And he's also, if you watch Charger games, which we, you know, being in the Los Angeles area, we get to see Charger games.

[00:21:42] So shoot yourselves in the foot. Everyone that suffers for it are Charger fans and Austin Eckler owners.

[00:22:09] Anybody can get on this list, period. Alright Bombo, we're gonna go ahead and go into our wide receiver bums for the midseason. Oof, this list has some names. I'm shocked at some of these names, to be perfectly honest with you. I never thought I'd be saying, The likes of our number one guy on here and as DK Metcalf, DK Metcalf is sitting at number 39 in PPR points for wide receivers 39.

[00:23:08] And DK is not performing only 552 yards in the air and only two tutties that guys is nothing. He is not performing to the DK Metcalf that we think DK is just, I don't know. I don't know what's the problem over there, but it's just really hard for me, Bamba. What do you think?

[00:23:32] It is a tough one and some of it is to be blamed on Geno Smith. See, here's the thing. The thing that makes Geno Smith a good quarterback is what's going to hold DK Metcalf back. Geno Smith is not a risk taker. Geno Smith. Done with throwing a ton of picks. He doesn't want to do that.

[00:24:04] And. They take the pressure off the quarterback by trying to run the ball as much as possible. DK Metcalf needs to be with a gunslinger. Someone that's not afraid to just throw it up there and let DK Metcalf make the play even when he's not open.

[00:24:33] So if they take an epic nosedive to end the season, I think the Gino Smith era in Seattle is over and they look towards the future. The future is utilizing all their weapons with probably a bigger arm at quarterback.

[00:25:10] All right next guy on the block I gotta say this Bamba before we get into this guy This guy was out of the league for two years One for mental health and one because he was suspended. Now, that being said, he was gone for two years. So we didn't expect a ton of him coming back, but he was all world before he left.

[00:25:51] You have a great offensive guru head coach. I mean, all the pieces are there for him to be just Calvin Ridley again. I'm hoping the reason why he's on this list is because he's still trying to get his legs. He's still trying to get a custom. The game has changed a little bit in the last two years. Just all those types of things.

[00:26:33] He's not even in triple digits right now. He's got less than a hundred fantasy points. That is not what we expected out of Calvin. Really? Bombo. I don't know. What do you, what do you think? I I'm, I'm, I'm struggling with this one because I don't want him on this list, knowing his history, but at the same time, we've got to call him out.

[00:27:20] He doesn't get targeted Trevor Lauren goes to hand in hand with Trevor Lawrence schedule. Uh, it goes hand in hand with Trevor Lawrence's struggles If Trevor Lawrence does not see his first read open immediately One of the good things about Trevor Lawrence is he immediately goes to the next one? He's a he's a manufactured quarterback dude came out of a lab mentally, right?

[00:28:16] But as of right now, it looks like a wasted year. And for people who are drafting him in the second and third round as being that dude, they're probably not even starting him at this point. Hopefully they moved him because right now he's at his lowest value. Like you were saying, he's not even in triple digits as a quote unquote, number one ride receiver, not getting the catches, not getting the touchdowns.

[00:28:37] You know, the argument could be said that, you know, Christian Kirk and Trevor Lawrence have more chemistry. Because of last year together, which is valid. But when you got a talent like Kelvin Ridley coming in, you expect a lot more, you expect faster chemistry and everything, and you're just not seeing it.

[00:29:26] And that's Debo Samuels, guys. Debo Samuels of the San Francisco 49ers. Yes, there's a lot of hype around him every single year, but let's remember the hype was around him when Jimmy G was the quarterback. Ever since Purdy took over that role. You do not see or hear a lot about Devo Samuels. Devo Samuels is number 49 out of 50 top receivers.

[00:30:19] It's true about Devo Samuels. There's a strong chance right now you're listening to us and you're saying, well, hell, I don't even have them in my starting lineup. I can't even trust them to be in my starting lineup right now. And there's no trade value unless there's like what Bombo always says, unless you got somebody who is a huge fan of that team and, or just chases names or both. That's the only value you're going to get for him, but Bumbo, I don't know. Am I far off in thinking this? Because I'm just thinking that the chemistry between him and Purdy isn't there, but you know, am I off or, or what do you think? Is it something else?

[00:31:17] Probably besides Christian McCaffrey, one of the best athletes that San Francisco has, but that doesn't make him a top receiver. Brandon Ayoub is the better receiver and Devo Samuel has 24 catches on the year. A yuke leads the team in targets, air yards, all of the measurables of a number one ride receiver.

[00:32:00] So that's eight fantasy points. You could put on a couple of catches on there and there's your Debo Samuel getting you 10 to 12. Whereas Ayuk is getting no touchdowns but getting 10 catches for 160 yards. Devo. Samuel is the guy that they want to show on highlights. He's the guy that we see scoring the touchdowns on the jet sweeps.

[00:32:43] Racket. I love it. Kick yourself in the ass. Absolutely. You're right though. I mean, we called this out, you called this out. I mean, this was just one of those ones that we were very, just not high on at all. You know, but like I said, it's no surprise to us, but to many guys out there right now, this has just been a hard pill to swallow and a hard lesson learned with him.

[00:33:27] All the other tight ends, we can make an argument, well, you know, the position they're serviceable, they're never been that big of a name, all that type of thing. But these three names on here, these guys aren't bums. These guys have either shown flashes that they can be something or were expected to be something.

[00:34:13] And yet Bombo can attest to this. I can attest to this, every single season since this guy's been in the league, he has been drafted high when it comes to tight ends for whatever reason. He's got a name and it's not deserved. And that is Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons. I'm sorry. I can't sit there and recommend this guy.

[00:34:56] bad coaching situation. I think it's the fact that he's got nobody throwing him the ball because he's got a bum for a freaking quarterback over there that hasn't panned out. Who else did he have? He had Matt Ryan at the end of his career when his, his freaking arm was rubber. What do you got thrown to you?

[00:35:33] So he's only got 82 points on the fantasy points on the year. I don't know, Wombo. am I off? Am I just going off? I'm just, I feel like I'm being negative on the guy, but everybody's always so high on him. What do you think?

[00:36:08] Like some of these guys that were supposed to be all world talents because they were that hybrid big wide receiver slash converted tight end always can get open across the seams and. And the thing is, he's now leaning more towards those bus names that I just mentioned, instead of being the next Travis Kelsey.

[00:36:45] And he's kind of getting scripted out of his own offense right now, because we were talking about it in pre show, does Atlanta want to run the ball or do they have to run the ball with Desmond Ritter at quarterback? And I think it's a combination of both. Leaning more towards they have to run the ball and Kyle pitches isn't a fantastic run blocker.

[00:37:23] Yeah, that's a good point. You know, one of the things that kind of stood out when you say a guy like O. J. Howard, the other guy that kind of came to mind immediately was like a Noah Fant, too. Big body. A lot of upside, everybody was talking and hype

[00:37:38] first round pick and just did nothing, you know, and we, we thought, Oh, maybe it was Denver, maybe it was their situation over there, but he went to Seattle.

[00:38:10] He was actually pretty solid when it comes to the tight end position. In miami and he goes to a situation where we thought was going to be a little bit good for him because He's going to new england new england wasn't great But you know what they went out and they fixed or they thought they did We all thought they did at the beginning of the year.

[00:38:53] That's it. Cause Secchi has not panned out to what everybody, myself included, cause I threw it out there in the preseason shows. I'm going to call myself out and I said, this guy's going to have a better season than most people think just because he's in a better situation where he's going to be able to get catches.

[00:39:29] You would be right to say that. So, you know, uh, I'm giving you that, that chance to throw it in my face. So go for it.

[00:40:08] It's time to get to the facts. Brady made that happen. Brady is the reason why the Pats had balled out. Why? Undersized receivers for no money, won super bowls. And we looked at the Patriots offense going into the season with Juju and Gusecki and Hunter Henry being like, Oh, that's Edelman, Hernandez and Gronk.

[00:40:46] If you took Gusecki right now and put him on the Bengals. Boom, right? If Gaseki, and even though Ferguson is doing well for Dallas, if Gaseki was the starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, boom, we wouldn't even be talking about this guy like that.

[00:41:13] Um, now that I think about it, Guseki on the dolphins, but that's just me. Um, yeah, I don't know. Yeah. Now that in hindsight, hopefully everybody's thinking about that, but, he's now turned into a guy that's not even on fantasy rosters. It was a bad move on his part to go there. It's a bad move on our part for thinking he was going to be there and improve that offense in any way. Patriots are abysmal. Gusecki is included in that.

[00:41:57] Because you know what? Dallas Goddard is supposed to be that guy. They got rid of Zach Ertz because Goddard was supposed to be that guy. And what has he done? He hasn't done much. He's played nine games this year. That means he's relatively healthy right now. He's a little banged up. We understand that he's doubtful listed last time we heard before, their next matchup, but he's on a high flying offense.

[00:42:51] This guy, he's supposed to be that tight end. He was being spoken in the sense of a Travis Kelsey type of guy. He was held in those regards and around a lot of fantasy circles as a tight end that could compete fantasy point wise with a Kelsey, with an Andrews. That was the kind of guy that he was. And he's not, and he hasn't been.

[00:43:19] We say it on the show all the time, follow the money. And Dallas Goddard got the bag in the offseason. We were thinking he was going to be a key cog in this high powered offense. Uh, the reality with the Eagles, as much as they're winning regular season games, and as much as A. J. Brown and Jalen Hurts are balling out, it doesn't seem like multiple guys on that offense can ball out at the same time.

[00:44:00] He does his job at tight end as far as drawing the safety and drawing that coverage linebacker away from the receivers. And he does a good job blocking, but you're right. Everyone that drafted him thinking they were getting a mini Hawkinson or they were getting a mini Andrews. Uh, they're getting a jag, man.

[00:44:37] So yeah, Goddard has to make the list. Unfortunately,

[00:45:02] And I kept saying, I bet you he's not Dalton Schultz Dalton Schultz is on a, not that great team, Houston. I mean, let's be honest. Right? So they're, they're up and coming. I mean, they got their QB, right? They got that position, right? CJ Stroud is just balling. But think about this Dalton Schultz is just sitting out of the top five, just sitting out and he's not on a sexy team.

[00:45:52] Now he's not and he's still getting those numbers and then you got like a guy like Goddard who is supposed to be getting those numbers who was spoken in high regards higher than Schultz regards and not doing that. So just kind of illustrating the point there, you know, just kind of like a little jab, just digging it in even further.

[00:46:32] Probably, probably, actually, that's a good point. All right. So that's going to go ahead and wrap up our mid season bums for this year. So far, hopefully, uh, hopefully you don't have many of these guys on your roster. And if your roster is loaded with a bunch of these guys, that means, uh, sucks to be you, bro. Anyway, so for the, for the guys in the fantasy Island crew for Bombo, I'm sweet tea and we are out.