Here are my Top Thoughts from the day

– Two WR sets featured George Pickens and Van Jefferson. This team is going to be 12/13 personnel-heavy. When a slot enters, it’s Calvin Austin, right now.

– Did the collective of fantasy gamers forget how good Pat Freiermuth was in 2022? He was the 5th graded receiving TE, according to PFF. And dealt with lingering injuries in 2023. 177 targets in 32 games.

– This backfield continues to clearly RUN through Najee Harris, who hasn’t missed a game in three years while rushing for 1,000 yards in each.

– Jaylen Warren holds a ton of stand-alone value as a back in an offense that projects to run the ball more than 500 times. Warren continues to pull targets away from Harris while being a couple of tiers ahead of Patterson/Perine/Ward

– Talking to a few people in Pittsburgh, as well as watching Thursday’s practice with my own eyes. It’s still pretty clear that Russell Wilson is the better quarterback in the current state. There is a lot of allure around Fields, deservedly so, he looks like a million bucks.. as a specimen, human, and runner.

– One thing is for certain though about Justin Fields. I will be betting the Anytime TD Prop for Fields from Week 1 until they stop offering it at value on my preferred sportsbook. Lol – he may end up with 6-8 rushing touchdowns this year in his own package.

– The Biggest Offensive Takeaway, it doesn’t really matter if the Steelers trade for Brandon Aiyuk, they won’t have the gas to properly fulfill his needs, because they don’t have it right now to keep George Pickens’ tank full. It would ultimately benefit Pickens’ for a player like Aiyuk+ to go to Pittsburgh, but NOT with this Quarterback/OC situation.

– The BULK of first-team alignments for Buffalo at WR/TE on Thursday, lots of Mack Hollins(Outside), Keon Coleman(O), Khalil Shakir(O/Slot), Dalton Kincaid(O/S), Quintin Morris(O/S), Valdes-Scantling(O/S) – (C. Samuel was a DNP)

– James Cook is the lead back in Buffalo, as expected.. however, Ty Johnson (who returned to practice this week), worked in often enough to cause me concerns. This staff speaks glowingly about Johnson, who stepped in after missing time and had the RB2 role waiting for him, ahead of Rookie Ray Davis.

– With Matt Milano suffering a Torn Bicep in practice this week, it will be up to 2nd-year 3rd round pick, Dorian Williams out of Tulane to step up at Will Linebacker, but it will be Terrell Bernard who is bestowed the “influence/leadership” role while Milano is out. Williams played 472 snaps in 2023, however, 261 of those were on ST

– The Biggest Offensive Takeaway was NOT that Keon Coleman is struggling at some outrageous clip creating separation, it’s that Josh Allen and he are simply not on he same page, yet. Allen was seen lasering footballs into tight windows to Kincaid, Shakir, and Morris, but missed my inches and a few times feet when targeting Coleman. Keon is going to be a very good Wide Receiver in this league, it may just take a minute.

– Khalil Shakir is a fine pick in the 11th round of fantasy drafts, but better values can be found. The players here are simply Dalton Kincaid (4th/5th) and Curtis Samuel (11th)

– DEEP Dynasty Camp Watch-List Addition: Tyrell Shavers, WR is making this 53. Shavers was rumored to have passed the likes of Justin Shorter and Deon Cain.. but after the Joint Practice, I’m not sure how they don’t view Shavers as a guy nipping at Mack Hollins’ bare feet.

PS: KJ Hamler is so fun to watch in 1-on-1 drills