Matt Waldman's RSP Cast

  TD Wire's Laurie Fitzpatrick returns to Matt Waldman's RSP Quick Game in Week 3 to break down the Jaguars' victory over the Colts, how we evaluate running backs in pass protection and what we're looking at away from the ball when we grind film. This week, Laurie and I dig into the guts of the Jaguars' defensive performance that stifled the undermanned Colts' offense. We also examine the match-up game of the Jaguars' offense that profited from key injuries along the Colts' defense. We also discuss the techniques, concepts, characteristics of opposition, and prioritization of information involved with running backs protecting the passer. We finish the show with a conversation about all the things we're examining on the field while grinding tape before we even consider following the football. And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

A weekly phone conversation between fantasy veterans Bob Harris and Matt Waldman is a quick and dirty run-down of NFL players, units, or teams. Week 2 Reactions 1. Tua Tagovailoa 2. Jared Goff 3. Matt Ryan 4. Russell Wilson 5. Curtis Samuel 6. Chris Olave 7. Richie James 8. Brian Daboll's handling of Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay 9. Allen Robinson 10. Sammy Watkins 11. Hunter Renfrow 12. Najee Harris 13. Clyde Edwards-Helaire 14. Gerald Everett 15. Isaiah LIkely 16. Mike Gesicki 17. Jahan Dotson 18. Ravens Defense 19. Kyle Pitts 20. Drake London 21. Amari Cooper And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95. Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.  If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.  Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

Photo by Aero Icarus https://www.flickr.com/photos/aero_icarus/50211300018 Matt Waldman follow-up to a hilarious RSP Story Time debut is his tale about successfully stowing away on a U.S. commercial airline flight at age 14.  Friday is my one day off from football. It’s a day I devote to music lessons, reading, movies, and other mediums of value. In addition to sharing my Reads, Listens, and Views (a feature I’m bringing back to the site this year), I’m also collecting true stories from friends and colleagues. If you’re interested in being a part of this, feel free to email me at mattwaldmanrsp@gmail.com and we’ll consider recording it. Adam Dorn's hiliarious bet with KISS bassist Gene Simmons is a great tale for your drive home. RSP Storytime follows it up wtih one of my own stories: Stowing away on a commercial airline flight. A John Hughes 80's movie come to life. https://youtu.be/LOMO_eSGcU4 Enjoy.

Footballguys staff writer Adam Harstad joins RSP Film and Data as Matt Waldman's cohost for the 2022 football season to discuss practices that will make you a better fantasy GM. There are a lot of excellent writers and analysts in the fantasy industry. There are few that I hold in as high a regard as Adam. He's a forthright human being with a tremendous intellect whose approach to analysis in this space differs from most. He's also an excellent fantasy GM in re-draft and dynasty formats. Unlike Dwain McFarland, whose work delves into the statistical process, Adam spends a lot of time examining results and dealing with broad themes of decision-making that help us become better fantasy players and fantasy analysts: * The Implacable Universal Force of the Regression gods explained: * Patrick Mahomes * O.J. Howard * Travis Etienne and James Robinson * Chase Claypool * How Adam makes fantasy decisions while waiting for an appropriate amount of data * Why pre-draft ADP is valuable. * A sticky finding with rookie performance. * Why effective processes blend systems and intuition: * Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen * Marlon Mack and Tevin Coleman Enjoy! And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

  Matt Waldman defines the Coverage Triangle in this edition of the RSP NFL Scouting Glossary with the help of a play from Ohio State NFL Draft Prospect, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. What is the Coverage Triangle? And why do receivers have to possess knowledge of it for the NFL? One way of answering this question is by asking another question: Why do a lot of top athletes at wide receiver fail to transition quickly, if at all, to the NFL after promising performances during training camps? Receivers must be on the same page with their quarterbacks when reading coverage. This means understanding changes to the coverage late in the pre-snap phase and early in the post-snap phase of the play: * Alignment shifts. * Drops or climbs. * Changes in leverage. * Body language that may indicate a blitz. These are just some of the factors a receiver and quarterback have to see the same way. When they do, the receiver will be adjusting his route to a pattern that will break open. A significant factor in this decision is the Coverage Triangle, which consists of some combination of three defenders: * A safety, usually over the top at some amount of depth. * A linebacker, usually inside of the receiver. * A cornerback, usually closest to the receiver. * A defensive lineman who may drop to cover the shallow zone. Sometimes we'll see these four positions play roles that vary from what I mentioned. The basic point is that you have three defenders that a receiver should take into account before the snap and early in the post-snap phase when running a route against zone coverage or a combination of man and zone. The Coverage Triangle on Film Ohio State wide receiver and NFL Draft prospect, Jaxon Smith-Njigba demonstrates how a receiver and quarterback will account for this coverage triangle during the late pre-snap and early post-snap phase of a play. https://twitter.com/MattWaldman/status/1566079042612346881 It's important to note that this particular play may or may not be a spot adjustment from Smith-Njigba where he's identifying a change to the Coverage Triangle and altering his route. He might just be identifying a blitz. Still, the play illustrates how the blitz impacts the triangle and why the route that Smith-Njibba is running beats the triangle of defenders. NFL receivers have to be more aware of this triangle and how to decide which route to run based on it. One of the primary decision factors is based on the position of each defender in the triangle. When you're watching receivers on Sunday, spend time identifying the coverage triangle accounting for them and you'll begin to see the logic behind their route decisions versus zone. You'll also begin to understand why some top one-on-one athletes aren't on the field as much as fans hoped. You can also find more detail on this concept on my YouTube Channel, Matt Waldman's RSP Film Room and in the RSP Cast below. And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.  

Campus to Canton's Felix Sharpe joins Matt Waldman's RSP Cast for a conversation about QB Anthony Richardson and WRs Jaxon Smith-Ngiba and Marvin Harrison, Jr. Every other week, Felix @sharpereview of @campus2canton will be joining me to discuss college football talent, many of them underclassmen (Devy). The show will be focused solely on these aspects of fantasy football so you can get familiar with them for your devy, dynasty, and re-draft leagues. This week's topics: * Florida's QB Anthony Richardson's highs and lows in context of his NFL evaluation. * Why Jaxon Smith-Ngiba and Marvin Harrison, Jr. essentially play different positions but both are strong NFL prospects. * The challenges of developing not only a strong work ethic but also learning to work intelligently. * The value of learning from blown first chances and embracing second chances. Learn more about Campus2Canton Leagues. And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children.   

A weekly phone conversation between fantasy veterans Bob Harris and Matt Waldman is a quick and dirty run-down of NFL players, units, or teams. https://youtu.be/7BVFTsdlfFI And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

Photo by Waring Abbot/Getty Images. Matt Waldman kicks off RSP Storytime, a short podcast devoted to true stories. This week, Adam Dorn shares how he won a bet with Gene Simmons of KISS. Friday is my one day off from football. It's a day I devote to music lessons, reading, movies, and other mediums of value. In addition to sharing my Reads, Listens, and Views (a feature I'm bringing back to the site this year), I'm also collecting true stories from friends and colleagues. If you're interested in being a part of this, feel free to email me at mattwaldmanrsp@gmail.com and we'll consider recording it. RSP Storytime kicks off with one of my favorite stories that I heard last year. It comes from composer, Adam Dorn. You've probably heard Adam's work as the composer for documentaries such as Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic,  Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, and Enemies: The President, Justice & The FBI. He's also written and performed music for Six Feet Under, The Bourne Supremacy, The Devil Wears Prada, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The son of renowned jazz and R&B producer Joel Dorn, Adam is a lifelong Eagles fan who reached out to me last year after hearing about my penchant for drawing parallels to football and improvisational music and deciding we were going to become great friends. Adam and I share a love for Funk, R&B, and Jazz. Adam's longtime friendship with Marcus Miller began as a student-mentor relationship. If you don't know Marcus Miller, he's a renowned performer and producer who is also one of the kings of the electric bass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpSlxS5Xkso I share these things about Adam because I want to set the stage for the story. Imagine Adam as a 17-year-old bassist with a full-blown Philly wise-ass mentality in the late 1980s learning his craft from Miller when he runs into KISS bassist, Gene Simmons while working as a grunt in a recording studio. Now imagine Simmons dismissing Adam's musical hero and their conversation degenerating into a bet that takes them into the streets of New York and leads to the ultimate comeuppance. Enjoy.

Footballguys staff writer Adam Harstad joins RSP Film and Data as Matt Waldman's cohost for the 2022 football season. We'll be discussing practices that will make you a better fantasy GM. There are a lot of excellent writers and analysts in the fantasy industry. There are few that I hold in as high a regard as Adam. He's a forthright human being with a tremendous intellect whose approach to analysis in this space differs from most. He's also an excellent fantasy GM in re-draft and dynasty formats. Unlike Dwain McFarland, whose work delves into statistical process, Adam spends a lot of time examining results and dealing with broad themes of decision-making that help us become better fantasy players and fantasy analysts: * Regression * Age Cliffs * Heuristics * Bayesian Updating * Data that's sticky This week, Adam and I discuss Bayesian Updating, Heuristics, Yards Per Route Run, the the timing and volume of trades, and the value of draft capital through the lens of players like Trey Sermon, Tyler Lockett, and Hunter Renfrow. Enjoy! And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

Montreal Alouettes' head of scouting Russ Lande and the RSP's Matt Waldman delivers a must-listen episode devoted to separating the reality from the myths about preseason buzz, free agent additions, draft capital and gamesmanship among teammates competing for NFL jobs. If you want to gain valuable perspective on how the league operates and understand the details that you miss from mass-media coverage of OTAs, training camps, preseason games, and depth chart movement, this is a must-listen episode of Scout Talk. There's a ton of great information here that ranges from broad thoughts about teams to specifics about current players: * Why offseason drum beats don't matter unless those beats form a specific and discernable rhythm * Skylar Thompson as a great example. * Romeo Doubs as a positive example but with typical issues to address and a Davante Adams story that fits into the equation. * Player Fit: Trey Sermon in San Francisco vs. Philly * Why Sermon never fit in Kyle Shanahan's system. * The type of backs Shanahan seeks vs what they thought they could change with Sermon. * Why Philly is a good fit in theory but why talent takes a back seat for now. * Draft Capital: The Hidden Advantage of a High-Round Draft Pick * Why, for good and bad seasons, team management holds a clear bias with early-round picks. * Why late-round picks with more talent than early-round players often fall through the cracks. * Melvin Gordon, A.J. Quigley, and why reliability can supersede talent for system-leaning coaches. * Gamesmanship: We hear great narratives about veterans helping young players. But... * We don't hear about veterans at the end of careers who need the money, getting into the heads of teammates to take their jobs. * Ty'Son Williams rise and quick fall as a potential example. This is an advanced class for football operations perspective. Appointment listening. And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

TD Wire's Laurie Fitzpatrick joins Matt Waldman and the RSP Quick Game podcast for the 2022 NFL season.  I cut Mark Schofield. He missed one too many skinny posts and it's time to go in another direction. You know this is far from the truth. Mark has earned an excellent full-time opporutnity that will preclude him from co-hosting the Quick Game. I'm thrilled for him. I'm also thrilled to work Laurie. A repeat guest of past RSP Film Room's, Laurie is my sister in film. You can find her film break downs at TD Wire with Doug Farrar. Laurie's also a former starting running back in a league that CBS' Emory Hunt used to cover at his site, Football Gameplan. Let me get this straight: Matt Waldman's bringing on a film analyst from TD Wire who played running back?  Yep. You know I didn't have to think twice. This week, Laurie and I discuss a variety of NFL-related topics leading up to the opener: * Why the Vikings, Dolphins, and Jaguars offenses excited us this year. * Why the rookie year decisions of Michael Thomas and Drew Lock are a positive indication for Skylar Thompson's perspective and work ethic. * Our breakdown of Gabriel Davis as an athlete and a fit in the Bills' system. * Where we stand with the Jaguars running back room. * Achilles' injuries and why the idea that James' Robinson's lack of top speed will be a positive aspect about his recover is a false theory. * Why Brandon Aiyuk is poised for big things. * Why training camp is important for the football team, but not necessarily an indicator of individual production. * Players who impressed in training camp, but placing it in proper context. * How Laurie got started with breaking down tape. * Tips to avoid injury with film grinding: Sounds crazy, but if NFL DE/OLB Ryan Riddle suffered more injuries writing than he did playing football, then we're onto something. We'll be back in two weeks to discuss the NFL. Listen below or with your favorite podcast service. And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children.   

A weekly phone conversation between fantasy veterans Bob Harris and Matt Waldman is a quick and dirty run-down of NFL players, units, or teams. Feel It or F#ck It is our instant verdict on the fantasy value of a player or situation, not the ability, effort, or character of the player. This is how two old-timers in this industry talk when they have a lot to cover in a little time (15-20 minutes).

Campus to Canton's Felix Sharpe joins Matt Waldman's RSP Cast for a conversation about Trey Sermon to the Eagles, rookie notables from the preseason, the state of the Patriots and Bears, and notable college performers. Every other week, Felix will be joining me to discuss college football talent, many of them underclassman (Devy). The show will be focused solely on these aspects of fantasy football so you can get familiar with them for your devy, dynasty, and re-draft leagues. Learn more about the new RSP podcast lineup here.  This week, Felix and I cover players he's watching this week but also discuss the NFL preseason and, of course, Trey Sermon's move to Philadelphia.  

Matt Waldman's does a solo show on Trey Sermon's experience in San Francisco, possible landing spots, and what opportunities and obstacles are ahead for his career path.  The 49ers cut Trey Sermon today and the biggest surprise to any angle of this story was Peter King saying that Sermon would be heavily involved as the No.2 on that depth chart. I was hoping and expecting Sermon to get his walking papers. So what's next? Where could he land? Is there are chance he can deliver to expectation elswhere? Today's podcast discusses these questions and more: * Why I listed San Francisco as the worst pre-draft fit for Sermon in the RSP. * The draft-day factors that changed my mind in the post-draft. * Kyle Shanahan's history of running back choices that indicate Sermon was unlikely his draft-day call. * How Sermon looked on tape in San Francisco: Separating football from clickbait. * Potential landing spots for Sermon: Philadelphia wasn't mentioned but should have been. * The potential external and internal obstacles Sermon must overcome to maximize his potential And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children. 

PFF's Dwain McFarland reconvenes with Matt Waldman for the 2022 Fantasy Football preseason edition of the RSP's Film and Data podcast.  As I would imagine how my friend, Bob Harris of Football Diehards would characterize Dwain McFarland and me on a show, the podcast would be called "Between Two Firehoses." Dwain and I deliver a quick-hitting blast of film and data-related fantasy thoughts on over a dozen players/situations around the league: * The rushing mark Justin Fields must reach to deliver his ceiling of potential this year. * Where Travis Etienne's fantasy profile could match D'Andre Swift's from 2021. * Why James Cook is the better bargain compared to Etienne in fantasy leagues. * Why we both like Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, but I'm more bullish on Sutton--even at his higher ADP in sharp drafts. * Why we both love Albert Okwuegbunam's ADP and ceiling in the Broncos' offense. * Why we both love Kadarius Toney this year. * Why we both think Skyy Moore's route game from college is the fantasy dagger for Mecole Hardman and the player I compare Moore to in Andy Reid's offense. * Is JuJu Smith-Schuster a viable fantasy option or is it Marquez-Vales Scantling? * Where Dwain falls on the Ezekiel Elliott-Tony Pollard debate. Dwain and I will probably squeeze in another show before the season because we had a list of about 10-12 more players we hoped to cover but knew we had less than an hour. And of course, if you want to know about the rookies from this draft class, you will find the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), with the 2022 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for $21.95.  Matt’s new RSP Dynasty Rankings and Two-Year Projections Package is available for $24.95 If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   If you’re a fantasy owner and interested in purchasing past publications for $9.95 each, the 2012-2020 RSPs also have a Post-Draft Add-on that’s included at no additional charge.   Best yet, proceeds from sales are set aside for a year-end donation to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse of children.