Tahj Brooks rated insanely high by Matt Waldman.
RB3 overall and a higher grade than any RB in the last 3 years outside of Jeanty, Bijan, Judkins.
How's the RSP this year? I have no picks so I'm not sure what to do, but I almost always buy it. Any other surprises (don't necessarily need to tell me) that should push me over the edge? It's a great product; it's just that money's tight right now. I still think I'll swing it regardless.
For the sake of protecting my dynasty team, I'm out this year. If I pay it, I think I'll be more likely to action his big opinions. Not a hater, just a frustrated dynasty owner that has put a lot of stock into his evaluations over the past 5 years, and it really hasn't worked out well in recent years. I was truly charmed early on by the depth and obvious amounts of effort that went into truly independent evaluations. If you want to learn about every prospect under the sun so that you have some frame of reference when an undrafted FA pops off for a big game two years into his career, then it's a great value and well worth its annual purchase.
In my case, if I'm honest, I'm ultimately buying the thing as a secret weapon for my fantasy rookie draft. The reality is that actioning some of his bigger opinions relative to consensus or NFL draft capital has done some damage, particularly at the top of rookie drafts. I'm still interested in his opinions and will be listening to his A-Z podcasts. You won't necessarily learn where he has these guys ranked like you will in the RSP, but you definitely get an idea of how in or out he is most players. Planning to largely take the hot takes with a true grain of salt this year. If I'm at a true 50/50 decision based on NFL draft capital or consensus, then it maybe helps make the decision.
I re-listened to his 2024 A-Z for the QB position. He was pretty spot on with Bo Nix. Penix was his big endorsement (tbd). Pretty lukewarm on Daniels, but acknowledged the potential to be a good fantasy qb. He was very clearly out on Maye. Pretty much where everyone else was on Caleb Williams.
Some of my notes that I jotted down from his 2023 A-Z for the RB position:
Christian Beal-Smith - Creative, split time with K Walker at Wake, some McCoy to his game, but probably more of an Eno Benjamin plus, one of the more intriguing prospects
DeShawn Fenwick - some Fournette, but not explosive enough, on the outskirts
Deuce Vaughn - Not CMC, but does things in the same way as Sproles, miniature version of Marshawn Lynch, gap runner, comfortable in high traffic, weaves through tight lanes, efficient on dynamic movements. Only issue is that he's small. Can he be more than just a gadget?
Achane - straight line, bend and cutting. First impression, not powerful or creative, but saw more of it the deeper he went. LaMIchael James comparison, from when the NFL was not spreading the field. Committee option like Gainwell, or a bigger role?
Very meh evaluations on McBride, Abanikanda, Gray [good calls].
Hull - Jeff Wilson vibes, better zone than gap, reserve, but might have enough to be more
Gibbs - needs to press blocks longer, to quick to cutback, needs to clean up pass protection
McLaughlin - Has the game that people think they're getting with Gibbs. A more explosive version of Gibbs, but not sure he can hold up at 183 lbs.
Keaton Mitchell - Doesn't press blocks well, dynamic with moves, can play in space, not good in traffic
Kendre Miller - Lamar Miller comp, smooth, power and vision, can be a starter, but wants to see how explosive
Roschon - Intrigued, reasons to believe he could be an nfl starter
Toa Taua (nevada) - footwork, acceleration, and power to contribute at next level, but want to see the acceleration test out, could be one of the most surprising RBs of the cleass
Tyjae Spears - Which NFL team will be charged with grand larceny within 24 months of the draft?
**Spears was the thumbnail and clearly seemed to be the RB he was most in on from this draft class based purely on this podcast. Not sure if he actually had him above Gibbs in the RSP ranking.
Charbonnet - Arian Foster starter kit after seeing the combine metric. Slow back with good feet.
Z Evans - As good, if not better at some facets of running the football than BIJAN
Some good evaluations in here, along with some that didn't work out so well. However, if you're a huge believer like I have been, I could definitely see actioning some of these opinions in a way that could do a lot of damage at the top of your draft. Maybe leveraging the 1.2 to let someone else select Gibbs. I could see passing on Achane to nab Spears, Kendre Miller, or even Roschon. Likewise, I could also see someone passing on Jayden Daniels early in a round 1 superflex last year, or punting on a prime spot to draft Maye.
At the end of the day, the lesson for me has been NFL draft capital is king, lacking any obvious reasons to the contrary. Waldman is nothing more than one more guy's opinion. I do value the fact that's it's truly an independent observation based on a lot of hard work. With that said, the days of blind faith where I'm passing on a chance to draft Rhamondre Stevenson in round 3 of a rookie draft because of Khalil Herbert's Dalvin Cook-like curvilinear lines are over. Also, won't have any hesitations about Hampton as RB9 if the NFL says he's worthy of a late 1st / early 2nd.
