Thursday Night Observations
That wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I started Jared Goff over Brock Purdy in a coin-flip call for the Steak League, and Goff didn’t do much, but he didn’t kill me, either. I started Christian Watson over Elijah Moore and Michael Thomas in an NFFC league, and that short TD catch made it livable. I had the Lions -1.5 in my home picking pool, I sat Watson for De’Von Achane in another NFFC, and all those decisions seem okay for now. Nothing great happened, but nothing terrible, either,
They story of this game was the Lions pass rush. Either the Packers can’t block, or Aidan Hutchinson and that crew are a nasty front. If it’s the latter, the Lions might be dangerous in the NFC, especially if Jameson Williams turns out to be a player in the second half.
It’s hard to evaluate Jordan Love as he was under assault the entire game. No one would have done well under those conditions. Aaron Jones, same thing.
Romeo Doubs (13-9-95-0) was the clear No. 1 and seems like a competent receiver. Christian Watson looked healthy and should get more involved if Love ever has time to look farther down the field. I’d like to see them throw screens to Watson like they did at times last year.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (7-5-56-1) got into the end zone, but I’m soured on his prospects for earning first-round value. He’s peak Jarvis Landry, good hands, tough, not much speed or explosiveness, which is more of a second-round fantasy pick.
David Montgomery (32-121-3, 2-2-20-0) had a monster game, and I only hope it was on a lot of people’s benches. Jahmyr Gibbs (8-40-0, 5-4-11-0) should have his moment, but it’s less Ingram-Kamara right now than Jamaal Williams-D’Andre Swift.
Sam LaPorta (5-4-56-0) looks like a player. Rookie tight ends rarely do much, but he already looks comfortable as the team’s No. 2 target.
What a win!
Also, I see that you've been pairing Amon-Ra with this Jarvis Landry comp, and while I understand how someone who doesn't watch the team that frequently might consider Landry as a player comp based off of the average depth of targets that Amon-Ra receives, I am here to set the record straight.
Amon-Ra is actually much quicker and faster than Landry. Hell, Amon-Ra actually gets handoff trap run plays relying on his quickness in space, something Landry wouldn't ever do.
For sheer facts though, Amon-Ra's Relative Athletic Score when drafted was a 7.14, placing him 722 out of 2517 receivers drafted from '87 to '21, so actually top 25th percentile of all receivers. He's very athletic, and I think one of those players who is even more so while in pads. Landry's Relative Athletic Score was a 0.27!!! I am not sure where this ranks... didn't look that deep into it, but it's very bad. (Funny enough Antonio Brown's was also pretty lousy... like 1.5 or something).
Amon Ra Bench 20, Vert 38.5", Broad 10' 7", 40 4.61, 20 2.64, 10 1.63, Shuttle 4.26, 3-cone 7.21
Landry Bench 12 Vert 28.5" Broad 9' 2", 40 4.77, 20 2.84, 10 1.73, Shuttle 4.59, Cone 7.56
Landry's 40, shuttle, and cone are brutal. It's actually amazing looking at it that he was selected in the 2nd round.
Amon-Ra is pretty average all around, with very good jump numbers which is interesting, since that doesn't really fit his profile.
Amon-Ra beats him in every metric. They measured same height, and Landry slightly outweighs him and has bigger hands.
I'm not sure about Landry's mental makeup, although I imagine it's pretty good considering the career he had in overcoming his dismal athleticism. I do know however, that Amon-Ra is a full blown psychopath (in a good way) with a bordering on unhealthy dedicated work ethic and am extreme penchant for wanting to prove his doubters wrong. This is highlighted pretty well in last years Hard Knocks, if you aren't familiar with how many balls he catches before and after practice, how hard he works out and trains, or how he's memorized every player drafted in front of him.
He's one of the best players in the league and a great fantasy player. Get on board.