Good morning. If you’re at all into comedy, watch Sam Darnold practice against the Panthers first team defense.

I should note, Baker Mayfield is expected to be named the Panthers starting QB for Week 1. Now please checkout this perfect breakdown of Kenny Golladay's contract by Stephie Smalls.

By the end of this newsletter, you'll be convinced that CMC is the #1 overall pick, Trey Lance is clutch, Dameon Peirce should be on your roster, and the drive-thru attendant spit in my food.

The Hype

Risers: Trending Up

From 49ers camp: "Trey Lance completed 11 of 16 passes today against the Vikings. His best play was a 30-yard completion to Deebo Samuel on 4th and 10 with the game on the line. Lance scrambled to his right and threw back across his body. Lance is a clutch playmaker."

• The Athletic's Daniel Popper reported that RB Joshua Kelley appears to be "firmly in the lead" to backup Austin Ekeler. Kelley is often undrafted (or drafted behind rookie RB Isaiah Spiller). That should change. Be the change.

"There’s a world in which Jahan Dotson out-targets Terry McLaurin this season" - Seemingly hot take from @AdamKoffler might not be so bold. Wentz & team love Dotson, as does our own Coach Wehler. Absolute steal at his ADP (140+).

Some interesting points on why you should draft Isaiah McKenzie:

Morning Huddle favorite and end-of-2021 season winner Rashaad Penny is back in the drivers seat as Seattle's RB1 after Kenneth's surgery. "I feel amazing, and this is the best I’ve ever felt,” Penny told reporters.

• Meanwhile, Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker will undergo a "procedure" for his mysterious (hernia?) injury and will miss the remainder of the preseason. Pete Carroll is optimistic Walker will be back shortly after preseason.

• Brian Drake: Remember last year when Carroll said Chris Carson was fine? Dude legit retired. Never trust Pete, ever. Penny is the play here.

As always, more Dameon Pierce hype:

The Big Story

The Great Debate: CMC vs JT

I consume Fantasy Points' Jake Tribbey's content like Zeke eats cereal. And yesterday, Jake wrote THE thread on why Christian McCaffrey > Jonathan Taylor. Of course, you have to read the entire thread. But the most convincing points Jake raises:

1. Jonathan Taylor is gamescript dependent. Taylor is 1975 OJ Simpson (27.4 FPG) in wins, but a mid-range RB1 in losses (18.0 FPG). Plus, the Colts mentioned reducing Taylor's workload multiple times this season.

2. McCaffrey has an all-time great receiving role (averaged 8.1 targets per game since 2018, more than Tee Higgins, Terry McLaurin, Michael Pittman saw last year).

3. CMC is better in losses. Since 2018, CMC in wins: 23.9 FPG. CMC in losses: 26.7 FPG. Panthers implied to lose around 10 games.

4. In McCaffrey's last 21 healthy games, he's finished as a top 8 RB 95% of the time. Keep in mind that in Taylor's last 21 games, he's finished as a top-6 RB just 43% of the time - half as much as McCaffrey.

5. "Taylor has great upside, but CMC has all-time great upside - to the point it could be nearly impossible to win your league without him." Draft CMC and thank us later. And thank Jake now.

If you need more convincing:

Four Quotes

Melvin gets your hopes up

"They want Javonte [Williams] to be the guy." - Melvin Gordon made it clear that Javonte is the 1A in the Broncos backfield, when asked about the team's plans at RB. He could also have been talking about us. #FreeJavonte.

"I was describing it to my wife: I feel like it's Pokemon and you're just sending out your next Pokemon." - Jets RB coach on managing the RB rotation. Of course, Breece Hall is Charmander.

Overtime

Quick Slants

• Colts sixth-round TE Andrew Ogletree suffered a torn ACL in Wednesday's practice and will miss the season. Ogletree was balling at camp, so this injury opens things up for Massive Mo Alie-Cox.

• Darren Waller (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday. Fantasy owners, such as yours truly, can finally relax.

• Mecole Hardman suffered a groin injury in Chiefs practice Wednesday and the "initial thought" is that the injury is not serious, but more tests will be conducted soon.

Tweet of the Day

Thanks for joining us this morning - it was a quick one, giving you plenty of time to make those trade offers you'll regret later this season.

- Jake, Eddie, Matt & Coach Wehler.