Thank You Texans For Playing Fantasy Football
April 3rd, 2024
Bucs win!
This only makes sense in fantasy football. And the Bucs, thankfully, are the winners. Big time!
When Bucs legend Mike Evans was flirting with free agency a few weeks ago and making (some) noise about being done with the Bucs at the end of last season, the team that scared Joe was Houston.
Houston had the loot, the quarterback and is an AFC rising power to lure Evans, who cares about winning. Also, Houston is in Evans’ backyard. He’s from nearby Galveston and Evans has an offseason home in the Houston area (he’s often seen front row at Rockets games).
At the combine, Joe spoke with a guy who has a direct pipeline to the inner-workings of the Texans. He told Joe that the team had zero interest in buying Evans. They wanted to build from within.
Objectively, this seemed dumb. Evans would have been a perfect fit for Houston not just on the field, but culturally, too.
So Joe scratched his noggin’ this morning when reading that Houston traded a second-round pick to Buffalo for receiver Stephon Diggs.
This has to be a fantasy football move, only it’s reality. Diggs is not the same receiver as Evans. Joe would take Evans in a heartbeat. But fantasy types (keyword: fantasy) think Diggs is better. Yes, really, these folks walk among us.
Plus, what has Diggs ever won? Evans has a ring.
Additionally, Diggs is a drama queen headache. He’s now been traded by two Super Bowl-contending teams. Do the math there. Buffalo got him from Minnesota.
Evans has been a rock of stability since the Bucs drafted him in 2014.
There is no way Diggs is better than Evans no matter how you slice it. It didn’t make sense to Joe that Houston wouldn’t want Evans and it still doesn’t, but thank goodness they were dumb.
Houston’s loss is the Bucs’ gain. Big time!
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:45 am
Thought the same thing .. was funny how Texans passed on Evans but later go for Diggs. Mike Evans is way more valuable. JL showed him the money too
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:46 am
Interesting, they’re basically the same age and make the same money, but they had to give up a 2nd to get Diggs.
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:51 am
Perhaps Mike didn’t want to go to Houston and Joe’s source was as wrong as they are about the Bucs chances to win
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:55 am
I’m sure that Mike had a price he wanted to get paid by Tampa and a much higher price that he wanted from other teams
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:10 pm
The draft isn’t going to get here fast enough.
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Well, Joe’s source told him Houston wasn’t interested. Did you read anywhere that Houston was talking to Evans’ agent about a contract?
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:19 pm
As long as KC brings their refs to the playoffs so the NFL can have The Chosen One in the SB, the AFC is on lockdown. But they’ll be entertaining regular season games.
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Mike got signed before the tempering period. It’s lying season and clearly the Texans actions show they were interested in not only acquiring a WR but invresting a lot of assets for it. Diggs has a bigger cap hit and they are giving up a 2nd. This move shows them signing Mike for less without giving up draft capital could have been a possibility. Can’t state age as a reason why either because they are only a couple months apart in age
As far as “fantasy football” the NFL is becoming an arms race with the rules favoring offenses. Was it fantasy football when the Bucs had Evans, Godwin, AB, and Gronk? Texans got Stroud on a rookie deal. He only has a cap hit of 8.245M at a position averaging 30M+ for starters. Their window to do these types of moves is now. Even if you compare WR rooms, the Texans are paying less than the Bucs with Collins and Dell still on rookie deals. Great move by the Texans especially since they gave up a 2025 pick. They are going to be an exciting team to watch and see if they can take down the Chiefs
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Diggs is basically DeSean Jackson circa 2016. Texans would have been much better off with Evans. Glad they didn’t try that. But Diggs is still decent, and should be a weapon for them. Unfortunately he’s the stereotypical diva wide receiver.
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Evans>Diggs>Godwin.
Maybe the sources that suggested Evans was considering Houston were just wrong. 2 years was too small of contract for Evans if he was just playing the market. It seems that he chose to come back to the Bucs because he liked the team or community or whatever.
Reading into it that the Texans are making a mistake because they ended up with Diggs instead of Evans is just the typical logical fallacy you see on here.
So much of the simple if A happens it must mean B.
NO, sorry it does not always mean that. Take a logic class for goodness’ sake.
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Well Mike either didn’t want to play elsewhere, or Houston f’d up.
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:06 pm
Unsure what happened but am ecstatic that we still have Mike on our team. He is the guy to have. I sort of think Mike’s wife made the final decision and am so happy for her too!
The Diggs change to Houston shocked me. It isn’t the age because Stefon is 30. So now the Bills will get someone from the draft to take Diggs place. That should be interesting since Josh Allen and him had a bond.
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Joe said “Plus, what has Diggs ever won? Evans has a ring.”
In 2019, while in Minnesota, Diggs won an Oscar for Best Performance by a whining wide receiver in a supporting role.
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Steven007 Says:
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Diggs is basically DeSean Jackson circa 2016. Texans would have been much better off with Evans. Glad they didn’t try that. But Diggs is still decent, and should be a weapon for them. Unfortunately he’s the stereotypical diva wide receiver.
Well said.
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:58 pm
no one else want drop it like its hot
licht got smoked on him and the situation.
kippin it ral, 100, 2fo7mb
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Yep Diggs won the Minnesota Miracle that’s about it.
Will be interesting to see what Houston looks like when teams take them seriously all year. It’s hard to win in this league.
Glad we have Evans and he didn’t leave for Houston. That would have made Stroud’s job easier than it will be with Diggs. I think they will regret it because Collins or Dell will get less targets now.
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:24 pm
@Boss
Always got negative things to say about a future hall of famer, all time yards and touchdown leader for the franchise. Like it or not Evans is an elite wr and is on the team for another two years. Every wr in the nfl drops passes nobody catches them all so get tf over it you sound like an idiot trashing a guy like Evans.
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:29 pm
Earnhardt jr sucked too and he was nascars most popular driver…..
mike just keeps turning laps and paddin’ stats
sometimes the ignorance of the crowd keeps people in a position even though there are better options.
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:32 pm
@Boss
Name one better option at wr the Bucs could’ve got instead of resigning Evans who consistently year after year finds the endzone and gets yards… I’ll wait.
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Good move for Houston. They needed a number one. A second rounder for diggs and two late picks is a good deal for both teams. Houstons GM has them from rags to riches in one year. Great job. Call diggs what you want we’ll see what the finished product reveals next season.
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:51 pm
Made zero sense besides living near Houston for the Texas to sign Evans. They have tank and Nico they do not need Evans dunno why this was harped on for so long.
April 3rd, 2024 at 3:48 pm
I’m not sure how the Diggs trade has anything to do with the Bucs or Evans. I don’t really spend time thinking about who ranks what player higher or lower. It’s not football, it’s football chatter that has no relationship to the field of play. So I don’t see how there’s any “win” here. Who the ph0ueck cares?
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Joe Says:
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Did you read anywhere that Houston was talking to Evans’ agent about a contract?
–
not sure what this question even means since Mike was signed before free agency started so Houston would be tampering to talk to his agents beforehand.
Just as plausible scenario is that your source was incorrect because Houston was playing it safe to the vest until free agency. This story would have had legs if they had actually passed on Mike when they actually could have talked to him but that never happened. So all we are really going on with here is “she said he said” not an actual proven reality that they passed on Mike.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Boss Says:
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:29 pm
mike just keeps turning laps and paddin’ stats
–
Don’t agree with you on Mike but I am going to give you some cred here which will probably annoy some
Some padding is a fair take . When You had the Qb last season actually express out loud he was concerned about not getting Mike’s 1,000 yards its direct evidence of a verifiable fact . Unlike you I like Mike and think he is a hall of famer BUT theres presently too much headspace about getting Mike the ball. The offense looked the most dynamic last season when Evans was briefly injured not because he is a lesser player but because the ball had the freedom to go wherever it went. Mike would probably have an even better season if the passing game wasn’t so one dimensional in its goal to obsess on him. Thats why I hope they draft another WR this draft.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:19 pm
@connor50
Rome Odunze, Washington: 6-3, 215
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU: 6-4
Keon Coleman, Florida State: 6-3, 215
Troy Franklin, Oregon: 6-2, 187
I have stated before…..This team is better off without Mike, drop it like its hot, Evans.
Apparently Houston agreed—you know the people who study WR’s
Mike simply does not do what a true number one should do. Precise routes, fight for the balls, not run out of bounds, CATCH THE BALL
What mike does well is make acrobatics catches in garbage time. He is fantastic at curl routes and running a straight line and then BEGGING for flags, while he himself is the ultimate pushoff machine. can’t get seperation until 20 yards out…meh you get the idea.
I would be happy if he sat on the bench. Th.e team is better off (at least in terms of winning) when mike is out
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Dude you guys haven’t done a podcast in like 3 weeks. What’s going on?
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:37 pm
^ I think Ira was under the weather or something. But maybe I’m wrong.
As for Diggs, I think he still has talent, but the head scratcher to me is that Houston is such a young team, you’d think they would want a vet with a better locker room presence to come into that WR room, versus a guy like Diggs.
Either way that offense should be fun to watch next season.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Joe your freaking website has become like those illegal streaming websites that have to navigate through ads to get what you want.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Come on Scoop Joe, where is your article on Randy Gregory ????
Dude you gotta get u some redbull.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:52 pm
We got a pass rusher Randy Gregory…
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:53 pm
I like the Gregory signing, aging but can still be a force.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:53 pm
Why would a team like the Bills eat $31M in dead cap money just to get rid of a good receiver for a 2nd round pick?
There is more to this story but we will never know.
Diggs seemed like a little whiney b!tch prima donna to me and the head coach and Josh Allen were probably sick of it…
Plus the dude is on the wrong side of 30 and had a down season in 2023.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Happy to hear about the Randy Gregory signing. The dude can rush the QB when healthy…
I just hope he is on his meds and the Bucs have a security detail following him just like they did in Dallas.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:59 pm
These days, it seems, people are forgetting about Chris Godwin. Once, when he was used properly, he had 15 catches in one game! He needs to be let loose this year.
April 3rd, 2024 at 6:19 pm
@Boss
Not a single rookie in this years draft will put up the numbers Evans will while being in his thirties. You’re delusional or just plain out retarded. You thinking he needs to sit so Tampa can win more is just moronic af
April 3rd, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Mike is on the record saying he decided he wanted to stay in Tampa before FA started. No matter who a source is, claiming the Texans or anyone else didn’t have an interest is pure and simple speculation.
To those griping about drops: ME13 was officially credited with 7 drops last year. Tied w Kelce, and less than Nukua, Hill, Diggs and St Brown. Man those guys must suck too huh?
April 3rd, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Dom, good post.
April 3rd, 2024 at 7:33 pm
@Leighroy
Yea Hill, St Brown, Diggs all suck apparently. Must put up all their numbers in garbage time too lol
April 3rd, 2024 at 8:50 pm
Mike Evans to Baker: “So, are we doing this?”
Baker to Evans: “Yes!”
Evans signs and then so does Baker.
Go Bucs!
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:57 pm
A big reason Mike Evans gets overlooked is because he’s not as flashy and quick as someone like Diggs or Ja’Marr Chase, etc.
I would take Evans and his consistency over Diggs any day of the week. Besides, Diggs started becoming a locker room cancer two years ago in Buffalo.
I am originally from Western New York, Buffalo is probably my second favorite team, and I was telling everyone up there that they need to trade Diggs. They can replace him easy. Besides, the young guy that got Shakir is dynamic.
Houston is loading up and DIGGS is going to end up complaining because he’s not going to get 12 targets a game
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:23 pm
Diggs is another OBJ. Talented but a me guy, not about the team which is why these divas are bounce from team to team. They wear out their welcome. I bet Diggs buggers up the chemistry CJ Stroud has with his young wideouts.
April 4th, 2024 at 11:24 am
Doubt Mike could go from WR1 to a WR3 Slot Guy which is pretty much what Texans needed. Texans already have Nico Collins who had a few more yards than Evans in only 15 games and just 10 starts.
There have been many WR Diva’s w/ AB being a top 5 and they can be productive. Until they are not.
If Diggs can adjust to the new role he will be fine a while. If he starts with the BS
Demeco Ryan will either call him out and supply a beat down on the practice field or let him sit on the bench and stew about being reduced to 2 or 3 plays a game.