Mike Maher encouraged gamers to treat Hunter Brown as both a speculative Cy Young wager and an emerging fantasy ace. Maher noted that sportsbooks have Tarik Skubal as a massive favorite (-260 at DraftKings, ‑420 at FanDuel) while Brown sits at +1200, tied with Jacob deGrom. Maher sees a realistic path for Brown to close the gap: 1) the Astros own the second-easiest remaining schedule, 2) Detroit may protect Skubal’s workload down the stretch because the Tigers are coasting in MLB’s softest division, and 3) Houston’s race should stay competitive, allowing Brown to keep piling up wins and innings. Brown is already SP-6 in FantasyPros’ rest-of-season ranks (SP-5 after you remove Shohei Ohtani’s placeholder line), yet he was drafted outside the top-100 overall last spring. Maher expects a meteoric ADP leap—into the top-20 overall by 2026 drafts—based on Brown’s 97 mph fastball, 29 % K-rate, and league-best 17.9 % swinging-strike mark since May 1. Maher suggested grabbing Brown futures now before the soft schedule and a potentially throttled Skubal tighten the race, and he is comfortable building redraft staffs around the Houston right-hander as a bona-fide fantasy SP-1 the rest of the way.

Ryan Wormeli reported that Clarke Schmidt is seeking a second opinion but is almost certain to undergo Tommy John or an internal-brace procedure, effectively ending his 2024 season and wiping out most of 2025. Wormeli advised fantasy managers to drop Schmidt in all redraft formats and reallocate the roster spot—preferably to Luis Gil, who is already rehabbing and could slide into the newly vacated rotation slot. Even if Schmidt opts for the quicker brace option, Wormeli stressed the risk of setbacks still makes him dead weight in yearly leagues.

Ryan Wormeli predicted Junior Caminero will eclipse 40 homers this season and be drafted as a consensus top-three third baseman by 2026. Wormeli cited Caminero’s 22 first-half long balls, 100th-percentile bat speed, and rare ability to drive the ball to all fields—his homers are evenly distributed pull/center/opposite. Statcast’s poor sweet-spot and squared-up rates actually make the production more impressive; even a small improvement there could push the power higher. Wormeli added that tropicana’s friendly right-center alley should goose a few extra cheap shots and noted aging or park-downgraded vets (Manny Machado, Rafael Devers in Oracle, Austin Riley) are vulnerable to Caminero leap-frogging them behind Jose Ramirez in ADP.

Mike Maher pointed out that Masataka Yoshida returned to the Red Sox lineup this week but is still rostered in just 5% of Yahoo, 3% of ESPN, and 12% of CBS leagues. Maher stressed that while the ceiling is modest, Yoshida offers a bankable batting average in the .285-.300 range, everyday runs/RBI volume, and could see even steadier plate appearances once Boston inevitably thins its left-handed logjam at the trade deadline. Maher labeled Yoshida an immediate add in 12-team or deeper formats that use batting average, calling him the type of "high floor" bat contenders forget they need until September.

Mike Maher highlighted Luis Gil beginning a rehab assignment this weekend and recommended stashing him wherever possible. Maher admitted he viewed Gil’s 2023 breakout (3.63 ERA, 27% K-rate) as a bit of smoke-and-mirrors, but he still prefers Gil’s strikeout upside to several arms currently occupying both fantasy lineups and the back of the Yankees’ rotation. With Clarke Schmidt likely done for the year, New York has innings available, and Maher believes Gil could provide mid-rotation ratios plus double-digit strikeout potential every turn if his fastball-slider combo looks anything like last season.

Welsh backed Tampa Bay on the first-five money line largely as a bet against Walker Buehler, who owns an ERA north of six since returning. He noted the Red Sox have been swinging it well but trusts Taj Bradley to hold the line while Buehler continues to get hit, giving the Rays the edge through five.

Chris Welsh took Seattle on the first-five money line despite the juice because he wants to back Bryan Woo and fade Marcus Stroman. Welsh loves Woo’s current form and does not trust Stroman in Yankee Stadium, so he’s betting the Mariners will be in front through five innings before bullpens enter the equation.

Joey Pisapia liked Seattle’s team-total over 4.5 runs at –122, calling Yankee Stadium “the itty-bitty ballpark” and predicting Marcus Stroman will struggle to keep the ball in the yard. Pisapia expects at least five, and possibly six or seven, Mariners runs because the short porches amplify every hard contact against the pitch-to-contact right-hander.

Chris Welsh said fantasy contenders should stay far away from Sandy Alcantara, calling him "rock-bottom" both in results and underlying skill. Alcantara owns the worst qualified ERA in baseball and even his xERA is nearly 5.0. Welsh pointed to a career-low strikeout rate, one of his highest walk rates in the last five seasons, and no meaningful dip in four-seam or sinker velocity—evidence the right-hander has simply lost feel rather than stuff. The changeup usage is down, efficiency on the pitch is way off, and hitters are teeing off. Because of that, Welsh believes any idea of a quick mechanical tweak or coaching ‘fix’ is wish-casting and not worth the acquisition cost in redraft leagues, especially for win-now rosters that cannot absorb more damage to ratios.

Chris Welsh called Andrew Abbott a must-start in all matchups after another strong outing versus Miami. Abbott owns a 2.00 ERA and an 8-1 record, driven by a hammer curve that opponents are hitting under .150 and a 32% CSW rate. Welsh pointed out the rookie has also trimmed his walk rate to 6% over his last five turns and now has seven quality starts in his past eight appearances. Asked whether to sit him against the Marlins, Welsh said you "start him against everybody right now," staking Abbott as a top-30 fantasy SP moving forward.

Chris Welsh urged listeners to scoop up Ronny Mauricio wherever he is still available. Welsh said Mauricio will be the Mets’ starting third baseman for the rest of the season, noting his plus arm, strong infield defense and "easy power" that flashed during recent games. With Mark Vientos scuffling and Brett Baty in Triple-A, Welsh expects Mauricio to see the bulk of starts at the hot corner and project for roughly a 20-homer, 10-steal pace over a full second half. Because he remains unrostered in many formats, Welsh labeled Mauricio the highest-upside waiver add at the position right now.

Joey Pisapia advised fantasy managers not to trade away Lucas Giolito despite inquiries after another scoreless outing. Giolito blanked Colorado for six innings with six strikeouts and now owns a 2.83 ERA over his last four starts. Pisapia highlighted that Giolito’s revamped fastball shape has regained the ride that once made him elite, allowing his changeup to play up again. Velocity and spin have held steady even against stiffer lineups, indicating the improvement is skill-based rather than opponent-driven. Because trade offers he has seen remain underwhelming—managers still remember last year’s blow-ups—Pisapia prefers to hold the right-hander and enjoy what he views as a sustainable rebound.

Joey Pisapia said fantasy managers should use the current meltdown to buy Dylan Cease at a steep discount. Cease surrendered six runs over six innings in his latest start, pushing him into the bottom six qualified ERAs, yet Pisapia pointed out his expected ERA is still considerably better. He blamed the blow-up on slider command—Cease could not land it for strikes, issued walks, then became a predictable two-pitch fastball arm—but noted that when the slider is right the ceiling remains SP1-caliber. With frustrated managers openly shopping him online, Pisapia believes the acquisition cost has sunk below arms like Kris Bubic or Adrian Houser, making this the best entry point of 2024. He would still take Cease over either Bubic or Lucas Giolito rest-of-season and expects positive regression once the slider feel returns.

Chris Welsh urged fantasy managers not to drop Cam Schlittler after streaming him. The rookie sat 97.9 mph (touched 100) in 5.1 innings versus Seattle, fanning seven. Welsh loved the 38 % CSW on a fastball he threw 50 % of the time and a power slider that hit 94. With a tall frame that creates extension, Schlittler pounded the zone (fastball + slider strikes) and showed a four-pitch mix he can expand once he settles in. Welsh expects the Yankees to keep him in the rotation given their injuries and sees legitimate "strong second-half" upside—close enough to Chase Burns that he’d keep Schlittler on rosters to see how the league adjusts before deciding.

Chris Welsh said Tyler Glasnow once again looks like the borderline ace you pay up for. In his first start back he limited Milwaukee to one unearned run over 5.0 innings, allowing just four hard-hit balls while striking out five. Welsh highlighted the 96.8 mph average fastball (up roughly 1.5 mph year-over-year), a full 85-pitch workload and a pitch mix that featured both sinker and slider for strikes. Because many managers still view Glasnow as "injury-prone," Welsh believes the trade cost remains discounted and advised acquiring him now before two more tune-ups push his perceived value back into the clear top-15 SP range for the stretch run.

Welsh likes Philadelphia to lead by at least one run after five innings at ‑110. The edge starts with the pitching matchup: the Phillies send their ace (not named in the clip) against an opponent whose rotation spot has been a revolving door. Philly’s offense leads MLB in wRC+ the first two times through the order, while its staff owns a sub-3.00 ERA through five frames. By isolating the first five, Welsh avoids a shaky middle-relief corps and counts on the Phillies’ potent top-of-lineup to jump ahead early.

Welsh pivoted his daily home-run call to Manny Machado after noting Brandon Pfaadt’s crippling gopher-ball issue (1.8 HR/9) and 46 % fly-ball rate. Machado owns multiple long balls off Pfaadt already and carries a .600 slugging percentage in the matchup. With Petco playing small in the summer heat and Pfaadt’s fastball leaking middle-in, Welsh views Machado as the slate’s premier dinger pick, calling the matchup "BP at the Home Run Derby."

Chris Welsh’s favorite wager of the slate is Eric Lauer to record at least five strikeouts at ‑110. Lauer has hit that mark in back-to-back appearances since his fastball velo ticked up and regained late ride. The matchup sweetens the pot: Chicago ranks inside the bottom dozen clubs in contact rate and sits top-10 in overall strikeout percentage. Given Lauer’s new swing-and-miss profile and the White Sox’s free-swinging approach, Welsh expects the left-hander to clear 4.5 Ks comfortably, projecting six or seven punch-outs in roughly five innings.

Pisapia likes the Mets’ team-total over (price not specified) and a separate +105 homer prop on Pete Alonso in Baltimore. He called Alonso "red-hot" and emphasized that Camden Yards plays perfectly to Alonso’s pull-side power. Opposing starter Shintaro Saggano—whom Pisapia labeled a "gas can"—has allowed hard contact north of 45 % in his last three outings, setting the table for a big Mets night. The recommendation is to stack both wagers, using Alonso’s form and the favorable park/pitcher combo as correlated angles.

Pisapia recommended laying the ‑1.5 run line on Boston at ‑142. He pointed out that Lucas Giolito has strung together multiple quality starts since tweaking his pitch mix and now draws a Rockies lineup that ranks bottom-three in road wRC+. At the same time, Colorado’s pitching staff owns the league’s worst ERA away from Coors. Pisapia believes Fenway’s short left field magnifies Boston’s power advantage and predicts the Red Sox will give Giolito plenty of run support to cover the spread, even if bettors need to commit two units for a worthwhile return.

Pisapia laid out a simple two-part case for backing the Dodgers ‑1.5 runs at roughly ‑102. First, Tyler Glasnow comes off the IL and immediately gives Los Angeles a massive pitching edge. Second, the club is desperate to avoid a three-game sweep, creating maximum urgency for Dave Roberts to deploy high-leverage relievers if the game is close late. Pisapia expects the Dodgers’ offense to give Glasnow cushion against a tired opposing bullpen and sees a multi-run victory as the most likely script.

Joey Pisapia delivered a "hot take," saying Junior Caminero is "our next Miguel Cabrera"—essentially slotting the 20-year-old somewhere between Manny Machado and peak Miggy in long-term value. While the conversation was light on granular stats, Pisapia’s conviction stemmed from Caminero’s precocious power (already 28 career MiLB homers above High-A before turning 21), advanced opposite-field approach, and the fact that MLB marketing wants young sluggers in marquee events like the Home Run Derby. Pisapia urged dynasty managers to treat Caminero as a future cornerstone and acquire him now, before the Rays inevitably clear a path to everyday at-bats.

On the BettingPros futures segment, Chris Welsh advised pulling back on Houston Astros pennant and World Series tickets. He argued the club cannot make a deep run without Yordan Alvarez, who still "has yet to resume hitting," and noted Jeremy Pena has not even begun baseball activities. Welsh pointed out that he already wagered the Astros to taper off in the AL West and thinks the recent spate of injuries strengthens that position. Even though Houston has strung together a few wins, Welsh expects a second-half slide, opening value on division rivals in outright markets and win-total unders on Houston.

Chris Welsh acknowledged Michael Harris II has been "not remotely worth the cost"—he is hitting just .122 (6-for-49) with zero homers and two steals over his last 15 games and has now been benched on back-to-back days. Even so, Welsh urged fantasy managers to keep him rostered. He expects Atlanta, currently well out of both the division race and wild-card picture, to give Harris everyday run in the second half rather than option or platoon him. With no threat of a demotion or trade and plenty of time for a second-half adjustment, Welsh believes patient managers could still recoup value in steals and counting stats once the pressure of contention is gone.

Chris Welsh told listeners it is time to "wash Matt Shaw away" in redraft formats. Shaw is ice-cold over his last 32 games, slashing .159/.230/.234 with zero homers and sporadic playing-time opportunities. Welsh said the Cubs are pivoting to a win-now, playoff-centric roster and will not be comfortable handing everyday at-bats to a rookie who is striking out and producing no impact. Because Chicago still has to shuffle pieces at the deadline, Welsh sees Shaw as the obvious roster casualty and advised fantasy managers to cut him rather than wait for a turnaround that is unlikely to come in 2024.

Joey Pisapia told managers to keep starting Logan Gilbert despite his five-run outing against Minnesota. Gilbert cruised early, then sat through a mid-game rain delay and unraveled after returning, something Pisapia chalked up to disrupted rhythm rather than skill erosion. The right-hander still owns a 2.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, and with Seattle needing a big post-break push—especially if Cal Raleigh is to stay in the MVP conversation—Pisapia expects Gilbert to remain the staff anchor. Bottom line: treat the clunker as weather-induced noise, not a sell signal.

Joey Pisapia called Nick Pivetta one of 2024’s best return-on-investment arms but warned that his fantasy value is heavily park-dependent. Through 109.1 innings Pivetta sports a 3.07 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 114 K/27 BB, yet a deeper dive shows a 2.30 ERA at Petco versus 4.09 on the road. Pisapia noted an uptick in barreled contact and hard-hit rate that could bite Pivetta away from San Diego’s forgiving dimensions. The right-hander has also swapped usage of his sweeper and curveball, producing low batting-average outcomes but leaning on the Padres’ elite infield defense. Pisapia’s recommendation: stream or start Pivetta with confidence at home, tread carefully—or even shop him—before tough road series where those batted-ball issues are more likely to surface.

Chris Welsh advised fantasy managers to scoop up Lawrence Butler immediately, expecting another trademark July-August tear. Welsh reminded listeners that Butler was a "stud" during those exact two months last year and is already heating up with two homers and three runs scored against Atlanta. What really impressed Welsh is that Butler is doing it without selling out for pull power: only one true pull-side homer all season and an 11 percent pull rate, yet he is still posting premium hard-hit numbers. With the weather warming in Sacramento (the A’s Triple-A affiliate location where Butler historically torches pitching) and no obvious playing-time threat on Oakland’s big-league roster, Welsh sees a perfect window to buy before the rest of the market prices in another mid-summer binge.

Strachan recommended buying low on Dolphins skill players because a leaky defense could force weekly track meets, mimicking the 2024 Bengals profile. Cincinnati finished 4th in offensive passing DVOA but a miserable 27th against the pass and 28th versus the run, which kept Joe Burrow & Co. throwing all four quarters and pumping out fantasy gold. Miami projects for a similar imbalance in 2025; if the defense struggles, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and company will be pushed into up-tempo, high-volume scripts that create slate-breaking ceilings in Weeks 15-17 best-ball playoffs.

Strachan cautioned that drafting Justice Hill for contingent upside is a trap. Hill will likely log the second-most snaps behind Derrick Henry, but Strachan argued the Ravens would form a committee rather than hand Hill a three-down workload if Henry misses time. Hill’s skill set and Baltimore’s historical two-back preference limit his ceiling, making him best viewed as occasional floor depth rather than an injury-based league winner. Drafters should focus their late-round bullets on backup RBs who can actually command bell-cow usage when chaos strikes.

Discussing FFPC’s 1.5-PPR for tight ends, Strachan highlighted Brock Bowers as the archetype who maximizes the format’s scoring quirks. In 2024 Bowers produced the 17th-most points of ANY non-QB skill player thanks to the bonus half-point per catch, while fellow volume TE Trey McBride ranked 28th. Because many tight ends lack target volume, only the true pass-catching alphas gain a material edge; drafting Bowers allows drafters to soak up WR-level production at a onesie position and differentiate lineups in playoff weeks.

Tom Strachan said pocket passers like Matthew Stafford can still win best-ball tournaments as long as you draft them with at least one receiving teammate. He pointed out that in 2024 there were 72 QB games of 25+ fantasy points; 35 of those featured 30+ rushing yards, so the 37 non-rushing blow-ups had to clear 300 passing yards, and 28 of them did. Strachan’s takeaway: if you bypass dual-threat QBs you must assume a 300-plus/3-TD type of day, which pulls pass-catchers up the leaderboard as well. A healthy 17-game Stafford paired with Rams receivers provides that correlated ceiling without having to pay the early-round price on rushing QBs.

In light of Nick Chubb landing in Houston, Erickson shifted his late-round running-back exposure to Kyle Monangai. He believes the Bears backfield is wide open behind Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, giving the bruising rookie a real path to short-yardage and touchdown work in an ascending offense that could pay off handsomely in a best-ball tournament.

Marks was once a priority pick for Erickson, but the Texans’ addition of Nick Chubb erased that enthusiasm. With Chubb likely to dominate early-down and goal-line work, Erickson now wants "nothing to do with" Marks in Gamma drafts and prefers pivoting to Bears rookie Kyle Monangai instead.

Projecting the Bears to take a major step in Year 1 under OC Shane Waldron and Year 2 of Caleb Williams, Erickson predicted that either tight end Colston Loveland or wideout Luther Burden will pop for massive rookie production. He leans toward sprinkling shares of both, banking on the offense generating enough volume and red-zone chances for at least one to emerge as a weekly top-12 option.

Erickson circled Bhayshul Tuten as a must-draft running back available around pick 19. He pointed out that Jacksonville’s new coaching staff has no loyalty to incumbents Travis Etienne or Tank Bigsby, opening the door for the rookie who posted elite explosive-run metrics in college. If Tuten earns even a 40-50% share, his big-play profile is tailor-made for best-ball spike weeks.

While Erickson loves Egbuka’s long-term talent, he warned that 2025 production could mirror Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2023 and Rome Odunze’s 2024 slow starts. Tampa Bay already features Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, making it unlikely the rookie commands the elite targets necessary for weekly best-ball relevance. Erickson is tempering expectations and prefers other positions at Egbuka’s ADP.

Erickson advised aggressively drafting Cam Skattebo despite his Round-4 NFL draft capital. The analyst noted New York’s backfield hierarchy is fragile; a single Tyrone Tracy fumble could hand Skattebo the starting gig. Given that running backs drive more spike weeks than middling rookie wideouts, Erickson believes Skattebo will outscore most of the Day-2 WR class that currently goes earlier in Gamma drafts.

Erickson called Jalen Milroe his favorite late-round QB after Cam Ward. Seattle’s GM and Mike Macdonald have publicly discussed deploying Milroe in designed packages to leverage his rushing upside even if Sam Darnold opens the year as the starter. In a best-ball setting those gadget snaps can create random spike weeks, and if Darnold falters Milroe’s dual-threat game would vault him into first-round FastDraft value.

Citing plugged-in beat writer Nick Underhill, Erickson highlighted Tyler Shough as the likely 2025 Week 1 starter for New Orleans after the Saints spent early draft capital and new HC Kellen Moore hand-picked him. The path to immediate playing time makes Shough a priority mid-round quarterback in Origins drafts, especially with Moore’s history of pass-volume friendly offenses.

Erickson urged drafters to "eat the chalk" at 1.02 with Cam Ward, stating no rookie quarterback projects for 17 starts as cleanly as the new Titans signal-caller. Because quarterbacks supply the most total points in the Origins format and weekly lineups auto-optimize, Ward is almost certain to be one of a roster’s four scorers every week. Erickson labeled him the safest high-end ceiling among this class.

Erickson still likes RJ Harvey’s talent but expects his ADP to slide in Origins drafts now that Denver added J.K. Dobbins. He views the signing as an opportunity rather than a red flag, arguing that Harvey’s plus receiving profile and breakaway ability fit the best-ball format, and a cheaper price tag only sweetens the play if Dobbins fails to regain pre-injury form.

Erickson advised passing on Quinshon Judkins in the Gamma contest because the rookie projects as a volume-dependent two-down pounder tied to what he called a "gross" Browns offense. With limited pass-game usage expected and spike-week production heavily correlated to receptions in this best-ball scoring system, Erickson believes Judkins’ weekly floor and ceiling are both capped compared to backs with receiving chops going in the same draft range.

Andrew Erickson said he is prioritizing TreVeyon Henderson in FastDraft’s Origins rookie-only best-ball room because Henderson brings a proven receiving skill set that generates spike weeks without needing 20 carries. Erickson contrasted Henderson with early-down sluggers Quinshon Judkins and Kaleb Johnson, noting that Henderson can stay on the field in hurry-up situations and collect the full-PPR points the format rewards. He added that New England lacks an established three-down back, making Henderson’s dual-threat profile even more valuable.

Tom Strachan labeled Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins passing stack a 2025 buy-low because Miami’s defense projects to be leaky, creating weekly shootout scripts. He referenced Cincinnati’s 2024 profile—4th in offensive pass DVOA yet 27th against the pass and 28th against the run—as proof that poor defense can turbocharge fantasy volume. Strachan expects a similar dynamic in Miami, projecting elevated pass attempts and spike weeks for Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle. He encouraged drafters to grab Dolphins stacks a round ahead of ADP before the market adjusts to the shootout narrative.

Tom Strachan warned that Justice Hill is a low-ceiling handcuff behind Derrick Henry and should not be drafted for upside alone. Although Hill is projected to play the second-most snaps in Baltimore, Strachan noted he lacks three-down size and the Ravens historically replace injured starters with committees rather than workhorses. Without a realistic path to 20-touch games, Hill offers little win equity in best ball. Strachan advised targeting contingency backs who can handle full workloads if the starter misses time instead of betting on Hill’s unlikely solo breakout.

Tom Strachan called Brock Bowers a cheat code in FFPC TE-premium best ball formats that award an extra 0.5 PPR to tight ends. Bowers finished 2024 as the 17th-highest scoring non-QB skill player, while fellow volume TE Trey McBride ranked 28th, illustrating how the bonus inflates elite tight ends. Strachan highlighted Bowers’ 24% target share and consistent red-zone usage, traits that translate directly into premium scoring. He urged drafters to take Bowers earlier than standard-format ADP, arguing that the positional edge he provides is worth the early-round cost.

Tom Strachan said that pocket passers such as Matthew Stafford should only be drafted in best ball if you are stacking them with their pass catchers. Strachan cited 2024 data showing 72 QB games of 25+ fantasy points; 35 featured at least 30 rushing yards, but of the remaining 37 non-rushing spikes, 28 came with 300+ passing yards. Without rushing production, Stafford’s path to a ceiling week is multiple touchdown passes and heavy volume, production that simultaneously boosts Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and the rest of the Rams receiving corps. Strachan therefore views Stafford as a correlation-dependent pick whose value rises sharply when drafted alongside his weapons.

Tom Strachan knocked Devin Neal’s prospects, pointing to the Saints’ post-minicamp addition of Cam Akers as evidence the rookie is not ready. Neal’s ADP slid 11 spots to 215, and Strachan doubts he earns more than gadget touches behind Akers and incumbent starter Alvin Kamara. While Neal’s explosive-play rate (15% 20-yard runs at Kansas) is intriguing, Strachan believes he is a redraft stash only if Kamara misses time.

Tom Strachan urged drafters to fade Anthony Richardson after a 15-spot ADP fall to 201. Richardson’s 47.7% completion rate in 2024 puts him in historically disastrous company—only JaMarcus Russell (47.8%) and Tim Tebow (48.2%) have been that inaccurate on 250+ dropbacks since 2006, and both were out of the league within two seasons. Strachan added that Richardson is still rehabbing his throwing-shoulder injury while Daniel Jones has reportedly closed the competition. Best-ball managers chasing upside should pivot elsewhere given Richardson’s floor is a zero.