Football Is Back: Seattle on Top? Chiefs in Trouble? Breaking Down the NFL West

Good afternoon — August 31, 2026. In this episode of Little Column A, Little Column B, hosts Will Alimonos and Zach Bishop wrap up Week Zero and look ahead to college football Week One, the NFL divisional landscape, and fantasy football strategies. They open with breaking news about the NCAA’s decision to retire "Week Zero" next season and explain why starting at "Week One" when games begin makes sense. They also ruminate on the embarrassing empty-seat images from USC’s recent opener and debate whether heat, timing, or apathy is to blame. The conversation moves to college football’s must-watch matchups for Labor Day weekend, including Clemson–LSU, Louisville–Ole Miss and SMU–Florida State, and the looming storyline around Kentucky–Missouri transfer Mark Mitchell. Will and Zach walk through the messy, state-by-state court rulings affecting eligibility, Mitchell’s decision to return to Missouri, and how these legal fights are reshaping roster expectations. On the NFL side, they preview the NFC West — anointing Seattle as the favorite while weighing the Rams’ splash moves with Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald’s return, the 49ers’ persistent injury questions, and Arizona’s outlook as the likely cellar-dweller. In the AFC West, they debate the Chiefs’ uncertainty following Patrick Mahomes’ injury, ponder the Chargers as a dark-horse pick, and discuss rookie QB Mendoza and the Raiders’ direction. Throughout the episode, Will and Zach give fantasy advice — who to draft, including Christian McCaffrey, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker, and who to avoid, including Puka Nacua, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes in some formats. They also argue about strategy, injury risk, and upside picks like Brock Bowers and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. They close with a tease for next week’s episode: a game-by-game NFL Week One picks show, plus bets and deeper analysis. Expect candid takes, heated debates, fantasy angles, and betting teasers as Will and Zach set the table for the 2026 college and NFL seasons. TIME CODES (00:00:26) Week Zero Madness (00:03:35) Empty Stadium Alarm (00:08:35) Week One Slate (00:11:16) Kentucky Case Update (00:18:42) NFC West Preview (00:25:44) Cardinals in Trouble (00:30:06) Fantasy Targets (00:37:53) AFC West Preview (00:44:08) Division Favorites (00:53:42) Week One Picks