Daily Archives: January 4, 2020

I started playing fantasy football in 2007, so most of my experience with the fake game came in the decade that just wrapped up. As such, it was great to take a look back in this weeks episode of The Fantasy Football Survival Kit at some of the top players from the last 10 years that helped me try (keyword, try) to win some fantasy championships during my come-up years. Of course, some user submissions stuck out more than others.

Beyond the obvious top suggestions like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson, I was happy to see Arian Foster pop up. Not just because Foster was wildly productive for a good stretch of the decade, leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice, but he holds a special place in the heart of fake footballers. We all hype up sleepers and breakout players. Most of them fade away to dust. Foster was a former undrafted player whom fantasy managers hyped up after a strong end to his 2009 season earned him a starting spot in Gary Kubiaks ultra-high-leverage rushing scheme. He went on to become the best back in fantasy in 2010.

Thats coming through for us.

[Play in Yahoos NFL $150K Baller. $10 entry fee and $15K to first place]

So, too, was it just to see Drew Brees make the list. Beyond the fact that Brees, my first fantasy quarterback in 2007, was a stud on his own, he elevated so many players on his team. From all-stars like Jimmy Graham to Michael Thomas to random contributors like Lance Moore and all the way to countless pass-catching backs, playing alongside Brees was money for skill-position players the last 10-plus years.

Lastly, it was a pleasure to get fantasy cult heroes like Danny Woodhead and Ryan Fitzpatrick into the segment. After all, The Fantasy Football Survival Kit is all about THE PEOPLE. Are they technically some of the most prolific players in fake football the last decade? No, but please, lets not take this so seriously. Its a game thats supposed to be fun and one that helps create community. Few things create a tighter bond between friends or internet compatriots like developing weird attachments to the NFLs unheralded. Its just another tasty layer when those players go on to become major fantasy values and help fill the gaps on championship teams.

If you didnt have a couple of teams that benefitted from Danny Woodheads annual undervalued draft cost in PPR or make it through a stretch by streaming Ryan Fitzpatrick, were you even really playing fantasy the last 10 years? Hard to say, if you ask me.

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The best fantasy players of the last decade, according to 'The People' - Yahoo Sports

In Week 16, Carson Wentz said a showdown against the Dallas Cowboys was probablythe biggest game of his career. Then that win would have meant nothing had the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the New York Giants in Week 17.

Wentz passed those tests. The Eagles won both and an NFC East championship. That wipes away a lot of the negativity over a disappointing Eagles season. People will just remember the 2019 Eagles made the playoffs. Thats all they remember about the 2018 Eagles too, not the underachieving that preceded that playoff trip.

But this truly is the biggest game of Wentzs career. Hell lead the Eagles in a wild-card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, a game that can belive-streamed on the Yahoo Sports app.

[Watch live NFL games on the Yahoo Sports app, here's how]

It seems a little strange, but this is Wentzs first playoff game. Its not like he was Deshaun Watson and played in a College Football Playoff title game, either. Sunday will be huge in defining what we think of Wentz as a player.

The Wentz story is complicated.

Wentz had a good rookie season for the Eagles, and in his second year he was an MVP favorite. Same as Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. Then he tore his ACL against the Rams late in the regular season.

Nick Foles ended up defining Wentzs career up to this point more than anyone, fair or not. Foles helped lead the Eagles to a championship and won Super Bowl MVP. When Wentzs season ended in 2018 due to a back injury, Foles saved the underachieving Eagles, leading them to a playoff spot and a postseason win, too. Playoff success matters most in sports, and an Eagles quarterback not named Wentz experienced a lot of it.

Then this season Foles went to Jacksonville and there was no looming shadow over Wentz. The Eagles struggled most of the season, though thats not all Wentzs fault. A late rally got the Eagles into the playoffs, and thats big for Wentz. He can write a different chapter to his season. He started that in December.

Carson Wentz will start his first playoff game on Sunday. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Wentz turned his game on in December. In five games, he had 1,509 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception. He did most of that despite some crippling injuries around him. He played his best football since that 2017 near-MVP season, and did it when the Eagles needed it most.

That matters. But the Eagles didnt pay him a $128 million contract extension to play his best ball in the regular season. Much of the noise about Wentz will quiet down if he has a big postseason. He is a very good player but its a tough market that has experienced the ultimate playoff success without Wentz.

Wentz has laid a good foundation for his career. Some iconic playoff performances would help enhance it.

Frank Schwabis a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him atshutdown.corner@yahoo.comor follow him on Twitter!Follow @YahooSchwab

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Carson Wentz faces another 'biggest game' as Eagles face Seahawks on Yahoo Sports app - Yahoo Sports

The American airstrike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad Thursdayhit financial marketsalmost immediately with oil prices jumping,stock indicesdown, and weapons manufacturer stocks higher.

The airstrike adds considerable tension to the delicate region, and raises concerns that escalation could result in oil supply disruptions that could push prices higher prices that would ultimately end up being paid by consumers when they fill up their cars. Crude oil prices jumped around 4% from $61 a barrel to almost $64 before calming down slightly.

A deterioratingrelationship between the U.S. and Iranhas the potential to affect consumers and theU.S. economy, though there are multiple factors that should keep things stable for people at the pump.

Patrick DeHaan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told Yahoo Finance that the initial reactions may add 3 to 7 cents per gallon to gas prices, or even 5 to 10 cents per gallon. But far more importantly, how Iran decides to react or retaliate will set the tone.

The sky is the limit based on their potential reaction, DeHaan said of Iran.

However, he noted there is significant insulation that could shield impact in the form of Saudi Arabia. An enemy of Iran, the country holds sizable spare capacity that could be utilized to soften any impact to oil supply, DeHaan said.

As ING Group wrote in a research note Friday, ittakes a lot to scare the oil marketbecause supply is so comfortable.

Saudi Arabias capacity is one of the many reasons prices at the pump could stay under control even if the situation escalates.

Graphic by David Foster/Yahoo Finance

Its not just capacity but Saudi Arabias diversified portfolio of export options. Even if Iran were to try to block the Strait of Hormuz, ING noted that the countrys new pipeline could allow the country to ship its oil via the Red Sea, limiting potentially severe effects.

Oil exports that use the Strait of Hormuz make up around20% of global oil consumption, and its blockage could send prices up to$150 per barrel.

In September, when drone attacks hitSaudi Arabias oil production facilities an attack that was blamed on Iran prices rose, but then fell quickly as the situation contained itself and the Saudis managed to get supply back up.

Another reason gas prices are shielded is the fact that its an election year. As ING pointed out, the fact that its an election year means President Trump may be more inclined to open the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves should supply get tight.

Oil and gas prices may rise a little bit, causing drivers to pay more at the tank, but U.S. shale players could stand to further insulate prices from rising too high and keep GDP from being affected too much. In the past few years, American shale production has skyrocketed to around 9.2 million barrels per day, from 5.2 million in 2017. This supply, as RSM Chief Economist Joe Brusuelasnoted, has the potential to contain problems across the globe.

Furthermore, higher oil prices usually spur capital expenditures for domestic energy operations, since higher oil prices mean a better chance at profitability for frackers. Though consumers may end up spending more, it could end up a wash for GDP growth, offsetting the consumer harm.

Our general rule of thumb, Goldman Sachswrote back in September, is that a $10/barrel increase in oil prices typically lowers the GDP contribution from consumption by 0.15% cumulatively.

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In other words, the price changes are usually enough to affect consumers behavior if the prices last and affect Americans at the pump for a long time. According toDeutsche Bank, for every one-cent rise in gas prices, consumer spending on non-energy goods and services falls $1.16 billion per year.

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Ethan Wolff-Mannis a writer at Yahoo Finance focusing on consumer issues, personal finance, retail, airlines, and more. Follow him on Twitter@ewolffmann.

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What the Iran strike means for gas prices - Yahoo Finance

I did not have a strong year projecting the quarterback position in 2019. I was around industry consensus on Lamar Jackson, and that simply was not good enough. (Ironically, my one Jackson team somehow missed the playoffs.) A lot of my quarterback targets had disappointing years.

And yet, it was one of my best profit years for fantasy, filled with deep playoff runs and a handful of titles and cash spots.

These two contrasting things merge at a simple point quarterback is everything in the NFL, but its of lesser importance in fantasy. And while a QB problem is a nightmare for a pro team, its the most fixable problem for a fantasy player.

Dont get me wrong, it would have been fun to be in on Jackson, the player of the season. Hes headed for the MVP. Along with Christian McCaffrey and Michael Thomas, he dominated in our world. He brought upside and floor every week. And unlike McCaffrey and Thomas, Jackson wasnt that expensive in the summer the profit windfall was gigantic. I tip my cap to people like Andy Behrens, who pounded the table for Jackson all summer.

So its difficult to squint ahead to 2020 and imagine Jackson wont be the best quarterback again. Hes a star passer. Hes the best running quarterback weve ever seen. Baltimores infrastructure is strong. Jackson is young, smart, athletic, coachable. Whats not to like here?

But sustained dominance is hard. And weve seen this before, a player who dominates the QB position then falls back in the following year. Regression is a beast.

Lamar Jackson was the fantasy value of the year in 2019, but is he worth first-round tender next season? (Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Take Patrick Mahomes last year. MVP, most fun player in the league, revolutionary guy. And then this year he had some injuries, the Chiefs hit a few potholes, and the touchdown rate fell. Mahomes had a good year, sure, but he didnt fully justify his ticket.

Russell Wilson was easily the QB1 in 2017; he fell to QB9 the next year. Cam Newton smashed everything in his MVP year, the easy QB1. He was QB18 the next season (and he played in 15 games). Peyton Manning went from record-breaker in 2013 to QB4 in 2014; not a massive dip, but a notable one.

Michael Vick broke fantasy in 2010, to the point that some called him the No. 1 overall pick for the next year. He wound up QB11, in part because he missed three games. To be fair, missed time was standard with Vick; he played one 16-game season for his entire career. And while it feels cheap to ding Tom Brady for a 15-game injury, he did crash after his 2007 season, too.

What could befall Jackson? Maybe teams will have better defensive plans for him. Maybe Jackson will encounter injury while he sure seems to have that Wilson sense of how to avoid the kill shots, it only takes one to derail a season. Jacksons league-best touchdown rate a whopping 9.0 is sure to fall. And after watching Jackson set a new record for QB rushing yards, Im reluctant to expect a full-on repeat of that. Thats not how outlier seasons generally work.

Jacksons monster season, to me, reinforces two things I want a quarterback whos a dual-threat if I can land him, and I want to try to hit a home run in the middle rounds. And even if all that falls apart, there are always secondary routes to consider. Look at the return Josh Allen gave us this year. Look what Ryan Tannehill did when he got a chance to play. Daniel Jones was a monster down the stretch. If you had the stones to ride with Ryan Fitzpatrick in December, youre planning a parade route now.

I want to be transparent on this I have Jackson tentatively slotted No. 1 on my 2020 quarterback board. Im just not going to draft him at the likely cost. Its always been the easiest position to navigate, and the easiest position to fix even if things initially go bad. Ill stick with that idea as I get ready for the fresh season.

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No, its not the fun call to make. And it sure wasnt fun to be out on Jackson this year. But my goal is focused on finding the next Jackson; the next middle-round or waiver-wire smash. This has never been a position where I want to pay for big-ticket retail. My early picks will focus on other areas.

1. Lamar Jackson

2. Patrick Mahomes

3. Russell Wilson

4. Deshaun Watson

5. Josh Allen

6. Kyler Murray

7. Matt Ryan

8. Dak Prescott

9. Drew Brees

10. Jameis Winston

11. Carson Wentz

Consider that list in pencil. I wont even think about it when my real rankings come out in the spring and summer; I always start from scratch. This is just something to keep us warm on a cold January night.

Next up: The running backs.

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Quarterback Exit Interview: Can Lamar Jackson beat the regression bug? - Yahoo Sports

In the building ambiguity ofJason Garretts future with the Dallas Cowboys, one more oddity is being added to an opaque picture as Garrett finishes exit interviews with players: Those familiar with some of the meetings say Garrett is operating like hes going to be a part of the organization moving forward.

According to multiple sources familiar with a handful of Garretts exit interviews, he conducted himself in the same manner as past seasons thanking players for their contributions in 2019 and then talking about their offseason outlook. Several sources added that in some cases where players had expiring contracts, Garrett went as far as expressing that the Cowboys would have interest in the players returning in 2020.

The interview confused [the player], one source said. [He] went in thinking it was going to be a goodbye and maybe hed hear a this is a business speech and it turned out to be more of a good job and see you later feeling. Its normal to the point of being weird, given everything [he] was expecting.

Added another source familiar with the exit interviews: Jason is so myopic. I think hes just doing his job like everything is normal because his contract hasnt expired yet. Hes still under contract so hes still doing his job like he normally would.

Not all of the Cowboys players have chosen to meet with Garrett for exit interviews. Sources have told Yahoo Sports that a handful of veterans left town without sitting down with the coach. But the status quo in at least some exit interviews appears to be just another extension of a situation that has seen Garrett meet with ownership multiple times since the season ended without a clear sign of Garretts fate.

His head coaching contract is set to expire on Jan. 14 and Dallas has yet to reach out to a single outside candidate for an official interview.

ESPNs Ed Werder reportedon Thursday night that the Cowboys will move on with Garrett not part of the organization.

Since the end of the regular season, Jerry Jones has been radio silent on the status of Jason Garrett. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Sources inside the organization have consistently expressed a lack of any defined decision or even an indication of what could happen next with Garrett. One source, who spoke with Yahoo Sports on Monday, suggested that the team had interest in a handful of potential head coaching candidates in the college ranks, but said there was no guidance on when or if any of those interviews would take place. He added thatBaltimore Ravensoffensive coordinator Greg Roman also had some interest with Dallas, but a source with the Ravens said on Tuesday that there had been no call from the Cowboys about Roman.

That lack of movement with any outside candidates, combined with Garrett continuing to show up for work with Dallas, has created an odd void that is drawing speculation from all corners. It has also fueled a perception that Cowboys ownership is attempting to craft a scenario that would keep Garrett in the fold, either as head coach or potentially moving to some other part of the franchise. Dallas hasnt given a solid indication of either outcome, withJerry Jones and son Stephen failing to speak since the end of the season and even cancelling their normal radio appearances.

The vacuum and unprecedented lack of leaks in the situation has left fans, media and even other NFL sources to come to varying conclusions, most driven down one of two tracks.

Taken down the first track, the pause in Garretts status can be perceived through a lens of speculative logic, which would suggest that ownership has a head coaching candidate in mind who is simply not available for interviews at this point, thereby removing any need to push Garrett out the door before his contract expiration. Such a candidate would likely be involved in wild-card playoff games and off the grid until at least next week. That would give Dallas the time to continue assessing Garretts status while waiting for an interview window with other candidates to open.

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However, that doesnt account for the availability of some college coaches like Oklahomas Lincoln Riley or Baylors Matt Rhule, whom Dallas could seek for interviews immediately now that they arent part of college bowl or playoff games. That reality is especially glaring for Rhule, who is already on the radar of theCarolina PanthersandNew York Giants, while having turned down an interview opportunity from theCleveland Browns.

And the second track? That one is more about the evidence that is playing out in front of our eyes, which suggests that, taken at face value, Garrett is still in play to return as head coach (or in some other capacity) for the Cowboys. That evidence includes the reality that Garrett could have been dismissed immediately but wasnt. It includes sources who say that he has done exit interviews with players as he normally would, including looking toward the 2020 season. And it includes the fact that Dallas has been tied to no above board interviews of candidates, nor have there been the types of leaks that usually define an obvious next candidate. WhileRon Rivera was quickly tied to and eventually landed the Washington Redskins job, there has been no such hot candidate that has arisen for Dallas. Nor has there even been a strong No. 1 target, like Rhule with the Giants or the trio of Mike McCarthy, Josh McDaniels andKevin Stefanski in Cleveland. Even Carolina has shored up an interview list.

That activity elsewhere has left the Cowboys on an island and increasingly looking more and more odd by the day, a theme that will only intensify if this lasts to the very conclusion of Garretts deal on Jan. 14. If thats the case, Dallas will not only have missed out on multiple candidates, but it will likely see all the other jobs filled before it does its first interview.

That is, unless Garrett is going about his job because hes the actual No. 1 candidate in Dallas. And the interview everyone is waiting for is actually happening right now, every day, when Garrett keeps showing up for work.

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Sources: Jason Garrett is talking with players as if he's still going to be with the Dallas Cowboys - Yahoo Sports

Because Deshaun Watson was a star at Clemson and had a seamless transition to being a fantastic quarterback in the NFL, it seems hes been playing longer than he has.

This is just year three for the Houston Texans quarterback. Watson led his Texans to a second straight AFC South championship and Houston will face the Buffalo Bills in the first game of the NFL playoffs, a game that can belive-streamed on the Yahoo Sports app.

[Watch live NFL games on the Yahoo Sports app, here's how]

Were way, way too early into Watsons career to talk about legacies. But theyre built on playoff games, and you never know how many youll have. Watson is very good, but young quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson have blown past him to become the darlings of the league.

Narratives change with playoff runs, though it will be a big challenge for Watson on Saturday.

The Bills are very good on defense, and Watson knows that firsthand. The Bills have plenty of young stars. Buffalo was second in the NFL in points allowed and third in yards allowed. Their best player is probably cornerback TreDavious White, and his matchup against Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins will be fascinating.

On Oct. 14, 2018, the Bills made life tough for Watson. They sacked him seven times. Watson had 177 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Texans won because Nathan Peterman in the game for an injured Josh Allen threw a late pick-six.

Teams change a lot from season to season, so maybe theres not a lot to take from that game. But the Bills are still well aware that they need to slow down Watson to win.

He presents a lot of different problems, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said,according to the Houston Chronicle. His throwing ability, along with his escape ability as well. There are times you watch him on tape where it looks like people have him hemmed up and somehow, some way he gets out of it and on the run he makes some very accurate throws.

Hes really the straw that stirs the drink for their offense. Youve got to find a way to contain him. If not, it can be a long day, he just can hurt you in so many different ways.

Deshaun Watson had a rough game against the Bills in 2018. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Watson had a good season, but his numbers were mostly similar to last season with a few more interceptions and slight downticks in other categories. It wasnt bad, but it wasnt the breakout some anticipated. But with an iconic playoff performance or two it will seem like a big breakout season.

Its not only a big game for Watson, but for Allen too. Allen, who came along well in his second season quarterbacking the Bills, is making his first postseason appearance.

The Bills are still starving for playoff success. They did break a long playoff drought two seasons ago, but lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was their first playoff game since losing to the Titans in the Music City Miracle game the end of the 1999 season. The Bills still havent won a playoff game since 1995.

Theyll have a chance on Saturday. Buffalo had a fine season and seems to be a team on the rise. With a playoff win or two, they can establish themselves as a potential contender to the AFC East title in 2020 and it has been a long time since anyone has made a legitimate run at the New England Patriots.

To get their first playoff win in more than 24 years, the Bills know their top priority is slowing down Watson. That wont be easy.

Frank Schwabis a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him atshutdown.corner@yahoo.comor follow him on Twitter!Follow @YahooSchwab

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Can Deshaun Watson rise to the challenge as Texans face Bills on Yahoo Sports app? - Yahoo Sports

Thursday night, Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Iraq. The attack was authorized by President Trump.New York Congressman Peter King, a Republican, says while there was no offensive briefing of Congress, President Donald Trump had the authority to do so, without their permission.

I assume that the top people on the intelligence committee were probably notified, King toldYahoo Finances On the Move. I know that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that he'd been told about it earlier in the week. This is the type of thing which usually is a close hold.

People who say the president should have gone to Congress to get authorization, we can have that debate about a declaration of war... Every president has asserted this power, whether it was President Clinton, President Obama, President Bush, the right to take quick action when they believe it's in the best interests of the United States and that quick action is required.

Congressman King, a member of the Homeland Security Committee and Ranking Member of the Sub-Committee on Emergency Preparedness, immediately rallied behind President Trumps decision following the drone strike on Twitter late Thursday evening, encouraging others to do the same.

On Friday morning, Secretary Mike Pompeoresponded to the strike on Fox News, calling President Trumps decision necessary due to imminent attacks against American interests that Soleimani was orchestrating. Pompeo also shared that Soleimani was indeed responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, including thedeath of American contractor in late December.

King reacted to Pompeos comments saying it was important take him out now and the right thing to do.

He does however believe Congress will have their time to share their thoughts on the matter.

We'll have to wait until we get all the evidence in. But I think it's wrong to be, at this stage, criticizing the president, Representative King continues, After Congress is briefed, if people have objections, that's the time to do it. But I think it's important for the face of the world to show that we are, again, united.

President Donald Trump departs Air Force One with Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. after a trip to New York City to attend a mixed martial arts fight at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Brooke DiPalma is a producer for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma.

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Rep. Peter King: There was 'no offensive briefing of Congress' ahead of airstrike that killed Soleimani - Yahoo Finance

Its a Tuesday morning in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Cody Rhodes is wrapping up a series of media appearances and interviews promoting Dynamite, All Elite Wrestlings signatureand to this pointlone television offering.

This particular edition, which features virtually every top talent the fledgling promotion has, is the final one of 2019. This is significant because 12 months earlier, AEW didnt existat least not in its current, concrete form. The Corpus Christi show caps off a year that saw Rhodes and his colleagues disrupt the professional wrestling industry and generate a kind of buzz that hasnt been seen in decades.

Its been a really unexpected journey, Rhodes told Yahoo Sports. Some of these milestones and achievements weve hit, I didnt think wed reach them so early. Its very fun. Im enjoying it.

While Rhodess journey began well before AEW was officially announced, the ambitious endeavor was revealed to the world on January 1, 2019. Rhodes, alongside fellow professional wrestlers Matt and Nick Jackson, made the announcement during an episode of their popular YouTube show, Being the Elite.

In the days and weeks following the announcement, AEW would take shape. A roster littered with major names such as Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho filled out. Roles of key executives such as Tony Khan and Brandi Rhodes were unveiled. A pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing was scheduled.

All the while, wrestling fans watched intently, wondering if AEW would truly be able to revolutionize the industry and pose a legitimate threat to Vince McMahons WWE conglomerate.

Internally, however, Rhodes and his fellow executives werent ready to make that comparison.

We dont actively say, Hey this is different, lets do this, its more the personalities behind AEWTony Khan at the top, Matt, Nick, Kenny and myselfthe personalities are just different and we are the ones who create those scenarios, Rhodes said. We dont have any of the template that WWE currently has. Were open to everything, our bridges are open to all folks. When you have a wrestling company run by wrestlers, you cut out a lot of the bureaucracy, a lot of the red tape on situations like that. We dont think about it being different, our focus is fun, and something like that was really fun.

The initial success of AEW was somewhat unexpected. Tickets for Double or Nothing and All Out, the companys first two tentpole offerings, sold out in minutes. AEW also utilized its partnership with Turner to introduce fansboth casual and hardcoreto its roster via free events such as Fyter Fest and Fight for the Fallen over the summer.

All of that would serve as a lead in for the biggest test AEWor any wrestling promotioncould possibly face: Going toe-to-toe with WWE on cable television. AEW announced that it would air the first episode of Dynamite on October 2.

As the hype surrounding AEW built and WWE moved its NXT program from the WWE Network to the USA Network as more direct counter-programming, the industry was seemingly transported 20 years into the past, to a time where ratings reigned supreme and the Monday Night War was the hottest thing in professional wrestling.

Still, after three months on television, its a rivalry that Rhodes and AEW looks to downplay simply as a creation of fans looking for nostalgia.

Cody Rhodes and Tony Schiavone are seen as Rhodes announces a stipulation for his match against Chris Jericho at "Full Gear." (Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling)

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Theres a romantic way to look at the ratings and say Here we are, its the late 1990s again. Every Thursday lets check em, Rhodes said. Its fun to look at the ratings but I know internally were not having any pep rally speeches. Our concern is not NXT and I believe NXTs concern is not us. If anyone is going to succeed, we cannot be a reactionary brand. One really good, positive takeaway that the ratings war doesnt show is that there is a lot less crossover between the fan bases, theres a lot less of the turning the channel between one and the other. That means theres a lot of people just watching wrestling on Wednesday nights. Making wrestling destination programming again is cool.

Rhodes makes a valid point when he dismisses the idea of AEW and WWE being in direct competition. Simply put, the structure of the two companies is too different for them to truly be compared, at least for now.

WWE airs three live television shows each week and at least one pay-per-view event each month. When you factor in house shows, NXT TakeOver events and overseas specials, it creates a schedule that AEW neither wants nor is trying to replicate.

Everything AEW has done in Year One is designed from a concept that the companys talent has shunned inside the ring.

I think a lot of us have pushed back on less is more with what we actually do in the ring, but that approach to TV is very true, Rhodes said. It creates the feeling that everything we are putting out for you in narrative is really important. Our titles, the fact that we only have the mens, womens and tag team championships at this point, we make them the most important thing from the company standard. When you approach it from that, youre able to put things on a pedestal more and make things mean more from a narrative standpoint.

This approach has translated into early success. AEW has sold more than 100,000 tickets to live events in 2019 and the debut of Dynamite was the highest-rated premiere on TNT in five years. Amid all of this, Rhodes, the Jacksons and Omega have made a conscious effort to introduce and feature new talent. None of the four EVPs, along with fellow Elite member Adam Hangman Page, have held a title yet in AEW.

Fellow AEW executive vice presidents Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson are seen prior to a match on "Dynamite." (Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling)

Equal parts executive and talent, its a balance that isnt easy to achieve.

In my case, it was met with criticism internally because I was in the middle of the hottest run of my career and to take myself out of the title picture [wasnt a popular decision], Rhodes said. I think we made it clear that we would be listening to fans. Part of listening to fans asking what if this were to become an Elite-only show? I love the Elite, but we didnt want to monopolize the company so we made sure we put the fresh faces first. Thats the number one thing for recruitment into the company, the number one word, fresh.

Everyone has done a great job. Kenny has taken a step back to help build up the womens division. Matt and Nick have really cultivated a great tag-team group. Tony has kept us all on track. Even with this fandom going on, Ive been able to do things diplomatically when it comes to our time. We want to make sure that when we said we were going to change the world and give better quality of life to pro wrestlers, that we present more than just the Elite.

Rhodes and AEW have aimed to give a better quality of life to fans who come to their shows and those who watch on television as well. One of AEWs unique features is its transparency and openness, particularly on social media. While pro wrestling has been and will always be a fan-driven medium, the personalities at the highest level of AEW have strived to make sure fan voices are heard.

I love that theres an open book on social media with me, Rhodes said. If theres a problem or something you love, Im able to react. To be able to return the excitement from fans with a little bit of love from one of us, thats important. It was always going to be something that was vastly different from what we were doing before. In 2019, 2020, nobody wants to part with their money or their time unless they really feel heard and respected. I think they do with AEW.

There have been some bumps, Rhodes admits. Despite having more than a decade of experience as a talent in the industry, Rhodes and the other Elite EVPs have had to learn the business and production sides of the company. Thankfully, Rhodes says he has been able to lean on Khan and leverage the excellent team that he has been surrounded with.

The most difficult parts are the ones you dont foresee, Rhodes said. When youre looking at markets, demographics, minute-by-minute ratings, the clerical side of things, which is vastly important. That was an area where Tony linked us with some of the best people, like Chris Harrington and Rafael Morffi, to help provide the business side of things. The production side with Keith Mitchell and Kevin Sullivan. Were able to give them our vision and they are able to provide their spark of magic.

Cody Rhodes celebrates after winning a tag team match on "Dynamite." (Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling)

Ultimately, Rhodes is proud of the work him and the rest of the company has been able to do in just 12 months,

I think if A+ is the top rating and were going off just the American standard, I think I would give myself an A rating, Rhodes says. I wouldnt go higher because theres definitely been some things that I have learned in regards to this. Just so that my rating doesnt seem braggadocios or arrogant, the reason that I am so confident and optimistic about AEW is because of the fans. It beams across the television set, but if you come to one of these shows, these fans are nutsin the best of way nuts. Its a dream come true for a wrestler.

As far as 2020 goes, AEW has already announced the first of its four tentpole events, Revolution, which will take place in February in Chicagoa marquee location for the promotion in its early days. While there are currently no plans to expand the television offerings, the next step for the company will be a geographic one, introducing new markets and fans to AEW.

Weve got to work our way across the country, spreading the brand, Rhodes said. The number one way to hook the casual fan or the lapsed fan is that actual live experience. Moving west into places that some of our crew has never ventured into, thats a real confidence booster. Giving fans a chance to see whats the difference, why is this an alternative.

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Amanda Byneshas resurfaced on social media with what appears to be a large face tattoo.

The All That and She's the Man star posted on Instagram for the first time since she reportedly checked herself out of a sober living facility earlier this month. The photo is noteworthy for the very large and slightly lopsided heart that appears to be inked on the former child stars cheek.

The 33-year-old didnt offer any details about whether it is permanent, the work of a pen or some type of filter fun. Her caption was just the extraterrestrial alien emoji.

Bynes still has hernose ring and the pink hair shes been sporting for a few months. In the background of the photo were some women sitting at a table.

Yahoo Entertainment has reached out to Bynes attorney about the apparent tattoo, but she is on vacation until after the new year.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Bynes whos under a conservatorship put in place by the Ventura County Court hadfled a sober living facilitywhere she had been residing and her parents feared she would relapse. Bynes has said she abused Adderall and used other drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy and molly, recreationally.

However, a Bynes source then toldUs Weekly that she has never been lost or missing. She did leave the sober living facility but her parents know where she is. With Amanda, its not surprising that she would leave the sober living facility. Its not uncommon for anyone dealing with sobriety and mental health issues.

According to Entertainment Tonight, Bynes wasliving with her parentstemporarily after the sober home until she found her own place to live. "She has a great relationship with them," a sourcesaid of her parents, who accompanied her to a court appearance for her conservatorship on Dec. 13.

In January, Bynes whose personal troubles have been well-documented since 2012 checked back into a mental health facility for treatment after arelapse. (The facility latersuedher for non-payment.) She then moved into the sober house to help maintain her sobriety. Bynes said last year in a rare interview with Paper magazine that her mental health challenges are drug-induced, and whenever I got off of [drugs], I was always back to normal."

Despite her woes, Bynes graduated from fashion design school (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in June, but according to reports, she is currentlynot working.

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Amanda Bynes resurfaces on Instagram with what appears to be a large face tattoo - Yahoo Celebrity

Dominos Pizza (DPZ) CEO Richard Allison is delivering a flaming hot message right to the doorsteps of execs at third-party food delivery companies such as GrubHub and Uber Eats.

That cautionary message: at some point in the near future, you will have to run businesses that care about profits or else.

I think we will see some shake-out in the third-party [food delivery] space, Allison tells Yahoo Finance.

Delivery as a service that these third parties are offering [is] not sustainable in its current form, he continued. Look at what has happened to GrubHubs P&L [profit and loss statement] since they went from being an order aggregator to being a third-party delivery company. They have grown revenue very rapidly but their profit has declined to almost nothing. Uber Eats in the third quarter lost over $300 million in EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] delivering food. DoorDash is private, but speculation is out there they could be losing close to half a billion dollars.

A spokesperson for DoorDash didnt return Yahoo Finances request for comment.

Others did chime in, however.

"While there are few barriers to entry in this industry, there are major barriers to creating a sustainable, profitable business, a GrubHub spokesperson told Yahoo Finance via email. Several of our peers have achieved national scale, but we are the only one that has grown without unsustainable shortcuts like incurring massive operating losses, offering irrational diner pricing, and giving drivers substantial subsidies. Instead, we have built our business recognizing that our value is helping independent restaurateurs reach new customers efficiently through our scale and expertise, while making all choices available to our diners when they want to order takeout.

Were proud of a business model that helps restaurants to use technology to increase sales, and hundreds of thousands of people to earn flexible income on their own time delivering food. Uber Eats is a young business, but a competitive one, and were optimistic about its future around the world, an Uber spokesperson said via email to Yahoo Finance.

But judging by the state of the third-party food delivery space entering 2020, Allisons call may be right on the mark.

GrubHub (GRUB) shocked Wall Street in late October with a sub-par third quarter and concerning outlook. The companys sales clocked in at $322 million versus analyst estimates for $330.5 million. Non-GAAP net earnings plunged to 27 cents a share in line with analyst forecasts from 45 cents a share a year ago. Growth rates in GrubHubs closely watched daily active grubs and gross food sales metrics continued to slow.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, GrubHubs non-GAAP net earnings have dropped to $77.5 million from $135.7 million a year earlier despite a 35% increase in sales. That dynamic surging sales and declining profits reflects the intense competitive environment in food delivery where gobs of money must be spent on advertising and incentives to keep diners engaged.

GrubHubs stock is down about 35% year to date.

The companys main response to the soft quarter is to ramp up incentives to diners even more, which is likely putting pressure on the entire industry to cap off 2019. It also plans to add more restaurants to its delivery network.

We will be moving quickly, spending more and trying many different strategies over the next 12-18 months to increase restaurant supply aggressively while making our diner experience more sticky effectively taking action to remove any reason for diners to look anywhere else, GrubHub founder and CEO Matt Maloney said in an October letter to shareholders.

GrubHub CEO Matt Maloney (C) applauds after ringing the opening bell before the company's IPO on the floor of the NYSE, April 4, 2014. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

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Nevertheless, Wall Street remains concerned about GrubHubs bottom line for the foreseeable future. Jefferies analyst Brent Thill says GrubHubs fourth-quarter sales growth guidance of about 13% would be by far the lowest in the companys history and a step down from 30% in the third quarter. GrubHubs fourth quarter EBITDA guidance implies a 6% margin, which Thill notes would also be a historic low.

GrubHubs initial 2020 EBITDA guidance of at least $100 million was markedly below Thills outlook of $180 million.

But hey, at least GrubHub is profitable and in business right? The same cant be said for rival Uber Eats (not profitable, but still in business) and countless others in the industry.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, Uber Eats (UBER) has lost a shocking $911 million on an adjusted EBITDA basis thats up from a $323 million loss a year ago. In its latest 10-Q filing, Uber highlights a range of issues with Uber Eats typical to the food delivery space and that are unlikely to abate anytime soon.

Eats adjusted EBITDA lossincreasedprimarily attributable to an increase in consumer promotions, brand marketing, and employee headcount costs, the filing says. Losses of that magnitude for Uber Eats points to a business that is in big-time trouble, and clearly not viable in its existing form.

Meanwhile,Amazon Restaurants closedfor good in June after making little headway in the food delivery space. Caviar couldnt hack it, so it sold out toDoorDashin August for $410 million (a wise call by Caviar in light of GrubHubs October commentary).

Waitr was told earlier this month by the Nasdaq it could be de-listed in January if it doesnt get its stock back above $1.00. The reason the stock has crashed 97% this year to 33 cents? You guessed it, a year of staggering losses to the tune of $270 million as the company struggled to stay competitive amid all the industry discounting.

Back in July or August I might have felt like this could go on for some indefinite period of time because there seemed to be particularly in the private market an appetite to drive growth with little regard to profitability, Allison says. I think theWeWork debacleand some other things going on out there the decline inshare prices for Uber and Lyft, PostMates IPO being stalled, the valuation of GrubHub has now come off I think there is less patience out there among investors today in December of 2019 than there was in July or August. But I dont know when the shakeout ultimately comes.

A spokesperson for PostMates didnt return a request for comment.

Uber Eats continues to loss massive amounts of money. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Ultimately, a shakeout along the lines of what Allison predicts could take several forms.

One, the entire third-party food delivery space goes belly up under the weight of its own penchant for offering deep discounts on orders, heavy advertising and aggressive investment in tech. In turn, a large restaurant chain such as McDonalds could swoop in and buy a major delivery player on the cheap and gain access to a turnkey operation.

Another version of an industry shakeout could see a well-established player such as GrubHub continue to buy up smaller rivals to gain the required economies of scale to be a viable business longer term. GrubHub has taken on the role of consolidator thus far it has acquired nine food delivery platforms since 2013, including Seamless and Eat24.

Or a slight twist on this version may see GrubHub merging with Uber Eats, becoming its own stand-alone entity. Uber would therefore primarily be a ride-hailing/transport company, which it could make money on.

Of course Allison who assumed the CEO role in July 2018 after leading Dominos international business is coming at the food delivery topic from the view of a powerhouse franchise in Dominos. The pizza chain for decades dominated the delivery space with its formidable fleet of drivers and mobile ordering technology.

But as fast-food delivery has become ubiquitous thanks to third-party delivery services, Dominos once mind-blowing quarterly sales gains have slowed. So too has the stock price shares are up 17% over the past year, trailing the S&P 500s 30% gains. Should Allisons third-party delivery industry shakeout happen, Dominos would stand to benefit immensely as the companies scramble to consolidate and even stay in business.

A Domino's Pizza employee fires up a pie. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

While Allison has been one of the most vocal critics in the restaurant industry of the tactics used by the aggregators as they are often called he isnt letting the issue consume his time as CEO.

As I think about Dominos Pizza, we have got to stay focused on the things we can control that will allow us to be successful regardless of when or how that shakeout occurs. So that means keeping our system and our franchisees focused on value, meaning we remain a very affordable way to feed your family tonight. We are that today, and we are very aggressively planning to compete in the future. We have got to be even better on being on time with delivery. We need to be even better in the years to come, we have an extensive set of initiatives underway to continue to improve service in our business, Allison says.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @BrianSozzi

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