Fantasy Focus Football Podcast Summary

Episode: 2025’s Biggest Surprises and Disappointments
Date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay

Overview

In this jam-packed end-of-season episode, the Fantasy Focus Football crew reflects on the 2025 fantasy football season—handing out “surprise” and “disappointment” awards, analyzing rookie impacts, previewing the 2026 draft class, and sharing their personal fantasy resolutions. The tone is equal parts playful banter and deep, statistical insight, making for an episode that’s both informative for serious players and welcoming to newcomers.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Week 17 Recap & League Results

[02:25–06:07]

• Mike Clay is crowned the Fantasy Focus League Champion, overcoming notable opposition in the championship game.
  • His season included a mid-season Amon-Ra St. Brown trade and playoff heroics from Bijan Robinson.
  • Mike describes his season as:

    "Kind of hanging around the wild card mix... I made a huge trade for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Then he got hurt, but then he came up strong down the stretch for me." (04:07)

• The league’s “Gridiron Gauntlet” champion is “Chef Dan Drake,” who rode smart trading and a core including Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Puka Nacua, and Chris Olave.

2. 2025’s Biggest Surprises

[14:03–21:27]
Each host selects one player as their biggest surprise of the season.

Field Yates: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN)

• JSN leaps from “good prospect” to “mega-stardom,” considered for 1st overall in 2026 drafts.
  • "16.2 fantasy points in 14 of his 16 games... JSN has altered his dynasty value tremendously." (14:14)
  • At 24, he’s the youngest in next year’s projected top-nine WRs.

Mike Clay: Trevor Lawrence

• Lawrence transitions from a fringe QB1 to “elite league-winner” in the second half.
  • "22.2 fantasy points per game since week five... he’s finally made that leap." (17:25)
  • Overcame league-leading 32 dropped passes, and a depleted supporting cast.

Daniel Dopp: Javonte Williams

• Signed for pennies, Williams outperformed ADP (drafted RB114, finishes top-10).
  • "You got a guy in the 10th, 11th, 12th round that became a basic must-start." (19:19)
  • Only non-QB drafted outside the top-100 to finish top-10 at his position.

3. 2025’s Biggest Disappointments

[21:27–28:04]

Field Yates: Lamar Jackson

• Early season promise evaporated with under-15 fantasy points in five of his last six games.
  • "You can be a league loser... in weeks 10 through 17, and that's basically what Lamar has been." (22:30)

Mike Clay: Brian Thomas Jr.

• After being a top-five rookie WR in 2024, he slumps badly:
  • "Only two games over 12 fantasy points... fantasy points/game plummeted... he’s done [17+] just five times in 22 games with Trevor Lawrence." (23:19)

Daniel Dopp: Justin Jefferson

• Couldn’t bench him due to draft capital—but he rarely delivered.
  • "He just kept... you were beating your head against a wall week after week after week." (26:59)
  • Only one 20-point week; season derailed by poor QB play post-Kirk Cousins.

4. Rookie Report Card: First-Year QBs & WRs

QBs [28:04–33:42] | WRs [36:14–41:11]

Quarterbacks

• Cam Ward: Graded around C/D – Not startable, but infrastructure was dysfunctional.
  • "I went in with zero expectations and I think he delivered on the zero expectations." (29:11)
• Jackson Dart: Solid A–/B. Once he started, he was a weekly top-10 upside play.
  • "He showed us all the things that he can do... a near top 10 QB when starting." (30:32)
  • 7 top-10 finishes; 9 rushing TDs as a rookie ([31:00]).

Wide Receivers

• Travis Hunter: Incomplete/Fail – Only one big fantasy week before injury; tough schedule, played out of position early.
• Tetairoa McMillan & Emeka Egbuka: B range – Showed flashes, mostly streaky.
• Matthew Golden: F/D – Never topped 13.2 points, never became “startable.”

Notable Quote (on Travis Hunter):

"He might have got an A from us had he finished the season because that last game… he had 86% of the snaps and 13 targets in that game." – Mike Clay ([39:34])

5. 2026 Draft Class Prospects

WRs [42:52–44:36] | RBs [44:38–54:38]

• WRs: Field forecasts four high-end first-rounders (Carnell Tate, Jordan Tyson, Makai Lemon, Denzel Boston); different styles, two with high-end WR1 upside.
  • "All four of those guys I think are true, like legitimate first-round WR talents." (43:57)
• RBs: Ashton Jeanty gets B minus/B grades—solid usage but never truly a game-changer on a bad team; Omarion Hampton also finished in the RB2 range post-injury.

On 2026 Rookie RB Jeremiah Love:

"There is a case for him as the best football player in the entire 2026 draft class… he is a special talent." – Field Yates ([53:04])

6. Fantasy Resolutions for 2026

[55:16–62:43]

• Daniel: Transition all leagues to victory points format; add a second IR spot; never trust Packers WRs again.
• Mike: Same Packers WR distaste; notes historical pain of trusting Christian Watson and others.
  • "It's just an ongoing trend with Packers receivers. Can't get them right." (59:36)
• Field: Fix Minnesota's QB situation for Justin Jefferson; emphasize tier-based drafting over positional “must haves.”
  • "We can't have the greatness of Justin Jefferson... and it's all-time greatness... with this QB situation." (60:06)

7. Mailbag (Quick Questions & Listener Shoutouts)

[64:05–64:31]

• Listeners thank the show for title-winning advice—one survived a nerve-wracking Monday night thanks to Kyle Pitts going under his projection.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On evaluating rookies:
  “...sometimes, you have to get worse first... and [the Titans] have a chance to get a step forward.” – Field Yates ([29:49])
• Reflecting on recency bias but season-long disappointment:
  “You can't be a league winner in weeks one through four. You can be a league loser though, in weeks 10 through 17.” – Field Yates ([22:30])
• On Christian McCaffrey’s 2026 draft value:
  “There’s no case against Christian McCaffrey going into next year other than the fact that he’s going to be 30 and he has an injury history.” – Field Yates ([52:17])
• On fantasy philosophy:
  “Let’s think in tiers next year when we get into the draft conversation a little more...” – Field Yates ([61:09])

Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [02:25] – Fantasy Focus League Recap, Trophy Presentation to Mike Clay
• [06:07] – Chef Dan Drake, Gridiron Gauntlet Recap
• [14:03] – 2025’s Biggest Surprises
• [21:27] – 2025’s Biggest Disappointments
• [28:04] – Rookie QB Grades
• [36:14] – Rookie WR Grades
• [42:52] – 2026 Draft Wide Receivers Preview
• [44:38] – 2026 Draft Running Backs and RB Rookie Reviews
• [55:16] – Fantasy Resolutions and League Format Talk
• [64:05] – Audience Shoutouts and Mailbag
• [65:15] – Wrap-up / Upcoming Awards Show Tease

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for fantasy managers preparing for 2026 and all who want honest, data-driven evaluation of rising stars and busts. The hosts blend sharp stats, league anecdotes, and an engaged, welcoming community focus so everyone—rookie or veteran—feels included and better equipped for next fantasy season.