Fantasy Focus Football Episode Summary

Title: Field Yates' 2025 Fantasy Running Back Tiers
Hosts: Field Yates, Daniel Dopp
Release Date: July 31, 2025

Introduction to Running Backs in Fantasy Football

The episode begins with Field Yates and Daniel Dopp emphasizing the paramount importance of the running back (RB) position in fantasy football. They highlight the top-heavy nature of RB rankings compared to wide receivers, making RBs more valuable due to limited depth.

Daniel Dopp [00:38]: "If you did not check out yesterday's show, go check out our wide receiver tiers."

Field Yates [00:55]: "Huge show. Huge, gigantic. The most important position in football."

Upcoming Events and Shows

Field and Daniel promote upcoming live shows and draft events, encouraging listeners to participate for an immersive fantasy football experience.

• New York City:
  Field Yates [04:10]: "7, Gramercy Theater, fantasyfocuslive.com For tickets, 35 bucks."

• Philadelphia:
  Daniel Dopp [04:14]: "August 14th. That's fantasyfocuslifephilly.com same exact thing. $35 meet and greet."

• Bahamas Draft Weekend:
  Field Yates [04:26]: "August 21st through 24th... Head on over to bajamar.com/draft if you are interested in going."

S Tier Running Backs

Field and Daniel delve into the S Tier, highlighting the elite RBs expected to dominate the fantasy landscape.

1. Bijan Robinson
   Field Yates [08:52]: "Bijan Robinson is the clear cut number one."

   Daniel Dopp [09:10]: "If I'm getting 17 games out of CMC, he's the best running back in fantasy football."

2. Saquon Barkley
   Field Yates [11:08]: "He’s built different. One of those guys that like if you look at the players that have not had 436 carries but have had monster workload years, those that have been able to hold up, it has been the likes of Derrick Henry and Saquon."

   Daniel Dopp [12:16]: "Historical regression after such a heavy workload."

3. Jameer Gibbs
   Field Yates [14:20]: "Jameer Gibbs plays the game at a different speed... elite pass catcher."

4. Christian McCaffrey
   Field Yates [14:44]: "A healthy Christian McCaffrey is, to me, a pretty decent bet to be the best player in fantasy football that week."

   Daniel Dopp [15:54]: "If I get 17 games out of CMC, he's my number one running back."

5. Ashton Genty
   Field Yates [18:18]: "Net gain, not just hype, but builds a solid foundation."

6. Devon Hn
   Field Yates [20:02]: "Two different paths to becoming an elite player."

A Tier Running Backs

The discussion transitions to the A Tier, featuring RBs with high upside but with slight mitigating factors compared to the S Tier.

1. Derrick Henry
   Field Yates [25:35]: "The biggest mitigating factor is that he does not catch a ton of passes."

2. Josh Jacobs
   Daniel Dopp [26:49]: "Second most touches of his career last year."

3. Jonathan Taylor
   Field Yates [26:52]: "Like Derrick Henry light."

4. Chase Brown
   Daniel Dopp [27:26]: "Third in goal-to-go touches over that span."

5. Bucky Irving
   Field Yates [27:35]: "Can carry the ball 200 plus times."

6. Kyron Williams
   Field Yates [28:13]: "Not going to catch a ton of passes."

7. James Cook
   Field Yates [29:09]: "Held up masterfully while playing through injuries."

Field Yates [25:12]: "These guys are all awesome players with top five upside."

B Tier Running Backs

Field introduces a comprehensive B Tier, categorizing RBs who possess potential but come with various concerns or uncertainties.

• Notable Names:
  Breece Hall, Alvin Kamara, Kenneth Walker III, Chuba Hubbard, Breece Hall, Omarion Hampton, DeAndre Swift, Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones, Isaiah Pacheco, Caleb Johnson.

1. Breece Hall
   Field Yates [32:25]: "Feels like RB18. Stay away feels too strong."

2. Alvin Kamara
   Daniel Dopp [54:47]: "Concern about declining efficiency and injury risks."

3. Chuba Hubbard & Breece Hall
   Field Yates [31:20]: "Breno Hall looked like he could be a centerpiece but now feels uncertain."

4. DeAndre Swift
   Daniel Dopp [38:45]: "Questions about utilization in the current offense."

5. Tony Pollard
   Daniel Dopp [61:26]: "Held up masterfully despite injuries."

Field Yates [31:28]: "Breece Hall has never topped 1,000 yards rushing."

Concerns and Strategies

Field and Daniel express concerns about specific players' health and workload, emphasizing the importance of versatility and durability.

Daniel Dopp [12:56]: "Potential for regression and injury with heavy workloads."

Field Yates [17:57]: "Christian McCaffrey is one of those guys where you just have to be on one side of the coin."

They also discuss strategies such as diversifying RB selections to mitigate risks associated with injuries and workload management.

Daniel Dopp [62:36]: "It is so much more important to nail the running back position."

Field Yates [62:36]: "Running back just feels like, boy, I need at least one guy that is going to be the definitive RB one of my team."

Late Tiers and Sleepers

The conversation moves to later tiers, highlighting potential sleeper picks and backups who could provide value if given the opportunity.

• Notable Sleepers:
  Travis Etn, Jordan Mason, Tyler Algier, Trey Benson, Javante Williams.

Field Yates [56:23]: "Travion Henderson can flat out go super explosive runner."

Daniel Dopp [58:14]: "Jordan Mason is a favorite due to the Vikings' balanced offense."

Final Thoughts

Field and Daniel wrap up with strategies emphasizing the critical nature of selecting reliable RB1s early in drafts and the importance of depth to handle injuries and performance fluctuations throughout the season.

Field Yates [62:36]: "Wide receiver is deep enough that I can feel I can go on the waiver wire."

Daniel Dopp [62:36]: "Running back just feels like, boy, I need at least one guy that is going to be the definitive RB one of my team."

They encourage listeners to engage in mock drafts and utilize tier-based rankings to optimize their draft strategies.

Daniel Dopp [63:19]: "Make sure you do some mock drafts, my friends, because this is part of why we do tiers."

Conclusion

Field Yates and Daniel Dopp conclude the episode by reaffirming the significance of running back tiers in building a competitive fantasy football team for the 2025 season. They emphasize adaptability and informed decision-making as key components for fantasy success.

Note: The summary excludes segments related to advertisements and non-content discussions as per the instructions, focusing solely on the strategic analysis and insights provided by the hosts.