Fantasy Focus Football – Week 7 Rankings: Who’s Climbing and Who’s CRASHING!

Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay
Theme: A lively debate on the biggest risers and fallers in fantasy football through Week 6, with deep dives into usage trends, injury implications, and actionable advice for Week 7 lineups.

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Field Yates, Mike Clay, and Daniel Dopp from ESPN Fantasy, dissects the landscape of fantasy football through six weeks, highlighting the players who have dramatically risen or fallen in their rankings. The group discusses factors driving these shifts, pivots for roster management, and offers candid, data-driven insights—in true Fantasy Focus style.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Quick Banter & Housekeeping

Time: 00:00–04:10

• The trio jokes about missing pizza, FF Now league smack talk, and struggles of live show streaming.
• Shout-outs to fantasy basketball and promotion for FF Now on Sunday mornings.
• Notable Moment: Opening the show with a lighthearted roast, blaming technical issues on Mike.

  “The good news is that we have identified the root of the issue. Yeah, it's Mike's fault.” – Field (01:43)

2. Main Segment: Biggest Risers

Time: 04:10–25:16

Roman Dunze (WR, Bears)

• Entered draft season around WR21–WR31 due to DJ Moore’s presence.
• Consistent production: 25% target share, 15.2 FPPG, currently WR12 in points-per-game.
• Field: “Happy to see it for a very, very high pedigree player... Rome Odunze back inside my top 15.” (05:36)
• Mike notes target share dip in recent weeks—but asserts Dunze is “the guy” in Chicago.

Drake May (QB)

• Mike admits he was too low on May, now describes him as "set it and forget it" QB.
• Sixth in FPPG, top-8 fantasy scorer in 4/6 games; has both passing and rushing upside.
• Field discusses value in keeper/dynasty leagues and muses on May’s future mega-value:

  “There’s a chance Drake May is a stud for what, 10 more years? I could extend Drake May for five seasons...” (09:08)

• Discussion about Patriots as a possible trade destination for a WR to pair with May.

Jonathan Taylor (RB)

• Daniel: “This dude has been unbelievable.” (11:06)
• Fell in drafts due to QB concerns but leads NFL in many rushing categories; second to CMC in fantasy points.
• “There’s no one else there in that backfield ... top 3 for the rest of the season feels right.”

Cam Skattebo (RB, Giants)

• Heavy snap usage, RB2 finish last week, top 15 RB for short-term future.
• Mike: “I think he will sustain ... at least the lead back there.”

Jackson Smith-Njigba (JSN, WR, Seahawks)

• Mike hesitated to include him since JSN “crushed” his team recently.
• WR2 in FPPG behind Puka Nacua; has massive 37% target share, with 90+ scrimmage yards in every game.
• “JSN, the number three scoring fantasy receiver two weeks in a row... top 13 in all but one week.” – Mike (18:18)
• Noted: Hardest schedule remaining, with a highlight matchup vs. Derek Stingley Jr. this week.

Tyler Warren (TE)

• Daniel: “Did not take very long to emerge as a juggernaut at the tight end position.” (21:58)
• Third in TE targets, receiving yards; also being used in creative ways (rushing).
• “If you can get 11.9 fantasy points from your tight end... you are sipping champagne and eating caviar.” (23:00)
• Field: Warren has joined the top-tier mix at the position.

Quentin Johnston (WR, Chargers)

• Top-25 WR in 80% of his games, huge target volume when playing.
• Ladd McConkey benefits from Johnston’s absence; monitor injury reports for both.

3. Biggest Fallers

Time: 25:16–37:42

Chase Brown (RB, Bengals)

• Daniel: “There’s only one place that I could start ... and it’s Chase Brown. Yeah, no doubt.” (25:24)
• Outside top 25 RB for the week; production totally disappeared as Bengals’ offense regressed.
• Mike worries about snap split with Samaje Perine: “They have some problems there.”

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR)

• First finish better than WR36 just last week, though targets are steady (8/game).
• “A player I would have thought ... we’re ranking as WR7–15, that has not been the case.” – Field (27:37)

DJ Moore (WR, Bears)

• Only 4–6 targets a game, 15% target share (lowest since rookie year), behind Zaccheaus in targets.
• “It’s shocking how little they’re throwing him the football ... It might be a problem.” – Mike (33:21)
• Some injury scare, but actual concern is usage in offense, not health.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Cardinals)

• Averaging 5.5 targets per game (WR42), outpaced by lesser names.
• Daniel: “It doesn’t feel like Kyler invites him over to game night anymore.” (34:33)

Travion Henderson (RB, Patriots)

• Not playing more than 48% of snaps any week, not fantasy relevant.

4. Honorable Mentions & Risers/Fallers Impacted by Injury

Time: 37:13–37:42

• Chris Olave, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams are trending up.
• Mike and Daniel note they avoided talking about injury-impacted players like J.K. Dobbins, Abuka, etc., to focus on underlying usage changes.

5. Mike Clay is Confused – Running Back Committees

Time: 37:42–49:57

Mike’s recurring “confused” segment focuses on RB backfields that are fantasy minefields:

• Titans (Spears vs. Pollard):
  “I'm confused by a bit of a change in their deployment...” (38:23)
  Pollard should be benched for now; Spears a stash due to possible emerging role.
• Chargers (Vidal vs. Haskins):
  “Is this still a hot hand thing? ... They showed me one thing, and that’s all I really have to take away from it.” – Daniel (42:38)
• Cardinals (Bam Knight/Carter/Demercado):
  Two-headed committee; “Probably can’t trust either.”
• Seahawks (Walker vs. Charbonnet):
  Charbonnet outsnapped Walker in 4/5 games; neither a confident start.

  “The only way I want to play Zach Charbonnet is if Ken Walker is missing the game and it’s a probably plus matchup and vice versa.” – Daniel (47:27)

• Texans (Chubb vs. Woody Marks):
  Another committee. “Ideally, avoid the situation,” Mike advises.

6. Rapid Reaction & Board Bets

Time: 50:14–55:19

• Dak Prescott board bet: Daniel predicted Dak as a top-7 QB, Mike had him outside top-9. Dak finished QB5.
• Prescott’s rest-of-season outlook: “QB7–10” tier, but recent production and return of CeeDee Lamb help.
• Quick check on fantasy QB pecking order (Allen, Lamar, Hurts, Mahomes, etc.).

7. Weekly Punishments & Fun Wrap-Up

Time: 55:19–58:28

• Field ran a 5K as his weekly fantasy loss punishment; light ribbing throughout about their running abilities.

  "I probably embarrassed myself with my time...but had an absolute blast." – Field (54:07)

• Board bet wheel punishment for Daniel: “mouthful of marshmallow” next week.
• Call for listeners to send more creative punishment ideas.
• Show closes on camaraderie and reminders to be kind and tune in for more strategy tomorrow.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Drake May’s Value:

"Look, this guy might just be a top five dynasty and even season long quarterback going forward. He has been outstanding.” – Mike (07:05)

On JSN Outproducing Expectations:

“Second in points per game this year...only 10 points behind Puka Nacua for most fantasy points scored by a wide receiver this season.” – Mike (18:18)

On Rookie RB Turnover:

“This is the, the nature of like backup running backs in the NFL...the short shelf life even in our brains.” – Mike (14:34)

On DJ Moore’s Odd Decline:

“15% target share...lowest since his rookie year...It’s shocking how little they’re throwing him the football.” – Mike (32:29)

On Running Back Rotations:

“Ideally, you avoid this situation because if [the backup] gets a touchdown and they’re still splitting, it could just be a disaster.” – Mike on Texans’ RBs (49:44)

Timestamps by Segment

• 00:00 – 04:10: Opening banter, announcements, show rundown
• 04:10 – 11:04: Main risers: Odunze, Drake May
• 11:04 – 13:32: Jonathan Taylor, Cam Skattebo
• 13:32 – 17:08: RB devaluation debate, running back cycles
• 17:08 – 20:15: JSN, context of ascendant WRs
• 21:57 – 25:16: Warren & Johnston, TE landscape
• 25:16 – 37:42: Fallers: Chase Brown, Brian Thomas Jr., DJ Moore, Marvin Harrison Jr., Travion Henderson
• 37:42 – 49:57: Mike’s “Running Back Confusion” (Titans, Chargers, Cardinals, Seahawks, Texans)
• 50:14 – 55:19: Weekly board bets, punishment stories
• 55:19 – 58:28: Wrap-up, starts of the week recap, next week’s punishment

Summary

The Fantasy Focus crew provides actionable, honest, and witty analysis of the evolving fantasy football landscape through six weeks. They spotlight risers like Roman Odunze, Drake May, Jonathan Taylor, and highlight key fallers such as DJ Moore and Chase Brown—backing opinions with stats and candid discussion of injury, usage, and committee risks. The perennial challenge of deciphering running back committees gets extra attention, plus the usual camaraderie and board bet hijinks that make the podcast a fan favorite.