Fantasy Football Today (FFT) — “9 FINAL Draft Tips to Crush Your 2025 Fantasy Football Draft!”

Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg
Theme: Essential last-minute draft strategies, player debates, and actionable tips to help you win your 2025 fantasy football league.

Episode Overview

In this high-energy episode, Adam, Dave, and Jamie break down the “9 Final Draft Tips” every manager needs before their 2025 fantasy draft. They cover injury news, value picks, strategic tiering, “get your guys” philosophy, positional strategies, bye week considerations, and much more — all through the lens of their own ongoing leagues and recent draft experiences. They close with spirited buy/sell debates and thoughtful answers to listener questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Draft Pick Strategies and Player Choices

• Opening Draft Dilemmas:
  • Each host discusses their draft slots and intended targets in an ongoing league.
    • Dave (2nd pick): Set to take Bijan Robinson or Ja’Marr Chase, whichever is available.

      “I love Bijan Robinson. I love Ja'Marr Chase. I figure whoever's picking first is going to take one of those guys. I will take the other...” (02:20)

    • Jamie (9th): Hoping for Christian McCaffrey but also considering Justin Jefferson, Nico Collins, or Ashton Genti.
    • Adam (11th): Aims to balance his roster with both an RB and a WR in his first two picks.

2. Tip #1: Buy the Dip on Injured or Discounted Players

• Dave’s Philosophy: Identify players falling on draft boards due to recent (or overblown) injury news — they often offer league-winning value if healthy.
  • Example fallers: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, De’Von Achane, Darnell Mooney, Najee Harris.

    “You're going to be able to get [these players] at depressed values in your drafts today, all the way through kickoff on Thursday. You might as well take advantage.” (05:01)

• Cautions & Context: Jamie warns case-by-case discretion is needed; with some players, real risks remain (e.g., Stafford’s recurring back issues, Achane’s calf/Achilles red flags).
  • “If you're just looking at it from the standpoint of what you're getting for maybe where they were... getting some of these superstars at better prices, it's definitely a good way to win your league.” (06:34)

3. Tip #2: Use Early-Season Matchups as a Tiebreaker

• Dave: When stuck between players, check their Week 1-2 schedule for easy/tough starts.
  • Example: If deciding between Chuba Hubbard and Breece Hall, see that Carolina RBs have a much softer early schedule.

    “If you want to use a tiebreaker, that's what you should do. Go to the schedule.” (08:39)

  • Example at WR: Lad McConkey over Tee Higgins for a better initial schedule.

4. Tip #3: Beware of Week 8 “Bye-nado”

• Dave: Week 8 features six teams on bye (Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Seattle, Rams). Don’t overload your core roster with players from these teams.
  • Jamie is less concerned about byes, noting rosters change drastically by midseason.

    “The reason I don't really care about bye weeks is because my roster, for the most part, is going to change, in some cases dramatically by [then].” (11:39)

5. Jamie’s Three Core Draft Philosophies

• A. Get Your Guys: Screw ADP
  • Don’t let average draft position dictate your picks if you believe in a player’s breakout.

    “If you love a player and you think they're going to have a breakout season, I don't care what average draft position says, go get your player.” (15:47)

    • Example: TreVeyon Henderson in R3 even if ADP says R4–5; Braylon Allen earlier than consensus.
• B. Tier Your Rankings & Be Flexible
  • Create positional tiers (not just one long list), so you know when cliffs are coming and can draft more aggressively before “runs.”

    “You make your own tiers based on the rank list that you follow... Groups of players in some semblance of an order — and take somebody from that tier.” (18:29)

• C. Wait on QB — There’s Value Late
  • Unless a top-5 QB falls multiple rounds past ADP, it’s smarter to wait: last year, five top-10 QBs were taken after pick 100.

    “If you just wait on the position... I get, ‘Oh, your quarterback stinks.’ I'm okay with that. I think he's going to be a breakout player. Screw ADP.” (21:20)

  • You can always stream QBs from the waiver wire if your late pick disappoints.

6. Adam’s Three “Underrated” Draft Tips

• A. Hero WR Might Be Superior to Hero RB in 2025
  • The positional drop-off is steeper for WR than RB after the top tiers, especially in 2-WR leagues.

    “I think this year, hero wide receiver is better than hero RB. The drop-off at wide receiver after the elite guys is bigger than that at running back.” (25:00)

• B. Draft a Backup QB Even with a Stud If You Believe in the Upside
  • “Busts happen at every position... If you really like a guy and think he could win leagues, take him as your backup, even behind a stud like Allen or Hurts.” (30:08)
• C. The Chiefs Could Be Fantasy Gold in the Middle Rounds
  • With no Kansas City player going in the top 48 ADP, the value is unprecedented for a likely top-10 offense.

    “I see huge potential for this offense... The Chiefs could make your fantasy team.” (31:16)

7. Segment: Buy or Sell

Rapid buy/sell takes on hot-button topics:

• A.J. Brown vs. Drake London:

  • Jamie: London in all formats for 2025.

    “I'm expecting a little bit more of an ascension for London because I think Penix is going to unlock another level for him...” (35:09)

  • Dave: Slightly prefers Brown in non-PPR, London in PPR.

• Tight End Premium:

  • Adam: “Tight end premium is the dumbest thing that's ever happened to fantasy football.” (36:07)
  • Jamie/Dave: Defend it as a fun twist that adds strategy.

• Omarion Hampton vs. Najee Harris:

  • No concern for Hampton; he’s a round-three value despite Najee’s health.

• Houston & Miami O-lines:

  • Not enough to fade their skill players; major upside remains.

• Miscellaneous:

  • Rashad White: 50-catch potential but only fringe flex value.
  • Giants as a playoff team? Dave: Buys it wholeheartedly.
  • Best league format? 12 teams, half PPR, two RBs, two WRs, two flex, FAAB — consensus "buy."

8. Listener Mailbag

• Christian McCaffrey at 1.07 in half PPR?
  • “Absolutely not crazy... take CMC.” (45:33)
• Three Eagles (Barkley, Brown, Hurts) on one team in 14 teams?
  • “If they all hit, he could potentially run away with the league... but it’s risky.”
• Baker Mayfield ranked over Dak or Purdy?
  • “His upside is tremendous. We saw it last year.” (46:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Buy the Dip”:

  “We can really give this advice now because the NFL season's about to start and we've had a full summer of drafting... players have fallen because of injuries... You might as well take advantage.” (Dave, 03:53)

• On Tight End Premium:

  "It doesn't make any sense... This is so stupid. I hate tight end premium..." (Adam, 36:07)
  “You're trying to add value to a position that normally, a couple of players every year, they're awesome. But everybody else... kind of the same. Spices things up a little bit, like hot sauce in the guacamole.” (Dave, 37:04)

• Adam on Getting “Your Guys”

  “The last thing you want to do is watch that player go off on somebody else's roster.” (Jamie, 17:47)

• On Flexibility:

  “Do not be stuck in, I'm only doing Hero RB... If something presents itself, you alter your strategy and you're going to be fine.” (Jamie, 29:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| MM:SS | Segment/Topic | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:47 | Opening discussion: personal draft slots & targets | | 03:53 | Dave’s “Buy the Dip” — injury discount value | | 05:39 | Jamie’s injury risk caution | | 08:28 | Tip 2: Use early-season schedules as a tiebreaker | | 10:39 | Tip 3: Beware “Bye-nado” (Week 8 bye cluster) | | 15:04 | Jamie’s tip: Draft Your Guys, Screw ADP | | 17:54 | Tip: Tier Your Rankings | | 19:42 | Waiting on QB: best value late | | 25:00 | Adam’s “Hero WR over Hero RB” for 2025 | | 31:16 | “Chiefs could make or break fantasy” in mid/late rounds | | 34:33 | Buy or Sell: A.J. Brown vs. Drake London | | 36:07 | Buy or Sell: Tight end premium is dumb? (humorous segment) | | 42:20 | Buy or Sell: Houston/Miami O-lines effect on skill guys | | 45:20 | Listener mailbag (CMC at 1.07, Eagles stack, RB/WR flyers, QB ranking) |

Final Notes & Tone

• The panel brings deep knowledge, years of draft experience, and a playful, competitive rapport.
• The episode is packed with actionable tips for all draft strategies, player types, and league formats.
• Fans are encouraged to be active, creative drafters: tier their lists, target favorite players, and stay flexible.
• Format-spanning debates (like tight end premium) and listener questions make the advice wide-ranging and practical.

Perfect summary for anyone prepping for their fantasy football draft — whether you’re a grizzled veteran or a first-timer.