Fantasy Football Today (08/26/2025): “Best Draft Values, The All-FFT Team, Terry McLaurin/Tyjae Spears News and More”

Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg
Featured Segments: Draft Values by ADP, The All-FFT Team Reveal, News & Notes (McLaurin, Tyjae Spears), Listener Qs, “Who We're Higher/Lower On”

Episode Overview

This episode zeros in on 2025’s best and worst fantasy football draft values, unveiling "The All-FFT Team"—players the CBS Sports analysts are highest on versus consensus ADP. Key news on Terry McLaurin's extension and Tyjae Spears’ injury impacts are discussed, with practical advice for both redraft and dynasty players. The crew goes position-by-position, debating undervalued/overvalued picks, late-round fliers, and actionable draft strategies.

Main Segments & Insights

1. The All-FFT Team: Players the Crew Is Higher On Than ADP ([03:47]–[11:24])

• Process: Dave compared the CBS consensus rankings (Jamie, Dave, Heath) vs. ADP on Fantasy Pros and CBS, identifying biggest gaps.
• Quarterbacks: The team is slightly higher on Justin Fields (ranked QB10; going QB12), Jared Goff (11 vs. 13), Jordan Love (14 vs. 17), and Trevor Lawrence (16 vs. 20).
  • “I would say Love and Lawrence… we waited till round 15 to get QB2s on our All-FFT team.” – Adam [04:11]
• Running Backs: Higher on guys like Jahmyr Gibbs (over Barkley), Chase Brown, Bucky Irving (over Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams), Ken Walker, Travion Henderson, Chuba Hubbard.
  • “I just moved Hubbard ahead of Kamara last night.” – Jamie [05:06]
  • “If you’re just looking for a safe fallback RB, [Hubbard is an] easy pick at the back end of round 4.” – Jamie [06:21]
  • Backup/late picks highlighted: Zach Charbonnet, Braylon Allen, Tank Bigsby, Jordan Mason, Jalen Warren.
• Wide Receivers: Big gaps for Nico Collins (their WR4; ADP WR6–7), Courtland Sutton (WR17; ADP WR24), Jerry Jeudy, Jalen Waddle, JSN (all notably higher in their ranks), plus shoutouts for Troy Franklin and Tetairoa McMillan.
  • "Nico Collins and Courtland Sutton are big ones for us." – Dave [08:01]
  • “From Weeks 8–17, Sutton was amazing—pace of 104 catches, 1,340+ yards, 9 TDs.” – Dave [13:21]
• Tight Ends: Much higher on David Njoku (TE4 for them; ADP TE8), and prefer Trey McBride, George Kittle, and greater late-round TE strategy.
  • “We’ve all bought in to the phrase Jamie coined: ‘Greater Late’ [for TE].” – Adam [10:14]
• Bottom Line: The FFT team’s consensus leans into value late at TE and RB, prioritizes certain pass-catchers over ADP, but is conservative at QB.

2. Best Draft Values & Overpriced Picks by ADP ([14:39]–[25:48], [30:12]–[34:19])

Dave’s Favorites (NFC ADP)

• Alvin Kamara (48.3): End of round 4/start of 5, “fantastic value” with “high ceiling” if healthy. [15:04]
• Patrick Mahomes (71st overall): “End of round 6 for Mahomes is more than fair.” [16:54]
  • “He looked like a guy determined to get back to what he was” in preseason Week 3. – Dave [17:58]

Jamie’s Favorites (CBS ADP)

• Demario Douglas (203): “Just laughable; go get him.”
• Dylan Sampson (179): “Way too low—feels like a late-draft RB who could start Week 1.” [23:29]

Overvalued/Bad Picks (CBS ADP)

• Alvin Kamara (26th overall): “No way I’d take him there… you’re really hoping he’s the exact same guy or better.” – Jamie [24:16]
• Sam LaPorta (58): “Hard to envision him living up to that round; so many other tight ends with similar or better upside, later.” [24:32]

Dave’s Overvalued Picks (NFC ADP)

• Garrett Wilson (top 30 pick): “Very nervous… 30th is way, way, way too soon.”
• DJ Moore (round 4–5): “Target/air yards concerns, likely for a lot of 6-for-55 type games; shouldn’t go until round 6.” [31:35]

3. Notable Wide Receiver Debates ([33:54]–[63:09])

• DJ Moore slides behind McLaurin, Ridley in their ranks:
  • “I’ve moved McLaurin ahead of DJ Moore.” – Jamie [33:27]
  • “I like McLaurin as a top 24 receiver.” – Adam [33:37]
  • “Ridley… clear #1 in Tennessee, happy to take him.” – Adam [33:56]
• JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba):
  • “We have him ahead of Evans, Tyreek, and Adams in our consensus.” – Dave [57:29]
  • Third round pick for them.
• Late-Round WR Fliers:
  • “Christian Kirk, Marvin Mims, Romeo Doubs, Demario Douglas… love those late.” – Dave [63:25]

Downgraded Receivers:

• DeVonta Smith & Zay Flowers:
  • “Lower on these guys in low pass volume offenses being drafted round 5. Prefer Hunter, Waddle, and Abuka over Flowers.” [58:43]
• Devonta Smith Stats Context: “In games with AJB & Goddard healthy, Smith’s pace was just 83 targets. Can’t rely on last year’s stats.” [59:23]

4. Running Back Value and Injury News ([34:19]–[55:39])

• Tyjae Spears on IR: “Huge for Tony Pollard… I’d take Pollard over James Conner if I’d known last night.” – Dave [55:11]
• Nick Chubb/Joe Mixon:
  • Both flagged as risky; Chubb looking at a bad early schedule and “worst” season last year. [37:04]
  • “Dylan Sampson over Mixon and Chubb.” – Jamie [37:25]
• Texans’ RB Mess: Charting alternatives: “We’re higher on Charbonnet, Braylon Allen, Jordan Mason than consensus. All could outscore teammates sans injury.” [36:22]
• Kyren Williams (27th): Dave likes his ADP; Jamie calls him overrated as RB9 on CBS.
• James Conner vs. RJ Harvey: Jamie prefers Harvey, Adam prefers Conner for floor. [67:07]
• Other RBs:
  • “Ali Gordon and Dylan Sampson: love both, could start for Dolphins/Browns week 1.” – Jamie [53:56]

5. News & Notes ([40:12]–[47:59])

Raiders WR Corps

• Amari Cooper returns, Jacoby Meyers seeking trade: More fog for Raiders wideouts.
• Dante Thornton Jr.: “Outshined Besh, running with starters—could play a lot if Meyers traded.” – Jamie [40:43]
• Besh: “Would be my favorite Raiders WR if Meyers traded.”
• Brock Bowers: “Should be fine regardless. Might benefit if Meyers moves.” [40:43]

Terry McLaurin Extension

• New 3-year, $96M contract.
  • “Late round 4 at the earliest for McLaurin.” – Adam [45:09]
  • “Late round 5 at the earliest.” – Jamie [45:11]
  • McLaurin vs. McMillan now debated as top-finish fantasy WRs for Washington.

Running Back Depth/Health Changes

• Joe Mixon on PUP: Misses first 4 games; possible longer absence.
• Najee Harris (Steelers): Daniel Popper expects Harris to start season on NFI, but Week 1 isn’t ruled out.
• Other injuries: Tyjae Spears (IR), Jalen Wright (not ready for Week 1), Juwan Jennings (could start year on IR).

Notable Quotes

“If you’re just looking for a safe fallback RB, [Chuba Hubbard is an] easy pick at the back end of round 4.” – Jamie [06:21]

“We’ve all bought in to the phrase Jamie coined: ‘Greater Late’ [at TE].” – Adam [10:14]

“Garrett Wilson’s going too early… very nervous… If you pair that with a low aDOT, he might have a lot of 6 for 55 type weeks. That’s not a receiver I want to draft until round 6 at the earliest.” – Adam [31:35]

“Dylan Sampson over Mixon and Chubb.” — Jamie [37:25]

“Third round JSN? We like him ahead of Evans, Adams, Tyreek.” – Dave [57:29]

Fantasy Draft Strategy & Trends

• Wait on QB & TE unless outlier value falls: Their All-FFT team reflects patience, especially at TE.
• Prioritize high-upside RB2s/“backup” types: Charbonnet, Allen, Mason, Warren: all ranked well above ADP.
• Key targets at WR: Nico Collins, Sutton, JSN, Jalen Waddle—all big risers in their ranks.
• Avoid RBs/WRs with inflated ADP on reputation or old production: Kamara (at 26th overall), LaPorta (round 5), and certain older RBs/WRs.
• Monitor late camp/roster news: Spears’ injury, McLaurin extension, and Raiders’ WR shifts all have immediate draft ramifications.

Up Next & Housekeeping

• Big Draft-a-Thon show (tomorrow, 5–8 pm ET, raising money for St. Jude); tune in for industry guests & laughs.
• More deep-dive ADP value talk promised for next episode: “I think maybe tomorrow we get into rounds 5 and 6 and how to win…Avoid busts and pick the guys we love in that range.” – Dave [63:09]

This summary encapsulates the episode’s focus on exploiting ADP inefficiencies, steering clear of overrated names, and pouncing on emerging camp/preseason value—all delivered with the familiar banter and in-depth reasoning that regular listeners expect from FFT.

For listeners pressed for time: main All-FFT team & value debates run [03:47]–[25:48]; news/notes [34:19]–[47:59]; and actionable late-round names surface again at [63:25].