Fantasy Football Today (CBS Sports)

Episode: Big Injury Updates, New Starting QBs, New Commanders RBs, New Strategies and More

Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer (D), Jamey Eisenberg (E)
Special Guest: Marty Jaramillo (C) – Physical Therapist/ Injury Expert

Episode Overview

This episode dives into critical preseason news ahead of 2025 fantasy football drafts, focusing on major injury updates, quarterback changes, running back shake-ups (especially for the Commanders), and real-time revelations from ongoing FFT Open Leagues. Expert physical therapist Marty Jaramillo joins to weigh in on key injuries shaping draft strategies. The tone is lively, analytical, occasionally self-deprecating, and always centered on actionable fantasy advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. News Rundown & Initial Banter

• Grinding Through Draft Season:
  • Jamey discusses the late-August "fantasy grind" (02:17), describing the stress of constant news cycles and midnight deadlines, but having fun keeping the audience as informed as possible.
• Preview of Topics:
  • Joe Flacco as Browns starter and its fantasy impact, the ever-changing Washington Commanders RB room, return of key receivers to practice (Jefferson, Stafford), and emerging draft strategies based on real-time ADP shifts.

2. Wide Receiver Landscape & ADP Movement

• Jefferson Back at Practice:

  • Jefferson is healthy and locked as WR2 in drafts; still slightly behind CeeDee Lamb for some, but universally top-3 (06:40).
  • “Jefferson hasn’t moved. He’s still wide receiver two.” – Jamey (06:40)

• Puka Nacua’s Value:

  • With Stafford's health questionable, Puka slides to WR6—still a great round-two PPR pick due to elite per-route efficiency (08:23).
  • Adam highlights: Puka’s “17-game pace: 142 catches, 1,781 yards. He had the second-highest YPRR in the last 12 years after Tyreek Hill in 2023” (08:23).

• WR Rankings Blurring:

  • The "next tier" after Lamb/Jefferson/Chase is loaded with pros/cons—debates involve Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, Malik Nabers, Drake London, and more (10:58).
  • Jamey notes the flexibility in this range is pushing Derrick Henry and Ashton Jeanty up into Round 1, as you can still land top receivers in early Round 2 (11:35).

3. Joe Flacco Starts for Browns: Fantasy Fallout

• What It Means for Pass Catchers:
  • Flacco boosts fantasy output for his receivers (see historical stats for Wilson, Cooper, Downs, Njoku). He’s very pass-heavy ("41.1 attempts/game"), reminiscent of Jameis Winston (03:36).
  • Jamey: “Najoku…I moved up actually with this news to TE4” (13:59).
  • Caution: Flacco’s upside could disappear if/when rookie QBs take over (15:26).

4. Washington Commanders RB Upheaval

• Jakori “Croskey” Merritt & Chris Rodriguez Jr.:
  • Both stood out in preseason; merit could lead but a committee looms until one emerges.
  • Brian Robinson Jr. “seems done” in Washington; could be traded or cut (20:56–22:05).
  • Adam: “He [Merritt] played only one game last year…basically in college was a complete non-factor in the passing game. So he’s very similar in terms of projected role to Brian Robinson Jr.” (22:05).
  • Caution: Neither likely to catch passes; third down (passing) work probably goes to Eckler.

5. Injury Deep Dive with Marty Jaramillo (25:27–43:19)

Devon Achane (Miami RB) – Calf Injury

• Marty: “I do not expect him to be ready for Week 1. I actually fully expect him to miss possibly the first three weeks ... could become a chronic problem or even worse, predispose you to an Achilles tear.” (27:03)
• Implication: Take Achane in Round 2, be cautious; may miss multiple games.

Christian McCaffrey (49ers RB) – General Wear & Tear

• Optimistic about health and workload, but warns: “Because of that injury history, because of that mileage, I actually expect issues with his recovery week to week...His efficiency might yo-yo up and down” (28:11).
• Healthy CMC is still prime, but buyer beware for late-season durability.

Chris Godwin (Bucs WR) & Rashee Rice (Chiefs WR) – Lower Limb Recovery

• Godwin: Likely to start on PUP for extra healing, but extension signals team faith (30:56).
• Rice: LCL (not ACL) so “no short or long-term” concerns (32:53).

Joe Mixon (Texans RB) – Foot/Ankle

• “Don’t have any faith he’ll be ready for Week 1” (34:04).

Matthew Stafford (Rams QB) – Back (Herniated Disc)

• Trending positive, but big risk: “If he does get re-injured…he’s going to be out 4–6 weeks” (36:00).

Malik Nabers (Saints WR) – Multiple Injuries (Toe, Shoulder, Back)

• Most worry about toe ("turf toe" is chronic, can sap explosiveness, risk surgery).
• “I’m concerned he’ll miss, you know, two weeks here, two weeks there…Turf toe can be a serious, serious issue and knock him out for a full season if he does require surgery.” (37:59)
• More concerned about Nabers than about Justin Jefferson or Tyreek Hill, who are expected to be fine for Week 1.

General ACL Insight

• Rehab differences depend on “in-surgery findings” (41:00). Still, ACL now “is an opportunity, not a death sentence” for fantasy values (42:51).

6. New Starting QB: Colts Name Daniel Jones

• Adam prefers Jones over Anthony Richardson for pass-catchers—higher RB target rate and less rushing goal-line competition for Taylor (47:36).
• “This is a plus for the receivers, slight bumps in value for Pittman, Downs and Warren” (49:57).

7. FFT Open Draft Revelation & New Strategies

• Running Back, Wide Receiver Draft Dynamics:

  • Two-receiver shallow leagues: You can start RB-RB or even RB-RB-RB and still land very good WRs later (55:07).
  • “In two-receiver leagues, I think you can get away with two running backs in your first three picks, especially this year.” – Jamey (54:49)

• Adam’s “Mean 16”:

  • Adam notes a change from "top 15" to "16" must-draft players in PPR, including now Chase Brown (Bengals RB) (55:49).

• Chase Brown vs. Josh Jacobs:

  • Debate over Brown’s higher receiving upside, offense, but Jacobs “safer” (58:23).

• Tight End Strategy:

  • In 2-WR leagues, "elite tight end" picks are more justified (63:21).
  • Jamey: “Kittle basically the most efficient tight end in football every single year. He is not washed up…” (66:11)

• Player Values:

  • Bucky Irving, Jonathan Taylor, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Jerry Jeudy: WR value can fall, letting RB-heavy teams balance later (54:23).
  • Godwin potentially starting on PUP boosts Mike Evans, elevates rookie Mecca Buka (51:00).

• Mock Drafts:

  • Jamey shares his favorite PPR roster built around Chase Brown and Devante Adams, reinforcing his draft philosophies (66:42).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Flacco’s Fantasy Impact:
  • “Najoku in those six games that Flacco played in 2023, he was over 16 PPR points per game. That’s elite.” – Jamey (14:00)
• On Commanders’ RB Mess:
  • “Everyone’s apparently discovered him (Croskey Merritt)…go back to high school.” – Jamey, poking fun at bandwagon effect (21:41)
• On staff injuries:
  • Marty: “It’s a barbaric game…every year. Bigger. Stronger. Faster.” (25:38)
• McCaffrey Risk:
  • "He’s healthy, but he has a lot of mileage on those legs." – Marty (28:11)
• On Colts QB:
  • "This is not Joe Flacco starting making everything great … just slight bumps in value for Pittman, Downs, and Warren." – Jamey (49:57)
• General Draft Wisdom:
  • “Do you have an eighth running back? Is hn still in that group for you? How many players are in your mean 15, mean 16…” – Adam, on adapting strategy to talent tiers (62:22)
• On Fantasy Therapy:
  • “If I get hurt, I’m going to your practice. You would fire me up to get my rehab going!” – Adam, after Marty’s inspiring ACL pep talk (42:51)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:36: Show start, Adam/Jamey discuss season/draft grind
• 03:36: Flacco as Browns starter – fantasy ripple effect
• 05:44: FFT Open draft and new strategies
• 06:20: Justin Jefferson & Puka Nacua value debate
• 11:35: Draft strategy: RB vs. WR at end of round one
• 13:59: Flacco’s impact on Njoku; rise to TE4
• 20:20: Washington Commanders RB breakdown (Croskey Merritt, Rodriguez, Eckler)
• 25:27: Marty Jaramillo injury segment: HN, CMC, Stafford, Malik Nabers, more
• 43:19: Daniel Jones named Colts starter; Jonathan Taylor bump (47:36)
• 53:49: FFT Open draft takeaways; RB-heavy builds in shallow leagues
• 62:22: “Mean 16” tier talk; Chase Brown’s ascension
• 66:42: Notable PPR draft build shared by Jamey

Summary Takeaways

• Be ready for shifting values in real time—August injuries and depth charts can make or break strategies (especially for RBs and mid-tier WRs).
• Monitor calf and toe injuries (Achane, Nabers) very closely—risk for lingering issues or re-injury is high.
• For early 2025 drafts: You can skew RB-heavy in two-WR formats and still build excellent WR cores.
• Keep adjusting “do not draft” and “tier cutoff” lists—ADP and injury updates can quickly expand or contract the pool of elite options.
• Don’t be afraid to pivot strategies live in-draft; sometimes, a falling big name is too good to pass up, even if it means elevating risk.

For listeners who missed it, this episode provides both the latest actionable updates (for injuries, depth charts, starting QBs) and sharp, candid advice for navigating draft season in a year already marked by upheaval and opportunity.