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Dynasty Fantasy Football 1-QB Startup Mock Draft (FFT Dynasty) | 2025 Strategy & Tips (05/09 Fantasy Football Dynasty Podcast)
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- [00:00]
Heath Cummings
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- [00:48]
Matt Cooper
Ball.
- [00:48]
Heath Cummings
Big blue balls really get blue balls.
- [00:52]
Matt Cooper
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- [00:55]
Heath Cummings
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- [01:30]
Matt Cooper
Foreign.
- [01:35]
Heath Cummings
Welcome to fantasy football today Dynasty. My name is Heath Cummings. I am your host and today we have a 1 QB startup mock draft for you. We also have Matt Cooper from Couch Scouts Fantasy Football back on the show. Matt, you've made your first pick. Thank you for being here.
- [01:54]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, absolutely. I'm very glad to be here. And you know, it's funny, people have asked me before, how do I keep getting on fft? And I'm just like, I don't know, I just keep saying if you need any guests, I'm here. And for some reason you keep saying yes, so.
- [02:07]
Heath Cummings
Well, listen, this, this is not an open invite to, to just anybody. We appreciate your insights. You definitely know Ball and so that's. That's one of the prerequisites then.
- [02:18]
Matt Cooper
I appreciate that, man.
- [02:20]
Heath Cummings
You can talk and you come on here. We don't have to use the seven second delay. And so that's another benefit in your favor. But today, like I said, we're doing a 1 QB startup. One of the things you said to me when I asked you, I don't know the last time I did a one QB startup and that is the general consensus I think in the industry is that all dynasty leagues are super flex leagues. It's simply not true. I think the majority of new leagues now are super flex leagues but there's still some one quarterback leagues being started. Probably more common outside of the industry than it is inside of the industry. Looks like we got a Joel Cox needing the reset on the timer here. I'm going to send him a text. We start this mock with Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson and Bijan Robinson. Would that be your top three in this format map?
- [03:12]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, it would and probably in that order. I think, you know you can have a healthy debate between Chase and Jefferson but those feel like definitely one two for me and then I do have Bijan third.
- [03:28]
Heath Cummings
I, I think it gets interesting because and we've talked about this for a lot of years in Dynasty we value wide receivers much more than running backs because wide receivers have such longer careers than running running backs. We view them as safer had did that change at all for you in the last 12 months with 2024 being the year of the running back and in particular the year of the older running back?
- [03:55]
Matt Cooper
I would say I, I love the longevity that you get at the wide receiver position. Like if I'm picking this high in a startup, you know, obviously Bijan, you hope for a few more good years. I think that's, you know, four to five good, good years left from Bijan at least. So he's not a bad pick at all. But Justin Jefferson, you could get 10, you know, chase you could get 10 and I think that's, that's where for me those guys become the clear one and two because they're also such difference makers of the position and you know they're putting up so many points as well as having that longevity for you.
- [04:34]
Heath Cummings
So I actually have Bijan at 6 and I going to tell you that one of the guys that I have ahead of him that hasn't been drafted yet is going to be drafted next. Joel Cox going to take Malik Neighbors here with the fourth pick and I think that there is a good reason for a healthy debate between neighbors CD Lamb, Pukinakua, maybe even Brian Thomas Jr. Who is your wide receiver three in this format.
- [05:07]
Matt Cooper
Yeah. So for me my third is also neighbors. I think just what he did last year as a rookie and how young he still is at 21 years old, it's hard to argue with because he gave you incredible production. He's super young. He did it with basically nobody at quarterback. And so, you know, if he can do it in that situation, he can do it in any situation. It feels like he feels super safe. Really, really talented. You know, it's not like he's some guy that came out of nowhere. Like we knew he was an elite prospect. He got the high first round draft capital and then he performed the way he did. So yeah, neighbors for me would be.
- [05:48]
Heath Cummings
My wide receiver three and CD Lamb is the sixth pick of the draft. We actually had Nicholas, one of our listeners and we have several listeners in this draft. I was telling Matt before the show, I like to mix this up between the analysts and the listeners because when it's all analysts and we do 10 drafts over the summer and they all end up looking the same and that's not particularly fun or helpful to anyone. So Jameer Gibbs goes fifth, followed by CD Lamb at sixth, then Brian Thomas Jr. And Ashton Genty, our first rookie at the eighth pick overall. Is he a sure fire first rounder in this format?
- [06:29]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, I think so. I've got him at ninth in my rankings. So, you know, very close to where he just, just was taken. I think he's such an elite prospect. The, the tape is so fun to watch. Reminded me of like a young Marshawn lynch. And he lands with the Raiders. He got the elite draft capital where they basically have like the running back position. When they're taking that high, their rookie salary automatically already makes them one of the highest paid running backs in the league. So you just don't take running backs that high unless you plan to make them a bell cow. And the Raiders don't have anything at running back anyway. So I think it's just all around a smash situation for him and it's hard to imagine a world where he doesn't succeed. And as much as I said, longevity for wide receiver is really nice. The running back position is also a lot more scarce. It's easier to find a wide receiver later in a draft than it is to find an elite running back.
- [07:28]
Heath Cummings
Yeah, it's a, it's an interesting time at running back once you get past the top. Probably 12 now, and it was probably nine before the rookie draft where there's a lot of options of guys that if things go right, they might be RB2s. There are very few that we view as guys that might be RB1s. There's somebody who's not been taken through the first 11 picks. Now of this mock that I have as a first rounder and we can talk about him more when he gets picked but how high would you put Brock Bowers in this format? Full PPR1QB.
- [08:04]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, well he's the reason I had Genti at 8 at 9 instead of 8 because I had Brock Powers ranked one spot ahead of him. So yeah, I, I really, I think he's going to be a value for whoever takes him here.
- [08:17]
Heath Cummings
When I put together and I'm working on the trade chart, I know some of you haven't seen an update in the trade chart for a little while. I'm trying to get it right but the first run that I did putting it together actually had Powers at two and I said no, that's too high. But it is like you look at a rookie tight end who dominated targets so thoroughly in his first season and probably has the same length of production as some of these wide receivers that were drafting in round one and definitely has the Travis Kelsey type upside. Is there an argument for Bowers even higher?
- [08:58]
Matt Cooper
I think there is. Again like the scarcity of the position. Like I just said about running back, it's maybe even more true, probably even more true of tight end right Outside of like two or three guys, the, the production drop off is pretty steep. So to get one of those two or three guys, you know, again like we have Neighbors Lamb, Amanra Puka, you know, arguably Brian Thomas all in a tear. Brock Bowers is just Brock Bowers. Right. So I definitely think if you were making an argument for him to go higher, that would be the argument.
- [09:32]
Heath Cummings
We have finished round one of our one quarterback PPR mock draft Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, Bijan Robinson, Malik Neighbors Jameer Gibbs, CD Lamb, Brian Thomas, Ashton Genty A Monroe St. Brown. So that's Chase Jefferson, Robinson, Neighbors Gibbs, Lamb, Thomas Genty, St. Brown, NUA Collins, London what are your thoughts with Monroe St. Brown going ninth in this mock draft? Ben Johnson I I hear a lot of people really excited about what Ben Johnson's going to be do for the Bears. Understandably. I hear almost nobody concerned about some sort of drop off for the Lions without Ben Johnson.
- [10:21]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, I think that's a really fair point. I don't hear anybody talking about that either. And you know, I don't know if you just assume that like they've internalized everything that Ben Johnson taught them over the last few years and so they're just going to keep doing what they've been doing and I kind of get that. I'm on Ross St. Brown's an elite player though and he took a little bit of a step back with the resurgence of Jameson Williams last year. And you know, just between him and Laporta and Gibbs, there's only so many targets to go around. But I, I think Aman Ra is still just, he's an elite elite wide receiver, gets open, hogs targets, yards after catch. You know, he's good in the red zone, scores touchdowns. So I, I don't have a problem. I can't fault somebody for taking him at nine.
- [11:12]
Heath Cummings
Yeah, I've got him just a little bit lower than that. I think I've got him at 13 or 12 in my 1 QB rankings. He's still just 25 years old so it's really just the question is, is he going to give you a top five season or are you just getting low end wide receiver one production for the next five years, which is pretty fantastic. We are going right through round two quickly already to pick 20 and I want to hit on one because you mentioned Brock Bowers being in a tier of his own. He went 14th in this mock draft we saw four picks later, Trey McBride goes 18th overall. I think we think that Bowers fell maybe a little bit further than he should, but I'm not so sure that McBride, well, he maybe not in the same tier as Bowers. He's probably for me closer to Bowers than anyone else is to Trey McBride. Are you okay with him in round two of a startup?
- [12:09]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, I mean I think obviously he's not coming off of a rookie year and super young and all that kind of stuff, but he is still young. I mean he's not Brock Bowers young, but he's young. And if I'm not mistaken, I think on a per game basis he actually out produced Bowers last year and that was with him scoring almost no touchdowns. He seems due for some positive touchdown regression. So like if you told me, you know, Trey McBride finishes tight end one in fantasy this year, I'm not shocked by that. So yeah, I think, you know, I said Bowers is the same tier. You could make a strong argument that McBride belongs in that tier. I have no problem with him in the second round for sure.
- [12:54]
Heath Cummings
Looks like you're on the clock with only about 20 seconds left, so. Okay, once again of setting the guest up. I'll give you a reset on your time and we'll take our first break before we wrap up round two. Join Target Circle 360 and get a free bouquet of flowers for mom right on time for Mother's Day. From the trendiest styles to the sweetest treats. With Target Circle360 you can get all her gifts delivered the same day. Hurry join before Mother's Day and make her day extra special with Target Circle360 and a bouquet of fresh flowers on us only at Target. Membership required Subject to terms and conditions Applies to orders over $35. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. So Matt takes Garrett Wilson with pick 211. I'm going to take Rashi Rice with pick 212 and then I'm going to tell you I put a Twitter poll out because I'd sent this offer to somebody else actually, and I asked them for rice and a 2026 second for Garrett Wilson. Consensus rankings have Wilson a few spots ahead of Rice. I realized the other day that I'm a little lower than consensus on Rice and he is my most rostered starting wide receiver in Dynasty. So I was like, you know, I probably ought to move off of at least one share of Garrett Wilson and I got declined and I put the offer up on Twitter and it was about 2/3 in favor of the Rice side and some people even saying I would take Rice over Wilson. How would you compare the values of those two players?
- [14:57]
Matt Cooper
I do think they belong in the same tier. Like when you look at the production that Rice was giving you before the injury last year, it was phenomenal. At his age he was on track to be like high end dynasty wide receiver one kind of territory. Excuse me. And I think the only reason, you know, obviously you have the significant knee injury and the suspension still looming over his head, which are probably the two reasons why Garrett Wilson feels a little safer. But you could definitely argue that Rice has more upside given what he showed at the beginning of last season and then obviously since the injury to Rice Worthy broke out. So you know, interesting to see when they're both back on the field healthy, how does that target pecking order come out? And you know, is Rice producing still at the level that he was pre injury? Does he look like he's, you know, lost any of his explosiveness. So all things to keep an eye on. But I think all those are the reasons why I would take Garrett Wilson first and why I did in this case, take Garrett Wilson first. I know the quarterback situation's not ideal, but Fields has produced, you know, high end fantasy wide receivers before and Garrett Wilson, I just think from a talent perspective, he's such a stud. 24 years old.
- [16:15]
Heath Cummings
Yep, you are back on the clock, Matt, and that is a good time for me to recap. Round two we have T. Higgins at pick 13, followed by Brock Bowers, Lad McConkey, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson, Smith & Jigba, Trey McBride, AJ Brown, Saquon, Barkley, Devon, HN, Travis Hunter, Garrett Wilson and Rashi Rice. Again, that's Higgins, Bowers, McConkey, Harrison, JSN McBride, Brown, Barkley, Achan, Hunter, Wilson, Rice. And I will tell you, I was, I was already, I think somebody's complaining in the chat that I stole Jaden Daniels to start round three and I'll just say I was all ready to take Travis Hunter at the two three turn and he went two picks before me. Do you agree with Hunter over both Wilson and Rice?
- [17:09]
Matt Cooper
It's really close for me. I've got, I've got Hunter just a few picks lower. I think I've got Wilson at 16 and Hunter at 19 with McBride and McConkey in between who were already taken. So yeah, they're basically he and Wilson for me are neck and neck again. Wilson feels safer. Hunter feels like he has more upside.
- [17:28]
Heath Cummings
I took Daniels to start round three. You followed that up by taking Josh Allen right after that. Three picks later somebody else takes Lamar Jackson. So I think it's fair to say a quarterback run early in round three, even in a one quarterback league and I think that's fits especially in CBS where passing touchdowns are worth six points, not four or five at some other sites. But I, I feels like while the industry has pushed quarterbacks back a little bit in one QB redraft, that what gets missed sometimes in dynasty is the same thing. We talked about the wide receivers, only more so. We might get 10 years of production, like legitimate top five quarterback production from Jaden Daniels. I wonder with Allen and Jackson or two guys that are getting close to 30, what do you think the shape of their career looks like in their 30s when they've been pretty dependent on rushing production to be elite fantasy quarterbacks?
- [18:28]
Matt Cooper
That's a great question. And I think Josh Allen, his rushing production is more of like he's a big body and they give him touches in the red zone and he gets a bunch of rushing touchdowns. And that feels more sustainable deeper into a career than a Lamar, where it's more of like, hey, we're giving it to you on a read option and you're gonna run out there and pick up 60 yard runs. That feels like those wheels could fall off sooner than a guy like Josh Allen.
- [19:03]
Heath Cummings
Yeah, I, I think. I think that's probably fair. I think Jackson's a year younger than Alan. Is that right? Maybe. Maybe two years younger. I. I've struggled with how to value Daniels ve those guys because in my projections for this year, I actually have Daniels projected as the number one quarterback in fantasy. And so with him being younger than them, it kind of seems pretty obvious I would prefer him in Dynasty as well. It's not, though, because I'm far more certain that Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are giving me multiple top five fantasy seasons. I've only seen one season and really about half of a season from Jaden Daniels of Elite Fantasy Production. Do you think his profile is pretty safe or would you like to see a little bit more before you put him in that tier? With Allen and Jackson, he feels pretty.
- [19:53]
Matt Cooper
Safe to me because what he did from a actual fantasy football perspective is incredible. But in real life, I mean, he takes him to the playoffs and, you know, this is the most success the commanders have had in ages. He did it with his arm as well as his legs. And, you know, obviously he. He was a Heisman winner, if I'm not mistaken, at lsu. Right. So I think he's. He's got a full, full profile here. It's not like, oh, man, where did this guy come from? Can he keep it up? To me, it feels like I would be much more surprised if he didn't keep it up.
- [20:33]
Heath Cummings
Yeah, I think if. If Dan was here and Dan is in the draft, but he's not on the show. I think if Dan was here, he would talk about Jaden Daniels weight and quarterbacks that size and staying healthy in the NFL. I was concerned coming into the year about whether he would protect himself, and I thought he did a much better job of that as a rookie than he did at lsu.
- [20:57]
Matt Cooper
That's true. He did take a bunch of huge shots at lsu and so that was a pleasant surprise for sure. And you need to see that continue. Definitely.
- [21:08]
Heath Cummings
We have finished up round three here, and so let's take a look at the round three results. Started off with me taking Jaden Daniels, as we already talked about, then Josh Allen for Matt Devonte, Smith, Christian McCaffrey, Lamar Jackson, Sam Laporta, Bucky Irving, Tetaroa McMillan, Jalen Hurts, Omari and Hampton, Breeze hall and Jonathan Taylor. So it's Daniels, Alan Smith, McCaffrey, Jackson. That's three quarterbacks in the first five picks. Leaporta, Irving, McMillan, Herz, Hampton, Hull and Taylor. I think those last three running backs are really interesting. Amarian, Hampton, Bree Hall, Jonathan Taylor. Hall and Taylor have both been top three dynasty running backs at some point based on consensus, Hampton came into my rankings at RB12. I currently have Taylor at 8, hall at 7. How would you rank those three running backs?
- [22:08]
Matt Cooper
So you said Hampton, hall and Taylor? Yeah, probably in that order. Yeah.
- [22:15]
Heath Cummings
So the opposite order that they went in.
- [22:18]
Matt Cooper
Sure. Yeah. I, I think Hampton, I really like the tape. I think he's, he's a really good high end fantasy starter and he landed in the perfect situation and the hit rate on first round running backs is, is really, really good. So I, I think really highly of Hampton. Bree, you know, arguably the most talented of the three that we're talking about. But last year was disappointing and so it feels like maybe a risky pick but a lot of upside. And then Taylor, you know, I don't love taking older running backs in the startup. He's 26. You know, a year from now people are going to be talking about him as old as a lot of injury history there. So I think I still really like Taylor, but that's why for him, for me of, of those three guys, he would be the lowest on my list.
- [23:09]
Heath Cummings
Yeah, I, for this year, Taylor's actually my favorite. But I do see a good point. I don't think he's quite to the age. And we're getting to the point at the end of round four where you're gonna see Matt's on the clock here, so I'll talk for a second. You're gonna see some of the older players come off the board. We've already seen Saquon Barkley, we've already seen Christian McAffrey. Soon we'll see guys like Derek Henry, maybe some of those 30 year old wide receivers. And what I always tell people is you get to round four or five and you make that pick for me, you've kind of determined the direction you're going in the startup. I might, I'm not going to draft a lot of guys that I don't think you're going to contribute this year because I've got a 28 year old running back or a 31 year old wide receiver who's a top five round pick for me. I'm gonna go try to win the league this year. I'm gonna go try to make my pick right now. You took Quinshon Judkins with pick 47. You expect him to just be the, the work, workhorse from the very get go in Cleveland.
- [24:08]
Matt Cooper
Yes and no. Like I do really like Dylan Sampson and I think there will be a committee of some kind there and I think they complement each other really, really well. But I think there's going to be plenty of touches. I think Judkins is a talented back. I hadn't taken a running back yet in this draft and, and he was my highest available, like he was my best available overall rankings and I needed a running back. So it felt like, you know, a win win there for me.
- [24:34]
Heath Cummings
Isn't it a great feeling when those two things work out together in the middle? Start off like your favorite player. Left is also the position that you need. Let's take a look at the round four results. Dave started it off with James Cook, followed by Zay Flowers, Trevion Henderson, Josh Jacobs, Roma dun, Joe Burrow, Kyron Williams, George Kittle. There's one of those older and right behind him. Devonte Adams, Chris Olave, Quinton Judkins and I took Jordan Addison to end the round. So Cook, Flowers, Henderson, Jacobs, adun Burrow, Williams, KD Adams, Olave, Judkins and Addison Roma Dun at pick 41. I think to Dan Schneider I think right very similar to where I have him in my rankings, but I feel very, very uncomfortable with him with DJ Moore and with Luther Burden. Do you have a good idea of how you think this is going to play out in this year or are you just as confused as I am? And has the dunes value gone down for you since he was drafted?
- [25:41]
Matt Cooper
I think it, it has, it has to have. Because I mean you could make bold predictions all you want, but nobody really knows until we see it. And so he went from a guy that I really liked the tape, I really liked the prospect high draft capital. The offense was anemic, the coaching was rough, but they go get Ben Johnson and they, you know, they revamp their offensive line and Keenan Allen moves on. And so now it's like, okay, we've got Rome and DJ Moore are going to get a really concentrated target share and in this Ben Johnson offense and it's going to be beautiful. And it just didn't work out that way because they went and got Loveland and they got burdened. And so now it feels like I have to drop A Dunes down because it just feels murky. If I had to make a guess, I. I think Odunze and DJ Moore are still the top two targets in that offense. But Odunze didn't produce at a super high level last year, and so if I have to be patient on him, again, that's frustrating as a Dynasty owner.
- [26:47]
Heath Cummings
It is. I mean, we saw this same script play out with jsn, right? The. The big difference being that they didn't draft a wide receiver or bring in Ben Johnson. They brought in a defensive coach, and then JSN got more of a chance. I think with Odunze, you can look at it as a positive or a negative. This off season, you got Ben Johnson. Look at the opportunity to play in a Ben Johnson offense, and he got Luther Burden, which some people might would tell you, no. Luther Burden's just going to be kind of a gadget player. He's not going to negatively impact Roma Dunes. Do you think we ought to be seeing more or Burden coming off the board pretty soon? More kind of. It's a strange comparison because we don't know what Burden's going to do this year, but Burden's also five or six years younger than DJ Moore.
- [27:34]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, sorry, I was looking at my cue. Can you repeat the question for me?
- [27:38]
Heath Cummings
So I just want to talk about like we talked about for this year with the Bears and how we feel about A Dunes. What about the other two guys, DJ Moore and Luther Burden are. Is. Is how you value those two guys just solely based on whether you're competing or not?
- [27:51]
Matt Cooper
Probably, yeah. I mean, I. I think DJ Moore is a really, really good wide receiver, and he's the. The incumbent there, even though he's, you know, obviously you could say that Ben Johnson went and got his guy with Burden and that he inherited DJ Moore, but Burden's gonna have to earn his way on. DJ I think is kind of the incumbent guy and. And he's more than talented enough to keep his spot. So I think it's more likely that you're gonna have to be patient with Burden and that in the short term, DJ Morris is going to be the producer there. And so, yeah, I think that is a contender rebuild type of a conversation.
- [28:28]
Heath Cummings
And at the. At the beginning of the 2025 season, DJ Moore will be 28, Luther Burden will be 21. So sold that difference in age just a little bit. I have more as my wide receiver, 27 in Dynasty. I would value him more if I was competing. Obviously. I have Burden as my wide receiver 31, I'd value him a little bit more if I was going into a rebuild. I think if you are rebuilding and you've got DJ Moore and you want to make that trade when you're on the clock, I'm okay with it. Seems like you should maybe get just a little bit more than that. But I do think we are, we're getting close to finishing up round five here. Let's take a look at some of the picks from this round and I started or you actually latest results right here. I'll figure out how to run this draft board one day. I started the round with Chase Brown. I was kind of surprised that Chase Brown fell to round five. I think we talked before the NFL draft about Brown and how his he was one of those guys that, you know what if he has the workload he did last year, he's probably a top eight dynasty running back. But there's so much risk that they add somebody in free agency or they add somebody in the NFL draft. They did draft Taj Brooks, but it was on day three, very late. The other guys on the team are Zach Moss and Samajp Ryan. It's been a spectacular summer for Chase Brown. Why is he not picked earlier in this format?
- [29:56]
Matt Cooper
I think it's a good question. I think people are always. And you see it still with Kyron Williams to an extent. It's like when the day three running back hits, everybody stays skittish on them because until they get that long term contract extension, you're worried that the team is going to replace them. And so, you know, the same conversation we were having this year about, you know, is he going to get tanked in the off season? You're going to be having that conversation again next year, most likely. And so yeah, I think that's probably why he fell the way he did. But it's a good value for whoever took him.
- [30:30]
Heath Cummings
Let's take a look at the full round five results. Now it's Chase Brown followed by Xavier Worthy. I was really considering Worthy. I'd already drafted Rashi Rice though and I wasn't sure I wanted to double up there without the actual stack. So you get worthy at pick 50. I think that's a good value. Following Worthy was Chuba Hubbard, Tyree Kill, Mike Evans, Ken Walker, Chris Godwin, Jalen Waddle, Terry McLaurin, Patrick Mahomes goes off the board, DJ Moore and Jameson Williams. So it's Worthy, Hubbard, Hill, Evans, Walker, Godwin, Waddle, McLaurin, Mahomes, Moore and Jameson Williams. Ken Walker, another guy pick 54, but I thought maybe he fell a little bit further than he should have. I wrote about him earlier this week in my breakouts 1.0 Excellent opportunity for him with the new offensive system. That's been very running back friendly coming in, but I think everybody just looks at Ken Walker and they see Zach Charbonnet standing there in his shadow and they're a little bit concerned that Charbonnet is going to overtake him at some point. Where are you at on Walker and Charbonnet in Dynasty?
- [31:43]
Matt Cooper
I still think Walker's better than Charbonnet when healthy and the team has continued to go that way with the touches. So I had walker at 45, so I do I agree with you that he was a little bit of a value at 54 and I think Charbonnet probably is just going to continue to be a really high end handcuff until if and when they move on from Walker, which you know, they went and drafted Damien Martinez. I know he's round seven. I really like the talent there. I like the player and so I think Seattle, if they wanted to move on from Walker, has the luxury with having Charbonnet and Martinez in that room. I think that's a pretty solid running back room.
- [32:24]
Heath Cummings
Matt is back on the clock. We've had a big time wide receiver run here in round six of our one quarterback PPR startup mock draft. We will get to the round six results and who Matt picks after our second break, which is right now. The new McCrispy strip is here. Dip approved by Ketchup Tangy Barbecue Honey Mustard honey mustard Sprite McFlurry Big Mac Sauce, Double Dipped in Buffalo and Ranch More Ranch and creamy chili. McCrispy Strip Dip now at McDonald's membership means more with American Express Business Gold. Earn four times Membership Rewards points in your top two eligible spending categories every month including eligible US advertising purchases in select media and US purchases at restaurants including takeout and delivery. What are you waiting for? Get the card that flexes with your spending every month. Terms and points cap apply. Learn more@American Express.com Business Gold MX Business Gold Card built for business by American Express. We are back on the clock. You took T.J. hawkinson. I am on the clock right now. Matt. Do you expect a big bounce back from Hawkinson and how many years do you think we have of tight end one production from him?
- [33:38]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, I do. I think he should bounce back. I think he's a really talented player, always has been. I still like him as the number two threat above Addison in that offense. I think it's Jefferson, then Hawkinson, then Addison. He's a nice security blanket for J.J. mcCarthy as he kind of gets his feet wet and, and maybe is a little bit more looking for the dink and dunk and not pushing the ball downfield as much early maybe. But yeah, I think Hawkinson is, is plenty talented. You're looking at the second year coming off of the ACL injury and he's, he's still. I don't have it in front of me. He's 26 or 27 years old maybe, so I think he should still have at least three or four good years. Most of these tight ends are playing.
- [34:24]
Heath Cummings
Well into their 30s, so Hawkinson will be 28 at the start of this season. Matt is back on the clock because I just made a 6, 7 turn of Matthew golden and Tyler Warren. We'll take a look at my team, which is beginning to look very, very young. I have Jaden Daniels at quarterback. Chase Brown, my only running back through seven rounds. My wide receivers, Jamar Chase, Rushy, Rice, Jordan Addison, Matthew Golden. My tight end is Tyler Warren. I will probably pair him with a veteran tight end a little bit later in this draft because I'm a little bit concerned about year one for Warren. But I saw Colston Loveland go off the board. I did. I, I had a kind of a strange dilemma and I think that you probably just answered the dilemma with your next pick, because when I look at the running back position right now and I. I'm surprised actually, based on some of our past mocks. Derrick Henry, still there in round seven. Alvin Kamara still there in round seven. Joe Mixon still there in round seven. You chose Mixon with the second pick of round seven. I, I wonder when you look at these three guys, Mixon is a couple years younger than Henry and Camara. Henry and Camara obviously were spectacular last year when they were healthy. Mixing season was up and down, but he was still very, very good. Do you give at Mixon's age, which he could be done at any point. Will be 29 at the start of this season, but again, younger than the other guys. Does his age get him a boost or do you just view all three of those guys, Henry, Camara and Mixon, as if this might be their last year?
- [36:08]
Matt Cooper
I think to an extent, yes. But I, I think there's a better chance that mixing gives you two to three years than the other guys. So I, I do give a slight edge to him because the other guys, I'm almost sure that it's their last year and and mix in, I mean Henry. So because Henry's on a contending team, right. It wouldn't and because he's a superhuman, it wouldn't shock me to get two more years out of Henry. But Camara, it feels like they're already three years overdue for blowing that thing up and moving on.
- [36:40]
Heath Cummings
Right.
- [36:41]
Matt Cooper
So I feel pretty confident that this is probably Kamara's last year, Henry maybe two and then mixing feels like the best chance to give me two to.
- [36:50]
Heath Cummings
Three foreign let's take a look at our round six results from our 1 QB PPR startup mock draft. Dave started the round off with RJ Harvey and then the league went bananas on wide receivers. DK Metcalf, Emeka Agbuca, Caleb Johnson, Colston Loveland, George Pickens, Ricky Pearsall, Jerry Judy. Love that pick. Nicholas Cortland, Sutton, Jaden, Reed, TJ Hawkinson and Matthew Golden. So Harvey met Cafig Buga, Johnson, Loveland, Pickens, Pierce All Judy, Sutton, Reed Hawkinson and Golden. Both DK Metcalf and George Pickens get taken in this draft. We haven't talked much on this show yet about the Pickens trade to Dallas, freeing Metcalf up as the tree true number one wide receiver in Pittsburgh with I know it changed people's projections for this year and I think it will change the Redraft rankings a little bit. Metcalf's moving up, Pickens moving up for some people as well. Does it really make a big difference in Dynasty before the trade and I I'm I will be updating these rankings for May relatively soon, but I had George Pickens as wide receiver 32 in Dynasty, DK Metcalf as wide receiver 35 in Dynasty. Metcalf is three years older than Pickens. Do these guys go up, down or just stay the same after this move?
- [38:21]
Matt Cooper
I think for me Metcalf maybe goes up a little bit, but he's it's weird because neither of those guys were a great fit together in my opinion. Like they're both big ex boundary receivers and so I didn't think that they were really a fit and so they both can probably perform well. Like I think Pickens compliments Lamb better than he compliments Metcalf and Metcalf should get all the targets he can handle, but who's throwing him the ball? I don't know. Honestly, I'm not overly in love with either guy. Like I think Pickens is a diva and the Steelers wanted to get rid of him for a reason. He's been A head case for years. I haven't seen that much improvement in his game. I don't think he's ever going to be. People get tantalized because he's tall and fast and you know the upside. But I for me, like he's consistently been worse than a wide receiver three in fantasy. And I don't see him getting a whole lot better because he's just a big jump ball guy and he's never going to get big volume. So between those guys, I'm probably well below consensus on Pickens and I'm lukewarm on Metcalf at his adp.
- [39:37]
Heath Cummings
I think I'm a little bit below consensus on Pickens as well. The, the problem with me for DK Metcalf is I think you probably would have agreed when he came into the league. I really viewed this as like a high upside guy that is really going to give you some, some league winning seasons and he's had one of those and even that one was kind of a mid wide receiver one season. He's also had five seasons outside of the top 20 wide receivers. In terms of fantasy production. Now he's in Arthur Smith's offense for at least one year.
- [40:11]
Matt Cooper
Right.
- [40:12]
Heath Cummings
He doesn't seem like a super high upside guy based on the production. Do you think in the right situation maybe the Steelers are just terrible this year and they get a good quarterback next year and they fire Arthur Smith and they hire a good offensive coordinator. Do you think he still has the upside that we thought he had coming into the NFL?
- [40:30]
Matt Cooper
No, I think he is who he is. He's an athletic freak. But people mistakenly. And I can fall into this trap sometimes too. I think at the wide receiver position we're learning over and over and over again that people equate upside with tall, fast, like, you know, the, this physical freak. The athleticism very well said. And I think upside of the wide receiver position is route running and who gets open and earns the most targets and is a weapon after the catch. And I think the NFL is moving more and more and more that way. And I just don't think Metcalf is that guy and I don't think he ever will be.
- [41:10]
Heath Cummings
No, that's. That's pretty much where I am as well. Let's, let's recap round seven results here while Matt gets ready for his round eight pick. I took Tyler Warren to start the round. You took Joe Mixon, then Caleb Williams, Brandon Ayuk, Jack Besh, David Montgomery, Zach Charbonnet, Jaden Higgins, Derrick Henry. There's that one. Khalil Shakir, Alvin Kamara, there's that one. And then Bo Nix to Dave to end round seven. The name that was most interesting to me there, Joel took Brandon Ayuk and I've been a guy that's kind of been low on brand. Iuk against consistent consensus for most of his career, maybe underrating the talent but generally being right about the production. Now we've got this ACL MCL recovery that he's coming back from. A lot of talk that he may not be ready until halfway through the 2025 season. Although that's just talk. We don't know that for sure yet. He like Metcalf 27 years old now so not really getting a discount for the age. If you were comparing him to Metcalf and Pickens. Where are you at on Brandon Ayuk?
- [42:22]
Matt Cooper
I like him more because I, I think he's a better route runner than those guys and I honestly there's so many things that went wrong last year it's hard to pinpoint the injury was part of it but before that he was also, you know, just not, not getting it done.
- [42:37]
Heath Cummings
So he had the holdout.
- [42:39]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, and then you know, Jennings played really well in his absence. Pierce all looks really good but I still think like when he's locked in and his head is in the right place and he's healthy, I think Iuk has the talent to be a wide receiver one in fantasy and I don't think that's true of Pickens or Metcalf.
- [43:03]
Heath Cummings
Yeah, I, I, I know a lot of people who watch the film and who I trust, including yourself have that same opinion of Ayuk and I, I hesitate to dispute it but when I like I am still a bit of a let's go look and see what the back of the football card shows and we're five years into an NFL career and there's not even 120 target season on there. There's not an 80 catch season. There's, there's one season over 1100 yards. There's not a 10 touchdown season and some of that's because of the system that he's played in in San Francisco and he's been surrounded by a bunch of elite talent. Like there's, there's context to Brandon Iuk's production or lack of production. He did have the 1300 yard season in 2023 and it's possible that he comes back and Debo's gone and George Kittle's aging out and all these things do finally come into fruition. I think if you believe that now is a fantastic time to buy IUK as a believer. My problem with that, Matt, and I think we may have to give Jacob a little bit of a grace period here. There you go. Jacob, you got another 60 seconds to make your pick here at the end of round eight. I think the problem with that is who's trading for Brandon Aiuk? Is it the contender who doesn't know if Bayuk's going to help them this year, or is it the rebuilder trading for a wide receiver who might be 28 before he's good at fantasy football again?
- [44:33]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, probably more the contender. Yeah, I would think you know somebody that. And that's a risk, right? If you've got limited assets and you're going to try to trade some of those for a piece that can help you win, and then you trade it for somebody who doesn't help you win, that's problematic. But I think it's. Yeah, it's a gamble on the talent and I'm on the clock. So I think I'm gonna. I'm gonna go ahead and lock up my first bench piece here. I've got my starting lineup filled, I believe. No, I've got another flex. Tell you what, I'm gonna take a risk and I'm gonna draft Michael Pittman. That's what I'm gonna do.
- [45:16]
Heath Cummings
Why don't you Talk about Pittman vs Downs and concerns about Anthony Richardson this year while I try to figure out how to make two draft picks?
- [45:25]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, I think Pittman, he's consistently been a top 15 to 20 wide receiver throughout his career prior to last year. And we know it's documented he was playing through a fractured back. There are very good reasons for why he took a significant step backwards last year. And so I think he's a fairly smart bet for a bounce back. The question is how much of a bounce back? Because again, there are mouths to feed. Right. You've got. You've added war into that offense. Josh Downs is really talented in his own right. I like Josh Downs. And then Anthony Richardson is like the ultimate question mark. Is he going to take a step forward or is he continue. Going to continue to be one of the worst passing quarterbacks in the league? The. The low volume with all the mouths to feed it. That's why I said I'm going to take a risk by taking Pittman. But if I get him here and he gives me like solid wide receiver three production, I, I feel good about that. And I feel like that's very much within the range of outcomes, that he's like a top, you know, 25 to 30 wide receiver this year for fantasy football.
- [46:32]
Heath Cummings
Let's get the round eight recap. I just took a couple of running backs at time, the same 7, 8 turn that it seems like absolutely nobody wants to draft but me. Whether it's redraft or Dynasty, we'll talk about them. But first let's take a look at round eight. Dave takes Luther Burden to start the round, followed by Justin Herbert. Then we get Bashel Tutin, Trey Harris, a couple of rookies, Josh Downs, Cam Scatter, Mark Andrews, Juwan Jennings, James Connor, the last of the maybe an RB one, maybe his last season of playing football, I would say. And then Jalen Noel, Michael Pittman and DeAndre Swift. So again it's Burden, Herbert, Tuton, Harris down, Scatterboo, Andrews, Jennings, Connor, Noel, Pittman, Swift. Of those three, was it three rookies? Four rookies. So Burden, Tootin, Harris. That's three. Scatterboo makes four, Noel makes five. I think for most people, Noel will be at the end of the list in terms of rookie draft preference. How do you rank it in terms of Burden versus Scatterboo versus Tootin versus Harris?
- [47:46]
Matt Cooper
So my Dynasty rankings would be Burden and then Scatterboo and then Harris. And who was the, who was the fourth Facial?
- [47:55]
Heath Cummings
Tutin?
- [47:56]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, I would have him fourth, I think at that group. And I actually, I like all of those players. I think the landing spot for Harris was really nice. I think Tutin probably would be higher if ETN and Bigsby weren't there. And he's the guy that Cohen went and got and neither of those guys, ETN or Bigsby has shown a ton over the last couple of years. So I think Tutin has a chance to come in and earn the lead back role there under the Liam Cohen. I think there's a lot of upside with that pick, but for me, Scatterboo was the guy that I absolutely loved his tape. I love the landing spot. Obviously I don't love the fourth round draft capital, but it's understandable in such a deep class. And it was like early fourth round so Scatterboo was in my queue. I was ready to pick him and then got sniped a couple picks before he made it to me. So Burdens ranked higher in my dynasty rankings. But I think if you need a running back now, Scatter Boo probably is going to produce earlier than Burden is.
- [48:57]
Heath Cummings
Always like to take a look at the other guy's team while we're drafting. And I, I always tell people like at some point during these live mocks where I'm hosting, I completely lose the script of the draft and don't have any idea who my best available player is. I assume that happens to everyone else who's on the show with me as well. But you've got a pretty good squad here. So you've got Josh Allen as your quarterback. You also have Drake May as his backup. Your running backs are Joe Mixon and Quinch on Judkins does not look like you have a third yet. At wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, Xavier Worthy and Michael Pittman. And then your tight end is TJ Hawkinson. How are you feeling about this squad through nine rounds?
- [49:41]
Matt Cooper
I feel pretty good about it. You know, I think it's a well rounded, you know, I would expect that it should be a contending roster with some, some youth and talent on there too. You know, obviously in a 1 QB I felt a little iffy taking my second quarterback that early but you know my, all my starting spots were filled. I had you know, and May just the upside there for him to be a trade piece to go get somebody better than what's available at running back or wide receiver on the board right now. Because I think May, you know, I'm secure with Allen but you mentioned the age and so now I've got a, another young guy that has rushing upside and you know, kind of could be either the future of my team at quarterback or a piece of trade bait. So I feel pretty good about where, where I'm at right now.
- [50:31]
Heath Cummings
Speaking of May, when you look at that class of quarterbacks from last year, so Jaden Daniels, Bo Nix had a very good year. Caleb Williams was bad but now he's got Ben Johnson so everything's fine. Even, even Michael Pennix and J.J. mcCarthy we're going to learn more about them here soon. Do you think May, like where does he fit amongst that group? Is it Daniel's in one tier and then Nick's, Williams and May and then the other guys far behind or where, where is May for you?
- [51:03]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, Daniels is definitely in his own tier and then I, I think there's a second tier for me that's like Caleb, May and Nicks because Nicks has, has a little bit of that rushing upside. You know, finished as a top 12 quarterback his rookie. I didn't love him as much as a prospect and he's a little bit on the older side but like you can't argue with the production that he put up this year and then May with the Konami code, the rushing ability. And he, he looked really good when he got a chance to start this past year. So overall, I think those are the three guys. And then Penix, he just, I think his upside is really limited because he doesn't run the football. He's an older player, he's a pocket passer. I think he can be a solid QB2, but I don't think he has the QB1 upside that the other three guys have that we just talked about.
- [51:55]
Heath Cummings
Good comment here in the chat before we recap Round nine. And Matt B. Says, six months ago most analysts were saying this draft was shallow. Today, all analysts are saying the class is deep. Happens every year. All right, somebody should definitely do like the, the theory of the rookie picks and the theory of the draft class because there are certain seasons where it seems like everybody thinks the same thing about the class. There will be a time when Everybody says the 2026 class is going to be better than the 2025 class. And there will be a time when Everybody says the 2027 class is definitely going to be better than the 2026 class. And so I think it's good just to remember that these things do move in waves and maybe don't get too attached to any one understanding about a draft class until we have the landing spots. But I do feel really good about this being a deep class right now. So round nine, I started it with Tony Pollard, then Drake May, Travis etn, Trey Benson, Jalen Warren, CJ Stroud, Wondale Robinson, Isaiah Pacheco, Keon Coleman, David Ajoku, Tyrone Tracy, Tucker, Kraft. I'm going to ask you in just a second who your favorite pick from this round was. Matt? It was Pollard, May, etn. You can't say May Benson, Warren, Stroud, Robinson, Pacheco, Coleman, Joku, Tracy and Kraft. Other than Drake, May, who's your favorite pick in round nine?
- [53:19]
Matt Cooper
So I like your pick of Pollard. I do think, you know, if he gives you a couple more years of good running back production, he's too cheap for, for what he is right now. And then Shroud, you know, I don't know if that team faded quarterback and this was the first one they took, but if they did, you know, that's a pretty good one to get after waiting this long. So I like those two picks.
- [53:39]
Heath Cummings
Yes, that was their first quarterback in round nine. C.J. stroud. Matt's back on the clock for his round ten pick. We are going to wrap things up here on FFT Dynasty. But we will finish the mock and then I will publish the results. As always, over@cbssports.com want to thank you, Matt, for being here. We want to thank Harry for running everything. Matt, before we go, while I'm making these next two picks, tell everybody where they can find your work.
- [54:06]
Matt Cooper
Yeah, so I own a brand called Couch Scouts. We have a podcast so you can search any podcast platform for Couch Scouts and find us there. And just this year we launched a website. So we've got a ton of resources available on there. We've got a rookie guide which, you know, we covered over 70 prospects in depth, film grades, scouting reports, you know, color coded rankings by tier, pre and post draft rankings. So I think it's the ultimate cheat sheet for dominating your rookie draft. We've got. You can book a 30 minute consultation with one of our pros to talk about your roster. You. We've got bonus podcasts every week for our members, all kinds of good stuff. And last time I was on here, I, I created a promo code FFT for 50% off. And I said we had a hundred codes and we didn't use all of them. Some of them are still out there. So any of our annual packages, you can get 50% off your first year with Couch Scouts by using the promo code fft.
- [55:12]
Heath Cummings
So, yeah, thank you as always, Matt and everybody go check out Couch Scouts. Take advantage of that promo code. Thank you to everybody who was active in the chat. We will talk to you next Tuesday. Paramount Podcasts.