FFT Dynasty - 2025 NFL Draft Round 1 Recap: Rookies Reaction! (04/25 Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today: FFT Dynasty - 2025 NFL Draft Round 1 Recap: Rookies Reaction! (04/25 Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast) Summary

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Hosts: Heath Cummings and Rich (aka Dynasty Island)
Analysts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, and others from CBS Sports' FFT team.

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Introduction

In this episode of Fantasy Football Today, hosts Heath Cummings and Rich dive deep into the outcomes of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, focusing on how the new rookies will impact Dynasty Fantasy Football leagues. Skipping the commercial breaks, the conversation primarily revolves around key draft picks, their landing spots, and the potential fantasy implications for the upcoming season.

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Overall Round 1 Recap

Heath opens the discussion by addressing the performance of mid-first-round picks, noting a decline due to early selections of running backs:

Heath Cummings [02:36]: "I think mid first round picks took a massive hit pending the running backs going early this Evening."

Rich agrees but highlights potential day one hits:

Rich [02:57]: "I like, I think you look at some day one hits, maybe for Iguka, maybe for Hampton... one surefire starting quarterback out of the group."

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Cam Ward: A Safe Bet in Super Flex Leagues

Cam Ward emerges as a central topic, especially his value in super flex dynasty leagues. Heath firmly places Ward as the number one pick:

Heath Cummings [03:55]: "For me, there's not because for me it's Cam Ward. Absolutely."

Rich concurs, emphasizing Ward's insulated value due to his starting position with the Tennessee Titans:

Rich [17:31]: "Heath's got him for number one, and I think that's part of the thing you need to add into that evaluation."

Heath underscores Ward's reliability:

Heath Cummings [17:31]: "Cam Ward can have a fairly terrible rookie year and... he'll probably still be around QB22, QB25 in most dynasty ranks."

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Travis Hunter: High Risk, High Reward

Travis Hunter's versatility as both a wide receiver and cornerback sparks debate. Heath expresses concern over Hunter's potential split in roles:

Heath Cummings [06:23]: "He plays 60, 70% on offense and... part time on defense... so I just can't spend the 102 on a guy that I don't know how much he's going to play."

Rich, however, remains optimistic about Hunter's upside if he secures a significant role on offense:

Rich [08:13]: "If, if you are a contender... it's defensible to take a different position than quarterback at two."

Despite differing viewpoints, both agree Hunter possesses elite potential:

Heath Cummings [21:42]: "Travis Hunter's the best wide receiver in the class and... his upside is so great."

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Ashton Genti: A Top Running Back Prospect

Ashton Genti's selection by the Las Vegas Raiders is met with enthusiasm. Both Heath and Rich laud his elite talent and favorable landing spot:

Heath Cummings [27:20]: "He's 99th percentile in that. ...an elite prospect."

Rich highlights Genti's consistent high performance:

Rich [29:22]: "They're all the same value. They're all in the same tier."

Concerns about the Raiders' offensive line are briefly mentioned but deemed manageable:

Heath Cummings [27:52]: "Three big question marks on the offensive line... scares me slightly."

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Other Notable Picks and Positions

Colston Loveland (Tight End):
Loveland is unanimously praised as the top tight end prospect. Heath places him firmly above his peers, solidifying his position in dynasty rankings.

Heath Cummings [39:03]: "He's the best tight end in this class. ... wheels up for Loveland certainly."

Ted McMillan (Wide Receiver):
McMillan's versatility and route-running abilities are discussed, with Heath advocating for his underappreciated skills compared to typical big, fast receivers.

Heath Cummings [33:30]: "He's a little bit more nuanced... better foot speed."

Cam Ward vs. Jackson Dart (Quarterbacks):
The safety and continuity provided by Ward contrast sharply with concerns about Jackson Dart's lack of insulation in his landing spot with the Giants.

Heath Cummings [57:42]: "Cam Ward... insulated value... Jackson Dart... makes me very nervous."

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Fantasy Implications and Strategies

Heath and Rich explore strategies for integrating these rookies into fantasy teams, emphasizing the importance of landing spots and projected roles. The discussion includes:

• Prioritizing quarterbacks like Cam Ward for their assured starting roles.
• Weighing the high upside of multi-role players like Travis Hunter against their inherent risks.
• Valuing elite running backs like Ashton Genti at top draft positions due to their immediate impact and reliability.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with final thoughts on the rookie selections, reiterating the balance between potential and risk. Heath and Rich encourage listeners to consider both player talent and landing situations when drafting their dynasty teams.

Heath Cummings [62:03]: "Any quarterback that has a clear cut, safe starting job is worth at least the first rounder in su flex leagues."

Rich adds a light-hearted note about hoping for favorable draft outcomes:

Rich [61:46]: "Let’s get five or 10 running backs and wide receivers in round two tonight. That’d be a lot of fun."

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Notable Quotes:

• Heath Cummings [02:36]: "I think mid first round picks took a massive hit pending the running backs going early this Evening."
• Rich [08:13]: "If you are a contender... it's defensible to take a different position than quarterback at two."
• Heath Cummings [21:42]: "Travis Hunter's the best wide receiver in the class and... his upside is so great."
• Heath Cummings [57:42]: "Cam Ward... insulated value... Jackson Dart... makes me very nervous."

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For fans eager to dominate their fantasy leagues, this episode offers invaluable insights into the rookie class and strategic drafting. Stay tuned to Fantasy Football Today for more expert analysis and advice throughout the season.

Transcript

[Heath Cummings]

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[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, no, thank you very much for having me on. Yeah, it's busy, busy season for me. I've I put together a rookie guide every year. So yeah, we put out the Fantasy Sanctuary rookie guide a couple of weeks ago. Now the, the pre draft version and then the post draft version will be dropping on Wednesday. 90 players profiled, film analysis, my rookie model, my rankings, everything like that. So yeah, find me on X at does the island or all of my works over on the Fantasy Sanctuary.

[Rich]

Now on today's show we will talk about Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Ashton Genti and much much more. But as always we will start with three questions for our guests and I I've maybe changed my tune a little bit on this one in the last 12 hours since I initially wrote the question, but I think it's still a. It's a good question. Did did 2025 rookie picks take a massive hit on night one?

[Heath Cummings]

I'm mid first round picks took a massive hit pending the running backs going early this Evening. I certainly think some of the draft capital and the landing spots for that sort of second tier of wide receivers last night took a massive hit. So. Yeah, but I'll sort of sit on the fence slightly Heath and sort of say yes and no.

[Rich]

Yeah, you know, I, I think as I was tweeting through it this morning, I, I like, I think you look at some day one hits, maybe for Iguka, maybe for Hampton. I mean we'll, we'll see how that committee situation works out with Naji Harris. Maybe he just takes the job and is the clear RB one there and then obviously just one quarterback. There's two in the first round, but I don't think we think Jackson Dart's going to start at the beginning of the year. So just one surefire starting quarterback out of the group. It's a little bit scary at least. But I'm hopeful like you that early in round two we're gonna get a run on running backs and wide receivers and they're going to get good landing spots and lots of opportunity and we're going to feel much better about picks I don't know five through eight than I do right now. The second question, is there any debate for you right now about the second pick in a rookie super flex draft?

[Heath Cummings]

So for me there's not because for me it's Cam Ward. Absolutely. But based on the questions I've had from some of our members and on Twitter today, I guess there's probably a lot of debate because a lot of people seem to think Marin Hampton should be the second pick. A lot of people think Ted McMillan should be. So yeah, I think that the 101 is consensus, but I think that second pick is, is probably up for, for debate and argument significantly.

[Rich]

Well, and it's funny you said Tet, you said Hampton, you did not say Travis Hunter, who's probably the guy that I got the most questions about overnight. And that's because I've been pretty optimistic about Hunter. If he was a full time wide receiver, I thought he was the best wide receiver in the class. And it seems we'll talk more about Hunter later. But it seems like the talk at least has trended towards the offensive side of the ball a little bit. There's still going to be a massive amount of risk though for Hunter. I do think that it would you at least say like if you are a contender for some reason with 102 or even just a good roster and you really have a significant need for one of those three positions, quarterback, running back or Wide receiver versus the other two. It's defensible to take a, a different position than quarterback at two.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, it's very much a big tier of those guys and I can make an argument for any of them. I think for me, on, on the Hunter point, I was the one who was sitting here. Over the last three months I've been saying Travis Hunter should be the 101 if he goes to a good landing spot and we get told that he's going to play wide receiver when he's going to play db. Now it's funny because he's gone to a good landing spot with what I believe is a good quarterback that's gonna play majority of wide receiver. And I'm now sitting here very nervous because I know the press conference, they said he's going to play wide receiver more. I, I'll be honest, I just don't believe it. I think a team that's got such a gaping hole at cornerback and it is so much easier to slot him in at cornerback and play part time offense. I'm, I'm nervous and I just don't think I can spend the 102 on a guy that I don't know how much he's going to play. And I can see myself in season being sat there with the headache every week of right, do I, can I start Travis Hunter? Is he gonna get enough snaps to, to be startable? And, and that just to me, I'd rather not have that debate. And so that's why I'm saying that I've got him that sort of tier below those other three guys.

[Rich]

It is, it's going to be an interesting thing because I can also, like, maybe I've got a little more of a FOMO feeling and you've got a little bit of a worry feeling. But I could, I could also see myself like believing that Hunter is the best wide receiver in the class and maybe the 101 if everything goes right, but passing on him because of risk and then watching him just go ballistic on the NFL in his rookie season and feeling terrible about myself for the next 10 years. Question number three. Even though I think it's like question number six now, and you mentioned it, you think that Travis Hunter has a good quarterback. I think that we've talked about Trevor Lawrence several times over the last two or three years. I've been a little bit more skeptical, you've been a little bit more optimistic. But I tweeted last night, even I cannot get over the idea of a Trevor Lawrence breakout now, like a true breakout season with if he's got Brian Hunter and Travis or Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter full time. So in a super flex dynasty league, how much would you be willing to pay to buy Lawrence right now?

[Heath Cummings]

So I guess I've always been a bit of a Lawrence believer, as you alluded to. I think we've discussed him a few times over the past couple of years and yeah, I still believe in the talent. I think you give him one of the better offensive coordinators in the league. Play call is in Liam Cohen. I think Brian Thomas showed last year what he was and what he can be down the stretch. And you add in, he probably walks in as what, a top five wide receiver too. In terms of Travis Hunter in the league already, I'm, I'm really excited. And yeah, I'd happily go out and buy Trevor Lawrence. I'd pay at least two kind of random future firsts, plus would I go to three? I think that would be kind of maybe territory. I'm not sure I could quite get there. But yeah, I'd easily happily pay a couple of firsts to, to go and grab Trevor Lawrence.

[Rich]

So I definitely moved Lawrence up in my dynasty quarterback rankings last night. I just want to give you a few names and see if we're in the same range or if you're still a little higher than me. Would you rather have Trevor Lawrence or Jared Goff on your dynasty team?

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, easily. Trevor Lawrence.

[Rich]

Lawrence or Deck Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence or Cam Ward?

[Heath Cummings]

Trevor Lawrence.

[Rich]

Lawrence or C.J. stroud.

[Heath Cummings]

C.J. stroud.

[Rich]

Okay, so I think, I think you're about four spots higher than I am, but that's, that's kind of the QB 15 through 19 range of the quarterback rankings. A very good QB to that, honestly, with his pedigree and as many believers as he has, if we get a month of the season where he's producing like a top 10 quarterback, Trevor Lawrence is going to be a consensus top 10 dynasty quarterback again. Like, if, if we just get a month of Travis Hunter looking like who we think he is and Lawrence balling out, he's gonna, he's gonna fly up dynasty rankings even more than he did last night.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, absolutely. I think he's, he's easily that guy that could be in the, the kind of second tier along with, you know, Herbert's, Love Her Stroud, those kind of guys. He's. He's going to be in that conversation definitely if, if he has, you know, even perhaps a couple of good clips in, in, in training camp of him throwing deep balls to Thomas and Hunter.

[Rich]

That's what's going to happen. I'm going to say now I can't even resist Trevor Lawrence with this receiving duo. And then you guys are all going to push Trevor Lawrence up so high that I'm going to have to be the Trevor Lawrence skeptic again by the time we get to August. Let's take a short break and we'll jump in to Cam Ward. This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado. When it's time for you to ditch the blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing. The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss get the rugged capability of its Z71 suspension and 2 inch factory lift, plus impressive torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits, you'll just be getting getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more.

[Heath Cummings]

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Get [e-mail] jobs finding where you fit LinkedIn knows how Cam Ward the 101 of the NFL Draft rich is 102 in Super Flex drafts headed to the Tennessee Titans. Do you like this fit for camward?

[Heath Cummings]

I do, and I think that the Titans have been really sensible this off season in terms of they've not gone out and chased, you know, massively flashy moves where they've mortgaged the future and traded loads of future picks. And okay, they threw around a bit of money in free agency, but not obscene volumes of money. But they've just gone out and made really sensible moves to bring in NFL caliber players. You think of the Kevin Zeitler signing Tyler Lockett. Obviously Dan Moore was quite expensive, but they brought in Dan Moore and it's like now we look at an offense that should have a solid offensive line, has got a collection of capable NFL wide receivers, has got one of the best offensive line coaches in the league and I think that they've given him a solid platform. Yes, of course I'd like a little bit more upside, I like a bit more juice in there and you know, you never know. Might see it today and moving forward. But it's, it's a capable platform to allow Cam Wall to go out and hopefully put produce what we all think he can be, which is a, you know, a competent starting quarterback with significant upside to go beyond that.

[Rich]

Do you view him as somebody who can just hit the ground running or as more of a prospect? And I guess one way to put that in context, last year the Titans threw for 3,300 yards and 22 touchdowns. Do you think Cam Ward improves on that in year one?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, we're now in a world where college prospects are transferring left, right and center and having to learn an offense on the fly. Cam Ward, you know, is exactly that. From Incarnate Ward to Washington State to Miami and he produced immediately in every single one of those landing spots. And I, I see no reason why, you know, the Titans have obviously been working and came to this decision a couple of months ago. I imagine he's probably already well versed in the offense and he's going to come into training camp. I'd expect to see Will Levis probably gets traded tonight or tomorrow and he's certainly beating out Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle for starting snap. So I think he's going to be a day one starter and I think for fantasy, anytime you've got that combination of arm talent that can push the ball downfield, that's high value targets and you know, he's, he's not an elite running quarterback, but he's got enough mobility that we could add a little bit. I, I think this offense has got a solid grounding as I said earlier, and I think it's going to be a, a useful QB2 for fantasy from day one.

[Rich]

So we've seen Trevor Lawrence just go back to him for a second kind of live maybe in that 300 yard rushing range, around 15 to 20 rushing yards per game. My initial projections, I came out with Cam ward basically at 300 yards rushing for next season. Is that, is that the like, is this like a Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence, like a mobile quarterback but not a true rushing quarterback in terms of up.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I think that those sort of ranges are great. I love the comp of Patrick Mahomes as a quarterback because he's not in terms of rushing. Sorry, not as a quarterback. He's not someone that's going to scramble loads, but when it calls for it, he's really intelligent at scrambling. He picks up an obscene amount of first downs on those kind of third and eight, third and nines that kill a defense where they feel like they've got you locked up. He escapes the pocket and Scrambles for first down. And it's infuriating if you're watching it as a fan of the other side. But for fantasy, as you said, it's going to add, you know, decent production. I think he's going to be useful in around the goal line. I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up with sort of five or six Russian touchdowns on top of that as well.

[Rich]

One of the reasons that I've not been entirely sold on ward as the 102 is I'm not. And maybe this doesn't matter as much to you because the Super Flex format and you gotta like, we're starting QB1 through 24 anyway. But he opens in my dynasty rankings at QB15. It'll be 23 at the start of this season. And I think I'm a little bit higher on him than a lot of people. I don't know that I really see like most of the quarterbacks ahead of him are 27 or younger. I kind of have. And we got a class coming next year. We think or have maybe have guys in it that are better than him. I kind of have a hard time seeing Cam Ward becoming a top 12 dynasty quarterback. He seems like he's just like probably a pretty solid QB2. You think that's fair or does he have more upside that I'm not giving him credit for?

[Heath Cummings]

No, I, I think to me you've hit the nail on the head there. I think that's perfect that I don't think he's got that elite upside. I don't think he's going to be, you know, a top 15 NFL quarterback. I don't think he's got that within his range of outcomes. But for me, I guess it depends on how you value quarterback in the Superflex league.

[Rich]

Right?

[Heath Cummings]

I, I place a lot of value in quarterbacks and I'm happy to draft him at 102. If you said he's a QB2 for the next five, six, seven years, whatever, to me that's worthy of the 102 because I think quarterbacks are so valuable in that Superflex environment. I mean, to give you an idea, he's. He's my QB22 currently ranks, but he's still my 102. So that shows how much value I'm placing in the quarterback position in these Superflex formats.

[Rich]

Well, and I, I think like again, if you're talking about the accumulation of assets, it's so much easier to get value for a quarterback in a dynasty super Flex league via trade than it is to go find a quarterback via trade. And so I do think when it comes to like the accumulation of, of dynasty assets, that type of stance makes sense. I and a lot of teams picking 102 probably aren't thinking about winning right now anyway, so it doesn't matter as much. I, I'm a little bit more skeptical that Ward is going to be the type of player that helps me win fantasy championships. Whereas I, I do think that, that Hampton or Hunter or Tet might become that type of guy. Probably. I'm probably more that way with Hunter because I, Ted McMillan kind of feels similar to me that I'm pretty sure he's going to be a fantasy wide receiver too. I'm not sure that he's ever going to be a Fantasy wide receiver. 1. Travis Hunter, like let's, let's wait to talk about him just a little bit more. Any, any final thoughts on Cam Ward on the Titans?

[Heath Cummings]

No, I, I think you've, you've summed it up perfectly there in terms of for me, a pick like Cam Ward is insulated value. In terms of Cam Ward can have a fairly terrible rookie year and in a year's time he'll probably still be around QB22, QB25 in most dynasty ranks and most valuations because he's still going to be a starting quarterback. And I think that's part of the thing you need to add into that evaluation. It's not just the production, it's the insulation. You know, if Amari and Hampton comes out and has an absolute shock over a year, can't get on the field. Najee Harris is the working back and he, he looks bad. He's not going to be worth a second round pick. Whereas Cam Ward will always have that insulated value.

[Rich]

No, that's a very good point. Let's, let's go from like one end of these spectrum to the complete opposite end of the spectrum because I don't know how much insulated value there is with Travis Hunter if he becomes a full time cornerback sometime in the next 18 months. But Travis Hunter goes second overall to Jacksonville. Jacksonville paid a king's ransom to go up and get this guy. They are talking about playing him on both sides of the ball. Just in case you forgot. Last year at Colorado, 96 catches, 1258 yards, 15 receiving touchdowns while playing as a full time corner. He was the Heisen Trophy winner. He was arguably the best defensive back in this NFL draft and the best wide receiver in this NFL draft. What else is there to say about.

[Heath Cummings]

Travis Hunter, I think he's phenomenal. He's absolutely incredible. I mean I always lean towards the numbers side of things. If you look at my rookie model. So he's a 95th percentile prospect. That puts him on par with Malik Neighbors. That's ahead of Marvin Harrison, that's ahead of Ted McMillan. Like this is a truly generational elite prospect as a wide receiver. And as I said earlier, if you could tell me that he was going to be 100% wide receiver, run every route, play every snap. He's my 101 no conversation. I take him ahead of Genti in every format. It's, it's just that that question isn't it is, is, is he going to be a wide receiver? Is he going to be able to hold up? I think the amount the Jags paid up to, to trade up to go and get him, I think they have to play in both sides of the ball and, and that just makes me nervous because I do wonder if we get this kind of. He plays 60, 70% on offense and yeah, maybe takes a few snaps off on defense and right early downs and, and run situations and therefore he's sort of not a full player on either side of the ball. So yeah, knocks it slightly.

[Rich]

I, no, I think that's, that's a, that's a great point. And I'm skeptical that he can be a full time player. Now you say 60, 70%. Like I, I could maybe get on board with Travis Hunter being so good that at a 75 snapshare he's a top 12 wide receiver in the NFL in a couple years. Like I think that's possible. I, I do want to kind of just tell you where I'm at in terms of. I, I try to go through. I think the upside is what I think a reasonable projection is. I've obviously got him as riskier than your average early wide receiver. But I, I came up with basically like somewhere around a 13 or 14 fantasy points per game this year, which is a high end wide receiver. Three that has so much upside that you have to draft him higher than he projects, obviously. But then I always try to put a number in there for like what's, what's a guy's reasonable upside in a given season over the next three, four, five years. And just for reference, I've got two guys in my dynasty rankings at 390 fantasy points for a reasonable upside, which is an absur. Reasonable upside. But it's Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson and then basically I have a few guys Malik neighbors C.D. lamb and Travis Hunter at 370 fantasy points. Am I too high on the upside for, for Hunter and do you think a high end wide receiver three is about where he needs to be valued next year? Based on what we know right now?

[Heath Cummings]

I think I, I struggle to see a world where we're saying his upside is greater than Brian Thomas. I think that what Brian Thomas showed last year, I think as a prospect, Travis Hunt is a better prospect than Brian Thomas was. But I just think that what Brian Thomas showed last year as a route runner in terms of his release package was far better than I ever thought he showed in college. And I think that his upside is, is so great that I can't put Travis Hunter ahead of him, if that makes sense at the moment. I think he's, his upside's definitely in that wide receiver 1 range of outcomes. I mean, you mentioned earlier about sort of technical and not having that. I think Hunter does have that. I feel like it's, it's just so tough to have a true answer on this because we, we just don't know where he's going to play. I think. Yeah, as you said, for me, he's currently my dynasty wide receiver 24. But I could easily see, as you said, that that high upside, that low ceiling, it's just, it's just mad. And yeah, I'm kind of scrambled slightly.

[Rich]

Okay, so wide receiver 24 is, I mean, it's, I've got him at wide receiver 10 right now, so I'm ignoring the downside too much. So I just wonder. Let's just go into the imaginary world for a moment where you don't have to worry. I've promised you at least an 80% offensive snapshare for Travis Hunter. That's what he's going to do whenever he's healthy. And so you're getting full time wide receiver Travis Hunter, Travis Hunter or Marvin Harrison Jr.

[Heath Cummings]

I'd go Marvin Harrison.

[Rich]

I think Travis Hunter or Lad McConkey.

[Heath Cummings]

I'd probably go Travis Hunter there.

[Rich]

Hunter or Drake London.

[Heath Cummings]

Drake London.

[Rich]

Okay, so. And then I assume Hunter over Jordan, Addison T. Higgins, Rashi Rice in that range.

[Heath Cummings]

Not Rashi Rice, but the other guys.

[Rich]

Okay.

[Heath Cummings]

But again, I'm, I'm a huge Russian Rice guy, so.

[Rich]

Right. No, I, I, I, again, he's got his own couple of question marks coming back from the injury and the suspension. We've had this question in the chat and I, I've been trying to find a way to do it and I, I've not yet. But hypothetically you're getting points for Travis Hunter's offensive and defensive production in an IDP league. Is he the one on one?

[Heath Cummings]

I guess it depends slightly on scoring because obviously traditional scoring corners don't really score very highly in IDP leagues. But yeah, if, if you're getting, as you said, the upside of him as a wide receiver and you're tacking on even like 2, 3 points per game as, as a corner, that's. That's massive upside, isn't it? In terms of what he could potentially be.

[Rich]

Do you see any risk for Hunter that doesn't have to do with maybe playing corner?

[Heath Cummings]

No, no. I, I think he's as, as a pure wide receiver. I think he's one of the more safer prospects we've had in the last few years. I think he's an elite separator. I think he's an absolute, you know, dynamite contested catch guy. Like you think a guy that's sub 190 pounds shouldn't be as good as he is with the ball in the air. I think he's fantastic as a playmaker with the ball in his hands. So as a pure, pure prospect, I've got very few questions. It is just purely what is his role in the offense and if he is going to play both sides of the ball? You know, we say the NFL has 100 injury rate.

[Rich]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Does that mean he's got 200 injury rate because he's played both sides of the ball?

[Rich]

I, I do certainly think that increases his injury rate. I'm not. I'll have to check the Math on the 200 part, but I. No, I think that's a good way to wrap up Travis Hunters. Listen, we have him like 12 spots apart and where we rank him in our dynasty wide receiver rankings, I think we have him. I'm not sure. You said today. Right now, let's assume we get just a regular Friday night. So a couple of good landing spots for running backs, a couple for wide receivers, but I'm not sure if it really matters today. Right now. Travis Hunter's 105, 106 for you.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. So, yeah, Gen Z, that, that kind of next tier of water Mill and Hampton and then Hunter. That's where I'm comfortable with that risk reward balance.

[Rich]

So we are about 12 spots apart in dynasty wide receiver rankings. We're about three spots apart in terms of where you should take them in a rookie draft. But this is not because Rich has any doubts at all about Travis Hunter. This is entirely about your risk philosophy as a Dynasty fantasy Football manager. We talked about Cam Ward to start and like if he has a blemish, it's that, yeah, we're not sure that there's really starter in a 1 QB league upside, but he's got really good insulated value. Travis Hunter may have a season as the number one wide receiver in fantasy at some point, but he has a lot of risk and you could lose all of the value that you invest in him in a very short period of time, even if he's not through injury, just for another reason. So that's a lot of fun for you guys preparing for your rookie drafts. Let's, let's, let's take all the controversy out of this and get to the third player selected. Ashton Genty goes to the Las Vegas Raiders. As sure as, as both Rich and I talk about Travis Hunter being the number one wide receiver prospect in this class, everyone else was about Ashton Genty being the number one running back prospect in this class. When I had Matt Waldman on for the running back preview earlier this month, he had him as the number one running back prospect in the last three years. I think some people would say the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley. He lands in a spot with virtually no competition for touches. Is there, is there anything else to say about Ashton, Jenny?

[Heath Cummings]

No, I think he's, he's absolutely phenomenal. You know, he's, he's amazing to watch. I, I think he's an elite prospect. You know, I talked about my rookie model earlier. He's 99th percentile in that. The, the guys in the last 10 years that have been above 95th percentile, they've averaged a one season of 22.14 points per game in their first three seasons in the league. So, yeah, it's, it's all looking pretty.

[Rich]

Everything you could want. Yes.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, my, my one slight niggle, I guess, is that I think we're talking about this as an amazing landing spot, an amazing situation because there's Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly and we want to run the board. And I get that. I think they've got two good offensive linemen, right? And I think they've got three below average guys. And it's like, okay, we've still got time. They might address that tonight. There might be, you know, some moves or, you know, players added in free agency or what. But at the moment I've got three big question marks on the offensive line and that's, that scares me slightly. I think Genti's good enough that he can overcome that, but it's still a, a slight niggle. Should we say?

[Rich]

No, I, I think that makes sense. There's been for the past several years now, I've. Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase have just swapped spots and swapped spots and people will say, oh, you've got Jefferson over Chase now. And I just kind of wanted to shrug, be like, I they're two best wide receivers in Dynasty. I don't care which one you rank first. I am starting to feel that way about Bijan Robinson, Jameer Gibbs and Ashton Gentia. The consensus on Twitter last night seemed to be Genti is a top three running back. There are people arguing for one. I initially came out with him as two behind Bijon, ahead of Gibbs. But they're all so close that I just would like to say these are the three best running backs in Dynasty fantasy football. I don't care what order you rank them in. Do you care?

[Heath Cummings]

No, I, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think this, this is where I, I love, you know, trade values and trade systems rather than pure rankings. Because actually it's so much easier just say, these three guys, they're all the same value. They're all in the same tier. Take. Take of that what you will. It's. Yeah, it makes things much harder when you have to actually put one ahead of the other, doesn't it?

[Rich]

So I would, I would assume you would say if I could get Bijan plus for Genty, I would take it. If I could get Genty plus for Bijan, I would take it. Just take advantage of anybody else. Has any certainty between these three?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, absolutely. If, you know, I probably would want more than a third just because that doesn't really move any needles for me. But yeah, if you can get 2/3 or, you know, another player you like or something like that, I'd, I'd take any of them in any situation, in any roster situation, whether you're a contender or rebuilder or whatever. I think they're all pretty much exactly the same value.

[Rich]

I just had a question from Alex in the chat. Some people might say Chase Brown was a day one winner because the Bengals didn't take a running back. I'd like to see them get through day two before I would declare him a draft. But is Chase Brown plus 106 too much to offer for Genti? And I will. I'll let you answer, Rich, but I will just say if I had Genti and somebody offered me Chase Brown in the 106, I would just quickly say no.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I think I'm probably closer, but I still think it's a no. I think if you threw in a, you know, a random future second, I'd probably, probably do that. But yeah, I'd still want Genti there.

[Rich]

But, but to answer your question, Alex, no, it's not too much offer it maybe, maybe they'll take it. That'd be fantastic for you. Let's take our second break. When we come back, we've got Colston Loveland, we've got. I'm sorry, let's not take a second break. Quite. Let's talk about Ted McMillan first. That was. Apologies to Claire. I threw in an audible in there. Play action fake. Ted McMillan is on the Carolina Panthers. Before we get to Ted, was there a movement for Bryce Young in your dynasty quarterback rankings like there was for me with Trevor Lawrence based on this move?

[Heath Cummings]

A small move, but yeah, there was a move. He jumped ahead of tour and JJ McCarthy for me, which is yeah, up two spots, should we say? Just because it's, you know, another big bodied, another resource added to him and, and a guy that I think pairs really nicely with his style and how he's going to play. So yeah, a small adjustment.

[Rich]

Just on that same note, would you rather have Bryce Young or Cam Ward right now?

[Heath Cummings]

Bryce Young, but Bryce Young's. It's, it's the same tier. The, the Campbell, J.J. mcCarthy to Bryce Young. That, that's the tier for me.

[Rich]

Okay, now let's actually talk about the rookie. I, I made this reference several times in the pre draft process. So I want to ask you about this first. I, it had nothing to do with the actual guy but of the players that were being considered in round one at the wide receiver position, McMillan was the one that reminded me the most of recent big bodied first round busts. Is that just completely unfair to him?

[Heath Cummings]

A little bit. A little bit. I, I have this theory that I throw out that there's. I call it the Calvin Johnson theory because I say big, big, big, fast. You know, that prototypical size speed combination gets overdrafted and overhyped in, in dynasty circles. And I call it the Calvin Johnson theory because people are chasing after that, that dream of what an Adonis, what, what a physical specimen could be. And I think that's where we see the trail on Burkes and Xavier Leggettes and you know, even someone like DK Metcalf, who was once the dynasty wide like that, I don't think Tech McMillan is the athletes to be thrown in that bucket, if that makes sense. I think he's a little Bit more nuanced. I think he's got a little bit better foot speed. I think he's got a little bit more root running now to, to, to not just cast that kind of aspersion of big bodied fast guy that gets overdrafted.

[Rich]

I think that's, that's one of the first questions I have and I, I've, I've, I've seen different opinions on this. So it sounds like he's a better underneath route runner of players his size. Do you think he's going to have the ability to separate in the intermediate part of the field from NFL corners?

[Heath Cummings]

I think when, when we talk about root running and separation, it's, it's kind of a cast as like a yes, no thing, but actually there's, there's many different ways you can gain separation. Is, is this guy, is he going to be running with, you know, six yards of open space because he's broken a DB's ankles and is, is clear away? No, but is he going to be able to, you know, particularly you think of something like A.J. brown in Tennessee where he run huge amounts of those in breaking routes where he wasn't having to gain like three yards of separation. It was a foot of separation. But because of his body control and his ability to essentially box out the defender, he was open because that was all he needed to get there. And I think that's the kind of world where I see Tech McMillan is, yeah, he, he's good at the contested catch, but he's, that's not all he relies on. I think he's got the foot speed, I think he's got the, you know, the, the nuanced route running to create that separation. But he's never going to be, you know, someone like, you know, Calvin Ridley or someone like a keen Allen who's just a pure root running marvel that can break people apart and, and be completely wide open.

[Rich]

So I, I, he comes into a receiving room that most people look at and say, well, he's got no competition for targets, but all Adam Thielen does is earn targets and I think he's still on the team. Xavier Leguette was a pretty early pick last year. He's still on the team. Jalen Coker was actually good as a rookie. He's still on the team. Do you see McMillan and I don't know, maybe even in the profile has something to do with this, but do you see him as someone who walks in year one and is earning a 25 target share in this room? I was closer to 20 in my first projections, which doesn't get you a lot of, A lot of good places for 20, 25 redraft.

[Heath Cummings]

I think he'll probably be somewhere in between those two. Okay. Should we say 22 and a half?

[Rich]

Okay, that works.

[Heath Cummings]

I, I think he's gonna be, yeah, a good. I, I think it's gonna develop as the year goes on. I think we've already seen Adam Thielen's that safety blanket. He's going to command targets. I really like Jalen Coke last year. I've got serious concerns about Xavier Legette, but I think the type of player is they're going to manufacture touches for him. They're going to try and give him some opportunity after the catch. Maybe almost a bit like Rashy Rice was when he first came out as a rookie, where you've got those, A lot of drags, crossing routes, things like that. But I think as the season goes on, this offense is going to start to run through Tech McMillan. And I think as we get down the stretch, you know, as we get towards those fancy playoffs, I think he's going to be a really valuable asset and someone that, yeah, you might have to sit and wait once you've drafted him and probably can't start in the first few weeks, but I think once it gets to the, you know, the money time, I think he'll be a reliable kind of top 24 option as a rookie.

[Rich]

I've got McMillan at wide receiver, 19 currently in my dynasty rankings. Where are you at?

[Heath Cummings]

I am 13, currently 13.

[Rich]

So you've got him probably ahead of Addison and Higgins. What about Roma Dunes?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, so ahead of all those guys. So I've got him. He's the head of a tier with lad McConkey, Zay Flowers, T. Higgins, JSN Jalen model.

[Rich]

All right, that's going to do it. I know one more that's almost. That's going to do it for Ted McMillan. But are you, you're going into a rookie draft this year. You need to cut somebody for a third round rookie pick. Are you holding on to Thielner, Coker, Thielen?

[Heath Cummings]

Probably not, but I reckon there's a contending team I can probably get something from in a trade. Coker. I will always shine a light on Coker and hold out some hope.

[Rich]

Okay, Claire, now we're going to take a break and then we'll get into the guys drafted later in round one. 24 chefs, 24 culinary showdowns for 24 hours straight, which chef will out cook.

[Heath Cummings]

Outpace outlast the competition no Chef Escapes.

[Rich]

The clock season premiere 24 and 24 Last Chef Standing Sunday, April 27th at 8. See you first on Food Network stream next day on Max Hey There Travelers. Kaley Cuoco here. Sorry to interrupt your music, great artist, BT Dubs, but wouldn't you rather be there to hear it live? With Priceline you can get out of your dreams and into your dream concert. They've got millions of travel deals to get you to that festival gig, rave, sound bath or sonic experience you've been dreaming of. Download the Priceline app today and you can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline.

[Heath Cummings]

Go to your happy price, Priceline.

[Rich]

So I can't keep Rich here for an hour and a half so we're going to move a little bit quicker through these guys in the second half of the show. Colston Loveland to the Bears. The first tight end drafted ahead of Tyler Warren. Jacob Gibbs was on this show earlier this week on our tight end preview and he said that Colson Loveland was the best tight end in this class. Is Colson Loveland now your number one tight end in this class Always has.

[Heath Cummings]

Been, always will be excellent. Yeah, I I agree wholeheartedly. I think this he's a great prospects. I think this is a great landing spot and yeah, wheels up for for Loveland certainly.

[Rich]

Do you think that Cole commit has any impact at all in 2025?

[Heath Cummings]

No, not at all. Not at all. I think Colbert is the perfect embodiment of replacement level player and I don't think he'll yeah, maybe he'll be using some two tight end sets and means Loveland's not 100 snapshot guy but how many rookie titans walk in and be 100 snapshot go? I'm not concerned at all.

[Rich]

I assume that the pecking order in Detroit, in Chicago, in Detroit. That's what I wanted to say. We're going DJ Moore is first in targets, Roma Dunze is second in target and Warren is third. Slightly ahead of the running backs or Loveland.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, yeah. I mean it depends who we see drafted early day two if if they add in a traveling Henderson we won those early second round picks. Maybe I'll differ slightly but at the moment that's how I break it down.

[Rich]

Does this mean anything at all to you for Caleb Williams and I saw some of the discussion when leveling was drafted. That man, he's locked in with a good quarterback for a long time and a great offense and I, I didn't see quite enough last year to say that Caleb Williams is now a good NFL quarterback.

[Heath Cummings]

I think he's competent. I think that hopefully Ben Johnson coming in will provide enough that we can see that ceiling. So I say questions still out but I'm hopeful.

[Rich]

Got Rich a little bit choked up there. Questioning whether Caleb Williams is good. No. Just take a couple of minutes. You're good. No, no problem. We will I put last night that I wasn't actually that excited about Warren or Loveland in their rookie seasons and I've been wrong about tight ends and rookie seasons before. I've been right a few times. But it seems like it's a pretty strong consensus that one of these guys is now tight end for in the dynasty landscape and one of these guys is now tied in five. Do you think it's more likely that Loveland surpasses one of Bowers, McBride or Laporta in the next couple years or that he falls outside of the top five?

[Heath Cummings]

So I've already got Loveland a hell of laporter.

[Rich]

Oh wow.

[Heath Cummings]

So yeah, maybe that answers that. I don't see a world in which he overTakes Bowers or McBride.

[Rich]

Okay.

[Heath Cummings]

But yeah, I'd also like to throw TJ Hawkinson in that mix in terms of the, the guys in that sort of second tier as well.

[Rich]

Yeah, I think he is the guy that I have one spot behind them. So he's, he's my tight end six and I, I wouldn't be all that surprised by a bounce back season for him. And then of course if you're a contender, you'd probably just rather have George Kittle than a lot of these guys and just go, go win a championship. Let's talk about Tyler Warren who went four picks later to the Colts. Such a confusing situation because you can definitely look at the coach and say, oh, he's had a lot of success with tight ends in the past. This offense wants to use their tight end. This is a good landing spot for Tyler Warren. On the other hand, he has Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones as his two quarterback options and he has Michael Pittman and Josh Downs ahead of him in the target pecking order. And this has not been a high volume pass offense. You think this is a good, bad or indifferent landing spot for Warren?

[Heath Cummings]

I think it's a terrible landing spot and I think that this is sometimes where landing spot analysis is is difficult because we look at it and say he's going to be the Titan one. There's A clear starting role. He's going to be great. But for me, I'm looking at saying Tyler Warren's not a traditional white tight end. Like, he's not a guy that can line up in line, win with his blocking and be a competent receiving weapon. He's a guy that needs to be moved around, needs to line up in the slot. Well, Josh Downs is, to me, one of the better slot receivers, pure slot receivers in the NFL. So are we taking Josh Downs out of the slot to put Tyler Warren in the slot? Yes. Okay. We can kind of put them both on the field, but then you've got Pittman, who thrives on those kind of intermediate and breaking routes. You've got A.D. mitchell. I just don't see how these pieces all fit. Yeah, there's, there's. There's a world where Tyler Warren is, is competent. He improves his blocking, he comes in, he can line up in line as, as much as we'd hope, but I don't see how it fits from a receiving perspective. And that's before you've even gotten to the accuracy and, and passing concerns at quarterback, whether that's Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones. So, yeah, I, I really don't like the, the landing spot for 2025. Who knows who the quarterback is? Who knows the offensive coordinator, head coach is in 2026. It might turn into a good landing spot, but for redraft, for immediate dynasty impact, I just don't see it.

[Rich]

Let's stick with the, the better chance. Better chance that Tyler Warren is more productive than Colston Loveland over the next five years or that a tight end who hasn't been drafted yet is more productive than Tyler Warren.

[Heath Cummings]

I definitely take the Titan that's not been drafted over Tyler Warren than Warren over Loveland. For sure.

[Rich]

We're going to keep manifesting. Day two, Harold Fannin to the Chiefs.

[Heath Cummings]

And Mason Taylor to the Jets.

[Rich]

Yep, Mason Taylor to the jets. And then we'll see where Tyler Warren falls after that. So would you rather have Hawkinson than Warren today?

[Heath Cummings]

Yes. Yeah. Yeah, I've got. Warren's probably gonna fall in around tight end eight or nine for me, around sort of Tucker Craft, Mark Andrews. Got it. Kelsey. That sort of range.

[Rich]

Okay, let's. Let's finish up with the tight ends and get back to RB2, Amari and Hampton. The RB2 in probably rookie drafts, definitely in the NFL draft, goes to the Chargers with the number 22 pick. The. The most common response I've seen, and I saw it in our group chat, I saw it On Twitter is. I don't really like that for 2025, but man, he's going to be awesome in that system moving forward.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I think I kind of agree. I love the draft capital. I love the situation. I'd like to see them invest in the interior office, find a little bit more. Right. I wonder if we're gonna see a Jonathan Taylor like rookie year where he's quiet for the first half of the year and then could potentially take over and be a league winner down the stretch. I think he's got that in his range of outcomes. If this offense is what it could be and he is what it could be, I, I think it's fantastic.

[Rich]

Do you think he's a Jonathan Taylor like talent.

[Heath Cummings]

Maybe a little bit below that. I think he's, he's 93rd percentile in my model. So he's kind of a tier two prospect. Jonathan Taylor was like a one and a half tiered prospect. He was sort of 95th. So yeah, I think he's a very, very good prospect, but not elite.

[Rich]

And this is either the 103 or the 104 for you, depending on whether you need a running back or a wide receiver to he and Technic mill and relatively close in terms of value.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, absolutely. It's a toss up pick. It's, it's probably if you're looking to compete in 2025. I'd probably lean Hampton. If, if you're looking for the future, I'd lean tech McMillan and then as you said kind of potentially draft need leans.

[Rich]

Either way, the, the dynasty running back landscape. Part of the, I mean part of the reason Aston Genti is just immediately a top three running back is because he's that good. Part of the reason is because it is frightening to look at like RB7 through 12 right now in the rankings because every one of them I can make a case of, oh, there's big risk ahead. So when I slide Hampton into the rankings, I initially have him at RB12. Jonathan Taylor is three spots ahead of him. Saquon Barkley is four spots ahead of him. Actually it's RB11. I apologize. Where were you at on Hampton and specifically how do you compare him to guys like Breeze Hall, Chase Brown, Bucky Irving?

[Heath Cummings]

So, so he's RB8 for me, but he's in, in a tier with basically all those guys you, you listed. So yeah, I've got Bruce Hall, Bucky Irving ahead of him. I've got Jonathan Taylor, Chase Brown directly after him. So as you said, it's basically Throw a hat over all of them and depends what you fancy really is to which way you'd lean.

[Rich]

Do you think that his value is any different based on the scoring system? Is he. Is he better in half PPR than full PPR because the system or because of the skill set? How many catches do you expect for Hampton?

[Heath Cummings]

Can I ask that question in two days time when I know if they've drafted another wide receiver? I think that depends on it. Is that if they're not going to add any more pass catchers I think we're going to see a lot of schemed up touches for the running backs, whether that be in kind of the screen game or little dump offs and things like that. In which case would probably be a bit higher on in PPR leagues if they were to add, you know, one of these bigger bodied outside receivers. That means McConkey can be that manufactured touch guy. Then I'd probably be a little bit lower on Hampton in pure PPR formats.

[Rich]

Is there any chance that a running back gets drafted tonight and it moves ahead of Hampton? Like there's still a lot of opportunities. I've really been thinking the quinch on Judkins Browns connection makes a lot of sense. We have heard that the Broncos really like Trev on Henderson and people see him as the next Alvin Camara and Sean Payton's system. If they're early day two, early round two running backs, is there any chance they're ahead of Hampton?

[Heath Cummings]

No, no, I don't think there's anybody left out there. Any landing spot, any draft capital that would change that mind. Maybe if like the Chiefs traded up for the 33rd pick and took travy on Henderson, something like that, maybe I'd rethink it. But no, I, I don't think there's any situation that would have anyone above Hampton.

[Rich]

But what if we're just talking about 2025, could you see a running back landing somewhere without Anaji Harris and being better than him as a robot rookie?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, definitely. I think if any of those guys in that next tier, so you're talking Henderson, Juggins. If, if they land in a spot where they to have the backfield to themselves, then I think for, for 2025 redraft purposes you, you've got to have them above Hampton. Just because Hampton's got a, a nausea Harris sized figure looming over him for competing for touches.

[Rich]

Who would you project to have more touches in 2025? Harris or Hampton?

[Heath Cummings]

I'd expect it to be close, but I think it's going to be one of these. That's like a 60, 40 split. Harris to start the season and then as the season goes on it transitions to Hampton and then as we get towards the end of season, it's potentially going to be a 60, 40, 70, 30 split towards Hampton.

[Rich]

Yeah, and I think it's a good. Remember that like traditionally Greg Roman has liked to put two running backs out there and we saw more even split than we should have between J.K. dobbins and Gus Edwards earlier this year. So I, I would, I think that that that split expectation and expecting it to change throughout the year, I don't really think, unless Harris is hurt, that we're probably getting a 70% split for Hampton in his rookie season. I think he's probably capped at around 60%. That makes sense. Now in this offense you could go score 12 touchdowns and that's okay. You're still, you still have a great season. I, I also am a little bit concerned that Harris gets the short yardage work to begin. Although both backs should be good at that. We've got two first round rookies left to talk about. Yeah, we should have three. Let's talk about a Mecca. Ekbuca to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I love this guy's game. He has shown the ability to produce with elite wide receivers around him. I thought he came into the year like, just like one of those guys that could be polished and contribute right away and then he lands on a team with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jaylen McMillan. I have no idea what the Buccaneers were thinking, but still, great system, great player. How do you feel about Iguka?

[Heath Cummings]

I absolutely love Igbuka, the prospects. I agree with everything you said. I, I feel like he's just the perfect wide receiver too for an NFL team in terms of good route runner, good separation, does all the dirty work, can do all that kind of stuff. And then as you said, my like dream upside was Chris Godwin as, as like his, that's his, his ideal role, ideal situation. And he's now sat behind Chris Godwin and I think I'm the person that sits here and preaches, you know, landing spots are relevant for wide receivers, draft talent and, and all that kind of stuff. And then you're looking at it, it's like, okay, so best case scenario, he's the wide receiver three and he beats out Jalen McMillan as a rookie. Could he take over in 2026? Well, the Bucks are paying 25 million to Mike Evans and 33 million to Chris Godwin with no outs in those contracts. And it's like, okay, so both those guys are on the team in 2026. So are we saying it's 2027 before he can be, you know, the target leader in the offense? That's a long time for me to be waiting for a dynasty prospect. So yeah, I'm really struggling with my, my adage of talent over need and, and landing spot is irrelevant, but I, I just really like the player so it's tough to, to ignore.

[Rich]

You think he falls to round two of rookie drafts now because of this landing spot and the delayed outcome?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I think we've, as long as we get, we see it at some running backs go early day two. I think the, the run on wide receivers that we're expecting in terms of four or five guys go probably in round two. I'd imagine he falls, if not into round two, at very back end of round one.

[Rich]

I will say if you're a guy who's entering a true rebuild and you get a chance to start your draft with one of these elite players at the very top, maybe you take cam ward at 102 and then you can take Igbuka at 202 and you don't care how many fantasy points you score this year. That's a pretty ideal situation. I think you're getting a first round talent in the second round of your draft and the period of time where he's not going to score points. You don't care.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, absolutely. I'd also go away, you know, to your calendar, whatever you use and, and write up 1st of October by Emekar Abuka because I think he's gonna have a slow start to the year and I think that people are going to start to forget about him. And yeah, I will be certainly looking to scoop up some, some extra shares in the middle of the season once he's, he's potentially not scoring many fantasy points.

[Rich]

That being said, that that does have an impact, not scoring points early in his career. So he is down to my wide receiver 30 as of right now. Where do you have him?

[Heath Cummings]

So I haven't, I haven't entered him into my rank check just because it depends a little bit what's going to happen early day two as to where he sits. But yeah, I'd imagine he'll be in that kind of wide receiver 30ish range. I'm just looking now. Yeah, I've got probably around Josh Downs, Jaden Reed, Chris Godwin. Interestingly, in that sort of wide chief.

[Rich]

30 range, I, I really wanted to go to the Packers Because I thought that he would become the clear number one there in a hurry and they haven't had a number one but that they acted like in the off season maybe they want one. Well, they went out and drafted Matthew golden who I actually really like a lot more in a wide receiver 2 type of setting. I'm not sure he's an alpha number one. So what did you like? This is an offense that basically gives nobody 100 targets since Matt LaFleur's gotten there. Devonte Adams, the last guy I think to do that for them is Golden. The next. Is he the best wide receiver on his own team now?

[Heath Cummings]

No, I think for fantasy I'd still rather have Jaden Reed straight up over Golden. I'm not the biggest golden fan as a player. I think I get what the packers are doing because I think it makes sense. And you've got kind of dubs or Wicks as your ex. You've got golden as that vertical kind of flanker. You've got Reed as the practical slot. You've got Craft who can, you know, be a prototypical inline tight end that makes sense as an offense and you can spread the ball around right just for fancy. It's just not great because I think that he's not going to see the volume. I don't think he. I think there will be some high value touches because I think he's going to be seen downfield. We're probably going to have an adote north of 12, 13, something like that, which is interesting, but for traditional formats where we're having to pick a a player into your lineup each week, it's going to be a headache because I think he's going to be a little bit boom, bust. So I'd rather lean towards the manufacturer touches of, you know, the screen game and handoff and things like that that I think Jaden Reed could have because it gives a bit better floor.

[Rich]

I've got golden at wide receiver 27, so just a couple of spots ahead of it. Buka. I would definitely rather draft him in a league where I don't have to choose what weeks to start him because I think you're exactly right. It might Christian Watson experience where he may get two targets one week and score two touchdowns the next week. But again, probably a guy who's right on the border of round one and round two and rookie drafts, right?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, absolutely. I'm probably a little bit lower. I'd. I'd have him below Egbuka both in my receiver ranks and in rookie ranks. I just think that as I said, I, I'm not the biggest fan of the prospect and although it's more immediate playing time, if we're looking next year, Christian Watson comes back like it, it, it just gets even messier, doesn't it? So, yeah, I'm, I'm not as high and as hopeful as, as you are.

[Rich]

That sounds a bit, I think one of the guys in super flex leagues that people are going to be comparing and contrasting with these two wide receivers who were drafted in one in round one is the second quarterback drafted in round one. The Giants trade back into round one to draft Jackson Dart. They must do a reality television show with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jackson Dart. This, I demand it this season. It's going to be fantastic. Were you big on Dart coming into the draft and do you, do you think he has a chance to be a five year starter in the NFL?

[Heath Cummings]

First of all, let's not forget about Tommy DeVito in that mix as well. That's some more entertainment in there as well. No, I, I wasn't a big, dark believer. I think the physical tools are there, the talent's there. How can we project a guy that basically was never asked to process in college? This is a guy that, you know, was never asked to go from read 1 to 2 to 3. It was, this is where the ball's going. This is the one read you have to make. That's, that's a big learning curve. I don't understand what the Giants are doing. Like, this is a guy that we're saying needs some time to sit. I think it would be great in an ideal world where you've got Wilson, what, James Winston that can sit there. Be, be the Vets allow Dart some time to sit. But this is a head coach and a GM that are on the hot seat. And I think that anytime you spend a first round pick, there's going to be pressure to start. You know, if they start losing a few games, we're going to see Dart thrown in, which scares me because I think he really needs at least a year or two to sit and I don't think he's going to get that. So I'm, I'm nervous about Dart as a prospect and this landing spot and situation makes me even more nervous.

[Rich]

I'm nervous for the other reason because I think like Brian Dable's shown an ability to win games that he shouldn't win and probably wishes he's won a few less games over the last three years. So he could have drafted a quarterback that he liked more than Jackson Dart. But I, I could see a real situation where we don't really learn much about Dart this year. The Giants are bad again and then they have a complete regime change and he's got a new coach and a new GM that's not attached to him at all. Yep. So I, I, it's a first round quarterback and it is in super flex. Those matter a lot. I'm gonna take Golden Anagbuca ahead of Jackson Dirt.

[Heath Cummings]

Yes. You know, for everything we talked about Cam Ward and how his value is insulated because he's that 101 and the Titans he's going to be a starting quarterback for at least two years. As you said, if, you know, worst case scenario, the Giants start Russell Wilson for six games. He's bad. They bench him. They play James Winston for three. They bench him. Brian Dable's fighting for his job. He needs to throw in Jackson Dart and say, you know, I, I drafted him. This, this is the future that doesn't work out. Whoever comes in and said coach has got no ties to Jackson Dart. He's got no insulation at all. And I'd be really nervous. So yeah, I, I think, yeah, all of it just makes me incredibly worried. And I always say that any quarterback that has got a clear cut, safe starting job is worth at least the first rounder in su flex leagues. I don't know if I can spend a first rounder on someone like Jackson Dart given those, those concerns and nervousness.

[Rich]

Shador Sanders, let's say gets drafted in the first 10 picks tonight, gets taken by the Browns or the Saints and we get indications that they're hoping that he can start this year. Sanders or Dart in rookie dress I.

[Heath Cummings]

Think if Sanders ends up on the Browns it's easily Sanders for me if he ends up on the Saints, who knows what's going on with Eric Carr. It would probably be a toss up and I'd probably just say I won't draft either. But yeah, if Sanders ends up on the Browns, what does it pick? 33 today I'd have him overdot.

[Rich]

And then is there any, any chance that Jalen Milroe ends up ahead of both of them?

[Heath Cummings]

I, I really hope so. I really hope that someone takes a shot like we, we dream of these like fantasy, like unicorns of what Jaylen Milro could be. This is a guy that can throw the ball all over the field, is one of the best pure runners in terms of athleticism and instincts we've seen in years. I just dream that somebody is going to give him the chance, so I really hope so. But who knows? It wouldn't shock me if he fell to day three, to be honest.

[Rich]

Rich, you've been so generous with your time. I appreciate all the information. It's all. We always learn something when you're on the show. If, if you want to give me two or three things you're really hoping to see tonight.

[Heath Cummings]

So Mason Taylor to the Jets. I've been trying to talk this into existence for the last three months, and then I just pray that Travyn Henderson doesn't end up on the Browns. Like that would just, that would just cripple me as a fantasy, as a fan is everything. I just don't want to see him torn away out there.

[Rich]

No, no, no. Those are. Those are. We'll add those two to the Harold Fanon to the Chiefs. And let's get a lot. Let's get five or 10 running backs and wide receivers in round two tonight. That'd be a lot of fun, even though it'd be a lot of words to write and say. Thank you very much, Rich, one more time, tell everybody where they can find your work.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, find me over at Dicey island on Twitter. And all my work is on on the Fancy Sanctuary.

[Rich]

Thank you, Rich. Thank you, Claire, for making everything work. Thank you everybody who was active in the chat. We will talk to you next Tuesday.

[Heath Cummings]

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