FFT Express - Adam Aizer's All-In List! 5 Must-Draft Players for 2025! (08/19 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

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Fantasy Football Today Express: Adam Aizer’s All-In List! 5 Must-Draft Players for 2025

Release Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Adam Aizer
Co-host/Analysts: Regular FFT crew

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Episode Theme

Adam Aizer unveils his 2025 “All-In” list: five must-draft fantasy football players for the upcoming season. The episode focuses on the reasoning behind each pick, including statistical insights, strategic draft advice, and value projections, as the crew aims to help listeners dominate their fantasy leagues.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nico Collins – Wide Receiver, Houston Texans

• [02:48] Adam boldly declares Collins a top-draft target, noting his immense efficiency and elite role in Houston’s high-flying offense.
  • Adam: "I love Nico Collins. He’s wide receiver three for me... I might be so bold as to take Nico Collins (over CeeDee Lamb)."
  • Stats: Last year, Collins’ pace over the first four weeks projected to 2,100 yards, 9 TDs, 183 targets, and a 29.3% target share – even with Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs active.
  • Adam's Take: Slight durability concerns, but the upside justifies a late first- or early second-round selection.
• [04:12] Co-host agrees, ranking him as a first-round pick in full PPR and highlighting opportunity with the unsure Houston run game.

2. Christian Kirk – Wide Receiver, Houston Texans (Sleeper)

• [04:40] Adam singles out Kirk as a deep-value slot guy, playing a role similar to last year’s Stefon Diggs.
  • Not expected to score loads of touchdowns, but solid for double-digit PPR points weekly.
  • "I think we’re talking about a top 36 wide receiver that you can get around wide receiver 50. So I like Christian Kirk.”
• [05:28] Co-host notes Kirk’s potential as a dependable short-area target, especially if Houston’s run game remains uncertain.

3. Chase Brown – Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals

• [06:01] Adam moves Brown into his “Sweet 16,” now considering him among the top 8 RBs and 8 WRs to draft in the first two rounds.
  • “He’s just getting so many touches... their offensive coordinator said ‘Chase Brown’s going to be a household name’.”
  • After the Zach Moss injury, Brown averaged over 23 touches/game, showing three-down usage and goal-line opportunities.
• [07:02] Co-host reminds listeners: "From Week 9 on... 23.6 touches per game, 20.6 full PPR points per game. One of the best second-round picks you could have."

4. Ricky Pearsall – Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers

• [08:46] Adam highlights the “stars aligning for Ricky Pearsall”—citing injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings as a golden opportunity.
  • "You got Aiyuk out. You’ve got Jauan Jennings out... More wide receiver injuries right, that have affected the 49ers."
• [09:36] Pearsall’s usage in preseason impressed the crew: “Three targets on one possession with Brock Purdy... He’s fast, got more juice than Jauan Jennings. He’s a first-round pick.”
  • Adam: “To get Ricky Pearsall in round seven or eight... Don’t believe ADP, I think you gotta be looking for him in round 8 at the latest."
• [11:05] Co-host asks if Jennings’ potential return would change Adam’s view; Adam insists: “All in, all in.”

5. Tyler Warren – Tight End, New York Giants

• [12:07] Adam targets Warren as the late-round tight end to snag, especially if you miss out on the top three.
  • “If I don’t get one of the top 3, I’m almost certainly waiting to take Tyler Warren... Daniel Jones is going to have a long leash... I expect just a lot more pass attempts.”
  • Predicts a potential “Sam LaPorta type” rookie season (meaning reliable and potentially top 5-7 TE stats).
• [13:10] Co-host: “I do love Warren’s ability to break tackles, extend plays... With Jones under center it should be better for his pass catching options.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On taking risks with high-upside picks:
  • Adam: “I couldn’t pass up Nico Collins... If you can get him in the second round you struck gold. But late first round is amazing for Nico.” ([02:48])
• On value hunting:
  • Adam: “I think we’re talking about a top 36 wide receiver that you can get around wide receiver 50.” ([04:40])
• On targeting opportunity:
  • Adam: “I’m just hitching my wagon to the lead running back of the Bengals, who their offensive coordinator said ‘Chase Brown’s going to be a household name.’” ([06:01])
• Playful banter:
  • Adam: “They’re getting ready to call Jerry Rice is what they’re… Yeah, Geriatric Rice. Am I right?”
    ([09:18])
• On sticking to bold picks:
  • Adam, when pressed if Jennings’ return tempers optimism for Pearsall: “All in, all in.” ([11:23])
• On tight end strategy:
  • Adam: “If I don’t get one of the top three, I’m almost certainly waiting to take Tyler Warren.” ([12:11])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:18 – Start of All-In List segment & Nico Collins breakdown
• 04:40 – Christian Kirk as a sleeper
• 06:01 – Elevating Chase Brown into draft must-have territory
• 08:46 – Ricky Pearsall’s sky-high upside amid injuries in SF
• 12:07 – Tyler Warren: late-round TE strategy

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All-In List: Adam's 5 Must-Draft Players for 2025

1. Nico Collins (WR, HOU) – First/early-second round value, WR2/3 overall upside
2. Christian Kirk (WR, HOU) – Deep sleeper, great late-round floor
3. Chase Brown (RB, CIN) – Ascending workhorse, second-round anchor
4. Ricky Pearsall (WR, SF) – Sixth- to eighth-round breakout candidate
5. Tyler Warren (TE, NYG) – Preferred late-round TE, especially for those punting the position

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Transcript

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[Adam]

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[Co-host]

He's pushing them to the middle of the table. Adam Mazer Ace Ace is all in. Here's his favorite. Here are his favorite fantasy players for 2025. I could have done a better job at the end of that intro, Adam. That's why you're the host. But you are a big time fantasy football fan just like all of us. I want to know the first name on your all in list for 2025.

[Adam]

I just took him 9th overall in the FFT Open I took him ahead of Ashton Genty and I took him thinking I'm probably not going to get a good running back in round two. So this is a mistake. I should just take the running back. But I couldn't pass up Nico Collins. I love Nico Collins. He's wide receiver three for me, I am very tempted to make him wide receiver too. I haven't had to choose between him and CD Lamb. But if I had, let's say the fourth pick in a draft or something and I had to choose between Nico and CD Lamb, I might be so bold as to take Nico Collins. Here's why. On in terms of yards per target, yards per catch, yards per out run, we are talking about one of the most efficient wide receivers in the NFL. Think about AJ Brown and how good AJ Brown is. And we just know if AJ Brown were to we're on a team where he could get 170 targets or something like that. A.J. brown might be wide receiver one, he's that good. It's the Eagles offense in the past attempts that hold them back. Nico is just like that. Nico is so good and he's so efficient. And last year the start he got off to was was just insane. The first four weeks Nico Collins on pace for 2100 yards, almost nine touchdowns, 183 targets. He had a 29.3 target share. That was with Stefan Diggs and Tank Dell. I believe that he was not the same player coming back from the hamstring injury and he was still fine after that. But I think we've got the potential for. I don't think he can be wide receiver one because I don't think he gets 10 targets a game. But I do think he can be wide receiver two or three and and I love walking away with him. If you can get him in the second round you struck gold. But late first round is amazing for Nico.

[Co-host]

I agree. I think he's a first round pick as well. Top 10 in full PPR, 8.3 targets per game. Last year his target per route run rate was higher once Stefan Diggs and Tank Dell were off the field. But I don't know how many targets Christian Kirk, Jaden Higgins, Jalen Noel will take away and we know that the run game huge question mark in Houston. So I like where you're coming from with that. I like them at seventh overall in a PPR league. All right, next name. Adam, who you got?

[Adam]

Well, actually I'm gonna stick there with a sleeper and it's Christian Kirk actually and I don't even mind. I don't set out to take both Kirk and Collins. I don't think it's one of the situations where if Collins got hurt, Kirk would go crazy or anything like that. But I do think Christian Kirk is kind of similar to Khalil, Shakir, Jacoby, Myers, guys like that. He's not going to score a lot of touchdowns. But I was pretty encouraged. I don't want to make too much of a preseason game and I was encouraged by his usage and I just think he's gonna sort of be like Stefan Diggs. I don't think he's going to be as good as Diggs was last year. But play that slot role. Hopefully get 7ish targets, 6, 7 targets per game. Hopefully score about 11 or more PPR fantasy points per game and maybe maybe a little bit more than that. Maybe you can have a nice year. I think we're talking about a top 36 wide receiver that you can get somewhere around. Wide receiver 50. So I like Christian Kirk.

[Co-host]

I think once the Texans figure out their run game, AKA when Joe Mixon is healthy, Christian Kirk is going to go back to the fantasy bench. But until then, I think he offers them just a nice short area target, a layup type play, an extended run and those are the types of plays that can help make slot receivers helpful in full ppr. So I like where you're coming from. Diggs, by the way, last year, Adam, eight targets per game in that Houston offense. All right, you got a sleeper, you got a stud. They're all in Houston, they're all in Texas. Are we staying in Texas for the next name?

[Adam]

No, we're going to Chase Brown. I was just talking to Jamie on on FFT and I was saying that I had this group of seven elite running backs and eight elite wide receivers and I wanted to get two of them, which is only. You're only guaranteed to do that if you're picking 10th, 11th or 12th in a 12 team league. But in a full PPR league. I have now moved Chase Brown to that now top 16 where I have now eight elite running backs, eight elite wide receivers and I'm comfortable taking him 16th overall yesterday or Monday night in the preseason game. He's just getting so many touches. The thing is, I don't think he's going to be a a very efficient runner. I think he will be as a receiver but he got a goal line carry. He didn't come off the field. I think he played at least 1/3 down so I think he'll probably split that with P Ryan. He was elite after the Zach Moss injury. He'll be a little. He won't be as good as he was there, but I mean, I'm just hitching my wagon to the lead running back who of the Bengals, who their offensive coordinator said Chase Brown's going to be a household name. I think he's going to be super involved and he's going to score a ton of fantasy points.

[Co-host]

A Sweet 16 player for you, as it were. I like to remind people that from Week 9 on for Chase Brown, he averaged 23.6 touches per game, played 80% or more of the snaps and in every game and 20.6 full PPR points per game, 18.3 half PPR points per game, 15.99 PPR points per game One of the best second round picks that you could have, Adam. I want your next name after this break.

[Adam]

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[Co-host]

We're back on FFT Express. How many more names you got for us on your all in list?

[Adam]

I've got two. Give me one of them. Well, it's also on yours. Is Ricky Pearsall super pumped about Ricky Piersol? I think you'd have a pretty good discussion now. Piersol vs. A Mecca Abuka now that Jaylen McMillan has more long term injury. Unfortunately Abuka is looking really good right now, but the stars have a line for Ricky Pearsall to just dominate this wide receiver core. You got Ayuk out. You've got Juwan Jennings out. Yeah, cowing. I mean, you have more wide receiver injuries, right, that have. That have affected the 49ers.

[Co-host]

They're getting ready to call Jerry Rice is what they're.

[Adam]

Yeah, yeah. Geriatric Rice. Am I right?

[Co-host]

I mean, he's one of the greatest players.

[Adam]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

Sorry, I'm not gonna make jokes, Adam, but yeah, tell me more about Ricky Piersol because I love hearing about him again.

[Adam]

This is. This. We felt this way before the preseason game, but what did he have? Three targets on one possession with Brock Purdy and looks great. He's fast, he's got more speed, more juice than Juwan Jennings. He's a first round pick. Last year he said, you know, he. He got shot and he said he didn't have a training camp. And basically the season was his training camp. The days in between the games were like his training camp. So this is just such a beneficial off season for Ricky Piersol. I love attaching myself to great offenses and this is one of those great offenses. The Lions are kind of similar where they, they have players who are going in the mid rounds. It's not like everyone's early. You know, the Bengals. You can't get a mid round pick on the Bengals. The 49ers, you can. So to get Ricky Pearsall in round seven or eight, I mean, his ADP might still be in the hundreds. Don't believe that. I think you got to be looking for him in round eight at the latest to get the lead wide receiver for the 49ers there. Brandon Ayuk has twice in his career crushed his ADP from the same range. So I think Pierce all will do it too.

[Co-host]

I've got him as a round six pick. You know that I've been a big fan of his, honestly, since the Senior Bowl. I was having a fun chat during one of our shows. Thomas Schaefer was like, yeah, I've been a fan of his longer than that. He went to Florida. So I was like, yeah, you know what? Shaffey and Jamie, the Gators on our crew, they definitely know a lot more about Pearsall. My favorite stat about him, last three games average 7.3 targets per game, 18.4 PPR points per game. I do want to ask you this very quick question.

[Adam]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

Let's say we're a week out from the start of the regular season. 49ers opening the year against the Seahawks and all of a sudden Juwan Jennings is back at practice. Does that change your. Does that temper your expectations for Pearsall or have you really, just really shoved it all in here with Ricky?

[Adam]

All in, all in. I. I mean, even before I wasn't this high on him, but yeah, I think I was high on him. And round six might be early. We might be looking at round seven if Jennings is back because it's not like Ayuk is going to miss the whole season. Right. He's got. You got to get through a whole weeks. Iuk will be there for at least half of it, we think.

[Co-host]

Do you expect Brandon Iuk to come back and look like the Brandon Ayuk from 2020? As soon as he, like he's got to go through his training camp too, he's gonna have a four week period. We don't know when he'll be back or how effective he'll be. I get where you're coming from on Piersol, but I'm very excited about him because of how things have played out in San Francisco. You have one more name. Give it to me.

[Adam]

Tyler Warren. Another guy. I think you and I are just.

[Co-host]

You're just stealing my list now.

[Adam]

I know. Yeah, it's just. Well, I think the thing with tight end is I would say George Kittle. George Kittle is my favorite tight end to draft. But if I don't get one of the top three, I'm almost certainly waiting to take Tyler Warren. That's just kind of how. How it's been. You can back him up with another tight end. I just. I think it's relevant because I think it's very good for him that Daniel Jones is the quarterback at not Anthony Richardson. Apparently Jones is going to have a long leash. Jones versus Richardson. I expect just a lot more pass attempts. I don't know that they're going to be better passes, but more pass attempts. Seems like Jones has been kind of looking for Tyler Warren in the preseason. So I don't think it's Cap. He's. I don't think it's possible that he could have Brock Bowers kind of season, but I do think he could have a Sam Laporta type rookie season. Not legendary, but really good report. I think was tight end one. So that's. That's still probably pretty legendary.

[Co-host]

He averaged 14 PPR points per game as a rookie.

[Adam]

Yeah, give me maybe. I say the ceiling is like 13 but could be really good value. Tyler Warren.

[Co-host]

Well, David Najoku averaged 13 1/2 PPR points per game last year. I I don't know if Warren's going to get that same type of target volume that Najoku had, especially when Najoku was working with quarterbacks not named to Sean Watson. But I I do love Warren's ability to break tackles extend plays. I think he's going to get used near the goal line. I don't really love anybody tied to Daniel Jones as a quarterback but I do agree with you on that one point. With Jones under center it should be better for his past count catching options. So there you have it. Dave Richards all I mean J I mean Adam Aer all in list stole a couple from me but I'm happy to share them with you. Now take those names with you to your fantasy drafts this weekend and get them on your team and you'll be all in on them too. See you next time on Fantasy Football Today Express.

[Adam]

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