FFT Express - Jamey Eisenberg's All-In List! 12 Must-Draft Players for 2025! (08/21 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today Express: Jamey Eisenberg’s All-In List! 12 Must-Draft Players for 2025

Date: August 23, 2025
Host: Adam Aizer
Analysts: Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, Heath Cummings

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Overview

In this episode of FFT Express, the crew focuses on Jamey Eisenberg’s “All-In List” — his top 12 must-draft fantasy football players for the 2025 season. The group breaks down key targets by draft range (early, middle, and late rounds), highlights Jamey's reasoning and strategic flexibility, and offers both stats-based insights and on-the-fly rankings. The episode is filled with practical advice, quick-hit analysis, and rich anecdotes from recent drafts.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Early Round Must-Haves (01:40–04:30)

• CeeDee Lamb (DAL, WR) & Christian McCaffrey (SF, RB)
  • Jamey is "all in" on Lamb and McCaffrey, targeting them early in almost every draft.
  • Lamb picked at 3/4 overall if available; McCaffrey typically at 6.
  • Jamey has both players ranked ahead of consensus (ADP), projecting “league winner” potential.
  • Historical injury concerns acknowledged, but Jamey willing to overlook them given the upside.

Jamey (02:13):
“Lamb basically came out and said... let me make sure I remind you how good I am when Dak is healthy. And while everything is falling apart around McCaffrey on the 49ers, he so far has been healthy... You’re talking about two league winners here.”

Lamb's Consistency & McCaffrey’s Injury Narrative

• Lamb has exceeded 17.5 PPR points in only one season — Jamey acknowledges the risk.
• McCaffrey has played more than seven games in only two of the last five years, but when healthy is unmatched in per-game production.

Jamey (03:33):
"Every year of [Lamb’s] career has been 17.5 PPR points or less, except the one outlier... For McCaffrey, he’s played two seasons of more than seven games in the last five."

• Adam highlights McCaffrey’s historic fantasy points-per-game rates ("24.3 PPR points per game in 2023"), solidifying his ceiling.

2. Round 4–6: Favorite Mid-Round WRs (05:12–06:10, 08:19–09:27)

• Core Targets:
  • Cortland Sutton, George Pickens, D.K. Metcalf, D.J. Moore, Tetairoa McMillan
• Jamey loads up on WRs in these rounds if he misses top RB targets (RJ Harvey, TreVeyon Henderson).

Jamey (05:54):
“Those four receivers, I just… I know the topic is my guy. I don't like to put that out there like that. I play too many leagues. I like to diversify too much.”

• Discusses the value of draft diversification and pivoting to best available, not always “your guy.” Adam and Jamey agree it’s important to occasionally draft outside of comfort zones to mitigate risk.

Cortland Sutton: The Overlooked Mid-Round Star (08:43–09:27)

• Sutton has averaged 18.2 PPR points per game since week 10 last year and scored 18 TDs in the last two years under Sean Payton.
• He’s going around WR 23–24 ADP but ranked as WR 17 on FFT’s board.
• He’s seen at least 14 end zone targets in three straight seasons—no clear target threat on Denver’s roster.

Jamey (08:43):
“I just love his last 10 games... In two seasons with Sean Payton as the head coach... he’s got 18 touchdowns... he kind of gets pushed down a little bit and he’s just as good as those guys. Maybe better and probably safer.”

3. Late Round Sleepers & Priority Stashes (09:37–12:21)

WRs to Target Late

• Ricky Pearsall, Emeka Egbuka, Darnell Mooney, Demario Douglas, Cedric Tillman

RBs: The Crucial Lottery Tickets

• Jordan Mason (MIN), Zach Charbonnet (SEA), Braelon Allen (NYJ)
  • Jamey especially targets Braelon Allen “way ahead of ADP.”
  • Mason and Charbonnet are “an injury away” from top-20 potential.
  • ADP snapshot: Mason (RB30), Charbonnet (RB34), Allen (RB43), but Jamey drafts Allen well before 130th overall.

Jamey (10:05):
“Jordan Mason could be the best running back in Minnesota or have a big role... Zach Charbonnet—Ken Walker’s foot injury pops up... Charbonnet’s value’s clearly much better. And Braelon Allen just with the narrative of what’s going on with the Jets—these are three guys... Allen’s the one I draft way ahead of ADP.”

On Meteoric Rises in ADP (11:18–12:21)

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt gets attention for jumping 81 spots in ADP over the last week—never seen such rapid movement.
• Jamey currently ranks him behind his top three RB stashes due to uncertain depth charts.

Jamey (11:18):
“I have him after them... there's clearly a lot of uncertainty of what's going to happen here because of Eckler and his role in the passing game and how they use Chris Rodriguez... I don't want to overvalue him.”

Notable Late-WR Targets in Context

• Mooney (ATL) and Douglas (NE) could be fantasy contributors as offenses change.
• Mooney’s health and Douglas’s slot role on a rebuilding Patriots offense are highlighted.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Draft Diversification:

  Jamey (05:54): “I play too many leagues. I like to diversify too much.”

• Cortland Sutton as a Staple:

  Adam (08:43): “Cortland Sutton is the official mid round wide receiver of fantasy football today.”

• Jamey’s Stash Priority:

  Jamey (10:05): "If I get two [of Mason, Charbonnet, Allen], I love it. If I get three, I’m thrilled."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early round all-in picks: 02:05–04:30
• Mid-round wide receivers & strategy: 05:12–06:59, 08:19–09:27
• Cortland Sutton profile: 08:43–09:27
• Late round RBs and WRs, ADP surges: 09:37–12:21
• Draft diversification discussion: 05:54–06:34

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Final Takeaways

• Jamey Eisenberg’s ALL-IN players are a blend of proven studs, overlooked value, and high-upside late-round stashes.
• Emphasis on staying flexible, diversifying player exposure, and hunting for sustained roles, not just ceiling.
• Cortland Sutton, Christian McCaffrey, and CeeDee Lamb top the “must-have” list, while Mason, Charbonnet, and Allen headline deep league RB targets.
• Offensive changes, injury histories, and roster context are critical to Jamey’s reasoning at every draft tier.

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For listeners who want to crush their 2025 fantasy drafts, this episode is a must. Jamey’s All-In List pairs actionable targets with adaptable strategy, ensuring both stability and league-winning upside throughout the draft.

Transcript

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[A]

21/ TNC supply Jamie Eisenberg's favorite players. All in on these guys for 2025. What's up and welcome to FFT Express. I think it's the last one. Heath, Dave, Jamie, me, and now Jamie. All in teams. All right. We actually just talked about one of them before the show even started. We'll get to him a little bit later. But who do you want to start with on your all in?

[C]

I'll kind of go through it early, middle, late. I find myself in the first round lately. I mean, you know, I do a lot of drafts first round lately. A lot of CD Lamb and a lot of Christian McCaffrey. And part of that is because of where I have them ranked by comparison to mostly Saquon Barkley. But when I get to the third or fourth overall pick, I take Lamb. When I get to the sixth pick, if he's there, I take Lamb or I take McCaffrey you know, so those two guys are in my top five. I, I, McCaffrey's definitely ahead of consensus. Lamb slightly ahead of consensus, so ahead of adp. So I find myself taking a lot of those two players in particular, and hopefully they're better than they were a year ago. Obviously, we know how that played out. You know, lamb struggled and McCaffrey played four games. But I think if they're healthy, you can get the 2023 production or close to that. And, you know, you're talking about two league winners here. So I like that Lamb basically came out and said that and started training camp. Let me, let me make sure I remind you how good I am when Dak is healthy. And while everything is Falling apart around McCaffrey on the 49ers, he so far has been healthy. I just, you know, put him in bubble wrap, you know, and just take him out to, you know, wish you good luck in tennis and then keep.

[A]

Them there until, yeah, Dak, Dak has missed six games in 2022, zero games in 2023, in 2024. He also had a five game season in 2020. So he's had some injury issues. But, you know, either either you care about that stuff or you don't. It seems like Jamie doesn't really care about that stuff, at least with those two situations.

[C]

You, you mentioned this a lot of the written content. So I just wrote, it's one of my favorite stories to write. Why every player in the first round could be a bust.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And Lamb, I don't know how many people realize this or recognize this. Every year of his career has been 17 and a half PPR points, basically, or less, except the one outlier. And is that nerve wracking to people? And for McCaffrey, he's played two games with more than six. Played two seasons of more than 16 games in the last five. Wow. I'm sorry. Two games more than seven games. Two seasons of more than seven games.

[A]

His last five, but they were both with the 49ers. One and a half of them are with the 49ers.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. He also has scored the most fantasy points per game for any running back in the last four years. Two years ago, he averaged 23 and a half, I think PPR fantasy points per game, which was significantly better than what anyone did last year. Maybe even more than, maybe in over 24.

[C]

But it was 24.3.

[A]

24.3. Okay. I had a 23.4. It's 24.3. Right. I mean, just that's how good he can be. Now, he scored a touchdown every game. Maybe won't do that, but he's so good. Okay, who's next?

[C]

We're on that topic. Do you know what Jameer Gibbs. Three games. Four games were in the game that Montgomery got hurt. Through week 18.

[A]

I usually don't count the game he got hurt because I heard in the fourth quarter, but I'm gonna say it was about 30 points.

[C]

31 1/2 ppr points per game is what he averaged.

[A]

Yeah. He'd be easy 101 if Montgomery were not easy.

[C]

101.

[A]

Easy. Yeah. He'd be like Ladanian Tomlinson back in the day.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, what else? Who's next?

[C]

So let's go now. We'll skip ahead to the rounds. 4, 5, 6 range. And this is a lot of wide receivers for me, unless I get RJ Harvey or Trevion Henderson in this spot. But this is where I take a lot of Cortland Sutton. Now it's becoming a lot of Cortland Sutton, George Pickens. Trying to think who else did. I've taken a lot of. Recently. Corland Sutton, George Pickens, D.K. metcalf.

[A]

And it's a great range there.

[C]

There's just so many great receivers.

[A]

D.J. moore, you. You are taking Tedro McMillan.

[C]

Yeah. Ted O'. Mill. You say him, too. You know, so these. Those four receivers, I just. I. I'm sorry. I know the topic is my guy. I don't. I don't like to put that out there like that. It just. There's. I played too many leagues. I like to diversify too much.

[A]

Sure. Right. And you should. You know, I. I just did that in the RFFT Open League. I have not taken any. TJ Hawkinson. I was like, you know what? Take DJ Hawkinson.

[C]

I've done that, too. I took. I took Zay Flowers for the first time because it was fourth receiver. Just best player in my rankings on the board. I wasn't going to deviate from that. And I just took somebody else. I forget who it was that I haven't taken yet.

[A]

Yeah, well, I think it's important. Right. Because we're not always going to be.

[C]

Right.

[A]

So, of course, you know, so if people. If. If a lot of people are higher on someone than you and. And he's still available, you know, two rounds later than you were gonna take him. Take them.

[C]

Right.

[A]

All right. By the way, who do you think averaged more fantasy points per game? Marshall Falk in 2001. Priest Homes in 2002. Trying to get the best. Like Tomlinson. Tomlinson in 2006.

[C]

I think it was Marshall Falk.

[A]

It was Falk at 30.3. No, it was Priest Holmes. 31.6 fantasy points per game in PPR. He scored 24 touchdowns in 14 games. He had 70 catches and he had 1300 total yards. All right, we did this.

[C]

We did like the best seasons ever for fantasy when it was the 100 year anniversary of the NFL and it was fun to do like that research on it.

[A]

I think we also, I think during the pandemic we did a decade, like an all decade team or something like that. And just these, these seasons came up and I just remember being like, holy cow. All right, we'll be right back because there's a Stephen Jackson season in there too. It's amazing. Yeah, we'll be right back. On Fantasy football Today Express.

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[A]

All right, so McCaffrey and Lamb have been taking a lot round five wide receivers are just terrific. And I would have to say Cortland Sutton, we just had Jacob on, right, and like he's super high on Cortland Sutton. You guys have him as wide receiver 17 in your consensus rankings. He goes closer to 23, 24 in PPR. I feel like Cortland Sutton is the official mid round wide receiver of fantasy football today.

[C]

I just, I just love his last 10 games. Last season when things just started to click for Bonix, he was at 18.2 PPR points per game from week 10 on. And in two seasons with Sean Payton as the head coach, one with Russell Wilson, one with Bo Nix, he's got 18 touchdowns. Like there's, there's just such a nice body of work here of what he's put together. And it's almost like, you know, you get enamored with Tedro McMillan and the potential of Jameson Williams and George Pickens and still Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. And all these guys, look, they're, they're great players potentially. It feels like Sutton kind of gets overlooked based on what the ADP is, you know, that he kind of just gets pushed down a little bit and he's just as good as those guys. Maybe better and probably safer.

[A]

14 or more end zone targets in three straight seasons and you look at that roster and just don't really see anyone that looks like a threat to that for Cortland Sutton. All right, so who are some late round guys?

[C]

Well, then we get to the really thick of the draft with the middle rounds and this is where I mean, it's hard not to get excited about these guys. And I'm not alone in this, but, you know, now Ricky Pierce on a mecca, Buka at wide receiver. And then looking at there's three running backs, I want to make sure I get one. If I get two, I love it. If I get three, I'm thrilled. Jordan Mason, Zach Charbonnet and Brandon Braylon Allen. For me, these are three guys that I'm hunting in drafts because Mason could be the best running back in Minnesota or have a big role that he's an injury away from being, you know, potential top 20, top 15 type of guy. Zach Charbonnet, we've seen that. It's, it's fairly obvious. And Ken Walker's foot injury popping up on and off, whatever the case may be. I love Ken Walker, but, you know, Charbonne's values clearly much better. And then Braylon Allen just with the narrative of what's going on with the jets, like these are three guys. Allen's the one I draft way ahead of adp. Like in. In just again, to reference our IDP draft. I know I did on our full length episode. Though the story will be on the site soon. I drafted him as my second running back based on the roster build. I don't plan to start him as my second running back. I made sure I got a guy that I can use early in the season. So I took Drone Ford, for example. That was strategically. Braylon Allen may be a monster middle.

[A]

Of the year and he, you know, ADP has not caught up to that. This trend, I guess we don't know what the splits are going to look like. But Jordan Mason, just looking at NFC average draft position over the last 10 days. Mason's RB 30 going 89th. Charbonnet is RB 34 going 97th and Braylon Allen's RB 43 going 130th. So where would you rank Jacori, Crosky, Merritt with these guys?

[C]

Right now I have him after them. I have Bill after these guys. Just because there's clearly a lot of uncertainty of what's going to happen here because of Eckler and his role in the passing game and how they Use Chris Rodriguez to start the game. I don't want to overvalue him. I was actually going to make the comment on the full length episode. I don't think I've ever seen a situation where a running back has had 81 spots. If you looked at his arrow, his green arrow, he's risen 81 spots. In our ADP. When you showed the graphic, you know.

[A]

There was, gosh, man, I can't even remember his name. Probably about eight years ago, not even that much. It was a. Maybe Cream hunt got hurt. Somebody got hurt on the Chiefs and they're like number two or three back rose so much. We started. Do you remember that situation? Heck, was it.

[C]

It would have been. What was the name that should have won the super bowl mvp Damien Williams.

[A]

No, I don't think it was him. All right, can you have one more guy? I'm gonna look this up so I can.

[C]

Yeah. Then there's, you know, a handful of receivers that I look for late, which is Darnell Mooney and demero Douglas are the two that stand out. Cedric Tillman still to an extent, but I just think Douglas as the slot receiver for the Patriots and Mooney when he's healthy is going to be a big part of the Falcons passing attack. I know what Dan Schneider said on our full length episode on Thursday, a fancy football say, a little concerned about the offensive line and how that could impact Michael Pennocks, but I think they're going to be in a lot of offensive shootouts which is going to benefit everybody, including money.

[A]

I feel like it was a Spencer Ware thing. Maybe I'm having trouble remembering the details here, but yeah, no. A meteoric rise for Jecori Koski Merrick for Bill Crosby, Merritt. Thank you everybody so much for watching. Listening to FFT Express. We got a mailbag on Thursday night. We got a, I think a live mock draft on Friday. And we'll talk to you soon on fft. See ya.

[C]

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