FFT Express - Ollie Gordon Rising? Isiah Pacheco Steal of Draft? & More! Preseason Week 3 Preview! (08/22 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today (FFT Express) - Detailed Episode Summary

Episode: Ollie Gordon Rising? Isiah Pacheco Steal of Draft? & More! Preseason Week 3 Preview
Date: August 23, 2025
Hosts/Analysts: Adam Aizer, Jamey Eisenberg
Theme:
A rapid-fire preview tackling the most crucial fantasy football takeaways from preseason week 3, emerging rookies, shifting backfield situations, and key value picks for upcoming drafts.

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1. Main Theme Overview

This episode centers on the pivotal storylines entering preseason week 3, with a particular focus on rookie running backs' potential to break out, depth chart battles, and evolving ADPs (Average Draft Position) for notable players like Isiah Pacheco and Alvin Kamara. Adam and Jamey dissect insights from recent games and project what fantasy managers should watch for this weekend in order to gain an edge at their drafts.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Preseason Game Takeaways

• Jackson Dart’s Impressive Preseason

  • Emerging as a strong QB2 candidate for the Giants if Russell Wilson gets hurt.
  • "He’s definitely handled himself I think very well in the preseason… really making a strong case for himself." — Jamey Eisenberg [01:55]
  • His numbers were affected by drops, but his composure, mobility, and processing stood out, giving optimism for his future role.
  • Quote: “It wasn’t just the numbers… he made some ridiculous throws.” — Adam Aizer [03:02]

• Steelers Running Backs: A Debate

  • Adam and Jamey make a friendly wager comparing Caleb Johnson and Jalen Warren’s fantasy outlooks in full PPR formats (must reach 100 total touches for the bet to count).
  • Quote: “I just can’t shake this feeling that the Steelers are never going to give Jalen Warren the work everyone wants.” — Adam Aizer [04:20]

B. Saints’ Skill Position Outlook Amid QB Uncertainty

• General consensus: the result of the Saints QB battle shouldn’t dramatically affect the value of Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed, but Kamara is a wild card due to concern about his pass-catching volume in a potential Kellen Moore offense.
• "If Kamara’s not catching passes in what this offensive environment could look like, it could be a disaster." — Jamey [05:48]
• Comparison drawn to strong fantasy producers from bad offenses (e.g., Breece Hall in 2023), but Kamara’s floor is much lower if his receiving role shrinks. [06:24–07:20]

C. Rookie RBs Who Could Explode in Preseason Week 3

• Ollie Gordon (Dolphins):
  • Rising rookie; could vault up draft boards if given significant preseason playing time, especially with injuries to Jalen Wright and Devon Achane.
• Other Notables:
  • Jacory Crosby/Merit (depending on team and opportunity), Facial Tootin (Jaguars), Jaden Blue (Cowboys) all are possible late-draft risers if they flash in week 3.
  • “We could see all four of these guys have dramatic shifts.” — Jamey [09:31]
• Cowboys RB Situation:
  • Javonte Williams is likely the early-season starter, but Jaden Blue could seize a significant role if healthy.

D. Potential Running Back Trades and Market Watch

• Multiple NFL teams reportedly searching for RBs, with the Saints, Browns, and Chiefs named.
• "I’m surprised the Dolphins aren’t on that list just given the circumstances… but maybe that report was before Jalen Wright got hurt." — Jamey [10:59]
• Possible for a last-minute veteran addition (names floated: Jaleel McLaughlin, Devin Singletary, Brian Robinson, Khalil Herbert, etc.) that could upend depth charts for fantasy drafters.

E. Isiah Pacheco’s ADP and Breakout Potential

• Key Discussion:
  • Adam floats the possibility of a big value jump: “Would it surprise you if Isaiah Pacheco is a second or third round value after the first two weeks?” — Adam [12:22]
  • Jamey is bullish, having moved Pacheco up in his own rankings, even ahead of the likes of Pollard, Montgomery, and Swift due to his likely feature role.
  • Quote: “I've gone from like round 6 to round 4 or 5… I moved him ahead of Pollard… Pacheco could be the featured guy there.” — Jamey [13:00]
  • Suggests Pacheco is a strong pick in round 5, especially in half- or standard-PPR leagues.

F. Draft Strategy and Construction Debates

• The hosts compare two hypothetical draft builds centering on Pacheco and A.J. Brown versus Achane and McLaurin, each offering pros and cons related to injury risk, upside, and value.
• "If I were you, I would go with the Pacheco build because you like him so much and you have such faith in him." — Jamey [14:53]
• Despite Achane’s recent injury, his fall to the mid-second round is tempting given his perceived top-eight RB ceiling.

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just can’t shake this feeling that the Steelers are never going to give Jalen Warren the work everyone wants, including me.” — Adam [04:22]
• “If Kamara is not catching passes in what this offensive environment could look like, it could be a disaster.” — Jamey [05:48]
• “We could see all four of these guys have dramatic shifts.” — Jamey, on rookie RBs [09:31]
• “If you can get [Pacheco] in round five, you should feel really good about having him. Isaiah Pacheco was a round 2 pick a year ago.” — Adam [13:24]
• “If I were you, I would go with the Pacheco build because you like him so much and you have such faith in him.” — Jamey [14:53]

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4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• Giants & Steelers Preseason Takeaways: 01:31–04:56
• Saints' QB Situation & Kamara Debate: 05:00–07:20
• Rookie RBs to Watch in Preseason Week 3: 08:06–10:21
• Cowboys RBs (Javonte Williams vs. Jaden Blue) Discussion: 09:42–10:21
• RB Market Watch & Trade Rumors: 10:21–11:56
• Chiefs RB Depth/Isiah Pacheco’s Upward Movement: 12:02–14:02
• Draft Construction & Pacheco vs. Achane Debate: 14:02–15:20

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5. Conclusion

This FFT Express episode offers actionable insights for fantasy managers prepping for their last preseason drafts. The hosts highlight the importance of watching late-preseason games for unexpected depth chart changes, rookie breakouts, and provide concrete advice on high-upside value picks (notably Isiah Pacheco and various rookie RBs). If you’re drafting soon, keep a close eye on camp news and week 3 RB performances—these could be league-winning edges for 2025.

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Transcript

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[C]

Are we looking for in preseason week three? We'll talk about it right now on FFT Express. It's Adam and Jamie here on this Friday morning and before we get into what's coming up, how about the two games from last night? Patriots, Giants, Steelers, Panthers, Any big takeaways from those games?

[D]

Thought Jackson Dart look good again. You know, just really making a strong case for himself that once he does get an opportunity to start, whether it's at some point this season or maybe next season, then Giants fans should be encouraged whether he's going to be legit or not, you know, for consecutive games, consecutive seasons. You know I'm sure you as a Giants guy, Dan is a Giants guy. Have you your, your rose colored glasses on or maybe the opposite, you know, just a concern. But he's, he's definitely handled himself I think very well in the preseason. Really there was nothing much. I was good to see it was glad, I was glad to see Scatterboo out there and looking like he can. You know for people that drafted early, you know, maybe at some Point, have a role, you know, but just to get some game action in. And thank God for Jalen Hyatt catching that touchdown. How about James Winston just walks right in on the field. Bang. Touchdown. See you later. Um, yeah, he's so fun.

[C]

And it's important perspective. Right. Because if you're getting so hyped about Jackson Dart. Well, Jameis Winston's actually had a pretty good preseason too.

[D]

But I guess the question would be there's. There's probably two scenarios here. If a Russell Wilson injury occurs and the Giants are 500 or better, who starts?

[C]

I think it's Dart. I think he's going to be QB2. And he. And look, he can move a little bit. He did have a pretty eye opening preseason. It wasn't just the numbers. And his numbers last night weren't nearly as good as they should have been because the Giants dropped four passes. Yep, he made some ridiculous throws. About the one where he got hit and threw the ball downfield and just perfectly placed it. I don't even know who that was. Who dropped. Wasn't Hyatt, but he, he was really good. And this processing seemed pretty good. He did some good things mentally throughout the preseason as well. And we saw those progressions. Yeah, yeah, we saw his mobility. So I think you'd have to at least be encouraged by what we saw. And then we talked about the Steelers running backs. Let's make a little. Let's make a little bet, a full ppr. I'm gonna take Caleb Johnson, best Steelers running back this year.

[D]

I'll take Jalen Warren. Injuries related or no?

[C]

Yeah, I think per game, 50 of the. Not 50 of the snaps or more, but like normal snapshare games.

[D]

So let's go per game. Average full PPR. Must have at least 100 total touches for the season.

[C]

Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'll take Caleb Johnson.

[D]

If they both go over 100, both touch, both get to 100 total touches, then the bed is on.

[C]

Okay. I'm. I'm a little nervous about Johnson's speed. It's just he. He didn't run a good 40. He hasn't looked that fast. But I just can't get the. I can't shake this feeling that the Steelers are never going to give Jalen Warren the work that everyone wants, including me. Wants him to get. I just, I feel like they just are going to limit his role, which they've done for three years.

[D]

Potentially. I mean, look, there's you. You laid out a great scenario. They've, they've. I just think Part of it is Naji Harris just never came off the field because he did the things that veteran stoop and now he's competing with Kenneth Gain on a rookie.

[C]

All right, so let's talk about looking ahead now and you know, look, hopefully teams are gonna be pretty cautious not going to play a lot of starters they this week. But the Saints are still trying to figure out their quarterback situation. So how much do you care when it comes to Olave, Camara, Shahid about who wins this job?

[D]

I don't really think it should factor in at this point because of where they're getting drafted. Chimera is the wild card to me because his ADP is not fluctuated much. And when you're talking about him, was he 29th I think is last time we mentioned it. I haven't looked since the beginning of the week.

[C]

Cbs. I'm sorry cbs adp.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

I can tell you yeah, he's super early. Camara is 28th. I can't do that round.

[D]

Yeah, can't do that. Like he has to do exactly what he did a year ago and he gave you a great example at various times. If you haven't heard it about Kellen Moore and his record, I don't love that he uses Zeke as one of the examples. But. But Eckler and Barkley, their past catching numbers plummeted. Now Barkley switched teams so that's part of it. I think as well he went to a running quarterback. But Eckler with Kellen Moore, Ezekiel Elliott with Kellen Moore, Saquon Barkley with Kellen Moore, their past catching numbers went down. If Camara is not catching passes in what this offensive environment could look like, it could be a disaster.

[C]

I can give you a little inspiration from bad offenses. 2023 Breeze hall was the number two running back overall. He was number 11 per game in non PPR. Number five catches, 76 catches. Yeah, they were the third lowest scoring team in the NFL. But do you not see that possibility for Camara?

[D]

I just wonder. I I haven't really downgraded him because of the Kellen Moore potential in a negative if and you heard me say this multiple times he started, he played four games with Spencer Rattler last year. He averaged he 17 or more PPR points to three of them. You've brought up the counter to that. No Rashid, she, no Chris Olave. So that into account as well. But at least with a crappy quarterback situation his numbers were still very good. So if he's still catching passes, he's going to be Great. If he goes from a 65 to 70 cash guy to a 45 to 50 catch guy, I think it's awful. Absolutely awful.

[C]

Forget it. And that's like around 5, 6 pick if he's the best 45, 50 catch guy. All right. And we'll take a break, talk about some other scenarios that we're looking to see in preseason week three and we'll be right back.

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[C]

We're back here. We're looking ahead to the weekend. Well, I think the Dolphins running back situation will be interesting because Ali Gordon is obviously going to have an opportunity, assuming they play him. I think, I think they will, but I don't know. But yeah, you know. What are your thoughts on the Dolphins backfield as it stands right now on August 22nd?

[D]

I think there's four rookie running backs that could really change their. There might be more if you want to throw like a Dylan Sampson in there, but four rookie running backs to me that could really change their value this weekend. And that's Ollie Gordon. Like if he starts and goes nuts with whatever amount of work they give him, he's going to fly up draft boards because if Jalen Wright is hurt and Devon Hn is hurt, then people are going to go after Ali Gordon because he's getting some buzz. Jacori, Crosby, merit is obvious if he has a big day, depending how much they play him and Chris Rodriguez does nothing and Eckler does nothing, he's going to continue to meteoric rise facial Tootin if he goes out and has a big day and not even. I think it matters if Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne do anything. But it's just if Tootin does anything of. Of significance or importance, he will rise a little bit. And then Jaden Blue if he gets the opportunity to play and looks like could be the. The guy for the Cowboys. Meteoric rise like we could see. All four of these guys have dramatic shifts. Tootin. Maybe not the biggest leap unless there's an injury to ETN or Bigsby or one gets traded in the case of Bigsby based on reports. But yes, I can see those four rookie running backs having big, big opportunities and taking advantage of it and changing the, the sort of opinion on their value.

[C]

Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned the Cowboys backfield here because all indications are that Javante Williams is, he's the starting running back for them. Like, you know, Sanders may not make the team and, and Jaden Blue's been hurt. So right now Javante is in the driver's seat and I don't think we're going to see him at all. But we will see. Hopefully we'll see Jaden Blue, who's back from injury. But you know, I, I understand the philosophy of saying that. Well, listen, eventually Javante's gonna lose the job, so I draft. Yeah, right. I draft Javante before Jaden Blue, but I think it's close. But how about you?

[D]

I have them back to back. I still have Javante one spot ahead. But it's one of those things where this comes down to me for a roster build. And I know this sounds funny why you rank it this way versus how you draft it, but if I'm just looking for, I don't need anybody for the first few weeks. I'm gonna take Jane Blue because I do think at some point he's going to have a role, significant role, starting role. We, we'll see. But I do think that at some point he's going to have a role. And then it's almost like the same thing like with Basil Tootin, with Braylon Allen versus with Zach Charbonnet. Like sometimes in the case of like Bristol's just too rich for me. I'm not taking him. I'll take a chance on Braylon Allen at the cost with the Cowboys. Guys are just, you know, very close. So if they're both on the board, I probably will still take Javante. But if I'm just looking at long term, I'll take him. I just want to reference Diana Rossini of the Athletic. She said the teams making calls in search of running back additions include the Saints, the Browns and the Chiefs. I'm surprised the Dolphins aren't on that list just given the circumstances. But this may have been before Jalen Wright got hurt. We could see some veteran guy like a Jaleel McLaughlin. I'd be surprised if it's Devin Singletary, but you get where I'm going. Like those, those type of guys. Brian Robinson's obvious. Cleo Herbert you know, one of these guys can get potentially traded and then we're scrambling, especially anybody who drafted already and anybody that's drafting. So you have any drafts coming up this weekend?

[C]

No.

[D]

Oh, you're on vacation. I have one. Two Monday. Right. Our podcast is Monday one this weekend and I'm curious how it's going to go. It's after the games are done though.

[C]

Yeah. You mentioned the Chiefs in that report there. I'm hoping that means they're just not really happy with their depth.

[D]

I think that's the case. I. From what I've read, Elijah Mitchell has not looked like he's got anything left. Rashard Smith I think is not ready to be in an elevated role. And Kareem Hunt is now banged up and 30 plus years old. Right.

[C]

Let me, let me ask it.

[D]

That's going to be one of your best calls because you've been, you've been on that from the beginning.

[C]

Would it surprise you if we, you know, you know how sometimes we do, hey, let's redraft like mid season or whatever. If we do this in week three, after the first two weeks of the season, would it surprise you if Isaiah Pacheco is, is a second or third round value?

[D]

I would think if that's the case, he's either exactly where he was pre injury or there are a lot of other guys that got hurt. Yeah, but I do think if you say round four, then I'm with like, I, I've, I've gone from like round six to round four or five ish. And I'll tell you, the guys I struggle with is him versus Pollard versus Montgomery versus Swift, that group of running backs. And you can make a case he's probably in a better standing than, you know, RJ Harvey, for example, if you want to. But I moved him ahead of Pollard and the only reason why is Ty J. Spears I think is going to come back and still have a roll and Pacheco could be the featured guy there.

[C]

Pollard is definitely someone that I want to start drafting, you know, because the high ankle sprain for Spears, high ankle sprains are tough and Spears gets, he's got some injury issues and they should be much better team this year and their offensive line should be better and all that. But Pacheco, to me it helps you in your rankings. Jamie. He is clearly ahead of, of all those guys except Harvey and full ppr. I think I might lean Harvey in full ppr, but half ppr. I go Pachec. You know what, look, the bottom line is I'm glad. I'm glad people are getting excited about him and that if you can get him in round five, you should feel really good about having Isaiah Pacheco was around 2 pick a year ago.

[D]

So let me. Let me ask these questions. Just going back to the draft we just did. You drafted, you went gently round one and you could have had AJ Brown in round two. So if you go Genti AJ Brown still go Kittle still go burrow Instead of taking McLaren, you get Pacheco hindsight. Which team do you like better?

[C]

So that's. Do I like Achan and McLaurin versus Pacheco and A.J. brown. Oh.

[D]

Pacheco plays week one, that McLaurin plays week one. McLaurin plays week one and HN plays.

[C]

Week one and A.J. brown.

[D]

Everybody's fine for week one.

[C]

I think I'm gonna go HN McLaurin, but it's super close. A.J. brown. Yeah, that's a good. How about you?

[D]

I would. If I were you, I would go with the Pacheco build because you like him so much and you have such faith in him and so you're getting the better receiver and you're getting a running back that you think is going to significantly outperform his ADP and play at a high level. Like Achan should be awesome, but there's now the wrinkle of injury.

[C]

Yeah, Caps think, you know, they can definitely get re injured, but the thing with Achan is it's hard to Pass him up 17th overall if you're drafting this weekend because we. We really think that, you know, before this injury really thought he was a top eight player. So to get Genty or whoever, you've taken round one and a chan, I mean, that's like an auction, you know, to get right. But. Okay, I see your point. All right, we're gonna wrap it up here. Thanks so much. Have a great weekend, everybody. Mailbag tomorrow. See you soon.

[D]

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