Fantasy Football Today (CBSSN): Sleepers, Breakouts & Busts You Need to Know!

Episode Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts/Analysts: Jamie Eisenberg (Host), Dave Richard, Heath Cummings

Overview

This episode dives deep into the most critical fantasy football draft questions as the preseason wraps up and drafts are heating up. The FFT crew debates top sleepers, breakouts, and bust candidates at every position, directly impacting your draft and league strategies. The hosts also respond to fan polls, analyze preseason performances, update their rankings, and answer mailbag questions on the air. Expect lively debates, key injury updates, and actionable insights to win your fantasy football league in 2025.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bears & Jets: Hype, Hope, and Hesitations

Timestamps: 01:28 – 08:31

• Bears QB Caleb Williams: Looked great against Bills backups but still faces questions about upside and readiness for top-12 status.
  • Dave: “I’m not ranking him as a top 12 quarterback anymore. I actually moved DJ Moore down in my rankings, moved Roma Dunze up.” (02:02)
  • Heath: “QB15 range is about the right spot. Expect some struggles early, but he has the upside to be a lot better than a top 12 quarterback.” (02:13)
• Shifting WR Values:
  • Dave moved up rookie WR Rome Odunze, sees DJ Moore as mostly a short-area safety valve: “If he’s just going to be this kind of short area safety valve for the Bears and Romo Dunes is going to be the downfield threat...I’m much more excited about Romo Dunes.” (03:33)
• DeAndre Swift RB Debate:
  • Heath: Strong breakout case based on lack of competition and history under Ben Johnson; “Top 20 running back...might be a top 12 running back.” (04:21)
  • Dave: Skeptical, cites Bears’ OL issues, risk of committee, and high ADP; “If I’m drafting a running back who could be RB24, I don’t want to take that guy in round number five.” (05:54)
• Jets Concerns:
  • Preseason struggles from Justin Fields impact WR Garrett Wilson; Fields’ fantasy floor remains, but Dave ranks him outside the top 12 due to injury history and system: “There are too many issues for me to overlook on Fields compared to other low end QB1s such as Drake May.” (07:19)

2. Breaking News & Injury Updates

Timestamps: 08:31 – 11:03

• Browns QB: Joe Flacco named starter.
• RB Trade Rumors: Brian Robinson Jr. and Tank Bigsby both rumored to be available; possible impact on Chicago and Jacksonville backfields.
• Dolphins RB Devon Achane: Sore (soft tissue injury); still ranked top 5 by Heath unless more info emerges: “If we’re a week from now and he’s not practicing...then yeah, I’ll be lowering him down.” (10:09)
• Other Injuries: Stafford, Justin Jefferson, Kenneth Walker, Quentin Johnson, and Jalen McMillan — all shaping draft boards and positional values.

3. Sleepers by Position

Timestamps: 13:10 – 24:57

Quarterback

• Jordan Love (GB) – Heath’s sleeper: Top-12 possibility if healthy; “Now I get to love Jordan Love and I basically have him in the same spot.” (13:48)
• J.J. McCarthy (MIN) – Dave’s sleeper: Training camp confidence, rushing upside, strong supporting cast. “He looks like somebody who could be really really good...especially once Jordan Addison comes back in Week 4.” (14:34)
• Trevor Lawrence (JAX) – Jamie’s sleeper: New OC, passing and rushing upside; rapport with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter.

Running Back

• Tyrone Tracy (NYG) – Dave: Startable early, passing game role, round 7–8 pick.
• Tank Bigsby (JAX) – Heath: Goal-line/early down value, could surge if traded.
• Braylon Allen (NYJ) – Jamie: Potential goal-line back, may leapfrog Breece Hall, “ADP skyrocket” candidate in round 7–8. (18:40)
• Fan Poll Winner: Braylon Allen edges Tracy and Bigsby.

Wide Receiver

• Emeka Abuka (TB) – Dave: “I’ve totally bought in. I think he’s going to be outstanding.” (19:41)
• Luther Burden (CHI) – Heath: Late-rounder with high upside; patience advised.
• Keon Coleman (BUF) – Jamie: “At this point is my favorite Bills wide receiver. I like the setup for him though, especially as long as Shakira is out.” (21:28)
• Fan Poll Winner: Abuka gets most votes.

Tight End

• Colston Loveland (CHI) – Heath: First-year top-10 skill pick, “absolute gift to get...after the top 100 picks.” (22:33)
• Zach Ertz (WAS) – Dave: Steady floor, especially if Terry McLaurin slow to start due to hold-in.
• Dalton Kincaid (BUF) – Jamie: Early struggles due to injury but back to sleeper status with receiving core in flux.
• Polls: Loveland wins “hype” vote.

4. Breakouts by Position

Timestamps: 26:18 – 35:15

Quarterback

• Bo Nix (DEN) – Dave: Rushing upside, strong finish to 2024. “Averaged over 25 fantasy points per game in his last 13 games.” (26:46)
• Justin Fields (NYJ) – Heath: Improved efficiency, rising stats each season, rushing keeps ceiling high.
• Drake Maye (NE) – Jamie: 630-yard rushing projection, supporting cast emerging, “Take a big leap.” (27:43)
• Poll: Maye and Nix close; vote shows high excitement for Maye.

Running Back

• DeAndre Swift (CHI) – Heath: “Love it. Offensive line will be better. Very little competition for touches.” (28:50)
• Bucky Irving (TB) – Dave: Strong finish 2024, more passing game role, especially if Rashad White misses time.
• TreVeyon Henderson (NE) – Jamie: “This year’s Jahmyr Gibbs,” electric rookie with third-round price tag. (30:12)

Wide Receiver

• George Pickens (DAL) – Dave: In Dallas, “headed for a career year”; should benefit from defensive focus on CeeDee Lamb.
• Xavier Worthy (KC) – Heath: Huge upside if Rashee Rice is suspended. “Top 10 WR possibility in the second half.” (31:58)
• Ricky Pearsall (SF) – Jamie: Immediate opportunity with injuries, strong preseason, “looking like a second-year breakout.” (33:36)

Tight End

• Brock Bowers (SEA) – Heath: “He got one of the biggest quarterback upgrades in the NFL...There’s a chance that Bowers has a 10 touchdown season and you’re wishing you drafted him in round one.” (33:55)
• Tyler Warren (IND) – Dave: “Absolutely what the Colts wanted as far as a middle of the field weapon...catching downfield passes.” (34:23)
• Tucker Kraft (GB) – Jamie: May become No. 2 passing target with WR injuries; projects as a safe top-10 TE with major upside.

5. Busts by Position

Timestamps: 36:41 – 44:43

Quarterback

• “Any QB in Round 1/2” (Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen) – Dave: “Of course I want these guys...I just don’t want to take them over other round two picks...I know I can find a quarterback later.” (37:05)
• Baker Mayfield (TB) – Heath: Going too early, WR injuries lower ceiling.
• Patrick Mahomes (KC) – Jamie: Round 4 now too expensive, question marks around supporting cast, “The earliest I would take him is round six.” (38:20)
• Fan Poll: Mahomes wins “bust” vote.

Running Back

• Alvin Kamara (NO) – Heath: “Missed time each of last three seasons...Moore never throws to his RBs at the rate Kamara’s used to...worried about just about everything.” (39:23)
• DeAndre Swift (CHI) – Dave: OL risk, committee threat, “Taking that in round five seems too much of a reach.” (40:23)
• Breece Hall (NYJ) – Jamie: Losing goal-line/receiving work, “Could be a trap back.” (40:31)
• Fan Poll: Breece Hall worries fans the most.

Wide Receiver

• Zay Flowers (BAL) – Dave: “Track record of Ravens WRs under Lamar isn’t good. He doesn’t get enough targets or TDs.” (41:22)
• Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI) – Heath: “No evidence offense will change. Downfield role, not target hog.” (41:34)
• Terry McLaurin (WAS) – Jamie: Contract holdout, outside top 24, “likely to be out of my target range.” (41:22)
• Fan Poll: Harrison edges McLaurin in “which WR worries you more.”

Tight End

• Sam LaPorta (DET) – Heath: Detroit regression, target/TD worries.
• TJ Hockenson (MIN) – Dave: Target competition, “should be drafted in round eight/nine, not six/seven.” (43:22)
• Mark Andrews (BAL) – Jamie: TD rate inflated in 2024, DeAndre Hopkins arrival could siphon red-zone work.
• Fan Poll: Mark Andrews is the most worrisome TE.

6. Mailbag: Fan Questions & Strategy Nuggets

Timestamps: 46:27 – 48:50

• Unwritten Rules: “Don’t have any unwritten rules. Write it down...” (46:37, Heath)
• Bowers/McBride as WRs: Both third-round picks in PPR if eligible at WR (47:11)
• 1-QB Dynasty: Dak, Trevor Lawrence both valid keeps
• No. 1 RB at third pick: Bijan Robinson (47:40, Dave)
• Best keeper value: Devon Achane if healthy (47:55)
• 2-QB League, #1 pick: “Take the quarterback over Chase" – consensus

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Heath: “DeAndre Swift’s floor is RB24. You’re drafting him closer to his floor than his ceiling.” (05:54)
• Dave: “If you draft Fields, he stinks, you cut him, okay? You move on, you pick somebody else off the waiver wire.” (07:19)
• Heath: “When in the world have we ever gotten to draft a top 10 skill position player in the double digit rounds in their first year? Especially when everybody loves like everybody loves this offense and what Ben Johnson might do for him.” (22:33)
• Jamie: “Draft Treveon Henderson and draft him with confidence. He could be awesome. I think he’s this year’s Jahmyr Gibbs.” (30:12)
• Dave: “Track record of Ravens WRs under Lamar isn’t very good, and I love the talent of Zay Flowers. I don’t think he gets enough targets and I don’t think he gets enough touchdowns to warrant being drafted even in the first seven rounds.” (41:22)

Segment Timestamps

• 01:28 – Bears, Jets, DeAndre Swift debate
• 08:31 – News, trade rumors, key injury updates
• 13:10 – Sleepers: All positions
• 26:18 – Breakout candidates: QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs
• 36:41 – Busts: Players to avoid and why
• 46:27 – Mailbag: League rules, keepers, draft picks, strategies

Summary Table: Sleepers, Breakouts, and Busts by FFT Analysts

| Position | Dave Richard | Heath Cummings | Jamie Eisenberg | |-----------|--------------|----------------|----------------------| | QB Sleeper| J.J. McCarthy| Jordan Love | Trevor Lawrence | | RB Sleeper| Tyrone Tracy | Tank Bigsby | Braylon Allen | | WR Sleeper| Emeka Abuka | Luther Burden | Keon Coleman | | TE Sleeper| Zach Ertz | Colston Loveland| Dalton Kincaid | | QB Breakout| Bo Nix | Justin Fields | Drake Maye | | RB Breakout| Bucky Irving| DeAndre Swift | TreVeyon Henderson | | WR Breakout| George Pickens| Xavier Worthy| Ricky Pearsall | | TE Breakout| Tyler Warren| Brock Bowers | Tucker Kraft | | QB Bust | Rd 1-2 QBs | Baker Mayfield | Patrick Mahomes | | RB Bust | Alvin Kamara | DeAndre Swift | Breece Hall | | WR Bust | Zay Flowers | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Terry McLaurin | | TE Bust | TJ Hockenson | Sam LaPorta | Mark Andrews |

Conclusion

This information-packed FFT episode delivers everything managers need on key 2025 fantasy football debates, providing actionable advice drawn from real preseason action, insider views, and time-tested analysis. Whether you’re chasing deep-useful sleepers, debating high-upside breakouts, or keen to avoid ADP traps, this show arms you with clarity, context, and conviction as draft day approaches.