
Loading summary
John Doe
As a young adult, finding the right path to your future can feel overwhelming. It starts with Europe United's tuition free job training program, Career Pathways. If you're without a bachelor's degree but have a high school diploma or ged, you can get skills first training to succeed in the industries you're passionate about. All while earning a weekly educational stipend to offset basic expenses. From there, you you'll have access to internships and hands on experiences with Fortune 500 companies. And with Europe United's job placement services and personalized coaching and mentorship, you can put your knowledge, skills and most importantly, confidence into practice. Apply to Europe United today and take the first step toward achieving the career you want. Visit yearup.org to learn more.
Mike Smith
You all know I've been running an Airbnb for a while now and it's been a great way to make use of my extra space and especially when I'm traveling. And I've got some great trips coming up. First, I'm heading to Pinehurst, North Carolina for an annual golf trip with the crew. Always a blast. Then I'm swinging down to my old stomping grounds in Gainesville, Florida to catch a Gators game and slide into my favorite Mexican spot, La Tienda, for some steak tacos. What I love is that with the Airbnb co host network, I don't have to think twice about what's happening back home. I found a local pro who handles everything, creating the listing, managing bookings, messaging guests, even being there in person if anything comes up. I get to enjoy the trip, be in the moment and know everything's running smoothly. So whether you already host like I do or you've got a space just sitting empty while you're away, this is a total game changer. Find a co host@airbnb.com host this is.
Adam Azer
Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports.
Dave Richard
What a play. Can you believe this? No, I can't.
Adam Azer
It's time to dominate your fantasy league.
Dave Richard
Off to the races and he stays at his feet. This is gonna go the distance.
Adam Azer
Now here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie and Heath.
Jamie Eisenberg
All right, everybody, welcome to the show. This is a bonus edition of Fantasy Football today presented by FedMGM, the sportsbook. Born in Vegas, Adam Azer, Jamie Eisenberg and Heath Cummings. It comes as no surprise, but we do get a three game suspension. This is probably about what we were expecting for Jordan Addison. Addison was the number 25 wide receiver per game last year in PPR and non PPR. He was number 18 per game. 63 catches, 875 yards, 9 touchdowns in 15 games. So right now on Fantasy Pros Heath, Jordan Addison is 83rd overall. He's wide receiver 36. That's his ADP. Everyone was expecting some type of suspension. Where do you have Addison right now?
Heath Cummings
I believe I have him 77th overall at wide receiver 38. And I had originally projected two games for him, four games for Rashi Rice. So this is one more game. But I think a lot of people, including Theo Grimminger, have made the good point on Twitter today. You don't take zeros for those three games. He doesn't play. You're going to have somebody else that you can fill in. So maybe draft him a little higher than he projects for 14 games.
Jamie Eisenberg
Yes, I brought this up on July 18th. This is when the news first came out that, you know, that their court cases were settled or whatever. He had pleaded no contest to reckless driving. Rasheed Rice was sentenced to 30, 30 days of jail time and five years probation. And I mentioned that Julian Edelman was suspended for the first four games of 2018. His ADP was wide receiver 30. He was 72nd overall. He finished his wide receiver 22, but his wide receiver 13 per game. He was a unique case though because he was coming off a missed season after a torn ACL, I believe. Alvin Camara was suspended for the first three games of 2023. He was RB21 in ADP 62nd overall. And he finished his RB12 overall even with the suspension and RB5 per game. And Jamie, you know, I brought it up then he just brought it up. You are not going to have bye weeks during Jordan Addison's suspension. So let's keep that in mind. You should be able to fill that spot. And you're drafting him probably a bench player anyway. So where do you have Jordan Addison? And then we'll talk about what this means for Jefferson and Hawkinson and McCarthy.
Ben Schragger
I just wrote the story for the site, so I looked. Dave Heath and I all have him in a similar range. So again, as Heath alluded to, we were kind of expecting this once the court case or the, the plea deal happened in, in July as you're referencing. So I, I think that's the, the best approach is, you know, you're looking at it as around 7 pick where he's in that mix of receivers with like Ricky Pearsall and Cooper cup and Debo Samuel and those type of guys. I know Heath has them ranked a little higher, but I think that's where they are from an average opposition standpoint Jacoby, Myers, those type of receivers where in a two receiver league you were never expecting these guys to be starters, maybe flex options. In a three receiver league it makes a little bit more, a little tougher just because they may have been in the mix to be one of your starters. But I think the nice thing about it is he has now the ability to still perform like he did. And if you look at his season last year like the back half of the season, he was amazing. He averaged in his last nine games 17.7 PPR points per game. Six of those games he was 13.3 PPR points or more. So there's a lot just to like about the situation. However, we are now going into a year of somewhat uncertainty as we were last year, but once again because of JJ McCarthy taking over Sam Darnold. And so you have a quarterback question which may be same, maybe better, maybe worse, we just don't know. And now he's missing three games. So the difference I think for Addison, Addison versus Edelman, for example, you were saying wide receiver 30 is you kind of knew what Edelman's role was going to be. I think we know what Addison's role was going to be. You knew what Ellen's quartermaster be too. There's, there's just the question mark of can JJ McCarthy help this extremely high end second receiver on his own team going into his third year produce at a higher level? That's I'm a little skeptical of. So I'm happy to take him in that round seven range as, as one of my top reserves and hopefully once he starts playing from week four on the, the crappy thing is man, he's missing the Falcons game, the Bengals game and the Bears game, like those are three pretty amazing matchups, especially two of those.
Heath Cummings
I yeah. And I think another reason for caution with him is there have been a lot of TJ Hawkinson and Justin Jefferson absences over the last two years for Addison. Now he was playing with both of them the second half when he was so awesome as Jamie referenced. But a lot of that was touchdown based. He's had an exceptionally high touchdown rate each of his first two years in the NFL. And one thing you do worry about with first year starters at quarterback is that touchdown rate. So he doesn't actually have the catch or yardage profile of a wide receiver who produces. It's a low end number two on a per game basis. But he scored so many touchdowns that he's produced like that. So the missed three games, the fact that Hawkinson and Jefferson and we think Jefferson will be healthy by then, are both healthy. And the fact you have a first year starter at quarterback, I think maybe pump the brakes just a little bit on Edison.
Ben Schragger
I, I do think though that, and you're right, he scored 19 touchdowns in 32 games, 20 total touchdowns with the rushing score. The, the, the thing that you look for him is at least the way like I, I view him, I view him like what we saw from McLaren last year, Cortland Sutton the last two years, how I think DK Metcalf will perform, Jameson Williams, you know, we'll keep going down the sliding scale. He's going to be touchdown dependent to be a standout fantasy receiver. And I think, you know, everything you said, Heath is right. It's just there, there is an unknown here. We are talking about what Sam Darnold was last year and how he resurrected himself. This is still a first round talent that when he was drafted, you know, in, in a spot to be one of the better quarterbacks in this class, which we know had some pretty high end production last year. So can he live up to that billing? It's, it's really a fascinating question to see how this is all going to get answered. And, and the reports have been mixed. You know, I think when you see a situation like this you expect struggles. So I don't really look at that as a concern. You know, Caleb Williams is struggling, you expect that. You know, new coach comes in, new system, it's how he's struggling and some of the reports. I think part of it is he's going against one of the best defenses in the league every day and they're giving it to him every day. He's doing it without Justin Jefferson on the field for a big portion of this. That's going to change a lot of things when that guy's out there. Can McCarthy get to a point where this offense is playing at a high level and then Addison slots back in? It could be great, you know, even in, in the Minnesota, in the, excuse me, the Pittsburgh game. But like it could be great because of the soft schedule to start those first three games. Like you really hope to see McCarthy get off to a good start.
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah. And for Addison, you know, he is a pretty big presence in the red zone and in the green zone and in the end zone. He kind of out targets Justin Jefferson in those areas of the field, so I hope that continues. This is an opportunity obviously for TJ Hawkinson to get off to a really good start. This is a guy that we said we're not drafting D.J. hawkinson much when we did the Tight Ends preview, so we will talk about that. You know what, let's take a quick break here and we'll focus on the rest of the Vikings after this. On Fantasy Football Today, September 4th on Paramount.
Adam Azer
Plus someone is trying to frame us until our names are cleared.
Dave Richard
We're fugitives from interval like Bonnie and.
Adam Azer
Clyde with better snacks. Espionage, you still as good a shot as you used to be? Better Is there love language? We like to walk that fine line between techno thriller and romantic comedy.
Dave Richard
We make up our own rules.
Adam Azer
NCIS Tony and Ziva Streaming September 4th on Paramount Plus.
Jon Rothstein
Hey, this is Jon Rothstein and I want to remind you to lock in with my new podcast, Inside College Basketball. Now as part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network, we will be on multiple times a week and bring you everything you need to know about college basketball. Featuring the biggest guests and the biggest, best names in the sport. Plus, we are going to get into everything that's happening in terms of hot topics, names to watch, games to monitor, and everything you want from soup to nuts in regards to college basketball. Download and follow Inside College Basketball now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever podcasts are found.
Jamie Eisenberg
Welcome back everybody. Funny promo there. So yeah, Hawkinson, you guys want to say anything else about Addison, go for it. Otherwise, talk about Hawkinson here and because it's not really going to change much for Jefferson, it might, might get him off to a better start. Hawkinson again, we talked about him in the tight end preview. He's a mid round pick, one that we've been skipping. But this obviously gives him an opportunity to make his mark. In the first three games of the season and the research I've done, he's had about a 19 and a half target share when he's played with a healthy Jefferson and a healthy Addison in 2023 and in 2024 it was pretty similar target share. But what needs to be pointed out was the Vikings defense got elite last year and their past attempts went down. They threw 548 times in 2024, in 2023 they threw 672 times, in 2022, 631 times. So that's a big question I have is how much are they going to throw?
John Doe
Are they going to have this elite.
Jamie Eisenberg
Defense again and not be as reliant on the pass as, you know, as we saw last year and all right, anyway, what does this mean for Hawkinson Heath? Are you more likely to draft him now?
Heath Cummings
Yeah, and I want to clarify like when we were talking about we haven't drafted him. I think that's mostly because of how late David Najoku goes and we all like David Najoku better than TJ Hawkinson and he almost always goes after him. But I have Hawkinson projected very close to Sam Laporta and higher than Mark Andrews. And I, I think the real key is going to be something we just talked about with Jordan Addison who's done so well in the red zone and the green zone and scoring touchdowns and that's kind of been one area where Hawkinson's not been that great. And does this mean that maybe he gets off to a a better touchdown start then that could. That could elevate him. He had while he seems like one of those guys that's never really been elite and he's just kind of like a fine pick to be a mid tight end one he was tied with Travis Kelsey for tight end one when he tore his ACL in 2023 and finished the year tight end two per game. So there's probably a little more upside there than we gave him credit for in the Titan preview.
Ben Schragger
I think the one thing that this does now is you sort of look at it's easy to tear these tight ends.
Jamie Eisenberg
Right.
Ben Schragger
Because you know, if you're looking at the YouTube page, if you don't want to put Kittle with the top two, it's fine. But I think he deserves to be at least closer to them. So the first three guys, that next group of guys is going to define the position this year. Yeah, the Porta Najoku, Kelsey and Hawkinson, like this is where always we get tripped up by these groups.
Dave Richard
Right.
Ben Schragger
Every year for the most part. Yep. And so it's. When are you buying them? So I just hope that with this news that Hawkinson doesn't get pushed up to a point not necessarily in the tight end rankings but the overall rankings and the overall ADP where you're reaching for him because remember it's just three games. Yeah. If this was longer than that then I think you could justify him as tight end four. But just the fact that it's three games and again it's still McCarthy still still first year quarterback. We hope you know you referenced it on on the show today Adam in in on Tuesday in regards to Javante Williams, how you said Chris Godwin two years removed felt better with the ACL tear. You want to see what Javante Williams looks like. You want to see what Breece hall looks like? You know, as we get away Further away from the injury. And Hawkinson will be, you know, only a year and a half, but still hopefully back to, you know, what he was in that 2023 season when he was, as Heath alluded to, you know, pushing to be tight and one like he was amazing. So it's a, it's a good situation for him, but I just don't think you want to overvalue him. So if you like him better than Najoku or better than Kelsey, that's perfectly fine, you know, better than Laporta, perfectly fine. I just don't think you want to go crazy with. Now all of a sudden you're taking him in round five.
Jamie Eisenberg
I think we've gotten better with mid round picks at tight end. The last two years have been solid. I'm not saying every pick's been good. There have been some bad mid round picks at tight end, but there's bad mid round picks at every position. But last year it was Andrews in round four, McBride in round four, Kincaid in round five, K round five, Kyle Pitts, round six, Ingram, round six, Jake Ferguson, round seven, David Najoku, round seven. So that's probably 50% success rate there. Not terrible. It used to be. Used to be worse than that. The kiss of death to be drafted in the mid rounds at tight end. All right, that's it for this bonus podcast. Thank you so much.
Ben Schragger
The rest of the receiving corps.
Jamie Eisenberg
I'm sorry. Thank you. Yeah, yeah, I think it's, you know, no one seems to care about this except for me, but Justin Jefferson averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game in PPR last year. That was the lowest in four years for him. The previous three years, 19.5, 21.5, 20.4. He averaged at least 10 targets or 9.8 targets per game in three straight seasons. In last year, what did he average? About nine targets per game. I think on the nose, right about. So a little bit down, lower target per route run rate. I think that's because he had Addison and Hawkinson, personally. So, Jamie, what do you want to say about Jefferson and anyone else in this receiving core?
Ben Schragger
I'm really not looking at Jefferson any differently. You know, again, he's. Those first three games. If McCarthy is good, if he's at least as good as, I hate saying this, at least as good as Sam Darnold, then Jefferson's going to be fine. Top three receiver, you know, top four, top five, whatever you want to, you know, put him in. Like, I know Adam, you like Nico Collins, you know, so a lot of people probably in a similar situation like Mike Neighbors maybe better. Like Pukinakua better, whatever. Jefferson for me is still going to be wide receiver three. You know, if you really are tied, you know, tossed. Toss. If it's a toss up for you between CD Lamb and Jefferson, this might push Jefferson ahead of him perfectly fine. Don't have a problem with that. It's really about the other guys there. And I think, you know, deeper leagues. Jalen Naylor would be the one. Thomas, maybe you have a different opinion on this. You know, I, I look at this receiving core and it just screams a lot of guess this, you know, ambiguous that, like just not a lot of certainty on who it's going to be. But Naylor to me is somebody that in those first three games a great DFS play. You know, if you're in a, a guillotine league that, you know, usually they're 18, you know, fantasy managers, like, he might be a good fifth receiver. Flex, whatever the case. But I don't want to change my opinion on these guys just because again, as you said to start the show like you're not starting, you don't have to start these guys, you know, 14, 16 team league. You know, if you want to handcuff Addison and maybe Nailer, it's fine. But I don't want to, you know, go with the guessing game until maybe we see something, you know, concrete.
Heath Cummings
In the two games Addison missed last year, 13.3 fantasy points per game for Jalen Naylor in a very Jordan Addison way. He had three catches each game, had 85 total receiving yards, but scored a touchdown both games.
Jamie Eisenberg
I wonder. I haven't looked at. I'll look at it right now. So this is weeks two and three that Addison missed. Let's see if there was a spike for Aaron Jones. There was six targets in each game.
Heath Cummings
And, and you wouldn't be surprised with, with a first year starter if that. And Jordan Mason added, if the Vikings just go a little more run heavy if they're able to early on.
Jamie Eisenberg
Holy cow.
John Doe
Six targets in each game for Aaron.
Jamie Eisenberg
Jones on 26 and 28 pass attempts.
Mike Smith
But remember, that was without Hawkinson and Addison.
Ben Schragger
You're right. Oh, gosh.
Jamie Eisenberg
You know, I just got Vikings checked there. That's a good point. Thank you, Thomas. All right, we good here? Anything else? Can I go eat dinner now?
Ben Schragger
I think McCarthy's value doesn't change either. Same thing.
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah, can I go eat dinner now?
Ben Schragger
I mean, we might as well just keep talking till the draft start.
Jamie Eisenberg
If you're listening to this you know, after we've recorded it and it's not 7pm Eastern yet. Hop on over to YouTube.com fantasy football today and check out our live stream. We're doing a live mock draft. Jamie. Jamie. Heath Thomas.
Dave Richard
Wow.
Jamie Eisenberg
For Jamie Eisenberg, Dave Richard and Ben Schragger, I'm Adam Azer. We'll talk to you tomorrow on Basic Football.
Dave Richard
Tonight.
Ben Schragger
Paramount Podcasts.
Adam Azer
Stop. Do you know how fast you were going? I'm going to have to write you a ticket to my new movie, the Naked Gun. Liam Neeson, buy your tickets now and get a free chili dog. Chili dog not included. The Naked Gun now playing. Rated PG 13.
Podcast Summary: Fantasy Football Today – "🚨Jordan Addison Suspended 3 Games: Move Up T.J. Hockenson?" (August 5, 2025)
In this insightful episode of Fantasy Football Today, hosted by Adam Azer and featuring analysts Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, and Ben Schragger, the team dives deep into the recent development concerning Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension and its cascading effects on fantasy football strategies. Released on August 5, 2025, this episode provides listeners with comprehensive analysis, strategic advice, and expert opinions to navigate the evolving fantasy landscape.
Jamie Eisenberg opens the discussion by addressing the unexpected three-game suspension handed to Jordan Addison. Given Addison’s performance metrics from the previous season—63 catches, 875 yards, and 9 touchdowns in 15 games, ranked 25th in PPR and 18th in non-PPR leagues, and currently valued at 83rd overall on Fantasy Pros—this suspension poses significant concerns for fantasy managers.
Heath Cummings concurs, noting the suspension extends beyond initial expectations (originally projected for two games). He emphasizes the necessity of not dismissing Addison outright, stating, “You don't take zeros for those three games... Maybe draft him a little higher than he projects for 14 games.” ([Heath Cummings, 02:50])
Jamie Eisenberg reflects on historical precedents of player suspensions, referencing Julian Edelman and Alvin Camara’s suspensions to contextualize Addison’s situation. She underscores that despite the suspension, Addison’s high touchdown rate could mitigate some fantasy impacts, suggesting managers should consider drafting him as a bench player rather than immediately dropping him. ([Jamie Eisenberg, 03:16])
Ben Schragger adds that Addison should be viewed similarly to receivers like Ricky Pearsall and Cooper Kupp post-adjustments, asserting, “He has now the ability to still perform like he did.” He highlights the uncertainty surrounding quarterback performance, particularly with JJ McCarthy taking over, and how this could influence Addison’s value. ([Ben Schragger, 04:22])
The analysts delve into the nuances of Addison’s fantasy value amidst his suspension. Ben Schragger discusses Addison’s touchdown dependency, comparing him to players like Corland Sutton and DK Metcalf, and emphasizes the unpredictability introduced by the quarterback situation in his team. He emphasizes caution, especially considering Addison’s limited yardage and catch profile. ([Ben Schragger, 06:26])
Heath Cummings further elaborates on Addison’s role in the team’s red zone and green zone strategies, noting the high touchdown rate as both a strength and a potential vulnerability, especially with a first-year quarterback like McCarthy. He advises, “pump the brakes” on valuing Addison too highly until more clarity emerges. ([Heath Cummings, 07:19])
Jamie Eisenberg reinforces the importance of Addison’s red zone presence and its potential benefits for T.J. Hawkinson, providing a segue into the next segment of the discussion. ([Jamie Eisenberg, 08:59])
Shifting focus to T.J. Hawkinson, Jamie Eisenberg explores how Addison’s suspension opens opportunities for Hawkinson to shine in the tight end position. She notes Hawkinson’s consistent target share (approximately 19.5%) when both Jefferson and Addison were healthy, questioning how much the Vikings’ defense—and their historical pass heavy tendencies—will impact his utilization. ([Jamie Eisenberg, 09:33])
Heath Cummings responds by highlighting that Hawkinson could see an uptick in production if he capitalizes on Addison’s absence, potentially elevating his fantasy value. However, he cautions against overvaluing Hawkinson, especially considering his past performance and the uncertain dynamics with a new quarterback system. ([Heath Cummings, 11:44])
Ben Schragger discusses the broader tight end landscape, emphasizing that mid-round tight ends have shown improvement over the past two years. He advises managers to remain cautious, ensuring they don’t reach excessively for Hawkinson based solely on the suspension, as his upside is still contingent on multiple factors. ([Ben Schragger, 12:58])
Jamie Eisenberg agrees, sharing that mid-round tight ends have become more reliable, though with a 50% success rate. She emphasizes the importance of balanced drafting, suggesting that while Hawkinson has potential, managers should avoid overcommitting to him early in drafts. ([Jamie Eisenberg, 13:25])
The discussion pivots to Justin Jefferson, whose fantasy production has seen a slight decline. Jamie Eisenberg points out that Jefferson averaged 18.6 PPR points per game last season—the lowest in four years—partially due to the presence of Addison and Hawkinson. She notes Jefferson’s reduced target share, which fell to nine targets per game, attributing this to the increased competition in the receiving corps. ([Jamie Eisenberg, 15:14])
Ben Schragger maintains that Jefferson remains a top-tier receiver despite the minor regression, stating, “Justin Jefferson for me is still going to be wide receiver three.” He suggests that his position remains strong unless significant changes occur in the quarterback’s performance or the offensive strategy. ([Ben Schragger, 15:53])
Heath Cummings provides additional context by referencing Jalen Naylor’s performance in Addison’s absence last year, highlighting the potential for increased targets and touchdowns if similar opportunities arise. However, he also cautions about the variability introduced by a first-year quarterback and defensive adjustments. ([Heath Cummings, 17:17])
Concluding the episode, the analysts offer strategic advice for fantasy managers:
Assess Addison’s Value: Consider Addison as a bench asset rather than a frontline starter, keeping in mind his suspension’s limited duration.
Explore Tight End Depth: Evaluate mid-round tight ends like T.J. Hawkinson for potential upside but avoid overvaluing them based solely on current suspensions or short-term opportunities.
Monitor Justin Jefferson: Continue to rely on Jefferson’s consistent performance while keeping an eye on target shares and quarterback dynamics.
Adapt to the Quarterback Situation: Recognize the uncertainty surrounding JJ McCarthy’s performance with a new team setup and its potential impact on the receiving corps.
Jamie Eisenberg wraps up by inviting listeners to engage further through live streams and mock drafts available on YouTube, encouraging active participation in the fantasy football community. ([Jamie Eisenberg, 18:22])
Heath Cummings [02:50]: “You don't take zeros for those three games. He doesn't play. You're going to have somebody else that you can fill in. So maybe draft him a little higher than he projects for 14 games.”
Jamie Eisenberg [03:16]: “You are not going to have bye weeks during Jordan Addison's suspension. So let's keep that in mind. You should be able to fill that spot.”
Ben Schragger [06:26]: “Once you have the ability to still perform like he did... We are now going into a year of somewhat uncertainty.”
Jamie Eisenberg [09:33]: “Hawkinson again, we talked about him in the tight end preview. He's a mid-round pick, one that we've been skipping. But this obviously gives him an opportunity to make his mark.”
Ben Schragger [12:58]: “I just think you want to see what Javante Williams looks like. You want to see what Breece Hall looks like...it’s a good situation for him, but I just don't think you want to overvalue him.”
This episode of Fantasy Football Today offers a thorough examination of Jordan Addison’s suspension and its implications for fantasy managers. By weighing Addison’s potential against the uncertainties of his team’s quarterback situation and exploring opportunities with tight ends like T.J. Hawkinson, the analysts provide actionable insights. Additionally, the discussion on Justin Jefferson underscores the importance of monitoring player performance and team dynamics. Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy manager or a newcomer striving to dominate your league, this episode equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions heading into the draft season.