Fantasy Football Today - Episode: Most 2025 Upside; Conference Championship Picks and DFS (01/23 Fantasy Football Podcast) Release Date: January 23, 2025

Welcome to another insightful episode of Fantasy Football Today, presented by CBS Sports. In this episode, host Adam Aizer and analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, Dan, and Mike delve deep into the most promising players for the 2025 season, make predictions for the Conference Championships, and share strategies for dominating Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS).

Conference Championship Picks

Eagles vs. Commanders & Chiefs vs. Bills

The crew kicks off the episode by discussing the pivotal matchups in the Conference Championships: Eagles vs. Commanders and Chiefs vs. Bills.

• Eagles vs. Commanders: Heath questions the performance of Jalen Hurts and the overall state of the Eagles' offense. Mike expresses concerns about overrating Washington, noting their recent turnovers:

  "Detroit turned the ball over four times. Detroit's defense nowhere near as good as Philadelphia's defense." [03:22]

  Dan highlights Washington's potential if Jalen Hurts is not at his best but leans towards Philadelphia securing the win:

  "I think Washington's luck runs out this week." [03:52]

• Chiefs vs. Bills: The debate intensifies around Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, focusing on their postseason turnovers and performance under pressure. Heath emphasizes the importance of veteran QBs not turning the ball over:

  "These veteran quarterbacks, they don't turn the ball over in the playoffs." [05:33]

  The team ultimately predicts a win for both the Chiefs and the Eagles, despite the discussions:

  "I'm gonna pick the Chiefs and Eagles." [05:33]

2025 Upside Rankings

Quarterbacks: Drake May, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix

The analysts examine the upside of three promising quarterbacks, focusing on their potential in the upcoming season.

• Caleb Williams: Viewed as having the highest upside, Caleb benefits from an upgraded playbook and offensive line:

  "Caleb Williams already we've, we can check off one box. His playbook will be better, his play designs will be better." [10:15]

• Drake May: Recognized for his dual-threat capabilities, particularly his rushing yards:

  "Drake May's average 7.8 yards per carry. That is the most yards per carry for a quarterback." [11:43]

• Bo Nix: Concerns linger about his consistency, drawing parallels with CJ Stroud’s second season:

  "What happens in his second season using CJ Stroud as the example... makes it harder for him to put up better numbers." [10:15]

"I think Knicks might be viewed as like a safe 20 point fantasy guy that you'll draft late." [10:15]

Running Backs: Breece Hall, Alvin Kamara, Chuba Hubbard

The discussion shifts to running backs with high upside for 2025.

• Breece Hall: Favored for his youth and potential to remain a top-tier RB:

  "Breeze, hall has a chance to still be a top five fantasy running back." [18:26]

• Chuba Hubbard: Showed significant improvement in performance, especially in later games:

  "He averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year. He was overall number 13 per game." [18:50]

• Alvin Kamara: Faces uncertainty with team changes and potential offensive adjustments:

  "Alvin Camara is going to be 30 this coming season... There's a lot that could go really wrong for Camara." [19:28]

"I hate giving up on Camara, though. He had more fantasy points per game in PPR than both those guys last year." [18:50]

Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr., Jackson Smith, Garrett Wilson

The team ranks wide receivers based on their potential breakout performances.

• Jackson Smith and Jigba Garrett Wilson (JSN): Praised for their target share and performance in the latter part of the season:

  "JSN averaged 19 PPR points per game from week eight through week 17." [24:58]

• Marvin Harrison Jr.: Debates on his speed versus contested catch abilities:

  "He did other things well. He's really good at contested catches." [28:39]

Dan offers a contrasting view, placing Marvin Harrison Jr. at the top due to his pedigree and potential:

"If Marvin Harrison hits, based on his pedigree, he could be a superstar." [27:38]

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Strategies

The analysts transition to DFS lineup strategies, emphasizing must-have players and contrarian picks to gain an edge.

• Must-Have Players: Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen, and key receivers like Coulaman McLaurin are highlighted as essential picks:

  "Josh Allen is my fanduel quarterback." [38:13] "The first name I put in was Saquon Barkley." [36:54]

• Contrarian Picks: To differentiate from the crowd, the team discusses creating unique lineups with alternative strategies, such as:

  "Let’s make a lineup with a cheap running back or a different quarterback." [45:01]

"Everybody's gonna have the same exact lineup, except I have Eckler, Flex and you have Earth's." [43:35]

News and Notes

Quick updates on NFL news, including coaching changes and player injuries, are shared to inform fantasy decisions.

• Coaching Changes: The Jets hiring Aaron Glenn and the Bengals bringing in Al Golden as their new defensive coordinator:

  "Al Golden was a former Miami Hurricanes head coach... he beat Oklahoma, beat Ohio State." [33:50]

• Injuries: Key player injuries like Philadelphia center Cam Jurgens missing practice and A.J. Brown's health status:

  "Eagles center Cam Jurgens missed practice. A.J. Brown says he's feeling better." [35:23]

DFS Lineup Comparisons and Final Tips

In the final segment, the hosts compare their DFS lineups, sharing insights on optimizing points and balancing risk.

• Lineup Sharing: Dave and Heath reveal their similar lineups, highlighting the common must-haves and discussing adjustments to maximize potential:

  "I have Josh Allen at quarterback, Saquon Barkley and James Cook at running back." [43:35]

• Strategy Tips: Emphasis on balancing high-floor players with high-upside picks to navigate the limited game slate:

  "Saquon has smoked them both times, so might be Chalky and he's definitely expensive." [36:54]

"You have to hit on a Curtis Samuel. You have to hit on a... like Brian Robinson scoring." [37:34]

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with encouragement to listeners to implement the discussed strategies, stay updated with NFL news, and fine-tune their DFS lineups for optimal performance. Adam signs off with plans to return the following Monday, ensuring fans stay ahead in their fantasy leagues.

Notable Quotes:

• "These veteran quarterbacks, they don't turn the ball over in the playoffs." – Heath [05:33]
• "Caleb Williams already we've, we can check off one box." – Dave [10:15]
• "Everybody's gonna have the same exact lineup, except I have Eckler, Flex and you have Earth's." – Dan [43:35]

Stay tuned to Fantasy Football Today for more expert analysis, player rankings, and winning strategies to dominate your fantasy league in 2025!