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Host 3
This is Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports.
Host 4
What a play.
Host 2
Can you believe this? No, I can't.
Host 3
It's time to dominate your fantasy league.
Host 2
Off to the races and he stays on his feet. This is going to go the distance.
Host 3
Now here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie and Heath.
Host 2
Hump Day Wednesday, July 23 welcome to the show Fantasy Football. Today we are talking about our Pick by Pick series. We did a 12 team PPR mock draft with three receivers and we're going to take a look at how it unfolded and what to do from different spots in the draft. It's Adam, Dave and Jamie here. Please send us your emails@fantasy footballbsi.com Please leave an Apple podcast 5 star review that is extremely helpful for growing our show. Also, if you're listening on Spotify, leave comments, leave reviews, you know, let people know why you like our show. If you do that on Apple Podcasts and you leave a nice review, you can include a question, and we will read that on our mailbag show. All right, guys, as we start to do more and more mock drafts, more real drafts, just wondering, you know, because today, pick by pick, we'll talk about strategies and how to build a team. Just wondering if things are coming into focus a little bit more for you in terms of team building exercises and whatnot. Jamie, do you feel that at all? Are you gaining some clarity over the last few days and weeks?
Host 5
I'm just trying different things. So, you know, there's. There's different things I feel like I'm learning about what I want to do and how I want to tell people what to do in certain spots and, you know, groups of players that are available based on the drafts that I'm seeing. And I think, like, last night was a great exercise for me at least, because it was a let. It was with 11 random people that I have no idea how their drafts was going to go. You know, it's a little different when you're in leagues that you play in, you know, year over year, and you kind of know the way that people draft. It's a lot easier with our leagues because I know what you guys tend to do for the most part, you know, and the players that you like and don't like. So to throw that, you know, randomness into it is. Is a lot more interesting. So I was telling Dave this, you know, like, last night was first time I drafted Joe Mixon, you know, so that was just one player stood out to me. For example, I waited too long on quarterbacks was another one that. That played itself out in the mock draft that we did. So two. Two things that kind of. And the quarterback one was somewhat on purpose. Like, I passed on Burrow and Herz. I was pick four going back the other way, and I wanted to see if one of those guys would fall back to me. They didn't.
Host 2
In round five, you mean?
Host 4
Yeah, no. He was picking fourth overall.
Host 2
Right.
Host 4
So he was in slot four and in late round four.
Host 2
That's what I mean.
Host 4
He was hoping for one of those round five, actually to come back. Right?
Host 2
You were. You. You passed them up in round four to see if they'd be there in round five.
Host 5
I think that's right. Yes.
Host 2
And they were gambled and.
Host 5
And I did the same Thing at the end of the draft because both Bo Nix and Dak Prescott were available, and both those. One. The manager with pick 3 did not have a quarterback. He took one of those guys and one of the other managers took the other one. And so again, just trying different things and seeing how it works that. So to answer your question, I'm sorry, in a roundabout way, yes. I'm seeing the way things are sort of unfolding, you know, the puzzles coming together. But a lot's going to change over the next few weeks. I mean, we already. I think we're going to see McLaurin fall. I think we're going to see Godwin fall. I think we're going to see Omarion Hampton rise. Things of that nature.
Host 4
Where did Hampton go last night?
Host 5
I think he went round four.
Host 4
Yeah, he's going to. He's going to creep into round three.
Host 2
I think that might be a mistake.
Host 5
I know that round four is fine. Round three too soon.
Host 2
Or it could. Or look, obviously, if things. If he gets the Runway and he takes over with Najee Harris in.
Host 5
Oh, Harris is out, right?
Host 2
No, no, but what I'm saying is I don't think Najee is going to be out. Right. Because the reports have not been great. They don't know. The newest report is that Jim Harbaugh said not even report. Jim Harbaugh said they don't know if Naji Harris is gonna be ready for training camp. So he could be out for a while with this eye injury. But the thing is, it's not like he has a knee injury. It's not like this is something that's going to hamper him, I don't think when the season starts. So as soon as he comes comes, as soon as he's back, it's a competition again. And now, obviously this helps. Hampton gives him a leg up to start. So we'll keep an eye on things. But don't sit there and go, najee Harris is out of the. Out of the picture. That's not the case right now.
Host 5
Yep.
Host 2
Dave, did you want to talk about that? I don't know if things are taking shape for you as we do more.
Host 4
Yeah, sure. So, like, first thing I thought of is how I've been preaching, how I've got this elite tier of nine wide receivers and Jamie has 10. And you might have 10 if you're listening and you want to include Drake London or it might be fewer than nine if you don't want to include A.J. brown or whoever. But the number of elite tier running backs is Even smaller for me, it's six and that includes a rookie. So I, I, I, I worry a little bit about making sure I get one of those guys. And so one of the decisions I think every fantasy manager has to make is which do you want to tackle first? Because you're going to have a first round pick, you're guaranteed to get one of these guys. You might get two if you're picking late in round one, which I love. Which position do you want to go after first? And the running back position, it's, it's very strong at the top. But if you want one of those elite tier runners, you're going to have to pass on one of the elite tier receivers to do it and vice versa if you really. I also think the very first drop off, this is for me is at 27th overall. So if I've got one of those early round one picks, I mean really early, I can feel good about my first three picks. I like that spot a lot too.
Host 2
Yeah.
Host 4
One of the things I've come to the conclusion on is that I don't know if I really have a spot in the first round that I'm targeting that I just, I absolutely have to have. I can come up with the strategy I love if I'm picking third overall. I think I might love the strategy a little bit more if I'm picking late in round one. So I might give an edge there. But it's not like I hate picking top three overall.
Host 2
And for me, the clarity that I've been gaining is that I feel pretty good and clear about everything when I'm drafting right now, except how I feel about Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. They are big influencers in my draft. They, they change things for me. And I don't know where are you.
Host 4
Chasing them or are you trying to get them at a value and then in other words, you're just not going to get them.
Host 2
Yeah, no, I mean, I'm sort of somewhere in between right now. This is, I just, I just don't know how I feel about their potential to really perform like early second round picks because I think they're, they're really good picks late in the second round or if you can get them in the third round. But it's just not really happening, certainly not with Bowers. So I try to get to separate the two. I don't really separate the two.
Host 5
No, no, no. I think, but for the purpose of what you're talking about, I think you have to separate the two because I don't think we're going to see them go back to back. I don't think we'll see them go in in a five pick range. I think Bowers goes at the beginning of round two in the first three or four picks in that range and McBride is the back end of round two in the early part of round three.
Host 2
Right.
Host 4
That's what we saw in our draft last night.
Host 5
I, I think we're getting almost every draft. I do.
Host 4
Yeah. I, I don't know, man. I think that as we get closer to the start of the season, I think we will see those guys get a little tighter between them.
Host 5
I, I see that. I almost think, think it goes the other way though because we are advising people to say that they're close together. If not McBride is better. What we're seeing is, is a separation of the two. I think more people are expecting Bowers to take a huge step forward, which is not out of the question. I don't think people view McBride as being better than Bowers, which is what we're saying essentially.
Host 4
So they're six spots apart in our adp.
Host 2
Yeah. And, but it doesn't really matter because you can't pass on one and get the other. So you, when you're up in the second round, you've got to make a choice. Do I take tight end one or do I, do I not get one of those two? And unless like we said this, unless you know they're both available and you're, you're picking third overall, they're both available at 22nd overall. You might be 22nd, 23rd, 24th, you might be able to get one in the second round. But ADP is telling us that you have to make a choice in the second round. Do I take Bowers or McBride if they're available or do I pass? And I still don't have my answer yet. I am thinking that they are probably not going to average 17 PPR fantasy points per game. Because. Because I looked at the last six years or maybe seven years and the tight ends, the last six tight ends who averaged 17 or more points per game, they were all on offenses that threw for more yards than what both Arizona and Las Vegas did last year. And most of them significantly more yards. So this is Travis Kelsey three times. Zach Ertz on a great passing offense with Philadelphia. Darren Waller on a pretty damn good passing offense, one year with Las Vegas and who was the last one? Mark Andrews on a solid passing offense with Baltimore. They threw for 4,267 yards, 21 touchdowns and 17 games. So those, all those offenses were better than Las Vegas and Arizona. What they did as passing offenses last year, is there room for those two teams to get up to like say 4300 passing yards? I don't think so with Las Vegas and I don't think so with Arizona. That's just where I'm at right now. So I chose 17 points per game as kind of arbitrary as what they would need to justify second round picks. They that also depends on the strength of the rest of the tight end position. If tight end is just horrible this year then maybe they can average 16 points per game and justify a second round pick. But I'm leaning that I'm not going to have a lot of those tight ends. But that is the only super tough decision that.
Host 5
Well let me ask the question. Would you, would you sign up for this roster? This was the team that drafted Bowers last night and drafted them 13th overall. So the 12th pick in the first round, Brock Purdy a quarterback. James Cook and Ken Walker at running back, Amanra St. Brown and Travis Hunter as the starting receivers. Brock Bowers at tight end and we this was a two receiver, two running back, one flex league and Jameson Williams as the starting flex with both 49ers receivers in Jennings and Pearsall on the bench and no other real standout running backs ties a Spears at their running back. So Purdy, Cook, Walker, St. Brown, Hunter, Bowers and then either Jameson Williams or 49ers receiver flex.
Host 2
I think it's a playoff team. I don't think it's a winning team. I think I would have liked a better RB one and I the thing that makes it better for me is having Jennings and Pearsall. Those are great picks. But now you've got Purdy Jennings, Pearsall St. Brown and Jameson Williams which is a good, good offense to have. I would say I could live with that roster. Yeah, I could live with that roster.
Host 5
I'll give you the McBride roster which I which went toward the back end of round two. I don't remember exactly what picked up Jalen Slot two pick two makes sense where it hurts. One Jalen hurts at quarterback, Bijan Robinson and Chuba Hubbard at running back, Garrett Wilson and Roma Dunze at receiver, McBride at tight end and then Pacheco at flex. The other receivers if you don't like Odunze would be Darnell Mooney, Khalil Shakir, Christian Kirk and Marvin Mims.
Host 2
Yes, I like it, I really do and I know people are going to go oh Roma Dunes a wide receiver too. But the point I try to make is that every single year, round seven or later, round nine or later, we get wide receivers that finish top 24, that have good years. You can find great value late. So the guy you drafted doesn't have to be the guy who wins your league. I think there's enough high end talent on this team. I like this team.
Host 5
Well, I, I, I want to go back because you, you said something with the other team like this is a playoff team. I don't know if it's a championship team. If you tell me I have a playoff team coming out of the draft, I'll make it work.
Host 2
I think this team works. I mean, and, and again, I'm sorry, last thing. Dave, I'll let you go. This is a two running back, two receiver, one flex league. This is not a three receiver league. So again, there, there, I, I really like going for being aggressive at tight end.
Host 4
Jamie, could you give us a team that took a tight end late last night? Just to compare.
Host 5
If you, if you recall, there was that whole group that went in rounds, I think it was nine through 11. I don't know exactly when coast and Loveland went, but this is just the one I landed on. So Josh Allen, Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey at running back, Lad McConkey, Marvin Harrison Jr. At receiver, Loveland at tight end, and then also drafted Ingram. But flex options would be. So Godwin, Godwin's probably the best bet. Godwin or Keon Coleman. So went two quarterbacks and went to two tight ends. That's hard in a 13 round draft.
Host 4
And all three of the teams that you mentioned, Jamie, have flaws. And that's just the way that fantasy football is. It's rare when you can draft a team and, and you don't think you've got any flaws, right? Or the consensus would believe that you don't have any flaws coming out of the draft. But I like that team too.
Host 2
Me too.
Host 4
You got to start a quarterback you can get by with Ingram and Loveland at tight end and yeah, you know, running back, there's, there's a few question marks there. Receiver, you need Godwin to be healthy. But I, I don't mind that team either. And that's a team that waited a long time to take a tight end. And that's the point is that yeah, if we knew that Bowers and McBride were gonna slam dunk 17 PPR points, they're worth that early round two capital. But they need to be taken closer to where other non tight ends are gonna be penciled in for 15 and a half to 16 PPR points to justify the pick in the early round three late round two type of range.
Host 2
And by the way, if they had just scored, if they had had their exact same stats and you take for McBride, take his stats and make it a 17 game pace. If they had both scored 8 touchdowns instead of 5 for Bowers and 3 for McBride, McBride would have averaged 16.9 PPR fantasy points per game. Bowers would have averaged 16.5 PPR fantasy points per game. That's if they had had 8 touchdowns last year. All right, so look, whatever we tell you about strategy today, there is no, there is no right answer there. There's what we think looks best. But fantasy football is unpredictable and and fun. So take this as as a helpful guide, not as gospel and we'll get to that in a little bit. We have a lot of news and notes to get to. Also we have a mailbag coming up on Friday and we still have some spots available. If you want to purchase for $50 go to our draft a thon page. So St. Jude donation of $50 tinyurl.com 2025fft have your mailbag question answered. And it looks like we have five slots left, so let's see if we can sell those out as we have for each of the first two weeks there. Podcast awards go to podcastawards.com app signup or just go to podcastawards.com you'll find it and nominate Fantasy Football today in the People's Choice and the sports category. It takes about 45 seconds I'd say. It's really simple. Podcast awards.com we appreciate your support. We're gonna hop to a quick break here and give you the news updates on Kyron Williams, Joe Mixon, Caleb Williams, Andrew Thomas and more.
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Now streaming on Paramount plus All right, here we go. Kyron Williams wants a new contract but he did report to camp. He's going to participate in practice as he seeks a contract extension so he's not holding in. That's good That's Kyron Williams. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford has a minor back injury. Mentioned this earlier, but Jim Harma Harbaugh does not know if Najee Harris will be back for training camp. Joe Mixon is on the non football injury list. It's July 23rd. Guys can come off these lists anytime. We're not going to overreact yet. But mix it. What? You said you drafted mixing for the first time yesterday. Jamie, when did you draft him?
Host 5
Round five.
Host 2
Okay. And you had which pick? Fourth pick. You said fourth pick. Okay. So the two quarterbacks that you were gambling on, Burrow and Hertz, they were taken. So you pivoted to mix in around five. I will point out that Joe Mixon averaged, I want to say almost 19 PPR fantasy points per game in his healthy games. He left one game with an injury. He left one game because it was week 18. Other than that, he was almost. He was first round good. So not saying that it was a. That people were wrong on him. Just throwing that out there.
Host 4
He had at least 16 PPR points in eight of his first 10 games.
Host 2
Yeah, amazing. All right, what else we got here? Chris Ballard, the GM for the Colts, is preaching patience with Anthony Richardson, citing Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Michael Penic said the Falcons are going to give the ball to Bijan Robinson as much as they can. We love that. No timetable for Brandon IUK right now. Juwan Jennings has not formally requested a trade. Dave, here's an interesting item. Ben Johnson, head coach for the Bears, he wants Caleb Williams to have a 70% completion rate. Basically the only way to do that unless you are the greatest quarterback in the world is to have a low A dot. There were 36 qualified quarterbacks last year. They ranked between 27th and 36th in air yards per pass attempt. That'd be Tua Goff, Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow and Geno Smith. So I thought about that and I thought about the second half of the season when D.J. moore's ADOT fell from seven from eight point or no, sorry, from 10 yards to 5.7 yards and he was on pace for 151 targets in from weeks 10 to 18. So things have changed. Now, obviously personnel coaching is different, but do you think a 70 cent 70% completion rate goal and the fact that Jared Goff was one of those quarterbacks with the low 8 out and a 70% completion rate, do you think that's something that would, if it happens, benefit DJ Moore more than anyone else?
Host 4
I don't know if it would benefit him more than Anyone else, it would certainly benefit him to the same level that it did in the second half of last year. That's why we're drafting him in that round. Four or five type range and full ppr. But what's, what's the number one way to help a quarterback that tends to hold the ball too long? Force him to get the ball out quick. Call a bunch of plays where you got to get that ball out asap. Make your read before the snap, go with it. Easy throws, short throws. Let the receiver make a play after the catch. That's what Caleb Williams needs to do. More of that will help the offense in general. It won't help their explosive play rate, but it'll help them have a lot of third and manageable plays and hopefully some sustained drives and hopefully leads to some points. But obviously this helps not just DJ Moore, but, but whoever the players are called for. And this is where it, it, this is where you kind of buy in a little bit more to DeAndre Swift. He's a good short area target. The tight ends, both Loveland and Cole Comet, short area targets, they can always call up plays for Odunze. He's a good yard after the catch type guy. They, the Bears are going to keep doing this and I would imagine it's not necessarily going to be great for Caleb Williams numbers, but it'll help pad the reception totals for everybody in that offense.
Host 2
I do wonder about Odunze though. He had a 14 yard or 13.8 yard, 8 out last year, which do not look at that and say it's going to repeat. But, but he does profile as the more downfield guy on this offense, right?
Host 4
He. Sure he does, but that's something DJ Moore's done in the past as well.
Host 2
Yeah.
Host 4
All right, so. And Loveland can do that too. Like Loveland is much more of a receiver than a blocker. So they, they have options when they want to throw past 10 yards downfield.
Host 2
All right. Chris Godwin and Tristan Worth are on the PUP list for the Bucks. Also, Godwin had a minor ankle procedure this spring, but he is doing well, according to espn.
Host 4
Yeah, it was a cleanup procedure, according to the report.
Host 2
Yeah, that's pretty, I feel like pretty fairly common stuff.
Host 4
Desean Watson, he had to have it.
Host 2
Yeah. Desean Watson's on the PUP list. Darren Waller is on the PUP list already. Okay. Terry McClure.
Host 5
McDaniel talked about that today. That he said, you know, just being smart for a guy coming out of retirement. He seemed to be pretty upfront about it.
Host 4
They've they've got an offensive lineman on the PUP list too and he's going to miss Weeks Eichenberg.
Host 2
Okay, there are a lot of guys on the PUP list right now. Try to just do the main headliners, but Terry McLaurin is not on the public but he is currently holding out. He did not report to camp. Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas is on the PUP list, but he's expected to be ready for week one. Huge deal for them. Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater is not practicing. He has a minor injury, but also he wants a new contract. Cincinnati running back Zach Moss is on the PUP list.
Host 4
Is it PUP or nfi?
Host 2
I thought PUP could be nfi.
Host 4
It doesn't matter. Like who cares? It's Zach Moss.
Host 2
No, I mean I think it matters a little bit, right?
Host 4
It's the NFI list.
Host 2
Okay.
Host 4
Non football injury list.
Host 2
This is a big one here. Alaric Jackson, left tackle for the Rams is not on the pub list and apparently not going to be put on it. He's dealing with blood clots, but that's something that could put you out for the entire season. I'm not saying that's out of the question here, but I think it's a good sign that Alaric Jackson's not on the PUP list for the Rams. Saints tight ends Foster Morrow and Taysum Hill are going to start camp on the PUP list. Tennessee cornerback Legarius Sneed is going to start camp on the PUP list. He is week to week. Saint safety Tehran Matthew retired. They have signed in the off season the same sign, safety Justin Reed. And now they're looking to sign safety Julian Blackman.
Host 5
I believe they did.
Host 2
Oh, they did sign. Okay. The Rams signed Jamal Adams. Who? He's a safety. He played for Pete Carroll. Not the Rams, the Raiders. Pardon me? He played for Pete Carroll in Seattle. And tough news here. The the Panthers released linebacker Josie Jewels, a good player. He has not recovered from a concussion that he sustained in week 15. So that's tough news for for Josie Jewel. I hope he gets back.
Host 4
He might have been their best run.
Host 2
Stopping linebacker now and they had a terrible run defense last year. But one of the reasons they had a terrible run defense is Derek Brown. Their star defensive tackle tore his meniscus in week one. He is back and he is practicing. Okay, let's take a look now at our pick by picks.
Host 5
James Cook, by the way, is expected to practice.
Host 2
Okay, I'm sorry, I. I didn't. I thought we had said that yesterday. I should have put that in the show notes anyway.
Host 5
Well, that was. They just started camp today officially, so.
Host 2
Okay, cool.
Host 4
Right. He reported yesterday, and now if he's practicing, that means he's not holding out. He's not holding in. He wants a new contract. But he's. He's being a good teammate and a good, you know, member of the Bills to go and practice even though he doesn't have the bag he wants. So good on him.
Host 2
Boy, did I miss a big opportunity. Schaefer pointing it out. We had a lot of players on the. Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to hit that on the pup list. Oh, man. That was Dave. David. David had enough of the barking sound, so he took matters into his own hands. Last year we got that sound bite from it. All right, next time we talk about.
Host 5
I'm terrified, by the way. I'm dog sitting for two dogs. There's three dogs in my house now.
Host 2
Oh, no.
Host 4
Oh, my. The crap everywhere in your house. It's got to be terrible. Watch your step.
Host 2
I have a lot of power right now. Okay, let's take a look at this pick by pick here.
Host 4
Because you can play dog.
Host 2
Because I can. Because I can make the other dog. If the dogs hear that, they're going to start going crazy.
Host 5
That's true. Yeah.
Host 2
But I don't want to, you know, get. Make Jamie leave the show.
Host 4
Jamie's life into chaos.
Host 2
All right. Dave had pick vacation in this, so he was not in this pick by pick. Jamie had one and seven. I had two and eight. So we can give you kind of how. How to. How we structured our teams from early and mid round spots.
Host 5
And Adam, I'll give you a little suggestion for next time If. If you want a different pick, I assign them based on who replies to my emails first.
Host 2
Oh, wow. That's how I do it, too. Whenever. Whenever you hear, oh, here's Jamie's sleepers, followed by Dave's and he's. That's the order that they reply to the email of. Hey, guys, send me your sleepers. So you want to take it from team one and I'll talk about team two. And we. I think what's noteworthy here, Jamie, is that we don't have a top four tight end. We don't have a top five. Sorry, top three tight end. We don't have a top five quarterback. Each of our first seven picks were running backs and wide receivers. In round eight, you took a tight end and I took a quarterback. I mean, this is remarkable. We structured our teams extremely similarly. By the way, this is a 12 team. Full PPR, three receiver, two running back, one tight end, one flex, one quarterback league. But I think that's kind of noteworthy that we both just passed on the tight ends and the elite quarterbacks. So. Yeah, is. Is that something you're looking to do from the one spot?
Host 5
As, as I will say, if, you know the people that you're drafting with, you can sort of play it out with quarterback and tight end. And, you know, clearly this is a huge advantage when there's only six of us and everybody's taking two teams. I knew quarterbacks will fall, so it was just a matter of at what point do I want to, you know, jump in and draft a quarterback? So that's not, I think, the best, you know, advice for what most leagues are looking at. But, yes, I knew I could wait on quarterback for tight end. It was just kind of playing it out, you know, once I think when you're, when you're picks 1, 2, or maybe 3 and you don't take McBride, you're most likely not going to get Kittle. And then it's a matter of at what point do you want to take a tight end? Because Kittle typically was going to go in the spot that he went, which is either mid round three or, you know, earth mid to late round three or early to mid round four. I don't think he gets past that. So I will say one thing, and I've said this a couple times now. I referenced it again last night. If you're looking at the back end of round two and you started your team with Jamar Chase, this is T. Higgins range and Chase Brown.
Host 2
And Chase Brown range.
Host 5
Well, yes, Chase Brown range as well.
Host 4
But I might go before there.
Host 2
What up? But it's the range. It's the range.
Host 5
But I, I kind of separate Brown. I'm just talking about the two receivers.
Host 2
Yeah. Yeah.
Host 5
If you don't want to take both Bengals receivers and you are pick two and Chase went pick one, you have a very good chance of getting T. Higgins in the beginning part of round three. So look at what your board looks like if that's the guy you're targeting. So in the case, like, I don't, I don't know, Adam, how you have Higgins and lad McConkey ranked or Tyree kill ranked. Those are the next three receivers. I mean, Tyreek was off the board. He's typically in this range. I would have taken, like, if, for me, with your start, like, if it's Bijan, I probably would be looking to go two receivers. I would have taken McConkey there. See what. Because like Chase Brown, Josh Jacobs, you know, those running backs are in a similar range as well. Like force the, the hand of the manager with pick one if they take Chase.
Host 2
All right. Okay, so hang on a sec. So let's just be clear about what we're talking about here. Jamie had the first pick, I had the second pick. And since this is a three receiver league, he takes Jamar Chase one. And that's. I'm not saying he only did that because it's three receivers, but he takes Jamar Chase one. I take Bijan Robinson too. Coming back in the second round, both tight ends are gone. Jonathan Taylor, Bucky Irving, Tyreek Hill are the three picks that go before my second pick. I take T. Higgins. Now I have Bijan and Higgins. You're saying I should have taken McConkey there because you are probably not going to take T. Higgins or if you.
Host 5
Like Jacobs better than Brown, for example.
Host 2
Right. And so, so Jamie takes Jacobs at 24th overall and McConkey 25th. I take Chase Brown 26th overall, giving me back to back Bengals. T. Higgins, Chase Brown in rounds two and three. I could have ended up with McConkey and Higgins there if I had taken McConkey first. Because the guy who drafted Jamar Chase is probably not going to draft T. Higgins and if he does, fine, whatever. So I think that's a pretty good point. If you find your. If I had wanted to go that route, I was fine with the way it played out. I don't have a problem with Higgins and Chase Brown, but yeah, McConkey and Higgins would have been exciting in a, in this.
Host 5
With Bijan.
Host 2
Three receiver league with. With Bijan. Yeah.
Host 4
Yeah, I think that's like one of the best case scenarios.
Host 2
Yeah, I actually would have rather. I like hill better than McConkey, Hill and Higgin, but he was off the board. He went pick before me. So if all three of those guys are available, I'm probably not messing around. I'm probably taking Tyreek Hill and not letting the guy with the, with the picks at the 2, 3 turn take Tyreek Hill and then we'll just see, you know, I'll probably. And then still I'll be able to get Higgins in the second round. All right, so great point. If you want Higgins and you're drafting second overall and he's on the board, there's a good chance the Chase manager is not going to draft him. So you might be able to leave Higgins for the third round.
Host 5
Last time we brought this up. You pointed this out. You could in theory go chase Higgins Brown with your first three picks and then Joe Burrow in the fourth pick.
Host 4
Like it could, could be all in on Cincinnati.
Host 2
I would, I would love to do that. Gosh, I'd love. In fact I'm gonna try to do that in an auction draft. Mark it down.
Host 4
Why would you try and do that in an auction?
Host 5
It's easier to do it in a Snake draft.
Host 2
I don't think Burrow makes it to 48 in a six point per passing touchdown league.
Host 5
No, but in our drafts. Evil.
Host 2
Well, he didn't hear right. So that.
Host 5
So I won by two picks though.
Host 2
I know it's close and I would have taken him 47th overall but Burrow went 46. So as we talk about picks one, two and maybe three, your chances of getting a top three tight end if you have one of the first three picks are very small. It doesn't appear.
Host 5
No, no. You just have to take Kittle or.
Host 2
Very early and I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to take Kittle.
Host 4
Wait on tight end, right?
Host 2
No. So this is the thing before team building here, from picks 1, 2 and 3, you should assume you're not going to get a top three tight end because Bowers and McBride are probably off the board. Especially Bowers and Kittle. You're not going to take them 27th overall. That's too early for Kittle and he's probably not going to make it to you at 45th overall, which would be the third. Sorry, 46. Which would be the third to last pick of round four. So I think the only way that.
Host 5
With Kittle is if Peirsol's time on the PUP list drags out and Jennings is a hold in. Like if we find out by the end of this week, for example, Pearsall's still not off the PUP list and John lynch was just being optimistic. We know Iuke's not going to come off the pop list anytime soon and Jennings is an official hold in. I could see Kittle potentially against that range. I wouldn't do it right now, but I could see it happening.
Host 4
There's one other way and that's if you're absolutely madly in love with George Kittle. Sure. And you have to have Kittle on your fantasy team. And listen, that, that's. That's something that a lot of. I don't want to say smart fantasy drafters, but fantasy drafters with conviction when they've got a player that they absolutely love and they Absolutely have to have. They will reach for that player. We do it all the time. When we've got a player that we're in love with, we're taking them ahead of adp. And so if you're one of those fantasy drafters and you, you want to have an edge at tight end and you love George Kittle and, and there is a pathway for him to be an outstanding tight end again this year, then you take him in early round three and you know you're passing on other really good talent there, but you don't give a damn.
Host 2
Yeah.
Host 4
By the way, 12 games last year where Jamar Chase and T. Higgins played together. The, the fear is if you draft both, you're never going to get a great week out of both of them at the same time. Seven of 12 games last year they both had at least 17 PPR points. Wow, that's pretty good for teammates. The obvious catch is There were only 12 games and it's T. Higgins who misses time a little bit each year and that makes you a little nervous about. All right, can I really count on, on, on both of these guys to be awesome and available every single week? But I, I kind of, I, I think I might like it better for best ball. Adam, the idea of going all in on the Bengals.
Host 2
All right, so the, no for sure the point. Okay. Just to get back to how to build your team from an early pick. You're. You have, you don't have a great chance of getting a top three tight end. And unless you're willing, and a lot of you are, unless you're willing to take a quarterback with pick 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3, I don't think you have a great chance of getting a top five quarterback. Joe Burrow did go with the third to last pick of round four. So in this draft with a, with six people who are not inclined to reach for quarterback, where Baker Mayfield was an 8th round pick, you know, Joe Burrow did make it to 46th overall in a four point per passing touchdown league. I do think he, he will be there in a six point for passing touchdown league. I think it's questionable. So just go into your draft. If you have one of the first three picks in a 12 team league thinking you might be waiting on quarter on quarterback and tight end. And that's exactly what Jamie and I did and I have no problem with it. So Jamie, go through your team from pick one and then we'll look at teams two and three real quick after that and just different ways to build this. Yeah.
Host 5
And again, just to reference the draft from last night, Burrow did make it to the end of the round four and Hertz was early in round five. So there was an example of great 1212 people drafting. So it wouldn't shock me if Bro and or Hertz are there, just depending on how people view those two guys. But the top three guys, for sure, you're right, they're not going to make it back to you. Unless. Unless. Unless there's just utter panic for Jane Daniels. If McLaurin's holdout is extremely lengthy and there's some concern there, I doubt it. But again, could be something that drops his adp. For me, it's kind of a, a pretty simple formula. I'm, I'm going to look to get three receivers with my first four picks after potentially taking a running back in rounds two or three. So I just think the, the value of the players that you're going to be see in that range of any of the. If you're looking at the board, I think any of the five guys out of. From Jonathan Taylor on down. So Taylor, Irving Jacobs, Chase Brown, Kyron Williams, one of those guys should be there. If you like hero rb, it's an easy build. You start with Chase, you take one of those running backs and then you take either, either of the, the two receivers in my opinion that should be there. Three will be there, but again, not taking Higgins. So it would probably be McConkey and, and, or Tyree kill of those two guys. So if I could start like that, I'm, I'm thrilled with it. And then it's just kind of playing the board with receivers and running backs fall to you. I do think you can potentially see my homes in this range. I think you'll see anybody from La Porta on down to tight end in this range. So if you do want to go with those spots, you can. For me, it was just kind of stockpiling the best available running backs and wide receivers. And I'm thrilled with the way it worked out, to be honest. You know, to get Camara and Caleb Johnson as, you know, two and three at running back, to get George Pickens as a fourth receiver after, you know, starting with Jamar, Chase Lab McConkey, DJ Moore, like, I, I love this build. So for me, like this is the type of team that I'm going to be thrilled with coming out of the draft. A lot of Darth throw running backs at the back end with Rashad White, Dylan Sampson and Braylon Allen. And you know to get QB9 for me and to get tight end six for me. Like I'm, I'm perfectly happy with that.
Host 2
Okay, so his starting lineup is Dak Prescott and Travis Kelsey and then Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, Jamar, Chase Lad McConkey, DJ Moore, and the flex is either going to be Caleb Johnson or George Pickens. It's really good. Really good.
Host 4
Yeah.
Host 2
Talk about my team after we take a quick break. By the way, we're going to pivot a little bit here and we're just going to do the first six picks. We're going to talk about pick by pick from the first six picks today and we'll save seven through 12 for tomorrow. It was an ambitious goal to do ever do all 12 picks today. So that's fine. We'll spend more time on it 7 through 12 tomorrow and we'll be right back on fantasy football today.
Host 3
The summer is heating up with Marvel Studios the Fantastic Four.
Host 4
Light em up Johnny.
Host 3
This Friday.
Host 2
Time to save the planet.
Host 4
What's the plan?
Host 2
Trust me, I hate that it's a bad plan.
Host 4
Come on, tell me that's a stupid plan.
Host 3
Prepare for fantastic.
Host 4
We will face this together as a family.
Host 3
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Host 2
All right. And then Team 2 was similarly built. Bijan T. Higgins, Chase Brown. With my first three picks, Cortland Sutton, Xavier Worthy. I was pretty happy with those two picks. I think maybe they're not high catch guys. I wish they were a little bit more ppr but I like them. Pacheco in round six who I took just before Jamie took Caleb Johnson. You will see me taking Pacheco before ADP a lot. And then I took Chris Olave after Jamie took Pickens. I definitely wanted pick right. You took Pickens before me, right? That was an odd round.
Host 5
Yep.
Host 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Right. So I I would have liked Pickens.
Host 5
There overall and I will say this, I since adjusted my rankings but when we did this job, first off for anybody looking at the board, we did this draft prior to the Rashi Rice news. So you see him in round three. We did this draft prior to McLaurin's holdout. So you see him in round four. I believe there are some things that have obviously changed, you know, that will adjust even from the last week from when we did this. I specifically passed on Olave because I drafted Kamara. I did not want to take two things. That is not something that I would advise anybody doing is, you know, buying into that particular team. But, yes, I did take Pickens before a lot.
Host 2
All right, so Bijan Higgins, Chase Brown, Sutton Worthy, Pacheco Olave, Baker Mayfield. I'm not really a. I'm nervous about Baker Mayfield, but this is. Never be stubborn. Never be stubborn. In fantasy, the eighth round. For a guy who was super elite last year, if I'm wrong about Baker Mayfield, this is one of the best picks in the draft. Jalen Warren, Tajie Spears after that, and Mark. And so at tight end, I. I waited and I took Mark Andrews. Did I not take another tight end? I thought I had two.
Host 5
I thought you did in this one.
Host 2
I thought I did, too. I guess not. Mark Andrews is my drop.
Host 4
Smith for a tight end after, like, two weeks.
Host 2
Surprised? I thought I had.
Host 5
I thought you took four.
Host 2
Oh, I took Tyler Warren. I took Tyler Warren where it says Jaylen Warren. That's what it was. So I went Mayfield in round eight and Tyler Warren in round nine. So my two tight ends are Tyler, Tyler Warren and Mark Andrews. My starting lineup is going to be Baker Mayfield and either Warren or Andrews at tight end with Bijan Robinson and Chase Brown, T. Higgins, Cortland Sutton, Xavier Worthy. And then the flex is going to be probably. I'll start with Pacheco and we'll see how Olave does. They're fine with that team. Oh, come on. Dude.
Host 4
What the hell was that?
Host 2
Was that the Sleeper app saying that? Oh, that is so funny.
Host 5
Team three, we gotta give Thomas some credit. So last night, we did the draft through cbs. We use Sleeper to show the drafts to make it more easy to read. And Thomas had to input every player as the draft was unfolding. He had to do it for this as well. So it's not, you know, our spreadsheet, and it's. It's a lot of work. And, you know, Thomas does a great job. I don't think we say that enough.
Host 2
Oh, come on, dude. That was awesome.
Host 4
It kind of sounded like Schaefer.
Host 2
Yeah. Like, yeah, that was fun. All right.
Host 4
He would be a little deeper tone of voice.
Host 2
Took a similar Approach. Except Joe Burrow fell to team three in round four, and this was Thomas's team, dude. Barkley, Tyreek Hill, Kyron Williams, Joe Burrow.
Host 5
So you say fell. I. I mean, he.
Host 2
Okay, his ADP is 42nd. It wasn't a huge fall, but he.
Host 5
So that's what I want to get. So I want to. Because we both have Bengals after Thomas. You were taking Burrow there no matter what.
Host 2
Absolutely. Absolutely. And that would have been my third Bengal, but I can't pass up Joe Burrow.
Host 5
No, I get it. I don't think it's a bad pick. I was just curious.
Host 2
Probably the only team I would do that with is the Cincinnati Bengals, maybe the Lions, but it just doesn't really work out that way. But.
Host 4
Right.
Host 2
Let me see where Burrow's going on. Fantasy.
Host 5
You would do it with the Eagles. If you guys.
Host 4
He's going right around the same range. Yeah.
Host 5
If you got part in round one and AJ Brown around two, you do with Jalen Hurts.
Host 2
I would. I would do that. Yeah. But. But it's a little bit different with mobile quarterbacks because, you know. But yeah, no, you're absolutely right. Actually, mobile quarterbacks are kind of bad for other fantasy.
Host 5
But I think with those three players in particular, it works.
Host 2
Yeah. With that. With. It does work. All right, so he went Barkley, Tyreek Hill, Kyron Williams, Joe Burrow, and. And then he hammered wide receiver Jerry Judy, Ricky Pierce, All Roma Dunes A. Javante Williams is his number three running back. So, Thomas, I don't know if you can hop on. I know you had construction going on near you, but just curious if you maybe would switch any of your picks where you've got Barkley, Tyreek Hill, Kyron Williams, Joe Burrow, two running backs, a wide receiver and a quarterback. Your next three picks were Judy Pearsall, Odunze, and then you've got Javante Williams, Jaden Blue, Austin Eckler. So I would say maybe running back depth is a little shaky for you after Barkley and Kyron. Kyron maybe makes you a little nervous. I don't know. RB2. Would you take those three picks in rounds five, six, seven of Judy Pearsall Odunze and swap one of them out for a wide for a running back instead of a receiver.
Host 1
Can you hear me?
Host 2
Yes.
Host 1
Yeah, I probably would have went back and switched Judy for Camara that he was not.
Host 2
He was not available.
Host 1
Oh, wait. Yeah. Yeah, you're right.
Host 2
It would have been RJ Harvey or Travion Henderson or Joe Mixon or James Connor.
Host 5
I was actually.
Host 1
I guess that's where I would have taken if he would have came back to me.
Host 4
But.
Host 1
I'm pretty much fine with my running back depth. I think one of those Cowboys running backs because they took Jaden Blue too, will end up being a decent backup running back. And I really love. I'm sorry there's so much construction going on, but can't.
Host 4
I don't hear any of it.
Host 2
Yeah.
Host 1
Okay. I really love Kyron Williams. Like I'm one of the higher guys on him. I know a lot of you guys don't like him. He likes him. So I know he probably would have taken him had he fell to him where he grabbed maybe not McLaurin because he had already three running back.
Host 5
I think where you took him is fine.
Host 1
But yeah, so I'm Adam, you said he might be a little shaky as a number two running back. I would love him as a number one running back.
Host 2
Okay.
Host 1
I'm being honest.
Host 5
I, I listen, I don't love Barkley at three but I like, you know, you take it just a, you know, broader view of it. It. I love the build. The only thing I probably would have done differently is instead of taking Pittman, you had a chance to take Brian Robinson. Like I would have done that.
Host 2
The three, the three receivers of Judy Pearsall and O'Dunze just kind of scare me. I don't think there's quite enough provenness there and a lot of question mark. I'm not saying that they were bad picks. I don't know that any of them, that any of those individual picks were bad. But I'd.
Host 4
Fine.
Host 2
I'd be a little nervous, Dave, about those being wide receivers two, three and four for me. Judy, Piercello, Dunesay.
Host 5
Well, I mean, yeah, you know, in.
Host 4
A three receiver league with a flex. I get where you're coming from. If it's a two receiver league with a flex and you're only starting two of those three, I'd be, I'd be fine with that to start the year.
Host 2
Okay.
Host 4
And I agree with Jamie like getting Brian Robinson to really pet. I would have taken Robinson ahead of Javante at this point. So you could have had Brian Robinson around sooner than Javante where you took Pittman. But whatever combo, whatever order you take those two in, those are solid backup running backs. Robinson more so than Javante. I probably would not have taken blue and I would have looked for Jarquez Hunter. When you took Adam Thielen, I'm guessing, you know, Vikings fan Thomas took Thielen for the, for the old school seals of getting him on his team. But you have no real reason to get feeling when you've got the receivers that you have already. You could have gotten a different receiver where you got blue. You could have had Hunter to back up Kyron Williams just in case Calamity hits Kyron Williams. It's, It's. It's a good build. I just, I don't necessarily love every guy you took, but you could go to battle with that team. That's a team that could contend a little bit.
Host 5
By the. By the way, just. It wasn't like news, but the Cowboys open camp with Javante as the lead running back.
Host 2
Sure. Yeah.
Host 4
They were using Cavante Turpin.
Host 5
Yep.
Host 4
In the backfield on their first day of camp, too.
Host 5
Apparently, Jaden Blue would probably look great.
Host 2
Oh, it's Turpin time.
Host 4
I hope not.
Host 2
All right, Dave, let's take a look at picks four, five and six.
Host 4
Okay.
Host 2
And I would honestly have to go.
Host 5
Bye.
Host 2
Okay.
Host 4
Later, James.
Host 2
Oh, man. I was going to play all the dog sounds. Wait, Jamie.
Host 4
That bark sounds vicious. Yeah, that's like a little, Little tiny dog that's going to bite your ankle off.
Host 2
When you look at picks four, five and six, it's. It. The builds are. Are pretty similar for picks four and five, where we're not looking at. Neither of those teams has a top three quarterback or a top. Sorry.
Host 4
Right.
Host 2
I keep switching.
Host 4
They waited on quarterback.
Host 2
Top three tight end or top five quarterback, but pick six has both. Pick six is interesting. We'll. We'll, you know, talk about Dan's team. It has McBride in round two and Hertz in round four. So what do you see? It's. Picks four and five are not that different than picks one, two and three, just in terms of the way they built their roster. They're. They're spending early picks almost exclusively on running backs and wide receivers.
Host 4
Which is fine. That's a great way to go about it. As long as you're willing to accept that you're not going to be one of those teams that has a huge edge at tight end or a huge edge at quarterback, but you're still going to have players that can put up some nice points. Jacob was team four. He's got Drake May as a starting quarterback. That's aggressive to have Drake May as you're starting QB to begin the season, but maybe there's somebody that he can grab off the waiver wire. I don't see. Stafford was picked. So, like, if he really got cold feet About Drake May in week one. Drake May in week one is. Is playing against Las Vegas. So you could start him in week one and you could stream the position or if Drake May takes off, you've got Gold and at tight end, he's got Tucker Craft. And you know how I feel about Tucker Craft. I think he's a good tight end to at least begin the season with. And he's loaded at running back. He's got Bucky Irving, Amarian Hampton, R.J. harvey. He took Brian Robinson when you should have take. When Thomas should have taken Brian Robinson. His receivers, C.D. lamb in round one, Rashi Rice in round three. I don't think he would take Rice around three again, but he might take Hampton in round three. Waddle Jennings, J, Josh Downs. This is great depth at running back and wide receiver. And the price he paid is an upside play at quarterback late and an upside play at tight end late.
Host 2
Yeah. So I think that Jacob, I think he makes a little bit of a mistake, in my opinion, in that he loves rookie. He loves rookies. He loves rookies. He's got four rookie running backs. I don't really think. I have no problem with the Hampton and Harvey picks. Tootin and Brooks.
Host 4
Yeah. Taj Brooks with his last pick.
Host 2
Yeah, it's fine to me if you, if you just feel like, you know, there's quarterbacks on the waiver wire. But the other mistake I think Jake Jacob made, and it's part of the Tutin and Brooks picks Basil Tutin, rookie running back for the Jaguars, Taj Brooks, rookie running back for the Bengals. I don't. I think if you draft Drake May as your starting quarterback, you should have another quarterback on your roster. He loves Drake May. So it's, it's great to love a player, but if you love a player and, you know, you're kind of on an island and his players never done it before, I do think you should back up your own confidence. Right. And there's just no need with this group of quarterbacks available. There's no need not to. There's no reason why you shouldn't have a good backup quarterback if you want one. And I think if you have Drake May, you should have a good backup quarterback. There's Basil Tudin or Will Shipley or Taj Brooks should have been a quarterback or a tight end, Dave, because he only has Tucker Kraft. So I, it's like, again, I don't. I don't know that I dislike any of the picks in terms of, oh, you reach for this guy. But if you're only going to have Drake May and Tucker Kraft. Personally, I think you should have two of either of both positions or two of at least one of those positions.
Host 4
So here's the counterpoint. He could go to the waiver wire right now and drop Taj Brooks, who no one's going to be in a rush to pick up and get. I don't see J.J. mcCarthy as a pick in this draft. I don't see Tua. I don't see Jordan Love.
Host 2
All right.
Host 4
I don't see Matthew Stafford. I don't see C.J. stroud, those five quarterbacks right there that can pull 20 fantasy points or more in any given matchup.
Host 2
Okay.
Host 4
Pretty much.
Host 2
Great point. Great point.
Host 4
So in a league where only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 teams took two quarterbacks, I, I'm, I'm okay with this. Did Herbert get picked? Holy cow. I don't think Justin Herbert got picked.
Host 2
Okay. All right. You're right about that.
Host 4
So now he's got all kinds of options on the waiver wire, and all he's doing is carrying Taj Brooks in case something happens to Chase Brown between now and week one.
Host 2
Okay.
Host 4
And even then, I don't know if Taj Brooks is suddenly going to be what Chase Brown was. But whatever, he. He can clearly go to the waiver wire to find that second quarterback. So he took the quarterback that he loves with upside and Drake May. As for Tucker Kraft, you can. He could have taken Concade where he took Shipley. I like taking Shipley late just as the counter to Saquon in case something happens to him. But that's probably the position I would have taken a second player on. But I, I don't mind going after rookie quarterback or rookie running backs, rather like Jacob did that. That's usually a good way to achieve some. Some value in your fantasy drafts.
Host 2
Team five is.
Host 4
He's got to be patient.
Host 1
He.
Host 4
You just have to be patient with them. Bucky Irving is a good example from last year.
Host 2
Team 5 is Heath, and I don't. I don't like doing what I'm about to do. I don't like talking smack about someone when they're not on the show. But I hate Heath Steam. I'm sorry, why?
Host 4
What do you hate about it?
Host 2
Okay, so he, he had the fifth pick. He took HN. He's got a lot of conviction there. HN about 23 points per game with Tua, so totally get it.
Host 4
I would have beaten Gibbs. Gibbs went after hn no issues with this pick.
Host 2
You know, would not saying I Would have done it, but no issues. Took Jonathan Taylor in the second round. It's a three receiver league. He started his team with three running backs with his first four picks. He talked about this and, you know, I, I know he has his own thoughts on it, but I hated the McLaurin pick in round three. At this point, if you have Terry McLaurin as the best wide receiver available after that it was Devonte Adams and then a big gap between Marvin Harrison Jr. Was the next one. Oh, JSN was available. He was to me, a steel. With the second pick of round four, Garrett Wilson, Mike Evans. But if you don't love the wide receivers there, just take Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. Like there were no quarterbacks off the board at that point. You. I do not think you can justify. I shouldn't say that because you can justify it. I would not take Terry McLaurin over the number one quarterback. So that's where we talk about builds. It's like pivot to a different position. I'm not a Chuba Hubbard guy, but that's like. I'm not gonna say it was a bad pick. Just, he's not my guy. Travis Hunter in round five is interesting, but. But, you know, a lot of upside there. And then the next two wide receivers were Devonte Smith and Zay Flowers. So no issues there. Cooper cup in round six, he's 32. He can't stay healthy. This feels like a reach to me. David Najoku in round seven, when his ADP is around a hundredth, that feels like it reached to me. And he was the fifth tight end off the board. Jalen Warren as your RB3. Here's the thing with Jalen Warren, it's like they have had four. Oh, he's your RB4. Okay, never mind. That's fine then. I mean, I might have gone with a different position there, but that's fine. A Mecca Buka, Luther Burden in the later rounds. And then his quarterbacks are Purdy and Caleb Williams. You know, it's fine. There's no issues there. You waited on quarterback. Maybe I would have taken him. Maybe I would have taken Baker Mayfield instead of Jalen Warren at RB4, but whatever. I think it's just, I. I'm not taking McLaurin over. Over Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson or Jaden Daniels. Like, no chance.
Host 4
Agreed.
Host 2
And then Cooper cup and David Najoku I thought were kind of reaches. So. Heath, I'm sorry, I'm. I hate doing that. Don't hate me for it. I just didn't like the team.
Host 4
I, I will defend Heath by saying, I'm going to go back to what I talked about earlier in the show. Heath is a man who drafts with pure conviction. He, he, he loves doing his analysis. He does it his way. I love him for it because he challenges me to think. And he doesn't, he doesn't give a damn if he's taking somebody ahead of consensus. He, he loves HN more than Jacob or Jacob gives than Jameer Gibbs. He likes HN more than Jacob and Jameer Gibbs combined. And so he's gonna stick to his guns. And I'm sure if he could have a redo on McLaurin, knowing what we know now about McLaren, he would do that in a heartbeat. And maybe then he would take somebody like Devonte Adams or Garrett Wilson or JSN with that third pick. You can look at his rankings and see who he would have taken. He might have already adjusted and taken McLaurin out from where he had him. But this, this is an example of a drafter who, he believes what he believes. He does his research and he doesn't care about adp. And there are going to be people who are like that in fantasy drafts. There's gonna be three or four people like that in every single home league out there. It's not a bad thing. It's your team. You should love it.
Host 2
No, but, but why. I'm even saying, if Terry McLaurin showed up to camp, no issues, no contract issues. I just don't think that you take that kind of player who in his best year last year was not a top 12.
Host 4
That's what's the most surprising thing of all. Like, McLaurin is one of Heath's biggest regression.
Host 2
Right. I was surprised by the pick, but you just. His best year last year, he was RB, he was wide receiver, 16 per game. You took him over Josh Allen, who's the top three quarterback five years in a row. I just can't. Like Josh Allen should go off the board there. That. That's all I'm saying. A team building. If you have that third pick, I don't think Allen's even going to make it to you there. But if Allen or Jackson, for me, Jaden Daniels is available in the middle of round three, please strongly consider it.
Host 4
Let me. Let's do a quick exercise here. Everybody who's watching on YouTube can see the draft board. But if you're listening, let's just do this for them, too. I'm going to list the names of players who were taken ahead of Josh Allen. You tell me if you would have taken that player or Josh Allen and McLaurin. We've already decided we would take Josh Allen, I agree with you. Devonte Adams was taking one spot ahead of Josh Allen. Allen, who are you taking first?
Host 2
Allan.
Host 4
I love Adams. I'm taking Allen. James Cook.
Host 2
James Cook, actually, because I like him a lot more than most people.
Host 4
I'll take Josh Allen. Rashi Rice, Easy one now, knowing that Rashid Rice is going to have a suspension.
Host 2
Kyron Williams, probably Chiron.
Host 4
I've got Chiron ahead of Josh Allen, but I keep getting. My feet get colder and colder with Kyron Williams.
Host 5
All right.
Host 4
And then Chase Brown, lad McConkey, Josh Jacobs. We're taking those guys ahead of Josh Allen, right?
Host 2
Yeah. I think I want to amend something, though. It's not so crazy to take McLaurin over Allen. If you say to yourself, well, in round four, I'm going to take Joe Burrow or Jalen Hurts if they're there, but he passed on Burrow for Chuba Hubbard and I wouldn't have done that either. So if you look at if if you're up and, and you're got. You got the fifth overall pick and all of the top five quarterbacks are available, then I can see going with a different player. It still wouldn't have been McLaurin for me, but I could see going with a non quarterback there because you think I've got a pretty good chance to get one of those top five with my next pick. But he did have that chance and he just didn't want to build this team that way, which is fine. He took Herbert Hubbard over Burrow after Hertz went the pick before. Okay, now let's look at Dan's team to finish the show because this one's super fun. This is interesting.
Host 4
And you're not going to mind trashing Dan's team.
Host 2
Yeah, Dan and I actually did the same thing. I had the eighth pick and Dan had the six pick and we both took four different positions with our first four picks. So we'll talk about teammate tomorrow. But Dan goes Justin Jefferson, Trey McBride, James Cook. Jalen hurts. And I freaking love that start and I don't even care when I we look at the rest of the roster and go, oh, you're weak here, weak there. I love it. Jefferson McBride, James Cook, Jalen hurts. I think it's great. I also think if they had, if he had passed on McBride and taken Tyreek Hill or Jonathan Taylor or Bucky Irving or whatever there, that would have Been fine too. But Dave, how do you feel about Jefferson McBride, James Cook, Jalen Hurts to start from team six.
Host 4
It's a decision that fantasy managers can, can make to take one player from each position as long as they understand that they're going to be a little bit behind somewhere else between running back and wide receiver, especially in a three receiver league. I, I think he actually got out of it okay though because in round five he took Devonte Smith. Round six he took Calvin Ridley. I view both of those receivers as boom bust type plays. I much prefer them as number three receivers or flexes. He's going to have to use one of them as a wide receiver too to start the season. And then he got Tony Pollard in round seven. I, I'm okay with his first seven picks, especially knowing that he got my number one tight end. I like McBride better than Bowers in full PPR and Jaylen Herz is a top five fancy quarterback. Those guys should be able to be lead performers at their position. And so what they give compared to the, you know, flighty nature of what Devonte Smith and Calvin Ridley offer, that that's okay. I don't really like what he did after Tony Pollard because he took Brandon Ayuk, he could have had Jalen Warren. Next round he took Rasheed Shahid. I'm looking at some other receivers that went after that. I don't really love any of those wide receivers. After he took Shahid, he could have had Scatterboo, he could have had Garendo, he could have had Jordan Mason, he could have taken another running back there. This is about the range where you see wide receivers peter out in the middle of drafts and he's going to be a little bit behind there. So if you're a po, if you know he, he has two titans, that's going to concern me. But if you're okay with that and you're, and you're expecting Pollard to be a little bit better than he was last year and Ridley to bounce back with a new quarterback, I, I, I think it's fine. I think you got to get a little bit lucky though if you're going to start your draft with a quarterback and a tight end with your first five picks, a lot easier to do that. Adam, in a league where you start two wide receivers on a flex and definitely a way to kind of strategize and target. If you're in a 10 team league or an eight team league, I like that a lot better here. But in a 12 team league with three wide receivers, full PPR. Yeah. I don't love it. I think it's just. Okay.
Host 2
Okay. Yeah, I know. I think. I think it's a great point. I mean, I said I love it, you said you don't love it. And I totally see where you're coming from. I would, I guess, because I wrote an article about this strategy. And my point was, my team teammate was McCaffrey, A.J. brown, Josh Allen, George Kittle. My point was, if you win a fantasy championship or you make the playoffs, your roster in the playoffs is going to look very different than your roster on draft day. Just throughout the year, players emerge, free agency, waiver wire, all that stuff to get. Of course, but I just mean, you know, to get four pillars of your team that you feel really good about, even if it means sacrificing wide receiver depth, something like that. I think. I think you can make it. You can make it work. But I do love the team. However, I think you don't know how it's going to play out. Right. You don't know how it's going to play out. But what would you rather have? Would you rather have Trey McBride in round two and Devontae Smith in round five or Tyreek Hill or T. Higgins in round two and Sam Laporta in.
Host 4
Round five, the receiver.
Host 2
Yeah, me too. And I probably wouldn't even take Sam Laporta in round five. So it probably would have been T. Higgins or Tyreek Hill in round two, and then just. Just a worse tight end. Just, you know, wait and wait until on tight end. So.
Host 4
And I like most of what you did on teammate, but I do wish you had gotten Garendo instead of Kyle Williams. Dud.
Host 2
I. It was the stupidest thing I've ever done. And I wanted to. Yeah, I know. As soon as I passed on Garendo, I. I think we talked about this on the air last week. I wanted to switch the pick. I was gonna be like, jamie, can I get that pick back? But Jamie had just picked Garendo, so I was. I can't do it. I can't do it.
Host 4
Yeah, that. That's one of those things you automatically have to put on your draft list when you take McCaffrey in round one.
Host 2
Yeah. It's tomorrow's show. That's tomorrow.
Host 4
How to get Garendo. And maybe even around earlier when you. You should have gotten maybe around earlier. Round eight is probably the time to go get them.
Host 2
All right, so major takeaways from today's show. Looking at this draft board, if you have one of the first four picks. Let's say just based on ADP, you. You should be prepared to not have McBride, Bowers or Kittle or any of the top five quarterbacks unless you are comfortable with taking a quarterback in round three. But.
Host 4
Or unless one of them fall to you. Yeah, of course you'll happily grab.
Host 2
Right. But what I'm saying is, based on adp, if you don't take a quarterback in your first three picks, you're probably not getting one around in round four. And the same with those top three tight ends. And you know what?
Host 4
You're probably waiting on quarterback and tight end.
Host 2
And that's fine. That is fine.
Host 4
Totally. Okay.
Host 2
The tight ends and the elite quarterbacks come more into play the later you get into the draft. You know, with around the later round. One pick, but beginning, I'd say with pick five, it's really much more realistic. All right. And that's more so with the tight ends. I think their ADPs are probably going to be a little stickier than the quarterbacks because some people just love quarterbacks. They're going to take Josh Allen in the second round. You know, they can take Lamar Jackson in the second round. So it is what it is. But all right, that's the major takeaways from, for me and from Dave. And if, you know, if you're just.
Host 4
A quarterback and a tight end with two of your first four picks can lead to some sticky situations down the line.
Host 2
And I love the distinction that Dave makes between two receiver leagues and three receiver leagues.
Host 4
Yeah, right. Smaller the league, the better it could be for you if you do decide to take a tight end in round two and a quarterback in round three or round four.
Host 2
Yeah, thanks so much, everybody for watching and listening. If you were just listening, you should watch it on YouTube. YouTube.com fantasy football today. And we will talk to you tomorrow with another edition.
Host 3
Paramount Podcasts. What's up, everyone? It's Siya Nejad, host of the Early Edge, part of the CBS Sports Podcast network. Be sure to lock in with me and our team of sportsline betting experts every single day as we deliver our best bets across all the summer sports. We'll have you covered every day and all summer long in mlb, wnba, soccer, tennis, golf, and much more. If you want the early look on the betting plays of the day, you've got a home at the Early Edge. Download and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere podcasts are found.
Fantasy Football Today: Pick-by-Pick Part One—How to Build from Picks 1-6
Release Date: July 23, 2025
In the premiere episode of the "Pick-by-Pick" series, the "Fantasy Football Today" team delves deep into the strategies behind the crucial early picks in a fantasy football draft. Hosted by Adam Aizer alongside analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings, this episode provides listeners with expert insights on building a formidable team from the first six selections in a 12-team PPR (Point Per Reception) mock draft.
The episode kicks off with the hosts introducing the "Pick-by-Pick" series, aimed at dissecting mock drafts to uncover optimal drafting strategies. Adam encourages listeners to engage by sending in emails and leaving reviews, emphasizing the importance of community interaction in refining draft approaches.
"As we start to do more and more mock drafts, more real drafts, just wondering if things are coming into focus a little bit more for you in terms of team building exercises and whatnot." (02:24)
Jamey Eisenberg shares his experiences from a mock draft with 11 random participants, highlighting the unpredictability compared to drafting within familiar leagues.
"Last night was first time I drafted Joe Mixon... I waited too long on quarterbacks was another one that played itself out in the mock draft that we did." (04:12)
Dave Richard emphasizes the scarcity of elite running backs and wide receivers, stressing the importance of prioritizing these positions early to avoid missing out on top-tier talent.
"The number of elite tier running backs is even smaller for me, it's six and that includes a rookie. So one of the decisions... is which position do you want to tackle first?" (06:21)
Adam Aizer discusses his contemplation over tight ends and elite quarterbacks, weighing their value against other high-impact positions.
"I feel pretty good and clear about everything when I'm drafting right now, except how I feel about Brock Bowers and Trey McBride." (07:49)
The hosts delve into the intricacies of drafting tight ends and quarterbacks, analyzing the Average Draft Position (ADP) and potential performance metrics.
Adam Aizer shares his skepticism about the current top tight ends' ability to consistently produce high PPR points, citing offensive dependencies and historical performance.
"I don't think Najee is going to be out... I chose 17 points per game as kind of arbitrary as what they would need to justify second round picks." (08:13)
Dave Richard recommends waiting on tight end decisions, suggesting flexibility in the later rounds to capitalize on emerging value.
"At pick five, it's really much more realistic... you're probably waiting on quarterback and tight end." (33:29)
Heath Cummings and Jamey Eisenberg discuss their draft picks, highlighting the balancing act between securing reliable performers and taking calculated risks on high-upside players.
"If you're looking at players like McBride and Bowers, you're going to have to pass on one of the elite tier receivers to do it and vice versa." (08:33)
The episode features an analysis of mock teams drafted by the hosts, offering constructive critiques and alternative strategies.
Adam Aizer evaluates Dave Richard's team, praising the balance but questioning the depth at running back.
"I would have taken Brian Robinson ahead of Javante... You need to have a good backup running back." (46:08)
Heath Cummings defends his choices, emphasizing the importance of conviction and the potential upside of his selections, even if they diverge from consensus rankings.
"He drafts with pure conviction... there are going to be people who are like that in every single home league out there." (57:00)
Jamey Eisenberg provides his perspective on team builds, acknowledging both strengths and potential vulnerabilities, particularly in receiver depth.
"I'm thrilled with the way it worked out... What would you rather have? Chase Higgins or McConkey?" (38:22)
Beyond draft strategies, the hosts touch upon pertinent NFL news affecting fantasy decisions, including player injuries, holdouts, and roster changes.
Kyron Williams seeks a contract extension but is participating in practice, ensuring his availability for the season. (17:35)
Joe Mixon remains on the non-football injury list, with updates suggesting potential recovery timelines. (17:33)
As the episode wraps up, the hosts summarize key strategies for approaching early draft picks:
Prioritize Elite Running Backs and Wide Receivers: Given their limited drop-off in performance and higher consistency in PPR leagues.
Wait on Tight Ends and Quarterbacks: Unless a top-tier option falls to a desirable draft position, maintaining flexibility allows for better value picks later.
Adapt to League Dynamics: Understanding your league's preferences and tendencies can offer strategic advantages in targeting undervalued positions.
"If you have one of the first three picks in a 12 team league... thinking you might be waiting on quarterback and tight end. And that's exactly what Jamie and I did and I have no problem with it." (32:39)
The episode concludes with a teaser for the next installment, promising to cover picks 7-12 and continue the in-depth analysis of fantasy football strategies.
"Fantasy football is unpredictable and fun. So take this as a helpful guide, not as gospel." – Adam Aizer (11:45)
"If you're looking at players like McBride and Bowers, you're going to have to pass on one of the elite tier receivers to do it and vice versa." – Dave Richard (08:33)
"He drafts with pure conviction... there are going to be people who are like that in every single home league out there." – Heath Cummings (57:00)
Conclusion
This episode of "Fantasy Football Today" serves as an invaluable resource for fantasy managers aiming to excel in their leagues. By dissecting mock drafts and providing candid analyses, the hosts equip listeners with the knowledge to make informed decisions during the critical early rounds of their drafts. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, the strategies discussed offer a blueprint for constructing a competitive and balanced fantasy football team.
For more insights and continued coverage, tune into the next episode of "Fantasy Football Today" as the hosts explore selections 7 through 12 in their ongoing pick-by-pick series.