Fantasy Football Today – Episode Summary

Podcast: Fantasy Football Today
Episode: Rashee Rice SUSPENDED! + FINAL Do Not Draft List! 22 Players to AVOID in 2025!
Date: August 28, 2025
Host & Analysts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg

Overview

This episode breaks down breaking news about Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension to start the 2025 NFL season and delivers the FFT crew’s final “Do Not Draft” list: quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers to avoid in your upcoming fantasy football drafts. The panel shares strategy, debates big-name rankings, and dispels drafting myths, all while providing indispensable insights as draft season peaks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rashee Rice’s Suspension and Fantasy Impact

• Breaking News: Rashee Rice, Chiefs WR, suspended six games (01:31).

• Jamie’s Initial Reaction:

  • "At least we find out for anybody drafting… you know what you’re dealing with. So the uncertainty of the previous situation... you now know that the first six weeks of the season, you don’t have Rashee Rice." (02:30)
  • Rice remains WR33 for Jamie, still a “number three fantasy wide receiver.”
  • This clarity lets drafters plan for his absence, favoring Travis Kelce and especially rookie Xavier Worthy for early-season opportunity. Marquise Brown sees a minor boost.
  • Jamie suggests you “get replacement options to start the season… Worthy’s a great round four pick right now, maybe round five. And then Rice I would look for in the round seven range.” (03:55)

• Dave’s Perspective:

  • Disappointed, noting “if you draft him, that rules out getting guys that are going to get off to a slow start or suspended… like Jordan Addison, like Chris Godwin.” (04:41)
  • Shifts Rice to late-round 6, must be your WR3 or deeper.
  • Recommends against Chiefs’ depth picks as replacements but “a little more interested in Travis Kelce, believe it or not.” Points out Kelce averaged 13.9 PPR points/game without Rice last year. (06:04)

• Replacement Strategies:

  • Jamie advocates pairing Rice with solid starts like Christian Kirk or Marquise Brown if bench is deep.
  • Dave lists later ADP receivers like Keon Coleman as preferred plug-ins (07:49).

• Patrick Mahomes Effect:

  • Both analysts keep Mahomes as a backend QB1, unaffected in rankings despite drop in weapons.
  • Worthy and Kelce are the early Chiefs buy; Rice is a stash.

Quarterbacks and Tight Ends – Do Not Draft (DNDD) List & Analysis

Quarterbacks

• Overall Strategy (Dave):

  • "Don’t reach for a quarterback under any circumstances… feel like you’re getting fair value." (09:20)
  • Avoid QBs in rounds 1–2 except Superflex leagues.

• Specific Concern – Justin Fields:

  • Moved out of Dave’s top 12 (“I’ve thought about moving him outside my top 15…” 09:20).
  • Some upside remains due to cheap ADP and rushing floor, but risk is high.

• Patrick Mahomes:

  • Jamie: "Round six, at the earliest… he’s at like 48th or 47th overall… if you are drafting him in round four and that is where you have to reach for him, I am essentially out on Mahomes." (10:26)
  • Josh Allen: Jamie says Allen shouldn’t go before Lamar Jackson on upside; Allen’s consistency lauded by Dave (13:28).
  • Agree: Target elite QBs only at value, not by ADP.

Tight Ends

• Dave’s DNDDs:

  • Travis Kelce (unless his ADP drops to round 6 or later), Mark Andrews, TJ Hockenson.
  • "If [Kelce] is going to be 12, maybe 13 PPR points per game… I don’t want to take that in round six." (14:24)
  • Mark Andrews’ value is overinflated by last year’s touchdowns; Ravens now have DeAndre Hopkins, lowering Andrews’ red-zone share.

• Jamie’s DNDDs:

  • Sam LaPorta (too pricey round 5).
  • Kelce elevated to TE6 after Rice news.
  • “There’s the top three without question, then a tier of two with Njoku and Kelce; then Laporta with the next group.” (16:00)

• Consensus:

  • Wait on TEs unless you get a steep value.
  • Consider David Njoku as a value play later (discussed in “Name that Player”).

Running Backs – Players to Avoid

• Jamie’s List:

  • Saquon Barkley: Avoid at overall pick #3. Barkley likely to regress after 400+ touch season, per historic trends.
    • "History of 2000 yard rushers... loses 500 yards minimum and six of eight have lost over 800 yards the next season." (18:55)
  • Aaron Jones: Splitting workload in Minnesota; avoid at round 5–6 ADP.
  • Joe Mixon: Coming off injury, uncertain role, approaching age cliff.
  • Quinshon Judkins: Not signed, uncertain rookie impact.
  • Caleb Johnson: Rookie trap, crowded backfield; likely low passing-down usage.

• Dave’s Addition:

  • DeAndre Swift:
    • "I don’t think he’s necessarily a great running back talent wise to begin with... not going to take him in Round five." (22:27)
    • Worries over Bears’ OL, pass blocking, and role stability.

• Alvin Kamara (Jamie):

  • Role is uncertain under Kellen Moore (historically doesn’t throw to backs), so round 3 price is too steep.
  • "If Kamara loses that, taking him in round three is a huge mistake. Absolute huge mistake." (24:35)

• Drafting Advice:

  • Wait for these names to fall several rounds below ADP.
  • Avoid injured, splitting, or unproven rookie RBs at premium cost.

Wide Receivers – Players to Avoid

Dave’s DNDDs

• Tyreek Hill:

  • "Tyreek Hill has no buzz is because he’s barely been practicing… and Tua just doesn’t seem to be letting go of the whole situation… their chemistry looked off in camp." (26:53)
  • Not a target until late round 4.

• Garrett Wilson:

  • Offense will be run-heavy.
  • "Garrett Wilson is catching passes from Justin Fields. That’s a problem… that makes me worry about just how many targets per game Garrett Wilson’s going to get." (28:55)

• Zay Flowers:

  • Ravens run too much; never shown consistent WR1 output.
  • "Love Flowers the talent… hate Flowers the fantasy wide receiver." (29:34)

• DJ Moore:

  • Bears’ target competition increased; Moore now a short-area, lower-upside target.

Jamie’s DNDDs

• DJ Moore (shared with Dave)

• Zay Flowers (shared with Dave)

• Terry McLaurin:

  • Missed all of camp (holdout); hamstring woes and historical precedent for missed training camp impacting WR performance.
  • "Had there not been an issue across the board for him, I would be drafting him as a top 20 receiver." (31:15)

• Deebo Samuel:

  • Being drafted ahead of players Jamie prefers (e.g., Jalen Waddle, Travis Hunter, Egbuka); cost not justified by ceiling.

• Michael Pittman:

  • ADP inexplicably rose following Josh Downs injury, but Downs may return by Week 1.

Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jamie Eisenberg, on Rice’s suspension:
  • "You now know the first six weeks of the season, you don’t have Rashee Rice… Worthy may be the one who doesn't give up the role in terms of who's the best receiver for the Chiefs rest of season." (02:30)
• Dave Richard, on Saquon Barkley:
  • "He could still be a 1500 yard rusher…but it's just a big concern for a running back of his age who's had some injury concerns…over 480 total touches." (18:55)
• Jamie Eisenberg, on Alvin Kamara:
  • "If Kamara loses [receiving volume], taking him round three is a huge mistake. Absolute huge mistake." (24:35)
• Dave Richard, on Tyreek Hill:
  • "Now if you draft him, you have to hope that the ceiling is more like 16 or 17 and the floor is where he was last year. It was 12 PPR points per game. That's pathetic." (27:04)

Notable Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Content | |-----------|---------|---------| | 01:31 | News | Rashee Rice suspension announced and instant reaction | | 04:31 | Analysis | What Rice’s suspension means for the Chiefs’ pecking order and how to replace him | | 09:20 | Quarterbacks | Why not to draft QBs early and Justin Fields warning | | 10:26 | Quarterbacks | Mahomes ADP discussion and top QB value talk | | 13:28 | QBs | Allen vs. Lamar, ADP and performance comparison | | 14:24 | Tight Ends | DNDD list for tight ends, why to wait, Kelsey vs. LaPorta | | 18:37 | Running Backs | Barkley, Jones, Mixon, rookie RB concerns | | 22:27 | RBs | DeAndre Swift DNDD explained | | 26:53 | WRs | Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, Flowers, Moore on the DNDD | | 31:15 | WRs | Terry McLaurin and others explained on Jamie’s list | | 35:08+ | Name that Player | Fun, quick-hit player clues and deeper analysis on market inefficiencies | | 41:45 | Derrick Henry | Why fantasy managers still should not fade him despite his age |

Additional Advice & Listener Q&A

• Draft strategy for Superflex, tight end premium:
  • Top QBs or top TEs (Brock Bowers, Trey McBride) at the turn if top 5 QBs gone. (45:41)
• Justin Fields:
  • Top 10 QB in 4-point pass TD leagues thanks to rushing. (46:15)
• Steelers QB speculation:
  • Only get Anthony Richardson cheap; Colts say they’re not moving him. (46:48)

Bottom Line Takeaways

• Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension clarifies Chiefs’ target tree: move him down to WR3/7th round, boost Worthy and Kelce for fast starts.
• Never overpay at QB or TE; value rarely aligns with cost except for elite ceiling at a discount.
• Avoid high-ADP running backs with age, injury/holdout or unclear roles.
• Be wary of WRs with uncertain QB situations, injured/camp-missing stars, or inflating ADPs without justification.
• Context and draft value are everything—don’t get attached to names; focus on ADP and team context!

Final DNDD Lists

Quarterbacks:

• Don’t draft in early rounds (unless Superflex)
• Avoid Mahomes and Mayfield at round 4–5 ADP, Justin Fields (outside top 12)

Running Backs:

• Saquon Barkley (top 3 pick), Joe Mixon, Aaron Jones, DeAndre Swift (round 5), Quinshon Judkins, Caleb Johnson, Alvin Kamara (round 3), others with injury/role risk.

Tight Ends:

• Travis Kelce (unless after round 6), Mark Andrews, TJ Hockenson, Sam LaPorta (round 5/6).

Wide Receivers:

• Tyreek Hill (early round 4 or earlier), Garrett Wilson, Zay Flowers, DJ Moore, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Michael Pittman.

Memorable Quote (Jamie Eisenberg):
"I think once you start to separate these guys, there’s the top three [TEs] without question. Then…Njoku and Kelce at this point. And then Laporta falls into that next group…But I don’t think you want to reach for these guys." (16:00)

For full details, check out segments at 01:31 (Rice news), 09:20 (QB advice), 14:24 (TEs), 18:37 (RBs), and 26:53 (WRs). This episode is your cheat sheet: avoid fading stars out of fear, but don’t chase last year’s hype at the cost of draft value and upside!