Fantasy Football Today: "Risers and Fallers: Selling the Jets? Buying the Bears? Fading De'Von Achane?"

Date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg (CBS Sports)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the biggest risers and fallers in fantasy football following a packed second week of NFL preseason. The hosts discuss which players are moving up or down their boards—highlighting injury concerns, evolving training camp narratives, and shifting depth charts. The key themes revolve around the confusing Jets backfield, the suddenly promising Bears offense, rising rookie running backs ("Triple H": Hampton, Henderson, Harvey), the Matthew Stafford injury’s ripple effect, and how to approach questionable situations like De’Von Achane's soft tissue injury.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bears’ Offense & Caleb Williams (03:13 - 05:27)

• Caleb Williams’ Preseason Progress:
  • Dave attended joint practices and noted limited "studliness" from Williams, but improvement against the Bills’ backups in the preseason game.
  • "In practice, he seemed more cautious... In this preseason game, he just kind of let it rip." (Dave, 04:32)
  • Dave is not moving Williams up, but is adjusting Bears skill players based on usage and rapport seen in person.

2. Wide Receiver Shakeups: St. Brown vs. Puka Nacua (05:27 - 07:05)

• Impact of Matthew Stafford’s Injury:
  • Stafford’s back issues spark concern for Puka Nacua’s fantasy stock.
  • Jamie: “He’s in round two, but he’s still in the top seven receivers.” (07:00)
• Lions Trending Up:
  • St. Brown “couldn’t be covered” in joint practices, boosting optimism around the entire Detroit offense.

3. Rookie Running Backs—The "Triple H" Riser Phenomenon (09:27 - 10:00; 57:16 - 58:04)

• Hampton, Henderson, Harvey:
  • Jamie: Hampton now nearly a round two pick, Henderson around 30th overall, Harvey climbing into round four.
  • "Omarion Hampton is almost in round two at this point... Henderson 30." (Jamie, 09:34; 58:04)
• Other Notable Risers:
  • Braylon Allen: From late rounds to round seven/eight consideration. (14:52)
  • Charbonnet, Chubb rising due to opportunity and injury news.

4. Backfield Chaos: The Jets, Seahawks, Jaguars (08:07 - 09:27; 10:41 - 13:25)

• Jets Running Backs:
  • Breece Hall slipping due to potential trade rumors, goal-line vulture concerns with Braylon Allen, Hall’s ambiguous passing-game usage.
  • Jamie: “Round five is the landing spot for me. I would not take him in the first four rounds.” (17:06)
• Seattle’s Split Backfield:
  • Soft tissue concerns and mixed preseason health reports for Ken Walker shift his value; Charbonnet is a clear riser.
• Jaguars’ Mess:
  • Tank Bigsby possibly on the trade block, complicating Jacksonville’s RB valuation.

5. Quarterback Fallout: Justin Fields, Kyler Murray, and More (09:45 - 13:25)

• Justin Fields Falling Out of Favor:
  • Dave: “I’m done with Fields. I’ve done a full 360... he’s not top 12 for me anymore.” (09:50, 11:28)
  • Discussion of upside vs. floor among mid-tier QBs: Fields has huge risk due to supporting cast and scheme; consider pairing with safe QBs later in drafts.
• General QB Depth:
  • Jamie: “Once you get past like QB9...it’s a matter of taking the guy with most upside first or the safer floor.” (11:28)

6. The Rashee Rice Conundrum (31:45 - 37:28)

• Pending Suspension Chaos:
  • Major uncertainty about length/timing of Rashee Rice’s discipline. Could play four weeks, then miss a large chunk.
  • Dave: “I can’t take the chance with one of my first four picks.” (33:40)
  • Jamie: “Best format for him by far is guillotine leagues... in redraft, he’s a sixth/seventh rounder, ideally.” (35:23)
• Strategy for Uncertain Players:
  • Let others draft risk, then capitalize on waivers if situations change.

7. Wide Receiver Depth in the Middle Rounds (25:17 - 29:09)

• New Crop of Sleepers/Risers:
  • Dave: “Odunze, Keon Coleman, and Emeka Egbuka—my favorite round 7+ WRs this year.” (25:17)
  • Emphasis on Odunze’s rapport with Caleb Williams and Coleman’s likely WR1 status in Buffalo.

8. Top Risers—Rapid Fire Lists (56:47 - 66:41)

• Jamie’s Big Risers:
  • Derrick Henry, Ashton Gentry move into round one.
  • Triple H RBs: Hampton, Henderson, Harvey.
  • Braylon Allen, Zach Charbonnet, Nick Chubb, Drake London, Ladd McConkey, Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, Jalen Waddle, Emeka Egbuka, Michael Pittman.
• Dave’s Big Risers:
  • Travion Henderson, Tyrone Tracy, Quinshon Judkins, Braylon Allen, Rome Odunze, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Dart.

9. Biggest Fallers (31:45, 67:40)

• Quarterbacks:
  • Justin Fields out of the top 12.
• Running Backs:
  • Ken Walker (soft tissue/role), Breece Hall (split, trade rumors), Najee Harris (PUP/NFI list), Tank Bigsby (uncertainty).
• Wide Receivers:
  • DJ Moore, Puka Nacua (Stafford’s injury), Rashee Rice (suspension), Chris Godwin (injury).
• Tight Ends:
  • Colston Loveland (too many options in Chicago).
• Others:
  • Josh Downs (injury issues).

10. De’Von Achane Injury Panic? (43:59 - 47:30)

• Soft Tissue Injury Moves:
  • Jamie, Dave not dropping HN out of round one for now, but would reconsider with further negative news.
  • Jamie: “The fact they say he’s going to be ready for week one... it is something minor... but you want to see over the next couple weeks.” (45:05)

11. The ADP Shifts That Matter (24:08-25:17)

• Tracking Rapid ADP Movement:
  • Hampton up to RB13, Henderson RB17 in recent drafts; Breece Hall’s ADP sliding behind James Cook, Ken Walker, et al.

12. Lightning Round, Player Battles & Notable Quotes

• Fielding "This or That" Choices:
  • Isaiah Pacheco vs. De’Andre Swift, Travion Henderson vs. Davante Adams, Pierceall vs. Ridley, among others. (13:36, 13:50)
• Adam (on Breece Hall):
  • “The one guy that I just cannot see drafting unless it’s round five at this point is Breece Hall.” (08:19)
• Jamie (on Bears’ WRs):
  • "I’ve dropped almost all the Bears receivers mostly because of the crowded potential... all having target issues." (38:48)
• Dave (on Rome Odunze):
  • “If they can get that OL fixed, Caleb will have a little more time. Odunze will be a playmaker for Chicago. I even think there’s a chance Odunze ends up with better numbers than DJ Moore this year…but I’m not ranking it that way.” (27:06)
• Jamie (on Ridley):
  • “I don’t think he has to have a breakout…better QB play, more targets…” (61:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bears/Caleb Williams Discussion: 03:13–05:27
• St. Brown vs. Puka: 05:27–07:05
• "Triple H" RB Risers: 09:27–10:00, 57:16–58:04
• Jets Backfield Breakdown: 08:07–09:27, 17:06–18:43
• Justin Fields Debate: 09:45–13:25
• Rashee Rice Suspension Fallout: 31:45–37:28
• WR Sleepers/Risers: 25:17–29:09
• ADP Trends: 24:08–25:17
• De’Von Achane Injury Debate: 43:59–47:30
• Big Risers: 56:47–66:41
• Fallers: 67:40 onward, revisited throughout

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Breece Hall’s Shaky Value:
  “There’s an easy scenario here where [Braylon] Allen, who’s clearly disgruntled...gets more playing time. So goal line opportunities: it seems like there could be a situation where the pass catching role could be split between Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis.” (Jamie, 17:06)

• On Justin Fields:
  "I'm done with Fields. Done. I've done a full 360 between March and August on Justin Fields." (Dave, 09:50)
  "[Fields] always finishes as a top 10ish quarterback per game. But ...week-to-week, do you want the guy with the most upside first or the guy who has the safer floor?" (Jamie, 10:00–11:28)

• On Bears WR Crowd:
  "I've dropped almost all the Bears receivers mostly because of the crowded potential... It's going to be tough for them to justify all having this great season." (Jamie, 38:48)

• On Rashee Rice Uncertainty:
  "We know that we think he's going to play the first four weeks of the season and then we have absolutely no clue how many more games he will play from week five on." (Dave, 32:02)

• On Running Back Market:
  “There's a lot of speculation around Breece Hall, Brian Robinson, and a Jaguars RB all potentially getting traded.” (Jamie, 08:34)

Closing Thoughts

The hosts emphasize the importance of remaining nimble in fantasy drafts, reacting to the flurry of preseason injuries and changing roster dynamics. Rookie running backs with opportunity are the hottest commodities, while players dealing with significant uncertainty (injuries, usage doubts, suspensions) are in free fall. Wide receiver values in the middle rounds are solidifying, and it’s a prime time to target those rising in camp buzz but not yet reflected in ADP. The quarterbacks past the elite tier are a mix-and-match bag—upside swings are justified, but paired with safety.

Biggest Takeaway:
Monitor shifting depth charts and injury news right up to your draft. Rookie running backs and WRs with a clear path are flying up boards—while known commodities hobbled by injury or competition are plummeting. Risk management and savvy mid-round targeting is the key to dominating your league.

Quick Reference: Key Risers & Fallers

Risers

• RB: Omarion Hampton, Travion Henderson, Jo’Quavious Marks (Harvey), Charbonnet, Nick Chubb, Braylon Allen, Tyrone Tracy
• WR: Rome Odunze, Keon Coleman, Emeka Egbuka, Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, Jalen Waddle, Michael Pittman
• TE: Dalton Kincaid

Fallers

• RB: Breece Hall, Ken Walker, Najee Harris, Tank Bigsby
• WR: DJ Moore, Puka Nacua, Chris Godwin, Rashee Rice (due to suspension risk)
• QB: Justin Fields
• TE: Colston Loveland

Listen to the full episode for even more risers, fallers, and actionable draft advice!