Fantasy Football Today – Episode Summary: "Risers & Fallers 4.0: FINAL Draft Week Updates You Can’t Ignore!"

Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: Jamie Eisenberg, Dave Richard, Heath Cummings (Adam Aizer out), plus regular FFT crew
Purpose: Provide the final, comprehensive fantasy football draft update, with deep analysis on preseason trends, risers, fallers, and positional battles that will impact the start of the 2025 NFL season.

Main Theme & Episode Purpose

This episode is the FFT crew's ultimate draft week deep-dive, breaking down every major story from the preseason—injuries, contract disputes, depth chart surprises, and hot takes on bona fide risers and fallers. Listeners get the hosts’ latest rankings, concrete advice for their drafts, and strong opinions about this season’s most polarizing fantasy players. The focus: actionable news, players worth targeting, and traps to avoid, just days before the real games begin.

1. 49ers WR Depth Chart Chaos & Contract Drama ([03:30])

Key Points

• Jauan Jennings might open the season on IR due to unresolved contract issues and a calf injury.
• Conflicting reports: Some sources expect him ready for Week 1; others cite a Jonathan Taylor-like “standoff.”
• Ricky Pearsall is flying up draft boards—could open the year as the WR1 thanks to team injuries and uncertainty.
• Brandon Aiyuk also fighting to get healthy; DeMarcus Robinson suspended three games; other depth options uninspiring.
• Kyle Shanahan affirmed the offense will focus on a healthy Pearsall, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey.

Analyst Insights

• Dave Richard: "[Pearsall] has his timing down with Brock Purdy. There’s a lot to be excited about… he could cement himself as the number one wide receiver." ([04:19])
• Heath Cummings: "If [Jennings] gets the raise tomorrow, maybe this is all moot... but in double-digit rounds, everyone has risk." ([05:16])

Advice

• Take Pearsall as a potential breakout, especially if you can grab him after round 6.
• Jennings is strictly a late-round flier due to uncertainty.
• Don’t overreact as Ayuk and Jennings should return, but early-season value is real.

2. 49ers RB Situation: Brian Robinson Jr. Trade Fallout ([07:25])

Key Points

• SF trades for Brian Robinson Jr. to supplement the banged-up RB room (Isaac Guerendo hurt).
• Shanahan: "We brought him here to be our number two back."
• Robinson not expected to threaten CMC’s workload, but clearly leapfrogs other depth options.

Analyst Insights

• Heath: "If McCaffrey goes down, Brian Robinson Jr. might just be close to a feature back in this offense... that’s both exciting and why I’m a little low on Jacory Crosby Merritt." ([08:17])

Advice

• Robinson is a premium handcuff and deep-league gamble.
• Guerendo managers: hold for clarity but be ready to drop if Robinson's role cements.

3. Dolphins Backfield & Devon Achane Injury Concerns ([10:14])

Key Points

• Devon Achane has a tricky calf injury; team says he'll practice before Wk1.
• Ollie Gordon is now the handcuff to own, leaping past injured Jalen Wright.
• Gordon can fill a "Mostert-like" hammer role, possibly leading the team in rushing TDs if Achane is limited.

Quotes

• Heath: "I wouldn’t draft a running back with a calf injury in Round 1." ([64:08])
• Dave: "If I can get [Gordon] in double-digit rounds… I think it’s a fine plan. There’s the off chance Achan isn’t ready." ([12:22])

Advice

• Achane still a R2 pick, but don’t reach; monitor news up to draft day.
• Gordon is a must-stash handcuff with flex appeal even when Achane is healthy.

4. Cowboys RBs & Javonte Williams/Blue Role ([13:21])

Key Points

• Javonte Williams expected to start; Jaden Blue injured, limited upside anyway; Cowboys still candidates to add a veteran RB.
• Miles Sanders and Phil Mafa on roster bubble.
• Takeaway: Williams is an acceptable late flex; monitor for trades/signings.

5. Bears Preseason Review – Roster & O-Line Worries ([18:03])

Luther Burden’s Role

• Rookie WR Luther Burden playing behind Zaccheaus; monitor for a second-half breakout (classic "patience stash").
• Heath: "You shouldn't draft Burden thinking you’ll start him Week 1." ([18:47])

DeAndre Swift Bellcow Opportunity

• Swift dominated preseason snaps; all competitors injured or ineffective.
• Dave: "Opportunity over talent... if Swift gets 80% of snaps, he'll fall into production." ([22:16])
• Only serious threat would be an outside signing/trade (e.g., Tank Bigsby rumored).

6. Backfield Breakdowns: Browns, Commanders, Broncos, Saints, Packers

– Notable RB Depth Chart Insights

• Browns: Dylan Sampson is the leading RB to draft now, with Judkins unsigned.

  • Dave: "If Judkins signs today, maybe Week 4-5 is earliest impact." ([33:33])

• Commanders: Austin Ekeler holds early PPR value, but Jacory Crosby Merritt is the high-upside pickup.

  • Heath: "If I need upside, Jacory Crosby Merritt, but Ekeler is the better Week 1 play." ([28:33])

• Broncos: RJ Harvey now clear lead on early downs; JK Dobbins only relevant on 3rd downs—Harvey is a riser, Dobbins a faller.

  • Heath: "I've got Harvey as a top-24 RB; Dobbins isn't before Round 9." ([41:00])

• Saints: Kendre Miller is backup, but not worth a handcuff even for Kamara managers (injury history, role still unclear).

• Packers: Matthew Golden has passed Jaden Reed (injury concern) as the must-target WR.

7. Wide Receiver Value Updates & Sleepers

Buffalo – Keon Coleman

• Biggest riser of the preseason—should be considered a strong WR3/flex.
  • Dave: "If you can get [Keon Coleman] in round 10 or later, you're committing a crime against your league." ([54:06])
  • Heath: Warning against over-drafting: "Round 7’s too close to Coleman’s upside. His likely best outcome is WR3." ([55:18])

Marvin Mims & Rashee Rice Comparison

• Both have efficiency/target volume questions; Mims’ best-ball & deep league appeal noted.
  • Dave: "[Mims] is worth taking probably around 150th overall—can't get much more excited than that." ([43:10])

8. Risers & Fallers – Roundtable (Detailed Lists Below)

[Full segment: 46:46–74:00]

Dave Richard’s Risers

• Omari and Hampton: Late R2/early R3, potential feature back, especially if Najee Harris is slow ramping up.
• Keon Coleman: Take as early as R7; expecting WR1 numbers for Buffalo.
• Tyler Warren: Profiled as a high-upside breakout TE.

Heath Cummings' Risers

• Evan Ingram: Finally rising into the TE1 conversation as a safe early-season starter, especially post-Valé trade.
• Trevion Henderson: Rocketed into R3, projected for significant passing game work in New England.
• Tetairoa McMillan: Clear Carolina WR1, but monitor his hamstring injury.

Jamie Eisenberg’s Risers

• Isaiah Pacheco: Now entrenched as KC's RB1 and a safe R4-5 pick.
• Mike Evans: Leaping up to the top of the “old WR” group with Godwin still out.
• Matthew Golden: Emerging as Green Bay’s clear #1 rookie WR; solid R6 pick.

9. Fallers – Who’s Dropping & Why

Heath Cummings' Fallers

• Devon Achane: Calf injury moves him from R1 to R2; risk-averse drafters may want a further discount. ([64:08])
• JK Dobbins: Losing work to Harvey, only PPR bench depth.
• Garrett Wilson: Math doesn’t check out for WR1 volume unless Jets drastically increase pass rate. Happy with him only in Rd 5. ([67:20])

Dave Richard’s Fallers

• Justin Fields: Passing and O-line concerns—down to QB13 for Dave.
• Tyreek Hill: Out on most Dolphins due to team/OL uncertainty. "I've got cold feet on pretty much everybody on the Dolphins... Jamie, I'm nervous about how effective he'll be." ([67:47])
• DJ Moore: Too much target competition in Chicago; not a round 4 pick anymore.

Jamie Eisenberg’s Fallers

• Terry McLaurin: Contract standoff/hold-in, age, and last year’s anomalous TD spike; faded outside WR30.
  • Jamie: "I'm just out... he hasn't moved there in drafts; I haven't seen him past Round 5 all summer." ([73:54])
• Breece Hall: Too much RB competition; not worth R3 price.
• Caleb Johnson: Steelers' committee will stymie his upside, especially on passing downs.

10. Memorable Quotes & Fun Moments

• On coddling a rookie WR:

  • Heath: "There’s always a bench spot you can give to a player you’re going to be super patient with… maybe by Halloween, you get it." (about Budden) ([19:32])

• On the Buffalo WR room:

  • Dave: "I couldn’t believe Keon Coleman’s ADP is round 10-plus… he’s their number one receiver right now." ([51:47])

• On Jennnings’ standoff:

  • Jamie: “This could be like a Jonathan Taylor situation from a couple years ago…” ([05:02])

11. Best Draft Week Advice – Key Takeaways

• Don’t be late on ascending rookies: Henderson, Hampton, Pearsall, Golden, and McMillan deserve aggressive mid-round targeting.
• Be ruthless with fallers (Achane, Dobbins, McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall)—make them prove it at a discount.
• Handcuff clarity is improving: Brian Robinson, Ollie Gordon, and Dylan Sampson are the right stashes entering the home stretch.
• Trust opportunity and healthy preseason usage over risky upside if you have to break ties in your draft.

12. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:30] – 49ers WR Chaos & Pearsall’s Ascent
• [07:25] – Brian Robinson Jr. Trade & Handcuff Clarity
• [10:14] – Dolphins Backfield Injuries and Risers
• [18:03] – Bears Preseason Review: O-Line, Burden, and Swift
• [28:33] – Commanders RB Room: Merritt vs. Ekeler
• [33:33] – Browns RB Depth: Sampson, Judkins Uncertainty
• [46:46] – Full Roundtable: Risers & Fallers
• [54:06] – WR Risers: Keon Coleman, Marvin Mims, Golden
• [64:08] – Why Achane, Dobbins, Garrett Wilson Are Dropping
• [67:47] – Dave’s Fallers: Fields, Tyreek, DJ Moore
• [73:54] – Jamie’s Fallers: McLaurin, Hall, Caleb Johnson

In Short:

If you’re drafting this week, target the rookie RBs getting the bellcow treatment, don’t let Keon Coleman (Buffalo WR) slip past R8, fade old names who are injured, and remain skeptical of Dolphins/Jets passing game volume until proven otherwise. Adjust for contract hold-ins and prioritize healthy, opportunity-locked options.

Hosts sign off with reminders about upcoming CBS Sports drafts, charity drives, and reiterate that the coming days are critical for informed draft room pivots. This is essential, must-listen week-of-draft content for fantasy players aiming for an edge.