Fantasy Football Today Podcast Summary
Episode Title: TE Tiers: Trey McBride or Brock Bowers? Do We Like the Mid-Round TEs?
Release Date: July 17, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of Fantasy Football Today, hosted by Adam Aizer alongside analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings, the team delves deep into the tight end (TE) landscape for the upcoming fantasy football season. The primary focus revolves around evaluating top-tier TEs Trey McBride and Brock Bowers, assessing the viability of mid-round tight ends, and discussing the broader implications for fantasy draft strategies.
TE Tier Rankings
Tier 1: Trey McBride vs. Brock Bowers ([02:20])
The discussion kicks off with a heated debate between the two premier tight ends:
Host 4: "I just kept flip-flopping Bowers or McBride... maybe Jamie could convince me to go back to team Jamie." ([02:20])
The panel highlights the close metrics between McBride and Bowers from the previous season, making it challenging to definitively crown one over the other. A Twitter poll is referenced to gauge listener preferences, revealing a slight tilt towards Bowers:
Host 4: "Bowers, I bet... Two-thirds though for Bowers, 1,067 votes." ([06:29])
Tier 2: Elite Options Beyond McBride and Bowers
While not explicitly detailed, Tier 2 encompasses elite TEs like George Kittle, whose consistent performance keeps him in early draft rounds despite some efficiency concerns.
Tier 3: Emerging Mid-Round Contenders ([26:25])
This tier includes promising mid-round TEs such as Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Travis Kelce, and TJ Hockenson. These players offer a balance between reliability and upside, making them attractive picks in the middle rounds of drafts.
Tier 4: High-Efficiency Veterans ([23:18])
Players like Evan Ingram and Mark Andrews fall into Tier 4, characterized by their high efficiency and potential for touchdown production despite not having the same target volume as top-tier TEs.
Tier 5 & 6: Rookies and High-Upside Options ([46:55] [49:07])
Tier 5 features rookies like Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren, who possess significant upside but come with uncertainties such as team fit and injury risks. Tier 6 includes options like Tucker Kraft, Dalton Kincaid, Dallas Goddard, Jake Ferguson, and Zach Ertz. These TEs are seen as potential late-round steals or valuable waiver wire additions.
Tiers 7 & 8: Streaming Picks and Temporary Solutions ([53:10] [54:43])
These tiers consist of TEs like John Smith, Kyle Pitts, Darren Waller, Isaiah Likely, and others who may serve as temporary solutions or late-round fliers with minimal investment.
Strategic Insights
Draft Strategy and Tier-Based Drafting ([26:51])
The hosts emphasize the importance of tier-based drafting over strictly adhering to Average Draft Position (ADP):
Host 4: "I think 15.5 PPR fantasy points per game in my opinion is worth a second-round pick, definitely not ahead of a guy like AJ Brown or Derrick Henry." ([26:51])
This approach allows managers to maximize value by selecting the best available player within each tier, rather than reaching for a specific TE too early.
Efficiency and Target Share Analysis ([28:05] [23:18])
The panel discusses the critical metrics of target share and efficiency:
- Trey McBride: Expected to maintain or slightly improve his touchdown rate despite potential regression in efficiency.
Host 5: "I think there's probably positive touchdown regression coming for Trey McBride if not he's going to have one of the lowest touchdown rates that anyone's ever had in their entire career..." ([34:30])
- Brock Bowers: Anticipated to benefit from improved offensive surroundings but facing increased competition in target distribution.
Host 6: "I think we don't want to use the word worse because I think there's something he said which kind of gets overlooked a little bit..." ([17:55])
Player-Specific News and Updates
Naji Harris Update ([05:04] [06:35])
Naji Harris is likely to start training camp on the non-football injury list, with no long-term expectations for his absence. This situation opens opportunities for Omarion Hampton to vie for the starting role.
Stefan Diggs and Mike Williams Recovery ([08:00] [10:40])
Stefan Diggs is trending towards playing in Week 1 post his ACL recovery, with projections placing him towards the lower end of the wide receiver rankings:
Host 5: "...Stefan Diggs gets through a week of training camp and he's just doing the same thing that everyone else is..." ([09:15])
Mike Williams is expected to come off the PUP list soon, providing depth for the Chargers' receiving corps.
Mark Andrews Efficiency Concerns ([23:18] [28:05])
Mark Andrews remains highly efficient but is placed in Tier 4 due to concerns about target volume and dependency on teammate performance for touchdowns.
Host 5: "Mark Andrews scored all the touchdowns and had great efficiency, but the target share... makes me more excited about David Njoku." ([28:05])
Audience Interaction
Twitter Poll Results ([06:29])
The hosts highlight the listener engagement through Twitter polls, showcasing the popularity of both Trey McBride and Brock Bowers among the audience.
Host 4: "Bowers, I bet... Two-thirds though for Bowers, 1,067 votes." ([06:29])
Conclusion and Recommendations
The panel concludes by stressing the importance of flexibility and informed decision-making in draft strategies. Emphasizing the balance between target volume and efficiency, they recommend targeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 TEs early while considering Tier 3 and below players as valuable mid-round options.
Host 4: "I think you need to do better than they did last year and it could be just as simple as touchdowns..." ([26:51])
Final Takeaways:
- Tier-Based Drafting: Prioritize TEs based on tiers to maximize draft value.
- Monitor Player Health: Stay updated on injury statuses to make informed decisions.
- Flexibility: Be ready to pivot between players within the same tier based on draft flow and team needs.
- Efficiency Over Volume: Focus on TEs who offer high efficiency and consistent touchdown opportunities.
Notable Quotes:
- Host 4: "I just kept flip-flopping Bowers or McBride... maybe Jamie could convince me to go back to team Jamie." ([02:20])
- Host 5: "I think there's probably positive touchdown regression coming for Trey McBride if not he's going to have one of the lowest touchdown rates that anyone's ever had in their entire career..." ([34:30])
- Host 4: "I think 15.5 PPR fantasy points per game in my opinion is worth a second-round pick..." ([26:51])
- Host 6: "Do you think Adam practices his material on his family." ([03:04])
Exclusions:
This summary intentionally omits non-content segments such as advertisements for Airbnb, WhatsApp, Mint Mobile, and other promotional materials. It focuses solely on the substantive discussions and strategic insights provided by the hosts.