Mock Draft! Top 12 Picks for 2025 - Fantasy Football Podcast for 2/20

Summary

Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary: Mock Draft! Top 12 Picks for 2025

Episode Release Date: February 20, 2025

In this engaging episode of the Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright dive deep into their strategies and selections for the top 12 picks in the 2025 fantasy football mock draft. Pre-recorded during their attendance at the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association Conference in Las Vegas, the trio brings their signature blend of expert analysis, strong opinions, and matchup-winning advice to help listeners craft championship-winning teams.

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Opening Banter and Context

The episode kicks off with light-hearted banter about Mike's short-lived luck at the craps table, setting a relaxed and humorous tone for the discussion. Mike shares, “I have hit at least six points in a row on the craps table” (03:38), highlighting both his fleeting success and the unpredictability that mirrors fantasy football's volatility.

Mock Draft Strategy: The Quarterback Conundrum

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the strategic dilemma of whether to invest early draft picks in top-tier quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The hosts debate the opportunity cost of spending high picks on quarterbacks versus securing more reliable running backs and wide receivers.

Jason Moore articulates a critical perspective:
"You really need them to pay off if you spend up 11 of the 21. So 52% paid off on their average draft position. So you got a 50, 50 shot." (10:10)

Conversely, Mike Wright emphasizes the improved consistency of elite quarterbacks in recent years:
"Seven of the eight quarterbacks drafted in the first and second rounds have been relative hits. So it's gotten better." (10:53)

The hosts collectively acknowledge that while top quarterbacks can provide a weekly advantage, the supply and demand dynamics in fantasy football often make it more prudent to prioritize running backs and wide receivers in the early rounds.

Top 12 Mock Draft Picks for 2025

The trio proceeds to unveil their top 12 mock draft picks, each explaining their choices and underlying rationale.

1. Jamar Chase – Jason Moore argues for Chase over Saquon Barkley due to Chase's prime status and the potential variability in Saquon's performances.
   “My number one wide receiver. My number one running back. It's very difficult for people to repeat exactly what they did last year.” (18:18)

2. Bijan Robinson – Mike Wright prefers Bijan for his consistent performance and lower injury risk compared to Barkley.
   “Bijan is on a high percentage chance to lead the league in targets.” (35:16)

3. Saquon Barkley – Andy Holloway favors Barkley’s explosive playmaking ability despite debates over his age and injury history.
   “He frequently has his longest carry of the season. Is 40 plus where Bijan is just. No, I don't.” (23:09)

4. C.D. Jefferson – Mike Wright chooses Jefferson for his proven reliability and consistent performance, especially with an expected stable quarterback situation.
   “Justin Jefferson was still excellent.” (30:43)

5. Jameer Gibbs – Andy Holloway selects Gibbs for his consistent yards before contact and utility in the offense.
   “Yards before contact since 2016...a performance by the offensive line.” (24:10)

6. Puka Nuku – Jason Moore advocates for Nuku’s underutilized potential with a strong quarterback like Matthew Stafford.
   “Puka already has been so I love Puka.” (35:35)

7. Malik Neighbors – Mike Wright sees Neighbors as a high-target option, comparable to elite wide receivers like Chase.
   “Malik Neighbors, if he was a top two wide receiver next year, that's not going to.” (36:27)

8. Christian McCaffrey – Despite concerns over McCaffrey’s injury history, Andy Holloway considers him a potential number one overall pick due to his high usage and fantasy upside.
   “He will be the focal point of the San Francisco 49ers.” (38:01)

9. Kyron Williams – Jason Moore places confidence in Williams as a workhorse back integral to his team’s offense.
   “Kyron Williams is a first-round fantasy.” (40:34)

10. Amon-Ra St. Brown – Mike Wright values St. Brown’s target share and offensive system, anticipating sustained productivity.
    “Amon-Ra is as good a wide receiver as anyone in the NFL.” (42:36)

11. Cesar "Laser" Rice – Mike Wright favors Rice for his dynamic playmaking ability and potential for high fantasy points.
    “Laser's my pick. He’s QB8 right now.” (56:30)

12. Adrian Baker – Andy Holloway opts for Baker to maintain a balanced team structure with elite wide receivers and reliable running backs.
    “I would take hk over Derek Henry, despite hating.” (51:53)

Key Takeaways and Insights

• Top Performers vs. Consistency: The hosts emphasize the importance of balancing elite performances with consistent weekly scoring. Investing in players who offer reliability can mitigate risks associated with injuries and performance variability.

• Position Prioritization: Running backs and wide receivers are often prioritized in the early rounds due to their higher fantasy point potential and the necessity of multiple starters in these positions.

• Opportunity Cost: Selecting a high-value quarterback early can limit the flexibility to draft premium talent in other critical positions, potentially disadvantaging the overall team composition.

Mailbag Q&A

In the mailbag segment, the hosts address listener questions, providing further insights into roster management and player evaluations.

Question 1: What are the prospects for Brandon Aiyuk's return and performance for the upcoming season?
Mike Wright responds critically, highlighting Aiyuk's poor performance last season due to injuries and inefficiency:
"He was one of the worst picks in Fantasy Football. Wide receiver 66, 41, 47, 57." (46:11)
The hosts agree that Aiyuk remains a high-risk option and is unlikely to be a reliable fantasy asset in the immediate future.

Question 2: Breeze Hall or Chase Brown for next year?
Jason Moore leans towards Breeze Hall, citing organizational stability and workload management:
"I'm going to lean on the Breeze Hall side." (52:01)
Mike Wright supports Chase Brown, emphasizing his potential within the Cincinnati Bengals’ framework:
"I'll give me Chase Brown." (52:38)

Question 3: What quarterback will be the best value in 2025?
The hosts discuss potential standout quarterbacks, mentioning Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert as strong contenders. Jason Moore favors Herbert for his improved late-season performance and potential offensive upgrades:
"Justin Herbert started the season doing very little for fantasy football...expecting them to add another weapon to this offense." (57:06)

Conclusion

The Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast delivers a comprehensive and insightful mock draft discussion, offering strategic advice for fantasy managers aiming to optimize their draft picks for the 2025 season. By weighing the merits of elite quarterbacks against more dependable running backs and wide receivers, the hosts provide valuable perspectives that cater to both seasoned and novice fantasy football enthusiasts. Whether debating the value of Jamar Chase versus Saquon Barkley or assessing the risks associated with Christian McCaffrey's injury history, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright equip listeners with the knowledge needed to make informed and effective draft decisions.

For more expert fantasy football advice and community discussions, join the Fantasy Footballers’ community at jointhefoot.com and follow them on Twitter @FFballers.

Transcript

[Andy Holloway]

This episode is brought to you by Indeed. When draft time rolls around, you have to be strategic and you have to be quick to put together the best possible team. Like with football players, when you're drafting a quarterback, there are so many things that you need. You need. You need an athletic guy. You need a guy who can process information. He's got a strong arm, maybe he can run around a little bit. There's so many things and finding the exact right one very difficult. But if you're hiring, the best strategy is to use Indeed. Their sponsored jobs will help you stand out. It literally puts your job post at the top of the page so you can reach the people you want faster. And even better, you're only paying for results. There's no monthly subscriptions or long term contracts. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed. Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com footballers that's Indeed.com footballers right now. And support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com Footballers terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Jason Moore]

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Let's talk flags for a moment. Not the kinds the refs pull on the field. I'm talking about something else. Green flags in relationships. Stuff you look for in a partner. For me, you want to look for enjoying being around them. You want to look for shared common traits. It's different for everybody. Relationships take effort and if you want to make things work, I'd suggest therapy. It's a great tool that can help you navigate all sorts of relationship problems. Therapy can help you tackle other problems too. I've had therapy for years and you go through highs and you go through lows. Sometimes you're stressed, sometimes things are going well, and it's really nice to be able to talk about both of those things to help empower you to be the best version of yourself. An excellent place to start when it comes to therapy is BetterHelp. It's convenient and affordable since everything is online and you'll have access to thousands of therapists with a variety of specialties. And if your first one isn't a good fit, you can switch at any time at no extra cost. Discover your relationship green flags with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com footballers to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelpH. E L-P.com footballers welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright.

[Mike Wright]

Welcome in.

[Jason Moore]

Whoa.

[Andy Holloway]

What'S going on over there, coffee boy? You know, we three cups deep or what?

[Mike Wright]

It's funny because I was just thinking about what was going on right before the show began and so I think my mind was distracted. So maybe the, the, ah, welcome. It just kept going because I'm looking at Dooser's Alley over here as we start the Fantasy Footballers podcast.

[Jason Moore]

It was a fun morning. Is that the word you'd use for us? Yeah. Well, look, I think it brought great entertainment.

[Mike Wright]

It's Thursday, it's February 20th. We're pre recording this show a couple days early in light of the fact we are at the Fantasy Sports and Gaming association conference in Vegas.

[Andy Holloway]

I am on an absolute heater right now, Mike. I just want people to know while.

[Mike Wright]

You'Re listening, Mike is just.

[Andy Holloway]

I have hit at least six points in a row on the craps table.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, okay.

[Andy Holloway]

Hopefully you're there.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, you're going craps.

[Mike Wright]

He's got $36 of winnings in his pocket.

[Andy Holloway]

Well, well, I didn't say that I lost. I didn't go that hard. I lost thousands before the heater.

[Mike Wright]

Now look, I mean, Inducers alley right now. By the way, we have a mock draft, first round, mock draft 2025 on today's episode. But you'll notice there is a very conspicuous absence. The two.

[Andy Holloway]

No, not for the reason that it normally is.

[Mike Wright]

No, this person is not using the restroom. In fact, they are not here because Al Borland, you know, he was, he was doing what he does. Always here, always available, always ready to go. Certainly 8 to 10 times more reliable than these guys.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, for sure.

[Andy Holloway]

Goodness, yes.

[Mike Wright]

I'm just happy that executive producer for that Papa Josh over there hit record on all the microphones. Are you recording yourself today?

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Mike Wright]

Okay. Because yesterday on the footcast, he didn't even record himself. But Al Borland was involved in a, like a parking lot hit and run this morning.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, he was hit.

[Andy Holloway]

He was the one who got hit.

[Jason Moore]

He was the one who went into an appointment, came out from said appointment, and the car was not the same as when he.

[Mike Wright]

No, no.

[Jason Moore]

Went in. No, no, no note.

[Mike Wright]

Whoever this person was, they decided they would hit a Tesla because he drives a Model Y. They would hit a Tesla which is totally rigged up with tons of active cameras at all times. They would get out of their vehicle, they would look at the damage done, which was significant, and then get in their truck and drive away.

[Jason Moore]

Uh huh. And just so you know, when you back into a Car. Your license plate is like, that's the main show. That's the nose of the vehicle at that point. So it was so fun this morning to, you know, it's like he's showing the video and it's like, oh, okay, so we know exactly who this is.

[Mike Wright]

License plate.

[Jason Moore]

And then a seven. No, I'm just kidding. And then the best part was Andy's like, you know, genuinely, there is a chance because I had like a, you know, a trailer hitch. There is a small percentage chance that the person maybe was unaware, despite the damage caused, that they backed into the vehicle. It just didn't feel it. It's a large truck. And then Jeremy proceeds to send a screenshot of later when the person gets out of the vehicle and looks at the damage and is like, yeah, I did it.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. So pro tip for you, you criminals out there, don't hit. Don't. Don't hit a car that's covered in cameras.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

I mean, and drive away.

[Mike Wright]

And then don't get out. Don't get out and show your face on camera and then drive away.

[Jason Moore]

So surprised they didn't go up and like wave at the camera.

[Andy Holloway]

You'll never catch me.

[Mike Wright]

I mean, I hit Jeremy's car once.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

And I handled my business. It was a brand new car. It was Jeremy's brand new car.

[Andy Holloway]

Left him a nice note.

[Mike Wright]

I left him a note. I said, I did it. Signed Papa Josh welcome in one and all. Yes. Al Borland. Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Do better.

[Mike Wright]

Let's be better.

[Andy Holloway]

Got to do better than that.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, man. Not what we expected. So no Al Borland this morning, but the other guys got it on lockdown. Just no bathroom breaks back there, please. We got a good quick question of the day. We've got a first round mock draft. Thought it'd be fun to just see where we have guys slotted in, you know, in. In February.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

You know, so that, that'll be fun. We'll do that. Not going to cover any news on today's show because like I said, we're pre recording it by a few days. So we'll just cover any news we missed next Tuesday.

[Andy Holloway]

I mean there's just the one bit that we have right now is Clyde Edwards Allaire did resign with the Saints, so it would dynasty wise if you are rostering him, I would presume he is like, he will be the backup for Alvin Camara. It's funny because he's not totally valueless is what I'm saying.

[Jason Moore]

So what you're saying is this is bad news. If you're rostering Clyde Edwards a layer. No, because now you have to keep rostering Clyde Edwards.

[Mike Wright]

I do not believe you have to keep rostering him, but I would. Look, I. Alvin camara was over 1400 all purpose yards last year despite turning 30 this year. He is going to be the focal point of the offense.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, I'm not arguing that in the slightest but I'm saying in a dynasty league, you want as many backup running backs on that roster as you can possibly handle.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, yeah. I mean this is Mike, you got to understand. Mike is the man who drafted Clyde Edwards. Alerina Dynasty. He had the shiny Ferrari. He has now got a, you know, a weathered.

[Andy Holloway]

I got Jeremy's car.

[Mike Wright]

He's got a weather that's pretty beat up. One wheels left. It does move a little bit. And he's finding a reason to keep him on.

[Andy Holloway]

Brooks, he's with me. Brooks knows you just stash as many backups and then a week or two pops up. You're like holy crap, I can't believe I have that guy on my roster and I'm going to play.

[Mike Wright]

Okay. All right. Well, the ultimate draft kit pre order is available now. Ultimate Draft Kit.com get it by March 1st and you'll be entered to win a listener league spot. You'll get the lowest price on the udk, UDK plus and some other perks and giveaways. You can check that out at ultimate draft kit.com Our quick question of the day. Did you hit Jeremy's. No. Tommy Reed.

[Andy Holloway]

You don't have to ask. We know.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, we know. And here's her picture.

[Andy Holloway]

We know who you are.

[Mike Wright]

Are Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen worth second round draft capital next season?

[Andy Holloway]

That is.

[Mike Wright]

That is the question. And while you ponder it, we have a little bit of research on the situation. We've had 21 quarterbacks drafted somewhere in the first two rounds since 2011. So high draft capital costs for quarterbacks 21 times. Obviously you're passing on other positions. Right. We call the quarterback position a onesie spot along with the tight end. Unless you're in a super flex, you're playing one quarterback every week. You're playing two running backs at least. You're playing two wide receivers at least. So you really need them to pay off if you spend up 11 of the 21. So 52% paid off on their average draft position. So you got a 50, 50 shot. Historically over the last 14 years that they're worth it.

[Jason Moore]

But lately over the last five years, if you just look, because we've Gotten better at fantasy football as a, as a community, as an entity. Seven of the eight quarterbacks drafted in the first and second rounds have been relative hits. So it's gotten better, but just kind of what you need. If you're spending a first round pick, you need more than 24 fantasy points per game. You know when you, when you're looking at opportunity cost, if it's a second round pick, you need more than 22 and a half fantasy points per game. As like the barometer for did it, was it, was it a good pick? And so that's when you're looking at Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson you go, do you expect them to have 22 and a half fantasy points per game in four point per passing touchdown leagues? Yes or no?

[Mike Wright]

Yes, I do. I expect that to happen for both of them. That doesn't mean I will pick them.

[Andy Holloway]

Because there's another side of the equation.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, the other side is what you're losing, right. If you are passing on a wide receiver in the second round and one that's more assured, one that's more consistent, one that provides, I don't know, called 17 fantasy points a game or 16 fancy points a game. And then what I'm getting in return later on is 12 points a game. You know, and I have other quarterbacks that I'm fond of or think could enter that upper stratosphere and maybe only end up a couple points behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. I still wouldn't make that decision. There is, I mean there's an emotional piece that comes with knowing you have a starter slotted in every week.

[Jason Moore]

It is really nice when you have a top end quarterback that hits if you knew for sure that they are above that threshold. I am totally happy to take that pick. For me, that is a pro Josh Allen and a little bit of an anti Lamar Jackson going into 2025 at that cost. If you look at the last few years, I mean Josh Allen clears that benchmark of 22 and a half fantasy points every year like for the last six, seven years. It's just what he does over and over and over. Lamar Jackson was amazing this season. But that's not number one most consistent. Yes, number one most consistent. He threw for 41 passing touchdowns. Here is his passing touchdowns in the last five years. 41. Amazing.

[Andy Holloway]

Nice.

[Jason Moore]

24, 17, 16, 26. One of those things ain't like the others. And I don't, I'm not going to say that I expect him to throw 8.6% of his passes for touchdowns next year that seems like an outlier. And if he doesn't do that all of those seasons, I just read he was under the 22 and a half fantasy points benchmark. So obviously we know he can do it. He just did it. I'm going to bet against it. On the Lamar side, it's, it's not.

[Andy Holloway]

Just that it's a, like you need the other quarterbacks to be bad. I mean to, to keep and maintain your advantage. This is just we're giving the numbers of like they got to hit this threshold so they are worth the pick. Well now you got to look at the field, is the field. There are years where the field is subpar and there's only the two guys at the very top. And if you have those quarterbacks, you have a, you have a big point advantage on a weekly basis. But like last year, you know, Lamar was crazy with the, the I'm looking at six point right now. Sorry to switch formats, but he's over 30. Burrows at 27, Bakers at 26, Allen's at 25 and Jaden's at 24. Goff is at 23. Like the discrepancy between Lamar and Goff is huge. But like there's, there's a handful of guys who are keeping you competitive and then the opportunity cost of the other players, the wide receivers, the running backs. The higher probability of the second round pick hitting it's second round is too much for me. If you want to get into a third round discussion. Okay, I can see it.

[Mike Wright]

I think we're going to always end up here on this show because there's.

[Andy Holloway]

Also, look, it's because supply, demand, this.

[Mike Wright]

Is market and the last 14 years you've got a 50, 50 shot of them delivering anyways. And maybe some of the good fortune in recent history has just been, you know, if an injury happens, right. Where do you need depth? More of an injury happens at positions that you have to start multiples.

[Jason Moore]

Correct.

[Mike Wright]

Or at the onesie positions. I mean I also think it's easier to identify later round quarterbacks personally that I think, you know, could deliver. Yeah, it is higher end totals. Like a Jaden Daniels who was called out early, early, early, early, early. You could have drafted Derek Henry in the second round instead of Josh Allen last year and then gone and got a Jaden Daniels or a Joe Burrow.

[Andy Holloway]

Later on or pounced on Baker off of the waiver wire.

[Jason Moore]

Right. If you want to compare the onesie position, you want to lock down one of your onesie positions, it seems pretty clear that just like, you know, you go Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, maybe Jaden Daniels. They're going to be great. Well, at the tight end position, Trey McBride, Brock Bowers are going to be great. Maybe you want to throw George Kittle in there. Maybe not, but that's kind of it. Now you look at like round eight, nine, ten. Yeah. You've got rookies coming in that run like Jaden Daniels and all those guys that were what late round tight end is going to become elite? I'm not saying like. Yeah, exactly. You're grabbing your, you know, your.

[Andy Holloway]

Unless one of the rookie tight ends.

[Jason Moore]

Sure. But even, even, you know, brock wasn't a 9th, 10th round pick this last year.

[Andy Holloway]

I think he was like tight end, 8 or 9.

[Mike Wright]

Then to answer the question succinctly, no.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. Not a second.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. I don't. I say no, I, Yeah, I agree.

[Jason Moore]

Okay.

[Mike Wright]

All right, so we'll, we'll jump right into it. We're going to do.

[Jason Moore]

We could have answered that real quick.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. But we didn't. We didn't. We just didn't.

[Andy Holloway]

This is the data, this is why.

[Mike Wright]

Illustrate the point, you know, remind people why we, we wait on quarterbacks unless we're. And, you know, unless we want a year off of that stress. You just want to.

[Jason Moore]

That is true. Like some leagues, leagues I don't care about. I'll be real honest.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, do you draft early quarterbacks?

[Jason Moore]

100%. I draft early quarterbacks and early tight ends in leagues I don't care about because I don't like if I'm in one of those. Less maintenance. I'm like, I don't want to scour the waiver, but if I care about the league, if I'm like this, I'm like, this is my passion. This is, this is who I am, you know, the league of record. I'm not, I'm not doing, I'm not playing the lazy man game.

[Mike Wright]

No. No. And that's not to say you won't be tempted when you're in the middle of the draft and you see that name there and you're like, oh, I could. You know, sometimes it's harder to draft a. You know, I don't know what the name might be. Maybe it's Brian Thomas or maybe it's. Maybe even go down. Maybe you say Bucky Irving. Right. Like, but then you got Josh Allen, the mvp, sitting there. That can be a tough decision to go to go away from the star.

[Jason Moore]

I was going to bring that up. So right before coming into the studio, I Mentioned to Mike, I was like, man, maybe we should have done a two round mock. Because when I was coming up with my list of the players we're drafting in the first round, there were a lot of players that felt like kind of that first round bubble that were the Brian Thomas Jr. And Malik neighbors and Drake London and you know, does A.J. brown sneak in there, is he second round or is, you know, the Bowers and Trey McBride and all these spoilers? Well, those. I mean, I doubt they're in the first, but my point was going back to do you take that opportunity cost at the quarterback? There are so many good players in the second this year.

[Mike Wright]

Well, let's jump right in.

[Jason Moore]

The fantasy footballers mock draft.

[Mike Wright]

All right. A little early bird. First round, 20, 25 mock draft. Jason, I guess you won the prize. You got the first pick. So what are we doing here?

[Jason Moore]

That's a real Pillsbury Doughboy.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was.

[Jason Moore]

You happy about that self evaluating? Yeah, no, I'm pretty happy with that. He does some great work.

[Mike Wright]

Who's in consideration?

[Andy Holloway]

Number one?

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, the Doughboy does great consider. Does great work.

[Mike Wright]

Is that the pick? I think that was the pick.

[Jason Moore]

So in consideration is between two players. To me it's just a matter of do I want a wide receiver, do I want a running back? Because both of these players were exceptional this last year and project to be more of the same next year, which is Jamar Chase and Saquon Barkley. That. That's my number one wide receiver. My number one running back. It's very difficult for people to repeat exactly what they did last year.

[Mike Wright]

But.

[Jason Moore]

But if I look at the variables around it, we don't know if T. Higgins is going to be on this team. He might leave. Saquon is older. Jamar Chase is in his prime. And when you talk about the difference that they made, Saquon was great, but Jamar Chase lapped the field. Second place in half PPR leagues, you know, or sec, you know, the second best wide receiver was like four and a half points per game. Worse. This was to me, if I've got the first pick, it's Jamar Chase. And when I say I was considering, I wasn't really considering it would be between those two people. But it was easy. It was like immediately it was Jamar Chase.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, that's. That's the right pick, I think, because.

[Jason Moore]

You can make an argument. Saquon shouldn't even be the first running back.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, he won't be.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, okay, there you go. So. But you. How could you make the argument like for someone else over Jamar Chase after what he just did?

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. If the, if this season that he had lapping the field, like, if we can pretend for a moment that it was Jefferson that put those numbers up and Chase put the Jefferson numbers up, I think you have an argument at that point to say, hey, you know, you like Joe Burrow, you like Joe Burrow more. He could be the MVP. He could throw for 45 touchdowns and chase just kind of had a down year and Chase could surpass him like if those roles were reversed. But in this situation, because of Joe Burrows performance last year, which was MVP caliber and because of a change at quarterback in.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

Expecting a rookie in Minnesota because of a lot of mouths to feed with an almond Rob because of quarterback problems for neighbors, like there isn't really, you know, CD Lamb. Yeah, he could do it again, but you're going to have to have a return for Dak Prescott and success on the offense. So I think Chase would have been my pick at 1, but I will go with Bijan Robinson at pick number two.

[Jason Moore]

I like it.

[Mike Wright]

I will go with Bijan. This was a very special year for Saquon Barkley. And while, you know, his variables haven't changed tremendously and I don't want to discount his season in any way, it was just a very special 2000 yard season with a ton of dependency on big long touchdown runs. Those are. It's hard to repeat those at the volume that Saquon did. I think what we saw from Bijan in the second half, his, his youth, Michael Pinnick's taken over. I'm going to slightly go with B John Robinson here. He led all running backs in percentage of carries that went five plus yards. He's kind of did it quietly, but.

[Andy Holloway]

The thing of the season wasn't all roses for him.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I mean, Saquon is coming off a tremendous season that, you know, maybe, maybe a lot of people will just reward that with the number one overall pick, which I think is fine. But he does have an injury history. He is older, which increases the odds of those injuries. I love that the offensive line and the team is going to be the same. So I think it's splitting hairs there. As opposed to Chase.

[Jason Moore]

That part's good. You could also make the argument, you know, he's not. I mean, he can be a prolific pass catcher, but that's not what this system is.

[Andy Holloway]

No.

[Jason Moore]

And he wasn't. Even though he was the number one running back, it was on the basis of total yardage and touchdowns and we. We just saw you know he almost broke the record. He almost broke the probably could have broken the all time rushing record last year. The season before there was a wide receiver that almost broke the receiving yards record but he was a little older and then he played 17 games this year and got about half of that entire kill.

[Mike Wright]

So it's trying to forecast. Yeah the variability there. Only two running backs since 2007 had 17 plus fantasy points in 10 of their final 11 games. It was McCaffrey in the fantasy breaking season in 2019 and it was this past year's B John Robinson. So I'm looking at it from that last 1011 games and what we're projecting into the future. So I slightly lean Bijan Robinson and we'll take him with the number two pick.

[Andy Holloway]

Cool. I'll take Saquon Barkley. That it's. It's interesting of that you that Bijan is the preferred because he the. The argument to me is not Bijan at number one.

[Jason Moore]

It's.

[Andy Holloway]

It's Jameer Gibbs or Saquon Barkley. That that's how. That's how Eileen and I'm looking at things. Yeah the long touchdowns are hard to repeat but if anybody's going to repeat them it's Saquon Barkley who frequently has his longest carry of the season. Is 40 plus where Bijan is just. No, I don't. What was Bijan's longest. Let me know. We looked at 37 and 38 as a rookie like and which is. That's still great. I mean home runs at the running back position are not frequent. We can get too wrapped up in all this guy was all he's only getting 25 is his longest run. If you're getting 15 yard carries all the time then that's fine. I don't care if you're not getting 50 yard runs. But Saquon Barkley I'm still confident despite him being 28 years old.

[Mike Wright]

I get it. I get the discussion around Gibbs as well. And we'll move on to number most.

[Andy Holloway]

Yards before contact since 2016 which I that's a.

[Mike Wright]

That's a performance by the offensive line.

[Andy Holloway]

It's like look at last year with DeAndre Swift. I mean yeah they were doing the same stuff but Swift is not.

[Mike Wright]

You look like a good player for a second Eagles.

[Andy Holloway]

Really you get a lot of money because the Eagles O line.

[Jason Moore]

The Eagles really aren't fair. Like I was just going to say hey Cardinals, as a Cardinal fan.

[Andy Holloway]

Right.

[Jason Moore]

Build the trenches. You know what I mean like their.

[Mike Wright]

Offensive and defensive lines is boring on draft day.

[Jason Moore]

But then I was like, wait, but you know, they've got the best defensive line maybe in the league and they've got maybe the best offensive line in the league and like, okay, that's boring.

[Mike Wright]

The top quarterback, top wide receiver, two.

[Jason Moore]

Stud wide receivers, a great quarterback.

[Mike Wright]

It's like, wait, they rebuilt their entire cornerback, you know, secondary in one year.

[Jason Moore]

I think they won the Super Bowl.

[Mike Wright]

I think you're right. We'll take a break. We'll be right back.

[Jason Moore]

This episode is brought to you by Intuit TurboTax Business Taxes was stressing about all the time and all the money you spent on your taxes. Now, Business taxes is a TurboTax Small Business Expert who does your taxes for you and offers year round advice at no additional cost so you can keep more money in your business. Now this is taxes intuit turbotax get an expert [e-mail] business only available at turbotax live. Full service.

[Mike Wright]

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[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I'm in an interesting spot. Very similar to the first time I picked when I was deciding between Jamar Chase and Saquon Barkley. A wide receiver or a running back. My number two wide receiver is available. My number two running back is available. I have Gibbs at number two as well.

[Andy Holloway]

However is your number one bark. Oh, you said that.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, yeah, it goes. And Bijon's my third all.

[Mike Wright]

I didn't know you both hate.

[Andy Holloway]

He's number three. Absolutely love bronze medal Bijan Robinson.

[Jason Moore]

Just love three backs. Not on the same team. Please only use one running back on a team. Offensive coordinators. For fantasy football purposes anyways.

[Mike Wright]

Yet you both have Gibbs ahead of Bichon. That sentence is why I have him at three.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I mean, it's ironic. Mike's, you know, reason for the lack of explosive plays. Bijon having 36 yards as his longest run. When someone breaks fantasy, it's the season, you know, CJ2K, it's the season where it's just like they can have 4 or 560 yard rushing or receiving touchdowns. That's what Jamar Chase just did. So Saquon Barkley just did. Jameer Gibbs can do that. I don't know that Bijan has it. He doesn't have that pull away long speed that sticks. He's, you know, constantly breaking tackles. But I'm going to take CD Lamb here. Oh, CD Lamb is my number two wide receiver this last year in the first 17 weeks of the season because he didn't play in Week 18 and Week 18 doesn't matter. He was the wide receiver five and he didn't have a quarterback and he didn't have a shoulder. That's coming off of being the number one wide receiver two, two seasons ago and going into next year healthy with Dak there, the, you know, we can mock Schottenheimer, but it's continuity. It's the offensive coordinator that was just running things. Where CD Lamb is as good a wide receiver as anyone in the National Football League. He is an alpha for the team. His target market share is great. And I think that the Dallas Cowboys with Dak Prescott are a top 10 offense easily, so the scoring opportunities go up. We already know he could be the wide receiver one, so I've got him as, I mean, I just don't want to forget about him because of what a really lost season it was for the Cowboys.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I mean, I think the fact he was the wide receiver one two years ago is pretty compelling.

[Andy Holloway]

Kyle just gave us some pretty interesting information for the three running backs because we're talking about length of run, so percentage of carries that went for five or more yards. Barkley was at 39%, Bijan's at 44 and Jameer Gibbs is at 41%. So that's what we were talking about where Bijon is consistently getting the smaller chunks which like those add up then 10 plus yards. The percentage of carries that have done that. Barku is at 13, Gibbs at 17% is wild and Bijan's down at 11. And then the big boy carries the 15 or more rushing yards per touch. Barclays at 7%, Gibbs at 10%, Bijon down at 4%.

[Mike Wright]

You guys know I love Jameer Gibbs.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mike Wright]

But I mean, when I look at Bijon and Gibbs and if you take the three games away where he played by himself without Montgomery. And you look at the fancy points per game between Bijon and Gibbs. Bijon is at 18.3. Gibbs is at 17.6. So they're neck and neck. I don't want my guy to ever come off the field. I know I'll get 50 more carries from Bijan than I will Jameer Gibbs. And I will be slightly less stressed when I see a quarter where I don't see my player. So that, that split the difference. Now you went CD Lamb. I had him at 6 on my rankings.

[Jason Moore]

Overall or at wide receiver?

[Mike Wright]

Overall.

[Jason Moore]

Okay, that makes sense.

[Mike Wright]

I'm going to go with. It's between Jefferson and Gibbs. I'm going to go Justin Jefferson at 4, you know, tried and true, reliable, consistent. I'm gonna, I'm gonna take the shot on Jefferson knowing exactly what I'm going to get. It will be a risk. It was a risk last year. Sam Darnold was supposed to be the sacrificial baby. Didn't really matter to Justin Jefferson. He was still excellent.

[Jason Moore]

Became the prodigal son.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. And now we're going to have a new, a new quarterback, Most likely in Mr. McCarthy. So I'll go Jefferson at 5.

[Andy Holloway]

Cool. I'll take Jameer Gibbs.

[Jason Moore]

Mike's just getting the leftovers.

[Andy Holloway]

So, I mean, these are, these are fun exercises because the weight of the first round pick is massive. And yet if you're, I mean, if you're a seasoned fantasy football player, you know, you don't win in the first round. Not very often, but you certainly can set your team way back if you, if you whiff on the first rounder. So being where we are of getting Gibbs at six, looking at these like top six players, that's nice. And then people ask us, where do you want to pick? Where do you want to pick in the first round? And the answer is generally figure out who the elite, elite players are. And then towards the back of that, this is where I like to be because then I just get a slightly better second round player. And so far we got six players who I love.

[Mike Wright]

This is my line.

[Andy Holloway]

These six?

[Mike Wright]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

And now it changes.

[Mike Wright]

Okay, now it changes for the way I have it ranked. Maybe not in Jason's book. He's at pick seven.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, my line is coming up, but I've got a player that's still inside of it. It's actually my first fifth overall player. And my wide receiver, three is still on the board. Puka Nakua is that dude. He missed the first, you know, a significant portion of the season.

[Andy Holloway]

He's A third wide receiver right now too.

[Jason Moore]

And that really hurts him in overall rankings and is obviously where he finished on the season.

[Mike Wright]

And so Jefferson or Lamb, who's behind him?

[Jason Moore]

For me.

[Mike Wright]

No, for my.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh no, I'm Sorry, I missed CD. Puka's at 4. Okay, sorry. Thank you.

[Jason Moore]

I have Jefferson behind Puka so he. So for me, Jefferson's by four. That's not anti Jefferson, it's pro Puka. Puka Nukua. You know, he missed the beginning of the season but if you look at when he came back and started playing his normal snaps, which was week 10 when he started getting up, oh, you know, over 70% of the snaps, eight games played half the season, he was averaging 18.1 fantasy points per game which would have been way number the second best wide receiver. You know, Jamar Chase was up at 20 but on a per points per game. What span was this week 10 on once basically once he was at his normal snap percentage.

[Mike Wright]

Gotcha.

[Jason Moore]

As soon as he was playing healthy games the rest of the season, he was 18.1. This last year, you know, Justin Jefferson was 16.1 and Jamar Chase was at 20. So that, that's how good Puka was. Now you, I mean obviously things could change. We don't know even if Matthew Stafford will be there. This is, this is assuming Stafford is there and we know Cooper Cup's not going to be there. So I mean he's going to be the underdog. Fantasy guys refer to Matthew Stafford as a kingmaker, which I love because if you look back the unbelievable seasons from Calvin Johns, obviously he was a king in and of himself. But then the unbelievable fantasy breaking seasons for Cooper cup, that was Stafford. And now you even had Kenny Golladay seasons where it was like he got that man paid because he is willing to say I'm going to go to this guy most of the time and if that guy can stay healthy, which is obviously a question mark for Puka, he's going to be so outlandishly good for fantasy football. Puka already has been so I love Puka.

[Andy Holloway]

What if it's Darnold?

[Jason Moore]

If it's Darnold, I'll definitely move him down. I mean I would take Justin Jefferson over ironically since that was his quarterback last year. But yeah, this is under the assumption that he has Matthew Stafford.

[Mike Wright]

Pick eight. Give me Malik Neighbors. I'm going to take Malik Neighbors at pick eight. He's going to be a high percentage chance to lead the league in targets. Yeah, he is of the Chase mold and ability, explosive Plays, big plays, touchdowns, target volume. I'm going to kind of suppress some of the externals knowing that those are going to be variables in play right now. And you know, much like the Stafford situation for Puka, I think Malik Neighbors, if he was a top two wide receiver next year, that's not going to.

[Jason Moore]

Shock to me, ironically, and I mean is just off season rumor nonsense. But you know, one of the, one of the destinations for Stafford is like maybe he'll find his way to the New York Giants. And if he did, oh my gosh, Malik Neighbors would be so it'd be like, it would probably go for me, it would probably go Jamar Chase, Malik Neighbors, then CD Lamb.

[Mike Wright]

There's a lot of discussion around just the, the fact that, that general manager and head coach in New York, this is, it's like you got to win now. Like this is where like the best thing for the organization is probably to draft a quarterback and mold that quarterback and create your future. But you don't get that opportunity when you were on the hot seat sometimes to wait. And they've had to two or three waiting years in a row. So if they went out and found a veteran, I look, if Aaron Rodgers went to New York, if it's Matthew Stafford, if it's Sam Darnold, if it's any sort of competency, I mean, I told you the three games with Daniel Jones, Malik Neighbors as a brand new baby in the NFL was on pace for 255 targets. That's not a real like, I wonder.

[Andy Holloway]

Why he got hurt.

[Mike Wright]

And 1800 yards and 17 touchdowns, like that is like if you just swapped him for Jamar Chase on the Cincinnati Bengals, he's going to put up Chase numbers. There's not a, there's not a skill set problem there. It's just a peripheral problem and I'm going to trust the talent.

[Jason Moore]

I kept watching those Giants games and while they were fun to watch Malik Neighbors get those targets, I don't know how many times out loud I said, you're going to get him killed. Like you're going to murder this man. He cannot take that many hits across the field. So yeah, hopefully there's a little bit more efficiency and the target volume stays there. But he's, I agree with you, if you flipped him and Jamar Chase, he'd put up similar numbers to Chase chase.

[Mike Wright]

Bijan Saquon, CD Jefferson, Gibbs Puka and Malik neighbors at 8. I think that we're getting into a category where there's a lot more debate around these picks. Mike is at nine who you got.

[Andy Holloway]

And in spite of me giving the warning of in the first round this like you can really hurt your team. If I'm in this range as of right now with the news that I have as this recording I would take Christian McCaffrey. I would be willing to do it. I would take on the risk of and what's wild about McCaffrey is last year when we finally got to see him after the one of the double Achilles tendonitis coming out of the bi week you were like that dude that is not good. That is not good. Christian McCaffrey and yet the first game back against the Tampa Bay Bucks put up nearly 14 fantasy points and a half scoring format nearly 13. The next week has the really bad game against Green Bay and then in Buffalo in a quarter of the game had 7.7 points and 25% of the snapshot and is one shoestring tackle away from a breakaway touchdown that instead turned into his season ending injury. He like he will be the focal point of the San Francisco 49ers. You don't have Debo taking away look carries from Debo. The short area stuff from Debo. I think that those targets go right to Christian McCaffrey. So it's a massive risk because those the burns from last year are third degree that some people may never ever recover from. And I don't blame you but at this point of the first I'm a running back that could finish overall number one. I'm going to go with it. I not just finish number one but lap the field at number one.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I mean I get it. He's done it before. He's done it off of injuries before. He's obviously older. You have the kind of older season ACL injury from Adrian Peterson where if you've got that outlier human being or he comes back and he's amazing and you're like wow, I didn't know when you're older and you have an ACL you could be fine.

[Mike Wright]

CMC is 28. He's the same age as Saquon Barkley. And we're sitting here probably talking about Derek Henry in the first round. So who's 31? So there is.

[Jason Moore]

I have Derek Henry ahead of Christian McCaffrey in my ring. He's when I was putting this together.

[Mike Wright]

Cmc, is that who you're taking here?

[Jason Moore]

No, I have a different running back ahead of. I've got two more running backs ahead of Derek Henry. Personally who I'm taking here is Kyron Williams. Kyron Williams is still under contract. He's. I'm not doubting the, you know, I'm not letting any narrative get in other than he is their true workhorse back. He'll catch a ton of passes, he'll get the touchdowns. He's integral to the offense. This is two years in a row where he has been a top fantasy option. And so thankfully this is not a mock where we're drafting teams because I would not love to have Puka and Kyren on the same team necessarily as a roster construction, but he belongs here. To me, I see Kyron Williams as a first round fantasy.

[Mike Wright]

This one, I mean, that is, you know, four points fewer than Henry per game. So that would be a projection of Henry declining.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I mean it's a combination of the, the age, the system, the Cinderella offensive output from the Ravens and Derek Henry. I don't want to get caught holding the bag. I don't think it's going to. But if there, if there is a young stud running back like Kyron still available, I'm going to take him ahead.

[Andy Holloway]

You want me to blow your mind here, Jay?

[Jason Moore]

Please.

[Andy Holloway]

Kyren Williams, currently in early best ball drafts is going at the back of the third round as the running back 14 behind James Cook.

[Jason Moore]

I, I would need do that to start playing some best ball leagues and draft Kyron everywhere. I mean, overexposed. That's. That's amazing.

[Mike Wright]

He is a, he's much more Bijan than, than he is Gibbs and Saquon. Right. He. His long run on the season. I'm seeing 30.

[Jason Moore]

Oh yeah.

[Mike Wright]

One time.

[Andy Holloway]

That's not his skill set.

[Mike Wright]

27 once. So from a bet. I'm just saying from a best ball perspective, I get it. Your, your performances are not the spike weeks like you need him to score inside the red zone, which he does at regularity. He is also. He was also five points per game worse last year than he was the year before. Right. When we got the 12 elite games from Kyrie.

[Andy Holloway]

He was like Christian McCaffrey levels that year.

[Mike Wright]

He was 19.9 down to 15.9. I'm just laying out the difference storylines there for. From a basketball perspective.

[Jason Moore]

He's had over 30 touchdowns the last two years and his snap percentage I think is secure.

[Mike Wright]

So I'll take, I'll take Almond ra at pick 11 in the first round. After your Kyren selection getting towards the end of the round, I'll take the try. You know, it's between him, Henry, Brian Thomas and Nico and I'll just take the guy I Know on an offense. I know. So I will go with Almond Ra.

[Jason Moore]

I think there's an argument here, like, when I was putting Almond Raw in my rankings, who he would have been my pick as well. There's an argument that he should be, you know, I mean, I was at the point where it's like CD or Almond Raw, you know, Puka or Almond Raw. He is as good.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

As anyone at wide receiver.

[Mike Wright]

None of us. None of us have said Brock Bauer's name.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. I have Bowers in the second.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I do too.

[Jason Moore]

He's. You can make an argument for, you know, a lot of these players, like.

[Mike Wright]

Bowers versus Amon Ra at the back of the first round. Who gives you the better advantage on your team? I could see an argument. Mike, finish us up here. We got chase, Bijan, Saquon, C.D. jefferson, Gibbs, Puka, neighbors, McCaffrey, Kyron, Amon Ra.

[Jason Moore]

And I know you've got the pressure.

[Mike Wright]

I gave you, like, a lot of pressure.

[Jason Moore]

Everyone's gonna sign.

[Mike Wright]

I mean, I need to just say the name.

[Andy Holloway]

It's between two players. For me, it is my highest the. Just because of how fantasy football works. It's gross. But I would take hn over Derek Henry, despite hating or not hating's too strong for. But just being frustrated with what was going on on the field for the Dolphins. And Achan just. It felt like he didn't deserve all those points. But that's how the scoring of fantasy football works. So you got to lean into it. And then the wide receiver, I mean, it's the. My. My bro love for Nico Collins is. Is unending. It started so hot, but it didn't finish very well. I think there are reasons for the fall off of Nico of just in the Houston Texans over the second half of the season. Overall, I would go if I'm on the clock here.

[Jason Moore]

For real.

[Mike Wright]

You are.

[Andy Holloway]

I would. I'm going to go hn here. Okay, I'll go hn because there's. There's still a few. Like, I know that well, I guess it's 12, so I get another pick. But like, with. With Nico, Brian Thomas, London, like, there's still some really elite wide receivers here. And running back is. Not that they aren't great running backs here. They're just a different tier.

[Mike Wright]

Makes sense. So there you go. There's your top 12. Very, very early first round mock draft. You can feel free to tell us how we do mock the mock to mock the mock. Yeah, I like that. We'll take a break and we'll Jump into some mailbag.

[Jason Moore]

It's winter and you can now get almost anything you need for the coldest months of the year delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a ski slope delivered, but you can get dish soap delivered. Sunshine? That's a no. But a bottle of wine? That's a yes. A snow angel?

[Mike Wright]

Sorry, no. But angel hair pasta.

[Jason Moore]

Uber Eats can definitely get you that.

[Mike Wright]

Get almost.

[Jason Moore]

Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats.

[Mike Wright]

Order now.

[Jason Moore]

Alcohol in select markets.

[Mike Wright]

Product availability may vary by region.

[Jason Moore]

See out for details. This episode is brought to you by Nerds Gummy Clusters.

[Mike Wright]

The sweet treat that always elevates the.

[Andy Holloway]

Vibe with a sweet gummy surrounded with tangy, crunchy nerds.

[Jason Moore]

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[Mike Wright]

Whether it's game night, on the way to a concert or kicking back with your crew.

[Jason Moore]

Unleash your senses with Nerds. Gummy Clusters.

[Mike Wright]

All right. It's time to answer some Foot Clan questions.

[Jason Moore]

Mailbag. Oh yeah.

[Mike Wright]

If you got a question for the show you can go to the website thefantasyfootballers.com click that submit a question button. You can also dial our voicemail hotline. 302464 TFFB. We'll start with a voicemail. This is Adam. I'm just curious. What do you guys got happening with Brandon Iuk? Whether it's the return and first month of the season or what's our take on that. I think it's going to be one of the bigger questions for the off season. Here's what can't be forgotten about Brandon Iuk. He was awful.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. The beginning of last year before he got hurt.

[Mike Wright]

Like it'd be easy to be like oh man. Once Brandon Ayuk gets back he will be an elite fantasy option. This is a player who was the wide receiver 14 in 2023 with an efficiency that was out of this world. He had 17.9 yards per catch which helped him put up 1300 plus yards and just 75 catches last year. If you were playing Brandon Iuk he was one of the worst picks in Fantasy Football. Wide receiver 66. 41. 47. 57. Finally got up and got a wide receiver 10 week and dropped back down to 58 the next week. So he was.

[Andy Holloway]

And these aren't just poor wide receiver rankings. These are he's like 28 yards. He's 40 hitting seven points if you're lucky.

[Mike Wright]

Played seven games. How many touchdowns did he have? Was it 000 touchdowns when you're not.

[Andy Holloway]

Scoring seven points a week. You're not catching touchdowns.

[Mike Wright]

No. So, I mean, you have a season where he was on pace for like 900 yards.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. And if you. If you have access to the ultimate draft kit, you can look at our injury tracker there. That breaks down all the existing injuries. If you're like, how serious was it? How was it not?

[Mike Wright]

How many ligaments do we got?

[Jason Moore]

This was the acl, the mcl, plus meniscus damage, which slows recovery timeline. So he could be available week one, but he's going to be limited throughout the off season. Could start on the pup. Will not be full strength. Personally, when I look at all my rankings, whether it's Dynasty, startup, or redraft, and I compare that for consensus, I'm very low on brand. Like, I don't want. I don't want Brandon IUK this year. I just don't want to play the game. And maybe it turns into, you know, Chris Godwin. This last year was amazing. And sometimes it bucks the trend, but I'm kind of just. Well, he was a couple years removed from his injury. I'm just saying it still felt this past year like it was, you know, he was an injury worry because it didn't look like he had ever recovered. But I'm not going to be playing the Brandon IUK sweepstake. Sweepstakes?

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. But you were just doing one.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, it was just one. So is that not a sweepstake?

[Mike Wright]

No, it's still a sweepstakes.

[Jason Moore]

Really?

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. One sweepstakes is a sweepstakes.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. That feels you're either winning or you're cleaning your house.

[Jason Moore]

Because you have one sweepstakes.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. You have one. Sweet. Not the way you said it, but yes.

[Jason Moore]

I mean, that's the only way you can say it.

[Mike Wright]

If you join a sweepstakes, you're not joining multiple. And there's always, like, there's a sweepstakes and you could win the big check.

[Jason Moore]

So there's no singular sweepstake.

[Mike Wright]

No, no, there's not.

[Jason Moore]

I don't believe you.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, there's not. I mean, I feel like we've really faded on sweepstakes in general. Like, that's not a big thing anymore.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

With the.

[Mike Wright]

The big check.

[Andy Holloway]

The Publisher Clearinghouse. Yeah, the big check's not going around.

[Mike Wright]

Here's what I'll say about Brandon Ayuk as well. The opportunity will be there. Debo Samuel will be gone. Right. George Kittle, a year older. I. You got paid. If he. He was healthy quicker, he should have the opportunity but we had the. Who do you. Who have you fallen in love with? Right. Your preseason crush on the Tuesday episode. Ricky Pearsall's in there.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

I really think. Look, this off season, I doubt he gets shot.

[Jason Moore]

I'm going to put the odds low.

[Mike Wright]

So, you know, to me, Ricky Pearsall has an opportunity to start the year.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

Our AI Overlords are telling me that while sweepstakes is often used as a singular noun, technically, the singular form is sweepstake.

[Mike Wright]

I care about technically.

[Andy Holloway]

So, like, I entered the sweepstake.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

No, no, it sounds bad.

[Mike Wright]

That's not just because it exists. You said it. People use sweepstakes.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I didn't say it wrong, though. I'm just saying.

[Mike Wright]

I'm going to go with. I'm going to go with. I still think you said it wrong.

[Jason Moore]

Okay. You hear that, AI?

[Mike Wright]

You're probably.

[Jason Moore]

Andy Holloway is agreeing with you.

[Mike Wright]

I bet you're a cactuses guy.

[Jason Moore]

Get out of here. I'm from Arizona.

[Mike Wright]

You seem like a cactuses dude.

[Andy Holloway]

Because.

[Mike Wright]

No, you seem like that.

[Andy Holloway]

You know what else is dumb? Deer and fish. Deers. It's fine. Put an S on there.

[Mike Wright]

You're saying. Because that's not. That's not right. A bunch of deer, right? Yes, but you can't say a bunch of deers.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, well, you can't.

[Jason Moore]

Deers.

[Andy Holloway]

Grammatically, it is incorrect, but it should be correct.

[Jason Moore]

Look at all those gooses. That's dumb. But it shouldn't be dumb.

[Andy Holloway]

No, it should not. Why did we have to do that?

[Mike Wright]

So if you ever win a big check, I want you to come out and be like, I won this in a sweepstake?

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

I bought a single geese.

[Andy Holloway]

We had a great thing going in our language. They're like, hey, there's more of them slapping ass on there. It's all we needed to do.

[Mike Wright]

We gotta. I mean, it's all we needed. Like Baguettesy in the skit he's talking about, you know, if you. Cow is beef. Right. Pig is pork and chicken is chicken. Yeah, right.

[Andy Holloway]

What are we doing?

[Mike Wright]

And then talk about a hamburger.

[Andy Holloway]

Go all the way or none of the way.

[Mike Wright]

All right, Instagram question from Connor James, Breeze hall or Chase Brown. Next year. This one's for Jason.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, why are you doing this to me?

[Mike Wright]

You won the sweepstake to answer this question.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, fantastic. I'm going to. Oh, my Lanta. As of this moment, not knowing how these teams end up going, I. Zach Moss is under contract. He will be healthy. I don't think Chase Brown retains his entire Workload. Even though he was amazing. I hope he does. I think he can handle it. But it doesn't matter what we think. It's a matter of what happens from the team. I'm going to lean on the breeze hall side.

[Mike Wright]

I'll give me Chase Brown.

[Andy Holloway]

Chase Brown.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Assuming they don't draft a running back. There is a much higher chance of the Cincinnati Bengals investing in the running back position compared to the Jets. But status quo, it would be Chase Brown.

[Mike Wright]

All right, what do we do with Rico Dowdle ahead of the NFL draft? Corey wants to know. Probably more of a dynasty question.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, if you can.

[Andy Holloway]

But you.

[Jason Moore]

But you can't.

[Andy Holloway]

You know, like who is. Who is trading in.

[Mike Wright]

I'll give you nothing for it.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, like you guys would in the midst of rico Dowdles the 1000 yard rushing season. You guys would not have traded for Rico Dowdle. And now that he is staring down like we have no idea what's going.

[Mike Wright]

To happen with this case for Rico is returning to Dallas and being part of a committee with a rookie.

[Andy Holloway]

Yes. I mean right now, lower tiered rookie.

[Jason Moore]

Right now. Rico Dowdle is an unrestricted free agent. I think the amount of guff the Cowboys got this last season over not addressing their running game or.

[Andy Holloway]

Or is Jerry the moon man the guy who's like screw you guys, I'll do it again. Yeah, don't tell me.

[Mike Wright]

The best running back classes top to bottom that we've had in a long time.

[Jason Moore]

So many opportunities for them to address it. So I don't know that Rico has any job next year.

[Mike Wright]

Well, I mean like for any team. I think I have Cam scatterboo at like 9 right now. If Cam Scatter Boo went to Dallas, he erases my interest in Nico. So the ninth best running back off the board would erase my interest in Rico. Rico, the Rico Collins.

[Andy Holloway]

As I say, Rico is just like we were.

[Jason Moore]

Who?

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, Clyde. It's just like that of he should. I think he'll get a backup job. I disagree with that. Rico won't have a job.

[Jason Moore]

I think he'll get a backup job. I'm just saying he won't have any job that can be fantasy relevant in the league for any team. That's my projection for him. He will be a backup. So maybe an injury.

[Mike Wright]

It could be this off season. Zach Moss.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I mean maybe. Maybe an injury in the season.

[Mike Wright]

Okay. What if he went to Cincinnati to compliment. To compliment Chase Brown and literally was the Zach Moss of the off season. Is he fantasy relevant?

[Andy Holloway]

He's a no, he is a high value insurance running back.

[Mike Wright]

Right. Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

And that's, that's, that's what I think he will be.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. In Dynasty. You're not going to cut those guys.

[Andy Holloway]

No.

[Jason Moore]

You can't cut that guy.

[Mike Wright]

No.

[Jason Moore]

But it's just not going to be someone you start either.

[Mike Wright]

One last question here from Connor. What quarterback will be the best value in 2025? I'm looking at the early best ball ADP on underdog, which is, you know, you're looking for kind of the big performances there. Who do you have like after our initial question to start the show, is there a name that just. Is it Dak because he's coming back from injury late on a good offense that you like? Is it Herbert? Whom they may add a quarterback? Is it Jordan Love or a wide receiver? Is it Jordan Love because you think they'll add a wide receiver.

[Andy Holloway]

Is. To me, the two targets would be Jordan Love and Dak of like. It was a disappointing season for Jordan Love, but the, the way that the pendulum swung two years ago it was running backs did not score for the Green Bay Packers. Then this past year, especially over the second half, it was Josh Jacobs gets all the touchdowns. I think that, that, that will regress to the mean atlant and maybe even skew a little bit towards the pass just because of the way that that offense runs. But so between him, him and Dak, I think you got some good late round targets.

[Jason Moore]

Laser. That scared the tarnation.

[Mike Wright]

Laser's my pick.

[Andy Holloway]

He's QB8 right now.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I think that that's right in that zone where I'm, I, you know, I'd love to have Baker as the highest. Jason, are you scared?

[Jason Moore]

I'm just holding back, kitten. The zone, Laser zone. I held it back.

[Mike Wright]

No, you didn't.

[Andy Holloway]

That was burning.

[Jason Moore]

No, I did hold it back. You called me out.

[Mike Wright]

Holding it back would have been not thinking it at all.

[Jason Moore]

Okay, I'll have to suppress thoughts.

[Andy Holloway]

What, what are your guys quick thoughts here on Patrick Mahomes being still the quarterback. 6.

[Jason Moore]

I love it. I love to see it.

[Mike Wright]

Get Rashi Rice back. You got Xavier Worthy.

[Jason Moore]

I'm not going to draft him there.

[Andy Holloway]

That's. That's more what I mean.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, but right behind him is Bo Nix. Are you taking Bo Nix over?

[Jason Moore]

I would take Bo Nix over.

[Mike Wright]

I'm not doing that.

[Jason Moore]

My, my target would actually be Patrick.

[Mike Wright]

Mahomes gets to come back with a chip on his shoulder and the opportunity to have some wide receivers healthy.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. I mean, I hope Mahomes is the number one quarterback this year. It's good for the NFL. I want him to remember that he can throw the ball down the field. That would be amazing because they play so many games on national television and we want fun football. But my target for fantasy football is Justin Herbert. Justin Herbert started the season doing very little for fantasy football. You know, the first seven weeks of the season, he was averaging 16 fantasy points per game. The last 11, he was up to 20 fantasy points per game. So I expect them to add another weapon to this offense, probably both in the receiving and the running game. It's a good franchise. It's a quarterback we know is good. He's going late in drafts. He actually started running a little bit more this year. So I think he's depending on where he is drafted after they add weapons to the team. That'll be interesting to me.

[Mike Wright]

All right, that is going to do it. For today's episode of the Fantasy Footballers, please click that follow button. If you're listening. On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen, click that button. Leave us a review. We'd appreciate it. We're going to get into coaching changes, our 10 things to remember episode and more next week.

[Andy Holloway]

Goodbye.

[Jason Moore]

Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on TwitterFFballers.