FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: $15 Million DraftKings Best Ball Livestream (Ep. 1659)

Release Date: August 20, 2025

Host: Tom
Co-Host: Andrew Erickson

Episode Overview

This episode features a special livestream as hosts Tom and Andrew Erickson tackle the massive $15 million DraftKings Best Ball headline contest. Throughout a live draft, they discuss evolving player values, recent NFL news, pure best ball strategy, and field listener questions, offering actionable advice for both newcomers and hardcore fantasy footballers. The conversation is rapid-fire, insightful, and full of in-draft decision-making with a focus on value, roster construction, and high-upside plays.

Main DraftKings Best Ball Discussion

What is Best Ball? (01:17)

• Tom outlines Best Ball's appeal: draft once, no in-season management, your best-performing players are scored automatically.
• "Set it and forget it...no trades, waivers or sitting lineups." (Tom, 01:17)

Early Draft Strategy & First Round Insights

Picking from the 11 Spot (02:22)

• Andrew prefers early picks but highlights value at the back end: "Round one is really deep, and you’re getting round one talent in the beginning of round two."
• Both hosts excited about leveraging shifting ADPs and news.

Puka Nacua – Buy, Sell, or Hold? (03:03)

• Tom expresses concern about Nacua due to Matthew Stafford’s injury status.
• Andrew remains confident:

  "He's just too talented of a guy, first-round talent to fall out of round one entirely...The fact that Puka Nacua has schemed up touches, he's a third-year wide receiver where we see breakouts all the time." (Andrew, 03:31)

• Comparison to running back injury risk mirrors Nacua’s QB uncertainty.

Touchdown Regression & WR Tiers (04:34)

• Tom discusses Nacua’s lack of TDs compared to elite WRs: "If he can unlock that side to his game…we draft him as a top 4 wide receiver." (Tom, 04:34)
• Ongoing debate between taking Saquon Barkley vs. Bijan Robinson at the top.

The “Where the Puck’s Going” Analogy (05:42)

• Andrew references Sigmund Bloom’s advice:

  "You want to be where the puck’s going...Who’s going to have the Saquon Barkley year this year? Probably not Saquon again." (Andrew, 05:42)

Early Rounds: Player Selections & Building for Uniqueness

Rounds 1-2: Building Around Puka Nacua & Drake London (06:18)

• Puka falls to pick 11, the hosts happily select him.
• Tom: “Just taking Puka ... pairing him with Drake London…we’ve already got a different build that a lot of people couldn’t get earlier in the contest.” (Tom, 07:00)
• Andrew shares his "positive TD regression" research and why both Nacua and London stand out as hidden touchdown upside candidates.

Rounds 3-4: Punting Running Back, Value Grabs (11:08)

• Andrew targets Ken Walker and Omarion Hampton, noting strong value due to falling ADPs.
• Tom highlights that fantasy news, like injuries to Najee Harris, influences surges in player value mid-draft.

Rapid Fire: Hot Topics & Audience Questions

Marvin Harrison Jr. Outlook (55:02)

• Andrew:

  “His floor probably is not being talked about enough where this is a clear cut number one wide receiver…The concern is can he get to the next level with Kyler Murray?” (Andrew, 55:26)

Is Handcuffing RBs Bad in Best Ball? (36:20)

• Tom: “It’s not really bad. You kind of lock into only maximizing one player, but in Best Ball…they could ping pong.”
• Andrew: “I like the Walker/Charbonnet combo—I'll sacrifice a roster spot to ensure I get Seahawks RB1.”

Prioritizing Early QB or TE? (16:26)

• Andrew leans elite QB in redraft, elite TE in Best Ball (if true difference-makers available).
• Tom: “Elite tight ends have been on a pretty crappy run…slightly lean elite QB because I prefer two rather than three at that position in my builds.”

Draft Room Highlights & Debate

Drafting for Unique Lineups (06:57, 18:29)

• Hosts emphasize pairing less common player combos for contest leverage.
• On Ricky Pearsall:

  “Every now and again, it’s good to take somebody that you quite often don’t take as much.” (Tom, 18:29)

Handling ADP Hype & FOMO (48:20)

• Andrew warns against refusing to draft rising players due to missed "early value":

  “Every year we see this, there’s still people refusing to draft Chase Brown because they weren’t in on him...meanwhile those of us who are willing to reset...get the exposure.” (Andrew, 48:35)

Deep Rounds & Roster Construction

QB/Skill Player Stacks

• Leveraging team correlations for Week 17 upside: “You need to approach week 17 as more of an individual DFS style lineup...bet on a smaller range of outcomes." (Tom, 26:21)

Late Round Picks & Upside Swings

• Heavy focus on rookie & second-year RBs/WRs (e.g., Braylon Allen, Trey Benson, Jalen Coker).
• “This is where we see these guys pop and really take that next leap in terms of making a jump.” (Andrew, 64:26)

Notable Quotes & Advice

• “Set it and forget it. If you’ve not done Best Ball before, there’s no weekly roster management…this is perfect for casual and serious players alike.” (Tom, 01:17)
• “We’re buying into…guys who are positive touchdown regression candidates.” (Andrew, 07:21)
• “Football season is right around the corner and there is no better way to lock in your fantasy dominance early than with Best Ball…” (Tom, 08:12)
• “If you’re going to fade Saquon, then you gotta take Will Shipley. That’s the way I see it. Gotta make correlated bets.” (Andrew, 51:09)

Audience Q&A (Selected Responses & Timestamps)

• How to approach superflex with missing mid-round picks:

  "Prioritize locking in a quarterback in the first round...try and get an elite quarterback, then see how the board falls." (Tom, 22:58)

• Purdy/Kittle/Pearsall triple stack?

  "Yes. I love that. That's a great way to approach it." (Andrew, 31:13)

• How do you feel about Devante Adams?

  Tom likes him (29:02), Andrew is less bullish now than preseason, especially if already drafting Puka Nacua.

• Who’s the better Texans RB flier—Nick Chubb or Woody Marks?

  Tom: “I want Woody Marks because of his pass catching upside…” (59:15)

Final Draft Results & Reflections

• Notable selections:

  • Value picks: Puka Nacua, Omari Hampton, Michael Penix
  • Late upside: Jalen Noel, Jalen Coker, Ray-Ray McCloud, AD Mitchell
  • Rookie/second-year focus: heavy bets on rushing upside and positive regression.

• Andrew’s assessment:

  “We went really aggressive with receiver to start...then left it alone till the last four picks. The double stacks are excellent…types of players we put our bets on—rookie and second-year RBs, second-year QBs—this is when they leap.” (Andrew, 65:51)

• Tom on value:

  “When you are willing to take those scoops and just build something slightly different, it results in a nice team.” (Tom, 65:51)

Fun & Memorable Moments

• Andrew dropping analytics live (“I posted on X earlier today…” 07:21)
• The contagious excitement about weekly Twitch Q&A with the FantasyPros crew (21:14)
• Ongoing inside jokes about "Andrew Erickson Branded" receivers and going "back to the well"

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:17 – Best Ball explanation & format
• 02:22 – Early round strategy & draft position
• 03:03 – Puka/Nacua deep dive
• 05:42 – RB tiers and chasing upside
• 07:21 – TD regression candidates, data from X (Twitter)
• 16:26 – Early QB/TE Q&A
• 22:58 – Superflex draft without mid-round picks
• 26:21 – Week 17 DFS style roster construction
• 29:02 – Devante Adams vs. other WRs
• 36:20 – Handcuffing RBs in Best Ball
• 48:20 – Handling ADP risers and value FOMO
• 55:02 – Marvin Harrison Jr. rookie outlook
• 59:15 – Texans RB controversy: Chubb or Woody Marks?
• 65:51 – Reflection on value, roster construction

Summary

A high-caliber, dynamic best ball draft and strategy session—chock-full of sharp takes, actionable advice, and the latest news—making it a must-listen (or read) for drafters serious about beating the odds in giant-field DraftKings tournaments. Tom and Andrew’s chemistry and depth of analysis shine as they navigate each round and audience question, providing a roadmap for finding the critical edge in today’s ever-shifting fantasy football landscape.