FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Best Mid-Round Value Selections (Ep. 1669)

Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Chris Welsh
Guests: Pat Fitzmaurice & Scott Bogman

Episode Overview

This episode is your essential guide to navigating the crucial mid rounds of your fantasy football draft (Rounds 5–11). Host Chris Welsh, with experts Pat Fitzmaurice and Scott Bogman, break down prime value players at each tier, dissect trends, debate roles, and make bold case-specific predictions. They also spotlight the impact and use of FantasyPros' Real-Time ADP tool, enabling you to react to the fastest market shifts and snipe rising value targets. Expect passionate player takes, position-by-position picks, and practical strategies for stacking out your rosters from key mid-round targets and bench boosters to deep flex-worthy sleepers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Importance of Mid-Round Values

• Scott Bogman: “This is where the money is made in these mid round values.” ([01:02])
• Consensus: Mid rounds are often “arid” or “dead zones,” especially at RB, but winning teams thrive by nailing pivots with upside and avoiding draft traps. ([01:21], [01:43], [04:03])

Understanding Draft Trends & Real-Time ADP

• Chris Welsh: Details FantasyPros' new real-time ADP tool—tracks movement and trends over 24h/7d so you don’t miss dramatic player swings as draft season peaks. ([02:41])
• Example: Ricky Pearsall jumped nearly 8 spots in ADP over one week. ([31:02])
• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Real-time ADP is probably showing [Travion Henderson] has…moved out. He's one of those guys that moves out [of the range].” ([17:34])

Rounds 5–6: Best Value Players

George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

• Scott Bogman: “Pickens is at the peak of his career. He’s never played with a QB as good as Dak Prescott...plus the O-line and run game are weak, so they're going to pass a lot.” ([04:03])
• Pat Fitzmaurice: Likes Pickens if he falls within value (e.g., 6.07): “He’s a really good purchase…Cowboys are probably going to be at or near the top of the league in pass attempts.” ([06:36], [07:11])

Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Almost impossible for Ridley not to turn a profit on his current price.” ([07:43])
  • Elite recent production despite bad QB play; now has rookie Cam Ward who is an “aggressive downfield thrower.” ([07:43])
• Scott Bogman: “He’s an undisputed number one target on this team…Cam Ward coming here makes every single offensive option way better.” ([09:18])

Isaiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

• Scott Bogman: “I think Pacheco could have a great year. He’s still on a good offense with one of the best QBs…going to be the clear goal line back.” ([17:40])
• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Seeing Pacheco look like Pacheco again in the preseason has gotten me back in his camp…Don’t overthink it.” ([20:57], [22:03])

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “I have [him] ranked WR16…He’s already the best skill position player the Panthers have on their roster.” ([23:01])
• Scott Bogman: “He looks more and more like Mike Evans every day. The defense is bad, they’ll have to go point for point…McMillan is going to get a lot of garbage time and that’s bonus.” ([25:19])

Rounds 7–8: More Mid-Round Values

Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers

• Scott Bogman: “He’s going to come at a massive value…Might get 120 targets, closer to 75 catches, well over 1,000 yards.” ([27:42])
• Pat Fitzmaurice: Loves his late-season chemistry with Purdy: “What he did at the very end of the season is what I’m going to weigh more heavily.” ([31:02])
• ADP riser: 3rd-most in seven days.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Maybe the most talented WR going in the 7th round…He’s going to get a big target share, and Kellen Moore’s using him in the slot.” ([33:01])
• Scott Bogman: “The bigger issue is much more with the concussions...he needs to be more of a fill-in, you can't be reliant on him.” ([35:03])

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks

• Scott Bogman: “He is not a backup…He holds standalone value and massive upside if Walker goes down.” ([37:54])
  • Kubiak offense will run a lot, and Charbonnet’s a great runner and receiver.
• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Even if Walker stays healthy, Charbonnet has some standalone value...Seattle told us they want to run the ball.” ([40:31])

Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Tucker Kraft…had 50 catches, 707 yards, 7 TDs last year…He could get close to 100 targets this year. Has top-5 upside” ([43:02])
• Scott Bogman: “Such a good value…there are a lot of TEs with upside this year, but Kraft is one of the best.”

Rounds 9–11: Bench & Deep Value Targets

Tyler Warren, TE, New York Giants

• Scott Bogman: “He can literally do everything…He’s a Jeremy Shockey clone with more options to score for you.” ([46:01])
• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Tyler Warren’s going to nuke Josh Downs’s fantasy value… picking up where he left off last year… I think Warren’s going to smash from the get-go.” ([48:15])

Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “He’s going to play on passing downs and two-minute work…Still has juice; ideal 4th RB, even plays as your RB3 in some leagues.” ([49:59])
• Scott Bogman: “There’s definitely the world where Ekeler gets way more touches… he’s just an easy grab and stash.” ([51:37])

Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants

• Scott Bogman: “Not a great player, but he’ll be on the field more… there’s nothing that’s really changed for him. He’s a high-floor bench PPR play.” ([53:38])
• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Miss me on Wan’Dale…7.5 YPC last year, 1.21 YPRR—these are just empty PPR calories. Zero upside.” ([55:11])

Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “Big play potential is appealing… 19.2 YPC, 9.8 yards per target as a rookie. Jaw-dropping ball skills, excellent after the catch. Anxious to see what he can do with a healthy season.” ([56:02])
• Scott Bogman: “If you need upside, Keon’s for you. If you need floor, Wan’Dale’s your guy—these are polar opposites and that’s why mid-rounds matter.” ([57:30])

Bold Prediction: Biggest Mid-Round ADP Beat-Downs

Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers

• Scott Bogman: “There’s literally no downside to drafting Tucker Kraft where he’s going right now…he’ll beat his ADP by at least two rounds.” ([59:48])

Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans

• Pat Fitzmaurice: “He’s going to have 90 catches, 1,100 yards this year…People don’t like WRs in their 30s, but Diggs will blow by his ADP.” ([61:27])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On George Pickens’s situation:
  “He never got a chance to play with a good quarterback in Pittsburgh… He’s never played with a WR as good as CeeDee Lamb on the other side… I think we’re going to see the best season we’ve ever seen from George Pickens.” — Scott Bogman ([04:03])

• On Tetairoa McMillan:
  “He averaged 108.8 yards per game over his final two college seasons with less than stellar quarterbacking…really good route runner…he has a chance to finish as a top 12 receiver as a rookie.”— Pat Fitzmaurice ([23:01])

• On Chris Olave’s concussion concerns:
  “He’s one hit from going away for good I feel like…He needs to be more of a fill-in. You can’t be reliant on him.” — Scott Bogman ([35:03])

• On Keon Coleman’s upside:
  “The dude has freaky ball skills and really not too bad with the ball in his hands…returned kicks and punts in college. There’s a lot to like here.” — Pat Fitzmaurice ([57:13])

Timestamps Quick Reference

• Rounds 5–6 Discussion Start: [04:03]
• Pickens Debate: [04:03]–[07:22]
• Calvin Ridley Pick: [07:43]–[10:39]
• Positioning Quality WR2/3s: [10:39]–[11:59]
• Isaiah Pacheco RB Value: [16:36]–[22:22]
• Tetairoa McMillan Love: [22:22]–[27:10]
• Rounds 7–8 Values Start: [27:42]
• Ricky Pearsall: [27:42]–[32:28]
• Chris Olave Slot Usage: [33:01]–[36:00]
• Charbonnet in Kubiak’s System: [37:54]–[42:19]
• Tucker Kraft as TE Value: [43:02]–[45:07]
• Rounds 9–11 Values Start: [46:01]
• Tyler Warren, Dynamic TE: [46:01]–[49:42]
• Austin Ekeler, PPR RB: [49:59]–[53:23]
• Wan’Dale vs. Keon Coleman: [53:38]–[58:45]
• Bold Prediction Time: [58:45]–[62:15]

Takeaways for Fantasy Managers

• Monitor Real-Time ADP: Identify and act on quickly ascending mid-round values before draft weekend.
• Don’t Shy from “Dead Zones”: Several 5–8th round players (Pickens, Ridley, Pacheco, McMillan, Charbonnet, Kraft) are “must-roster” values.
• High-Upside Benches: Target skill-position players with ceiling (Coleman, Warren, Charbonnet); floor guys (Wan’Dale) fit certain builds.
• Avoid Drafting on Old ADP Data: Players like Ricky Pearsall, Keon Coleman, and Tucker Kraft may not last to their pre-August ranges.
• Chase Opportunity + Situation: New offenses, injuries, and vacated targets create affordable breakouts in the mid-rounds.
• Bold Calls Matter: Both expert predictions (Kraft, Diggs) underscore maximizing value by projecting well beyond consensus.

Listen & Dominate

Draft season is here—use these consensus mid-round targets and tactics to position your roster for victory. Remember: “This is where money is made.” ([01:02])

For more analysis, ADP tools, rankings, and mock draft help, visit FantasyPros.com