FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Final Best Ball Livestream: Our Player Exposures, Notable Fades & Rate My Team (Ep. 1670)

Hosts: Tom Strachan and Andrew Erickson
Date: August 27, 2025

Overview

This episode serves as the final Best Ball-focused livestream of the 2025 offseason, with Tom Strachan and Andrew Erickson diving into the players they've had the most conviction about—highest exposure and notable fades after countless drafts. They break down their reasoning behind key player stances, discuss reactions to the latest NFL news, answer a flood of audience questions, and dissect listener-submitted draft teams. The tone stays lively and analytical, blending actionable fantasy football advice with engaging banter.

Episode Highlights & Key Segments

1. NFL News Roundup: Contract Updates & Fantasy Impacts

Terry McLaurin re-signs with Washington

• Discussion:
  • Tom notes McLaurin’s 3-year, $96 million deal, seeing it as positive for the team and player but warns of possible touchdown regression and a likely ADP spike.
    • [03:35] Tom: “If he starts getting pushed up… and he could be looking at touchdown regression, it’s definitely not a pick I’m probably going to want to make.”
  • Andrew uses caution, referencing previous holdouts like Jamar Chase (slow start) and Brandon Aiyuk (injury).
    • [01:59] Andrew: "I'm concerned this is going to kind of create a false sense of security with McLaurin… fantasy managers are probably going to be disappointed, at least in the first month."

Jacoby Meyers contract drama

• Raiders WR wants a raise but is unlikely to be traded imminently; Andrew (as a Patriots fan) would love a reunion, noting New England’s wide receiver woes.
  • [05:00] Andrew: “I would love to see Jacoby Meyers come back to New England… I think it would be a fantastic move.”

2. Listener Q&A Blitz:

(Sprinkled Throughout, e.g., [07:01], [10:14], [11:41], [12:43], [29:12])

• Keeper dilemmas, trade advice, roster strategy.

  • Malik Nabers vs. Saquon Barkley?
    Andrew: “2026, I mean Malik Nabers could be wide receiver one… I'm willing to take the shot.”
  • CMC vs. Chase Brown vs. Achane vs. Henry?
    Andrew: “I'd probably go CMC…if he's healthy, he's going to score a ton of points.”

• Draft pick sequencing (8-team/12-team/keeper/auction/half-PPR, etc.)

• Positional approach from specific draft spots:

  • Tom: “At the 103, my lean is top wide receiver, probably CeeDee Lamb.”
  • Andrew: “I can’t believe Lamb’s not consensus over Jefferson.”

Memorable quote:
[13:49] Andrew, on Jefferson vs. Lamb:
"I just think Lamb over Jefferson is how I would always approach it... Lamb. And then if that’s not the case, it would be Gibbs as if I go running back there."

3. Personal Best Ball Exposures (“Conviction Plays”):

A robust, transparent review of the hosts’ most-drafted player pool.

Quarterbacks

Andrew’s Top 5:

• Justin Fields (late QB upside)
• Daniel Jones (rushing upside, cost)
• Geno Smith (cheap 17-game starter)
• Jackson Dart (late-round breakout potential)
• Brock Purdy (efficient, stacked offense)

Tom’s Top 5:

• Drake May (rookie breakout, rushing ability)
• Bryce Young (late-round stacking, Panthers sneaky upside)
• Lamar Jackson (MVP potential)
• Justin Herbert (undervalued dual threat)
• Sam Darnold (wasn’t an intentional target)

On Daniel Jones
[16:21] Andrew:
"Not to say I’m like this massive Daniel Jones bull... He has rushing upside, he’s attached to good weapons maybe… If he runs hot with a couple of rushing touchdowns he can hit my lineup."

Running Backs

Andrew’s Top 5:

• Trey Benson (handcuff/upside)
• Rachaad White (PPR value, cooled off after injury)
• Blake Corum
• Breece Hall/Braylon Allen (Jets RB situation bet)
• Josh Jacobs/Marshawn Lloyd (“niggling injuries” risk)

Tom’s Top 5:

• Austin Ekeler (undervalued with Jaden Daniels)
• Tyler Allgeier (“banged the drum hard… not 18 backup RBs better than him” – [27:09])
• Jarquez Hunter (upside if Kyren Williams falters)
• Jordan Mason (goal-line/zone scheme role)
• Cam Skattebo (ambiguous backfield lottery ticket)

Notable Moment:
[27:09] Tom, on Allgeier:
“I’ve banged the drum for Tyler Algier so hard this offseason. There aren’t 18 better backup running backs than Tyler Algier.”

Wide Receivers

Unanimous “My Guy”: Drake London
[40:51] Andrew:
“London’s calling, baby… and his name is Drake. Let’s go. He’s such a good pick, he’s going to smash this year.”

Andrew’s Other Top Exposures:

• Jayden Reed (betting on third-year breakout)
  • [41:12] Andrew: “Year three is the most common season that we find receivers become WR1s for the first time… just going to continue to draft Jayden Reed.”
• Jalen Noel (late sleeper)
• Jaylen Waddle (“all-in fade on Tyreek Hill, all-in on Waddle”)
• Garrett Wilson (Jets stack; “bullish, maybe too much so”)

Tom’s Other Top Exposures:

• Josh Downs
• Rashod Bateman
• Jalen Coker
• Tyreek Hill (defensive regression play)
  • [45:41] Tom: “When I click Tyreek Hill, I never feel good about it… but their defense is going to be bad, so — volume.”

Tight Ends

Andrew:

• Tucker Kraft (mid-range, late value)
• Chigoziem Okonkwo (routes, late breakout)
• Hunter Henry (steady veteran)
• George Kittle (elite spike weeks)
• Brock Bowers (rookie upside)

Tom:

• Sam LaPorta
• George Kittle
• Brock Bowers
• Mark Andrews
• Tucker Kraft (“If I miss out on Warren or Loveland, it’s pants-off-dance-off time with Kraft” – [47:28])

Okonkwo love:
[48:01] Andrew:
“50% of the battle with these tight ends is just: are you running enough routes? …Chicago Okonkwo, he knows what he’s doing.”

4. Notable Fades & Regrets

Tom’s Below 5% (Fades):

• QB: Anthony Richardson, CJ Stroud, Bo Nix
• RB: Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, Breece Hall
• WR: AJ Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk
• TE: Dallas Goedert, Isaiah Likely, Mike Gesicki

Andrew’s Notables:

• QB: Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, Bo Nix (“just fade the expensive pocket passers”)
• RB: Saquon Barkley (“not the ceiling I’m looking for in current ranges”), Chuba Hubbard (lack of receiving), Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne (“rookie RBs in that range preferred”)
• WR: Amon-Ra, Tyreek Hill (“all-in Waddle, all-out Hill”), DK Metcalf (“never needed to draft Arthur Smith’s WR1”)
• TE: “Not enough rookie exposure—regret less Tyler Warren/Colston Loveland.”

On DK Metcalf:
[58:51] Tom:
“DK Metcalf’s only been a top-20 WR once and yet he consistently gets drafted there… rarely lives up [to the hype].”

5. Lightning-Fire Listener Draft Reviews

Multiple audience teams reviewed with practical critiques, especially focusing on late-round strategy, positional balance, and stacking.

• Tom & Andrew advise aggressive waiver action when needed (“I’d be aggressive on waivers for running back” – [35:04]);
• Caution on rookie RBs/RBs late in drafts as “lottery tickets” rather than core pieces;
• For late-round QBs/TEs: “think about the stack, think about Week 17 upside.”
  • [61:49] Tom: “Once we get past round 15, it’s looking for how can I enhance my roster… stacking or team stacking in a DFS mindset.”

6. Rapidfire: Breakout Candidates & Bench Stash Guidance

• Who are this year’s “Chase Brown/Chuba Hubbard” late hits?
  • Tom: “Damien Pierce, Dylan Sampson… I like Woody Marks, but Pierce could step in right away.”
  • Andrew: “Co-sign on Sampson… was ready for Tyjae Spears, but Braylon Allen fits the bill, too.”
• Is Trevion Henderson the highest upside?
  • Andrew: “I know so. He’s the best player on the Patriots’ offense; has pass-catching in a McDaniels offense.”

7. Quotes of the Night (with Timestamps)

• On McLaurin:
  "[01:59] Andrew: I'm concerned ... fantasy managers are probably going to be disappointed, at least in the first month."
• On late-round team construction:
  "[61:49] Tom: ...with players at this area of the draft, they’re probably not going to turn into Kyren Williams or Puka Nacua. They’ll give me spike weeks. So stacking or team stacking ... is generally where I’m going."
• On Drake London:
  "[40:51] Andrew: London’s calling, baby. London is calling and his name is Drake. Let’s go. Oh, he’s such a good pick. He’s going to smash this year."_
• On WR fades:
  "[58:51] Tom: People like to draft DK Metcalf because he looks like such a freak athlete, but the reality is ... rarely lives up to what we hope from him."_

8. Closing Thoughts & Community Highlights

• Hosts offer thanks to producer Seth, Twitch chat participants, and the best ball community (“We gotta do it for the people” – [71:12]). Expect more Q&As and draft content weekly leading up to the season kickoff.
• Emphasis on being flexible: “It’s not too late to change your exposures. Still a couple weeks left of drafts!”
• Call to keep the conversation going on Discord, Twitch, and Twitter.

Conclusion

This wrap-up best ball episode pulls back the curtain on how serious drafters are approaching exposure, player analysis, and micro-adjustments late in the draft season. They offer sharp context for player trends, answer live community questions candidly, and keep things fun and actionable. Perfect episode for anyone getting their last drafts in, calculating exposures, or wanting a sharp crash course on what top drafters are thinking heading into week one.

Next Activities:

• Mock drafts and Q&As continue all week on Twitch.
• Draft kit, rankings, and stacks live on fantasypros.com.
• Discord and Twitter always open for your burning best ball questions.

End Quote:
[71:14] Tom: "We will be back next offseason ... everything you need is on the site to set you up for a massive 2025. For one last time this Best Ball season, we’ll catch you soon."