FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: NFL Trade Deadline Fantasy Football Fallout: Jakobi Meyers, Rashid Shaheed & More Movers (Ep. 1820)

Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh (“Welsh”), Derek Brown (“Dbro”)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Chris Welsh and Derek Brown provide in-depth analysis of the NFL trade deadline and its fallout for fantasy football leagues. They break down the key player moves—focusing on Jakobi Meyers heading to the Jaguars and Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks—and discuss the limited (but important) offensive impact of several blockbuster defensive trades. The hosts also dissect waiver implications, rest-of-season values, and surprising disappointments for fantasy managers hoping for more deadline fireworks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Disappointing Trade Deadline for Fantasy Managers

• The deadline started with big defensive trades but “completely, completely died down” for offensive fantasy relevance.
• Major defensive moves (Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams) to new teams don't directly impact fantasy but have secondary effects due to draft picks and roster changes.
• The expectation of a Breece Hall trade circulated as defensive pieces left the Jets, but it never happened.
  • Welsh: “It really set the stage to be this awesome trade deadline and it just completely, completely died down.” (02:09)

2. Defensive Blockbusters: Jets Trade Away Foundation Pieces

• Sauce Gardner to Colts: “If you can get two first round picks for a freaking cornerback... that’s insane.” – Dbro (03:10)
• Quinnen Williams to Cowboys: Not much fantasy value, but impacts both teams’ defenses and opens up draft capital.
• Dbro's take: Trading cornerstones is risky unless draft picks truly hit.

3. Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars: Real Fantasy Fallout

• Raiders Trade Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville

  • Impacts several players: Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter (Jags); Trey Tucker, Jack Bech, Dante Thornton (Raiders).
  • Dbro: “Brock Bowers is going to eat a 30 to 35% target share...[Jack Bech] is honestly the quietest of winners out of all this stuff.” (05:13)

• Raiders Side:

  • Winners:
    • Brock Bowers – Massive bump in targets.
    • Jack Bech – Quiet waiver wire steal; likely to take on slot role.
    • “Jack Bech is my preferred, like, quiet pickup in a lot of leagues... Men bid, like a dollar or two.” – Dbro (05:41)
  • Trey Tucker:
    • Dbro is not a fan—sees him as a boom/bust play with low volume.
  • Dante Thornton: Deep league dart throw only.

• Jaguars Side:

  • “Nothing but muddy water.” – Dbro (06:12)
  • Travis Hunter's Injury – The move might signal Hunter could be out for season.
  • Parker Washington’s Value Drops – Short-term fill-in only, likely to lose role as others return.
    • “He might not even be starting in three wide if we get Brian Thomas Jr. back, Jacoby Myers is definitively going to be a starter, and Travis Hunter returns.” – Dbro (08:33)

• Jacoby Meyers' Outlook

  • Neutral move; not a clear fantasy win.
    • “I don't think this is a great... It's relatively median... probably just a wide receiver three flex play on a lot of weeks.” – Welsh (09:14)
  • Both hosts agree: uncertain upside, not a priority target.
  • Dbro: “If you have Jacoby... if you can sell him, then sell him. But likely you’re stuck holding and I’m fine with that.” (09:44)

• Brenton Strange (Jags, TE): Drop him in all formats; “not going to be a high priority” for targets (09:58).

4. Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks: Value & Waiver Impact

• Rashid Shaheed Trade Fallout

  • Hurts waiver potential of Torrey Horton and Parker Washington.
  • Welsh: “We went from waivers that probably was going to start with Parker Washington and then Torrey Horton to both of these guys really not being super relevant.” (11:05)
  • Dbro: “Cup is droppable and Tori Horton is not worth a pickup now.” (11:17)
  • Seattle’s offense isn’t likely to shift to three-WR sets—limiting opportunity for fringe receivers.
  • Dbro: “Seattle runs the second fewest 11 personnel in the entire freaking NFL... Over 60% of their plays are going to be with only two wide receivers.” (11:36)
  • Shaheed’s role: upside WR3/flex, with big games possible in good matchups.

• Cooper Kupp: Now droppable for fantasy.

• JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba): Not coming off the field for Shaheed or anyone else.

5. Waiver Wire Lightning Round [13:06]

• Top RB: Isaiah Davis (“obviously the top running back”)
• WRs: Alec Pierce (top WR), Troy Franklin, Slayton
  • “Alec Pierce versus single high coverage will feed families.” – Dbro (13:37)
• QB Streamers: Sam Darnold, JJ
• TEs: Kate Otten, Dalton Schultz (matchup streamers)
  • “Tight ends... matchup based streaming options are Kate Otten and Dalton Schultz.” – Dbro (13:51)

6. Trade Deadline Surprises & Backfield Outlooks

• Breece Hall Not Traded: "Most disappointing thing we didn't get at the trade deadline." – Welsh (17:01)

  • The hosts expected his move after defensive trades, but believe Jets prioritized compensatory pick over a late-rounder.
  • Anticipate more of a committee in NYJ backfield; Isaiah Davis’ touch count could rise:
    • “Isaiah Davis probably living in that 9 to 12 touch range.” – Dbro (15:48)
  • Breece Hall not expected to be a Jet in 2026 (contract outlook).
    • Dbro: “You don’t make all these moves and then you turn around this offseason and pay Breece.” (15:31)

• AFC Backfield Notes:

  • “Spears over Pollard, he already had out-snapped him... going to see even splits with Davis and Breece Hall.” – Welsh (16:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Brock Bowers is going to eat a 30 to 35% target share." – Dbro (05:13)
• "If you can get two first round picks for a freaking cornerback... that’s insane." – Dbro (03:10)
• "It’s nothing but muddy water." – Dbro on the Jags’ receiver outlook (06:12)
• "Jack Bech is my preferred, like, quiet pickup in a lot of leagues." – Dbro (05:41)
• “We went from a waivers that probably was going to start with Parker Washington and then Torrey Horton to both of these guys really I don't think being super relevant.” – Welsh (11:05)
• "Seattle runs the second fewest 11 personnel in the entire freaking NFL." – Dbro (11:36)
• “If you have Jacoby... if you can sell him, then sell him. But likely you’re stuck holding…” – Dbro (09:44)
• “Most disappointing thing we didn't get at the trade deadline: Breece Hall.” – Welsh (17:01)

Important Timestamps

• 03:10 – Dbro on the shock value of getting two firsts for Sauce Gardner
• 05:13 – 06:12 – Dbro on fallout for Raiders and Jags WRs, including Bowers, Bech, Tucker, Thornton, Parker Washington
• 08:51 – Jacoby Myers: neutral fantasy value, rest-of-season discussion
• 11:05 – 11:36 – Shaheed to Seahawks; Seattle WR usage; Cooper Kupp & Horton droppable
• 13:06 – 13:51 – Waiver wire rapid-fire recommendations
• 15:31 – 15:54 – Dbro on Jets’ backfield split, Breece Hall's future
• 17:01 – Welsh on the biggest disappointment of the deadline (no Breece Hall trade)

Final Takeaways

• The 2025 NFL trade deadline was more notable for what didn't happen (Breece Hall, Tony Pollard trades) than what did.
• Jakobi Meyers: Not an upgrade for his outlook; consider as a low-end flex option.
• Waiver Wire: Focus on Isaiah Davis, Alec Pierce, and Rashid Shaheed.
• Rashid Shaheed: Clear winner from deadline, slides into fantasy WR3+ territory with upside.
• Seattle WRs and Cooper Kupp: Don’t chase cuttable assets.
• The biggest impact may come from shifting depth chart opportunities—be ready to pounce on quiet winners like Jack Bech and keep an eye on Isaiah Davis for possible expanded roles.

For more detailed rankings and waiver recommendations, visit fantasypros.com.