FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: "Reach For Jaylen Waddle? | Players To Draft A Round Early" (Ep. 1667)

Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Wormley & Andrew Erickson

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ryan Wormley and Andrew Erickson dive into the important preseason question: Which players are worth drafting a round early in fantasy football drafts this year? They discuss their top aggressive targets, break down player archetypes, and highlight both high-upside reaches and "boring" values. Throughout, they touch on crucial strategy shifts for fantasy drafters seeking an edge in 2025.

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Philosophy: Why Draft Players a Round Early?

The hosts frame the episode as: who are "flag plant" players you have to have, even if it means paying up?
Ryan (00:35): "We're labeling it as like players to draft around early. You could think of these as flag plans—just players that you really want."

2. Key Aggressive Target: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Erickson (01:11):

"This is the year we get 17 game full blown Chase Brown season."
ADP (average draft position) has climbed from round 3 to late round 2, reflecting industry consensus.
Ceiling case: Last year, Weeks 9–18, Brown was RB5 in points per game and RB1 in expected fantasy points per game.
Workhorse Opportunity: Even with other backs on the roster, "If there are stretches during the year where Bengals aren't happy with either Samaj P. Ryan or Taj Brooks, they're going to lean heavily on Chase Brown."
Passing game role: "He has Joe Burrow's trust. He catches passes...Joe Burrow is dropping back to throw 40, 45 times per game."
Draft Advice: "It doesn't really matter what your roster build is...if you're picking at that end of round 2, beginning of round 3, you gotta have Chase Brown in your queue."

Ryan (02:45):

The mental adjustment of losing "discount" value as ADP rises:
- "Just because you're not getting him in the 3rd anymore doesn't mean he's now a bad value. He was an insane value, now it's just a smart pick."

Erickson (03:27):

Endorses 'getting your guys,' even early—wouldn't be shocked to see Brown go late first/early second.

3. Best Boring Value Pick: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Erickson (04:19):

Always meets or exceeds ADP ("never finished worse than RB19 in Arizona over four years").
Last year: RB11 overall, RB14 per game.
"It's always a matter of health...But when he's playing and operating as the Cardinals bell cow, he smashes."
Strong Start Potential: "The Cardinals have one of the easiest schedules to open up...playing the Saints week one. I absolutely love that match-up."
Role secure unless rookie Trey Benson emerges later in the year.
Receiving Role: Beneficiary in checkdown game—"that's why James Conner still gets dump-off passes from Kyler Murray."
Summary: "Screaming value where he goes and he's going to pay off that ADP, especially early on."

Ryan (06:06):

"This one doesn't excite me as much, but that's kind of the point, right?...One of those words is value in 'boring value.'"

4. Rookie Buzz: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts

Erickson (10:27):

"There's no reason you can't leave every draft without Tyler Warren, rookie tight end for the Indianapolis Colts."
Role: "Going to play almost every single snap for the Colts this year on offense."
Uses the example of Taysom Hill (multi-positional, goal-line role): "Layer on that he could also take on a Taysom Hill type of role."
Compares with recent successful rookie TEs:
- "We love rookie running backs; they're expensive for a reason. I don't think the market has quite caught on to...rookie tight ends are breaking out right away."
- "Brock Bowers last year, Sam LaPorta two years ago...Why is [Warren] not higher?"
Colts QB situation: Daniel Jones will pepper Warren with underneath targets, making him a prime safety net.
"If none of those [other Colts receivers] break out, I just rather push my chips in on...Tyler Warren, to be the alpha."

Ryan (12:49):

"Honestly, like, the only three tight ends that I'm 100% positive are going to be better than Tyler Warren this season...are Bowers, McBride, and Kittle."
"He should not be ranked outside the top 10 at the position...If he finished TE4, I would not be surprised in the slightest."

Erickson (14:25):

Even if he's your TE2, Warren's trade equity will be strong if he breaks out.
Suggests pairing Tucker Kraft and a rookie (Loveland or Warren) for best outcomes.

5. League Winners/High-Upside WR Targets

Erickson (15:15):

A. Jalen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

"He's a positive touchdown regression candidate."
Finished '24 strong: "Nine-plus targets in three of his last four games, two 99-yard outings, over 13 fantasy points per game."
"26 years old, has three 1,000 yard campaigns already, been a fantasy WR1 before."
With Miami injuries and Tyreek Hill aging, "I think he can easily be a top 10 WR again."
"Going with Jalen Waddle as a guy outside the top 50 overall."

B. Jaden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

"Going outside the top 100, just to finish as a top 20 WR this year."
"If his health checks out...Jaden Reed, the last two seasons—WR26 and WR23—but his ADP is WR46."
Third-year WR breakout: "That's the most common year a receiver becomes a WR1 for the first time."
"If we get healthy [QB] Jordan Love, I think Jaden Reed's going to easily pay off...could be a top 20 WR, if not top 10."
"Jaden Reed—he’s free in drafts and I’m taking the swing."

Ryan (17:26):

Instead of trying to pick the one receiver, "I am just investing in Jordan Love as a late round quarterback."
"They're going to throw more this year...So Reed can benefit from that...but my approach is just get the quarterback."

Erickson (17:59):

Endorses Love as a late-round QB with a strong mix of floor and ceiling.
"Green Bay Packers offense is going to be exciting this year and you want to get parts to it—Kraft, Jaden Reed, Matthew Golden, etc."

Ryan (18:53):

"Of the QBs outside the top two tiers, [Jordan Love] has the highest combination of floor and ceiling."

6. Honorable Mentions: Late-Round QBs

Dak Prescott also called a strong overlooked draft value ("my other favorite [after Love]...combination of floor and ceiling").

Notable Quotes

"Drafting players a round early, if I looked up and we're at the end of round one, beginning of round two, and I just saw Chase Brown's name come off the board, I'd be like, whoa, that's crazy. Then I'm like, honestly, I'm here for it, man. Like, get your guys."
— Andrew Erickson, [03:27]
"It's always a matter of health with James Conner...But when he's on the field...he absolutely smashes."
— Andrew Erickson, [04:19]
"Honestly, like, the only three tight ends that I'm 100% positive are going to be better than Tyler Warren this season...are Bowers, McBride, and Kittle."
— Ryan Wormley, [12:49]
"Jalen Waddle just checks off all the boxes. He's a positive touchdown regression candidate. He showed up at the end of last year..."
— Andrew Erickson, [15:15]
"Jaden Reed—he’s free in drafts and I’m taking the swing."
— Andrew Erickson, [16:42]
"Of the quarterbacks outside the top two tiers, [Jordan Love] has the highest combination of floor and ceiling."
— Ryan Wormley, [18:53]

Timestamps of Important Segments

[01:11] — Why Chase Brown is a legitimate second-round reach
[04:19] — James Conner: The safest "boring" RB value
[10:27] — Tyler Warren as the top rookie TE sleeper
[12:49] — Tight end value tiers & why Warren is a must bet
[15:15] — Jalen Waddle and Jaden Reed: True league-winning wideout candidates
[17:26] — Green Bay passing game as a late-round goldmine, Jordan Love’s value
[18:53] — Floor/ceiling analysis of late QBs Love and Prescott

Tone & Style

The conversation is insightful, fast-paced, and designed for fantasy football enthusiasts ready to take action. Both hosts blend strong statistical backing with practical, actionable advice and a dash of humor (especially around "boring" picks and fantasy mental traps).

Summary Table: Players to Target a Round Early

| Player | Position | Why Draft a Round Early? | Round Target | |------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|---------------| | Chase Brown | RB | Elite usage, high floor/ceiling | Late 2/Early 3| | James Conner | RB | Perpetually outperforms ADP | RB19-20 (~5-6)| | Tyler Warren | TE | All-snap role + rookie upside | 9th/10th | | Jalen Waddle | WR | WR1 upside if Hill declines | Post-50th | | Jaden Reed | WR | Proven efficiency, 3rd-year leap | Post-100th | | Jordan Love | QB | High floor + ceiling, overlooked | Last rounds | | Dak Prescott | QB | Combo of stability + upside | Last rounds |

Final Thoughts

Drafting aggressively on certain high-upside players—especially those with clear opportunity, rising ADPs, or undervalued consistency—can be the key to fantasy success in 2025.
The message: Don’t get trapped by last year’s value… Get your guys, especially when data and opportunity align.

Episode covered by FantasyPros. For real-time draft tools and player rankings, visit fantasypros.com.

FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: "Reach For Jaylen Waddle? | Players To Draft A Round Early" (Ep. 1667)

Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Wormley & Andrew Erickson

Episode Overview

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Philosophy: Why Draft Players a Round Early?

The hosts frame the episode as: who are "flag plant" players you have to have, even if it means paying up?
Ryan (00:35): "We're labeling it as like players to draft around early. You could think of these as flag plans—just players that you really want."

2. Key Aggressive Target: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Erickson (01:11):

"This is the year we get 17 game full blown Chase Brown season."
ADP (average draft position) has climbed from round 3 to late round 2, reflecting industry consensus.
Ceiling case: Last year, Weeks 9–18, Brown was RB5 in points per game and RB1 in expected fantasy points per game.
Workhorse Opportunity: Even with other backs on the roster, "If there are stretches during the year where Bengals aren't happy with either Samaj P. Ryan or Taj Brooks, they're going to lean heavily on Chase Brown."
Passing game role: "He has Joe Burrow's trust. He catches passes...Joe Burrow is dropping back to throw 40, 45 times per game."
Draft Advice: "It doesn't really matter what your roster build is...if you're picking at that end of round 2, beginning of round 3, you gotta have Chase Brown in your queue."

Ryan (02:45):

The mental adjustment of losing "discount" value as ADP rises:
- "Just because you're not getting him in the 3rd anymore doesn't mean he's now a bad value. He was an insane value, now it's just a smart pick."

Erickson (03:27):

Endorses 'getting your guys,' even early—wouldn't be shocked to see Brown go late first/early second.

3. Best Boring Value Pick: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Erickson (04:19):

Always meets or exceeds ADP ("never finished worse than RB19 in Arizona over four years").
Last year: RB11 overall, RB14 per game.
"It's always a matter of health...But when he's playing and operating as the Cardinals bell cow, he smashes."
Strong Start Potential: "The Cardinals have one of the easiest schedules to open up...playing the Saints week one. I absolutely love that match-up."
Role secure unless rookie Trey Benson emerges later in the year.
Receiving Role: Beneficiary in checkdown game—"that's why James Conner still gets dump-off passes from Kyler Murray."
Summary: "Screaming value where he goes and he's going to pay off that ADP, especially early on."

Ryan (06:06):

"This one doesn't excite me as much, but that's kind of the point, right?...One of those words is value in 'boring value.'"

4. Rookie Buzz: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts

Erickson (10:27):

"There's no reason you can't leave every draft without Tyler Warren, rookie tight end for the Indianapolis Colts."
Role: "Going to play almost every single snap for the Colts this year on offense."
Uses the example of Taysom Hill (multi-positional, goal-line role): "Layer on that he could also take on a Taysom Hill type of role."
Compares with recent successful rookie TEs:
- "We love rookie running backs; they're expensive for a reason. I don't think the market has quite caught on to...rookie tight ends are breaking out right away."
- "Brock Bowers last year, Sam LaPorta two years ago...Why is [Warren] not higher?"
Colts QB situation: Daniel Jones will pepper Warren with underneath targets, making him a prime safety net.
"If none of those [other Colts receivers] break out, I just rather push my chips in on...Tyler Warren, to be the alpha."

Ryan (12:49):

"Honestly, like, the only three tight ends that I'm 100% positive are going to be better than Tyler Warren this season...are Bowers, McBride, and Kittle."
"He should not be ranked outside the top 10 at the position...If he finished TE4, I would not be surprised in the slightest."

Erickson (14:25):

Even if he's your TE2, Warren's trade equity will be strong if he breaks out.
Suggests pairing Tucker Kraft and a rookie (Loveland or Warren) for best outcomes.

5. League Winners/High-Upside WR Targets

Erickson (15:15):

A. Jalen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

"He's a positive touchdown regression candidate."
Finished '24 strong: "Nine-plus targets in three of his last four games, two 99-yard outings, over 13 fantasy points per game."
"26 years old, has three 1,000 yard campaigns already, been a fantasy WR1 before."
With Miami injuries and Tyreek Hill aging, "I think he can easily be a top 10 WR again."
"Going with Jalen Waddle as a guy outside the top 50 overall."

B. Jaden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

"Going outside the top 100, just to finish as a top 20 WR this year."
"If his health checks out...Jaden Reed, the last two seasons—WR26 and WR23—but his ADP is WR46."
Third-year WR breakout: "That's the most common year a receiver becomes a WR1 for the first time."
"If we get healthy [QB] Jordan Love, I think Jaden Reed's going to easily pay off...could be a top 20 WR, if not top 10."
"Jaden Reed—he’s free in drafts and I’m taking the swing."

Ryan (17:26):

Instead of trying to pick the one receiver, "I am just investing in Jordan Love as a late round quarterback."
"They're going to throw more this year...So Reed can benefit from that...but my approach is just get the quarterback."

Erickson (17:59):

Endorses Love as a late-round QB with a strong mix of floor and ceiling.
"Green Bay Packers offense is going to be exciting this year and you want to get parts to it—Kraft, Jaden Reed, Matthew Golden, etc."

Ryan (18:53):

"Of the QBs outside the top two tiers, [Jordan Love] has the highest combination of floor and ceiling."

6. Honorable Mentions: Late-Round QBs

Dak Prescott also called a strong overlooked draft value ("my other favorite [after Love]...combination of floor and ceiling").

Notable Quotes

"Drafting players a round early, if I looked up and we're at the end of round one, beginning of round two, and I just saw Chase Brown's name come off the board, I'd be like, whoa, that's crazy. Then I'm like, honestly, I'm here for it, man. Like, get your guys."
— Andrew Erickson, [03:27]
"It's always a matter of health with James Conner...But when he's on the field...he absolutely smashes."
— Andrew Erickson, [04:19]
"Honestly, like, the only three tight ends that I'm 100% positive are going to be better than Tyler Warren this season...are Bowers, McBride, and Kittle."
— Ryan Wormley, [12:49]
"Jalen Waddle just checks off all the boxes. He's a positive touchdown regression candidate. He showed up at the end of last year..."
— Andrew Erickson, [15:15]
"Jaden Reed—he’s free in drafts and I’m taking the swing."
— Andrew Erickson, [16:42]
"Of the quarterbacks outside the top two tiers, [Jordan Love] has the highest combination of floor and ceiling."
— Ryan Wormley, [18:53]

Timestamps of Important Segments

[01:11] — Why Chase Brown is a legitimate second-round reach
[04:19] — James Conner: The safest "boring" RB value
[10:27] — Tyler Warren as the top rookie TE sleeper
[12:49] — Tight end value tiers & why Warren is a must bet
[15:15] — Jalen Waddle and Jaden Reed: True league-winning wideout candidates
[17:26] — Green Bay passing game as a late-round goldmine, Jordan Love’s value
[18:53] — Floor/ceiling analysis of late QBs Love and Prescott

Tone & Style

Summary Table: Players to Target a Round Early

Final Thoughts

Episode covered by FantasyPros. For real-time draft tools and player rankings, visit fantasypros.com.

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Reach For Jaylen Waddle? | Players To Draft A Round Early (Ep. 1667)

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Summary

FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: "Reach For Jaylen Waddle? | Players To Draft A Round Early" (Ep. 1667)

Episode Overview

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Philosophy: Why Draft Players a Round Early?

2. Key Aggressive Target: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Best Boring Value Pick: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

4. Rookie Buzz: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts

5. League Winners/High-Upside WR Targets

A. Jalen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

B. Jaden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

6. Honorable Mentions: Late-Round QBs

Notable Quotes

Timestamps of Important Segments

Tone & Style

Summary Table: Players to Target a Round Early

Final Thoughts

Summary

FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: "Reach For Jaylen Waddle? | Players To Draft A Round Early" (Ep. 1667)

Episode Overview

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Philosophy: Why Draft Players a Round Early?

2. Key Aggressive Target: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Best Boring Value Pick: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

4. Rookie Buzz: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts

5. League Winners/High-Upside WR Targets

A. Jalen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

B. Jaden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

6. Honorable Mentions: Late-Round QBs

Notable Quotes

Timestamps of Important Segments

Tone & Style

Summary Table: Players to Target a Round Early

Final Thoughts