Footballguys Fantasy Football Show

Episode: New Takes Coming Out Of Week 5 || Fantasy Football 2025
Hosts: Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge
Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Footballguys Fantasy Football Show zeroes in on fresh perspectives and actionable insights coming out of Week 5 of the NFL season. Alfredo Brown and Dave Kluge dissect breakout candidates, under-the-radar performers, shifting depth charts, and how injuries and rookie developments are reshaping the fantasy football landscape. The conversation, both analytical and entertaining, is packed with specific player evaluations to help manage your rosters through bye weeks, injuries, and the ever-evolving NFL season.

Key Topics & Takeaways

1. Michael Carter: An RB2 Opportunity

Timestamp: [01:37–03:54]

• Kluge highlights Michael Carter’s unexpected bell-cow usage in Arizona due to Benson’s injury.
  • 39 snaps, 18 carries, 5 targets last week—more combined opportunity than all other backs on the roster.
  • Carter should remain a high-end RB2 for the next month due to Benson’s extended injury.
  • On his talent: “He's a little bit undersized. He’s quick, not fast.”
• The schedule ahead features top-10 RB matchups that elevate his value for bye week/injury fill-ins.
  • Kluge: "I think a lot of people are trying to sell high on [Carter] right now. And I'm just holding him looking at kind of a free plug and play RB2 for the next month and a half." [03:47]

2. Rookies Emerging Post-Bye: Matthew Golden & Luther Burden

Timestamp: [04:55–09:13]

• Brown points to a strong historical trend: rookies often get significant increases in opportunity after their teams' byes.
  • Golden: Targets per game already ticking up, with the 2nd-easiest upcoming WR schedule.
  • Burden: Doubling target share, similar schedule boost, but production could depend on injuries/trades in Chicago.
  • Brown: “It would be just absolute malpractice for the Bears to keep Luther Burden…sidelined throughout the year.” [07:44]
• Kluge notes mental/role complexity as holding Burden back for the moment, but fully buys Golden's opportunity.

3. Travis Hunter vs. Brian Thomas Jr.: Rethinking Fantasy Prospects

Timestamp: [09:17–13:51]

• Kluge makes a bold take—Travis Hunter is a better WR than Brian Thomas Jr., who may be pigeonholed in his offense.
  • "Thomas Jr....proven himself to be a little bit of a one trick pony" [09:23]
  • The Jaguars’ spread offense has hurt his fantasy upside despite big games.
  • Both hosts agree Thomas can be acquired in a buy-low move, but not as a top-10 WR.
  • Brown: “You’re buying off the dollar menu...That’s what Brian Thomas Jr. is.” [13:51]

4. Tetairoa McMillan: Touchdown Regression Coming?

Timestamp: [13:51–17:27]

• Brown flags McMillan (Carolina) as the WR with the most targets in the NFL without a TD—a rare and unsustainable split.
  • He’s still WR25, but coming weeks offer elite schedule for fantasy playoffs.
  • Comparison to Deontay Johnson’s TD drought season.
  • Kluge: “It’s not just the targets either. It’s also the receiving yards... It feels like the week that McMillan finally gets in the end zone.” [16:24]

5. Darren Waller: Legit Fantasy TE1

Timestamp: [17:30–22:01]

• Kluge is bullish on Waller, who is now a full-time fixture in Miami’s offense post-Tyreek injury.
  • Routes, downfield work, and redzone usage have exploded.
  • Comparison with Travis Kelce—“Darren Waller... I think we’ve seen what Travis Kelce is.” [21:04] (Brown)
  • Waller moves into every-week, set-and-forget TE status: “He looks healthy, he looks fast, he looks spry...” [19:30]

6. Jecori Croskey-Merritt: The Next Breakout RB

Timestamp: [22:01–27:34]

• With Austin Ekeler out, Croskey-Merritt leads a thinner Washington RB room.
  • Production metrics: leads NFL in YPC, yards over expectation, and rushing success rate.
  • Commanders have easiest RB schedule, and Jaden Daniels’ return boosts the run game even further.
  • Kluge: “Now they have the perfect personnel...this offense can just attack you on every level.” [26:43]

7. Stefon Diggs Returns to WR1 Status with Patriots

Timestamp: [27:36–31:38]

• Diggs shook off rust post-ACL; now a target hog for rookie Drake Maye.
  • Last two games pace: 2,100 yards(!).
  • “Even if [Diggs] is a part-timer, he’s still giving you WR2 production...If that blows up into a full-time role...my goodness.” [30:36] (Kluge)
• The Patriots offense is “legit” and Diggs is back as a locked-in WR1/2.

8. Chase Brown: RB2 Hope Restored with Flacco Trade

Timestamp: [31:38–37:07]

• The trade for Joe Flacco is a major plus for Brown—Flacco loves checkdowns, especially behind weak O-lines.
  • Kluge: “He’s going to look at Jamar Chase and if [he] is covered, he’s going to look to Chase Brown and throw it to him in the flat.” [34:25]
  • Brown could mirror "Alvin Kamara’s last year" PPR workload.

9. Derrick Henry: From Elite to Matchup-Based Play

Timestamp: [37:28–42:17]

• Henry’s elite RB days may be fading: RB1 Week 1, but RB35 since, declining efficiency across all metrics.
  • Defenses stacking the box, Henry not breaking tackles, and Ravens' offense struggling.
  • Brown: "You could buy...but with the understanding it’s probably a window. You’re going to have to find those spot starts where he’s a matchup-dependent RB2." [39:51]
  • Week 6 vs Rams + upcoming bye = possible “RB3 price” acquisition spot for trade-hunters.

10. TreyVeyon Henderson: Patriots’ Hidden Gem?

Timestamp: [42:17–49:29]

• Situation compared to old Tennessee backfields (Dion Lewis vs Henry):
  • Ramondre Stevenson fumbles but remains favored; Antonio Gibson injury opens snaps.
  • Henderson has elite upside—"the ultimate buy low"—if the staff unleashes him.
  • Main concern: pass blocking issues have limited trust, despite past college success.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re buying off the dollar menu. It’s not going to be a big meal that fills you up, but you know, you’re only spending a dollar...That’s what Brian Thomas Jr. is.”
  – Alfredo Brown, [13:51]

• “I think a lot of people are trying to sell high on [Michael Carter] right now. And I'm just holding him looking at kind of a free plug and play RB2 for the next month and a half.”
  – Dave Kluge, [03:47]

• “I think Travis Hunter is a better wide receiver than Brian Thomas [Jr.]...he is just unbelievable. Like you just get the ball to him and let magic happen.”
  – Dave Kluge, [09:17]

• “He’s not Johnnu Smith. Darren Waller...Johnnu Smith wasn’t running 25-yard post routes.”
  – Dave Kluge, [19:55]

• “It would just be absolute malpractice for the Bears to keep Luther Burden...sidelined throughout the year.”
  – Alfredo Brown, [07:44]

• “Now they have the perfect personnel. It seems like Deebo Samuel was kind of the guy that put a bow on this offense.”
  – Dave Kluge, [26:43]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Michael Carter analysis: [01:37–03:54]
• Rookies post-bye: Golden & Burden: [04:55–09:13]
• Travis Hunter vs Brian Thomas Jr.: [09:17–13:51]
• Tetairoa McMillan & TD regression: [13:51–17:27]
• Darren Waller as TE1: [17:30–22:01]
• Jecori Croskey-Merritt breakout: [22:01–27:34]
• Stefon Diggs resurgent: [27:36–31:38]
• Chase Brown’s outlook improves: [31:38–37:07]
• Derrick Henry matchup RB2: [37:28–42:17]
• TreyVeyon Henderson sleeper case: [42:17–49:29]

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a rapid-fire set of dynasty and seasonal takes, rich with data, team context, and rest-of-season strategy. Listeners come away with actionable moves for Week 6, key targets for buy-low trades, and a sharper lens on who to trust and hold during the most volatile stretch of the fantasy year.

Hosted by Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge
Podcast: Footballguys Fantasy Football Show