Footballguys Fantasy Football Show

Episode: Week 14 Running Back and Wide Receiver Rankings and Sleepers || Fantasy Football 2025
Hosts: Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode brings the banter and deep fantasy football insight Footballguys listeners expect, with hosts Alfredo Brown and Dave Kluge breaking down their Week 14 running back (RB) and wide receiver (WR) rankings and sleepers. The focus is on those "on the bubble"—players occupying flex spots, the top of benches, or those sliding into lineups thanks to byes and injuries. The hosts highlight both consensus plays and bold, higher-than-consensus picks, aiming to guide managers through a minefield of injured stars and breakouts waiting in the wings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Injury Monitoring & News Flow

• Early Week Caution: Rankings are built on mid-week knowledge; Thursday and Friday practice reports will clarify injury situations.
  • "We’re doing this right now with the information we have available... but Friday practice reports help us get a much clearer picture..." (Dave, 04:40)
• Footballguys News Wire: The hosts encourage listeners to stay glued to updates right up through Sunday morning’s "news dump" from league insiders Schefter and Pelissero.

Running Back Rankings and Analysis

Tier One & Two (Top 14 RBs)

• Players: Jameer Gibbs, Devon Achane, James Cook, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Chase Brown, Josh Jacobs, Bucky Irving, Derrick Henry, Breece Hall, Kyren Williams, Quinshawn Judkins, Javonte Williams, Saquon Barkley.

Chase Brown: The Bold RB4 Call

• Why so high? Despite Samaje Perine's return, Brown dominated non-garbage-time play. Six straight games with 100+ scrimmage yards, multifaceted role against a weak Buffalo run defense.

  • "Chase Brown is very similar to the Chase Brown he was last year where he was giving us consistent high-end RB1 production..." (Dave, 06:13)
  • "Since week seven, Chase Brown has actually been the running back 7 in PPR points." (Alfredo, 07:14)

• Dead Weeks? The hosts urge listeners not to overweight poor weeks that coincided with shaky QB play/Jake Browning.

Tier Three (RB 15–23)

• Notables: Ashton Jeanty, RJ Harvey, Ken Walker, Jalen Warren, DeAndre Swift, Travis Etienne, Kyle Monungai, Omarion Hampton, Woody Marks.

Omarion Hampton: Return from Injury

• Cautious optimism: Out over two months, "sprained" ankle turns out to be broken. Role unclear; the split with Kyle Monungai and Jaden Ott’s emergence increases bench viability for the risk averse.
  • "I don't think it's the worst thing to do if you can bench him this week." (Dave, 10:27)

RJ Harvey: Trusting the Role

• Sean Payton Backfield Alert: No back will get 100% of touches, but Harvey's consistent 60–65% share (plus red-zone work) keeps him RB2 relevant.
  • "Anybody who thought that RJ Harvey was going to run away with 100% of the touches in this backfield has just been asleep for the last 12 years." (Dave, 11:15)

Tier Four (RB 24–33)

Highlights:

• Aaron Jones: High-reward, high-risk. Playing through pain, could have limited role or leave injured midgame.

  • "Even if he is healthy, there's a lot of risk in starting Aaron Jones this week." (Dave, 13:08)
  • "I'm 35, I've hurt my back...I can't imagine it [playing RB]." (Alfredo, 13:50)

• Jordan Mason: Value only if Jones is out, but hampered by J.J. McCarthy’s poor QB play and split backfield.

  • "Jordan Mason, if you’re starting him, he’s not a guy that you’re expecting to get 25 carries and to get seven targets..." (Dave, 15:01)

• Bashaw Tutin: Sneaky; the split with Etienne is real and Jags may want to test him for the future.

  • "They do want to see what they have in [Tutin]...I think we do see Bayshaw Tutin continue to get 40, 50, 60% of touches there." (Dave, 20:40)

• Chris Rodriguez: Looks like best RB in WAS, goal-line back, decent floor.

  • "...he just looks like the best running back in Washington. Like he has very clearly earned that role." (Dave, 22:47)

Final Tiers (RB 34–41)

• Zach Charbonnet stands out as a solid start due to Atlanta’s run defense.

  • "It's not pretty, but every single week you start Zach Charbonnet, it's just like, well, did it again." (Dave, 27:01)

• Kamani Vidal and Michael Carter offer flex potential but are volatile and affected by return of Amari DeMarcado.

  • "If DeMarcado is active, I think I'm pushing all these guys outside of my top 36." (Dave, 29:31)

Wide Receiver Rankings and Analysis

Tier One & Two (WR 1–16)

• Names: Jamar Chase, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashee Rice, CeeDee Lamb, Puka Nacua, George Pickens, Jameson Williams.

Jameson Williams: Late Boom

• "All he needs to do is finish inside the top 19 this week and he is outpacing what he did last year. It's been a bumpy road." (Dave, 30:50)

• A.J. Brown: Still a WR1; up-and-down results but big games are there—don’t let early-season bias (e.g., Week 1 dud) stick.

  • "He has also had his boom games and his bust games. But like this guy has three games this season with over 100 yards and a touchdown." (Dave, 32:55)

Justin Jefferson: Trust Issues

• Hard to bench, upside for explosion always present despite down year.
  • "As soon as everybody benches Justin Jefferson, he's gonna have 100 yards and two touchdowns because it's Justin Jefferson." (Dave, 35:16)

Tier Three (WR 17–25)

• Michael Wilson, Christian Watson, T. Higgins, Zay Flowers, Michael Pittman Jr., Terry McLaurin, Courtland Sutton, Jacoby Myers, Khalil Shakir.

Christian Watson: Late-career Breakout

• Finally seeing weekly WR1 role, high target shares, and a favorable matchup.
  • "This is a guy who like every year of his career has just been like a 35 yard per game guy... Now he's averaging over 60 yards per game." (Dave, 36:49)
  • "We have to have faith in the Packers [at] developing guys because we have seen them do it time and time again." (Dave, 39:49)

Jacoby Myers: Under-the-Radar WR1 for Jaguars

• High target shares, thriving in versatile roles.
  • "He's just the wide receiver one for this team. Like, I don't think that's that crazy to say." (Alfredo, 41:28)

Tier Four (WR 26–34)

• Names: Deebo Samuel, Adonai Mitchell, Alec Pierce, DK Metcalf, Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas Jr., Chris Godwin, Quentin Johnston, Troy Franklin.

Adonai Mitchell: Uber Athlete on the Rise

• 9.99 RAS; sixth-most athletic WR since 1987. Now asked to play a larger role in NYJ's offense, could be a league-winner with Garrett Wilson out.
  • "This isn't just good, this is elite. This guy on paper is the perfect prospect." (Dave, 44:27)

Alec Pierce: Streaming Appeal

• On a hot streak; Indy offense shifting to the pass, soft JAX matchup.
  • "I really like Alec Pierce this week...he's an easy wide receiver three at easy flex play this week." (Alfredo, 46:02)

Final Tier (WR 35–42) & Deep Sleepers

• Notables: Xavier Worthy, Jaden Higgins, Romeo Doubs, Keenan Allen, Jordan Addison, D.J. Moore, Isaac TeslAA, Darnell Mooney, Tom Kennedy.

Isaac TeslAA: The Hot Waiver Stash

• Elite athletic profile, rapid growth in routes, now benefits from injured Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond.
  • "Isaac TeslAA was the 11th most athletic player drafted since 1987. So this is another super athlete who if they can get the ball in his hands, he can make fun plays." (Dave, 49:44)
• Could fill a “Puka Nacua type” role with upside for big plays and red-zone shots.
  • "I'm starting him in a couple leagues where...I've got him as one of my flexes. I went out and got him off waivers. I'm rolling with him. This is the kind of upside that wins you your week entirely." (Alfredo, 53:53)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Chase Brown Analysis:
  "I think looking at the box score, looking at the overall fantasy production from last week doesn't tell the full story." (Dave, 06:13)

• RB Early Season Bias:
  "Anything that you thought you knew about the Bengals from that four week stretch with Jake Browning, just throw it in the trash. That was not real football." (Dave, 07:49)

• Christian Watson Comparison:
  "I'm not going to say that Christian Watson is the next Davante Adams, but we have to have faith in the Packers developing guys because we have seen them do it time and time again." (Dave, 39:49)

• On Jacoby Myers Opening Up the Jags Offense:
  "I think Jacoby Myers is the low guy and Brian Thomas Jr. is the high guy." (Dave, 42:46)

• Isaac TeslAA Profile:
  "This is another super athlete who if they can get the ball in his hands, he can make fun plays with them. And now the opportunity is here." (Dave, 49:44)
  "This is the kind of upside that wins you your week entirely. And if this is how I lose, man, then this is exactly how I want to go down." (Alfredo, 53:53)

• AJ Brown’s Spotify Wrapped:
  "His number one most listened to artist, Sabrina Carpenter." (Alfredo, 32:44)
  "Sad Man Child, Self Control, Marvin's Room and Save Me is absolutely nuts." (Alfredo, 34:02)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Start of Fantasy Content & Player Tiers: 03:57
• Chase Brown RB4 Debate: 05:17 — 07:49
• RB Tiers 3–4 (Key Waiver/Cuff Analysis): 08:31 — 17:39
• Bashaw Tutin and Jaguars RB Comments: 18:54 — 20:55
• Chris Rodriguez & Volume RBs: 22:47 — 24:16
• RB Flex Fliers / Injury Clarity: 26:33 — 29:31
• WR Top 16 Overview & Jameson Williams Reflection: 30:22 — 31:44
• Christian Watson Breakout: 36:36 — 39:49
• Jacoby Myers as Jags’ WR1: 41:28 — 42:46
• Adonai Mitchell, Athletic Profile & NYJ Opportunity: 43:22 — 44:54
• Alec Pierce as a Flex Play: 46:02 — 48:10
• Isaac TeslAA Deep Dive: 49:44 — 54:36

Tone & Banter Highlights

• Offbeat Opening: The episode kicks off with Dave’s wild Christmas-card story—a warm, goofy moment setting the lighthearted tone.
• AJ Brown’s Spotify Wrapped: A surprisingly personal and hilarious tangent humanizes the football discussion.
• Self-deprecating Takes: Both hosts admit to past misses, like on Christian Watson, and encourage flexibility and humility in fantasy analysis.
• Meta-Commentary: They comment on the timing of their Thursday episode and the reality of fantasy football’s “best-laid plans” (“People are going to let us know how right or wrong we are tomorrow…”).

Summary Wrap-Up

This episode is classic Footballguys—jam-packed with sharp, actionable advice, measured boldness on breakout picks, a love for prospect metrics (relative athletic score!), and frequent callbacks to the emotional rollercoaster that is the fantasy football season. Every level of fantasy manager will come away either affirmed in their tough lineup choices, armed with deep-league sleeper insight, or at least entertained, as the hosts riff with the right mix of fun and football rigor.

Next Episode: Week 15 Rankings & Playoff Sleepers

For more rankings, visit footballguys.com, grab their consensus, and be sure to monitor injury news late into the week!