Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – FantasyPros Episode 1600: "BREAKOUTS! | Fantasy Football Players Who Will Dominate In 2025"

Release Date: June 29, 2025
Host/Authors: Joey P. Zeppia, Scott Bogman, and Derrick Brown
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Introduction

In this milestone 1600th episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosts Joey P. Zeppia, Scott Bogman, and Derrick Brown delve deep into the upcoming 2025 NFL season, focusing on breakout Fantasy Football players poised to dominate. The discussion is rich with expert analysis, draft strategies, and insightful predictions tailored for fantasy enthusiasts aiming to gain an edge in their leagues.

Wide Receiver Breakouts

Ricky Piersol: A Rising Star for the 49ers Derrick Brown initiates the conversation by spotlighting Ricky Piersol, a former first-round wide receiver whose performance dipped in the latter half of his rookie season. Brown highlights Piersol’s recent surge:

“Ricky P. Answered the bell, baby. So I want to draft him everywhere.”
(02:14)

Joey P. Zeppia raises pertinent questions about Piersol’s potential compared to established talents like Stefan Diggs:

“Would you take Piercehall over those guys? Especially a guy like Diggs who could even be his own number one on his team.”
(02:46)

Scott Bogman concurs, emphasizing the uncertainties surrounding both Piersol and Diggs due to recent injuries:

“We don't know what we're getting out of him this year... Coming off the ACL, when is he going to be 100%?”
(03:07)

Keon Coleman: The Hidden Gem Transitioning to another wide receiver, Derrick Brown champions Keon Coleman for his explosive potential:

“He has so much meat on the bone there for Coleman. He's going so late in drafts. I will be taking him everywhere.”
(05:43)

Brown details Coleman's impressive stats from the previous season, projecting a significant uptick in targets and performance:

“He was third in yards per catch, 19.2 yards per catch... Just double those receptions, right?”
(05:43)

Running Back Prospects

Gwenshon Judkins: Cleveland Browns’ New Workhorse Scott Bogman brings attention to Gwenshon Judkins of the Cleveland Browns, positioning him as the frontrunner for the team’s backfield:

“He is going to be the face of a changing and evolving Browns offense.”
(06:31)

Bogman underscores Judkins’ collegiate prowess and his seamless transition into the NFL, especially in a run-heavy scheme under Coach Stefanski:

“Gwenshon Judkins is just a good player, so I'm really excited to see him carry the workload.”
(08:01)

Caleb Johnson: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Powerhouse Derrick Brown highlights Caleb Johnson as a strategic pickup for the Steelers, citing his blend of volume and elite play-making ability:

“Caleb Johnson can win leagues in 2025.”
(08:19)

Brown elaborates on Johnson’s role in a robust Steelers offense, projecting him as a top-tier running back despite the presence of established talents like Najee Harris:

“He has something in his skill set that Najee has never had and that's the ability to break off big plays.”
(08:19)

Quarterback Contenders

JJ McCarthy: The Comeback Kid Derrick Brown advocates for JJ McCarthy, drawing parallels with Sam Darnold’s resurgence:

“J.J. mcCarthy is a QB one. He's breaking out in 2025.”
(10:29)

Brown addresses concerns about McCarthy’s limited playtime last season due to injury but remains optimistic about his integration into a pass-heavy offense:

“In a pass happy offense, they're going to throw at a top five clip.”
(10:29)

Caleb Williams: High-Risk, High-Reward Scott Bogman discusses Caleb Williams’ transition to the Bears under new head coach Ben Johnson, acknowledging his previous challenges but emphasizing his untapped potential:

“Caleb Williams is not a normal quarterback. This is a guy that ran for almost 500 yards last season and didn't score a touchdown... That's going to change.”
(11:05)

Bogman positions Williams as a valuable late-round quarterback pick, especially in super flex leagues, due to his dynamic play-making abilities:

“Just take the upside, man. That's what I say.”
(13:06)

Community Engagement and Final Thoughts

Joey P. Zeppia encourages listeners to engage with the FantasyPros community via Discord, offering opportunities to join leagues and participate in live discussions with analysts. He also promotes a giveaway of a George Pickens Steelers jersey, incentivizing audience interaction:

“Drop your comments below because when you do, you could win a George Pickens autograph jersey.”
(01:42)

The episode concludes with a reinforcement of the value of staying connected with FantasyPros for ongoing fantasy football insights and strategies.

Conclusion

Episode 1600 of The Herd with Colin Cowherd serves as an invaluable resource for fantasy football enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive analysis of potential breakout players for the 2025 NFL season. Through expert insights and strategic recommendations, hosts Joey P. Zeppia, Scott Bogman, and Derrick Brown provide listeners with the tools necessary to excel in their fantasy leagues.

Notable Quotes:

• Derrick Brown on Ricky Piersol: “Ricky P. Answered the bell, baby. So I want to draft him everywhere.” (02:14)
• Scott Bogman on Caleb Williams: “Caleb Williams is not a normal quarterback. This is a guy that ran for almost 500 yards last season and didn't score a touchdown.” (11:05)
• Derrick Brown on Caleb Johnson: “Caleb Johnson can win leagues in 2025.” (08:19)

Note: Timestamps are based on the provided transcript and correspond to the speakers' remarks.