FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Hot Takes | BOLD Expert Predictions For The 2025 NFL Season (Ep. 1636)

Summary

Episode Summary: FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Hot Takes | BOLD Expert Predictions For The 2025 NFL Season (Ep. 1636)
Release Date: August 2, 2025
Host: Chris Welsh
Guests: Andrew Erickson and Scott Bogman
Description: In this fiery episode, Chris Welsh teams up with fantasy football experts Andrew Erickson and Scott Bogman to deliver bold and unconventional predictions for the 2025 NFL season. Adding an extra layer of excitement, the trio engages in a hot sauce challenge, consuming increasingly spicy sauces as they share their hottest fantasy football takes.

---

Introduction to the Hot Takes Challenge

At the start of the episode, Chris Welsh (00:31) introduces the unique format where the hosts will be making bold fantasy football predictions while tackling the heat from various hot sauces:

“We always bring you hot takes... Today we have hot takes 2.0, the hottest of takes with the hottest of sauces.”

Hot Take 1: Cam Scatterboo Leading Giants in Touches (07:15)

Speaker: Andrew Erickson
Prediction: Cam Scatterboo will lead the New York Giants in touches during the 2025 season as a rookie.

Discussion: Andrew Erickson discusses his belief in Scatterboo’s potential based on his impressive college performance and current role:

“Cam Scatterboo 338 touches at Arizona State last season. I do think Cam Scatterboo leads the New York Giants in touches in 2024 as a rookie.” (08:16)

Scott Bogman supports this by highlighting Scatterboo’s workhorse capabilities and the Giants' reliance on him:

“He profiles as that three down workhorse that we've seen Brian Dall lean on.” (09:35)

Hot Take 2: Drake London as Top Wide Receiver (11:04)

Speaker: Scott Bogman
Prediction: Drake London will finish as the number one wide receiver overall in fantasy football for the 2025 season.

Discussion: Bogman outlines London’s potential, emphasizing his red zone targets and the offensive improvements with quarterback Michael Penix:

“Drake London for me, wide receiver one.” (11:04)

Andrew Erickson adds support by discussing London’s upward trajectory and the Falcons’ strategic enhancements:

“Drake May finishing top five is definitely doable.” (14:22)

Hot Take 3: Trey McBride Leading Tight Ends in Touchdowns (25:31)

Speaker: Andrew Erickson
Prediction: Trey McBride will lead all tight ends in touchdowns for the 2025 season.

Discussion: Erickson bases his prediction on McBride’s increased target volume and improved role within his team:

“Trey McBride scoring the most touchdowns among tight ends would be the second least surprising thing.” (25:31)

Scott Bogman discusses the unpredictability of touchdown regression and McBride’s potential to emerge as a top-tier tight end:

“It's like a joke... but it still works because of you.” (26:49)

Hot Take 4: Jordan Mason Leading Rushing Touchdowns (44:00)

Speaker: Scott Bogman
Prediction: Jordan Mason, a new running back for the Minnesota Vikings, will lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2025.

Discussion: Bogman highlights the Vikings’ offensive improvements and Aaron Jones’ inefficiency in the goal line as factors favoring Mason:

“Jordan Mason is going to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns this year.” (44:26)

Andrew Erickson expresses skepticism but Bogman counters by referencing historical trends and Mason’s potential impact:

“He’s going to punch it in... almost all a tush push.” (45:40)

Hot Take 5: Ricky Pierasol Leading 49ers in Receiving Yards (32:03)

Speaker: Andrew Erickson
Prediction: Ricky Pierasol will lead the San Francisco 49ers in receiving yards for the 2025 season.

Discussion: Erickson discusses Pierasol’s role and potential to surpass established stars like George Kittle despite concerns about durability and competition:

“Ricky Pierasol has more upside than anybody on this team, including Christian McCaffrey.” (32:07)

Scott Bogman supports the prediction by emphasizing Pierasol’s talent and opportunities within the 49ers’ offense:

“He’s a talented former first round pick who's going to have opportunities.” (36:29)

Hot Take 6: Tucker Kraft as Top Four Fantasy Tight End (39:38)

Speaker: Scott Bogman
Prediction: Tucker Kraft will finish as a top four fantasy tight end in 2025.

Discussion: Bogman predicts Kraft’s rise based on his performance trajectory and role within the Packers’ offense:

“Tucker Kraft is going to finish as a top four fantasy tight end in 2025.” (39:38)

Andrew Erickson reinforces this by analyzing Kraft’s current performances and potential:

“If we get Bogman’s comparison, it is a good take.” (41:10)

Hot Take 7: Elijah Moore as Wide Receiver One (59:01)

Speaker: Scott Bogman
Prediction: Elijah Moore of the Buffalo Bills will finish as the number one wide receiver in fantasy football for 2025.

Discussion: Bogman argues that Moore’s talent, alignment with Josh Allen, and increased targets make him a prime candidate:

“Elijah Moore is going to finish 2025 as a fantasy wide receiver one.” (59:01)

Andrew Erickson agrees, highlighting Moore’s potential despite his injury history:

“Eli Moore definitely has the talent to do this right.” (61:19)

Hot Take 8: Anthony Richardson as QB6 (56:05)

Speaker: Andrew Erickson
Prediction: Anthony Richardson will finish as the sixth-best fantasy quarterback in 2025.

Discussion: Erickson bases his prediction on Richardson’s rushing ability and the Colts’ offensive enhancements:

“Anthony Richardson finishes QB6 we don't even know if he's going to start right now.” (56:05)

Scott Bogman evaluates Richardson’s potential, considering his performance and supporting cast:

“If Richardson starts all 17 games, he's a QB1 no matter what,” followed by Erickson’s adjustment to QB6. (57:29)

Reactions to the Hot Sauce Challenge

Throughout the episode, the hosts share their experiences dealing with the increasingly spicy sauces, often relating their physical reactions to the intensity of their predictions. For instance, after consuming the Trinidad Scorpion sauce (54:28), Chris Welsh humorously laments:

“This is brutal. I was crying. It hurts.”

Andrew Erickson describes the sensation as:

“Imagine like needles... piercing the top, the bottom sides of your mouth.” (31:01)

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Chris Welsh reflects on the fiery hot takes and the challenges faced during the hot sauce segment. He encourages listeners to engage by sharing their favorite predictions and reactions:

“What was your favorite hot take in this one? And by the way, that could be the player or that could be the reaction because they were quite good moments.” (64:20)

The episode concludes with a lighthearted acknowledgment of the intense experience and anticipation for future episodes.

Notable Quotes

• Andrew Erickson (07:15): “I do think Cam Scatterboo leads the New York Giants in touches in 2024 as a rookie.”
• Scott Bogman (11:04): “Drake London for me, wide receiver one.”
• Andrew Erickson (25:31): “Trey McBride scoring the most touchdowns among tight ends would be the second least surprising thing.”
• Scott Bogman (39:38): “Tucker Kraft is going to finish as a top four fantasy tight end in 2025.”
• Scott Bogman (59:01): “Elijah Moore is going to finish 2025 as a fantasy wide receiver one.”

Final Thoughts

Episode 1636 offers a compelling mix of expert fantasy football analysis and entertaining host dynamics, heightened by the unique hot sauce challenge. Whether you agree with the bold predictions or not, the episode provides valuable insights and an engaging format that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish.

---

For detailed rankings and personalized fantasy football strategies, visit fantasypros.com.

Transcript

[Noah]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Freddy]

We're breaking down SummerSlam, the biggest party of the summer on Wrestling with Freddy. From our bold picks to storyline breakdowns, we will discuss who walks out with gold, who shocks the night and which matches steal the show we call the winners, the upsets and the chaos to expect. Plus whatever swerves nobody saw coming. Listen to Wrestling with Freddie as part of the Michael Tura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chris Welsh]

Welcome into Fantasy Pros, the fantasy football podcast Hot Takes. I'm Chris Welsh and you guys are in for a treat because we always bring you hot takes whether in written, podcast or video form. So much so we did a version of this. There was one thing missing in Hot takes 1.0. It was the actual hot sauce sauce and the wings. We have rectified that today because we are getting down with the sickness. We have hot takes 2.0, the hottest of takes with the hottest of sauces. Yes, myself, Andrew Erickson and Scott Bogman are about to endeavor into the chaos of not just giving a physical hot take, but eating the hot take as we go. That's what we have in store for you today. 10 hot takes, five sauces and a couple that might push some boundaries. So get ready for some hopefully great fantasy football advice and some potentially struggling, hurting fantasy football analysts. Thank you guys so much for hanging out. Andrew Erickson what will be hotter, your takes or the sauces you're about to consume?

[Scott Bogman]

The sauces the sauce is 100% for sure are going to be hotter than the hottest takes that I can give. My brain can only. I can only expand in galaxy brain so much compared to the you're about.

[Andrew Erickson]

To expand your mind. This is going to be more eye opening than Aaron Rodgers field trip.

[Chris Welsh]

So here. Here's a slight little caveat to this episode as well. None of us know the takes. I the host do not know the takes. Both of these fine gentlemen do not know each other's takes. So there is a true chaos that is going to be in here. Now Bogman, I heard through a grapevine that your hottest of hot take is a doozy. So what do you think is going to be more punishing your take that the listeners are going to be consuming or the wing with a potentially scorpion based 2 million scoville sauce?

[Andrew Erickson]

Listen, I don't think there's anything someone can say to me to hurt me as bad as these sauces can. So I think and listen to me. This has come up and when I worked at a grocery store, I used to pay, you know, the baggers five bucks, eat a habanero. So I deserve this. It's, it's, it's about time. This is. This is cosmic karma for me. And by the way, I got signed up for this show and they're like, you can do this, right? I was like, I think I should be able.

[Scott Bogman]

We're looking for volunteers for this.

[Andrew Erickson]

And then everybody else, everyone who's supposed to do this show with me canceled, like three or four people. And then Erickson stepped up like a man to do it. So thank you, Erickson, for being here. We people should.

[Chris Welsh]

We know who people should know. This is 100% people should know. People have bailed on this show. That's how scared people are. So strap in. I got no promises for you. We've got great fantasy football information with hot bold.

[Andrew Erickson]

We have fantasy football information.

[Chris Welsh]

These are hot takes, guys, but we're also going to be trying to give you these hot takes while we are pushing down the hot sauces. I think you guys know the drill. That is what we have in store for you as we are about to set up here. Do want to remind you guys first, we fantasy, because you can do that with the draft kit, fantasypros.com kit. Get in on all of the chaos that we've got for you in the best ways from the boldest of takes. Or it could be players to avoid draft strategy ranks and more. Andrew Erickson, Derrick Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice, everybody. I've got articles on there. We got you set with the draft kit, so go and check it out today. Get your draft prep ready with us for free over on Fantasy Pros, there's some premium articles in there as well on the premium side, but go and check it out today. Fantasy pros.com kit. Because, yes, first we do fantasy. Gentlemen, we are about to. We are about to jump into this bad boy. But I want to see your weaponry as already shown. We've got some of the sauces. We have a ghost pepper sauce at almost tippy top. We've got a very, very hot Trinidad Scorpion sauce. Those are the top two ones. I will announce them as we go. But let's see what wings you guys are working with. Yeah, you got some other ancillary things. We got some bread. We've got some milk to help us out. But yeah, bogman, let's start with you. You have got a plate of wings and fries together. That's right.

[Andrew Erickson]

A nice combo from Wingstop. Thank you.

[Scott Bogman]

Very much not sponsored.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay. No free sp. No free sponsorships.

[Andrew Erickson]

But yeah, from a wing place. Excuse me. BLEEP that out. Thank you. Production. This is full of milk. This is all milk right here.

[Chris Welsh]

Horribly disgusting. Okay.

[Andrew Erickson]

Water. I got ranch dressing.

[Chris Welsh]

Water.

[Scott Bogman]

And water's a trap.

[Andrew Erickson]

Water is a trap. But I need.

[Scott Bogman]

I need to say hi to the trout. Drink it anyway.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay. Some really disgusting choices. Andrew Erickson, can we please see what you will be working with today?

[Scott Bogman]

Yeah. So I found this on the street, so I decided to pick it up.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yep, yep, that's that check.

[Scott Bogman]

That is looking wings I've seen in a while, but they were frozen. Now they're not. Got some. Some cottage cheese. Here is my. My dairy source here. Got to get the protein in. Got some bread, little bread and some. Some OJ citrus. It's good.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay. Yep.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay. If the. If the OJ don't fit. All right, well, I have also got some bread. I've got milk as shown. And what I will be working today with are animal nugs, just like you should do on this. We are going to rock some animal nuggies here. We've got a bear, we got a rhino, and we've even got a dolphin. So I'm representing the nug crew here and we are going to be saucing.

[Andrew Erickson]

Tell me you kids without. Tell me you have kids without.

[Scott Bogman]

If I knew I could have brought nugs, I would have brought those instead.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, I'm the host. I can do what I want and I'm going to suffer for this. And by the way, I'm going to be doing more than you guys. So today we are rocking the animal nug. So we've got a great representation of what the sauces will be doing. I know you guys are like, let's get into it. So we're not going to make you wait any longer. Andrew Erickson, Scott Bogman, myself. It is time for the hottest of takes. Let's start the hot takes off with Mr. Scott Bogman. We have got an amarillo sauce which is a 30 to 50,000 Scoville. So, Bogman, let's dip our wings or nugs. Bring it on camera, please.

[Andrew Erickson]

Right, like just a little drip.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, just a little drippy drip. So you guys can see. I. I rocked out there. It's a pretty good one. I'm ready.

[Andrew Erickson]

Way too much.

[Chris Welsh]

Perfect. All right, so let's jump into it, Boggs.

[Andrew Erickson]

I got it on my computer already.

[Chris Welsh]

It's all good. Having the nug eaten. Very good. That's kind of sweet. Very Good to hear people eating while you're doing a podcast or video. Not bad at all, actually. So, Boggs, extremely mild, this take. Like this sauce is mild, but will it be sweet? I kind of thought this was a little bit of a sweet sauce. There was no burn, no hurt there. So I'm feeling good about it. Does your hot take represent this sauce in our first mild hot take?

[Andrew Erickson]

I would say yes. My first hot take is that Cam Scatterboo leads the New York Giants in touches this season. Kind of, you know, as instructed, this is kind of a mild take and that's kind of where we're at with this one. Last season, Tyrone Tracy and Devin singletary combined for 364 combined touches with the New York Giants. Little hot on the back end, by the way. I got a little bit of it.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh, you got it.

[Andrew Erickson]

Just a touch. Not. Not anything bad at all.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, yeah, your skin's not turning red at all. Keep going.

[Andrew Erickson]

But cam Scatter Boo 338 touches at Arizona State last season. So almost as many touches as both these guys combined. I think he's already the better lead back. He's definitely the better in between the tackles back for the Giants. And he's making some buzzing camp right now. So I do think Cam Scatterboo leads the New York Giants in touches in 2024 as a rookie.

[Chris Welsh]

Erickson. Cam Scatter Boo is getting a lot of run right now, specifically in camp where he was running with ones and they kind of pared back on it. Making great catches, making great plays. Really seems like he's one of those guys that is just not going to really be held back. I don't think there's anything scary you saw in the sauces when we get to yours, but is there anything scary in any bold takes on Cam Scatter Boo this year?

[Scott Bogman]

I don't think so. I mean, I have him ranked clearly ahead of Tyrone Tracy. And even if it's a committee to kind of start the season, I think that it's Scaboo's job to lose in the end. I just think that he profiles as that three down workhorse that we've seen Brian Dall kind of lean on at times. And the fact that Tyrone Tracy got replaced last year at times for Devin Singletary because of the fumbling issue, that's a big concern. And Scaboo, if he had just been drafted a couple picks earlier, if he had came to the table with round three draft capital, I think that he would just be looked at in a completely different Lens. But.

[Andrew Erickson]

And he should have because this class was so deep.

[Scott Bogman]

Exactly. And it was really. He was three picks away from the end of the round. Three versus.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh.

[Scott Bogman]

Now he's a day three pick and he gets bucketed into that conversation. But I think that the skill set is there. And. And honestly, Bogs, I don't think this is spicy enough for a mild take. Yeah, I don't think. I don't think spicy.

[Andrew Erickson]

This was a mild take. It's pretty mild.

[Scott Bogman]

It's pretty mild.

[Andrew Erickson]

I tell you what. That sauce, milder than my take. I could drink this stuff. It's not bad at all.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, Erickson, what perfect timing then. Let's see what type of connection we're going to have here. Let's bring it up. I'm joining you. That's the scary thing about this episode as well. I'm going on both on each one of these. I don't know if I'm gonna last till the end. We'll see. You guys can make some bets in the comments. Will Welch last all the way to the fifth take? But bring your wing up. I quite enjoyed this. I am going to give. Do it on screen, Erickson.

[Scott Bogman]

Sorry.

[Chris Welsh]

What are you doing?

[Andrew Erickson]

Well, it's just messy, dude, because that's. I tried to do it on screen.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay, here we go.

[Andrew Erickson]

That's a good idea.

[Chris Welsh]

Let's go. I didn't get any of that kickback. Why do you eat wings like that?

[Andrew Erickson]

That's how Yankee eats wings.

[Chris Welsh]

You had some lips going with those wings. You had some lips, brother. All right. Can your take be hotter than this sauce or Scott Bogman?

[Scott Bogman]

Yes, it can be hotter than this sauce. Very mild so far. Yeah, I'm ready. My. Ready to drop my tip. My, my.

[Chris Welsh]

Let's hear it.

[Scott Bogman]

Take. So, yeah, I'm coming out the gates much hotter than the sauce, so I'm going with Drake. London finishes as the wide receiver one overall. That is my mild take, so I'm setting the stage.

[Chris Welsh]

That's your mild take for the show.

[Scott Bogman]

For a lot of hot takes just starting out the gates with. I think it's a banger with Drake London, but. So he's still a consensus top 10 wide receiver, so I don't think that him finishing as a top five receiver is too outlandish to project, but just looking at what I expect from him based on the red zone targets that he's seen historically. So red zone targets are kind of the shortcut to that wide receiver 1 overall finish in Fantasy. I was talking about that last year when I was projecting. Hey, Jamar Chase could be the wide receiver one overall. So the last six wide receiver one overall finishers have all led the NFL in red zone targets that same season that they were the wide receiver one overall last year. Drake London Typer, third in the NFL and red zone targets. He was top 10 in total end zone targets. He's leads all wide receivers in target rate in the red zone. So I think that he has a chance to flirt with double digit touchdowns just based on the red zone usage. He's the clear cut alpha in this passing game for the Atlanta Falcons attached to a promising second year quarterback named Michael Pennix who's got the full install as the starter this offseason. And don't forget Michael Penix to me is a wide receiver booster. He elevates the wide receiver plays around him. Just look at last year, all those receivers that got drafted from Washington, how do they do their rookie year in their first season without Michael Penix? It wasn't that impressive from Odunze, from Polk. Yes McMillan ran hot with touchdowns but from an efficiency standpoint none of these guys stood out as rookies. So I'm looking at. Okay, well what was the common denominator between these guys? It was Michael Penck maybe playing him as their quarterback in college. So I like the quarterback upgrade going from Pennix or going from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix and then the last thing is slot usage. Right. It's kind of sometimes a cheat code for fantasy football purposes. You look at Drake London, he was using the slot more than he had last year than he had been the two, two previous years combined. And we're looking at how effective he was. He was PFF's third highest graded wide receiver from the slot behind only Nico Collins and Puka Nukua, other guys who are kind of in that wide receiver one overall candidacy. So Zach Robinson, the OC for the Falcons comes over from the Rams. We've obviously seen the Rams put up a lot of high end wide receiver 1 seasons, whether it's Cooper Cup, Puka Nuku over the last couple seasons. So I think it's London's turn to really ball out in Atlanta entering year four. He's really a young guy, not even turned 24 years old yet. So yeah, Drake London for me, wide receiver one second.

[Chris Welsh]

Dab is milling around a little bit, just letting you know you get two in there like that was a very good saw. It's milling around in there. This take is not milling around. This is a hot take. Erickson has absolutely set the stage. Boggs, what does it take for Drake London to be bigger than Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase in your mind? Because this feels like a million Scoville type of take in here. What do you think it takes for him to be the number one overall over specifically those two guys?

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, I mean, it's going to have to be a great performance for Michael Penix because last season he had 100 catches, he had 1200 yards, he had nine touchdowns. So that was a great year. But to beat Jamar, to beat Jefferson, to beat Chase, you got to be up near 1500 yards and more than 10 touchdowns. So it shouldn't take a lot. He's on the cusp right there. And you'd think with a better, with better play at quarterback, it's definitely doable. So, yes, this is, this is a hot take, but it is definitely doable for Drake London, which keeps it down here in this category.

[Chris Welsh]

All right, first all in. I love the eating between the takes too. So hungry boys here. Just like just eating.

[Andrew Erickson]

It's good, man. That first one was good. No problem at all. I have a feeling I'm going to be crying at the end, but that one was pretty good.

[Chris Welsh]

Remember this moment and then we'll talk about 35 minutes to 40 minutes. We got number two coming up here. At least two for both of these guys. But first, get in the game. Best Ball is live at DraftKings. $15 million is on the line with real stakes and real excitement. Best Ball is the biggest fantasy contest on DraftKings. We're talking a $15 million guaranteed prize pool with two millionaires being crowned for first and second place play season long fantasy football the Draft Kings way. With Best Ball, there's no waiver wires, no roster management. You get bigger rosters so injuries won't end your season. Just draft your team and you're set. If a shot at winning a share of $15 million isn't enough to get you excited, check this out. DraftKings is offering everyone a draft one get one special. Your $20 entry fee scores you a bonus ticket. Download the DraftKings app and use code fantasypros. That's code fantasypros for all customers who enter the NFL. Best ball, 15 million dollar contest. To get a bonus ticket and get a shot at being crowned 11 of 2 millionaires only on DraftKings.

[Gambling Announcer]

Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPE&WY or text Hopeny at 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling, call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org 18 and over in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. One per customer. Enter the Best Ball 15 million headliner contest by 9425 to get one bonus entry, $20 entry fee required. Reward expires in 30 days. Kings.com NFL Best Ball there's nothing like sinking into luxury.

[Ad Announcer]

At washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Freddy]

It's the biggest party of the summer. WWE SummerSlam is here and wrestling with Freddie is all over it. We're talking wild matches, big surprises and our boldest predictions yet. From celebrity showdowns to the chaos inside a steel cage, we're breaking down every match and calling who we think walks out. On top of this card is loaded from Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley and Tiffy, just to name a few. This lineup is ready to tear down the house. We'll give you our unfiltered takes, honest debates and you already know a ton of laughs along the way. We're covering the upsets, the wild returns and the championship moments. Nobody expects. We'll get into the matches that steal the show, the storylines that explode, and those oh my God, did that just happen moments that make SummerSlam legendary. Don't miss it. Listen to Wrestling with Freddie as part of the Mike Ultura Podcast Network. Find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved.

[Soccer Commentator]

San Diego Coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Scott Bogman]

We need veteran players and we need young players.

[Chris Welsh]

Like, you're building a team from scratch. And so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined.

[Scott Bogman]

We need to embrace this community.

[Soccer Commentator]

When I was 13, my uncle took me to a qualifier and we watched Paraguay against Chile. Pouring rain. Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a watershed moment for me. Not only was that going to be my game, but but it was gonna be my life.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the Flow now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chris Welsh]

We are moving up the hot take meter with a serrano chili sauce. We are gonna be rocking this one, actually, funny enough, this one looks like it's even a milder one. It's lower Scoville, but it moves up the hot meter a tiny bit. So. So let's check out our. I guess this would be the spicy take. So we're going spicy take here. Spicy chili, Serrano. And Erickson, we are going to start with actually Erickson up first here. So dab that bad boy up. I'm going to dab this up even more than usual. So you can see I got half the nug. There's Erickson's lips again. There we go. All right, that one's got a little bit on the tongue.

[Andrew Erickson]

A little bit more.

[Chris Welsh]

There's a little bit punch on the tongue here, Erickson. Oh, yeah, I'm feeling that it's hanging around the tongue. How are your lips?

[Scott Bogman]

Definitely hotter than the first one.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, it's less Scoville. That's weird. This is less Scoville. This one burns a little bit more, so. All right, Erickson, you don't get much of a break between your takes here. I'm going to get a little drink here. But let's hear take number two. You drop Drake London. How much spicier is this take? Like the sauce.

[Scott Bogman]

So we're sticking with the Drake theme here with my hot takes going to the quarterback position. Drake May is going to finish as a top five fantasy quarterback in 2025. So I'm making this bet based on or this bull take based on the rushing upside that Drake May can offer. Last year as a rookie, average over 30 rushing yards per game. And you look at the seven quarterbacks that hit that mark, five of them finished as top six scorers in terms of fantasy points per drawback. So the fact that he has that rushing puts him into a certain threshold of okay, this guy can finish as a top five fantasy quarterback if he can get a little boost in the passing game. And that's what we're expecting from all the improvements that the Patriots have made during the off season. Adding juice to the draft with guys like Trayvon Henderson, with a player like a Kyle Williams at the wide receiver position, getting Stefan Diggs again, he's guy coming off the torn ACL, 31 years old, but he's still arguably better than anyone they had last year on the roster. So even as bad as it was last year, Drake May still threw a touchdown in every single game that he played fully in those 10 full starts. And he was averaging 18.1 fantasy points per game in those 10 starts where he played the entire game. That was QB15 on the year. So that's where you're drafting him. I just think that he has immense upside and if the passing does come together, the offensive line is just average. I think Drake May with this rushing can be a top five fantasy quarterback. Josh McDaniels stepping in as the new OC. He's had success again. It's mostly been Tom Brady, but Mac Jones did have a pretty good rookie year with Josh McDaniels before things got off the rails. And Cam Newton, again, it's going to be a bar trivia. It's going to be like who had the most rushing touchdowns for a Patriots quarterback in Patriots history? Oh, yeah, it was Cam Newton, right? A guy that you don't ever remember being on the Patriots, but he was and he had some success under Josh McDaniel. So Drake may for me, top five fantasy quarterback. I think he's going to come out of the gates hot like this hot take because first two weeks of the season, Raiders, Dolphins, good matchups for Drake May.

[Chris Welsh]

Erickson, how are you holding up on the sauce, by the way? I mean, I can give us a little break. I had a realization. I. I had a realization because I've never done this before, but I had a realization while you were talking going, oh, no, I'm going to have a hard time focusing the focus level when we move through this episode. This is not a high Scoville. If this is getting me. The focus is going to really be a little bit difficult. So it's biting the tongue a little bit. So, Boggs, what do you think about Drake May? Drake May is interesting. There's a bonix quality to it. When you think about the rushing upside, you've added a Couple playmakers in to New England. But I think a lot is built off of Drake May taking that next big step. And some might even argue that Bo Nix and Drake Mays ADP should potentially be flipped in some regards. So what do you think? Do you think this is a spicy enough take? Do you think this sauce or Drake May on Erikson's take is going to be spicier?

[Andrew Erickson]

I think. I think Drake May finishing. Where do you say top five is? I think. I think that is definitely because he has to push somebody out. He has to push one of those big three out at the top or Burrow or Hertz. So that would be huge. I think putting him at six would be more reasonable. But I. Drake May has a Runway to start 17 games, right? He's going to start all the games. He's going to run a lot. I think your bonix comparison is perfect. Welsh, I think that is exactly what he could be. So he doesn't have to finish top five for you to get value on him because he's going as QB16 right now. In terms of VCR, I have met 15, so I'm ahead. I was on this bandwagon. I like that Erickson. But you don't have to take them there. So yeah, get him late. And this is why you wait on quarterbacks. There's a lot of good ones down there.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, Boggs, I'm going to tell you to fire up. I'm going to fire up my nug. If anyone was worrying, by the way, or wondering, we are on dolphin right now. Apparently I saved all bears for the end. We ate the rhino in the first one. We are going dolphin. So bring this up here so we.

[Andrew Erickson]

Can sauce all over it.

[Chris Welsh]

All right, I'm going to dab this up here because I'm going to go for two and you guys are going without me. There we go. Spicy number two Amarillo sauce. Lower Scoville. It holds your tongue a tiny bit more. Maybe like the thought of drafting Drake May as your QB one that might worry you a tiny bit. I don't know if this sauce worries you, Boggs, but where are you going? Hot take number two. Your spicy take. We are. You got a lot to live up to. Moving off of what is probably the mildest of takes. What do you got for your Spicy take?

[Andrew Erickson]

Trey McBride leads tight ends in touchdowns this season in 2025. How about that one?

[Chris Welsh]

Okay. Regret, Mr. Mr. Positive Regression. Let's hear it.

[Andrew Erickson]

He was number three in end zone targets among tight ends. He was number five in Snaps at tight end. He was number one in first reads among tight ends. He gets looks. And that was, you know, his second season with Kyler Murray. Now they're going with their third. Marvin Harrison should be better, maybe opening up some stuff underneath as well. I just think that when you look at a guy of this caliber, when he's getting so many targets every single year, and this is what he's going to be, he's going to be in upper echelon, 147 targets. Dude, 153 for Bowers. After that, Kelsey had 133 and Joku, or, excuse me, John, who had 111. Nobody else is getting 100 targets. So you pick one of these guys to lead in touchdowns. It's not. I don't think it's even that hot a take. That's why I put it at number two. Guy had 111 catches, 1146 yards, only two scores. I just. I don't think that this is a. Well, this guy has a problem in contested catches or anything. He doesn't. He's a good tight end. It was a weird happening that happened last year. So Trey McBride scoring the most touchdowns among tight ends would be the second least surprising thing out of all these takes that I have after Cam Scatter. Boo. So I warmed it up a little bit after Cam Scatter.

[Scott Bogman]

Booty.

[Chris Welsh]

Like that sauce. You say that that one had a little bit of a bite, right? Bog.

[Andrew Erickson]

Perfect. I love this sauce.

[Chris Welsh]

I would agree. I think this is actually. This is a phenomenal sauce. If you want a little bit. If you want to feel something while you're doing it, you want a little bit of a kick. By the way, watch your hands. Ericsson's, like, wiping his face when we get to Ghost Pepper. I don't want you doing that, so be careful.

[Andrew Erickson]

Seriously, don't touch your eyeballs, bro.

[Chris Welsh]

Erickson, what do you think about. I know you're a big Trey McBride guy. There's a discussion really on where, like, the top three guys are, I think, a big Argum. It's kind of clearly in our face. With the amount of volume that a guy like Trey McBride is going to get, you've got to see some positive regression from the touchdowns. But do you think it could be at the level where he leads all tight ends? Because I would say this, and it's pretty easy to say if he leads all tight ends and touchdowns, he's the number one tight end in fantasy. I'm not really sure there's an argument there. Don't you think, I love this take.

[Scott Bogman]

From Boggs about Trey McBride with the touchdowns because it's, it's like a joke, right? When you look at, he never scores touchdowns and it's been not just last year, but the year before that, you will go back to college. He doesn't exactly pop off in the touchdown column. So you're thinking, man, this guy's just allergic to the end zone. And then you look back and see a player like a James Cook, right, where he doesn't score touchdowns. Then you look up one year and he scores 19 touchdowns. Because that's how touchdown regression works, right? It works in mysterious ways. And sometimes it hits all at once in one season where Jim McBride scores 16 touchdowns and then goes back to four for the rest of his career. Like Terry McLaurin last year, right? Look at his every year it's four, six, five, and then he scores 19 touchdowns. So I, I think that going with Trey McBride here, it is a hot take. It feels weird though because he's the ECR tight end too. And to think that a top three consensus tight end saying that they catch, they lead the NFL on touchdowns is a hot take is weird. But it still works because of, you.

[Chris Welsh]

Know what, it's kind of like this sauce. I think this is very good representation of this sauce. Like it's kind of weird. The low Scoville would also make us think it should not be too crazy. But it is a little bit higher, it's a little bit of a hotter take. It's a very good 1. Fantracks Free NFL Fantasy Football League Manager is the most customizable, easy to use and feature rich platform in the industry. Create or join a fantasy football commissioner league. Invite your friends and dominate your draft this season. Go deep with the ultimate keeper and dynasty leagues. Create a simple redraft league or even a customizable best ball league. With up to 2000 teams. Fantrax is also the only platform that offers season long college fantasy football. Draft your favorite college football players from your favorite schools and enjoy fantasy football every Saturday and Sunday. Coming from another service, Fan Tracks can import any of your current leagues and customize if needed. If there is anything lacking in your current fantasy league manager, Fantrax likely has it. There's a reason why fantasy players who try Fantrax make it the permanent home for all their fantasy leagues. Sign up for free today and be entered to win a signed Ja' Marr Chase jersey. Simply go to FanTracks.com FantasyPros and sign up today. That's FanTracks.com FantasyPros for. For your chance at a signed Ja' Marr Chase Jersey. Fantrax, the home of fantasy sports. I do feel we are being lulled a little bit for the hottest of takes, but that is going to take us to our third level. We are moving up the hot meter, my friends. With what is this? A scotch? Did you say bonet? Is it a scotch Bonet sauce? It is. You're muted, Boggs. It is described as kind of like used for jerk chicken. I would say there's also not really any information. So it's a Caribbean type of sauce. So we're gonna this a little bit unknown. And Bogman, we are going to jump right back to you. So that's part of the trick of this game. So what I would do is ask you to look, I will load up my teddy bear. You load up your. Your dude. You know what I'm also saying? I say we should go higher. Let's. Let's go more than you would normally put. So really dab that sucker on. Okay, let's. Let's really push the limits. Are you ready to push the limits? Push it to the limit. Here we go.

[Scott Bogman]

Heard that crunch.

[Chris Welsh]

Explain some flavors.

[Scott Bogman]

Crunch. That's a good crunch from you guys.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, there's some crunch. Let's hear some flavors, Bob.

[Andrew Erickson]

Pretty sweet at the front.

[Chris Welsh]

It is. Oh, it's biting in the back. That one got. That one got. You know what? They had me at the beginning. They got me on the back. That one is a tackle on the five yard line. That one hit me a little bit, Bogs. No, no, let me.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay, let me do one more.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, we'll do one more. This is how it starts the third one.

[Andrew Erickson]

Erickson, don't even worry about it.

[Chris Welsh]

Let's also see though.

[Andrew Erickson]

I feel like the. Feel like the green one was worse.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay, well, you got fun with that. Let's see if your take is anything like this. Are we going to be feeling Bogman's take? Bogman, you've got the third down of the sauces. How does your taste? And your taste. How does your taste.

[Andrew Erickson]

There it goes.

[Chris Welsh]

Now it's. I'm starting to start now.

[Andrew Erickson]

I'm feeling it.

[Chris Welsh]

Yep. How does your take measure up to this sauce?

[Andrew Erickson]

This one's for you, Welshy.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay.

[Andrew Erickson]

Ricky Piersoll leads the 49ers in receiving yards.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay. Love it.

[Andrew Erickson]

FB projections have him at 790. 50 catches, 790 yards. The big obstacle here is clearing Kittle. 7 and 6 catches for 1037 yards. Right around that range there. Mouth is watering a little bit here. Look. If we average is 13.6 yards per reception like the EPI projections have, you would need 77 total catches or a little over one more per game than he has on our projections. And our projections have him at about four and a half catches per game when he was a starter. He averaged six catches per game last season. This is not. I don't know that this is that hard. That's why this is my third take. A lot like Trey McBride. Like the Trey McBride one seems like a hot take. This one starting to bother me a little bit here.

[Chris Welsh]

I'm struggling a little bit. Focusing and might be getting a little bit red right now.

[Scott Bogman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Andrew Erickson]

Starting to feel a little sweaty, but.

[Chris Welsh]

Sweating a little bit.

[Andrew Erickson]

But this one like. So IUK coming off a major injury, right? George Kittle missed a couple games last season, so it would be crazy at his age to project him. I'm gonna have a little milk.

[Chris Welsh]

In.

[Andrew Erickson]

The middle of the day.

[Chris Welsh]

Just one tip there.

[Andrew Erickson]

So you guys know. Okay.

[Chris Welsh]

All right, go. Keep going. I'm turning red.

[Andrew Erickson]

But Juwan Jennings, 926 yards, that's what he's projected for. I mean, look, I have. Coming off an injury, Kittle's old and Jennings isn't a guy that's going to eclipse, you know, way past 1,000 yards. I think Ricky Piersol has more upside than anybody on this team, including Christian McCaffrey. And I don't know if he'll get there right. I don't know if he's going to get this volume. I don't know if he's going to get to six catches per game. I think four and a half. I think our projections are very reasonable for Ricky Pearsall, whoever I'm talking about right now. And I just. I think this one. I think this one is third. It can feel strong, it can feel weak, but it's pretty good at the end. So kind of like this sauce, you.

[Chris Welsh]

Know, I actually not even attempt to like, try to correlate everything to the sauce. This sauce, it's going to build. So you're getting a little pre warning here, Erickson. It's going to build. And that's. It's similar.

[Andrew Erickson]

Don't do that crap. That.

[Chris Welsh]

No, no, I'm going to do it with you. We're going to do that again. But kind of like in how Ricky Pierasol could amount to this take. It might be a little bit of a build because you do have Juwan Jennings. Iuk presents kind of a question mark in it. McCaffrey's healthy. There's a lot of things that could slow the process. But do you think we can build to a space where Ricky Purasol is the number one receiving option in San Francisco? Do you think this is a hot take?

[Scott Bogman]

I think that it's a little bit more than mild. I don't know how hot it is just based on the fact that is he the healthiest guy in the room right now? Just make Juwan Jennings is dealing with this calf injury. Ricky Pierce, or excuse me, Brandon Yuk is coming off he torn ACL from last year. We're not sure when he's going to return. So it seems like with the 49ers it's a matter of, well, who's out there. Like that's going to be the guy that ends up leading this team in receiving yards. And yes, dethroning Kittle would definitely be the toughest thing for any of these receivers to do just because Kittle is so efficient in the 49ers offense. But I mean he's gotten banged up at times. He's also 31 years old, so. And how does his body necessarily react to more volume? Because he's been a guy that really has gotten there because of big plays, yardage, monster touchdown performances. Not necessarily a guy that, oh, he's vacuuming up 10 plus targets every single week. That's not really been his game and how he's been using Shanahan's offense. But Ricky Piercel, I think betting on a guy entering his second season, look, last year it's really hard to have like these grandioso takeaways because he got shot in the off season and then he missed so much time. So yes, there were downs, like there was a, a couple games where he was basically not being targeted at all by Rock Purdy. But then at the end of the season you saw him kind of pop off a little bit with more opportunities. I think that the simple bet is it's a talented former first round pick who's going to have opportunities in this offense that produces a lot of fantasy success. So I'm definitely in on Piersall, especially with this Juwan Jennings calf injury. You know, now it's happening again, right? This was bothering him in OTAs, now it's bothering him in training camp. That's a red flag that we should be paying attention to.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, Andrew Erickson, I would like you to please lift your street wings and your sauce and I want you to really dab. I'm going to go in for a second one. I feel very confident where we are heading.

[Andrew Erickson]

I already did two of this one. I'm going on two of this.

[Chris Welsh]

I actually do believe that Erickson has. It might be the toughest going from this to what we're going next. So I want you to give a really strong dab. I'm gonna dab it again on the rest of my teddy bear if it'll come out. It doesn't want to come out for me. So you dive into it. Apparently, this one doesn't want me to go. Is it a sign from the heavens?

[Andrew Erickson]

Yes, I think it is.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh, here we go. Oh, God. Okay.

[Andrew Erickson]

Well, that's what happens.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, I shouldn't have done that so. Well. I. Yeah, I know this is a problem. Erickson, Explain. Explain how you're feeling right now with the sauce. Is it hitting you?

[Scott Bogman]

Not yet, but it did the same. Exact same thing.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, it took a little bit.

[Scott Bogman]

I'm waiting with.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, don't. Don't go in for seconds. So let it.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, you know what?

[Andrew Erickson]

Let it marinate.

[Chris Welsh]

Perfect.

[Scott Bogman]

Can I start my take in the meantime?

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, no, I was gonna say, let's see if it hits while you're going. This. We are in our third range here. This is the bold take. We went from mild to spicy to bold. Let's see if it hits you while you're going. And what is spicier, what you just ate or what you're about to drop? And I think I know the answer.

[Scott Bogman]

Tucker Kraft is going to finish as a top four fantasy tight end in 2025. And I'm looking at one of these trends I found. So 2023, the tight end leaders in yards after the catch per reception. Johnny Smith, George Kittle, ranked first and second, respectively. Both guys the following season finished as top four tight ends at the position 2024. Now, George Kittle, I don't think that was really too big of a surprise, but he wasn't being ranked or drafted as a top four tight end before last year. John Smith, he was way off the radar. He was a sleeper darling that hit in a major way. And I think he's kind of being drafted similar to where Tucker Kraft is being ranked and drafted outside the top 12, usually outside the top 100 overall picks. And if I miss out on the Trey McBrides, Brock Bowers, the George Kittles, Tucker Kraft is someone that I'm really interested in because this packers passing game, it has a lot of receivers that we like. But is there a true alpha among this Sea Of Beta Fish, it seems like, is Green Bay with their receivers. You know, Floor always talks about how he vomits at the idea of having a wide receiver one on his team. So maybe he's more likely to embrace the idea of, oh, maybe our tight end can be the leader of our passing game. He's already referenced Kraft in light of players like George Kittle, like Travis Kelce, players that have been the number one targets on their teams, been really efficient with big plays. And even if he doesn't lead the team in targets, I think that he's a strong bet to lead the team in red zone targets because that's what he was last year when Jordan Love was healthy. He's a big body receiver. He can make plays after the catch. Like I said, he's just a really good football player. And I want to bet on those guys taking the leap. The Green Bay packers know they have to get in the ball. If Jordan Love is throwing more like he did in 2023 when he threw for over 4,200 yards, 32 passing touchdowns, I think Tucker Kraft's going to have a monster season.

[Chris Welsh]

How are you holding up?

[Scott Bogman]

Pretty good. Pretty good?

[Chris Welsh]

Yes. There's nothing. I mean, you got some hot takes here, but you seem to be holding the best here, Boggs. It's a pretty big bold take. Top four. I mean, if you believe this, Tucker Kraft has to be on every single one of your teams. I mean, he would be from, from every format to Best Ball to Titan Premium to some of the big high stakes ones, whatever it is. Like, this is a bold take, but in that type of offense where they rotate all the receivers, they added more passing options. Like, do you really think that Tucker Kraft can even be a top five tight end?

[Andrew Erickson]

Absolutely. And Erickson came on the ITL a couple weeks ago and we were pumping up. Tucker Kraft made me reevaluate him and take a look and I have a quote from Andrew Erickson. Kraft broke out in 2024, leading all tight ends in yards after catch per reception. Lanai popping 15 missed tackles forced. The packers tight end ran away with the starting job over Luke Musgrave and never looked back, finishing his tight end 8 overall and 10 10th in points per game. He ran a route on 73% of drop back. So that's from Erickson. I knew our boy Tucker Kraft was going to be in here somewhere. But I think you look at this, you have the top three, right? You have Bowers, McBride and Kittle. We know those are the three. I think number four is pretty open. It could be Laporta, it could be Hawkinson, could be Kelsey Andrews, especially if likely he's going to miss an extended period of time, which looks more and more likely right now. And I think Tucker Kraft is in that group. So I think this is a good take.

[Chris Welsh]

Erickson's having the best time of his life. No one's having a better time than Erickson. Just between takes, just eating and going and we're interrupting his lunch with.

[Scott Bogman]

I know.

[Chris Welsh]

All right, well, I think things are going to pick up just a tiny bit. We are about to jump into overdrive. But first make sure, my friends, that you're checking us out over on Twitch, where we are tackling all of your fantasy questions all week, every week on Twitch at Twitch TV fantasypros. You got Erickson and Strachan talking best balls Monday at 4pm Eastern. Seth Woolcock and Dbro are answering questions on Tuesday and Wednesdays at 2pm Eastern. We've also got Q&As on Thursdays and Fridays at 5pm Eastern. I'm on a few of those. Give us a follow and ask questions live on Twitch at Twitch TV fantasypros. And an opportunity that maybe the next iteration of this show we could do live on Twitch where people are reacting and up the ante just a tiny bit. But go and check us out today. We got tons of great offerings all season long. Twitch TV fantasypros. Everybody take a breath because I could be wrong about this. We are about, I feel to take a step up. We just had three sauces that didn't have a whole lot to them. We are going to now move into, I guess in totality, the top four biggest hot takes. But we are also moving into number four category hot, except it is rated the hottest of the sauces we have, but Les Scoville, ladies and gentlemen. This is the ghost pepper sauce that we have, which has 1 million 1 million Scoville with a third with a 13 of 15 hot rating, which is hotter than the next one. But I said the Scoville is coming up. So Erickson, I do believe you might have it the most difficult, as do I that you have to go, I think take a jump to jump. So here's what I'm going to ask. Wing in hand, Teddy bear in hand, give it a strong dab. I think you should strong if we want to not strong dab the last one. Put it up to the camera. That's fine. But let's, let's strong dab the ghost pepper. Oh, is that too much that seems like a lot that I just put on there. Are you ready, Erickson? Yeah. You got to be up at the camera. Now get up and eat it at the camera. What are you doing?

[Andrew Erickson]

You make fun of him every time he eats it in the camera. What's he supposed to do?

[Chris Welsh]

No, he was lipping it.

[Andrew Erickson]

All right, so the guy eats. Come on.

[Scott Bogman]

She's gonna be bad.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh, shoot. All right, all right. I gotta host this show, so give.

[Andrew Erickson]

Me your hot take.

[Chris Welsh]

This is the fourth. This is your second biggest hot take. Look at this sauce. This one is hurting me bad. Is this one gonna hurt you?

[Andrew Erickson]

You're like not reacting at all. What?

[Scott Bogman]

I'm trying to remain level headed as I try to do, but I am like Scoville. Speaking of skull, my fourth pick here. My bow. Prediction. Jordan Mason, new running back for the Minnesota Skull Vikings. I think he's going to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns this year. Last year my call for this was Roshan Johnson. I'm in serious pain right now.

[Chris Welsh]

So much pain. Keep going.

[Scott Bogman]

All right. Now was brought in for the Minnesota Vikings to be the goal line back. Aaron Jones was not efficient at the goal line last year. He was dead last box. You got to take over.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay.

[Scott Bogman]

He.

[Andrew Erickson]

He was. Yeah. I'm not sure why we'd pick Jordan Mason here, but look, Aaron, Aaron Jones had his best season. It was his most used season last year with the Vikings with a pass first team because they didn't have another running back. They. They draft, they traded for Jordan Mason. He's obviously going to have a pretty big role in this offense. And, and we know the type of points that the Minnesota Vikings put up here. So listen, like Erickson just said, if we get. Look at his face. If, if, if Erickson, you know, he was just talking about touchdown regression, right? And we saw that from many guys last year. And that would be what's happening. It'd be Jordan Mason in a specific role. The team getting down to the one a lot and Jordan Mason punching it in. Almost all a tush push just the same. Obviously not the tush push, but the same level of like it's getting down to the one. We know what's happening here. That I did. I get you there.

[Scott Bogman]

Yes.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah. I mean that was your take.

[Scott Bogman]

Eric, single box.

[Andrew Erickson]

Anything to add on to your.

[Scott Bogman]

I appreciate you tagging in for me.

[Andrew Erickson]

I got you, brother.

[Scott Bogman]

I really got you.

[Andrew Erickson]

Because you're about to have to do it for me.

[Scott Bogman]

Yeah.

[Chris Welsh]

Nothing after I am crying. I, if anyone's listening and I just want to point out, I instantly went to my eyes with my hands.

[Andrew Erickson]

Dude, don't do that.

[Chris Welsh]

Both to not do that. I'm well aware I did it. I am crying. Erickson, can you pick this up? You know, stop for a second. Explain what's going on in your mouth.

[Andrew Erickson]

Explain in your mouth first. What is that?

[Scott Bogman]

So imagine like needles, right? You know, just like piercing the top, the bottom sides of your mouth. That's kind of how it feels like. Luckily, having great example, some of these spice inhibitors or suppressors is actually helping a lot. Having bread, some orange juice, some of this cottage cheese is actually helpful. So I think I can finish up the rest of the take from the rest of the notes that I had. But Bachmann, again, you are the best. I really appreciate it. And I just. So you know, brother, you asked for.

[Andrew Erickson]

A life preserver, brother. I threw it.

[Scott Bogman]

I was like, tag me in, bro, tag me in.

[Andrew Erickson]

So, so that was like wrestling. You're struggling, you're struggling and then you tag me and I start beating everybody up. That's exactly what it was.

[Scott Bogman]

So the Vikings specifically the last two seasons have been really bad in terms of scoring rushing touchdowns. So last year they were 30th in carries per touchdown. And I point this out because this is something that regresses from year to year. Last year, who ranked, which team ranked last in this category? That was a Green Bay Packers. And what does Josh Jacobs do? Last season he was fourth in the NFL and rushing touchdowns, he scored 15 rushing touchdowns. So again, it could still be Aaron Jones. I will admit that both running backs were bad at the goal line last year. Now that's why the Vikings went out, revamped the interior offensive line, adding guys in free agency, adding players up in the draft because I think that they want to put less pressure on JJ McCarthy to have to make all the plays in the red zone. Give it to your talented running backs, let them score some of these touchdowns inside the red zone. And one of the trends I found that was kind of cool, since 2021, we've seen a running back on a new team hit touchdown totals of 15, 13, 16, 15 and 13. So I think Jordan Mason, at worst, I think he's still going to be able to get in that double digit touchdown territory and be a great, great late round pick and fantasy football. And hey, if he hits this, it's plus 7,500. Follow me on betting bros. Jordan Mason Lee, the NFL, what was your, what.

[Chris Welsh]

Was the take again?

[Scott Bogman]

Jordan Mason. Jordan Mason. Leave the NFL and touchdowns. Rushing touchdowns.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay, that's what it was. I knew Jordan Mace was involved. Everything went dark. Everything went black. I want a raise. I want to race after this.

[Andrew Erickson]

Wells was just shoveling bread into his mouth.

[Chris Welsh]

I'm not. I'm still hurting.

[Andrew Erickson]

You don't want to do another one?

[Chris Welsh]

Welsh, I can't do this one again with you. I'm gonna cry. I can maybe do the tiniest of dabs. I want you to kill it, though. No, let's see it on screen. Nobody. Nobody flies alone.

[Scott Bogman]

Let's go.

[Chris Welsh]

All right, hold on. I'll do a tiny little dab. Like, tiny little.

[Andrew Erickson]

I got it all over here, so.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay, so hold on. Swing. All right, I got a little baby dab here.

[Andrew Erickson]

We're ready.

[Chris Welsh]

We're going together. Three, two, one. I actually wish I didn't do that. All right, Bogman, it's a great radio here. We've all got. I cannot believe Ericsson went back in here. This is brutal. I was crying. It hurts. And the needle analogy is one of the best things I've ever heard for this. This is a brutal, brutal take. Brutal hot sauce for. Let's see if it's a brutal take. Jordan Mason leading the league in touchdowns is a wildly big fake. What are you going through? And is your take going to be hotter than this sauce?

[Scott Bogman]

God, Bobby, you got to start the take at least, and then I can. I can tag you in.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, okay. All right. Matthew Golden. Oh, my God. Yeah, this is fire.

[Chris Welsh]

Hurts.

[Andrew Erickson]

Finishes as a low end wide receiver, too. In fantasy, it may not sound way bold, but no one has ranked him higher than 36. So he's a low end wide receiver. Three to everybody.

[Chris Welsh]

There's a drink. Going in for a drink. That's your. That's your big milk cup, right?

[Andrew Erickson]

Right now his CCR is wide receiver 51, 129 overall. His ADP is 46. Good God.

[Chris Welsh]

Doesn't get any better. It. It hurts. It's going through the nose. Bachman's going to French fries in 20.

[Andrew Erickson]

24. Say flowers. 172 1/2 points as wide receiver. 24. Jacoby Myers 183.1 and 23. Cooper Cup, 163.9 and 22. Making a three year average. 1700 73.2 points as a wide receiver. Low end wide receiver, 24 here.

[Chris Welsh]

Not great to cover your mouth on a podcast, but yep. Oh, I see your eyes are starting to go.

[Andrew Erickson]

Ah. Anyway, three year average of points here is 173.2 points. 20. 24.3 point difference from projections, that's only 1.43 points per game. That's a 5 yard, 15 yard catch in half. 110 yard catch in half point PPR. If I could do my math right, right now, every single week, that's all you gotta add for Matthew golden honor projections to become wide receiver 24 and a low end wide receiver number two. So it doesn't feel bold like this goddamn sauce here, but it does, it does work out. It can happen.

[Chris Welsh]

So this feels like a workout. Bogman, go to your milk. Ericson, you are a trooper. You went back in for more. I will tell you my. The small dab did not hit. It just kind of reactivated a tiny bit. It did not hit me remotely close. So it was the bigger dab that got us here.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, you already killed all your senses.

[Chris Welsh]

With the first one. Yeah, the senses are done. So it'll be really interesting on the last one. But do you think about Matthew golden pushing wide receiver one territory? That is. That I think is a very hot take. I don't know if it's as hot as this sauce.

[Scott Bogman]

I think it is a hot take. I know personally I like, I like Jaden Reed a little bit more than Matthew golden this year, but I just think that there's a lot of opportunity and even with the Tucker Craft hot take with this packers offense, if it just gets back to more what we saw in 2023 where Jordan Love is throwing for 30 plus passing touchdowns, someone, someone's gonna pop from this Green Bay packers receiver room or at the tight end position. So Jaden Reed last year again, if you, if you think that golden does step up like Boggs says is going to be the number one receiver on this roster. Well, Jaden Reed was a top 10 wide receiver before week 14 last year. He was producing in this offense. So if Matthew Goldman is. I use this on the betting pros podcast. If he is the prince that was promised as a first round pick for the Green Bay packers, then yeah, I think that he could definitely be a back end fantasy wide receiver too. If not a Fantasy Wide Receiver 1. I mean he was a first round pick. He's a super talented guy and he just shows up in big moments. Like that was the biggest thing with him at Texas where Isaiah Bond, when that guy did that, when that guy got all the hype, he was nowhere to be found. Matthew golden did the exact opposite. So.

[Andrew Erickson]

Thank you.

[Chris Welsh]

Do you think, do you think at all that.

[Podcast Host]

You're welcome.

[Chris Welsh]

Our takes have followed the wings because. Or the sauce because we Went three levels, which were okay. And I feel like we jumped into the boldest of bold takes with the sauce. How is the hold up here before we get to the final?

[Andrew Erickson]

The river sticks. This is what we did here.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, Boggs, unfortunately, you're gonna have it tough because you're gonna go right into the next one. But how are you holding up? Currently not great.

[Andrew Erickson]

My lips are burning. Tongue is burning. Mouth is burning.

[Chris Welsh]

All right, Erickson has moved to off screen here. Erickson, how are you holding up here?

[Ad Announcer]

Are you eating bread?

[Andrew Erickson]

He's having extra bites.

[Scott Bogman]

No, I'm.

[Andrew Erickson]

I think he's eating bread.

[Scott Bogman]

No, I'm. Yeah, I'm eating the spice suppressors. So the bread.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay.

[Scott Bogman]

Freaking orange juice is good. This stuff is helping a lot.

[Chris Welsh]

I wish I had done that. All right, gentlemen, we are going into the final two takes, the nuclear heat, as it's called the Trinidad Scorpion. This is the. Again, we're going to find out here in just a second. This is 2 million scoville, but the heat rating is under the other. But this is seen as the hottest one. So we are going to double the Scoville. If that truly means we're doubling the heat. I don't know how I'm going to do it. I don't know if your takes are going to be able to match up. So take a deep breath. The hottest of hot takes with the hottest of hot sauces. My final teddy bear in tow. Bogman, raise your wing. Raise your Trinidad Scorpion and give her a nice dab. A good one.

[Andrew Erickson]

Look, black.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh, it is like black. All right. That is a lot. I think. I think you guys can all see.

[Andrew Erickson]

I don't have that much.

[Chris Welsh]

I know the smell. Erickson just smelt it. All right, Bogman, quick, before you do it, I put more on mine. Yeah, before. Before we do it. Will this be hotter than the take you're about to give?

[Andrew Erickson]

Yes, 100%.

[Chris Welsh]

Let's go to the mouth. Get your milk away.

[Scott Bogman]

Here we go.

[Chris Welsh]

I'm okay so far.

[Andrew Erickson]

It's disgusting.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh. Oh, it's awful. It's hot and awful.

[Scott Bogman]

Tastes bad. It just tastes bad.

[Andrew Erickson]

Why did we do this?

[Scott Bogman]

Should I just do more of the ghost pepper then next?

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah. Oh, no, you got to try this one. Now you put. You want to mix it? You can be a champ. All right, Boggs, that one is good. It's also bad. Hot is your Take me all late.

[Andrew Erickson]

This sucks.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah. All right, well, let's hear your final hot take of the Hot Takes episode.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay. Anthony Richardson finishes QB6 we don't even know if he's going to start right now. He may not start any games for the Colts this game. And I'm going to say he finishes as QB number six. We wanted a crazy one right from weeks 11 to 16 he was QB 16 and he had some good finishes in there. Nah. Week one, he was QB4, week 11, QB4, week 13, QB9, 20, 23, only had four starts. He finished is QB4 week one.

[Chris Welsh]

Ah.

[Andrew Erickson]

He finishes QB2 in week four. He has some finishes that are very high. Obviously the rushing total. I'm saying this take like I'm mad at it.

[Chris Welsh]

Yeah, it's the nose starts to run with this one.

[Andrew Erickson]

And what were you talking about? Anthony Richardson.

[Chris Welsh]

Anthony Richardson. Yeah.

[Andrew Erickson]

Right. So Jonathan Taylor being next to him, so many rushing yards, so many rushing touchdowns. This system is built for a running quarterback. That's what Anthony Richardson is. Riley Leonard, Daniel Jones.

[Chris Welsh]

This is built all the same race, not a marathon.

[Andrew Erickson]

So I think Anthony Richardson, if he starts, he's got great targets. He's got Josh Downs. They drafted Tyler Warren, he has Michael Pittman. Yes. Alec Pierce took a big step up and Adnai Mitchell. There's guys to replace these guys if they go down. DG Giddens is behind Taylor.

[Chris Welsh]

Now you're like.

[Andrew Erickson]

This offense is tailor made to make a big time quarterback for fantasy. It is a perfect offense to build around a good quarterback. Why did I get it on my lips?

[Noah]

Ah.

[Andrew Erickson]

So Anthony Richardson, QB6, if he finishes, if he starts all 17 games, he's a QB1 no matter what. All I'm asking is a little bit more than that.

[Chris Welsh]

So can the sauces be hotter than the takes? Can the takes live up to actual heat? We are experimenting with. So I'm going to give you the option, Erickson, you got to do this sauce. If you want to up the ante and be a man of the people. You can put some ghost pepper on it. This one, doesn't it? Well, because he wants to be a rock star. It's one. But you got to show the screen if you're. What you're doing.

[Scott Bogman]

Gotta be a rock star.

[Andrew Erickson]

Just, just do this.

[Chris Welsh]

Okay? So be a rock star. So I'm. Because I have done everything. I don't want this to be the end. I do not enjoy this sauce. It is hot and it is lingering. But I'm going to join you because I'm also a man of the people. I'm gonna dab a little bit of both of these on here. Let's get a little Bit of. Oh God. All right, we are putting both together. This is Ghost Pepper and the Trinidad Scorpion I am gonna guess is the hottest take of the show from Andrew Erickson. So Erickson. Oh my God. You really dip that thing. Let's go A lot of top of your head. Oh boy.

[Andrew Erickson]

This.

[Chris Welsh]

This is a bad idea.

[Andrew Erickson]

Why did you do that twice, Welsh?

[Chris Welsh]

Oh God. Because I did every single one twice. I couldn't end at the last one.

[Andrew Erickson]

You see.

[Chris Welsh]

Oh, it's not Eric. All right, what's the hot. What is the tape that's going to live up to this?

[Scott Bogman]

So a Buffalo Bill's wide receiver is going to finish as a wide receiver one this season, but it's not going to be Khalil Shakira, it's not going to be Keon Coleman, it's not going to be Joshua Palmer. It's going to be Elijah Moore. Elijah Moore is going to finish 2025 as a fantasy wide receiver one. That is my. What is spiciest take? Yes. I came to the table with a hot take that is worthy of being in the Trinidad Scorpion tier. It is of hot takes and I.

[Andrew Erickson]

Think your take is hotter than the sauce and I hate this sauce's stupid guts.

[Scott Bogman]

So this is, this is my mindset behind the Elijah Moore play. So We've seen some fifth year wide receivers or six year receivers over the last three seasons finish as top 12 guys for the very first time. Those guys have been Christian Kirk, DJ Moore, Jerry Judy, guys that all finished as wide receiver ones entering their fifth or sixth seasons. The common theme with all those players, they were all playing for new teams and they had multiple seasons with at least 100 targets on their resume. Elijah Moore has playing on a new team attached with the best quarterback of his career in Josh Allen. He has back to back 100 yard target seasons entering this season. He's 25 years old. I already mentioned playing with the best quarterback of his career. By far. No more Joe Flaccos, Deshaun Watson, Zach Wilsons when he was with the jets and Browns. I think Elijah Moore is a talented guy and I don't think he's always been put in the best situations. Now is he the favorite to be the best Bills receiver? No, of course not. I would definitely draft guys like Palmer, Keon Coleman, Shakir over Elijah Moore. But again, if we're trying to get hot here with the hottest take, I want to be bold here by going all the way down the depth chart to Elijah Moore as this year's fifth year breakout. And as I Was doing research for this show. I was looking on player profiler.com looking at Elijah Moore, his profile, and his closest comparable receiver. It's Tyler Lockett. Tyler Lockett, his fifth year finished as the wide receiver 13. That was the highest of his career before we started to see him break out. So fifth year breakouts happen more often than you think. And Elijah Moore, if he gets the opportunity, I think he can deliver with Josh Allen. So that is my hottest take. And do you guys agree? Is it hotter than the sauce or no?

[Andrew Erickson]

Yes, I think it's hotter than the sauce. And this sauce sucks, by the way. The salt work better than anything else.

[Chris Welsh]

I wish I would have done that. You know, the great thing about this episode is to has such great rewatch ability because I don't know anything you just said outside of I heard Elijah Moore. So. Bachman, I hope you heard stuff. I feel sick. I'm sweating. Like, I would be if I was depending on Elijah Moore as one of my top wide receivers. But what do you think about this? Because you're a Keon Coleman guy.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, I'm a Keon Coleman guy. And. But we know this is a hot take. This is, you know, a guy that might end up as the fourth wide receiver, being a wide receiver, one for this team. And I think Eli. Eli Moore definitely has the talent to do this right. Like you said, very similar skill set to Tyler Lockett. Josh Allen can throw the ball. My thing is this dude's had so many concussions, I thought he probably should have retired, been playing again. So one more bad pop, and I think that might be a wrap free lime more. But he's a good player, and he was very undersold going to the Bills. And, you know, as far as bold takes go, this was way bolder than mine. Anthony Richardson finishes his QB6 is, you know, I mean, it's bold because he might not start a game, but Eli Moore might be. Might not get enough snaps to be a top three wide receiver on the Bills. So this is a very spicy tank. Spicier than the sauce. So. Oh, man, I didn't think it was ever gonna calm down. I'm telling you, that salt, if it hasn't come down for you guys, the salt works the best.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, that was a hot take. And if it maybe was just hot enough or not even hot enough, make sure to check out our cheat sheets, because if you agree with Erickson, you can move Elijah Moore up your cheat sheet by using the cheat sheet creator. The cheat sheet creator is your personal guide to Perfect league specific rankings. Visualize your path to victory as you add tiers and tag your bust. Breakouts and sleepers. Sync your league to craft custom rankings, ensuring every pick is strategic and tailored to your league settings. Sync your league and enter your draft with confidence using the Crete Cheat sheet [e-mail] sheet or the fantasy Football Draft wizard app. I was almost going to ask for an instant raise for being able to do that. Read perfectly on time, but the sauce got me. It's hugged me. Guys, look at Ericsson. You have officially. We have all officially completed our hot takes. Erickson, you seem to be struggling a little bit. What do you think from the sauce.

[Scott Bogman]

To the tip on the back nine? My lips are on fire right now.

[Andrew Erickson]

Dude, it's the lips. It's the worst. I don't know what happened. That's why I kept grunting.

[Scott Bogman]

I was, I was doing okay. I, I thought, man, I'm handling this, the scorpion sauce pretty well. And then it just, all of a sudden my lips just.

[Andrew Erickson]

I think it's because you, like, you already killed 50% of the nerves in your mouth with the ghost stuff. So it took a little bit longer for the Trinidad stuff to hit, but when it did, it was worse. It was worse. I didn't think it was gonna be worse than the ghost stuff, but it was.

[Chris Welsh]

Well, let us know.

[Andrew Erickson]

You're the man doing two dabs on all of those incredible.

[Chris Welsh]

So I'm struggling a lot and I did feel like I was going to throw up about five minutes ago, but luckily I think I'm going to be able to save that for about five minutes from now to get out of here. But let us know in the comments. What was your favorite sauce and your favorite take, your favorite reaction? You got the comments below because we're always doing great giveaways when you're subscribed and you comment. But what was your favorite hot take in this one? And by the way, that could be the player or that could be the reaction because they were quite good moments. Hey, bogman, remember when you said this was nothing and everything was all fine about 45 minutes ago? How do you feel now?

[Andrew Erickson]

Look, I would put the, the yellow sauce is not as spicy as mustard, I would say, but this stuff might murder me. This Trinidad Scorpion stuff, this is stuff where, like, you're making chili, you put one drop in it and you're good. That's.

[Chris Welsh]

We put quite a few too many drops. But you guys completed the hot take challenge. I hope everybody enjoyed it. We are off the proverbial hot seat. The sweat is starting to go away just a tiny bit. The red is sticking with the color for me, but you know, that's how it is. It was a tough challenge and I hope you guys all enjoyed it. Make sure you're subscribed on the YouTube side. For Andrew Erickson and Scott Bogman, I'm Chris Welsh. We did it. Thank you guys for hanging out with us and we'll talk to you next time for more hot takes right here on Fantasy Pros.

[Andrew Erickson]

Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pro's Fantasy Football Podcast. If you love the show, the best free way to support us is by.

[Noah]

Leaving a positive review on apple [e-mail].

[Andrew Erickson]

Review or on Spotify.

[Noah]

Follow us on X Instagram and TikTok.

[Andrew Erickson]

Antasypros and subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube.com fantasypros.

[Freddy]

We'Re breaking down SummerSlam, the biggest party of the summer on Wrestling With Freddy. From our bold picks to storyline breakdowns, we will discuss who walks out with gold, who shocks the night and which matches steal the show we call the winners, the upsets and the chaos to expect. Plus whatever swerves nobody saw coming. Listen to Wrestling with Freddie as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San.

[Scott Bogman]

Diego Football Club San Diego.

[Soccer Commentator]

Coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Chris Welsh]

We need to embrace this community.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the Flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah]

I'm Noah and I'm 13 and I started this podcast because honestly, adults don't ask the right questions. Now you know, with Noah de Barrasso is a show about influence, who's got it, how they use it, and what it means. For the rest of you, it's not the news, it's what the news should be if someone Gen Z or Gen Alpha made it. Politics is wild and I'm definitely not here to tame it, but I'm here to make sense of it. Listen to now youw Know with Noah de arrasto on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Soccer Commentator]

This is an iHeart podcast.