The Ringer Fantasy Football Show
Preseason Week 2 Risers and Fallers
Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck
Episode Overview
This jam-packed episode dives into all the key developments from NFL Preseason Week 2, helping listeners sort out the biggest risers and fallers for the 2025 fantasy football season. The Ringer crew debates which teams and players are trending up or down, tackles major injury updates, analyzes coach and scheme changes, and delivers expert fantasy advice on sleepers, league-winners, and potential landmines to avoid. Plus: The return of the now-legendary “Jelly the Bear” conspiracy, and the sharpest Taylor Swift halftime show theory you’ll hear all year.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Location & Vibes
- The crew records in-person in New York City at Spotify headquarters, with plenty of Big Apple jokes and “first timer in NYC” banter from DK.
- “Bacon, egg, and cheese today. Hold the bacon.” – Danny Kelly [00:58]
2. Episode Structure Preview [01:17]
- Preseason Week 2 recap: Standout player performances, notable injuries, and deep cut RB sleepers.
- Low stakes conspiracy: Taylor Swift’s (possible) Super Bowl halftime show.
- All-important update: The Jelly the Bear saga.
3. Caleb Williams & The Chicago Bears
- Caleb Williams’ Preseason Debut: Looked sharp vs. the Bills—6/10, 107 yards, 1 TD, including a 93-yard TD drive and a 35-yard strike to Olamide Zaccheaus.
- Praise for his improved “on-time” play and in-rhythm execution.
- Recurring optimism (with caution) for Ben Johnson’s influence on the Bears and Williams’ ability to play “orchestral, not jazz” QB under a real system.
- Quote:
“He looked like Jared Goff...just sitting in the pocket ripping passes.” – Danny Kelly [06:13] - All hosts agree: Williams is a preseason “riser,” but Year 1 expectations should be managed amidst Chicago’s bigger struggles.
4. Seahawks’ Revamped Run Game
- Major improvement in run scheme and offensive line play.
- Noted riser: Zach Charbonnet, capitalizing on Kenneth Walker’s ongoing injury struggles (foot/oblique). Charbonnet is a priority late-round sleeper.
- Quote:
“Charbonnet to me is a league-winning player...Seattle’s running game could go from bottom four to top four.” – Danny Heifetz [13:12] - Kenneth Walker labeled “injury-prone.” Hosts argue that Charbonnet should be drafted several rounds higher than current ADP.
5. Titans’ Cam Ward: “Aura Guy” Alert
- Ward flashes leadership & big-play ability, despite ho-hum statline.
- Discussion: Ward’s “aura” versus Caleb Williams’ “aura farming.” Hosts rave about his intangibles, leadership, and X-factor.
6. Giants’ QB Situation: Dart vs. Wilson
- Gushing about Jackson Dart’s preseason performance and “Gen Z vibes.”
- DK: “Jackson Dart fucking has aura. That’s it.”
- Dart seen as a possible future starter, with the Giants’ loaded D-line and young talent.
- Reminder to manage expectations: “Remember Kenny Pickett?”—Preseason hype can over-deliver.
7. Other Rookie & Preseason Notes
- Ashn Genti (Raiders): Slow start, but reassures with strong second game.
- Fantasy takeaway: Likely to get big touch share, but O-line quality is a concern.
- “His potential is absolutely still through the roof.” – Claire Horlbeck [32:24]
- Tyler Warren (Colts TE): Breakout candidate; “as good a chance as anybody to be TE4 this year.”
- On-field for 34/35 preseason snaps with starters [27:12]
- “Make him your number two tight end, if you want, but you should probably just have Tyler Warren.” – Danny Hy [27:20]
8. Major Injury Updates & Fantasy Adjustments
Rams: Matt Stafford’s Back
- Stafford has been MIA; now “proof of life,” but troubling McVay soundbites.
- “Drafting Puka Nacua is a two-legged parlay—Stafford’s health, and Puka staying upright.” – Danny Kelly [50:04]
- Devante Adams’ value is also shaky given backup situation (Garoppolo).
Packers WR Corps is Banged Up
- All main weapons besides Matthew Golden have injury issues.
- Recommendation: “Golden is an absolute smash value,” praised as a breakout candidate [58:11].
Bills WRs: Shakir’s High Ankle = Trouble
- No clear No. 1 pass-catcher behind Allen.
- Hosts advise passing on older/injured WRs in favor of rookies with clear upside (Golden, Pearsall, etc.) [84:05].
Other Notables:
- Brandon Aiyuk (Niners): Starting on PUP; Ricky Pearsall is “the steal” of current drafts.
- Miami RBs: Devon Achane soft-tissue injury. Jalen Wright & Ollie Gordon as backups but lack clarity; hands-off for now unless hard news emerges.
- Godwin (Bucs): Dislocated ankle; hosts strongly prefer rookie Egbuka, forecast as a “market-correcting” value [66:10].
- Najee Harris (Chargers): Lingering eye issue is possibly career-threatening (per speculative, third-hand doctor info).
9. Rookie WRs/Tight Ends: Must-Have Breakouts
- Ricky Pearsall and Matthew Golden highlighted as undervalued, high-upside WRs.
- Tyler Warren at TE named as a premier sleeper, with the “high range of outcomes” (top-4 ceiling).
- Egbuka (Bucs) listed alongside Golden and Pearsall in the “get these on your bench” tier.
10. Trade & Draft Strategy Bits
- Nick Chubb (Texans), J.K. Dobbins (Broncos): Both are injury risks but can be valuable for early-season trade bait.
- Platform ADP tip: Track Yahoo vs. ESPN vs. Sleeper; exploit discrepancies to get “your guys” cheaper.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “[Caleb Williams] looked crisp and in rhythm... Rarely saw that last year. I was really, really encouraged.” – Claire Korbeck [05:25]
- “Charbonnet is a league-winning player... Seattle’s running game could go from bottom four to top four.” – Danny Hy [13:12]
- “You ever heard of astronaut time for relationships?” – Danny Hy [04:47]
- “The entire time McVay talks about Stafford, I feel worse.” – Danny Hy [51:05]
- “Tyler Warren is my, like, A-list sleeper—he could be this year’s Sam LaPorta.” – Danny Hy [27:12]
Funniest Exchanges
- The hosts propose “Rushing Roulette” (Russian roulette pun) as a perfect description for volatile fantasy QBs like Anthony Richardson [34:46].
- DK gets schooled on how NFL heights are denoted in the scouting community (5'7" 7/8") leading to a tangent [82:12].
- Queen moment: “I have a bear guy.” – Danny Hy [90:46] (on the Jelly the Bear saga).
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Bears/Caleb Williams Discussion: 03:41 – 08:58
- Seahawks Running Backs Update: 11:30 – 14:25
- Cam Ward & Titans QB Talk: 15:37 – 17:02
- Giants QB Room & Jackson Dart: 17:02 – 21:44
- Rookie Standouts & Deep Sleepers: 21:44 – 27:32
- Colts Tight End Tyler Warren: 27:32 – 30:49
- Rams Injury Crisis & Puka/Adams Value: 49:06 – 56:38
- Packers Injured Receivers Discussion: 57:23 – 58:42
- Bills Pass Catcher Dilemma: 58:49 – 60:24
- Niners WR Corps/Pearsall Hype: 62:14 – 66:16
- Miami Backfield Uncertainty: 68:46 – 70:36
- Rookie WR/Tight End Rankings Philosophy: 67:28 – 68:34
- Jelly the Bear Update: 87:51 – 95:55
- Taylor Swift Halftime Show Conspiracy: 96:29 – 107:23
Miscellaneous Segments
The Jelly the Bear Conspiracy [87:51+]
- Ongoing public doubt over whether Turtleback Zoo even has a living bear (“Jelly”).
- Zoo responds with live video; fans remain skeptical (“That’s a crisis actor bear”). Hilarious and surprisingly contagious section.
Taylor Swift: Super Bowl Sourdough Theory [96:38+]
- Wild but persuasive theory that Taylor Swift's “sourdough” reference during the Kelsey brothers podcast was an allusion to her playing halftime at Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco (home of Sourdough Sam, the mascot).
- All bets are on: Taylor Swift will be the Super Bowl LVII halftime performer.
Tone and Style
- Smart, fast, and irreverent; equal parts shrewd analysis and relentless digression.
- Playful, self-aware, and heavy on in-jokes—with transparent excitement and skepticism applied in equal measure to fantasy and real NFL storylines.
Top Takeaways: Fantasy Football Moves
- Draft the rookie WR/TE breakouts: Pearsall, Golden, and Warren are all undervalued and likely to rise.
- Fade older/injured ‘boring’ veterans: e.g. Chris Godwin, godspeed.
- Zach Charbonnet: Bump up, Walker likely to miss time.
- Monitor injury situations (Matt Stafford, Najee Harris, Joe Mixon, etc.)—be nimble on rising backups.
- Jalen Waddle: Buy the dip with Tyreek/Achane banged up.
- Leverage ADP differences by platform for value hunting.
For Next Week
- The Ringer Fantasy Football live draft and official final punishment vote are coming.
- Stay tuned on Instagram/TikTok for shenanigans and content direct from the team’s travels and recording sessions.
Closing Quote
- “The dirty little secret of this podcast is that Heifetz is actually really good at fantasy.”—Claire Korbeck [79:28]