The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Episode: QB Sleepers, Tiers, and Fears 2025
Date: July 30, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the 2025 fantasy football quarterback landscape. Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck lay out their draft strategies, rank QB tiers, dissect sleepers and value picks, and debate who, if anyone, is “washed.” They approach this year’s deep QB pool with both enthusiasm and caution, weighing rushing upside, pocket-passing reliability, and league trends. Along the way, the hosts infuse humor and candid real-life gripes with the quirks of fantasy and football fandom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Reflections and Sensitivity Moment

• The show opens with a discussion about the recent tragic Park Avenue shooting in New York City, causing a somber, reflective tone.
  • (02:52) “Absolutely horrific story … we just didn’t know how to talk about the NFL for an hour and not talk about this.” — Danny Heifetz

2. General QB Draft Strategy for 2025

• Major Philosophical Split
  - Craig: "I'm going for one of the top four guys, or I'm going to wait a really long time." (04:40) - Danny Kanell: "I think quarterback is deeper than ever… I actually feel more comfortable waiting on quarterback this year." (05:51) - DK (Danny Kelly): "I want to either do what both of you are saying: get an elite QB early, or be the last to draft one. Ricky Bobby style." (07:40)

Notable Quote:

“I want one of them big ones ... God Tier.” — Craig Krolczyk (04:48)

3. Tier One: ‘God Tier’ QBs

• The Top Four: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jaden Daniels, Jalen Hurts
  • All four topped 100+ fantasy points via rushing alone in 2024.
  • High weekly floors with 1,000-yard/10-rush-TD ceilings.
  • Josh Allen: Fantasy juggernaut — “First, first, second, first, second” in annual finishes since 2020 (11:03)
  • Lamar Jackson: Prototype fantasy cheat code; slight value discount due to reputation.
  • Jalen Hurts: Perpetually undervalued despite weekly upside and the infamous “tush push.”
  • Jaden Daniels: Only one year of data, but tantalizing athletic profile.

Notable Quote:

"It is awesome having two cocks. It's like having two cocks. It really is." — Danny Kelly on having a great fantasy QB (13:21)

• Mental Impact:

  • Having these QBs is both mathematically smart and emotionally satisfying, especially for fans of bad NFL teams.
  • “The whole reason you play fantasy football is escapism from your own shitty team.” — Danny Kelly (15:03)

• On Hurts' Consistency & Media Presence:

  • “Hurts hasn't had less than 13 rushing touchdowns in a season in four years.” (18:24)
  • On his Sprite commercial: "Let your game speak for itself." (18:56)

4. Tier Two: ‘Elite Pocket Passer’

• Joe Burrow (by himself)
  • The consensus is that Burrow’s ceiling/floor is clear and worth placing him alone, existing above other non-rushers, and likely the best pure passer for 2025.
  • "Burrow led the NFL in past attempts, pass completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns." (23:29)

5. Tier Three: The "High Upside Rushing & Non-Top-Four"

• Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Bo Nix, Justin Fields
  • Discussion on Mahomes’ buy-low opportunity due to recent "down" years fantasy-wise.
    • “There's a chance the Chiefs’ offense looks more like it did five years ago…” — Danny Kelly (25:49)
    • “They’re tired of the dink and dunk shit and want to go back to hitting dingers.” — Danny Kelly (27:18)
  • Kyler Murray: High upside if healthy, but less trust than top-tier QBs.
  • Bo Nix: Subliminally strong rusher and fantasy asset, labeled “the all-boring team QB”—“He had more passing touchdowns than Josh Allen last year.” (37:32)
  • Fields: Purely for week-winning upside and the ability to break fantasy scoring with his legs.

Notable Quote:

“I know it keeps saying this, but the most rushing yards by a QB ever in a single season: Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, Michael Vick.” — Danny Kelly (34:49)

6. Tier Four: The Enormous ‘Pocket Passer Glut’

• Includes: Brock Purdy, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams, Jared Goff, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, Dak Prescott, C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love
  • Virtually interchangeable: choose your “fighter” or get whoever slides and build RB/WR depth.
  • Highlighted fact: “There’s no reason to pay up for the 13th best pocket passer.” (41:16)
  • Notable positional regression/progression points (Baker’s unsustainable TD rate, Dak’s room for bounce-back).
  • Discussion on risk: "You could tell me Drake May should be 11th. I'll hear anything." — Danny Kelly (41:16)

7. Late-Round and Rushing ‘Cheat Code’ QBs

• Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young and Others
  • Supply and Demand: Rushing QBs have all the ceiling. Easy to pair Drake Maye with a boring vet for league-winning potential.
  • “Drake Maye is, by far, my favorite late-round guy to draft. He ran for 420 yards last year on one designed run.” — Craig Krolczyk (47:53)
• Anthony Richardson:
  • The ultimate "last pick lottery ticket." Massive fall in ADP means zero risk, all-upside. (53:25)
  • “He has scored a rushing touchdown in two thirds of his games and he's undrafted.” — Danny Kelly (54:07)

8. Superflex / Deep League Dart-Throws

• Guys like: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Matthew Stafford, Bryce Young, J.J. McCarthy, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Cam Ward
  • All are viable depth pieces or high-end QB3s in Superflex, possibly QB9 if the year breaks their way.
  • “Pennix could go full Jameis … 35 touchdowns, 18 picks … NFC South shootouts every day.” — Danny Kanell (61:23)

Notable Quotes, Jokes, and Memorable Moments

• On psychological comfort:

  • “The safest, warmest feeling you could have waking up Sunday morning being like, 'Josh Allen’s playing the Panthers.'" — Craig Krolczyk (16:34)

• On tiers:

  • “If Baker Mayfield had never thrown 30 TDs in a season … then last year he throws 40 … it's like a 90 handicap in golf who shoots an 80 one day.” — Danny Kelly (43:06)

• Fantasy Escapism:

  • “If you can sign up for 150 hours over 17 Sundays and Lamar Jackson’s on your team … that’s the whole reason we do this.” — Danny Kelly (15:03)

Draft Approach: Summing Up Their Advice

• Don’t force an early QB pick unless it's the God Tier.
• Be opportunistic—let value fall to you and feel comfortable in the pocket passer glut.
• Never draft a non-rushing QB early unless they're in Burrow's camp.
• Late-round cheat code: Go for rushing QBs with upside—Drake Maye, Anthony Richardson.
• In Superflex: Load up on high-upside backups and dart throws.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:41 — Introduction of main topic and personal strategies
• 04:40 — Craig's “Top 4 or wait” strategy
• 05:51 — Danny Kanell on positional depth: “Comfortable waiting”
• 10:12 — Allen and Hurts’ unparalleled consistency
• 13:00 — Deep-dive into tier theory and why tiers matter for fantasy
• 25:49 — Mahomes "buy low" debate
• 33:42 — The undervalued rushing QB tier
• 41:16 — The “Pocket Passers: Choose Your Fighter” chunk
• 47:53 — Why Drake Maye is their favorite late-round upside play
• 53:25 — Anthony Richardson as the ultimate lottery ticket
• 61:23 — Superflex upside with Penix, etc.

Bonus Content & Banter Highlights

• Sprite commercial with Hurts: Jalen Hurts’ off-field persona vs. on-field stoicism.
• Biceps anxiety: Should Marvin Harrison Jr. get bigger for performance?
• Foot/tow rankings (fan mail): “Pinky is the 2nd most important toe.” (68:55)
• Wild name emails: Chess Necessary, Storm Duck, Ed Policy banter.

Closing Thoughts

“It’s a deep and varied year at quarterback. You can be picky and get your guy, or sit back and let value fall.” (62:50)
“If you don't have an opinion, probably just go get a rushing quarterback. Call it a day.” (62:50)

For Listeners New & Old:

This episode is a robust primer on 2025 quarterback strategy, blending sharp analysis with banter and showcasing the Ringer podcasters' signature blend of depth, wit, and self-aware fandom.

Contact & Rankings

• Email: ringerfantasyfootball@gmail.com
• Full rankings: fantasyfootball.theringer.com
• Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @ringerfantasyfootball