The Ringer Fantasy Football Show – "RB Sleepers, Tiers, and Fears 2025"

Date: August 6, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck
Special Guest: Sean Fennessey

Episode Overview

In this episode, The Ringer Fantasy Football Show crew dives deep into the 2025 fantasy football running back landscape. They break down RB "sleepers, tiers, and fears": which RBs you should draft, who to avoid, which backfields are in flux, and how to build a winning team this season. Along the way, there's spirited debate about player value, coach impacts, and even a detour into Happy Gilmore 2 and the best/worst fantasy punishments for the Ringer staff league.

News & Notable NFL Context

[03:13] Cowboys & Commanders Trade Drama

• Micah Parsons (Dallas) has formally requested a trade, dropping a lengthy Notes App message on social media.
• Hosts discuss Jerry Jones’ media-savvy approach: "Jerry looks at contract drama as free advertising for his company." (Heifetz, 04:28)
• “The Cowboys are going to sign Micah Parsons. They're not going to trade him. They're going to cave, like September 3rd. They're gonna give Micah Parsons $42 million a year,” (Heifetz, 04:08)
• Terry McLaurin (Washington) has also requested a trade, seeking $30M a year, but it’s described as “the single least likely player to request a trade... He’s going to sign with Washington.” (Heifetz, 08:16)

[13:14] Rams RB and QB Updates

• Kyren Williams signs a 2-year, $11.5M/year deal with the Rams. Notably, Sean McVay continues to trust Williams, despite perpetual skepticism from analysts: “Sean McVay... has not suggested anything other than he really likes Kyron Williams. And all of us collectively refuse to believe that.” (Kelly, 10:37)
• Matthew Stafford hasn't taken part in training camp due to “back soreness,” concerning fantasy drafters. All three hosts riff on the realities of aging bodies, both for Stafford and themselves.

Key Segment: Running Back Tiers and Draft Strategy

Importance of Tiers in Drafting

[16:54]

• “If you really want to have success in your draft, try to have tiers... We're gonna make sure we get the buckets right. The order within the buckets, we don’t care.” (Heifetz)

Tier 1: “I’m Never Gonna Die” Backs

[17:54–30:33]

• Saquon Barkley (Eagles)
  • Workhorse, high floor/ceiling, but slight injury “fear” after 482 touches last year.
• Bijan Robinson (Falcons)
  • Locked-in three-down role, explosive.
• Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions)
  • High pass-catching role; ascending offense.
• Derrick Henry (Ravens, Age 31)
  • Debate on RB age dropoff; hosts agree Henry is an outlier and deserves top-tier status.
  • "If Derrick Henry is on your fantasy football team, you're like, I am immortal." (Heifetz, 30:24)

Memorable Quotes

• "Call me when he slows down.” – Craig, on Derrick Henry’s doubters (19:02)
• "It's like Tom Brady. He's changed what it should be…” – Heifetz, on Henry’s longevity (29:49)

Tier 2: Elite with More Risk – “I Might Die but I'm Gonna Die Trying”

[30:34–34:31]

• Christian McCaffrey (49ers)
  • Injury worries, especially after last year’s Achilles injury, but otherwise top-2 every week.
  • “Every week, McCaffrey's healthy, we're gonna have McCaffrey first or second every f***ing week…” (Heifetz, 27:18)
• De’Von Achane (Dolphins)
  • Massive Tua-dependent upside: “With Tua, 20 points per game; without, about 8.” (Heifetz, 23:10)
• Ashton Jeanty (Rookie, Bengals)
  • Enormous hype, but “Trent Richardson is the only thing holding me back from going all-in on Jeanty.” – Craig (30:57)

Tier 2 Philosophy:

• These are guys you’d be thrilled with, but injury or rookie risk is at play.

The Jonathan Taylor Dilemma

[34:31–34:47]

• Taylor is consensus bell-cow but in a bad offense. After debate, he’s moved just outside the elite tier.

Next Tier: “RB1s With Flaws—The Last RB1s You’ll Be Happy to Start”

[37:35–52:06]

• Name-Check of Tier:
  • Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Josh Jacobs (Packers), Bucky Irving (Bucs), Kyren Williams (Rams), Chase Brown (Bengals), Omarion Hampton (Chargers)

On Omarion Hampton:

• Huge upside if Najee Harris (Chargers) is out long-term after injury.
• "Hampton's getting all these first team reps... he should be much higher.” (Kelly, 43:20)
• "If you get one of these last true RB1s at the right value, you can build a winning team." (Heifetz, 50:37)

Tier: RB2s/Committee & “Flawed Workhorses”

[52:14–53:13]

• Alvin Kamara (Saints), Ken Walker (Seahawks), James Cook (Bills; regression likely), Chuba Hubbard (Panthers), etc.
• Kamara as RB2: “As your #2, you feel great, but as your RB1, you’re justifying it to yourself…” (Heifetz, 51:12)

James Cook Regression Fears:

• Cook's “16 rushing TD” season may not repeat—less than 50% snaps/carries, heavy TD regression risk. (40:02)
• “He plays less than 50% of the snaps… would it surprise you if his touchdown total fell to seven or something this year?” (Craig, 41:01)

Next Tier: 1A/1B Backfield Timeshares & High-Upside Rookies

[54:36–61:26]

• David Montgomery (Lions), Tony Pollard (Titans), Aaron Jones (Vikings), Isaiah Pacheco (Chiefs), De’Andre Swift (Bears)
• Rookie trio: RJ Harvey (Broncos), TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots), Caleb Johnson (Steelers)

• “Isaiah Pacheco is a really smart under-discussed value right now.” (Craig, 55:46)

On Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson:

• “Hype train has left the station... He’s a really reliable back in a lot of ways—good pass blocker, good in passing game.” (Kelly, 57:47)
• “Everyone I trust with the Patriots says he’s going to take over this year, not just part of a succession plan.” (Heifetz, 58:26)

Steelers, Texans, Jaguars—Backfields in Flux

[61:53–67:09]

• Caleb Johnson (Steelers): “I just want to be out on the Steelers running backs… enough touches, not enough success.” (Heifetz, 62:57)
• Texans: Joe Mixon’s injury makes the lead back (Woody Marks, Dameon Pierce) a free/tremendous value.
• Jaguars: "Bigsby’s going to win that job in Jacksonville." (Heifetz, 67:58)

Deep Dives, Sleepers & Dart Throws

[67:54–70:38]

• Names like Tyler Allgeier (Falcons), Isaac Guerendo (49ers), Rashad White (Bucs), Tyjae Spears (Titans; “Spears is a value”), Bashaw Tootin (Jags), Austin Ekeler (Washington), Jerome Ford (Browns).
• On Cowboys: “Miles Sanders, from camp reports, looks significantly better than Javonte Williams but now has a knee injury—Jaden Blue, rookie, is getting starter reps.” (Craig, 69:55)

Special Guest Segment: Sean Fennessey

[75:11–84:40]

On Steelers Signing Aaron Rodgers

[76:01]

• Craig attempts optimism, but Sean Fennessey eviscerates his fence-sitting:
  • “You kind of need to either go all-in… or just get off the boat… The Steelers are entering Jetsey territory… you need to get on our level.” (Sean Fennessey, 77:18)
  • “There is a serious chance Aaron Rodgers ends up the QB of the first Mike Tomlin Steelers team to have a losing record… It will literally be, ‘Aaron Rodgers was great, then he ruined Mike Tomlin’s career.’” (Heifetz, 79:04)

On Jets and Justin Fields

• Sean: “I feel like [Justin Fields] is a turkey sandwich. Solid, gets you through the day.” (81:06)
• “If he’s just above average, they could win eight or nine games.” (Sean, 83:38)

League Punishment Brainstorm & Fun Segment

[84:44–92:08]

• The group crowdsources Ringer Fantasy Football League punishments, debating what’s both humiliating and realistically doable for high-profile on-air talent (including Bill Simmons).
  • Notables: “Vanilla Ice slits in the eyebrows”—Sean would do this, but not eat two cold cans of soup. “Don’t make me eat something disgusting… anything that is Fear Factor-related.” (Sean, 89:03)
  • Other suggestions: 5 minutes of stand-up, taking the SATs, having to display a rival jersey.

Happy Gilmore 2 Debate

[92:08–99:49]

• Craig’s scathing review: “Pandering, lazy nostalgia slop.” (Craig, 92:37)
• Heifetz’s counter: “Of course Happy Gilmore 2 is fan service. Yes, I am a fan—I felt served.” (Heifetz, 92:57)
• Sean Cements his take: "It's so fun to have the shoe on the other foot for me... men between 25–55 think they are not pretentious film snobs, and now they are the ones acting that way because their holy sacred document... has been vandalized." (Sean, 95:10)
• Group riff on aging, nostalgia, and the fate of movie comedies; debate closes with resigned acceptance of the state of streaming movies and content.

Notable Quotes & Highlights (with Timestamps)

• “[Derrick Henry] He's changed what it should be… like Tom Brady” (29:49, Heifetz)
• “If you get one of these RB1s at value, you can build a championship.” (50:37, Heifetz)
• “Isaiah Pacheco has jumped out to me a little bit… what’s really changed versus last year besides injury?” (54:36, Kelly/Craig)
• “Happy Gilmore 2… I am a fan, I felt served.” (92:57, Heifetz)
• “Make your take, man! Are [the Steelers] winning 14 games or not?” (78:52, Sean Fennessey)

Summary Table: Key RB Tiers

| Tier | RB Names | Notes | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | "Never Gonna Die" | Saquon, Bijan, Gibbs, Derrick Henry | True bell-cow, trustworthy elite, minimal fear | | "Die Trying" | McCaffrey, Achane, Jeanty | Massive upside, but with injury/rookie or team risk | | RB1s (borderline) | JTaylor, Jacobs, Irving, Kyren, Chase Brown, O. Hampton | Last group you’re happy starting as RB1s | | RB2s/Committees | Kamara, Walker, Cook, Hubbard (...many more) | Good as RB2, nervous as RB1 | | 1A/1B/High-Up Rookies | Montgomery, Pollard, Jones, Pacheco, Swift, Harvey, Henderson | Flex appeal, can emerge via committee or talent |

Closing Thoughts

This episode offers a blueprint for fantasy managers—underlining the importance of RB grouping (tiers over rankings), understanding workload nuance, and not getting lost in the injury-a-phobia that surrounds running backs.

The crew’s blend of sharp fantasy insight, candid NFL banter, and uniquely quotable tangents (including movie reviews and league punishments) makes this a must-listen for any serious or casual fantasy football player, especially in the critical stretch leading up to August drafts.

Listen for More

• For updates on evolving RB1/committee/sleeper backfields, tune in next week after the preseason’s first batch of games.
• Email the show at ringerfantasyfootball@gmail.com with league punishment suggestions or fantasy questions.
• Follow @ringerfantasy on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for additional content.