The Ryen Russillo Podcast — Episode Summary
Episode Date: August 26, 2025
Title: Annual NFL Top Five at Every Position With Sheil Kapadia. Plus, Stanford Steve Previews Texas–Ohio State and CFB Week 1.
Episode Overview
This episode marks the annual tradition of ranking the top five NFL players at every position, featuring NFL analyst Sheil Kapadia. The detailed, lively debate covers every position group—from quarterbacks to offensive line units—incorporating stats, film study, and subjective eye tests, along with honest disagreements and trend observations. In the second half, Stanford Steve joins Ryen to preview the upcoming College Football Week 1, focusing on high-stakes matchups, quarterback situations at major programs, teams with volatile outlooks, and their most anticipated games to attend in 2025. Throughout, memorable personal stories, strong opinions, and a few running jokes keep the tone energetic and conversational.
NFL: Top 5 at Every Position with Sheil Kapadia
Quarterbacks (Starts ~02:11)
- Consensus Top 4: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson.
- The big debate is around the fifth spot—a rich topic for sports content, as Ryen notes:
"The fifth quarterback spot has just been a gift from the content gods this off season."
— Sheil Kapadia [03:01] - Sheil’s Pick for Fifth: Jaden Daniels — Praised for elevating a lackluster supporting cast to a top-five offense.
"[Daniels] did one of the hardest things a quarterback has to do, which is lead a top five offense when you don’t have a great supporting cast."
— Sheil [03:01] - Ryen’s Pick for Fifth: Justin Herbert — A bit stubborn, admits redrafting would likely have Herbert fifth.
"I still feel good about Herbert... if you redrafted the entire position, I don’t know that he would go sixth."
— Ryen [04:04] - Mahomes remains at the top because his clutch performance on third downs and ability to carry subpar supporting groups outweighs recent statistical dips.
"If there’s a third and seven, I cannot understand how anybody could watch this sport and want anyone other than Mahomes."
— Ryen [05:28]
Running Backs (Starts ~06:48)
- Both agree: Saquon Barkley is #1 after an MVP-caliber season.
- Rosillo’s Top 5: Saquon, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey.
- Sheil’s Top 5: Saquon, Bijan Robinson, Jameer Gibbs, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey.
- Discussion: Derrick Henry ("the outlier") proves doubters wrong with league-leading stats at age 31.
"I’m done trying to predict the cliff with Derrick Henry ... he’s got to be in the top five until he has that year where you’re like, okay, now the decline is showing."
— Sheil [08:49] - Gibbs: Cited for explosive plays and pass-catching.
- Bijan: Called more of a "sustainer"—elite success rate.
- McCaffrey: Injury history makes him risky, but talent keeps him (barely) in the top 5.
"When I know he’s right, this isn’t even a question."
— Ryen [10:59]
Wide Receivers (Starts ~12:09)
- Coin toss at the top: Ja’Marr Chase vs. Justin Jefferson.
- Sheil: 1. Chase 2. Jefferson 3. AJ Brown 4. CeeDee Lamb 5. Puka Nacua
- Ryen: 1. Chase 2. Jefferson 3. CeeDee Lamb 4. Amon-Ra St. Brown 5. AJ Brown
- Arguments for Chase: Yards after catch, ability to “flip the field,” edge from college days.
- Underappreciated stats: St. Brown’s consistency and dependency for Detroit, Puka Nacua’s efficiency.
- Tyreek Hill’s drop off discussed, system context for Brown underlined.
- Notable Quote:
"He just feels so steady, if not as exciting as maybe some of the other top guys..."
— Ryen on Amon-Ra St. Brown [15:15]
Tight Ends (Starts ~15:58)
- Both: Still George Kittle’s belt due to elite blocking and above-average receiving.
"He’s just in another class from all these guys. And that matters to coaches, that matters in certain schemes."
— Sheil [16:02] - Brock Bowers immediately #2, but both apply "show me for more than one year" rule.
- Trey McBride breaks out as more appreciated.
- Travis Kelce remains in the top 5 on reputation, despite age.
- Sam LaPorta rounded out the consensus five. Notable aside: Tight ends need a “gimmick or brand” to get mainstream attention.
Offensive Line: Tackles & Units (Starts ~20:10)
Left/Right Tackles
- Top tier: Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, Penei Sewell, Tristan Wirfs.
- Sheil, a Philly guy, gives Lane Johnson the edge for his ability to be "put on an island."
- Penalties, pass-block win rate, and versatility all discussed.
- Challenge: Quantifying OL play with stats is tough; shout outs to Brandon Thorne for film study.
Best OL Units (Starts ~22:39)
- Sheil’s Top 5: Eagles, Bills, Broncos, Buccaneers, Lions.
- The Bears unit: Both skeptical, citing the combination of imported "upgrades" that haven't gelled conceptually or on the field.
Defensive Tackle (Starts ~24:00)
- Sheil’s Top 5: 1. Chris Jones (Chiefs) 2. Dexter Lawrence (Giants) 3. Jalen Carter (Eagles) 4. Leonard Williams 5. Quinnen Williams.
- Ryen: Agrees Jones & Lawrence are “coin flip” for best—Jones wins with late-game impact, Lawrence’s run/pass dominance impresses.
"If Dexter Lawrence were on the Chiefs right now, we would just see him in more big spots and big games..."
— Sheil [26:32]
Edge Rusher (Starts ~28:00)
- Consensus Top 4: Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, TJ Watt, Nick Bosa.
- Fifth spot: Aidan Hutchinson breaks in for both, high praise for Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson.
- Production vs. impact vs. snap count all considered.
- Notable Quote:
"The way guys talk about Myles Garrett in the NFL...they’re like, Garrett is, he’s like an alien."
— Sheil [29:37]
Cornerback (Starts ~33:10)
- Ryen Goes Bold: Derek Stingley Jr. #1 (elite ball skills & coverage metrics).
- Sheil: Pat Surtain II #1 (due to man-to-man assignments—"asked to do more"), Stingley #2, Sauce Gardner #3, Trent McDuffie #4, Christian Gonzalez #5.
- Christian Benford, Garrett Williams, and Denzel Ward get honorable mention.
- Notable Color:
"He’s still great at the boring stuff."
— Ryen, on Surtain’s consistency [35:19]
Safety (Starts ~37:26)
- Both: Kyle Hamilton (Ravens) is tier of his own; versatility and game-changing ability.
"There is a gap between him and everybody else."
— Sheil [37:34] - Rest of Sheil’s Top 5: Brian Branch (Lions), Jessie Bates, Budda Baker, Xavier McKinney.
- Ryen: Similar, has McKinney, Branch, Winfield, Bates.
- Shout outs to Kirby Joseph, Derwin James.
Linebacker (Starts ~42:10)
- Both Agree: Fred Warner—so versatile and smart there’s "no debate."
"He lets you do things defensively that you just cannot do if he’s not your linebacker."
— Sheil [42:10] - Ryen: Warner, Roquan Smith, Zack Baun, Nick Bolton, Dre Greenlaw.
- Sheil: Warner, Baun, Roquan Smith, Dayon Henley, Demario Davis (career achievement).
- Hipster mention: Edgerrin Cooper (Packers)—future star.
College Football Week 1 & Major Storylines (Starts ~52:02)
Standford Steve's College Football Segment
On Michigan, Oregon, Miami, LSU (Starts ~54:27)
- Discusses the wide range of outcomes (make/miss playoff) for power programs. Defensive talent, culture, and O-line play highlighted as Michigan’s edge.
"I'm not going to be surprised if they make the playoff. I'm not going to be surprised if they miss..."
— Stanford Steve [54:27] - Oregon: Transfer portal + recruiting has reloaded the roster, but receiving group and defense lost heavy talent.
- Miami: Strong in trenches, new DC, lost top 6 pass-catchers.
- LSU: "Wow factor" is back. Improved defense, great WRs, but major questions in run game under Sloan.
Week 1 Premier Matchups (Starts ~61:18)
- Picks Clemson to beat LSU at home, citing stability and returning production.
- Texas-Ohio State: Leans Ohio State but acknowledges Texas’ personnel might match up favorably early in the season.
"Getting Ohio State this early, knowing that they’re going to have to figure out stuff... I love that Texas gets in this early."
— Ryen [70:37]
Notre Dame-Miami and the Value of Tough Wins (Starts ~71:39)
- Notre Dame praised for major WR upgrades and strong OL; Miami lauded for elite lines.
- Advocates for appreciating “ugly wins” by top programs.
"I just can't emphasize this enough, the appreciation for some of those games in those spots, big time programs, all sorts of expectations and that it may not be pretty, but let's just not write these teams off so quickly."
— Ryen [76:31]
Middle-Tier Teams and Pulse on USC, A&M (Starts ~77:27)
- USC has rebuilt with portal and defense in mind, Miller Moss gets a vote of confidence.
- A&M roster and backfield seen as elite; Elko "absolutely loved" by Stanford Steve.
- The new Big Ten depth: a cluster of 9-3/7-5 teams will define the conference and playoff race.
Games They Most Want to Attend (Starts ~79:57)
- Steve: Texas at Florida — "The Swamp" needs to be back.
- Ryen: Texas at Georgia — cites Athens atmosphere in November, massive implications.
"Gainesville is a special place. When it's right, it's—it's a haunting place."
— Ryen [82:05]
SEC Confidential & Alabama/Georgia Watch (Starts ~85:06)
- Quiet confidence in Tuscaloosa and Athens. Alabama’s roster retention post-Saban impressive, DeBoer steadying the ship. Both warn: don’t sleep on Bama/Georgia.
Season Totals "Stanford Steamers" (Starts ~87:59)
- Utah: Over — love the OL, Whittingham’s stability.
- Minnesota: Over 6.5 wins
- Oklahoma State: Under
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
NFL Fifth QB Spot:
"The fifth quarterback spot has just been a gift from the content gods this off season."
— Sheil [03:01] -
On Derrick Henry:
"I’m done trying to predict the cliff with Derrick Henry."
— Sheil [08:49] -
Chase vs. Jefferson:
"I just prefer Chase...the Jefferson argument is, [he] just puts up Hall of Fame numbers every single year and it doesn’t matter who's back there."
— Ryen [13:15] -
Tight End Branding:
"It feels like the tight ends that make sure they're noticed and have some kind of personality...maybe McBride needs to work on that."
— Ryen [18:15] -
On Mid-Tier College Teams:
"Somebody's going to go 9-3 and someone's going to go 7-5 and they're going to be good football teams."
— Stanford Steve [67:49] -
Game Attendance Wish:
“I want Texas undefeated in Florida, undefeated, when Texas goes to the Swamp... The Swamp, oh man, we need it back.”
— Stanford Steve [80:07]
College Football: Key Team/Player Notes
- Michigan: Elite defense, watch Underwood at QB, OL a downgrade from years past.
- Oregon: New guys throughout; uncertain upside for Dante Moore at QB.
- Florida: Watch for Lagway (QB) health, root for success to revive The Swamp.
- LSU: Can’t run the ball historically; fans expect playoffs, but schedule is tough.
- Clemson: Stability makes them home favorite vs. LSU.
- USC: Full identity shift, Miller Moss potential at Louisville discussed.
- Alabama: DeBoer’s roster retention impressive, warning to the nation.
Podcast Life Moments & Humorous Asides
- Long Snapper Discussion (45:41–49:21): Extended, tongue-in-cheek debate over whether long snapper is a true specialist position versus "just get a regular player to do it"—draws parallel to MLB first basemen.
- Personal College Football Road Story (82:05–83:01): Ryen and Steve reminisce about wild Thanksgiving games and the unique energy of Gainesville.
- NFL Deep-Dive "Hipster Picks": Multiple mentions of under-the-radar players (Edgerrin Cooper, Christian Benford, Garrett Williams) for the true football nerds.
Listener Life Advice & Email Bag (Starts ~105:56)
(Only Summary Highlights for NFL/CFB content per instructions)
- Listeners write in about wild commuting ideas (kayaking to work), relationship dilemmas, and financial disputes with exes, with Ryen and staffers blending humor, empathy, and real-world wisdom.
- Running theme: embrace new adventures (“I just think it’s badass... Go for it.” — Ryen on the Hudson kayak [115:01]), but don't overcomplicate things—whether football rankings or life advice.
Final Notes
- The episode delivers on football depth and nerdy rankings while remaining highly accessible—even for non-GM listeners—with plenty of stats, frameworks, and "film/eye test" banter.
- It sets the table for NFL and CFB seasons—highlighting not only the stars but also the systems, coaching shifts, and matchups that will define both sports in 2025.
- The rapport between Ryen, Sheil, and Steve is both sharply informed and endearingly nerdy, making for a compelling must-listen for football fans of any level.
[Key Timestamps]
- 02:11 — NFL Top 5 Rankings Begin (Quarterbacks)
- 06:48 — Running Backs
- 12:09 — Wide Receivers
- 15:58 — Tight Ends
- 20:10 — Tackles/OL/Units
- 24:00 — Defensive Tackles
- 28:00 — Edge Rushers
- 33:10 — Cornerback Rankings
- 37:26 — Safety Rankings
- 42:10 — Linebackers
- 52:02 — College Football Segment with Stanford Steve
- 54:27 — High-variance Playoff Team Preview
- 79:57 — Most Anticipated CFB Game Attended in 2025
- 87:59 — “Stanford Steamers” Win Totals
For detailed player rankings, insight into your favorite team’s outlook, or just some “football therapy,” this episode remains a perfect kickoff for both NFL and college football obsessives alike.