Bryant McFadden said the Patriots are a live bet to smash their season-win total and return to the playoffs. He pointed out that Mike Vrabel immediately gives New England, “at worst, the second-best coach in the AFC East,” and argued their free-agency and draft haul leaves them with the division’s second-deepest roster behind Buffalo. McFadden circled the first three games—Raiders at home, Dolphins on the road, Steelers at home—as winnable spots that can jump-start confidence for second-year QB Drake May. Because the 2025 slate contains only three 2024 playoff opponents and front-loads soft defenses, McFadden believes bettors should take New England to clear any 7.5- or 8-win totals and sprinkle on a playoff berth futures ticket.

Bryant McFadden labeled the Steelers the losers of the deal, warning that shipping out George Pickens leaves DK Metcalf without a credible No. 2 or No. 3 receiver. He pointed out that Pittsburgh’s 2024 passing attack already ranked near the bottom of the league and now must face star-studded AFC North offenses led by Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson without comparable firepower. McFadden said fantasy managers should temper expectations for all Steelers pass-catchers and even Metcalf himself because defenses can key on him. He also questioned the team’s ability to keep pace in high-scoring games, suggesting bettors downgrade Pittsburgh team-total and win-total outlooks.

Bryant McFadden said the Cowboys were the clear winners of the blockbuster trade because George Pickens immediately steps in as a "wide-receiver-1B" opposite CeeDee Lamb. McFadden called Pickens a top-10 talent at the position whose raw numbers were capped in Pittsburgh by quarterback inconsistency. Now the 24-year-old joins Dak Prescott in a pass-first offense that has been searching for a consistent WR2 after Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert failed to seize the role. McFadden expects Dallas to feature Pickens heavily, projecting a ceiling well above his previous usage and framing him as a fantasy breakout candidate in season-long leagues and DFS once pricing catches up.

Bryant McFadden predicted that Aaron Rodgers will join the Steelers before training camp, insisting there is already a "silent agreement" in place after Rodgers visited the facility weeks ago. McFadden argued that the timing of the Pickens trade makes sense only if Pittsburgh knows it will upgrade the quarterback spot, and he emphasized that Rodgers needs time to learn a new playbook and build chemistry with DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren. The former Steeler believes front-office moves point toward a 2024 run with Rodgers, making now the time for bettors to grab long-shot Pittsburgh futures before the market adjusts.

McFadden called Omarion Hampton a plug-and-play bell-cow that Denver should scoop at pick 20. He praised Hampton’s burst and elite contact balance, labeling him RB2 only because Ashton Jeanty shares the class. The Broncos have not produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 2019; Sean Payton’s best offenses have always leaned on a durable feature back. With Denver already reinforcing tight end (Evan Engram) and breaking in a young quarterback, a Hampton selection would immediately stabilize the offense and give fantasy drafters a Day-1 volume play. McFadden noted Hampton would be RB1 in most classes, making him tremendous value if he slips into the back half of Round 1.

Bryant McFadden pegged pass-rusher Mike Green as the ideal pick for Atlanta, noting Green’s 17-sack 2024 season and ranking him the class’s No. 2 edge behind Abdul Carter. The Falcons have not had a double-digit sack artist since Vic Beasley’s 16 in 2016 and have failed to produce even seven sacks from any player since 2019. McFadden argued that without consistent pressure a team simply cannot win in today’s NFL, making Green a needs-meets-value selection that should improve Atlanta’s divisional futures and the IDP outlook for fantasy managers.

Bryant McFadden said Tyler Warren has the tools to mirror Brock Bowers’ immediate fantasy impact if he is drafted by a franchise willing to treat him as a top‑two passing option. McFadden emphasized Warren’s "transformer"‑level versatility—he lined up inline, in the slot, and even took wildcat snaps at Penn State—plus broad athletic measurables that match Bowers coming out of Georgia. The former cornerback noted that expectations for rookie tight ends have been reset after Bowers’ 2024 campaign, so Warren only needs 18‑22% target share to flirt with TE1 numbers in redraft and dynasty formats. McFadden believes that share is realistic because Warren’s blocking chops will keep him on the field for every situation, boosting route participation above 80% regardless of landing spot. The only caveat is volume: whichever team drafts him must funnel looks his way instead of pigeonholing him as a gadget piece. If that happens, McFadden projects a 55‑60 catch rookie line with eight‑touchdown upside—enough to crack the top eight tight ends in 2025 fantasy drafts.