Ian Hartitz encouraged drafters to sprinkle in Jaleel McLaughlin with their very last pick, arguing the Broncos backfield is far more open than ADP suggests. Sean Payton historically installs week-specific rotations—think Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles—so counting on Javonte Williams or rookie RJ Harvey for bell-cow treatment is risky. McLaughlin averaged 1.31 yards per route run and flashed 4.3-speed explosion last preseason, giving him a plausible passing-down role right away plus contingent early-down upside if Williams’ knee troubles flare again. Because he’s available after pick 215, Hartitz sees McLaughlin as the “explosive piece in a Dallas-style committee that costs literally nothing,” an ideal final-round bet for tournament rosters.

Ian Hartitz pumped the brakes on the late-round Michael Wilson enthusiasm. Even before Marvin Harrison Jr. arrived, Wilson failed to capitalize on 82 percent route participation, managing only a 12 percent targets-per-route rate and one top-30 fantasy finish all year. Hartitz expects Kyler Murray to funnel throws to Trey McBride and Harrison, leaving minimal volume for tertiary options in a passing attack that already projects bottom-half in attempts. He said Wilson is a click he’ll make strictly for Kyler-stack correlation, not because the wideout possesses any standalone ceiling, and advised drafters to pivot elsewhere if they need true spike-week potential from their last receiver slot.

Ian Hartitz said drafting Kareem Hunt in round 17 of Best-Ball Mania is an easy lottery ticket because there’s a realistic shot—he put the odds at 30 percent—that Hunt beats out Isiah Pacheco for the Chiefs starting job. Hartitz pointed to Kansas City’s prior familiarity with Hunt from his 2017–18 Pro Bowl seasons and noted that Pacheco is still rehabbing tight-rope ankle surgery, a procedure that historically hampers backs for months. He added that Andy Reid has routinely shuffled backfield roles late in camp; if Hunt takes the first preseason series with Patrick Mahomes, his ADP could skyrocket into the Javonte Williams/Miles Sanders round-10 range. With drafters currently paying a seventh-round premium for Pacheco’s version of the same role, Hartitz views Hunt’s asymmetric upside as the perfect final-round swing in large-field best-ball tournaments.

Ian Hartitz called Chris Olave a screaming value at current round-7 ADP, arguing that quarterback worries are already more than baked in. Hartitz cited a recent Coach Speak Index quote from new head coach Kellen Moore—“his ability to move around and line up in a number of positions will be a huge advantage for us”—as evidence Olave will be deployed all over the formation. Hartitz compared the situation to Garrett Wilson, noting Wilson still goes in round 3 with similar QB uncertainty while Olave actually edges him in yards per route run. Olave commanded a 27 % target share when healthy last year and finished top-five in yards per route run on intermediate routes despite two concussions and Derek Carr’s erratic accuracy. Moore has historically ranked top-10 in early-down pass rate, and with no proven WR2 in New Orleans, Hartitz projected 155-plus targets and a top-12 finish, making Olave a priority buy in Best Ball Mania drafts.

Selecting Joe Mixon at the 4-5 turn, Ian Hartitz called him the perfect hero-RB anchor. Before his late-season fade, Mixon ranked RB2 behind only Saquon Barkley in half-PPR points. Houston’s line upgrades (Tytus Howard healthy, LaDarius Henderson drafted) and Bobby Slowik’s wide-zone scheme that produced the league’s 4th-highest EPA per rush in 2023 both set up more efficient touches. With Dameon Pierce relegated to backup duty, Hartitz expects 270-plus carries and a secure third-down role, projecting Mixon for double-digit scores in an offense that scored 2.4 points per drive with C.J. Stroud. He said drafters shouldn’t be shocked if Mixon finishes as a top-10 back despite going 40th overall.

Hartitz could not believe Tyreek Hill is slipping into the early third round, noting fantasy-life projections still slot him as the WR4 overall. He chalked last year’s dip in production up to Miami’s patchwork offensive line and Tua’s multiple injuries, issues the team partially addressed with Terron Armstead’s return to health and continuity in Mike McDaniel’s scheme. Hill still ranked top-six in target share (28 %) and yards per route run (2.78) but finished outside the top 10 in touchdowns—a number Hartitz expects to regress positively. He argued the only thing holding ADP down is “weird Twitter posts,” not on-field concerns, and predicted Week 1 will remind everyone why the Cheetah averages 19.7 PPR points since joining Miami.

Ian Hartitz grabbed Trey McBride at the 3-4 turn and called him nearly interchangeable with rookie Brock Bowers—yet McBride goes a full round later. Hartitz reminded listeners that McBride commanded a 24 % target share and finished 5th among tight ends in yards per route run after Week 8 last season. With Kyler Murray back and virtually no proven target competition outside Marvin Harrison Jr., Hartitz views McBride as the unquestioned focal point of Drew Petzing’s offense. Drafting him allows drafters to stop at two tight ends, freeing roster spots for late-round flyers while still accessing elite weekly ceilings and a strong Week-17 dome game against Chicago.

Hartitz said if Deebo Samuel’s lingering health issues extend into September, Brandon Aiyuk could command an ‘actual alpha’ target share for the first time in his career. He believes even 90 % of the 2023 version of Aiyuk—who ranked fourth in yards per route run (3.02) and seventh in fantasy points per target—would be enough to push him into the top-15 receivers. Hartitz mentioned that Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings will play roles, but neither has ever shown the after-catch explosiveness (5.7 YAC per reception) or separation skills (77th-percentile open-score per ESPN) of Aiyuk. If Samuel misses extended time, San Francisco’s 28-point implied weekly totals give Aiyuk double-digit touchdown upside at a late-third-round ADP that is currently baking in injury fear.

Hartitz admitted he briefly toyed with ranking rookie Zamir White (“Gentie” in the transcription) as RB3 overall but has moved Christian McCaffrey back ahead of every challenger. He cited three main points: (1) McCaffrey’s role as the unquestioned focal point—new OC Klint Kubiak already said the offense ‘runs through CMC,’ and with Deebo Samuel banged up the running back could see a career-high target share; (2) San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan attack averaged 2.64 points per drive last season, while the Raiders offense ranking 31st in EPA per play gives White far less touchdown equity; (3) proven weekly ceiling—McCaffrey led all RBs in 30-plus point fantasy outings in both 2022 and 2023, whereas White is still a projection in a bottom-tier offense. Hartitz concluded he is no longer passing CMC at the 1.06-1.08 range regardless of format.