Ian Hartitz labeled Terry McLaurin a ‘pause’ candidate, pointing out that the Commanders’ WR is simultaneously nursing an ankle issue and staging a soft-hold-in while angling for a new deal. McLaurin has yet to practice, and Hartitz warned the situation “has the potential to get ugly” if negotiations stall. With no timetable for a return and a rookie quarterback learning the offense, Hartitz prefers to wait for a discount rather than pay McLaurin’s current WR2 price tag in Season-Long and Best Ball drafts.

Ian Hartitz moved Tank Bigsby into his ‘pump’ bucket after multiple Jaguars beat writers observed the second-year back taking the bulk of first-team carries and consistently out-shining Travis Etienne at camp. Benjamin Solak noted that Bigsby has been the primary early-down runner in every full-speed drill this week. Hartitz believes Doug Pederson wants a between-the-tackles grinder to keep Etienne fresh and expects Bigsby’s ADP to spike once preseason usage becomes public. His advice: ease off Etienne shares for now and load up on Bigsby in the double-digit rounds before the market corrects, especially in Best Ball rooms where RB depth dries up quickly.

Ian Hartitz said he is “full-fading” Joe Mixon after the veteran back was placed on the non-football injury list with what reporters have called a “frustrating foot injury.” National insider Ian Rapoport added that Mixon is expected to miss an extended period, and head coach DeMeco Ryans declined to give any timeline when pressed by beat writers. Hartitz argued that an undefined recovery window this late in the summer is a red flag for a 28-year-old back who already relies on volume rather than explosiveness. He is shifting that volume expectation to Nick Chubb—who now projects as the early-down hammer in Bobby Slowik’s offense—and taking late-round flyers on rookie Woody Marks in case the Texans need a third-down complement. Until Mixon returns to practice, Hartitz recommends removing him from draft boards in Season-Long and Best Ball formats.

Ian Hartitz labeled rookie Matthew Golden a sharp stash as the Packers’ WR4/5 in drafts. Golden carries first-round draft capital and steps into an offense Hartitz already trusts because Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur have demonstrated they can support multiple fantasy-viable pass catchers. With the OTAs hinting at an open competition behind Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, Hartitz believes Golden could carve out a meaningful role by mid-season. Even if he starts slow, the combination of elite college production, Day-1 investment, and a favorable quarterback situation makes Golden’s current WR55-ish price tag feel like buying a call option on a future weekly starter. Hartitz is comfortable making him his fifth or sixth receiver, then stopping at the position to hammer running-back upside plays.

Ian Hartitz advised scooping up Jayden Reed as a late WR4 because the market is pricing him closer to his floor than ceiling. Hartitz likes that Reed is tethered to a Jordan Love–Matt LaFleur attack that flashed top-10 upside down the stretch and faces little week-to-week weather risk in the NFC North’s domes. Reed led all wide receivers in rushing yards last year (10–15 designed carries) and became the first non-Samuel wideout to pace the position in rushing since 2018, giving him bonus fantasy points other slot guys don’t supply. Hartitz views Reed as a young, ascending playmaker who was a sell-high midway through 2024 yet still finished strong; with Christian Watson’s health perpetually in question and Romeo Doubs profile as a possession option, Reed could feasibly push for a 22-25% target share. At a WR50-ish ADP, Hartitz sees low risk and a realistic path to consistent WR2 production.

Ian Hartitz urged drafters to scoop up Jakobi Meyers as a rock-solid WR3 who possesses an overlooked WR2 floor. Meyers has finished top-24 in back-to-back seasons while competing with Davante Adams; now Adams is in Los Angeles, and the Raiders’ remaining wideouts—Trey Tucker, Jack Bech, Dante Thornton—offer little target resistance. Hartitz called the arrival of Geno Smith a "big-time quarterback upgrade" over Aidan O’Connell and Jimmy Garoppolo, expecting Smith’s accuracy on intermediate routes to mesh perfectly with Meyers’ chain-moving skill set. Hartitz reminded listeners that Meyers finally shed the "can’t score" label in Vegas, posting eight TDs across two years after recording none in New England. With Brock Bowers soaking up linebacker attention in the middle of the field, Hartitz projects Meyers for 120-plus targets, 85 catches, and low-double-digit touchdown potential. He’s happy to draft Meyers a full round ahead of ADP as the ideal high-floor pairing with riskier upside swings like Rashee Rice.

Ian Hartitz dropped Rome Odunze well outside his top-40 receivers, calling the Bears sophomore one of 2025’s most overrated break-out bets. Hartitz noted Odunze averaged only 0.1 more PPR points per game than Day-3 rookie Jalen Coker last season despite seeing a similar target total to Marvin Harrison Jr., who was far more productive. He blamed both Odunze’s own inconsistent positioning and a bad habit of losing contested balls he caught routinely at Washington. The 2025 environment looks tougher, not easier: DJ Moore, Luther Burden, and top-10 tight end Colston Loveland all demand targets in Ben Johnson’s historically run-balanced system. Hartitz fears Chicago will devolve into a true committee where none of the three wideouts crack even 115 targets. He pegged Odunze as a volatile WR4/5 who will pop for six good games but burn lineups the rest of the season, advising drafters to take steadier options like Jacoby Myers or upside swings on rookies instead.

Ian Hartitz defended ranking Travis Hunter outside his top-30 receivers, calling the rookie more volatile than current ADP suggests. Hartitz worries Hunter will be asked to play on both sides of the ball, raising snap-count and injury concerns that could sap weekly fantasy production. Even if Hunter eventually settles into a full-time offensive role, Hartitz notes he is joining a Jacksonville attack that already invested a top-10 pick in Brian Thomas, added Deontay Johnson, and still features David Njoku—all competition for targets. He also questioned whether Trevor Lawrence, whose career efficiency numbers mirror Daniel Jones’s, will provide the quarterback play necessary to support multiple high-end pass-catchers under new coordinator Liam Cohen. Given the twin uncertainties of usage and offensive environment, Hartitz sees Hunter as a high-variance WR3 best drafted well after pick 30 at the position.

Ian Hartitz said Davante Adams can still post elite numbers after the rumored move to Los Angeles, forecasting a scenario where BOTH Adams and Puka Nacua finish as top-10 fantasy receivers. Hartitz pointed to the historical production of Sean McVay/Matthew Stafford offenses—Rams wideouts rank first in total receiving yards and second in receptions since the duo joined forces—as proof the scheme can funnel massive volume to two alphas. He added that Tutu Atwell functions strictly as a vertical clear-out piece, so the target tree should stay extremely condensed. Hartitz reminded listeners Adams was the overall PPR WR3 over the final six weeks of last season, showing no signs of age-related decline. With Stafford’s willingness to pepper preferred targets and the Rams unlikely to feature any true third option, Hartitz believes Adams has a realistic path back to 165-plus targets and a double-digit touchdown season, making him a bargain at a mid-second-round ADP.

Ian Hartitz pushed back on the JSN hype, slotting him at the bottom of the WR15-WR20 tier. Hartitz argued that Klint Kubiak’s two-week hot streak with the Saints came against defenses that finished 31st and 32nd in scoring, so extrapolating that sample is dangerous. He also thinks the Seahawks’ offensive line is far weaker than Kubiak’s 2023 Saints unit, especially up the middle—bad news for Sam Darnold, who imploded once interior pressure hit in Minnesota. Hartitz worries JSN’s skill set overlaps with Cooper Kupp, meaning neither player may see the classic slot-funnel volume if clear-out routes fail to develop. In his view, a downgrade from Geno Smith to Darnold plus questionable protection leaves JSN’s realistic ceiling at low-end WR2, making him overpriced at a top-10 tag.

Ian Hartitz planted his flag on Nico Collins as a borderline top-five wideout, ranking him WR4 in his latest update. Hartitz highlighted that Collins is the ONLY receiver to average more than 3.0 yards per route run across the last two seasons combined, a level of efficiency normally reserved for Tyreek Hill–type unicorns. With Tank Dell sidelined and Stefon Diggs released, Hartitz sees a rare target vacuum—Collins could realistically push past a 28-30% share. He is also banking on C.J. Stroud looking more like his 2023 rookie self now that Houston has shuffled coaching and added line help, even if the unit still projects bottom-five. Hartitz believes Collins has the cleanest path to alpha volume among the WR6-WR12 tier and would not be shocked if he finished as the overall WR5 by season’s end.

Ian Hartitz pushed Amon-Ra St. Brown down to WR10 and said he will not pay the WR5 ADP. Hartitz cited three separate worries: (1) the off-season knee ‘cleanup’ that surfaced only in June, raising the chance the wideout is less than 100 percent in September; (2) Ben Johnson’s departure, which removes the play-caller who built the high-volume slot scheme that fueled St. Brown’s breakout; and (3) real target competition from a healthy Jamison Williams plus Sam LaPorta. Hartitz noted Jared Goff just delivered a career-best season and doubts Detroit’s offense can repeat that peak. With elite alternatives such as Drake London and A.J. Brown available in the same range, he advised passing on St. Brown unless his price slips into the back of Round 2.

Ian Hartitz kept Chris Godwin all the way down at WR40, arguing that drafters are overlooking multiple red flags. Godwin is not certain to be a full participant in training camp after another serious lower-body injury, and Hartitz is skeptical he will look like his old self right away. The Buccaneers spent a first-round pick on Emeka Egbuka—a skill-set overlap that could siphon slot volume—and Liam Cohen’s departure removes the play-caller who helped maximize Baker Mayfield’s efficiency. Hartitz also flagged potential touchdown regression for Mayfield after last year’s career-high rate. Finally, he flat-out warned listeners to ignore anything Todd Bowles says about timelines, recalling the coach’s overly optimistic comments on Godwin’s 2024 recovery. All told, Hartitz sees far more downside than upside at an ADP of WR34 and advised passing unless Godwin slips deep into the mid-rounds.

Ian Hartitz said Jordan Addison should be treated as an easy stash because the league is now expected to levy only a one-to-three-game suspension. That short ban falls before bye weeks hit, so fantasy managers will not feel the roster crunch they would with a mid-season Ezekiel-Elliott-style ruling. Hartitz reminded listeners that from Weeks 9-17 of last year Addison was the PPR WR5—one spot behind Justin Jefferson—and did it while playing his normal No. 2 role, not because of Jefferson’s absence. With Addison locked into secondary coverage opposite Jefferson, Hartitz believes the sophomore can regularly pop for 20-plus PPR points once active. His advice is to burn a late bench slot, ride out the micro-suspension, then unleash a potential every-week WR2 with week-winning upside the rest of the way.

After months of fading him, Ian Hartitz conceded that T.J. Hockenson deserves a bump into the low-end TE1 tier if Jordan Addison draws the expected one-to-three-game suspension. Hartitz noted Addison vacated 22 percent of team targets in the eight healthy games he shared with Justin Jefferson last season; without that competition early, Hockenson could push for a 25-30 percent share in Weeks 1-3. Hartitz cautioned that Hockenson averaged only 12.8 PPR points with Jefferson active in 2024 versus 16.3 when Jefferson sat, but he still projects the tight end to see seven to nine high-percentage targets per week during the suspension window. Because those games fall before bye weeks hit, managers can stream a replacement later without roster crunch. Hartitz still expects Addison to reclaim the No. 2 role upon return, so the play is drafting Hockenson for a fast start and then deciding whether to trade him or ride out a likely TE6-to-TE8 rest-of-season finish.

Ian Hartitz pushed Jauan Jennings up to WR33 and said he is the best way to attack the Brandon Aiyuk injury mess. Hartitz reminded listeners that Jennings averaged the 26th-most PPR points per game last season and was on a 1,000-yard pace before multiple soft-tissue setbacks. With Aiyuk on the PUP list, Kendrick Bourne shelved, and rookie Ricky Pearsall still easing back from a spring foot issue, Jennings is the only healthy outside receiver Brock Purdy trusts. Hartitz dismissed Pearsall’s late-season spike—five games of 69 percent route involvement but only 21 total yards—and cited Jennings’ ability to win after the catch (fifth in missed tackles forced per reception in 2024) as evidence the veteran can slide seamlessly into the X role. San Francisco’s condensed target tree historically supports two startable pass-catchers; Hartitz expects George Kittle and Jennings to hoard looks until Aiyuk returns, giving Jennings smash potential as a low-end WR2 through September.

Ian Hartitz advised fading Deebo Samuel outside the top-40 receivers in normal redraft leagues. Hartitz argued Washington is unlikely to give Samuel anything close to the gadget-back usage Kyle Shanahan built around him in San Francisco, stripping away the rushing volume that once buoyed his fantasy ceiling. Samuel’s efficiency already collapsed in 2024—he ranked WR25 in points per game before a bout with pneumonia and fell outside the top-40 afterward—while tracking near the bottom of the league in success rate versus man coverage. Hartitz called the 28-year-old an age-ing, YAC-dependent archetype whose per-touch pop has cratered, noting that Commanders coach Kliff Kingsbury historically funnels quick-hitting screens to younger, more explosive options. With Terry McLaurin entrenched as the alpha and rookie Luke McCaffrey stealing underneath looks, Hartitz sees Samuel settling around 60-65 catches, sub-750 yards, and minimal carry work—production that won’t punish you if you completely pass on him at current ADP.

Ian Hartitz pushed back on McLaurin’s rising draft price, keeping him at WR18 and labeling him one of the position’s riskier Round-3 picks. Hartitz reminded listeners that McLaurin soaked up only 117 targets in 17 games last season—far below the 150-plus he expected given Washington’s paper-thin receiver room. McLaurin saved his fantasy year with an outlier touchdown rate, something Hartitz views as unlikely to repeat for a 30-year-old wideout whose efficiency has been steadier than explosive throughout his career. With the Commanders eyeing short contracts because of McLaurin’s age, and potential newcomers like Debo Samuel or Luke McCaffrey siphoning underneath looks, Hartitz fears McLaurin will again sit 20-30 targets behind peers such as Mike Evans, DK Metcalf, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Without that high-end volume, Hartitz believes regression could pull McLaurin down to a mid-WR3 finish, making him a fade at current ADP.

Ian Hartitz said fantasy drafters need to brace for a real step back from Travis Kelce in 2025. Hartitz pointed to Kelce turning 35 before Week 1 and argued the Chiefs finally have enough wide-receiver firepower—Marquise “Hollywood” Brown healthy, Xavier Worthy set for a second-year leap, and Rashee Rice returning for the stretch run—to siphon middle-of-the-field looks that Kelce has dominated for nearly a decade. Last year’s ultra-low team aDOT, according to Hartitz, was largely injury-driven; if Patrick Mahomes pushes the ball downfield more, Kelce’s volume shrinks further. With Kansas City’s defense still limiting shoot-outs, Hartitz warned Kelce may not deliver the elite weekly ceilings that justify his usual Round-2 draft cost and advised fantasy managers to consider younger options at the position instead of assuming Kelce’s workload will hold steady.

Ian Hartitz dropped Rashee Rice to WR37 but still encouraged drafting him as a late bench stash if you already roster three or four reliable starters. Hartitz highlighted Rice’s elite underlying metrics—top-10 yards per route run and targets per route run over the past decade—and reminded listeners that in his three fully healthy 2023 games Rice averaged more PPR points than any receiver not named Ja’Marr Chase. Hartitz views Rice as a complete receiver who should reclaim lead-dog duties once the suspension ends, especially with Travis Kelce another year older and Hollywood Brown’s durability a question. In keeper formats Hartitz called Rice a screaming value, noting managers could land a Round-7 cost player who profiles as a Round-2 talent in 2025. The play is to accept the dead bench spot early, then unleash a potential WR1 during Weeks 11-17 when championships are decided.

Ian Hartitz agreed that Jordan Mason is being set up for immediate work, highlighting Minnesota as a sneaky candidate to support two top-24 PPR backs. The Vikings signed two former Colts maulers and drafted guard Donovan Jackson, upgrades that could turn last year’s bottom-five short-yardage unit into a strength. Hartitz reminded listeners that Kevin O’Connell explicitly said Aaron Jones is most effective in a 1A/1B setup—meaning Mason’s goal-line role is already baked in. Even if rookie QB J.J. McCarthy struggles, Hartitz projects Mason for roughly 200-210 touches, enough to flirt with RB2 numbers given the touchdown equity. Going outside RB30 in home-league ADP, Hartitz would take Mason over traditional stash backs like Tyler Allgeier or Trey Benson "eight days a week."

Ian Hartitz highlighted Drake Maye as this year’s true late-round Konami-code quarterback. Hartitz cited Maye’s 2024 scramble numbers, which matched Lamar Jackson’s in yardage, and reminded listeners that Maye led the league in yards per carry. In his seven full starts, Maye averaged 220 passing and 35 rushing yards—production levels only Lamar, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts have historically hit. Hartitz projects the Patriots to remain pass-leaning under Alex Van Pelt, giving Maye a realistic shot at 3,800 passing yards and 500 rushing yards if he starts Week 1. Going off the board as QB16, Maye offers top-eight upside at a double-digit round discount, making him Hartitz’s favorite dart throw after the elite quarterback tier is gone.

Ian Hartitz pushed back hard on the Pearsall enthusiasm, calling him "an older prospect who forced zero missed tackles all year." Hartitz reminded listeners that Pearsall’s only real splash play came in the shoot-out versus Detroit and that, upon returning from injury, he logged just 21 total yards over a three-week span despite a 70% route rate. He compared Pearsall’s Lions outburst to Diami Brown’s one-off playoff performance—fun but hardly predictive. Hartitz believes Aiyuk (once healthy) and Samuel remain the only 49ers receivers worth rostering and warned that Pearsall could be the odd man out if Shanahan leans on his run game. For Hartitz, Pearsall’s ADP rise is narrative-driven fool’s gold he’s happy to fade.

Ian Hartitz advised passing on Dallas Goedert at his current top-eight positional price. Hartitz called Goedert "kind of washed" and pointed out that the veteran has finished between TE9 and TE11 in points per game each of the past three seasons despite sky-high route participation. With A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith dominating high-value targets and Kellen Moore expected to lean even more on vertical concepts, Hartitz sees no realistic path for Goedert to climb into the top five. He contrasted Goedert’s capped ceiling with Njoku’s proven 18-point upside and suggested drafters wait two rounds to grab a tight end who can actually swing matchups. In his view, selecting Goedert is paying near-ceiling price for a player whose upside is exactly where he’s being drafted.

Ian Hartitz called David Njoku "the reigning, defending tight-end five two years running" and sees no reason that changes in 2025. Hartitz emphasized Njoku’s unique role in Kevin Stefanski’s scheme—low average depth of target, heavy involvement in play-action and designed YAC opportunities—comparing it to how Jacksonville features Evan Engram. He noted that rookie quarterbacks historically lean on tight ends and Cleveland could start multiple passers this year, which only enhances Njoku’s floor. Target competition is thin: Jerry Jeudy is a slot-only option, Cedric Tillman is still unproven and Amari Cooper is gone. Since Austin Hooper left, Njoku owns a 20% target share and finished no worse than TE6 in points per game each of the last two seasons. Hartitz advised drafting him confidently as a top-five fantasy tight end who offers both weekly stability and occasional spike weeks.

Ian Hartitz called Darius Slayton "maybe the cheapest wideout you can believe in" at a WR80 ADP. Slayton just signed a 3-year, $36 million deal—real money that signals the Giants plan to feature him. Hartitz likes the schematic fit with new quarterback Russell Wilson, whose signature moon-ball dovetails with Slayton’s 15-plus-yard aDOT profile. The veteran’s field-stretching ability complements rookie Malik Nabers and should keep Wan’Dale Robinson from hogging shallow targets. Hartitz conceded Slayton is better in best ball but still sees spike-week flex utility in redraft, arguing that five or six weekly targets from Wilson could produce multiple long touchdowns over the season.

Ian Hartitz said he is siding with Omarion Hampton over D’Andre Swift in the mid-round running-back debate because Hampton’s upside explodes if Najee Harris misses any time. Hartitz acknowledged Rich Hribar’s concerns about a probable 55-45 committee under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman but countered that the Chargers will be among the league leaders in rushing rate, creating a larger pie for both backs. He believes Hampton’s first-round draft capital and three-down skill set give him a true league-winning ceiling that Swift simply does not possess. Hartitz recommended scooping up Hampton in best-ball tournaments and as an upside RB3 in season-long drafts, framing him as the more explosive contingency bet in a backfield that should live inside the top 10 for rushing attempts.

Ian Hartitz warned drafters that Dak Prescott no longer possesses the rushing or arm strength that once carried him to top-five quarterback finishes. Prescott is coming off a hamstring "ripped off the bone," on top of the lingering ankle and shoulder issues that have already killed his designed-run usage. Hartitz noted Dak’s fastball disappeared as far back as Week 1 of 2024, and the Cowboys’ supporting cast is shakier than usual: a downgraded offensive line (no more Zach Martin), zero proven running backs—"single worst backfield in the league"—and an over-reliance on CeeDee Lamb plus the newly acquired George Pickens. With Brian Schottenheimer replacing Mike McCarthy and Dallas likely stuck in the NFL’s middle tier of offenses, Hartitz pegged Prescott as a low-end QB2 who belongs on benches in 1-QB leagues and should be drafted behind upside swing options like Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams.

Ian Hartitz advised grabbing Austin Ekeler in the double-digit rounds, calling him a rare back who offers both stand-alone PPR value and true league-winning contingency upside. Hartitz pointed out that Ekeler and Brian Robinson each logged 70-plus percent snap shares at different times last season, proving Eric Bieniemy will lean on one runner when the other is banged up. Ekeler’s efficiency rebounded in 2024, and even in a split he still owns 7–8 catch weekly upside that pops on full-PPR sites like DraftKings. Concussions limited his late-season workload, but Hartitz believes the veteran has enough juice left to function as a usable FLEX while simultaneously profiling as a top-15 back if Robinson—entering a contract year—misses time. That dual-path appeal separates Ekeler from pure handcuffs such as Tyler Allgeier and Tank Bigsby.

Ian Hartitz said he keeps scooping up Jermaine Burton with his very last pick on Burrow builds because the rookie checks every late-round breakout box. Cincinnati will again lean pass-heavy—especially if the Trey Hendrickson contract dispute weakens an already shaky defense—so the WR3 role behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins carries real spike-week potential. Burton comes with third-round draft capital, has generated nothing but positive offseason reports, and costs literally nothing in best-ball rooms. Hartitz framed him as the cheapest way to buy exposure to a consensus top-five offense and noted that any Higgins injury or 2026 departure could turn Burton into an every-week starter.

Ian Hartitz argued that if Chase Brown simply maintains the 80% backfield share he owned down the stretch, he will repeat as a top-six fantasy running back. Hartitz conceded Zack Moss and Samaje Perine could prevent another 95% touch monopoly but emphasized Brown’s role is still massive relative to ADP. Cincinnati’s shaky defense should force Joe Burrow into weekly shootouts, and the Bengals already consolidate volume around a narrow core (Brown, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins). That combination of game script, snap dominance, and red-zone access makes Brown a screaming buy in both Best Ball tournaments and traditional drafts, where he’s currently going outside the first round.

Ian Hartitz projected the Titans to dial back Tony Pollard’s 2024 workhorse usage and give Tyjae Spears more touches in 2025. He noted that Pollard wore down and again dealt with minor injuries, while Spears—despite playing hurt—finished RB5 overall in PPR scoring during the fantasy playoffs. Hartitz believes Tennessee prefers a near-even backfield split similar to Mike Vrabel’s old Henry–Hilliard rotations. In that setup Spears would see enough weekly snaps to be a usable RB4/FLEX, with league-winning upside if Pollard misses time. He framed Spears as this year’s “Chase Brown”—a high-leverage handcuff worth stashing in Best Ball and late-round season-long builds.

Ian Hartitz said he keeps scooping up David Njoku because the market is treating Njoku like the TE11-TE12 in drafts even though the veteran just strung together back-to-back top-five fantasy finishes. Hartitz pointed to Njoku’s gaudy “Flacco splits” down the stretch last year and reminded listeners that rookie quarterbacks historically lean on their tight ends as a first read, something Kevin Stefanski’s check-down-friendly system already encourages. Hartitz acknowledged Cleveland’s four-way quarterback logjam could push the offense toward a run-heavy script, but argued the combination of a thin target tree and Njoku’s proven red-zone chops still gives him weekly starter appeal at a discount in Best Ball and season-long formats.

Ian Hartitz remained bullish on Malik Nabers despite what he labeled a "nightmare" Giants schedule and a likely low-volume, defense-led game script. Hartitz argued that wide receivers and tight ends are the two positions least correlated with overall scoring offense (he cited correlation coefficients below 0.5), meaning elite target earners can still pop on bad teams. Nabers passes the on-field test—"he wins every one-on-one Achilles battle"—and faces minimal competition for targets beyond Darius Slayton and a committee backfield. Hartitz projected 130-plus looks even if New York shies away from shootouts, giving Nabers a mid-WR2 floor with a path to WR1 upside in full-PPR formats.

Ian Hartitz explained why he continues to scoop up D'Andre Swift as an RB3/FLEX in best-ball drafts and full-PPR DFS builds. Ben Johnson’s arrival should bring a running-back-friendly passing attack that helped Jahmyr Gibbs catch 52 balls as a rookie in Detroit. Chicago also shored up its weakest offensive-line spot by signing interior trio Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, giving Swift the clean lanes that were missing in Philadelphia. With no proven competition behind him and Johnson historically comfortable featuring a single back near the goal line, Hartitz expects Swift to handle 12–15 carries and 4–6 targets per week. At a current ADP outside the top-25 RBs, Hartitz views him as a value who can provide weekly usability even if the Bears’ overall offense winds up merely "fine."

Ian Hartitz urged drafters not to assume a massive year-two leap for Marvin Harrison Jr. Hartitz highlighted that Harrison was the only WR with 70-plus targets and at least 25% of them on go routes, forced just one missed tackle all season after forcing five in his final year at Ohio State, and still profiles more like Courtland Sutton than an every-week alpha. With Drew Petzing’s scheme unchanged and Kyler Murray historically struggling on contested fades, Hartitz pegged Harrison as a low-end WR2 rather than a top-15 breakout candidate.

Ian Hartitz said Tyrone Tracy is the Giants running back he is most willing to bet on, even though both Tracy and Dante Scatebo go off the board within a pick or two of each other. Tracy’s background as a converted wide receiver explains occasional ball-security blips, but Hartitz is happy to grant leeway because the athletic upside is obvious and the entire New York depth chart is unsettled. With the Giants priced down solely due to uncertainty—similar to the Cowboys and Jaguars backfields—Hartitz prefers scooping these late-round backs over middling QB-15 or TE-18 types. The logic is simple: if Tracy flames out you can cut him, but if he wins the job or an injury strikes he instantly becomes the waiver-wire headline of the week. That contingent upside makes Tracy the dart Hartitz keeps throwing in both best-ball drafts and deep redraft leagues.

Ian Hartitz labeled Tyjae Spears his favorite mid-round hybrid play—usable in the flex now with league-winning upside later. The Titans talked up a 50/50 "1A-1B" split all last year, and whenever Spears was healthy he played big snaps, including a 63% rate in Week 16 before a concussion and an overall RB5 finish in fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15-17). Coaches showed they are comfortable leaving either back on the field for entire drives—Tony Pollard topped 90% once, Spears was headed there before injuries. If Pollard misses time, Hartitz projects Spears for 18 touches and top-12 weekly finishes. Even without an injury, 10–12 carries plus 4–5 targets keeps him viable. He compared the profile to Chase Brown’s late-season eruption and is scooping Spears where others chase sexier names.

Hartitz called Jordan Mason the rare RB3 who offers both weekly standalone value and huge contingent upside. O’Connell has already said Mason will handle short-yardage and goal-line snaps, a role powerful enough to generate flex-level TD equity in an offense that finished 7th in red-zone trips last year. If anything happens to 30-year-old Aaron Jones, Hartitz sees Mason absorbing 18-22 carries a game because Minnesota’s only other backs are UDFA types. ADP sits around pick 106, a window Hartitz is pounding in drafts where he wants to steal another manager’s handcuff rather than protect his own starter.

Ian Hartitz admitted his RB23 rank on Aaron Jones might be two-or-three spots too bullish after Minnesota traded for Jordan Mason, but he is not abandoning ship. Hartitz reminded listeners that Kevin O’Connell openly framed Mason as a short-yardage and goal-line specialist—yet Mason scored on just 1-of-7 carries inside the five last season, while Jones’ new contract dwarfs Mason’s. The Vikings are paying for Jones’ explosiveness (career 5.1 YPC) and high-end receiving profile—he owns four straight years of 12%+ target share—which matter far more in full-PPR formats. Hartitz now projects a roughly 60/40 touch split with Jones handling the entire two-minute offense and most early-down work outside the five, good for 225 touches and mid-RB2 production even if Mason poaches half the goal-line looks.

Ian Hartitz pushed back on Henderson hype, slotting the rookie at RB26 because a multi-back committee still looks likely in Foxborough. Hartitz expects Ramondre Stevenson to remain heavily involved after signing a $36 million extension and warns that Josh McDaniels has a long history of rotating backs. Drake May’s scrambling ability could also siphon check-downs, capping Henderson’s receiving upside. Hartitz is comfortable projecting something like 180 carries and 50 targets, but that touch ceiling lags behind fellow rookies Quinshon Judkins, Caleb Johnson, and RJ Harvey—backs he prefers in the same draft range. In his view Henderson’s talent is real, yet trusting the Patriots to hand a day-two rookie an immediate bell-cow role is a leap he won’t take at current ADP.

Ian Hartitz said DeAndre Swift is a screaming value in the RB24-to-RB30 draft range because Chicago never brought in real competition and every metric says the entire backfield, not just Swift, was suffocated by last year’s terrible O-line and Shane Waldron scheme. Swift has finished RB24 or better in PPR points every season of his career, and Hartitz believes that floor holds with Caleb Williams elevating the Bears’ scoring environment. He noted that Roschon Johnson posted the league’s worst yards-per-carry mark, while the only new addition is a seventh-round rookie from Rutgers. Hartitz dismissed the long-standing “bad vision” narrative as overblown—rating Swift a ‘C’ where most backs are ‘B’s—and reminded listeners an improved offense plus a locked-in pass-catching role can turn a 230-touch back into a top-15 finisher. He has been drafting Swift alongside Isaiah Pacheco all offseason and projects roughly 250 touches with 50+ targets in a rising Bears attack.

Ian Hartitz called James Conner "the Tyler Lockett of running backs" because he beats ADP every season and nothing about Arizona’s current depth chart says that will change. Hartitz pointed out that Kyler Murray took only one carry inside the five last year, leaving Conner with a virtual goal-line monopoly. The Cardinals quietly handed Conner a late-season contract extension—same timeline as Chuba Hubbard and David Montgomery—signaling zero appetite for a committee. Rookie Trey Benson handled five or fewer touches in every 2024 game that wasn’t a blowout, so Hartitz views him as a pure handcuff. With Conner’s price slipping to pick 58 (RB24), Hartitz projects another 275-touch, double-digit-TD campaign and urges drafters to scoop him as a rock-solid RB2 when the room chases shinier rookies.

Ian Hartitz called Chuba Hubbard one of the biggest ADP discounts on the board, saying he would draft Hubbard ahead of Chase Brown despite a 24-spot gap in cost (RB53 vs RB29). Hartitz highlighted Hubbard’s four-year, $33 million extension—evidence the Panthers view him as their bell-cow—and noted that backup Rico Dowdle is on a one-year deal for less than $3 million. Hubbard finished 4th in rushing yards over expected per carry and earned top-five marks in Fantasy Life’s utilization metric, so Hartitz trusts the efficiency to hold even if Carolina’s offense is only league-average. With goal-line work locked in and a legitimate three-down role, Hartitz believes Hubbard can replicate last season’s back-half RB1 pace and sees him as an easy pick every time he lingers into the 50s overall.

Ian Hartitz said Kyren Williams remains a locked-in RB1 because Sean McVay simply refuses to pull back his touches. Williams has finished top-5 in PPR points each of the last two seasons while ranking top-three in red-zone carries and total touches inside the 5-yard line. Hartitz brushed off rookie Jarquez Hunter, noting the Rams have drafted a Day-3 back eight straight years and none have dented Kyren’s role. What did catch his eye is Rams brass publicly discussing a possible four-year, $40 million extension. Hartitz argued that deal would all but guarantee another 320-touch season and keep Williams’ weekly floor intact. With Round-4 ADP, Hartitz sees a buying window before any contract news leaks and pushes Williams back into consensus top-10 territory.

Ian Hartitz said that if the bizarre fireworks rumor proves true and Najee Harris is sidelined—or even cut—Omarion Hampton would rocket from his current RB19 slot straight into the back end of the RB1 tier. Hartitz argued the Chargers are an underrated scoring engine with Justin Herbert already guiding a top-10 offense, and new coordinator Greg Roman (plus the Harbaugh run-first philosophy) will funnel 20-plus carries a week to whoever tops the depth chart. Without Najee siphoning early-down and goal-line work, Hampton’s 225-pound frame and proven three-down skill set would give him a clearer workload than Detroit’s Montgomery-Gibbs tandem that Hartitz cited as a comparable situation. In short: remove the Najee obstacle and Hampton’s weekly volume, red-zone equity, and touchdown upside justify a top-10 season-long ranking.

Ian Hartitz dismissed concerns about Tristan Wirfs missing a few games, keeping Bucky Irving at RB11. Hartitz pointed out Tampa scored 30 points and surrendered zero sacks in the only 2024 game Wirfs missed, while Irving ripped off 150+ yards and a TD. He cited similar situations—San Francisco thriving when Trent Williams sat—as evidence elite offenses can survive short-term O-line losses. Hartitz already baked in workload risk (Rashad White split, new OC) by ranking Irving outside his top 10, but he believes dropping him further for a September injury ignores that fantasy titles are won in December.

Ian Hartitz pushed Josh Jacobs below his Tier 2 backs because the Green Bay depth chart won’t be the free ride it was in 2024 when every other Packer RB got hurt. He recalled Matt LaFleur’s history of splitting carries—Derrick Henry once ceded work to Dion Lewis, and AJ Dillon logged 200-plus touches in three straight seasons next to Aaron Jones. Marshawn Lloyd returns healthy, and Dillon’s neck is fully cleared, so Hartitz doubts Jacobs repeats last year’s 82% opportunity share. The talent is still there, but likely touch dilution and LaFleur’s willingness to rotate keep Jacobs outside Ian’s top 10 and firmly in Tier 3.

Ian Hartitz ranked De'Von Achane fourth overall and in the same tier as Jahmyr Gibbs, arguing the Miami back has delivered back-to-back top-5 PPR seasons despite never topping 250 touches. Achane owns an elite receiving role (19% target share last year) and averaged a ridiculous 1.40 fantasy points per touch, the best mark among RBs who handled at least 150 touches. Hartitz loves his "one-hitter quitter" speed inside Mike McDaniel’s motion-heavy offense that finished first in yards per play in 2024. Even if workload plateaus around 16–18 touches per game, Hartitz projects another top-5 finish thanks to explosive plays and league-winning spike weeks that are perfect for best-ball and tournament formats.

Ian Hartitz called Jahmyr Gibbs a locked-in top-three running back even with David Montgomery healthy. Gibbs was already the RB5 in PPR points per game before Montgomery’s late-season injury and then flashed overall RB1 upside when DeMont missed time. Hartitz pointed out that Detroit has been a top-five scoring offense three years running, and he expects new OC Tanner Engstrand to emphasize Gibbs’ explosive skill set while a now-28-year-old Montgomery handles more grinder work. Projection: Gibbs’ floor is a mid-tier RB1 with ~18 touches per game; the ceiling is a league-winning workhorse if the split tilts as far as 70/30 in his favor or if Montgomery misses any time.