John Laghezza said fantasy managers who left drafts light at quarterback should scoop up Spencer Rattler for Week 1. Rattler is rostered in just 2 percent of leagues even though three different Saints skill players went inside the top-125, meaning the surrounding talent is already fantasy approved. Laghezza noted that in Rattler’s five unshared starts last season the second-year passer never finished outside the QB2 range, and his +5 percent scramble rate routinely produced 25-plus rushing yards for a built-in floor. While fifth-round signal-callers miss more often than they hit, Laghezza argued that even league-average play in an improved offense makes Rattler a weekly SuperFlex option and a one-and-done bye-week plug-in, so managers should be a week early rather than a day late.

John Laghezza uses Round 9 on Dylan Sampson because the Browns backfield is wide open. Quinshon Judkins is still unsigned, and Jerome Ford has produced negative yardage on over 26% of his career carries. Laghezza thinks even a mediocre Cleveland offense led by veteran Joe Flacco can create fantasy value if it selects the most efficient runner, and Sampson’s fourth-round draft investment gives him that path.

John Laghezza says Keon Coleman is a Round-7 smash because first-round draft capital plus a Josh Allen offense equals league-winning potential. With last year’s top route runner gone, Coleman can seize the WR1 chair. Even on just 4.4 rookie targets per game he posted 19.2 yards per catch, 7.2 YAC, and a 48% explosive reception rate. Laghezza is happy to pay the current discount for that upside.

Laghezza keeps hammering Tony Pollard in Round 6, reminding drafters that "anyone born after 2022" remembers him as a former first-round fantasy pick. Now multiple years removed from lower-body surgery, Pollard ranked well in 2024 after-contact metrics, and his only serious backfield competition will start the season on the shelf. Laghezza, who is higher on the Titans offense than consensus, sees a cheap path back to 18-touch workloads.

John Laghezza singled out Ricky Pearsall as the ideal Round-5 swing because the 49ers have more than 125 vacated targets and Kyle Shanahan has historically funneled high-value looks to his top receiver. A full offseason to prepare and only a returning Jauan Jennings to fend off gives Pearsall a clear path to becoming Brock Purdy’s target leader, offering massive ceiling at WR3 prices.

John Laghezza loves George Pickens in Round 4 after the trade to Dallas. Pickens already produced +2.0 yards per route run while catching passes from struggling quarterbacks. Now he gets a quarterback upgrade and the luxury of operating opposite CeeDee Lamb, which Laghezza thinks could recreate last year’s Bengals-style passing fireworks. He calls Pickens an affordable shot at WR1 production in a juggernaut offense.

John Laghezza declared it “basically impossible” to name three players who will outscore Lamar Jackson this season and happily clicks him in the mid-third. The two-time MVP just set career bests in yards per attempt, passer rating, EPA per drop-back, interception rate, and sack rate. Laghezza noted the fantasy talent pool hits a clear tier break at that point, so he grabs the dual-threat QB1 before it does.

Laghezza calls Tyler Warren a Round-8 cheat code, comparing his Swiss-army-knife usage at Penn State—1,200 receiving yards on 108 catches plus four rushing TDs—to the weapon Shane Steichen covets. With no established pass-catcher monopolizing targets in Indianapolis, Laghezza believes the rookie tight end could immediately lead the team in looks, making him a late-round difference maker.

John Laghezza labeled Jonathan Taylor the must-grab Round-2 back because he monopolizes the Indianapolis backfield: nearly 75% touch share, almost every goal-line carry, and legitimate passing-game involvement. Laghezza loves pairing that volume with Shane Steichen’s up-tempo scheme, the Lucas Oil fast track, and six games against a defensively weak AFC South, calling Taylor the last true bell cow available after Round 1.

John Laghezza said Malik Nabers is the slam-dunk Round-1 selection. Nabers logged 90%-plus snaps, saw roughly 31% of targets per route, and commanded 41% of the Giants’ air yards during his 2024 rookie campaign yet still finished as fantasy’s WR7 despite a revolving door of sub-par quarterbacks (Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, Tim Boyle). Laghezza argues the switch to Russell Wilson is a clear talent upgrade and "almost no conceivable way" Wilson can be worse than last year's mix, so drafters are getting a top-5 caliber asset at a small discount.

John Laghezza called Darius Slayton one of the most undervalued receivers on draft boards. Slayton is an every-down player who just got paid and managed usable production despite the Giants’ historically bad quarterback situation last year. With Russell Wilson under center and rookie Malik Nabers commanding defensive attention, Laghezza expects cleaner looks and better efficiency for Slayton, making his current last-round price a mistake.

John Laghezza recommended scooping Jordan James after shoulder trouble sidelined Isaac Guerendo. History shows any back elevated to lead duty in Kyle Shanahan’s system becomes an instant fantasy asset, and James is currently going undrafted. Laghezza emphasized stashing James now rather than bidding FAAB later if Guerendo’s recovery stalls.

John Laghezza expanded his deep-QB portfolio to include Shedeur Sanders after Dillon Gabriel’s hamstring injury opened extra first-team reps in Cleveland. Laghezza stressed that quarterback development hinges on practice volume; if Sanders performs well while Gabriel is sidelined, he could transition from long-shot to legitimate fantasy streamer. Given Sanders is undrafted in most formats, Laghezza advised rostering him wherever drafters can afford a stash.