Valenzuela argued that Dameon Pierce belongs on fantasy benches again because Houston’s backfield is hanging by a thread. Joe Mixon just landed on the reserve/non-football injury list and must miss at least four games, while Nick Chubb is coming off career-low efficiency marks (3.3 YPC, 4.9 % 10-yard carry rate) and carries a lengthy injury history. The Texans’ general manager already sounded non-committal about Mixon playing at all in 2025. If Chubb goes down or looks washed, Pierce would step into the early-down role immediately. Given that he is only 4 % rostered, Valenzuela labeled him a no-risk pickup you can drop later if nothing materializes.

Kendall Valenzuela said Harold Fannin is trending sharply upward after the Browns released Diontae Johnson and used the rookie next to David Njoku in the first quarter of the preseason finale. Fannin posted a 60 % snap share, 60 % route rate, and 33 % targets-per-route in that game. Thor Nystrom reminded listeners that Fannin smashed FBS single-season tight-end records at Bowling Green with 117 catches and 1,550 yards while forcing 32 missed tackles. With Njoku entering the final year of his contract, Valenzuela believes the Browns could fast-track the future and give Fannin real 2025 snaps, making him a smart 1 %-rostered stash in deep formats.

Kendall Valenzuela said Chris Rodriguez should be scooped off waivers because Washington just dealt Brian Robinson Jr. to San Francisco and immediately singled Rodriguez out for goal-line duties in the second preseason game. On only 34 carries last year Rodriguez registered a 74 % success rate, a metric The Athletic highlighted as elite. Valenzuela expects the Commanders to lean on Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt and Rodriguez for early-down and short-yardage work, giving Rodriguez weekly touchdown upside that is almost never available in a back who is only 6 % rostered on Yahoo.

Kendall Valenzuela recommended adding rookie Woody Marks as a high-ceiling lottery ticket before Week 1. Mixon’s NFI stint (minimum four missed games) and the Texans’ lukewarm stance on his 2025 availability open a crack in the depth chart, while Nick Chubb’s declining efficiency (3.3 YPC last year) leaves further room for disruption. Valenzuela likes Marks’ receiving chops, arguing he could step right into third-down snaps and even bigger usage if Chubb breaks down. At just 8 %-rostered, Marks costs nothing to stash yet carries tangible contingent value for season-long managers hunting upside.

Kendall Valenzuela said Dameon Pierce should be a priority pre-Week 1 waiver claim because Houston’s backfield depth chart could implode fast. Joe Mixon was just placed on the reserve/NFI list and must miss at least four games, and Valenzuela pointed out that Texans GM Nick Caserio already sounded non-committal about Mixon playing at all this season. She also doubts 29-year-old Nick Chubb’s comeback after multiple lower-body injuries, noting his career-worst 3.3 yards per carry and meager 4.9% explosive-run rate in 2024. With only an aging Chubb and an absent Mixon ahead of him, the 4 %-rostered Pierce offers a zero-cost stash who could fall into early-down volume the moment Chubb falters.

Kendall Valenzuela recommended adding rookie Woody Marks as the higher-ceiling play in Houston because he profiles as the passing-down option behind the aging Nick Chubb and the unavailable Joe Mixon. With Mixon shelved for at least four weeks and Chubb’s body already betraying him the last two seasons, Marks could jump from waivers to an every-week flex if the dominoes fall. He is just 8 % rostered, costs nothing, and can be cut easily if the backfield stays crowded.

Kendall Valenzuela said she is "all-in" on Drake Maye as a foundation piece for 2025 redraft and best-ball teams. Valenzuela pointed to Maye’s 2024 production on the ground—4.9 rushes and 36.3 rushing yards per game—as proof that the Patriots quarterback offers a dual-threat profile most fantasy managers are undervaluing. She argued the new coaching staff is expected to "unleash" him as a runner, which would push both his weekly floor and ceiling well past the late-round quarterbacks he is currently drafted around. The combination of a top-tier collegiate pedigree, immediate starting role, and latent rushing equity led Valenzuela to label Maye a tent-pole player who should anchor fantasy rosters rather than serve as a bench flier.

Kendall Valenzuela highlighted Jordan Mason as a preferred late-round running back, noting he "could have standalone value" even while sharing the Vikings backfield with Aaron Jones. Mason averaged 9.13 fantasy points per game last season and carries a 6.77-point projection, a gap Valenzuela views as evidence of built-in upside relative to cost.

Kendall Valenzuela said she will "take TreVeyon Henderson in this range almost every time," calling his fit in the Patriots offense perfect. Even if New England never turns the entire backfield over to him, Valenzuela believes Henderson can still beat his ADP comfortably, making him a priority mid-round selection in season-long drafts.

Kendall Valenzuela pegged Tucker Kraft as a late-round tight end who can smash his CBS ADP of 130 (she ranks him 106). Kraft finished TE16 last year despite Green Bay targeting tight ends at the league’s 24th-highest rate. Valenzuela believes Matt LaFleur will expand Kraft’s role because the 2025 roster still lacks a true alpha even after first-round WR Matthew Golden arrived. Although projections place Kraft just 16th in TE targets, Valenzuela thinks his "eye-popping" efficiency and opportunity growth could push him into the low-end TE1 conversation at a negligible draft cost.

Kendall Valenzuela warned that Brandon Aiyuk remains overpriced at his CBS ADP of 99, slotting him 121st on her board. Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 and opened camp on the PUP list with no timeline. If he lands on reserve/PUP he must miss at least four games, and Valenzuela doubts he will be at full speed immediately afterward. San Francisco’s receiver room is unsettled—Deebo Samuel is gone, Ricky Pearsall just returned from a hamstring strain, and Jauan Jennings is holding in for a new contract—so the offense could spread targets early. Valenzuela cautioned managers not to collect too many "injury discounts" and is largely passing on Aiyuk unless deep IR spots soften the blow.

Kendall Valenzuela urged drafters to scoop Drake Maye roughly 55 spots past his CBS ADP of 151 because she ranks him 96th. In 10 full 2024 starts Maye averaged 223 passing yards, 4.9 rushes, 36.3 rushing yards, and 13.6 fantasy points (QB22). Valenzuela expects a leap after New England overhauled the offense—Mike Vrabel is now head coach, Josh McDaniels returns as OC, Stefon Diggs and rookie WR Kyle Williams join an upgraded receiver room, and LT Will Campbell anchors a revamped line. With real weapons and sustainable rushing production, Maye is one of the few late-round quarterbacks capable of weekly QB1 spikes, giving him league-winning upside in season-long and best-ball formats.

Kendall Valenzuela said Chris Olave is a screaming value on CBS, where he goes 121st overall while she has him 62nd. Even after two 2024 concussions limited him to eight games, Olave still owns back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Valenzuela is willing to chase his projected 115 targets because new head coach Kellen Moore historically leans pass-heavy and funnels throws to wide receivers. The Saints’ quarterback room (Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler) figures to be one of the league’s worst, but Valenzuela argued that downside is already priced in. At a mid-round cost Olave offers WR2 upside with baked-in injury risk, making him a priority value pick in season-long and best-ball drafts.

Kendall Valenzuela highlighted seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai as a live late-round flyer thanks to both strong collegiate production and a shaky Bears backfield. Monangai scored 14 touchdowns in 11 Rutgers games last year and is receiving glowing endorsements from OC Ben Johnson at training camp. Meanwhile incumbent D'Andre Swift is coming off three straight seasons of decline in Fantasy Points Per Snap, EPA per rush, yards per carry, yards after contact, and explosive-run rate. Valenzuela believes Chicago will shorten the leash on Swift if those trends continue, giving Monangai a realistic shot at meaningful volume well ahead of his RB69, ~206 overall ADP.

Kendall Valenzuela warned drafters that Isaiah Likely’s current injury clouds his availability and sharply reduces his attractiveness as a speculative tight-end pick. Until the Ravens provide a clearer recovery timeline, she recommended steering toward healthier options in the same draft range.

Kendall Valenzuela said the Bengals’ decision to release Zack Moss materially boosts Chase Brown’s fantasy outlook. With Moss no longer competing for secondary touches, Brown becomes the clear next man up behind the starter and the primary beneficiary if injuries strike. Valenzuela called Brown a viable final-round stash who now carries contingent-starter upside in season-long drafts.

Valenzuela dropped Quinshon Judkins to RB46 citing an unresolved legal situation that could delay his signing and derail his preparation for the season. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he is "cautiously optimistic" Judkins will eventually play, but the team reportedly wants the legal matters settled first. Valenzuela warns managers that early-season zeroes are a real possibility and prefers grabbing Dylan Sampson instead. She advises passing on Judkins unless you are comfortable absorbing significant risk.

Valenzuela pushed Tony Pollard down to RB30. Pollard logged 301 touches last year (ninth-most) but Valenzuela expects that number to drop with Cam Ward elevating Tennessee’s passing volume and Tyjae Spears carving out the primary receiving role. Both backs battled injuries, yet Spears is four years younger (24 vs 28). Valenzuela has been drafting more Spears and projects Pollard for a significantly smaller workload, making him a fade at price.

Valenzuela dropped Zay Flowers to WR29, questioning his ceiling in Baltimore’s extremely run-centric scheme. Flowers scored just four touchdowns last season even though Lamar Jackson threw 41 TD passes, and the Ravens passed at the second-lowest rate per game. Flowers has delivered back-to-back WR3 finishes (12.8 and 12.3 PPG) but Valenzuela prefers receivers in the same draft range who have cleaner paths to volume and touchdown upside, so she is largely fading him at current ADP.

Kendall Valenzuela bumped Calvin Ridley up to WR27, calling Cam Ward a clear quarterback upgrade. Ridley led the NFL in air yards and ranked sixth in downfield receptions last season yet also topped the league in unrealized air yards because of poor QB play. Ward should convert those misses into production, and Ridley is projected for 115 targets with little competition behind him. Valenzuela acknowledged only four red-zone targets last year but cites steady offseason reports about the Ward-Ridley connection improving. She envisions a season where Ridley finally cashes in his deep-ball and red-zone opportunity and recommends drafting him aggressively.

Kendall Valenzuela said fantasy managers should grab Xavier Worthy immediately because Rashee Rice is facing a likely multi-game suspension after receiving five years probation and 30 days of jail time. Valenzuela noted that from Week 14 through the Super Bowl Worthy posted an 87% route participation rate and 19 fantasy points per game once he earned a full-time role. She expects Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to push the offense back toward explosive plays—Kansas City ranked last in explosive-play rate in 2024 and Mahomes was 33rd in air-yards per attempt (6.3). With Rice eventually reclaiming many underneath looks, Worthy must win outside, but Valenzuela is eyeing his ceiling projection of 19.1 PPG (WR1 pace) and wants exposure before ADP rises.

Kendall Valenzuela ranks Travis Kelce 89th overall, well below his 66.5 ESPN ADP, citing clear signs of decline and age-related risk. Among 43 tight ends with 30+ targets in 2024, Kelce finished 19th in yards per route run (1.43), 37th in yards per target (6.2), and 37th in yards per reception (8.5). He still managed TE6 in PPR points per game, but turns 36 in October and may be entering a farewell season. With that draft slot competing against wideouts like DJ Moore and Courtland Sutton—both higher in her rankings—Valenzuela is unwilling to pay a fifth-round price for a tight end whose efficiency is trending down.

Kendall Valenzuela called Jordan Mason the best late-round running back value on ESPN, ranking him 79th while his ADP is a distant 142.5. Mason forced a missed tackle on 37.3% of his 2024 carries (league-high, min. 150 attempts) and produced 789 yards and three TDs in 12 games while Christian McCaffrey was out. Fantasy Life projects 141 rushes for Mason in Minnesota, where he will handle early-down work next to 31-year-old Aaron Jones. Valenzuela sees weekly flex utility plus league-winning upside if Jones misses time, making Mason an automatic double-digit-round selection.

Kendall Valenzuela warned drafters that Baker Mayfield’s 61.6 ESPN ADP forces you to pay last season’s ceiling. She has him 75th overall and expects statistical pull-backs: his 7.2% TD rate dwarfed a prior best of 5.6%, 7.9 YPA beat his old 7.3 high, and 22.2 rushing yards per game more than doubled his previous 10.3 clip. Mayfield’s 41 passing TDs are well above the 29 Fantasy Life projects for 2025. With a new offensive coordinator in Tampa and plenty of quality receivers available where he’s going, Valenzuela prefers to wait on cheaper quarterbacks rather than chase a likely regression.

Kendall Valenzuela ranks Omarion Hampton 45th overall versus a 52.5 ESPN ADP and believes he could vault even higher. She highlighted Najee Harris’ eye injury and uncertain timetable, arguing it sets the stage for a "full Hampton backfield takeover". Hampton logged a 79 grade in the Rookie Super Model, and Fantasy Life projects him for 200-plus carries and roughly 45 targets. Valenzuela reminded readers that the Chargers were top-six in red-zone carries by running backs last year and remain committed to a run-heavy approach behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. With Matthew Berry dubbing Hampton his "Ride or Die," Valenzuela sees immediate volume, goal-line equity, and a strong ROI at his current cost.

Kendall Valenzuela said Tetairoa McMillan is the biggest steal on ESPN, slotting him 43rd overall while his ESPN ADP is 89.2. She expects 122 targets from Bryce Young—who produced an 83.7 PFF pass grade (6th) and a league-leading 7.7% big-time throw rate from Week 8 on last year. Valenzuela noted no other Carolina wideout is projected for even 80 targets, giving McMillan a clear runway to volume. The ex-Arizona star already handled a 27% career target share and owns a 92 Rookie Super Model rating, tied for the sixth-best since 2018, with Thor Nystrom comparing his profile to Drake London. Valenzuela plans to draft McMillan “almost every single time” at this price, viewing him as an upside WR2/3 whose cost has not caught up to his opportunity.

Kendall Valenzuela loves grabbing Drake Maye outside pick 100 after his QB22 rookie year (13.6 PPG). She highlighted his 223 passing yards and 36 rushing yards per full start, pointing out the Patriots ranked dead last in supporting cast and receiver yardage (1,723) in 2024. With Mike Vrabel taking over and New England aggressively upgrading weapons, Valenzuela believes Maye’s floor rises and his rushing upside (4.9 attempts, 36.3 yards per game) can push him well past his draft slot.

Kendall Valenzuela reluctantly picked Bo Nix as her potential sophomore slump candidate despite rooting for him. She cited his 2024 numbers—66.3% completion rate, 3,775 yards, QB10 finish, yet only 18th in QBR (56.9). Digging deeper, Nix ranked 25th in yards per attempt on vertical throws and logged the second-highest rate of passes behind the line of scrimmage. Valenzuela worries Denver’s thin receiver group beyond Sutton could exacerbate those shortcomings, noting Nix sat just 16th in EPA per dropback (+0.09) and 21st in completion percentage over expected (+0.6%).

Kendall Valenzuela said she’s clicking Zay Flowers most often in the WR29–31 range. Flowers has delivered back-to-back WR3 seasons of 12.8 and 12.3 fantasy points per game despite Baltimore finishing third-from-last in dropbacks in 2024. She referenced Dwain McFarland’s ceiling-floor model that pegs Flowers for an 18.5-point ceiling (a WR1 pace) in his third campaign. Valenzuela views that upside as too good to pass up at his current discount even in a run-heavy scheme.

Kendall Valenzuela keeps scooping up Tetairoa McMillan because Fantasy Life’s 2025 projections have the rookie pegged for 121.5 targets. She concedes Carolina’s offense makes people queasy, yet reminds drafters that volume is king and Bryce Young showed flashes down the stretch in 2024. Valenzuela thinks McMillan’s cost bakes in all the risk while ignoring a potential triple-digit target season right away.

Kendall Valenzuela recommended scooping up rookie Tahj Brooks at his current bargain ADP, pointing out that Chase Brown is locked in as the Bengals’ starter but the depth chart behind him is wide open. Brooks only has to beat out veterans Zack Moss and Samaje Perine—both signed to modest deals—to secure the RB2 role, and Valenzuela believes his size/speed combo gives him better three-down insurance upside. With Cincinnati running the 11th-most plays per game in 2024 and no clear goal-line hammer, she thinks Brooks could rocket up draft boards once preseason reps confirm his spot, making now the cheapest fantasy managers will be able to acquire him.

Kendall Valenzuela noted that multiple on-site reporters have now seen Tank Bigsby taking the "bulk of the carries with the first team" and looking more explosive than Travis Etienne early in Jaguars camp. While she stopped short of declaring a starter, Valenzuela urged drafters to move Bigsby up their season-long boards because first-team usage this early usually foreshadows at least a committee. Etienne’s price bakes in a three-down role that may no longer exist, whereas Bigsby remains a late single-digit-round pick with direct access to a potentially valuable goal-line gig in a Doug Pederson offense that produced 27 running-back carries inside the 5-yard line last season.

Kendall Valenzuela pegged Jalen Nailor as a final-round dart throw in deeper leagues. Justin Jefferson will miss time in camp with a mild left hamstring strain, and Jordan Addison could still face a suspension, leaving extra first-team snaps up for grabs. Nailor, entering a contract year, is currently free in drafts but has a legitimate path to the WR3 role behind Jefferson and Addison once the season starts—or even to WR2 duties if either veteran’s availability drags. Valenzuela has not docked Jefferson in her overall ranks but did slide CeeDee Lamb up to WR2, underscoring that Nailor is the only actionable pivot she sees for fantasy drafters looking to capitalize on the camp uncertainty in Minnesota.

Kendall Valenzuela advised flat-out passing on every Texans running back after learning Joe Mixon is battling a “frustrating” foot injury before pads have even come on. She reminded readers that Mixon is already an age-29 back coming off a 344-touch season and will now run behind an offensive line Pro Football Focus graded 29th last year and only marginally upgraded. Mixon was the RB2 in PPR points per game (21.2) through Week 14 of 2024 but cratered to RB37 (8.2) during the fantasy playoffs while nursing an ankle issue. Valenzuela added that Nick Chubb is the so-called contingency plan, yet Chubb needed two reconstructive knee surgeries after his 2023 injury and still broke his foot in Week 15 of 2024, leading to career lows in yards per carry (3.3) and 10-plus-yard run rate (4.9 %). Given the mounting health concerns and questionable blocking unit, she is crossing the entire Houston backfield off her draft board.

While acknowledging Chase Brown as the clear Bengals lead back, Valenzuela revealed she is buying as much Tahj Brooks stock as possible before prices rise. The rookie’s competition consists of veterans Zack Moss and Samaje Perine, and Brooks has the three-down build (5-foot-10, 220 lbs) that could secure a sizeable share if Brown falters. Cincinnati finished 8th in red-zone plays last season, so a back who carves out the No. 2 job has weekly flex appeal. Valenzuela views Brooks as a low-cost pick who could rocket up the depth chart during August.

Valenzuela said she is closely monitoring Jacksonville’s backfield after multiple camp reports showed Tank Bigsby, not Travis Etienne, commanding most of the first-team carries and flashing more juice. The Jaguars were bottom-six in red-zone rush rate last year, and a bigger role for Bigsby could translate into valuable goal-line touches in an ascending offense led by Trevor Lawrence. Valenzuela implied Bigsby is an upside bench stash who could leapfrog Etienne sooner than the market expects.

Valenzuela suggested scooping up Jalen Nailor at the very end of deeper drafts. Justin Jefferson is sitting with a mild left hamstring strain and Jordan Addison could still face a suspension, leaving extra camp reps and potential early-season targets up for grabs. Nailor is in a contract year and, per Valenzuela, profiles as the cheapest way to get exposure to a Kevin O’Connell passing game that finished top-10 in drop-back rate. She has not adjusted Jefferson much but is treating Nailor as the actionable sleeper created by the injury/suspension dominoes.

Valenzuela lumped Nick Chubb into her Texans backfield fade, reminding drafters that Chubb is coming off two separate reconstructive knee surgeries after last year’s catastrophic Week 2 injury and then broke his foot in Week 15 of 2024. ESPN charting showed career-worst efficiency (3.3 YPC and only 4.9 % of carries gaining 10+ yards). Given the serious durability questions and the same PFF-29th offensive line Mixon inherits, Valenzuela said she is simply out on investing in Chubb this season.

Kendall Valenzuela said she has moved Joe Mixon down her season-long ranks after learning he is battling a "frustrating foot injury" in camp. Valenzuela pointed out that Mixon is now an older back whose best 2024 stretch (RB2 in PPR points per game through Week 14 at 21.2) was followed by a brutal fantasy playoff run (RB37 at 8.2 PPG while dealing with an ankle issue). She also questioned the situation around him: Houston’s offensive line graded 29th at PFF last season and, despite offseason additions, still carries uncertainty. With early health concerns layered on top of a shaky blocking unit, Valenzuela advised passing on Mixon at current draft cost.

Valenzuela pushed back on the idea that Garrett Wilson’s new four-year, $130 million extension automatically signals a breakout. Fantasy Life’s 2025 projection (128.5 targets, 78.5-921.5-5.1) aligns with Wilson’s WR20 finish last year and is well below his current WR16 ADP. With Justin Fields—who has never cleared 2,600 passing yards in a season—now under center, Valenzuela compared the situation to DJ Moore’s 2023 WR9 ceiling as the absolute best-case outcome. She concluded Wilson’s price bakes in too much optimism for what could remain one of the league’s least-productive aerial attacks.

After Quinshon Judkins was arrested on misdemeanor domestic-violence charges, Valenzuela advised fantasy managers to steer clear until the legal process plays out. Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot reports the team is "in no rush" to sign him or get him to camp and has told the rookie to prioritize the legal issue over football. Valenzuela fears a prolonged hold-out combined with potential league discipline could erase any early-season role, making current late-round ADPs a wasted pick.

Valenzuela noted that Mike Williams’ surprise retirement leaves the Chargers’ WR2 job wide open, and rookie Tre Harris is reporting to camp after inking his deal. With only Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston ahead of him, Valenzuela believes Harris has a realistic path to 70-plus targets in Year 1. Given Justin Herbert’s career average of 663 pass attempts under previous regimes, even a scaled-back volume offense could still feed multiple wideouts. Valenzuela recommended taking late-round darts on Harris in best-ball formats where spike weeks carry extra weight.

Using the same injury news, Valenzuela endorsed Omarion Hampton as a priority target. Hampton is already coming off Underdog boards as RB14, and Valenzuela argued that price could still be cheap if Harris’ eye issue lingers. Roman’s offenses have historically leaned on a single power back (J.K. Dobbins averaged 5.8 YPC under Roman in 2022), so an extended camp runway could lock Hampton into bell-cow status before Week 1. The analyst believes Hampton’s three-down profile plus the Chargers’ commitment to the ground game give him top-10 positional upside.

Valenzuela downgraded Najee Harris after Chargers GM Joe Hortiz revealed the veteran will open training camp on the Non-Football Injury list while he continues treatment for a 4th-of-July eye injury. Although described as "surface-level," the team has yet to examine Harris personally, creating added uncertainty inside Greg Roman’s run-heavy scheme. Valenzuela cautioned that any extended absence could cost Harris first-team reps in a brand-new offense and make him an overpriced pick at his current RB27 range.

Valenzuela highlighted rookie burner Xavier Worthy as the biggest beneficiary of the looming Rashee Rice ban. Fantasy Life’s consensus ranks already slot Worthy at WR19, and Valenzuela expects him to climb even higher once the league announces Rice’s suspension. With Patrick Mahomes targeting field-stretchers in previous seasons (see Tyreek Hill’s 27% target share in 2020), Valenzuela believes Worthy could open the year as the Chiefs’ primary vertical option and provide spike-week upside that pays off his late-fourth/early-fifth-round best-ball cost.

Kendall Valenzuela warned drafters that Rashee Rice is now a risky season-long investment after a Dallas court sentenced him to 30 days in jail and five years’ probation for last year’s multi-car crash. That legal resolution triggers the league’s disciplinary process, and multiple reports indicate the NFL is eyeing a 4-to-6-game suspension to start the 2025 season. Valenzuela advised anyone drafting this summer to build rosters assuming Rice will be unavailable through at least the first month, noting the uncertainty makes him tough to hold in shallow season-long leagues and pushes him down best-ball boards where early-season points matter.