Pat Kerrane said he is keeping Omarion Hampton locked into the early-Round-4 pocket of Best Ball Mania drafts and will now rank the rookie ahead of James Cook and Chase Brown—putting Hampton on the doorstep of the Breece Hall tier. Kerrane argued that even in the "worst-case two-down" scenario where Najee Harris handles most third-down work, Hampton still projects for 15-18 carries and all goal-line touches in Greg Roman’s uber-run-heavy offense. The real ceiling, he noted, comes if Hampton masters the pass-pro playbook quickly and squeezes Harris into a pure relief role. That path would give Hampton 280+ touches, a workload Kerrane compared to Jahmyr Gibbs’ rookie smash season and the volume Bijan Robinson managers were desperate for in 2023. As long as Hampton’s ADP stays in Round 4, Kerrane plans to be "very happy" scooping him as an upside RB2 who could finish as a top-five back if the passing-down share flips in his favor.

Pat Kerrane pushed back on early-summer hype that has Ashton Jeanty flirting with a top-5 overall ADP. While he still loves the bell-cow projection in Las Vegas, Kerrane argued Jeanty should not be drafted over Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs— backs in equally strong or better situations who have already flashed elite NFL ceilings. He is comfortable taking Jeanty sixth overall, ideally seventh, and hopes market stabilisers like Establish The Run temper enthusiasm so he can scoop the rookie at picks 8–9 and build overweight exposure. Kerrane compared the pricing debate to the 2022 Jonathan Taylor vs. Christian McCaffrey stalemate: upside is undeniable, but opportunity cost at the very top is brutal if volume assumptions wobble. His plan is to hammer Jeanty whenever he falls behind CeeDee Lamb, but pass when the market gets out over its skis.

Pat Kerrane said Omarion Hampton is the classic rookie you stomach early-season headaches for because the payoff comes when it matters. He reminded listeners that Greg Roman’s offenses have ranked 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 7th, 9th and 11th in rushing attempts and have finished top-5 in rushing yards in eight of those ten seasons. Pair that historical volume with Jim Harbaugh’s trench-building philosophy and a top-10 offensive line protecting Justin Herbert, and Kerrane sees a floor of roughly 211 carries, 1,100 scrimmage yards and seven TDs even if Hampton opens in a split with Najee Harris. The ceiling is Ezekiel-Elliott-style rookie dominance once Hampton beats out Harris— something Kerrane believes inevitably happens because Harris signed a one-year, $5.25 M “RB2” contract after his fifth-year option was declined. Kerrane is perfectly happy clicking Hampton at his early-Round-4 Best Ball Mania ADP, viewing him as one of the few backs who can win playoff weeks when casual managers have stopped caring.

Pat Kerrane reiterated that Tyler Warren is still a hard pass at his pre-draft Best Ball Mania ADP of 102 and will not end up in more than 4 % of his portfolios unless the market lets the rookie plummet into the 140s. Kerrane said Warren’s only real ceiling hinges on the Colts trading for Daniel Jones—whose short-area accuracy would better support the manufactured screens and play-action leaks Warren thrived on at Penn State—but even in that fairy-tale scenario the tight end would be fighting Michael Pittman and Josh Downs for targets and probably need a 10-TD season to matter. He rattled off the nine-deep tight-end room (Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Kylen Granson, Jelani Woods, Albert O, Sean McKeon, Drew Ogletree, etc.) and called training camp “The Hunger Games,” predicting at least two cuts before Week 1. With Anthony Richardson unlikely to top 27 pass attempts per game and the Colts ranking bottom-five in tight-end target share last year, Kerrane will only click Warren if he falls roughly 40 picks from closing Big Board price, treating him as a late flyer rather than an early-contest staple.

Pat Kerrane said the Bears landing Colston Loveland at 10th overall is a"mega-bullish" signal that drafters should chase. He likened the Michigan product to Sam LaPorta—another rookie questioned for run-blocking but unlocked by Ben Johnson—arguing Johnson will scheme Loveland into receiver-style looks that hide any inline weaknesses. Kerrane highlighted Loveland’s 1,500 career receiving yards, 11 TDs, and down-field win rate to project a late-season surge once the rookie acclimates. With Chicago already hinting at frustration with Cole Kmet’s 2024 efficiency, Kerrane believes Loveland can pass Kmet by December and deliver playoff spike weeks. He is comfortable bumping the rookie to TE12 in Best Ball Mania drafts, advising builds that pair Loveland with an early-season floor play like Zach Ertz or Hunter Henry so managers can wait for the stretch-run hammer.

Pat Kerrane said he is ready to hammer Emeka Egbuka any time the Buccaneers’ first-rounder falls outside the top-100 picks in Best Ball Mania drafts. Kerrane argued Tampa did not draft Egbuka 19th overall to solve an immediate need; they were simply convinced he is a high-floor, high-hit-rate football junkie who will flourish as a professional slot technician. Kerrane highlighted Egbuka’s 1.29 yards per route run as a sophomore while competing with Marvin Harrison Jr., plus his reputation for elite football IQ and work ethic, as indicators he will earn shallow and intermediate targets quickly. He expects Egbuka to be the primary inside receiver by mid-season, projecting a 19-22 percent target share if either Mike Evans (32 years old) or Chris Godwin (coming off ACL) miss time. Even with everyone healthy, Kerrane thinks Baker Mayfield’s 620-attempt offense can support a rookie line in the 70-850-6 range, making Egbuka an easy profit at WR45-plus ADP. He compared the fantasy trajectory to Amon-Ra St. Brown’s rookie stretch run: not a lid-lifter, but a reception machine once an opening appears.

Pat Kerrane pushed back on the idea that Matthew Golden is merely Christian Watson 2.0, labeling the Packers’ first-round pick a Zay Flowers-style separator who wins with short-area quickness and route nuance rather than pure long speed. Kerrane noted film scouts had Golden graded as a first-rounder despite modest raw production because he “just gets open,” and Reception Perception charting backed that up with a 63 % success rate on nine routes while also showing strong slant and comeback efficiency. He emphasized that Green Bay historically values receivers who demonstrate the ability to earn targets—Golden posted a 19 % career market-share of receiving yards and 24 % of touchdowns even while dealing with Quinn Ewers’ “diabolically bad” accuracy in 2024. With Christian Watson’s vertical role vacated and Matt LaFleur’s Shanahan-influenced scheme willing to feature different body types (Ayuk, Deebo, Kittle comps), Kerrane expects Golden to step in as an immediate full-time player and command a Dotson-like rookie season of 90-plus targets. At his current mid-second-round rookie ADP and WR60 territory in Best Ball Mania, Kerrane views Golden as a buy who can deliver flex-worthy volume out of the gate with hidden spike-week upside if he hits big plays downfield.

Pat Kerrane said he is aggressively drafting Cam Ward at his current 12th-round Best Ball ADP (around 139 overall) because he expects the No. 1 pick to start every game for a Brian Callahan offense that just coaxed usable fantasy weeks from Jake Browning and even Mason Rudolph. Kerrane pointed to Ward’s year-over-year improvement in PFF accuracy grades, a strong pressure-to-sack ratio, and the fact that he was never a screen merchant in college as evidence the rookie can handle a full NFL passing workload. With Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins already in place and the Titans quietly adding Tyler Lockett as a third option, Kerrane projects Ward for roughly 35 pass attempts per game and a red-zone rushing package that could produce 4–5 touchdowns. He compared the fantasy path to Kyler Murray’s rookie season ceiling and said he will keep scooping Ward until the market prices him ahead of veterans like Matthew Stafford.

Pat Kerrane predicted that Travis Hunter will post a targets-per-route rate in the 25-27% range—top-12 league-wide—even though Jacksonville will cap him at roughly 70% route participation to preserve him for defensive snaps. Kerrane likened the usage to Kadarius Toney’s rookie season (27% TPRR) but stressed Hunter’s volume will be earned through polished route running, not gadget plays. He expects the Jaguars to pepper Hunter with hitches, slants, and screens that exploit his ability to separate quickly, creating fantasy-relevant spike weeks. Kerrane acknowledged the hybrid deployment will cause volatile snap counts but argued the condensed, high-priority target profile outweighs that risk in both best-ball and season-long formats.

Pat Kerrane said he will be behind market on Jaden Higgins despite the mouth-watering landing spot and Round-2 draft capital. Kerrane highlighted several red flags: Higgins is a four-year college player who never posted truly dominant production, needed a transfer to spike, and was merely "solid" rather than a target hog over teammate Jalen Noel. He worries dynasty GMs are ignoring those signals because Higgins now plays opposite Nico Collins in C.J. Stroud’s offense. While Kerrane concedes the ceiling is enticing—Houston clearly envisions another big-bodied perimeter threat—he thinks the floor is lower than current rookie-draft ADP implies and prefers to let someone else pay the premium.

Pat Kerrane closed the mock by snagging Devin Neal as a replay of last year’s Kendre Miller gamble. Kamara has not finished a full season since 2017, and Neal brings the same burst-plus-receiving profile that once powered the veteran to top-five finishes. Kerrane believes even a half-season glimpse of Neal as lead back would send his dynasty value soaring, given the Saints’ zone-heavy run scheme and Derek Carr’s check-down tendencies. With Miller’s development stalled and Jamaal Williams a cap-casualty candidate, Neal is an inexpensive way to corner the Saints’ future backfield while chasing a 2024 league-winning stretch run if Kamara breaks down again.

Pat Kerrane selected DJ Giddens as the immediate No. 2 behind Jonathan Taylor, noting that Indy’s depth chart is otherwise barren. Giddens boasts an all-around skill set that JJ Zachariason’s prospect model equates with productive second-round NFL backs, yet he slid to Day 3—opening a cheap dynasty window. Kerrane highlighted that the Colts can save $13 million by releasing Taylor after 2025; even a brief Giddens flash could trigger an early-off-season trade frenzy when managers sour on aging veterans. With Indianapolis committed to a run-heavy approach alongside Anthony Richardson, Giddens profiles as a redraft handcuff and a dynasty lottery ticket who could start sooner than people think.

Pat Kerrane selected Tyler Shuck in Round 3 of the Superflex mock and argued the early-second-round pick is a value because the Saints can finally escape Derek Carr’s contract after 2024, saving cap space by eating the remaining money over two seasons. Kerrane noted Dane Brugler called Shuck the most impressive thrower at the Senior Bowl and the NFL has viewed him as a top-tier prospect since the pre-draft process. With salary-cap relief, rookie-deal cost certainty, and a front office seemingly ready to reset at quarterback, Kerrane believes Shuck "has to screw up not to be their starter in 2026." In Superflex formats where starting QBs are gold, he views Shuck as a sneaky safe bet whose price will spike the moment New Orleans cuts Carr.

Pat Kerrane drafted RJ Harvey at the 1.12 turn because Sean Payton spent a second-round pick on the undersized but rocked-up back and historically force-feeds receiving work to his RB1 (Alvin Kamara averaged 5.4 catches per game under Payton). Harvey posted a 31-percent dominator rating at UCF, cleared the 90th percentile in yards after contact per attempt, and flashed true slot-receiver chops at the Senior Bowl. Denver already boasts a top-10 offensive line in ESPN’s pass- and run-block win rates, and Kerrane cited Payton’s long track record of immediately starting rookie runners (Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Kamara, Kendre Miller). With only Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin ahead of him—both entering contract years—Kerrane projects 220-plus touches and an RB2 finish right away, with top-12 upside if Harvey seizes goal-line work.

Pat Kerrane called Harold Fannin one of the most undervalued tight ends in tight-end-premium formats. Cleveland spent a third-round pick on the Bowling Green star after praising his ability to block from multiple alignments, a perfect fit for Kevin Stefanski’s heavy-12 personnel looks. Kerrane noted Fannin accounted for 50% of Bowling Green’s receiving yards last season and believes the Browns will deploy him immediately as a big slot while using him as an H-back in the run game. With David Njoku hitting free agency after 2025, Fannin has a clear succession path to a full-time role and could post Aaron-Hernandez-style hybrid production if the quarterback situation stabilizes.

Pat Kerrane selected Luther Burden in the mid-second, arguing the Bears’ new Ben Johnson regime telegraphed their intentions by spending pick 2.12 on a slot-heavy playmaker after already taking TE Colston Loveland at 1.10. Burden fell out of Round 1 but still lands in an offense that just invested heavily in pass catchers, a bad omen for Rome Odunze—who struggled to separate from Keenan Allen and now has true competition for high-percentage looks. Kerrane believes Johnson will feature Burden in the Amon-Ra St. Brown–style inside-out role, giving the rookie a path to 110 targets and instant PPR relevance while depressurizing Moore and Odunze. He called Burden the highest-ceiling WR remaining even if target cannibalization sinks someone else in Chicago.

Pat Kerrane selected first-round pick Jaxson Dart over remaining skill players, betting on quarterback scarcity. Kerrane expects Brian Daboll to keep Dart on the bench early, then unleash him for the final 4–5 games—enough of a sample to flip the rookie for more than a late first-rounder in Superflex leagues. Dart offers mobility and aggressive down-field traits that could translate into an "exciting brand of football" under Daboll, giving dynasty managers both point-spike potential and immediate arbitrage value once he hits the field.

Pat Kerrane took Travis Hunter (would have been his 1.02) because a team traded up to the second overall pick to secure him, signaling every-down intentions on offense while still using his elite cornerback skills. Kerrane highlighted that Hunter now gets strong quarterback play in what should be a well-designed passing attack, raising his fantasy ceiling beyond even pre-draft expectations. Although Hunter’s WR profile may not match last year’s Marvin Harrison or Malik Nabers, the two-way role and aggressive investment give him unique upside and positional scarcity at wide receiver in dynasty formats.

Pat Kerrane said he is bumping Omarion Hampton up another mini-tier in both Best Ball Mania and early redraft ranks. After re-watching rookie workloads for Jahmyr Gibbs (who smashed as a 3/4-turn pick) and Bijan Robinson (still logged 14.7 PPR points per game despite Arthur Smith), Kerrane concluded Hampton’s current late-fourth ADP is still too cheap. He will now draft the Chargers rookie ahead of James Cook, Chase Brown and, pending final roster moves, possibly even Breece Hall. Kerrane’s logic: Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman historically lean run-heavy, first-round backs almost always see volume by mid-season, and Hampton’s skill set (plus pass protection, bruising between the tackles) mirrors the traits that let Gibbs and Zeke Elliott become league-winners as rookies. With only a one-year Najee Harris roadblock, Kerrane believes Hampton has a realistic RB1 overall path if he seizes the starting job by October, so he is comfortable taking him as early as the late-third round in Best Ball tourneys and at 1.04/1.05 in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts.

Pat Kerrane said Omarion Hampton is one of the best fourth-round bets in both Best Ball and managed leagues even though Najee Harris could annoy us in September. Kerrane reminded listeners that Greg Roman offenses have never finished lower than 11th in rushing attempts and have been top-5 in rushing yards in eight of his ten play-calling seasons. With Jim Harbaugh and Roman now paired with Justin Herbert, he sees a line that will open holes and an OC who will happily feed a first-round back once the rookie masters protections. Worst-case projection, per Kerrane: 211 carries, 1,100 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns—roughly mid-RB2 numbers. Best case, Hampton grabs the 1A role by October and becomes a "late-season hammer" similar to 2022 Cam Akers or rookie-year D’Andre Swift, with 20-plus touches in the fantasy playoffs. Najee’s one-year, $5.25 M contract screams placeholder, and Kerrane noted that first-round RBs almost always see the field because teams realize the rookie-contract clock is ticking. He is comfortable taking Hampton at pick 40-45, expects to be overweight on the field if the market frets about early-season usage, and will correlate him with Herbert in tournament builds.

Pat Kerrane advised staying almost completely off Tyler Warren until his Underdog ADP tumbles at least 40 picks—from 102 on the final Big Board to the 140s or lower. He rattled off the Colts’ absurd nine-deep tight-end room (Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Drew Ogletree, Albert Okwuegbunam, Sean McKeon, etc.) and said camp will be “Hunger Games” for snaps. Although Shane Steichen spent pick 14 on Warren and could eventually design red-zone looks for him, Kerrane called the rookie “wildly overpriced” for Day-1 drafts and prefers to let the market crater before grabbing 4 % exposure. He sees Warren’s rookie ceiling tied to an Anthony Richardson accuracy leap or multiple WR injuries—outcomes too thin at current cost. Bottom line: wait until Warren’s price is closer to pick 160 before mixing him into Best Ball portfolios.

Pat Kerrane said the market will treat Ashton Jeanty as a top-seven overall pick the moment Underdog’s Best Ball Mania opens. He slotted the rookie RB directly after CeeDee Lamb and ahead of Puka Nacua because Las Vegas spent the No. 6 pick on him and added no threatening backfield competition besides 32-year-old Raheem Mostert and depth guys Zamir White and Sincere McCormick. Using final Big Board ADP gaps—Gibbs at 4.8, Lamb at 6.0, Nacua at 7.9—Kerrane expects Jeanty to settle around 7.0. He already held 12 % exposure pre-draft and will comfortably draft Jeanty at that price, noting the rookie’s elite comps and three-down profile. Kerrane would still take Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs first because they are proven pros, but in standard one-QB Best Ball formats he views Jeanty as the clear tier break between Lamb and Nacua.

Pat Kerrane called Colston Loveland a "mega-bullish" fantasy bet after Chicago spent the 10th overall pick on him. Kerrane thinks Ben Johnson’s tight-end-friendly scheme erases concerns about Loveland’s shaky Big-Ten run-blocking grade—similar worries surrounded Sam LaPorta yet never materialized. He views the rookie as more of an oversized down-field receiver than a catch-and-run YAC machine like Tyler Warren, but argues that actually raises Loveland’s ceiling if Johnson schemes vertical shots. Short term, Kerrane concedes a crowded passing room (DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet) will cap Week-1 projections, but he expects Loveland to steal routes from a disgruntled Kmet by November and become a "late-season hammer" in Best Ball tournaments. He is moving Loveland to TE12—one spot ahead of David Njoku—and will draft him aggressively if his Underdog ADP remains behind the veteran tier. Optimal roster construction, per Kerrane: pair Loveland with cheap early-season floor options such as Zach Ertz, Mike Gesicki or Hunter Henry, then let the rookie’s spike weeks decide playoff rounds. If ADP climbs above Njoku, he’ll tap brakes but still slot the rookie as a priority dynasty buy given first-round draft capital, Johnson’s history of manufacturing tight-end production, and a realistic path to surpassing Kmet after the Bears publicly questioned Kmet’s 2024 play.

Pat Kerrane framed Emeka Egbuka as a quietly high-leverage target in both Best Ball and season-long drafts after Tampa Bay spent the 19th pick on him. Kerrane expects the rookie to live almost exclusively in the slot—perfect for full-PPR scoring—and noted three clear roads to immediate relevance: (1) Chris Godwin never regains pre-ACL form, (2) 32-year-old Mike Evans finally hits the age cliff or leaves in free agency, or (3) the entire room stays healthy but Baker Mayfield simply repeats last year’s 4,500-yard, 41-TD volume. In the third scenario Egbuka could consolidate the WR3 role that Godwin + Sterling Shepard cobbled together for 110 targets, 82 receptions, six TDs and roughly 900 yards—numbers Kerrane labeled “a total smash” in Round 9-10. He currently ranks Egbuka WR52 (overall 104) but is willing to push him up a tier if the market drifts lower. Home-league software will likely bury the rookie outside the top-150, so Kerrane advised grabbing him there with confidence, while acknowledging Underdog and dynasty drafters will be sharper. Overall he views the pick as Tampa’s long-term plan to keep a B-plus quarterback propped up with A-minus weapons and believes the rookie’s football IQ and target-earning profile make him a high-hit-rate bet once one of Evans or Godwin fades.

Pat Kerrane argued that Matthew Golden is worth sprinkling into dynasty rookie drafts and late-round Best Ball builds, but only at the right price. Green Bay made him their first first-round wide-receiver pick since Javon Walker, a signal the front office and coaching staff are invested in making the selection work. Film scouts drove his pre-draft steam because he consistently “just gets open,” posting a 63% success rate on nine-routes in Reception Perception and earning a 19% career receiving market share with a 24% touchdown share despite erratic quarterback play from Quinn Ewers. Kerrane stressed that Golden’s appeal is separation, not pure speed—he is more Zay Flowers or Jahan Dotson than Christian Watson. Comps like Nelson Agholor or Michael Floyd highlight the risk: profiles like this often deliver only one usable fantasy season. If that spike comes as a rookie, managers can flip him for profit; if his Underdog ADP stays in the 8th-round range, Kerrane plans to fade, but he will scoop falling shares in dynasty around picks 1.12–2.02 before the running-back tier hits. Overall, Golden is a calculated upside play tied to a smart LaFleur/Shanahan-tree staff but carries real bust probability reminiscent of John Ross.