Ray Summerlin pivoted to fantasy and called Daniel Jones a clear stylistic upgrade for Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and rookie tight end Tyler Warren. Jones’ short-area accuracy and willingness to pepper underneath routes align perfectly with the Colts’ top receiving trio, whereas Anthony Richardson’s scramble-and-bomb tendencies rarely did. Because Steichen needs wins now, Summerlin expects a quick-hitting, high-percentage pass game that funnels targets to Pittman and Downs and creates red-zone chances for Warren. He advised treating all three as undervalued in season-long and best-ball drafts if Jones is named the starter.

Ray Summerlin selected the New England Patriots and projected them to finish second in the AFC East. He expects the Dolphins to suffer a “year from hell,” is unconvinced by the Jets, and believes Mike Vrabel’s arrival provides a sturdy floor. Summerlin noted a defense loaded with talent, an upgraded offensive line, and a healthy Stefon Diggs giving Drake May a far better environment than the one he inherited last season, making New England undervalued in win-total and division-finish markets.

Ray Summerlin targeted the Pittsburgh Steelers as a bet to place second in the AFC North. He argued the Ravens are clear favorites, the Browns may not even be drafted in win-total contests, and the Bengals’ defense remains unimproved after a season in which Joe Burrow’s elite play still left Cincinnati short of the postseason. With somebody needing to claim the runner-up spot, Summerlin sees Pittsburgh as the value side in both division-placement and season-win markets.

Summerlin grudgingly grabbed the Chargers over, noting Rashawn Slater’s injury compounds the franchise’s yearly offensive-line anxiety. He still sees upside because the defense unearthed young contributors in 2024 and excels in three-safety looks, while Justin Herbert remains an upper-tier passer. The AFC West strength and offensive-line volatility keep him uneasy, but he concluded the talent is enough to squeak past the posted total.

Ray Summerlin called the Buccaneers the easiest pick on the board. Tampa owns the league’s 10th-easiest 2025 schedule and shares a division whose other three clubs project for only 19.5 combined wins in Vegas markets. Although injuries to Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs are on his radar, Summerlin believes the Bucs are simply ‘actually good’ and should assert far more control over a weak NFC South than they managed a year ago.

Ray Summerlin drafted the Ravens first in his win-totals pool, arguing that Lamar Jackson keeps the offense near last year’s level while Baltimore’s historical success versus Cincinnati and a declining Pittsburgh roster give them a clear divisional path to 11-plus wins. Summerlin also noted the Browns remain an unknown quantity, further lowering the risk of AFC North roadblocks.

Ray Summerlin said the Buffalo Bills are the clearest win-total bet on the board. His logic: (1) Buffalo owns what his proprietary model grades as a top-five strength-of-schedule edge, meaning they draw one of the league’s softest slates. (2) The rest of the AFC East looks pedestrian to him, with no roster he views as a serious year-long threat. (3) The Bills have cleared double-digit victories in six straight seasons, giving sportsbooks little cushion if they hang another 10.5 or 11.5. (4) As long as Josh Allen stays healthy, the offensive ceiling remains intact. Summerlin conceded Buffalo may not be the NFL’s best roster overall, but the combination of historic win consistency, division quality, and schedule strength makes them his 1.01 pick in a wins draft and a bet to smash any posted total in the market.

Ray Summerlin said Jaydon Blue is his favorite mid-round best-ball target because the Cowboys are expected to lean heavily on the pass under Brian Schottenheimer. Blue has already taken first-team reps in camp, and Summerlin believes that if the rookie earns Dak Prescott’s trust on passing downs he can "absolutely smash" on full-PPR DraftKings scoring. The bet is not on early-season touches but on Blue becoming the primary receiving back by Weeks 8-11 when fantasy money is made. At an 11th-round ADP, Summerlin views Blue as a cheap upside stack with CeeDee Lamb and Prescott in a projected high-volume aerial offense.

Ray Summerlin said Keenan Allen is an easy buy near pick 135 (the 12th round) in DraftKings best-ball drafts. Chicago has almost no established pass catchers and Allen already showed chemistry with the Bears quarterback while finishing last season top-20 in targets per route run. Summerlin noted Allen remained the club’s most reliable red-zone weapon, turning a team-high share of inside-20 looks into scores, so even if overall pass attempts fall he should keep his touchdown equity. Because no one behind him commands targets and there is still a bit of contingency upside if injuries strike, Summerlin is perfectly comfortable taking Allen anywhere in the 130-140 ADP range as a sturdy WR2 in full-PPR builds.

Ray Summerlin welcomed the ADP dip on Travis Etienne, calling him the best running back left on the board. Summerlin expects Etienne to dominate the screen-passing work in full-PPR formats and reminded listeners the back already owns two 1,400-yard NFL seasons, making the discounted price too good to pass even with hefty Tank Bigsby exposure elsewhere.

Ray Summerlin pushed back on the Kupp optimism, arguing the schematic fit in Seattle “doesn’t make sense.” Summerlin noted camp reports say Kupp “hasn’t been getting open,” that the Seahawks replaced him with another aging receiver after giving that newcomer more guaranteed money, and that we are yet another year removed from peak Kupp. Even in a 150-team portfolio, Summerlin intends to keep his exposure light because he sees too many signs of decline to justify current cost.

Ray Summerlin advocated taking James Conner as a stabilizing RB when you punt the position early. Summerlin acknowledged Trey Benson’s presence and Conner’s checkered injury history, but emphasized that Conner stayed healthy last year and should handle the early-season work while the rookie ramps up. That makes Conner the kind of "later-round anchor" Summerlin wants when he plans to swing on second-half lottery tickets at running back.

Ray Summerlin said he is legitimately worried about drafting Matthew Stafford as a core piece of a best-ball stack. Summerlin noted Stafford is now trying to play through a true back injury involving herniated discs – an injury Summerlin has personally experienced and described as "excruciating." Given Stafford’s age and the unpredictable nature of spinal flare-ups, Summerlin set his concern level at "a six or higher" and advised treating Stafford strictly as a late insurance QB rather than a foundation play, even if the projection still looks fine on paper.

Explaining his running-back strategy, Ray Summerlin said he is happy grabbing De'Von Achane at picks 1.10–1.12. Achane already showed eye-popping efficiency two seasons ago and, according to Ray, has a real chance to pair that explosiveness with the heavier workload he handled last year. Because reception-earning backs are scarce, Achane is one of the few RBs Ray is willing to pay up for, calling him a "true, literally game-changing" piece who can decide best-ball tournaments.

Ray Summerlin said Mark Andrews is still a screaming value in DraftKings best-ball rooms. Andrews was the same player on a per-route basis last season, but his snap share was trimmed. Now, with the other Baltimore tight end reportedly facing up to an eight-week absence, Ray calls it a "huge turbo boost," expecting Andrews’ snaps and red-zone opportunities to jump back to their 2022 levels. Summerlin is surprised the market hasn’t reacted yet and advises scooping Andrews before his ADP spikes.

Ray Summerlin cautioned drafters about chasing the Seahawks’ third receiver—currently camp-buzz veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He reminded listeners that Klint Kubiak’s offenses do not treat three-wide sets as a base formation, saying “we have to remember with that team how often they use two wide receivers versus three.” With DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba entrenched in every personnel grouping, Summerlin doubts the WR3 will see enough snaps to matter and advised letting someone else gamble on the role.

Ray Summerlin said he is excited to play Noah Gray as a bargain tight end in Week 1 DFS. The Chiefs could be without Rashee Rice because of a suspension and might not have a fully healthy Hollywood Brown, leaving Patrick Mahomes short on proven wideouts. Kansas City has even talked about “hiding Travis Kelce” early in the season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. In that scenario, Summerlin expects Gray to soak up short-area targets and offer touchdown upside at a salary nobody will be on.

Ray Summerlin said he is eager to plug Noah Gray into Week 1 DFS lineups. With Rashee Rice expected to be suspended and Hollywood Brown dealing with an injury, Patrick Mahomes could be short on proven wideouts for the season opener. Gray saw a 12% target share in the games Travis Kelce missed last year and is practically free on all DFS sites. Against a Chargers defense that ranked bottom-ten in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, Summerlin thinks Gray is the cheapest path to Chiefs exposure on the opening slate.

Ray Summerlin cautioned against chasing Nick Chubb’s rising 11th-round ADP (pick 127). The version of Chubb we saw last season lacked his usual burst, and early Texans camp reports say he still does not look explosive coming off surgery. Summerlin believes managers taking him in that range are paying for a full recovery that practice observers have yet to see, making the risk-reward profile skew negative compared with backs available a round later.

Ray Summerlin said he is happy to draft Drake London as early as pick 12 or 13—well ahead of ADP—because he views London as one of only two receivers (alongside A.J. Brown) whose combination of target share and ceiling justifies that reach. Summerlin joked that he must "force" himself to pass on London to avoid ending up with an outsized share, which highlights the confidence he has in London earning alpha volume in Atlanta’s offense.

Ray Summerlin called A.J. Brown a "firewall" at his current ADP, arguing drafters know exactly what they are buying: elite weekly upside with none of the usage uncertainty that plagues most second-round receivers. Summerlin admitted he has to throttle his own exposure or he would end up with 70 percent Brown across his portfolio, underscoring how comfortable he feels clicking Brown anywhere in the pick-12 to pick-20 range.

Ray Summerlin said he is perfectly comfortable drafting David Njoku ahead of higher-priced tight ends such as Mark Andrews in Best Ball drafts. Summerlin’s confidence hinges on simple math: Cleveland finished dead-last in passing touchdowns last year, a number he called "impossible to repeat." Even a jump to league-average scoring would give Njoku a meaningful red-zone boost on top of the healthy target share he already projects for. That touchdown regression plus Njoku’s ADP discount makes him a cheap path to weekly TE1 production.

Ray Summerlin warned drafters that Anthony Richardson carries two separate land-mines: durability and job security. Summerlin still expects Richardson to open the year under center for the Colts, but said he “would not bet on a full-season starter” because injuries and potential benchings remain in play. He compared the upside profile to Justin Fields—elite rushing juice that can break a weekly slate—yet emphasized that Fields projects for a sturdier workload. Summerlin’s takeaway was to price in the downside by pairing Richardson with a second, safer quarterback in Best Ball builds rather than assuming 17 starts.

Ray Summerlin called Anthony Richardson an ideal late QB for 20-round DraftKings best-ball contests. Summerlin likes the rushing ceiling and compared Richardson’s weekly upside to Justin Fields if both are starting. The difference, he cautioned, is that Richardson still faces competition for snaps and carries added injury downside, so drafters must accept a wider range of outcomes. In large-field formats where QB scoring spiked weeks win you money, Summerlin is willing to bet that Richardson’s explosive legs and red-zone usage create enough 25-plus point outings to justify the risk.

Ray Summerlin chose David Njoku over Dallas Goedert when the room forced a tight-end decision. Summerlin said he “felt much better” about Njoku because Cleveland will funnel more looks his way regardless of who is healthy, whereas Goedert’s weekly volume evaporates whenever A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are both on the field. Njoku has already operated as the Browns’ primary red-zone target and Summerlin expects that to continue, calling him “a touchdown scorer you want in best ball.” In short: Njoku offers locked-in targets plus spike-week TD upside, while Goedert needs an injury to one of Philadelphia’s star receivers to pay off.

Ray Summerlin pushed back on the Jaylen Warren enthusiasm, pointing out that Warren actually regressed last season and may never be a confident start. Summerlin noted that Najee Harris became more explosive in 2024, which undercuts the argument that Warren will simply overtake the early-down role. He added that in managed leagues Warren’s profile is particularly shaky because drafters will struggle to know when to plug him in, and he warned that the much-hyped Caleb Johnson pick could leave both backs in a fantasy-unfriendly timeshare.

Ray Summerlin highlighted that with DeMarcus Robinson and Cooper Kupp no longer in Los Angeles, there is a glut of end-zone targets waiting for Davante Adams. Even if Puka Nacua keeps siphoning roughly 30% of overall looks, Sean McVay’s scheme historically funnels red-zone designs to its X receiver. Adams already owns one of the league’s best win-rate profiles inside the 10-yard line, and Summerlin expects the Rams’ tempo to give him a path to double-digit touchdowns. Grabbing Adams at the 3/4 turn provides both target-volume stability and premium TD equity for best-ball roster builds.

Ray Summerlin argued that the market has over-corrected on Rashee Rice. While drafters treat the looming suspension as if Rice will be a zeros across the board, Summerlin stressed that any absence is not injury-related, eliminating re-injury risk, and best-ball lineups replace those weeks with a bench score. He prefers Rice over rookie Xavier Worthy at current ADPs, noting that even a 6–8 game sample of Rice in Patrick Mahomes’ offense could outscore a full year of replacement-level options. Summerlin believes Rice is still being under-drafted relative to his likely high-efficiency target share once active.

Ray Summerlin pointed to Jeff Mueller’s medical notes that McCaffrey ditched last year’s sprint-heavy offseason—which triggered tendonitis— for a new program, and every training-camp report has been unanimously positive. Summerlin framed McCaffrey as a true binary asset: if he is active, the role and Kyle Shanahan’s usage make it almost impossible for him to fail. The 49ers’ schedule features multiple high-total matchups, further boosting ceiling outcomes. Summerlin concluded that at pick 8 you really only have to get one question right—"Is he on the field?"—and if the answer is yes, McCaffrey’s workload and touchdown equity deliver week-winning best-ball production.

Ray Summerlin flagged Jayden Reed as a potential late-round league winner after camp reports showed the Packers giving him snaps in two-wide sets. Summerlin noted that Reed might already be Green Bay’s best receiver, and Rich Hribar added that Reception Perception grades show Reed can win across the entire route tree—not just from the slot. With Christian Watson currently sidelined and rookie Matthew Golden still unproven, Reed’s path to every-down usage looks far clearer than expected, making him a sharp upside pick in the double-digit rounds of best-ball drafts.

Ray Summerlin said he is happily selecting Christian McCaffrey whenever the 49ers back slips to pick 7 or later in DraftKings’ $15 million best-ball contest. Summerlin acknowledged the obvious durability concerns but argued that McCaffrey’s week-tilting ceiling is unmatched and worth the gamble in a 150-entry portfolio. His logic: some rosters will inevitably bust, so using late-first draft capital on the one player who can single-handedly win an overall prize creates a payoff no other running back offers at that spot.