Ian Hartitz advised spending a final-round pick on the Patriots DST because the unit pairs sneaky real-life talent with a dream opening stretch. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez gives the secondary a bona-fide shutdown option, and ownership outlaid the sixth-most cash league-wide on defensive personnel for 2025, per Hartitz. But the hook is the first 11 weeks: Geno Smith’s Raiders (Week 1), Tua’s Dolphins (2), aging Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers (3), Bryce Young’s Panthers (4), Spencer Rattler/Tyler Shough Saints (6), rookie Cam Ward’s Titans (7), uncertain Browns QB room (8), gunslinger Michael Penix’s Falcons (9) and Baker Mayfield, the NFL’s INT leader since 2023 (10) all dot the slate before a plus matchup with the Jets (11). With ADP sitting at DST17 on Sleeper and DST16 on Yahoo, Hartitz views New England as the perfect plug-and-stream that can ride you deep into the year.

Hartitz promoted Colston Loveland as an easy late tight-end swing because the 10th overall pick owns "one of the better pure pass-catching skill sets the position has seen in years." He pointed to Loveland’s outrageous 0.44 targets per route run in preseason action and reminded readers the player dominated target share in college at Michigan. Although Cole Kmet still lurks, Hartitz compared the dynamic to Dalton Kincaid/Dawson Knox and said Ben Johnson’s scheme historically maximizes young pass-catchers. At a TE12-TE16 ADP (113-123 overall) and Fantasy Life consensus TE13 (117), Loveland gives drafters a path to top-eight upside without paying for it.

Hartitz labeled Emeka Egbuka "your favorite analyst’s favorite late-round WR" after what he called a month-long training-camp drumbeat of glowing reports from coaches, teammates and beat writers. The case turned actionable when Chris Godwin (ankle) became likely to open on PUP and fellow wideout Jalen McMillan (neck) also surfaced as an early-season scratch, pushing Egbuka to Tampa Bay’s No. 2 spot behind Mike Evans. Hartitz reminded readers Baker Mayfield leads the NFL in TD passes since 2023, so the offense can feed volume. Egbuka already owned first-round draft capital and left Ohio State as the school’s career receptions leader, traits Hartitz believes make him unusually pro-ready. With ADP sitting at WR43-WR48 (102-126 overall) but Fantasy Life ranking him WR40 (86th), Hartitz now projects Egbuka for "triple-digit targets" and wants managers scooping him everywhere.

Ian Hartitz noted that even with a lingering calf issue, Jauan Jennings remains a screaming value because both he and Ricky Pearsall carry WR40-WR46 ADPs on ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo while Fantasy Life consensus has Jennings at WR36 (73rd overall). Jennings sits in the same Shanahan/Purdy ecosystem Hartitz loves, one that just produced Purdy’s historic efficiency. Hartitz argued drafters are over-penalizing the minor injury and overlooking the likelihood that one of Jennings or Pearsall eclipses 100 targets if Brandon Aiyuk’s knee issue lingers. In short, Jennings offers the same high-efficiency passing environment and triple-digit-target ceiling as Pearsall but comes even cheaper.

Hartitz called Ricky Pearsall "Slick Rick" the premier 49ers dart after the wideout racked up 8-141-1 and 6-69-1 lines in Weeks 17-18 last season and then opened preseason by catching 3-of-4 targets for 42 yards on a single drive. What impressed Hartitz most was Pearsall’s ability to earn quick-hitting targets from Brock Purdy, the league’s all-time leader in yards per attempt and passer rating. He reminded readers Purdy maintained top-tier efficiency in 2024 despite a rash of injuries around him. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee/PUP) and fellow late-rounder Jauan Jennings (calf) banged up, Pearsall’s path to triple-digit targets inside Kyle Shanahan’s "consistently awesome" passing attack is wide open. Yet ADP still sits in the WR42-WR43 range on home sites, well behind his WR38 consensus rank in high-stakes rooms—classic indicator of a mispriced asset according to Hartitz.

Hartitz pushed Matthew Golden as his favorite cheap receiver because injuries to Jayden Reed (foot), Christian Watson (knee/PUP) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) have already forced the first-round pick into full-time snaps. Fantasy Life projections give Golden a team-high 98 targets, rare volume at a WR4 cost (ESPN WR38/99.1, Sleeper WR44/95.7, Yahoo WR45/117.8). The quarterback context is sneaky strong: Jordan Love is only one year removed from 4,159 yards and 32 TDs and still averaged 8.0 yards per attempt in 2024 (5th best) despite drops and his own knee/groin issues. Draft analyst Thor Nystrom compared Golden to Garrett Wilson while Dwain McFarland’s Rookie WR Super Model also stamped him as a hit. Hartitz stressed Golden checks the four boxes he wants—talent, QB quality, volume and age/health—and ranked him WR31, far above market.

Ian Hartitz said Jordan Mason is the late-round back he is drafting most because Kevin O'Connell publicly stated Mason will be "featured alongside" Aaron Jones in a 1.B/goal-line capacity. Hartitz highlighted that Mason finished 2024 with more rush yards over expected per carry than anyone except Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, a sign the player already wins on his own. The situation around him is improving too: Brandon Thorn ranks the Vikings' retooled offensive line fifth best entering 2025, and O'Connell’s offenses have finished 7th, 10th and 12th in total yardage while scoring the league’s 11th-most points over those seasons. Mason’s home-site ADP ranges from RB32-RB39 (97.1-140.3 overall), yet Fantasy Life’s consensus board puts him at RB29 (80th overall) and Hartitz compared the role to what David Montgomery provided last year—weekly FLEX usefulness plus massive injury-away upside. Hartitz called it "wild" that Mason is still going in the same area as Rachaad White, Zach Charbonnet and Trey Benson, backs he believes lack Mason’s combination of standalone touchdown equity and contingency value.

Dallas Goedert is the lone player Ronis recommends fading. Even at an ADP of 125.8—close to Fantasy Life’s 108 slot—Ronis calls him 'overvalued' because his ceiling is capped unless A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith miss time. Goedert has missed at least three games in each of the last three seasons (seven last year), has never topped 60 receptions, and owns only 12 touchdowns across his last 51 games. Ronis advises drafting higher-upside tight ends instead of chasing this limited profile.

Ronis labeled eighth-overall pick Tetairoa McMillan a 'steal' at his 83 ADP compared with Fantasy Life’s 46. Standing 6'5, McMillan immediately becomes the red-zone and intermediate threat Bryce Young lacked. No Panther topped a 15% target share last year, leaving a clear runway for McMillan to dominate volume. Ronis sees a WR2 finish well within reach if draft rooms keep letting him slide.

Ronis called George Pickens’ 77.1 ADP 'a gift' compared to his 55 ranking. The Cowboys were third in pass attempts last year, a stark contrast to the Steelers’ fourth-fewest, and Ronis thinks Dallas’ up-tempo, pass-heavy attack will highlight Pickens’ 16.3-yard career average depth of target opposite CeeDee Lamb. Ronis projected a realistic path to a top-25 wide-receiver finish and advised drafting Pickens several rounds earlier than the ESPN room currently will.

At ADP 71, Calvin Ridley is another receiver Ronis thinks ESPN drafters are sleeping on. Ridley has logged back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons despite subpar quarterback play. Now he joins Tennessee, where rookie Cam Ward’s deep-ball accuracy and an upgraded offensive line should spotlight Ridley’s vertical skill set. Ronis expects Ridley to lead the team in targets and receive 'elite usage,' making him a clear value relative to his Fantasy Life rank of 60.

Ronis believes DeVonta Smith’s 70.3 ADP undersells his reliability. Philadelphia ranked last in pass attempts per game (25.7) last year, yet Smith still delivered 68 receptions, 833 yards, and eight touchdowns in just 13 games, good for 16th in PPR points per game. He has finished top-20 in that metric three straight seasons. Because the Eagles offense is extremely condensed, Smith will again command a primary target share and could beat ADP handily if Philadelphia plays in more competitive scripts.

Ronis urged drafters to pounce on Jordan Mason at pick 140.6 when Fantasy Life has him 79th overall. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has already said he views Aaron Jones and Mason as '1A and 1B', but Jones turns 31 in December and is coming off a career-high touch count. Ronis expects the younger, fresher Mason to siphon a significant share of the Vikings backfield touches, arguing he should be drafted much closer to Jones than current ADP implies.

Ronis views Tony Pollard’s 86.2 ADP as far too cheap relative to Fantasy Life’s 68 ranking because a clear early-season workhorse role is coming. Tyjae Spears is nursing a high-ankle sprain that could linger, leaving Pollard to dominate touches for Tennessee. Pollard has topped 1,000 rushing yards three straight seasons and absorbed 301 touches a year ago behind a poor line and quarterback. The Titans signed veteran linemen and drafted Cam Ward, whom Ronis calls a 'big upgrade' under center, further boosting Pollard’s efficiency outlook. Volume plus talent equals a smash at current price.

Calling him a 'steal,' Ronis noted RJ Harvey’s 89.3 ESPN ADP is far below Fantasy Life’s 61 ranking. The second-round pick steps into Sean Payton’s backfield and, per Ronis, is 'in a good position to play a big role' immediately. J.K. Dobbins should handle early passing-down work while Harvey refines pass protection, but Harvey’s speed and natural fit in Payton’s zone concepts give him a clear runway to meaningful early-down volume that will rise as the season progresses.

Ronis flagged Drake Maye’s 138.7 ESPN ADP versus Fantasy Life’s 100 ranking as a prime chance to snag a dual-threat quarterback late. Despite not starting until Week 6 last season, Maye still rushed for 421 yards at 7.8 yards per carry, giving him a fantasy-friendly floor. New England shored up the offensive line and imported Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and speedster TreVeyon Henderson, providing the kind of supporting cast Maye lacked. Ronis views Maye as an ideal second quarterback who could become a weekly starter once the enhanced offense settles in.

Adam Ronis said Caleb Williams is a glaring ESPN ADP discount, noting the quarterback’s 123.9 average draft position sits almost 30 spots after Fantasy Life’s 94 ranking. Ronis blamed last season’s struggles on poor coaching and protection, then highlighted Chicago’s offseason overhaul: Ben Johnson (designer of three straight top-5 Detroit offenses) takes over as head coach, the offensive line was upgraded, and rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland add explosiveness. With a markedly better scheme, line, and weapons, Williams is worth drafting as a late QB2 to pair with a safer veteran because his weekly top-12 ceiling is nowhere near priced in.

Matthew Freedman recommended selling Darren Waller at his 207.8 FFPC ADP. The veteran tight end is still on the active/PUP list after a year away from football and Mike McDaniel will not commit to him practicing ahead of Week 1. Freedman noted that even TE-premium sharps are abandoning the once-elite option, a red flag he refuses to ignore.

Matthew Freedman told gamers to buy Matthew Stafford at 182.4 FFPC ADP. Reporters panicked when Stafford missed another week of practice with a back issue, only for the veteran to return days later. Freedman joked the injury means Stafford is in midseason form and believes his arm talent remains a perfect late-round quarterback target when healthy.

Matthew Freedman advised holding Najee Harris after fireworks-related eye issues dropped his CBS ADP to 97.4. Harris returned to practice last week and OC Greg Roman historically feeds downhill runners. Having never fallen below 1,200 scrimmage yards in four seasons, Harris remains a sturdy flex with contingent upside behind rookie Omarion Hampton.

Matthew Freedman suggested holding Chris Olave at his 119.7 CBS ADP. While a concussion cost him half of last season and the Saints still lack a proven passer, back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns confirm Olave’s talent. Freedman wants to see if quarterback play stabilizes before making a move.

Matthew Freedman told readers to buy Rashee Rice despite a looming disciplinary hearing that pushed his Yahoo ADP down to 63.5. Freedman argues that even if Rice misses games in October, he is still Patrick Mahomes’ top wideout the rest of the year and profiles as a difference-maker when available.

Matthew Freedman advised selling Chris Godwin after his Yahoo ADP fell 7.6 spots to 96.6. Godwin is still recovering from last year’s ankle dislocation and looks unlikely for Week 1, while first-round pick Emeka Egbuka is stealing headlines in camp. Freedman prefers to avoid a potentially prolonged ramp-up.

Matthew Freedman labeled Rhamondre Stevenson a buy after a minor 4.2-spot Sleeper ADP dip to 110.4. Although TreVeyon Henderson flashed in preseason and Stevenson missed practice with an undisclosed issue, Freedman still expects Stevenson to headline the backfield and called him a prime Zero-RB target.

Matthew Freedman said to sell Tyler Shough after the rookie lost ground in an open quarterback competition and watched his Sleeper ADP drop to 275.6. Even second-round draft capital can’t salvage a passer trending toward the bench.

Matthew Freedman recommended selling Jerome Ford after his ESPN ADP tumbled 22.9 slots to 159.3. Cleveland appears close to signing Quinshon Judkins, which would relegate Ford to nothing more than an injury hedge.

Matthew Freedman said to hold Joe Mixon after a steep 30.2-spot ESPN ADP drop to 90.9 caused by lingering foot and ankle issues. Mixon has averaged over 1,200 yards per season across eight years, so Freedman is reluctant to abandon a volume back if he’s merely discounted rather than dead.

Matthew Freedman urged managers to sell Quentin Johnston after a 15.6-spot slide to 173.1 Underdog ADP. Johnston’s 55-711-8 sophomore line was encouraging, but the Chargers drafted Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith and then added Keenan Allen in free agency. A weekend concussion was the final straw for Freedman, who sees too many mouths to feed.

Matthew Freedman said to sell Jack Bech after the Round 2 pick’s Underdog ADP cratered 17.2 spots to 203.2. Preseason usage has shown Bech working strictly behind Jakobi Meyers, erasing hopes he’d open as the No. 2 wideout.

Matthew Freedman recommended selling Brandon Aiyuk after his ADP dipped only 5.6 spots to 123.9 despite Kyle Shanahan saying the receiver is "on track" for a Week 6 return from a knee injury. Freedman warned that by the time Aiyuk is healthy he could be the fifth option behind Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and breakout rookie Ricky Pearsall.

Matthew Freedman told managers to hold Jordan Addison after a 6.2-spot fall to 91.0 Guillotine ADP. Addison will miss the first three games, and any dip in passing efficiency with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy concerns Freedman, but 1,808 yards and 20 touchdowns through two seasons prove Addison remains an automatic starter once active.

Matthew Freedman advised holding Dameon Pierce at 301.1 FFPC ADP. Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) is hurt, Nick Chubb is now 30, and rookie Woody Marks trails far behind on the depth chart, so Pierce could stumble into early-season starting work. Still, Freedman quipped, "the only problem is that he’s Dameon Pierce," underscoring the limited ceiling.

Matthew Freedman called Isaac TeSlaa a screaming buy at an FFPC ADP of 287.5 after Detroit traded up in Round 3 and watched him post 8-105-2 on 11 preseason targets. With a shaky veteran depth chart ahead of him, Freedman thinks TeSlaa could force his way into the starting lineup early.

Matthew Freedman said to hold Jordan Mason at his 99.5 CBS ADP. Beat writers continue to hype Mason as co-No. 1 with Aaron Jones and his absence alongside Jones in last weekend’s game supports that read, but Freedman would rather chase shares on ESPN where Mason goes outside the top-140.

Matthew Freedman encouraged drafters to buy Marvin Mims after his CBS ADP rocketed 51.6 spots to 153.4. Mims started and played every snap in Week 1 of the preseason, then sat with starters in Week 2—classic signs of a full-time role. Freedman called him one of his favorite late bench picks because the vertical threat finally has snap security to pair with elite speed.

Matthew Freedman suggested selling Tank Bigsby even after a mild 6.4-spot rise to 114.9 Yahoo ADP. Bigsby posted a respectable 820 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but Liam Coen’s arrival has produced a committee mess that leaves the sophomore without a locked-in role. Freedman prefers to cash out before preseason optimism fades.

Matthew Freedman labeled Ricky Pearsall a buy after the rookie’s Yahoo ADP crept to 107.2. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf) sidelined, Pearsall logged an 88 percent route rate and absurd 57 percent target share with the starters last week. He reminded readers that in four 2024 starts Pearsall went 22-321-3 on 28 targets and even chipped in 3-45 on the ground, evidence he can deliver WR3 numbers immediately.

Matthew Freedman recommended holding Dont'e Thornton despite a 14.2-spot bump to 191.2 ADP. The 6-5, 205-pound speedster (4.3 forty) continues to run with the Raiders’ starters during preseason, yet Freedman noted he could still open the year as the No. 5 receiver. Stash the upside, but don’t overpay.

Matthew Freedman told fantasy managers to buy Joe Flacco at a 279.2 Sleeper ADP now that Kevin Stefanski has confirmed him as the Week 1 starter. Over Flacco’s last 17 NFL starts he has thrown for 4,755 yards and 32 touchdowns, production Freedman believes is more than enough to justify a late-round quarterback slot in superflex or best-ball formats.

Matthew Freedman advised selling TreVeyon Henderson at his 60.2 ESPN ADP. Although the rookie looks explosive, Freedman fears a middling Patriots offense and OC Josh McDaniels’s history of backfield committees will cap touches. Because Henderson is still cheaper on other platforms, Freedman views his current ESPN price as an unnecessary premium for an uncertain workload.

Matthew Freedman told drafters to hold rather than chase Keenan Allen after a two-week, 14.9-spot ADP rise. Allen drew 121 targets with Chicago last season, but Freedman expects Moore to install a deliberate, run-centric attack in Los Angeles that curbs Allen’s weekly upside. At 128.4 ESPN ADP he is fairly valued as a floor player, not a league winner.

Matthew Freedman urged readers to buy Braelon Allen after the bruising back climbed 11.4 spots to a 142.1 ADP. Dwain McFarland’s utilization notes showed Allen rotating with Breece Hall in preseason Week 2 and New York projects for a ground-first game plan. Freedman believes a goal-line and series-spelling role can make Allen an every-week flex at a discount.

Matthew Freedman recommended holding Quinshon Judkins after the second-round pick saw his Underdog ADP spike 24.4 spots to 118.0 when misdemeanor battery charges were dropped. The NFL is still investigating and Judkins has yet to sign his rookie deal, creating short-term uncertainty but leaving open a late-August jump once paperwork is complete.

Matthew Freedman advised buying Emeka Egbuka at his current 105.0 Guillotine ADP because the Buccaneers are suddenly thin: Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) are sidelined, and Mike Evans is 32. Egbuka has worked with the first team all preseason and his price still lags far behind an UnderDog ADP of 65. Freedman expects the gap to close quickly once drafters realize Tampa’s passing tree may have to run through the dynamic rookie.

Matthew Freedman said Sean Tucker is worth holding after Rachaad White left last week’s preseason game with a groin issue and Todd Bowles publicly stated the Buccaneers "need to give Sean Tucker the ball more." Freedman noted Tucker’s Guillotine Leagues ADP jumped 16 spots to 221.6, yet he remains behind Bucky Irving on the depth chart, so managers should treat him as a contingency play rather than chase-the-ceiling starter.

Cooter Doodle told fantasy managers to keep De'Von Achane rather than panic-sell after reports of a soft-tissue injury surfaced. Achane cost a first-round pick this summer, and Doodle argued no one will pay fair value for “a potentially-hurt-already-injury-prone running back on an offense that sputters when its QB goes down.” With beat writers calling the issue minor, she recommends riding it out and monitoring practice reports instead of locking in a guaranteed loss by trading him now.

Cooter Doodle urged managers to trade away Jacory Croskey-Merritt after his 11-46-1 Monday-night line juiced Twitter highlights and sent his value skyrocketing. She pointed out that the rookie’s 27-yard TD came against “zero defenders,” making the clip more sizzle than steak. Washington’s depth chart still includes Austin Ekeler, and Brian Robinson Jr. has yet to be dealt, so Croskey-Merritt’s role is anything but secure. Because his stock "has never been higher," Doodle believes fantasy GMs can flip him for a more proven asset before reality catches up to the preseason buzz.

Cooter Doodle advised scooping up Geno Smith as the 25th QB off 2025 draft boards, noting he finished 4th in passing yards last season despite Seattle’s bottom-tier offensive line. Now in Las Vegas he inherits a better front and a supporting cast of Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Smith is projected for only 22 TDs after throwing 21 on 578 attempts a year ago, yet Doodle argued the projection bakes in all the downside with none of the yardage ceiling; another 4,000-yard campaign would push him into weekly top-20 territory. At his late price she views him as a cheap insurance policy with hidden upside for single-QB redraft leagues.

Cooter Doodle said Caleb Williams is a clear buy in season-long drafts because managers can still wait 10+ rounds to land him even after he tied Brock Purdy with 20 passing TDs and out-threw Drake Maye in yardage during the 2024 season. She stressed that Williams absorbed a league-high 68 sacks—16 more than any other QB—yet still produced, implying a strong fantasy floor if Chicago’s rebuilt offensive line and new coaching staff under Ben Johnson do even an average job. The Bears added explosive weapons Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, giving Williams what she called “high-end QB1 upside” at a fraction of the cost of Purdy or Maye, both of whom carry their own question marks. Her takeaway: if you punt QB, Williams is the late-round swing with the biggest payoff.

Matthew Berry noted that Daniel Jones starting over Anthony Richardson is a "slight plus" for Jonathan Taylor because Richardson was a significant goal-line touchdown vulture. With the less mobile Jones under center, Berry expects more red-zone touches to flow back to Taylor, increasing his touchdown equity and raising both his weekly floor and overall ceiling in season-long formats.

Dwain McFarland called Nico Collins a "Tier-1 WR" whose underlying metrics “scream Julio Jones” and insisted drafters should treat him like a first-round fantasy pick even though the market lets him fall to Round 2. Collins is coming off the board at pick 14 on Sleeper, 15 on RTSports, 16 on ESPN and FFPC, and 10 on Yahoo. McFarland framed him as a high-priority selection for anyone drafting from slots 6-12, urging managers to “click with conviction” because Collins’ combination of target share, yards-per-route-run and explosive play rate gives him true league-winning upside at a discounted cost.