Matthew Betz targeted rookie Bhayshul Tuten as the highest-ceiling play in Jacksonville’s three-man committee. He argued that the uncertainty itself is the edge—historical research (citing JJ Zachariason) shows league-winners often emerge from ambiguous backfields going outside the early rounds. Betz pointed out that the new GM and head coach hand-picked Tuten while rumblings surfaced in March that the staff is lukewarm on both Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby (fumbling concerns for each). The front office is expected to let Etienne walk after 2024, further clearing a runway. Tuten's athletic profile jumps off the page: 4.32 forty, 99th-percentile speed score at his weight, and top-shelf yards-after-contact numbers in college. Betz envisions a scenario where one misstep by the incumbents hands the rookie the early-down job in Liam Cohen’s wide-zone scheme. Because Tuten is the cheapest of the trio in redraft, Betz advised stashing him on benches where you can wait for a potentially explosive payoff.

Matthew Betz labeled Ollie Gordon the perfect lottery ticket in the final rounds. De’Von Achane is already nursing a calf strain—an injury Betz said carries a high re-injury rate—while presumed backup Jalen Wright just underwent a minor procedure and will miss about a month. Miami’s remaining depth is practice-squad veteran Jeff Wilson, so Betz expects Gordon to open the year as the clear RB2 with a real shot at the goal-line role thanks to his 227-pound frame and Doak Walker pedigree. If Achane’s calf flares up, Gordon could inherit three-down work in a Mike McDaniel rushing scheme that has historically produced RB1 weeks for its No. 2 back. Betz acknowledged concerns about Miami’s shaky offensive line and the pressure on McDaniel’s staff, but the negligible opportunity cost (14th-15th round in redraft; 18th-20th in best ball) makes Gordon an easy upside swing that can be cut if the depth chart shifts.

Matthew Betz said he is drafting Austin Ekeler aggressively at his current price because he expects him to "lead this backfield in touches" for Washington. Betz forecasts 13-16 opportunities per game after noting Ekeler handled a 70 % snap share and 15 touches in the one contest Brian Robinson missed last season. He believes the veteran’s pass-catching résumé (four 70-reception seasons) and proven goal-line chops give him RB2 upside even if Jayden Daniels and Chris Rodriguez siphon a few short-yardage looks. Betz dismissed age concerns, explaining last year’s workload dip stemmed from two concussions (Weeks 4 and 12) rather than physical decline. With home-league drafters fading the soon-to-be-30 back, Betz views Ekeler as a clear value in both redraft and best-ball formats.

Tom Strachan flipped his stance on Austin Ekeler and is hammering him at current ADP, especially in full-PPR formats. Strachan highlighted that Ekeler finished 12th in receiving yards among running backs last season even though he ran only the 31st-most routes, translating to a 7th-highest target share (11%) and 4th in yards per target. With rookie quarterback Jaden Daniels expected to be more comfortable in the passing game, Strachan sees room for an uptick in designed routes. Goal-line usage is the swing factor—Ekeler logged just three red-zone carries in 2024, so even a modest bump would be “a massive opportunity." Despite the Brian Robinson trade and the offseason buzz around seventh-rounder JCM, Strachan believes the front office views Ekeler as the clear touch leader. His price barely budged post-trade, making him a Round-7 steal who checks both pass-catching and potential goal-line boxes in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Matthew Betz said Tyler Allgeier belongs on every zero-RB or hero-RB roster because the path to a starting workload is both obvious and massive. Betz reminded listeners that if Bijan Robinson misses any time, "Tyler Algier is the dude" and the Falcons have virtually no depth behind their core play-makers. Allgeier already owns the change-of-pace role in a run-centric offense that lacks proven wide-receiver depth (Darnell Mooney is battling a shoulder issue, and the only other target earners of note are Kyle Pitts and Drake London). Betz acknowledged the loss of tackle Kaleb McGarry, noting Brandon Thorn dropped Atlanta’s line to 23rd, and he flagged a tricky opening slate (Buccaneers, Vikings) plus an inexperienced quarterback in Michael Penix. Even with those worries he still views Allgeier as a "league-winner in waiting" who could show standalone flex value by Week 4 once the schedule softens (Panthers, Commanders).

Matthew Betz said Allgeier is a textbook zero-RB pick because his contingency value is crystal clear—if Bijan goes down, Allgeier is unquestionably "the dude." Unlike ambiguous depth charts such as Green Bay or Chicago, Atlanta’s hierarchy is set, which magnifies the payoff if an injury hits. Betz has been scooping Allgeier in best ball and redraft builds that fade early RBs, emphasizing that clarity of role is worth prioritizing late in drafts.

Tom Strachan argued that fantasy drafters are sleeping on Tyler Allgeier, pointing out the 12th-largest ADP gap in the league between an RB1 (Bijan Robinson) and his backup. Allgeier finished 10th in explosive run rate and 7th in juke rate last season and has delivered six top-36 weekly PPR finishes over the past two years despite Bijan dominating touches. Strachan believes those traits give Allgeier standalone flex appeal during bye weeks and tremendous contingent upside if Robinson misses time. He is targeting Allgeier in Dynasty, best ball, and redraft whenever he fades the early-round price on Bijan.

Tom Strachan highlighted Charbonnet’s receiving chops as the cheat code that makes him usable even when Kenneth Walker is healthy. Charbonnet ranked 12th among RBs in yards per target and posted a 91 % catch rate last year, fourth-best at the position. Strachan expects new starter Sam Darnold—historically quick to check down, evidenced by the 59 targets he funneled to Aaron Jones in Green Bay—to lean on Charbonnet as a safety valve behind a Seattle O-line Strachan called merely "okay." With Charbonnet’s ADP climbing from the 120s into the 90s on DraftKings, Strachan is still clicking him because the combination of pass-game floor and nuclear upside if Walker’s foot flares again is worth the price in both best ball and redraft.

Matthew Betz said Zach Charbonnet is one of his favorite late-round swings because both team context and depth-chart dynamics scream upside. New coordinator Klint Kubiak arrives with a run-first pedigree, head coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive mastermind, and Seattle kept four tight ends plus two fullbacks on the 53-man roster—clear evidence they want to pound the rock. Betz noted that when Kenneth Walker has missed time Charbonnet has absorbed nearly every backfield touch, and he believes the sophomore showed an ideal fit in Kubiak’s wide-zone looks during preseason. He sees a realistic path to a 50/50 timeshare even without a Walker injury and league-winning volume if the foot issue sidelines Walker again. Betz is drafting Charbonnet aggressively in both best ball and home-league redraft when he misses on Walker early.

Matthew Betz warned that Malik Nabers carries more downside than most first-round receivers because of a chronic toe injury that dates back to his LSU days and resurfaced last December. Nabers himself has already said he will "likely need surgery" on the toe eventually, so Betz expects the wideout to battle the issue all season. Given that Nabers has also dealt with minor shoulder and low-back problems this summer, Betz advised fantasy managers in single redraft leagues to break ties against him at picks 10-12, arguing there are plenty of similarly elite options without the same medical baggage in this deep first round.

Tying back to Matthew Stafford’s disc issues, Jeff Mueller said he is comfortable fading Puka Nacua at his current Round-7/8 ADP. If Stafford’s back flares up, the Rams receiving corps—especially the highest-priced options—will feel the brunt of the fantasy damage. Mueller prefers pivoting to similarly priced wideouts such as Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., or Nico Collins, who do not rely on a quarterback with a volatile medical outlook and questionable blind-side protection.

Jeff Mueller labeled Matthew Stafford the highest-risk quarterback on draft boards because a cervical/lumbar disc irritation remains vulnerable for 3-6 months. Although biologic treatments have calmed inflammation enough for limited practice, rotational torque and blind-side hits (especially with left tackle Alaric Jackson uncertain and D.J. Humphries signed as insurance) could trigger another flare-up that shelves Stafford for weeks. Mueller still likes Stafford as a dirt-cheap QB2 in superflex, but calls the range of outcomes "he could be great until he’s suddenly not," urging managers to build contingency plans and avoid tying up too much capital in Rams pass-catchers.

Jeff Mueller projected Brandon Aiyuk to rejoin the 49ers in Week 6—San Francisco’s first full week after a Thursday game against the Rams—but warned managers not to count on 2023-level production until late in the season or 2026-2027 (typo now). The team’s medical staff has been ultra-conservative, extending his timeline even though a pure rehab window suggests Week 5. Mueller expects a two-to-four-week ramp-up before Aiyuk is fantasy-viable. On the bright side, Aiyuk has been running routes with Brock Purdy during rehab, which should preserve timing. Still, drafters should bake in a shallow first month of box scores.

Jeff Mueller advised passing on Sam LaPorta at his current tight-end-4, Round-7 draft slot. While the recent "mild lower-body" injury appears inconsequential—LaPorta missed only two practices—Mueller worries about volume in a John Morton-led offense now that Ben Johnson is gone. He views LaPorta as more touchdown-dependent than the market admits and prefers cheaper options such as Evan Engram, Jake Ferguson, Tucker Kraft, or even paying up slightly for Mark Andrews. LaPorta’s history of preseason knee issues is an added tiebreaker against him, even if this year’s ailment was minor.

Rich pushed back on fading Darnell Mooney entirely, noting the Falcons added no meaningful receiver competition and that Penix’s three-game sample was too small to panic over usage shifts. With Drake London monopolizing defensive attention, Rich sees a clear WR3/4 fantasy role for Mooney and is happy to scoop him once he falls into the double-digit rounds. Short-term injury discounts are exactly where he likes to find midseason flex producers.

Jeff Mueller is out on Darnell Mooney at his current ninth-round ADP. The shoulder injury that has kept Mooney off the practice field lacks detail, raising the risk of missed regular-season games. Even when healthy, Mueller worries about target volume after the quarterback switch to Michael Penix; late-2024 data showed Mooney’s routes and looks nosedive compared with the Kirk Cousins stretch. If Mooney slips into double-digit rounds he might reconsider, but as things stand Mueller would rather not roster him.

Rich said he is above consensus on Tony Pollard because everything is breaking the veteran’s way. High-ankle-sprained Tyjae Spears remains in a boot, and Kalen Mollins is also sidelined, leaving only Julius Chestnut and street free agents behind Pollard. Combine that with an upgraded offensive line and schematic tweaks aimed at improving the run game, and Rich expects Pollard to open the year with a true bell-cow workload. He views the situation as a springboard to early-season fantasy wins and is actively targeting Pollard in drafts.

Jeff Mueller called Tyjae Spears an easy fade. The running back is still in a CAM boot, using a scooter, and not yet weight-bearing—signs the high-ankle sprain has a long road to recovery. History shows the injury saps explosiveness for months, and Mueller doubts Spears will be trustworthy for more than two to four games all season. Given the Titans’ depth chart he would rather draft Tony Pollard or simply move on to healthier backs.

Jeff Mueller advised removing Joe Mixon from 2025 draft boards entirely. A private source told Mueller it is a "long shot" Mixon even plays this season after suffering a re-injury that required another procedure in late April/early May. Mixon has been seen in a walking boot, skipped all OTAs and training camp, and still has not practiced with the Texans two weeks before kickoff. Even an optimistic Week 8 return would require several weeks of acclimation, pushing usable fantasy production into playoff weeks. With an eighth-round ADP, Mueller prefers healthy options such as Nick Chubb or Woody Marks and would only consider Mixon as a round-16-plus flier.

Jeff Mueller recommended scooping up Ollie Gordon in rounds 12-14 (current Underdog ADP RB58, pick 175) as an inexpensive hedge for managers who invest in Devon Achane. With Jalen Wright now "week-to-week" after struggling behind Miami’s porous offensive line, Mueller expects the Dolphins to lean on a bigger back in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Gordon’s tackle-breaking profile fits that role, giving him immediate touchdown upside and contingent value if Achane’s calf or the line collapses. The near-free price tag makes him an easy stash in redraft and best-ball formats.

Jeff Mueller is unfazed by Malik Nabers' chronic turf-toe and recent back tightness, noting the wideout dominated at LSU while managing the same toe issue and has never required surgery. Mueller pointed out that players drafted around Nabers—Nico Collins (hamstrings) and A.J. Brown (swollen knee, hamstring)—carry comparable medical risk but offer less weekly ceiling. Given the Giants' likely target funnel toward Nabers, Mueller prefers betting on his superior upside despite the small chance the toe flares up during the season.

Strachan argued Lamb could push Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson for the WR1 crown. Dallas plans to lean even heavier on Dak Prescott’s arm because the run game "isn't going to be good," which could inflate Lamb’s already massive target share. With field-stretchers clearing out space underneath, Lamb projects for both volume and efficiency spikes, making him a strong pivot if Jefferson is gone at 1.04.

Backing chatter from Evan Silva and Ben Gretch, Strachan said Gibbs has true RB1-overall upside. Gibbs finished 2024 as the RB3 in PPR points per game, ranked third in total RB yardage, and sixth in targets. He posted six 20-plus-point outings, four of which came with David Montgomery healthy, showing the ceiling can coexist with Montgomery’s goal-line role. Drafters at 1.04 are buying those 25-point weeks and betting on elite efficiency rather than pure touch volume.

Strachan reminded listeners that Jefferson has been top-5 in PPR points per game every season since 2021 and averages 96.5 receiving yards per contest. Even with another quarterback change and a mild training-camp hamstring strain, the Viking star has never dipped below 87.5 yards per game in any year, which Strachan views as proof he is quarterback-agnostic. If you want an elite weekly floor with slate-breaking upside, Jefferson is a rock-solid selection at 1.04.

Tom Strachan said Barkley is an "easy click" at the 1.04 because he still runs the entire Eagles offense. Barkley handled 400-plus touches last season, led all running backs by more than 300 rushing yards, and remains one of the league's premier big-play threats. While Strachan acknowledged the historical dip that often follows that kind of workload, he argued Barkley's RB3 consensus rank — and occasional 1.01 draft slot — shows the market still trusts his floor/ceiling combo. If you are willing to accept some volume-based regression risk, Barkley lets you lock in an elite every-down back before the position thins out.

Tom Strachan agreed Metcalf is over-drafted, emphasizing Rodgers’ chemistry gap. He pointed out the quarterback threw a career-high rate of contested-catch balls last year despite long-standing timing with Davante Adams and two off-seasons working with Garrett Wilson. Rodgers has shared only one abbreviated summer with Metcalf after delaying his July signing to dodge OTA obligations. Strachan recalled Arthur Smith’s usage of Drake London as proof that "only game in town" alphas can disappear in this scheme. Combined with personality clashes in Pittsburgh and historical Smith target constraints, Strachan is passing on Metcalf outside of touchdown-heavy formats.

Matthew Berry said he has DK Metcalf down at WR27—seven spots below the Fantasy Life consensus—because Arthur Smith-led passing games simply do not feed a true alpha. Berry rattled off that in Smith’s four seasons running an offense (Tennessee 2019-20, Atlanta 2021-23, now Pittsburgh) no wide-out has finished higher than WR31 in total or per-game fantasy points except AJ Brown’s bomb-heavy rookie campaign. The high-water mark for targets under Smith is Drake London’s 117 in 2022; Metcalf has failed to reach that threshold twice in six pro seasons and finished outside the top-30 both times. Berry added that Mike Tomlin’s preferred 20-17, defense-first script plus Derrick-Henry-style run volume further squeezes passing volume. He is skeptical that a late-signing, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers can quickly build chemistry after skipping OTAs, especially in AFC North winter weather. The result is a touchdown-dependent profile Berry is avoiding in season-long and best-ball drafts.

Tom Strachan pounded the table for Tyler Allgeier at RB54. He ranked 10th in explosive run rate and 7th in juke rate last season while posting six top-36 weekly finishes in each of the past two years. Allgeier already offers flex-worthy production, and if Bijan Robinson goes down, Strachan says Allgeier ‘goes to the absolute freaking moon.’

Tom Strachan urged scooping Austin Ekeler at RB43. Even in a down year he recorded the 12th-most receiving yards among backs (366) while ranking 7th in target share (11 %) and 4th in yards per target. With Brian Robinson likely gone, Ekeler could dominate passing downs and maybe inherit goal-line looks. Strachan sees a path to top-24 RB production at a double-digit-round price.

Tom Strachan believes Colston Loveland smashes his round-11 cost. The Bears invested the 10th overall pick, guaranteeing heavy snaps because Loveland blocks well enough to stay on the field. Head coach Ben Johnson engineered Sam LaPorta’s nine-TD rookie season with screens, motion and play-action, concepts he’ll recycle for Loveland—whom Strachan rates as a better prospect. Expect frequent play-action targets and red-zone usage.

Tom Strachan flagged Zach Charbonnet as a round-10 upside pick. In four games with 15+ touches last season he delivered 17, 25 and 38-point weeks, finishing RB8, RB5 and RB2. Charbonnet caught 91 % of his passes (4th among RBs with 25+ targets) and ranked 12th in yards per target. Strachan expects Sam Darnold—who fed Aaron Jones 59 targets in 2024—to lean on him, especially with Kenneth Walker hampered by a lingering foot injury.

Tom Strachan likes Justin Fields at QB10, noting he averaged 50.2 rushing yards per game for his career and still finished QB5 in 2022 despite only 12.8 completions per game. Fields cut down interceptions with Pittsburgh last year, and new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has a track record of unleashing him—Detroit allowed six 100-yard rushers in 46 games since 2022, three of them Fields. Strachan sees a safe floor with week-winning spikes.

Tom Strachan said Tucker Kraft is the tight end to nab in round eight after he led Green Bay with seven touchdowns and paced all TEs with 9.38 yards after the catch on 50-plus targets. Having already outplayed Luke Musgrave, Kraft now benefits from a projected shift toward more passing after the Packers spent a first-round pick on WR Matthew Golden. Strachan thinks a top-three fantasy season is in play.

Tom Strachan wants Emeka Egbuka aggressively at his round-seven ADP. With Jalen McMillan on IR until at least Week 10 and Chris Godwin rehabbing a fractured ankle, Egbuka has a clear lane to volume. Camp reports have been glowing, and the rookie commanded a 23 % targets-per-route share over three college seasons. Strachan ranks him WR30 versus consensus WR36 and is willing to reach to secure shares.

Tom Strachan views Calvin Ridley as a round-six steal. Ridley ranked 78th of 85 in catchable-target rate thanks largely to Will Levis, yet he was 15th in missed tackles forced and 8th in yards per reception when the ball was on target. With glowing camp reports on new signal-caller Cam Ward and Ridley surpassing 1,000 yards in each of his last three healthy seasons, Strachan expects a full bounce-back into WR1 territory.

Tom Strachan urged drafters to grab Xavier Worthy near pick 40 before his price spikes. Worthy saw 17 deep targets last year but caught only three because just 41 % were catchable, 61st among receivers. With Rashi Rice facing suspension and Patrick Mahomes publicly emphasizing downfield accuracy, Strachan expects Worthy to claim a larger target share and connect on more splash plays, making him a high-ceiling best-ball weapon.

Tom Strachan loves Devante Adams at WR18 in round four now that he’s paired with Matthew Stafford. After leaving Las Vegas, Adams averaged 2.2 yards per route and 76.6 yards per game. Stafford’s health is a question, yet the Rams need a separator—Cooper Kupp ranked 108th of 116 in ESPN’s Open Score while Adams was 58th—so Strachan anticipates high-value targets once games count, calling the payoff potentially league-winning.

Tom Strachan advised spending a second-round pick on Brock Bowers, noting his rookie-record 112 catches on 153 targets—numbers only Evan Engram and Zach Ertz have ever eclipsed at tight end. Strachan expects efficiency to skyrocket in Chip Kelly’s uptempo system and with Geno Smith replacing last year’s Gardner Minshew/Aiden O’Connell tandem; Smith ranked 4th in completion rate over expected and 13th in yards per attempt. That combination of volume and accuracy gives Bowers legitimate top-three positional upside.

Tom Strachan said drafters should take Nico Collins at the top of drafts because the ceiling outweighs the risk. Since 2023 Collins is the only wideout to finish top-10 in yards per route run versus both man and zone coverage in back-to-back seasons, and over Weeks 1-5 last year he was WR2 overall with 21.6 PPR points per game. With Tank Dell expected to miss the entire season, Christian Kirk’s durability concerns, and only unproven rookies behind him, Collins projects for true alpha volume. Strachan admits the injury history is real but believes the upside can swing fantasy leagues.

Ian Hartitz said Keon Coleman is a screaming buy in both best-ball and season-long formats because the role he already flashed last season should translate into the league’s most valuable targets. Hartitz noted Coleman ranked first in the NFL in yards after catch above expected per reception according to Next Gen Stats and still commanded 18 deep balls of 20-plus air yards—seven more than any other Buffalo receiver—despite missing time and periodically getting phased out. With Josh Allen willing to launch vertically and the Bills lacking a proven perimeter red-zone weapon, Hartitz expects Coleman to lead the team in both deep targets and end-zone looks. Those high-leverage opportunities inside an offense helmed by the reigning MVP come at an ADP outside the top-50 wide receivers, cheaper than Gabe Davis ever cost. Hartitz compared Coleman’s ceiling to a better version of Davis and urged drafters to grab shares before the price climbs.

Tom Strachan argued that Hunter is a smash when he slips to WR4/WR5 territory. Strachan expects Liam Cohen to feature a heavy screen game—just like Cohen’s Tampa offense last year—which creates easy PPR juice for Hunter. Strachan dismissed worries about defensive snaps, noting the Jaguars’ thin roster makes it unlikely they voluntarily sideline one of Trevor Lawrence’s best weapons. In builds where Hunter is the fourth or fifth receiver, Strachan is happy to embrace the volatility for the league-winning upside.

Ian Hartitz pitched Keon Coleman as his favorite dart beyond pick 120. Coleman finished first in the entire league in yards after catch above expectation per reception per Next Gen Stats and still commanded 18 targets of 20+ air yards despite an inconsistent rookie role. Josh Allen already showed a willingness to play "F-it, Keon’s down there somewhere," and with only Khalil Shakir realistically competing for pure vertical work, Hartitz sees a clear path to team-leading deep targets. Coleman’s profile screams best-ball spike weeks with potential season-long breakout if the route share jumps.

Ian Hartitz said he can’t stop clicking Travis Hunter around the WR30 pocket because all preseason evidence points to a full-time offensive role and triple-digit targets. Jacksonville’s offense projects to climb after adding Hunter, and Hartitz thinks the two-way chatter is mostly noise— even if Hunter sprinkles in snaps on defense, the Jaguars need him running routes for Trevor Lawrence. Hartitz admits durability is the lone concern, but he views Hunter as the type of lottery ticket that wins leagues when drafted as a fantasy WR4.

Ian Hartitz said George Kittle is his fourth-most-drafted tight end on Underdog and the one early pick he chases whenever the 49ers star drifts into round four. Hartitz reminded listeners that Kittle led all tight ends in yards per target, yards per game, yards per route run and yards per reception last season while finishing second in yards-after-catch per reception and touchdowns. With Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings all missing camp time or seeking new deals, Hartitz expects Kittle’s volume to spike even if his outrageous efficiency cools. That potential target bump, coupled with Kittle’s proven yards-after-catch prowess, makes him a weekly ceiling piece and a clean hedge against Christian McCaffrey’s durability concerns. Hartitz prefers spending the 4.05-4.10 pick on Kittle rather than backs such as Breece Hall or wideouts in the Higgins tier, believing the tight end provides a clearer positional edge in both Best Ball and redraft builds.

Ian Hartitz endorsed Xavier Worthy as a premium upside pick. Worthy saw 17 deep targets but caught only three last year because just 41 % were deemed catchable, yet he still averaged 15.6 PPR points from Week 11 on by winning underneath and on manufactured touches. Hartitz expects that floor to rise because Patrick Mahomes has publicly prioritized restoring the deep game. With Rashee Rice likely facing a 4-to-6-game suspension, Hollywood Brown already banged up, and 35-year-old Travis Kelce a declining target hog, Worthy projects to soak up both vertical looks and gadget work. Hartitz places him in the Pickens/J.Williams discussion and has repeatedly seen him slip past ADP 50 into the 60s in high-stakes drafts, calling him an ideal WR3/WR4 who can finish as a mid-range WR2 with true WR1 spike-week potential.

Ian Hartitz said Chase Brown belongs firmly in the Round-2 conversation because his role is already elite and nothing in Cincinnati threatens it. From Week 9 on, Brown averaged 23.6 touches and 20.6 fantasy points, a workload topped only by Christian McCaffrey and Kyren Williams. The stretch coincided with the offense giving him every high-value snap: goal-line, two-minute and most of the routes. With Zack Moss gone and only Samaje Perine/Todd Brooks flashing as preseason depth, Hartitz sees no credible competition. He expects the Bengals’ shaky defense to force shoot-outs, boosting play volume, and notes that drafting out of the 1.01/1.02 slot lets managers pair Brown with an elite first-round pick for a massive structural edge. He ranks Brown alongside Jonathan Taylor, Bucky Irving and Josh Jacobs but would often take Brown first due to clearer volume on a better offense.

Tom Strachan selected the Baltimore Ravens defense late, pointing to the arrivals of Malachi Starks and Jaire Alexander as the final pieces that could vault the unit back into elite territory. With an upgraded secondary complementing their perennial pass-rush, Strachan expects Baltimore to rack up the sacks and turnovers that translate directly into fantasy DST points.

Choosing Brock Purdy over Dak Prescott and Drake Maye, Tom Strachan built a 49ers stack with George Kittle. He forecast "insane volume" between the pair because he expects San Francisco’s secondary to struggle, forcing more pass-heavy scripts. That game-flow thesis, combined with Purdy’s modest ADP, makes him a ceiling play in season-long and best-ball builds.

Tom Strachan called George Kittle a "smash" in round four, arguing that positional scarcity and his perennial top-three per-route efficiency make him a team anchor even if the roster is light on wideouts. Locking in Kittle’s weekly advantage lets managers chase upside elsewhere later in drafts.

Tom Strachan grabbed Tee Higgins in the third round, citing the 18-19 fantasy points per game he averaged once he returned from injury last season. With Ja’Marr Chase commanding defensive attention, Higgins continues to offer spike-week upside, and Strachan believes that profile is underpriced where he’s typically the WR15-18 off boards.

Tom Strachan said Derrick Henry’s 1,953 yards and 16 scores in 2024 were impressive but warned that betting on a repeat at age 31 is dangerous. Henry posted just a 4.4 % target share—the lowest of any top-two-round back—and Baltimore has hinted at a heavier committee, with Keaton Mitchell flashing in camp and John Harbaugh stating he wants four active backs. Strachan would rather pivot to elite wideouts in this draft pocket than hope Henry maintains last year’s efficiency on reduced volume.