IT’S FOOTBALL TIME!
The NFL kickoff is right around the corner, and fantasy drafts are happening nonstop. If you’re about to draft, this article brings you some intriguing names to help with those last-minute decisions. Andy, Mike, and Jason just recorded their annual Fantasy MVP episode, where the three of them, along with several special guests and friends of the show, share the players they believe can carry your fantasy team all the way to a championship.
You can listen to the full episode here, and as always, don’t forget to check out the Fantasy Footballers UDK+ for the most comprehensive set of tools to help you win your upcoming draft: rankings, sleepers, busts, values, and much more!
Now, let’s get a good look at this season’s Fantasy MVPs.
Drake London – WR Atlanta Falcons
Shared by: Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB)
Football writer and analyst for Yahoo. Creator of Reception Perception.
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| WR8 | WR9 |
Drake London offers massive upside this year. He posted a 29.3% target share last season (third-highest among all WRs). And if you’re worried about Michael Penix Jr. as his QB, London’s target share actually spiked to an absurd 39.9% in games with him. That number is nearly impossible to sustain, but the volume is secure. Under Arthur Smith, London was used strictly as a boundary receiver. Last season, his role expanded: 38.9% of his snaps came from the slot, and 52.7% were off the line of scrimmage. Combine that with his elite deep-route running, and if Penix keeps throwing downfield, London has overall WR1 potential.
Tetairoa McMillan – WR Carolina Panthers
Shared by: Rich Hribar (@LordReebs)
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| WR27 | WR22 |
A brilliant prospect who stood out from his freshman year. At 6’4” and 219 lbs, McMillan forced a missed tackle on 35% of his receptions in his final college season. He proved he’s versatile too, logging 21.6% of snaps from the slot and averaging 4.48 yards per route run. We know Dave Canales’ offenses funnel through the WR1. Just look at Mike Evans two years ago. This preseason, Bryce Young targeted McMillan on 36.5% of his routes, and with Adam Thielen gone, his role is clear. Don’t let last year’s Marvin Harrison Jr. situation scare you off. Tet McMillan is a great value at his ADP.
Jordan Mason – RB Minnesota Vikings
Shared by: Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke)
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| RB35 | RB34 |
Last season, Jordan Mason averaged 5.3 yards per carry and ranked as the RB6 through five weeks before getting injured. There will be a 50-50 split in the Vikings’ backfield, but Nathan likes Mason better because he should get the early down role, which typically scores more fantasy points, while Aaron Jones could be relegated to passing downs. At this stage of their careers, Mason is more explosive: he’s ripped off 15+ yard runs on 8% of his carries, compared to Jones’ 4% over the last two years. And with Kevin O’Connell’s tendency to ride the hot hand, Mason could earn even more snaps as the season progresses in what should be an improved Vikings offense.
TreVeyon Henderson – RB New England Patriots
Shared by: JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB)
Host of the Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast & Living The Stream.
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| RB20 | RB21 |
One of Mike’s My Guys, Henderson, gets the MVP nod from JJ Zachariason. As a freshman, he caught 27 passes for 312 yards and four TDs, while sharing an offense with stars like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka. In New England, the runway is clear. Rhamondre Stevenson is coming off a down year, and even if Henderson shares carries, JJ projects him for a 15% target share with a chance at the bigger slice of rushing volume. That combination gives him both a safe floor and a realistic high-ceiling outcome.
Tyler Warren – TE Indianapolis Colts
Shared by: Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
The Fantasy Footballers’ editor in chief. Host of the DFS & Betting and Dynasty podcasts.
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| TE10 | TE9 |
One of Andy’s My Guys shows up here. A certified DAWG in college, Warren is now set to be a matchup nightmare in the NFL. Kyle suggests ignoring your platform’s ADPs. If you want him, draft him a round or two earlier than your league mates who are waiting on a late-round TE. Don’t risk missing out.
Travis Hunter – WR/CB Jacksonville Jaguars
Shared by: Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)
The Fantasy Footballers’ injury expert and head writer. Host of the DFS & Betting and Dynasty podcasts.
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| WR30 | WR37 |
Once you have secured some RBs and WRs with projectable volume at the top of your draft, in the middle rounds, you should be shooting for massive upside instead of looking for safety, according to Matthew Betz. And right there in the sixth or seventh round, you can find Travis Hunter, WR, with true league-winning potential.
Yes, there’s risk of him playing CB more than we’d like, but this kid is built different. If he were guaranteed a full-time WR role, he’d be drafted much earlier. The good news? Liam Cohen has already suggested Hunter will see around 80% of offensive snaps. That’s more than enough opportunity for him to smash his ADP.
Christian McCaffrey – RB San Francisco 49ers
Shared by: Jamey Eisenberg (@JameyEisenberg)
Fantasy Football/NFL analyst for CBS Sports.
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| RB5 | RB3 |
Jamey is taking CMC only behind Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, but he considers moving him above those guys. When healthy, McCaffrey is capable of scoring like a QB in fantasy. In 2024, he scored over 24 PPR points per game. Of course, last season was tough, but he is back, healthy, and hopefully better than ever. The receiving corps in San Francisco is a mess right now, so CMC should be heavily involved in a passing game, maybe even more than he was in 2023.
Jahmyr Gibbs – RB Detroit Lions
Shared by: Rich Eisen (@richeisen)
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| RB3 | RB4 |
Rich believes this is the year Gibbs commands an even larger workload. The Lions trust him, he has big-play ability, and he can be a true fantasy MVP. David Montgomery may still vulture some goal-line scores, but Rich expects Gibbs to shine.
Kaleb Johnson – RB Pittsburgh Steelers
Shared by: Jason
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| RB28 | RB28 |
He might not be the best in pass protection, but backs like that often rack up dump-offs, which is good news for fantasy. Ignore depth chart noise from Arthur Smith – talent rises, and Kaleb Johnson has it. During his final year at Iowa, he posted a 52% dominator rating and scored 21 TDs, which is the most predictive college stat for NFL success. He joins an elite list of RBs drafted in rounds 1-3 with a 40%+ dominator: Le’Veon Bell, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall, and De’Von Achane.
Some people complain about his explosiveness, but once he gets going, no one can stop him. He led all RBs with eight forced missed tackles during the preseason on just 24 total attempts. Comparing his ADP to other rookie RBs such as Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson. Kaleb Johnson’s value in the seventh round is insane.
DK Metcalf – WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Shared by: Andy
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| WR20 | WR16 |
Metcalf’s value is outrageous. The Ballers project him for a 25% target share, with 134 targets. Over the last five years, WRs with 130+ targets have incredible hit rates: 92% finished top 24, 89% top 20, and 65% top 12. That’s Metcalf’s ceiling this season.
He’s a route machine, a goal-line physical presence, and Andy believes Aaron Rodgers will target him more than anyone ever has. With George Pickens gone, Metcalf is the clear alpha.
Kenneth Walker – RB Seattle Seahawks
Shared by: Mike
| ADP | Ballers Ranking |
| RB17 | RB17 |
Mike is running it back with last year’s pick: Kenneth “Ken Bone” Walker. In 2024, he averaged 14.4 points per game, disappointing managers only because he played 11 games. But in his first two seasons, he played 15 games each, which is normal for a workhorse RB. And that’s exactly what he is.
In 41 career games, Walker has handled 31% of Seattle’s total rush attempts and targets (this is a little-known stat called WORK% that you can check in the UDK+). Anything above 30% in this metric is elite, and Walker hit 33% last season. Over the past three years, only four RBs have averaged 13+ PPR points per game with a 30%+ WORK%: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, and Kenneth Walker. With the new Kubiak offensive system installing a professional blocking scheme, Walker has the tools to deliver a league-winning season if he stays healthy.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/fZp3VNW
Reviewed by Admin
on
August 30, 2025
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