One month into the 2025 NFL season, the Ballers opened their episode celebrating Betz turning 30, before teasing Papa Josh about his generation (ThunderCats vs. Ninja Turtles—I empathize, Josh!). Borg introduced the Rest-of-Season Rankings tool for comparing current rankings to preseason dynasty ranks. Borg discussed the flood of “hold/sell” questions in response to a Quentin Johnston stat he posted. Betz noted the psychological barrier where QJ’s rookie struggles suppressed acceptance of his sophomore performance. This unique paradox of past failure and present success is what makes Quentin Johnston one of the biggest transaction questions in Dynasty today. Mike shared his experience of drafting and immediately trading QJ in a package for CeeDee Lamb, only to see him traded around due to low rookie production. Situations like this are how the tool can help us think about players like Quge in Dynasty.
Before we get into it, remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Weekly Rewind
Trey Benson
The first game without James Conner was a “buy-low” performance, affected by the quick turnaround for TNF. He handled about half the snaps with 13 total opportunities. The most encouraging sign is his involvement in the passing game (five targets), though Betz noted Benson did little more than get what was blocked for him on the ground (eight attempts, 35 yds). He’s not built to be a 3-down bruiser, but Mike believes him to be a valuable 60-65% timeshare back who maximizes his touches.
RJ Harvey
The statistical output (four recs, five targets, 40 yds) from the latest game was strong, and he looked “spry” and “fast” on film, despite the game being a blowout. The backfield is turning into a two-man time-share with J.K. Dobbins. Borg and Mike believe the buy window is definitely closed. He is a “true league winner” if J.K. Dobbins, who has a history of injuries, were to get hurt. Betz notes that the Denver Broncos have the 11th-easiest RB schedule per the Strength of Schedule Report, which could provide additional upside for RJ Harvey.
Tetairoa McMillan
McMillan’s usage is incredibly encouraging. He is one of only three players (Puka Nacua, Garrett Wilson) and one of the only first-round WRs (Amari Cooper) in the last decade to see 8+ targets in each of his first four games. He should not be viewed as just a deep-ball receiver, as he can win in the middle of the field with his size (compared to early-career Mike Evans). His role may expand when the injured Panthers WRs return, allowing the team to move him around the formation. Borg and Betz are hopeful that McMillan will move around the formation. This increases compatibility with where Bryce Young succeeds in high-percentage intermediate throws.
Rest of Season Rankings
QBs
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jones has shifted from a preseason question mark to a potential Rest of Season QB1 (Top-12). Borg thinks he will “Sam Darnold” his way into another contract, which is a great cash-in opportunity if you own him. However, this isn’t a long-term dynasty trade recommendation, as most Daniel Jones managers are focused on short-term profits, therefore increasing his price.
Caleb looked good as a scrambler (tied for the 6th most scrambles), and the overall outlook for the offense is encouraging with his connection with Rome Odunze. Betz and Borg are more “in” on Caleb for both redraft and dynasty now compared to the offseason, hoping Ben Johnson can fix the run game next year.
He offers an incredible fantasy ceiling due to his rushing ability (e.g., 50-yard TD run). However, Betz considers his long-term dynasty outlook as a concern, with the 0-4 Jets potentially looking to reset the culture with a high draft pick/QB. Mike has Fields in his top-12 QB rest-of-season. He is a sell for non-contenders who can flip him for a high price to a competitor.
Nix had a strong fantasy game, but his play-to-play volatility is a major concern for Borg. He is right outside the rest-of-season top-12, and his decision-making (like a “horrific” end-zone INT) makes him a less trustworthy option.
RBs
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Etienne has seen a huge jump in value and is now considered a Top-15 ROS/Dynasty back, averaging over six yards per carry on 60+ carries (on seven RBs in the last decade to accomplish this feat). Contenders should ride him out for the season. Non-Contenders, however, should look to “cash in” on his hot start (four straight top-20 finishes) due to his age (26.7) and final-year contract uncertainty. Mike highlights the tough three-game stretch (KC, SEA, LAR) ahead as a good reason to sell now before a potential dip in efficiency.
His value has plummeted, proving the difficulty for older, later-drafted RBs to have a long shelf life. Mike notes the emergence of a “cultural favorite” like Skattebo on the roster and how it impacts Tracy’s value. The Giants seem to feed off the energy Skattebo brings, which makes it even harder to see Tracy improving his value moving forward. “4 – 4 in the trap!”
Both players have been largely inactive. Blue’s chance may come with a Miles Sanders injury, but Javonte Williams is looking great. Johnson’s lack of activity is a major concern for a day-two pick, though other slow-starting day-two backs have become relevant (Swift, R. White).
He has lost a ton of dynasty value but is receiving an insane workload (37% of the team’s rush attempts and targets—a Top-8 mark). Given the Bengals’ struggles without Burrow, a non-contending team is stuck holding the bag. Betz advises to hold and hope a contender needs RB help later in the season, as you cannot sell him for appropriate value right now. Mike points out the tough off-season to come for Dynasty managers of Brown who will have to sweat out free agency and the 2026 NFL draft, hoping there is no threat to his workhorse role.
WRs
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Quge is the most-requested player and is now a Top-20 ROS WR. His turnaround is “uncharted territory.” In 2024, he was targeted on 24% of his routes, good for 7th among 1st-round WRs in the last decade. His development is attributed to a more diverse route tree (he’s more than a deep-ball/YAC guy) and the current coaching staff. Mike noted that “This is who he was drafted to be,” and it might be the last chance to acquire him at a reasonable price, especially since the Chargers are still #1 in pass rate over expectation. Trading him for a late 2026 first-round pick is not advised if you are a contender. The Ballers would take Quge over Keon Coleman, Jordan Addison (due to Justin Herbert), and Xavier Worthy in Dynasty. The Week 4 Film Deep Dive below has more on the “why” behind his success.
Borg prefers Hunter in Dynasty. His greatest challenge for fantasy value is his unprecedented role as a two-way player (“you’re all of these things and yet you’re none of them”), which makes him incredibly hard to value. He has also been hindered by poor QB play. The advice is to hold and not make up your mind yet on his long-term value.
Week 4 Film Deep Dive
Jaxson Dart
Dart made his debut and made an impression against the vaunted Chargers. Before the game, this felt like a desperate coaching staff throwing the rookie QB to the wolves. Instead, we were stunned by not only his performance but the surge of energy he brought to the offense. The on-field style outshone the boxscore (13/20 for 111 and a pass TD, 10 for 51 and a rush TD), but what does this game really tell us?
The Giants tried to call this exact play from the 15-yard line last week and Russell Wilson got tackled for a gain of none.
Jaxson Dart’s athleticism makes an immediate difference and turns this call into a walk-in touchdown.
HUGE. pic.twitter.com/ibSUhRJD78
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) September 28, 2025
Dart gives me vibes of really early Josh Allen—an observation of style and production, specifically his reliance on his legs. His first NFL TD, a rushing score (clip above), demonstrated the constant danger he presents, establishing a great floor for fantasy performance. On a throw to Malik Nabers on a 15-yard Dig route, the threat of Dart running caused the linebacker to hesitate, opening the window. This allowed Dart to utilize his velocity to fit the ball in. This is the type of evidence that had me buy Josh Allen early in Dynasty, and I’ll probably do it again. Assuming this leverage is consistent, Dart is a worthy investment.
We know that Dart can use his legs, but he also shows the IQ to leverage his legs to manipulate defenders while keeping his eyes downfield to find Nabers. pic.twitter.com/Vft3Q2tuHl
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 1, 2025
However, the move is not without risks. Dart isn’t an elite passer yet, and a few elements give pause. First, his decision-making was questionable at times, missing easy checkdowns to Wan’Dale Robinson. He sometimes opted for an off-platform “hero ball” or relied on his legs only to be sacked. Furthermore, he missed opportunities due to a lack of anticipation. Theo Johnson was wide open on a Post route, but Dart didn’t pull the trigger, perhaps due to pressure speeding up his clock. This risk is tolerable in the dynasty sense. Interest in Dart could be suppressed with the loss of Nabers to a torn ACL, making this a rare buy-low opportunity.
Dart's tape gives us equal excitement and pause. This play shows he has room to grow as a processor of the field. pic.twitter.com/t5BXgJg8eL
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 1, 2025
Quentin Johnston
In the same game, Chargers’ WR Quentin Johnston is having a renaissance. A third-year breakout used to be the expectation, but the community has been spoiled by the Justin Jeffersons and Ja’Marr Chases of the league.
Through four games, QJ is on pace for 93 receptions, 1432 yards, and 17 TDs on 153 targets, nearly doubling his career best. Drops have plagued his early career (reaching 9.8% last season), but so far in 2025, he has improved significantly, with only one credited drop on 35 targets.
A clearly evident asset is his deep threat ability. DBs are forced to give him plenty of cushion, yet he still eats up the space with explosiveness off the ball. Secondaries cannot afford to bracket him often, or they leave Keenan Allen or Ladd McConkey in single coverage. Off coverage provides tons of space for shallow routes, forcing defenders to deal with his size.
#Chargers Quentin Johnston's improved reliability downfield is earning him a lot of respect. Watch how the cushion starts and increases up to the snap. This kind of space reduces the importance of high-level quickness in short routes. pic.twitter.com/ygkzp4nf8v
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 1, 2025
Perhaps pressing QJ is the answer? Well, it wasn’t of benefit in this game. The Giants tried to press him too, but it just ends up like this:
He needs to be consistent with his angle (not acute enough) on the Slant to avoid being undercut. The release was still good with his footwork and use of hands to defeat the jam. pic.twitter.com/Xhl3a4aK3P
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 1, 2025
Pressing QJ didn’t work in this game. When the Giants tried, his footwork was on point, stepping outside the DB’s frame on the jab step. This move, given his speed, forces a mistep. QJ could improve this release if he sold the outside release more with his hips, head, and shoulders, forcing DBs to bite for fear of being stacked.
There is another area for improvement: the execution angle of the Slant route. In the second clip above, his angle was too upfield, robbing him of the leverage created in the release. This route discipline deficiency allowed the DB to undercut the angle for a pass breakup (PBU).
To close out this “compliment sandwich,” the Chargers are scheming for Johnston; we saw good route-running IQ and spacing to create a designed natural pick, creating a ton of space against the isolated deep safety. The Giants were only saved because their pass rush sacked Justin Herbert.
Another rep vs press coverage by #Chargers WR Johnston. This is a deep Over route with a well-designed natural pick. Good route IQ makes the pick effective. Could have been a big play if not for the pass rush. pic.twitter.com/62gVhOucFM
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 1, 2025
Quentin Johnston‘s success has earned him a seemingly dominant role in the Chargers’ passing game. As we can see, he is getting more target share, air yards share, and first-read targets than his counterparts per PlayerProfiler data. The margin isn’t exactly small either. Naturally, one has to wonder if the presence of two elite route-runners is creating these opportunities for Quge, but the fact of the matter is, this is the type of upside we imagined before his first NFL snap.
| Player | Target Share | 1st Read Targets | Air Yards Share |
| Quentin Johnston | 25.7% | 34 | 37.9% |
| Keenan Allen | 24.3% | 26 | 22.0% |
| Ladd McConkey | 18.8% | 26 | 19.2% |
Statistically, Johnston looks like the Chargers’ clear WR1 now, so what should we do with this ascent? Some managers are waiting for the “other shoe to drop,” where Quge turns back into a “pumpkin.” I don’t really see that happening since the tape concurs with the stats. If you can buy Quge for a late 2026 1st, just do it as Betz and Mike suggested. For this season, and the 3-year window Dynasty managers should live in, it just makes sense.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/w467BjH
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