Borg celebrates his Falcons’ win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football as he returns from vacation, and Betz is baffled that this same team lost 30-0 to the Carolina Panthers earlier this season. As Borg settles back in, he introduces the Rookie Draft Re-Do, where the Ballers work through two rounds of a rookie draft to see how the value has changed from before the season. The Ballers discuss balancing pre-draft priors with what we “know” about players through 6 weeks. Mike shares his personal “dynasty regrets” from his rookie draft, where players he liked (Pat Bryant, Kyle Williams, Isaac Teslaa) have hardly played despite preseason excitement.
Before we get into it, remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Weekly Rewind
Kimani Vidal
Mike’s deep dive on Vidal after his Week 6 breakout (RB8 finish) reveals Vidal’s strong performance—including a TD reception—came against the “stinky doodoo garbage” Dolphins defense. Mike was impressed with Vidal’s lack of mistakes, his good blitz pickups, and his speed on big runs. Mike suggests Vidal is a “safer usable replacement” RB, and a reasonable play in good matchups (e.g., Titans). If you have Vidal and are seeking to capitalize, managers should seek a second-round pick. Hampton managers should not pay more than two third-round picks.
Oronde Gadsden
Betz sees Gadsden’s snap share and routes run consistently rise despite being a Day-3 pick. He is being used as a WR and isn’t being used to block on passing plays, which is ideal for fantasy. Gadsden is only the 11th rookie TE in the last decade with two games of 7+ targets in their first six games, joining elite company. He is a good target for rebuilders or in shallow leagues if on the waiver wire. Conklin becomes a free agent after this year, setting Gadsden up for a potential Year 2 leap as a starter.
After taking a quick look at Gadsden myself, he does look fairly effective in a similar way to Mason Taylor, where he runs a hitch or stop route, makes the catch, and immediately turns upfield for YAC. He doesn’t quite show the same feel for the position of the first defender after the catch, but his overall movement is more WR-like than Taylor’s. As an aside, Justin Herbert missed Gadsden on three potential TDs due to inaccurate throws, including Weeks 3 and 6. His route tree capability is more diverse than I thought, and he is a tough receiver through contact. Definitely worth a buy while he is still relatively under the radar, especially with five red zone targets in four games.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
DK Metcalf
Borg sees Metcalf’s targets as volatile but highly valuable (endzone, deep shots). He says Metcalf is a “budget version of Davonte Adams” who thrives despite not being a route-running tactician. Mike highlights the second-best remaining schedule for WRs on the Steelers. Metcalf has a TD in four straight games despite being pressed at the line of scrimmage on 51% of routes (highest in the NFL). Additionally, he is fifth in the league in yards per route run. Metcalf is a “strong WR2” for the rest of the season (2nd best rest-of-season schedule strength). In Dynasty, he is often ranked lower (WR25-30), so there is a buy opportunity. Betz is comfortable trading a player like Travis Hunter for DK Metcalf if you are in “win-now mode.”
Rookie Draft Re-Do!
The Ballers dive into the Rookie Draft Re-Do. The format is 1QB, but they note that there isn’t a huge difference in this class when comparing 1QB to SuperFlex leagues for this draft.
Round 1
1.01 – Emeka Egbuka – WR – (Mike) – Mike takes Egbuka (previously mocked at 1.07) over all RBs, citing his performance and his tie to Baker Mayfield, who is playing lights out. Egbuka will likely surpass Mike Evans next year. Borg notes that focusing on the player’s talent over the current depth chart (like JSN a few years ago) is key to long-term success.
1.02 – Ashton Jeanty – RB – (Betz) – Betz cites the “insane” hit rate for RBs with top-10 draft capital. Despite a slow start, Jeanty is being targeted on 20% of his routes and seeing over 24 weighted opportunities per game.
1.03 – Tetairoa McMillan – WR – (Borg) – McMillan has 27 catches, 380 yards, and 2 TDs through six games, putting him in a group of elite rookie WRs that includes Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. Betz notes he has the look of a “legit alpha” despite Bryce Young leaving “meat on the bone.” Betz also sees the potential for a really, really insane floor-ceiling combo.
1.04 – Tyler Warren – TE – (Mike) – Mike believes Warren will provide a long-term positional advantage at TE and is worthy of being prioritized over other RBs like Hampton and Judkins. While there is concern over the sustainability of Daniel Jones‘ success (Colts as #1 in the AFC), the positional advantage provides the edge for Mike here.
1.05 – Omarion Hampton – RB – (Betz) – Betz leans on Hampton’s first-round draft capital and looks forward to a massive ceiling when the offensive line returns healthy in 2026. Mike notes Hampton is under 4 yards per carry in four of five games, but his high target totals (7, 5, 6) are a huge positive surprise.
1.06 – Quinshon Judkins – RB – (Borg) – Judkins has the third-most touches of any Day-2 RB to start a career. He had three straight top-12 weeks and is a great player regardless of the QB situation. Borg is comfortable with Judkins (a suped-up David Montgomery) as high as 1.04.
1.07 – TreVeyon Henderson – RB – (Mike) – Mike believes Henderson’s talent is overwhelming. There is concern that the coaching staff’s excessive focus on ball security is stunting his ability to play freely. Ultimately, Mike believes Henderson will figure it out.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
1.08 – Travis Hunter – WR – (Betz) – Betz considers this the range to “shoot for the ceiling” due to the low hit rate of late-first-round picks. Borg warns not to sell Hunter (previously mocked at 1.04) “for beans” right now, as he is being targeted on 20% of his routes, although 1.2 yards per route run leaves a lot to be desired.
1.09 – Jaxson Dart – QB – (Borg) – Borg takes Dart here, but he would have taken him as high as 1.06 in SuperFlex. Dart has 167 rushing yards in his first three starts; only Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson have been better in the last decade. He brings new excitement to the Giants’ offense. This excitement extends to fantasy managers with the built-in “cheat code” of a rushing floor for fantasy.
1.10 – Cam Skattebo – RB – (Mike) – Pre-draft Mike had Skattebo high in his rankings until the NFL drafted him on Day 3. The Tyrone Tracy injury “timed up very well” for him to become a bell-cow alongside Dart. Scataboo is a clear part of the “future of New York.”
1.11 – Matthew Golden – WR – (Betz) – Originally going at 1.12, Betz takes Golden here. Golden is averaging 2.06 yards per route run. Betz is relying on his first-round WR draft capital and flashes of big-play ability. Betz is hoping his route tree can develop, and he can “keep going in the right direction” as a stash. Borg considers him startable in double flex leagues.
1.12 – R.J. Harvey – RB – (Borg) – Borg still believes in Harvey. His bad start is “pretty normal” for a lot of stud RBs (see James Cook‘s stunted rookie season). Borg is sticking with the long-term view due to his draft capital and the history of Sean Payton’s RBs.
Round 2
David Banks-Imagn Images
2.01 – Colston Loveland – TE – (Mike) – Loveland was a 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Mike notes Loveland ran increased routes in Week 6 and reminds the audience that “TEs take time” (citing Trey McBride‘s career path). Mike believes in Ben Johnson and his continued trajectory.
2.02 – Luther Burden III – WR – (Betz) – Burden was an early second-round pick. Despite being a part-time player, Betz is hopeful for a brighter future due to the team’s plan and his tie to Ben Johnson.
2.03 – Harold Fannin Jr. – TE – (Borg) – Fannin (a Round 3 TE) has 28 receptions on the season, which is more than Egbuka or McMillan. Borg is “totally comfortable” taking him here as a promising stash.
2.04 – Mason Taylor – TE – (Mike) – Mike notes Taylor is the “second option for the Jets already.” Taylor will be a starter who will finish in the “TE10-15 range most weeks”, which is valuable in the second round.
2.05 – Cam Ward – QB – (Betz) – Ward was the first pick in the draft. Betz acknowledges the “scary bad” skill position players in Tennessee, but he is a fringe Superflex pick. Betz hopes the situation gets turned around in Tennessee.
2.06 – Jacory Croskey-Merritt – RB – (Borg) – Borg’s answer to “Is he their starting RB next year?” is “yes,” making Bill a great stash at this point in the draft despite his seventh-round draft capital.
2.07 – Pat Bryant – WR – (Mike) – The Broncos are “still searching” for a secondary WR. Mike is betting on the “window of hope and opportunity” for Bryant.
2.08 – Tory Horton – WR – (Betz) – Horton is “one of the nasty boys.” Betz likes what Seattle is doing and wants a piece of the offense. There’s a world where Horton overtakes Cooper Kupp next year.
2.09 – Jack Bech – WR – (Borg) – Borg notes the Raiders temporarily abandoned Bech for Dont’e Thornton, whose deep-threat role is not super valuable. The “long-term view” is that Bech will win the WR2 role.
![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) returns a kick off return during the first quarter of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium Sunday September 7, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://s26212.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bhayshul-Tuten2.jpg)
Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
2.11 – Jayden Higgins – WR – (Betz) – Betz is trusting the draft capital (34th overall pick) and is hoping to see an increased opportunity for Higgins coming out of the team’s bye week.
2.12 – Kaleb Johnson – RB – (Borg) – Johnson has had a “really, really bad” start to his career, with only six total points in his first five games (full PPR). He’s in a historical group of RBs (like James Connor) who were slow starters but got in the mix later. Borg calls him a “2026 type of play” and would take him over a third-round pick.
Week 6 Film Deep Dive
This week, I took a closer look at Carolina RB Rico Dowdle (back-to-back games with 200+ scrimmage yards as a backup will do that to you) and Detroit WR Jameson Williams.
Rico’s Revenge
Rico Dowdle has exploded in the absence of Chuba Hubbard in the last two weeks, amassing 573 scrimmage yards and two TDs on 50 touches (seven receptions, 43 carries)! This surely has Chuba managers concerned and Rico managers excited. But the future of the Carolina Panthers’ backfield is far from clear outside of that building.
Chuba has only accumulated 302 scrimmage yards and two TDs on 66 touches in four games, so Rico’s total eclipse of Chuba’s production should rightly generate some questions. While the tape does show some positives in Rico’s vision, balance, and play speed, there is some context to consider.
First and foremost, the competition. Miami and Dallas are currently 32nd and 27th in rushing yards allowed. Looking at the same stat just before the Weeks 5 and 6, Miami was 31st and Dallas was 15th. It seems Miami’s rush defense is just terrible, and a defense we should target every week. As for Dallas, their middle-of-the-road ranking before Week 5 casts a seed of doubt in labeling them as ‘weak competition.’ However, the game log shows that Dallas has been exposed on the ground in the last three weeks, yielding 140+ yards on the ground per game.
The second consideration comes in what we see on tape. Carolina was routinely creating massive holes in both Zone and Gap schemes. Additionally, it seemed like the Carolina OC just had Dallas’ number, calling timely plays like this one. After gashing the Cowboys up the middle in Duo and Tight/Belly Zone runs, they run Outside Zone toss right as Dallas decides to crash the middle. This becomes available when the offensive line can routinely re-establish the LOS. We can see the interplay of this dynamic in the two plays below.
This dominance by #Carolina sets up these outside toss plays. The play calling was timely as it took advantage of #Dallas trying to clog up the middle. Rico anticipates well how lead blocks will develop and "trades paint" to maximize running lanes. pic.twitter.com/Pn6NqD8EKu
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 14, 2025
With that said, it is important to take note of Rico’s vision, especially in space. Additionally, his footwork keeps him balanced, primed to leverage quickness when the blocks develop as Rico expects.
Rico Dowdle's vision has been on display in these last two weeks, and we can see it's impact against the #DallasCowboys in Week 6. Being able to see the collapsing LOS and knowing where to go on the edge allows him to maximize solid change of direction and burst. pic.twitter.com/A87KTi2Dry
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 15, 2025
I believe it is only responsible to analyze what happens on big plays. It is on these plays that we can add important context that helps our future expectations. For example, the Week 5 43-yd run is amazing in the boxscore, but some elements put a little water on the takeaway. If not for a loss of balance by the DT, this is maybe a seven-yard gain. If not for the missed tackles in the open field, this play is 20 yards shorter. Not to take away anything from Dowdle’s production, but we simply need a light “pumping of the brakes.”
I had to go back to Week 5 and take a look at Dowdle's 43-yd run. Dowdle did some great things on this play, including pressing the POA, see the gap, bursting past the DT that lost his balance, and displaying good contact balance. Dowdle's play strength defeats poor tackling. pic.twitter.com/5BZP7lJv6L
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 14, 2025
What should we do with Dowdle with the return of Chuba looming and a tougher schedule ahead (31st rest-of-season strength of schedule)? Per OverTheCap, Carolina has nine million reasons to keep Hubbard on the roster in addition to his production history. Therefore, we cannot acquire Rico for the promise of future opportunity. Conversely, Carolina could part ways in 2026, as there is no commitment beyond this season. We could look at this two ways. Buy now while Chuba’s presence on the same team keeps the cost suppressed, or wait and see what the off-season brings. If you have RB-depth, I think this is a “sell high” point, and you get what you can. He will not produce 30+ points per week moving forward, so if moving him for a 2nd now is the move. On the other side, if you are desperate for RBs as a contender, I wouldn’t spend more than a late 2nd or a pair of 3rds.
Jameson Williams
Jameson Williams is NOT having the ascension expected by many pundits. In fact, he is on pace for a 17% reduction in fantasy points from 2024. Below is a look at his 2024 production across 15 games compared to his current pace through six games:
| Season | Games | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TDs | Y/Rec |
| 2024 | 15 | 91 | 58 | 1001 | 7 | 17.7 |
| 2025 | 17 (pace) | 79 | 48 | 818 | 6 | 17.0 |
Is this simply the effect of Ben Johnson‘s departure? Is it a usage concern? Is it an issue with Jamo himself?
| Flat | Hitch/Stop | Slant | Drag | Out | Dig | Post | Corner | Nine | Other |
| 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Given the above distribution of routes targeted, I am concerned about the lack of Over routes. His speed warrants more of such opportunities, and the offense still appears creative enough to generate these chances. Here is one such example of an opportunity created for Jamo:
#Lions WR Jameson Williams is getting good looks in good play designs like this. We see Isaac Teslaa's route cause the deep safety to vacate the MOF. Jamo takes advantage of the CB's outside leverage and his speed advantage. Good toughness after the catch to get the TD. pic.twitter.com/yv6WGYSVDd
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 15, 2025
Honestly, we should be seeing more of these or similar routes that leverage the intermediate area of the field. Earlier, I mentioned the need for more Over routes, and this next clip shows why:
I do like that the #Lions are sensibly using Jamo's speed across the field on Drag routes like this. Need to see more targets on Drags/Overs, but how will the offense evolve? Granted this was a CB blitz by the defense, but we still see the upside of his speed. pic.twitter.com/18zzbCMGSd
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 15, 2025
If Jamo runs an Over on a similar play design, he is likely to get lost by any Zone defenders in the secondary. Not against a corner blitz of course, but against a traditional Cover 2 or Cover 2 Man, an Over route hits for a big gain given solid protection.
On this last play of the Week 6 matchup against Kansas City, there appears to be a miscommunication between Goff and Jamo. Jamo runs this Stop route 10 yards deep, but it almost appears he wasn’t expecting/didn’t see the ball. If we assume he wasn’t expecting the ball due to how tight the coverage looked, he could have improved his separation with a better release. As we see at the beginning of the play, Jamo doesn’t sell the outside release well enough with his jab step. While he does step outside the CBs frame, the rest of his body language betrays him. If he were to use more hips, head, and shoulders with the jab step, he may have been able to widen the CB, or better yet, get him to open his hips to the outside. If either of these happens, Jamo stacks easily, then his break on the route would likely have the chasing CB flying by, creating good separation.
Looking at this last play in the #detvskc game, does more chemistry need to be built between Jamo and Goff? Jamo appears to run a Hitch when Goff expects him a little more in the MOF. Should Jamo have been working back on a Curl? Perhaps a miscommunication
pic.twitter.com/N3P5bXdWzg
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) October 15, 2025
Personally, I believe Jamo still has that high-level WR2 upside. The usage can evolve with the offense, and the release can be coached up. Taking advantage of potential disappointed Jamo managers makes sense to me. Similar to Dowdle, a 2026 second would be worth sending for Williams in return. More than likely, it will need to be an early one, but this is inexpensive if he and the Lions offense turn things around as we reach the halfway point in the fantasy season. Look for opportunities with managers who are clearly struggling as trade deadlines approach in leagues that have them.
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