PodcastFrom Fantasy Football Today
FFT Express - 8 HIDDEN GEMS For 2026: Malik Willis, Skyler Bell, Malik Washington, Terrance Ferguson, & More! (08/04 Fantasy Football Podcast)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
13 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Aug 4, 2026
Published
Tue, August 4, 2026
11
Player insights
11
Players mentioned
Topics
Jalen NailorJames CookJonah ColemanJonathan TaylorMalik WashingtonMalik WillisRashid ShaheedRay DavisSkyler BellTaysom HillTerrance Ferguson
Player analysis
Player insights
Jalen Nailor
PositiveValue18:48
Dave Richard prefers Jalen Naylor over Skylar Bell and Malik Washington for deep leagues, noting his ADP of 173 makes him an attractive late-round target.
Insight pageJames Cook
NegativeBust6:52
Dave Richard expresses concern regarding James Cook's fantasy outlook, citing the risk of regression or physical breakdown following his 385-touch season in 2025.
Insight pageJonah Coleman
PositiveRole7:14
Dave Richard identifies Jonah Coleman as a player who could see an expanded role in Denver, especially if J.K. Dobbins misses time. Coleman is expected to work in situations outside of third downs, which are currently occupied by R.J. Harvey.
Insight pageJonathan Taylor
PositiveProjection8:44
Dave Richard suggests Jonathan Taylor may be a better draft choice than James Cook, noting Taylor's physical profile and history of high-volume production, including a 21.3 PPR points per game average last season.
Insight pageMalik Washington
PositiveBreakout5:33
Dave Richard is intrigued by Malik Washington, noting he could potentially lead the Dolphins in targets, catches, and yards. Washington is described as shifty and capable of working in short areas and two-receiver sets, with the potential to average 10 PPR points per game.
Insight pageMalik Willis
NegativeSleeper3:57
Dave Richard highlights Malik Willis as a late-round quarterback target due to his rushing upside and potential to contribute in the Dolphins' offense, which currently lacks depth at wide receiver. Richard suggests drafting him as a low-risk flier to see how the first few weeks of the season unfold.
Insight pageRashid Shaheed
PositiveBreakout15:50
Dave Richard expects Rashid Shaheed to take a step forward in Seattle, filling a larger role as a field stretcher and short-area weapon in an offense projected to throw more frequently.
Insight pageRay Davis
PositiveValue6:49
Dave Richard views Ray Davis as a high-upside handcuff for James Cook, citing concerns about a potential regression or breakdown for Cook following his 400-touch workload last season.
Insight pageSkyler Bell
PositiveSleeper14:09
Dave Richard is intrigued by rookie Skylar Bell in Buffalo, noting positive training camp reports and a potential pathway for him to become the team's number two target getter.
Insight pageTaysom Hill
NegativeRole8:24
Dave Richard notes that if Taysom Hill signs with Denver, it would be detrimental to the fantasy value of Broncos running backs like J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, and Jonah Coleman due to Hill's usage near the goal line.
Insight pageTerrance Ferguson
PositiveBreakout12:01
Dave Richard identifies Terrence Ferguson as a late-round tight end target for the Rams, projecting him to be the team's top receiving tight end and potentially their third-leading target getter.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
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2:04All right, Dave Richard We're talking about diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, amber, topaz.
2:08Hopefully no cubic zirconium. Yeah, hopefully not. This is how I win.
2:12Isn't that the line from uncut gems? Oh, I don't know.
2:16Yeah, I don't think you do. I love that movie, but not a movie I'm ever going to watch again.
2:22But who are some gems that we need to know about?
2:26So when you gave me this assignment, I thought, let's just talk about players that are going to be drafted maybe in 12 team leagues.
2:33These are late round picks. Round 11 plus, not high ADPs.
2:37Let's start with Jameer Gibbs. No, I'm kidding. Let's start a quarterback with Malik Willis, who obviously has that rushing upside that
2:44we love to have on our fantasy quarterbacks. But I think he can throw a little bit, too.
2:50And this Dolphins offense, yeah, they've got bupkis at wide receiver.
2:53Although I'm going to mention a wide receiver that I think could be pretty decent.
2:58They do have a tight end, and Greg Dulcich, who's interesting.
3:01But I think Malik Willis can find ways to put up fantasy points.
3:06I don't hate the idea of spending a very late draft pick on him and just seeing how the first two or three weeks of the season goes.
3:14If it stinks and he stinks and the Dolphin stinks, yeah, you're cutting him and you're finding somebody else.
3:20But if he's good, then we're talking about somebody who could be a cheat code to help you win in fantasy.
3:27Next, running backs, three of them. Jonah Coleman, Denver.
3:30Ray Davis, Buffalo. Mike Washington Jr. with Las Vegas.
3:33And that last one, Washington. Heath actually got me intrigued on him because he said himself, we don't know for sure if
3:40Ashton Gentry is going to handle this massive workload that we're expecting.
3:44This is the guy behind him. He's young. I was really impressed with his profile.
3:48And what did Clint Kubiak do last year in Seattle?
3:52He had two good running backs. They split. I hope that's not the case for Gentry.
3:57But I think having Mike Washington, again, somebody that you're going to draft and see how the first three weeks go, or
4:04a guy you absolutely have to draft if you spend a top 15 pick on Ashton Gentry.
4:09Ray Davis, much more of a handcuff for James Cook.
4:12James Cook had almost 400 touches last year. It's a career high.
4:16We've done all this research about what happens to running backs after 400 plus touches.
4:21It might as well apply to a running back who had 385 touches last year.
4:26And that's James Cook. So a little bit worried about a James Cook regression slash breakdown.
4:31And that would open the door for Ray Davis.
4:34But Jonah Coleman's the one who could have a mild role in Denver to begin the year.
4:39He's going to see his role expand if slash when J.K.
4:42Dobbins misses time. R.J. Harvey looks locked in as a passing downs back, a third down back for Denver, which means Jonah
4:49Coleman could work in some other situations that could be quite groovy for the Broncos.
4:54Love the idea of drafting him and then giving him more than three weeks, four weeks, six weeks.
5:00Let's just see what happens in Denver's backfield. Maybe Jonah Coleman can step up.
5:04It is also contingent, by the way, on Taysom Hill.
5:08If Taysom Hill ends up signing in Denver, that's bad for all the running backs because we know what Taysom Hill is good at near the goal line.
5:16And that doesn't help any of Dobbins, Harvey, Coleman.
5:19I think you may have just convinced me to take Jonathan Taylor over James Cook.
5:24Oh, yeah. I've been there for all offseason. Yeah, but you never used the argument that you just made without even realizing you made it.
5:32But if both those guys had big, heavy workloads last year, Taylor's had multiple years doing it.
5:37Now he's also had injuries. Cook really hasn't. But Taylor's 30 pounds heavier than James Cook, maybe more.
5:43Is he not more suited for that kind of workload?
5:46You know, maybe he is. And he's got the history to suggest that he can outperform Cook.
5:52Now we're talking about two running backs that could get huge fantasy production and have.
5:56Last year, James Cook was almost at 19 PPR points per game.
6:00Even with a bad stretch for Jonathan Taylor last year, he averaged 21.3.
6:04And that includes 24.8 PPR points per game in 12 full games with Daniel Jones.
6:09Hubba hubba. OK, a little break and some more uncut gems for you after this.
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7:16Get started today. All right. We are back with Dave Richard jamming it up.
7:21A late round tight end. And this guy's behind the Chigo Conkwo, Greg Dulcich group of tight ends.
7:26But I think Terrence Ferguson, that's how you say his name.
7:30I think he's going to end up being okay for LA and maybe even the number three target getter for a Rams
7:37offense that should throw a decent amount. I know they love him.
7:41I know that he's talented. And I think he's going to be the one that's the best of all their tight ends.
7:48So no Parkinson, no Tyler Higbee, Terrence Ferguson, a tight end to grab and just see what happens those first few weeks of the season.
7:56I could see fantasy managers flaking out on him before anybody else that I've named so far on the list.
8:02But he's a late round tight end that I think does have some appeal.
8:06Yeah, the Rams played three tight end sets 30.5% of the time.
8:10Right. And this is not a blocker. This is a pass catcher.
8:14Number two on that list was the Steelers at 13.2%.
8:17And that was an Arthur Smith stat. Yeah, but two and a half times more than the next most three tight end
8:24sets for the Rams, which is, you know, it's a little frustrating because you may not.
8:29Maybe I'm going to start Terrence Ferguson this week and then it's Colby Parkinson who catches the touchdown.
8:35Yeah, hopefully that's not what happens. Hopefully it's Ferguson who's clearly the top receiving tight end for LA.
8:41Yep. Okay. We on to wide receivers. Three names at wide receiver.
8:45One rookie, one third year player and one guy who's been around a long time.
8:49The rookie is Skylar Bell in Buffalo. Good training camp reports.
8:53I know Khalil Shakir's there and obviously DJ Moore's there.
8:56I wonder if there's a pathway for Skylar Bell to be the number two target getter in Buffalo.
9:02So I'm kind of intrigued by him. Malik Washington in Miami.
9:05I think there's a chance he ends up leading the Dolphins in targets and catches and maybe even yards.
9:11He's very, very shifty. He's small, but he's going to work in the short area along with some occasional deep shots.
9:18And he will play in two receiver sets. I believe he will.
9:22I believe he will play in two receiver sets for Miami.
9:25When I went to their mini camp, he impressed me there as did Greg Dulcich.
9:30And if I like Malik Willis, then somebody's got to step up from this receiving core.
9:35This is a very, very late round pick we're talking about, but maybe one who can average 10 PPR points per game.
9:42That's not a bad bench wide receiver, emergency flex bi-week guy.
9:46And obviously if he's got speed, that means he's got upside for some big weeks.
9:50And speaking of speed, Rashid Shaheed is going to fill a larger role, according to reports, out of Seattle.
9:56And this is an offense that I think could end up throwing a little bit more than they did last year.
10:03We know about their running back changes and all the question marks that they have at that position.
10:09I think Donald's got to put the ball in the air a little bit more.
10:14And I think defenses are going to be a little bit more ready for Jackson Smith and Jigba outside of 12 plus air yards downfield.
10:21I think inside they're just going to let JSN catch whatever he catches and then try and tackle him at that point.
10:28So Shaheed can be a field stretcher, but also be used in the short area as well.
10:34I don't see defenses double covering him. I think this is the year where we see Rashid Shaheed take a step forward
10:41and be a decent wide receiver three for fantasy.
10:44But you don't have to draft him as a wide receiver three.
10:48You can draft him as your wide receiver five because not everybody has him.
10:52We may hear Shaheed's name a few more times between now and week one of the NFL season on FFT shows.
10:59What do you think about this nickname? Respeed Shaspeed.
11:02I think it's awesome. I think you should use it on our main show when the whole audience is there.
11:08I think you should reach out to his representatives and see if they're interested in joining you on the trademark.
11:14And if not, trademark it yourself. And then you'll probably be like a millionaire five times over.
11:20Great job. Shaspeed. Yeah. Just remember that. There are some other gems that I would nominate.
11:25Denzel Boston. It go 169th overall. Jalen McMillan right after him.
11:28And I like, you know, the idea of Jalen Naylor as wide receiver 63.
11:33So I wouldn't mind being in a deep league this year.
11:36What's that ADP on Naylor? 173 or something. Okay.
11:39So I would obviously much rather have him, frankly, much rather have him than both Bell and Washington.
11:45That's a good pull. I like Naylor too. Yeah.
11:48I mean, unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to be drafting these guys in most 12-team leagues.
11:53But if I'm playing in a deeper league, there's definitely a lot of names that I'd like to have, not just settle
12:00for, but would like to see where it goes.
12:03I think one of the most important things a drafter can do is have a list of players that they like for the late rounds.
12:11And don't just rely on rankings. Go through them and do a little bit of digging yourself.
12:16And the ones that stand out, have a list of even if it's just like five names.
12:22But to have that list of late round sleepers so you're not standing there in your draft going, oh, I don't know who I want.
12:30Don't be that guy. Be the guy that's confident knowing who they want to take late.
12:35Bring your list with you to draft. Thanks, everybody.
12:37We'll talk to you tomorrow on Fantasy Football Today.
12:40And if you're around, never mind. I was going to promote something, but you don't need to know.
12:46Don't worry about it. Did I just show my bank account statement on the screen?
12:51Did you really? Let's end this. See you later.
12:54Podcasts.
