Players We Keep Drafting! Pickens, Herbert, Waddle, Likely & More! (08/26 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Heath suggests that recent injury news has provided a discount on Breece Hall, who he considers the team's best running back and pass-catcher. Despite being RB21 per game last year, Heath believes the floor is high and the current ADP is fair value.

Brian Thomas Jr. is showing impressive development in Jacksonville, working all areas of the field and demonstrating the ability to make contested catches. He is expected to be the top target-getter for Trevor Lawrence. Despite a minor shoulder issue, he remains a high-upside target in drafts, with some analysts preferring him over other wide receivers in non-PPR formats.

Heath ranks Brock Purdy as his QB8, noting that he was the QB1 on a per-game basis through Week 17 last year. Heath highlights Purdy's potential for increased rushing production as a reason for his high outlook.

Brock Purdy is considered a fantastic value on draft day. His outlook is bolstered by the development of rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who has been fast-tracked into the first-team offense and is expected to be a significant contributor.

Dave targets Lamb in the late first round, citing his high target volume and the expectation that he will significantly increase his touchdown total from last year's three-score season.

Adam argues that Lamb is potentially overvalued, noting that George Pickens has been more efficient on a per-target basis and outperformed Lamb in fantasy points per game during the latter half of the season.

Chris Godwin is expected to play in the slot, a role that suits him well and aligns with Baker Mayfield's preferences. He is a reliable, high-floor option who has historically been a top-17 wide receiver per game five times in his career.

Dave identifies Loveland as a late-round target, noting that from weeks 10-13 and the playoffs, he averaged 7.3 targets per game and 12 PPR points. Dave expects him to be a matchup nightmare and a primary target leader in the Chicago offense.

Jamie highlights Swift as a target, noting that in the final 11 games of last season, he averaged 13.9 PPR points per game, which would have ranked as RB18. With competition potentially sidelined early in the season, Jamie believes Swift could perform as a top-10 running back during that stretch.

Dave ranks Achane as his top running back in the group, highlighting his consistent floor of 17.6 full PPR points per game over the last two seasons. Dave is convinced Achane will be heavily involved in the passing game, citing design targets and checkdowns observed in joint practices.

Derrick Henry is being drafted as the RB11 despite a track record of being a top-seven running back per game in six of the last seven seasons. His production is tied to Lamar Jackson's health, and with a healthy quarterback, he is expected to see increased scoring opportunities.

Heath argues that despite Pickens having the second-lowest target-per-route-run rate of any wide receiver to finish top-10 in PPR points per game over the last five seasons, his high route volume and improved target efficiency after a slow start to the season make him a must-draft player.

Heath projects both Lamb and Pickens to dominate targets in a pass-heavy Dallas offense, noting that the team has consistently ranked in the top 10 in pass attempts under Brian Schottenheimer.

Dave views Likely as a high-value tight end, projecting him to fill a role similar to Zach Ertz's middle-of-the-field usage but with more downfield upside. Dave ranks him ahead of Kyle Pitts in full PPR formats and expects him to be a reliable fantasy asset worth a round seven or eight pick.

Heath projects Ferguson for 98 targets, viewing him as a borderline tight end one. While he notes Ferguson is currently being drafted too high, he expects him to remain a significant factor in the red zone within a high-volume passing offense.

Dave is extremely high on Waddle, projecting him to be hyper-targeted by Sean Payton as a versatile weapon who can stretch the field vertically and horizontally. Dave considers him a round three or four value and is drafting him significantly ahead of his current ADP.

Jamie views Mason as a safe, borderline flex option who is a more explosive runner than Aaron Jones. While acknowledging that drafting him at 80th overall is early, Jamie argues he is a valuable target in the round eight range as a potential starter if the primary back misses time.

Jamie argues that Herbert has only been an elite fantasy quarterback when averaging over 39 pass attempts per game, which may not align with the offensive philosophy of Mike McDaniel.

Heath defends Herbert as a solid value, noting that he is a consistent top-12 finisher who should succeed with a healthy offensive line and a proven ability to support high-yardage passing offenses.

Jamie favors Walker as a featured back, noting his high-level production in the playoffs when Zach Charbonnet was absent. Jamie argues Walker's trajectory is safer than other options like De'Von Achane or Derrick Henry, emphasizing his potential for a featured workload.

The analysts are downgrading Mike Evans due to recurring injuries during training camp. While he still has sleeper appeal in the late sixth round, his health status is a significant concern.

Dave identifies Parker Washington as a key target, comparing his role to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Dave notes Washington is dominating red zone drills and working all areas of the field, asserting he is clearly the top target-getter in the Jacksonville offense.

Parker Washington is locked into a significant role in the Jacksonville offense, projected for approximately seven targets per game. He has shown strong chemistry with Trevor Lawrence and is considered a value pick in the sixth round of drafts, especially in full PPR formats.

Patrick Mahomes is being drafted as a top-12 quarterback, often falling to the 12th round in some leagues. Despite concerns about his rushing upside and past performance, he remains a high-potential asset who is being undervalued relative to his historical production.

Heath argues that Rashee Rice is undervalued as a late second or early third-round pick. Despite concerns about target competition, Heath believes Rice can maintain a high target share and remains a strong pick at his current ADP.

Heath notes that while LaPorta has dealt with a hip injury in the preseason, there have been no reports of structural or ligament damage, and he has returned to practice.

Heath expresses concern that LaPorta has not proven he can be an elite tight end when Jameson Williams is heavily involved in the offense, noting that LaPorta's targets per game dropped significantly when Williams' role increased.

Heath highlights that LaPorta's ADP has fallen to the 99th overall pick (TE8) in recent drafts, which represents amazing value for a player with his upside.

Jamie identifies Higgins as a consistent performer who acts like a top-16 wide receiver whenever he, Joe Burrow, and Ja'Marr Chase are healthy. Jamie targets Higgins in the early fourth round as a high-value pick.

Travis Etienne is a target in the third round of drafts. Despite potential competition from Alvin Kamara, Etienne was the RB14 per game in full PPR last year and maintained a high volume of touches (17.4 per game). He remains the clear lead back in the Saints' backfield.

Jamie views Trevor Lawrence as a breakout candidate, citing his strong finish to last season and the addition of a talented receiving group. He also notes that offensive coordinator Liam Cohn has a history of boosting quarterback rushing production.

Heath projects Lawrence as a breakout quarterback candidate, citing his strong finish to the 2025 season (over 30 fantasy points per game including playoffs) and the influence of offensive coordinator Liam Coen. While not expecting a repeat of nine rushing touchdowns, Heath projects 400 rushing yards and 3-5 rushing scores, which would significantly boost his fantasy floor.

Zach Charbonnet is a strategic draft target, particularly for his potential as a goal-line back. He can be stashed in an IR spot early in the season, providing flexibility while waiting for him to potentially reclaim a significant role in the offense.