PodcastFrom Fantasy Focus Football
Answering Your Most Pressing Questions Ahead of Labor Day Drafts! | ESPN Fantasy
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
20 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 4, 2026
Published
Fri, September 4, 2026
12
Player insights
12
Players mentioned
Topics
Brock BowersBrock PurdyChris RodriguezDeVonta SmithDrake LondonHarold FanninJared GoffJoe BurrowJosh AllenLeQuint AllenMatthew StaffordMichael Pittman
Player analysis
Player insights
Brock Bowers
PositiveValue29:00
The source considers Brock Bowers a top-tier tight end and recommends keeping him in a keeper league format.
Insight pageBrock Purdy
PositiveProjection21:56
Brock Purdy is a viable quarterback in leagues with six-point passing touchdowns because Kyle Shanahan's offense generates significant yards after the catch, boosting his passing stats.
Insight pageChris Rodriguez
NegativeUsage2:17
Chris Rodriguez has been impressive as a power runner between the tackles, and the source expresses concern that he may command a larger share of the backfield than previously anticipated.
Insight pageDeVonta Smith
PositiveBreakout15:24
The source views Devontae Smith as a potential top-12 wide receiver with a realistic shot at top-5 upside, citing his consistent target volume (clearing 100 targets in most seasons) and his role as the clear number one in the Eagles' offense.
Insight pageDrake London
NegativeValue12:03
The source notes that Drake London is unlikely to be available in drafts, suggesting he is a high-priority target.
Insight pageHarold Fannin
PositiveValue9:00
In a unique league format with two tight ends, the source suggests targeting an elite tight end like Harold Fannin in the second round.
Insight pageJared Goff
PositiveProjection20:20
Jared Goff is recommended as a high-floor quarterback, especially in leagues with six-point passing touchdowns, due to his consistent high-volume passing and touchdown production.
Insight pageJoe Burrow
PositiveProjection20:55
Joe Burrow is placed in a tier of his own for leagues with six-point passing touchdowns, given his elite passing ability and strong supporting cast.
Insight pageJosh Allen
NegativeValue23:24
The source advises drafting Josh Allen no earlier than the second round, after securing an anchor running back.
Insight pageLeQuint Allen
NegativeInjury2:00
LaQuint Allen is currently dealing with a soft tissue injury and is likely to be a game-time decision for Week 1.
Insight pageMatthew Stafford
PositiveProjection20:43
Matthew Stafford is identified as a quarterback who benefits from scoring formats that reward high passing volume and six-point passing touchdowns.
Insight pageMichael Pittman
PositiveUsage11:49
Michael Pittman is highlighted as a high-volume target in full-point PPR formats.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00In ESPN's Wild World of College Football, every Saturday begins with a ritual.
0:05And then, the migration turns to mayhem. Predators hunt, territories are defended, rivals clash.
0:10In this wild world, legends are unleashed on Saturdays.
0:13No one brings you closer to the wild than ESPN.
0:17College Football on ESPN continues Labor Day weekend. Witness the wild on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN app.
0:23Hey, I'm Liz Loza. That's Daniel Dopp. This is Fantasy Focus Football.
0:28And today's fact is that we have got a bonus mailbag episode inspired by your voicemails.
0:33Thank you all for calling in. Dopp, should we just jump right into it?
0:38Let's get into it, Liz. This is a safe place.
0:42It's a place where we can feel free sharing our feelings.
0:46First voicemail we have comes from our friend Anonymous, who has a hot take themselves after watching our last episode.
0:53Woo! I wasn't in a hot taste, Buffalo Lee!
0:57Oh my god, that was amazing. Well done, kids.
1:00That was hilarious. Red hot butt juice. Dopp can't handle his heat.
1:04Wow! Love it. Hot take, Basil Tootin, top 10 RB.
1:08Woo! Liz! All right, talk to me about this.
1:11How do we get Basil Tootin to be a top 10 running back?
1:16What's the narrative here? I mean, it's going to take a lot.
1:20I do think we're a little bit on our way because LaQuint Allen, the pass-catching running back in Jacksonville, is dealing with a soft tissue issue currently.
1:30He's likely a game-time decision for week one. But as we know, this season is not just one week long.
1:37And Chris Rodriguez has been showing off between the tackles.
1:41As a power runner, I am getting increasingly nervous that Rodriguez, who, by the way, was coached by Liam Cohen at Kentucky
1:49in college, might have a bigger portion of this pie than we anticipated.
1:54Liz, I love what you're trying to say here.
1:57I love Basil Tootin as an option, to be honest, as an RB2 with where we've gotten.
2:03He's kind of risen up my ranks coming recently.
2:06I'm not sure, though, I can get to a top 10 running back.
2:11It would take a lot. But that's why it's a hot take, right?
2:16We love the hot take. That's the point. All right.
2:19I will just say I'll keep my fingers crossed for it because I have plenty of shares of Tootin.
2:26So, anonymous, butt-juice appreciation guy, I hope you're right.
2:30I hope he's right, too. I hope he's right, too.
2:33All right. This next question comes from Brett, who wanted to ask you about some tight ends.
2:39Oh. Nice specialty. This is Brett from St. Louis.
2:43I drafted in a startup dynasty league with two tight ends, Colston Loveland, Jeremiah Love, and Jordan Love.
2:49Just the way the drafts fell, what good love pun name can I name my team?
2:55Thank you. Well, first of all, I love a dynasty startup with two tight ends.
3:00That's not difficult at all. It's not like that position is without its volatility.
3:05But I think Live, Laugh, Loveland? Live, Laugh, Loveland?
3:09Oh, that's not bad, Liz. Right? Yeah. I feel like it's something you could go into a home goods and buy one of those tight ends.
3:18Okay. Yes. What else would you have? I see it.
3:22Chip and Joanna Gaines having it on their shiplap wall.
3:25That's exactly what it would look like when they're doing their fantasy drafts.
3:30The worst. Yes. That's it. I think that's it.
3:33That's it. I'm going to stick with, no, I'm going to stick with yours.
3:39That is the answer. Live, Laugh, Loveland. I have one more.
3:43I have one more. Okay. Because as a Midwesterner, I am familiar with the state of Missouri.
3:49And I know that St. Louis has a specialty in toasted ravioli.
3:53So I was thinking maybe toasted ravioli and tough love as a nod to his city and his team.
4:00No? Okay. Should have stuck with the first one only.
4:04Got it. What is toasted ravioli, Liz? I have so many more questions now.
4:09Okay. We're going to ask you this when the show is over.
4:13We got one more question. This one is from Patrick in Tennessee.
4:17I shouldn't have said that. He's going to say that.
4:21Sorry about that. Let's go. Yes. This is Patrick from Tennessee.
4:25Oh, what do you think? What's so good? I'm calling about a unique fantasy football league that is full point PPR, two
4:33quarterbacks, three receivers, three running backs, two tight ends, and one flex spot that can be running back, tight end, receiver.
4:41I have the ninth pick, and I'm looking at what to do at the two, three, and four.
4:47Thank you so much. Once again, our listeners slash viewers coming in with the unique formats.
4:53Love this for everybody. Love that we're evolving. Also, really bummed that he's picking at the nine spot because given that number
5:01of starters, I was hoping this was only an eight-team league.
5:05Okay. So round one, Daniel, we assume he's taking a quarterback, right?
5:09If it's a two QB league, we am assuming he's not talking.
5:14He's going to do that in round one, which is why he's asking about rounds two, three, and four.
5:21Two, three, and four. Yep. I think because it is a start to tight end league, you have to then grab an
5:29elite tight end in the second round, which at the nine spot, I think he could probably do because most people are
5:37going to grab their quarterbacks in the first round.
5:40And then he could probably get like at least a Harold Fannin in round two as his tight end one.
5:47Yeah. I would, I think I'm with you on that.
5:51If I go quarterback the first round and we go elite tight end in the second round, when I come back at
5:59that point, just given the next position that dries up the fastest, I would probably want to target the running back position
6:07and save wide receiver for last, just given how deep that whole position group is.
6:12Is that what you were thinking too? Yeah. QB tight end anchor running back.
6:17And then maybe in rounds three or rounds four, I might, depending on how many people have snagged a quarterback, get another quarterback.
6:26And then at the turn, since he's towards the end, start loading up my wide receivers.
6:31I might go QB tight end running back QB.
6:35Yeah. Honestly, tight end, a wide receiver may be the thing that I do last.
6:40There's a chance that based on how crazy this is, I do both of my quarterbacks and both of my tight ends
6:48and get at least one anchor running back before I even start at the wide receiver position, just given how thin the other two are at.
6:57And you've got to start two of them. So crazy.
7:01I love when we get questions like this. I do too.
7:05I love that. Just one last note. Those wide receivers.
7:09I want high volume guys. Like I'm okay with a Michael Pittman or like a Wondell Robinson.
7:15That's the crew since it's one point PPR. That's the like tier of wide receivers I'm looking because I know that Drake
7:23London, for example, is not going to be available.
7:26Yep. All right. This next question is about chasing TDs, Liz.
7:30Ooh. What's up guys? This is Brad. Love the show.
7:34So I have found myself consistently landing Dallas Goddard in drafts.
7:38And I don't know why. I believe it's a touchdown.
7:41I feel like they're still going to be there and not regress as much without AJ Brown in there.
7:48Is that a good hot take or total dog to do?
7:52Rams out. Love it. So is that a touchdown take, Liz?
7:56It is a touchdown take. I mean, it is a spike for sure.
8:01Um, here's Dallas Goddard is coming off of a career high career high, 11 touchdowns in 2025.
8:07He's never done that before. I mean, that's why I feel like there's going to be a regression.
8:1418% of Goddard's, um, 18% of Goddard's catches last season were on scores.
8:18And that's a massive spike compared to the 7% touchdown rate.
8:22He managed over the rest of his career, right?
8:26That's a giant gap. If you were to factor that into his overall percentage, he would move from like tight end five to like tight end 18.
8:35So I understand the calculus without AJ Brown there.
8:39Then Goddard should continue to see the red area of the field.
8:43But I just don't think the efficiency will be there to the tune of double digit scores.
8:49I think I agree with you there. I see more regression coming, see more Saquon Barkley and just more spreading the ball
8:57around to the plethora of pass catchers they added in Dontavian Wicks and their rookie, uh, who Makai Lemon, who I understand
9:05is, and then you still have Elijah, uh, Moore and Hollywood Brown.
9:10And it feels like there's a lot of mouths that they could potentially get the ball to, uh, in that offense.
9:17All right, Liz, next one is a hot take.
9:20They wanted to see the last dab and raise this one.
9:24Oh, please don't. Hey guys. My hot take for this year is Devontae Smith will be a top five wide receiver in fantasy.
9:33Thanks. Love the show. Bye. Another Eagles take. Um, this one I feel like is more possible.
9:39Yes. Of the two, this is the one that I think could potentially happen.
9:44I'm with you. Yeah. Of the Eagles hot takes this one.
9:48I mean, Devontae Smith has cleared a hundred targets and every season save 2024 when he missed time.
9:55He has averaged nearly seven targets per game over his five year career.
9:59I think he's probably going to draw upwards of 120 looks this season.
10:04My only question mark about Devontae Smith is whether or not he can perform like a true alpha.
10:11Because I do think when you look at AJ Brown specific skillset, it was complimentary to the, that, to that of Smith's,
10:19but Smith has now been in the league quite a bit.
10:23And so hopefully his skillset has evolved to the place in which he can, you know, really, really hold down a physical and speedy approach to the game.
10:33So I think volume wise, it should be there.
10:36Fingers crossed Jalen hurts and he can continue to connect.
10:40I like it. I think maybe top 12 is more realistic, but top five makes it spicy.
10:46Yes. Top five makes it spicy. We all love the slim Reaper as long as he can stay healthy.
10:53And he is legitimately the number one in that offense.
10:56I think there is a shot at least that he could have that top five, but I like top 12.
11:04All right. This next one, Liz is someone who loves the alliteration in our name, which I appreciate.
11:10What's up fantasy football analyst whose names alliterate. I am calling because I got a question about bonus points in my league.
11:18They are rewarding players who throw for over 200 yards, 300 yards and 400 yards with big bonuses.
11:25There's also six point passing touchdowns in this league.
11:28Do you think that that elevates quarterbacks like Dak Prescott or Brock Purdy into higher round considerations?
11:34Or should I just stick with valuing quarterbacks that you guys have been talking about?
11:39Thanks. Bye. I think this guy is onto it.
11:43I think he's doing the right thing. Like he, to me, this sounds like you want like a high volume, pure pocket
11:51passer who is also attached to a team with a bad defense.
11:55Yes, I'm with you on that. So I think it at least opens the floor or opens the door to probably four
12:03or five more quarterbacks that I wouldn't normally consider in fantasy.
12:07Two of them are very obvious off the top of my head just because of the high volume of passing and the
12:15touchdown equity they could potentially have, even though they don't utilize their legs.
12:20One of them is my favorite quarterback in the NFL.
12:23I'm sure you can guess. Yes. In Jared Goff.
12:27The only quarterback over the last three seasons to have 450 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in each of the three seasons.
12:35He's a guy that has a high floor or a higher floor, at least in a six point per tap per passing touchdown league.
12:43The other one, Liz, used to play for my team, if you know who I'm talking about.
12:50Matthew Stafford? Yes, exactly. Yes. I think I like and understand both of those.
12:55I would add Joe Burrow into the mix. Like to me, Joe Burrow is now given this scoring format in a tier of his by himself.
13:04I mean, he would be the prime example. Elite passer.
13:08We don't have to worry about the lack of rushing upside.
13:12Incredible weapons. OK, yes, an improved defense. But by how much?
13:16Otherwise, I agree with you. And then, you know, he mentioned the caller mentioned Brock Purdy.
13:22I think that's a good one. Not for the same reasons, but because Kyle Shanahan's offense does rely so much on yards
13:29after the catch that Purdy then benefits. So I think if there's like, you know, a lot of yak receivers that could help boost Purdy as well.
13:39So I like him, too. But I think this is another exciting format and one that makes you retool the way you think about the position and strategy.
13:49I love that, Liz. All right. This next question is from one of our favorite people in the entire universe, Liz Loza.
13:57Liz Loza. This is Steve Thorne. And my question is, I'm picking number seven in a 12-team league.
14:04And I really like Josh Allen. Which round should I try and target Josh Allen so that I can make sure I get him before anyone else does?
14:14And I honestly, I don't remember my Instagram handle, but Quinton knows it.
14:19OK. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. One of our favorite people, what is a Stephen Thorne?
14:25Who is a Stephen Thorne? And then he says, this is Quinton's daddy.
14:30That's right. OK. I love this Mr. Thorne. I forget what he asked.
14:34What did he ask? He wants to drop Josh Allen.
14:38So he's clearly not listening to the content that his son is producing because we've said don't do that, daddy.
14:45Like, I would say Mr. Thorne. Yeah, I was going to say, don't call him.
14:51Let's call him Mr. Thorne. Don't call him daddy.
14:54Well, out of respect to Quinton. Yes. But I would say respectfully, if you are really insistent on drafting Josh Allen, then
15:02please don't do it until the second round after which you have secured at least an anchor running back.
15:09I'm with you on that. And actually, Quinton just handed me his Instagram handle.
15:14It's actually hot daddy Thorne on Instagram. Oh, OK.
15:17All right. This next question we have, Liz. I didn't see a DM from him.
15:23I got to go back. You probably have. Yeah, it's probably in there.
15:27We should go back and check it out. Let's talk about some fantasy names.
15:33Yeah. OK. Oh, let's just keep moving. OK. Hey, Liz.
15:36Hey, Daniel. It's me. It's me. It's the P-O-N-G.
15:39They call me Pong. And I got a question that I believe needs to be amended into fantasy law.
15:46Can you name your fantasy team name these fun, creative pun names that we have and not have that player on your team?
15:55Is that allowed? Yes or no? Thanks. Love the show.
15:58I got something to say about this. So I'm going to let you take the floor first and then I'll finish it out.
16:07So I guess the question is if there is a player that you really adore, but that player is not on your
16:15specific team, are you still allowed to name your team after that player?
16:19And I feel like you can do whatever you want with your hobby.
16:24But when your name is P-O-N-G Pong, why are you not naming your team after yourself?
16:30I would name my, how about Pong Live the King or Pong Distance Field Goals or Short Yardage Pong Gains?
16:37Hello? That's not a bad one, Liz. While you pass the Pong over to me, I'm going to say I completely disagree with you.
16:46You cannot name your team after someone who is not on your team.
16:51No, absolutely not. You can do fun team names with a guy that's already on your team, but if you don't draft
16:59that player, you legally lose the rights to name your fantasy team after them.
17:04It's been written into law. I promise you that.
17:07You don't need to look it up. Just trust me.
17:11Why? Why are we so stringent about this? What do you want me to say?
17:16No comment. Can we have the next voicemail, please?
17:19Yep. Hey, guys. This is Richie from Sun City, Arizona.
17:23What's up, Richie? I have a question for you, and I do love the hot takes.
17:29It was a steamy one today. Anyway, I'm in a Vegas league, 12-man team, PPR, two-person keeper league.
17:35There's a couple sharks in the league, so I've got to be careful.
17:40I got a problem. I got Brock Bowers. I got Ashton Gentry.
17:44I got JSN. And I also have Kenny Walker.
17:48I need to know who to keep. I got a pretty good idea, but it's touching.
17:53Thank you. Have a good day. I didn't know that being in a Vegas league meant drafting all the players from the Vegas Raiders.
18:02Stop it, Liz. Stop it. I got it. Richie seems sweet.
18:06Honestly, this is a tough one because what do you do?
18:10Do you take in the positional value of running back and tight end when you're making these decisions, Liz?
18:17I mean, to me, this is not that difficult given the Ashton Gentry potential injury news.
18:23I want JSN and Brock Bowers. I never say this, but I will roll the dice on running back because you happen
18:31to have the top two players at the other positions.
18:34At your avail. I agree. I am 100% behind you.
18:38I wouldn't draft Brock Bowers this high, but if I already had him on my squad, I am keeping the number one tight end potentially on my squad.
18:48So I would go with JSN, Brock Bowers, and then I would figure out my running back situation because Ashton Gentry may come back to you.
18:58You may still be able to get him with the same risk you have, or there may be someone else that you like a little bit more.
19:07So I'm with you on that. All right, Liz, that's the end of our voicemails.
19:13That was a ton of questions answered. We don't want to be done, though.
19:18We definitely want to do this again. I love being able to just dive into the mailbag here.
19:25Please send in more questions. The line is 323-391-4855.
19:28Liz, we definitely have to make sure we do this another time.
19:32We're going to do it every week. Fantasy Therapy is a mainstay on the Facts vs.
19:38Feelings podcast and digital show. Thank you guys so much for calling, for tuning in.
19:43And Daniel and I will probably go drink some milk because we might still be recovering from Da Bomb.
19:50Yes, please.