The Fantasy Football Hustle

2022 @FSWA Best Fantasy Podcast Nominee

[The Fantasy Football Hustle @FFHustle]

Best Podcast Nominee!!!

Thanks @FSWA

[FSWA @FSWA]

Best Football Podcast finalists
The Launch Pad, @DaveKluge
@YahooFantasy Football Forecast, @MattHarmon_BYB
All In Football, @allinkid
The @TheFFBallers
The @HarrisFootball Podcast
The Late-Round Podcast, @LateRoundQB
The Fantasy Football Hustle, @DrakeFantasy @dwainmcfarland

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

Talking with NFL Hall of Fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson for the @FantasyPts podcast today.

What questions do you have for the best RB in fantasy football history?

@Fantasy_Guru and I might use yours on the show.

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

What Matters for QBs in fantasy football?

We dive into the changing landscape, with passing yards trending down over the last three seasons.

Fantasy points (passing and rushing)
Underlying data
Scheme
Supporting cast

What makes a league-winner? 🔽🔽

https://t.co/Zhio7A0Nsf

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

Who is @Fantasy_Guru targeting in fantasy football drafts?

On the latest @FantasyPts podcast, we look at "Guru's Guys" - players John wants YOU to draft this summer.

Check the latest episode and let us know who YOUR guys are.

#FantasyFootball

https://t.co/bZXLcnQlGf

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

ICYMI👀👀👀

[The Fantasy Football Hustle @FFHustle]

@DrakeFantasy @TomBrolley @Fantasy_Guru @FantasyPts This got spicy

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

Drafting the right TE can be critical to fantasy football success.

Listen as @Fantasy_Guru and I dive into @FantasyPts projections and find you some players to target in upcoming drafts.

It’s the Fantasy Points Podcast.

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

Lots of fantasy football sites do projections.

@FantasyPts does it better than anyone.

@Fantasy_Guru has built a career finding edges based on projections.

Listen and learn which WRs John is buying and fading based on projections on the latest Fantasy Points Podcast.

[Drew Davenport @DrewDavenportFF]

Before this show gets going with Sirius, I need to shout out the guy who brought me along - @DrakeFantasy.

I met Brian at the King's Classic back in 2019 when we both knew nobody and ended up sitting next to each other on the porch the night before the draft talking to each other because...well...we didn't know anyone else.

Since then, he's become one of my best friends, and for some reason, the guy never misses a chance to support me, tell people about me, or give me chances in fantasy football.

Outside of my family I don't think I've ever known someone who has done more for me while asking for nothing in return. I'm only where I am today in the fantasy space because of Brian, and I need everyone out there to know what a gem of a human this guy is.

If you're lucky enough to have a Drake in your life don't take it for granted.

Thank you my friend - can't wait until Canton. LFG.

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

10 WRs who were taken outside of the top 24 picks in ESPN fantasy football leagues have been found on 58%+ of playoff rosters since 2016.

Of those 10, 8 saw notable changes to their environment.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 2025 | Pick 39 | 71% rostered
Changes: DK Metcalf gone + Klint Kubiak OC + Sam Darnold

Cooper Kupp | 2021 | Pick 49 | 70% rostered
Changes: Matthew Stafford

Keenan Allen | 2023 | Pick 43 | 68% rostered
Changes: Kellen Moore OC

Chris Godwin | 2019 | Pick 60 | 60% rostered
Changes: Bruce Arians HC (Big slot maestro) + Jameis Winston (full-year starter)

George Pickens | 2025 | Pick 76 | 59% rostered
Changes: Dak Prescott

Davante Adams | 2025 | Pick 35 | 58% rostered
Changes: Matthew Stafford

A.J. Brown | 2022 | Pick 36 | 58% rostered
Changes: Traded to Eagles

Tyreek Hill | 2018 | Pick 58 | 58% rostered
Changes: Patrick Mahomes

2026 Candidates (picks 25-100):

DeVonta Smith | Pick 28: Sean Mannion, AJB gone
Zay Flowers | Pick 33: Declan Doyle, Isaiah Likely gone
Ladd McConkey | Pick 37: Mike McDaniel, Keenan Allen gone
Emeka Egbuka | Pick 39: Zac Robinson, Mike Evans gone
Mike Evans | Pick 44: Kyle Shanahan
Jaylen Waddle | Pick 48: Traded to Broncos
DJ Moore | Pick 56: Josh Allen
Packers WRs: Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks gone
Quentin Johnston | Pick 83: McDaniel, Keenan
Jordan Addison | Pick 87: Kyler Murray
Chris Godwin | Pick 89: Robinson, Evans gone
Josh Downs | Pick 94: Michael Pittman Jr. gone

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

What are @Fantasy_Guru’s best bets for the 2026 NFL season?

Listen as the prop bet king drops a handful of plays that our projections at @FantasyPts back.

Pay your fantasy football league fees with the info from the latest Fantasy Points Podcast.

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

Michael Wilson and Parker Washington were extraordinary over the second half of 2025 as Year 3 players.

They averaged 19.7 and 14.6 PPG, respectively, from Week 10 through the NFL Playoffs.

However, neither had a meaningful fantasy season before (at least 10 PPG -- aka low-end WR4 territory).

That got me wondering: How often have we seen non-Round 1 or Round 2 NFL Draft picks average 14+ PPG in the second half of their Year 3 to 5 season without a prior 10 PPG fantasy season?

And more importantly, how did they do in the following two seasons?

Hunter Renfrow (2021): 16.8 PPG --> 8.1, 3.0
Rishard Matthews (2015): 15.2 PPG --> 13.3, 11.2
Marquise Goodwin (2017): 14.9 PPG --> 7.9, 4.8
Markus Wheaton (2015): 14.8 PPG --> 5.0, 0.7
Russell Gage (2020): 14.6 PPG --> 11.9, 9.5
Jauan Jennings (2024): 14.1 PPG --> 11.6

For the record, I am not pronouncing this as some in-depth study that 100% defines how we should view Wilson and Washington. However, we shouldn't dismiss this sort of data either, imo. Both carry significant bust potential.

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

Chill by the pool with our guy @JamesDKoh as the “Sleeper King” drops fantasy football bombs on the @FantasyPts podcast.

@Fantasy_Guru + me + chill vibes = the perfect Saturday night across the fantasy universe.

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

AJ Brown is moving to a Patriots offense that passed for 56 more yards per game than the Eagles.

That is a massive jump.

He averaged 15.5 fantasy points once healthy from hamstring issues last year.

Still, he will be 29, and we can't dismiss the chronic knee issue.

What does history have to say about this archetype of player?

Parameters (2011-2025):

15+ PPG previous season (min 8 games)
40+ team pass YPG following season
29+ years

Results:

2013 - Brandon Marshall (30): 20.9 --> 18.2 PPG (-2.1)
Notes: CHI; Alshon Jeffery --> Year 2 Breakout; battled hip/quad injuries (arthroscopic hip surgery in Jan 2013)

2013 - Wes Welker (32): 18.2 --> 16.2 (-2.0)
Notes: DEN; Peyton Manning, Demarius Thomas + Eric Decker competition; 2 concussions

2018 - Antonio Brown (30): 22.0 --> 21.6 (-0.4)
Notes: PIT; The WR2 in fantasy

2018 - Julio Jones (30): 15.7 --> 20.6 (+4.9)
Notes: ATL; Battled injuries both seasons; boomed despite the addition of Calvin Ridley in Round 1

2023 - Cooper Kupp (30): 22.6 --> 13.5 (-9.1)
Notes: LA; Battled hamstring injury (missed first four games)

2025 - Davante Adams (33): 17.1 --> 15.9 (-1.2)
Notes: LA; Battled hamstring injury in the second half of the season; averaged 17.1 before injury; Puka Nacua target competition

Observations/Themes:
This is a small sample, so we shouldn't get carried away, but...

1. Despite the big uptick in passing yardage, only Julio Jones improved, but he was coming off a down year.

2. All except Kupp (preseason injury) remained highly relevant in fantasy football, even though we saw fewer fantasy points from most.

3. Most of these veterans battled nagging injuries.

Takeaway:

I like but don't love AJB as a Round 2 pick in 2025. I will be drafting him, but I am not taking a massive stand after reviewing all of the data.

His upside case is a Julio Jones-type season, but there is also a chance that the uptick in passing yards (which we are assuming happens) is just enough to keep him relevant as a low-end WR1. His target competition is low, which helps.

But we also can't rule out a downturn in PPG given the examples above. It happens.

[The Fantasy Football Hustle @FFHustle]

@DrakeFantasy @FCFantasySports

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

AJ Brown suffered a hamstring injury in training camp last year, including a setback.

Starts the year badly with 12.4 PPG (WR24)

Reaggravated the hamstring in Week 8 and sits out + gets a Week 9 bye week.

Rest of season, including Wild Card: 15.5 PPG (WR7)

15.5 is pretty ridiculous in an offense that averaged only 202 yards passing over those nine contests.

[Brian Drake @DrakeFantasy]

This is a fantastic podcast.

1. You get a real life lawyers view into the Josh Jacobs and Rashee Rice cases.

2. Smart and in-depth auction draft talk you don’t hear from the other guys.

A must listen for fantasy football players.

@DrewDavenportFF joins me and @Fantasy_Guru

[Dwain McFarland @dwainmcfarland]

Who are the biggest fantasy football winners and losers based on NFL scheme and personnel?

I got together with the great @RyanJ_Heath to discuss:

YouTube: https://t.co/EfgSdeHvnt
Apple: https://t.co/WsXDlpZmWK

[Drew Davenport @DrewDavenportFF]

This was a really fun show. Auction talk, legal stuff. My first time meeting John.

Enjoyed this immensely. Have a listen 👇🏽

[The Fantasy Football Hustle @FFHustle]

@dwainmcfarland @Mike_Woellert

[The Fantasy Football Hustle @FFHustle]

@DrakeFantasy @Fantasy_Guru @DrewDavenportFF @FantasyPts