Brian Rubaie

Analyst @FantasyPts. Former national champion debate coach with @uiowa and Business lecturer with @tippieiowa.

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

“He’s a hoe, and I want that known” is such a strong opening here

[Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate]

#Browns DT Shelby Harris says #49ers WR Jauan Jennings was talking dirty while Maliek Collins was getting carted off today.

"He's a hoe. I see why he got punched in the nuts. ... I'm surprised no one punched him in the jaw yet."

(via @camijustice)

[Ryan Heath @RyanJ_Heath]

Tomorrow is the day.

Call out of work. I've got 22,000 words headed your way on @FantasyPts

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@jeffblaylock That is a great call. Curious if a Deebo reunion is in the cards, very interested to see what they do. Hoping for the best for Ricky but think they’ll need more help.

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@jeffblaylock Very solid thread! If Ricky misses time and Stribling fails to launch, who do you think benefits most?

I've wondered why Evans isn't drafted in the same range as Adams, and leaning even more strongly to Evans now

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Nabers now going in the 2nd round of best ball drafts again, R4 Nabers/R6 Bucky was amazing while it lasted

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@WhosManIsThis24 Me hoarding as much Nabers/Bucky as I can

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@FG_Dolan He's a dangerous man when he's pissed! A little concerned it may signal some worry from their front office on his health/recovery, but cautiously optimistic

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Talk of DJM getting Diggs 2020 usage from @DhananiZain below 🔥

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Diggs had his best season ever with Allen in 2020, finishing WR3 with 20+ per game. D.J. Moore was the WR6 with *Justin Fields* in 2023.

Moore signed for $80mn guaranteed and is the WR29.

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@ScottBarrettDFB @holdenunc We don’t need to protect Brock from the substation, we need to protect the substation from Brock

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@burdknowsball A very solid case! I'm out on Achane in round 1, and I 100% agree that your notes are the best bear case, but I'm still drafting him in round 2.

I unpacked a bit more on both sides of the debate and why I'm still leaning yes on Achane here
https://t.co/RtW2RYJeo6

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Diggs had his best season ever with Allen in 2020, finishing WR3 with 20+ per game. D.J. Moore was the WR6 with *Justin Fields* in 2023.

Moore signed for $80mn guaranteed and is the WR29.

[alex brasky @alexbrasky]

Josh Allen to DJ Moore left sideline. Another nice sliding catch from Moore in the rain. Rapport growing to start camp

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Great question by @KyleM_FF -- "Is mitigating downside risk just as important as chasing upside in the early rounds of fantasy drafts?"

To channel Buffett and Belichick:

- Rule 1, don't lose money.
- Rule 2, never forget Rule 1.
- You can't win until you keep from losing.

[Kyle @KyleM_FF]

With limitless content and insight at everyone’s fingertips nowadays, the margins to draft your first four to five picks correctly are shrinking every year

You win or lose your league based on those picks. It’s become that simple

The Top-10 combined RBs/WRs on ESPN Championship Rosters have looked like this by average ADP over the last 4 years:

2022: 44.6
2023: 88.7
2024: 46.3
2025: 50.4

This is the average ADP for the Top-5 RBs/WRs:

2022: 12.3
2023: 98.5 (big outlier year)
2024. 44.3
2025: 17.1

Outside of Bucky Irving (2024), Brian Thomas Jr. (2024), Michael Wilson (2025), and Chris Olave (2025), the other 16 top-10 RBs/WRs (80%) over the last two seasons have been drafted in the first four rounds

That raises the question: Is mitigating downside risk just as important as chasing upside in the early rounds of fantasy drafts?

There were 8 key draft day decisions in those first four rounds last season that ended up being the difference between glory and anguish for managers

Bijan Robinson vs. Saquon Barkley
Christian McCaffrey vs. Justin Jefferson
Puka Nacua vs. Ashton Jeanty
De’Von Achane vs. Brian Thomas Jr.
Chase Brown vs. Bucky Irving
Jonathan Taylor vs. Brock Bowers
James Cook vs. Ladd McConkey
Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Alvin Kamara

There were bear signals for nearly every player listed on the right, but many still selected them anyway over the players on the left, at nearly identical ADPs

Which player debates do you think will make-or-break leagues in 2026 within the first four to five rounds? Here are 15 of mine based on current ESPN ADP (my preferred player on the left)

Christian McCaffrey vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Jonathan Taylor
James Cook vs. Justin Jefferson
Ashton Jeanty vs. De’Von Achane
Drake London vs. Saquon Barkley
Omarion Hampton vs. Trey McBride
Kenneth Walker vs. Garrett Wilson
Omarion Hampton vs. Derrick Henry
DeVonta Smith vs. Javonte Williams
Emeka Egbuka vs. Kyren Williams
Zay Flowers vs. Tetairoa McMillan
Ladd McConkey vs. Travis Etienne
Jaylen Waddle vs. Bucky Irving
Terry McLaurin vs. TreVeyon Henderson

[Scott Barrett @ScottBarrettDFB]

I’m a really shitty Twitter follow, because I keep all of my best stuff behind a paywall.

But here are some A+++ must-follow accounts:

+ @RyanPaganetti (NFL analytics GOAT)
+ @jmthrivept (injury GOAT)
+ @DhananiZain (news GOAT)
+ @SideHustleFF (debate GOAT)
+ @BooBoojojo (preseason DFS GOAT)
+ @KyleM_FF (the new crowned prince of dank stats)

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@RyanPaganetti @xoundoff I've literally watched thousands of "instant W" moments before as a debate coach and this is still one of the fastest KOs I've ever seen😂

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@Fitz_FF Great question! If Lemon is the best rookie WR, I'd rank DeVonta WR22-24.

I have him just inside the Top 20 with Flowers and Ladd.

If Lemon soars, Smitty would be just outside the Top 20 with Waddle and Evans.

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Great day to follow @DhananiZain and @jmthrivept!

Zain has been crushing it all summer and is the #1 go-to for notes on day 1 of training camp.

Jeff's article yesterday is a must-read with highly impactful notes on injuries to key fantasy stars.

https://t.co/HpPYmQPA6D

[Zain Dhanani @DhananiZain]

Follow Jeff too - he often comments on my tweets with his projected himpact from an injury and return to performance angle

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@Marcus_Mosher @LateRoundQB I’m hopeful that inheriting a good chunk of Pittman’s 108 vacated targets, more 2-WR sets, and not catching passes from a grandpa can help our guy Downs!

Downs has some very solid TPRR numbers but also posted a career low route participation rate last year.

[Scott Barrett @ScottBarrettDFB]

The best injury expert in the game @jmthrivept tackles the biggest injury questions of the offseason

This was the most important fantasy article I've read all summer. Had a profound impact on my rankings

https://t.co/McowXGSbxf

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@DaveKluge @ooooftw @DraftKings @DraftersFantasy 100% agree, this tool still blows my mind and @ooooftw is a legend!

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@jmthrivept @FantasyPtsData Spent hours researching Kraft for dynasty and I got more out of reading your quick notes here than I did in all that time combined!

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@ScottBarrettDFB @jmthrivept @FantasyPts Hell yeah let’s go @jmthrivept!

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

@jpep20 Huge huge help, thank you so much man!

[Brian Rubaie @SideHustleFF]

Loved #SFB16 in KC! Thank you @CoxBytes @GrantTower and @heathcummingssr for working so hard to make this happen.

Thank you @Swails_24 and @jpep20 for A+ insights.

Awesome to draft with you guys @seth_diewold @JPeekFF

Team 7 “Country For Old Men” drafted like it was 2019 🏆