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FFT Express - Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Best Draft Values by ADP: Love, Tate, Lemon & More! (07/28 Fantasy Football Podcast)

STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.

11 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Jul 28, 2026
Published
Tue, July 28, 2026
34
Player insights
26
Players mentioned
Topics
Jeremiyah LoveAntonio WilliamsChristian McCaffreyJadarian PriceMakai LemonZachariah BranchAJ DillonBlake CorumChris BellChris OlaveDe'Zhaun StriblingDenzel BostonElijah SarrattEzekiel Elliott
Player analysis

Player insights

34

AJ Dillon

NegativeProjection5:37

AJ Dillon, a first-round running back investment, produced only RB15 per game as a rookie, exemplifying poor rookie production from top-10 invested backs; Aj Brown notes Dillon was overvalued in draft expectations.

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Antonio Williams

NegativeBreakout9:18

Antonio Williams is a rookie in Washington that Aj Brown is curious about and wants to see what he does in the upcoming season.

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NegativeRole9:19

Aj Brown expresses curiosity about Antonio Williams' role and opportunity in Washington; flagged as a player to monitor for potential fantasy relevance.

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Blake Corum

PositiveProjection4:48

Corum received positive reviews based on his workouts and Sean McVay's comments, suggesting he could limit Kyron Williams' workload in a two-headed backfield rather than a three-man committee.

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Chris Bell

NegativeInjury10:20

Aj Brown notes Chris Bell is returning from a torn ACL but flags opportunities available in the Dolphins offense among three rookie wide receivers.

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Chris Olave

NegativeInjury0:52

Blood clot situation creates opportunity for Jordan Tyson in Saints offense.

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Christian McCaffrey

NegativeProjection5:37

Christian McCaffrey, a first-round running back investment, produced only RB14 per game as a rookie despite 80 catches in 16 games; Aj Brown notes McCaffrey was expected to be more of a specialist than a full-time workhorse and was sharing carries with Jonathan Stewart, making him one of the worst rookie RB examples from top-10 investments.

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NegativeRole6:16

McCaffrey was drafted around RB 14 or lower in rookie rankings because expectations were set for a specialist role rather than a full-time workhorse; he was sharing carries with Jon Stewart, which limited his early-season workload and production ceiling relative to draft cost.

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De'Zhaun Stribling

PositiveBreakout9:41

Aj Brown describes Deshaun Stribbling as fascinating given Christian Kirk's injury status, Mike Evans' age (32), and Ricky Pierce's health concerns; Stribbling received positive buzz and is flagged as a player to monitor for increased opportunity in Tampa Bay.

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Denzel Boston

NegativeRole9:02

Denzel Boston has received more publicity than Casey Concepcion, a first-round pick in Cleveland, but both rookies warrant attention as they will impact Harold Fannin's role negatively.

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Elijah Sarratt

NegativeRole10:10

Aj Brown identifies Elijah Surratt as the more notable of Baltimore's two rookie receivers to monitor, with attention to how the Ravens' wide receiver room develops.

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Ezekiel Elliott

PositiveProjection5:37

Ezekiel Elliott, a first-round running back investment, produced top-three per-game finishes in both PPR and non-PPR as a rookie, exemplifying elite rookie production from top-10 invested backs.

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Harold Fannin

NegativeRole9:02

Harold Fannin's role will be negatively impacted by the arrival of rookie receivers Denzel Boston and Casey Concepcion in Cleveland.

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Jadarian Price

PositiveProjection7:00

Price has an easy path to finish as a great (not just good) running back if he receives over 400 total touches; Ken Walker finished RB 28 per game in full PPR last year at a similar ADP, so Price hitting that floor would justify his current draft cost, with significant upside if he dominates the workload.

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NegativeRole8:00

Price's early-season workload is a concern because George Halani and Emmanuel Wilson will help fill the gap left by Zach Charbonnet's absence, creating a three-way split; when Charbonnet returns from his significant divisional-round playoff injury, he will take touches away from Price regardless of his recovery status, and Mike McDonald loves Charbonnet, so the backfield could become a two-headed committee under new running backs coordinator (formerly of San Francisco).

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Jalen Hurts

PositiveProjection2:35

Getting knocked too much in narrative; will be better throwing over the middle than previous narrative suggests; this is where Makai Lemon's opportunity lies in Philadelphia offense.

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Jaylen Waddle

PositiveProjection3:04

Waddle is grouped among elite 2021+ draft class receivers (JSN, Dwayne Eskridge, Jamar Chase, DeVante Smith); three of the five are studs, and Waddle might be as well, placing him in excellent company for rookie receiver production.

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Jeremiyah Love

NegativeProjection0:06

Most exciting rookie overall and will go first among rookies in ADP, but speaker notes that high ADP does not necessarily correlate with being most excited to draft at current cost.

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NegativeRole4:48

Aj Brown expresses concern about Nathaniel Hackett's comments and Cardinals backfield depth: Tyler Algier has received first-team reps, James Connor's role was talked up, and Love could face a three-back committee on a bad team; however, Connor's injury history (north of 30 games missed) and Algier's specific short-yardage/goal-line role suggest Love has a path to special talent status.

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PositiveProjection4:48

Aj Brown ranks Kyron Williams ahead of Love but acknowledges the ranking is a close call; if Love hits, he could hit at a higher level than Williams, making Love the better upside play despite Williams' current ranking advantage.

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PositiveValue5:18

Love's ADP varies significantly across platforms: CBS 30th, NFC half-PPR 28th, but Fantasy Pros 18th overall—a wild discrepancy suggesting he is overvalued at 18th overall per Aj Brown's assessment.

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Jordyn Tyson

PositiveProjection0:52

Biggest wildcard of rookie receivers; benefits from Chris Olave blood clot situation creating opportunity; Tyler Shuck in year two in Kellen Moore offense should elevate passing game; no second receiver of significance after Rashid Shaheed trade; going at six-seven turn in ADP.

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Kevin Coleman

NegativeRole10:20

Aj Brown identifies Kevin Coleman as a fifth-round pick among three rookie wide receivers in Miami's offense with potential opportunities available.

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Kyren Williams

NegativeProjection4:48

Aj Brown currently ranks Kyron Williams ahead of Jeremiah Love, but acknowledges Blake Corum's positive workout reviews and Sean McVay's comments could create a two-headed backfield that dings Williams' workload; the ranking is a close call that Brown keeps reconsidering.

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Leonard Fournette

PositiveProjection5:37

Leonard Fournette, a first-round running back investment, produced RB8 per game in PPR and RB5 per game in non-PPR as a rookie, exemplifying strong rookie production from top-10 invested backs.

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Makai Lemon

PositiveProjection0:40

Could step into 120 targets with AJ Brown no longer in Philadelphia; going at seven-eight turn in ADP; speaker's favorite pick in rookie class; compared to Amon-Ra St. Brown; averaged more than three yards per route run versus both man and zone coverage, joining elite company of JSN, Jalen Waddle, Dwayne Eskridge, Jamar Chase, and Devante Smith since 2021; has easy path to success at reduced cost relative to top receivers.

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PositiveUsage3:16

Lemon, 5'11", 192 pounds, had 16 catches of 20+ air yards last year, third most in the nation; three times as many deep ball catches as Jordan Tyson, indicating significant downfield usage despite slot receiver perception.

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Omar Cooper Jr.

NegativeRole10:00

Aj Brown identifies Omar Cooper as a second-round wide receiver pick for the Jets with a potentially interesting role in the offense.

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Rashid Shaheed

NegativeDepth Chart1:00

Traded away from Saints, eliminating second receiver of significance and creating opportunity for Jordan Tyson.

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Saquon Barkley

PositiveProjection5:37

Saquon Barkley, a first-round running back investment, produced RB2 per game as a rookie, exemplifying elite rookie production from top-10 invested backs.

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Todd Gurley

PositiveProjection5:37

Todd Gurley, a first-round running back investment, produced RB9 per game in PPR or RB8 per game in non-PPR as a rookie, exemplifying strong rookie production from top-10 invested backs.

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Zach Charbonnet

NegativeInjury8:24

Charbonnet is coming off a significant injury suffered in the divisional round of the playoffs; his return will reduce Jadarian Price's workload, and the impact is not about Charbonnet's own production but about the touches he will steal from Price.

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Zachariah Branch

PositiveSleeper9:18

Zachariah Branch in Atlanta has received some positive buzz as a rookie and is a player to keep an eye on.

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PositiveBreakout9:32

Aj Brown notes positive buzz surrounding Zachariah Branch in Atlanta; identified as a player to keep an eye on for potential breakout opportunity.

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Full transcript

Episode Transcript

134
0:00We love a good rookie in fantasy football. Which rookies are we most excited to draft right now on FFT Express?
0:06Welcome everyone. So obviously Jeremiah Love is the most exciting rookie.
0:09He's gonna go first among the rookies, but that doesn't mean we're most excited to draft him.
0:15That ADP matters here too, average draft position. Welcome Jamie, what's up?
0:18How are you? Yeah, I'm fine. You don't care.
0:21So who are you most excited to draft at their current cost in this rookie class?
0:25I think the top three receivers should get you excited.
0:28You know, you're getting Cardinal Tate as a high-end number three receiver, has the chance to be the number one guy in
0:35the Titans offense and, you know, a top five overall pick in the NFL draft for a reason.
0:40So it could be special. Makai Lemon, you know, hopefully we don't have any more issues with the hamstring problem that he
0:47dealt with in minicamp, but could clearly step into 120 targets with AJ Brown no longer there.
0:52And then you look at Jordan Tyson, and to me he's the biggest wildcard of all this because you have, still the Chris Olave blood clot situation.
1:00You have Tyler Shuck and what he should be able to do in year two in a Kellen Moore offense.
1:06And really there was, you know, no second receiver of significance once they traded Rashid Shaheed, even if you factor in Shaheed at the start of the season.
1:14So I think all three of those guys have an opportunity to be, you know, fairly special talents.
1:19Um, you know, once you get past Jeremiah Love.
1:22And it's pretty interesting when you look at these three rookies and their ADPs, it is a little bit of an oversimplification
1:29here, but Tate is basically going at the five, six turn.
1:32Tyson is basically going at the six, seven turn.
1:34And Lemon is basically going at the seven, eight turn.
1:37They're essentially around apart with Tate and Tyson, then Lemon.
1:40So who are you most excited to draft at that cost?
1:44It would be Lemon. You know, I, I'm, I'm excited about the Philadelphia offense.
1:48You know, we just spent some time talking about it on the, uh, on the full length episode that we recorded Sunday night for Monday.
1:55I think you look at Jalen hurts. He's getting knocked a little bit too much.
2:00You know, they had the, I think it was ESPN had the story, you know, post season, uh, following the Superbowl, just
2:06how poorly, you know, he adapted to the previous offense under Kevin Petulo.
2:10I think he'll be better throwing over the middle than the narrative of he won't do that or won't, you know, or won't be successful at it.
2:18And that's kind of where Makai Lemon is. You know, the, there were a lot of people, uh, who liked Makai Lemon
2:25as the number one receiver in this class. There's a lot of comparisons, comparisons tomorrow, St.
2:29Brown. So with the ball in his hands, he could be pretty special.
2:33He could be electric opportunity is there. You know, I got finished saying on the full length episode, you know, that I'm excited about Devante Smith.
2:41It's kind of for similar reasons, but at a much reduced cost and much lower expectations.
2:46But, you know, again, there's just an easy path to, uh, to success here for lemon.
2:50So, uh, I'm hoping he takes advantage of. Yeah, he was my favorite.
2:54And there was a stat from Todd McShay. Makai Lemon averaged more than three yards per outrun versus both man and zone.
3:01Only five wide receivers drafted since 2021 have done that.
3:04JSN, Jalen Waddle, Dwayne Eskridge, Jamar Chase, and Devante Smith.
3:07Four of those five, three of those five are studs, I guess.
3:10And Waddle might be as well. I don't know.
3:13They're all really good. So it's good company to be in here.
3:16And, um, he also had 16 Makai Lemon, right?
3:19Like this little dude, people think it was a slot guy, 5'11", 192 pounds, 16 catches of 20 or more air yards last year.
3:26Third most in the nation. Jordan Tyson had five.
3:29And he had three, three times as many deep ball catches as Jordan Tyson.
3:33Uh, all right, we'll take a little break here and talk about Jeremiah Love when we come back.
3:38Jeremiah Love! Here he is. Please stop it. The agony is part of the fun, Jamie.
3:43The, the, the, how much you hate it only makes me want to play it more.
3:48We'll be back after this. All right. Yeah. So Jeremiah Love in the third round, you cool with that?
3:53Yeah. I, I, I don't love Nathaniel Hackett. I don't love what Nathaniel Hackett said.
3:58Um, you know, that he's a rookie and you know, you've, if you follow the, the beat reporters for the Cardinals, uh,
4:04Tyler Algier has gotten a lot of first team reps already.
4:08You know, Nathaniel Hackett talked up James Connor, you know, what his role is going to be.
4:13So we could see three players on a bad team, three running backs on a bad team splitting work.
4:18But I think when you look at what the investment was in love, the fact that Connor couldn't stay healthy last year
4:25is north of 30 Tyler Algier, I think was brought into play a specific role.
4:29Short yards, goal line, all those things, uh, that love has a chance to be, you know, a pretty special talent.
4:35The one that I struggle with, with love just from a ranking standpoint is him versus Kyron Williams, because we got the
4:42bail Blake Corum positive reviews, you know, based on his workouts, the soft season and what Sean McVay said.
4:48And so if Corum is going to, you know, ding, uh, Kyron Williams enough and you have love even in, I think
4:54it's going to be a two headed backfield more so than a, you know, a three man committee.
4:59I would probably lean toward the better player. And this is not to say that Kyron Williams is not a good player,
5:06but clearly if Jeremiah love hits, he could hit at a higher level.
5:10So, uh, that's the one I struggle with right now.
5:13I have Williams ranked ahead of love, but that's one that I keep going back and forth.
5:18His ADP is pretty interesting on CBS. It's 30th Jeremiah.
5:21Love on NFC, ADP half PPR kind of high stakes leagues.
5:2428th. Yep. Fantasy pros. He's 18th. That is wild.
5:27We would not take him 18th. 18th overall. No.
5:29Yeah. If you want to look at some, some other first round picks, I had Dan made a good point about first round running backs.
5:37Ones that are taken in the top 10 ones that have high investment, right?
5:41It's almost like Ashton. Genty is the worst case scenario.
5:44So we were talking about guys like last 11 seasons.
5:47Todd Gurley was RB nine per game and PPR or before per game and non PPR as a rookie.
5:53Ezekiel Elliott, top three per game, Leonard for net eighth per game and PPR fifth per game and non PPR McCaffrey.
5:59One of the worst examples, 14th per game and he had 80 catches in 16 games.
6:03Uh, Barkley second per game. Hmm. Who else was a B John B John, another bad example, 15th per game.
6:09And then I, again, I think when you look at it, I don't remember all of the ADPs for these guys.
6:16Yeah. B John, we overvalued. Genty. We overvalued. Uh, I think McCaffrey was probably in the range of RB 14, if not
6:22lower, because we expected him to be more of a specialist than a full down, a full time workhorse running back.
6:28I believe he's still sharing with John that Stewart.
6:31He was. Yep. So, you know, like the, the expectations have to be sort of monitored here a little bit.
6:37Like if you just took Ashton Gentry's numbers and said, this is what he did as a rookie.
6:42He still gets pretty good. Then you remember where you drafted him.
6:46It's like, oh, that was pretty bad. You know?
6:48So like, I, I think when you sort of just take the, the broader view of what these guys are and what they're capable of doing.
6:56So like we just got finished on the full length episode talking about the Jadarian Price.
7:01So then another rookie that I think a lot of people are excited about and where would he have to finish for
7:07you to feel comfortable taking him at his cost?
7:10So you brought up Ken Walker, where he finished last year, which is kind of where the Darian, where he was drafted last year.
7:17I think he said, um, yeah. So Ken Walker finishes RB 28 per game and full PPR probably better in the other formats.
7:24And that's a little bit lower than the ADP for Jadarian price right now.
7:28Right. So if you're getting that type of production, you're happy with it.
7:32And I think anything on top of it, there's an easy path for Jadarian price to be great here.
7:38Not just good. Great. Again, I think it's over 400 total touches.
7:41When you look at, if you expect Zach Charbonnet to miss the season and Ken Walker not coming back, like that's a
7:48huge opportunity that George Halani and Emmanuel Wilson have to help fill.
7:51Well, price is a first round pick for a reason because they expect him to be their best running back.
7:57As I said, with price and his outlook, I'm nervous that we get too much of the other guys early in the season.
8:04So it's three players sharing the workload and then Charbonnet comes back and it's not about, you know, you, you kind of pivoted a little bit to Charbonnet.
8:12It's not about what Charbonnet is going to do.
8:15It's about what Charbonnet is going to do to price.
8:18So it's not that Charbonnet comes back and he's just all of a sudden fine because he's coming off a significant injury
8:24in the divisional round of the playoffs. It's he's just going to take work away, whether that's two touches, five touches, 10 touches.
8:31It's another player that Mike McDonald loves. And so, you know, Dave brought up two headed backfield.
8:36It's a different coordinator. We don't know how they're going to do things here in Seattle with Kubiak now gone.
8:42The running in coordinators name escapes me ignoring him coordinator coming in from San Francisco.
8:47So should be an emphasis on, on, on the running backs there.
8:50I just think that if price hits the ground running and is awesome, you're thrilled with it.
8:55If he struggles early in the season, I wouldn't panic just yet, but it could be a little bit of a frustrating experience.
9:02Any other rookies you want to discuss anyone? Yeah, I think the two guys in Cleveland are fascinating.
9:07You know, Denzel Boston has gotten the higher, the, the more publicity, but Casey Concepcion first round pick.
9:13So something to keep an eye on there. And I think that impacts Harold Fannin, you know, more so for a negative
9:19standpoint than necessarily looking at those two guys. I'm, I'm curious about Antonio Williams.
9:23I want to see what he does in Washington.
9:26If nobody else has added, I'm curious, you know, we've gotten some, some positive buzz about Zachariah branch in Atlanta.
9:32You know, that's a player to keep an eye on there.
9:35Deshaun Stribbling is fascinating because now you have Christian Kirk banged up.
9:39We have Mike Evans. Who's 32. Um, you have Ricky Pierce.
9:42So can't stay healthy, you know, Stribbling got a lot of positive buzz also.
9:46So that's one to keep an eye on there.
9:49Uh, we haven't really talked a lot recently. Maybe we should just, you know, do a little bit more research on why
9:55they're not getting more buzz, but the two guys for the jets, Kenya Sadiq and Omar Cooper, you know, first tight end
10:02drafted another second round pick, a wide receiver that could have, you know, pretty interesting role.
10:07The two guys in Baltimore, Elijah Surratt being probably the more one to keep an eye on there and what happens with the, the Ravens wide receivers.
10:15And then I think one of the more fascinating ones are the two guys in Miami three.
10:20If you want to factor in, um, I forget his name, Kevin Coleman, Kevin Coleman.
10:24Um, but they have three rookie wide receivers that could all be in the mix.
10:29Chris Bell, um, coming back from the torn ACL, but you know, there, there's opportunities available in the Dolphins offense that I
10:35think a lot of fantasy managers keep an eye on.
10:38Kevin Coleman, fifth round pick. Yep. The Zinga. All right.
10:41That was good stuff. Good rundown of the rookies that you need to know about and how excited we are to draft them.
10:48And we'll talk to you next time on fantasy football today.
10:51See ya. Podcasts.

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