Becoming a Best Ball Bro: A Unique Way to Stack?

JJ Zachariason highlighted Gibson as an example of a late-round running back (18th round pick) who won a role and moved up significantly in draft value, rising from an 18th round pick to approximately a 10th round pick. Zachariason uses Gibson as a model for his best ball strategy of loading up on late-round running backs in the 13th-18th round range, as some of these late guys can hit when roles open up due to injury or opportunity.

Zachariason is bullish on Ashton Jeanty's volume potential in the Las Vegas offense under Clint Kubiak with a rookie QB upgrade over Gino Smith; he expects Jeanty to at minimum meet ADP through volume, but could be a top-three running back in fantasy if the offense performs better than expected; Jeanty was second-worst in yards before contact per attempt last year (only Quinshon Judkins worse), but the offensive line is getting significant upgrades through injury return and free agency, so Zachariason is not worried about last year's efficiency; volume is the key focus, not yards per carry.

JJ Zachariason projects Ashton Jeanty as a potential top-three running back in fantasy if the Las Vegas offense performs better than expected. Zachariason emphasizes volume over efficiency, noting Jeanty was second-worst in yards before contact per attempt last year but expects the offensive line improvements and Clint Kubiak's system to provide sufficient volume to meet ADP at minimum, with upside for elite production. Zachariason is not concerned about last year's efficiency given the lack of correlation between year-one yards per carry and future performance.

Baker Mayfield is going later than he did in the prior two years and is Zachariason's number-one target if he misses in the QB window; despite playing through injury with a hurt offensive line and injured receivers, Mayfield is undervalued because focus remains on last year's team issues rather than his individual performance and the presence of Mike Evans, Godwin, and McMillan.

Baker Mayfield is going later than he did the previous two years and is JJ Zachariason's number-one target if he misses in the quarterback window; Zachariason likes Mayfield despite last year's team injuries (offensive line, receivers) and Mike Evans' departure, noting that Godwin and McMillan remain strong supporting cast pieces, and Mayfield played through injury when most would have gone on IR.

JJ Zachariason expresses a preference for Baker Mayfield as one of the few late-round quarterbacks worth targeting in best ball, grouping him with Jordan Love and Malik Willis as the only quarterbacks he wants exposure to in 18-20 round formats.

JJ Zachariason indicates he likes Baker Mayfield as a late-round quarterback option in best ball drafts, suggesting Mayfield has appeal as a value pick.

JJ Zachariason argues Bo Nix can be included in the viable quarterback range extending down from Lamar Jackson, suggesting he offers fantasy value despite being a rookie or less-proven option.

Bo Nix is mentioned as a viable mid-round quarterback option that can be argued into the best ball stacking range, extending the tier of approximately 12 quarterbacks from Lamar down through Kyler.

JJ Zachariason uses Brian Thomas as an example to illustrate that disliking one receiver doesn't mean you have to dislike another—specifically, being high on Parker Washington doesn't require hating Brian Thomas. He emphasizes that each draft represents a unique outcome scenario, and multiple receivers can have value in different draft contexts.

Zachariason addresses the false dichotomy that liking Luther Burden means you have to hate Brian Thomas; he argues that in individual drafts, you're making a bet on one player's outcome in that specific season, not making a zero-sum choice between two receivers.

JJ Zachariason notes Brock Bowers is currently at approximately 13% in his draft targets, positioning him as the primary weapon in the Las Vegas offense alongside Ashton Jeanty.

Zachariason notes Brock Bowers is at approximately 13% exposure in his best-ball portfolio; he's the only significant weapon outside of Jeanty in the Las Vegas offense, which supports the volume thesis for Jeanty.

Todd Burroughs wants at least 20% exposure to Brock Bowers this year in best ball; he's the primary tight end target for Burroughs, though he acknowledges that 20% exposure means he has 80% of other tight ends in his portfolio.

Brock Bowers is used as an example of a second-round tight end target in best ball; Zachariason notes that if he takes Bowers in the second round and secures two quarterbacks, he no longer needs to think about the quarterback position for the rest of the draft.

JJ Zachariason uses Brock Bowers in the second round as an example of securing elite talent early, then pairing him with two quarterbacks (one in the fifth, one in the eighth) to create a coherent best-ball stack that simplifies the rest of the draft by allowing cherry-picking of value plays.

JJ Zachariason uses Brock Bowers as an example of a second-round anchor pick that, when paired with two quarterbacks in the fifth and eighth rounds, creates a complete stack that simplifies the rest of the draft. Bowers' early-round value allows for flexible value-based picking thereafter.

JJ Zachariason's bold take is that Brock Bowers leads the NFL in receptions, positioning him as a high-volume pass-catcher with elite target upside.

JJ Zachariason's bold take: Brock Bowers leads the NFL in receptions. This is framed as a fire take offered at the end of the conversation, indicating conviction in Bowers' target volume and role.

Brock Purdy is used as an example of a quarterback that can be stacked with a backup running back (Jordan James) in the 20th round without additional cost, as part of Burroughs' strategy to trick the pods with backup running back stacking.

Brock Purdy is part of JJ Zachariason's six-to-eight quarterback tier that is cheaper than historical levels in best ball; Zachariason loves Purdy as a value target and uses him as an example of a round-10 quarterback that should be taken over running backs with marginal opportunity cost, especially when CJ Stroud is going around the same area.

Brock Purdy is available at a discount in round 10 and represents elite QB value; Zachariason loves the dart and targets him as part of a 6–8 QB group available cheaper than prior years, and he uses Purdy as a specific example of a QB that should be taken in round 10 over running backs with marginal opportunity.

JJ Zachariason argues against taking Brock Purdy in round 10 when CJ Stroud is available around that same draft position, citing that the San Francisco running backs are just okay and the opportunity cost is not significant enough to justify the quarterback selection.

JJ Zachariason argues against taking Brock Purdy in round 10 when CJ Stroud is available around that same area, noting that the San Francisco running backs are just okay, making the opportunity cost not significant enough to justify the quarterback selection.

JJ Zachariason does not believe Bryce Young will win him anything in fantasy football, citing multiple seasons of data showing poor performance in the Panthers offense; Young represents a floor-based quarterback option that lacks upside.

JJ Zachariason does not believe Bryce Young has the upside to win fantasy football games, noting that even if he becomes the top available quarterback late in a draft, he would not be a compelling selection; he contrasts this with Ward, who at least has some mystique despite limited data.

JJ Zachariason characterizes Bryce Young as generally too inconsistent; while he can have good weeks, he's unlikely to meaningfully help advance rate in best ball formats. Young has multiple seasons of data in this offense, removing any mystique around his potential.

JJ Zachariason characterizes Bryce Young as generally too inconsistent; while he can have good weeks, he's unlikely to meaningfully help advance rate in best ball formats. Young has multiple seasons of data in his current offense, lacking the upside mystique of less-proven alternatives like Jaylen Ward.

CJ Stroud is going around round 10, the same area where Brock Purdy is available; JJ Zachariason uses Stroud as a reference point to illustrate that taking Purdy at that spot is preferable given the marginal opportunity cost of running backs in that round.

CJ Stroud is going around the same area as Brock Purdy (round 10), but Zachariason prefers Purdy at that spot because running back opportunity is not significant enough to justify passing on elite QB talent in that window.

CJ Stroud is positioned as a superior alternative to Brock Purdy in round 10 best ball drafts, with better opportunity cost relative to the available running back options.

CJ Stroud is positioned as a superior alternative to Brock Purdy in round 10 best ball drafts, with JJ Zachariason suggesting Stroud's value is better given the weakness of the San Francisco running back room.

Chris Godwin remains with the Buccaneers and is part of JJ Zachariason's rationale for liking Baker Mayfield; Godwin is cited as a strong supporting cast piece that mitigates the loss of Mike Evans.

Chris Godwin remains with the Buccaneers as part of Baker Mayfield's receiving corps; Zachariason includes him as a key weapon supporting Mayfield's value, though he does not like Godwin as much as his ADP suggests.

Zachariason believes Chris Godwin has a much better chance than Mike Evans of being a strong contributor alongside Jamie Jalen McMillan in the Buccaneers passing game; he groups these three as potentially strong together despite Evans' high ADP.

JJ Zachariason believes Chris Godwin has a better chance of being productive than Mike Evans, suggesting Godwin and Jalen McMillan could both end up being pretty good together in the Buccaneers offense.

JJ Zachariason is not that high on CMC at his current ADP in best ball, preferring to pivot to other options like Ashton Gentry or Saquon Barkley.

JJ Zachariason used a fading strategy with Chuba Hubbard last year: he was fading Chuba and naturally gravitated toward backup Rico (Fuentes), which paid off when Rico became relevant. This exemplifies his best-ball stacking philosophy of taking the backup when you're down on the lead back.

JJ Zachariason is willing to take Loveland at the end of round four or middle round four in best ball drafts, viewing him as a viable target in that range despite ambiguous role clarity; the approach reflects probabilistic thinking rather than handcuffing to a specific outcome.

JJ Zachariason notes that Colston Loveland is going as high as expected in drafts, indicating market demand for pieces of the Chicago offense. This supports his thesis that interest in the Bears' playmakers is genuine rather than hype.

Zachariason notes that Colson Loveland is going as high as Roma Dunze in drafts, indicating strong market demand for Chicago offensive pieces; this supports the thesis that the Bears offense is generating legitimate fantasy interest beyond hype.

JJ Zachariason is willing to take Loveland at the end of round four or middle round four in best ball drafts, viewing him as a viable target when he falls to that range; this represents a positive valuation stance in the context of draft strategy and positional scarcity.

Cortland Sutton is cited as an example of a wide receiver being drafted in the late seventh to mid-eighth round on DraftKings, competing with quarterback selections like Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence; JJ Zachariason notes these are players that don't generate excitement and suggests waiting for later-round alternatives.

Cortland Sutton is cited as a wide receiver option in the late seventh to mid-eighth round on DraftKings that competes with quarterback selections like Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence; JJ Zachariason notes that Sutton may or may not excite drafters, making him a marginal value choice.

Zachariason expresses caution on DJ Moore despite understanding the real-life fit in Chicago's offense; he notes that Moore has six, seven, or eight relatively predictive metrics all saying not to draft him, which is a stronger red flag than Luther Burden's single low PPG metric.

JJ Zachariason expresses caution about DJ Moore, noting that while he understands the real-life fit, multiple predictive metrics suggest avoiding the pick. He contrasts Moore's profile unfavorably with Luther Burden's, where Burden has strong per-route efficiency despite low rookie PPG, whereas Moore appears to have multiple concerning metrics.

JJ Zachariason includes D'Andre Swift in the secondary running back tier (alongside Tootin and Henderson) as a target in the 10th-12th round range, positioning him as a value option after securing a hero running back in his best ball strategy.

JJ Zachariason identifies Dak Prescott as a preferred quarterback stack pairing with Dallas wide receivers in best ball formats, noting there are enough quality options in that draft range.

JJ Zachariason identifies Dak Prescott as a natural back-stack pairing when one of the Dallas wide receivers is selected. Prescott is part of a deep quarterback pool offering good value in the fifth-to-eighth round range.

Dak Prescott is a stacking target in best ball when paired with Dallas wide receivers; Zachariason identifies him as part of a coherent mid-round quarterback strategy where one of the 12 viable quarterbacks in the range can be paired with their respective pass catchers.

JJ Zachariason pairs Darnell Mooney with Isaiah Likely as a back-stack option in the fifth-to-eighth round range. While not ideal, the pairing is perfectly reasonable for generating points without a true number one receiver.

Darnell Mooney is used as an example of a complementary wide receiver in a back-stack with Isaiah Likely and Jackson Dart; Zachariason notes the pairing is not optimal but perfectly reasonable and can score points without a true number-one receiver.

JJ Zachariason includes Darrell Henderson in the secondary running back tier (alongside Swift and Tootin) as a target in the 10th-12th round range, positioning him as a value option after securing a hero running back in his best ball strategy.

JJ Zachariason references drafting Devante Adams as part of a disappointing draft experience, grouping him with Puka Nakua and Matthew Stafford as regrettable picks that made his draft feel worse than dealing with a broken air conditioner.

JJ Zachariason references drafting Devante Adams as a regrettable experience, comparing it unfavorably to other poor draft decisions and suggesting the pick did not work out as hoped.

Zachariason fades DeVante Adams despite his ADP falling, citing age concerns and the fact that his 2024 production was propped up by 18 touchdowns—an unsustainable rate. While Adams could repeat the performance, Zachariason would have preferred to see him fall further in best ball ADP.

JJ Zachariason is fading DeVante Adams, noting that while his ADP has fallen, he is getting up there in age and was propped up by 18 touchdowns last season—an unsustainable level; Zachariason would have liked to see Adams fall even further in ADP.

DeMond Claiborne is mentioned as one of the other late running backs Burroughs likes, though not as much as Ray Davis; he's part of Burroughs' strategy to mix up late-round running back exposure and not get locked into one player.

JJ Zachariason's bold take: one of Jonah Coleman or DeMond Claiborne will work into the lead-back role to start the season, and one of them ends up being the lead back going down the stretch. This suggests Claiborne has breakout potential if he wins the early-season role competition.

JJ Zachariason's bold take includes DeMond Claiborne as one of two running backs (alongside Jonah Coleman) who could work into the lead role to start the season and end up as the lead back going down the stretch, suggesting significant upside if the primary back falters.

JJ Zachariason has been very hot on Denzel Boston recently, indicating strong conviction on the player's upside in best ball formats where he can be targeted flexibly without forcing early running back selections.

JJ Zachariason is very hot on Denzel Boston in best ball, indicating he's been high on the wide receiver recently and doesn't need to take running backs in certain rounds if Boston is available, suggesting strong upside conviction.

JJ Zachariason notes Drake Maye goes in the fifth or sixth round, cheaper than typical quarterback pricing. The Panthers shut Maye down in the second half last year, but a tougher schedule this year is actually beneficial for his development and fantasy outlook, making him a preferred stack target.

JJ Zachariason notes Drake Maye is being drafted in the fifth or sixth round, cheaper than typical quarterback pricing. The Panthers' tougher schedule this year is actually beneficial for Maye, as they shut him down in the second half last year; a more competitive schedule should allow fuller utilization. Maye is a viable back-stack option with receivers like Lad McConkie.

Drake Maye is identified as a back-stackable mid-round quarterback option in best ball; Zachariason notes he can be paired with complementary pass catchers in the same range for coherent stacking.

Pass-catching back on DraftKings identified as tremendous value; JJ Zachariason sees pass-catching backs as an area of value on DraftKings, with Sampson available late and deployable as a pass-catching play-from-behind back despite Tennessee offense uncertainty.

Zachariason calls Dylan Sampson a tremendous value in best ball, noting that he and Woody Marks go in basically the same range on DraftKings despite being undervalued on Underdog; this represents an area where he sees significant value.

Pass-catching back on DraftKings identified as tremendous value; JJ Zachariason sees pass-catching backs as an area of value on DraftKings, with Sampson available late and deployable as a pass-catching play-from-behind back despite Tennessee offensive uncertainty.

JJ Zachariason calls Dylan Sampson a tremendous value in best ball, noting that pass-catching backs like Sampson go in basically the same range on DraftKings and Underdog, creating an opportunity to find value in this position group.

JJ Zachariason targets Emmett Johnson as a late-round value in best ball, noting he knows Johnson will be available in later rounds and can be mixed and matched with early-round running back strength to maintain roster flexibility.

JJ Zachariason likes Emmett Johnson as a late-round running back value in best ball, confident the player will be available later in drafts and can be targeted after securing early-round running back depth.

Emmett Johnson is one of JJ Zachariason's two highest-owned players in best ball formats, alongside Jonah Coleman, suggesting confidence in his role and upside in Denver's backfield.

Zachariason groups Wilson among a tier of elite wide receivers alongside Jalen Waddle and Terry McLaurin, indicating he views Wilson as a top-tier option at the position.

JJ Zachariason groups Garrett Wilson among a tier of elite wide receivers he likes, alongside Jalen Waddle and Terry McLaurin, indicating he views Wilson as a premium receiving option.

Garrett Wilson is mentioned as part of a tier of wide receivers (alongside Jalen Waddle and Terry McLaurin) that Luther Burden could potentially escape from via a camp-riser effect similar to Zay Flowers and Emeka Buka.

Garrett Wilson is mentioned as part of a tier of wide receivers (alongside Jalen Waddle and Terry McLaurin) that Luther Burden could potentially escape from via a camp-driven rise; Wilson is currently in the mid-to-late fourth round range where Burden is being targeted.

Zachariason suggests that Geno Smith's poor performance last year for the Seahawks was not entirely his fault; the offensive environment (including offensive line issues) played a significant role, and the upgrade to a rookie QB with better supporting cast (improved offensive line, Clint Kubiak system) should help the running back situation.

Isaiah Likely is no longer on the Ravens roster (lost in offseason), which removes a red zone target that could have competed with Zay Flowers for end zone opportunities; Zachariason notes Likely's departure as a minor positive for Flowers' upside, though he acknowledges Likely's actual production numbers were not particularly strong.

JJ Zachariason identifies Isaiah Likely as a back-stack option that can be paired with receivers like Mooney in the fifth-to-eighth round range. While not optimal, the pairing is perfectly reasonable for generating points without a true number one receiver.

Isaiah Likely is positioned as a tight end option that can be paired with a back-stack quarterback like Jackson Dart; Zachariason notes that pairing Likely with Mooney creates a reasonable, if not optimal, stacking strategy that can score points without a true number-one receiver.

JJ Zachariason is least high on JK Dobbins of the Denver backfield trio because he doesn't see the ceiling outcome given Dobbins' limited pass-catching role. Dobbins was used one-dimensionally last year and lacks the pass-catching upside that could elevate his fantasy ceiling, making him a lower-priority target despite his lead-back opportunity.

JJ Zachariason is least high on JK Dobbins of the Denver backfield trio by far. Reasoning: Dobbins lacks ceiling outcome due to limited pass-catching role; Denver used him one-dimensionally last year and views him as durability-limited, prompting the team to add complementary backs like Jonah Coleman and RJ Harvey.

Denver brought in Jonah Coleman and RJ Harvey because they questioned whether Dobbins could carry the full workload for the entire season. JJ Zachariason notes that Dobbins did not have the ceiling last season that people believed he had; while he was a value piece at his draft price, he was not a high-ceiling target. The team's decision to add depth suggests injury concerns and workload limitations going forward.

Denver brought in Jonah Coleman and RJ Harvey because they questioned whether Dobbins could carry the full workload for the entire season. JJ Zachariason notes that Dobbins did not have the ceiling and season output that people believed he had last year; while he was a value piece at a good price, the team's decision to add competition suggests durability or workload concerns. Dobbins was brought back but the move signals the Broncos' lack of confidence in him as a workhorse.

JJ Zachariason indicates that having Jamar Chase makes Joe Burrow a worthwhile pick in best ball due to the stacking benefit, even if Burrow would not be a standalone target.

Jalen Hurts is going consistently in round seven on DraftKings; JJ Zachariason notes that at this draft position, the difference between the running backs and wide receivers available is not significant enough to justify taking a quarterback, suggesting waiting is preferable.

JJ Zachariason notes that Jalen Hurts consistently goes in round 7 in best ball drafts, and he evaluates whether the opportunity cost of taking a quarterback at that point is justified by comparing the running backs and wide receivers available at that round versus two rounds later.

JJ Zachariason is very high on Jalen McMillan in best ball, indicating strong conviction that allows him to skip running backs in certain draft rounds if McMillan is available, suggesting significant upside potential.

JJ Zachariason is very high on Jalen McMillan, indicating strong conviction on the player's upside in best ball where McMillan can be targeted in the fourth, fifth, or sixth round without forcing running back selections.

JJ Zachariason believes Jalen McMillan has a better chance of being productive than Mike Evans, suggesting McMillan and Godwin could both end up being pretty good together in the Buccaneers offense.

Jared Goff is mentioned in the context of tight end stacking strategy; Burroughs notes that you can get Jordan James in the 20th round if you stack him with Brock Purdy, suggesting tight end stacking flexibility across different quarterback options.

JJ Zachariason is acquiring significant volume of Jaden Daniels in best ball because top-tier quarterbacks outside Josh Allen are cheaper than last year; Daniels is part of a six-to-eight quarterback tier that Zachariason targets heavily as value plays that could break fantasy without requiring a win-now approach.

Jaden Daniels is being acquired in volume in best ball drafts at a discount relative to his upside; JJ Zachariason targets him heavily because top-tier QB talent is cheaper than in previous years due to running back scarcity pushing weaker quarterbacks up the board while elite QB talent remains undervalued.

JJ Zachariason groups Jalen Waddle among a tier of elite wide receivers he likes, alongside Terry McLaurin and Garrett Wilson, indicating he views Waddle as a premium receiving option.

Zachariason groups Waddle among a tier of elite wide receivers alongside Terry McLaurin and Garrett Wilson, indicating he views Waddle as a top-tier option at the position.

Jalen Waddle is mentioned as part of a tier of wide receivers (alongside Terry McLaurin and Garrett Wilson) that Luther Burden could potentially escape from via a camp-driven rise; Waddle is currently in the mid-to-late fourth round range where Burden is being targeted.

Jalen Waddle is mentioned as part of a tier of wide receivers (alongside Terry McLaurin and Garrett Wilson) that Luther Burden could potentially escape from via a camp-riser effect similar to Zay Flowers and Emeka Buka.

JJ Zachariason groups Jalen Warren in the mid-round running back tier (alongside Remandre) as a secondary option after securing a hero running back. This positioning suggests Warren is viewed as a value target in the 10th-12th round range, offering a balance between upside and relative certainty compared to the deepest late-round backs.

JJ Zachariason prefers Jalen Warren over Tony Pollard in the same draft range; Warren could be the guy receiving 50-60 passes and is a better running back than Rico Dowdle. Warren is described as one of the most underrated real-life running backs in the NFL period, really good at all aspects, great pass protector, and great pass catcher. Has become one of Zachariason's favorite players.

JJ Zachariason prefers Jalen Warren over Tony Pollard in the same draft range; Warren could be the guy receiving 50-60 passes and is a better running back than Rico Dowdle. Zachariason calls Warren one of the most underrated real-life running backs in the NFL period, really good at all aspects. Warren is a great pass protector and great pass catcher, and has become one of Zachariason's favorite players. With Aaron Rodgers at QB, coaches want to win and will get Warren on the field over Dowdle.

JJ Zachariason notes that in best ball, quarterback selection is primarily driven by stacking considerations rather than standalone value; he would not be as interested in Joe Burrow in a managed league, but would still take him in best ball if he has Jamar Chase or T Higgins.

JJ Zachariason mentions Jonah Coleman as someone he is highest on right now with 30% exposure in his best ball drafts; he discusses Coleman in detail with a guest later in the episode.

JJ Zachariason reports he is highest on Jonah Coleman right now with 30% exposure across his best ball drafts; he plans to discuss Coleman in detail with his guest later in the episode.

JJ Zachariason targets Jonah Coleman as a late-round value in best ball, noting he knows Coleman will be available in later rounds and can be mixed and matched with early-round running back strength to maintain roster flexibility.

JJ Zachariason's highest exposed player on draft right now. His thesis: Denver viewed JK Dobbins as durable-limited and one-dimensional (non-pass-catcher), so they're investing in Jonah Coleman as a complementary back who can handle pass-catching duties and red-zone work. Coleman was unreliable last year (one of worst in rushing yards over expected per attempt) but Zachariason sees him as the lead-back candidate going down the stretch if he proves reliable, with potential to split work with RJ Harvey.

JJ Zachariason's highest exposed player on draft is Jonah Coleman. His thesis: Denver evaluated JK Dobbins as durable-limited and one-dimensional (non-pass-catcher), so they're positioning Coleman to potentially take over the lead role down the stretch. Coleman was unreliable last year (one of the worst in rushing yards over expected per attempt) but could still see red zone and gadget usage; however, Zachariason sees a path for Coleman to emerge as the lead back if Dobbins falters, making him a high-upside target in best ball.

Coleman backs up both running back and pass-catching roles in Denver's three-headed backfield; he proved in college he can play as a three-down guy and can also be a bruiser with potential goal-line work if Dobbins faces injury concerns. JJ Zachariason views him as a late-round value play (15th-16th round on DraftKings) with multiple contingent upsides: if either Dobbins or Harvey gets hurt, Coleman becomes a 10+ touch-per-game player. Coleman's college receiving totals exceeded RJ Harvey's in each of his last two years, and his adjusted receiving numbers in the ZAP model show him as better than Harvey from a receiving standpoint; he excels at cutbacks and can line up in both run and pass situations, which fits Sean Payton's scheme.

Coleman backs up both running back and pass-catching roles in Denver's three-headed backfield; he proved in college he can play as a three-down guy and can also be a bruiser with potential goal-line work if Dobbins faces injury concerns. JJ Zachariason views him as a late-round value play (15th-16th round on DraftKings) with multiple contingent upsides: if either Dobbins or Harvey get hurt, Coleman becomes a 10+ touch-per-game player. Coleman is very good at cutbacks and can line up on the field without telegraphing run or pass, which fits Sean Payton's scheme; he also had more college receptions in each of his last two years than RJ Harvey and grades better than Harvey in adjusted receiving metrics.

Zachariason believes Jonathan Taylor is the exact right bet out of a five-running-back cluster that includes Chase Brown, H-back, and Henry; he's evaluating which running back from this group could have been competing with mid-to-early first-round guys in retrospect.

Zachariason is cautious on Jonathan Taylor at his best ball ADP cost, especially on DraftKings where full PPR scoring penalizes his limited passing game role; Taylor has maxed out at an 11% target share, limiting his ceiling in PPR formats.

JJ Zachariason is not that high on Jonathan Taylor at his current ADP in best ball; later in the conversation, he expresses concern about Taylor's cost in DraftKings best ball specifically, noting that in full PPR scoring, Taylor's 11% target share limits his ceiling relative to his ADP.

Jonathan Brooks is still available late on DraftKings and offers the same upside swing as running backs drafted two rounds earlier, making him a compelling late-round target; JJ Zachariason uses him as an example of why waiting on running backs is preferable to taking quarterbacks in the seventh-eighth round.

Jonathan Brooks is still available late on DraftKings and offers the same upside swing as running backs drafted two rounds earlier, making him a valuable late-round dart in best ball where Zachariason can defer running back selections.

Jordan James can be drafted in the 20th round and stacked with Brock Purdy as a backup running back play; this is part of Burroughs' strategy to get cheap backup running backs that can help advance teams through the pods.

JJ Zachariason expresses interest in Jordan Love as one of the few late-round quarterbacks he wants exposure to in best ball drafts, alongside Baker Mayfield and Malik Willis, suggesting these are the only quarterbacks after Malik Willis worth considering in 18-20 round formats.

JJ Zachariason expresses interest in Jordan Love as a late-round quarterback option in best ball, indicating he wants exposure to Love despite generally avoiding the quarterback run.

Josh Allen is discussed as a quarterback option that can be stacked with Ray Davis as a backup running back in the late rounds; Burroughs suggests you can get Ray Davis in the 20th round if you want to stack him with Josh Allen.

Josh Allen is the exception among top-tier quarterbacks; while typical QB1s are going earlier or at their usual spots, Allen's ADP positioning reflects his elite tier status separate from the QB2 tier that has been pushed up due to running back scarcity.

Justin Herbert is being acquired in high volume in best ball drafts; Zachariason targets him as part of a group of 6–8 elite QB talent available at discount pricing because running back scarcity has inflated weaker QB ADP while elite options remain undervalued.

Justin Herbert is being acquired in high volume by JJ Zachariason in best ball as part of a six-to-eight quarterback tier that is cheaper than historical levels; Zachariason targets this tier for upside without needing to win on quarterback production, mixing them to capture playoff week variance.

JJ Zachariason recommends Justin Herbert as a back-stack quarterback option when paired with Lad McConkie in best ball formats. Herbert is part of a range of 12 viable quarterback options from Lamar Jackson down to Jackson Dart or Mahomes, offering good value relative to draft position.

Justin Herbert is going in the late seventh to mid-eighth round on DraftKings, where the opportunity cost is wide receivers like Cortland Sutton, making the quarterback selection a marginal decision in best ball.

Justin Herbert is going in the late seventh to mid-eighth round on DraftKings, where he is being drafted over wide receivers like Cortland Sutton; JJ Zachariason notes this is an area where the opportunity cost of taking a quarterback is not compelling compared to waiting two rounds for running backs like Jonathan Brooks.

JJ Zachariason identifies Justin Herbert as a preferred quarterback stack pairing with Ladd McConkie in best ball formats, suggesting he's available at a reasonable draft position.

Justin Herbert is positioned as a mid-round quarterback target in best ball stacking strategy; Zachariason pairs him with Lad McConkie as a complementary stack, and also notes Herbert as a viable back-stack option alongside Drake Maye in the quarterback range.

JJ Zachariason uses Justin Jefferson as an anchor receiver for stacking strategies; if Jefferson is selected, Kyler Murray becomes a natural quarterback pairing. Jefferson's elite status makes him a reliable foundation for best ball stacks.

Justin Jefferson is used as an example of a premium wide receiver that anchors a best ball stack; Zachariason notes that if he takes Jefferson, he may miss on a second quarterback and therefore targets Kyler Murray as a backup option to ensure coherent stacking.

Kyle Pitts was a player many smart people hated, but he was the guy you needed in week 15 last year; this is cited as an example of why you shouldn't completely fade players you dislike, as they can come through in crucial playoff weeks.

JJ Zachariason is overweight on Kyler Murray, noting he has historically been pretty good for fantasy football despite public perception that he lacks certain skills. Murray is a favorite pick when pairing with Justin Jefferson or Addison if the second quarterback miss occurs.

Kyler Murray is a favorite of Zachariason's for best ball stacking; he notes that Murray has historically been good for fantasy football and is undervalued because people focus on his limitations. Zachariason is overweight on Kyler and targets him as a backup quarterback option when he misses on a second quarterback after taking Justin Jefferson or Jalen Addison.

JJ Zachariason references Lamar Jackson as part of the quarterback tier range in best ball drafting, spanning from Lamar down to Dart or Mahomes, indicating multiple viable options in that range.

Lamar Jackson is positioned at the top of Zachariason's mid-round quarterback range for best ball stacking, anchoring a tier of approximately 12 viable quarterbacks from Lamar down to Dart or Mahomes.

In the context of best ball draft strategy, Zachariason notes that if he takes Colston Loveland in round four, he is not taking Luther Burden in that particular lineup, and he hopes Burden's breakout does not happen for that specific roster construction; this reflects the probabilistic nature of best ball where different draft outcomes require different player selections.

JJ Zachariason is bullish on Burden despite low rookie PPG, citing rare combination of low PPG and strong per-route-run efficiency; head coach Ben Johnson is buying Burden stock, and the role he'll play mirrors the Amon-Ra St. Brown scheme role Johnson used in Detroit; Zachariason is at 23% allocation and recommends being overweight on Burden versus the 8% market baseline, though acknowledges the contrarian nature of the call.

JJ Zachariason is bullish on Luther Burden as a potential breakout candidate despite his low rookie PPG, citing his exceptional per-route-run efficiency and the fact that head coach Ben Johnson is actively buying his stock. Zachariason notes that while it's rare for players with such low rookie PPG to break out, it's equally rare to find one with Burden's per-route efficiency profile. He compares Burden's likely role to the Amon-Ra St. Brown role in Ben Johnson's scheme—an easier, lower-air-dot, inside-out role that Johnson successfully deployed in Detroit. Zachariason is at approximately 23-25% allocation on Burden, well above the market's 8% mark, and recommends being overweight on him versus market consensus.

JJ Zachariason is highest exposed to Luther Burden (over 20% exposure) among early ADP players, having drafted him heavily in the mid to late fourth round in June. Zachariason believes Burden could be a camp riser with potential to slip into the early fifth round on DraftGames, and sees a chance he escapes the tier of Jalen Waddle, Terry McLaurin, and Garrett Wilson similar to how Zay Flowers and Emeka Buka have separated from that group.

JJ Zachariason has 20%+ exposure to Luther Burden across his 80+ best ball drafts, targeting him in the mid to late fourth round; he believes Burden has a chance to be a camp riser and could experience a 'Zay Flowers effect,' escaping from the tier of Jalen Waddle, Terry McLaurin, and Garrett Wilson to move into the early fifth round or higher on draft sites.

In the context of best ball draft strategy, Zachariason notes that if he takes Colston Loveland in round four, he would not be taking Luther Burden in that same draft, and he hopes Burden's breakout doesn't happen for that particular lineup; this reflects the opportunity-cost trade-off between the two players rather than a fundamental stance on Burden's talent.

JJ Zachariason identifies Malik Willis as one of the few late-round quarterbacks worth targeting in best ball drafts, noting that quarterbacks after Willis in the draft order lack the upside of late-round quarterbacks from previous years who went in rounds 16-18.

JJ Zachariason wants exposure to Malik Willis as a late-round quarterback option, treating him as the cutoff point after which late-round quarterbacks in 18+ round drafts lack the upside of previous years' late-round QB options.

Someone drafted Matthew Stafford in the end of the fifth round in a recent draft, which JJ Zachariason presents as a questionable decision in the context of other poor draft picks, suggesting the ADP or round selection was not optimal.

JJ Zachariason references someone drafting Matthew Stafford at the end of the fifth round as a regrettable pick, grouping it with his own disappointing selections of Puka Nakua and Devante Adams as examples of draft mistakes.

Mike Evans left the Buccaneers, which JJ Zachariason acknowledges as a factor in Baker Mayfield's 2024 performance; however, Zachariason notes that Godwin and McMillan remain strong supporting cast pieces, suggesting the departure is not a permanent drag on Mayfield's 2025 outlook.

Zachariason fades Mike Evans despite his high ADP in best ball, believing Godwin and Jamie Jalen McMillan have much better chances of being strong contributors in the Buccaneers passing game.

JJ Zachariason is not making a book on Mike Evans, noting he had a fast start but faded; he was also hurt a bit, and Zachariason believes Godwin or Jalen McMillan have a better chance of being productive alongside Evans.

JJ Zachariason views Nico Collins as a late-second-round caliber pick, suggesting he would be ranked at or above Collins' current ADP; Collins is part of a group of receivers (including T Higgins) in the 15% range that Zachariason feels good about drafting early, all in good offensive ecosystems that shouldn't completely derail his fantasy value unless injury occurs.

Rondé Gadsden is identified by Zachariason as one of his favorite players and a key target in best ball stacking strategy; he is positioned as a critical piece to accomplish the goal of getting great overall value while building a coherent team.

JJ Zachariason uses Parker Washington as an example to illustrate that liking one receiver doesn't mean you have to dislike another—specifically, being high on Parker Washington doesn't require hating Brian Thomas. He emphasizes that each draft represents a unique outcome scenario, and multiple receivers can have value in different draft contexts.

Zachariason addresses the false dichotomy that liking Parker Washington means you have to hate Brian Thomas; he argues that in individual drafts, you're making a bet on one player's outcome in that specific season, not making a zero-sum choice between two receivers.

Pat Bryant is mentioned as an example of a 20th-round wide receiver option that JJ Zachariason might prefer over earlier-round selections, though he notes these are players that don't generate excitement and suggests waiting for later-round upside.

Pat Bryant is mentioned as a 20th-round wide receiver option that Zachariason might target in best ball drafts, presented as an alternative to taking quarterbacks in the seventh to eighth round.

JJ Zachariason includes Patrick Mahomes as part of the quarterback tier range in best ball drafting, spanning from Lamar down to Dart or Mahomes, indicating multiple viable options in that range.

Patrick Mahomes is positioned as one of the viable mid-round quarterback options in best ball, anchoring the lower end of Zachariason's preferred quarterback range alongside Dart.

JJ Zachariason references drafting Puka Nakua as a regrettable experience, comparing it unfavorably to other poor draft decisions and suggesting the pick did not work out as hoped.

JJ Zachariason references drafting Puka Nakua as part of a disappointing draft experience, grouping him with Devante Adams and Matthew Stafford as regrettable picks that made his draft feel worse than dealing with a broken air conditioner.

JJ Zachariason notes that Quinshon Judkins was the worst in the league in yards before contact per attempt last year, worse even than Ashton Jeanty who was second-worst. This context is used to explain why offensive line improvements matter more than efficiency metrics for evaluating running back upside.

Quinshon Judkins was the worst in the league in yards before contact per attempt last year, worse than Ashton Jeanty; this context is used to explain that Jeanty's poor efficiency was partly due to offensive line issues that are being addressed.

Burroughs is super into Ray Davis right now and considers him one of the best late-round picks; he can be stacked with Josh Allen in the 20th round; however, Burroughs is trying to balance his exposure by not over-concentrating on Ray Davis and mixing in other late running backs like DeMond Claiborne and Tank Bigsby.

Ray Davis has contingent value if Cook gets hurt; the team is discussing giving Davis more passing game work, which Zachariason interprets as reducing Ty Johnson's role and increasing Davis's floor and upside in best ball.

JJ Zachariason highlights Ray Davis as a mispriced player in best ball with contingent value if Cook gets hurt; additionally, the team is discussing giving Davis more passing game work, which would reduce Ty Johnson's role and increase Davis's floor and upside.

Ramondre Stevenson mentioned as a player in the same draft range as Tony Pollard that JJ Zachariason prefers over Pollard; grouped with Jalen Warren as a preferred alternative in the middle-round RB range.

JJ Zachariason believes Jalen Warren is a better running back than Rico Dowdle and prefers Warren over Dowdle despite people being attached to the McCarthy-Dowdle connection. Zachariason has leaned more toward Warren than Dowdle, noting that coaches prioritize winning and Aaron Rodgers will want Warren on the field.

JJ Zachariason leans more toward Jalen Warren than Rico Dowdle, despite people being attached to the McCarthy-Dowdle connection. Zachariason believes Warren is a better running back than Dowdle and that coaches prioritize winning and Aaron Rodgers will prefer to get Warren on the field.

JJ Zachariason views RJ Harvey as Denver's pass-catching specialist in the backfield. Harvey showed pass-catching chops last year and has explosion as a prospect, though Zachariason thought he was slightly overvalued by the market in dynasty. Harvey's weighted opportunity was solid even with Dobbins in the mix; Zachariason credits understatement of target value in full PPR. Harvey brings explosiveness that Jonah Coleman lacks, but Coleman offers pass-pro ability.

JJ Zachariason thought RJ Harvey was slightly overvalued as a prospect by the market. He didn't dislike him in redraft but wasn't enthusiastic in dynasty. However, Harvey showed some explosion and pass-catching chops last year. In the Denver backfield context, Harvey brings explosiveness that Jonah Coleman lacks, and his weighted opportunity was solid even with Dobbins in the mix due to the value of targets in full PPR.

Harvey brings explosiveness to Denver's backfield that Jonah Coleman lacks, but Coleman had more college receptions in each of his last two years and grades better in adjusted receiving metrics. Harvey is not as versatile as Coleman in pass-catching ability despite his explosive traits.

Harvey brings explosiveness to Denver's backfield that Jonah Coleman lacks, though JJ Zachariason credits Harvey with more explosive traits than people give him credit for. However, Coleman had more college receptions in each of his last two years than Harvey, and Coleman's adjusted receiving numbers in the ZAP model show him as better than Harvey from a receiving standpoint, suggesting Coleman may have a clearer path to pass-catching work despite Harvey's explosiveness advantage.

JJ Zachariason mentioned getting Saquon Barkley and Josh Gibbs at the two-three turn (rounds 2-3) as part of his preferred best ball build strategy, indicating he views these elite running backs as strong value targets in early rounds when available.

JJ Zachariason mentions moving up Saquon Barkley as an alternative to CMC and Jonathan Taylor when those players are passed on, suggesting Barkley offers better value in best ball.

Tank Bigsby is mentioned as one of the late running backs Burroughs likes and mixes into his portfolio; he's part of the strategy to diversify late-round running back exposure rather than concentrating too heavily on one player.

JJ Zachariason targets Tank Bigsby as a late-round running back value in best ball, confident Bigsby will be available in later rounds and can be mixed into a roster after securing early-round running back depth.

JJ Zachariason targets Tank Bigsby as a late-round value in best ball, noting he knows Bigsby will be available in later rounds and can be mixed and matched with early-round running back strength to maintain roster flexibility.

JJ Zachariason targets Tee Higgins in the late second round, placing him in the 15% range of his draft targets. Zachariason feels good about the pick given Higgins' placement in a strong offensive ecosystem that shouldn't completely derail his production unless injury strikes.

JJ Zachariason indicates that having Tee Higgins makes Joe Burrow a worthwhile pick in best ball due to the stacking benefit, even if Burrow would not be a standalone target.

Zachariason groups McLaurin among a tier of elite wide receivers alongside Jalen Waddle and Garrett Wilson, indicating he views McLaurin as a top-tier option at the position.

JJ Zachariason groups Terry McLaurin among a tier of elite wide receivers he likes, alongside Jalen Waddle and Garrett Wilson, indicating he views McLaurin as a premium receiving option.

Terry McLaurin is mentioned as part of a tier of wide receivers (alongside Jalen Waddle and Garrett Wilson) that Luther Burden could potentially escape from via a camp-driven rise; McLaurin is currently in the mid-to-late fourth round range where Burden is being targeted.

Terry McLaurin is mentioned as part of a tier of wide receivers (alongside Jalen Waddle and Garrett Wilson) that Luther Burden could potentially escape from via a camp-riser effect similar to Zay Flowers and Emeka Buka.

JJ Zachariason is very underweight on Pollard (1% allocation vs. 23% last year) despite big names being high on him as a middle-round RB. Reasoning: poor receiving performance last year (yards per route run was really poor and has been declining for multiple seasons); bad splits with Tajay Spears when Spears was healthy; age concerns; and competition from Nick Singleton down the stretch. Zachariason prefers pass-catching backs like Dylan Sampson and Tajay Spears in the same range.

JJ Zachariason is very underweight on Pollard despite big names being high on him as a middle-round RB; he has only 1% Pollard exposure this year versus 23% last year. Reasoning: poor receiving performance last year with bad yards-per-route-run, poor receiving splits with Tajay Spears when healthy, and route share concerns; Pollard is aging and not a young player anymore. Zachariason prefers pass-catching backs like Dylan Sampson and Tajay Spears over Pollard in the same range.

Burroughs notes that even Travis Kelce in his best years had only about 40% advance rate in best ball, whereas running backs and wide receivers can get 50-60% advance rates; this illustrates why tight ends don't move the needle as much as other positions and why Burroughs focuses on being different at the position rather than chasing the top tight end.

Trevor Lawrence is being acquired in volume in best ball drafts; Zachariason targets him as part of a group of 6–8 elite QB talent available at discount pricing because running back scarcity has inflated weaker QB ADP while elite options remain undervalued.

Trevor Lawrence is being acquired in high volume by JJ Zachariason in best ball as part of a six-to-eight quarterback tier that is cheaper than historical levels; Zachariason targets this tier for upside without needing to win on quarterback production, mixing them to capture playoff week variance.

Trevor Lawrence is going in the late seventh to mid-eighth round on DraftKings, where the opportunity cost is wide receivers like Cortland Sutton, making the quarterback selection a marginal decision in best ball.

Trevor Lawrence is going in the late seventh to mid-eighth round on DraftKings alongside Justin Herbert; JJ Zachariason suggests this is an area where the opportunity cost of taking a quarterback is not compelling compared to waiting for later-round running back upside.

JJ Zachariason notes that if Ray Davis receives more passing game work, it will result in less opportunity for Ty Johnson, reducing his role in the offense.

Pass-catching back valued on DraftKings in the same salary range as Underdog; JJ Zachariason identifies pass-catching backs as an area of value on DraftKings.

Zachariason identifies Woody Marks as a pass-catching back with value in best ball, noting that he and Dylan Sampson go in basically the same range on DraftKings despite being undervalued on Underdog; this represents an area where he sees significant value.

JJ Zachariason identifies Woody Marks as offering value in best ball, noting that pass-catching backs like Marks go in basically the same range on DraftKings and Underdog, creating an opportunity to find value in this position group.

Zachariason is bullish on Zay Flowers for the 2024 season, citing a healthier Lamar Jackson, a new offensive coordinator, and the potential for a more pass-heavy Ravens offense; he notes Flowers finished as WR12 last year despite limited red zone usage and Isaiah Likely's presence, and he expects improved per-route-run production year-over-year with the offensive changes.

Zachariason was a fade on Zay Flowers last year due to the Ravens' run-heavy offense and Lamar Jackson's injury/limited performance; Flowers finished WR12 but benefited from a strong final game that boosted end-of-season numbers, and Zachariason cautions against over-weighting that finish given the flat distribution of WR production outside the elite tier.

Zachariason cites Flowers as a historical precedent for a receiver escaping from a crowded receiver room and breaking out; he sees potential for Luther Burden to follow a similar trajectory.

JJ Zachariason references Zay Flowers as a historical example of a player who 'escaped' from a crowded receiver group, suggesting Luther Burden could follow a similar trajectory of emergence despite competition in the Chicago offense.

Zay Flowers is cited by JJ Zachariason as a precedent for the kind of camp-driven tier escape he expects Luther Burden could achieve; Flowers successfully broke out from a similar wide receiver tier in previous seasons.

Zay Flowers is cited by JJ Zachariason as an example of a wide receiver who escaped from a tier of similarly-valued players, a precedent he sees as possible for Luther Burden to replicate via a camp-riser effect.

Zachariason was a fade on Zay Flowers last year because the Ravens were run-heavy with Lamar Jackson sidelined and ineffective upon return; Flowers finished as WR12 but benefited from a strong final game that boosted end-of-season numbers, masking a relatively flat year-to-year performance compared to elite receivers. The wide receiver position was extremely top-heavy last year with only 8-10 truly elite options, making Flowers' finish less impressive than the ranking suggests.

JJ Zachariason is bullish on Zay Flowers for 2024, citing a healthier Lamar Jackson, a new offensive coordinator, and the potential for a more pass-heavy Ravens offense; he notes that Flowers put together an incredible season in per-route-run metrics year-over-year, and while he was a fade last year due to a run-heavy offense and limited red zone usage, the offensive environment should improve. He also notes that losing Isaiah Likely removes a competing target in the red zone, though he acknowledges Likely's impact may be overstated.