Little Bill

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The results from last newsletter’s trade poll are in. I asked what you thought of this trade submitted by Mike:

Team A (Contender) receives:

• Chase Brown

• Brian Thomas Jr.

Team B (Contender) receives:

• Ashton Jeanty

• Zay Flowers

• 2026 2nd

Survey says…

• Team A received 69.4% of the vote in last week’s newsletter poll (134 total responses).

• I also posted this same trade poll on Instagram to our 15,000+ followers, where it received an additional 480 responses. 79% of those votes went to Team A.

Here are some additional comments left by the voters from each side:

Team A voters (Contender):

• “Chase Brown is an ascending RB on many experts’ lists of “gotta have” players. BTJ is a beast (a successful Travis Hunter should open up the field even more for him). Jeanty, with all his promise is still an unknown. He could easily land in the same tier as ChaseB.”

Team B voters (Contender):

• No comments 😴 

Fair for both sides voters:

• “Each receives stud and both have potential in others”

Our take:

• I don’t think this is as cut and dry as all the voters do, so let me play devil’s advocate.

• Jeanty (13 overall) and BTJ (15 overall) is a wash.

• So it really comes down to the MASSIVE amount of hype that Chase Brown has been getting this offseason.

• Getting a 25-year-old receiver in Zay who is the #1 WR on his team in one of the best offenses in the league + a 2nd does not feel THAT far off for Brown.

• Here are Sleeper’s per game projections for these guys this year:

  • Team A: BTJ (15.2) + Brown (13.0) = 28.2

  • Team B: Jeanty (15.2) + Zay (10.8) = 26.0

    • Adding in the 2nd round pick acknowledges this small gap in PPG

• All I’m saying is this trade doesn’t feel like a 70-80% vote type of winner. It will be interesting to come back to this deal at the end of the season to see how it shakes out!

Today’s contestant…

This trade comes in from your fellow sub, Lyle. Everyone say, “HI LYLE.”

Team A (Rebuilder) receives:

• Michael Penix Jr.

• 2026 1st (early)

• 2027 1st (mid/late)

• 2027 1st (late)

• Elijah Arroyo

Team B (Contender) receives:

• Joe Burrow

• Tyler Allgeier

• 2026 2nd (mid/late)

Want your trade reviewed?

Just reply to this email with any trade completed in your league (or a trade you’re considering) and I’ll add it in a future newsletter. 🤝 

The next open slot is 9/7.

We updated our consensus rankings on Monday (as is tradition).

Here are some notable risers and fallers from the past week (all quotes are pulled from our Dynasty Pulse Premium feeds):

📈 Risers:

• +24 📈 Jacory Croskey-Merritt (223 ➡️ 199) WAS, RB58

  • “Croskey-Merritt's college performance includes an impressive 33% dominator rating in 2023 at New Mexico, where he was PFF's 4th-highest graded running back. Analysts suggest he's better than his seventh-round draft capital indicates, and the Commanders' actions seem to confirm this assessment.” — Consensus Fantasy Football Sleepers from 50+ Experts (2025)

• +25 📈 Ollie Gordon II (219 ➡️ 194) MIA, RB55

  • “Through two preseason weeks, Gordon has impressed with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts, showcasing his ability to break tackles, make defenders miss, and embrace contact. His physical running style and success at the line of scrimmage suggest he could fill the power back role previously held by Raheem Mostert in Mike McDaniel's offense.” — Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers From the NFL Preseason (Week 2)

  • De’Von Achane is also dealing with a calf issue that might be more serious than the Dolphins are letting on: “CBS injury analyst Marty Jaramillo says, “I actually fully expect him to miss possibly the first 3 weeks of the season.”” — De'Von Achane Injury Update: Will Achane Play Week 1?

• +9 📈 Quinshon Judkins (76 ➡️ 67) CLE, RB18

  • “Hosts remain ‘all in’ at current prices, envisioning true workhorse volume in Kevin Stefanski’s run-centric system with Joe Flacco’s checkdown tendencies boosting touches; athletically, he’s a rare profile with elite explosiveness at 220+.” — YouTube: 13 MUST OWN PRESEASON ROOKIES to SMASH in Fantasy Football

  • He was 55 overall in our consensus rankings on July 7th, which is about ~RB15. His talent hasn’t changed since then.

📉 Fallers:

• -6 📉 Kaleb Johnson (69 ➡️ 75) PIT, RB20

  • “Kaleb Johnson's dynasty outlook has taken a hit after Steelers beat reporter Ray Fittipaldo revealed significant concerns about the rookie's abilities. Specifically, Fittipaldo stated that the Steelers won't trust Johnson with pass protection duties or receiving responsibilities out of the backfield.” — Dynasty News: Offseason Updates

• -6 📉 Cam Skattebo (100 ➡️ 106) NYG, RB27

  • “Panic meter at 4/10 for Cam Skattebo: he earned first-team reps early, but a hamstring injury ‘killed his camp’—and hamstrings only heal with time that rookies don’t have when they need reps to solidify roles.” — YouTube: It’s TIME TO PANIC On These Fantasy Players (Stock Down)

• -5 📉 Tyjae Spears (144 ➡️ 149) TEN, RB42

  • “Injury dings the short-term buzz, but Tyjae Spears was a top-5 RB during last year’s fantasy playoffs; there’s a path to another late-season surge if Tony Pollard wears down again. Game theory spin: missing early might preserve Tyjae Spears for when it matters most, though there’s fair concern he misses the chance to cement a regular-season role.” — YouTube: DON'T FREAK OUT! Which Players to R-E-L-A-X on and Which Ones to Start Worrying About (FFT Dynasty)

Check out the fully updated rankings below!

Note: If you don’t see the correct “Last updated: 8/18/2025” date, try clearing the cache or opening the rankings in an incognito window.

QB34 - Daniel Jones (IND)

Mentioned in: 📺️ YouTube: Breakout Picks + MEGALABOWL is BACK! | Fantasy Football 2025 - Ep. 1785

• Daniel Jones was named the Colts’ starter for the season by Shane Steichen, with the hosts calling it great news for Indianapolis pass-catchers (Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Tyler Warren) and Jonathan Taylor.

• In superflex, Daniel Jones was labeled a viable late pick given his rushing and improved supporting cast; he posted four top-12 QB weeks in 10 games last year, including a top-5 finish, and now has better weapons and line play than he had in New York.

RB58 - Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS)

Mentioned in : Late-Round Lotto Tickets - Fantasy Football Draft Picks That Could Pay Off Big in 2025

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt, nicknamed 'Bill', has been turning heads in Washington's training camp with his shiftiness and hard-running style, making him an increasingly trendy pick in the final rounds of drafts. His stock is rising even further with legitimate rumors surrounding Brian Robinson Jr. potentially being shopped or traded by the Commanders.

• If Robinson departs, Croskey-Merritt could find himself in a competition with Chris Rodriguez Jr. for early-down work in what should be a productive offense. While Austin Ekeler might see additional carries, he's best suited for a complementary role as a pass-catching back, potentially opening the door for JCM to secure significant playing time.

• JCM's impressive preseason performance, including a 27-yard touchdown run, has showcased his potential value. While the Commanders could still bring in another running back before Week 1, Croskey-Merritt's draft position and increasing potential for touches make him an intriguing lottery ticket in fantasy drafts.

WR16 - Travis Hunter (JAX)

Mentioned in: Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12 Teams (2025 Fantasy Football)

• Travis Hunter is set to be Brian Thomas Jr.'s primary running mate in Jacksonville's offense, with the Jaguars making an aggressive move to acquire him. The team has confirmed Hunter will primarily focus on the offensive side of the ball as a wide receiver, though his cornerback usage remains to be determined.

• Hunter demonstrated impressive slot performance in his final collegiate season, ranking 4th in slot yards per route run among all FBS receivers with at least 8 slot targets. His overall performance was also notable, ranking 38th in yards per route run and 6th in receiving grade, though he still has substantial growth potential as a receiver.

• The Jaguars' passing attack is expected to heavily feature Hunter, with projections suggesting he could command a target share exceeding 23%. Under the guidance of Liam Coen and company, Hunter is positioned as a potential WR2/3 with the ability to outperform his ADP, with expectations of 40-50% of his snaps coming from the slot position.

WR28 - George Pickens (DAL)

Mentioned in: 20 Players Experts Target & Avoid (2025 Fantasy Football)

• George Pickens is positioned for a potential breakthrough after being freed from previous quarterback limitations, with Dak Prescott representing the best QB he's played with in his NFL career. Last season, he finished as WR35 in fantasy points per game while demonstrating capability as a WR1, ranking 16th in target share (23.9%) and 25th in yards per route run (2.18).

• Pickens showed particularly strong performance before his hamstring injury in Weeks 1-13, ranking 18th in separation, 8th in yards per route run (2.53), and 25th in route win rate, suggesting significant potential when healthy.

• The move to Dallas represents a significant upgrade in passing volume for Pickens, moving from Pittsburgh's 4th-lowest passing attempts to Dallas' 3rd-highest. The article projects him to settle in as a strong WR2 with potential for a career-best season alongside CeeDee Lamb.

TE36 - Michael Mayer (LV)

Mentioned in: 📺️ YouTube: NFL Preseason Week 2 Takeaways: Brock Bowers and the Raiders Tight End Usage | PFF Fantasy

• Michael Mayer’s preseason usage signals a real early-down role: in Week 2, he logged 8 early-down snaps in 11 personnel to Brock Bowers’ 2, reinforcing his standing as the preferred run-blocking TE in base looks.

• Michael Mayer’s profile fits Chip Kelly’s tendencies: as a strong inline blocker with premium draft capital, he’s poised to lead early-down snaps—especially with Ashton Jeanty prompting more rushing and heavier formations.

• Positive camp buzz followed Michael Mayer all offseason—Pete Carroll praised a “great camp,” best-shape chatter surfaced, and multiple reports forecast an increased role—fueling expectations he will meaningfully siphon snaps from Bowers.

• Trend watch: If the Raiders again rank near the top in 12 personnel (they led at 37.8% last year), Michael Mayer’s field time should be robust, potentially depressing Bowers’ routes just enough to impact his per-game fantasy output.