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Two Veteran RBs To Avoid In Fantasy Football 2025
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Mike's Hard Lemonade, we're dissecting a pair of quotes about veteran RBs, diving into how to beat ESPN draft rooms, and more.
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Mike's Hard Lemonade:
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and apparently that includes the ambiguity of backfields.
Two of the trickier RB rooms to decipher right now are the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.
In Houston, we have really no idea what’s going on with Joe Mixon (foot/ankle). He continues to plummet in drafts as we approach the season.
In Dallas, we have a total free-for-all with two veterans and a rookie vying for the starting gig.
But if we read between the tea leaves—and in this case, that means ‘coachspeak’—I certainly know where I want to be placing my bets.
Check out these two recent quotes on the veteran RBs in those two rooms (h/t Coachspeak Index):
Cowboys OC Klayton Adams on RB Javonte Williams (8/11):
"Uh, I think experience and ... wisdom. I know that he's not a real, real older player. But he's been through some things in the league ... So you see a really good level of maturity in the guy. You really see that the most when he's helping his teammates."
Oof, that quote makes it sound like Klayton is more likely to put Javonte in a nursing home than give him carries. Brutal.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on RB Nick Chubb (7/28)
“Guys age. He’s been through a lot. It’s not always gonna be the same as his early years in the NFL, but what I hang my hat on with him is that this guy loves football. He’s physical, he plays and prepares the right way, really sharp guy in the protection scheme.”
“He’s old, but still loves football” isn’t the ringing endorsement I’m looking for when deciding which Texans RB to draft.
Neither Chubb nor Williams is super expensive in drafts—check out their ADPs here—but I really can’t imagine taking them over the younger and/or cheaper options in their backfields.
Be sure to check out where Ian and Dwain are ranking all of these RBs (apparently, I need to needle them harder to flip Blue over Williams).
Draft season is here—and it’s time to GO HARD.
Mock drafts. Sleeper picks. Endless debates over who’s due for a breakout. If you're deep in rankings and trade calculators before Week 1 even kicks off, you're living that fantasy life the right way. You’re not easing into the season—you’re all in from the jump.
That’s the “Go Hard” mentality. And Mike’s Hard Lemonade is built for it.
Whether you're hosting your draft party, trash-talking your league mates, or just fine-tuning your roster from a beach chair, Mike’s is the drink that matches your energy. It’s bold, refreshing, and never halfway—just like you. So crack one open, take a victory sip for that sleeper you just nailed, and gear up for a GO HARD season. Nobody Makes Lemonade Like Mike’s.
Mike’s is hard. So is prison. Don’t drive drunk.® Premium Malt Beverage with Flavors. All registered trademarks used under license by Mike's Hard Lemonade Co., Chicago, IL
Editors’ Picks
Three weeks from today Cowboys at Eagles kick off in Philly for the start of the 2025 season! That means you have three weeks to get your home league draft orders set (see below). Meanwhile, get your cheat sheets ready. If you’re playing best ball, upload your rosters here. And sync your leagues to follow your teams on our site.
Draft From 1.09
Drafting from 1.09 is like a piece of jazz music. Chris Allen fleshes out that analogy and hits all the right notes on different strategies to take in a command performance about this tough draft spot.
Most Dangerous Draft
In Guillotine LeaguesTM the threat of getting chopped means being more risk averse. Paul Charchian went round by round to determine the players who could put you on the chopping block.
IDP DB & DT Rankings
DBs are the glamour guys, while the DTs get dirty in the trenches. Gladys Louise Tyler sheds a light on both position groups in her latest IDP rankings.
ICYMI: Your (Free) Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
Fantasy football in mid-August can feel a lot like drinking out of a firehose.
Not only do you have to keep up with daily training camp updates, injuries, and coachspeak, but you also have to follow ADP movement, fantasy football rankings updates, and a non-stop stream of incoming content.
How do you do all of this to put yourself in a position to win your league … without losing your significant other, job, friends, and/or kids? Sam Wallace. That’s how!
Each week, Sam combs through the increasingly chaotic landscape of fantasy football to pinpoint the most important updates you should be paying attention to, and compiles them all into a clean, easy-to-read cheat sheet.
Did you miss who you should add to your 2025 Do Not Draft list? Or what about developments on the Broncos WR2 situation?
Catch up on everything you missed and be sure to stay ahead of your leaguemates, without losing anything important to you. ⤵️
Beat Your ESPN Leaguemates with the BADFISH System
What is the BADFISH system, you ask?
This fantasy philosophy and provocative acronym was originally invented by Benjamin Franklin Ian Hartitz last Tuesday night, but features strategy advice he’s regularly followed over the years:
- Be like water
- ADP is your friend
- Don’t be a hero early
- F*ck kickers
- Injury-prone and “already injured” are two different things
- Stick to upside
- Handcuffs are encouraged (get your mf mind out of the gutter, dude.)
From advice straight from Bruce Lee to alienating an entire positional group, the BADFISH method has turned Ian Hartitz into what he is today—a fantasy football juggernaut.
That said, it’s only one piece of the puzzle … and what each piece of the acronym actually means is also important.
Dive into the BADFISH method and three additional keys that will help you dominate your ESPN fantasy football drafts over the next few weeks. ⤵️
Going Once, Twice, Sold! Auction Value Risers/Fallers
You know how they say once you fly first class, you can’t go back to coach? That’s the way it is after your first auction league draft. Somehow snake drafts just don’t have the same fun. And it has nothing to do with the snacks being better. At the auction, not the flight.
John Laghezza put in his bids on several players who are either rising or falling in projected auction values since the beginning of the month. Some players may be bargains, while others will have DO NOT DRAFT stamped on them. These drafts may take a little longer, but they really are more fun and you can consider literally every player available. ⤵️
Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.
🧀 Can you call a Packer fan Sweetness? Maybe, but there are other Draft Day Commandments.
😂 Don’t show up to your draft with a bad team name. 170+ of the best options.
🥊 Michael Penix got in a fight at practice. Don’t get hurt, bro!
🚑️ Shedeur Sanders is injured? Ugh, not ideal.
🤔 Interesting comments about RJ Harvey. Good news and bad news.
😆 The Titans rookie QB wants some calls. Start working the refs early!
🏃🏻♀️ Hit the combine … for fantasy football draft order.
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