Final Thoughts for the Last Draft Weekend (2025)

Aug 28, 2025

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

We’re one week away from the first NFL game–Dallas at Philadelphia next Thursday–and there will be countless drafts held this weekend, so it’s a good time to discuss a few of the late-breaking storylines of the summer.

In last year’s edition of this article, I covered the following late-August situations:

The fantasy community was in a tizzy because Sean McVay announced that Kyren Williams would return punts, calling into question his RB1 role with the team. I tried to calm everyone’s nerves by identifying language that indicated Williams was the clear lead back and can still be a big fantasy producer even if his touches dip a bit. He ended up with the third-most touches per game (21.9), which was actually a bit higher than his 2023 average (21.7). He finished RB6, ahead of his RB9 ADP.
Both Nick Chubb and Jonathan Brooks landed on four-week PUP, so I suggested that Jerome Ford and Chuba Hubbard could vastly outplay their respective ADP (10th/11th for Ford, 12th for Hubbard) if Chubb or Brooks are out longer than the minimum four games. Ford finished RB32 while Hubbard finished RB12 since Brooks only played three games.
A.J. Dillon and Elijah Mitchell were ruled out for the season, so I suggested we needed to bump up Marshawn Lloyd/Emanuel Wilson and “especially Jordan Mason,” who became the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey. With CMC hobbled early, Mason was the fantasy RB9 through Week 7.
Samaje Perine was cut by the Broncos and signed by the Chiefs, which I viewed as a slight downgrade to Pacheco’s touches. I still thought he was in line for a low-end RB1-type year.
Ja’Marr Chase continued to hold out, but I wrote that “these situations usually work themselves out as deadlines spur action, especially with receivers since the entire league knows their value.”
News broke that Rashee Rice wouldn’t be suspended in 2024. I wrote that “he’s a fantasy WR2 going as a midrange WR3 near the 5th/6th turn–he’s one of the better middle-round values on the board.” He was the fantasy WR4 through three games before a season-ending LCL injury.

So, what do the last few weeks of this draft season have in store for fantasy managers?

Wait, Jayden Reed has a Jones fracture?!?

Indeed. It appears that Jayden Reed will forgo surgery and try to play through the injury. By taking a non-surgical approach, the notoriously conservative Green Bay medical staff is indicating that the fracture is showing signs of healing on its own.

Reed returned to practice yesterday and said that he didn’t “do the whole practice” and is “working through some things.”

As a result of this news, Reed has slid down the rankings as I adjusted his projections to assume some missed time and/or lower snaps, since the Packers are likely to use him judiciously as his foot continues to heal. Matthew Golden continues to rise in the projections. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks would likely round out three-receiver sets if Reed misses time.

Christian Watson is on PUP, while rookie Savion Williams and Malik Heath round out the Packer receiver room. Converted cornerback Bo Melton could even take a few snaps in a pinch.

I also moved Jordan Love down a bit from QB11 to QB13 as a result of this news. Reed is a weapon, and there’s a good chance that he misses some time this season.