Fantasy Football 2025 Mailbag: Minnesota Backfield And Where To Rank Quinshon Judkins

With preseason action underway (I was going to say “heating up,” but that would make me sound like more of a football sicko than I’m willing to admit), I asked our incredible Fantasy Life Discord, along with the Bluesky fantasy football community, to hit me up with their questions.

Let’s get after it.

Fantasy Football Mailbag Questions

Where are we at on Aaron Jones vs. Jordan Mason this year?—chrisdeville (Discord)

I’ve chatted with Ian Hartitz about this a handful of times, and after each conversation I come away more likely to click the draft button next to Jordan Mason. With an ADP currently hovering in the ninth round, Mason is truly the Art Garfunkel to Aaron Jones’ Paul Simon. (If that’s too old of a reference, then consider Mason the Meg to Jones’ Jack White. And if that’s too old of a reference … don’t tell me because I have yet to accept that I’m aging and mortal.)

Jones shouldn’t see anywhere close to the 300+ touches he notched last season, because he’s also aging and mortal, and generally isn’t built for that type of workload. So even though the 30-year-old back is likely to be the main target out of the backfield, it’s not enough for me to take him over fellow sixth-rounders Jaylen Waddle or even Isiah Pacheco.

Meanwhile, Mason should get first crack at the goal-line work behind a much-improved offensive line and should have ample scoring opportunities. And if Jones were to miss any time, we’d have to start considering that ol’ “league winner” label.

What should Quinshon Judkins’ ADP be now?—cj81 (Discord)

With Quinshon Judkins reportedly not facing charges for misdemeanor battery, we’ll probably see Judkins rocket up draft boards. And on the surface, I get it. Judkins’ current ADP is in the eighth round at RB31, between Brian Robinson and Jaylen Warren. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t end up in the sixth round soon.

But a few things:

Judkins is not completely off the hook. We don’t know what the NFL is going to do. (Do we ever?) They could still issue a suspension, as they did under similar circumstances with Ezekiel Elliott back in 2017.
He hasn’t been at training camp. He hasn’t even signed his contract with the Browns. Even if that all gets fast-tracked, it’s not a given he’ll be up to speed by Week 1.
This Browns offense could still be absolutely disgusting and the backfield could be split three ways between him, Jerome Ford, and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson.

With limited pass-catching chops and no obvious path to big-time touchdown upside, I’m still out on Judkins in redraft.

Are you willing to take a chance on Isaiah Bond?—A mob of ducks (Discord)

Your head is probably spinning if you’re a Browns fan. First the Judkins news, then undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond says he plans to sign with Cleveland after it was reported his criminal charges had been dropped.

And while nothing’s been made official with the Browns at the time of this writing, even if Bond does sign, I’ll be leaving him off my draft board.

I’d much rather take a late-round flier on Cedric Tillman, who broke out in Week 7 after Deshaun Watson was sidelined, racking up 40 targets, 302 yards, and 3 touchdowns in a four-week stretch before unfortunately ending his season with a concussion.

In drafts so far, which players are you taking a round early to be sure you get them? Which players are you consistently passing on at cost?—Craig (Discord)

When it comes to reaching for players in a draft, I avoid it as much as possible in the early rounds. I don’t need to act like the smartest little contrarian in my league by taking George Kittle in Round 1 (though I’ve certainly been tempted).

However, in the mid-to-late rounds I’m making sure I get my guys. One of those includes Kittle’s teammate, Ricky Pearsall, who frequently gets snatched up in the eighth or ninth round. Unless you’re in a league with me, where he will probably go off the board in Round 7. Last year, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were third and fourth round guys in drafts, and while Pearsall doesn’t have their fantasy history, he has Day 1 draft capital and a Week 17 breakout to the tune of 8 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

On the flip side, you couldn’t make me draft Rashee Rice, even if there’s a fire…

Should I keep Xavier Worthy or Rashee Rice in a half-PPR redraft league? A suspension of how many games would get you to put Worthy over Rice?—Kapslock (Discord)

Rashee Rice has a disciplinary hearing scheduled with the NFL on Sept. 30. There’s a strong possibility Rice will get a multi-game suspension, but it looks like he’ll be clear to play at least the first four weeks of the season.

I agree with our own Kendall Valenzuela’s reading of this, that this is actually bad news for fantasy managers. Yes, Rice might help your team get off to a fast start (although the Chiefs’ schedule in those first weeks is pretty brutal), but what if the NFL doesn’t hand down a suspension right away or there’s an appeal? What if the suspension ends up being 6+ games? Factoring in Kansas City’s Week 10 bye, there’s a very real chance Rice could miss part of the fantasy playoffs.

All this to say I’d much rather take Worthy at this point.

Which team stack is undervalued in drafts? Which is overvalued?—Craig (Discord)

Stacking players from the same NFL team can maximize the damage you inflict on your opponents, but it can also bite you bad if that NFL team puts up a dud week. (Think of the Seahawks' 6-3 win over the Bears in Week 17 last year. Actually … don’t think of that. It’ll just make you sad.)

But I think a Justin Fields/Garrett Wilson or even a Fields/Braelon Allen stack could be the way to fantasy success at very modest ADPs. While only someone with incurable self-loathing could love the Jets in real life, this is one of the most condensed offenses for fantasy, which usually leads to some gold.

On the other hand, I’m staying away from the Jayden Daniels/Terry McLaurin stacks that have been going bananas in Rounds 3 and 4. I loved watching Daniels storm into the league as a rookie, but I have a hard enough time drafting stud QBs with proven track records (Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen) that early, let alone a 2nd-year QB and his main pass catcher who’s still holding out for a new contract.

Who’s a player that you think is cooked, but that ADP isn’t showing it? - @redditmod.bsky.social

At the risk of further upsetting Matthew Berry, my first thought was yet another Washington Commander: Deebo Samuel. But then I checked his current ADP and, considering the McLaurin holdout, Round 8 actually seems fair for a dude who could still be used creatively in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

So instead, I’ll say Joe Mixon. His fifth-round ADP might not jump off the page (considering where he was going in drafts just last year), but a 29-year-old running back battling a mysterious foot injury on an offense that majorly bolstered its receiving weapons this offseason seems … less than ideal. I expect his touchdowns from last year (12) and targets (52) to decrease significantly, making him a firm pass in my drafts.

With only five bench spots in a non-Superflex redraft league, would you rather have RB handcuffs (to your guys or others), middling flex players, or lower-ranked potential breakout players? - TheErdon (Discord)

You could put me in a Fifty Shades of Grey sequel. That’s how much I love handcuffs. And I prefer to grab handcuffs for other people’s main RBs, because I find it’s the best way to maximize value. Besides, if you draft your own handcuff you’re basically begging the injury gods to smite you.

Who’s a player who simply, the vibes are off, so you’re not drafting at ADP? - @redditmod.bsky.social

I love this question because it focuses on a central element of drafting we don’t talk about enough: gut feelings.

I was answering some questions from viewers on a TikTok livestream this week, and someone said they were avoiding RJ Harvey purely based on a bad feeling. Despite my admitted love for Sean Payton’s new “joker” (and possibly his next Alvin Kamara) on offense, I had to respect the decision. Because if your gut tells you not to draft someone but you do it anyways, the pain is 100x worse when that player busts.

For me, there are a million red flags telling me to stay away from Tyreek Hill this offseason. And sure, maybe he makes me look like an idiot by pulling off some “prime Hill” production, but I’m not going anywhere near him in the first few rounds.

Are any Browns QBs worth drafting right now in a redraft league? - @huggers23.bsky.social

Not a chance. I don’t care who wins the camp battle, I wouldn’t touch these QBs with someone else’s roster. But hey, maybe you can stream one of them during a tough bye week.

Is D'Andre Swift really going to be the guy in Chicago? Does Kyle Monangai have any value? What about Kylie Minogue? - @huggers23.bsky.social

Yes, maybe, and OF COURSE.

The truth is, I’m taking swipes at this backfield everywhere I can, because I’m willing to trust that new head coach Ben Johnson can get the most out of this group behind what is (theoretically, at least) a much-improved offensive line. Johnson orchestrated a Top-12 rushing attack each of his three years as the Lions’ OC, and D’Andre Swift has the talent to smash. Kyle Monangai and Roschon Johnson are … also there. And frankly, that might be enough given Johnson’s sterling track record.

Is there a team, like last year’s Commanders, that people are down on in draft season but could legit pop off? - @sharkie.bsky.social@sharkie.bsky.social

The only New England Patriot currently being drafted before Round 8 is rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson. But Drake Maye carried one of the worst receiving corps in the league to a 10-week stretch as QB15 in Fantasy Points Per Game last season.

They added Stefon Diggs and a solid coaching staff this offseason. I’m willing to get my hands dirty in drafts with this group.

Want more Q&A? The Fantasy Life crew answered even more burning questions during a recent Reddit AMA!