In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter:
There are 32 starting RBs in the league.
There are also 32 RB2s in the league.
And in fantasy football, those RB2s can become very valuable assets. Whether by forcing a committee, outplaying a starter, or by way of injuries, these backup RBs can go from afterthoughts to league winners in a hurry.
Over the course of 100+ drafts this summer, I’ve selected every RB2 in the league at least once … except one … and he happens to be the least expensive RB2 in the league.
His name is Raheem Mostert, and whether you like it or not, he’s the guy behind the guy we are drafting in Round 1 of drafts.
Pete Carroll recently paid some lip service to the other Raiders backs not named Ashton Jeanty: “I love having multiple guys play … I’m not relying on one guy, you know.”
Before you go panicking on Jeanty, remember that Carroll isn’t the most reliable narrator in the world.
But for me, this is more of a reminder that we want to be aggressively targeting RB2s, especially the cheapest ones.
Even if Mostert doesn’t have a standalone role (not something I’d fully rule out, btw—we know how much Miami trusted him at the goal line), he still would be in line for a massive role increase in the event of a Jeanty injury.
I personally like mixing up my bets at the end of drafts across different RB2s—Will Shipley and DJ Giddens are some of my favorites right now—but I need to start sprinkling in some Mostert.
Chaos comes in all forms, and no one is immune to it—even young dudes selected top-10 overall.
ARE EXPECTATIONS TOO HIGH FOR JEANTY?
We’ve Got Your Rankings
If you’re picking in the back half of Round 1, how can you decide between Malik Nabers, Ashton Jeanty, and Brian Thomas Jr.? Is Jayden Daniels in a good spot to go elite QB? As Matthew says, “Faith in 5!” And is Round 2 a good spot to get a Hero RB? The Fantasy Life Rankings Hub is here for you.
PPR, Half-PPR, Best Ball, even Superflex … we’ve got you covered. Yes, even our Standard scoring holdouts get rankings love. Dynasty Bros., you too. Our Fantasy Life experts have crunched the projections and created their rankings, which they update throughout the offseason to give you the most up-to-date ranks for you to peruse and get you ready for the fast-approaching fantasy draft season. And if you want to peek at Week 1, well, just click on that tab. We’re here for all your rankings needs.
WHERE DOES RAHEEM MOSTERT FALL?
Early Guide To DSTs in 2025
Defense/Special Teams (DST) in fantasy football isn't anyone's favorite to talk about when discussing strategy, but most leagues have to start one every week, so it is an important part of building a championship roster. Plus, with the new touchback rules, DST scoring could be even more impactful this season than in seasons past.
To help you avoid the dirty defense/special teams work that you’re already putting off until mid-way through your draft next month, Jonathan Fuller has broken it all down into four tiers ahead of time …
The Elite DSTs
- Denver Broncos
- Philadelphia Eagles
Every-Week-Starter Potential
- Baltimore Ravens
- 👀👀👀
Buyer Beware …
- A former elite defense
- Another former elite defense?!
The Bottom Tier
- New Orleans Saints
- Tennessee Titans
- Carolina Panthers
Will The Real C.J. Stroud Please Stand Up?
C.J. Stroud had the NFL and fantasy football worlds salivating at what he was capable of after he passed for 4,108 yards and 23 TDs in a highlight-filled rookie season that saw him lead the Texans into the Divisional Round of the playoffs. With a sophomore step forward expected, he was being projected to finish among the top 10 QBs. Then came the reality of a leaky o-line and an injured WR corps that led to a finish of … QB28! Not a misprint. Can Stroud go back to partying like it’s 2023?
Ian Hartitz previews the reigning AFC South champs, giving high praise to Nico Collins with a unicorn-like comp. He looks at Joe Mixon’s projections and how a pair of rookie wideouts could fit in with Christian Kirk. It’s all right here. ⬇️
Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.
🥞 Some late-round stacks for your consideration. And another dose here, too.
⚖️ Will Jordan Addison get suspended? An update on his trial.
😆 POV: you get a disgusting trade offer ... but you’re also a little bored.
✂️ Start, Bench, Cut DJ Moore, Garrett Wilson, and Alvin Kamara. You decide.
📊 Which NFL players will improve in 2025? The Deebo bounceback is coming …
💪 The culture has changed in New York. Darius Slayton explains …
💯 Vikings, Lions, 49ers, Bucs, Chiefs lead the way. Giants … well!
🤝 Want to compete against Austin Ekeler in fantasy for a good cause? Details here.
