Weekly Bender: 5 ADP Values

Fri Jun 20 10:53am ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

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Jeudy is setup for more success


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My wife just told me I was insane. Between the Beat Bender Best Ball drafts, the Fantasy Life Fantasy Championships and a variety of other industry drafts and events, I’m already 32 drafts into my 2025 fantasy football season and it’s only mid-June. Is that a lot? By who’s standards? She just doesn’t get it.

It’s not that I want to be drafting this much in June. It’s that I have to be drafting this much in June. Who else is going to help shape the fantasy football ADP properly? Who will determine where the best value picks can be found in a draft? Who else is going to help you sort through the reasons behind recent ADP risers and fallers? Exactly.

OK, maybe I’m overinflating my place in the universe a bit here, but I ask you this – who do you trust to guide you through fantasy football draft season, a person who didn’t start drafting until August or the guy who has been in the trenches from the moment last year’s Super Bowl ended? To quote Colonel Nathan Jessup, “You want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.”

You can jump over to Fantasy Alarm and find everything from my rankings to NFL coaching system breakdowns to all sorts of draft strategy articles in our Fantasy Football Draft Guide, but for today, I’m going to drop you my five favorite ADP draft values before I give them to anyone else. 

Drake Maye, QB New England Patriots (ADP: 146.18)

Drafting quarterbacks has changed so dramatically over the years, thanks to the increase in mobile quarterbacks. No longer is the industry sour on drafting the position early as many recommend the early move to Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels and Josh Allen. A guy who can rush for 50 yards and steal a rushing touchdown each week has huge value over some of the more traditional pocket passers, so it makes complete sense.

Personally, I would rather continue bulking up on top running backs and wide receivers and roll with Bo Nix or Kyler Murray who both check the mobile-QB boxes, but regardless of which direction you take, getting a backup quarterback who has the upside of a Nix or Murray in the final few rounds of your draft is huge and Maye fits the bill.

The Patriots made a commitment to Maye when they signed Stefon Diggs to be his WR1 and drafted a premier pass-catching running back in TreyVeon Henderson. They want Maye to succeed, to be the leader of this team and to feel confident in throwing the football. But he also has the rushing upside. I don’t think he’ll ever be a Jackson or a Daniels, but can he produce sixth-round value from the 14th round? Absolutely.

Chuba Hubbard, RB Carolina Panthers (ADP: 42.45)

He’s the Rodney Dangerfield of fantasy football and if you’re too young to know who that is, just click here and enjoy 12 minutes of comedy gold. But here’s a guy who rushed for over 900 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 and then managed almost 200 more yards and five more touchdowns on just 12 more carries over two fewer games last year when he finally had a coach who knew how to run the football. I have strong expectations for Hubbard in Year 2 of Dave Canales’ Panthers rebuild.

Don’t worry about Rico Dowdle. He’s only there to replace Miles Sanders who was a non-factor in Canales’ system last year. Don’t worry about Trevor Etienne. They drafted him for depth and there is little in expectations for this season. And, of course, there is no reason to worry about Jonathan Brooks because he’s not even going to play this season. Maybe not even another down in the NFL. This backfield in a run-heavy scheme belongs to Hubbard and yet, people are still looking at rookies and split-backfield guys ahead of him. Maybe he’s not a sexy pick, but he certainly will prove to be reliable.

Jerry Jeudy, WR Cleveland Browns (ADP: 67.15)

A lot is going to depend on who wins the starting quarterback job, but Jeudy at his current ADP could be a huge steal. He remains the No. 1 receiving target in this offense and should be leaned on fairly often. The ceiling is that guy who saw double-digit targets in four of six games last year between Weeks 9 and 15 and if Joe Flacco is under center to start the year, we could see just that. But even if it’s Kenny Pickett or Shedeur Sanders throwing the football, Jeudy will still be peppered with targets, albeit low aDOT ones.

For me, Jeudy is a safe, high-floor WR3. The kind of guy you can just leave in your lineup without much fanfare. If you have someone with an even higher ceiling in a softer match-up, then maybe he sits on your bench for a week, but overall, as the No. 1 receiver for the Browns, he could just be a “set it and forget it” player.

Michael Pittman, WR Indianapolis Colts (ADP: 114.12)

Here’s another No. 1 receiver who has fallen so dramatically, it’s almost impossible not to take him at his ADP. The drop stems from two things – injury risk and quarterback concerns. Though he opted to play through the pain, last year’s back fracture hindered production and it’s rare to see a guy bounce back in full from such an injury. His ability to play through is a nice confidence-booster for those looking to draft him, but it’s really about his opportunity to be a WR1 at such a low cost that gives him so much value.

We obviously prefer Daniel Jones to Anthony Richardson from a passing standpoint. He’s got a bigger arm, better field of vision and better accuracy. If he’s throwing the football, we should see a return to the 100-catch, 1,000-yard form and from there the touchdowns will come. But even if it’s Richardson, Pittman should be just fine and will still rack up the targets and receptions. Will he be as productive? Maybe so, maybe not. But for this price? We’ll take those shots.

Mark Andrews, TE Baltimore Ravens (103.37)

People, please. Stop with the nonsense. Andrews was injured heading into training camp last year and he got into a car accident about two weeks before the season started. No wonder his production through the first five weeks was garbage. But from Week 6 on, he was as strong an option as almost any of the tight ends not named Brock Bowers. He caught 11 touchdowns over the next 12 regular-season games and finished the year among the top 10 TEs for the season. But you wanted Isiah Likely. Pffffffft!!!

Yes, Andrews is getting older, but he’s not turning over the keys to the kingdom. Likely finds himself on the field more because the Ravens are running more with Derrick Henry and of the two tight ends, he’s the better blocker. But when it comes to running routes and being the most consistent, Andrews is still my guy. Coming off the board outside the top 100 is criminal.

Bender out!

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Player Notes
Kenneth Walker III Jul 23 8:20pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) was limited during spring workouts with an ankle injury but was a full-go on Day 1 of training camp on Wednesday. "He looks great. He's in a great spot mentally. Awesome to see him do all the things we want him to do from the get-go. I know he's really excited about what's going on. Great first day with Ken," head coach Mike Macdonald said. An ankle injury limited Walker to one appearance in the last five weeks of the 2024 season, but he appears to be recovered and ready to prove that he's still the team's No. 1 back over Zach Charbonnet. Walker has been plenty productive for fantasy managers when he's been healthy, but the problem is that he always seems to be dealing with a lower-body injury. Seattle could decide to give Charbonnet a bigger role in 2025 to help keep Walker healthy, making him a risk/reward RB2 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Kenny Pickett Jul 23 8:20pm ET
Kenny Pickett

The Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling reports that Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett spent most of the day on Wednesday in the first training camp practice working with the first-team offense, at least during 11-on-11 drills. However, Pickett went second behind veteran Joe Flacco during modified 7-on-7 work. The Browns have a QB competition going this summer, which is expected to come down to Pickett and Flacco, with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders mainly looking to prove that the Browns should keep them around beyond 2025. Pickett and Flacco will most likely rotate work with the first team in the early portions of camp. Pickett has mostly been unremarkable in offseason workouts, and Flacco is the favorite to begin the year as the starting QB in Cleveland.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Jul 23 8:10pm ET
Noah Fant

The Cincinnati Bengals will host former Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant on a visit on Thursday, sources tell FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Fant is making the rounds after being cut by the Seahawks, and the 27-year-old former first-rounder could give Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow another weapon in 2025. Fant wasn't as good the last three years in Seattle -- he had just one touchdown in the last two years -- as he was in his first three years with the Denver Broncos. He never had more than 50 receptions or 500 yards for the Seahawks, but he could give Cincy more depth behind Mike Gesicki with Eric All Jr. (knee) on the PUP list at training camp after tearing his right ACL in Week 9 of last year. Fant would be joining a much more explosive offense if he were to sign with the Bengals, but he wouldn't be guaranteed much of a role alongside Gesicki.

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller Jul 23 6:30pm ET
Darren Waller

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list is standard procedure for players coming out of retirement, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. "You're trying to be responsible. There's no gravity to it. This is a well-conditioned athlete who's in great shape. There's a 0 to 60 element in it that you try to be preventative and responsible as he gets his feet wet, that was our motivation," McDaniel said. The 32-year-old isn't dealing with a specific injury, but the Dolphins aren't going to throw Waller into the fire right away after he didn't play at all in 2024. When the regular season begins, Waller will be the team's top pass-catching tight end, although fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to necessarily put up the numbers Jonnu Smith did in a breakout year in 2024. Still, Waller will be attractive as a TE2 flier, especially in TE-premium leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tommy Tremble Jul 23 6:30pm ET
Tommy Tremble

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales would not say that tight end Tommy Tremble (back) will be back in two weeks at training camp, but he could return in four weeks. Despite starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list this week, Tremble is making good progress from back surgery that he had in May. With the 25-year-old out for another couple of weeks at least, it brings into question whether he'll be available for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Even if Tremble is ready to roll by then, he should remain off the fantasy radar in most leagues, as he's mostly known for his blocking and should take a back seat in the pass-catching department to Ja'Tavion Sanders. The former third-rounder in 2021 has never had over 23 catches or 234 yards in his four-year career with the Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Jul 23 6:20pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

The Athletic's Matt Barrows writes that San Francisco 49ers second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) trained off on a side field at training camp practice on Wednesday, but he should be back for Sunday's practice. Pearsall began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but it sounds like he might be activated soon. It's good news for the 49ers with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) potentially not returning until around midseason. In addition, fellow second-year wideout Jacob Cowing injured his hamstring in Wednesday's practice. With Deebo Samuel Sr. now out of town as well, the 24-year-old Pearsall has a major opportunity in 2025 to take the next step if he can stay on the field. If the former first-rounder can put his hamstring issues behind him once and for all, he could be in line for a breakout campaign.

From RotoBaller

Jerome Ford Jul 23 6:20pm ET
Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (undisclosed) missed Wednesday's training camp practice with what sounds like a minor undisclosed injury, according to Scott Petrak. However, as Petrak notes, Cleveland's backfield is thin as it is with rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins still unsigned as he deals with domestic-violence charges off the field. With Ford dealing with a minor injury, any more time he misses will mean more reps for rookie Dylan Sampson and Pierre Strong Jr. Ahmani Marshall is the only other back on the current roster for the Browns. Judkins' off-field issues are good news for Ford if he's healthy for the start of the season, but the rookie back could still take over most of the backfield work sooner than later. Ford is currently ranked as RotoBaller's RB53, but he'll become much more attractive if Judkins is eventually suspended.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Jul 23 6:10pm ET
Marvin Harrison Jr.

PHNX Sports' Bo Brack reports that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is listed at 220 pounds at training camp this year on the team's latest roster after last being listed at 209 pounds. It was reportedly earlier this offseason that Harrison appeared to have bulked up, and now we know how much. The 22-year-old from Ohio State had some pretty high expectations placed on him in his first NFL season after being taken fourth overall by the Cardinals. He might not have lived up to most folks' expectations in Year 1, but he still provided 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts) in his rookie campaign. The Cardinals are expecting Harrison to be even better in Year 2, and adding muscle will certainly help him win more downfield. Fantasy managers should target him as a WR2 with upside if he takes the next step.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Jul 23 6:00pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (knee) took part in the team's first training camp practice on Wednesday, according to the Indianapolis Star's Joel A. Erickson. It's good to hear that Pittman is practicing on the first day of camp after he dealt with some knee soreness on the last day of OTA practices in the spring. The 27-year-old is the team's unquestioned WR1, but it remains to be seen if it will be Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson Sr. throwing him passes to open the 2025 season in early September. Pittman took a step back in 2024 with a 69-808-3 line in 16 regular-season games (14 starts), primarily because of the turmoil at the QB position. It also didn't help that Josh Downs took a big step forward. He may never see as many targets as he did in 2022 and 2023, and neither Jones nor Richardson will be great for his fantasy value as more of a WR4/flex.

From RotoBaller

Cam Ward Jul 23 5:40pm ET
Cam Ward

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who was the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft, made his training camp debut on Wednesday and took all of the first-team reps, per ESPN's Turron Davenport. Now that Will Levis (shoulder) is out for the entire season while needing surgery on his right shoulder, Ward is firmly in line to start in his first year in the NFL. Back in OTAs and minicamp, the Titans used a rotation of Ward, Levis and Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. The Titans haven't officially announced Ward as its starter, but it's pretty clear that will eventually come to pass. Davenport goes on to write that most of Ward's passes were towards the middle of the field on Wednesday after most of his success in college came there as well. His first season in the NFL will be more about development and will surely come with plenty of ups and downs. Ward is a low-end QB2 heading into his first year.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Jul 23 5:20pm ET
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that there isn't a specific timetable on wide receiver Chris Godwin's (ankle) return, but Bowles also noted he is "on track." Godwin's season ended in Week 7 last year when he suffered a dislocated ankle, and he hasn't been able to practice with the team at all. The 29-year-old was put on the Physically Unable to Perform list this week, although he can be activated at any time during training camp. The Bucs gave Godwin a three-year, $66 million deal back in March, so we'd be a bit surprised if he wasn't ready for Week 1 of the regular season this fall. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be at full speed by then, and he could very easily get off to a slow start if he's eased back in. The longer Godwin sits out in camp, the more of a risk he'll be in fantasy drafts, especially after Tampa took rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round in April.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Jul 23 5:10pm ET
Will Levis

The Tennessee Titans placed quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, ending his season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It was announced on Monday that Levis would undergo season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder on July 29. The 26-year-old has decided to have the surgery to ensure his long-term health based on medical opinions, and he should be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. The problem for Levis is that he didn't look good when given the starting job in 2024, and then the Titans selected Cam Ward with the first overall pick this April. If Ward handles himself well and stays healthy in his first NFL season, Levis will be returning in 2026 and strictly a backup without a chance to regain a starting gig. The surgery also confirms what we already knew: That Ward is the team's starter in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Jul 23 5:10pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has picked up where he left off in 2024 in the first day of training camp practice on Wednesday, per Eliot Shorr-Parks. Shorr-Parks writes that Hurts didn't do anything flashy but just showed good overall QB play. He took care of the ball and was never really in harms way while going 14-for-15 passing with no touchdowns or interceptions. Hurts had 26 reps on the day, with Shorr-Parks giving him a B grade. The 26-year-old's best pass of the day was down the sideline to receiver A.J. Brown for a pickup of around 20 yards. Even though Hurts isn't the most accurate or prolific passer, he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 3 fantasy QB because of his rushing prowess. In the last four seasons over 62 regular-season games, Hurts has 52 rushing touchdowns. It gives him an extremely high fantasy ceiling.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Golden Jul 23 4:20pm ET
Matthew Golden

Green Bay Packers wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden kicked off training camp as the two starters in two-WR sets, according to team reporter Weston Hodkiewicz. While Day 1 training-camp usage should be taken with a grain of salt, this could signal that Jayden Reed will continue to be primarily utilized in three-WR sets. Reed has provided boom weeks for fantasy managers through the first two seasons of his career despite ranking outside the top 70 wide receivers in snap share. It comes as no surprise that Golden, a rookie first-round pick out of Texas, is running with the first team offense, and the team could be hoping he develops into the clear No. 1 wide receiver for Jordan Love. Ultimately, Reed will remain on the fantasy football radar, but his ceiling is limited if Green Bay continues to be unwilling to play him as a full-time receiver.

From RotoBaller

Bo Melton Jul 23 4:10pm ET
Bo Melton

Green Bay Packers fourth-year veteran Bo Melton is officially switching from wide receiver to cornerback, according to NFL.com. The 2022 seventh-round pick out of Rutgers was originally selected by the Seattle Seahawks but signed with Green Bay after being released following training camp. He did not appear in a game during his rookie season, but he has tallied 24 receptions for 309 yards and one touchdown over the last two seasons (22 games). Now at cornerback, he will likely have a tough time earning snaps, but crazier things have happened. Based on these developments, it's safe to drop him in the deepest of dynasty fantasy football leagues

From RotoBaller

Calais Campbell Jul 23 4:00pm ET
Calais Campbell

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Walter Nolen (calf) is set to miss time after suffering a calf injury while training, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Nolen was the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's an unfortunate development for the rookie, who is slated to miss out on the first opportunity to prove himself in training camp. Nolen began his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss for his final season in 2024. In 35 career games, he tallied 114 tackles (62 solo), 11.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He is expected to be a Day 1 starter and disruptor on the Arizona defensive line, but Calais Campbell, PJ Mustipher, Bilal Nichols, Elijah Simmons, and Jordan Burch could see more action with the first- and second-team defenses during his absence.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Jul 23 3:50pm ET
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee), who suffered a torn ACL near the end of last season, is recovering well, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Gutekunst said his rehab is going "great," and the former North Dakota State speedster did a test run earlier in the week. "It's an ACL, so we're going to take our time with him," Gutekunst said. "But he's pressing to get out there." Watson has missed 13 games through the first three seasons of his pro career since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Overall, he has hauled in 98 of his 172 targets for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns. It's a positive sign that he is recovering quickly, but his fantasy prospects are tough to believe in based on what we've seen thus far and the addition of Texas wideout Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

From RotoBaller

Jacob Cowing Jul 23 3:40pm ET
Jacob Cowing

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) suffered a pulled hamstring during Wednesday's training camp practice, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. The second-year wideout out of Arizona had a strong spring and is looking to earn a role in 2025, so this is obviously a tough development. However, it is unclear how much practice time Cowing will be forced to sit out, so fantasy managers in deep leagues should monitor the situation. The 2024 fourth-round pick was limited to just four receptions for 80 yards last season in 15 games, but he is a candidate to fill a "gadget" role left behind by Deebo Samuel Sr., who was traded to the Washington Commanders this offseason. With Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) sidelined to begin camp, depth is becoming a concern for the San Fran WR room.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Jul 23 3:40pm ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings is participating in Wednesday's training camp practice and is leading the team's wide receivers in drills, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. Recent reports suggested Jennings wants a new contract and requested a trade, making him a hold-in candidate, but that appears not to be the case. With Ricky Pearsall (hamstring), Brandon Aiyuk (knee), and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) all dealing with injuries, and Deebo Samuel Sr. now in Washington, Jennings has the chance to establish himself as the clear WR1 in the Bay. The former seventh-round pick out of Tennessee set career highs in receptions (77), receiving yards (975), and touchdowns (six) last season in 15 games and could be a 1,000-yard receiver in 2025. Despite the offseason rumors surrounding Jennings, he is a potential steal at his WR40 cost in preseason drafts.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Jul 23 3:40pm ET
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) was a full participant on Day 1 of training camp. According to Zack Cox of the Boston Herald, Diggs is not feeling any limitations from the ACL tear he suffered last October. He continues to progress in his recovery from his torn ACL and is on target to suit up Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran joins a Patriots offense desperate for playmakers after finishing last in passing yards (2,995) in 2024. Before the injury, Diggs had recorded six straight 1,000-yard seasons and is expected to lead New England's receiving corps. He'll line up alongside returning contributors Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas, and third-round rookie Kyle Williams as the Patriots aim to surround quarterback Drake Maye with enough firepower to accelerate his development. Diggs' health will be crucial to any offensive resurgence in New England.

From RotoBaller