Two of my favorite things are Best Ball and DRAFTERS, and each week this offseason, I want to share with you my insights on both. With DRAFTERS releasing their main event tournament, excitement has been growing each day ever since. Each week, I want to break down what has changed from the previous week regarding NFL news, Best Ball news, and the top ADP Risers and Fallers on DRAFTERS. It's useful to compare Best Ball to the stock market and day trading stocks, but instead of stocks, we are looking at NFL players, specifically those players' Average Draft Position (ADP). We continually strive to identify players of value in our drafts and avoid those who may be overvalued.
Each week, I will use updated DRAFTERS data to show the APD movement of the top risers and fallers on the site. ADP is often driven by the news that week and what some of the major touts in the industry might be saying about said players, and the result will be a shift in the ADP market
Let's look at last week's data (7/15-7/22) and find the top 10 Risers and Fallers for the past week:
DRAFTERS Weekly Best Ball Risers
Top 10 Risers
| Position | Player | Team | ADP Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Roman Wilson | PIT | 3.1 |
| RB | Najee Harris | LAC | 2.9 |
| QB | Jaxson Dart | NYG | 2.2 |
| TE | Darren Waller | MIA | 2.1 |
| TE | Theo Johnson | NYG | 2.1 |
| TE | Elijah Arroyo | SEA | 2.0 |
| WR | Jordan Whittington | LAR | 2.0 |
| TE | Tyler Higbee | LAR | 1.9 |
| RB | D'Andre Swift | CHI | 1.9 |
| RB | Nick Chubb | HOU | 1.9 |
Other names on the rise (11-20 ADP Risers): Miles Sanders, J.K. Dobbins, Justin Fields, Jerome Ford, Ray Davis, Travis Hunter, Travis Kelce, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Matthew Golden, and Romeo Doubs.
The Risers Takeaways: The tight end position is represented well this week in the risers sections with four names in Darren Waller, Theo Johnson, Elijah Arroyo, and Tyler Higbee. These are all names of guys at the end of drafts with ADPs over 200+, but in best ball, these are the type of names that help build out and construct a full roster that can help withstand the ups and downs of the position. We will likely see Waller go the other direction next week, as he was just placed on the PUP list. As far as Johnson and Arroyo, I think you can see them rise with the latter, really seeing a boost as Noah Fant was just released by the Seahawks, and Arroyo is the next man up. Higbee is always a steady player at the position and looks to have a role with the Rams still, and is a year removed from injury.
There are only two wide receivers on the rise this week: Roman Wilson and Jordan Whittington. They are both fighting for third and fourth string action on their teams' depth charts. Again, these are both last-round dart-type picks, which is typical to see as risers before all the news from training camps starts to come in. Jaxson Dart was the lone quarterback this week, as he is a late-round pick who makes sense to add as a quarterback three on a roster if you're looking for later-year production. At running back, Najee Harris is a bit of a surprise, as we have had a lack of information on his eye injury situation. However, with news that he is not practicing yet, we might see him slip into the faller section in the next couple of weeks. D'Andre Swift continues to climb in the early middle rounds of drafts as he looks locked in as the starter in Chicago in a Ben Johnson offense that has everyone excited and hoping to see replicates of what the Lions offense did in years past. Nick Chubb rounds out the top ten, and this is more of a Joe Mixon is not on the field type of thing for me.
The risers in the 11-20 spot are interesting names this week, with more star power in Justin Fields, Travis Hunter, Travis Kelce, and Matthew Golden in the mix. Fields' rushing ability continues to push him up draft boards, and any positive buzz on him will also help. Kelce is benefiting from the Rashee Rice incoming suspension news, and all Chiefs pass catchers might be on the rise. The names of Miles Sanders, J.K. Dobbins, Jerome Ford, and Ray Davis are some good RB2-type names on the rise, and these are key pieces when building out a best ball running back room.
DRAFTERS Weekly Best Ball Fallers
Top 10 Fallers
| Position | Player | Team | ADP Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Keon Coleman | BUF | -2.9 |
| WR | DeAndre Hopkins | BAL | -2.5 |
| WR | Andrei Iosivas | CIN | -2.2 |
| WR | Dyami Brown | JAX | -2.1 |
| RB | Rachaad White | TB | -2.0 |
| RB | Bucky Irving | TB | -1.8 |
| RB | Isiah Pacheco | KC | -1.8 |
| WR | Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN | -1.8 |
| RB | Audric Estime | DEN | -1.8 |
| RB | Rico Dowdle | CAR | -1.7 |
Other names on the fall (11-20 ADP Fallers): Quentin Johnston, Kendre Miller, Adonai Mitchell, Jalen Tolbert, Brandon Aiyuk, Jordan Love, Calvin Austin III, Anthony Richardson Sr., Terrance Ferguson, and Michael Pittman Jr.
The Faller Takeaways: I see some surprising names in the fallers list this week in Keon Coleman, Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, Isiah Pacheco, and Rico Dowdle. These are all players who have a key role set up for them on their teams in established offenses, yet we still see them as fallers. Coleman remains one of my favorite values in best ball drafts as you get a second-year receiver that is tied to Josh Allen, but don't have to pay a huge price to see if the combo can connect in year two. The Bills' receiver room is wide open and looking for a player to take over as the team's top receiver. White and Irving surprise me, as Tampa Bay has demonstrated the value of the running game and also how they like to involve their RBs in the passing game. They are going to be key players on offense and don't deserve to be falling at ADP. Pacheco seems like he has a lock on the top running back in Kansas City, so seeing him fall is also a shocker.
With DeAndre Hopkins, Andrei Iosivas, Dyami Brown, and Marvin Mims Jr. on the list at the receiver position, you are seeing depth-type players in crowded situations get bumped down. It is not as if they are bad picks, but it is a lot of guessing with players in this type of situation at the receiver position. Mims seems like the player with the most breakout potential in this group, whereas players like Hopkins and Iosivas, we already know what we are getting out of them, and there is not much of a ceiling, which is more desirable in best ball. Audric Estime also sneaks into the top ten fallers this week, as the Broncos' running back room is just crowded right now. Could he break out in his second season? Maybe he could. But is he worth the pick in round 20 to find out?
Weekly News and Notes
- TE Dawson Knox BUF - Has been placed on the NFI list
- RB Christian McCaffrey SF - Is looking fully healthy at the start of camp.
- RB Zack Moss CIN - Placed on NFI list.
- WR Chris Godwin TB - Officially on active/PUP list.
- TE Darren Waller MIA - Begins camp on PUP list.
- WR Terry McLaurin WAS - Not present at camp.
- WR Chris Olave NO - Full participant to start camp
- WR Jauan Jennings SF - Reports to camp and passes physical.
- QB Anthony Richardson Sr. IND - Ready for training camp
- RB James Cook BUF - Reporting for camp despite no new contract.
- WR Stefon Diggs NE - Cleared for practice, looks to be on track for Week 1.
- QB Will Levis TEN - Getting season-ending surgery. Cam Ward is set to be the starter.
- TE Noah Fant - The Seahawks released Fant after four seasons with the team.
- WR Mack Hollins NE - Lands on PUP list.
- WR Brandon Aiyuk SF - Moved to active/PUP list
- RB Quinshon Judkins CLE - Not signed for camp.
- WR Mike Williams LAC - plans on retiring and will not play this year.
- WR Jordan Addison MIN - Gets fined and probation in DUI case. NFL Suspension likely
- WR Rashee Rice KC - Has been sentenced to five years probation and 30 days in jail. NFL suspension incoming.
- RB Najee Harris LAC - Officially placed on NFI list.
Best Ball Industry News
Drafters - Drafters released a $2.5 million Best Ball tournament with a $20 entry fee and a top prize of $500,000. It is currently 37,800/140,004 full, and has seen 3,700 new entries in the last week.
Drafters has also released their $3 Best Ball Championship Mini II, which is now 27,900/46,140 full, with 9,300 new entries this week. It has a $25,000 prize to first place.
Author Bio
I have been playing Best Ball for six-plus years now and have learned valuable lessons along the way. I want to share that knowledge with our customers at Footballguys.com. My name is James Brimacombe, and my username on DRAFTERS and around the various Best Ball and DFS sites is "Eaglezzz". I will be honest with you each week as I try to help guide you on your own personal Best Ball journey in 2025. I have made mistakes over the years, but have also done a few things correctly. I will always share my knowledge from both perspectives. You can always follow me on Twitter as I share my Best Ball thoughts there daily and am always happy to answer questions via replies or DMs. You can follow along here @JamesBrimacombe.
New users at DRAFTERS: use promo code "FOOTBALLGUYS" for a 100% deposit match up to $100. Have fun, and see you in the lobby!
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