Full disclosure: this post ended up longer than I intended. Think of it less as a quick snack and more like one of Ted Lasso’s halftime speeches… it runs way longer than you expected, gets weirdly personal, but by the end you’re glad you stuck around. If you just want the quick version, scroll to the keeper list and poll on potential league changes. If you’re here for the full ride, lace ‘em up and let’s go.
Hey everyone,
Summer’s almost gone, but I’m still basking in Josh Allen’s MVP season. Would I trade it in a heartbeat for a Lombardi Trophy? Of course. But I’m a Bills fan, which means I’m basically a Pavlov experiment gone wrong, trained to celebrate silver linings instead of championships. And now Hard Knocks is spotlighting Buffalo? Finally! I’m already compiling a TikTok montage: James Cook celebrating his new contract without cracking a smile, Ed Oliver riding one of his thirty horses (probably because hauling 300 pounds around deserves a month off), and Connor McGovern baking enough homemade pizza to qualify as a second career.
All that to say, the offseason fun is almost behind us and it’s time to lock in. Draft day is set for Sunday, Aug 31 at 5 PM Mountain Time. If that time is an issue for anyone, speak up soon so we can sort it out. Drafting live always makes the season more fun.
2025 Draft Order
I’ve made an executive decision to adjust the draft order this year. Spots 7–12 will stay the same as always, using reverse order of finish from last season. The change comes in spots 1–6, which will now be determined strictly by performance in the consolation bracket. No more choosing your draft slot, since that turned out to be more hassle than it was worth. From here on out, win the consolation bracket and you’ll be rewarded with the number one overall pick.
Here’s how it shakes out:
- kaitlynoates (Consolation bracket winner)
- jdherrud (Consolation runner-up)
- HarbaughSignStealer (3rd place consolation)
- UncleJrue88 (4th place consolation)
- Jaxsonarchie (5th place consolation)
- machonachodan (6th place consolation)
- SnickleFrits (6th place champion bracket)
- easymoneysleeper (5th place champion bracket)
- WestonTheEldest (4th place champion bracket)
- arbpack (3rd place champion bracket)
- Arbon78 (Runner-up in the championship)
- CommanderJenson (League Champion)
So congratulations, Kaitlyn, you’re on the clock. Commander Jenson, enjoy the view from the caboose. You may be last in line, Joel, but you do get back-to-back picks. Which is fitting, you’ve been back to back annoying to beat for two straight seasons.
Reviewing Potential Rule Changes
After last year we threw out a few tweaks, and now it’s time to finalize what, if anything, we want to add. I put out a poll in February, but only half the league voted. Apparently the rest of you thought it was a midterm election. With more time to think it over, let’s actually get this wrapped up quickly.
We’ll vote again, and like the NFL, we’ll need a 75% approval rate for any change. So unless Jerry Jones sneaks in here, nobody is forcing a rule through. And if Jerry does show up, we’ll just let him bankroll everything and then roast him for how badly he botched the Micah Parsons negotiations.
Rule Change #1: FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget)
**Vote: **100% Yes
This one has overwhelming support already. Instead of waiver priority, every team gets a set budget (most leagues use $100 for the entire season, and I’d anticipate that’s what we’d do too) to bid on free agents. You place a blind bid, and the highest bid wins. After waivers clear, all remaining players can be added for free.
Why it matters:
- No more waiting at the bottom of the waiver list because you had a hot start.
- Everyone has a shot at breakout players, whether it’s a rookie RB taking over late in the year or a surprise waiver gem.
- It adds strategy. You have to decide if a player is worth blowing $25 of your $100 budget, or if you can gamble on getting him cheaper.
Pros:
- No more punishment for winning early in the season.
- Every free agent is fair game.
- Adds another layer of competition.
Cons:
- Spend too fast and you will be living on $1 bids the rest of the season.
- Bidding wars will definitely get spicy. (Is that really a con?)
Example: Last year, when Jordan Mason went down and Isaac Guerendo became a hot pickup, FAAB would have turned that into a bidding war. Instead of one person automatically winning on waiver priority, every team would have had a shot at Guerendo by putting their budget where their mouth was.
Rule Change #2: Modified Best Ball
Vote: 83% Yes
This one also has strong support. To be clear, this is not full Best Ball where you draft and coast the whole year. You will still set lineups, make waiver moves, and trade. The twist is that at the end of the week, your best possible lineup is automatically applied.
Why it matters:
- You are still managing actively, but the system saves you from “why did I bench him” moments.
- High upside players get more interesting since their boom weeks always count while their busts are ignored.
- It reduces the sting of injuries or players who get hurt early in games.
Pros:
- No more lineup regret.
- Encourages chasing high ceilings.
- Helps balance bad luck.
Cons:
- More incentive to chase volatility on waivers.
- Could make waiver wire competition even tougher.
- Does not reward the owners that routinely make strong starting roster decisions on game day.
It’s basically a safety net. You still manage, but the system keeps your dumbest lineup choices from haunting you on Tuesday morning.
Rule Change #3: TE Premium Scoring
Vote: Split: 50% Maybe, 33% No, 17% Yes
Tight ends would score 1 PPR instead of 0.5, giving them a boost in value. Right now the position feels thin after the first couple of stars. This rule would instantly make them more relevant across the board.
**Why it matters: **Here’s how it would have looked last year if we’d had TE premium:
Player
Points (PPR)
WR Equivalent Rank
Brock Bowers
262.7
WR3
Trey McBride
249.8
WR4
George Kittle
236.6
WR5
Jonnu Smith
222.3
WR7 (Between McLaurin & Nabers. That’s crazy to me!)
Travis Kelce
195.4
WR16
Mark Andrews
188.8
WR17
Tucker Kraft
163.3
WR31
Pros:
- Make the TE position great again. (Come on… I had to!)
- Adds balance between positions.
- Creates more trade and draft intrigue.
Cons:
- Top TEs like McBride and Bowers become game-breakers.
- Could force everyone to rethink roster construction.
- Draft boards would tilt heavily toward TEs early. Instead of waiting until round 6 or 7 for your TE, the top three or four might go off the board in the first two rounds.
Instead of just McBride carrying the torch, we’d suddenly be living in a world where Jonnu Smith outscores Malik Nabers. (Is that a world we want to live in?) Even a mid-tier guy like Tucker Kraft would’ve been putting up WR3 numbers. That’s a completely different draft board and trade market. Exciting, but risky. Maybe it overvalues the TE position.
Rule Change #4:** College Player Claim Rights**
Vote: 33% Yes, 33% No, 33% Maybe
This one is still very much up in the air, but has some intrigue. The concept is to let a small number of managers each year “reserve” a college player before they hit the NFL. That claim would carry into our fantasy draft, giving the manager the right to draft that player at a set discounted cost.
How it works (proposed):
- Claims would only apply to players drafted into the NFL (no stashing Arch Manning or Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith who didn’t declare).
- Claims must be made before our fantasy draft, not the NFL Draft. This avoids landmines like players staying in school, going undrafted, or suffering preseason injuries.
- The keeper cost would be based on fantasy ADP (average draft position). A reserved player would cost 4 rounds later than their average draft round.Example: Ashton Jeanty is currently averaging as a 1st-round fantasy pick, so he’d cost you a 5th-rounder if reserved.A deeper stash like Kyle Williams, averaging in the 14th round, could be scooped with your final pick.This setup rewards foresight, since betting on overlooked guys could turn into huge value.
- Only 2–4 claims (we’d still have to decide that) are awarded each year to keep it exclusive.
How to earn a claim (examples):
- Consolation Bracket Winner (makes late-season games matter)
- Points Against Survivor (highest “points against” in the regular season)
- Trader of the Year (best trade of the season, voted on by the league)
- Commissioner’s Chaos Pick (one per year, decided by me. I can’t give it to myself or the league champ, and the only bribe I’d consider would be from my wife, and she doesn’t play.)
- Highest Single-Week Score of the Season
- Highest Scoring Player of the Season (must have been rostered)
- Worst Luck Award (most losses despite finishing in the top half of scoring)
Protections:
- A manager can only hold one claim per year, even if they qualify for multiple.
- To determine the priority of claims for our 2–4 managers, we’ll randomize the order in the most scientifically rigorous way possible: have my daughters volleyball team face off in a race hopping on only their left leg. If no kids are available, we’ll flip frozen chicken nuggets or something equally dumb. Either way, the order will be random and ridiculous.
- Claims are not tradeable assets.
What It Would Have Looked Like Last Year
If College Player Claim Rights had been in play for the 2024 season, here’s how it would have shaken out:
- Marvin Harrison Jr. had a 2nd-round ADP in fantasy drafts. With the claim system, his keeper cost would have slid to the 6th round. Looked like a steal at the time, even though he ended up WR29. Fantasy hurts sometimes.
- Malik Nabers went around the 5th round on average. Under this system, he would have been taken in the 9th round, giving his manager a huge value edge. He ended up WR 7. Would have been a massive STEAL!
Pros:
- Adds a new layer of long-term strategy and hype.
- Rewards fun milestones that keep everyone engaged.
- Builds a bridge between college football and our league.
Cons:
- Requires clear rules to avoid chaos.
- Could give a big edge if someone reserves a breakout rookie.
Keepers for 2025
At the end of this post, below the polls, you’ll find a list of each team’s eligible keepers and their 2025 draft cost. Remember: you can keep only one player, and keeping is optional.
Wrapping It Up
That’s where things stand. FAAB looks like it’s a near lock. Modified Best Ball has strong support and feels like a fun wrinkle. TE Premium and College Player Claim Rights need more consideration before we decide.
Let’s get some thoughts out there. Feel free to text me individually or in the group chat (Sorry if it blows up. Just mute it like I do all my in-laws’ group messages). Once you know which way you’re leaning, vote or shoot me a text. Whatever’s easiest.
Let’s lock in! Draft day’s coming fast. Get ready so we’re not waiting 60 seconds for a 16th round selection!
As always, Go Bills!
P.S. Don’t forget to Venmo me $15 for the end-of-year jersey prize fund (venmo.com/u/Nick-Arbon). Think of it as your best fantasy investment of the season. Unlike my three-year experiment hoping Kyle Pitts would ever freaking pay off, this jersey fund actually delivers!
Would you be in favor of implementing FAAB next year?
- Yes
- No
Would you be in favor of implementing Modified Best Ball next year?
- Yes
- No
Would you be in favor of implementing TE Premium next year?
- Yes
- No
Would you be in favor of implementing College Player Claim next year?
- Yes
- No
2025 Keeper List
Rafi Bomb
- David Njoku – TE (CLE) | 8th → Costs 4th
- Jets DEF (NYJ) | 11th → Costs 7th
- Jayden Reed – WR (GB) | 12th → Costs 8th
- Cole Kmet – TE (CHI) | 13th → Costs 9th
- Dolphins DEF (MIA) | 14th → Costs 10th
- Adonai Mitchell – WR (IND) | 15th → Costs 11th
Over the Taysom Hill
- Aaron Rodgers – QB (PIT) | 5th → Costs 1st
- Ladd McConkey – WR (LAC) | 8th → Costs 4th
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR (SEA) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Puka Nacua – WR (LAR) | 11th → Costs 7th
- Steelers DEF (PIT) | 13th → Costs 9th
Ertz2Hurtz
- Dalton Kincaid – TE (BUF) | 5th → Costs 1st
- James Conner – RB (ARI) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Dallas Goedert – TE (PHI) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Jordan Addison – WR (MIN) | 8th → Costs 4th
- Cowboys DEF (DAL) | 12th → Costs 8th
Uncle Jrue
- Evan Engram – TE (DEN) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Nick Chubb – RB (HOU) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Drake Maye – QB (NE) | 10th → Costs 6th
- Fred Warner – LB (SF) | 12th → Costs 8th
- DeAndre Hopkins – WR (BAL) | 15th → Costs 11th
Kelly Tough
- Jonathan Taylor – RB (IND) | 5th → Costs 1st
- Aaron Jones – RB (MIN) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Terry McLaurin – WR (WAS) | 8th → Costs 4th
- T.J. Hockenson – TE (MIN) | 11th → Costs 7th
- J.K. Dobbins – RB (DEN) | 14th → Costs 10th
- Xavier Legette – WR (CAR) | 15th → Costs 11th
Texasforever
- Trey McBride – TE (ARI) | 5th → Costs 1st
- D’Andre Swift – RB (CHI) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Geno Smith – QB (SEA) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Rome Odunze – WR (CHI) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Christian Kirk – WR (JAX) | 12th → Costs 8th
- Tyler Allgeier – RB (ATL) | 15th → Costs 11th
Face Planting
- DeVonta Smith – WR (PHI) | 5th → Costs 1st
- David Montgomery – RB (DET) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Baker Mayfield – QB (TB) | 8th → Costs 4th
Team jdherrud
- Michael Pittman – WR (IND) | 5th → Costs 1st
- Kyler Murray – QB (ARI) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Brock Bowers – TE (LV) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Jonathon Brooks – RB (CAR) | 8th → Costs 4th
- Brian Thomas Jr. – WR (JAX) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Keon Coleman – WR (BUF) | 10th → Costs 6th
- Khalil Shakir – WR (BUF) | 12th → Costs 8th
- Jameson Williams – WR (DET) | 13th → Costs 9th
Khaki Kommandos
- Joe Mixon – RB (HOU) | 5th → Costs 1st
- Amari Cooper – WR (FA) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Rhamondre Stevenson – RB (NE) | 8th → Costs 4th
- C.J. Stroud – QB (HOU) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Hollywood Brown – WR (KC) | 14th → Costs 10th
Atwater
- D.J. Moore – WR (CHI) | 5th → Costs 1st
- D.K. Metcalf – WR (PIT) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Tony Pollard – RB (TEN) | 8th → Costs 4th
- Bo Nix – QB (DEN) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Jaylen Warren – RB (PIT) | 10th → Costs 6th
Joe Buck Yourself
- Mark Andrews – TE (BAL) | 5th → Costs 1st
- Tee Higgins – WR (CIN) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Najee Harris – RB (PIT) | 9th → Costs 5th
- Rashid Shaheed – WR (NO) | 16th → Costs 12th
SnickleFrits
- George Kittle – TE (SF) | 5th → Costs 1st
- Alvin Kamara – RB (NO) | 6th → Costs 2nd
- Xavier Worthy – WR (KC) | 7th → Costs 3rd
- Rashee Rice – WR (KC) | 12th → Costs 8th
- Russell Wilson – QB (NYG) | 14th → Costs 10th
- Ricky Pearsall – WR (SF) | 16th → Costs 12th