FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

David's Daily Digest

August 23rd, 2025

Saturday Night Edition

My Diamonds in the Rough

Over the past several days, there’s been some big news coming out of DC and San Francisco. The Commanders have traded Running Back Brian Robinson to the Niners for the 6th round pick, with the implications that Washington is confident in their current backfield. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been receiving a lot of ink lately and figures to fit in the mix somewhere, but my eyes are on a healthy Austin Ekeler. 

The veteran running back was banged up a bit last season, missing five games and he turned in his lowest fantasy points per game output, since 2017. Healthy now and with the potential of a more prominent role this season Ekeler could return closer to his 2022 output where he finished at the top of the fantasy running back landscape. With a current ADP (per Fantasy Calculator/12 Teams) of 108, he could be a huge steal in the 9th round.

Another Diamond in the rough catching my eye, as the Fantasy Draft season heats up, a homer pick yes, but a good one, wide receiver Courtland Sutton. I feel good about the Broncos offense this season and believe quarterback Bo Nix will continue to ascend and as he does, so shall his number one target. Sutton led the Broncos a year ago in receiving with 81 receptions, 1,081 yards receiving, 8 touchdowns, on 135 targets. His 135 targets seem more than possible to duplicate, so putting up better numbers is not a stretch. Sutton was the WR27 last season, a mere one fantasy point-per-game from finishing Top-20; where I put him at this season.

One more Diamond that shines through the rough is the Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. No stranger to fantasy managers, Williams finished as the fantasy WR26 last season posting double-digit fantasy points in six of his last eight games, scoring 4 touchdowns while averaging 7 targets per game. Williams is definitely a fantasy boom candidate, coming off a very strong 2024 campaign. At the prime age of 24, entering his 4th season in Detroit, I expect to see Williams continue to flourish and post even greater numbers this season, peaking into the Top-20 fantasy receiver threshold.

That’s My Take.

~David G Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

David's Daily Digest

August 22nd, 2025

Friday Night Edition

PRE-DRAFT QUICK TAKES

All of the buzz or at least some of the pre-season (pre-draft fantasy football) buzz out of San Francisco is 2nd year receiver Ricky Pearsall. Early preseason action indicators would suggest he’s quickly becoming quarterback Brock Purdy’s favorite and number one target. With a banged up receiving corp in the Bay area, Pearsall seems a lock to be the leading receiver for the first half of the season. Fantasy Pros has Pearsall ranked as the WR38.

Another talk of the town in Tampa is the rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka. The word out of camp is 2nd year wideout Jalen McMillan is expected to miss extended time and with Chris Godwin’s return to action (not expected to be available week 1) uncertain, there’s opportunity to Egbuka to rise up. He’s a great sleeper candidate that could pay dividends early in the season.

Staying in Tampa, with the wide receiver room in the situation it is, another sleeper is tight end Cade Otton, a fringe TE1 in 10 leagues last season, finishing as the TE11 (minimum 10 games), averaging 10.0 fantasy points per game (1-point PPR). Otton finished 2024 with 59 receptions (on 87 targets) for 600 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns in 14 games. There are more appealing youthful options available, but Otton looks primed to be a TE1 in the early part of the season and he’s basically going undrafted.

That’s My Take.

~David G Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

David's Daily Digest

August 18th, 2025

Monday Night Edition

FIRST FANTASY DRAFT IN THE BOOKS

Well the first one is complete and in the books. As I review the results, I am quite satisfied with my team and the execution of my draft strategy.

To start with, let me prefix this summary with a key fantasy stat to keep in mind, in the league, it’s one point per yard, three points-per-reception, and passing touchdowns are 20 points, with all other touchdowns 25 points; this is the ultimate fantasy scoring league.

In this 10-team draft, one of my primary targets was one of the big top five scoring quarterbacks; Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels. My player of choice was Joe Burrow (top scoring player last season). I took the third slot and took Jahmyr Gibbs, followed by The Drake (Drake London) in the second, Joe Burrow in the 4th, Matthew Golden (my 3rd receiver) in the 7th, Even Engram in the 9th, and Cooper Kupp in the 11th round.

These selections highlight how my draft went with Gibbs, London, Burrow, Golden, and Engram sitting at the top of my target list. There was a lot of luck, lots of patience, maybe some quiet wishes, but trusting my instinct and staying on the path.

I had some surprise picks, players I was even looking at (took a couple of flyers with Marquise Brown and Keon Coleman), but I was not detracted and stayed with my strategy and filled my lineup with anchors, high floors, high ceiling, and plenty of reliable depth. I packed my RB room with players like Tank Bigsby, Braelon Allen, and Austin Ekeler - let’s hope some of these pay off.

With the 2nd week of preseason games completed and the 2025 Kickoff only 17 days away, I’ve still got 4 more home (money) leagues and several online league drafts to complete. Time to do more research, until my next draft.

That’s my take.

~David Ortega