Category: American Style Football

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Every fantasy football summer, there’s a running back whose name lingers in the later rounds, only for savvy managers to snatch him up and ride a surprising wave of production. In this year’s dynasty rookie drafts, that name should be Jaydon Blue.

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After listening to Matt Harmon and Nate Tice break down the rookie class on the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, it’s crystal clear: Blue checks every sleeper box. Here’s why making him a priority in your dynasty drafts might be the move that wins your league.

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Unlike many Day 3 running backs who flash speed, Blue isn’t just a home run hitter. As Nate Tice noted, “He ran a sub-4.4. He’s 195 pounds. Usually, those guys bounce all their runs … [but] he runs between the tackles.”

That last part is crucial. So many undersized backs get pigeonholed into gadget or outside-only roles, but Blue presses the hole, sets up blockers and runs with vision and patience. Tice likened his style to Dolphins star De’Von Achane, noting, “He can do the real running back stuff — run between the tackles, has vision, sets up his blockers, runs with tempo.” There’s more than just “track speed” here; there’s legitimate, translatable football skill.

Let’s be real: the Dallas Cowboys’ RB room is ripe for the taking. As both hosts discussed, Blue’s only real competition right now is Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders — both players whose best days may be behind them.

“Javonte Williams is on the roster. Miles Sanders is on the roster. He’s [Blue] better than that. He’s a better running back than those guys, even if he’s smaller,” Tice said. Unless Dallas pulls off a surprise signing, there’s nobody on the roster who profiles as an obvious roadblock. And as Harmon pointed out, when you add in Dallas’ physical, mauling offensive line, Blue’s skill set could be maximized right away.

The Cowboys always build with their run game in mind. Nate Tice explained, “With this offensive line, they’re always going to run it. Dak [Prescott] wants to always have running be part of the offensive system.” Blue’s inside running prowess and ability to catch passes align perfectly with Dallas’ offensive DNA — a critical factor overlooked in rookie drafts.

And don’t forget the “Texas bump.” As Tice put it, the fact that Blue is a local product only helps his chances at getting opportunities and winning over the coaching staff.

Even as a fifth-round pick, Blue has the clearest runway among late-round rookie RBs. The hosts were quick to hammer home value: “How is he not going to see the field when we’re talking about Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders?” Harmon asked. The Cowboys will inevitably need fresh legs, and Blue could see meaningful carries from the jump.

Harmon summed up the excitement with: “He could outkick that Day 3 draft capital.” In the second round of their dynasty rookie mock on the latest Fantasy Football Forecast, Blue stood out for how easily he could surge up the depth chart and surprise the league, much like Isiah Pacheco did or past late-round breakouts.

In dynasty startups and rookie-only drafts, targeting Blue in the second or third rounds is a chance to capitalize on uncertainty and opportunistic roster construction. He’s not just a “sleeper” because he’s a real-life fifth-round pick — he’s a sleeper because he’s got NFL talent, an immediate path to touches and a coaching staff invested in his success.

If you want a running back who could shatter expectations and pay off big-time as the season unfolds, Jaydon Blue is your guy. Let your league-mates chase the obvious names. You’ll be the one with a future Cowboys starter before they know what hit them.

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

If you’re piecing together your dynasty fantasy football rosters (or doing some redraft season-long research) after the NFL Draft, you’ve probably noticed the rising buzz around Tetairoa McMillan — otherwise known as "T-Mac"— the talented Arizona receiver who landed with the Carolina Panthers.

If you’re wondering what makes McMillan such an intriguing fit, particularly paired with Bryce Young, this week’s Yahoo Fantasy Forecast episode dropped some illuminating insights.

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Let’s break down why Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon and Nate Tice believe the McMillan-Young duo could become fantasy dynamite.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

To start, Tice gushed about McMillan’s pro-readiness as a classic X receiver. The Panthers’ receiver room needed a genuine No. 1 target to stabilize the pecking order. As Harmon put it, McMillan can “bump everybody down to a more comfortable position, both from just a hierarchy, but also where they're going to line up in the receiver room.”

This gives the Panthers much-needed clarity and, more importantly, gives Young a true outside go-to threat. McMillan isn’t just a perimeter guy — he proved repeatedly on film he thrives on dig and in-breaking routes, excelling on “scramble drills” where he stays alive as a target for his QB.

Not all quarterbacks are created equal when it comes to supporting fantasy wideouts, especially rookies. While Young had his ups and downs in his rookie campaign, both Harmon and Tice see tangible reasons why his development points to a McMillan breakout.

Harmon pointed out that even though Young is a smaller QB, he “actually does operate the middle of the field really well,” a trait that matches McMillan’s best attributes. McMillan’s separation, especially on dig routes (where he posted above-average success in charting), lines up with what Young likes to throw, and on those critical, high-reward intermediate targets.

Additionally, Young, like No, 1 pick Cam Ward, is a QB who “likes to scramble, to throw ... he likes to run around and find throws.” McMillan, as noted by both hosts, shines on scramble drills and is adept at finding space when the play structure breaks down. That chemistry could mean big spike weeks for fantasy managers.

What also makes this pairing so tantalizing is the context. As Tice said, McMillan is going to be “the No. 1 receiver there.” There are complementary pieces, but McMillan is the target alpha — and that alone is significant for fantasy. And with a stronger offensive line, and a new staff making sound process moves, the Panthers offense is primed to take a leap. Tice even went so far as to say he sees Carolina being “at least a top-half unit, top-15, top-16 unit” on offense.

Both Harmon and Tice reminded us that not all rookie wideouts pop as instant superstars. We’ve become spoiled by chasing Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase-type breakouts. Even if McMillan’s start is more modest, the talent, role and fit all point toward a bet worth making.

“No matter what…I think he's going to make it in the league,” Tice said. “I don't think that's a bold statement. ... He's going to be the No. 1 receiver there. They have auxiliary options, but I think McMillan's going to hit the ground running.”

Dynasty managers looking for long-term value at the receiver position should be eagerly targeting McMillan — especially if they’ve already invested in or believe in Young’s emerging skillset.

Why? Because their games mesh perfectly: Young’s willingness (and ability) to operate over the middle and trust big receivers on in-breakers, McMillan’s route-running and scramble-drill polish, and the clear WR1 workload on a rising offense.

In short: The McMillan-Young pairing could be the exact kind of early dynasty connection you’ll want to plant your flag on before your league-mates catch up.