Pat Fitzmaurice · Jul 5, 2025
Fitzmaurice ranks Darren Waller around TE40, touts T.J. Higgins as a low-end WR1 value, Kenneth Walker as a top-12 back if healthy, Stefon Diggs in the ninth round, Drake Maye as a QB1 finisher with big rushing upside, Luther Burden as an ADP-beater, and Javonte Williams as Dallas's lead back.
“I think Drake May is going to give us a QB one fantasy finish this year.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
12 checkable claims from this
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
“and it seems like he's going to get the first crack at being the league guy for Dallas this year”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Javonte Williams
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- RB
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- rushing yards
- naive basis:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
“so I think Drake May is going to give us a QB one fantasy finish this year”
Scored 16.67a naive guess scored 0+33.33 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 33.33
- player:
- Drake Maye
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 16.67
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- QB
- ranked by:
- fantasy points
- difficulty:
- 2
- naive basis:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 22
- actual finish:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 12
“I think Drake May could get to eight hundred rushing yards based on how aggressively he ran in college.”
Scored 12.5a naive guess scored 25.8-26.6 skillHow this was scored
- naive:
- 283.05
- skill:
- -26.6
- what happened:
- 450
- player:
- Drake Maye
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 12.5
- baseline:
- 25.8
- predicted:
- 800
- statistic:
- rushing_yards
- difficulty:
- 2
- last season:
- 421
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- position average:
- 145.1
- zero at percent out:
- 50
“If we get ninety percent of that sort of production, and we can get it in the ninth round of drafts, like sign me up”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- call:
- sleeper
- cost:
- the ninth round of drafts
- naive:
- the draft market was right and he returned about what he cost
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Stefon Diggs
- season:
- 2025
- correct:
- true
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- WR
- cost round:
- 9
- had to beat:
- WR36
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual finish:
- WR24
- weeks left when called:
- 18
“And like, who of the Falcons added at wide receiver in the off season, it's gonna be like Ray Ray McCloud is the number three”
Scored 75a naive guess scored 75+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- NYG
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Ray-Ray McCloud
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 75
- baseline:
- 75
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 3
- actual slot:
- 6
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- receptions
- naive basis:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
“Obviously, stay healthy, give us sixteen or seventeen games. If he does that, I think he's gonna finish as a top twelve running back.”
Scored 25a naive guess scored 33.33-16.67 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- -16.67
- player:
- Kenneth Walker III
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 25
- baseline:
- 33.33
- position:
- RB
- ranked by:
- fantasy points
- difficulty:
- 2
- naive basis:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 29
- actual finish:
- 21
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 12
“So what is it that has to go right for Kenneth Walker to return? A nice profit on his mid fourth round cost.”
Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- call:
- sleeper
- cost:
- his mid fourth round cost
- naive:
- the draft market was right and he returned about what he cost
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Kenneth Walker III
- season:
- 2025
- correct:
- false
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- RB
- cost round:
- 4
- had to beat:
- RB12
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual finish:
- RB21
- weeks left when called:
- 18
“When I plugged him into the rankings this morning, I think it was a tight end forty.”
Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Darren Waller
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- TE
- ranked by:
- fantasy points
- difficulty:
- 2
- naive basis:
- no prior season — the startable tier at TE
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 12
- actual finish:
- 27
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 40
- Sleeper CallsLuther Burden IIIChicago BearsJul 5, 2025
“If Luthor Burton is the Bears primary slot man and things start to click for Caleb Williams, like Burton could dramatically OutKick his ADP”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Sleeper CallsDrake MayeNew England PatriotsJul 5, 2025
“you think there's massive upside at QB sixteen with Drake May... I have him at QB eight, and that is really aggressive.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Sleeper CallsTee HigginsCincinnati BengalsJul 5, 2025
“He's currently what wide receiver thirteen... but now I've got him ranked as a low end wide receiver one. He's my wide receiver twelve, number twenty four overall... here's why t Higgins has such vast upside and why I think you should proactively draft him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Sleeper CallsDarnell MooneyAtlanta FalconsJul 5, 2025
“there is room for London, Pits and Mooney to all return a profit, I think at their current prices... So yes, I love this call.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.