In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by New Era:
Aaron Rodgers is BACK. No, no, he hasn't signed with a team or anything like that, but he is back on our screens and back stirring up some drama just days before the NFL Draft. We knew he was going to pop up eventually during the offseason, but did we get any actual, clear answers?
Of course not.
During The Pat McAfee Show, the free agent tried to set the record "straight" as best he could:
"From the jump, I'm in a different phase of my life. I'm 41 years old, I'm in a serious relationship, I have personal commitments I've made ... and people in my inner circle battling difficult stuff. To make a commitment to a team is a big thing."
The big takeaway from Rodgers' appearance was really there is no update. While he still has not chosen a team, he is also not ruling out the retirement option.
“I’m open to anything and attached to nothing. Retirement still could be a possibility, but right now my focus has been and will continue to be on my personal life.”
Kendall: Ah yes, we knew Rodgers couldn't stay out of the spotlight for too long! There were a couple of interesting notes during his appearance on Pat McAfee's show, though.
First, the relationship between him and the new Jets regime didn't take long to sour. Back in February, there were reports that Rodgers flew to meet with the new Jets coaching staff, but when he was meeting with Aaron Glenn (according to Rodgers), Glenn "ran out of the room" to get general manager Darren Mougey, and overall, the conversation lasted about 15 minutes.
The bigger takeaway was that Rodgers is still open to playing in 2025 and that he and Mike Tomlin have been having conversations, but he doesn't feel obligated to run with any timelines:
"This entire time, I haven't felt like I owed anybody a decision at any point … I've said listen, if you need to move on and do something, love and respect. But there's been no deadline. I've talked to Mike T many times."
Keep your head up, Steelers fan. There's still hope? Maybe … there’ve been murmurs of Jaxson Dart at pick 21, but based on these rankings, even that feels like a bit of a reach.
Adam: There was no big update, but Rodgers did get the spotlight, and he was clearly bothered by the way the Jets dismissed him. He confirmed he had talks with the Giants, Steelers, and Vikings. The Giants have signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, and the Vikings seem committed to J.J. McCarthy.
The Steelers need a quarterback and Rodgers said he’s still in contact with them, but has given them no timeline with the NFL Draft less than one week away, and said the draft will have no impact on his plans. Rodgers said it wasn’t about the money and told teams he would play for $10 million.
“I'm not holding anybody hostage,” Rodgers said. “I really want to emphasize that. I've been up front from the beginning. … I don't think it was fair to the Steelers or anyone to make a decision while I'm dealing with a lot off the field."
We did find out Rodgers loves DK Metcalf after he threw to him at a recent workout at UCLA. Rodgers is open to anything, not close to a decision, and could retire. Thanks for the clarity, A-aron.
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Early Draft-Day Mistakes To Avoid
With the NFL Draft less than a week away, it's crunch time for getting in our final entries for the way-too-early best ball contests.
Peter Overzet has recently been putting his money where his mouth is in the high-stakes contests on Underdog, specifically the $250 contest called The Biggest Board.
The dynamics of high-stakes fantasy football drafting require some slight strategic shifts that are important to keep in mind as we approach the heart of draft season this summer.
Pete identified four key lessons from these high-stakes drafts …
- Don’t wait on QBs: the avalanche is real … and terrifying.
- Prioritize elite RBs … within reason.
- Show slightly less rookie love than normal
- Avoid RB landmines in the middle rounds
OK, so when does the QB avalanche happen? Who are the best elite RBs to target? And the mid-round running backs to avoid?
So many questions, and thankfully, all of your answers are a click away. 👇
The Worst Decision-Making Franchises in the NFL?
Understanding the “why” or “how” behind player selection is what makes a stronger drafter. For fantasy managers, it could be which rookie you bet on or a veteran you knew to avoid.
Real GMs can have similar processes, but deal with the highs and lows of fighting for a championship. And by taking a look back at the last 10 seasons, we can see how some teams continue to stay on the outside of contention every year.
When doing so, three main pillars stuck out as commonalities among teams struggling to contend:
- High draft picks
- Over- or under-spending in free agency
- Fighting with Father Time
I’m sure you can already guess a handful of teams that fit the bill, but others may come as a bit of a surprise. 👀⬇️
The latest analysis and insights from our merry band of football nerds:
🎉 500 player comps for the 2025 draft … right-handed Tim Tebow, a poor man’s Tua Tagovailoa, and more.
📺 Speaking of the player comps, a handful need to be touched on more in-depth.
🤔 Would you rather hold the 1.03 in rookie drafts or Michael Penix Jr.? Worth a debate.
😰 One of the most polarizing players in the draft is falling down the board. Buying or selling the rumor?
🤯 Speaking of QBs, this one could be a surprise first-round pick.
👀 Did Travis Hunter just leak what team he’s going to play for? Cooterdoodle is on the case.
😅 Wait what?? This WR is older than you think.
🎁 Why does Thor go to 500 players?
