With players melting under the hot summer sun in training camp and the exhibition season officially here, The Gaming Juice’s resident daytrader Brad Evans, examines various player values. Who’s trending UP? Should you buy the hype? Check out this week’s portfolio below.
SIGN UP: Get the best player prop and game betting projections at BetAlytics. Use code "JUICE" for a special promo rate.
Matthew Golden, Packers, WR (ADP: WR48, 94.24) - The camp luster on Golden continues to shine -- and brightly.
On this loudmouth's Tuesday radio show, Packers insider Doug Russell called Golden "a stud," a player who's made antennae-raising plays practically everyday in camp. Jordan Love himself corroborated Russell's observations, tossing out an identical description to ESPN's Kevin Clark while also adding, "very aggressive hands, smooth route runner, he's got speed."
The praise isn't hyperbole. Last year with Texas, Golden posted a 100+ passer rating on six different routes, displaying eye-catching versatility and breakaway skills. No dawdling basset, the greyhound ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the Combine. Whether working inside or out, he should become Love's WR1 starting Week 1 versus division rival Detroit.
Yes his league-worst fantasy WR strength of schedule is a knock, but consider it only a slight downgrade. Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks will also wrest away occasional targets, but Golden -- similar to fellow former Longhorn and current Chief Xavier Worthy -- could immediately pay backers a lucrative dividend.
Moving up my fantasy WR ranks like an ascending rocket, he's a WR4 who could ultimately finish in the WR2 range in 12-team 0.5 PPR formats. A final line in range of 75-1050-7 is entirely reachable. He may not be the Brian Thomas or Ladd McConkey of 2025, but he's the closest thing.
Strike it rich in the middle rounds.
Tyrone Tracy, Giants, RB (ADP: RB31, 96.14) -- As discussed earlier this week, those who call Tyrone could land a profitable RB2 at an unfair price. Cam Skattebo's hamstring setback is worrisome. The latest reports from Giants camp remain very vague about his potential timetable to return. The valuable developmental time missed is sure to prove costly.
With Skattebo's early season impact minimized, Tracy is set to begin the regular season as the unrivaled RB1. How long he holds his grip on the primary ground gig, however, is the $64,000 question.
Tracy galloped as the lead horse down the homestretch in 2024. He registered at least 12 fantasy points in four of his last seven contests in half-point PPR formats. Most encouraging, he ranked a respectable RB29 in total missed tackles forced (34) and RB24 in yards created per touch (3.59). His 2.84 yards after contact per attempt wasn’t anything to write home about, but his 10 bolts of 15+ yards and 38 receptions should peak researchers’ attention.
Once healthy, Skattebo will eat into the opportunity share, possibly consuming some 30-35% of the backfield touches per game. New York’s likely translucent offensive line and league-worst fantasy RB strength of schedule are also undesirable deterrents.
Still, based on volume alone, Tracy could start fast. With road matchups against the Commanders and Cowboys, cracking the position's top 15 to start the season isn't the THC-infused beverages talking.
[ Gamer's Guide to the Gridiron: Fantasy football forecasts and NFL betting picks ]
Jordan Mason, Vikings, RB (ADP: 93.69, RB30) -- Minnesota's presumed second fiddle is likely to become one of the virtual game's premier goal-line gremlins. A reminder: Don't you ever feed him after midnight.
His tag-team partner Aaron Jones is the listed starter on Kevin O'Connell's initial depth chart, but as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently reported the Vikings backfield is a "genuine co-RB1 deal." Once the regular season launches, a 60-40 or near 50-50 backfield split could initialize. Jones investors are already pounding the Tylenol.
Interestingly, due to a lack of touchdowns (3 in 12 games), Mason logged an unremarkable 2024 campaign in San Francisco. He averaged a noteworthy 5.2 yards per carry, but his lack of end-zone splashes significantly suppressed his overall worth.
Despite the absent surface appeal, the former 49er bubbled under the surface. He placed at RB10 in yards after contact per attempt (3.35), RB25 in missed tackles forced (37) and ranked RB4 in overall explosive rating. And recall he missed four games due to a wrenched ankle.
There are unknowns tied to greenhorn QB JJ McCarthy. However, the Vikes' top 10 run-blocking line and overall plus offense should present ample red-zone opportunities for Minnesota's between-the-tackles masher. On a presumed 11-13 touches per game, he could tally 800+ yards and 7-9 scores this fall.
The discount price has evaporated, but going on average at RB30, Mason still has plenty of profit potential.
Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers, WR (ADP: WR37, 75.19) -- The compass reading on Ebuka hasn't budged. Since the start of training camp it's pointed in one direction and one direction only -- due north.
Buying into the deafening hype, fantasy drafters have extended go-go-gadget arms to acquire the rookie's services. Once available well outside the WR top-50, he's now nearly a required WR3 investment in 12-team exercises. And it's only August 8. He's one Preseason highlight away from entering the wide receiver ADP top-30 conversation. Seriously.
Liam Coen may have jetted to Jacksonville, but under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard Tampa's vertical assertiveness should continue to stay dialed up. Recall last year, Baker Mayfield ripped the fifth-most passes of any NFL QB (570).
Yes, Mike Evans is again set to operate as WR1 and Jalen McMillan will firmly be in the mix, but with uncertainty still surrounding Chris Godwin's status, Egbuka has favorable odds of earning a substantial snap share Week 1 at Atlanta. According to insiders, there's a growing belief Godwin misses at least the first couple weeks as he continues to recover from last season's gruesome ankle dislocation.
Mayfield, who recently called Egbuka "the real deal" on the New Heights podcast, is clearly bought in on the youngster's versatility and across-the-board execution. When considering Baker's brimming confidence and the WR's early season opportunity, the former Buckeye's price tag will only balloon.
At WR37, he's a bull market stock. All draft value could soon vanish. Still, in a nourishing offensive environment, he has the potential to make serious noise.