By Mason Riney

What’s going on, party people? It’s once again that time of the year when football is back in the air. Training camps are over, and the NFL Preseason is over. Final team cuts are being made, and the long stretch of waiting in the offseason has come to an end.

Every August, I sit down to write this article as both a reflection and a ritual. I see it as a way to revisit one of my favorite drafts of the year, FF7s. But this time, the process felt heavier than last season,  like I was walking into the draft room yelling, “I’m not gonna do what everyone thinks I’m gonna do… and freak out, man!” Except I kinda did. Last year’s draft broke me, and I felt it as I prepped for this one.

 You want to talk about last season? Last season, yeah, it was a total disaster. Christian McCaffrey was the cornerstone of my roster, and like so many others who leaned on him, I watched my fantasy team’s foundation crack when his and others’ injuries hit. To make matters worse, my quarterback room was a graveyard by the end of the fantasy season. Both of them (Cousins/Watson), injured, benched, or ineffective when I needed them most.

The only glimmer of hope was a late-season dart throw that landed: Bucky Irving. He became a serviceable RB option and salvaged my pride. But that was it. No playoff run. No upset wins. No FF7’s magic. No killer tie-dye T-shirt for winning my division.

With the bitter taste of defeat on the tip of my tongue from not only last season but the season before, I knew something needed to change in my draft strategy if I wanted to compete and put myself in a much better position to win fantasy games this season.

So, walking into the 2025 draft from the 1.08 spot in a 16-team Superflex format, I knew I needed a shift, not a full overhaul, but a smarter, more flexible approach. The league format still doesn’t require a tight end, but it does demand balance, depth, and some courage to take chances when they feel right. 

I didn’t come into this draft trying to outsmart the room; I came in trying to outlast it. In a 16-teamer, you can’t afford to be fragile. You need players with secure roles, upside that matters, and enough depth to survive the chaos that always finds us by Week 7. This year’s draft strategy wasn’t about chasing ceilings blindly; it was about building a roster that could absorb hits, make weekly noise, and still punch back when it counts. Because in FF7s, if you’re not careful, you’ll end up getting taken out early while the rest of the league moves on. FF7s, 2025 edition, let’s get into it.

FF7s CAUSE 

FF7s isn’t just a fantasy football league; it’s a movement with purpose. The league proudly raises awareness for the Kawasaki Kids Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting research, awareness, and family assistance for children affected by Kawasaki Disease, a rare and serious illness that can cause life-threatening heart complications if not diagnosed early. The foundation works tirelessly to promote early detection, fund cutting-edge research, and provide critical support for families navigating this challenging diagnosis.

By participating in FF7s, we’re not just playing for bragging rights; we’re supporting a meaningful cause while enjoying the game we love alongside friends, fantasy analysts, and passionate football minds from around the world.

Whether you’re a fantasy football junkie, a parent, or simply someone who believes in doing things for the greater good, I encourage you to visit the Kawasaki Kids Foundation donation page to learn more or make a contribution. Every dollar matters. Every heart matters. And together, through FF7s, we get to play for something bigger.

What is Kawasaki’s Disease?

Kawasaki Disease is a rare but serious illness that primarily affects children under the age of five. It causes widespread inflammation in the body, particularly targeting the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels, most notably, the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When left untreated, this inflammation can lead to severe complications such as coronary artery aneurysms, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), or long-term heart disease. In fact, Kawasaki Disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the United States.

Medically known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, the disease doesn’t just affect the heart. It also causes inflammation of the mucous membranes, skin, and lymph nodes, leading to symptoms such as a persistent high fever (lasting five or more days), rash, red eyes, cracked lips, a swollen tongue, and swollen hands or feet. A child may also experience extreme irritability or fatigue, which are signs that the body is fighting off something serious.

Because these symptoms can mimic other common illnesses, early diagnosis is essential. If Kawasaki Disease is identified quickly, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin therapy can significantly reduce the risk of lasting heart damage. Most children recover fully with proper and timely medical care. However, delays in treatment can lead to lifelong heart complications or, in rare cases, be life-threatening.

This is why awareness and education matter, and why organizations like the Kawasaki Kids Foundation are vital. They work not only to fund research and treatment innovation but also to provide emotional and financial support to families navigating this overwhelming diagnosis. The earlier Kawasaki Disease is recognized and treated, the greater the chance for a full, healthy recovery.

Scoring Settings

The scoring in this league is exceptionally unique. You can lose points for missed field goals depending on the distance, lose points if your team’s defense has a horrible showing, and even punt and kick return yardage points for those who keep an eye on returners. These are just a few examples of how intricate the scoring settings are. It’s easy to see that Commissioner Iggy took his time and utilized his knowledge and experience when he put these scoring settings together.

Iggy loves his IDP and has a lot of respect for players on both sides of the football field. That respect shows up in his equality between offensive and defensive player scoring. The IDP matches up very well with the offensive players in this league, so you have to know both sides of the ball to be successful. To me, this is how fantasy football should be played.

My 2025 FF7s Draft – Round-by-Round Reflections

Now I’ll dive into my draft and give a quick thought on each draft selection.

1.08 – Bijan Robinson (RB – ATL)
A no-brainer at this spot. Bijan should be the heart of the Falcons’ offense under Zac Robinson. After my McCaffrey heartbreak last year, I needed a young, healthy back with bell-cow potential. Bijan is that and more. The only way this pick isn’t going to work out is due to injury, and that’s out of my control. 

2.09 – Nico Collins (WR – HOU)
Collins is Stroud’s go-to, and he looked like a true WR1 last season. Grabbing him at the turn gave me a WR with weekly upside in a high-octane offense. Collins is currently ranked as the WR4 on FantasyPros.

3.08 – Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)
This might be the pick I come back to all year. The rookie hype was real, and MHJ has all the tools to be a star, but the elite numbers weren’t there last season. I’m banking on Kyler Murray staying healthy and the Cardinals’ offense taking a step forward this season, which leads to more opportunities for Harrison Jr.

4.09 – Michael Penix Jr. (QB – ATL)
Here’s where I may have rolled the dice too hard. I only drafted one quarterback in a Superflex league, a strategy I’d normally never endorse. This league has 16GM, so why not plant my flag on a player who I expect to turn some heads this season? A very risky play by me, drafting an unproven QB to lead this team. Perhaps I’ll add another QB via the waiver wire.

5.08 – D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
If Swift stays healthy, this could be a steal. Chicago is shifting toward a run-focused attack, and Swift’s versatility in the screen game keeps his floor alive. Ben Johnson coming to Chicago could help the veteran running back increase his weekly fantasy value.

6.09 – DK Metcalf (WR – PIT)
WR3 on my roster, but don’t let that fool you, DK is still a top talent. With veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers getting Metcalf the ball, I expect that the Steelers offense clicks, and he could outscore both Collins and Harrison in some weeks.

7.08 – Jamien Sherwood (LB – NYJ)
I’m higher on Sherwood than most. He flashed late last year, and with a clearer path to snaps, I see green dot potential. In a league that rewards IDP consistency, this could be a since value hit in the seventh as my first IDP selection. In 2024, Sherwood finished with over 1,000 defensive snaps, a pair of sacks, and over 150 combined tackles.

8.09 – Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
I’ve planted my flag. Pearsall has been “my guy” all offseason. With Deebo gone and Aiyuk’s future in flux, this is a Shanahan pick with long-term upside. At points during the preseason, Pearsall was one of three 49ers wideouts who weren’t injured. The ADP is as low as it’s ever going to be, and now I find myself in a position where I have insane value at wide receiver in this draft.

9.08 – Derwin James (DB – LAC)
James was too good to pass up here. Positional versatility, tackle upside, and game-changing plays make him a set-and-forget DB in IDP formats. I am usually one to fade defensive backs, but when the 1.01 of DBs is just hanging around in round nine, you’ve got to take the free points.

10.09 – Jack Campbell (LB – DET)
Still developing, but the Lions believe in him. Campbell might start the year slowly, but could become a reliable LB2 by midseason. I feel like IDP players have been anticipating the breakout of Campbell for two years now; perhaps the third time is the charm.

11.08 – Jeremiah Hines-Allen (DL – JAX)
I waited on DL and still landed a potential breakout guy. JHA brings burst and tenacity to a defensive front that should be on the field a lot. Great value at this point for my first DL. I currently have Allen ranked as the DL23 on the season. He’s a player who could provide a lot of points in a spike week, but does have potential for dead weeks, so I need to get a more consistent DL with my next two DL players.

12.09 – Travis Kelce (TE – KC)
No, we don’t need tight ends in this format. But Kelce in the 12th round? That’s not value, broski, that’s just straight disrespect. With the Chiefs’ WR room in flux, I expect Kelce to lead the team in targets for yet another year. I’ll gladly flex him any week I can. Post week eight, that man is a target monster, and I’ll gladly slot Kelce in my flex during the back half of the season or in case of another flex player’s injury.

13.08 – Devin Lloyd (LB – JAX)
Inconsistency plagued him in 2024, but the talent is undeniable. This was a depth add with upside, and I guess I’m all in on the Jaguars defense this year. Seriously, though, the Jags have one of the best 1-2 punches at linebacker in the entire league. In his three seasons in the league, Lloyd averaged a pair of sacks and just over 100 tackles a season in two of his three NFL seasons as a Jaguars linebacker.

14.09 – Cody Barton (LB – TEN)
If he sees snaps, he’ll rack up tackles. A solid bench stash in case of injuries or bye-week coverage. More of a consistency play with Barton, you know what you’re getting when you draft him, nothing too flashy, but he won’t lose you any weeks as a starter or IDP Flex play.

15.08 – Trey Benson (RB – ARI)
Round fifteen means it’s time to start handcuffing players. I liked this swing. Benson could carve out a role sooner than people think, especially if the Cards struggle with RB health early. I mean, Conner has to slow down at some point, right? 

16.09 – Xavier Legette (WR – CAR)
Raw but explosive (especially when throwing punches). The Panthers need someone to emerge in that WR room, and with the addition of the rookie wideout in Carolina and the Panthers shopping Thielen, I expect the team’s 2024 target leader to carve out a bigger role this season. Now he probably won’t finish in the WR top-10, but he does have the upside for big scoring weeks, and his target share on that team makes me love the pick even more this late in the draft. Worth the gamble.

17.08 – New York Jets (DEF)
This unit still boasts one of the league’s best secondaries, solid linebacker play, and the shell of a former tenacious pass rush. Solid late-round defense.

18.09 – Jake Moody (K – SF)
Homer pick? Maybe. Meh, you caught me red-handed, it’s definitely a homer pick. Moody could be cut by the end of the year, or be a top-5 kicker this year; there’s no in between. Also, he’s the only kicker’s jersey that I’ve ever owned and still wear to this day.

19.08 – Christian Rozeboom (LB – CAR)
This pick made me smile. Potential green dot linebacker that late in the draft? That’s gold. He’s the kind of IDP pick that wins weeks.

20.09 – Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX)
Final dart throw. Speedy back who could leap into relevance with just a couple of injuries ahead of him. Or possibly could emerge as the team’s RB1 this year if one of the other two Jaguars running backs is traded with the new regime. Another handcuff-ish draft selection.

Final Thoughts

I feel better about this team than I did a year ago, no question. It’s deeper, more flexible, and leans into calculated risks instead of desperate upside. Penix might burn me. Kelce might be washed. And Rozeboom could be buried on the depth chart.

But if things break right, this roster has real juice. Bijan could lead the league in touches. Collins and Metcalf offer weekly blow-up potential. If Marvin Harrison Jr. hits the ground running and Travis Kelce remains the heartbeat of the Chiefs’ offense, I’ll have a lethal receiving corps. On the IDP side, if Sherwood or Rozeboom truly wear the green dot, and Hines-Allen flashes on the edge, I’ll have elite production from the back half of my roster, something most teams in 16-man leagues struggle to find. This team doesn’t need everything to go right, but just a few key weeks, and I’m in the saddle for a successful season in a league with phenomenal people and a better cause.

But I digress because in August, every team looks good. Every pick has potential. And every drafter feels like a genius. FF7s is a grind, but it’s my kind of grind. The draft alone isn’t the way to season domination; the starting decisions and waiver wire transactions will decide my fate ultimately.

Let’s hope this roster holds up better than 2024. See you in the playoffs… maybe.