In fantasy football drafts, knowing who to dodge is just as crucial as picking the right stars. A couple of bad calls can throw your whole season off track.
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Here's my list of players I'm steering clear of based on their current Yahoo ADP in a 10-team, half-PPR league.
Round 1: Christian McCaffrey – RB, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey is still dominant when on the field, but his durability concerns make him a risky first-rounder. He's managed to play more than 10 games just three times in the past seven seasons and San Francisco wisely added Brian Robinson Jr. to help shoulder the load for the oft-injured, all-purpose back.
An expected reduction in touches combined with recurring injuries lowers his floor. With the eighth overall pick, managers should favor a wide receiver or go with a younger, safer workhorse back with less risk of missing games.
Round 2: De'Von Achane – RB, Miami Dolphins
Achane is a PPR monster, but drafting injured players is always a red flag. While the Dolphins are optimistic that Achane will be ready for Week 1, calf injuries carry a high risk of re-injury, and I want zero part of that in the second round, especially with Miami's offensive line in disarray.
If you're picking in the early-to-mid second round, I prefer Chase Brown, Bucky Irving and Jonathan Taylor over Achane. At this ADP, you're paying for ceiling production without the floor reliability that fantasy managers need in the second round.
Round 3: Tee Higgins – WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins always profiles as a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside if Ja'Marr Chase misses time. Still, injuries over the past two seasons have made Higgins inconsistent and unpredictable, making it difficult to trust him every week. His 24% target share last year ranked outside of the top-20 WRs. Plus, Higgins' 10 touchdowns in 12 games will likely regress.
Buying into the Bengals' offense is smart; however, several clear No. 1 WR options are going in the same range or later in fantasy drafts.
Round 4: Tyreek Hill – WR, Miami Dolphins
At 31, Hill is coming off his least productive season, and signs of decline are evident. Miami’s weak offensive line limits deep shots, forcing more short passes that undercut his trademark explosiveness.
With Tua Tagovailoa’s health concerns and off-field distractions adding risk, Hill no longer provides the weekly ceiling his Round 4 ADP demands. Drafting him here feels like paying for past production rather than current reliability. I'll pass.
Round 5: Breece Hall – RB, New York Jets
Hall has scored 17 total touchdowns over the past two seasons with over 1,300 scrimmage yards in each season, but 2025 brings new challenges. Second-year back Braelon Allen is pushing for touches, and Justin Fields' dual-threat style historically limits RB receiving volume — neutralizing Hall's biggest fantasy strength.
That combination raises serious floor concerns, as he risks losing carries, targets and goal-line work in what could devolve into a committee. Given the risk tied to his ADP, safer fifth-round options include Chuba Hubbard or Alvin Kamara, who both offer more stable workloads.
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Round 6: RJ Harvey – RB, Denver Broncos
Harvey should have his moment, but as it stands, he's behind veteran JK Dobbins on the Broncos' latest depth chart. Dobbins was outstanding for the Chargers last season and he'll likely command a majority of the early-down and goal-line carries behind the beast that is the Denver offensive line.
Given Dobbins' injury history, Harvey won't be a bad pick; however, it feels a bit early for an unproven player who, while dynamic with the ball in his hands, will be in a time-share and initially relegated to passing-down work.
Round 7: Rashee Rice – WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rice's situation makes him one of the riskiest mid-round WRs. His legal issues remain unresolved, with no timeline for his potential suspension. I can't afford to draft him without knowing when he'll play. I understand the upside — it's top-5 WR type of potential; however, winning in fantasy football is about surviving the week-to-week grind.
If there's clarity on the situation before your draft starts, then reassess, but I'd rather draft Xavier Worthy earlier. One caveat is that if you already secured a strong foundation at WR and you can afford Rice as your WR4, take it.
Round 8: Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Mixon is an easy fade in 2025. He'll miss at least four games, with limited information regarding his recovery timeline from his latest foot and ankle issues.
C.J. Stroud is already talking up Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks, casting even more doubt that Mixon is anywhere near being able to contribute in fantasy at the moment. His ADP is plummeting over the last week (105.8) — and likely to keep falling. Even at the discount, I just see more downside than upside in selecting a hurt player with minimal information about the significance of his injury.
Round 9: Chris Olave – WR, New Orleans Saints
Olave is talented, but his context makes him one of the riskiest WR picks in this range. Spencer Rattler is starting at quarterback (yuck), the offensive line is suspect and Olave has a history of concussions. The on-field talent is undeniable, but his long-term durability is a question mark that I'm not sure I want to pay for, even at a discount.
Kellen Moore could bring something out of this group, but it's generally good practice to draft players from teams with good offenses. The Saints are not that. Safer WR2/3 options exist on more stable offenses, making Olave a player to avoid.
Round 10: Brandon Aubrey - K, Dallas Cowboys
There's no reason to spend a 10th-round pick on a kicker. Kickers should be picked in the final two rounds of your draft, as there are far too many good players who can add valuable depth to your roster within the top-100 picks. Yes, Aubrey is the top-ranked kicker in fantasy, but you don't have to draft him this early.
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