As we get closer and closer to training camp, we’re about to enter the time of the year when fantasy football average draft position (ADP) fluctuates greater than at any other time. One little bit of news can send players rocketing up draftboards, and we have to face the fact that injuries could very well start impacting things sooner than we’d like. This time becomes crucial for making smart decisions in drafts. Here are four players to avoid at current ADP on Underdog.
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Fantasy Football Players to Avoid
Players to Avoid
Anthony Richardson (QB – IND) | ADP: 202.9
We enter year three of the Anthony Richardson era with no clearer idea of whether he can be a quality starting NFL quarterback or not. His 47.7% completion percentage is the lowest of any quarterback with 250 dropbacks since 2001, with this rate below even Tim Tebow’s worst season.
In retrospect, it looks like selecting Anthony Richardson 4th overall was a terrible decision. I don’t think the Colts handled developing him particularly well, though. I’m pessimistic about his ability regardless, but we may never know what he could have been.
— Wyatt ???? (@WyattB_FF) June 30, 2025
The Colts’ coaching staff looks to be on the hot seat, and prioritizing wins now with Daniel Jones makes plenty of sense. Another thought that Andrew Erickson recently pondered is what if the Colts use Tyler Warren in goal-line packages? Like he was in college. This would help to keep the quarterback safe from high injury situations, and would eat into Richardson’s upside if he were on the field.
Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC) | ADP: 18.5
The 2024 season ended well for Ladd McConkey with an excellent performance against the Texans, totalling 9/197/1 as the Chargers crashed out. However, it’s tricky not to take a wider view of the situation and have some apprehension about his situation heading into 2025.
The Chargers jettisoned both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards from the roster, prioritizing running backs in both free agency and the NFL Draft. We’ve seen consistently over the years that given the chance, Greg Roman will lean into a run-heavy offense. While people can point to that not making as much sense with Justin Herbert, we’re seeing now with Lamar Jackson free from Roman, that this doesn’t necessarily correlate.
McConkey likely continues to play efficiently, but if there’s a drop in passing volume, it could severely hurt rosters that draft McConkey this high. He’s an easier click on full PPR sites, rather than Underdog.
Terry McLaurin (WR – WSH) | ADP: 31.8
One of the situations that will generate the most headlines in the coming days is the contract standoff between the Commanders and Terry McLaurin. The Commanders’ No. 1 WR is entering the last year of his contract with less than $3 million in guarantees remaining and coming off a career-high 13 touchdowns; his desire for a new contract is understandable.
Those 13 touchdowns, though, are cause for concern. McLaurin ranked second among wideouts in touchdowns scored but 15th in receptions, 12th in yards and 26th in yards per route run (YPRR). It’s very easy to see his fantasy output regressing if he’s unable to keep the touchdowns flowing. If this contract situation continues to be acrimonious, his price could drop to a more palatable place.
Jonnu Smith (TE – PIT) | ADP: 148.5
It’s always easier for players to climb in fantasy football ADP than fall. This is because auto-drafters scoop them up as they go along, and there’s a psychology to seeing a player falling and constantly being at the top of your queue that forces people to think they should now be clicking on that player.
Jonnu Smith has fallen nearly 50 spots in ADP in the last couple of months, but it still might not be far enough. Smith is coming off a clear outlier season in his seven-year career, with 2024 the only time he’d been above 600 yards or 50 receptions. It was also only the second time he’d scored more than four touchdowns.
A lot has been made about how Arthur Smith wanted to reunite with Smith for the third time in their careers after previous spells in Tennessee and Atlanta, but those weren’t great times for Smith’s fantasy relevance. Furthermore, we know this offense is going to run through what Aaron Rodgers wants. Would it be that surprising if he leaned towards Pat Freiermuth as his preferred target? The Steelers’ pass-catchers are a situation we don’t need to subject ourselves to.
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