Navigating your fantasy football draft can be tricky, especially when certain players come with more risk than reward. To help you dodge potential pitfalls, we’ve gathered insights from our collection of Featured Pros to highlight the biggest 2025 draft landmines to avoid. These are the players our fantasy football experts believe are overvalued, injury risks, or simply unlikely to live up to their ADP this season. Before you make a costly mistake on draft day, check out who the pros are steering clear of-and why.
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Fantasy Football Draft Landmines to Avoid
What one RB inside the top 50 in our consensus ADP do you plan on avoiding in all or most of your drafts relative to their price and why?
James Cook (RB – BUF)
“James Cook is the man you need to avoid. Just look through recent history (Josh Jacobs with Oakland,Le’Veon Bell with the Jets ) to see what happens with running backs who hold out. The injury risk increases due to a lack of conditioning, as well as a regression that is baked into James Cook’s cost due to his high TD total from last year.”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)
“James Cook is currently going as the RB14 but is due for a major regression on his touchdown totals due to the offense and his size. He ranked just 19th in rush attempts, and his receiving stats were below average, with the 32nd most targets for running backs. The touchdowns were the only total putting him up anywhere near that mark, and in his previous 2 years, he had just two rushing TDs each. When you add in contract disputes similar to Melvin Gordon and Le’Veon Bell, there is major downside if he misses extended time.”
– Justin Weigal (FantasySharks)
“Fantasy players should avoid drafting James Cook anywhere near his RB14 ADP. Last year, the former Georgia star finished as the RB8, averaging 15.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 16 rushing touchdowns and 18 offensive scores. However, he had only four rushing touchdowns and nine offensive scores over his first two seasons in the NFL. Furthermore, Cook saw a decline in rushing attempts (13.9 vs. 12.9) and yards (66 vs. 63.1) per game from 2023 to 2024, as the Bills gave Ray Davis a meaningful workload. More importantly, he and the team are in the middle of rocky contract talks, leading to the veteran holding in at training camp. Kenneth Walker III and Alvin Kamara have a later ADP than Cook. Yet, I will draft both well before the former Georgia star.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“James Cook. The contract impasse is obviously a turnoff. And Cook is due for a haircut in touchdowns after scoring 18 of them last season, when he had totaled nine TDs over the previous two years. The Bills’ offense has an “everybody eats” ethos, which means that RBs Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are going to get snaps and touches, too. With a third-round ADP, Cook seems overpriced.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“I would have probably picked James Cook here before his hold out/in, but even more so now. Cook’s production last year and value this year are based heavily on his 16 rushing TDs last year. In 2023, he had 237 carries and scored two rushing TDs. This is likely to regress to the mean, with his rushing yards and medium pass catching role not able to save his production relative to his ADP. With the holdout, his chances of missing games and early-season injury are increased as well.”
– Jay Wood (Daily Dynasties)
“James Cook is a great running back in the Buffalo Bills’ system. He is shifty and quick, which complements Josh Allen‘s power very well. Last year, he had a stellar season, which was highlighted by 18 total touchdowns! His receiving numbers were down, and he is currently “holding in” for a new contract, which raises red flags for the start of 2025. While James Cook is a decent running back, he isn’t a player I would want to hinge my fantasy backfield on, as touchdowns aren’t a static stat and more than likely are going to regress significantly this year. I would take him a few rounds later, but the 3rd round is too high a cost to invest in a player whose owners will need to be one of the top 3 players on your fantasy team.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“Nothing surrounding James Cook is remotely promising heading into 2025. For one, massive statistical regression was already in store after 18 total touchdowns in 2024. Prior to that, Cook only amassed nine touchdowns total from 2022 to 2023. Now, Cook is in the midst of an ongoing contract dispute with the Buffalo Bills, with no signs that a deal is remotely close. The Bills also have Ray Davis, who is ready to go at a moment’s notice, and that offense may not miss a beat with him as their RB1 over Cook. Unless Cook signs a contract, and soon, this feels like a massive fade for fantasy managers.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“According to FantasyPoints, no RB outproduced their expected TDs per game more than James Cook last year. The sudden influx of scoring, a previous weak spot of Cook, covered up shortcomings in his performance, such as barely surpassing 1000 rushing yards in 16 games, and only catching 33 passes. Cook, likely due to his build, is thought of much more as a pass catcher than he truly is. For reference, Kyren Williams caught 34 passes last year, which is considered a weakness in his profile. Additionally, the Bills’ usage of multiple RBs holds Cook back from receiving anything near workhorse usage. This leaves touchdowns as his only true path to fantasy stardom; he likely needs to be efficient with the work he gets in order to pay off his ADP, with little room for upside barring injuries.”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)
“I’ve tried for months now, but I just can’t get in on De’Von Achane, RB7 and 14th overall. Not only does that feel like his absolute ceiling, but I think his floor is very scary in terms of production. The Dolphins seem to be a team in disarray, and rarely does that translate to positive RB performance. I’m much happier taking almost any other RB as my RB1 and even as my RB2. Will Tua play the whole season? Does Tyreek still have it? Is Waddle the real deal? There’s no way to know any of the answers, so I am out on Achane until we do.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
“I love De’Von Achane as a talent. My concern is that the Miami Dolphins have done little to nothing to improve their offensive line. At his best, Achane has the highlight-reel talent to produce an RB1 season, the Dolphins just haven’t done enough to build around his talent. Achane is a best-ball only player in my estimation, given his all-or-nothing production that featured nine RB1 games and six finishes at RB24 or worse in PPR.”
– Matt De Lima (Athlon Sports)
Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)
“I can’t get excited about ever clicking Kyren Williams’ name in drafts. Last year, Williams pulled off his best yesteryear Rachaad White or Leonard Fournette impression. A volume gobbling inefficient back who turned in an RB1 season (RB10). Williams ranked first in snap share, second in opportunity share, and first in red zone touches. Williams had 350 touches and 1,481 total yards. With all that said, Williams was one of the most inefficient-per-touch backs in the NFL. Among 46 qualifying backs, he ranked 44th in explosive run rate, 37th in missed tackle rate, and 40th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Williams could retain his stranglehold on the volume again in a contract year, but it’s also possible that Blake Corum or Jarquez Hunter could eat into his workload. Williams is a top 15-20 running back who could easily be an RB1 again or see his stock come crashing down.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)
“I’m just not drafting Josh Jacobs this year. I get it. Jacobs is going to find the end zone plenty, and his team is going to move the ball. He was the pinnacle of health last year and, should that repeat itself, he’ll once again have RB1 numbers to his credit. The problem is that Jacobs is 27 years old with 327 touches just a year ago, the second-most of his career. Green Bay also drafted two new offensive weapons and should have a healthier (maybe) MarShawn Lloyd to keep Jacobs fresh. He volumed his way to a PPR RB6 finish in 2024, but I’d much rather have Brock Bowers, Drake London, or Chase Brown this season. His mid-2nd price tag is just too steep for me.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Bucky Irving (RB – TB)
“Bucky Irving was a league winner in 2024, seizing the opportunity late in the year. But his usage spiked only after Rachaad White got injured, and White is healthy coming into the 2025 season. Irving likely earned a significant role in 2025. But White is the better pass-catcher, pushing Irving into what could be an early-down and goal-line role. Those players are reliant on big plays and touchdowns, making it very hard to justify spending a second-round pick on him.”
– Dave Kluge (Footballguys)
“Bucky Irving is a top 50 running back I’m avoiding in most drafts relative to his ADP. He’s currently going off the board as RB9 (18th overall), but Tampa Bay’s early-season schedule is a gauntlet: Falcons, Texans, Jets, Eagles, 49ers, Seahawks, and Lions in the first seven weeks. I love Irving as a talent; he’s explosive, efficient, and a legit PPR asset, but this fade is strictly schedule-based. Even with Rachaad White no longer a factor, I’m not eager to invest a second-round pick in a player who could struggle to find the end zone early. Unless he slips past the second round, I’m letting someone else take on the volatility.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Aaron Jones (RB – MIN)
“Aaron Jones, the Vikings have been looking to add an RB and make a committee for a while. With Jordan Mason in the mix, he would take a good amount of touches.”
– Alejandro Orellana (Estadio Fantasy)
Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI)
“I cannot believe I am saying this, but for me, it is Saquon Barkley. Look, I love Saquon’s game. But history doesn’t lie. Every RB who’s rushed for 2,000 yards has dropped significantly the following year – and Saquon just had the most carries in his career. I’m not saying he won’t be productive, but I’m not drafting him as the first RB off the board. The risk of regression is real, and taking him as a top 2 pick worries me. Give me a younger RB like Bijan or Gibbs instead at the #2 pick.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)
“Only two RBs finished as RB1s the following year after leading the NFL in touches since 2013. Of the last 12 RBs with 400+ touches the previous season, only one of those RBs was a top-5 fantasy RB the next year. RBs aged 27+ who led the NFL in touches: 5 times and zero top-5 finishes the following year. Trust the process of fading Saquon Barkley off the massive workload. It worked with fading Christian McCaffrey in 2024. I’d much rather bet on some of the younger RBs entering their uber primes between Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs or the plethora of high-end Round 1 WRs.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)
“Breece Hall is still being valued pretty high for a guy who is no longer a bell cow RB. In fact, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has hinted at an RBBC, comprising Hall and Braelon Allen, where Allen gets the short-yardage and potential goal-line touches. Glenn said, “With Braelon, a 240-pound man that’s always falling forward. Listen, that’s where he’s going to make his money.” In addition, it’s hard to imagine Hall’s reception total going up without Aaron Rodgers at QB. Justin Fields is younger and faster, and much more likely to take off and run when there is pressure rather than dumping off a pass to his RB in the flat. Hall’s 2025 fantasy outlook seems risky given his expensive price tag (current ADP at RB 13).”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV)
“Ashton Jeanty may have all the tools, but the price tag is way too rich for a rookie who is going from playing against San Jose State, to now the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, two times a year each! I am not spending a 1st round pick on a player with zero NFL reps on a last-place team, and even in Round 2, I would rather draft proven superstars. There is no denying Jeanty’s upside, but he is stepping into a bad situation. Geno Smith is on his last contract and leading what looks like a last-place team. This situation does not sound like how I want to watch my Football Sundays this season with my franchise RB1.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
“Battle lines are drawn. I love comeback stories. I don’t like chalk. Our whole business is outthinking the room, right? So, I’m eschewing the selection of Christian McCaffrey in the top 10 (ADP 8). Mid offensive line and obviously injury concerns. Workload? Explosiveness? I guess I can pile up receptions on hot routes … but I’ll look elsewhere.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)
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