Much like roller coasters, not all hype trains are safe to get on. If you get on the wrong one, it can be devastating to your team’s success and ultimately your morale over the NFL season. Let’s try to keep everyone happy and avoid the dangerous rides. Earlier this week, I released an article on which hyped players I believed in. That article highlighted players such as Emeka Egbuka, Anthony Richardson and Dont’e Thornton. This time, I’m scouring the reports and finding which players are being subject to unprecedented hype by the fantasy football community.
Now is the most exciting and most dangerous time for fantasy football managers. This is where we start to solidify our opinions on certain players and take action in our drafts. Without further ado, here are overhyped players you should fade.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Overhyped Fantasy Football Players: Running Backs
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)
Before I get negative, I want to give Jacory Croskey-Merritt some love. The seventh round back out of Arizona has been making some splashes at camp. Considering he was buried behind Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols, this is impressive. Unfortunately, I think the hype is getting out of control.
The hype I am referring to is the reports that he was running with the first team during two-minute drills. This was quickly recirculated to say “he is running with the first team.” Although this isn’t a negative thing, we need to pump the brakes on the excitement. Despite this, beat reporter Josh Taylor states he doesn’t “see him being a starter this season unless Brian Robinson Jr. gets hurt.”
At this point in camp, many rookies may receive snaps with the starters in order for coaches to get a better sense of their skill set. From the coach’s perspective, seeing them compete with and against individuals they know well is a great litmus test. Coaches also want to see what these players can do when surrounded by and going up against NFL talent.
If Croskey-Merritt continues to run with the first team as we end August, the hype train will be — and should be — full steam ahead. However, at this point, it’s too big a jump to predict that Robinson or Ekeler are on the hot seat. In dynasty, I would be intrigued; however, I am not selecting Croskey-Merritt in any other format.
Jaydon Blue (RB – DAL)
Much like Jacory Croskey-Merritt above, I want to give Jaydon Blue some love. The fifth-round pick out of Texas has been turning heads in camp. Considering this backfield is wide open, his explosive ability is very intriguing for fantasy.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe the reports are doing justice to what is happening at camp. After the coaching staff liked what they had seen in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, Blue began to take reps with the starters. It is also important to note that the Cowboys have yet to have full tackling practices, as per Jon Machota. When you are a sub-200-pound back that runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, it’s the perfect time to show off your abilities.
It’s not that I don’t believe Blue can be a valuable piece for fantasy, I am just skeptical he will be a weekly play and take over this backfield. I believe the absolute best case scenario for the rookie is to mimic the Tony Pollard role with Williams and Sanders sharing the Ezekiel Elliott role.
Aaron Jones (RB – MIN) & Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)
For this last selection, I’m taking a different approach. I am buying everything that is coming out of camp about these two players splitting the work 50-50. Whether you want to call this hype for Jordan Mason or Aaron Jones is your prerogative. What I want to address is how I believe these reports are cold water for both options.
Each back has unique skills that complement each other. All reports and quotes from the coaches suggest Jones is the passing and big-play back, with Mason being utilized in short-yardage situations. This isn’t a surprise as Jones is a proven receiving threat who had negative two yards and three touchdowns on his 13 attempts inside the 5-yard line. That’s not good.
Mason is already the better power runner, and the interior offensive line has made improvements this offseason. As a result, Jones’ abysmal production last season makes me believe it’s too late to fend off Mason for those touches. These backs will galvanize each other, and I fear it will be a coin toss (weighted in Mason’s favour) of who finds the end zone each week.
Furthermore, how many touchdowns will there be to go around? Despite the Vikings being a top-10 scoring offense in 2024, J.J. McCarthy is now under center. Say what you will about Sam Darnold, but it would be an all-time first-season performance if McCarthy can fill those shoes. As a general statement, offenses that are led by first-year quarterbacks score fewer points. Add that to having the second-best wide receiver in the league (behind Ja’Marr Chase), a fully healthy T.J. Hockenson and touchdown savant Jordan Addison; this offense gets crowded quickly.
Of the two, I prefer Jones in fantasy, as he is the more proven back with the passing work. However, if Mason vultures the majority of the goal-line work, it’s tough to see either back finishing in the top 24 at the position.
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