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 six 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
DK Metcalf (WR – PIT)
Let’s play two truths and a lie. See if you can pick out the lie: Aaron Rodgers threw an interception on the first throw of camp, the Steelers’ offense looks functional and DK Metcalf has to text Rodgers before flushing the toilet to make sure he isn’t sleeping. Did you guess the lie? That’s right, this offense looks far from functional, making it a lie.
Metcalf is in this article as a result of the Rodgers-Metcalf highlights circulating. They are highlighted in so many videos, I’d be surprised if Rodgers throws to anyone else at camp. Considering the other options are Calvin Austin and Robert Woods, I’d probably do the same. Either way, these videos have undeservedly started to move Metcalf up draft boards.
I say it’s undeserved because there is a lot more that has to go right before Metcalf returns value on his WR21 average draft position (ADP). Last season, with Rodgers under center, Garrett Wilson (who I would argue is a much better player than Metcalf) was the WR23 in points per game. Although WR21 to WR23 is not a big difference, what is worrying is their different styles of play.
Metcalf thrives as an X receiver who can rely on his size and athleticism to overpower defensive backs. Wilson is more of a route-running tactician who can win all over the field. Last season, Rodgers averaged the 29th-most air yards per attempt (of quarterbacks who started 10+ games), and he also had the 21st-most completions of 30+ yards.
If you watched the Jets last season, I want to apologize. I also want to identify that Rodgers played each snap like he was terrified to get hit. As a result, many passes were thrown early, before receivers were able to get open or turn their head. Considering Metcalf was 12th in total air yards and averaged 21.4 air yards per reception, this is a major red flag.
What if Metcalf gets all the volume? This is one way to contradict his reliance on big plays; however, Rodgers isn’t the quarterback for that. Not only does Arthur Smith love his 2-TE sets, but he also loves to run the ball. Additionally, Rodgers is notorious for his slow pace of play. Let’s piece this together. We have a run-first team, with a quarterback who had the third-fewest offensive snaps per game in 2024, and he wants to get the ball out quickly. If you’re Metcalf, this is starting to look like an episode of Chopped — you’re trying to make lemonade out of bananas.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)
Will we finally see the Marvin Harrison Jr. we were all promised from the 2024 NFL Draft? Out of camp, all the reports are sounding like last year was just a glitch in the Matrix. At camp, Harrison has made a collection of impressive physical catches and crisp routes that have stunned defensive backs.
Cardinals beat writer Tyler Drake believes Harrison, “leads the way as one of Arizona’s top offensive standouts.” There is also reporter Theo Mackie, who has explicitly stated that “Harrison looked explosive in his first live reps of camp.” Why am I fading all the positive reports?
Harrison is sort of an anomaly for hype. Has he improved his contested catch ability and explosiveness? Probably. Am I buying into the hype? No. At no fault of Harrison’s, there is one key factor reports overlook: Kyler Murray.
With Trey McBride primed to be the top target on this team for the second year, Harrison is already limited to being the second option on this team. Additionally, based on quotes from the coaches, this Cardinals team is very committed to the run game; relying heavily on veteran back James Conner, who is coming off his most efficient season. Even last season, the Cardinals were 22nd in the league in offensive snaps per game and 22nd in passing attempts per game; this isn’t a high-volume passing offense. As a result, it’s already an uphill battle for Harrison to return value on his WR17 ADP.
As for Murray, we have all seen glimpses of brilliance, mixed with an embarrassing amount of turning down open players over the middle of the field. Thankfully, there is a chance that another offseason together will increase the chemistry between the two. Primarily, if Harrison can further adapt to Murray’s scrambling, it could kickstart a better season than 2024 for Harrison. However, if McBride begins to find the end zone, Harrison may regress from his team-leading eight receiving touchdowns in 2024.
I hope the reports of Harrison improving as a player come to fruition. He was a star in college and is related to a Hall of Fame receiver. Unfortunately, I believe there are too many variables that are out of his control, limiting his fantasy production.
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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