3 Players We’re Never Drafting Again (2026 Fantasy Football)

It’s early February, which means fantasy football takes are supposed to be loud, definitive, and at least a little reckless. On the FantasyPros show, Andrew Erickson went full “never again” with three names that are going to make plenty of drafters squirm. The common thread is simple: the cost is still premium, but the risk profile is creeping into “why am I doing this to myself?” territory. Below are the three players Erickson flagged as potential fantasy football busts at cost, plus the pivots he’d rather draft instead.

Fantasy Football Busts to Avoid

Here are three players we’re avoiding at draft cost and alternative fantasy football picks to target in the same range.

Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)

McCaffrey was the ultimate “don’t overthink it” pick in 2025. He paid off as the RB1. That’s also the problem.

Erickson’s concern is the classic running back cliff, and it’s not subtle here. McCaffrey handled an outrageous workload: 413 regular-season touches, and about 450 including the playoffs (per the pod). He turns 30 in June, and the show noted his rushing efficiency already dipped last season, even if the receiving stayed elite.

The bigger red flag is that McCaffrey himself has hinted at being more open to a committee approach after absorbing that kind of mileage. Whether that becomes a true split or just slightly managed volume, it matters because you’re still paying top-five RB pricing.

Erickson also points to historical hit rate: backs who cross the 400-touch line rarely come back the next year and finish as top-five fantasy RBs. The nightmare outcome is not just “he’s worse,” it’s “he’s fine, but not worth the opportunity cost,” which is how first-rounders ruin builds.

Who to draft instead: Erickson’s preferred pivot is James Cook. The logic: you get a 26-year-old back in his prime, attached to Josh Allen and an efficient offense, without paying for the scary age/workload profile.

Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)

The Hurts case is less about “he’s bad” and more about “the price assumes the best version of him.” Erickson’s frustration starts with constant coordinator turnover and the uncertainty that comes with yet another new offensive voice. The show also framed it as a weird offseason vibe: not much buzz around the OC job, and a hire that feels more unknown than stabilizing.

From a fantasy lens, the key stat is this: over the past two seasons, Hurts has been more “very good” than “true difference-maker,” finishing around QB7-QB8 levels and under 20 points per game (per the pod). That’s dangerous when he’s drafted as a top-six QB, because you’re paying for an edge you may not actually get.

And if the signature short-yardage rushing boost gets reduced (the show speculates the tush push could eventually be legislated out), then you’re left needing more passing consistency. That’s exactly where the weekly frustration tends to live.

Who to draft instead: Erickson would rather chase the rising pocket passers (Justin Herbert) or younger, ascendant options mentioned on the show like Caleb Williams and Jackson Dart, especially if you’re already planning to avoid the “middle tier” at QB.

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX)

This one is spicy because the talent is real, and he’s young. Even the host pushed back a bit on “never again,” mainly because the price could drop into a range where you can tolerate the volatility.

Erickson’s argument is specifically about the connection with Trevor Lawrence. In the show’s framing, even when Thomas was healthy in 2025, he didn’t consistently look like the focal point of the passing game. Meanwhile, other targets in Jacksonville seemed to click more naturally with Lawrence, including slot/underneath types and even midseason additions (as discussed on the pod).

So the fear is that drafters keep buying the “Year 3 leap” storyline while ignoring a simpler possibility: the chemistry just isn’t there, and the offense doesn’t naturally funnel through him.

Erickson did leave the escape hatch: if Thomas gets traded, he’s suddenly much more draftable. But as long as the bet is “Lawrence finally makes this work,” he’s out.

Who to draft instead: Ricky Pearsall is the preferred pivot in that general range. The show cited strong per-game production when healthy and painted a plausible path where Pearsall becomes a top target in San Francisco if the depth chart thins out.