FantasyPros Staff | Tue, Feb 10th 2026, 7:08am EST

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

It’s early February, which means we’re still months away from peak draft season. But this is the exact time of year when sharp fantasy managers start drawing hard lines in the sand. Not because ADP is stable (it isn’t), but because the warning signs are already there. In this episode, Andrew Erickson went full hyperbole mode and named three players he’s basically done with in fantasy drafts. The common thread is simple: cost vs. downside. These aren’t bad players. In some cases, they’re great players. But at their typical price points, the path to frustration is way too easy to see.

Fantasy Football Players We’re Avoiding

Let’s break down the three “never again” names, why they’re on the list, and the alternatives Erickson would rather draft in 2026 redraft fantasy football leagues.

Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)

McCaffrey is the hardest name to put in this bucket because the ceiling is still obvious. When he’s healthy and featured, he’s the best cheat code in fantasy football. The problem is that we’ve seen this movie with running backs over and over: massive workload season, age curve hits, efficiency slips, and suddenly the “safest” first-rounder becomes a landmine.

Erickson’s concern is workload, age, and what the team itself is signaling. McCaffrey piled up an enormous touch count in 2025, and he turns 30 in June. Even if the receiving production stays strong, the rushing efficiency slipping is the kind of early indicator that makes you nervous at full freight.

The other factor is what happens if you pass on him this year. If you’re already hesitant to click his name in 2026, it gets even harder to justify in 2027 when he’s 31 and the tread is thinner. That’s when “still elite” turns into “why did I do this?”

Warmly’s pushback was basically: at his early cost, if you miss on the elite young RBs, you’re probably just taking an anchor wide receiver instead. And honestly, that’s the cleanest way to play it. Early-round running backs need to be special. They also need to be stable. McCaffrey can be special, but stability is where the argument falls apart.

Draft Instead: James Cook (RB – BUF)

The alternative Erickson prefers is Cook, and the logic is pretty straightforward: prime age, prime offense, and a role that still has room to expand.

Cook has become the rare back who keeps proving people wrong. If the Bills keep leaning into him as a centerpiece, the combination of efficiency and scoring chances can keep him in that top-six running back conversation. The argument isn’t that Cook has McCaffrey’s ceiling. It’s that he has a clearer path to paying off his price without the “fall off a cliff” risk.

If you’re drafting in early 2026 and deciding between an aging, ultra-used superstar and a younger back tied to an elite offense, it’s not crazy to take the boring answer and move on.

Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)

Hurts is a classic “dead zone” quarterback problem.

He’s not priced like an elite difference-maker, but he’s priced like you’re supposed to treat him as one. That’s the trap. If Hurts goes as a top-six QB and finishes closer to QB10, you didn’t get an advantage. You just paid extra for the comfort of picking earlier.

Erickson’s biggest issue is volatility and uncertainty. Another new offensive coordinator. A passing offense that can look clunky for stretches. And the fear that Hurts’ fantasy value is being propped up by rushing touchdowns that might not be as bankable going forward.

Warmly actually made a key point here: Hurts is strong enough to score on normal sneaks. He doesn’t need a gimmick. That’s fair. But even if you grant him a solid rushing TD floor, you still run into the same draft problem: you’re paying for a ceiling outcome that hasn’t consistently shown up lately.

And when you’re picking quarterbacks, the whole game is chasing ceiling relative to cost. Either pay up for the true game-breakers or wait and swing on a later QB who can get there. The middle is where you lose drafts.

Draft Instead: Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)

Herbert is the type of pivot that makes sense structurally. If you’re not buying Hurts at his price, you can either wait a long time or grab a quarterback who can legitimately jump into the top five if the ecosystem is right.

The discussion focused heavily on protection and the offensive environment. When Herbert is kept clean, he looks like a quarterback who can threaten the top tier. When the line collapses, everything gets compressed and the fantasy production flattens out.

The bet is that the Chargers build a steadier situation around him. If that happens, Herbert gives you access to an elite ceiling without paying the “name brand rushing QB” tax.

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX)

This one comes with a big caveat, and Warmly nailed it: “never again” feels aggressive for a young receiver with real ceiling outcomes on his resume.

Erickson’s point isn’t that Thomas can’t play. It’s that the current situation makes it tough to confidently draft him, especially if he’s attached to an offense where the chemistry with the quarterback never quite clicks. The frustration here is about usage, timing, and whether Thomas is ever going to become the clear focal point in the passing game the way fantasy managers want.

If the cost drops far enough, sure, you can talk yourself into it. But if you’re drafting the profile and hoping the connection materializes “this time,” that’s a shaky plan.

The important nuance: if Thomas were traded, the whole conversation changes. Situation matters that much for wideouts in that WR3 range.

Draft Instead: Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)

Pearsall is Erickson’s preferred alternative in that similar draft range because the path to target volume might be clearer than people think.

Even with injuries, Pearsall flashed real efficiency and looked comfortable with his quarterback when he was on the field. The reason he’s intriguing is the potential for a shifting depth chart. If veteran roles change and the receiver room thins out, Pearsall could climb quickly into a featured spot.

The risk is obvious: health. But at WR30-ish prices, you can live with some risk if the payoff is “accidentally becomes the No. 1 wide receiver in his offense.”

Fantasy Football Takeaways

Christian McCaffrey is still elite, but the workload and age curve make him a tough click at early first-round cost
James Cook is the cleaner bet if you want an RB in his prime tied to a strong offense
Jalen Hurts sits in the costly middle tier where you often lose value at quarterback
Justin Herbert offers a realistic top-five ceiling if his protection and scheme cooperate
Brian Thomas Jr. is more “avoid at cost” than truly undraftable unless the situation changes
Ricky Pearsall is the kind of mid-round swing that can pay off big if the target tree opens up

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