Fantasy Football 2026: The "Do Not Draft" List — Players to Avoid in Your Draft

By Eric Karabell, ESPN Senior Fantasy Writer
Published August 6, 2026

What Is This List All About?

Imagine you’re picking players for your fantasy football team. Some players are super popular — everyone wants them, so you have to pick them very early (using a high draft pick). But sometimes, those popular players come with big risks — like injuries, uncertain playing time, or better options available later.

KEY IDEA: This list isn’t about "bad" players. It’s about players whose draft price (ADP) is too high compared to what they’ll likely give you this season. You’re "fading" them — meaning you let someone else draft them while you grab better value.

ADP = Average Draft Position — where a player typically gets picked across thousands of fantasy drafts. High ADP = expensive. Low ADP = bargain.

The Big Story: The New York Giants’ "Magic Trio" — But There’s a Catch

The Giants have three exciting young stars:

Jaxson Dart (QB, 1st round pick 2025)
Cam Skattebo (RB, 4th round pick 2025)
Malik Nabers (WR, 1st round pick 2024, had an amazing rookie year)

The problem: They barely played together last year — only 18 snaps total. And all three have major injury questions for 2026.

Player	The Concern
Malik Nabers	Missed most of 2025 with ACL + meniscus tears, then needed another surgery in spring to remove scar tissue. Status for September? Unknown.
Jaxson Dart	Missed games with a concussion. His running style is reckless → higher injury risk.
Cam Skattebo	Dislocated ankle in Week 8, 2025. Explosive runner, but durability is a huge question.

IMPORTANT: In fantasy football, availability IS ability. You don’t get points for players sitting on the bench. If you draft them high and they miss games, your team suffers — no asterisks in the playoffs!

The "Do Not Draft" List by Position

QUARTERBACK

1. Josh Allen, Bills — Too Expensive, Not Worth a 2nd-Round Pick

Why he’s amazing: Top-2 fantasy QB for 6 straight years. Incredible production + durability.
Why fade him: In 10-team, 1-QB leagues, QB is deep. You can get a very good QB in Round 6–8. Spending a 2nd-round pick on Allen means missing out on elite RBs/WRs. Opportunity cost matters.

2. Drake Maye, Patriots — Great 2025, But Schedule Gets Brutal

2025 stats: 4,394 pass yds, 31 pass TDs, 450 rush yds, 4 rush TDs — only Allen scored more fantasy points.
The catch: He didn’t face a single top-10 defense in 2025. 2026 schedule? Loaded with tough defenses. Regression likely.

3. Jayden Daniels, Commanders — Injury Magnet Despite Huge Upside

Rookie sensation, but 2025: played only 7 games (knee, wrist, hamstring, elbow injuries).
Running QBs are fantasy gold when healthy. But "when healthy" is the gamble.

4. Fernando Mendoza, Raiders (Rookie, #1 overall pick)

Might start Week 1, might sit behind Kirk Cousins all year. Zero place in standard 10-team drafts.

5. Daniel Jones, Colts — Coming off torn Achilles. Don’t bet on Week 1 readiness.

6. Jordan Love, Packers — Low Volume = Low Fantasy Ceiling

Packers limit him to <30 pass attempts/game. He doesn’t run much either. Hard to hit big fantasy weeks.

7. Cleveland Browns QBs — Just don’t. Not worth the headache.

RUNNING BACK

1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers — History Says "Fade the 400-Touch RB"

2025: Comeback Player of the Year, 400+ touches, 400+ fantasy points. Incredible.
But: Since 2000, 13 RBs had 400+ carries (incl. playoffs). ZERO finished top-10 next year. Saquon Barkley just proved it in 2025.
McCaffrey turns 30. 49ers will manage his workload. Don’t chase last year’s magic.

2. Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs — Super Bowl MVP, But Never a Fantasy RB1

4 years in Seattle: never finished better than RB15 in fantasy.
Seahawks protected him all year, used him heavy only in playoffs.
Chiefs unlikely to make him a pass-catching factor. 3rd-round price is too rich.

3. Kyren Williams, Rams — Blake Corum Is Coming for His Snaps

Williams: 10+ rush TDs 3 straight years. Going Round 5.
Corum (backup): 5.1 yards/carry in Year 2. Volume split = Williams steps back.
Don’t assume safe RB2 production.

4. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers — Rookie Star, Sophomore Slump + Competition

2025: Shoulder injury missed 2 months, 3.4 YPC, 1 rush TD in 10 games.
Bucs signed Kenny Gainwell (73 catches in 2025, 4.7 YPC). Gainwell goes Round 13; Irving Round 6. Gainwell might outscore him.

5. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots — Timeshare With Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson: power back, pass-blocker, trusted in playoff run.
Patriots will split carries. Henderson drafted rounds ahead of Stevenson → Stevenson is the value.

6. Jonathon Brooks / Chuba Hubbard, Panthers — Too Much Uncertainty

Brooks: 2nd-round pick 2024, barely played 2 years (multiple knee tears).
Hubbard: solid but if Brooks gets volume, Hubbard drops. Fade both.

7. Travis Etienne Jr., Saints — Alvin Kamara Still Here

Etienne had career year, but: not a goal-line back, caught 6 TDs in 2025 (had 1 in first 3 years combined — regression coming).
Kamara (68 catches in ’24) still eats passing-down work. Not a safe RB2.

8. Tony Pollard, Titans — Declining Efficiency, Low Upside

4 straight 1,000-yd seasons, but: poor efficiency, minimal receiving. Titans will upgrade. Target higher-ceiling RBs.

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Rashee Rice, Chiefs — Not Just Injury Risk — "Games Risk"

Played 12 games in 2 years (injury + suspension).
Spent part of offseason in jail during knee rehab.
When healthy: elite. But cannot pencil in 17 games. 2nd/3rd-round pick? Too risky.

2. A.J. Brown, Patriots — Big Name, Tough Situation

Traded from Eagles. Unhappy in Philly. 2025 showed decline outside a 3-game target spike.
Now faces brutal schedule + shutdown corners weekly. Draft him, but not as a top-10 WR.

3. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals — Pedigree ≠ Production (Yet)

4 overall pick 2024. Ordinary numbers. Excuses: QB, scheme, org.
Reality check: Some highly drafted WRs just take time — or never hit. Don’t draft as locked-in WR2.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars WRs (All of Them) — Too Many Mouths to Feed

3–4 Jags WRs go in similar ADP range. If you can’t pick the winner, avoid the whole group. (Especially the one who might play defense snaps )

5. 2025 Rookie WR Class — The "Shiny New Toy" Trap

Hunter, McMillan, Egbuka, Golden, Higgins, Burden, Harris, Bech — all top-60 picks.
Only 2 finished top-50 in fantasy scoring.
Veterans like Wan’Dale Robinson, Jordan Addison, Quentin Johnston — boring but proven — often better value.

TIGHT END

1. Kyle Pitts, Falcons — One Giant Week Masks a Mediocre Season

2025: TE2 overall! But 21% of his points came in ONE week (Week 15).
Rest of year: ~10 pts/game, 2 TDs total.
Atlanta QB situation = messy. Top-5 TE price? No thanks.

2. Dallas Goedert, Eagles — TD Regression + Durability Red Flags

Caught 11 of Philly’s 26 pass TDs in 2025.
Previous 4 years combined: 12 TDs. 31 years old. Injury history.
Double-digit TDs again? Extremely unlikely.

The Golden Rule: Value > Name Recognition

REMEMBER: Fantasy championships are won by finding production cheaper than everyone else.

Don’t pay for "upside" if it comes with "missed games."

Don’t draft based on what a player did last year if their situation changed.

Boring, healthy, consistent > Flashy, injured, uncertain.

Summary: Your Cheat Sheet for Draft Day

Position	Players to Fade at Current ADP	Better Strategy
QB	Allen (R2), Maye, Daniels, rookies	Wait until R6–8; grab Herbert, Burrow, Stroud types
RB	CMC, Walker, K. Williams, Irving, Henderson, Etienne, Pollard	Target RBs with clear 3-down roles + healthy offenses
WR	Rice, A.J. Brown (top-10), MHJ (as WR2), Jags group, rookie WRs	Vet WRs with steady targets: Robinson, Addison, Johnston
TE	Pitts (top-5), Goedert (top-8)	Stream the position; grab a late upside guy (e.g., LaPorta, Kincaid)

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

1. "Does ‘Do Not Draft’ mean these players will be bad?"

No! Most are talented. The issue is cost. If Nabers goes in Round 1 but misses 6 games, you lost. If he goes in Round 4? Maybe worth the gamble. ADP context is everything.

2. **"Should I never draft a rookie WR?"**

Not never — but in standard 10-team leagues, rookies rarely pay off immediately. In dynasty/keeper leagues, absolutely draft them. For redraft? Let others take the risk; you grab the vet.

3. "Why fade Josh Allen if he’s the best fantasy QB?"

Because QB scoring is flat. The difference between QB3 and QB12 might be 2–3 points/week. The difference between RB10 and RB20? Huge. Spend early picks where scarcity hurts most: RB and WR.

4. "What if my league starts 2 QBs (Superflex)?"

Then ignore the QB advice here. In Superflex, elite QBs are worth 1st/2nd-round picks. This list assumes 1-QB, 10–12 team leagues.

5. "How do I know a player’s ADP?"

Check ESPN, FantasyPros, Underdog, Sleeper — they all publish live ADP data. Always check your platform’s ADP — it varies by site!

Final Thought

Fantasy football isn’t about collecting the best players — it’s about building the best team for the lowest price.
Let your league-mates fall in love with names and 2025 highlights. You? You draft value, health, and opportunity.

Good luck in 2026 — and may your injuries be few and your touchdowns plenty!

Eric Karabell is a senior fantasy writer at ESPN, FSWA Hall of Famer, and BBWAA voter. Follow him for more draft prep all August long.

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