Not every first or second-round pick is safe. Each year, high-end fantasy assets flame out due to injury, role changes or offensive inefficiency. These early-round wide receivers and running backs come with concerning red flags. In 2025 fantasy football drafts, minimizing risk at the top is essential—and these names could sink your season.
Use RotoWire's full fantasy football articles hub to stay ahead of trends, and check the fantasy football ADP tool to track how public sentiment shifts as training camp progresses.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – ADP: WR5
Puka Nacua earned his elite reputation with dominant volume and physical play, but he's being drafted at a level that ignores serious risk.
The main concern is Matthew Stafford, who enters the season at age 37 after receiving an epidural injection for a disc issue in his back. If he misses time, Jimmy Garoppolo would step in, and that would tank the Rams' passing game.
The offensive line isn't much safer. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is recovering from blood clots, and his health could directly impact Stafford's blind-side protection.
Nacua's fearless blocking and physical style add durability concerns. He already missed over a month in 2024 with a knee injury and has had preseason issues in 2025. First-round picks should offer elite ceilings with minimal risk; Nacua has the elite ceiling, but the risk is too great.
De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins – ADP: RB5
De'Von Achane was electric last season, putting up 1,499 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns on
Not every first or second-round pick is safe. Each year, high-end fantasy assets flame out due to injury, role changes or offensive inefficiency. These early-round wide receivers and running backs come with concerning red flags. In 2025 fantasy football drafts, minimizing risk at the top is essential—and these names could sink your season.
Use RotoWire's full fantasy football articles hub to stay ahead of trends, and check the fantasy football ADP tool to track how public sentiment shifts as training camp progresses.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – ADP: WR5
Puka Nacua earned his elite reputation with dominant volume and physical play, but he's being drafted at a level that ignores serious risk.
The main concern is Matthew Stafford, who enters the season at age 37 after receiving an epidural injection for a disc issue in his back. If he misses time, Jimmy Garoppolo would step in, and that would tank the Rams' passing game.
The offensive line isn't much safer. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is recovering from blood clots, and his health could directly impact Stafford's blind-side protection.
Nacua's fearless blocking and physical style add durability concerns. He already missed over a month in 2024 with a knee injury and has had preseason issues in 2025. First-round picks should offer elite ceilings with minimal risk; Nacua has the elite ceiling, but the risk is too great.
De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins – ADP: RB5
De'Von Achane was electric last season, putting up 1,499 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns on 78 receptions. But even elite output comes with context, and this raises more questions than answers.
In games without Tua Tagovailoa, Achane averaged just 9.7 PPR points. If Tua, who has a long injury history, misses time, Achane's weekly value could collapse.
It's also unlikely he repeats 78 catches. A regression to 60 receptions is highly possible and would ding his fantasy potential. Throw in an offensive line projected to be among the league's worst, and Achane feels far more volatile than his ADP suggests.
He has sky-high upside, but the path to disappointment is just as real.
Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks – ADP: RB14
Kenneth Walker is being drafted on hope rather than trend.
His rushing efficiency has declined in each of his three NFL seasons (4.6 → 4.1 → 3.7 YPC), and he missed six games in 2024 after back-to-back two-game absences in previous years.
Camp buzz around OC Klint Kubiak has inflated his stock, but it's worth noting Kubiak's run-first attack stalled in New Orleans once defenses adjusted. Seattle's weak passing game won't scare defenders from loading the box, and Walker's inconsistency makes him risky at cost.
Add injury risk and declining production, and he becomes one of the top fantasy football busts in early rounds.
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers – ADP: WR11
Ladd McConkey's late-season surge was impressive, but his current ADP is fueled by recency bias.
He averaged just six targets in the first half of 2024 and had only two games over 52 yards. Once the Chargers' rushing attack crumbled, the offense pivoted to the pass, and McConkey exploded, averaging nine targets and 83+ yards in six of his final seven games (including playoffs).
The team responded by adding Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton to restore the run game. Then, they signed Keenan Allen, another route technician who shares Herbert's trust.
With target competition and a restored ground game, McConkey's volume likely regresses. At WR11, he's being priced at his ceiling.
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers – ADP: RB12
Omarion Hampton's ADP has soared since Najee Harris suffered an eye injury, but that may be premature.
Harris is expected back soon, and he's being paid like a starting running back. A split workload seems inevitable. Even worse, the Chargers may not run as much as expected. The defense struggled against good teams in 2024 and could force LA into more pass-heavy scripts.
On top of that, injuries to key linemen LT Rashawn Slater (knee- season ending) and RG Mekhi Becton (short-term injury now, but a long injury history) could further derail efficiency.
Hampton has the talent, but between game script risk and a shared backfield, he's being drafted far too high.
Final Thoughts on 2025 Fantasy Football Busts
Elite picks come with the highest expectations- and the most painful failures. Nacua, Achane and McConkey are being drafted like locks. But underlying issues with health, usage, or offensive structure make all three prime candidates to underdeliver at cost.
Looking for more analysis of busts, check this out:
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