Possible BIG-NAME Fantasy Football Busts 2025!
When it comes to dominating your fantasy football league in 2025, it’s not just about who you draft — it’s about who you don’t draft. Today, we’re going to uncover 10 high-profile players being selected in the early rounds who pose massive bust potential. This is the Fantasy Football 2025 Bust Guide that could save your season.
These BIG NAME players come with major red flags — inflated ADPs, looming injuries, offensive target dilution, new teammates, and much more. If you’re serious about winning your league this year, you must avoid these landmines.
Make sure you watch the full fantasy football podcast video and breakdown at the bottom of this write-up!
1. Puka Nacua – WR, Rams (Late Round 1 to Early Round 2 ADP)
Puka Nacua is a major boom-bust candidate when it comes to fantasy football 2025. He didn’t finish the season last year, and he is coming off round 1, which seems a little pricy. You now have Davante Adams entering the situation, which might dilute the volume of Puka. I mean, who even says that he stays the WR 1 with Adams there?
I see the upside here, along with the talent, but the bad outweighs the good for me. Besides, you should be drafting an RB in round 1 anyway to secure the most scarce position.
- Red Flags: Played just 11 games last season; shared targets with a limited Cooper Kupp; now competes with Davante Adams.
- Concern: Aging QB, improved run game, and target dilution.
- Verdict: First-round price tag is way too risky for a player surrounded by uncertainty.
2. Brian Thomas Jr. – WR, Jaguars (Late Round 1 ADP)
My man Brian Thomas Jr! The guy I told EVERYONE to draft last year has suddenly made it to the first round of fantasy football, in a situation that doesn’t get better, as the Jags have drafted the more talented Travis Hunter Jr. While I love Brian. I don’t like my volume share being split between my WR1 and another great WR in Travis Hunter.
That being said, I do really love the talent, but I won’t be spending a 1st round pick on him. I will be looking for this year’s Brian Thomas Jr., which I will reveal in the 16 Rounds draft solution!
- Red Flags: Emerged last year but now faces serious target competition from rookie Travis Hunter.
- Concern: If you don’t believe in Trevor Lawrence as a top-tier QB, how can you justify a WR1 at this price?
- Verdict: Massive risk at current ADP. Let someone else pay.
3. Lamar Jackson – QB, Ravens (Round 2 ADP)
The great and powerful Lamar Jackson! Coming off the best year in his entire career, with an outstanding TD and Int ratio that was never achieved by his talents before. Now you’re telling me that he is QB 2, and people are expected to get the same type of production?
When you average out his passing TDs over the years of his career, you are at about 25 TDs per season. He will never his the numbers he hit last year, and he will 100% regress this year. Draft more consistent QBs like Josh Allen if you are going early in on QB in fantasy drafts.
- Red Flags: Coming off a career year (41 TDs, 4 INTs); major statistical outlier.
- Concern: Regression is likely. Average of 22-25 TDs in the 4 years prior.
- Verdict: Do not overpay for last year’s stats. Safer QBs are available later.
Decline imminent! (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)
4. Ladd McConkey – WR, Chargers (Round 2)
Don’t be a donkey and draft Ladd McConkey was what I was screaming all last year! This year, I say “you are a donkey” if you draft Ladd McConkey in round 2 of drafts!
I would steer clear of Ladd as the addition of Tre Harris and Omarion Hampton pushes him to Herbert’s #3 Option to catch the ball. Last year, he thrived because there was no one else there to take that volume away. Tre Harris is the man and the X receiver, and I am going to draft him instead after round 9!
- Red Flags: Faces new target competition in Trey Harris, a second-round pick.
- Concern: Volume drop is coming. The Chargers’ offense is evolving.
- Verdict: 2024 value doesn’t carry over. Fade the hype.
5. George Kittle – TE, 49ers (Round 3)
Kittle was a prime target for Purdy last year because he was the only target, pretty much. Aiyuk was hurt, Deebo sucked, and Pearsall was hurt. Not even to mention that the top RB CMC was out. George Kittle will likely see a decline in production this year, and I anticipate a significant drop for this player.
When looking at draft strategy, you should be drafting RBs early on anyway, and you can wait on TE. Don’t spend an early-round draft pick on George Kittle in 2025.
- Red Flags: Propped up by injuries to other key offensive weapons.
- Concern: Volume won’t sustain with healthy CMC, Deebo, and Aiyuk.
- Verdict: Do not draft tight ends early, and definitely not Kittle.
Don’t settle for 2nd best with David Montgomery (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire)
6. David Montgomery – RB, Lions (Round 5)
I will never draft an RB knowing he is the guaranteed RB2. He is the second fiddle to Gibbs and may never finish the season again. I don’t trust David Montgomery and will never waste a draft pick on him.
- Red Flags: Injury-prone, clear RB2 behind Gibbs, inefficient.
- Concern: Drafting a backup in Round 5 is fantasy malpractice.
- Verdict: Let someone else take the trap pick.
7. Saquon Barkley – RB, Eagles (Top 3 pick)
Too many flags on this list, including the recent talk from coaching and Eagles staff about reducing the workload of Saquon to preserve his health. I don’t like when teams talk about holding their players back, and this is a big red flag for me when it comes to fantasy football.
You add the fact that he is coming off a Super Bowl hangover and a pinnacle year, forget it! Oh yeah, he’s also on the cover of Madden this season. So that is the cherry on top.
- Red Flags: Super Bowl hangover, high mileage, Madden cover curse, volume drop with Shipley.
- Concern: Eagles plan to reduce his touches in 2025.
- Verdict: Too many signs pointing down. Let him bust on someone else’s roster.
8. Brock Bowers – TE, Raiders (Round 2)
Talk about a situation where he was the only guy to catch the ball last year with no competition. We are now in a situation with studs coming in like Jack Bech and breakout sleeper Dont’e Thornton! You add on the receptions of Ashton Jeanty and a brand new QB, and you have a guaranteed decline year for Brock Bowers.
The problem is he is being drafted as if he will do the same thing as he did last year. New offense and decline coming. Don’t be the guy drafting him in the 2nd round.
- Red Flags: New system, new QB, added WRs; target share shrinking.
- Concern: Last year’s stats not repeatable. Not worth elite TE price tag.
- Verdict: Avoid the rookie TE trap.
Rashee Rice is overpriced for fantasy 2025 (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
9. Rashee Rice – WR, Chiefs (Round 3)
We have way too many targets to throw to this season on the Chiefs, from Worthy, to Hollywood Brown, to Travis Kelce. I can’t justify a second-round pick on Rashee Rice, knowing all this. Not to mention a looming suspension. I am out, and you can’t tell me otherwise.
There are far superior options in rounds 2-3 of the fantasy draft to consider over Rashee Rice. Please don’t do it!
- Red Flags: Only played a few full games; looming legal trouble; target overload in KC.
- Concern: 8 pending charges + WR depth + healthy Kelce = disaster waiting.
- Verdict: DO NOT TOUCH. Too volatile.
10. Tee Higgins – WR, Bengals (Round 2)
All of the fantasy football consheepsus are still trying to sell you on Tee Higgins round two. This will be one of the biggest mistakes you can make when drafting in 2025. This is a WR2 on his team and will peak at 110 targets max. That is assuming it is a good year for him. He just came off a peak 10 TD season, and I don’t see this guy getting any better this year.
He has also dealt with health issues, and who knows when he will go down again. Not to mention, he is coming off a big contract hangover and just got paid! There are too many red flags that indicate he will decline this year and be a waste of a pick in 2025.
- Red Flags: Coming off a career year; WR2 on his own team; contract hangover.
- Concern: Why pay Round 2 for a guy who won’t lead his own offense?
- Verdict: There’s better value six rounds later.
Why This Bust List Matters
The key to a league-winning draft isn’t just in nailing the sleepers — it’s in avoiding the landmines. All it takes is one or two early-round busts to derail your season.
Avoid these names. Trust your gut. And if you’re serious about winning, grab the 16-Round Draft Solution for full guidance on sleepers, breakouts, and who to avoid.
Watch the Full fantasy football podcast below!
