Fantasy football drafts are built on conviction, but sometimes that conviction varies wildly from one analyst to the next. In a recent episode of the FantasyPros Football Podcast, Ryan Wormeli, Derek Brown and Andrew Erickson broke down eight of the most polarizing players in 2025 fantasy drafts — based on standard deviation in the expert consensus rankings (ECR). From league-winning upside to absolute landmines, these are the players who could make or break your fantasy season.
Let’s dig into the lightning rods.
Make or Break Fantasy Football Draft Targets
TreVeyon Henderson: Explosiveness Meets Uncertainty
- ECR Range: RB15 to RB43
- Best-Case Role: PPR-friendly pass-catching RB3
- Worst-Case Role: Touch-limited gadget back in a murky committee
The Patriots rookie enters the league with top-tier burst, passing-down skills and a red flag or two — namely, durability. Erickson worries that his average draft position (ADP) of RB23 is priced for a workload he may not see early on. “He’s not going to be a bell-cow,” Erickson notes, citing both college usage and a likely split with Rhamondre Stevenson.
DBro is slightly more optimistic, especially in full PPR formats. “Lightning in a bottle,” he calls him, noting Josh McDaniels’ long-standing history of targeting backs out of the backfield. Still, Henderson’s weekly role could be volatile, and that’s not the kind of gamble you want to lock into as your RB2.
Verdict: Draftable in PPR as a high-ceiling RB3, but expect early-season headaches.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (and Cam Skattebo): Backfield Battle Brewing
- Tracy ECR Range: RB22 to RB49
- Skattebo ECR Range: RB31 to RB63
You can’t talk about Tyrone Tracy Jr. without talking about Cam Skattebo. Both backs are vying to be the No. 1 RB for the Giants, and the camp battle could go either way.
Erickson prefers Skattebo, citing his draft capital, size and three-down potential. DBro is all-in on that side, too. “You don’t spend better capital on Skattebo if you’re committed to Tracy,” he argues, calling Skattebo a “workhorse archetype” and burying Tracy outside his top 45 running backs.
Verdict: Plant your flag on Skattebo now-before beat reports catch up and the ADP shifts.
Tetairoa McMillan: The Rookie WR1 Nobody Wants to Believe In
- ECR Range: WR17 to WR58
- Ranks: DBro: WR20/Erickson: WR19
Top-10 draft pick? Check. Path to alpha volume? Check. Underrated second-half surge from Bryce Young? Also check. The guys can’t figure out why Tetairoa McMillan isn’t ranked higher.
“Top-15 is in his range of outcomes,” says DBro, who’s already bet his over on receiving touchdowns. Erickson adds that the bar for rookie WR2 production is lower than most think. “Eighty catches, 1,000 yards and six touchdowns — that’s WR20.”
With Dave Canales installing a more receiver-friendly scheme and McMillan fitting the mold of a big-bodied target hog, everything is lined up for a breakout season.
Verdict: McMillan is this year’s “how did we miss that?” rookie.
Travis Hunter: The Great Unknown
- ECR Range: WR18 to WR46
- Wild Card: Could play both sides of the ball
Nobody questions the talent. The only question is: How much will Travis Hunter play at wide receiver?
Erickson and DBro think it’ll be plenty because it has to be. “If he’s not on offense, how are they moving the ball?” Wormeli asks. The Jaguars simply don’t have enough target earners, and Hunter is the kind of explosive slot weapon who could earn a high target rate on low route volume.
Still, his usage will be week-to-week, and the risk of defensive snaps ramping up as injuries occur is real.
Verdict: Take the upside, then sell high if he flashes early.
Jauan Jennings: A Late Breakout or Just a Fluke?
- ECR Range: WR27 to WR54
- Key Stat: 8+ targets per game after Week 8 in 2024
With Brandon Aiyuk returning from injury and Ricky Pearsall still acclimating, Jennings might be the safest receiver in San Francisco’s offense. Both Erickson and DBro pointed to his strong rapport with Brock Purdy and his surprising late-season efficiency.
“He was the best receiver on the 49ers down the stretch,” Erickson says. DBro believes Jennings’ WR38 ECR undersells the opportunity.
Verdict: Undervalued floor receiver who’s locked into targets as long as Aiyuk is eased in.
Justin Fields: Top-10 When He Starts
- ECR Range: QB6 to QB29
- Fantasy PPG as Starter (Last three Seasons): QB7, QB9, QB5
Justin Fields has his flaws, but when he plays, he produces. Period.
“He’s a top-10 quarterback every year,” DBro emphasizes. With rushing upside, Garrett Wilson and an offense that will likely lean run-heavy, Fields is a value in redraft formats. The concern? He could struggle early as a passer and possibly lose the job to Tyrod Taylor. But Erickson thinks that’s overblown: “Just draft him and pair him with a stable fallback like Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott or C.J. Stroud.”
Verdict: One of the highest-upside QB2s on the board. Draft him and take another quarterback as insurance. The toe injury appears to be minor.
Jared Goff: Don’t Chase Last Year’s Outlier
- ECR Range: QB8 to QB21
- Erickson Rank: QB21 (lowest in industry)
This isn’t complicated. Jared Goff doesn’t run. His efficiency metrics (6.9% touchdown rate, pristine injury luck) are all but guaranteed to regress. Add tougher weather, weaker offensive line play and no Ben Johnson, and the floor falls out fast.
“He was the third least-pressured quarterback last year,” Erickson explains. “But he had the fifth-highest pressure-to-sack rate. That kills drives.”
Verdict: Let someone else bet on another perfect season. Fade Goff at cost.
Evan Engram: A Locked-In Top-Five TE When Healthy
- ECR Range: TE4 to TE15
- Ranks: DBro: TE4/ Erickson: TE4
In half-PPR or full PPR, Evan Engram is as steady as they come — when he’s not injured. “He’s been a top-five tight end when he’s a top-two target in the offense,” DBro notes. With Courtland Sutton as his only real competition, that’s a safe bet.
Erickson warns that Engram’s efficiency dipped last season, particularly after the catch, but notes he’s still a PPR cheat code: “Even if he’s not dynamic after the catch anymore, he’ll rack up targets.”
Verdict: If you miss the elite tier, Engram is a rock-solid pivot.
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