The 2026 fantasy football draft season is underway, with resources available to help managers prepare for their leagues. Identifying players with high potential but also significant risks is a key part of draft strategy.
Several players are being highlighted as potentially risky picks for the upcoming season, based on factors such as injury history, usage rates, and team situations. These considerations are important for those aiming to build a successful roster.
Risky Player Considerations
Christian McCaffrey, despite a strong 2025 season, is viewed with caution. His 413 touches in 2025, which led the NFL, raise concerns given his injury history in previous seasons. He played in only seven combined games across the two seasons prior to leading the league in usage. Additionally, his average of 3.9 yards per carry in 2025, which tied for 38th among qualified ball-carriers, and -0.5 rushing yards over expected per attempt, ranking 46th, suggest his production was heavily volume-dependent. Entering his age-30 season, the running back age cliff is a factor.
Justin Jefferson is another wide receiver who presents a risk. He tied for 30th among wideouts in points per game in 2025. The Minnesota Vikings have addressed their quarterback situation by signing Kyler Murray, but it is uncertain if Murray can return to his previous form. Murray has produced only one top-20 fantasy wideout in his career, DeAndre Hopkins in 2020. The performance of Trey McBride, who more than doubled his career touchdown total in 12 games after Murray’s injury last year, adds to the uncertainty surrounding Jefferson’s potential bounce-back season.
Rookies and Other Concerns
Rookie running backs often carry high expectations, but last year’s performance of second-round ball-carriers serves as a reminder to temper those. Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, and RJ Harvey, all from the 2025 draft, finished between RB20 and RB26 in fantasy. Jeremiyah Love, a top-10 selection, is in a crowded running back room with James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson, suggesting he may not immediately assume a workhorse role for the Arizona Cardinals, who are in a rebuilding phase.
Rashee Rice, despite finishing as WR40 last season, averaged 18.5 points per game in eight contests, ranking fifth. However, his legal issues, including a 30-day jail sentence for violating probation terms stemming from a 2024 car crash, and a six-game suspension, have limited him to just 12 games over the past two seasons. Additionally, the recovery of Patrick Mahomes’ ACL could impact early-season returns for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Elijah Moore, now with Buffalo, is also considered a risky pick. His 2025 season was marked by inconsistent performances, finishing as WR35. For Moore to justify his fifth-round price tag, the Bills would need to shift their philosophy of spreading the ball around, and Moore would need to demonstrate his previous form. Quarterback Jaxson Dart of the New York Jets, despite finishing as a QB1 in nine of his 12 starts as a rookie, faces variables such as his tendency to run into danger, potential injuries, and the recovery of Malik Nabers from an ACL injury.
The 2026 Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Kit is being updated daily with rankings, sleepers, fades, and positional advice to assist fantasy managers.
Source: nfl.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.