Quarterback: Brock Purdy (49ers) (ADP: Yahoo!: 75.8 ESPN: 93.1)
There's a real "one of these things is not like the other vibe" with Purdy's placement in the overall QB7-10 range alongside the likes of Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray. While the glory of Purdy's pretty much perfect low-end QB1 game manager campaign (4,280 YDS/31 TD's/11 INT's/2 Rushing TD's) in 2023 can't be ignored or denied, it's awfully presumptuous to assume that the injuries to his cohorts that dragged him down to the mid-QB2 levels in 2024 aren't going to remain a problem in 2025. Brandon Aiyuk is going to start on the year PUP. Jauan Jennings is currently dealing with a calf injury that could keep sidelined into the regular season. Ricky Pearsall has already miss time during camp and has an injury rap sheet from his college days that is rather extensive. Christian McCaffery and George Kittle may be healthy right now, but everybody who follows the league closely knows that they aren't safe bets to remain that way for the whole season. Things could end up working out for the 49ers on the injury luck front after everything went so poorly last year, I'm just not comfortable taking Purdy so high when he has so many ticking time bombs surrounding him and lacks the steady rushing floor to overcome the passing game limitations that would likely come into play if more than a couple of them were to go off.
Dishonorable Mentions: Bo Nix (Broncos), Justin Fields (Jets), J.J. McCarthy (Vikings)
Running Back: Breece Hall (Jets) (ADP: Yahoo!: 40.3 ESPN: 57.5)
As much of a relief it is to see the Hall elite RB1 propaganda push finally reach its overdue end, his stock remains too damn high. The Jets were in a full-blown RB timeshare last season as Hall split time with rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, and all indications right are that this rotation arrangement is only going to become more prominent now that Ben Johnson disciple Tanner Engstrand is running their offense. On top of that, there's a belief that Allen could usurp Hall as 1A in the committee as early as Week 1. If this is indeed true, it would be an absolutely devastating development for Hall's already dwindling fantasy appeal. Anybody wanting to press their luck on the Jets backfield would be much better off taking a flier on Allen in the final few rounds of the draft.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kaleb Johnson (Steelers), Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks), Joe Mixon (Texans)
Wide Receiver: DK Metcalf (Steelers) (ADP: Yahoo: 49.7 ESPN: 50.7)
Metcalf's days of being a reliable fantasy investment are over for now at least. Given his pretty rigid skill set as an elite vertical threat, the ex-Seahawks wideout couldn't have landed in a worse spot than Arthur Smith's run-dominant conservative scheme in Pittsburgh. Just take a look back at how much Smith nerfed explosive downfield receivers in A.J. Brown and Drake London in the past then add in the extra kick in the balls Metcalf has to endure by trying to catch the few looks he does get each game off the arm of unengaged cantankerous old man Aaron Rodgers. Drafting this poor doomed soul over somebody like Garrett Wilson, Mike Evans or Marvin Harrison Jr. in rounds 4-5 would be ill-advised to say the least.
Dishonorable Mentions: Terry McLaurin (Commanders), Rashee Rice (Chiefs), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)
Tight End: Sam LaPorta (Lions) (ADP: Yahoo!: 49.4 ESPN: 51.8)
As I said in the Undervalued Players piece yesterday, my problem with LaPorta is less about his ability and more about the asking price for his services. His 60/726/7 output from last season was merely solid overall and there's a real chance he can't even get back to that level in 2025 given the inevitable regression risk that exists for the Lions offense in the wake of Ben Johnson's departure.
Dishonorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), David Njoku (Browns), Evan Engram (Broncos)
Defense/Special Teams: Lions (ADP: Yahoo!: 124.1 ESPN: 138.0)
There is some indisputable appeal to this group. Their takeaway totals should be nice given how aggressively their DB's play the ball and Aidan Hutchinson coming back should up their sack rate by a decent margin. Unfortunately, they also have a tendency to allow a ton of points, which kind of undoes the power of their stat-sheet stuffing prowess elsewhere and makes them far too unreliable to be considered as the top 5-7 overall D/ST they're currently projected to be.
Dishonorable Mentions: Steelers, Bills, Seahawks
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