Riskiest Players To Draft In 2026 Fantasy Football: Will Father Time Catch Davante Adams?
Tipp Major breaks down a trio of big-name fantasy players that drafters should think twice before clicking in their 2026 fantasy football drafts.
Why would this season be any different?
Every year, a few fantasy hype trains get a little loose in the caboose and derail right off the tracks, leaving fantasy managers wondering why they bought a ticket in the first place. We do our best to avoid these situations, but when enough hype builds around a player, it's tough not to get swept up in the excitement.
How do you avoid the next derailment?
After all, these are elite athletes. Many have alpha mentalities and the talent to put together impressive stretches of production. But talent alone doesn't guarantee fantasy success. Fit matters. Opportunity matters. Coaching matters. And sometimes, the warning signs are sitting right in front of us.
Let's look at a few players who carry more risk than their fantasy football ADP suggests, along with the red flags fantasy managers should be paying attention to. When you're on the clock, these are the players you can comfortably let someone else draft.
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Three Risky Clicks In 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts
Jeremiyah Love | RB | ARI
- ADP: 24.2
This one's for the redraft peeps. Dynasty managers, proceed.
Seriously, the kid is talented. There's no denying that. If he overcomes everything standing in his way and becomes a fantasy star, we may be looking at the second coming of Bijan Robinson.
But that's exactly the problem.
When Arizona signed Tyler Allgeier, fantasy managers liked the opportunity. Then the draft happened. Now those same managers are frowning, and rightfully so.
What's not to love? You can pretty much kiss premium red-zone touches goodbye.
Last season, Allgeier posted a 33-to-48 red-zone touch split with Robinson. That's not a backup. That's a player who earns meaningful work near the goal line. If he could limit Bijan's scoring opportunities, he could certainly impact Love's.
Maybe Love makes up for it with explosive plays. That's easier said than done in an offense featuring Michael Wilson, Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Add in Trey Benson and a crowded backfield on a team not favored in a single game this season, and suddenly the path to consistent fantasy production becomes much murkier.
Love may eventually prove everyone wrong. But at his current redraft cost, the risk outweighs the reward.
I'm out.
Davante Adams | WR | LAR
- ADP: 50.6
Adams scored plenty of touchdowns last season, but he also posted his fewest receiving yards since 2015. That's the part fantasy managers shouldn't ignore.
Few receivers are as savvy as Adams, and his route running remains elite. But if he's lost even half a step entering Year 13, it matters. Declining explosiveness and efficiency are often the first signs that age is beginning to win the battle.
The hamstring injury he battled last season is another concern. Those injuries have a habit of lingering and resurfacing, especially for veteran players.
The Rams have also spent the offseason exploring ways to get younger and more explosive at wide receiver, including their reported interest in A.J. Brown. While the organization values Adams and believes he makes them a better team, it's fair to wonder whether his biggest impact now comes as a veteran leader rather than a fantasy difference-maker.
Could Adams prove me wrong? Absolutely.
But when players like Zay Flowers, Emeka Egbuka and Ladd McConkey are available in drafts, I'd rather bet on youth, ascending talent and a clearer path to growth.
Sam LaPorta | TE | DET
- ADP: 97.2
One of the reasons for Detroit's offensive success is Sam LaPorta's ability to create yards after the catch. He makes the offense better whenever he's on the field.
That's why it was such a blow when a herniated disc ultimately ended his season and required surgery. The good news is that LaPorta is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for Week 1.
Still, Detroit spent the offseason making sure they weren't overly dependent on LaPorta. Tyler Conklin provides another capable tight end, Greg Dortch gives the offense an additional underneath option and Isaac TeSlaa continues to generate buzz. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing recently said TeSlaa can earn more playing time through consistency, and former Lions receiver Herman Moore believes TeSlaa can add another dimension to the offense.
None of this means LaPorta is in danger of losing his role. It does mean the Lions have more flexibility than they did a year ago. After the amount of football he's played early in his career and the back injury he endured last season, Detroit may be less inclined to ask him to handle an every-snap workload. That could preserve his long-term health, but it may also cap some of the fantasy upside managers have come to expect.
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