Here are five names to fade in your upcoming fantasy football redraft leagues based on early projections with ADP at the wide receiver position. Unfortunately, some were on my team in my home league at one point or another, and this upcoming year, I am making sure to avoid them unless their ADP falls drastically. The names listed include former first-round picks, veterans who may get traded, and new players who were traded and could be going into worse environments for 2025.
Wide Receiver Must Fades
I am using Fantasy Pros‘ current draft average draft position for PPR, so take that into account. While some could surpass their ADP, I prefer other options around that range of these players mentioned.
The first example, or two, are both Pittsburgh Steelers starting wide receivers, as they have George Pickens to complement their new acquisition from the Seattle Seahawks, D.K. Metcalf. This is written before the rumored Aaron Rodgers signing, but either way, I am not a fan of either of their ADPs currently, regardless of a quarterback upgrade from Mason Rudolph.
DK Metcalf/ George Pickens (Ranked 25th, 33rd)
Pickens is ranked 33rd, eight spots behind the more experienced and higher-paid receiver Metcalf, who is ranked 25th. After two boom games from Pickens, he disappointed the rest of the year with fluctuation at the quarterback position. Metcalf, who did deal with some injuries in a down year, had the same amount of boom games as Pickens, which I consider as 20 plus fantasy points (PPR).
In DK’s range, I prefer Xavier Worthy, ranked 27th and finished 33rd, as he finished his rookie campaign on a high note. Slot receiver Khalil Shakir is ranked 36th (finished 37th) near Pickens’ range, and I would take either option with how they both did last season. Although there could be some turnover for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs receiving core in 2025, both showed consistency week in and week out last year.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (Ranked 13th)
Even if Tyreek got traded back to the Chiefs, I still wouldn’t draft him for redraft after finishing 18th. Although he had the injury he suffered early in the season, I think Hill’s best days are behind him at 31 years old, despite his speed. Whether he stays in Miami or gets moved this offseason, I would much rather have Tee Higgins, Terry McLaurin, and/or Mike Evans over the Dolphins receiver ranked 13th.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (Ranked 20th)
With new additions like veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the emergence of Rashod Bateman in 2024, I am tempering expectations for Zay Flowers on the Baltimore Ravens. Finishing 25th, he is ranked 20th, but he was too hot-and-cold for PPR last year to my liking. I would rather take the gamble on Rashee Rice coming off his injury and Marvin Harrison Jr. in his sophomore season.
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (Ranked 32nd)
Without Jameis Winston at quarterback, its pretty grim for any Cleveland Browns wide receiver. Even if they somehow upgrade through the draft or free agency or make a trade, I am still down on Jerry Jeudy, who finished 12th and is ranked 32nd. He is close to Shakir, but I may take the slot receiver’s potential consistency and volume over Jeudy, who could have way less in 2025 compared to 2024.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (Ranked 24th)
We will see how Chris Olave bounces back from a few injuries (finishing 94th) but it is concerning that he is ranked so highly with Derek Carr once again (ranked 23rd). In general, I am not high on the New Orleans Saints and would rather trust the Denver Broncos’ starting wide receiver Courtland Sutton (ranked 22nd and finished 15th in 2024).
