The following is an excerpt from the latest edition of Yahoo’s fantasy football newsletter, Get to the Points! If you like what you see, you can subscribe for free here.
Fantasy football is a game about differences of opinion, so it’s never too surprising when polarizing players emerge. We’re not always going to agree, and in my world, I see that as a feature, not a bug.
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Today, let’s examine some of the 2025 draft options that seem to have the widest gaps in public opinion. I’ll give you my two cents on each case, and feel free to catch me on social media and share your own slants.
Justin Fields, QB, Jets
Why he’s polarizing: Fields is a dynamic runner and an erratic passer, and he’s now headed to his third team in three years. But Fields has dynamite athleticism and the willingness to run — back in 2022 he galloped for an absurd 1,143 yards on the ground.
My Verdict: The Jets aren’t going to micromanage Fields or put him on notice — veteran backup Tyrod Taylor is not a threat to the job. Given that Fields begins the year with job security, his rushing chops can activate the Konami Code and make him a winning pick for fantasy. It’s not a bad idea to pair him with a safer secondary QB, however.
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Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals
Why he’s polarizing: Not every fantasy manager is comfortable with a vanity-TE build, since it has you playing catch-up at the running back or wide receiver spots. McBride has been touchdown-allergic for three NFL seasons, catching just six scores over 221 receptions.
My Verdict: Because I don’t mind some of the cheaper tight end options on the 2025 board (Tucker Kraft waves hello), I’ll probably eschew the McBride pick at ADP. It’s also a vote against QB Kyler Murray, who’s undersized for the position and doesn’t operate well in the red area — McBride’s lack of touchdowns is a residual of Murray’s play.
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Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers
Why he’s polarizing: McConkey does a lot of his best work in the slot, but the Chargers reacquired slot option Keenan Allen just a few weeks ago. McConkey also missed a fair amount of summer work with an undisclosed injury, making some drafters nervous.
My Verdict: I can’t unsee that McConkey produced at a 1,600-yard pace over the second half of last year, and he was dynamite in the playoff loss to Houston (9-197-1). McConkey also appeared briefly in last week’s preseason game, which covers all health concerns for me. Allen will have a slot role, sure, but McConkey’s work as an outside receiver has also graded well. The second-year man is the go-to option in this passing game, and I’ll happily target him in the late-second or early-third round.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks
Why he’s polarizing: Walker’s shown a boom-bust style in the NFL, hitting plenty of long runs but sometimes struggling with his success rate. Last year his YPC dipped to 3.7, and he was beaten by teammate Zach Charbonnet in a number of efficiency metrics. New OC Klint Kubiak has a resume of building exciting running games, so I get the support for Walker. But take note that Walker’s Yahoo ADP is about 70 picks ahead of Charbonnet’s.
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My Verdict: Given that Charbonnet is close to Walker in talent and so much cheaper at the Yahoo draft table, I need to side with the value play. Walker has also had trouble staying healthy in the NFL. Plenty of pundits I respect are pushing Walker this year, and maybe they’ll be right. But a fourth-round pick for Walker is too pricy a check for me to cut.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Why he’s polarizing: Hill probably has a Hall of Fame resume already complete, and he’s just two years removed from an absurd 119-1,799-13 season. But the wheels came off the Miami passing game last year, with Hill tumbling to 11.8 yards per catch. Shockingly, the deep ball disappeared in South Florida — Hill didn’t have a reception over 30 yards after Week 1. Hill’s given off some curious vibes about his future in Miami, at times sounding like someone who didn’t want to stay with the franchise.
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My Verdict: Hill enters his age-31 season and I’d rather be a year early than a year late with this type of player arc. Miami had problems with the offensive line last year, and I’m not confident that’s been fixed. This offense also has to deal with the limitations of QB Tua Tagovailoa; that’s a big reason why the long passes dried up last year, the aim was to get the ball out quickly. If I’m going to invest in this passing game, WR Jaylen Waddle is my preferred target — a few rounds cheaper than Hill, and four years younger.
Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens
Why he’s polarizing: Flowers is a route-running technician with the moves of a slinky; his lateral agility is a sight to behold. He jumped his YPC up to 14.3 last year and made his first Pro Bowl. Alas, the Ravens offense is still built around the running game, and Flowers averages a modest 6.8 targets per game as a pro. He’s also scored a modest nine touchdowns through two seasons, part of life with Baltimore’s spread-it-around passing game.
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My Verdict: I like to bet on ascending talents who probably haven’t had their best season yet, and that describes Flowers as he enters Year 3. Tied to superstar Lamar Jackson and creative play-designer Todd Monken, I’m confident Flowers can continue to hit on splash plays while also starting to increase his touchdown count. He’s still landing just outside the top 60 in Yahoo ADP, a reasonable price.
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