👀 Joe Burrow, Christian McCaffrey & Malik Nabers: Brand Names To Avoid

Olave has top 15 WR appeal and his ADP has risen from the eighth round last year to a higher position this season, reflecting his elite production. He averaged nearly 17 fantasy points per game, justifying the ADP increase. Loza considers his current ADP completely fair.

McCaffrey is being drafted as RB3 but faces significant headwinds: he absorbed 413 total touches last season, triggering the 'curse of 370'—a statistical pattern showing RBs with 370+ touches experience immediate efficiency and production declines the following year. Additionally, McCaffrey is entering his age 30 season with declining efficiency; since arriving in San Francisco, he's been RB30 or worse in true yards per carry in all seasons except 2023, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry last year. His production is increasingly reliant on receiving work, but the addition of Mike Evans and healthy Ricky Pearsall in the mix further diminishes his target share. Loza explicitly states she won't draft him at RB3 because she knows he won't pay off that ADP immediately.

Tight end reuniting with new Giants HC John Harbaugh, who specializes in coaching mobile QBs like Jackson Dart. Career stats: never exceeded 500 receiving yards or 50 catches due to always having another TE ahead of him (Mark Andrews in Baltimore). Now positioned as Giants TE1 with clear path to volume. If Malik Nabers injury lingers, Likely could be one of the highest-targeted players on the Giants offense. ADP: 12th–13th round. Comparable upside to Dalton Schultz. Rated TE12 heading into season.

Rookie RB stepping into lead role in Seattle immediately with Zach Charbonnet sidelined. Projected to be RB1 for at least half the season; even upon Charbonnet's return, return-to-play does not guarantee return-to-performance. ADP undervalues Price relative to peer Jeremiah Love, partly because Love has superior pass-catching ability and Price did not showcase that in college. Volume projection: 12–14 touches per game, 220+ carries (Mike Clay projection). Seahawks offense built to limit Sam Darnold's pass attempts, favoring ground game. Already receiving first-team reps at OTAs. Going as top-25 RB but has top-15 appeal.

Dopp likes McMillan as a late-round option in Tampa Bay, noting he would immediately factor in as the WR1 if anything happens to Chris Godwin, who has had injury concerns in the past. Dopp believes in the Tampa Bay offense and sees McMillan as a beautiful, cheap WR2 option with upside.

Liz Loza is on record preferring Jaden Daniels over Joe Burrow if investing in a QB early, citing his rushing upside as the key differentiator. Daniels represents better value than Burrow at a similar draft position.

Higgins, a 34th overall pick from Iowa State in 2025, has an exciting athletic profile with a 9.63 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) and is a strong ball catcher with a wide catch radius. He finished his rookie campaign third on the team in targets behind Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz, but recorded six touchdowns—the exact same number as Collins. Loza believes Higgins has breakout potential and could catch steam as the season progresses, with the hope he'll pick up where he finished last season at the start of 2026. He's also a strong insurance policy if anything happens to Nico Collins, who has had injury concerns in the past.

Love is the clear alpha in the Arizona backfield and will give top 12 fantasy RB production. He was drafted third overall at RB by Arizona and has a dual-threat skill set he showcased at Notre Dame. Loza is not doubting his role and expects the Cardinals to lean on him heavily in a versatile way.

Burrow has been a top 10 fantasy QB in three of his last five seasons but faces significant durability concerns; he's managed only three seasons with 10+ games played and three with 10 or fewer games. His offensive line injury history is a major risk factor despite Cincinnati's optimism about 2026 improvements. More critically, Burrow offers minimal rushing upside—only 3% of his fantasy production came via rushing last season compared to 12 of the top 15 QBs who scored over 16% on the ground. With 330 total rushing yards over three seasons combined (a rate 12 QBs matched in one season alone), he'll need a meteoric passing season to justify his sixth-round ADP at a position that is extremely deep. Liz Loza is on record preferring Jaden Daniels over Burrow if investing in a QB early, citing Daniels' rushing upside as the key differentiator.

Nabers suffered a grade 3 ACL and meniscus tear in his right knee—not a straightforward tear, making surgery more delicate and healing more complicated. Six months post-surgery, he required a cleanup operation due to stiffness in the knee, which is concerning for an elite 22-year-old athlete. Loza notes this is unusual for someone so young and fit, raising red flags about his recovery trajectory. The uncertainty around his participation in training camp is critical because he has drawn only three career targets from QB Jackson Dart and needs reps to build chemistry. Dart ranks 28th in passer rating when throwing past the sticks, which is problematic because Nabers' strength is on deep balls. Additionally, both Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney will draw a handful of deep looks, further diminishing Nabers' upside. His third-round ADP is extremely difficult to justify given these role and quarterback limitations.

Etienne is going in the fifth round, just behind Cam Akers and ahead of Bucky Irving, as a borderline RB1/RB2. Loza is skeptical about his ability to replicate his Jacksonville production in New Orleans but doesn't mind his current ADP. She notes he won't smash the way he did last year but acknowledges fifth-round value for a borderline RB1 is reasonable. Dopp agrees that you know what you're getting with him at that price—no outperformance expected.