1006: Players to Avoid

JJ Zachariason (0:11)

What's up, everyone? It's JJ Zachariason. In this episode 1006 of The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast, sponsored by DraftKings, thanks for tuning in. Football season's right around the corner, and there's no better way to lock in your fantasy dominance early than with Best Ball on DraftKings, where you draft once and ride your roster all season long. And right now, DraftKings is giving all customers a can't-miss offer. Draft one, get one. Enter a lineup in the $15 million Best Ball contest for just $20, and you'll score another Best Ball ticket to play free for a share of that $15 million, giving you a second shot to win big. It's easy, just draft your dream team once, no weekly management required, and let your top scorers automatically start each week. Across the whole season, every breakout star, every clutch play, every touchdown will count toward your quest for a share of $15 million. As you know, I'm drafting over there and I'm documenting things with Becoming a Best Ball Bro. You can use the information from that show to help you out as well. So download the DraftKings Daily Fantasy app now to draft your $20 Best Ball lineup to play for a share of $15 million and get a second ticket to play free for a share of that $15 million. That's two chances to win big without ever setting your lineup again. Draft one, get one, only on DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 8778-HOPE-NY or text HOPE-NY to 467369 In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org. 18 plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply, void where prohibited, one per customer. Enter the Best Ball $15 million Headliner Contest by 9-425 to go on bonus entry. $20 entry required, reward expires in 30 days. See terms at draftkings.com/nfl-best-ball.

Sponsored by DK. You guys listened last week to Rich Rebar and myself talk about players to target in fantasy drafts this year. So today, the opposite is happening. It's players to avoid. This one's a little bit more difficult to do each year because it gets more of a reaction out of people. When you say negative things about a player or a situation, if one of you guys listening to this likes that player, then naturally, you're going to want to defend your take. With that being said, it's important to remember that these takes are all based on cost. We're not avoiding these players no matter what. We're avoiding them based on where they typically go in fantasy drafts. Now, I keep saying we because this episode has another guest. To help me out, I brought on my good friend Evan Silva from Establish the Run. He came prepared with five players that he's generally avoiding this year, and I've got five of my own too. We didn't fully agree on everything, but there's some good back and forth, and I think you're going to enjoy it. Okay, I won't bore you anymore. Here's my conversation on players to avoid with the great Evan Silva.

All right, Evan, I talked to Reebs last week with some players to target. Today, we're going to do some players to avoid. Always the harder one to do, I feel like, because people will take it more personally whenever we talk down on a player that they like. But again, I intrude with this, but this is all versus cost. We're not avoiding these guys no matter what, but it's all versus where they're generally being drafted. We'll go back and forth, we each have five guys, add commentary at the end, the other person can, and we can have a little back and forth. But you kick things off with your first player to avoid.

Evan Silva (3:26)

Yeah, and actually every year, I write a shy away 30 list of 30 players to avoid in drafts, and you had me pick out five, so this was like perfect timing because I'm in the midst of writing that right now. Perfect. I'm starting with Tyreek Hill. And if you think about it, there just hasn't been a single bit of positive news about Tyreek Hill since the end of the 2023 season. OK, he's almost 31 years old. He averaged a career low 1.7 yards per route run last year. He almost got arrested outside of the Dolphin Stadium before a game last season. He has clashed publicly with his head coach and with his quarterback with two repeatedly. He's acted like a crazy person on social media. So I definitely think that Tyreek Hill can still run very fast in a straight line. I think that he will be able to run very fast in a straight line until he's 50 You remember Daryl Green used to win the NFL's Fastest Man Contest when he was like 42 at the end of his career. Tyreek Hill, I mean, fast guys stay fast.