Do Not Draft These 7 Players

Valid reasons for every one, even Ja'Marr Chase.

Author

Cooter Doodle
August 11, 2025

Home league draft season is upon us!

The group chats are coming back to life. Oh! And your commissioner wanted me to remind you: Pay your dues, b*tch. (He said it, not me.)

As we prep for one of the best days of the year, I’m spending less time daydreaming about who I want to draft and more time thinking about who I won’t. Here’s my no-way-no-how-no-matter-what draft list for 2025.

7 Players I Will NOT Be Drafting In My Home League

  1. Ja’Marr Chase. Oh? The WR1 on one of the most pass-friendly offenses in the entire league? Cool, I guess. But I’m not drafting him! “Why?” Because I didn’t finish last place in 2024, so why would I have the 1.01?

  2. Kyler Murray. Sure, I love that little bitty guy when he’s firing on all cylinders. But his six (yes, only six) Top-10 QB finishes through 17 weeks last season don’t make up for those down weeks where he scored 10 pts or less. I mean, c’mon, 4.76 points in Week 9?! People don’t forget.

  3. Josh Allen. Look, if we were playing FMK, I’d choose to f marry Stache Allen. But this fantasy is about football. And I’m not drafting a QB in the early third when I can wait several rounds for a pass-heavy QB like Joe Burrow or your favorite analyst’s favorite late-round QB Drake Maye.

  4. Mike Evans. No, no, no. I don’t think Evans is washed. How could I?? Mr. Most Consistent is coming off of his 11th straight 1k season. But I can’t draft Evans if I’m already planning to walk away with Bucky Irving and Baker Mayfield? Or … Or could I?

  5. Chris Olave. The positive: Despite Olave’s concussion history and the mid (read: meh) level QB battle going on in New Orleans right now, the Saints offense is still going to have to run through Olave and Alvin Kamara. That’s promising enough for a fifth-round pick. But as FL’s resident Saints fan, you can’t expect me to put all of my fandom and fantasy eggs into one broken basket, can you? I just won’t do it. (In this metaphor, the basket is only projected to win five games.)

  6. Travis Kelce. If I miss out on the holy TE trinity of Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle … I’d rather take a late-round swing on a younger guy with some shiny, new upside. If I miss, it’s more palatable to digest the pain of “Sheesh. I really thought this rookie TE might be the next Brock Bowers. Silly me.” Than “Sheesh. I thought Kelce’s decline across all stats last season was just a fluke. Guess it wasn’t.”

  7. J.K. Dobbins. Why draft the Broncos’ RB1 Dobbins when you can draft the Broncos RB1 RJ Harvey?

And if you’re in my home league and reading this newsletter, maybe this was all a psyop. Maybe I’m lying. Leave me alone. GO AWAY! PICK YOUR OWN FAVORITES! Stop sniping me!! And see you Saturday. <3

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Editors’ Picks

Need a few extra minutes to ease into a manic Monday? Check out these article that are fresh on the Fantasy Life homepage. While you’re at it, if you subscribe today get 20% off when you use the promo code JORGE. Also, our rankings are getting updated regularly, as are our projections. Or set up a Guillotine LeaguesTM draft. Isn’t the best way to pass the dog days of summer? Ruff.

First off, don’t be disappointed when you don’t see Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams in this mock draft. Wait for 2027. Thor Nystrom still has plenty wide receivers to look forward to next year.

Matthew Stafford is coming back to work. Move him up. Joe Mixon may miss the start of the season. Guess where he’s going? Matthew Freedman found who’s rising and falling in ADP across different platforms.

With so much buzz from training camp and early games, Geoff Ulrich took questions from our Discord for the latest fantasy spin. While you’re at it, join the Discord.

Dynasty

10-Team ESPN Mock Draft: Best Laid Plans

The plan to have a balanced approach in a mock draft is all well and good until a pair of Tier 1 wide receivers are there for the taking in the first round. Adios, balance. Drafting in a 10-team league does call for strategy, so Dwain McFarland attacked this ESPN mock draft and offered round-by-round analysis with his thinking along the way.

Going elite QB or catching up at running back? When are the best times to invest in the onesie positions? Will there be Tombstone references? And you can’t miss a classic ZZ Top reference with a Fantasy Life spin. ⬇️

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Targeting QBs Who Can Rush 75+ Times

We love those big passing seasons. Patrick Mahomes in 2018 Tom Brady in 2007, 2011 … and 2021. Joe Burrow’s 2024 season is a more recent example. Those seasons were fun and all, but there’s something missing. That rushing element. Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season was one for the ages. Josh Allen has posted some amazing seasons as a dual threat. Jayden Daniels has announced himself as the next HIM.

Matthew Freedman zeroed in on eight quarterbacks who Fantasy Life has projected to rush over 75 times this season. In some instances, that could position them for QB1 overall status. For several others, we’re talking top five. These could be the difference makers in your battle for your league’s championship.👇🏼

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Ian’s Must-Have Draft Picks

We all have the players we’d love the draft at every opportunity. If you’re an Eagles fan, using an early pick on Saquon Barkley is preferred. You may need to leave a draft with an elite QB or TE. Or both! Yes, we all have our players we want to select in all our home league drafts.

Ian Hartitz has his own pick 6 of players he targets in every draft. One is a bench RB he’s written and talked about consistently throughout the offseason who has a big opportunity in front of him for the taking. They all offer high ceilings of production and have league-winning potential. Find out more about Ian’s must-have draft picks.⬇️

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Around the Watercooler

Just a few fun links on a Monday.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Keep up with Dwain’s Week 1 Preseason Takeaways.

🤔 There’s a lot of “Questionable” tags in San Fran. At least the 49ers are trying, right?

👀 Today is allegedly the day! Matthew Stafford (back) is… back!  

📝 Tyler Shough’s preseason debut was fine. But he technically threw 2 TDs …

📱 The Guillotine LeaguesTM app is now availalble on Android.

🚑 Tyjae Spears health update. Not good timing.

😔 “It’s only preseason,” I remind myself as I double check Jaylen Wright’s stats.

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