Fantasy Football: 5 Players to Avoid in 2024

Before taking part in a fantasy football draft, it's common to compile a list of players you want to prioritize getting on your team. At the same time, there are players who you don't want as their average draft positions (ADP).

There are various reasons why a player could be on your do-not-draft list. Injuries, uncertainty surrounding a consistent role, playing in a below-average offense, or a lack of upside in a certain area of their game are among those reasons.

Ahead of the 2024 season, let's take a look at five players who you may want to avoid in fantasy football at their current ADPs. We'll be using FantasyPros' consensus ADP.

Players to Avoid in 2024

Davante Adams, Raiders

ADP: WR10 (17.7 Overall)

Fading a receiver who has achieved 100-plus receptions, 1,100-plus receiving yards, and 8-plus receiving touchdowns in five of the last six seasons may not seem wise. However, there are a few reasons why Davante Adams could disappoint at his current ADP.

Adams was still productive in 2023 with the Las Vegas Raiders, producing 2.01 yards per route run on a team-high 33.0% target share, via NextGenStats. That being said, the Raiders didn't do anything to drastically improve their quarterback situation entering the 2024 campaign despite signing Gardner Minshew to compete with Aidan O'Connell.

There has been constant trade chatter surrounding Adams since the end of last season, but all of it has been pure speculation. Adams finished as the WR18 in fantasy points per game in half-PPR leagues last year -- his worst finish since 2015 -- and nothing indicates his current situation has changed in his favor for a better output in 2024.

When factoring in that Adams will also be turning 32 years old near the end of the upcoming season, I'd much rather select Drake London or Chris Olave with slightly later ADPs. Lastly, our own Aidan Cotter also views Adams as a potential bust in fantasy football, so beware betting on the All-Pro receiver to produce a top-10 season at a loaded WR position.

C.J. Stroud, Texans

ADP: QB5 (46.3 Overall)

Let me preface this inclusion by stating that C.J. Stroud is a fantastic real-life quarterback who has an astronomical ceiling with the Houston Texans. But when looking at Stroud through a fantasy-football lens, it's hard to grasp why he's being selected as a top-five quarterback.

Don't get me wrong, adding Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to an offense that already featured Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Dalton Schultz should benefit Stroud. With Collins, Dell, and Schultz being the primary targets in 2023, Stroud was the QB10 in fantasy points per game while impressing with a +1.3% completion percentage over expected and only 5 interceptions as a rookie.

What can limit Stroud from achieving a ceiling outcome or a chance at a QB1 finish in 2024 is the fact he doesn't provide much rushing upside, totaling only 167 rushing yards and 3 rushing scores on 39 attempts last season. While his passing numbers could improve across the board, is it enough to keep him in pace with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson?

Mahomes is the only one of the bunch who doesn't have consistent rushing output, but he more than makes up for it with gaudy aerial numbers that are tough to predict for other signal-callers. In all likeliness, Stroud should be lumped with quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, and Jordan Love, but all of them have ADPs that are at least 15 picks behind Stroud's.

Nick Chubb, Browns

ADP: RB29 (89.0 Overall)

Nick Chubb suffered a devastating season-ending knee injury early in the 2023 season for the Cleveland Browns, which required him to undergo multiple surgeries. Chubb needed one surgery to repair his MCL and meniscus while the second surgery was conducted to repair his ACL in his left knee, which was the same knee he sustained a torn PCL, MCL, and LCL in during the 2015 collegiate season at Georgia.

Since entering the NFL in 2018, Chubb has been one of the best pure runners in football. He notched four consecutive seasons of registering 1,000-plus rushing yards and 8-plus rushing touchdowns on 5.0-plus yards per attempt before being sidelined for the final 15 games of the 2023 campaign.

Aside from Chubb having an uncertain timetable for his return to game action, it's tough to expect the All-Pro back to immediately get back to his elite form. Barring a sudden change of events, it appears Chubb won't be ready for Week 1, and it remains to be seen how the Browns plan on easing him back into the offense.

There's no denying the talent that Chubb has shown throughout his productive career in Cleveland. But when entering drafts this year, it's probably best to let your leaguemates take a chance on Chubb rather than hoping the physical runner will put up fantasy-relevant numbers off a serious knee injury entering his age-29 season.

Devin Singletary, Giants

ADP: RB30 (92.0 Overall)

On the surface, it appears that Devin Singletary is headed for a workhorse role with the New York Giants following the departure of Saquon Barkley. Singletary notched career-best marks in attempts (216) and rushing yards (890) in 2023 with the Texans.

The reality for Singletary is that he's never been a prototypical workhorse back, he's joining a worse offense than he was on a season ago, and we've seen him in an elite offense with the Buffalo Bills. Just last season with the Texans, Singletary still managed to log a blah 38.2% rushing success rate and a career-worst 4.2 yards per attempt en route to an uninspiring RB39 finish in fantasy points per game.

What upside is actually obtainable for Singletary in a Daniel Jones-led offense?

While rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. suffered an ankle injury in training camp and will miss time, Eric Gray is also a running back who could earn touches in New York's backfield. In addition to that, there's a scenario where the Giants prefer to bring in another veteran once roster cuts are made before Week 1.

Friends don't let friends get excited about drafting Singletary in fantasy football -- especially when you can get Tony Pollard, Brian Robinson, or a rookie back at similar or later ADPs.

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

ADP: TE14 (122.3 Overall)

Another player who is rehabbing a serious knee injury is Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. When looking at per-game numbers, Hockenson was the TE3 in fantasy points per game last season, putting him behind only Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce.

Before exiting in Week 15 of last year with a season-ending torn ACL and MCL, Hockenson was recording a fantastic 24.0% target share and 2.02 yards per route run. Being that it was a late-season injury, Hockenson's status for Week 1 is highly doubtful, and there's a chance he's put on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to begin the campaign.

Assuming he can make a return in 2024, Hockenson understandably has late-season appeal at a position that is highly volatile on a weekly basis. At the same time, expecting him to return with immediate elite production is likely wishful thinking for a player who is less than eight months removed from suffering a significant injury.

Additionally, Kirk Cousins is no longer under center for the Vikings, and rookie J.J. McCarthy is going to miss the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing knee surgery. I'd much rather take Dallas Goedert earlier in the draft or wait for someone like Pat Freiermuth than select Hockenson in hopes he can immediately give me consistent production with Sam Darnold as his QB off a late-season knee injury.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.