Top 5 Fantasy Football Veterans to Avoid - Predicting the Top NFL Draft Fallers (2025)

April 21, 2025

Dave highlights five veteran NFL players whose fantasy football value could decline following the 2025 NFL Draft. avoid these players.

The 2025 NFL Draft is just a few days away. It’s hard to believe, and it feels like we just watched the Philadelphia Eagles triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

As the saying goes, though, time stops for no one. The NFL offseason works the same way. That means it’s time to start thinking about the fantasy football implications that come with the NFL Draft. Teams will look to address their needs with an influx of youth. That means there are veteran players whose jobs could be in jeopardy. Typically, we want to avoid these players, as you’ll find you won’t get many fantasy points from players sitting on the bench. Today, we will look at several veteran players whose fantasy football value could be negatively impacted by the NFL Draft.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football and NFL Draft needs. Here are five veteran players whose fantasy football value could decline following the 2025 NFL Draft.

Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Following two poor seasons with the Denver Broncos, Williams signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. With the Cowboys not re-signing last year’s starter, Rico Dowdle, Williams is currently the top running back on Dallas’ depth chart.

That could be short-lived, as it seems likely that Dallas will draft a running back in the NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys have spent 7 of their top 30 visits on RBs 👀

Safe to say, it looks like they’re taking a running back in the early rounds of this draft.

Something to keep in mind for your #dynasty #fantasyfootball leagues.#fantasyfootballadvice #NFLDraft2025

— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) April 11, 2025

Williams was also objectively bad in 2024. Among 46 running backs with 100+ carries, he finished 45th in Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected (RYOE) and 46th in PFF rushing grade. The team also signed Miles Sanders this offseason, but Dallas desperately needs a difference-maker at running back.

While many pundits have pegged the Cowboys to select a back on Day 1, the reality is that this team has a lot of holes. Given the depth of the running back class, there’s a good chance Dallas will address other needs on Day 1 and then address running back on Day 2. Jerry Jones is a wild card, though, so anything is possible.

Either way, Williams’ time atop the depth chart will likely be short-lived. Whichever running back the Cowboys select is sure to be a very popular draft pick in both dynasty and redraft leagues.

Russell Wilson, QB, New York Giants

Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are in a bad spot entering 2025. For some unknown reason, both men kept their jobs following a disastrous 3-14 season highlighted by the team’s questionable decision to let star running back Saquon Barkley sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.

As a result, the Schoen/Daboll duo signed Wilson to be their new starting quarterback in a desperate attempt to keep their jobs. However, Wilson’s best days are behind him. Yes, Wilson initially played well with the Steelers last year, but he eventually fizzled down the stretch.

He might be a good short-term answer to bring some stability to the quarterback position, but the Giants still need a long-term option. It’s looking increasingly unlikely that the team will spend the third overall pick on a quarterback. However, they could take a signal-caller at the top of the second round or even trade into the back end of the first to do so. That would mean Wilson won’t have a long leash as a starter, and he could eventually be benched if his play isn’t up to par.

Expect the Giants to address the quarterback position at some point in this draft. Whoever they add in the NFL Draft will likely threaten Wilson’s standing atop New York’s depth chart.

Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints

News broke earlier this week that Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury and that his status for the 2025 season is in doubt.

The #Saints suddenly have a major QB question: Starter Derek Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for this season, sources say.

Carr is weighing options, including the possibility of surgery. pic.twitter.com/QNdc9ipE8P

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 11, 2025

New Orleans recently restructured Carr’s contract to seemingly keep him with the team through the 2026 season. With that said, it was a bit odd to hear that the team met with quarterback prospects Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart.

NFL DRAFT: Jaxson Dart has spent considerable time with Saints

The Saints are the current favorites to land Shedeur Sanders but could they end up drafting Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart?? #NFLDraft #WhoDathttps://t.co/tTJ60wIMTH pic.twitter.com/mP2Cwtgb5h

— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) April 9, 2025

With the news of Carr’s injury, these meetings now make perfect sense. It sure looks like New Orleans could be eyeing a quarterback with the ninth overall pick. Carr’s days as the Saints QB1 could be limited. He wasn't on the fantasy radar before his injury, outside of being a potential streamer in single-quarterback leagues and a QB2 in Superflex leagues.

With his status now up in the air, Carr offers little fantasy value. Injury concerns combined with the increased likelihood that the Saints select a quarterback means gamers can safely pass on Carr come draft day.

Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh opted not to re-sign 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris this offseason. The club did re-sign Jaylen Warren, and he currently sits atop the team’s depth chart as the RB1. While Pittsburgh has praised Warren publicly, the team has quietly been doing homework on rookie running backs available in the NFL Draft.

Despite boasting some strong underlying metrics, Warren was unable to beat out Harris for the RB1 spot. It seems unlikely the team is now ready to make Warren the starter. The incoming rookie running back class is loaded with talent, and it seems Pittsburgh wants to upgrade the position.

Armed with the 21st pick, the team could be in play for North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton.

It's #TouchdownTuesday ft. @OmarionHampton's 31-yard TD en route to a career-high 265 all-purpose yards and became the first Tar Heel since 1981 to score five touchdowns in a game@UNCFootball | @GoHeels | #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/pwaN5kd1hq

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 15, 2025

However, Pittsburgh does have other needs to address, and it’s unknown if it would take a running back again in Round 1 after Harris didn’t meet expectations. Even if the Steelers don’t address running back on Day 1, you can be certain Pittsburgh will draft one at some point. That means Warren will likely be relegated to the same role he’s had the last three years and won’t be anything more than a flex play or spot starter when you’re in a jam.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns

Jeudy is coming off a career year in 2024. He set career highs in receptions and receiving yards, and finished the season as the PPR WR12.

JERRY JEUDY 15.9 FANTASY POINT TOUCHDOWN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/F0CBYcjPm7

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) November 17, 2024

Cleveland has the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Recent reports suggest it will select former Colorado Buffalo Travis Hunter. He played both cornerback and wide receiver in college, and it is widely expected he will play on both sides of the ball in the NFL as well. Exactly how often he plays each position is still up in the air.

However, Cleveland has previously stated that it views him primarily as a wide receiver. He would be the clear WR1 of this class if he decided to solely focus on the position. The Browns do need another receiver to play alongside Jeudy. If Cleveland intends to use Hunter primarily as a receiver, then this is bad news for Jeudy’s fantasy football outlook. Hunter would immediately step in as the team’s WR1, and Jeudy would be relegated to a secondary role.

Hunter will likely still play some snaps at cornerback, but he’s a good enough pass-catcher that he will be a focal point of Cleveland’s offense whenever he’s lined up at receiver. At the very least, we shouldn't expect Jeudy to post another WR12 finish like we saw last year. All of this means fantasy gamers might be better off passing on Jeudy come draft day.

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