Fantasy Football 2025: Kyler Murray, Christian McCaffrey Among Risky ‘Red Flag’ Picks Still Worth Drafting…read more…
As fantasy football managers prep for the 2025 NFL season, draft boards are beginning to take shape, rankings are shuffling, and debates rage about who deserves a coveted early-round pick. Every year, a set of players are tagged with “red flag” labels — concerns about injuries, workloads, age, or team changes that make them riskier than their draft price suggests. Yet, in some cases, the upside is simply too high to ignore.
Two names generating major buzz in this year’s conversation are quarterback Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals and running back Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers. Both players come with injury histories and uncertainty, yet both remain among the most dynamic talents in the league. Fantasy analysts are urging managers not to let fear override value, especially when these players are falling into later rounds than they should.
Kyler Murray: Bounce-Back Potential or Too Fragile?
Once considered a fantasy cheat code because of his dual-threat capability, Kyler Murray enters 2025 with mixed expectations. After tearing his ACL late in the 2022 season, Murray returned partway through 2023 and showed flashes of brilliance, but also inconsistency. In 2024, he was more stable, but his overall fantasy output took a hit due to a limited supporting cast and a conservative offense.
Now fully healthy and paired with second-year sensation receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray could be poised for a massive fantasy rebound. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has promised a more aggressive offensive approach, and Murray’s mobility remains a major weapon. Still, durability concerns linger. He’s missed 17 games in the past three seasons — a red flag that makes some hesitant.
Despite that, fantasy experts believe Murray is a screaming value if he slips into the mid-rounds. “You’re getting a potential top-5 quarterback at a QB10 price,” said ESPN fantasy analyst Mike Clay. “You can’t teach what he brings with his legs. If he stays healthy, he’s a league-winner.”
Christian McCaffrey: Heavy Workload, Higher Risk
Few players offer the week-to-week ceiling of Christian McCaffrey, who led all running backs in total fantasy points again in 2024. His ability to catch passes, break long runs, and find the end zone makes him one of the most complete backs in NFL history. However, McCaffrey also comes with one of the highest workloads in the league and is now 29 — an age that typically marks the beginning of a decline for running backs.
His 2024 campaign was largely healthy, but fantasy managers haven’t forgotten the 2020–2022 stretch where injuries derailed multiple seasons. San Francisco also has a deep roster and may begin to limit McCaffrey’s touches to keep him fresh for the postseason.
Still, passing on McCaffrey because of potential wear and tear may be a mistake. “He’s still the guy in a Kyle Shanahan offense,” says Yahoo Sports fantasy expert Matt Harmon. “He has unmatched upside in PPR formats and continues to be the engine of that offense.”
Fantasy players drafting near the end of the first round — or even early in the second — may find McCaffrey sitting there, and he could deliver top-3 RB value at a discounted cost.
Other “Red Flag” Names Worth Drafting
McCaffrey and Murray aren’t alone. Several other high-risk players are causing hesitation on draft day, but still offer tantalizing upside:
Tee Higgins (WR, Bengals): Injuries and inconsistency last season, along with contract drama, have pushed him down draft boards. But with Joe Burrow healthy, Higgins could bounce back to WR2 status with WR1 weeks mixed in.
T.J. Hockenson (TE, Vikings): Recovering from an ACL tear, Hockenson might miss early games, but once back, he should be one of the most heavily targeted tight ends in the league — especially with a rookie QB likely relying on short throws.
Najee Harris (RB, Steelers): Many are down on Harris due to a declining yards-per-carry average and competition from Jaylen Warren. But under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who prefers a power run game, Harris could see renewed life as a volume-heavy RB2.
The Balancing Act: Risk vs. Reward
The key to fantasy success isn’t about avoiding risk altogether — it’s about understanding which risks are worth taking. In the case of Kyler Murray, you may want to pair him with a stable veteran QB in case of injury. For McCaffrey, it might be wise to secure Elijah Mitchell as a handcuff. Flexibility in roster construction can help you maximize upside while hedging against known pitfalls.
Veteran fantasy manager and podcaster Liz Loza emphasized, “Championship teams are built on calculated gambles. Avoiding every red flag player means you’re missing out on some of the best value on the board.”
Draft Strategy Takeaway
So what’s the takeaway for fantasy GMs eyeing risky stars? Don’t let injury history or age scare you away from drafting talent that can win weeks — and leagues. Players like Kyler Murray and Christian McCaffrey still possess elite ceilings. If their draft positions slide due to overblown fears, savvy managers should pounce.
Ultimately, fortune favors the bold — and in fantasy football, that sometimes means drafting
the red flag guys who could carry you to glory.
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