As Memorial Day weekend approaches, marking the unofficial start of summer, fantasy football enthusiasts begin to turn their attention to the forthcoming draft season. While significant leagues like the Scott Fish Bowl are on the horizon, it is essential for fantasy managers to commence their player research and evaluations. Within the realm of fantasy football, consensus opinions will emerge alongside varying perspectives. Exploring these differences can reveal hidden values, particularly when a substantial portion of the community is unified in their predictions about a player's potential performance. However, when disagreements arise, it is prudent to delve into those contrasting views, as they may highlight whether the prevailing outlook on a player is overly optimistic or pessimistic.

One prominent player consistently recognized among the top quarterbacks in fantasy leagues is Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. According to early average draft position (ADP) data from Fantasy Pros, Allen is projected to be selected late in Round 2 as the 21st overall pick. Fantasy analyst Kendall Valenzuela rationalizes this positioning, noting, 'There are three quarterbacks that are in a tier of their own, and Josh Allen sits atop that list.' Over the past five seasons, Allen has consistently ranked as a top-three quarterback in terms of fantasy points per game. Last season, his performance showcased a marked improvement, with a career-low five interceptions and an impressive 3,731 passing yards, accompanied by 28 touchdowns. His effectiveness was underscored by the fact that the Bills' receiving corps ranked 27th in average Open Score, and as a dual-threat quarterback, Allen also added 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns to his tally.

Nevertheless, selecting Allen towards the end of Round 2 raises concerns not solely tied to his abilities. The strategy of drafting any quarterback early may often backfire, particularly in leagues where only one quarterback is started. This decision could inadvertently create a deficit at other vital positions, such as wide receiver or running back, which may outweigh the advantage provided by Allen over quarterbacks drafted in subsequent rounds. Additionally, Allen's reliance on rushing touchdowns for fantasy production becomes a factor, as evidenced by his 3,731 passing yards—the lowest total since 2019. Despite these achievements, his performance ranked him only 4th in fantasy points among quarterbacks last season, suggesting that a more judicious approach to quarterback selection might be advisable.

Turning to Justin Fields, the young quarterback is set for a pivotal second chance as he embarks on his journey with the New York Jets after transitioning between three teams over the past three seasons. Fields has encountered a challenging NFL career thus far, having been benched by the Pittsburgh Steelers after just six games last season. Yet, following several practice sessions, Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams expressed enthusiasm regarding Fields' potential contributions, stating, 'He's a guy who can run extremely fast and make bombs down the field.' Williams further asserted that Fields ranks among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, commending his impressive speed and determination to prove himself.

Fields' early ADP of QB15, primarily attributed to his ability to generate yardage with his legs, presents a compelling option for fantasy managers. In 2022, while playing for the Chicago Bears, Fields became only the third quarterback to exceed 1,000 rushing yards in a season and finished sixth in fantasy points per game during that year. Furthermore, his career average of 50.2 rushing yards per game surpasses that of Josh Allen. Field's continued production since 2022, where he averaged approximately 18.9 fantasy points per game over six starts for the Steelers, solidifies his status as a worthy consideration for fantasy drafts.

On the topic of running backs, Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley emerges as a high-profile option, evidenced by his early ADP of the third overall pick in fantasy drafts this summer. In the previous season, Barkley became the ninth NFL running back to achieve over 2,000 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 22.0 points per game in PPR formats. He benefits from playing behind one of the league's top offensive lines. However, caution is advised by analysts such as Pat Fitzmaurice of Fantasy Pros, who notes that Barkley's heavy workload—482 touches in total, including playoff games—raises concerns about potential regression. Sourcing insights from Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders, the 'Curse of 370' suggests a correlation between excessive carries and decreased performance the following season. Given that Barkley is a 28-year-old player with a history of injuries, fantasy managers are urged to consider the implications of his substantial workload prior to selecting him.

Even when discounting playoff touches, Barkley's regular season workload still reached over 370 touches, implicating a risk of regression that fantasy managers cannot ignore. Additionally, historical trends indicate that running backs who have previously hit the 2,000-yard mark tend to struggle in subsequent seasons, averaging a drop-off of over 1,000 rushing yards. To justify his current ADP, Barkley would need to replicate his previous year's success, an outcome fraught with uncertainty.

Another focus of interest is D’Andre Swift of the Chicago Bears, whose performance last season was met with criticism. Swift averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry, reflecting a challenging campaign; however, some analysts, like Ted Chymz from Fantasy Pros, argue that the level of dissatisfaction directed at Swift has been excessive. Recognizing Swift's potential as a three-down back and his prior history of solid fantasy production, Chymz posits that Swift's current ADP outside the top 25 running backs presents a market inefficiency. With a focus on Swift's role as the presumptive lead back, analysts anticipate improved yardage production due to an enhanced offensive scheme under new leadership.

Among this year’s rookie class, Ashton Jeanty has garnered considerable attention following an exceptional season at Boise State. Selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft, Jeanty's early ADP ranks him eighth overall among running backs. Raiders defensive player Maxx Crosby has praised Jeanty's talent and work ethic, highlighting his impressive track record from college. However, despite the optimistic outlook, some experts caution against the hype surrounding Jeanty, emphasizing that he is being drafted as though his success is guaranteed. With nearly 400 touches and a substantial increase in competition level at the NFL level, expectations for immediate high-level performance may be unwarranted, especially considering the less favorable offensive line situation Jazz has inherited.

Also noteworthy is Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals, who, after an impressive drafting position last year, has seen performance-related criticisms this offseason. Harrison's productive stats from 2025 included 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, but those numbers only placed him as the WR30 in fantasy points. Analysts like Dalton Del Don of Yahoo Sports highlight that Harrison's draft expectations might have been overly optimistic. Despite having had many opportunities, his actual performance metrics indicate that he underperformed expectations last season.

In light of the feedback Harrison has received, analysts point to positive developments heading into 2025—he has made physical gains and is reportedly building chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray. This foundation of improvement has led some to suggest that Harrison may still possess WR1 potential, particularly considering the dynamics of the Cardinals’ receiver lineup.

Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins, who was once considered the premier receiver in the league, is similarly positioned for a crucial season. His advanced metrics from recent seasons highlight declines in key statistical categories, raising concerns about his potential for resurgence as he enters 2025. Despite positive communication from the team's new wide receivers coach, Robert Prince, analysts caution that Hill's current ADP reflects a level of optimism that may not be merited given his previous season's performance and age-related considerations.

The case of Chris Olave also cannot be overlooked. After a troubling injury year, the New Orleans Saints’ wide receiver finds himself being drafted below expectations due to past health concerns. Coach Kellen Moore's palpable optimism for Olave's capabilities suggests potential for a resurgence, particularly if he can navigate his injury history. For those willing to take a chance, the target share Olave could command might make him a valuable asset when healthy.

Finally, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, long regarded as a premier tight end, appears to be facing challenges associated with age. His production fell to levels not seen since his rookie year, prompting analysts to question his continued value as a high draft pick. Given his current ADP and performance metrics, Kelce may be drawing selections based more on his historical valuation than on his present capabilities, advising fantasy managers to proceed with caution when considering him.