With the start of RazzBowl8 drafts on the horizon, I feel it is time to address the elephant in the room. Sure, I love discussing my top WR breakouts and bargains, but I also need to hop over to the negative side of the ledger and discuss WRs I am currently, and probably consistently fading in 2026 drafts. If you are like me, and my guys over at @RazzballNFL (Home – Razzball Fantasy Football), you are geeked about the #RazzBowl8 draft and season, so comment with the WRs you are considering fading. For the record, I was correct in three of my four 2025 WR fades as DJ Moore, Jerry Jeudy and Travis Hunter were all taken too high. Full transparency here, too, as I completely whiffed on Chris Olave as my top WR fade of last season.
We are also adding a Razzball G-League and a Razzball Listeners League for those folks that are long-time readers and followers that we often see comment on our articles and/or those that pop into our podcasts, especially the Sunday Morning Start-Sit show during the regular season. If interested in one of the leagues, please drop me a note at this article and we can discuss your future in those leagues.
I digress. Today, I am going to plant a few flags for WRs that I am fading that others may be buying. Feel free to provide your fades in reply to this article. I will respond to all comments and questions. Also, remember to check in with the @Razzball NFL team of writers as we host our You Tube podcasts where we chat all things off-season fantasy football, fantasy football draft season, and maybe weave in some music and pop culture chatter. Join Sky @SkyGuasco, The Lineup Builder @Derek_Favret, Jeff @Jefferson__21, Dave @crewser128, Ben @FantasyFirstDwn and me, Matt @stiles08 on out various You Tube pods as we answer your questions thus keeping you informed for the 2025 draft season. Come for the analysis and stay for the laughs!
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My WR Fades
- Player: DeVonta Smith
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- Current (early) ADP: WR13, Overall 25
Nope. No way. Not going to do it. You will not see me paying borderline WR1 pricing for a guy that plays in an offense with a below average passing QB. Additionally, the offense is in flux with a new OC coming in only to probably fight and argue with the HC over playcalling. There is a reason, probably multiple, that AJ Brown wanted out of Philly. Where I expect him to thrive, I fully expect Smith to suffer. My belief is that the former Heisman winner is much more of a complimentary WR2 than he is an alpha WR1. When you consider the draft capital spent on Makai Lemon, I simply cannot justify using the 25th overall pick to select Smith.
- Player: Jaylen Waddle
- Team: Denver Broncos
- Current (early) ADP: WR20, Overall 39
There was a time when I was over-drafting Waddle. Well, that is not happening again. The injury history is real, so I do not see paying WR2 to obtain a guy that is currently being ranked above the WR1 on his own team. I would much rather select Courtland Sutton, the boring, steady WR1 in Denver while saving 33 picks (72 overall). Consider math for a moment and tell me if you want Waddle in the 4th Round or if you prefer Sutton at the end of the 6th, possibly into the early 7th knowing you will have 2-3 picks in between. It is not a hard sell for me to pass on Waddle and plan on Sutton later.
- Player: DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Current (early) ADP: WR34/37, Overall 74/82
Let me start by reminding you that I love Aaron Rodgers. Let me follow that love up with the fact that he is not the same QB he once was. He does not have the arm that he used to have thus limiting his ability to throw WRs open down the field. These are no longer the days of Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Greg Jennings feasting on long receptions. The Steelers offense appears to be run-first followed by dink and dunk passing. Considering Jaylen Warren catches plenty of passes and understanding Rodgers appreciates his TEs, I truly believe these two WRs will be limited. Each has a very low ceiling, and their low floor does not help either player ascend my draft board. Let someone else pay up for the name value while you scoop up one of the Jacksonville WR trio who are all being drafted after Pittman or Ricky Pearsall who could realistically end 2026 as the SF WR1.
- Player: Xavier Worthy
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- Current (early) ADP: WR51, Overall 123
A lot of hype with no guarantee he ever returns to his rookie season form. Plus, Rashee Rice will not be receiving the suspension many of us saw coming, so he will garner the WR1 targets with old man Kelce commanding the attention of Patrick Mahomes. This list is early, so Worthy may end up being a budget WR in the end but for now I am fading at this time.
Let me know where you think I am right and wrong with the list of ‘My Guys at WR’. Also, follow me @stiles08 on Twitter/X and send questions comments at the bottom of this article. Make sure you jump around the Razzball site for all your fantasy football needs.
-Stiles-
