Jayden Daniels among 'red flag' players to still d...
Key takeaways
- Daniels' entrance into the league was accompanied by a plethoric compliment of unfurled green flags.
- A regression in passing and rushing efficiency additionally cratered Daniels' stock.
- The dichotomy between 2024 and 2025 reminds us that each year brings a new set of circumstances.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Jayden Daniels looks to stay healthy in Year 3 after an injury-plagued second season. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Liz Loza Jul 1, 2026, 10:00 AM ETClose Liz Loza is a writer for fantasy football and betting at ESPN and host of the "Facts vs. Feelings" podcast. Liz also appears on "Fantasy Football Now" and contributes to the "Fantasy Focus Football" podcast.Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Risk is ever present. That's why balance is so essential. But, sometimes, heartfelt hunches and gut feels push us past the red flags and straight into the arms of adventure. Whether you're sniffing a bounceback or hopeful for redemption, some players are worthy of a second (or third, or fourth) shot. Here are the players I'd consider staying toxic for in 2026.
Daniels' entrance into the league was accompanied by a plethoric compliment of unfurled green flags. The emerald-colored banners quickly became threadbare, however, shortly into the QB's sophomore campaign as a litany of compounding physical maladies (wrist, knee, hamstring and elbow) limited the electric signal caller to just four full games.
A regression in passing and rushing efficiency additionally cratered Daniels' stock. But it's worth noting that the injury imp also wreaked havoc on Daniels' supporting cast with Terry McLaurin (quad), Austin Ekeler (Achilles) and Zach Ertz (ACL) all missing significant time. Those absences, quite clearly, contributed to Daniels' statistical dip. Despite the obstacles, the former No. 2 overall pick in 2024 averaged 16.3 fantasy points per game, closely behind Joe Burrow (16.8 FPTS/gm) and Lamar Jackson (16.5 FPTS/gm).