ACL LVCs (least valuable contracts)

Little delayed with this one.  I work as a house painter so wrote up the last article on a rain day.  Since then its been pretty dry–good for business, bad for fantasy football articles.  Scrambled to squeeze this in before week two.  Here we go.

Last time we celebrated the genius deals–the bargain-bins steals, rookie pick hits, and “how did he get him that cheap?” moves.  This time, we’re doing the opposite: shining a harsh, fluorescent light on the least valuable contracts in the league.

These are the panic overpays, the aging stars on retirement tours, and the “wasn’t he supposed to be good?” deals haunting rosters throughout the league. Whether they were bad bets from day one or just victims of injuries and hype gone wrong, these contracts are dead weight.

As with the last ranking, we’ll rank them by AAV, years left, extension plans, and fantasy outlook.

Disclaimer: Taxi squad players are not included in these rankings.  While they may potentially be clogging up a strategic roster spot, since they aren’t impacting the cap in any way, they were chosen to be omitted.  I do want to shout out Trey Benson and Bryce Young for the underperformance though.

Quarterbacks:

1. Anthony Richardson, OK Outlaws, $17,938.96, QB4

Pretty clear at the top spot here.  Losing out the QB1 duties to Daniel Jones likely means the Colts are done with the Anthony Richardson experience.  Maybe he can revitalize his career as early as next year if a rebuilding NFL team wants to trade for him, and maybe his athleticism can lead to solid fantasy production, and maybe he can somehow do this consistently for the first time in his career.  A whole lot of maybes doesn’t justify him as the fourth highest QB contract, thankfully PJ also has the best QB in football to start above him.

2. Justin Herbert, TX Two Fawns, $25,898, QB3

I’ll try not to overreact as the Herbert manager; but, man, it was fun to watch Herbert and the Chargers take down the Chiefs week one.  It is early but Herbert could overperform as a mid to low end QB1 this year, but he is still on a one-year deal that’s an overpay compared to the rest of the position.

3. Patrick Mahomes, MA Marines, $35,062.50, QB1

Mahomes' cap hit could buy you another QB4 finish and a few State Farm ads.  The quarterback contracts are admittedly tough to rank from here on.  Mahomes is universally overrated as a fantasy asset by other experts and in other formats, but he’s finished as the QB4, 4, 1, 8, and 11 over the past five years.  While paid as the QB1 the next three years, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll finish in the top five 1-2 times over the remainder of this contract.  Sure, technically an overpay but worth it for the upside the best quarterback in the NFL carries.

4. Caleb Williams, WA Geoducks, $17,046.27, QB6

Definitely both a lower floor, and currently a lower ceiling than Mahomes above him, but have to tentatively project improvement from the highest QB prospect in years paired with an alleged offensive mastermind HC.  I was impressed with Williams' wheels in week one, and it’s nice to see his first rushing TD even though they’re not worth as much in this format.

5. Trevor Lawrence, MN Fighting Squirrels, $10,878.13, QB14

Another “generational prospect” that somehow pops up annually like the QB above him, Lawrence hasn’t performed to his expectations with a bad JAX team.  Expectations are higher than ever with the Liam Cohen hire and the Travis Hunter draft pick.  Let’s see if he can throw more than 25 TDs for the first time in his career.

6. JJ McCarthy, TX Two Fawns, $13,309.80, QB12

Should McCarthy be ranked higher?  Probably.  But I am a Vikings fan and McCarthy helped me come back to beat Anton week one.  

7. Tua Tagovailoa, IA Cyclones, $7,187.50, QB16

Thankfully Luke doesn’t need to rely on Tua and his health since he also just signed Kyler Murray for half his price on a four-year deal.  But if I ever expected Tua and the Dolphins to look elite it would be week one against the Colts, and Tua instead surprisingly posted the league’s worst QBR.

8. CJ Stroud, MN Fighting Squirrels, $14,216.72, QB9

The second of two slightly overpaid QB2 options for MN, Stroud is held back by a poor offensive line and a strong defense leading to low volume.  If Stroud bounces back to his rookie year production, he can lean on his strong receiving corps to move lower or off this list.

9. Dak Prescott, WI Gamecocks, $17,500, QB5

Dak looked incredible week one against the Eagles yet finished as QB29 thanks to two goal line rushing touchdowns, some crucial drops, and a weather delay.  In the last year of his deal, WI likely won’t extend him with Bo Nix locked up but does provide a solid matchup dependent option for this year.

10. Josh Allen, VA Heifers, $32,625, QB2

Obviously pay him whatever it takes, but Josh Allen is on here since comparable guys like Lamar and Burrow give similar productions at half the cost.

Runningbacks:

1. Isaac Guerendo, WA Geoducks, $28,905 (CUT, $14,452.50 dead cap)

See below

2. Zamir White, WA Geoducks, $5,900 (CUT, $5,900 dead cap over two years)

See below

3. Dameon Pierce, WA Geoducks, $15,000 (CUT, $7,500 dead cap)

Washington sweeps the podium at the RB position.  With a trifecta of dead cap RBs it doesn’t really matter how you rank the three, however, the Pierce move hurts most as he may eventually become a valuable asset if Mixon is shut down for the year.  The Guerendo and White cuts were good moves as a Guerendo trade to Ike would’ve forked over a 1st round pick and I’m not bothering to check which team Zamir White is currently on.  Zach, your gold, silver, and bronze medals are in the mail.

4. Austin Ekeler, CA Pansies, $15,000, RB23 (likely $7500 pending cut)

Reese took the crown in a bidding war between CA and TX, leading to potentially the most surprising overpay of the offseason at the time.  Reese must’ve had some insider information predicting the Brian Robinson shipment to San Fran, but unfortunately Ekeler is now lost for the year.  

5. Jonathan Brooks, VFT, $18,218.06 (IR, $12,752.64 cap hit)

Very sad start to Brooks’ career, and, with Chuba’s ascension, it’s tough to see Brooks’ path to become an RB1.  Unfortunately, if Vermont had only kept Brooks on the taxi squad he’d be exempt from this list.

6. Chase Brown, OH Good Sirs, $43,000, RB1

I do believe Brown will give RB1 production this year and likely next.  However, I can’t see the Bengals extending him after 2026 when they’ve already paid Burrow, Chase, and Higgins.  Will Brown find a new home that gives him more RB1 production for the rest of Ohio’s contract?  Maybe.?  Either way, the largest contract in the league at 29% to the cap is an overpay.

7. Chuba Hubbard, MA Marines, $28,905, RB5

Being paid as the RB5 while expecting to give high end RB2 production wouldn’t be too bad at all if it was a multi-year contract.  Unfortunately he’ll need an extension following the year, and while MA has the room for it, could move Chuba up the list as the price tag rises.

8. David Montgomery, VFT, $33,031.25, RB4

Montgomery is the poster child for an RB2, providing a high floor play with elite upside if Gibbs ever misses time.  Paid as the RB4 overall is overkill but definitely not egregious, earning his eight-spot.

9. Derrick Henry, OK Outlaws, $33,843.75, RB3

See Saquon below, but account for age 31 vs 28.

10. Christian McCaffrey, SD Bighorns, $23,428.57, RB10

The RB10 price tag for the best running back in football isn’t bad at all, it's the fact Ike will still be paying him when JD Vance moves into office.  Who really knows how many more injuries CMC can sustain as he ages?  The first player to make both the MVC and LVC lists.

11. Saquon Barkley, SD Bighorns, $35,875, RB2

Similar to Josh Allen, earns his contract but only appears compared to that of Bijan’s, Gibbs’, etc.

Wide Receivers:

1. Christian Watson, WI Gamecocks, $10,047.62, WR34 (IR, 70% cap hit)

Eh don’t really feel like writing up all these 2022 draft misses, see Skyy Moore below.

2. Diontae Johnson, VFT, $8,500, WR39 (CUT, $8,750 dead cap)

Different draft but see below.

3. Skyy Moore, VA Heifers, $10,047.62, WR34 (CUT, $5,023.81 dead cap)

While WR34 doesn’t sound like an overpay, there’s under a $2,000 gap between WR15 and WR36.  You’ll see a lot of round one picks that don’t pan out in this range here.  Skyy Moore is one of these unfortunate picks missed by Hunter, totally worthy of a cut as he has never produced at all.

4. Treylon Burks, OH Good Sirs, $11,218.25, WR27 (CUT, $5,640.63 dead cap)

See Skyy Moore.

5. Quentin Johnson, IA Cyclones, $11,915.03, WR15

Same as Skyy Moore but 2023.

6. Stefon Diggs, WA Geoducks, $18,125, WR3

Hey finally a changeup to the Skyy Moore monotony.  I guarantee there is no article on the planet that mentions Skyy Moore’s name as much as this one in 2025.  Diggsy is a clear overpay but is at least startable unlike any of the names above.

7. Chris Godwin, SD Bighorns, $12,593.75, WR14

It’s only been one week but Godwin may be seeing his role being stolen by rookie Emeka Egbuka.  With two years left on his deal, Godwin could move up the list if he can’t quickly establish a role if he comes back from his injury.

8. Tyreek Hill, WA Geoducks, $18,437.50, WR2

Merely looks like Tyreek is aging out of his elite-level contract.  Walking reminder of how the once mighty have fallen.

9. DK Metcalf, AZ Albatross, $21,485, WR1

The highest paid contract at the position is locked into Anton’s bench thanks to being surplanted by three top 5 dynasty WRs.  We have a Chandler Parsons contract situation here.

10. Brandon Aiyuk, MN Fighting Squirrels, $13,000, WR11

Let me paint a track and field illustration for you washed up Bethel runners.  Deebo gave San Fran’s WR1 baton to Aiyuk, who tore his ACL while handing it to Jauan Jennings who miraculously posted an 11 catch/175 yard/3 TD performance followed by utter mediocrity on his lap, before giving it to the new GOAT Ricky Pearsall.  Did I just selfishly turn Aiyuk’s writeup into an attempt to garner trade interest and raise the price on my ownership of Pearsall?  Maybe.

11. Calvin Ridley, MN Fighting Squirrels, $12,750, WR12

Ridley’s year will be tied to Cam Ward’s performance.  The following two years on his contract will be tied to Cam Ward’s development.  I project Ridley to heavily miss the mark painted by his WR12 price on both.

12. Davante Adams, TX Two Fawns, $15,500, WR7

See Tyreek Hill hill above just cheaper.

Tight Ends:

1. Travis Kelce, MA Marines, $31,812.50, TE1

In the running for the leagues’ worst contract, Kelce gets some brownie points for the Rice suspension and Worthy injury.  Maryland should enjoy at least half a season of a vintage Mahomes/Kelce stack (at a combined $66,875 or 45% of the cap).

2. Darren Waller, MI, $5,500, TE13

Who’s more relevant in 2025, Darren Waller or Skyy Moore?  Yes, Skyy Moore’s name appears more in this article than he has catches in the NFL.

3. Michael Mayer, WA Geoducks, $5,983.22, TE9

Being the only backup tight end to make the list (though Isaiah Likely may have something to say about this statement), is why Mayer ranks so high while making ⅕ of what Kelce makes.

4. Mark Andrews, MI, $10,000, TE4

Old Andrews’ contract sticks out on Andrew’s young roster, pun intended? (If that classifies as a pun).  Andrews also started slow last year before turning it on for 11 TDs, but a week one statline of one catch for five yards while the Ravens scored 40 is alarming.

5. Kyle Pitts, TX Two Fawns, $8,391.25, TE6

I know I’m probably a sucker, I mean who willingly signs up to board the Kyle Pitts experience?  Call me the optimist, through one week he’s on pace for a career year.

6. Jake Ferguson, MN Fighting Squirrels, $9,257, TE5

Good news is his QB looked really good in week one.  Also the Cowboys traded away Micah Parsons and have one of the worst defenses in the league.  This should lead to high, quality volume to the Cowboys passing offense.  Bad news is Ceedee and Pickens should hog a lot of these targets.  Plus Javonte Williams is a vulture on track for 34 TDs this year–keep an eye on that record, Ladanian Tomlinson.

7. George Kittle, AZ Albatross, $16,562.50, TE3

The second player to see an appearance on both the MVC and the LVC list.  Anton’s investment takes a hit with the injury but Kittle should return to elite production at his elite cost.

8. Dalton Kincaid, OH Good Sirs, $5,983.22, TE8

Um, Kincaid could potentially give TE8 production while being paid as the TE8?  With the position being a crapshoot aside from the elite guys, tight ends get tough to rank so we’ll cut the rankings here.

If I missed any overpays, feel free to yell at me in the league chat.  Just know I’ll be ignoring you while painting a house and overanalyzing my own contract decisions.