The Bull Case for Travis Hunter in Best Ball Drafts

We just taped a show on the Fanspeak Network about the Bull case for WR/CB/Unicorn Travis Hunter. So it made sense to put an article here on Fanspeak.com about this very polarizing topic as well.

We are IN on the risk/reward best ball Underdog Fantasy Big Board draft pick of WR/CB Travis Hunter. Let’s just call his position UNICORN!

Trigger Warning: If you think Travis Hunter is a bad best ball pick, do not watch this show or read this article. Or continue if you want another perspective and reasons why.

The Bull Case for Travis Hunter in Big Board Drafts:

-We’re basing everything on “soft news” right now from the NFL Combine and pure speculation. The range of outcomes is wide. But the risk where he is currently drafted (ADP 131 on Underdog Fantasy) is worth the upside swing and potential massive reward.

-Multiple teams at the Combine spoke of how they view Hunter as a WR first. This would be a huge upside case. But even for teams that view him as a CB first, he’s going to get WR snaps/routes.

-The leverage of those routes is what’s important. He’s too talented not to use in high leverage situations and have an amazing targets per routes run.

-This is top 1 or 2 WR prospect in this draft class depending on who you ask. Matt Harmon, WR expert tracks wide receiver data for a living on Reception Perception compared Hunter to “Prime Odell Beckham”.

We have no idea exactly how much Travis Hunter will play on either side of the ball in the NFL. But…I am incredibly impressed with him as a wide receiver based on my early #ReceptionPerception charting. pic.twitter.com/QDOUoL2cZT

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) February 25, 2025

-Look at who he goes around – Keon Coleman, Xavier Leggette, Stefon Diggs, Christian Kirk (both coming back from injury), and Quentin Johnson. I would much rather take an upside swing on Hunter than any of those guys.

-Look at other past rookie receivers that the field has spent high draft capital for just because the NFL spends 1st or early 2nd round draft capital. There are plenty of examples of WRs going in the 70s-120s that failed or were weak picks. Think of Treylon Burks, Quinten Johnston, and Xavier Legette rookies seasons. I think Hunter can outperform that even with a capped route share.

-Range of outcomes could be a drinking game when talking about Travis Hunter. I highly doubt he’s a total 0 at WR, as it would be crazy for a team not to tap into that skillset as a top 5 pick.

But what about the extreme bull case range of outcomes? For instance, a team that trades up for him to use him a lot as WR. A team that views him as WR first and he’ll likely then run 70%+ routes as a WR. Even if he’s drafted by a team that views him as CB first. What if there are injuries to the WR room during the season, or they just realized how insanely talented he can be on offense?

We always care most about post-bye rookie bump and end of the season production for best ball playoffs. People were drafting RB Jonathan Brooks earlier than Hunter when Brooks was coming back from injury and starting on the PUP list with no good coachspeak. Why wouldn’t we take the risk on Hunter’s talent to produce and spike, especially later in the season.

-Even if the bear case plays out and he is drafted by a team that views him as CB and he has very limited routes at WR, then the risk is minimal. Big Board drafts are the time to take high upside swings with risk because it’s 20 rounds and 25% advance rate (compared to 18 rounds and 16% advance rate to playoffs post-NFL Draft).

Bottom line, we’re taking our shots on Travis Hunter during the Big Board drafts as long as the ADP is 100 or later. Steve and I both hope to be 25% or higher on Hunter and hopefully this pays off!