The NFL season has wrapped up, so it’s time to look back at the biggest fantasy busts.
Despite the buzz around these players, they underperformed when it mattered most. Whether they bounce back next year or stumble again, here are this year’s biggest disappointments.
Kaleb Johnson
Steelers fans expected Kaleb Johnson to excel in their offensive system. The rookie Iowa star could easily serve as an RB2 or RB3, right?
Unfortunately, Johnson didn’t stand out or improve much, missing out on valuable playing time. Between Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, Johnson was overshadowed by two talented running backs, ending up with only 8.8 fantasy points on the season.
Not all hope is lost for a third-round young talent, but Johnson must prove he is worthy of any reps for next year’s fantasy draft.
Xavier Worthy
Entering the 2025 season, Xavier Worthy was in a prime position. Rashee Rice faced a six-game suspension, and the Chiefs needed a clear replacement. After a promising rookie year, many fantasy experts expected Worthy to have an outstanding season.
However, Worthy was extremely disappointing.
Worthy, averaging 7.9 ppg, never really found his groove. Despite dealing with injuries and a discouraged team, he didn’t match the explosiveness of his rookie year. He ended the season with 109.9 points, falling significantly short of his 187.2 points from the previous year.
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Brian Thomas Jr.
Another promising rookie who underperformed this year was Brian Thomas Jr. After an exciting rookie season, the standout LSU wide receiver was expected to have a breakout second year.
Thomas Jr., however, did not live up to the hype.
After a remarkable 2024, with 284.0 points, Thomas Jr. failed to nearly reach half of that this year, earning only 138.8. Not to mention, his receiving touchdowns dropped from ten to just two, which is disappointing. Thomas Jr. might be a risky pick if fantasy managers are willing to take a chance next year.
Lamar Jackson
Arguably the most sought-after quarterback this fantasy season, Lamar Jackson never seemed to recover fully. With his hamstring and back injuries proving to be his main issues, Jackson appeared to struggle even during his “healthy” performances. Coming off an electrifying 430.4-point 2024 season, many players around the league considered Jackson a top MVP contender entering this season.
Despite his impressive previous season and the hype surrounding the Ravens, Jackson halved his points. With only 214.9 points this year and Harbaugh’s departure looming, questions are starting to arise about Jackson’s longevity. Is the two-time MVP on the verge of becoming a backup fantasy quarterback?
Alvin Kamara
Mr. Consistent himself, Alvin Kamara is the veteran player fantasy managers love to snag.
However, that might not be the case after this year.
Kamara has scored at least 233 fantasy points each year since 2017. Whether someone sent a trade deal or managed to sneak him in the draft, it was hard to consider a running back without mentioning Alvin Kamara. Unfortunately, this was his worst season by far.
Kamara huffed his way across the finish line, totaling 100.7 fantasy points this season. Despite playing only 11 games, Kamara struggled to regain his usual form with this young Saints team. While the 30-year-old still seems to have plenty of career ahead, has his draft stock been permanently damaged?
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