Fantasy football season is here, and with it come classic questions that keep managers awake at night.
Despite years of consistent scoring, is this the time David Montgomery declines? Or what about Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had a brilliant year and can’t possibly regress? Better yet, is Brian Thomas Jr. even worth a pick? While not every fantasy nightmare can be answered, there is one piece of truth that every fantasy football manager knows: it’s not if a player will bust—it’s when.
Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson is normally a staple of fantasy football. After a historic 2024 season in which he averaged 25.3 FPTS/G, the following 2025 season was devastating. 16.5 FPTS/G, off and on with injuries, and passes that fell painstakingly short were on full display. He also struggled to find consistency with any of his supporting cast.
Jackson enters 2026 with a big question mark. Despite a massive contract dealt to Zay Flowers, the receiving depth is slim in Baltimore. While Jackson still has his mobility, the 29-year-old quarterback is clearly slowing down. Where he once relied on his legs will now have to be saved by a mediocre receiver group that fails to excite.
While it’s safe to assume Jackson will still deliver, managers should have a solid backup ready. Regardless of his five seasons with at least 20 FPTS/G, Jackson must prove he still has what it takes before it’s too late.
Sam LaPorta
Sam LaPorta, the former second-round pick out of Iowa, seems to be a reliable name for the Detroit Lions. Each season he has dropped double-digit FPTS/G, with a career average of 12.4. However, it isn’t his scoring potential that is filling fantasy managers with dread.
LaPorta sustained a severe back injury that cut short his 2025 campaign. Now flash forward to 2026: LaPorta has an injured hip that is also directly connected to his back surgery. When asked about the injury, Dan Campbell stated, “I don’t know,” per ESPN.
Playing the tight end position is difficult enough as it is. Add to the equation an injury-prone back, and the outlook becomes grim. Even if LaPorta recovers his full ability, he still has to stand out in an extremely talented offense.
Quinshon Judkins
Quinshon Judkins is a beast out of Ohio State. The 22-year-old running back surpassed all expectations in a rookie season that boosted his fantasy stock tremendously. However, it all came crashing down after a devastating leg injury.
Eerily similar to the Nick Chubb injuries that plagued his career, Judkins sustained a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle. This came after a season of 827 yards and seven touchdowns, impressive no doubt. Still, the Cleveland Browns are entering a territory that threatens Judkins’s ability to play.
New head coach Todd Monken boasts a strong resume after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In both franchises, Monken proved that he could orchestrate a balanced offense.
However, both offenses relied heavily on the passing game, a pattern expected to continue in Cleveland. Especially with KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, and Harold Fannin Jr. as the receiving core.
Expect Judkins to put in strong work still, but in an offense centered around a quarterback circus.
Malik Nabers
Few receivers boast the reputation that Malik Nabers has.
With only two seasons on his record, Nabers quickly became the star of a depressing New York Giants team. After a killer rookie season where he averaged 18.2 FPTS/G, many thought he was the next Odell Beckham Jr. However, his glory quickly came to an end in 2025, when he suffered a torn ACL.
Despite the obvious concerns of a career-altering injury, Nabers has seemingly recovered well. So healthy, in fact, that he is likely to suit up in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Regardless of whether Nabers does take the field, the Giants are clearly pushing him into his jersey. The list of franchises that have ruined their star players by doing this is exhaustive, but the truth always remains the same: it never ends well.
Nabers is young, much like Judkins, and plays a crucial part in carrying the offense. That not only makes him more likely to get injured again, but also puts pressure on a young receiver trying to regain his confidence.
Perhaps Nabers will have a few explosive weeks, but his risk far outweighs his reward.
Christian McCaffrey
If there is any player in the NFL that should be classified as a jack-of-all-trades, it’s Christian McCaffrey.
After a rocky 2024 season, McCaffrey enters his 10th season off of a dominating fantasy performance where he averaged 24.5 FPTS/G. Another mind-boggling fact: CMC was the number one non-quarterback scorer, averaging 24.5 PPR points per game, per CBS Sports. Yet, in consistent CMC fashion, he is once again battling injuries.
McCaffrey has sustained at least 10 notable injuries since 2016. Five of those came in the last three years. Pair that with a 49ers offense that treats him like Superman? Well, now the risk skyrockets.
In an injury reported as “tightness,” McCaffrey is off to another wonderful Rob Gronkowski special. He may genuinely go down in history as the highest boom/bust player in fantasy history, with another bust steadily approaching. Sorry, 49ers, he physically can’t carry the whole team anymore.
Bottom Line
Predicting which players will blossom or fail tremendously is no easy feat. It keeps managers up at night, to the point that their wives question what they’re thinking about. While it may be a fool’s game of the mind, the numbers point to a risky season for these five players.
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