There has been plenty of disappointment so far this fantasy season. Looking back at our drafts, I’m sure we all question why we drafted certain players so high. It may have seemed like a good idea then but it sure didn’t pan out the way we wanted. Some players are still worth hanging on to, hoping they can turn it around for the rest of the season. And there are others that you need to drop and regret ever drafting. This list is based on players who mainly played the first five weeks. Most players with major injuries and bye weeks have been omitted. Here are your top 20 most disappointing fantasy football players through five weeks:
20. Chris Johnson, Running Back, Tennessee Titans: Zero rush touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, 41 total points
Johnson hasn't been a complete disappointment but us fantasy owners are still waiting for him to return to the fantasy machine he was a few years ago. Signs are not pointing to that happening this year and possibly never again.
19. Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans: Zero touchdowns, 43 total points
Johnson has been getting plenty of targets and has his games of tons of yards. But for being a number one receiver and a top five fantasy receiver, you would expect at least one touchdown by now. It also isn't helping that Matt Schaub is making awful decisions when throwing the ball.
18. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots: Seven passing touchdowns, three interceptions, one fumble, 80 total points
It has been real tough for Brady this year with a receiving core consisting of rookies and injured players. But now with more experience to the rookies and the injured getting healthy, Brady's performance can really improve for the rest of the season. It's impossible to give up on this caliber quarterback.
17. Hakeem Nicks, Wide Receiver, New York Giants: Zero touchdowns, 44 total points
With Eli Manning having more interceptions than touchdowns and Victor Cruz getting all the targets and touchdowns, Nicks is left in the dust with nothing. He has his spurts of getting yards but without touchdowns he is not worth starting. Hopefully Eli can get his act together and find Nicks more often.
16. Marques Colston, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints: One touchdown, 38 total points
As a number one receiver you want more from Colston. Especially since he is in such a high powered passing offense with Drew Brees. He is pretty consistent with his yards and receptions but really need to break off some big gains and make his way to the endzone. Still worth starting but I wouldn't blame anyone for trading him or sitting him for other players with better matchups.
15. Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants: 10 passing touchdowns, 15 interceptions, two fumbles, 74 total points
Is it possible for Eli to do any worse than he already is? I call him Eli because, at least for this year, it is an embarrassment to call him a Manning with his brother Peyton Manning playing video games on the rookie setting. I would not start this Manning in any league until he stops throwing interceptions. Which seems like that will not be happening.
14. Colin Kaepernick, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers: Six pass touchdowns, four interceptions, three fumbles, 73 total points
Maybe the high expectations are getting to Kaepernick. Projected to have a solid fantasy year, he sure isn't living up to the hype so far. It could possibly be the sophomore slump but be careful when choosing to start Kaepernick. If you can explore other options, I suggest that you do.
13. Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Rams: Two touchdowns, 29 total points
Austin is another player that hasn't been living up to the hype. The first rounder had one big game where half of his total points came from. The Rams offense is not looking too promising but it is still early in the season. Anything can happen so Austin is still worth a bench spot on your team.
12. Vincent Jackson, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zero touchdowns, 29 total points
Jackson has yet to find the endzone this year and only had one respectable game which was week. After that week one his fantasy points declined every week. It doesn't help with the quarterback troubles the Buccaneers are having but after Mike Glennon gets a few games under his belt, maybe Jackson's performance can get better.
11. Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami Dolphins: Two rushing touchdowns, 31 total points
Miller has been up and down every week. He has just two rushing touchdowns and has yet to rush for over 70 yards all year. Not a good sign for a starting running back. I predict the slow start to stay slow and never pick up. Hopefully I'm wrong and he can do better but it just doesn't seem that way.
10. Ryan Mathews, Running Back, San Diego Chargers: Zero rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, 31 total points
Every year we have high hopes for Mathews and every year we are let down with injuries or under performances. And now he is bitten by the injury bug again with a concussion and will sit out for week six and possibly further. I never put much stock into Mathews and I wouldn't advise you do the same.
9. Maurice Jones-Drew, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars: One rushing touchdown, 27 total points
Some people were high on Jones-Drew this year and some were not. I was one that wasn't. Somehow I ended up drafting him myself anyway and I sure am regretting it. The Jaguars are the worst team in the NFL and the offense just cannot score points. My expert advice to you if you own Jones-Drew is to SELL SELL SELL!
8. Daryl Richardson, Running Back, St. Louis Rams: Zero touchdowns, 23 total points
Richardson started out as the starter in St. Louis but after an injury and underperforming he was replaced by Zac Stacy. Just about all of Richardson's fantasy stock is gone so I don't blame you for dropping him. Just be sure to quickly get him back if something was to happen to Stacy.
7. Stevan Ridley, Running Back, New England Patriots: Zero touchdowns, 16 total points
Ridley had his big chance to do big things and get all of the carries when fellow running back Shane Vereen went down but he has not done anything worthy on the field. The patriots have never been much of a running team so I would stay away from Ridley for a while.
6. Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks: Two touchdowns, 25 total points
Rice was considered a sleeper in our fantasy drafts this year. I'm sure some of us were excited to pick him up when we did because I know I was. But there has been nothing but disappointment so far. Rice teased us week three vs the Jaguars with two touchdowns but he has done literally almost nothing other than that performance. Keep him for now but be cautious.
5. Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins: One touchdown, 34 total points
This number one receiver is another one who is very inconsistent in fantasy points. Wallace is having a little trouble with dropped balls which is the most frustrating thing to fantasy owners. This Dolphins offense is still trying to find themselves and we hope that happens sooner than later. If you have no better options you have to start Wallace but if you can work out better plays then go for it.
4. David Wilson, Running Back, New York Giants: One rushing touchdown, 13 total points
Wilson has been troubling all of us fantasy owners who already have problems with running back depth. With him continuously putting the ball on the ground, Coach Tom Coughlin will take more carries away from him every week. And now Wilson has a neck injury which further hurts his stock if Brandon Jacobs can do any better while he's out.
3. Chris Ivory, Running Back, New York Jets: Zero touchdowns, eight total points
Ivory came into the season as the starter of the Jets and lost that job to Bilal Powell after getting injured. It doesn't seem that Ivory will return to the starting position as long as Powell plays well. Looking back at the draft we all probably had Ivory too high on our boards.
2. Montee Ball, Running Back, Denver Broncos: Zero touchdowns, Nine total points
Speaking of fantasy draft busts, Montee Ball represents that this year. Most of us believed Ball would be the starter week one but Coach John Fox stuck with Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman as the number one and two backs on the depth chart. It does not look good for Ball in the future of this season of getting much playing time unless Moreno or Hillman suffer an injury. Consider dropping Ball or holding him on your bench until an injury occurs.
1. Roddy White, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons: Two touchdowns, 10 total points
It is not hard to argue who has the most disappointing fantasy performance so far this year. White has been nursing an ankle injury all year but every week he claims to be more healthy. And now he pulled his hamstring in the Monday night loss to the Jets. Hopefully he recovers quickly since now he will get plenty more catches and touchdowns with Julio Jones out for the rest of the season. White is one of the worst fantasy performers this year but that will change. Be ready for a huge turn around.