Here’s a look at some players who seemed tempting at the time to draft in dynasty fantasy football leagues over the past few seasons, but have totally lost their immediate if not future value. Whether it was injuries, suspensions or just a decline in production, here are some players who are cluttering up your fantasy roster.
1. Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins
RGIII comes from that excellent rookie quarterback class of 2012. Finishing ranking fifth among his fellow fantasy quarterbacks in his first season made Griffin a tempting draft pick for dynasty leagues. Looking at Griffin’s next two season, the draft pick spent on him hasn’t played out so well. Riddled with multiple injuries and declining play, makes those who drafted Griffin less than pleased with their pick. Perhaps a rebound in 2015 is in store for the struggling quarterback.
2. EJ Manuel, Quarterback, Buffalo Bills
For those who decided to take a chance on Manuel as he started his rookie season in 2013, he definitely lagged in display as a future dynasty quarterback. Struggling in his rookie season and battling injury had him ranking 29th for the year. His 2014 season was even worse as he was benched after only starting four games. Will the Bills take a chance on their benched first-round draft pick in 2015? That remains a frustrating question for Manuel’s long-term owners.
3. Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns
Perhaps you were on the Manziel train and took a chance on drafting the young rookie as a future successor who will eventually replace your starting quarterback. Unfortunately, the sampling we saw of Manziel in the two opportunities he had to impress in 2014 was downright scary. In what could be a major bust moving forward, those who own Manziel will surely hope he takes some maturity classes over the summer and offers a better performance in 2015. This is providing that the Browns even want to give him the opportunity to start in the upcoming season.
4. David Wilson, Running Back, New York Giants
Poor Wilson and those who drafted him thinking he was going to eventually evolve into the Giants’ No. 1 guy after his 2012 rookie debut. With what seemed like a promising career for Wilson after seeing him end 2012 averaging 5.0 yards per carry went completely south. Wilson suffered a neck injury early in 2013 eventually landing him on IR. 2014 brought an abrupt ending to Wilson’s young NFL career after it was determined that it was too risky for the back-flipping ball carrier to continue playing. Fantasy owners of Wilson definitely got a raw deal in the process.
5. Montee Ball, Running Back, Denver Broncos
Ball, drafted in 2013 by Denver and by those who thought he was due a big future hasn’t quite met those expectations yet. After Knowshon Moreno left the Broncos in 2013, all the hype pointed towards Ball being the slam-dunk RB1 for the Broncos. Dynasty owners instead got an injury-riddled running back to sit on their bench while Ronnie Hillman then C.J. Anderson handled the ground duties. Ball’s future as a dynasty back is questionable due to the highly efficient Anderson who appears to have stolen the show in Denver.
6. Ronnie Hillman, Running Back, Denver Broncos
Speaking of bust Broncos’ running backs is Hillman, drafted in 2012. If you selected him thinking of keeper value, he certainly hasn’t brought any value to your fantasy team. With only 979 combined rushing yards and five touchdowns over his three-year career, he’s likely been taking up space on fantasy benches everywhere. As mentioned in above with Ball, it would certainly look like Anderson has out-seated both Hillman and Ball as the Broncos’ workhorse.
7. Trent Richardson, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
How many people fell into the Richardson dynasty trap after his breakout rookie season in 2012? If you drafted him as a keeper, all you have left is a running back gone bad after he was traded to the Colts in early 2013. Barely factoring into fantasy relevance has Richardson pretty much a non-factor in the Colts’ offense these days while he withers away on your keeper bench.
8. Zac Stacy, Running Back, St. Louis Rams
Stacy was all the buzz after a dazzling 2013 rookie season. Surely drafted in dynasty leagues and in some cases in the first round, Stacy is the prime example of a draft bust now. After seeing very little playing time early on in 2014, Stacy only managed 293 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. The Rams threw a curve ball and decided to have their new rookie Tre Mason take the job of the starter leaving those who owned Stacy sitting out in the cold.
9. Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another example of a running back who we’ve watched fizzle into oblivion is Martin. Coming off of a stellar 2012 rookie season, finishing second in ranking in fantasy points, made Martin a coveted draft pick, especially in dynasty leagues. Unfortunately for Martin’s owners, his next two seasons were not what they bargained for. Injuries got the better of Martin who only played in six games in 2013. Even worse was Martin in 2014 where he participated in 11 games, but only totaled 494 rushing yards and two scores. With bust written all over him, the 2012 Martin is all but a distant memory.
10. C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Buffalo Bills
Those who targeted Spiller in dynasty leagues have been left high and dry after an exceptional 2012 season where he was the seventh-ranked running back. Over his five NFL seasons, that 2012 year was Spiller’s best. Taking a decline in 2013, had Spiller ranking 27th in fantasy points. Then there was 2014 where Spiller dealt with one injury after another landed him to the bench. Now healthy and ready to head into his sixth season, perhaps the Bills’ new coaching system and offensive coordinator will have Spiller seeing more action taking him out of bust status.
11. Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
Gerhart, who sat as the backup in Minnesota for the first years of his career was finally given the opportunity to start with his new team, the Jaguars in 2014. Perhaps you drafted Gerhart in a keeper league due to his new status. Well, that draft pick went completely bust as Gerhart failed terribly as the starting back in Jacksonville. Starting in only seven games while constantly battling injury had Gerhart finishing 2014 with only 326 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
12. Ben Tate, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tate’s case is similar to Gerhart’s. Finally not under the thumb of the Houston Texans as the backup running back, Tate was signed to Cleveland. This surely prompted some to draft him in dynasty leagues. That draft couldn’t possibly have gone worse. Completely unproductive in Cleveland had the Browns cutting him about three quarters into the 2014 season. Where he didn’t sit on the waivers but only for a day, the Minnesota Vikings signed him, and eventually cut him at the end of the season. Picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers as only backup depth for a playoff game has Tate’s future very uncertain as of now.
13. Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
In what looked to be a promising career for Blackmon after a productive 2012 season found Blackmon only playing in four games total for 2013 before becoming indefinitely suspended. With no inkling of a possible return to the NFL, Blackmon remains a memory of the past and for those who have him sitting around on their dynasty league, you’ve been cheated.
14. Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings
Definitely a bust in 2014 was Patterson who showed so much promise in his 2013 rookie debut. Where we thought Patterson would thrive under his new quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater and assume the role of the No. 1 wide receiver, Patterson struggled all season long. For those who targeted him in dynasty leagues hopefully, he’ll be able to shake off his sophomore slump and make a rebound in 2015.
15. Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
After a better-than-average season in his rookie debut in 2012, Gordon went off the charts in 2013 finishing as the No. 1 ranked fantasy receiver. Certainly a dynasty target after this high level of production, Gordon ruined everything for his fantasy owners by getting suspended for the first eight games of the 2014 season. And when Gordon finally did return to action, in the five games for which he did play, his fantasy numbers were horrible and he got suspended yet again. Scraping up only 303 receiving yards and zero touchdowns have owners of Gordon worried for what 2015 will bring.