Fantasy seasons are won and lost in the draft. Every year there are a few players who show up, do their job and put in points week in and week out. There’s also a few players who provide immense value when compared to the round they’re selected in. And, of course, there are a few players who crap their pants all season long and get their fantasy managers in deep trouble - potentially even last place punishment-level trouble.
So, without further ado, here are the top five players that gave fantasy owners major headaches this year. And no, we did not include players who were stricken with long-term injuries this year. That just wouldn’t be fair.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings: Not many would have had “Justin Jefferson Looks Like a Pedestrian Wide Receiver" on their 2025 bingo cards. Once thought to be truly QB-proof, Jefferson struggled to put up the big fantasy numbers that managers are accustomed to. Lots of that blame can be placed on the feet of “Nine”, also known by some as JJ McCarthy, and head coach Kevin O’Connell. While he was decent to start the year, the second half of JJettas has been extremely average, perhaps even below average. Fantasy owners will be strongly considering where they take Jefferson next year based on 2025.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders: Perhaps more of a victim of high expectations than anything else, Jeanty has not looked like the slam dunk, big-play back that he was at college in Boise State. While Vegas looked like a dumpster-fire all year and might be destined to pick first come April, Jeanty never really got going - only surpassing 100 yards on the ground once all year at the time of writing. Nevertheless, he’s still an intriguing option next year.
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles: It was always going to be near impossible for Saquon to reproduce his 2024 season, but like many of his Eagles teammates, Barkley’s 2025 has to be considered sub-par. It appears Saquon has fallen victim to what seems to be a perpetual curse of players typically drafted first overall in fantasy not meeting expectations. Unlike some others on this list, he was still a middle of the road starting back, so even if you had Saquon on your squad this year you may have sniffed the post-season.
Brian Thomas Jr, Jacksonville Jaguars: Fantasy experts will tell you that they knew Brian Thomas Jr. was going to have a breakout rookie year last year. Will those same experts put their hand up and take responsibility for BTJ’s sophomore slump in 2025? Thomas never really got a rhythm going with Trevor Lawrence this year, and the team reportedly shopped him at the deadline and brought in veteran wideout Jakobi Meyers to help shoulder the load. Thomas was high on many draft boards this year, and a popular keeper pick. He’ll be looking to bounce back next season in DUUUVAL.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Although he was banged up at several different points this year, Lamar was just not Lamar this year. While Baltimore may still sneak its way into the playoffs, teams that relied on Lamar for fantasy this year are likely on the outside looking in. With only one game this year where he registered over 50 rushing yards, Jackson did not justify the likely high draft pick in most leagues where he’s commonly the first or second QB off the board.
Something isn’t adding up for my 12-man league I am dedicated to with all my heart. How my week is going to go is dependent on this team’s performance on Sundays.
It’s Week 3 and my 2 Kickers have combined for a total of 4 missed field goals. Yes, I had Chase McLaughlin of the Buccaneers. Yes, he missed a total of 3 field goals through Weeks 1-2. So, what do I do?
I drop him of course who wouldn’t. I bid $1 on Spencer Shrader, the Colts kicker because their success isn’t going to last right. Well the bid ends in a tie and I lose the waiver order!
Here comes Matt Prater the #3 ranked kicker on ESPN, the old man off the couch who saved the day in Week 1 for the Bills. Well it seemed like he didn’t want to be a part of another new team, and he let the Unanimous Utters down. He missed his first field goal wide left. Let’s just say I can’t catch a break at the kicker position, and I think I mentioned it’s Week 3.
Did I mention in Week 2 that Chase McLaughlin’s ONLY field goal attempt banged off the post and cost me the $50 weekly payout for highest score? Yeah… Chase McLaughlin’s miss gave me - 1 point not + 3 and that equated to my own kicker losing me $50. It wasn’t like anyone got higher points than me NO Chase McLaughlin’s missed kick made me lose $50 by 1.02 points!
Let’s just wrap this rant up with a congratulations to everyone who drafted Brandon Aubrey this year. I wish everyone who is having kicker issues good luck! Also, Chase McLaughlin’s 7 teams should have been a red flag.
Lose every matchup this season, but you better damn hell win week 1.
While stable data across all fantasy leagues is impossible to pull for the percentage of time that a team loses week 1 and makes the playoffs, it sure as hell is pretty low. Like 3% low. Give or take. Whatever.
Lose week 1 and it feels like you're already in a huge hole - like it counts for 2 or 3 losses.
Maybe it's manager overreactions after a week 1 loss - trading the stud who just happened to not play great week 1 ("AJ Brown SUCKS!), falling for the one-week-wonder with 2 TD's (on 2 total targets), or starting that guy you "just have a feeling about" - or maybe it's actual statistical data that we can't yet comprehend, but week 2 feels like a must win after a week 1 loss.
I think we can all agree, if you lose week 1, you're pretty much screwed.