Let’s be honest. When it comes to fantasy football,
everyone’s got something to moan and groan about with his team. There’s always a
measure of second-guessing immediately following the draft, but the most painful draft
picks are the ones that you really, really feel good about on draft night, then watch as
they get hurt or underachieve as the season unfolds. Some might call these players
heartbreakers. Others use words that can’t be printed here. We feel your pain. We
share your pain. We feel the need to get it off our chests. So without further ado, here
are our rantings and ravings about the biggest disappointments on our fantasy football
teams this season.Jeff Agrest, Senior editor
I was so looking forward to this season. I thought I had put together a very
good to great team. But through seven games, I stand at 3-4 and in third place in my
division — and it’s very disheartening.
In our 10-team league, I had the last pick in Round One. Since we run a snake draft, my
second pick was the first of Round Two. So with my first two picks, I selected RB Lamar
Smith and WR Terrell Owens. Nice start, I thought. It got better when I came away with RB
Warrick Dunn and WR Ed McCaffrey.
But alas, Dunn has had one big game, and McCaffrey is out for the season. I’ve
been able to overcome Dunn’s scoring struggles with Ron Dayne (11th round)
and Anthony Thomas (waiver claim), and I have Terrell Davis (sixth round) waiting in the
wings. But I might need to trade some of my RB surplus to address my WR position.
After Owens and McCaffrey, I came away from Draft Day with WRs Oronde Gadsden, Plaxico
Burress and Kevin Dyson. I figured, with two sure things, why not gamble a bit? Well,
McCaffrey’s injury foiled my gamble. I was fortunate to claim Johnnie Morton,
who’s been hot, but everyone else has been disappointing.
On top of that, my quarterback, Elvis Grbac, was out last week, forcing me to start
Vinny Testaverde. He scored nothing, and I lost. My wide receivers — Owens, Gadsden
and Morton — also came away empty. Therein lies my problem. My passing game is like
that of the Titans, nothing comes of it. I never thought one injury, albeit a big one,
could ruin my season.
It just goes to show you: Injuries make or break your fantasy team. While much of the
preparation we do is beneficial, it all comes down to players’ health, and a lot of
times, that comes down to luck. McCaffrey hadn’t started fewer than 15 games since
1995, yet he goes down this season in Week One — and he’ll probably take with
him my championship dreams.
Dan Arkush, Executive editor
Considering I’m suddenly riding high on a four-game win streak after starting 0-3,
I really don’t have too many complaints at the moment. However, the lack of fantasy
production from Emmitt Smith — whom I had hoped would be a solid No. 2 running back
for me behind the Steelers’ Jerome Bettis — has been a real bummer.
Heading into the Cowboys’ seventh game last season, Smith was on a nice little
roll, having scored a touchdown in four straight games. Smith made it five in a row in
Dallas’ seventh game, carrying the ball 24 times for 112 yards — the first of
three consecutive rushing performances over 100 yards. This year his fantasy production
during the same span has been weaker than weak, considering his illustrious track record.
He’s had three games with at least 75 yards rushing, including one over 100 yards,
but not a single TD.
In addition, heading into the Cowboys’ game vs. the Giants this Sunday, he is
suffering from a supposedly "mild" MCL sprain. Considering he's missed only two
games because of injury in his 12-year career, I expect he will suit up for the Giants.
But he won’t be suiting up for my fantasy team anytime in the immediate future, since
I’ve decided I’m better off right now going with either the Chiefs’ Priest
Holmes or the Raiders’ Charlie Garner as my No. 2 back.
Now watch Emmitt score three touchdowns and gain more than 150 yards in the
Meadowlands, and make me look like a real dummy.
Ken Bikoff, Associate editor
Oh Wayne Chrebet, why have you forsaken me? I defended you Wayne. I told everyone who
would listen that you were one of the best possession receivers in the game, a guy that
can be counted on in the red zone to make the catch and hang on to TD passes. I was
laughed at, but I defended you. And how did you respond? You made me look like an idiot.
That hurts, Wayne, and I can’t figure out why you’ve decided against
justifying my love. Do I not wear a Wayne Chrebet Jets jersey in your honor every Sunday?
Do I not scold people who pronounce your name like it is an orange-flavored ice cream-type
of substance? Oh, why have you turned your back on me?
Well, it’s not going to happen anymore. I’m not going to let you disappoint
me week after week as my fantasy team goes in the toilet. I hereby bench you Wayne
Chrebet, with or without the concussion. Barring injury to my other receivers, you will
not see a minute of playing time for my team again this season.
Andy Hanacek, Associate editor
Boy, I tell you. Peter Warrick can simply go and jump into the Ohio River. Somehow,
this offseason while preparing for the multiple fantasy leagues I’m in,
Warrick’s skills caught my eye. It had light sleeper written all over it.
I thought for sure that Warrick was going to have a breakout year. Really, you
can’t blame me: Look at the Bengals’ improvements on offense. Sure they had RB
Corey Dillon, but WR Darnay Scott was returning, and I believed QB Jon Kitna would win the
starting job from Day One. I was right on Kitna, but it didn’t matter in terms of
Warrick’s fantasy production.
If I got bonuses for receptions, I’d be OK. But Warrick’s average has been
just 9.5 yards per catch — potential untapped in a yardage league — and he has
scored one time — that’s it! That’s far from what I expected from my No. 2
receiver
Brian Hertel, Associate art director
As owner of a team with a 5-1 record, there is not much to complain about from high
atop the fantasy football mountain, but I’ll do my best.
Michael Bennett has been my biggest disappointment. After being a high selection, I
expected Bennett to quickly fill the shoes of Robert Smith in the Minnesota backfield.
There are a couple reasons why this pick isn’t looking so good.
First, I guess it wasn’t wise to have spent a high pick on an unproven rookie.
Being a Big Ten fan, I watched Bennett at Wisconsin, where he seemed to be the second
coming of Ron Dayne. Also, I can’t remember a time for Wisconsin when Bennett was
hurt. But that seems to have changed now as he has all but disappeared from the
Vikings’ lineup.
Second, who could have fathomed the high-powered Vikings offense would have struggled
this much? This seemed like the perfect situation for Bennett. He would get a fair number
of carries, but the other weapons would prevent him from carrying the load. Now, the
Vikings seem to be in shambles. Their veteran leaders have begun fighting amongst
themselves and have been quick to point fingers.
So much for an ideal situation for a rookie.
Mike Holbrook, Managing editor
There are two players who have underachieved more than anyone else for my 3-4 team
through seven weeks of the season. James Stewart has been a disappointment, although I
can’t entirely fault him for his lack of production. Who knew he’d be playing
for such a lousy team? I certainly thought the Lions would be competitive in the NFC
Central and that Stewart would flourish in the West Coast offense installed by head coach
Marty Mornhinweg. So far, I’ve been terribly wrong.
The other player who has been a major disappointment is Kevin Dyson. I’ve been a
Dyson fan since he was drafted ahead of Randy Moss. He’s had flashes of brilliance,
but hasn’t ever lived up to the promise he showed when he entered the league. His one
big week this season came in Tampa Bay and, of course, I had him on my bench in favor of
equally disappointing Bengals WR Peter Warrick (whom I’ve since cut). Heading into
the season, I thought the Titans would be a Super Bowl contender with the great RB Eddie
George leading the way and opening up the passing game for QB Steve McNair. I thought that
Dyson would step up and be the stud wide receiver that he’s shown he can be on
occasion. It hasn’t happened.
I finally let go of Dyson this week. Good riddance, at least until next year’s
draft!
Jeff Howes, Network support technician
My team seems to have contracted " Derrickitis." I drafted Derrick Alexander
and Derrick Mason thinking I had two up-and-coming wideouts, and potentially excellent
point contributors for my team. Instead,I have two receivers who have been injured and are
playing for teams having nightmarish seasons. The Alexander pick has been absolutely
painful.
Alexander was the first receiver I picked. Here was a guy that last year had more than
1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Every time you turned around he was having huge
games and my esteemed colleagues at Pro Football Weekly had the Chiefs wideout ranked No.
7, SEVEN, among wide receivers and the 27th best player overall. This year he
has one touchdown and has little boo-boos that won't let him play.
Mason was supposed to be playing for the Super Bowl-contending Tennessee Titans.
Instead, the Titans have been a disaster and I can't find Mr. Mason's stats with a road
map. I wish I had "mulligans" on my WR picks.
Trent Modglin, Associate editor
Unfortunately, my bid to repeat as PFW’s fantasy football champion has run out of
luck. The blame can go in a few different directions (including straight back at yours
truly), but I’ll do by best to narrow it down to just a few names.
First off is Fred Taylor. Now don’t get me wrong, as a veteran of fantasy leagues,
I was well aware of Taylor’s haunting past. Frustrating when injured, which is often,
and mind-boggling when healthy. I took a chance. Left with plenty of other good options at
the No. 5 overall pick, I put it on the line and went with Taylor, the man with all the
upside who has somehow managed to disappoint more football fans than Melissa Stark’s
engagement. I took him and got burned. I’ll admit it, and I’ll also be one of
the many fantasy owners everywhere who swear they’ll never draft him again.
Second up is my surprising third-round pick, Michael Bennett. I figured Bennett and his
speed would make an immediate impact in the Vikings’ high-powered offense. I expected
big waves, and all I’ve received is little ripples. Robert Smith he is not —
yet. But as we all know, fantasy football is all about what you’ve done for me
lately.
Brad Johnson and Trent Green also qualify as disappointing selections, but that’s
a story for another day.
Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editor
When your last draft pick has produced nearly as many points as your first three picks
combined, your fantasy season would appear to be fleeting. Randy Moss, Stephen Davis and
Jamal Anderson were my first three picks. Correll Buckhalter was my last.
Moss has not met my expectations, but I still have hope that he will rebound in the
second half of the season. With WRs David Boston and Qadry Ismail already on my roster and
having acquired Marty Booker and Jerome Pathon, I have not been too worried about finding
production from my wide receivers.
Davis was a huge disappointment the first three weeks, but I found a sucker in the
office willing to trade me Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander for Davis. Losing Anderson early in
the season didn’t knock me too far off the fairway either, with Buckhalter, Alexander
and Mike Alstott already filling out my team’s backfield.
All in all, I can’t say that I’ve been really disappointed with any player in
my inaugural fantasy season. Hawking the wire like a shrewd GM has allowed me the
flexibility to build my team and stay competitive. Injuries are out of your control, but
if a player isn’t producing, the solution is simple. Find someone that will.
Jeff Reynolds, Associate editor
BUST? What bust? A rarity in the realm of fantasy football ownership, I can't say I've
been terribly disappointed in any particular player. The production has been steady from
top to bottom and trades have eliminated any fantasy dilemmas.
Gone are Stephen Davis, Isaac Bruce and Warrick Dunn — a group of fantasy pitfalls
welcomed by desperate owners via trade. A draft stategy that included my MVP, Shaun
Alexander, and trades for Donovan McNabb, Torry Holt and Cris Carter have my club in
second place. For now.
Whether these thoroughbreds collapse down the stretch remains to be seen.
Keith Schleiden, Managing editor
What on earth is happening to the Eagles? This team has gone in the offensive toilet in
the past two weeks, and it’s seriously taking a toll on my fantasy team.
Donovan McNabb is my starting quarterback. I took him in third round of our draft. Why?
While Andy Reid didn’t personally call me and promise that McNabb would take it to
the next level in 2001, the Eagles’ head coach did say he expected the quarterback to
blossom this year.
Well, I’m waiting. In order to "blossom," you have to have sustained
success. While McNabb may have gotten off to a fast start in the first four games with one
300-yard passing game, eight passing touchdowns and another one on the ground, he’s
gone in the tank the past two games. Throw in the Week Five bye, and McNabb could be
heading for a seat on the bench of my fantasy team.
In Weeks Six and Seven combined, he didn’t total 300 yards passing. He threw for
one TD and didn’t score any on the ground.
But the extent of my misery doesn’t end with McNabb. I was counting on a longshot
to help my team this year. WR Todd Pinkston was the talk of Eagles’ training camp. He
was catching everything in sight. He was ready to break through, everyone in Philadelphia
told me. Well, he did break through. And then he fell off the face of the earth the past
two games. With McNabb stinking it up, Pinkston isn’t doing anything either. He had
four catches for 39 yards in Week Six. He followed up that masterpiece with no catches in
Week Seven. None!
If these guys don’t step it up, my team is done. |
