The players who destroyed your teams in 2024: the 2024 fantasy football lemons
The Players Who Destroyed Your Teams in 2024: The 2024 Fantasy Football Lemons
Fantasy football is a game of highs and lows, where the joy of a perfectly executed draft can quickly turn into frustration when key players underperform, get injured, or simply fail to live up to expectations. As the 2024 NFL season progresses, fantasy football managers across the country are reflecting on the players who have been the most disappointing—those who, despite lofty expectations, have been the “lemons” of the season. These players have single-handedly sunk fantasy teams, leaving managers fuming and wondering where things went wrong.
In this article, we will discuss some of the biggest disappointments and the players who have most significantly derailed fantasy football teams in 2024. These “lemons” come in many forms: from high draft picks who didn’t deliver, to surprise busts and sleepers who failed to meet their potential. The season isn’t over yet, but let’s look back at some of the key players who have already crushed fantasy hopes in 2024.
1. Austin Ekeler – Running Back, Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler was one of the top fantasy football assets heading into the 2024 season. After dominating in 2023, where he finished as one of the top running backs in terms of total fantasy points, many fantasy managers selected him in the first round, expecting him to continue his stellar production. Unfortunately, Ekeler’s 2024 campaign has been a major letdown, and he has proven to be one of the most frustrating players for fantasy owners this season.
Ekeler has been plagued by inconsistency and injury issues, which have kept him off the field for multiple weeks and diminished his role in the Chargers’ offense. While he remains a key player in the passing game, his rushing attempts have been reduced, and his red-zone opportunities have evaporated. Furthermore, with the Chargers’ offense struggling to find consistency, Ekeler’s fantasy value has taken a massive hit. Fantasy managers who spent a top draft pick on Ekeler have been left disappointed as they watch other running backs rise to prominence.
2. DeAndre Hopkins – Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans
DeAndre Hopkins, a player who has long been one of the most reliable wide receivers in fantasy football, was expected to provide a strong return on investment after moving to the Tennessee Titans in 2024. Hopkins, even at age 32, was drafted in the second or third round of many fantasy leagues, with owners hoping he could rekindle his elite form in a new offense. However, the combination of an aging quarterback in Ryan Tannehill and a run-heavy offense has hindered Hopkins’ ability to make a significant fantasy impact.
Throughout the season, Hopkins has been inconsistent, struggling to put up big numbers as he battles through double coverage and a lack of chemistry with Tannehill. His injury history hasn’t helped either, as nagging injuries have caused him to miss time. For fantasy owners who invested in Hopkins as a top-tier wide receiver, the 2024 season has been a huge disappointment. As of now, Hopkins has failed to provide the consistent WR1 numbers that many managers were expecting, and he’s become more of a WR3/4 option at best.
3. Tony Pollard – Running Back, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard entered 2024 as one of the most highly anticipated running backs in fantasy football. After the departure of Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard was expected to take over the Cowboys’ backfield and become an elite fantasy option. Many fantasy managers, anticipating a breakout season for Pollard, drafted him in the early rounds, only to see him struggle mightily throughout the year.
Pollard has been inconsistent in both the running and receiving game, and his once-explosive playmaking ability has been subdued by an offensive line that has not been as dominant as in previous years. The addition of rookie running back Deuce Vaughn, along with a more pass-heavy offensive approach from the Cowboys, has further limited Pollard’s opportunities. Injuries have also taken their toll on Pollard, reducing his effectiveness and making him a risky weekly start. For many fantasy owners, Pollard has been a constant source of frustration and disappointment in 2024, failing to live up to the expectations of a top-tier RB1.
4. Darnell Mooney – Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
After a solid 2023 season, Darnell Mooney was expected to step up as a top target in the Chicago Bears’ offense, especially with the team’s continued development of quarterback Justin Fields. Mooney, a talented wide receiver with great speed and playmaking ability, was drafted in the mid-to-late rounds of many fantasy leagues as a sleeper pick, hoping he would break out and provide WR2 value.
Unfortunately, 2024 has been an entirely different story. Mooney has been plagued by injuries, limiting his playing time and ability to build chemistry with Fields. Additionally, the Bears’ offense has been stagnant, with Fields struggling to develop as a passer and the offensive line failing to provide adequate protection. Mooney’s fantasy production has been abysmal, and even when he has been healthy, he has failed to find a consistent role in the offense. For fantasy owners who took a chance on Mooney as a late-round sleeper, the 2024 season has been a major letdown.
5. J.K. Dobbins – Running Back, Baltimore Ravens
J.K. Dobbins was another running back who entered 2024 with high expectations. After a promising start to his career, fantasy managers hoped Dobbins would bounce back from his past injuries and become a focal point in the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. However, despite the promise of an expanded role, Dobbins’ 2024 season has been riddled with injuries and inconsistency.
A series of injuries, both minor and major, have limited Dobbins’ ability to stay on the field and maintain a consistent workload. Even when he has played, his performance has been lackluster, as he struggles to find running lanes behind the Ravens’ offensive line. Moreover, Baltimore’s backfield has been crowded with other options like Gus Edwards and rookie Keaton Mitchell, further eating into Dobbins’ opportunities. Fantasy owners who hoped to rely on Dobbins as an RB2 or flex option have been left sorely disappointed, as his health and lack of production have turned him into a liability.
6. Justin Fields – Quarterback, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields entered 2024 with immense hype after his breakout 2023 campaign, where he demonstrated his elite rushing ability and potential as a dual-threat quarterback. As a result, Fields was drafted in the early rounds of many fantasy drafts, with the expectation that he would continue to develop as a passer and be one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football.
However, Fields has failed to live up to these lofty expectations in 2024. While he remains a dynamic runner, his passing has been inconsistent, and he has struggled to find a rhythm in the Bears’ offense. The offensive line has failed to protect him, and Fields’ inability to connect with his wide receivers has hindered his fantasy value. In addition, Fields has dealt with injuries, further complicating his availability and production. Fantasy owners who invested in Fields as a QB1 have been let down by his erratic performances and inability to elevate his game as a passer. Fields has been one of the more frustrating fantasy quarterbacks of 2024, causing many managers to reconsider their quarterback strategy for the future.
7. Darren Waller – Tight End, New York Giants
Darren Waller was one of the most hyped tight ends entering the 2024 season, especially after being traded to the New York Giants, where he was expected to become a key piece of the offense. Waller, a dynamic playmaker, was seen as a potential top-five tight end, with many fantasy managers selecting him in the middle rounds of their drafts.
Unfortunately, Waller’s 2024 season has been marked by injuries, lack of chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones, and inconsistent performances. The Giants’ offense, which has struggled throughout the year, has limited Waller’s opportunities, and he has been far from the high-volume target that many expected. His fantasy production has been erratic, and he has failed to meet the expectations of a top-tier tight end. For those who spent valuable draft capital on Waller, the 2024 season has been a major disappointment.
8. Michael Pittman Jr. – Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman Jr. was expected to take a step forward in 2024, especially with the addition of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who many thought would elevate the Colts’ passing game. As the team’s number one wide receiver, Pittman was drafted in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts, with hopes that he could provide consistent WR2 or even WR1 production.
Unfortunately, Pittman’s 2024 season has been underwhelming. Richardson’s development as a passer has been slower than expected, and Pittman has been unable to produce at the level fantasy managers anticipated. While he has had some strong performances, they’ve been inconsistent, and he has been largely ineffective in key matchups. Fantasy managers who relied on Pittman to anchor their wide receiver corps have been disappointed by his inability to take the next step in his development.
