The Biggest Fantasy Football QB Busts Of 2023

Joey Pollizze looks at which quarterbacks were the biggest busts of the 2023-2024 fantasy football season. Who did not live up to expectations?

The NFL season is officially over, and we now look forward to free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft over the next couple of months. It was a wild year to say the least after the Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl title over the past five seasons with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

The game-winning overtime touchdown was a fitting way to end the season following a crazy NFL campaign and a wild fantasy year. More than half the teams started a backup quarterback at some point in 2023, and several franchise signal-callers suffered season-ending injuries, including Justin Herbert, Kirk Cousins, and Joe Burrow.

When you look back at your fantasy football team that fell just short, the quarterback position might have been why. Here are the top three biggest fantasy football quarterback busts from this past fantasy season.

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Honorable Mention: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson gets the honorable mention here following his disappointing 2023-2024 season. The 28-year-old was usually the eighth to 10th quarterback off the board in fantasy drafts this past summer, and he certainly did not reach that standard this year.

Watson only appeared in six games this season -- five in which he started and finished. In those five appearances, the former Pro Bowler didn't necessarily put up big fantasy numbers, and he averaged 18.3 fantasy points. However, he never scored more than 22 points in any of those contests and missed 11 games this year. The Browns quarterback injured his shoulder in Week 3 before eventually undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery after Week 10.

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was another player whose injuries hurt his 2023 fantasy season. Burrow was a strong QB1 fantasy option heading into the season and was often the fourth or fifth quarterback selected in drafts. But a calf strain suffered in training camp and a wrist injury suffered in Week 11 made him a fantasy bust during the 2023-2024 campaign.

Burrow pushed through a calf strain he suffered at the end of July and suited up for the Bengals' season opener against the Browns. After he threw for just 82 yards in the game, it was evident the 27-year-old quarterback was not himself. 

But he continued to play through it, which severely hurt his fantasy production. Through the first six games of the season, he averaged just 14.8 fantasy points per contest with three games under 10 fantasy points.

Burrow finally looked healthy after the Week 7 bye and threw for at least 280 yards and two touchdowns in three straight games before he suffered the season-ending wrist injury in a Thursday night game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.

I spoke with some in Baltimore about Joe Burrow's injury last night. One Raven told me they heard Joe say "I heard a pop" right after Jadeveon Clowney hit him on that last drive he was on the field. We now know he suffered a torn wrist ligament.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 17, 2023

If Burrow played the whole season, there's a chance he isn't on this list. He scored over 21 points in three straight games before his injury, including a season-high 27.6 points against the 49ers in Week 8. However, given where he went in drafts this summer and how poor his season started, he's a clear bust for any fantasy manager who drafted him in the first five to six rounds.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Everyone expected Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence to take another step forward in Year 3. He was the seventh to ninth quarterback off the board in fantasy drafts this year, which appeared to be too high after all. Lawrence, who only missed one game in 2023, finished as the QB13 on the year while averaging 17.3 fantasy points per game.

Lawrence definitely took a step back as a fantasy option this year after he finished as the QB8 the season before. In 2023, he finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in just five of 16 games while throwing for multiple touchdowns only six times. In 2022, he reached that top-10 fantasy mark eight times while throwing for at least two touchdowns seven times. His stats across the board were down this year, which is surprising considering his improved receiving options.

It was not a strong fantasy campaign for Lawrence, who saw his passing yards and touchdowns decrease from the year before. He also threw six more interceptions in 2023 (14) than in 2022 (eight) in one fewer game. His ADP should drop a lot in 2024, as quarterbacks like Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud, and Jordan Love will all fly up draft boards.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Arguably the biggest bust at the quarterback position this year was Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes turned up his play in the NFL playoffs, but during the fantasy season, he wasn't a must-start by any means. He finished as the QB8 while averaging 18.4 fantasy points, both of which are career fantasy lows.

Never A Doubt ⏰ pic.twitter.com/yidq96jwvp

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 12, 2024

Mahomes was a high pick in fantasy drafts this year and was often taken in the second round of leagues. If you drafted him early, chances are you likely didn't win the championship. The two-time MVP finished as a top-10 quarterback just five times this season and just once in the final nine weeks. In the final two weeks of the fantasy football playoffs (Week 16 and Week 17), he finished as the QB16 and the QB25, respectively.

Mahomes will still be a top quarterback option in 2024 fantasy drafts, but his ADP will surely drop next year. He will likely go after quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson. However, if the Chiefs can grab a top-tier wideout next season, the 28-year-old could be a fantastic value pick in the fourth to fifth round of single quarterback leagues.

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