X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Biggest Busts and Disappointments of 2016 - Quarterbacks

What a difference a year can make. Players that are viewed one year as safe bets can be viewed the very next year as shaky propositions. It's the beauty -- or, depending on how you look at it, the curse -- of fantasy football. No position is immune. Every season, there are a handful of players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end that fail to meet preseason expectations for different reasons. Sometimes it's not their fault (injuries), sometimes it is (turnovers, poor play).

Regardless of the circumstances, busts are busts. Let's take a look back at some of this season's most disappointing fantasy quarterbacks. Note: 2016 average draft positions from Fantasy Football Calculator are in parentheses. To read about 2016's biggest breakout quarterbacks, click here.

Editor's Note: Our industry-leading NBA DFS Lineup Optimizer/Generator tool helps you build winning DFS lineups in seconds. Try it now for free, and get an edge on your competition.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

 

Quarterback Busts for 2016 Fantasy Football

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (3.04)

Final stats: 3,509 pass yds, 19 TDs, 14 INTs; 359 rush yds, 5 TDs

Regression typically hits quarterbacks that win the Most Valuable Player Award and teams that go 15-1, but Newton and the Panthers were crushed by a Super Bowl hangover in 2016. Newton's struggles mirrored Carolina's, as the Panthers plummeted from 15 wins to a bitterly disappointing 6-10 record.

Newton accounted for 45 total touchdowns last season, but that total was nearly cut in half this season (24). He missed a game with a concussion and absorbed a number of high-profile, highly-scrutinized hits both in and out of the pocket. Newton's 90 carries for 359 yards and five touchdowns all represented career lows for him on the ground.

Newton wasn't completely without value. In fact, his passing numbers were mostly in line with his pre-2015 seasons, and his rushing numbers were better than most quarterbacks around the league. He just set the bar so high with his historic 2015 season that he couldn't return value as a high third-round pick in drafts.

 

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (4.11)

Final stats: 4,219 pass yds, 21 TDs, 11 INTs; 259 rush yds, 1 TD

Wilson's season was actually fairly similar to Newton's, in that injuries and inconsistency drained his value. Wilson's stock was sky high, given the Seahawks' torrid offensive pace over the final seven games in 2015. His solid fantasy floor (due to his rushing) made him a solid bet as a top-five quarterback.

But Wilson suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and a knee injury in Week 3 (along with a pectoral injury, sustained at an unknown point), which left him severely limited for the majority of the season. Wilson still set a career high with 4,219 passing yards, but his total touchdowns (22) and rushing yards (259) took a major dip.

Both Newton and Wilson are prime bounce-back candidates in 2017, but there is no denying how disappointing they were in 2016, given their high average draft positions.

 

Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (7.05)

Final stats: 4,233 pass yds, 26 TDs, 14 INTs; 38 rush yds, 0 TDs

Few quarterbacks were more consistently productive in 2015 than Palmer, who passed for 4,671 yards and 35 touchdowns, and earned an MVP vote. Palmer and the Cardinals just couldn't replicate the magic in 2016. Palmer missed one game due to injury, and his yards and touchdowns decreased by 438 and nine, respectively. At the same time, his interceptions increased from 11 to 14 and his fumbles ballooned from four to nine.

It was a disappointing, occasionally ugly season for Arizona, and that assessment fits the 37-year-old Palmer as well. Given his seventh-round average draft position, Palmer fits the "bust" characterization for 2016 and should be approached with caution entering 2017.

 

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (7.10)

Final stats: 3,905 pass yds, 23 TDs, 16 INTs; 359 rush yds, 3 TDs

Here's where it really gets ugly. Bortles was a popular target entering the 2016 season, and for good reason. He was just 24 years old and coming off a season in which he posted 4,428 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Plus, he was at the reigns of an explosive offense rife with young talent, most notably Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.

None of that mattered. Bortles was brutal, struggling with accuracy and consistency for the third straight season. This time, the yards and touchdowns couldn't salvage his fantasy value. Bortles continued to provide sneaky value with his rushing ability (359 yards, three touchdowns), but the 12 fewer passing touchdowns greatly hurt his overall production.

Next season will likely be a make-or-break year for Bortles, the former No. 3 overall pick. If he struggles again under a new coach and the Jaguars fail to contend the lowly AFC South, he could be looking for a new team in 2018.

 

Eli Manning, New York Giants (8.06)

Final stats: 4,027 pass yds, 26 TDs, 16 INTs; -9 rush yds, 0 TDs

At this point in his career, Manning is what he is -- a solid QB2 capable of QB1 play with the right matchups. Manning put together arguably the finest season of his career in 2015, passing for 4,436 yards, 35 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. There was reason for optimism in 2016, given that Manning would have Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Sterling Shepard, and a healed Victor Cruz at his disposal.

Instead, the Giants' offense sputtered all season long, and Manning finished with 409 fewer yards, nine fewer touchdowns and two more interceptions. It was hardly a disastrous season, but if you drafted Manning hoping for a repeat of 2015, you were certainly disappointed. It was boom or bust all season for Manning, making him a risky proposition each week.

Manning will still have Beckham and Shepard, two of the better young wideouts in the NFL. That alone helps his fantasy stock. Consider him a QB2 entering 2017. Anything more would be a bonus.

 

Honorable Mentions

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (8.11)

Final stats: 4,386 pass yds, 33 TDs, 21 INTs; 35 rush yds, 0 TDs

Brock Osweiler, Houston Texans (N/A)

Final stats: 2,957 pass yds, 15 TDs, 16 INTs; 131 rush yds, 2 TDs


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF