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Which wide receivers failed to meet expectations in the 2024 fantasy football season? Andrew Ball analyzes the biggest busts at the position.
First-round pick, second-round pick, third-round pick, or lower, fantasy managers struggled to dodge wide receiver busts.
Whether due to the re-emergence of running backs, injuries to their quarterback, or other factors, high-profile names disappointed in 2024.
From the writer who brought you weekly bust columns for the last two seasons, it's only right for me to detail the wide receiver busts of the 2024 fantasy football season.
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Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
The 2024 season for the Miami Dolphins wide receivers was a Kelly Clarkson song: Here's the thing, we started out friends. It was cool, but it was all pretend.
Both receivers topped 100 yards in Miami's season opener. The relationships between fantasy managers and Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle soured when Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion in Week 2.
Tagovailoa's missed month was rough. Hill scored double-digit PPR points once in four games. Waddle recorded none. Fantasy managers had to practice patience. These early-round wide receiver selections will be great once their quarterback returns!
Great wasn't the correct description. Good, not great is more accurate for Hill. He scored five times in Week 10 and beyond. Those touchdowns sometimes saved unproductive contests (three catches for 16 yards in Los Angeles and three for 29 yards against San Francisco). There was a pair of 100-yard boom weeks. However, three total 100-yard campaigns are a far cry from the 15 instances in previous seasons in Florida.
Waddle was nearly unplayable despite Tagovailoa's return. He caught more than four passes twice and, similar to Hill, struggled to reach the triple-digit threshold. And, just when fantasy managers found the confidence to start Waddle again (following at least 99 yards in Weeks 12 and 14), he injured his knee and gave a goose egg for the opening round of the fantasy playoffs.
Jaylen Waddle's targets per route run by season
[@FantasyPtsData]2021: 24%
2022: 23%
2023: 30%2024: 19%
It was the same if only including Tua's starts as well.
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) February 3, 2025
We can blame the lingering wrist injury or age for Hill. Waddle doesn't have much of a personal excuse. The Miami offense was altered to better protect the franchise quarterback. A decrease in talent across the offensive line meant quicker passes. De'Von Achane and Jonnu Smith became the beneficiaries.
DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
What if I told you that Geno Smith would attempt the fourth-most passes (578) and the Seahawks would pass at the fifth-highest rate in the league? DK Metcalf enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, right? Right...?
He caught 66 balls (just as he did in 2023) but for 122 fewer yards and three fewer touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb utilized Metcalf as a home-run threat. He led the league in deep targets but only secured 61 percent of passes thrown in his direction. His 19.9 percent target rate ranked 63rd among wide receivers and his usage declined even more in the red zone.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepped into the role of Smith's favorite receiver and Metcalf didn't top 15 PPR points following his return from a knee injury in Week 11. He caught more than four passes in one game during that stretch.
We have parted ways with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
Read more » https://t.co/5O5gqt9au2 pic.twitter.com/wFENi3EJs5
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 6, 2025
Grubb was fired earlier this offseason and replaced by former Saints play-caller Klint Kubiak. Mike Macdonald is a defensive-minded head coach who wants to win on that side of the ball and with a strong running game. The Seahawks won't be one of the most pass-happy teams in 2025.
Metcalf also turns 28 this year and has one year remaining on his contract. His dynasty stock is as murky as it has ever been.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. busted relative to his fantasy football draft cost but it wasn't a complete letdown of a rookie season. A "generation talent" label sent the son of a Hall of Famer to the top of the second round. He was selected before Drake London and Nico Collins, among others.
62 receptions, 885 yards, and eight touchdowns led to the WR30 finish. It's a steep decrease from the WR8 ADP.
Like Father, Like Son 🙌
Marvin Harrison Jr. & Sr. almost have the EXACT same stats for their respective rookie seasons 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UshUKAEYLB
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) January 8, 2025
The fantasy community was correct that a rookie wide receiver should be selected in the second round. The name, however, was the wrong one. Brian Thomas Jr. (WR4), Malik Nabers (WR6), and Ladd McConkey (WR12) exceeded expectations in their debut campaigns. All three surpassed 1,000 receiving yards.
The Cardinals were a run-heavy offense, utilizing James Conner on the ground and tight end Trey McBride in the short-to-intermediate passing game. Harrison's role was almost strictly downfield. His 13.5 average depth of target ranked 16th among qualified receivers. He was eighth in air yards.
Unlike Thomas and Nabers, plays weren't designed to get the football to Harrison near the line of scrimmage. A different offensive philosophy could lead to flourishment.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
The vibes are off in Indianapolis.
Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson was benched following a 10-for-32 passing effort against the Texans in Week 8. Richardson's completion percentages (on all levels and situations) were well below the league average. Pittman saw a 69 percent catchable target rate. That was 66th among qualified receivers.
Joe Flacco was a marginal improvement in his six starts but a huge boon for Pittman's fantasy football stock. Indianapolis' top receiver played in six of seven games and Flacco played at least 80 percent of the offensive snaps. He averaged 14.3 PPR fantasy points per game. He delivered 7.98 points per game in Richardson's starts.
After the season, Pittman revealed he played with a low-back fracture. There were reports in the middle of the year that he'd be placed on injured reserve. Instead, he just missed one game. Battling the ailment could have contributed to a down year.
#Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. on playing with a fractured back:
“Van Ginkel said, ‘Everybody wants to be a dog until it’s time to do dog stuff.’ … Guys like Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, (DeForest Buckner) — they deserve my best even when maybe I don’t feel up to it …” pic.twitter.com/JKxgaGlOuZ
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) January 6, 2025
However, the biggest culprit for Pittman's poor play still stems from the quarterback position. Richardson will likely have the start of next season to show improvements. Otherwise, Shane Steichen will turn to another signal caller to save his job.
Deebo Samuel Sr., San Francisco 49ers
There have been concerns that Deebo Samuel would show his age sooner than his counterparts because of his play style. Sure enough, the 29-year-old lacked explosiveness en route to one of the worst statistical seasons of his career.
Samuel's 44.7 receiving yards per game and 3.2 yards per rush attempt were career-low marks. His break-tackle rate plummeted. He scored the fewest touchdowns (four) since his injury-shortened second season.
His season may be best remembered for complaining on social media about a lack of involvement, only to drop a crucial third-down target in a must-win Thursday night affair. That's not the lasting memory you want.
The Deebo Samuel noise is going to get a lot louder after this third down drop... pic.twitter.com/PhXVptCivh
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 13, 2024
Now, there are questions about whether Samuel played his last snap in red and gold. The former All-Pro has one season remaining on his contract but the 49ers could take on his $10M dead cap hit. Jauan Jennings enjoyed a breakout season. First-round pick Ricky Pearsall flashed at the end of the season. Even with Brandon Aiyuk's injury likely lingering into the new year, Samuel is expendable.
Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
Fantasy managers celebrated Amari Cooper's midseason trade from the hapless Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills. The veteran would be on the receiving end of Josh Allen's pass attempts and there was little target competition. Buffalo sought a No. 1 receiver following the departure of Stefon Diggs. It was almost too perfect (and he scored in his first game with the team).
That was the pinnacle of Cooper's first season in upstate New York. He wasn't the top receiver. He wasn't the second receiver. He was a small part of a receiver rotation, resulting in him being unplayable and droppable.
Cooper missed three games (two with injury and a rest in Week 18). In his eight other regular season games in Buffalo, Cooper played over half of the offensive snaps four times and topped out at 54 percent. He earned more than three targets once. Any fantasy manager forced into starting him in the playoffs got zero fantasy points and one catch for 10 yards in Weeks 15 and 16, respectively.
Khalil Shakir was Allen's favorite target. All other Buffalo pass catchers were part of a committee. Cooper (4.1 targets per game from Week 11 through 17), Dalton Kincaid (5.3), Keon Coleman (3.6), Mack Hollins (2.8), and Curtis Samuel (2.7) all became middling options. Even worse, Cooper and Hollins were the only receivers from that group to play every game in that timeframe. There should have been more opportunities.
Some fans have wondered about Amari Cooper’s involvement in Bills offense.
Cooper has “absolutely no complaints.”
“Winning is way more important & that's all I truly want. I've had it every other way, & haven't reached the pinnacle of this sport of how I would have liked.” pic.twitter.com/jqjhFNMPWY
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) January 22, 2025
Cooper managed a wrist injury throughout his time in Buffalo, which may have contributed to his poor play. General manager Brandon Beane said surgery was recommended but Cooper elected to play through it.
Cooper is entering free agency as a soon-to-be 31-year-old.
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