It’s that time of year. NFL fans are opening up their apps of choice for the first time in months. Fantasy leagues are reopening to start research for an upcoming draft. For those undergoing a new dynasty or redraft league, here are the top ten fantasy flops for the 2025-26 campaign.
Cooper Kupp hasn’t ranked better than 24th at the position in the past two seasons. His decline was apparent, even just by watching him play. The receiver is headed to dreary weather, competing for touches with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks’ offense has numerous new members, leaving chemistry as another issue to address.
Jaylen Waddle failed to break 1,000 receiving yards last year, and there’s no reason to expect improvement. The Dolphins’ quarterback is still injury-prone, and Hill is the more talented receiver. The offensive play-calling took a more conservative approach last year, with fewer passes down the field. Miami is set up for another disappointing season, and so is Waddle.
Finishing no lower than WR25 in his first two seasons, things took a turn in 2024. Chris Olave is high-risk for a concussion, with four recorded in his first three seasons. There is also the issue at quarterback. With the retirement of Derek Carr, the room went from average to embarrassing in a flash. Unclear who the starter will be, Sleeper lists Tyler Shough, Taysom Hill, Spencer Ratter, Jake Haener, and Hunter Dekkers on the depth chart, in that order. The Saints finished 23rd in the NFL for passing yards, and it’s a safe bet their output is even lower.
D.K. Metcalf made his way to Pittsburgh in the offseason, a run-first team with an immobile 41-year-old quarterback making his Steelers debut. He finished as WR32 in the NFL and should be expected to regress, at least statistically. Last year’s WR1 for the team was George Pickens. Now with the Cowboys, he finished 42nd at the position, so it’s unlikely he’ll do much better than that. Rodgers may repeat history and run the team into the ground or get injured; neither requires the sharpest memory to recall.
Sleeper places Rashee Rice to be drafted around 47th overall. Rice was the headline of some off-the-field drama, while also missing time after a season-ending LCL tear in Week Four. The team has other options more appropriate for long-distance passes, leaving him for the short and intermediate ones. KC Kingdom reports that a three or four-game suspension is likely. With numerous questions about availability, combined with his peers being faster options, this is a risky pick early in the draft.
Marvin Harrison Jr. entered his rookie season with plenty of hype, but finished the year 30th at the position. Outside of finishing as WR1 in the NFL for Week Two, he didn’t crack the top five, and only broke into the top ten one other time. Sleeper reports the Cardinals’ 21st passing offense, which doesn’t help with his inconsistencies. The team is, in large, gutless and sporadic. There’s nothing to indicate improvement in their passing game or Harrison’s fantasy output.
There’s more to this decision than Terry McLaurin’s current holdout for a new contract, but it certainly adds another layer. McLaurin burst through the WR3 bubble last season, including 13 touchdowns. There are underlying details to indicate an upcoming regression. With the lowest amount of targets since his rookie year last season, repeating that type of efficiency is improbable.
The Commanders also added wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the offseason, which, at the very least, will threaten for a fraction of his touches. Washington exploded into relevancy last season under their rookie quarterback, meaning teams will be better prepared for them this year.
The Tyreek Hill era of the Miami Dolphins maxed out as a playoff bubble team, but fell off a cliff last season. The combination of his wrist issue and missing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for five weeks dropped him to WR18 in PPR. He followed that by putting on a show in the off-season, including legal issues, asking for a trade, and losing the respect of the QB. Adding to his poor image, Yahoo! Sports reports that he didn’t fully understand the offense, and is willing to take notes for the first time.
Here’s a man with one noteworthy fantasy season over four seasons in the NFL, finishing as WR12 in PPR for 2023. The risk of injury is too high to waste first-round draft capital. Nico Collins isn’t someone to rely on all season. The Texans acquired a few young receivers ready to fill in for Collins or Stefon Diggs, all of whom are chipping away at his number of touches.
Puka Nacua burst onto the NFL scene two years ago, accumulating 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. Missing five weeks due to injury, his production decreased in 2024. The WR26 in PPR for 2024 now faces injury concerns and shares catches with Davante Adams. This isn’t to say it won’t be a productive campaign, but the thought of him going in the first round again is mind-boggling.
Based on projected draft picks, these ten have the highest likelihood to flop. Good luck to all of the fantasy managers out there, and don’t get caught with a first-round bust.
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