Every year, fantasy football managers aim to draft the perfect roster, but the true difference-makers are often those who outperform their draft position. Now that the season has played out, we can look back at the preseason average draft positions (ADP) and identify the worst pick from each round—those who failed to live up to expectations. Let’s break down the top selections from every round based on their ADP and their actual production this season.
Round 1
Christian McCaffrey RB (SF)
ADP: 1.0 and RB1
Finish: RB69
PPG: 12
Summary: Christian McCaffrey was the most disappointing pick of the draft with him being the consensus number one pick and struggling to stay on the field this season. McCaffrey did return in the second half of the season only to play four games and never top 17 points in a game. He finished the year with four games played and under 50 fantasy points. While McCaffrey has come back from injuries in his career, he will be entering his age-29 season next year. While he burned us in 2024, he will likely return with vengeance in 2025.
Honorable Mention: Tyreek Hill WR (MIA)
Round 2
Travis Etienne RB (JAX)
ADP: 17.4 and RB8
Finish: RB35
PPG: 8.7
Summary: Travis Etienne might have the strongest argument of the bunch for the biggest bust of the 2024 fantasy football season. Etienne averaged 8.7 points per game and lost his early-down work to Tank Bigsby this season. We drafted him in the second round expecting a similar role to last season on a solid offense but that never materialized this season. Ultimately, Etienne finished as the RB35 and could have been dropped halfway through the season.
Honorable Mention: Isiah Pacheco RB (KC)
Round 3
Deebo Samuel WR (SF)
ADP: 32.0 and WR15
Finish: WR44
PPG: 10.2
Summary: Deebo Samuel lost all of his explosive abilities with the ball in his hands this season resulting in a down year with only 4 touchdowns. His ability to run effectively has declined while he is never open due to him being a poor separator. He averaged 10.2 points per game and finished as the WR44 this season, a far cry from his ADP of 32. Samuel also might have played his last down as a 49er and will likely have a new home in 2025.
Honorable Mention: Michael Pittman Jr. WR (IND)
Round 4
Jaylen Waddle WR (MIA)
ADP: 42.6 and WR20
Finish: WR46
PPG: 9.4
Summary: Jaylen Waddle was phased out of the Dolphins passing attack for Jonnu Smith this season resulting in 9.4 points per game in a lost season. The target share was down this year and he only finished with one game over 100 yards this season which resulted in a poor season. A fully healthy season of Tua and a potential trade of Tyreek Hill could lead to better days ahead for Waddle.
Honorable Mention: DeVonta Smith WR (PHI)

Round 5
Dalton Kincaid TE (BUF)
ADP: 53.6 and TE5
Finish: TE30
PPG: 7.8
Summary: Dalton Kincaid never lived up to the preseason hype of filling in as Josh Allen’s top target in 2024 making him a bust. Kincaid dealt with injuries and middling production all season, which led to him finishing as the TE30 this year despite being drafted in the 5th round of drafts. This year, he taught us a valuable lesson: Josh Allen’s tight ends will never be one of the top producers in their position.
Honorable Mention: C.J. Stroud QB (HOU)
Round 6
Zamir White RB (LV)
ADP: 66.6 and RB22
Finish: RB88
PPG: 3.7
Summary: Zamir White was one of the biggest busts this season finishing the season averaging 3.7 points per game despite being drafted in the 6th round. White never materialized into the lead back in Las Vegas like some hoped this season as they rotated multiple running backs throughout the season. I’m not expecting White to be fantasy-relevant this offseason with Sincere McCormick taking on a bigger role in Las Vegas.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Pitts TE (ATL)
Round 7
Raheem Mostert RB (MIA)
ADP: 74.6 and RB25
Finish: RB56
PPG: 5.5
Summary: After scoring 21 touchdowns and 17.8 points per game, many thought Raheem Mostert was a value in round seven. As predicted the 32-year-old running back regressed and was worse than expected in 2024. He only finished with 5.5 points per game and struggled with injuries all season. Mostert’s days of being fantasy-relevant are probably over.
Honorable Mention: Javonte Williams RB (DEN)

Round 8
Devin Singletary RB (NYG)
ADP: 94.4 and RB31
Finish: RB46
PPG: 6
Summary: Devin Singletary is another running back who had the opportunity to be the lead back earlier on and lost his role early on in the season. The Giants found a gem in Tyrone Tracy while Singletary slowly got phased out of the Giants’ lineup each game. He didn’t start the season too bad either with 14.5 and 18.8 point performances.
Honorable Mention: Nick Chubb RB (CLE)
Round 9
Jonathan Brooks RB (CAR)
ADP: 101.4 and RB35
Finish: RB114
PPG: 2.5
Summary: We never got a full taste of what Jonathan Brooks could do in Carolina as his recovery took longer than expected and then he suffered another season-ending injury. Unfortunately for Brooks’s long-term outlook, he will have to battle carries with Chuba Hubbard as they signed him to a contract extension after a breakout year. Brooks likely won’t be available till the end of 2025.
Honorable Mention: Caleb Williams QB (CHI)
Round 10
Ezekiel Elliott RB (DAL)
ADP: 113.2 and RB38
Finish: RB63
PPG: 3.8
Summary: Ezekiel Elliott going this high in drafts was criminal, even though Dallas had no clear starter coming into the season. Zeke dropped from 3.5 yards per carry in 2023 to 3.1 yards per carry this season resulting in 3.8 points per game. Elliott had ample opportunities early on in the season and never capitalized on it later getting phased out by Rico Dowdle. Elliott will have a hard time finding another roster spot this year.
Honorable Mention: Gus Edwards RB (LAC)
Round 11
Dalton Schultz TE (HOU)
ADP: 125.6 and TE13
Finish: TE20
PPG: 7
Summary: Dalton Schultz gained some momentum at the end of 2023 in the Texans offense but was brutal in 2024. It took until Week 13 when he topped 10 points while never topping 70 receiving yards all season long. Even when injuries hit, Schultz was never targeted enough to be fantasy-relevant. He is on my do-not draft list heading into next year.
Honorable Mention: Trevor Lawrence QB (JAX)
Round 12
Kirk Cousins QB (ATL)
ADP: 142.6 and QB19
Finish: QB21
PPG: 12.8
Summary: Outside of two monster games against the Bucs, Kirk Cousins never scored over 20 points in a game this year. Cousins was not the same player after an Achilles injury that limited him from moving at all when dropping back to pass. While the offensive talent was around him to be successful, Cousins’s poor play was never enough to return to fantasy success. It will be interesting to see if he lands another job somewhere in 2025.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers QB (NYJ)

Round 13
Mike Williams WR (PIT)
ADP: 149.8 and WR56
Finish: WR107
PPG: 3.2
Summary: Mike Williams averaged 16.7 points in three games before a season-ending injury leading to some value in Round 13. Ultimately Williams was not the same player and the Jets offense never panned out as expected. He then found his way on the Steelers where he never played over 40% of snaps resulting in 3.2 points per game this year. It’s hard to see him having a fantasy-relevant 2025 season.
Honorable Mention: Joshua Palmer WR (LAC)
Round 14
Luke Musgrave TE (GB)
ADP: 169.8 and TE17
Finish: TE87
PPG: 1.6
Summary: Luke Musgrave was supposed to be the TE1 in Green Bay but an early season injury and the breakout of Tucker Kraft led to him being phased out by the end of the season. Green Bay does not utilize its tight ends enough for me to see a future where Kraft and Musgrave will both hold value in fantasy football.
Honorable Mention: Jaylen Wright RB (MIA)
Round 15
Ja’Lynn Polk WR (NE)
ADP: 184.2 and WR65
Finish: WR128
PPG: 2.2
Summary: Ja’Lynn Polk was a popular sleeper heading into the season but never panned out in New England. Polk was a locker room problem at times this season and was on the bottom of the receiver depth chart despite having a promising preseason. It’s hard to envision him making a big leap in year two.
Honorable Mention: Will Levis QB (TEN)