Most Disappointing Quarterbacks in Fantasy Football
 
It’s been a record-breaking year in the NFL this season for quarterbacks.
An NFL record five QBs are on track to break the 4,700 passing yards barrier.

After 27 years, Drew Brees became the first QB to break Dan Marino’s record of most passing yards in a season. Tom Brady is not far away. Aaron Rodgers has been nearly faultless and rookie Cam Newton threw for more yards than any other first-year gunslinger has before.

Yet as a lot of fantasy football owners will attest, despite a record-breaking season,  there have been many disappointing performances from some QBs that have left managers scratching their heads wondering what the hell happened!

SAM BRADFORD

I was in two minds whether to include Bradford on this list. First, expectations would not have been as high with him as some other QBs. Would not have been QB1-material in most seasonal leagues.  His first year showed some promising signs and his 18 TD, 15 interceptions in a poor offense gave optimism for much greater improvement in 2011.

Overall you have to say his stats represent a disappointing season with just 6 TDs in ten starts.
The lockout really hurt Bradford. The Rams were moving from a West Coast offense to a more aggressive down the field attack under new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. 

Bradford would have had limited time to acquaint himself with the new system.

He then lost his safety valve, Danny Amendola, for the season in Week 2. Danario Alexander, Greg Salas and Brandon Gibson all missed games during the season. Mike Sims-Walker was cut after Week 4.  Week to week Bradford had different receivers starting giving him no time to get comfortable.

To make things worse his receivers have had more drops than any other team in the NFL. The less said about the offensive line, the better. Still there was enough optimism pre- season to expect much more and there is always more expectation on No 1 draft picks.
 

JOE FLACCO
 
Many owners last season were disappointed with Flacco. Expectations were high that Flacco would finally take the leap to elite or at least knocking on the door of the elite. It didn’t quite happen but he improved gradually in his first three seasons, his TD count rising each year from 14, 21 and 25.

Some were ready to forgive and hoped Flacco’s improvement would continue to track upwards, possibly moving into the 30+ TDs category.

Yet with one game to go this season his TD total has regressed to just 19. His completion rate has also dropped this season to just 56% after being in the low 60s in his first three seasons and his average yards per attempt is at a career low of 6.7. Say it ain’t so Joe, Flacco owners cry, but there can be no denying that Flacco has once again been a disappointment. Expect Flacco’s value to take a severe drop in next year’s drafts.
 

JOSH FREEMAN

Were fantasy owners duped by Tampa Bay’s soft schedule in 2010 in regards to Josh Freeman’s performance? Hard to believe he’s the same player this season that has seen the Bucs slide from 4-2 to 4-11.  Freeman has gone from 25 TDs and 6 interceptions in 2010 to just 14 TDs and 19 interceptions this season.  Many owners believed that like Joe Flacco, Freeman would be ready to move into the 30+ TD club.

Instead it seems Freeman has regressed. To be fair his receivers have been poor at times and several of his interceptions have been tipped by his receivers. Unlike 2010 when defenders dropped several potential interceptions off Freeman, this season several have made outstanding plays.

Still there is no doubting at times his judgement has been very poor, over-throwing receivers far more than he did a year ago.

Like Bradford you get the feeling that a full pre-season and possible new coaching staff, may see Freeman turn things around next season.
 

MICHAEL VICK
 

Vick would have been a top five pick in most leagues this season after throwing for 21 TDs, just six picks and rushing for 9 TDs in 2010 in just 12 starts.

Twelve starts this season and Vick has only 15 passing TDs, 13 picks and just one rushing TD.
The deflated expectations on Vick reflect those of his team the Eagles, so much anticipation pre-season, in the end such a letdown.

Vick was actually better this season at picking up blitzes and getting rid of the ball quicker but too many times he seemed to try and do too much.  Whether it be trying to run the extra yard or failing to throw the ball away but instead forcing a pass that just wasn’t there.

Sometimes a simple feet first slide would have been sufficient but Vick continually put his body at risk.
One reason why he has had only one rushing TD is simply that the offense has been less effective and in worse field position than last season. 

However the Eagles’ offensive line has also been better this season so Vick has had to scramble less and therefore stay in the pocket more.  He’s had 25 less carries this season.

The Eagles’ receiving corps has not helped. DeSean Jackson in a contract season has played half- hearted upset at not been offered a contract extension. Hence Vick has missed Jackson as a deep threat. Also Jeremy Maclin has had personal issues to deal with that may have affected his play at times.
 

PHILIP RIVERS
 

Now to the guy that I think has been the most disappointing QB in fantasy football this season, Philip Rivers.

What’s that you say, a QB that has just been voted to the Pro Bowl is your most disappointing QB? Well yes and it says a lot about Pro Bowl voting.

First thing though, I have to be up front, this is a bit personal. Rivers has been the star of my now five-year dynasty team , ever since I picked him up in the fourth round of my 12-team fantasy competition. He’s been good to me and helped me win a championship in the second year of the competition when he broke out with 34 TDs in 2008.

In fact the last three seasons Rivers has stepped up amongst the best QBs in the NFL, even mentioned amongst the top five QBs in the league.

Normally the expectation with QBs with his recent record is that they will be at their peak around the age of 30. Drew Brees won a Super Bowl, Tom Brady threw for 50 TDs at around the same age.

Instead of establishing himself amongst the top five elite QBs, Rivers has inexplicably regressed. Yes he’s improved the last few weeks but for most fantasy players that has been too late.

He has thrown 19 interceptions, the most in his eight seasons in the NFL. His 24 TDs has been his lowest since 2007.

During those crucial first 12 weeks of fantasy football he had thrown more picks than TDs (16 TDs and 17 picks).

Plenty of theories have been put forward to try and explain why his form has regressed. Many believe he may be carrying an injury.  Some of his receivers have suffered injuries and have not been at their best, for example Vincent Jackson.

The offensive line has been seriously banged up this season and Rivers has often found himself with little time to set and throw.

Whatever reason, Rivers has suffered one of the biggest falls in performance this season and has not only possibly helped cost Chargers coach Norv Turner his job, but no doubt cost several thousands of fantasy owners their season.

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