Week One Fantasy Football Losers
The 2025 NFL Season finished its first week with a handful of exciting games, both in primetime and during the basic Sunday windows. However, there were plenty that missed the mark due to poor play and low scores. Cam Ward’s debut with the Titans fell short in a 20-12 loss to the Broncos, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ offense struggled to gain any traction in a 17-13 loss against the 49ers, and Russell Wilson fell flat in a 21-6 loss to the Commanders that featured two New York field goals. In terms of fantasy, those three games, along with every other one, provided fans with heartbreak from stars that cost them the first win for their fantasy football teams.
In this new series, similar to the winners of Week One article, I will highlight the worst performers in relation to their average draft position in a standard full PPR league, while trying to spread the love across all offensive skill positions and considering the overall matchup context and predictions before the game. For example, I would not consider Tua Tagovailoa to be a top QB to be drafted, and I was right for at least Week One, where he had 114 yards, one touchdown, and three total turnovers, totaling 5.26 fantasy points. Additionally, Marvin Mims Jr. was projected to score about eight fantasy points, but walked away with three receptions for 12 yards and a lost fumble for about two points. Both players were expected to be late-round fliers for depth and bye week considerations, so it is not surprising they had a poor game. My goal is to find players who are drafted relatively high and somehow miss the mark with horrible production.
WR A.J. Brown – 1.8, Devonta Smith – 4.6 Fantasy Points
Both A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith were projected to go in the first four rounds of all fantasy drafts. Some fans took Brown in the first to be the anchor of their team, but were rudely awakened when Brown failed to be targeted until his only catch with less than two minutes in the entire game. Devonta Smith caught all three of his targets for 16 yards, but never found a rhythm, earning one target in each of the last three quarters. It was not a huge passing day for Jalen Hurts, only throwing for 152 yards, including a 51-yard heave to WR3 Jahan Dotson. Fans are mad because if they took Brown with their late first or early second, the next player on their draft board could have been Smith. Granted, it is only one week. Brown and Smith will show up on the stat sheet more and more as both look to find paydirt in Week Two against the Chiefs in a Super Bowl LIX rematch.
WR Xavier Worthy – 0 Fantasy Points
Xavier Worthy’s presence on this list is not his fault. On the third snap of the game, Worthy and Travis Kelce collided on crossing drag routes that dislocated Worthy’s shoulder, removing him from the game. However, fans who drafted Worthy in the fourth or fifth rounds expected him to step up as the WR1 while Rashee Rice is serving his six-game suspension. Head coach Andy Reid was careful in not placing a timeline on Worthy’s return, so for right now, he is considered day-to-day.
QB Joe Burrow – 8.82, WRs Ja’Maar Chase – 4.6, WR Tee Higgins – 6.3 Fantasy Points
This one hurts me on a personal level because I had Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins in the same league. The Bengals continued their pattern of struggling in early-season games against inferior teams. However, the Bengals still came out on top in the 17-16 win over Cleveland, courtesy of a missed kick by Cleveland’s kicker. Burrow finished with 113 yards and a touchdown, explaining the 8.82 points, but that is not where fans want to see Burrow, especially when he is considered a top-seven fantasy QB. Consensus first overall pick, Ja’Maar Chase essentially blanked, catching two of his five targets for 26 yards, and Tee Higgins did not do much better, grabbing three of his four targets for 33 yards. I put all three players on this list because these are the same guys who torched the Ravens’ defense twice for over 100 combined points in each game, but they couldn’t do it against the Browns. For the sake of my fantasy team and all Burrow, Chase, and Higgins owners, the Bengals need to figure it out for the sake of fantasy owners nationwide.
WR Terry McLaurin – 4.7 Fantasy Points
Fresh off a brand-new three-year deal with Washington, Terry McLaurin was expected to hit the ground running with second-year QB Jayden Daniels. The lack of training camp reps due to an ankle injury and contract disputes may be attributed to the quiet two-reception, 27-yard day, but the Giants are not a good football team. It was an easy 21-6 win for the Commanders, but Deebo Samuel was the one who found the endzone on a jet sweep in addition to his seven receptions for 77 yards, blowing the other Commanders’ pass catchers out of the water. Just like the Eagles and Bengals, it is only Week One, so the Commanders have time to get the ball to Scary Terry before he finds a spot on the bench in fantasy leagues.
QB Bo Nix – 6.84 Fantasy Points
High on my draft board entering the 2025 NFL Season, Bo Nix was just outside the top-10 fantasy QBs after his stellar run to end the 2024 season. My praise may have been misplaced, but I will not waver after one bad game. Bo Nix finished with 6.84 points due to three turnovers. Additionally, only recording 176 yards and a single touchdown on 25 for 40 passing is not ideal for the Oregon alumni. The Broncos only have Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram, and Marvin Mims Jr. as their top pass catchers after trading Devaughn Vele to the Saints. Bo Nix and the Broncos look to bounce back against the Colts, led by Daniel Jones, who just blew out the Dolphins.
Mark Andrews – 1.5 Fantasy Points
As I stated in the winners of Week One article, Zay Flowers was the main target in Baltimore’s loss to the Bills. The target share is interesting in Baltimore with the talents of Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, and many more. However, with the news that Isaiah Likely was going to miss the opener, fans believed Mark Andrews was ready for his redemption at Highmark Stadium. Unfortunately, that was not true as he corralled his only target for five yards. Keep in mind, Andrews had a slow start to the 2024 season but turned it back on to be the TE6 by the end. On the other hand, if Andrews compiles too many of these performances, he might end up not re-signing with Baltimore when he tests free agency after this season.
Baltimore Ravens D/ST – (-7 Fantasy Points)
As a Ravens fan, the Ravens' defense was probably the most disappointing thing to watch this weekend. From choking a 15-point lead with less than six minutes left in the game to allowing 41 points and almost 500 yards, combined with recording one sack and no turnovers, the Ravens have reverted to their early 2024 season ways. Teams don’t fear the Ravens’ defense anymore. Even with the addition of Jaire Alexander and a strong draft, the Ravens shot so far below expectation that it will be hard to believe they can make a push at the Super Bowl, especially if the road runs through Buffalo or Kansas City. If this pattern continues, it might not be a question of who is on the field, but rather who is wearing the headset on the sidelines.
