Players To Disappoint This Season

In the last article, we looked at players who could surprise in 2022. But which players could disappoint? First up, a former top-5 Quarterback known for rushing upside…

Kyler Murray (Quarterback- Arizona Cardinals)

In what has been a drama filled offseason, one saga that has not seen its conclusion is Murray’s off the field battle with the Cardinals front office. 

They have picked up his fifth-year option, but he wants a longer-term deal. Critics have argued that he is yet to have performed to a standard that would warrant a longer deal or more money. 

Granted, he has 70 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns and 34 interceptions across the first three seasons of his NFL career. But there is the opinion that he has never finished a season strongly, instead tending to disappoint. The Cardinals were the last team in the NFL to lose a game in 2021 and went 10-2 before going 1-5 in their final six games and then losing in the Wildcard Round to the Los Angeles Rams, a game that Murray struggled massively. This goes back further, with the team going 6-3 before ending the season 8-8. They also ended 2019 with a 5-10-1 record as they lost seven of their last nine.

Murray has had his moments and shown his potential – but has overall lacked consistency. He will also be without Deandre Hopkins for the first six games due to suspension, someone who Murray has performed significantly better alongside. 

The Cardinals do not have an easy schedule. Whilst they play the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks during the opening six games without Hopkins, they also play the Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Rams, and a resurgent Philadelphia Eagles during that stretch. They could very easily start 2022 with a 2-4 record. When Hopkins comes back, their fixtures do not get any easier. The NFC West has a bad hand, facing the AFC West this season. Games against the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers follow as well as facing the San Francisco 49ers twice, the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Murray wants to prove he is worthy of a new deal, he has a difficult set of games to prove this. 

Hopkins is out for just over a third of the season. There are doubts over whether he will play. And the Cards face a difficult schedule. Three reasons why Murray could be someone to disappoint in fantasy this year.

DK Metcalf (Wide Receiver- Seattle Seahawks)

Metcalf if easily one of the best receivers in the game right now, with 3,170 yards and 29 touchdowns across the three seasons he has had in the league since being drafted 64th overall in 2019. This amounts to an average of 1,057 yards and 9.66 touchdowns a season. 

However, he lost his quarterback Russell Wilson, who got traded away to the Denver Broncos. At the moment, Seattle’s starting quarterback in week one will be either Drew Lock or Geno Smith. Even if they trade for Baker Mayfield, neither of these three are anywhere near Wilson’s level. Metcalf is still a risk worth taking in the third or fourth rounds of fantasy drafts due to his sheer talent, but he is likely to take a down year fantasy wise whilst Seattle sort out the position.

C.J. Uzomah (Tight End- New York Jets)

C.J. Uzomah was an underrated part of the successful Bengals offense that made it all the way to Super Bowl 56.

In his most productive season since being drafted by the Bengals 157th overall in 2015, he recorded 493 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns during the 2021 season.

However he moved to the New York Jets in the offseason. Despite their excellent offseason, they do not represent an upgrade for Uzomah.

Joe Burrow was electric during his sophomore campaign and has consensus as a top 10 Quarterback. Zach Wilson, on the other hand, still has question marks after a bad rookie season.

Uzomah will also share reps with Tyler Conklin. Expect his fantasy points to significantly drop and disappoint many drafters. 

Andy @AndyDaviesSport