Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Biggest Fantasy Football QB Busts of 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By HC Green | Last updated Jan 14, 2026 8:10 PM ET

With the 2025 regular season concluded, it’s a good time to go back and look at the players who underperformed the most based on expectations and draft position. Before diving in, I have one item of clarification. I’ve tried to stay away from guys who were injured and missed the majority of the season — that doesn’t mean you won’t see players who missed time, but there needs to be more to it than that.

But before we get into it, here are a dishonorable mention:

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (ADP: QB9) : Murray played only five games before suffering a foot injury, but all signs pointed to him gearing up for a return a few weeks later. When Jacoby Brissett ran the offense more effectively, however, Murray’s injury suddenly became a season-ending one. This was a dismal effort from a QB drafted by fantasy owners in the top 10.

The Top Fantasy QB Busts of 2025

Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

3) J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (ADP: QB19)

Injuries limited McCarthy to 10 starts, but even taking that into account, it’s hard to view his first season on the job as anything other than an abject failure. There was a lot of hype about his potential after what Sam Darnold accomplished in 2024, but “Nine” only managed isolated stretches of serviceable play. It’d be surprising if the Vikings don’t add someone to compete for the starting job next season.

Rich Storry-Imagn Images

2) Justin Fields, New York Jets (ADP: QB13)

Fantasy owners again got lured in by Fields’ athleticism, making him the 13th quarterback drafted on average. In nine starts, the Ohio State product completed less than 10 passes four times and was benched for journeyman Tyrod Taylor. Eventually, Fields was placed on IR, but that felt similar to the Murray situation. No matter where he lands in 2026, do not draft him as anything more than a final-round curiosity.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1) Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (ADP: QB2)

While it seemed like Jackson missed a ton of time in 2025, he actually started 13 games. The injuries clearly affected him even when he played, however, which is a more difficult scenario for fantasy owners to navigate. Jackson’s running game evaporated — after rushing for 70 yards in Week 1, he never reached the 50-yard mark again — and he had a total of one touchdown in the month of November. For the second QB off draft boards to become basically unplayable was among the more shocking storylines of the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: