Fantasy Football Draft Busts: Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts, Brock Bowers, T.J. Hockenson

While the 2023 NFL season is over, fantasy football is a year-long thing. Therefore, it’s never too early to look ahead to next year. Here are a few busts from 2023 and potential disappointments for 2024 drafts.

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Tight End Draft Busts

2023 Top Busts

Darren Waller (TE – NYG)

Waller was the ultimate boom-or-bust tight-end draft pick last season. Many bought into New York’s limited preseason success, while others harped about his potentially massive role in the offense. Unfortunately, injuries and poor production ruined his fantasy value. Waller missed significant time because of injuries for the third consecutive year. More importantly, he averaged 7.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game and totaled only one receiving touchdown, his worst production since taking over as a full-time player in 2019. His days as a TE1 are over.

Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)

Fantasy players have quickly lost faith in Pitts after the tight end put together back-to-back disappointing seasons. He finished the year as the TE13, averaging 6.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game after playing in all 17 contests. However, Pitts was only the TE16 on a points-per-game basis. His yards per reception and yards per route run have declined every year of his career. Hopefully, he will be healthy in 2024, can bounce back under a new coaching staff and get an upgrade at quarterback.

2024 Potential Busts

Brock Bowers (TE – Georgia)

Yes, a rookie ended the 2023 season as the TE1. However, no other rookie tight end finished inside the top 10. Sam LaPorta landed in the perfect situation to have fantasy success, playing for an explosive Detroit Lions offense that lacked proven weapons outside Amon-Ra St. Brown. Bowers has the talent to have a top-10 season as a rookie. Yet, his TE7 ADP on Underdog is too high before getting drafted. Fantasy players are drafting Bowers at his ceiling unless he lands in an ideal situation.

T.J. Hockenson (TE – MIN)

Hockenson was outstanding last season. He ended the year as the TE4, averaging 11.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the former Iowa star was the TE2, averaging 11.7 fantasy points per game before suffering a torn ACL in Week 16 despite playing with four different quarterbacks. Hopefully, Kirk Cousins returns to Minnesota and keeps the Vikings’ offense appealing for fantasy players. Yet, Hockenson likely will miss most of the 2024 season, making him undraftable in most redraft leagues, especially at his current Underdog TE12 ADP.