Wide Receiver Busts: Cooper Kupp, DeVonta Smith, Marvin Harrison Jr. (Fantasy Football)

It’s never too early to start talking about fantasy football wide receiver busts. Finding out which players may heavily underperform expectations takes far more than just comparing their final ranking last year with their current ADP or consensus rank. That’s because injuries and changes to a player’s role or situation can have huge impacts on every player’s season-long output or final ranking. Injury-prone players or athletes who start the season hurt are always a massive risk, especially in the early rounds. Plus, changes like the loss of a reliable quarterback or the potential for a younger player to steal a veteran’s job are risks to account for when evaluating every skill player across the football landscape. Inconsistent, boom-or-bust athletes who produced the majority of their fantasy points in a few games are another trap that ensnares plenty of fantasy managers each year.

Our featured pundits know exactly what to look for when identifying potential busts. So, to help you begin your research, they’ve each listed a WR they think has the biggest odds of falling short of expectations. Read on below to see who you may want to think twice about selecting and why.

Looking for more fantasy football running back and wide receiver busts to avoid in your drafts? Check out the 18 Early Fantasy Football Busts to Avoid article, with all of the breakdowns from our featured experts!

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

What WR in our consensus top 24 should fantasy managers fear the most as a bust candidate?

Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR )

“Cooper Kupp’s current ranking at WR23 assumes that he will reproduce in 2024 as he did last year. I just can’t say for certain that he can even do that at this juncture. Last season, in the 12 games in which both Kupp and Puka Nacua were healthy, Nacua led the duo in target share, air yard share, end zone targets, and fantasy points per game (WR12). Kupp was the WR23 in fantasy points per game in this sample. If Nacua takes another step in his development and Kupp’s skills erode any further, Kupp could be regulated to WR3 production in 2024. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI )

“I love DeVonta Smith the player. DeVonta Smith the consensus WR22 is, however, too rich for my blood. Consider all of the moves the Eagles made this offseason. First, Saquon Barkley is a supreme talent who will now command touches in both the run and passing game. Next, a healthy Dallas Goedert has always siphoned targets away from Smith, capping his value. Goedert is currently healthy. Finally, and perhaps the most under-the-radar concern, is the additions of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the draft. Philadelphia now boasts an upgraded secondary, so it’s likely Barkley sees much more run later in games. And if Smith’s field stretching ability isn’t needed, he may be featured less as a result. Again, Smith is a talented player, but it will be hard for him to return on WR2 value this upcoming season.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI )

“For receiver, I have to say Marvin Harrison Jr. is a potential bust candidate. Harrison Jr. is a fantastic talent, but the Cardinals offense is not elite yet. I have concerns with Kyler Murray‘s ability, especially late in the second half of the season. In games from November to January, Murray averages 221 yards and 1.3 passing touchdowns per game. Asking Harrison, a rookie receiver, to dominate an offense with few supporting cases is challenging. If Harrison was WR 20, I’d feel better about him, but WR11 has high expectations that he may fail to produce. ”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

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Best Ball Draft Targets

Busts Fantasy Draft Advice NFL Cooper Kupp Puka Nacua DeVonta Smith Saquon Barkley Dallas Goedert Quinyon Mitchell Cooper DeJean Marvin Harrison Jr. Kyler Murray