Week 1 Fantasy Underachievers

Here’s a look at some of the players who most missed their projected fantasy points in week 1 of the 2026 season. The projections are from Fantasypros.com and all the scores are based on PPR scoring.

The Injury Effect

_Typically, a number of the people on the underperforming list will be because of injury. I’m not going to give these players the same attention I give the others because their inclusion on this list doesn’t tell us much other than they have bad luck. _

Kyler Murray (-17.8) Sam Darnold (-15.2) A.J. Brown (-10.0

Ja’Marr Chase scoring 3.2 vs 20.2 projected (-17.0) - Chase was obviously not 100% here and therefore makes this list. If you want to argue that he doesn’t deserve to be here because the others went out with injuries while he played the whole game, I won’t fight back. I will point out, however that he only had 3 catches on 4 targets which means something funky was going on.

The Ricochet

_These are some players who, while they weren’t injured themselves, saw a dip in numbers because someone else on their team (likely their quarterback) got injured. _

Kyle Pitts Sr. scoring 0.0 vs 10.0 projected (-10.0) - I debated putting Kyle Pitts in the Flesh Wound or even Old Yeller category but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and acknowledge that their third string QB, Cooper Rush, started on relatively short notice. Still…as someone who has had Kyle Pitts on his fantasy team before, my patience only goes so far. We’ll see how he does when Penix returns.

Jordan Addison scoring 0.0 vs 10.5 projected (-10.5) - Addison didn’t get a single target in this game. Would that have different if Murray hadn’t gone down early? Perhaps. Perhaps not. He evidently wasn’t in the gameplan for Wentz, whatever the case.

‘Tis But A Flesh Wound

George Pickens scoring 5.8 vs 15.5 projected (-9.7) - Pickens had a breakout season last year, but it was also a year in which CeeDee Lamb played most of the games injured. Well, in week 1 this season CeeDee had 44 yards and a TD while Pickens only had 28 yards. But the thing to notice is Pickens only had 2 less targets than Lamb (8 to 6). Plus, this was an overall ugly game for the Cowboys. I think Pickens will be fine.

Bo Nix scoring 5.4 vs 15.9 projected (-10.5) and Jaylen Waddle scoring 1.2 vs 13.1projected (-11.9) - Everyone was talking about how Mahomes would look in this game after a season ending injury but no one was talking about Nix, whose season ended in the playoffs with a broken ankle or something (they were cagey about the details). Well, Mahomes looked fine but Nix did not. Perhaps, that was more gameplan than injury related though… considering they only targeted Waddle three fucking times. They guy they traded a first round pick for? Yeah, apparently he’s a very expensive decoy.

Colston Loveland scoring 0.0 vs 13.1 projected (-13.1) - Fantasy owners better hope ‘tis but a flesh wound because hooooo boy that would suck if it wasn’t. The real salt in the wound? The Bears scored 59 fucking points and Loveland saw two measly targets of which he caught neither. Perhaps it was the high score that made them decide not to use him - save him for the close games where they need a game changer like him. Yeah, that’s gotta be it…. Right?

Matthew Stafford scoring 4.1 vs 17.7 projected (-13.6) - This was only because of the Rams’ travel strategy to Australia and nothing to do with Stafford being 38 years old with a history of back problems. He’ll be fine….

Old Yeller This Guy (Metaphorically, of course)

Romeo Doubs scoring 0.0 vs 9.6 projected (-9.6) - So this was the opposite of the Ricochet effect mentioned above: A.J. Brown’s early injury should have helped Doubs. Instead, he caught none of the 3 balls thrown his way. Instead, he had an egregious drop on a 3rd down play that might have turned the game around and definitely landed him in the dog house. Maybe things will look up for him in the future but right now… woof.