5 biggest non-injury fantasy football busts of 2017

The 2017 fantasy football season is officially ending on the final day of the year. Just like every year, injuries played a huge part. David Johnson was the first overall pick in the majority of the leagues, and he only had 11 rushing attempts before he went down with a season-ending injury.

Many players like Odell Beckham Jr and Jordan Reed had shortened seasons, while others like Jordy Nelson suffered from starting quarterbacks getting injured. Even without injuries, just like every year, there were some high picks that unfortunately did not turn out the way that fantasy owners had hoped.

Only taking players into account who played in at least ten games, and not counting those who suffered from big quarterback injuries (looking at you, Jordy Nelson), here are the five biggest fantasy football busts of 2017. Because most fantasy leagues do not count week 17, all statistics and opinions will reflect the first 16 weeks of the season:

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#5 Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant only did his touchdown celebration six times this season

After a down-year in 2016, many viewed Bryant as a logical bounce-back candidate. Dak Prescott had one full season under his belt, and he was expected to have more chemistry with Bryant this season. Additionally, it was widely known that Ezekiel Elliott would likely be suspended for six games, which means that the Cowboys would have to lean more on Bryant.

However, Bryant was consistently.....mediocre. A second-round pick in most leagues, Bryant hauled in six touchdowns, and he failed to eclipse 100 yards in any single game this season. It seems like the best statistical years could be behind Bryant, and the Cowboys run-heavy offense seems like he may be a main reason behind that.

#4 Martavis Bryant

Martavis Bryant did not do enough for fantasy owners this season

The other Bryant makes the list as well. Martavis Bryant has always been viewed in a similar light as Josh Gordon, where he could be an elite talent if he was able to stay out of trouble. He only missed one game this year, but still failed to deliver to the owners who took a gamble on him.

He was widely viewed as a top-50 pick coming into the season, and he did not even crack 100 fantasy points in standard PPR leagues. On a team that scores points like crazy, Bryant only eclipsed the 60-yard mark once.

Even more disappointing than that, he only produced one lonely touchdown. If owners knew that he would only miss one game, then they would have not second-guessed picking him.

#3 Mike Evans

With some poor quarterback play, Evans failed to match his 2015 or 2016 season

An injured quarterback is no excuse here as Jameis Winston only missed three games. In those three games, Evans produced similar per-game numbers with backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Evans was a first-round pick in most leagues this year, and he did not live up to the hype.

In the 16 weeks of fantasy football, he only produced 946 yards and five touchdowns, which was significantly lower yardage than each of his last two seasons.

To put the statistical drop-off into perspective, he finished with 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. If Evans' production was even 75% of what it had been last year, he would have achieved more fantasy points than what he finished up with.

#2 Amari Cooper

Despite a 210-yard game, Cooper did not eclipse 600 yards this season

In his first two seasons, Cooper eclipsed 1,000 yards. However, he failed to post more than six touchdowns in either of his first two seasons. So all he needs to do is just find the end zone more, and all will be golden, right? Wrong.

Cooper literally achieved one-third of his total fantasy points, in one single game. Even with that game included, he did not end up being a top-100 player.

In fact, Cooper played in four games in which he failed to grab more than one reception. His six touchdowns were just as good as they were in recent years. However, his 565 yards (210 of which came in one game) were barely more than half of what they have been in the past.

#1 Jay Ajayi

Ajayi started this season in Miami, but ended up in Philadelphia

Because he was traded mid-season, Ajayi actually had two bye weeks. With that being said, when owners spent a first-round (or sometimes second-round) on Ajayi, they were certainly not expecting two total touchdowns this season.

Ajayi rushed for over 1,200 yards last year, and while there was no guarantee that it would be repeated, the expectations was that Miami would lean heavily on him.

This is the first time in recent memory (if ever) where a fantasy first-round pick got traded in the middle of the season. Every year, the injury bug hits a handful of first-round picks.

However, it is usually not a simple lack of production that would make a first-round running back become a flex option at best. For those reasons, Ajayi was the biggest non-injury bust of the 2017 fantasy football season.