Fantasy Football Disasters: The Top 10 Fantasy Football One Year Wonders

It's a recipe for disaster: A guy comes out of nowhere and blows up for one football season; his draft stock skyrockets and your unequivocal man crush has you doing whatever you can to draft him—only to have him fall back to earth and destroy your fantasy team.

Everyone has likely been a victim of this at one time or another, so it's only fitting to point out the 10 biggest fantasy football one-year wonders.

10. MIKE FURREY, DET (WR) 2006: 98rec/1086yds/6TDs

Mike was a safety turned WR in 2006, and boy did he ever take advantage of his opportunity.

The waiver wire gem in 2006 never again made a splash in fantasyland.

In the three years following his 2006 breakout year, Furrey has a combined 102rec/1015yds/1TD and was even converted back to a safety for the Cleveland Browns in '09.

9. PATRICK JEFFERS, CAR (WR) 1999: 63rec/1082yds/12TDs

Take a look at Steve Beuerlein's numbers in 1999 and you get an understanding of how Patrick Jeffers managed to have this statistical blemish on his career stats.

Jeffers best season outside of 1999: 18rec/330yds/2TDs.

After suffering a season ending knee injury in the 2000 preseason courtesy of Steelers' Safety Ryan Clark, Jeffers would only play nine more games in his career before retiring at age 28.

8. MICHAEL CLAYTON, TBB (WR) 2004: 80rec/1193yds/7TDs

So the year is 2005 and it's nearing your pick in the fifth round of your fantasy draft.

You need a WR and can’t decide between a steady vet or a rising young player who had a stellar rookie year.

Primed with upside, you pass on Mushin Muhammad and take youngster Michael Clayton, who looked like he was on his way.

If by on his way you meant no longer in existence to the fantasy football world, you were fine.  

Knowing what you could get out of Mushin, you took your chances on Clayton and to this day I’m betting you still regret it, no? Over the next five years, Michael hasn't exceeded 40 receptions and has a TOTAL of three TDs.

I'd say his ceiling has been dropped.

7. DREW BENNETT, TEN (WR) 2004: 80rec/1247yd/11TDs

Signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2001, Drew Bennett came out of nowhere to have a huge year in 2004.  

In that year, Bennett tied an NFL record with eight TDs in a three game span.

Needless to say, if you drafted this one year wonder in 2005, you were likely banging your head against the wall on a weekly basis.

Bennett would never exceed 60 receptions, 800 yards or four TDs for the rest of his career.

6. OLANDIS GARY, DEN (RB) 1999: 276car/1159yds /7TDs

Rookie Olandis Gary put up these numbers in only 12 games after Terrell Davis tore his ACL and MCL in 1999.

A product of Mike Shanahan's system that produced perennial 1000-yard rushers, Gary was a can't miss RB1 going into 2000, as he looked to be set to take over the reigns from Davis.

Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury of his own in Week 1 of the 2000 season. His combined numbers for the other four years of his career: 220car/839yds/4TDs.

5. LAMONT JORDAN, OAK (RB) 2005: 272car/1025yds/9TDs, 70rec/563yds/2TDs

After four years of playing second fiddle to Curtis Martin in New York, Jordan put up RB1 numbers in his first year with the Oakland Raiders.

A PPR monster, Jordan battled a torn MCL in 2006 and a back injury in 2007.

Eventually losing his lead back duties to Justin Fargas, Jordan would never again come close to the gaudy numbers he put up in 2005.

4. STEVE SLATON, HOU (RB) 2008: 268car/1282yds/9TDs, 50rec/377yds/1TD

It may be a bit premature to put Slaton on this list, given that this is only his third season as a pro. At the pace he is on now though, he's close to becoming irrelevant in the NFL.

Slaton's monster rookie year was followed up with 854 all-purpose yards and seven TDs in 2009, making him a huge bust given his first round draft position; this season, Slaton is buried on the depth chart behind Arian Foster and Derrick Ward.

The one-time dynasty gem has only 22 touches through 13 games.

3. MARCUS ROBINSON, CHI (WR) 1999:  84rec/1400yds/9TDs

Back in 1999, the Chicago Bears went to more of an aerial attack than their usual smash mouth style of football. When this type of thing happens, unexpected WRs tend to show up on the league leaders board.

It was Marcus’s second year in the league and he made a huge splash for himself. His 1999 receiving stats are still Bears records and had he kept that up, he’d be amongst those we mention as WR1 type players—one we can count on week in, week out.

How did he repay those that drafted him in 2000? With a less than impressive 55rec/738yds/5TDs.

2. STEVE BEUERLEIN, CAR (QB) 1999: 343-571/4436yds/36TDs (38 total)/15int

Steve came out of nowhere as a mere product of the expansion draft, but to this day these stats remain Panthers' records for yards and touchdowns.

Steve never came close to repeating what he did in 1999.

It was his lone pro bowl year and if you look at the numbers, it was QB1 material.

Hopefully in 2000, you didn't make a mistake and draft this guy as your every week starter, as he would never again come close to eclipsing 4000yds or 20TDs.

1. DAVID BOSTON, ARI (WR) 2001: 98rec/1598yds/8TDs

The last time you heard about David was back in 2003.

After his career year in Arizona, he followed it up with a 32rec/512yds/1TD season and was rewarded a seven year $100 million dollar contract by the San Diego Chargers. He was never heard of again on the field, but off the field he was quite a catch.

A one-time WR1 type of fantasy player—easily second round material, he rewarded his owners with pure disappointment. 

This article first appeared on The Fantasy Football Pharmacy >>>