Fantasy Football: Top 10 Fantasy Busts of 2011

As we near the end of the fantasy football regular season, now might not be the best time to remind you where your season went wrong.

A failed fantasy season can usually be traced back to draft day. Typically, if you're first two draft picks don't pan out, there's a strong likelihood you're sitting out this year's playoffs.

Drafting one (or more) of the dreaded "bust players" is one of the most frustrating things for a fantasy owner to endure.

Each week you're reminded about your mistake when that player fails to make an impact.

It may be upsetting for some fantasy owners to read this article, but here are the top 10 fantasy football busts of 2011.

10) Jamaal Charles, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

Charles was considered one of the elite running backs heading into this year, but a torn ACL in Week 2 ended his season prematurely.

Charles was coming off a 2010 season where he had over 1,900 total yards and eight touchdowns. In 2011, he managed just 92 total yards and a touchdown.

Charles is currently ranked as the 369th overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Charles' average draft position was fifth overall.

9) Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans

Johnson was considered the top wide receiver heading into this fantasy season. He got off to a great start catching seven passes in each of the Texans first three games for a total 316 yards and two touchdowns.

Since then, Johnson has six catches and seven missed games. A hamstring injury has kept Johnson sidelined and near the bottom of the wide receiver scoring rankings.

Johnson is currently ranked as the 227th overall fantasy wide receiver.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Johnson's average draft position was seventh overall.

8) Jermichael Finley, Tight End, Green Bay Packers

Before this year began, there were some fantasy experts that had Finley ranked as the top tight end in the league. Finley was coming off a season that ended early due to a knee injury and hopes were high for him in his fourth NFL season.

What Finley has done this year has been very average for a fantasy tight end.

He has 36 catches for 513 yards and five touchdowns, but even those numbers are deceiving. Three of his touchdowns came in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears. Finley scored 26 fantasy points in that game. He has 50 points in the other 10 games combined this season. Not exactly the model for weekly success.

Finley is currently ranked as the 142th overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Finley's average draft position was 42nd overall.

7) Felix Jones, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys had high hopes for Jones entering the 2011 season. He was set to become their featured back, which a desirable spot in that high-powered offense.

What has became of Jones can be found in the story of Wally Pipp. Pipp was the New York Yankee who lost his starting role to Lou Gehrig at the beginning of Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games. Playing the role of Gehrig is DeMarco Murray.

Jones injured his ankle in Week 6 and hasn't done anything since. In fact, Jones was active in Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins and didn't get a single carry.

Murray has clearly established himself as the Cowboys No. 1 running back, which has left Jones as the odd man out.

Jones has 386 total yards and one touchdown this season and is currently ranked as the 257th overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Jones' average draft position was 30th overall.

6) Michael Vick, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

Even before a rib injury sidelined Vick for two games, he was bringing down fantasy teams.

In Weeks 9 and 10, before his rib injury, Vick failed to throw a touchdown. He was held to single-digit fantasy points in both games, which were against two defenses that are susceptible to the pass (Chicago and Arizona).

Vick is currently ranked as the 23rd overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues. That sounds respectable until you realize he's the 14th-ranked fantasy quarterback.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Vick's average draft position was sixth overall.

5) Philip Rivers, Quarterback, San Diego Chargers

The belief among NFL circles is that Rivers is playing injured this season. Whatever the problem is with Rivers, he's been dreadful.

Rivers is throwing interceptions at an extremely high rate this year, higher than any other season during his career. Rivers has 17 interceptions, which is already two more than his previous career high.

Despite all the turnovers, Rivers is still putting up pretty good yardage numbers. Through Week 12, Rivers has 3,211 yards passing and 16 touchdowns. But when you look at who's he ranked behind in fantasy points, you realize he's been a bust.

Rivers is currently ranked as the 11th fantasy quarterback in standard scoring leagues, which is one spot behind Mark Sanchez. 

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Rivers' average draft position (ADP) was 25th overall.

That ADP put him ahead of Drew Brees and behind only Michael Vick, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.

4) Rashard Mendenhall, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers

You can't blame Mendenhall's poor season on an injury, like several of the other players on this list. In 10 games this season, Mendenhall has 574 yards and six touchdowns.

While his numbers aren't obscenely low, they are still well below his 2010 stats.

Mendenhall has been held to under 75 yards rushing in every game this season except one. In Week 6, he rushed for 146 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mendenhall is currently ranked as the 101st overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Mendenhall's average draft position was ninth overall.

3) Chris Johnson, Running Back, Tennessee Titans

Johnson was higher on this list before he rushed for 190 yards in Week 12. Still, he's been a major disappointment this season for fantasy owners.

Johnson has remained injury free this year, but you wouldn't know it by looking at his stats.

Yes, his 699 yards rushing is respectable, but his two touchdowns is unacceptable. Johnson has scored 28 touchdowns in the previous two seasons, so his drop off this year has been extreme.

Johnson is currently ranked as the 89th overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Johnson's average draft position was fourth overall.

2) DeSean Jackson, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson has been a headache for the Eagles and a pain in the butt for fantasy owners.

Expectations were high for Jackson this year, as he was entering his contract year. Jackson's season started well with a 101-yard, one touchdown game in Week 1.

Since then, Jackson has had just one 100-yard game and scored only one touchdown. He's also been suspended for one game for missing a meeting and benched in Week 12 for dropping too many passes.

Jackson is currently ranked as the 148th overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Jackson's average draft position was 28th overall.

1) Peyton Hillis, Running Back, Cleveland Browns

Hillis has been a disaster for the Cleveland Browns this season, playing in just five games. A lingering hamstring injury kept Hillis sidelined for five games and an illness forced him to miss a game earlier in the year.

Hillis is playing for a new contract this season and has just 348 total yards and two touchdowns. He is currently ranked as the 250th overall fantasy player in standard scoring leagues.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, Hillis' average draft position was 26th overall.