Chris Johnson May Be The Biggest Fantasy Bust in History

By: The Football Girl | Posted: November 02, 2011

Chris Johnson is a fantasy bust. It’s as official now as it’s been for at least three weeks.  Is the guy now collectively being called “CJ0K” the biggest bust in (at least recent) fantasy history?  I say yes.

First of all, let’s eliminate Jamaal Charles this year, Shaun Alexander of ’06 and all the other players affected by injuries that were either season-ending or caused a large chunk of missed games.  We can also eliminate guys like Randy Moss or DeAngelo Williams who have been high draft picks but never cracked the Top 5. 

According to Fantasy Football Calculator, a site specializing in average draft position, Chris Johnson averaged the 4^th slot in this year’s draft.

Here are Johnson’s numbers after seven games:  302 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD, 160 yards receiving.  Johnson is averaging 2.8 yards per carry.  Eliminate the TD and Johnson’s netting you between 0-3 points a week.

While the Titans schedule hasn’t exactly been fluff, two of their previous opponents rank in the bottom 10 of rushing defense (Colts, Bucs) – and that’s AFTER facing Johnson.

To put Johnson’s mighty fall in perspective, here are top 5 players drafted in each of the past five years:

2010

Chris Johnson

Adrian Peterson

Ray Rice

Maurice Jones-Drew

Andre Johnson

2009

AP

MJD

Michael Turner

Matt Forte

Larry Fitzgerald

2008

LT

AP

Brian Westbrook

Joseph Addai

Steven Jackson

2007

LT

Steven Jackson

Larry Johnson

Frank Gore

Joseph Addai

This crazy memory lane list (Joseph Addai, really?) includes many guys with shortened seasons or who generally disappointed by falling below expectations.

But no one touches the depth of despair Johnson has caused his fantasy owners this far. 

The worst part is because of all the “upside,” Johnson has remained a must-play, when the reality is a bye week player would often garner identical point totals.  And now, the Titans are rightfully mixing things up by getting Javon Ringer some carries.  Johnson owners have to continue with an even more frustrating conundrum. 

If only we could eliminate “upside” from our fantasy vernaculars.  Speaking of, Johnson’s hold-out and subsequent six-year, $56 million contract was nothing short of genius. Too bad I didn't draft him in my Fantasy Contract Disputes league.  

My fantasy memory bank is only extending back to 2007.  If you'd like to throw in a fantasy bust candidate along the lines of Priest Holmes, Randall Cunnigham, or Norm Van Brocklin, please do so. 

Write a comment

• Required fields are marked with *.

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comment: *

Help prevent spam - enter security code above:
 

Ryan
Posts: 1

Forte in '09
Reply #1 on : Wed November 02, 2011, 12:06:43

---

His stats through the first 7 games were just as bad as CJ's.