Fantasy football: Should you pass on Jameson Williams, AJ Brown or other disappointing picks?

At this point in the fantasy football season, every manager has one or two players who were drafted to produce high-end numbers but have instead disappointed. Score totals are down. The use too. Or maybe we just can’t figure out their offensive deployment, which creates even more game-day roster questions for fantasy managers.

Below is a breakdown of eight players who failed to live up to expectations in preseason, while discussing the next steps to take as a fantasy manager. I’ll tell you what I see on game tape, identify offensive slumps, and also track future matchups that could potentially open the door (for some) to getting back on track.

We’ll start with a wide receiver – one of my candidates for the summer – who is struggling to produce despite playing in the highest-scoring offense in the league.

Williams is averaging 7.9 fantasy PPG – up from 14.1 in 2024 – and he has failed to surpass the 50-yard receiving mark in four of five games played, despite consistent use as a route runner.

Williams runs an average of 29.6 routes per game: verticals, deep passes and crossovers that can provide catch-and-run numbers with Williams’ electric open-field speed. But in an explosive Detroit offense that can spread the ball, while scoring a season-high 34.8 PPG, Williams has been a fantastic disappointment.

Are you dropping Williams at this point? I wouldn’t do it. Williams can still give you breakout games, like he did in Week 2 against the Bears. Williams scored 18.8 points in that one…on just two receptions. Big-play juice. But given his limited usage (2.2 receptions and 4.2 targets per game), in an offense that can include multiple players in the game plan, Williams is best suited as a bye-week sub for now.

McBride is averaging 12.2 PPG this season and he currently sits at TE4 in total scoring behind Jake Ferguson, Dalton Kincaid, and Tyler Warren. McBride also sees the ball (5.8 receptions and 8.2 targets per game). But without the touchdown production (one touchdown, two end zone targets) and a Cardinals passing attack averaging just 170.2 yards per game (30th in the NFL), McBride’s fantasy ceiling was lowered.

McBride is only producing 55.0 receiving yards per game, and he only has two explosive receptions (20 yards or more) on his season resume. Until we see a higher level of play from quarterback Kyler Murray, which includes throws with a greater sense of timing, McBride will simply remain a high-level option in the lineup.

It’s Week 6 and we’re still waiting for Brown to release WR1 numbers for our lineups. Brown scored fewer than 10 fantasy points in four of five games played, and although he had a game-high 22.9 points in Week 3 against the Rams, that total was inflated by a negative game script (which forced the Eagles to throw with volume).

The positives here? Brown gets consistent volume. He has scored at least eight goals in four consecutive games. The Eagles try to get the ball back from him. While I’d like to see Brown more focused on big-play throws (slot fades, deep corner routes, messages), his next three games (@NYG, @MIN, NYG) provide matchup opportunities. If Brown wants to start producing, now is the time to do it.

Nix gives managers 16.8 PPG (QB20). We expected more in year two under Sean Payton, right? I did it. Yes, Nix has two games with 20 or more points, and he gave up 326 passing yards against the Bengals in Week 4. But the tape tells us that Nix can improve.

The footwork tends to be rushed and he can cut down on unnecessary pocket movement, while still playing on time at a higher rate when throwing the ball outside the numbers. This can create greater accuracy for Nix.

As a runner, Nix averaged 3.6 carries and 20.0 rushing yards per game, and he reached the end zone once. Payton has added some designed carries for Nix (although I’d like to see more), and we know Nix can produce on scramble attempts. This is part of his game, which also increases his fantasy profile. And with a positive three-game streak on deck (@NYJ, NYG, DAL), Nix has a chance to start producing consistent QB1 numbers.

The Bears still can’t find the running game, and that’s a problem for Swift’s managers. Through four games (Chicago was bye last week), Swift is hitting the field (14.0 carries per game), but the lack of efficiency (3.3 YPC) and explosive plays (five runs of 10 yards or more) have really cut into Swift’s advantage.

He still averages 12.5 PPG thanks to his receiving usage. Swift has caught at least three passes in every game played, averaging 21.3 receiving yards. This keeps it in the flexible range. However, if he shows more determination as a downhill runner, Swift has a chance to increase his numbers considering his upcoming matchups (@WAS, NO, @BAL, @CIN). The Bears are making a change at left tackle to elevate the running game, with Theo Benedet starting this Monday night at Washington. Let’s keep Swift in programming.

Meyers was drafted as a high-floor WR3. He is a physical route runner who works in the dirty areas of the field and in man-to-man splitter coverage. These are good qualities to have in this league. But after a strong start in his first two games (15.5 PPG), Meyers failed to post double digits in his last three games, catching a total of 11 passes during that stretch.

Yes, the quarterback play in Vegas needs to improve. Geno Smith leads the league in interceptions with nine, and he threw two picks in Week 4 against Chicago while targeting Meyers, relying on arm talent to win late in games. It’s a problem.

Meyers has a positive Week 6 game against the Titans, which will keep him in the WR3 mix, but I need to see more rhythm in this Raiders passing game to buy into it.

Kamara has seen his workload reduced over the last two games and he is not scoring a touchdown. Kamara has one touchdown this season and only three goals remaining. Additionally, the presence of No. 2 guard Kendre Miller also raises concerns about Kamara’s value moving forward.

Miller has 21 carries in his last two games, compared to 23 for Kamara. So this looks like a breakdown of the backfield based on recent usage. Kamara’s ability to produce as a receiver (3.4 receptions per game) gives him more fantasy upside, however.

However, the decline in overall carrying volume makes Kamara a touchdown-dependent RB2/flex for a rebuilding team – one that is averaging 18.4 points per game (27th) – with New England, Chicago and Tampa Bay next on the schedule. I’m not very confident here.

Tough times for Higgins managers at the moment. Higgins has averaged 6.6 PPG over his last three games – all with Jake Browning starting at quarterback – catching a total of seven passes (on 15 targets). That’s it. While a late fourth-quarter touchdown in the Week 5 loss to Detroit pushed Higgins into double-digit points (11.2), there isn’t enough consistent volume to rely on here, and Browning has been reckless as a thrower.

But did the Bengals’ trade Tuesday to acquire veteran quarterback Joe Flacco create a slightly higher floor for Higgins? Maybe. Flacco’s limited mobility won’t be protected behind the Bengals offensive line, but he could bring a little more consistency to the passing game. Higgins will remain a WR3 at this point, with upcoming matchups against Green Bay, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets. Stay tuned.