LAS VEGAS — The 2024 NFL Draft class was supposed to save your dynasty roster. Two years later, managers are staring at a graveyard of medical charts and disciplinary reports. After a 2025 season defined by the “sophomore slump,” we are left asking the hardest question in sports: Is it time to cut bait?
We just watched a season where potential league-winners spent more time in the blue tent than the end zone. Let’s rip the bandage off and analyze the panic meter for four polarizing second-year players who burned fantasy managers in 2025.
J.J. McCarthy: The “What If” Quarterback
2025 Finish: QB31 | Panic Meter: 8/10
Minnesota Vikings fans have every right to feel cursed. After a torn meniscus wiped out McCarthy’s entire rookie campaign in 2024, the former Michigan Wolverine spent his second season collecting setbacks rather than touchdowns. A high-ankle sprain (Weeks 3-8), a concussion (Week 13), and a throwing-hand fracture (Week 17) limited him to a fragmented, painful audition.
The numbers paint a brutal picture. McCarthy managed a 63.0 PFF offense grade, ranking 22nd among his peers. While he flashed that enticing mobility—forcing 0.27 missed tackles per rush—his passing efficiency was non-existent. He banked just three QB1 finishes all year.
“The arm talent is there, but he can’t stay on the field. You can’t develop from the tub. If he doesn’t play 14 games next year, Minnesota is drafting his replacement in ’27.” — NFC North Scout
Verdict: Sell on hype. If a league-mate believes the “high-upside” narrative, flip him for a stable veteran. The best ability is availability, and McCarthy hasn’t shown it.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: From Prince to Pauper
2025 Finish: WR45 | Panic Meter: 6/10
Marvin Harrison Jr. entered the league as the “safest pick in the draft.” He looked the part as a rookie, posting nearly 900 yards and 8 touchdowns. Then came 2025. Appendicitis, a heel injury, and a foot injury derailed his season, opening the door for Michael Wilson to steal the WR1 spotlight in Arizona.
The regression is startling. Harrison’s PFF receiving grade dropped from 77.2 as a rookie to 67.0 in the first ten weeks of 2025. Even when healthy, he wasn’t demanding the ball; his target rate dipped to 18.9%, and he failed to separate, literally and statistically. Seeing Wilson earn a career-high 76.4 grade in the same offense is the nail in the coffin for Harrison’s “untouchable” status.
Verdict: Hold, but adjust expectations. He is no longer a locked-in WR1. Treat him as a volatile WR3/Flex with name value.
Keon Coleman: The Doghouse Resident
2025 Finish: Disappointing | Panic Meter: 9/10
The Buffalo Bills needed an alpha receiver. Instead, they got a headache. Keon Coleman was a healthy scratch four times this season, with two of those explicitly cited for disciplinary reasons. When your own GM and owner start distancing themselves from the pick publicly, the writing is on the wall.
Despite playing 15 games, Coleman’s production fell off a cliff compared to his rookie year. His Yards Per Route Run (YPRR) plummeted from 1.55 to 1.26, and he struggled to earn targets (18.0% rate). The only silver lining? New head coach Joe Brady has endorsed him. But in the NFL, endorsements don’t catch passes.
Verdict: Bust. The combination of regression and disciplinary issues is a fantasy death sentence. If he pops in Week 1 of 2026, trade him immediately.
Brock Bowers: The Mortal Titan
2025 Finish: TE8 | Panic Meter: 2/10
Remember when Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old rookie receiving record in 2024? That player is still in there. Bowers finished as the TE8 this season despite playing on a sprained PCL from Week 1. He missed three weeks trying to heal, but when he was on the field, he was still elite.
Even on one good leg, Bowers maintained an 82.2 PFF receiving grade (5th among TEs) and commanded a 20.8% target rate. He caught 64 passes for 680 yards and seven scores—numbers that would be career years for most tight ends, yet felt like a “down year” for him.
The 2026 Outlook
Bowers is the only player on this list you should be aggressively buying. The injury suppressed his stats, but his efficiency metrics (1.70 YPRR) prove he is still a tier-one weapon. With a full offseason to rehab that knee, he returns to TE1 overall contention in 2026.
Verdict: Buy High. The window to get him at a discount is closing fast.
