Every fantasy football season brings its share of wide receiver disappointments that leave managers scrambling for answers. These are the players who looked promising on paper but have failed to deliver consistent production through the first few weeks. While some appear to have favorable matchups or increased opportunities, their actual fantasy output tells a different story. Understanding which receivers to avoid can be just as valuable as knowing which ones to target for your lineup.
Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos
Rostered: 27%
Who could have possibly foreseen a wide receiver who saw a 40% snap share as a rookie and a 26% snap share as a sophomore not being a full-time player in his third year?
Marvin Mims is playing more this year than last year, but that’s not saying much. He’s still purely a situational deep threat/gadget guy.
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There will inevitably be weeks where Bo Nix’s deep shots to Mims connect and he posts monster fantasy days. It happened last year. But those are neither predictable nor reliable.
Mims now has six receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown through three games. Basically, he’s given you low-end WR1 production if you combine all of his games. That’s…not going to get it done.
Between the Broncos’ improved run game, Nix’s struggles, Troy Franklin’s emergence, and Courtland Sutton’s clear WR1 status, there is no path for Mims.
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
Rostered: 23%
That 6-103 Week 1 effort feels like it was ages ago. Since then, Kayshon Boutte has seen four total targets, catching three for 44 yards and a touchdown.
If there is a silver lining, it’s that Boutte has established himself as the New England Patriots’ WR1. He ran the most routes among wide receivers, by far, in Week 3. The problem is Drake Maye is content to spread the ball around. He doesn’t lock in on anyone.
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Between Boutte, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Hunter Henry, the passes could go anywhere. That makes all of them difficult to start because there’s no telling who might be the top fantasy scorer any given week.
You’ll never feel confident starting Boutte. It’s okay to drop him.
Joshua Palmer, Buffalo Bills
Rostered: 22%
One of my favorite late-round dart throws, I am waving the white flag on Joshua Palmer.
The Buffalo Bills have scored at least 30 points in each of their first three contests. Joshua Palmer has accounted for none of them.
Purportedly their primary wide receiver, Palmer has seen four total targets over his last two games, catching three passes for 52 yards. Against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, he had one catch for five yards.
Palmer ran a mere 15 routes, falling well behind Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. With Josh Allen content to spread the ball around, there’s never going to be a scenario in which Palmer is a viable fantasy option.
