Introducing Your Fantasy All-Flop Squad, Headlined by Randy Moss

For many fantasy owners, it's been a long, frustrating season. In some cases, that's because they left gobs of points on the bench in key spots (ahem -- just like me... see Darren McFadden in Week 7, Josh Freeman in Week 16) In others, they were ravaged by teams that seemed to blow up when they opposed them. But the biggest thorn in the sides of fantasy owners is usually the fantasy flop -- the early-to-mid-round draft pick that just didn't meet your lofty expectations.

First off, I'd like to award "Fantasy Flop of the Year" to Randy Moss -- who was healthy all season and still managed to turn in a performance worse than his 2006 campaign in Oakland -- a notoriously feeble effort. Most of the future Hall of Famer's relevant 2010 outings came with the Patriots over the first four games -- when he caught three TDs on just nine passes from Tom Brady. Then he moved on to fantasy-frigid Minnesota, where he hauled in 13 passes for 174 yards and two scores... but things didn't work out there either. Claimed off waivers by the Titans, his futility reached new heights; over seven weeks in Tennessee, the consensus first-round fantasy pick caught just four passes -- none since Week 13. There's always a possibility we see a comeback from the talented veteran, but it's safe to say he'll never be a 1,500-yard, 15-plus TD guy again.

Quarterbacks

Kevin Kolb – It wasn't really Kolb's fault. After a subpar half in Week 1 and subsequent concussion, he was replaced by 2010 MVP candidate Michael Vick, whose resurgence took center stage. Preseason rankings put Kolb among the Top 12 QBs in most formats, and while his numbers weren't hideous in the few games he started while Vick was injured (85.3 passer rating), it was clear that Kolb was now an afterthought.

Brett Favre – The ancient one's fall from grace has been well-documented, but no fantasy flops column would be complete without mentioning Favre, who battled myriad injuries (head, shoulders, knees and toes... knees and toes) all season long en route to the worst statistical season of his storied career -- just 2,509 yards, 11 TDs, 19 INTs, five lost fumbles and a 69.9 passer rating.

Tony Romo – Romo started off well enough from a fantasy perspective, but the season-ending collarbone injury in Week 7 was a huge hit that fantasy owners had a hard time absorbing. With a host of weapons, he should be on target for a triumphant return in 2011 -- but the Cowboys have a lot of work to do in the offseason if they're going to give Romo the pass protection he needs to be a top-five fantasy QB.

Running Backs

DeAngelo Williams – The 2008 fantasy player of the year (as voted by fantasy sports writers) played just six games in 2010; only one of those games featured a performance worthy of a start. Williams finished with 87 carries for just 361 yards and a TD after 15 games this season. Mike Goodson and Jonathan Stewart filled in admirably, and with Williams due to be a free agent next year, we might see him elsewhere.

Beanie Wells – I've never been a fan of Wells because of his stone hands -- a liability that means he'll never be an RB1 regardless of how effective he is at pounding the football. But the problem in 2010 was his knees -- which caused him to miss three games. In the 12 that he played heading into Week 17, Beanie scored just twice, caught just four passes, and averaged a pathetic 3.4 yards per carry.

Shonn Greene – Plenty of folks expected a 70/30 timeshare in favor of Greene, but fumbling issues early in the season and LaDainian Tomlinson's resurrection to the world of fantasy relevance signified a more even split, with LDT getting the early edge. Neither back, however, found the end zone with much frequency; Greene scored just twice over the first 16 weeks.

Ryan Mathews – Worst. Rookie. Back. Ever. Fantasy owners bought into the hype on Mathews, selecting him in the first round of just about every league. Plagued by nagging injuries and playing in a crowded backfield, Mathews managed just 684 total yards and four TDs over the 11 games he played out of the first 16. There's still a good chance he salvages a decent career for the Chargers, but he'll be relegated to a more humbling average draft position in 2011.

Ryan Grant – Grant's unfortunate Week 1 injury and subsequent placement on season-ending IR killed his owners -- largely because the waiver wire priority was a crapshoot and nobody ever filled his shoes in the Green Bay offense. Grant says he could play now if he wasn't shelved for the season, but even if he's healthy next year his best days could be behind him.

Pierre Thomas – Fantasy owners got bamboozled when they drafted Thomas -- whose penchant for injuries reared its ugly head in Week 3. The ankle injury persisted well beyond the expected timetable, and the early-round pick ended up missing nine games instead of the 2-4 he was initially diagnosed.

Joseph Addai – I don't think too many owners will ever waste a pick on Joseph Addai ever again -- at least not in the first five rounds. With just three big games in 2010 (and a shoulder injury that caused him to miss six games during a crucial stretch), the presence of Donald Brown and Mike Hart, and a clear emphasis on the passing game, Addai's value can't resume its once-lofty status.

Felix Jones – He had a few good games and a respectable yardage total (1,173 yards from scrimmage through 16 games), but with just two TDs, he failed to impress fantasy owners who were counting on a slew of big plays in 2010. At best, Jones will be a mid-round sleeper next season. The Arkansas product is still capable of great things, but he needs to find a way to get into the end zone.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Steve Smith (Squared) – Both Steve Smiths -- the Panthers veteran and Giants possession receiver -- had tough seasons. The elder Smith toiled through inexperienced QBs and an impotent offense in Carolina, while the New Jersey version sustained a Week 9 injury that curtailed what could have been a monster season.

Chad Ochocinco – Even with reality TV buddy Terrell Owens in town, Ochocinco couldn't get it done, hauling in just 67 catches for 831 yards and four TDs after a big 2009 season (72-1,047-9). He had just three big weeks out of 14 games played and didn't help you at all in the all-important Week 16, when his team actually won.

Hines Ward – After a big 2009 season (95 catches for 1,167 yards and six TDs) that showed he still had something left in the tank, Ward got off to a slow start because of Big Ben's suspension, and has tallied just 54-710-4 though 15 games in 2010. He was concussed in Week 10 and hasn't scored since.

Vernon Davis – Davis exploded in 2009 with 78 catches, 965 yards and 13 TDs. Unfortunately, his numbers have dropped off significantly this year. He's had a couple of monster weeks, but through 15 games, he's only made 53 catches for 818 yards and six TDs in 2010.

Jermichael Finley/Dallas Clark – Injuries sidelined both stud TEs early in the season, relegating them to IR and severely maiming the fantasy owners who spent a third- or fourth-round pick on them.