Maybe I'm all wet, but it seems like fantasy football this year has been more unpredictable than most.  Okay, I'll be honest, all my teams were terrible.  But, I don't blame myself.  Not entirely, anyway.  Some players just didn't perform up to snuff.

In an effort to identify the guilty, I plan to assemble the 2005 All Fantasy Bust team.  Over the next few days, I'll ask you, the viewing public, to select the biggest bust at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver by posting your comments.  When we're done, we'll have the quarterback, running back, and two wide receivers that made our lives the most miserable over the past few months.  Should be a swell time.

Before you check out the nominees, there are a few things I should point out.  First, if a player was injured for the entire season, his performance BEFORE getting injured was considered.  For example, Mark Bulger was doing quite well before wrecking his shoulder.  I took this into consideration.  Second, this list of candidates was compiled only after comparing actual game stats and fantasy points with preseason fantasy rankings by some of the internet's most trusted gurus.  Some of the players you'll see listed play for Super Bowl contenders.  Unfortunately, fantasy football is based more on individual performance than team success.  And finally, I tried limit each position to five or six nominees.  I realize there are some names that COULD'VE been added; however, I feel I picked the most deserving players out there.

Without further ado...

Candidates for 2005 Fantasy Football Quarterback BUST

David Carr

If you or I bought a luxury car, chances are that we'd park it in a garage to shield it from the elements and keep it running smooth.  Apparently, the Texans had a different philosophy.  Yup, they've essentially taken theirs to a demolition derby, deprived it of oil, filled it with leaded gasoline, and turned it into a three year old jalopy.

Obviously, you can't blame all of David Carr's problems on David Carr.  Domanick Davis has been injury prone.  Andre Johnson has been virtually non-existent.  Carr's offensive line has been invisible.  There's only so much that one man can do when your team is playing for Reggie Bush.

However, that hasn't stopped fantasy owners from shouting "Lemon Law!"  Carr DID throw for over 3,500 yards in his second professional season, making him an attractive mid to late round selection in 2005.  We expected more.  Far more. 

Aaron Brooks

Plain and simple, having Brooks in your starting lineup has been like playing pepper with live grenades.  Though he's always been known for risky passes, but it appears his transformation to The Anti-Consistency has entered its final stages.  For those keeping track at home, Brooks has tossed 17 interceptions this year in contrast to only 13 touchdowns.  Yikes.

One thing's for sure, Aaron is in competition with Terrell Owens for 2005's Longest Grudge Award, especially after lacing into the NFL again about the Saints' "home" game in New York earlier this year.

Jake Plummer

If hair styles could earn fantasy points, Plummer would be in my starting lineup along with Ricky Williams, Adam Morrison, and Paul Senior from West Coast Choppers.  However, until Fantasy Grooming catches on, he'll remain a fixture on my bench.

I just don't understand the Jake Plummer Phenomenon.  People constantly invent new ways to rationalize this guy.  Take me down that slippery slope, from a mediocre quarterback on a bad team to stud quarterback on a Super Bowl contender.  If you can prove to me that Jake actually made the transformation, I might believe you.  For example, Jake the Snake threw for over 4,000 yards last year and 27 touchdowns, a far cry from the modest numbers he's put together this season, but Plummer apologists continue to make statements like, "this is Jake's finest year as a pro" and "he's a steal for a 5th round pick." 

Folks, I realize it's trendy to jump aboard the Plummer bandwagon because the Broncos are 10-3.  I understand the allure of a bad hair.  I know it's hard to resist a guy from Boise, Idaho.  But, please... he's still JAKE PLUMMER.  Did I miss the memo?  Since when is this guy an elite fantasy quarterback?

Daunte Culpepper

I couldn't help but giggle when Daunte Culpepper was charged with three misdemeanors for his role as Captain Stubin on October 6th.  However, I was appalled to learn that 4,634,902 counts of armed robbery were not included in the charges.

I think it's safe to say that Daunte held a gun to our heads for seven weeks of the NFL season before tearing up his knee, hijacking millions of dollars in entrance fees, and scurrying off into the night.  It was like watching a horror movie in slow motion.  For these reasons alone, I was relieved that Minnesota authorities pushed back against Daunte in some capacity, though a class action suit would've been more fitting.

In my opinion, Culpepper is a slam dunk for the Fantasy Bust of the Century, not just the Fantasy Quarterback Bust of 2005.  I can't ever remember ONE player destroying so many fantasy teams in seven games.  His numbers were so awful (6 TD's, 12 INT's) that I wouldn't be surprised if he did it all on purpose.

Joey Harrington

Believe it or not, a good number of people out there thought that Harrington could be the sleeper pick of the year.  I can't knock the logic.  With three monster targets, 3,000 yards and 20 TD's seemed like a mortal lock, especially after he showed improvement in 2004.  Glad to see that worked out.

Here's the thing about Harrington, I have a loose principle that I follow when it comes to drafting quarterbacks.  Basically, I like my quarterbacks like I like my chicken:  dry.  For some reason, it seems that QB's with dull, overly modest, or shy personalities are more successful from a pure win/loss standpoint than others.  The proof is there.  Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas just to name a few.  There are plenty of others.  Carson Palmer will be there one day.  Brad Johnson falls into the same category, though not as ballyhooed.  Anyway, I didn't buy into Harrington at Oregon because of this.  That's not to say he was cocky or abrasive with the media, he just always had a certain edge to him that kept me awake, which has become an instant red flag for me to watch for. 

For what it's worth, this is also why I think Alex Smith is destined to be the next Joey Harrington, but that's for another day.

That's the field.  Vote for the biggest fantasy quarterback bust by posting your comments below or by emailing tyhildenbrandt@gmail.com.

Running backs, coming soon!