In professional sports, it’s tough to stay on top for long. Sure, there are players like LeBron James who dominate their field for over a decade. But for most pro athletes, success is fleeting. Each year, in every sport, there are hundreds of young, driven athletes hoping for a shot at the league, looking to take someone else’s spot on the roster.
Even if an athlete has a stellar season, there’s no guarantee it will last. Hockey, football, baseball, and basketball are all team sports, and changes in coaches or players can have huge impacts on the players. If two players have great on-field chemistry but one leaves in a trade or free agency, the other’s game could slip.
Injuries are also a constant worry for players. Just about every pro athlete plays through various bumps and bruises throughout the season. And even if an athlete can play through the pain, they may not be as effective due to a pulled muscle or sprained ankle.
Being a pro athlete is unlike many other jobs because all players have a relatively short window where they can be successful. Athleticism fades over time, no matter how well an athlete stays in shape. No matter how good players are in their prime, father time is undefeated. Eventually, each athlete will have to hang up their shoes, spikes, or skates.
Click here to see 25 athletes who were huge disappointments in 2017.
Dak Prescott made the Pro Bowl as a rookie quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 and it looked like he would be a star for years to come. But Prescott couldn’t replicate that success in his sophomore season. The Cowboys’ dominant offensive line had to replace two starters from 2016, and running back Ezekiel Elliott was suspended for six games because of off-field issues. Without those key teammates, Prescott took a big step back from where he was as a rookie.
Sidney Crosby is still one of the best players in the NHL, but he’s not immune to a falloff in production. Crosby is on pace to have one of his lowest goal totals in a full season and his lowest assist total ever. This could be a result of the overall poor quality of play from the Penguins this season. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions are next to last in the Metropolitan Division this year and could miss the playoffs unless their play improves.
New Los Angeles Laker Lonzo Ball has been one of the most hyped players to come to the NBA in recent memory. Because of his superior court vision and headline grabbing father LaVar, Lonzo Ball is the subject of intense scrutiny. Despite being selected with the second overall pick, Ball hasn’t been able to live up to his lofty expectations. It’s obviously too early to label a 20-year-old a bust, but 31 games into his pro career Ball is shooting below 35% from the field and an embarrassing 48% from the free throw line.
Albert Pujols has been one of the best baseball players in the history of the game. But it appears that his age is catching up with him. Throughout his 20s, Pujols hit over .300 with 30 home runs every season. In recent years, however, Pujols’ batting average has started to slide. In 2017, Pujols hit a career-low .241. In addition to diminished production at the plate, Pujols rarely plays first base for the Los Angeles Angels, instead playing as the designated hitter.
The 25 players on this list are athletes in one of the four most-watched leagues in the United States — the NHL, the NBA, the MLB, and the NFL. The players who made this list significantly underperformed compared to their previous professional seasons, or, if they are rookies, haven’t played up to the expectations of their draft positions. For the NHL and NBA, only the 2017-2018 season was considered. Players who missed extended time with injuries or suspensions were not considered.
Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
1. Adrian Peterson
> Position: Running back
> Team: New Orleans Saints / Arizona Cardinals
> League: NFL
Adrian Peterson’s first season away from the Minnesota Vikings was a frustrating one. The former NFL MVP struggled to get playing time on the New Orleans Saints, losing carries to Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. His season started looking up after he went to the Arizona Cardinals, but a neck injury ended his season.
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Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
2. Albert Pujols
> Position: First base
> Team: Los Angeles Angels
> League: MLB
Once the most feared hitter in baseball, Albert Pujols is struggling to live up to his massive contract as a Los Angeles Angel. Pujols hit just .241 with 23 home runs in 2017, both career lows for a full season for him. Pujols’ foot problems have slowed him down, one of the reasons the two-time Gold Glove winner rarely plays first base anymore. Pujols also hit into more double plays than anyone else in baseball in 2017.
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Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
3. Brent Burns
> Position: Defenseman
> Team: San Jose Sharks
> League: NHL
San Jose Shark Brent Burns won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman during the 2016-2017 season, but his follow-up season hasn’t started nearly as well. He’s scoring an average of 0.18 goals per game this season, roughly half his average in the previous season. The Sharks struggle when he’s on the ice as well. His plus/minus is -13, meaning San Jose has been outscored by 13 goals this season during Burns’ shifts. He was +19 for the 2016-2017 season.
Source: Abbie Parr / Getty Images
4. Carmelo Anthony
> Position: Small forward
> Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
> League: NBA
Since he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony’s offensive production has decreased significantly. Scoring only 17.6 points per game on 41.2% shooting, both career lows, worries that Anthony would struggle to fit in with his new teammates Russell Westbrook and Paul George appear to be well-founded.
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Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
5. Conor Sheary
> Position: Left wing
> Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
> League: NHL
After helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup in his first two seasons, there were high expectations for Conor Sheary. But the young winger has underperformed so far during his third season. Through his first 37 games of the season, Sheary is averaging 0.39 points, or goals plus assists, per game. The season before, he averaged 0.87 points per game.
Source: Jana Chytilova / Freestyle Photography / Getty Images
6. Craig Anderson
> Position: Goalie
> Team: Ottawa Senators
> League: NHL
Craig Anderson has enjoyed a long career as an NHL goalie, but the 2017-2018 season may be his toughest so far. Through his first 27 games in net, Anderson’s .896 save percentage and 3.12 goals-against average are his worst numbers since he became a starting goalie a decade ago. For context, his save percentage is 41st out of 46 qualified NHL netminders.
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Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
7. Dak Prescott
> Position: Quarterback
> Team: Dallas Cowboys
> League: NFL
Dak Prescott made the Pro Bowl and led the Dallas Cowboys to a 13-3 record as a rookie, but he hit a major sophomore slump in 2017. Coming into Week 17, Prescott’s completion percentage dropped more than 4 percentage points. He’s also tossed 13 interceptions after throwing just four the previous season. Prescott has yet to lead the Cowboys to a fourth-quarter comeback win in 2017 despite doing that five times the year before. This could be a big reason why the Cowboys are 8-7 and eliminated from playoff contention.
Source: Buda Mendes / Getty Images
8. Derek Carr
> Position: Quarterback
> Team: Oakland Raiders
> League: NFL
The Oakland Raiders are one of the biggest disappointments of the 2017 NFL season, and quarterback Derek Carr is a big reason why. Carr’s 2016 season ended when he suffered a broken fibula, and he hasn’t been able to return to his Pro Bowl form from the previous two seasons. This season, Carr has been throwing interceptions twice as often as the previous season and passing for fewer touchdowns.
Source: Abbie Parr / Getty Images
9. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
> Position: Cornerback
> Team: New York Giants
> League: NFL
The New York Giants have had a dismal 2017, so it’s tough to find just one disappointment on the roster. But cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s production has essentially disappeared. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive back has no interceptions through the first 15 games and has only defended a single pass, both career lows.
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Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
10. Dragan Bender
> Position: Power forward
> Team: Phoenix Suns
> League: NBA
As the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA draft, the Phoenix Suns had high hopes for Dragan Bender. While the three players selected before him have all proven successful at the NBA level, the young Croatian, averaging only 3.2 rebounds and 5.4 points per game, has yet to follow their lead. It may still be too early to label Bender as a bust, but significant improvement is necessary if he hopes to live up to expectations.
Source: Streeter Lecka / Getty Images
11. Jahlil Okafor
> Position: Center
> Team: Philadelphia 76ers/Brooklyn Nets
> League: NBA
Off-court issues aside, Jahlil Okafor’s on-court performance while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers left much to be desired. After three consecutive seasons of decreasing minutes, rebounds, and points in Philadelphia, the 76ers decided to break from their “trust the process” mantra and trade Okafor away to the Brooklyn Nets. The emergence of budding stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons did not help Okafor’s case in Philly – he played in just two games for the 76ers this season after playing 53 his rookie year.
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Source: Ralph Freso / Getty Images
12. Johnny Cueto
> Position: Starting pitcher
> Team: San Francisco Giants
> League: MLB
Johnny Cueto had a stellar 2016 for the San Francisco Giants, going 18-5 with a 2.79 earned run average. Cueto’s second year in the Bay Area went much differently as his ERA ballooned to 4.52, his worst since his rookie season. Cueto struggled with command, surrendering more walks and home runs per nine innings than he had in nearly a decade.
Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
13. Jon Lester
> Position: Starting pitcher
> Team: Chicago Cubs
> League: MLB
Veteran lefty Jon Lester was an absolute ace in 2016, helping the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series in over a century. 2017 was one of his worst full seasons as a major leaguer. Lester’s ERA jumped by nearly two runs to 4.33, compared with his outstanding 2.44 mark in 2016. Lester’s struggles were largely tied to his issues with the long ball. He gave up 26 home runs in 2017, the most of his career.
Source: Scott Cunningham / Getty Images
14. Kwon Alexander
> Position: Linebacker
> Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
> League: NFL
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hoped to take a step forward from their 9-7 2016 season, but instead they took a step back. Linebacker Kwon Alexander was one of the most productive defenders in 2016, with over 100 solo tackles and three sacks. In the first 15 games of 2017, however, Alexander managed only 60 solo tackles, contributing to the team’s defensive struggles as a whole. The Bucs have given up 16 rushing touchdowns so far this season, 30th in the NFL.
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Source: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
15. Lonzo Ball
> Position: Point guard
> Team: Los Angeles Lakers
> League: NBA
With all of the media attention surrounding Lonzo Ball’s father LaVar Ball and more generally the Los Angeles Lakers, living up to expectations was never going to be easy. Still, Ball’s play, especially his scoring, has been subpar for a number two draft pick. With a field goal percentage of only 34.9% and a highly unusual shooting form, Ball has become an offensive liability for the Lakers.
Source: Brian Blanco / Getty Images
16. Mark Trumbo
> Position: Designated hitter
> Team: Baltimore Orioles
> League: MLB
There were more home runs hit in 2017 than any baseball season before, but Baltimore Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo saw his home run production fall. Trumbo hit just 23 homers in 2017, which is especially surprising given that he led the majors in homers in 2016 with 47. Trumbo also tied his career-low batting average at .234.
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Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
17. Max Pacioretty
> Position: Left wing
> Team: Montreal Canadiens
> League: NHL
Max Pacioretty is having a down year for the Montreal Canadiens. His goals per game average is down to 0.21, well down from the 0.43 rate he posted in the 2016-2017 season. Pacioretty is also on pace to post the lowest plus/minus of his career. Through 38 games, Pacioretty is at -13.
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Source: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images
18. Miguel Cabrera
> Position: First base
> Team: Detroit Tigers
> League: MLB
Miguel Cabrera is a sure-fire Hall of Famer thanks to his outstanding batting. He owns a .317 career batting average, but the 2017 season was a stunning departure from his stellar performance so far as Cabrera hit just .249 and missed the All-Star Game for the first time in seven seasons. It was also the first time Cabrera received no MVP consideration in his 15-year career.
Source: Buda Mendes / Getty Images
19. Reggie Nelson
> Position: Safety
> Team: Oakland Raiders
> League: NFL
Reggie Nelson and the 6-9 Oakland Raiders have proven to be one of the most disappointing in the NFL this season. In the three previous seasons, Nelson ranked first in the NFL in total interceptions with 17. This season, however, Nelson has just one pick and it didn’t come until Week 16 when the Raiders were all but eliminated from playoff contention. Nelson, who’s 34 years old, is in the final year of his contract with the Raiders and it will be interesting to see if another team brings in the veteran safety in 2018.
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Source: Adam Glanzman / Getty Images
20. Rick Porcello
> Position: Starting pitcher
> Team: Boston Red Sox
> League: MLB
Few players will ever have a turnaround like Rick Porcello, and none would want to. Porcello won the 2016 Cy Young Award as the American League’s best pitcher after winning a major league-best 22 games. But in 2017 he led the majors in losses with 17. Porcello also surrendered the most home runs of anyone in baseball.
Source: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images
21. Rougned Odor
> Position: Second base
> Team: Texas Rangers
> League: MLB
The Texas Rangers were counting on 23-year-old second baseman Rougned Odor to be a key part of the team’s offense in 2017, but he struggled mightily at the plate. After hitting .271 in 2016, Odor’s batting average plummeted to a paltry .204. That was the first year of a six-year, $49.5 million contract for Odor. He will need to drastically improve his batting if he hopes to be worth his contract.
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Source: Hannah Foslien / Getty Images
22. Ryan Suter
> Position: Defenseman
> Team: Minnesota Wild
> League: NHL
Ryan Suter is scoring 0.14 goals per game, the highest rate of his career. But his production isn’t helping his team much at all. The Minnesota Wild have been outscored by eight goals with Suter on the ice this season, a far cry from the season before when Suter led the NHL in plus/minus at +34. That could be one reason the Wild are on the outside looking in on the NHL playoff picture.
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Source: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images
23. Sam Dyson
> Position: Relief pitcher
> Team: Texas Rangers / San Francisco Giants
> League: MLB
After a strong 2016 in which he had 38 saves, Texas Rangers closer Sam Dyson had a complete meltdown in 2017. In 16.2 innings with the Rangers, Dyson gave up 31 hits, 12 walks, and 20 earned runs, blowing all four of his save chances. Texas sent Dyson down to the minors before trading him to the San Francisco Giants. There, Dyson was able to salvage his career with a respectable 4.03 ERA in 38 appearances. Still, that’s a far cry from his stellar 2.43 ERA in 2016.
Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
24. Sidney Crosby
> Position: Center
> Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
> League: NHL
Though Sidney Crosby is having a season many other NHL players would be jealous of, he is still struggling by his own lofty standards. The three-time Stanley Cup winner is averaging 0.92 points per game this season, the lowest of his career and well below his 1.30 point per game average. Crosby is also committing more penalties than he has in quite some time. At 1.05 penalty minutes per game, Crosby hasn’t been penalized this much since his rookie year.
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Source: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
25. Vic Beasley Jr.
> Position: Linebacker
> Team: Atlanta Falcons
> League: NFL
After a historic sophomore season in which Vic Beasley Jr. led the league with 15.5 sacks, the sky seemed to be the limit. However, after managing only 4.0 sacks so far this season, expectations have fallen back to earth.While Beasley missed two games due to a partial hamstring tear suffered in Week 2, his performance has yet to recover even though his injury has had time to heal.
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