🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

10 Lineup Busts and Avoids for Week 8

Top 10 potential lineup busts to avoid starting for fantasy football. Justin lists NFL players to consider sitting or benching as Week 8 lineup disappointments.

There a lot of bye weeks (six!) this week, which means you have a lot more restrictions when building a lineup. I'll try to reflect that in this week's column by digging a little dip deeper on some of the bust picks, looking at some under-the-radar players who should stay under that radar.

It's hard to tell you some of the things I would say most weeks--like to sit Lamar Miller this week against a tough Seattle team--when you might not actually have anyone ready to go that's better than Miller.

Let's start with a recap of last week's column and then we'll get into this Very Special Edition of the bust column--this is the Bye Week Busters. (Yeah, that was a dumb name.)

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge is back with a massive $500,000 grand prize and $1.35 million total prize pool, paying down to 800th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 10 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The 7,250 entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 10th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $500,000! Sign Up Now!

 

Recap of Last Week

Quarterback: Philip Rivers had another mediocre game against Denver, but mediocre is better than I was expecting from him. The Chargers defense controlled Denver's offense, which allowed Rivers to limit his mistakes--he didn't turn the ball over, though he only threw for 183 yards. Jameis Winston did a little better against the Bills, tossing three touchdowns on a defense that hadn't allowed that many all season. There was a lot of blown coverage by Buffalo, which allowed tight end O.J. Howard to break free for a pair of scores.

Running Back: Ty Montgomery was an afterthought in the Packers offense this week, with Aaron Jones controlling the ball. Orleans Darkwa was ineffective. Melvin Gordon ran for just 38 yards. It was a surprisingly good week for everyone who listened to me about running backs. I'm probably not going to go 100% every week at the position, though, so don't get used to it!

Wide Receiver: T.Y Hilton had two catches for 27 yards as the Jaguars defense continued to look very, very strong. Sammy Watkins had his third best fantasy game of the season, but that just meant he had three catches for 42 yards. Is Watkins droppable? I did it already! And Davante Adams had two catches for 12 yards in a game where the Packers very clearly missed having Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are in trouble. (Duh. That was one of the most obvious statements I have ever made.)

Tight End: I was wrong on Witten, though! Jason Witten reminds me of the San Antonio Spurs in that I counted them out so many times because of age concerns and was wrong. The Spurs then drafted Kawhi Leonard and now are a lot younger, though, which doesn't have an analogy to Witten because he is going to keep getting older, but cross-sport metaphors are always flawed.

Alright. Let's look at ten dudes who will disappoint you this week now!

 

Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 8

Trevor Siemian (Quarterback, Denver Broncos)

I know this feels obvious, but it's the Ultimate Bye Week Hell Match this week, so some of these are going to be obvious. Example #1: Siemian, who was just BAD last week--he threw the ball 35 times but only ended up with 207 yards and no scores. This week he gets an interesting test against a Chiefs defense that hasn't looked the best on paper so far against QBs, but has been sunk by two explosive performances from Deshaun Watson and Derek Carr. They held Ben Roethlisberger to 11.9 fantasy points a couple of weeks ago.

Alex Smith (Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs)

I think the Chiefs get back on the right track this week and beat the Broncos, but I'm expecting it be a low-scoring affair, something in the 13-7 range. Smith doesn't have much success in the past against Denver and the Broncos should be one of the toughest defense he'll face this season--they're allowing just 14.6 points-per-game to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. There are better options than Smith this week.

Jalen Richard (Running Back, Oakland Raiders)

Only four teams have allowed less fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Bills. Richard will likely see the most touches in the Raiders backfield this week with Marshawn Lynch suspended, but don't forget about the possibility of DeAndre Washington seeing a handful of touches. I know this week is tough--six teams on a bye plus the suspension of Lynch could leave his owners in a bind, but I'm not sure this backfield is going to be the best place for you to turn.

Tarik Cohen (Running Back, Chicago Bears)

I will admit he gets a juicy matchup against a Saints defense that is ninth-worst against running backs and has allowed 364 receiving yards and a touchdown to backs. But I'm also looking at Cohen's usage last week--he didn't record a single carry and he only had one catch (though it was an impressive one that went for 70 yards) and wondering how fantasy owners can be expected to trust him. Mitchell Trubisky (who would have made this column if there was anyone willing to actually start him) is bound to throw the ball a little more this week, but I just don't see Cohen as a safe call. He could break a huge touchdown! But he's more likely to not do that.

Rob Kelley (Running Back, Washington Redskins)

Washington's run game has struggled all season (outside of any play that has involved Chris Thompson, because those plays all did the opposite of struggled) and it seems like it's just an endless of stream of "maybe Kelley will play well! Oh, Perine instead! No, Kelley! Mack Brown???" going on in Washington. The Cowboys have only allowed two rushing touchdowns all season. Kelley's ceiling is probably 50 yards. Try to find a different direction to go in.

Will Fuller (Wide Receiver, Houston Texans)

Seattle defense? A wide receiver who has been almost completely reliant on touchdowns? On the road? Rookie quarterback (though he hasn't played much like a rookie)? Yeah, sit Fuller.

Terrelle Pryor (Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins)

This has less to do with his match-up and much more to do with how bad Pryor has been. Josh Doctson has replaced him in Washington's lineup, which means Pryor won't be on the field nearly as much as fantasy owners would like. Jordan Reed showed back up last week as well, which cuts even more into Pryor's dwindling share of Kirk Cousins's targets.

Dontrelle Inman (Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears)

The Bears just traded for Inman. Maybe these next two statements seem self-explanatory, but here they are. 1) Inman was just acquired, so there is no guarantee he will even play this week. 2) If he does play, he will likely not be a huge part of the offense yet because he will not know the offense. Add in a third problem: his quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, can't throw the ball very well. This seems like one of those moves you make to be sneaky and hope you get ahead of the rest of your league with, but no, no, no! Don't do it.

O.J. Howard (Tight End, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Go back and watch those touchdowns that Howard had--they were mostly due to blown coverages. He'll continue to be outsnapped by Cameron Brate and he plays the Panthers, who are allowed just ten points-per-game to tight ends. That's fifth-best among teams that are not on a bye this week. Howard could have another big game, but it's more likely he takes a backseat this week.

Jack Doyle (Tight End, Indianapolis Colts)

Speaking of defenses that are strong against tight ends, the Colts get to play the Bengals, who are allowing just 8.4 points-per-game to tight ends. Doyle hasn't had double-digit fantasy points in any game this season and only has two games with more than five points. He isn't a major piece of the Indianapolis offense and should not be trusted this week.

 

More Week 8 Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
Mark Stone

Extends Goal Streak With Empty-Netter
Nikita Kucherov

Has Four-Point Outing Saturday
David Pastrnak

Records Six Assists in Big Win
Stefan Noesen

to Have Knee Surgery
Carter Hart

Out Week-to-Week
Thatcher Demko

Exits With Injury Saturday
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Philip Broberg

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Chet Holmgren

Available Sunday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Suspended for Three Games for Attempting to Strike Another Player
Kristaps Porzingis

May Return Sunday
Zaccharie Risacher

to Miss Second Consecutive Game Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Considered Probable for Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Sunday
Christian Braun

Considered Probable for Sunday
Spencer Jones

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Jamal Murray

Iffy for Sunday's Action
Josh Hart

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Ja Morant

Out Sunday
Michael Porter Jr.

Resting on Sunday
RJ Barrett

Unavailable Sunday
Brandon Ingram

Could Remain Out Sunday
Scottie Barnes

Uncertain for Sunday
Joel Embiid

Questionable to Play Sunday
Tidjane Salaün

Tidjane Salaun Available Versus Jazz
Grant Williams

Ready for Season Debut
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Off the Injury Report for Sunday
Kevin Huerter

Active on Saturday Night
Jalen Smith

Back for Bulls Saturday
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Chandler Stephenson

Jaden Schwartz Replaces Chandler Stephenson in Kraken Lineup
Brandon Saad

Won't Play This Weekend
Shea Theodore

Returns to Golden Knights Lineup Saturday
Jaccob Slavin

Returns Against Kraken
Travis Konecny

Ruled Out Saturday
Brad Marchand

Misses Saturday's Game
Corey Perry

Available Saturday
William Nylander

Returns From Six-Game Absence
Mark Scheifele

Scores Twice as Jets End Skid
John Carlson

Records Two Assists Friday
Karel Vejmelka

Picks Up Win No. 20
Clayton Keller

Dishes Out Three Assists Friday
Jamie Benn

to Remain Out Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Expected to Play Saturday
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP