Biggest Fantasy Football Busts of the Week - Fantasy Outlooks for Jordan Love, Chase Brown, Ashton Jeanty, Brian Thomas Jr., Calvin Ridley

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 3 of the 2025 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

The third Sunday of the 2025 NFL season has come and gone. Hopefully, you woke up on Monday morning feeling very good about how your matchup went. However, this week's slate of games was certainly stress-inducing for many fantasy football managers.

Part of that stress was caused by a group of players who drastically underachieved in Week 3. These players did not meet fantasy expectations this week, and it cost their managers in a big way.

Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 3, as well as whether or not we can still have some trust in these players moving forward. All point totals are based on the PPR scoring system. Players who missed part of the game due to injury are exempt from being featured.

Fantasy Football Quarterback Busts

Michael Penix Jr., 5.8 FPTS

Penix completed just 50 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions as the Panthers shut out the Falcons. The former first-round pick has consistently struggled to produce against stronger opponents, so he belongs on the bench heading into Week 3 against the Commanders.

Jordan Love, 9.1 FPTS

Love threw for just 183 yards, one touchdown, and one interception as the Packers were stunned by the Browns. This was his sloppiest game of the season and was likely an anomaly. He should bounce back as a high-end QB2 against the Cowboys next week.

OUR BALL!!#GBvsCLE on FOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/ccZiFi0sXc

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 21, 2025

Trevor Lawrence, 6.8 FPTS

It seemed like nobody wanted to win Sunday's Texans-Jaguars game. Jacksonville did come out on top, but Lawrence finished with two sacks, one interception, and zero touchdowns. He's not a reliable fantasy option heading into Week 4 against the 49ers.

Russell Wilson, 5.1 FPTS

After excelling in the Giants' Week 2 shootout, Wilson came tumbling back down to earth against the Chiefs on Sunday night. He ultimately threw two interceptions and took two sacks in the loss. Things won't get much easier for him next week against the undefeated Chargers. He's back in the mid-range QB2 tier for fantasy football.

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

Chase Brown, 6.0 FPTS

Brown seemingly disappeared as the Vikings blew out the Bengals. He rushed for just three yards on 10 carries while catching four passes. This offense is going to look ugly for the duration of Joe Burrow's (toe) absence. Brown will tumble to the low-end RB2 tier in Week 4 against Denver.

Concern level is HIGH on a lot of elite players coming out of Week 3

◻️ Nico Collins
◻️ Brian Thomas Jr.
◻️ Brock Bowers
◻️ Chase Brown
◻️ Ja’Marr Chase
◻️ Tee Higgins
◻️ Drake London

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) September 21, 2025

Tyler Allgeier, 1.4 FPTS

Allgeier had standalone value in his role behind Bijan Robinson in Week 2, but that wasn't the case this Sunday against Carolina. He had just two touches and four total yards as Atlanta was shut out. He ranks outside the top 36 fantasy running backs heading into next week's clash against Washington.

Dylan Sampson, 0.2 FPTS

After his pass-catching volume gave him some fantasy relevance through the first two weeks, Sampson came crashing back down to earth on Sunday with just one carry for two yards. As long as Quinshon Judkins is healthy, Sampson should be left on the bench in fantasy football.

Ashton Jeanty, 6.3 FPTS

Jeanty turned in the worst fantasy performance of his young career, as well as his first game without a reception. His inability to catch a pass or score a touchdown against Washington makes him a disappointing Week 3 bust, especially in PPR leagues. He'll be a high-end RB3/flex next week against Chicago.

#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of his 17 rushes vs. Washington.

Jeanty has now been hit at or behind the line on 57% (27 of 47) of his rush attempts this season.

— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) September 21, 2025

RJ Harvey, 4.6 FPTS

Harvey continues to experience some growing pains in his adjustment to the NFL. The rookie rushed for just two yards on two carries while catching three passes. He should be benched in all fantasy leagues as long as J.K. Dobbins remains healthy in the lead-back role.

Alvin Kamara, 6.6 FPTS

Kamara rushed the ball 18 times on Sunday, but he finished with just 2.3 YPC and only caught one pass. The Saints are going to have several blowout losses this year, and when those do occur, Kamara will likely rank outside the top 36 running backs. However, his upside is too good to ignore. He remains a mid-to-low RB2 for Week 4 against Buffalo.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Keon Coleman, 5.0 FPTS

Coleman was held to just three catches for the second week in a row. He has taken a significant step back ever since his big season opener. The Bills love to spread the football around, which means that players like Coleman and Khalil Shakir will be inconsistent week over week. The second-year Florida State product is a low-end WR3/flex with a low floor heading into Week 4 against New Orleans.

Marvin Mims Jr., 1.4 FPTS

Mims officially seems to have been overtaken by Troy Franklin on the depth chart. He caught just one pass for four yards, turning in his worst outing of the season. He should be benched in all leagues, and managers could even justify dropping him in leagues with 12 or fewer teams.

Hunter Renfrow, 2.6 FPTS

Renfrow failed to replicate his impressive outing from Week 2. This Sunday, he caught just two of four targets for six yards. He should be benched in most leagues ahead of Week 4 against New England.

Ladd McConkey, 8.1 FPTS

McConkey was underwhelming on Sunday, at least by his standards. He caught a season-low four passes for 41 yards but admittedly had a tough matchup against the Broncos. He should bounce back as a fringe top-12 fantasy wide receiver for Week 4 against the Giants.

Malik Nabers, 3.3 FPTS

Nabers briefly exited the contest with an injury, but he returned and continued to deliver an underwhelming performance. He caught just two of seven targets as the entire Giants passing game stalled. He should bounce back as a solid WR1 option next week against the Chargers.

Brian Thomas Jr., 7.5 FPTS

Thomas finished with single-digit fantasy points for the third week in a row. Although he commanded six targets, he and Lawrence just weren't on the same page (again) as they connected just twice. Last year's rookie sensation has fallen to the high-end WR3/flex tier for Week 4 against San Francisco.

We thought that Liam Coen would help out this Jaguars offense but instead he's made Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter useless so far 😭

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) September 21, 2025

Deebo Samuel Sr., 4.9 FPTS

The Commanders didn't have to throw the ball much on Sunday, and as a result, Samuel turned in an underwhelming fantasy performance. He'll rank as a WR3/flex heading into Week 4 against Atlanta, but could see his ranking rise if Terry McLaurin (quad) isn't able to suit up.

Jerry Jeudy, 2.7 FPTS

Jeudy commanded five targets on Sunday, but he caught just one pass for 17 yards. As a boom-or-bust receiver, Jeudy will likely endure more games like this, especially with Joe Flacco under center. The 26-year-old should rank as a mid-range WR3/flex next week in a negative game script scenario against the Lions.

Troy Franklin, 2.8 FPTS

Franklin caught just two of four targets for eight yards on Sunday. This was disappointing given that Franklin had excelled through the first two weeks, but managers can shrug it off as an anomaly. After all, quarterback Bo Nix only threw for 153 yards in total. The former Oregon receiver should bounce back as a low-end WR3/flex next week against Cincinnati.

Tee Higgins, 2.5 FPTS

Higgins struggled as the Bengals couldn't get anything going offensively. He caught just one of two targets for 15 yards against the Vikings on Sunday. He's a very risky WR3/flex play until the Bengals prove they can move the ball down the field without Burrow.

Wan'Dale Robinson, 3.6 FPTS

Robinson caught just one pass for 26 yards on Sunday night. It was a massive step backward for the 24-year-old, who had been averaging nine targets, seven catches, and 99 yards per game entering Week 3. Fantasy managers should be optimistic that he'll bounce back next week, but it's fair to have lost some confidence. He's a mid-range WR3/flex.

Calvin Ridley, 3.7 FPTS

Ridley was targeted seven times on Sunday, but he only caught one pass for 27 yards. He has now caught just 38.1 percent of the passes thrown his way this season. This may be a Ridley problem; this may be a Cameron Ward problem. Regardless, it makes it tough to trust Ridley when he faces a solid Texans secondary next week.

Brian Callahan still wants to get Calvin Ridley the ball. Still believes in him and need him to pull himself out of the slump pic.twitter.com/mQNqJvCEgs

— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 21, 2025

Josh Downs, 5.4 FPTS

Downs caught just two of three targets for 34 yards on Sunday. The Colts' primary offensive focus is running the football, so it's not very surprising that a receiver like Downs wasn't heavily involved. That likely remains the case going forward, but he could see a slight uptick in volume with Alec Pierce (concussion) sidelined.

Downs is a high-end WR4 in Week 4 against the Rams.

Cooper Kupp, 5.1 FPTS

Despite the Seahawks scoring 44 points on Sunday, Kupp was held to just two catches for 31 yards. Not only was he out-produced by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he finished with a worse stat line than Tory Horton, too. Kupp can be benched in most fantasy leagues next week in Arizona.

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Tucker Kraft, 5.9 FPTS

Kraft followed up a huge Week 2 with a dud in Week 3. He caught just three passes for 29 yards and had a touchdown vultured by John FitzPatrick. The 24-year-old should bounce back as a solid TE1 option next week against Dallas, especially with Jayden Reed (collarbone) still sidelined.

Jordan Loves finds John Fitzpatrick for his first TD catch!

GBvsCLE on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/EayO0d5rYB

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

Tyler Warren, 6.8 FPTS

Warren was held to a modest three catches and 38 yards despite the Colts scoring 41 points on Sunday. Indianapolis didn't have to throw the football much, so it's not a surprise that the rookie tight end had a quieter outing. He should bounce back as a low-end TE1 in a much more competitive matchup against the Rams next week.

Zach Ertz, 6.8 FPTS

Ertz caught three passes for 38 yards on Sunday as the Commanders simply didn't have to throw the football much. Ertz will jump back into the low-end TE1 tier if Jayden Daniels (knee) returns next week. Otherwise, Ertz will drop to the high-end TE2 range with Marcus Mariota under center.

Travis Kelce, 6.6 FPTS

Kelce's first single-digit finish of the season came on Sunday night against the Giants. He saw a season-high seven targets but caught just four passes for 26 yards. He'll continue to be a low-end TE1 whose fantasy value is largely dependent on scoring touchdowns.

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