Biggest Fantasy Football Busts of the Week - Fantasy Outlooks for Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Quinshon Judkins, Ladd McConkey, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, more

November 17, 2025

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 11 of the 2025 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

In Week 11 of the NFL season, just like every week, fantasy managers set their lineups in hopes of maximizing their points. Oftentimes, this includes "starting your studs" — or, in other words, starting the players who are most notorious for scoring points consistently.

Unfortunately, those players don't always live up to the hype. This week's games resulted in an overwhelming amount of disappointing fantasy performances. These players created plenty of stress and panic for fantasy managers. In some cases, these busts were directly responsible for a manager losing their matchup.

Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 11, 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

Sam Darnold, 8.3 FPTS

Darnold had another ugly game on Sunday. Although he racked up 279 passing yards, he was also picked off four times and failed to register a touchdown. The 28-year-old has seven turnovers over his last two games, but he should bounce back as a high-end QB2 with QB1 upside against a soft Titans defense in Week 12.

FOURTH PICK OF THE DAY!

📺 @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/2FbV0hq8rQ

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 16, 2025

Caleb Williams, 9.3 FPTS

Williams made some impressive plays in Sunday's win, but from a fantasy perspective, he was relatively underwhelming. This was the third time in the last five weeks that he failed to register a single touchdown. Fantasy managers should look for him to bounce back as a low-end QB1 against a struggling Steelers defense next week.

Lamar Jackson, 6.7 FPTS

Jackson had his worst game of the season on Sunday. Not only was this his first outing of the year without a touchdown, but it was also his first with multiple interceptions. He took a whopping five sacks along the way, too. He should have no trouble bouncing back as a fantasy QB1 against the Jets in Week 12.

Justin Herbert, 4.3 FPTS

Herbert had one of the worst games of his career Sunday, completing just 10 passes for 81 yards. He also threw one interception and took two sacks. The former first-round pick entered this week as the third-highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy football, so he should have no trouble bouncing back against the Raiders on the other side of Los Angeles' Week 12 bye.

.@Antonio_johns0n picks off Herbert 😤#LACvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/bFkEhVlVA4

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) November 16, 2025

Tua Tagovailoa, 6.8 FPTS

Tagovailoa played turnover-free football for the first time this season, but he was generally uninspiring with just 171 yards and zero touchdowns. He also took two sacks. He'll rank as a mid-to-low QB2 when the Dolphins face the Saints on the other side of their Week 12 bye

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

Woody Marks, 6.1 FPTS

Marks had 27.9 points in his first game against the Titans this season, but he wasn't able to replicate that impressive outing this time around. He averaged just 2.4 yards per carry and caught only one pass, negating the effects of his intriguing tally of 19 touches. He should bounce back as a low-end RB2 against the Bills, who have a poor run defense.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, 4.3 FPTS

Croskey-Merritt officially relinquished his lead-back role, tallying just nine carries for 28 rushing yards, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. had 15 carries for 79 rushing yards. The rookie is an unreliable fantasy option going forward, ranking outside the top 36 running backs.

Rachaad White, 8.2 FPTS

White was out-produced by Sean Tucker (140 scrimmage yards, three touchdowns) on Sunday. A matchup against the Bills should have been an opportunity for White to feast, but instead, he played second fiddle to Tucker. He's an iffy RB3/flex option with Tucker ascending and Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) nearing a return.

Bucs should make Tucker the change of pace when Bucky is back, NOT White https://t.co/BTS1N9HQXI

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) November 14, 2025

Tony Pollard, 5.6 FPTS

Pollard had 13 touches on Sunday, but he was highly inefficient with just 2.2 yards per carry and 1.3 yards per catch. He remained the Titans' primary option on rushing downs but was a far less effective receiver than Tyjae Spears. Pollard is a low-floor RB3/flex for Week 12 against a very strong Seahawks run defense.

David Montgomery, 4.7 FPTS

The Lions couldn't get much going on Sunday night, as Montgomery rushed for just 27 yards on six carries. He also converted his lone target into a 10-yard reception. The veteran back has shown that he can co-exist alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, and he should bounce back as a strong RB3/flex option against the Giants in Week 12.

Kimani Vidal, 3.2 FPTS

Vidal rushed for just 13 yards on five carries Sunday. His lack of touches can be partly attributed to an injury that briefly forced him out of the game, but he returned rather quickly and therefore is still eligible for this list. The bigger factor is that Los Angeles' offense was stymied as a whole, forcing the Chargers to lean on the pass. Vidal should bounce back as a low-end RB2 against the Raiders in Week 13.

Nick Chubb, 1.7 FPTS

Chubb rushed for 17 yards on just three carries, and he failed to haul in either of his two targets. The veteran's workload has steadily declined, and he now has just eight rushing attempts over his last two games. He's no longer a top-36 fantasy running back despite an intriguing matchup against the Bills in Week 12.

Quinshon Judkins, 5.9 FPTS

Judkins was bottled up on Sunday, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and failing to haul in any of his targets. The rookie sensation has come back down to earth after an impressive first half of the season. He'll look to bounce back as a low-end RB1 — and put an end to his three-game scoreless streak — in a favorable matchup against the Raiders next week.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Ricky Pearsall, 1.0 FPTS

Pearsall was targeted three times on Sunday, and he finished with just one catch for no gain. This was his first game back from a six-week absence, so perhaps managers should have tempered their expectations a little more as he gets re-acclimated to game speed. The 25-year-old will be a low-floor WR3/flex in deeper leagues as he takes on the Panthers in Week 12.

Ladd McConkey, 4.3 FPTS

McConkey had another underwhelming fantasy performance, catching just three passes for 13 yards. He has been held to four or fewer catches in each of his last three games, though he is still averaging 11.5 fantasy points per contest during that span. Managers should get used to inconsistency with McConkey, but he's an intriguing bounce-back candidate for Week 13 against Vegas.

The Chargers and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

- Justin Herbert threw for just 81 yards
- Herbert also led the Chargers with 21 rushing yds (Vidal injured)
- McConkey just 13 yards
- QJ with a donut pic.twitter.com/BJOSe011N1

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 16, 2025

Jaylen Waddle, 8.2 FPTS

Waddle was held to just three catches on Sunday, finishing with his lowest fantasy point total since Week 7. The Dolphins' passing attack is unreliable, but we feel confident in Waddle's ability to bounce back as a WR2 in Week 13 against the Saints.

Davante Adams, 7.1 FPTS

Adams was targeted eight times Sunday, but he caught just one pass. He did make the most of his one reception, tallying a one-yard touchdown. The veteran receiver now has seven trips to the end zone over his last four games. He should bounce back as a fantasy WR1 against the Buccaneers in Week 12.

Tez Johnson, 1.6 FPTS

Johnson had just one catch for six yards, which was his worst fantasy outing since Week 3. Even with Mike Evans (collarbone) and Chris Godwin (leg) sidelined, Johnson had an underwhelming showing in a high-scoring game against the Bills. Johsnon may bounce back as a WR3/flex if Emeka Egbuka is his only competition, but he'll likely fall off the fantasy radar when Godwin returns.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, 6.2 FPTS

St. Brown caught just two of his 12 targets in the Lions' disappointing loss to the Eagles on Sunday Night Football. This game was likely a fluke, perhaps caused by the cold and windy conditions in Philadelphia. He'll get back inside the Lions' dome next week, returning to the WR1 tier against the Giants.

Jerry Jeudy, 5.1 FPTS

Jeudy came back down to earth Sunday, catching just three of seven targets for 21 yards. He has produced single-digit fantasy points in eight of his last nine games. As long as the Browns continue to endure inconsistent quarterback play, the 26-year-old will be a low-floor WR3/flex in fantasy football.

Parker Washington, 4.0 FPTS

Johnston had just two catches for 20 yards on Sunday. This was his worst fantasy outing since Week 1, and he snapped a three-game streak of scoring double-digit fantasy points. The Jaguars went run-heavy in Week 11, which is a trend that might not prevail week over week. Nevertheless, Washington will have to continue competing for targets alongside Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle).

Rome Odunze, 6.1 FPTS

Odunze caught just two of his six targets for 41 yards on Sunday. He continues to be a boom-or-bust receiver, making him tough to trust as anything more than a WR3/flex. He'll look to showcase his ceiling, rather than his floor, against the Steelers in Week 12.

Calvin Austin II, 1.5 FPTS

Austin had another dud game, converting his lone target into a five-yard reception. He has been disappointing in four games since returning from his shoulder injury. The 26-year-old ranks outside the top 36 fantasy receivers heading into Week 12 against a strong Bears defense.

Khalil Shakir, 0.7 FPTS

Shakir had just one catch for a loss of three yards on Sunday. He failed to capitalize on an opportunity to produce with Keon Coleman (coach's decision) inactive. This was the 25-year-old's worst outing of the season, and he'll remain tough to trust against a powerful Texans secondary next week.

The Bills went 3 WRs on 62% of plays in Week 11. They mixed in 5 WRs and no one reached 60% of snaps pic.twitter.com/Fl2EK8OHbn

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 17, 2025

DJ Moore, 3.1 FPTS

Moore was held to just one catch on Sunday, and he also rushed the ball once. He has just one reception over his last two games, with Sunday's 3.1 points comprising all of his fantasy scoring during that span. He can be benched in leagues with 12 or fewer teams ahead of Week 12, despite a moderately appealing matchup against the Steelers.

Quentin Johnston, 0.0 FPTS

Johnston was unable to haul in any of his three targets on Sunday. This was the second time in the last four weeks that he finished a game with zero catches. Managers should get used to this style of boom-or-bust play from Johnston, especially as he competes for targets alongside McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Oronde Gadsden II.

DeVonta Smith, 1.8 FPTS

Smith caught just one of his five targets for eight yards on Sunday night. The Eagles didn't pass a whole lot, and when they did, Jalen Hurts preferred targeting A.J. Brown. A Week 12 matchup against the Cowboys presents a great opportunity for the 27-year-old to return to the WR2 tier, but he does still have a low floor.

Ja'Marr Chase, 6.0 FPTS

Chase caught just three of his 10 targets for 30 yards on Sunday, failing to get on the same page as Joe Flacco consistently. He narrowly avoided a second-half ejection after the officiating crew didn't notice that he spat on Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey. These actions could still lead to a one-game suspension for Chase, but he'll be a fantasy WR1 as long as he's active.

Field-level view of the second altercation between Ja'Marr Chase and Jalen Ramsey. Chase said "I didn't spit on nobody."

The video clearly shows he did.#Bengals @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/ooGzInoPdS

— Austin Briski (@austin_briski) November 16, 2025

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Kyle Pitts Sr., 3.4 FPTS

Pitts struggled to produce while catching passes from a combination of Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Kirk Cousins. He has produced single-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last three games. The former first-round pick could still be a low-end TE1 in Week 12 against the Saints, but he'll have a low floor.

Cade Otton, 4.8 FPTS

Otton was held in check on Sunday, catching just two passes for 28 yards. This was his worst fantasy showing since Week 4. Fantasy managers were certainly frustrated to see the tight end underperform with both Evans (collarbone) and Godwin (leg) sidelined, as well as Johnson underperforming. Otton should bounce back as a low-end TE1 against the Rams, especially if Godwin remains out.

Dallas Goedert, 4.4 FPTS

Goedert had his worst fantasy outing of the season, catching just two of five targets for 24 yards. His fantasy value is at the mercy of the Eagles' offensive game plan — specifically, how often they choose to pass the football. He should bounce back as a mid-to-low TE1 in a potential shootout against the Cowboys next week.

Luke Musgrave, 0.9 FPTS

While managers didn't have high expectations for Musgrave coming into this week, they likely expected his floor to be higher than one catch for a loss of one yard. He also fumbled, but the loose ball was recovered by Green Bay. He should be benched (or left on waivers) ahead of Week 12 against the Vikings.

David Njoku, 1.7 FPTS

Njoku's two-game touchdown streak came to an end on Sunday as he was held to just one catch for seven yards. His Week 12 fantasy relevance will hinge on whether Dillon Gabriel (concussion) clears protocol in time for kickoff against the Raiders.

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