Biggest Fantasy Football Busts of the Week - Fantasy Outlooks for James Cook, Woody Marks, Jameson Williams, Mark Andrews, Juwan Johnson

October 7, 2025

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 5 of the 2025 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

The fifth 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 5. These players failed to meet their fantasy expectations this week, and it cost their managers in a big way.

Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 5, 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

Cooper Rush, 3.2 FPTS

Nobody starting Rush had very high expectations, but managers would have preferred more than 3.2 fantasy points from the Ravens' Week 5 fill-in. He threw three interceptions and could be in for similar trouble against the Rams next week, assuming Lamar Jackson (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Geno Smith, 3.9 FPTS

Smith threw for 228 yards and two interceptions while taking four sacks on Sunday. The veteran quarterback has five interceptions over his last two games and an NFL-most nine interceptions this year. His fantasy outlook is incredibly bleak, even against a subpar Titans defense in Week 6.

Cameron Ward, 7.0 FPTS

Ward was intercepted once again on Sunday and now has a turnover in each of his five NFL contests. He also took two sacks and rushed for a loss of six yards. The No. 1 overall pick has two touchdowns and five turnovers in 2025, ranking as a mid-to-low QB3 for Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

ON THE MONEY 🎯

📺: #TENvsAZ on @NFLonCBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/acuRZeMcp4

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 5, 2025

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

Woody Marks, 2.4 FPTS

Marks wasn't able to replicate his big Week 4 on Sunday, even as the Texans cruised to an enormous victory over Baltimore. He rushed for just 24 yards on seven carries, turning in his worst fantasy performance since the Texans' season opener. The rookie remains an appealing fantasy option, but he's nothing more than a low-end RB3/flex in deeper leagues as long as Nick Chubb remains the lead back.

TreVeyon Henderson, 4.7 FPTS

Henderson remained somewhat of an afterthought on Sunday, taking a backseat to Rhamondre Stevenson despite Stevenson fumbling for the third time in as many games. The rookie has yet to eclipse 32 rushing yards in a single game, but he does have at least two catches in every contest this season. He ranks as a fringe top-36 fantasy running back as long as Stevenson remains the primary ball carrier.

Bills get it right back on a fumble!

NEvsBUF on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/UpvN7AdJLh

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2025

Tyjae Spears, 1.4 FPTS

Spears returned from injured reserve on Sunday, making his season debut against the Cardinals. He rushed for just 14 yards and was not targeted in the passing game. We saw underwhelming involvement from Spears, as Tony Pollard remained the primary ball-carrier in Arizona. The 24-year-old's role is expected to grow going forward, but for now, he's not a reliable fantasy option.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., 0.7 FPTS

Rodriguez and teammate Jeremy McNichols both took a backseat to Bill Croskey-Merritt on Sunday. The former had just seven yards on five carries and is off the fantasy radar going forward.

Emari Demercado, 7.1 FPTS

Demercado didn't end up operating as the Cardinals' lead back on Sunday, ceding that role to Michael Carter. Instead, he played on third downs, carrying the ball just three times. He finished with 81 rushing yards, but he also had a costly fumble as he celebrated a potential touchdown too soon and dropped the ball before the goal line.

He should be benched in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 6 against Indianapolis.

Cardinals RB Emari Demercado with a 72-yard touchdown run, but he dropped the ball before the goal line... pic.twitter.com/JPMm726fDO

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) October 5, 2025

Justice Hill, 2.2 FPTS

Hill wasn't able to replicate his enormous showing from Week 4. On Sunday against the Texans, he had just three rushing yards and nine receiving yards on two touches. This was his first game since the season opener without double-digit receiving yards. He'll remain off the fantasy radar as long as Jackson (hamstring) is sidelined.

James Cook, 4.9 FPTS

Cook rushed for just 49 yards on 15 carries Sunday and wasn't able to haul in his lone target. Sunday represented plenty of firsts for Cook, including his first game this season without a reception and his first game this season without a touchdown. He should bounce back as an RB1 in a much more favorable matchup against the Falcons next week.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Jameson Williams, 2.0 FPTS

Williams caught just one pass on Sunday and also gained a rushing yard. We've seen Williams post duds in the past, but what made this one different was that he commanded only one target. The deep threat remains a boom-or-bust fantasy option and is merely a WR3/flex heading into Week 6 against Kansas City.

Jerry Jeudy, 3.5 FPTS

Jeudy couldn't get much going against the Vikings overseas, totaling two catches for 15 yards on a season-low 15 targets. Even with Cedric Tillman (hamstring) sidelined, Jeudy didn't end up seeing an expanded role. Instead, he was held in check by a strong Minnesota defense. He should bounce back as a strong WR3/flex with a more favorable matchup next week against the Steelers.

Rashod Bateman, 0.0 FPTS

Bateman didn't form much of a rapport with Rush, failing to haul in any of the three passes thrown his way. The fifth-year receiver has just 10 catches in 2025 and is droppable in leagues with 14 teams or fewer.

Chris Godwin, 5.6 FPTS

Godwin totaled three passes and 26 yards for the second week in a row. The 29-year-old saw his target share decline while his production level stayed the same. He is clearly the No. 2 option behind Emeka Egbuka and should be viewed as a low-end WR3/flex in deeper leagues ahead of Week 6 against San Francisco.

Jakobi Meyers, 7.2 FPTS

Meyers couldn't capitalize on the absence of Brock Bowers (knee), though it was less his fault and more Smith's fault. The talented receiver hasn't posted double-digit fantasy points (PPR) since Week 2. He's merely a mid-range WR3/flex for Week 6 against Tennessee.

Jalen Tolbert, 0.0 FPTS

Tolbert seemed like a prime candidate to produce with CeeDee Lamb (ankle) sidelined, but instead, he commanded just one target and finished with zero catches. Instead of Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy emerged as the Cowboys' top wide receiver not named George Pickens. We'll likely see Dallas continue to spread the ball around and ride the hot hand.

The 26-year-old can be avoided in most fantasy leagues going forward.

Ryan Flournoy with another big gain for Dallas

DALvsNYJ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/hYddYfScND

— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025

Marvin Mims Jr., 3.9 FPTS

Mims came back down to earth following his enormous showing in Week 4. On Sunday, he caught just two of five targets for 10 yards, operating behind Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin. He's not a reliable fantasy option for Week 6 against the Jets.

Elic Ayomanor, 3.8 FPTS

Ayomanor caught just two of four targets for 18 yards on Sunday, finishing with fewer yards than Calvin Ridley, Chig Okonkwo, and Gunnar Helm. The rookie receiver has shown several flashes of upside this year. However, as long as his fantasy production remains inconsistent, he should be left on the bench or waivers.

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Mark Andrews, 4.2 FPTS

Andrews caught just two passes for 22 yards in his worst fantasy outing since Week 2. His inconsistency hasn't been a major surprise, and we could see his status become even murkier if Isaiah Likely finds his groove again post-injury. For now, though, Andrews is a worthwhile low-end TE1.

Juwan Johnson, 3.7 FPTS

Johnson was one of the hottest fantasy waiver wire additions near the start of the season, but he has come back down to earth lately. Sunday's 3.7 fantasy points and 17 yards both represented season lows. He's a fringe top-12 fantasy tight end for Week 6 against the Patriots, but his floor is certainly lower after his subpar Week 5 showing.

QB Taysom for 19 yds to Juwan 🎯

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/wMNw7quLyL

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 5, 2025

Isaiah Likely, 2.2 FPTS

Likely had just one catch for 12 yards in his second game back from injury. This was his first catch of the young season, and while he wasn't heavily involved, his role should increase going forward. He's a strong dynasty stash but can be left on waivers in redraft leagues for the time being.

Zach Ertz, 0.0 FPTS

Ertz seemed primed to succeed in Jayden Daniels' first game back from injury. Instead, he was held to zero catches on one target. The veteran tight end should bounce back as a high-end TE2 in Week 6 against Chicago.

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