Biggest Fantasy Football Busts of the Week - Fantasy Outlooks for Caleb Williams, Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, Brian Thomas, George Kittle, Rome Odunze

October 20, 2025

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 7 of the 2025 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

The seventh 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 7. 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 7, 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

Caleb Williams, 3.7 FPTS

The Bears scored 26 points Sunday, but Williams had a very disappointing fantasy performance. He threw one interception and didn't score a touchdown in the victory. Next week's matchup against the Ravens should be more conducive to scoring fantasy points.

Saints D picks off Williams

NOvsCHI on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/IN27pBiNzb

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025

Tua Tagovailoa, -1.4 FPTS

Tagovailoa threw three interceptions (including one pick-six) before being benched against the Browns on Sunday. This was a trickier matchup than he's used to seeing, but that doesn't excuse his historically poor performance. He can't be trusted in fantasy lineups going forward.

Geno Smith, 1.8 FPTS

Smith played turnover-free football on Sunday, but that's probably the only positive takeaway from his performance. He threw for a measly 67 yards and took one sack in the loss. The worst part of Smith's Week 7 was that he led zero scoring drives, as Las Vegas was shut out by Kansas City, 31-0. He can't be trusted in fantasy football on the other side of his Week 8 bye.

Justin Fields, 4.0 FPTS

Fields took three sacks and threw for 46 yards before being benched at halftime during Sunday's Week 7 contest against the Panthers. It's too early to tell whether Fields or Tyrod Taylor will draw the start against the Bengals next week.

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

Travis Etienne Jr., 6.5 FPTS

Etienne carried the ball just eight times on Sunday as the Jaguars operated out of a negative game script. He also caught just one pass. Playing with such a large deficit is unfamiliar territory for the 2025 Jaguars, and Etienne's disappointing showing reflects that. Etienne will look to bounce back with a favorable matchup against the Raiders on the other side of the Jaguars' Week 8 bye.

Alvin Kamara, 5.9 FPTS

Kamara was held to just 2.5 yards per carry on Sunday, and he didn't make much of an impact in the receiving game. A negative game script made it difficult for him to contribute consistently against the Bears. He's a low-end RB2 as long as the Saints continue to enter games as the underdog.

Alvin Kamara, your pass protection, woof pic.twitter.com/VC4zil4rIU

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 19, 2025

Tyler Allgeier, 1.6 FPTS

The 49ers' defense asserted its dominance against the run Sunday, holding Allgeier to just 16 yards on four carries. He has enjoyed standalone value as an RB3/flex in recent games, but that wasn't the case this week. He'll look to bounce back in an extremely favorable matchup against the Dolphins next week.

Ashton Jeanty, 4.4 FPTS

Pete Carroll's promise to feed Jeanty more than 20 carries didn't come to fruition on Sunday. Instead, he rushed just six times for 21 yards and also caught one pass. His fantasy production has been incredibly dependent on the game script so far. Fortunately, he could bounce back as a low-end RB1 against the Jaguars on the other side of the Week 8 bye.

Saquon Barkley, 5.2 FPTS

It has been a tough few weeks for Barkley, who totaled 44 rushing yards on 18 carries this Sunday. His only catch of the game went for a loss, too. The superstar does appear to be showing some signs of fatigue after his 2,000-yard season. Managers will continue to feel compelled to start him as a mid-range RB2 heading into Week 8 against the Giants.

Breece Hall, 7.2 FPTS

Hall carried the ball just 11 times as New York found its way into a very unfavorable game script. His fantasy productions have been highly dependent on the script this year, which is unfortunate given that the Jets are 0-7.

TreVeyon Henderson, 0.5 FPTS

Week 7 against the Titans seemed like the perfect opportunity for Henderson to break out. Instead, the rookie carried the ball two times and enjoyed the rest of the game from the sideline. He should be benched in all leagues ahead of next week's clash against a stingy Browns defense.

TreVeyon Henderson played 3 snaps in the first half pic.twitter.com/Sqt2CrvkKN

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 19, 2025

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, 4.2 FPTS

Croskey-Merritt did lead the backfield with 13 touches in Week 7, but his efficiency (2.5 YPC) was highly concerning. He could struggle in another negative game script scenario against the Chiefs next week, who have allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs this season.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Kendrick Bourne, 3.4 FPTS

Bourne's hot streak came to an end on Sunday night as he caught just two passes for 14 yards. The veteran receiver was held in check while playing alongside Jauan Jennings, so he'll almost certainly see his role decline with Ricky Pearsall (knee) expected back in action next week.

Brian Thomas Jr., 6.1 FPTS

Thomas was targeted seven times on Sunday morning, but he was only able to haul in three passes for 31 yards. Last year's rookie standout continues to show a weakened rapport with Trevor Lawrence, though some of Sunday's struggles can be attributed to bad weather. He'll look to bounce back against a struggling Raiders defense in Week 9.

Brian Thomas Jr

With Trevor Lawrence (16 gms):
- 6.8 targets (0.7 rz)
- 3.9 catches
- 60 yards
- 0.38 TDs

With Mac Jones (8 gms):
- 10 targets (1.1 rz)
- 6.5 catches
- 85.9 yards
- 0.63 TDs

Nine of the games with T Law came in the first half of BTJ’s rookie season, but still… pic.twitter.com/p5yggJAOsS

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) October 20, 2025

Jordan Whittington, 2.9 FPTS

It seemed like Whittington was poised to handle a larger role with Puka Nacua (ankle) sidelined, but that didn't really come to fruition. He caught just two of four targets and can be left on fantasy waivers entering Week 9 against the Saints.

Jaylen Waddle, 2.5 FPTS

Waddle struggled as a result of Tagovailoa's poor showing. He caught just one of his four targets for 15 yards, falling off the fantasy radar once again. He has the talent to be a fantasy football weapon, but the Dolphins' offensive woes make him impossible to trust. He can be benched in most leagues.

Jerry Jeudy, 3.7 FPTS

Jeudy had just two catches for 17 yards on Sunday. He continues to underperform in fantasy football as he struggles to develop a rapport with Dillon Gabriel. He belongs on fantasy benches heading into Week 8 against the Patriots.

Elic Ayomanor, 4.9 FPTS

Ayomanor didn't exactly handle the vacated targets of Calvin Ridley (hamstring). Instead, the rookie was held to just two catches for 29 yards. He was significantly outperformed by Chimere Dike and can be left on waivers in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 8 against the Indianapolis.

Rome Odunze, 5.1 FPTS

Odunze had a chance to break out against a suspect Saints secondary, but that didn't come to fruition. Instead, the second-year receiver caught just two of his six targets for 31 yards. Next week's matchup against the Ravens is an excellent opportunity for Odunze to bounce back. He ranks as a high-end WR3 with WR1 upside.

Rome Odunze you gotta catch this pic.twitter.com/hAmljl2hGh

— Dave (@dave_bfr) October 19, 2025

Luke McCaffrey, 0.0 FPTS

McCaffrey was discussed as the top candidate to lead Washington's receiver room on Sunday. That certainly did not happen as McCaffrey had two targets and zero catches. His snap share will likely dwindle upon the return of Washington's top two receivers, so he can be dropped in most leagues.

Tetairoa McMillan, 6.3 FPTS

McMillan caught three passes for 33 yards, taking a backseat to Xavier Legette. Sauce Gardner smothered the rookie and should enjoy a little more freedom to run around and make plays happen against the Bills next week.

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

George Kittle, 0.0 FPTS

Kittle's first game back from IR was highly disappointing. San Francisco adopted a run-heavy approach, and Kittle was held without a catch as he failed to haul in either of his two targets. He flashed his usual elite production at the start of the season, though, and should have no trouble getting back to that point. He'll still be a mid-to-high TE1 in Week 8 against the Houston Texans.

George Kittle did not record a catch against the Falcons, but his impact was felt in the run game:

🔹 Kittle on-field: 28 carries, 151 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1.4 avg. yards before contact
🔹 Kittle off-field: 6 carries, 12 yards, -2.1 avg. yards before contact#ATLvsSF | #FTTB

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 20, 2025

Michael Mayer, 2.0 FPTS

Mayer was supposed to take on a larger role with Brock Bowers (knee) sidelined, but he ultimately caught just one pass for 10 yards. Bowers should return on the other side of the Week 8 bye, which means Mayer will become droppable once again.

Dallas Goedert, 4.8 FPTS

Goedert was held to three catches for 18 yards as Philadelphia won on the road. The veteran has been dependable when called upon, but he wasn't exactly a top target in the passing game on Sunday after A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for over 300 yards.

Chig Okonkwo, 0.0 FPTS

Okonkwo did not catch a pass on Sunday despite being targeted twice. His production has been quite inconsistent this year, dropping him to the low-end TE2 tier for Week 8 against Indianapolis.

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