Biggest Fantasy Football Busts of the Week - Fantasy Outlooks for Baker Mayfield, Dak Prescott, Bijan Robinson, Emeka Egbuka, Jake Ferguson

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 8 of the 2025 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season saw plenty of huge fantasy performances, giving fantasy managers momentum to survive midseason bye weeks and injuries. However, many players had disappointing games as well.

Underwhelming performances across the NFL created plenty of stress and panic for fantasy managers. Some of these busts were the difference between a win and a loss in managers' Week 8 matchups.

Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 8, 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.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
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• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Fantasy Football Quarterback Busts

Baker Mayfield, 4.1 FPTS

Mayfield threw for 152 yards and zero touchdowns while taking three sacks and losing a fumble. The MVP candidate lost some ground in the award race, but at least the Buccaneers won, 23-3. Mayfield entered this week as the overall QB8 and should bounce back as a top-12 option on the other side of Tampa Bay's Week 9 bye.

Dak Prescott, 8.6 FPTS

Prescott threw two interceptions and took a pair of sacks while failing to record a touchdown in the Cowboys' ugly Week 8 loss. In fact, it wasn't until Joe Milton III replaced Prescott that the Cowboys finally scored through the air. Prescott entered this week as the overall QB2, so his dud should be treated as a fluke.

Look for him to bounce back against a struggling Cardinals defense next week.

Dondrea Tillman picks off Dak and takes it all the way to midfield!

DALvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/5niHOHohuR

— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025

Spencer Rattler, 3.6 FPTS

Rattler had two turnovers and took three sacks while failing to record a touchdown against the Buccaneers. He was benched for Tyler Shough in the third quarter, but the rookie didn't play much better. Even if he's named the starter for Week 9 against the Rams, Rattler will likely rank outside the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks.

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

Jordan Mason, 1.6 FPTS

Mason was relegated to the No. 2 running back role in Aaron Jones Sr.'s first game back from injured reserve. The 26-year-old had just three carries, one reception, and six scrimmage yards against the Chargers. He'll likely rank outside the top 36 fantasy running backs heading into a challenging matchup against the Lions.

Bijan Robinson, 5.8 FPTS

Robinson had a shaky performance against the Dolphins, rushing for 25 yards and losing a fumble. He also caught three passes for 23 receiving yards. The 23-year-old had his worst game so far this season — and his first game with fewer than 16 fantasy points — as the Falcons were only able to score three points. He remains a must-start RB1 going forward, but his floor will remain slightly lower against the Patriots in Week 9.

The NFL is such a week-to-week league. #Panthers go from allowing 131 rushing yards combined over 3 games to giving up 216 rushing yards to one player this week.

The Dolphins, who gave up 206 rushing yards to Rico Dowdle in Week 5, did this to Bijan Robinson and the Falcons: pic.twitter.com/C12kParOaG

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) October 26, 2025

Alvin Kamara, 6.5 FPTS

Kamara had just eight touches and 45 scrimmage yards in the Saints' ugly loss to the Buccaneers. Even as he took full control of the lead-back role with Kendre Miller (knee) sidelined, Kamara let down his fantasy managers. The 30-year-old will drop to the RB3/flex tier as he takes on a strong Rams defense in Week 9.

Rachaad White, 8.1 FPTS

White failed to capitalize on an extremely favorable matchup against the Saints. He was held to just 35 yards on the ground and caught only two passes. The Bucs have a Week 9 bye, and White could lose his starting job with Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) trending toward a return in Week 10.

Rico Dowdle, 5.4 FPTS

Dowdle's sensational run hit a bit of a skid on Sunday as the Bills blew out the Panthers. Dowdle had eight carries for 54 yards and was far more efficient than Chuba Hubbard, but the latter had four more touches and scored a touchdown. Neither running back caught a pass.

Dowdle will remain in the RB3 tier for Week 9 against Green Bay, and his floor will be quite low if Andy Dalton continues to start at quarterback over Bryce Young (ankle).

Dave Canales says there was no consideration of deviating from alternating series between RBs Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard. “Like the plan, just looking for execution.” #Panthers pic.twitter.com/1GhY17MYNB

— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) October 26, 2025

Aaron Jones Sr., 5.0 FPTS

Jones was disappointing in his first game back from a hamstring injury. He rushed for 15 yards on five carries and caught two of his four targets. The veteran running back was more efficient and more involved than Mason, but both backs were unimpressive from a fantasy perspective. Jones will be a mid-range fantasy RB3/flex for Week 9 against a strong Lions defensive front.

Rhamondre Stevenson, 5.9 FPTS

Stevenson was inefficient on Sunday, amassing 34 rushing yards on just 14 carries (2.4 YPC). Week 8 might have represented a turning point in New England's backfield as TreVeyon Henderson rushed for a career-high 75 yards on 10 carries. Stevenson will remain heavily involved in Week 9 against Atlanta, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Henderson lead the backfield in snaps.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Matthew Golden, 3.4 FPTS

Golden caught three passes for just four yards, a final stat line that runs contrary to his speedy, deep-threat skill set. The rookie was out-produced by Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, which paints a clear picture of the pecking order going forward. Golden should be stashed in dynasty leagues, but he's droppable in many redraft formats.

Sterling Shepard, 1.8 FPTS

Shepard was held to just one reception, which was his lowest mark of the 2025 season. The veteran was operating as the Bucs' No. 2 receiver with Mike Evans (collarbone, concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula) sidelined. Still, he wasn't able to carve out significant volume, as the Bucs' passing game underwhelmed overall.

Jerry Jeudy, 0.0 FPTS

Jeudy's disappointing season continues. The Browns' receiver was targeted twice and did not catch a pass. He now has just two catches over his last two games, struggling to form a consistent rapport with Dillon Gabriel. Of course, facing off against Christian Gonzalez on Sunday didn't help, either. Jeudy will come out of the Week 9 bye as a fringe top-36 fantasy receiver, especially if he is covered by Sauce Gardner (concussion) in Week 10.

Darnell Mooney, 2.1 FPTS

Mooney was supposed to be the Falcons' No. 1 receiver with Drake London (hip) sidelined, but he mustered just one catch on four targets. Mooney will shoulder some of the blame, but we can also attribute his poor game to the Falcons' overall offensive woes under Kirk Cousins. The receiver's Week 9 value against the Patriots will depend on whether London and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) are healthy enough to play.

Emeka Egbuka, 6.5 FPTS

Egbuka handled No. 1 wide receiver duties in the Bucs' win, but he caught just three of nine targets for 35 yards. The rookie sensation has dealt with some adversity over the last three weeks, catching just nine of 25 targets while ranking as the WR48 in PPR leagues during that span. He'll have a Week 9 bye before matching up against the Patriots and standout cornerback Gonzalez in Week 10.

I’m going to say it, I hate to say it, but Emeka Egbuka hasn’t had much success since his hamstring situation a few weeks ago. #WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/zbiQeRDwHb

— Christopher Mathis 🎙 (@thechrismathis) October 26, 2025

Xavier Legette, 3.7 FPTS

One week after a career-best showing in which he had 92 yards and a touchdown, Legette came tumbling back down to earth. He and Dalton connected for just two completions and 17 yards on Sunday. He'll rank outside the top 36 receivers heading into Week 9 against Green Bay and can be benched in most fantasy leagues.

Quentin Johnston, 0.0 FPTS

Johnston laid a goose egg on Thursday night. Not only was he held without a catch, but he didn't have a target, either. Johnston was the overall WR14 heading into Week 8, so we're tempted to believe that his dud was an anomaly. He'll get another chance to rank as a high-end WR3 in Week 9 against Tennessee.

Isaiah Bond, 0.0 FPTS

Bond was held to zero receptions on four targets against the Patriots. Cleveland's de facto No. 2 receiver has been struggling lately, but Sunday's zero catches represent a new low for the rookie. He'll look to bounce back against the Jets on the other side of the Week 9 bye. He can be benched in all fantasy leagues for the time being.

Darius Slayton, 4.6 FPTS

Slayton caught two of five targets in his return from a two-week absence. This was his worst performance since Week 1, when he was held to zero receptions behind Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson. With Nabers (knee) done for the year, we would have expected Slayton to perform a little better in a negative game script scenario against Philadelphia.

He's a fringe top-50 fantasy receiver for Week 9 against San Francisco.

Marvin Mims Jr., 1.8 FPTS

Mims (concussion) technically suffered an injury in the Broncos' win, but it didn't happen until the final five minutes of the game when the team was already running out the remainder of the clock. As a result, Mims qualifies for this list. He carried the ball three times and failed to haul in his only target on Sunday. This was a disappointing outcome after he had caught six passes for 85 yards one week earlier.

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Jake Ferguson, 0.0 FPTS

It was an unfortunate National Tight Ends' Day for Ferguson, who had entered this week as the overall TE1 in most leagues. He was unable to haul in his lone target against Denver, delivering a rare goose egg. This week was an anomaly, and he should bounce back as a high-end TE1 in a very favorable matchup against the Cardinals next week.

T.J. Hockenson, 4.6 FPTS

Hockenson was one of several Vikings offensive players to disappoint in Week 8. He caught just two passes for 26 yards in the loss on Thursday night. The 28-year-old ranks as a mid-range TE2 heading into a divisional clash against Detroit.

Dalton Kincaid, 3.3 FPTS

The Bills cruised to victory by running the ball, which left Kincaid in a reduced role on National Tight Ends' Day. The 26-year-old caught just one pass for 23 yards, and he finished with fewer than 7.7 fantasy points for the first time this year. He should bounce back as a low-end TE1 when the game script returns to neutral against the Chiefs next week.

Dalton Schultz, 4.4 FPTS

The Texans' top two wide receivers were sidelined on Sunday, but Schultz wasn't able to capitalize on this opportunity. He caught just two passes for 24 yards in Houston's victory. The 29-year-old had at least five catches in each of his last four games, so he has a decent chance to bounce back as a fringe top-12 tight end in Week 9 against Denver.

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