RADIO
The 15th Sunday of the 2023 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 15. These players simply did not meet fantasy expectations, and it cost their managers in a big way.
Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 15, 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.
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Busts
Dak Prescott, 6.06 FPTS
The Cowboys simply couldn't move the football on the road against Buffalo. Prescott finished without a passing touchdown for the first time since Week 1 against the New York Giants. It's hard to imagine this is anything other than a fluke, though it certainly came at a costly time for fantasy football purposes. Managers who remain alive in the playoffs despite Prescott's tough outing should expect him to bounce back as a QB1 versus Miami next week.
Justin Fields, 9.64 FPTS
Fields completed less than 50 percent of his passes Sunday. He also threw two interceptions and fumbled twice, though on both occasions, the loose ball was recovered by Chicago. Most of his fantasy value comes via his rushing upside, and he simply didn't have that "it" factor in Week 15.
Sam Howell, 8.28 FPTS
The Commanders struggled out of the bye as Howell completed just 42 percent of his passes before being benched. In his place, Jacoby Brissett entered and looked great, creating some potential quarterback controversy ahead of Week 16. Would Washington, out of playoff contention, really turn to the veteran over its young, raw signal-caller? We shall see.
Fantasy Football Running Back Busts
Bijan Robinson, 0.4 FPTS
The Arthur Smith effect was in full force on Sunday. Robinson rushed for 11 yards, added a three-yard catch, and also lost a fumble. He certainly didn't have the greatest day, but it would be bold to suggest that he deserved to essentially be benched. Managers will have to blindly hope that he can return to the RB1 tier against Indianapolis in Week 16.
Saquon Barkley, 5.7 FPTS
The Giants took a massive step backward and Barkley suffered as a result. The star running back was held to just 14 rushing and 23 receiving yards, essentially being taken out of the game plan as the Giants fought from behind during the second half. His clear talent keeps him in the RB1 range for next week against the Eagles, but fantasy managers will understandably feel a bit less confident about starting him.
Derrick Henry, 5.0 FPTS
The Titans could not capitalize on this prime opportunity to pick up a divisional win. Derrick Henry simply isn't the same old Derrick Henry we knew and loved. He arguably reached an all-time low on Sunday, rushing for just nine yards on 16 carries, which equates to a woeful 0.56 YPC. He also caught four passes for just one yard through the air. PPR managers will appreciate his receptions, but the fact that he totaled 10 yards on 20 touches is truly alarming. The Titans face the Seahawks in Week 16.
Breece Hall, 2.8 FPTS
Things got ugly for the Jets really quickly this Sunday. Whether by design or a product of their big deficit, the Jets put Hall on the field for just 36 percent of snaps. He registered seven touches and was out-produced by rookie Israel Abanikanda. Fortunately, Hall should bounce back against the Commanders next week.
Javonte Williams, 4.0 FPTS
The Broncos struggled on Saturday and Williams was no exception, totaling 27 rushing yards and negative seven receiving yards. He played just 48 percent of offensive snaps in the contest, which was his lowest mark since Week 6. A more favorable matchup against the Patriots next weekend could allow him to bounce back as a runner and receiver.
Najee Harris, 1.3 FPTS
The Colts don't strike anyone as a particularly daunting run defense, but Harris still struggled. The former first-round pick rushed for 33 yards on 12 carries and also lost a fumble. Perhaps most glaring of all was the fact that he played just 34 percent of snaps. That's his lowest mark of the season and just the second time he finished with fewer than 50 percent. He's nothing more than a low-end RB3/FLEX against the Bengals in Week 16.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts
Brandon Aiyuk, 6.7 FPTS
Aiyuk caught three passes for 37 yards on Sunday. This was his worst outing of the season and his first time posting single-digit fantasy points (PPR) since Week 5. He'll look to bounce back in what should be a very competitive clash with the Ravens in Week 16.
Garrett Wilson, 5.9 FPTS
With Zach Wilson (head) ruled out early, Trevor Siemian took over the Jets' offense and was not productive. The unit's No. 1 receiver caught three passes for 29 yards, which was a massive fall from grace after he totaled nine catches and 108 yards just one week earlier.
DeAndre Hopkins, 4.1 FPTS
Hopkins could not extend his touchdown streak to three games on Sunday. Instead, he had his second-worst fantasy outing of the season despite registering nine targets. As the alpha receiver in Tennessee, he should be able to bounce back against the Seahawks in Week 16.
Drake London, 4.4 FPTS
London played most of Sunday's game with zero receptions but did wind up with two catches and 24 yards prior to the final whistle. He has been quite inconsistent this season and is nothing more than a low-end WR3/FLEX against the Colts in Week 16.
Odell Beckham Jr., 2.4 FPTS
The Ravens seemed to control the Jaguars on Sunday night, but Beckham wasn't a major factor. The veteran caught just one pass for 14 yards, turning in his quietest fantasy performance since Week 8 when he finished with zero receptions.
Brandin Cooks, 3.0 FPTS
Through the middle of the season, Cooks enjoyed a seven-game stretch in which he scored five touchdowns. However, he hasn't found the end zone since Week 13 and hauled in just two passes for 10 yards this past Sunday. The veteran isn't a reliable fantasy starter against the Dolphins next week.
Gabe Davis, 0.0 FPTS
Davis has been getting his cardio in. In fact, four of his last six games have seen him finish with zero receptions. The 24-year-old should be benched in all fantasy leagues and could even be dropped in shallower formats.
Fantasy Football Tight End Busts
Dalton Kincaid, 0.0 FPTS
The Bills may have destroyed the Cowboys on Sunday, but their passing game wasn't anything special. Kincaid endured his first career zero-catch game, though he should return to the low-end TE1 tier in Week 16.
Taysom Hill, 1.5 FPTS
Hill touched the ball just twice on Sunday, delivering a four-yard reception and a one-yard rush. Look for the Saints' versatile playmaker and this year's TE12 overall to bounce back as a mid-range TE2 for Week 16 against the Rams.
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