Biggest Fantasy Football Busts Of The Week - Fantasy Outlooks For Dak Prescott, Saquon Barkley, Mike Evans, Brandon Aiyuk, Zack Moss, Calvin Ridley

October 14, 2024

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 6 of the 2024 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

The sixth Sunday of the 2024 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 6. These players simply did not meet fantasy expectations coming out of the draft, and it cost their managers in a big way.

Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 6, 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

Dak Prescott, 5.0 FPTS

Prescott looked abysmal on Sunday afternoon, completing just over 50 percent of his passes for 178 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. His season stats suggest this outing was an anomaly, but it's concerning nonetheless. Fantasy managers can only hold their breath when Prescott faces the 49ers on the other side of his Week 7 bye.

In a game where the Cowboys have surrendered 47 points at home, Dak Prescott is finished and his team still doesn’t have a touchdown on the scoreboard.

The defense has an excuse with all the injuries.

The offense defies explanation.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) October 13, 2024

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

Saquon Barkley, 7.4 FPTS

The Browns' defense played well on Sunday, holding Barkley to just 2.6 yards per carry and only seven total yards through the air. It was an uncharacteristically quiet day for the former Giants first-round pick, who has consistently been one of the top scorers in fantasy football this year. He should bounce back next week versus his old team.

James Conner, 6.6 FPTS

Conner rushed for just 24 yards on seven carries, caught four passes for 22 yards through the air, and lost a fumble. He led the Cardinals' backfield in touches but was still out-produced by Emari Demercado. Conner remains a fantasy RB2 for next week against the Chargers.

Zack Moss, 0.5 FPTS

It appears we're watching the torch be passed from Moss to Chase Brown in Cincinnati. The former saw reduced volume on Sunday, and even when he did touch the ball, he struggled to produce. The veteran finished with 15 scrimmage yards and a lost fumble in the Bengals' win over the Giants.

#Bengals Week 6 RB Usage

- Chase Brown: 62% snaps, 10 carries, 14 routes, 3 targets (64 yds, TD)
- Zack Moss: 46% snaps, 6 carries, 14 routes, 1 target (15 yds)

Brown is averaging 18 fantasy PPG in the last 3 weeks. Start Chase Brown ✅

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 14, 2024

Trey Sermon, 2.9 FPTS

The Colts' rushing attack seemed to operate through Tyler Goodson, whose 6.4 yards per carry significantly trumped Sermon's 1.6 yards per carry. The latter did not get involved in the passing game this week and will continue to drop in fantasy rankings even if Jonathan Taylor (ankle) doesn't return next week.

Tank Bigsby, 2.4 FPTS

Even with Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) banged up, there weren't many opportunities available for Bigsby, who tallied 24 yards on seven carries. He didn't get involved as a pass-catcher. The 22-year-old is a low-end RB3/FLEX for next week's clash with the Patriots.

Javonte Williams, 4.6 FPTS

Williams got some looks in the passing game on Sunday, but he still finished with just 36 scrimmage yards and a lost fumble. He's a low-end RB3/FLEX option heading into Week 7 against the Saints.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Mike Evans, 5.4 FPTS

Evans is no stranger to this article given his low-floor, high-ceiling tendencies. This week, he was on the lower end of the spectrum, catching just two passes for 34 yards despite the Buccaneers' 51-27 win. He's still a fringe WR1 in fantasy football.

Mike Evans fantasy managers watching everyone else score a million fantasy points in Bucs-Saints pic.twitter.com/UZto3lnpBu

— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 13, 2024

DK Metcalf, 7.8 FPTS

Metcalf and Geno Smith weren't exactly on the same page Thursday as the two connected for just three completions on 11 targets. The two have still shown a solid rapport in the past, and there's no questioning Metcalf's role or talent. He remains a must-start fantasy WR2 in Week 7 against the Falcons.

Alec Pierce, 0.0 FPTS

Pierce couldn't capitalize on Joe Flacco starting another week. The former Cincinnati receiver finished with zero catches on four targets, watching teammates Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs each notch touchdowns amidst productive days. Pierce is nothing more than a high-upside dart throw in future weeks.

Brandon Aiyuk, 5.7 FPTS

Aiyuk wasn't a real factor on Thursday night despite playing a season-high 97 percent of offensive snaps. There are so many mouths to feed in San Francisco and this week simply wasn't Aiyuk's week. He could still bounce back as a WR2 against the Chiefs next Sunday.

DJ Moore, 6.0 FPTS

A lot of players got involved for the Bears on Sunday, but Moore wasn't one of them. He caught just four passes for 20 yards, putting him behind both Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze in terms of yardage.

Calvin Ridley, 0.9 FPTS

It was a disappointing week for Ridley, who finished with zero catches on eight targets and expressed his frustration postgame. He did get on the stat sheet with a nine-yard rush, but that's no consolation. He's not currently dependable in typical 12-team redraft leagues.

Calvin Ridley had 0 catches and 0 rec yards while being targeted 8 times.

This is the first time in Titans/Oilers franchise history that a player had 8+ targets and 0 recs and 0 rec yards in a game.

Only the 13th time in NFL history a player has had such a game.

😕

— Shawn Coleman (@StatsSAC) October 13, 2024

Brian Thomas Jr., 5.7 FPTS

Thomas had the quietest game of his young NFL career, tallying just three catches for 27 yards against a very strong Bears secondary. He's still one of Trevor Lawrence's favorite targets and should bounce back in Week 7 against the Patriots.

Tre Tucker, 0.0 FPTS

Tucker was surprisingly uninvolved on Sunday. Despite operating as the Raiders' No. 1 wide receiver, he finished with zero catches on just two targets. Tucker may perform better when Davante Adams (hamstring) or Jakobi Meyers (ankle) is healthy so that he doesn't have to face the opponent's top cornerback.

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Pat Freiermuth, 3.6 FPTS

Freiermuth delivered his lowest volume of the season, catching just two of three targets for 16 yards. He also saw his two-game touchdown streak come to an end. He should be able to bounce back as a low-end TE1 versus the Jets in Week 7.

Fields to Freiermuth TD is wiped out because Fields crossed the line of scrimmage before he threw the ball. Steelers settle for a 37 yard Chris Boswell field goal. 15-7 Pittsburgh, 9:20 to go 3Q

— Matt the Warrior/Raider Fan (2-4) (@mattgswlvroak) October 13, 2024

Isaiah Likely, 4.7 FPTS

Mark Andrews finally had his week, but it came at the sacrifice of Likely, who caught just two passes for 27 yards. He remains a mid-to-low TE2 heading into next week's game against the Buccaneers.

Tucker Kraft, 3.5 FPTS

Kraft came back down to earth on Sunday afternoon. After posting 141 yards and three touchdowns over his last two games, the young tight end was held to just two catches, 13 yards, and zero scores this past Sunday. He's still an intriguing tight end option in fantasy football, but it's evident that some of the high-end TE1 hype was misguided.

Jake Ferguson, 4.1 FPTS

Ferguson struggled amidst the Cowboys' quiet day offensively as he caught just three passes for 11 yards. He'll look to get back on track against the 49ers when Dallas returns from its bye in Week 8.

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