Biggest Fantasy Football Busts Of The Week - Fantasy Outlooks For D'Andre Swift, James Cook, Deebo Samuel Sr., Jayden Reed, more

December 9, 2024

Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 14 of the 2024 fantasy football season. Andersen Pickard identifies busts at each position and if they'll bounce back.

The 14th 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 14. These players simply did not meet fantasy expectations this week, and it cost their managers in a big way.

Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 14, 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

Will Levis, 5.0 FPTS

Will Levis hasn't been a very dependable fantasy option this year, but managers were optimistic about his ability to produce against the lowly Jaguars in Week 14, especially after he strung together four consecutive games with at least 14 fantasy points. The 25-year-old took a pair of sacks and failed to register a touchdown as the Titans lost to a divisional foe.

Fantasy Football Running Back Busts

D'Andre Swift, 5.0 FPTS

D'Andre Swift tied his worst fantasy performance of the season. Even against a weaker 49ers' run defense, the Bears' primary running back couldn't seem to get much going. He'll be a risky RB3/FLEX play against a very strong Vikings team in Week 15.

Nick Chubb, 4.8 FPTS

It seems as though the Browns have no interest in giving Nick Chubb the lead-back role. He had fewer touches than Jerome Ford despite averaging nearly twice as many yards per carry. The 28-year-old's future fantasy production is likely dependent on finding the end zone, which will be tough against the one-loss Chiefs in Week 15.

prayers to whoever still betting on nick chubb😭😭😭

— Lorii (@ItsNotLorii) December 8, 2024

James Cook, 4.9 FPTS

James Cook turned in his worst fantasy performance of the season, registering just six carries as the Bills adopted a pass-heavy approach against the Rams. He's slated to face another difficult opponent, the Lions, next week. He'll drop to the low-end RB2 tier for fantasy purposes.

Ameer Abdullah, 0.8 FPTS

Ameer Abdullah ceded almost all of his opportunities to Sincere McCormick on Sunday. The veteran finished with two touches for negative two scrimmage yards, and he'll remain off the fantasy radar heading into Week 15 against Atlanta.

Watching Ameer Abdullah get 0 touches with my fantasy season on the line pic.twitter.com/ZEbRwI2rUU

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) December 8, 2024

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts

Deebo Samuel Sr., 5.5 FPTS

It's time to start worrying about Deebo Samuel Sr. The 49ers scored a whopping 38 points on Sunday, and Samuel still caught just two passes for 22 yards. Managers can hope that he'll bounce back in a potential shoot-out against the Rams next week, but he still ranks as a low-end WR3 given the risk associated with starting him.

Jayden Reed, 0.0 FPTS

Jayden Reed was held without a catch last Thursday night, ceding work to Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson. Green Bay does not have a true No. 1 receiver, and that has resulted in Wicks, Watson, Reed, and Romeo Doubs all delivering inconsistent fantasy production. Reed is nothing more than a low-end WR3/FLEX option for Week 15 against the Seahawks.

Xavier Legette, 5.9 FPTS

Xavier Legette was targeted eight times on Sunday, but he caught just two passes for 39 yards. His biggest misstep was dropping a deep touchdown pass that could have given the Panthers an upset victory over Philadelphia. The 23-year-old's high volume puts him in the WR3/FLEX tier for Week 15 against the Cowboys.

Welp, that Eagles bettor is ecstatic

🎥: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/BidpXIZiPh

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) December 8, 2024

Tre Tucker, 2.7 FPTS

Tre Tucker turned in his worst fantasy performance since Week 9 as he caught just two of five targets for seven yards. The 23-year-old will still have some low-end WR3/FLEX appeal against a porous Falcons secondary next weekend. With that said, his upside could be limited with Desmond Ridder under center.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, 2.9 FPTS

If you finally caved and started Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, you're probably wondering why this was the week he finally came back down to earth. Tennessee's deep threat caught just one pass for 19 yards, turning in his worst fantasy performance since Week 4. His significant upside keeps him in the low-end WR3 tier for Week 15 against the Bengals.

Tyler Lockett, 0.0 FPTS

For the first time since 2019, Tyler Lockett finished a game without a single catch. He was targeted just once and is not a dependable fantasy option as the Seahawks' No. 3 receiver.

Hate to say it man but prime Lockett catches that every time. Elite throw pic.twitter.com/5fAWJkW6It

— Ya Boy Big Nel (@TheeNelDog) December 8, 2024

Keenan Allen, 6.0 FPTS

Keenan Allen had recorded 23-plus fantasy points in each of his last two games, but he crashed back down to earth as the entire Bears offense struggled against the 49ers on Sunday. He's a fringe top-36 fantasy receiver heading into Week 15 against the Vikings.

Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Dawson Knox, 1.5 FPTS

Dawson Knox caught just one pass while filling in for Dalton Kincaid (knee) on Sunday. The 28-year-old has shown that he's merely an injury fill-in and cannot be trusted in fantasy lineups. Managers should leave him on waivers heading into next week's clash with the Lions.

Cole Kmet, 0.0 FPTS

For the second time this season, Cole Kmet was held without a single catch. He has just one double-digit fantasy performance over the last seven weeks and should be left on the bench (or waivers) heading into Week 15 against the Vikings.

Cole Kmet gotta catch this man pic.twitter.com/NVBm083etT

— Dave (@dave_bfr) December 8, 2024

Kyle Pitts, 2.4 FPTS

Kyle Pitts' frequent appearances on this list suggest that he isn't necessarily a bust — he might just be outright bad. The 24-year-old has finished with single-digit fantasy points for five consecutive weeks, coinciding with the abysmal quarterback play of Kirk Cousins. Atlanta's top tight end can be benched in most fantasy leagues despite a juicy matchup against the Raiders next week.

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