RADIO
Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 3 of the 2022 fantasy football season. Andersen identifies busts at each position and whether they'll bounce back.
The third NFL Sunday of the 2022 season has come and gone. Hopefully, you woke up on Monday morning feeling very good about how your week 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 3. 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 3, 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
Russell Wilson, 11.2 FPTS
Wilson led the Broncos to a narrow victory on Sunday night but didn't have a strong fantasy outing, finishing with just 20 completions, 184 passing yards, and four sacks. Wilson has not looked great fantasy-wise despite leading his team to a 2-1 record, though he could see his value rise against a relatively weak Raiders secondary in Week 4.
Matthew Stafford, 12.7 FPTS
Stafford led the Rams to a win, but his fantasy performance was underwhelming as his 24-game touchdown streak came to an end. The veteran signal-caller finished the day with 249 yards, zero touchdowns, zero interceptions, and one sack. All in all, Stafford made very few mistakes and remains an appealing QB1 option heading into Week 4 against the 49ers.
Carson Wentz, 10.8 FPTS
Wentz combined for a whopping 75 fantasy points over the first two weeks, so his 10.8-point effort in Week 3 was quite underwhelming. Washington and its quarterback looked pitiful in this contest, mustering just eight points on a safety and late Antonio Gibson touchdown. Wentz's final stat line included a 58.1 percent completion rate, 211 passing yards, and zero touchdowns. Worst of all, though, were the sacks. Wentz was taken down nine times, surrendering two fumbles (one lost) along the way.
Fantasy Football Running Back Busts
Joe Mixon, 6.8 FPTS
Mixon had his worst game of the season, totaling just 24 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards. He was targeted seven times in the passing game, but it turned into just three catches. Mixon remains the clear lead back in the Bengals' offense, but it's evident that his production in 2022 might not reach the level it was at in 2021. He will fall into the low-end RB1 category against a solid Dolphins squad this coming Thursday.
D'Andre Swift, 7.6 FPTS
Swift posted 43.2 points through the first two weeks and was arguably healthier than ever in Week 3. The result of this newfound health? Just 7.6 fantasy points. He finished the day with a mere 31 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards while failing to find the end zone. Most notably, he was wildly outproduced by Jamaal Williams, who totaled 22 touches, 107 scrimmage yards, and two scores. Swift should return to his lead-back role next week, but it's clear that Williams is going to eat into his volume all year long.
Aaron Jones, 5.7 FPTS
With the Packers' weak receiving corps and a nail-biting matchup on tap with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jones was set up for success on Sunday. However, his production was massively underwhelming. He managed just 36 receiving yards and 11 rushing yards while losing a fumble in the process. Jones remains uber talented, but his competition won't get any easier. He faces a stern Patriots defense in Week 4.
Miles Sanders, 5.4 FPTS
After totaling 191 scrimmage yards and one touchdown through the first two weeks, Sanders' production took a step back in Week 3. Overall, the Eagles ran the ball less as a team, so fantasy managers should find relief in the fact that Sanders' struggles were simply a product of a single-game offensive scheme. Look for him to get back on track as a mid-to-low RB2 against the Jaguars next Sunday.
AJ Dillon, 5.8 FPTS
Aaron Jones was listed here, and now his partner in crime also makes the cut. Dillon had a chance to get involved as both a runner and receiver but only mustered 38 scrimmage yards. We'll see if he can get back on track against the Patriots next Sunday. For the time being, he's a fringe RB2 in fantasy football.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts
Justin Jefferson, 4.4 FPTS
Jefferson was held in check last week, but his production decreased even further on Sunday. He was stymied by the Detroit Lions, being held to three catches and 14 yards. Jefferson is still viewed as one of the most talented players in the NFL, but as long as opposing defenses find ways to continue to disrupt Kirk Cousins, his output may remain inconsistent. Start him in all leagues, but don't be surprised if he produces a dud performance every once in a while.
Tyreek Hill, 5.3 FPTS
Hill totaled just two catches for 33 yards in Week 3, representing a significant decline from his 190 yards and two scores last Sunday. His underwhelming performance was largely a product of Miami's time of possession, which was just 19 minutes and 20 seconds. It would come as no surprise if Hill bounces back with a big Week 4 showing in Cincinnati.
Mike Williams, 8.5 FPTS
Williams' disappointing game was largely a product of the Chargers' overall struggles, which could have been driven by Justin Herbert's nagging rib injury. Williams was the alpha receiver with Keenan Allen inactive but could only muster one catch for 15 yards and a score. He was inconsistent in 2021 and could be on track for similar results this season.
Brandin Cooks, 4.2 FPTS
Cooks turned in just two catches for 22 yards in Week 3 against the Bears. Even with Chicago cornerback Jaylon Johnson inactive, Cooks' production faltered. This could be a common occurrence in 2022 if Davis Mills continues to struggle at quarterback. Still, the wideout has proven himself as a historically reliable fantasy option and should be viewed as a fringe WR2 going forward.
Gabriel Davis, 6.7 FPTS
In his first game back from injury, Davis produced just three catches for 37 yards. He was targeted six times and dropped a touchdown pass in the contest. The 23-year-old has been the subject of major hype for quite some time now, and he remains a high-end WR3 going forward thanks to his role in an elite Bills offense. He'll face a suspect Ravens secondary in Week 4.
DJ Moore, 2.5 FPTS
Moore turned six targets into just one catch for two yards against the Saints on Sunday. He added 13 rushing yards in the process but still did not have a big role on offense. The 25-year-old has looked great over the last three seasons but could be facing major regression in 2022 if his rapport with Baker Mayfield doesn't improve soon.
Fantasy Football Tight End Busts
Darren Waller, 5.2 FPTS
Waller and Derek Carr didn't seem to be on the same page in Week 3, connecting for just three completions and 22 yards. The talented tight end dropped a touchdown pass late in the game and finished with a season-low 5.2 fantasy points. Despite the rough outing, he should get back on track against the Broncos next Sunday.
George Kittle, 6.8 FPTS
Kittle amassed four catches for 28 yards in his first game back from injury. It was a relatively underwhelming performance from the star tight end and the 49ers as a whole. San Francisco mustered just 10 points in the primetime loss against Denver. Look for Kittle to fall into the mid-range TE1 tier against the Rams in Week 4.
Logan Thomas, 2.5 FPTS
After totaling 20.2 fantasy points on 82 yards and one touchdown through the first two weeks, Thomas managed just two catches for five yards this past Sunday. Even with the Commanders playing from behind for the whole game, Thomas was unable to carve out a significant role in the passing attack. He ranks as a high-end TE2 heading into a divisional Week 4 clash versus Dallas.
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