RADIO
The fourth 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 4. 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 4, 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
Trevor Lawrence, 11.4 FPTS
Lawrence looked mediocre in the passing game on Sunday, completing 11 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The Jaguars' passing attack was limited due to the rainy weather, but what stood out most were Lawrence's four sacks and a whopping four fumbles lost. He needs to do a better job protecting the football going forward.
Marcus Mariota, 5.25 FPTS
Mariota had his worst game of the season in Week 4, completing just seven of 19 passes for 139 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. Although the veteran doesn't have an exceptional group of weapons at his disposal, he posted at least 19.4 fantasy points in each of the first three weeks by using his legs and getting the ball to Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
Fantasy Football Running Back Busts
James Robinson, 2.9 FPTS
Robinson was another victim of Sunday's sloppy, rainy game in Philadelphia. After ranking as the overall RB4 through the first three weeks, Robinson was shut down by the Eagles. Fortunately, he takes on a relatively weak Texans defense in Week 5. He should be viewed as a mid-range RB2 ahead of the favorable divisional matchup.
Tony Pollard, 1.8 FPTS
After totaling 203 scrimmage yards and one touchdown over his last two games, Pollard took a major step back in production on Sunday. The 25-year-old was held to just eight scrimmage yards in Dallas' win over the Commanders. He was vastly outproduced by Ezekiel Elliott, though that trend could change at any time. Pollard should be viewed as a mid-range RB3 heading into next week and could see his value increase if Dak Prescott (thumb) returns.
Michael Carter, 4.9 FPTS
Carter totaled just 29 scrimmage yards in Week 4. Ever since looking like the Jets' starter back in Week 1, his role has only decreased. This is hardly a surprise considering how early Breece Hall was drafted, but it's still bad news for fantasy managers invested in Carter's early-season success. He should be viewed as a mid-to-low RB3 heading into Week 5 against the Dolphins.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts
Jaylen Waddle, 5.9 FPTS
Waddle was the WR4 through the first three weeks of the season but was held to just two catches and 39 yards this past Thursday. Much of his struggles could be blamed on the transition at quarterback from Tua Tagovailoa to Teddy Bridgewater. As long as Bridgewater remains the signal-caller, Waddle's upside is capped. He should be viewed as a mid-range WR2 going forward.
Michael Pittman Jr., 6.1 FPTS
Pittman registered just three catches for 31 yards in what turned out to be his worst game of the season. The 24-year-old is still a talented player and was merely a victim of the Colts' overall offensive struggles in Week 4. Fantasy managers should view him as a high-end WR2 going forward, though he has a tough matchup with the Broncos coming up on Thursday.
Amari Cooper, 1.9 FPTS
Cooper produced a whopping 48.2 fantasy points between Weeks 2 and 3, but that number evidently dropped quite significantly this Sunday. The Browns went run-heavy against Atlanta and, as a result, Cooper was targeted just four times. Look for him to get back on track when Cleveland is forced to throw more against the Chargers in Week 5.
Drake London, 3.7 FPTS
London was targeted seven times on Sunday, but he finished the day with just two catches for 17 yards. Mariota completed just 36.8 percent of his passes and London was among the players who struggled as a result. He has a chance to get back on track against the Buccaneers in Week 5, but his production is at the mercy of his quarterback.
Diontae Johnson, 4.2 FPTS
The Steelers' passing game looked terrible in Week 4. Things got so bad that the Steelers replaced Mitch Trubisky with Kenny Pickett. The rookie didn't do much better, tossing three picks. Johnson has the talent needed to succeed and should continue to see a hefty target share, but he won't have much fantasy upside as long as Pittsburgh's offense continues to falter.
Rashod Bateman, 4.7 FPTS
Bateman caught two touchdown passes over the first two weeks but has seen his production decline since then. With Mark Andrews commanding a high target share in an offense that likes to run the football, there haven't been a whole lot of opportunities available for receivers like Bateman.
Terry McLaurin, 3.5 FPTS
McLaurin had his worst game of the season on Sunday, catching just two passes for 15 yards. On a positive note, the Commanders have consistently been playing from behind, meaning there should be plenty of passes to go around. On the other hand, none of that matters if Carson Wentz can't execute drives and move the football down the field.
DeVonta Smith, 4.7 FPTS
Smith totaled a whopping 15 catches, 249 yards, and one touchdown over his last two games before coming way back down to earth this Sunday. Just as poor weather plagued the Jaguars, the Eagles' passing attack was also kept in check by the rain. He gets a favorable matchup against the Cardinals in Week 5, making him a high-end WR3 in fantasy football.
Fantasy Football Tight End Busts
Mark Andrews, 3.5 FPTS
Andrews looked truly elite over the first three weeks. However, he was simply an afterthought this Sunday, mainly due to rain plaguing the Ravens' passing attack. Assuming the Baltimore weather is better next week, Andrews remains a top-tier option against a Bengals secondary that has struggled to keep tight ends in check.
Darren Waller, 5.4 FPTS
Waller turned in his second consecutive "bust" week, catching just three passes for 24 yards. He is still an elite tight end and should be started in all leagues, but these past two games have shown that he isn't going to meet or exceed his projection every week. Fortunately, next week pits the Raiders against the Chiefs in a divisional matchup that should rely heavily on both teams' passing games.
Kyle Pitts, 3.50 FPTS
First, it was Mariota. Then, it was London. Now, Pitts rounds out the list of Falcons busts. The 21-year-old hauled in just one pass as the Atlanta passing game struggled to do much of anything. His upside still makes him a mid-range TE1, but fantasy managers should temper expectations ahead of a tricky Week 5 clash with the Buccaneers.
Dalton Schultz, 0.0 FPTS
Schultz returned from a knee injury just to catch zero of his three targets. Regardless of whether his poor production can be blamed on injury, quarterback play, or something else, fantasy managers should continue to start Schultz in all leagues. There's a chance that Prescott returns next week, which would bode quite well for the 26-year-old tight end's fantasy prospects.
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