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Eight Lineup Busts and Avoids for the Divisional Round

The second round of the playoffs is here, which means that this is the final week in which we'll have four games going. Below is a potential bust for each team this weekend.

Because there are so few teams in play, these players aren't necessarily potential busts in the same sense that they would have been if this was a regular season column. Instead, these are players who might not be the most appealing daily fantasy options due to match-ups and players who could perform worse than the rest of their team due to game flow and other factors.

Below are eight lineup busts and avoids for the Divisional Round of NFL action.

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Top 8 Busts - NFL Divisional Round

Atlanta Falcons: Tevin Coleman, Running Back

The Eagles allowed the second-fewest points to opposing running backs during the regular season and Coleman hasn't had a "good" rushing game since November, though he salvaged one December game with a strong performance as a pass catcher. Coleman won't get enough touches against a strong Eagles front to produce much on the ground, but there's a chance he makes something happen as a receiver--despite allowing just six rushing touchdowns to running backs this season, the Eagles gave up five receiving touchdowns to backs, a mark that ties for second-most in the league.

Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Foles, Quarterback

The playoffs can be weird from a fantasy perspective. A few days ago, I wrote a piece here on Rotoballer and said Foles was a good bargain play on DraftKings. I still think that's true, but he's also the most likely player to bust for the Eagles just due to the fact that he's barely played for the Eagles this year. The team is likely to lean on the run game more than usual. The Falcons pass defense isn't great--they gave up the 13th-most points to fantasy quarterbacks, the most of any NFC playoff team--but it's a little tough to trust Foles against them. After playing well in his first start, he struggled in his second game and in the limited action he saw in Week 17. (Other bust candidates for the Eagles are the receivers--like, well, all of them--if Foles struggles. I'm not...umm...feeling great about Philly this week, but I do think there's a chance Foles performs solidly.)

Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, Wide Receiver

The rookie couldn't produce in the first round, grabbing just four catches for 35 yards on seven targets. Kansas City was one of the worst defenses against wide receivers in the regular season, which makes Davis's no show troubling. New England isn't actually that much better, but Davis hasn't shown enough at the NFL level to warrant fantasy playing time this weekend.

New England Patriots: Rex Burkhead, Running Back

Rex Burkhead made some waves for New England during the regular season, but a knee injury held him out of the final two games of the regular season. He's expected to play this weekend, but he won't be at 100 percent and is unlikely to see many touches with the way Dion Lewis has been playing. Burkhead was already starting to cede touches to Lewis before his injury. Yes, Burkhead has five touchdowns in the last four games he's played, but that lingering knee issue is enough to keep him off my fantasy radar.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, Quarterback

I mean, this feels obvious, right? Bortles isn't going to be able to make things happen with his feet in consecutive weeks, which leaves us with a player who went 12-for-23 last week for just 87 yards. The Steelers defense is good, especially in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. I think Jacksonville's playoff run is going to come to an end this week with a rough outing.

Pittsburgh Steelers: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Wide Receiver

I know the easy answer here is to just say that Ben Roethlisberger, who threw five interceptions when these teams met in the regular season, is a bad start, but Roethlisberger did throw for 312 yards in that game. I'm not expecting a repeat performance in the turnover category, though I do think the Steelers will find it a little harder to get the yards. Expect a large dose of Le'Veon Bell in the run game and Antonio Brown in the receiving game, with Smith-Schuster likely to take a little bit of a backseat. When these teams met earlier, Brown was targeted 19 times and Smith-Schuster just six.

New Orleans Saints: Ted Ginn Jr., Wide Receiver

Ginn was a huge part of New Orleans's Wild Card victory over the Panthers, catching four balls for 115 yards and a touchdown, but I don't see him reaching those heights again this week against Minnesota's strong pass defense. Ginn did catch four passes for 53 yards when these teams met back in Week 1, but it's hard to extrapolate too much from a meeting in early September when both teams looked vastly different. What I do know is that the Vikings have been shutting down receivers over the second half of the season. They haven't allowed a 100-yard receiver since Marvin Jones Jr. back in Week 12, and Michael Thomas will end up with more targets than Ginn.

Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Rudolph, Tight End

The Saints allow the fifth-fewest points to tight ends and Rudolph has been very, very touchdown dependent lately. Over the past three games, Rudolph has four catches for 26 yards. He's also been hobbled with an ankle injury, which helps explain why he's seemingly become only a red zone target. Rudolph is unlikely to get many chances this week to make plays. There's upside because wide receiver Adam Thielen is also on a cold streak, which could provide Rudolph with a few more opportunities, but I'm not sure the upside is worth the risk here.

 

More Divisional Round Lineup Prep




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

New England Patriots

Patriots Select Tight End Eli Raridon With 95th Overall Pick
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Take Another Receiver in Chris Bell at 94th Overall
San Francisco 49ers

49ers Select Kaelon Black With 90th Overall Pick
Chicago Bears

Zavion Thomas Selected 89th Overall by Bears
Giancarlo Stanton

Exits With Leg Tightness on Friday
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Select Will Kacmarek With 87th Overall Pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Draft Ted Hurst 84th Overall in NFL Draft
Isaiah Joe

Likely to Miss Game 3 Against Suns
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Select Chris Brazzell II in the Third Round
Baltimore Ravens

Ja'Kobi Lane Heading to the Ravens With 80th Overall Pick
Peyton Watson

to Remain Sidelined Saturday
Pittsburgh Steelers

Drew Allar Selected 76th Overall by Steelers
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Select Speedy Receiver Zachariah Branch At 79 Overall
Aaron Gordon

Questionable for Saturday's Game 4
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Select Caleb Douglas With 75th Overall Pick
Jordan Goodwin

on Track to Return Saturday
New York Giants

Giants Trade Up to Pick 74, Select Malachi Fields
NFL

Saints Select Oscar Delp With 73rd Overall Pick
Grayson Allen

Listed as Questionable for Saturday
Mark Williams

Won't Play Saturday
Washington Commanders

Commanders Use 71st Overall Pick on Antonio Williams
Chicago Bears

Bears Select Sam Roush With 69th Pick
Victor Wembanyama

Will Miss Game 3 Against Trail Blazers
Carson Beck

Selected 65th Overall by Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams

Rams Select Max Klare With 61st Overall Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Select Marlin Klein With 59th Overall Pick
Jonathan Greenard

Eagles Acquire Jonathan Greenard, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars Select Nate Boerkircher With 56th Overall Pick
Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Select Eli Stowers at No. 54 Overall
Tari Eason

Reed Sheppard Move into Starting Five on Friday
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Wins Most Improved Player Award
Immanuel Quickley

to Miss Rest of First-Round Series
Kevin Durant

is Ruled Out for Game 3 on Friday
Joel Embiid

Officially Ruled Out for Game 3
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Scratched on Friday With Mid-Back Pain
Troy Terry

Available for Game 3 Against Oilers
Radko Gudas

Misses Second Straight Game Friday
Charle-Edouard D'Astous

Unavailable Friday
Dan Vladar

Considered a Game-Time Call for Saturday
Jake Sanderson

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Yakov Trenin

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Stars
Mats Zuccarello

a Game-Time Decision Saturday
Jackson Holliday

Receives Positive Test Results, Will be Shut Down for a Week
Jeff Hoffman

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Youssef Zalal

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Aljamain Sterling

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Joselyne Edwards

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Norma Dumont

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Alexander Hernandez

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Rafa Garcia

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Adrian Luna Martinetti

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Davey Grant

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Jaden McDaniels

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Ayo Dosunmu

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Jalen Johnson

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Mikal Bridges

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Anthony Edwards

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Jalen Brunson

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CJ McCollum

Delivers Clutch Shot in Game 3 Win
Jordan Kyrou

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Roope Hintz

"Ways Away" From Returning
Jason Dickinson

Could Be an Option for Game 3
Adam Henrique

Misses Trip to Anaheim
Jake Sanderson

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Josh Manson

Evaluated for Upper-Body Injury
Alex Lyon

Comes in and Shuts Down Boston
Jake Sanderson

Suffers Hand Injury While Blocking Shot
Jake LaRavia

Available for Game 3 Friday
Austin Reaves

Upgraded to Questionable on Injury Report
Francisco Lindor

Expected to Miss "Significant Time"
Tyler Kleven

Available for Senators Versus Hurricanes
Josh Norris

Out With Undisclosed Injury for Thursday Night
Noah Ostlund

Will Return for Game 3 Against Boston
Francisco Lindor

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Michael Harris II

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Francisco Lindor

Likely Headed to the Injured List
Jason Robertson

Scores in Sixth Straight Playoff Game
Matt Duchene

Records Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game
Sean Couturier

Contributes Two Assists in Game 3 Win
Michael Harris II

Continues to Heat Up With Two-Homer Game on Wednesday
Francisco Lindor

Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Calf Tightness
JR Ritchie

Earns Promotion, Will Make MLB Debut on Thursday
Wyatt Langford

Expected to Go on Injured List With Flexor Strain
Maikel Garcia

Leaves Early on Wednesday With Elbow Soreness
Roman Anthony

Day-to-Day With Sore Back
Juan Soto

Officially Back in Mets Lineup on Wednesday
J.T. Realmuto

Phillies Place J.T. Realmuto on Injured List With Back Injury
Lucas Giolito

Signs With Padres, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
Ryan Helsley

Orioles Put Ryan Helsley on Bereavement List on Wednesday
CFB

Beau Pribula Leading Virginia Quarterback Competition
Marco Penge

Trending Down Entering Zurich Classic
Sahith Theegala

Eyes Another Strong Week at Zurich Classic
Brooks Koepka

Shane Lowry Teams Up with Brooks Koepka at Zurich Classic
Si Woo Kim

Adds Another Strong Finish at RBC Heritage
Elly De La Cruz

Early-Season Breakout Continues on Tuesday
Wyatt Langford

Pulled Early on Tuesday With Forearm Tightness
Luke Clanton

Hoping to Find Form in New Orleans
Jackson Holliday

Leaves Rehab Game With Hand Discomfort
Scottie Scheffler

is Starting to Hit His Stride
Brooks Koepka

Looking for Progress in PGA Return With Partner at Zurich Classic
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looks to Share Recent Form at Zurich Classic
CFB

Ashton Daniels Named Florida State's Starting Quarterback
Tyler Reddick

Earns His Fifth Win of the 2026 Season at Kansas
Kyle Larson

Finishes as the Runner-Up at Kansas
Chase Briscoe

Rallies for A New Career-Best Finish at Kansas
Denny Hamlin

Leads the Most Laps at Kansas but Misses Out on Victory
Christopher Bell

Falls Out of Contention for Kansas Victory on Final Restart
Mike Malott

Scores Third-Round TKO Win
Gilbert Burns

Retires After UFC Winnipeg Loss
Charles Jourdain

Extends Winning Streak
Kyler Phillips

Drops Decision At UFC Winnipeg
Mandel Nallo

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss In His UFC Debut
Jai Herbert

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Karine Silva

Gets Dominated at UFC Winnipeg
Jasmine Jasudavicius

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Kyle Larson

Should not be Underestimated for the Win at Kansas
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