👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Top 10 Lineup Busts for Week 1

It's time! Football is here. You're setting your lineups and getting pumped up about your Week 1 matchups. You're looking over your lineup and thinking about how it has absolutely zero holes in it and you are going to be undefeated and all your starters are definitely must starts right now and always.

I'm going to be here all season to tell you to stop, wait, and take that one dude out of your lineup because he is actually going to be bad this week. There are obviously some players who are still must starts under all circumstances--if I tell you to bench David Johnson, you have my permission to send me mean Tweets about it--but sometimes y'all have to temper your expectations.

Below are 10 players who I'm not expecting huge things for in the opening game of the 2017 season. That doesn't necessarily mean bench them, but it means to be careful with placing too much trust in them.

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. Sign Up Now!

 

Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 1

Leonard Fournette (RB, Jacksonville Jaguars)

If you believe that volume > anything else, go ahead and roll with Fournette against the Texans since he'll be receiving the bulk of the team's carries, but don't expect a breakout game in his first NFL contest. Houston's defense--and their front seven in particular--is stout. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney can stop opposing run games. Fournette's chances this week are dependent on how many carries he receives, because he's not going to be busting out any huge gains.

Joe Mixon (RB, Cincinnati Bengals)

Say it with me. Joe Mixon isn't actually starting for the Cincinnati Bengals. I'm sorry, but I don't know how anyone is trusting him right now.  Head coach Marvin Lewis is going to feed the ball to Jeremy Hill twenty-five times and then they'll throw a few dump off passes to Gio Bernard and Joe Mixon will barely see the field because MARVIN LEWIS. (In all seriousness, Mixon will likely get a handful of carries, but it won't be enough to justify a start.)

Melvin Gordon (RB, Los Angeles Chargers)

Just a warning--this list is heavy on Chargers players. Los Angeles is on the road against Denver. It's a tough match up for the Chargers against a Broncos team that should be among the top defenses in 2017. Like with Fournette, the volume should be there, but the production might not be. Gordon should be in your lineup for Week 1, but you shouldn't be too shocked if he puts up 60 yards and no scores.

Ty Montgomery (RB, Green Bay Packers)

The Packers have a tough game against the Seahawks. Ty Montgomery's usage in 2017 has a chance to be very, very unpredictable. I know Mike McCarthy has used the phrase "every down back" more times than I can count, but when has Green Bay's running game ever been a thing to rely on? Montgomery's receiving skills give him a decent floor, but he really seems like a player whose value this season will depend on who his opponent is--in easier games, Green Bay will give him the ball ten to fifteen times, but in the tougher match ups they'll likely abandon the run and take to the air.

Jordy Nelson (WR, Green Bay Packers)

But Justin, you literally just said the Packers will abandon the run game and throw the ball a lot this week. Yes, I just said that. And yes, that probably happens. But Jordy will likely be shadowed by Richard Sherman all game and the Packers other receivers--Davante Adams and Randall Cobb--will steal more targets than normal. Jordy is still the top receiver in one of the NFL's best offenses, but I'm not sure Jordy will perform up to where you drafted him.

T.Y. Hilton (WR, Indianapolis Colts)

I've got two words for you: Scott Tolzien. Two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He's started three games and played most of a fourth in his career. He threw for over 300 yards in one of those games, but he also threw three of those career interceptions. So...yeah, I like Hilton a lot once Andrew Luck gets back but I'm not really sure he's going to get the ball very much. There are bad quarterbacks who help their top receiver because they just funnel them the ball and then there are bad quarterbacks who hurt their receivers because they're unable to funnel them the ball. Tolzien is the latter.

Keenan Allen (WR, Los Angeles Chargers)

Another Charger! Same reasons apply as with Gordon, but let's add on to that the fact that Keenan Allen hasn't played an NFL game in a long time and we have no idea how his relationship with Rivers will look. I'm not willing to bet on Allen this week against a strong Broncos team. FLEX him if you like his upside--it's definitely there--but be aware that you're taking a risk.

Matthew Stafford (QB, Detroit Lions)

Stafford takes on a good Cardinals defense without last season's top receiver, Anquan Boldin. I think Stafford will be fine in 2017--especially as the season wears on and the team's WR3 spot settles down--but I'm looking the other way this week. There are better plays that you either have on your bench or can stream. Like...I don't know, maybe his opponent this week, Carson Palmer?

Philip Rivers (QB, Los Angeles Chargers)

I don't hate the Chargers! I know it looks that way since I've placed three of them on this list, but I'm just not feeling it against the Broncos. Could Philip Rivers have a serviceable day? Sure. But he wasn't great against Denver last season--in the Chargers road win against the Broncos, Rivers was efficient but only threw for 178 yards, and in their home loss he tossed three interceptions. I don't trust him this week.

Eric Ebron (TE, Detroit Lions)

I know people are high on Ebron this year, but I'm not buying it at this point. He's almost never been used in the red zone--pretty important for an NFL tight end--and the Cardinals defense in 2016 gave up less fantasy points to TEs than any other team. It's a recipe for Ebron to end up with three catches and about 35 yards.

 

More Player Outlooks




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ryan Bliss

Back in Action at Spring Training
Lars Nootbaar

Will be Delayed in Reporting to Camp
Nabil Crismatt

to Have Elbow Surgery
Agustín Ramírez

Agustin Ramirez Working to Improve his Defense
Nathan Lukes

Davis Schneider Likely to Platoon in Left Field
Jordan Binnington

Records 26-Save Shutout Against Czechia
Connor McDavid

Ties Canadian Record With Three Assists in Olympic Debut
Addison Barger

Moving to Outfield Full Time?
Josh Morrissey

Hurt in Olympic Opener
Robert Williams III

Will Not Play Against Utah
Braxton Garrett

Reaches 95 MPH During Live BP
Deni Avdija

Sidelined vs. Jazz
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Multiple Weeks
Naji Marshall

Gets Upgraded to Probable
Ian Anderson

to Miss All of 2026 After Shoulder Surgery
Myles Turner

Will Not Play Thursday
Caleb Martin

is Downgraded to Doubtful
Gunnar Henderson

Leaves Camp Due to Personal Matter
Noelvi Marte

to Work in Center Field in Camp
New York Knicks

Jeremy Sochan Heading to New York
Sal Stewart

Drops Weight Heading into First Full MLB Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Eligible for 2026 Season
Kyle Kuzma

Cleared to Play Against Thunder
Ryan Rollins

Remains Sidelined Against Thunder
Keston Hiura

Dodgers Sign Keston Hiura to a Minor-League Deal
Shaedon Sharpe

Sidelined Against Utah
Nick Castellanos

Drawing "a Lot of Interest"
Hunter Dobbins

Not Running or Fielding Yet
Jeff Criswell

to Open 2026 Season on 60-Day Injured List
Ryan Walker

Fixes Mechanics in Pursuit of Closer Role
Scoot Henderson

Available Again on Thursday
Carlos Rodón

Carlos Rodon Has Thrown Five or Six Bullpen Sessions
Trevor Megill

Facing More Competition for Saves in 2026
Deandre Ayton

Ruled Out on Thursday
Tampa Bay Rays

Rays Set to Deploy Closer-by-Committee Approach in 2026
Jacob Melton

Likely to Open 2026 in Triple-A?
Carson Williams

Expected to Open 2026 in Triple-A?
Isaiah Hartenstein

Resting on Thursday
Jalen Williams

Will Not Play Thursday Against the Bucks
Deni Avdija

Listed As Questionable on Thursday
Lauri Markkanen

Will Rest on Thursday Against Portland
Keyonte George

Will Not Play Thursday
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Will Likely Miss the Rest of the Season
CFB

BYU's Parker Kingston Charged with Felony Rape
Joel Embiid

to Be Re-Evaluated After All-Star Break
Caleb Martin

Iffy for Thursday's Game
Naji Marshall

Uncertain to Face Lakers
Cameron Young

Looking for Pebble Beach Success
J.J. Spaun

Looks to Turn Things Around at Pebble Beach
Collin Morikawa

Eyes Turnaround at Pebble Beach
Jake Knapp

Brings Hot Form to Pebble Beach
Nick Taylor

in Good Form Going into Pebble Beach Event
Viktor Hovland

Carrying Momentum Into Pebble Beach
Tommy Fleetwood

Set for 2026 PGA Tour Debut at Pebble Beach
Harris English

Looks to Build on Steady Form at Pebble Beach
Justin Rose

Tuned in for AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Keegan Bradley

a Boom-or-Bust Play at Pebble Beach
Maverick McNealy

Playing Well with Pebble Beach Looming
Russell Henley

Carries Momentum to Pebble Beach
Shane Lowry

Makes 2026 PGA Tour Debut at Pebble Beach
Michael Kim

Putting Well with Pebble Beach on the Horizon
Billy Horschel

a Little Rattled After Consecutive Missed Cuts
Ben Griffin

Solid But Not Spectacular Early in 2026
Wyndham Clark

Has Question Marks Heading to Pebble Beach
Daniel Berger

Heating Up at the Right Time for Pebble Beach
Jordan Spieth

Looking For a Return to Form at Pebble Beach
Juuse Saros

Starting Wednesday
William Nylander

Iffy for Olympic Opener
Martin Necas

Ready for Thursday
Drake Maye

Says his Shoulder Injury was Significant
Xander Schauffele

Trying to Get the Motor Going at Pebble Beach
Hideki Matsuyama

Trying to Overcome Sunday Collapse
Kenneth Walker III

Runs Away With Super Bowl MVP Honors
Vinicius Oliveira

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Mario Bautista

Gets Back In The Win Column
Kyoji Horiguchi

Dominates At UFC Vegas 113
Amir Albazi

Gets Dominated At UFC Vegas 113
Rizvan Kuniev

Earns His First UFC Win
Jailton Almeida

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 113
Marc-Andre Barriault

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Michal Oleksiejczuk

Gets His Third Win In A Row
Las Vegas Raiders

Klint Kubiak Confirms he Will be Next Raiders Head Coach
Jonas Rondbjerg

Out for Olympics
Brad Marchand

Good to Go for Olympic Opener
Gabriel Landeskog

Healthy for Olympics
Jack Hughes

Cleared for Olympics
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Returns to Super Bowl After Injury Scare
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Being Evaluated for Concussion, Questionable to Return
James Pearce Jr.

Arrested Following Police Chase
Quinn Hughes

Enters Olympics in Red-Hot Form
NHL

Juho Lammikko Returns to Switzerland
Pavel Zacha

Misses Olympics
Travis Kelce

Undecided on Playing Future, Leaning Towards Returning in 2026?
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF