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Top 10 Fantasy Lineup Busts - Week 3

Another week in the NFL and another disappointing fantasy performance by [insert the name of someone or, more likely, someones from your lineup here]. I saw on Reddit earlier that there's only been 11 100-yard receiving games through two weeks after there were 30 last season, so it's not just you who's thinking that something is up with offense right now. The quarterback play is down this year and that's making it harder for receivers to put up big games.

It also feels like injuries are up. I don't have a stat to back that assertion up, but as someone who has David Johnson and Greg Olsen, it feels that way. Lots of players already banged-up, which makes this feel like it's going to be an unpredictable fantasy season. Buckle up!

Let's talk about what players you need to avoid this week. As always, I'll recap last week's picks first and then move on to 10 names that you should probably avoid this week.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!

 

Week 2 Recap!

Yep, Busted.

My picks went better this week. Kirk Cousins continues to lead a disappointing Washington defense. Paul Perkins played exactly as expected and is about to lose carries to Orleans Darkwa. Isaiah Crowell faced a tough Ravens team and couldn't get anything going. T.Y. Hilton didn't look much better with Jacoby Brissett under center. And Austin Hooper? Another two-catch game, but this time instead of 128 yards he had... seven yards.

Look, I Know They Salvaged Good Fantasy Days But The Bust Signs Were There.

The Cowboys were even worse than expected in their blow-out loss to the Broncos. That might have actually helped Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant's fantasy numbers--in a low-scoring Broncos win, I don't think Bryant gets the touchdown that salvages his day. Both of these players weren't very good, but their fantasy numbers are inflated by the touchdowns so... you didn't have it too much if you had them on your team.

Nope, Did Not Bust.

I don't know how Carson Wentz and Carlos Hyde had good days. Wentz faced a tough Chiefs defense and threw all over them, while Hyde faced a tough Seahawks defense and ran all over them. Run those games back and it's not likely we see those levels of performance, but...well, it's what we saw. Hunter Henry is less of a mystery; the Chargers actually tried to get him the ball! Henry is a good player when he's actually involved in the offense.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let's look at ten players who will not be great in Week 3.

 

Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 3

Marcus Mariota (Quarterback, Tennessee Titans)

I think Mariota is a very good quarterback, but the Titans play the Seahawks this week. They held Brian Hoyer to 99 yards and an interception last week. Mariota might be better than Hoyer, but I expect the Titans game plan to look similar to the 49ers from last week: run the ball, run the ball, throw an incompletion, punt the ball.

Russell Wilson (Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks)

The other side of this game won't be great either. Titans have an underrated pass defense and Wilson hasn't looked all that great through two games. Seattle's offensive line just can't protect him. Expect Seattle to run the ball with Chris Carson a lot. Low scoring affair. (Really glad I own Mariota AND Wilson. Wonder if Alex Smith's still available on waivers?)

Tyrod Taylor (Quarterback, Buffalo Bills)

It's possible you're still playing Taylor because his rushing ability provides a good floor, but the Buffalo Bills are a huge mess. We've basically seen a microcosm of Taylor's season through two games, though. He excelled against a bad Jets team and he struggled big time against a much better Panthers team. I'd feel confident playing Taylor against some of the bad defenses they play later in the year, but he isn't sniffing my lineup against the Broncos.

LeSean McCoy (Running Back, Buffalo Bills)

Shady isn't going full Week 2 Ezekiel Elliott this week, but he won't find many openings against a Denver team that just held Elliott to eight yards. It is never a good sign when a top running back gets so few yards that I can spell the number out. I could see McCoy doing something in the 30-40 yard range and only salvaging his day with a touchdown, but I'm also not confident he would see the goal line work to get a score. I see you, Mike Tolbert.

Leonard Fournette (Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars)

I was wrong about Fournette busting in Week 1, but I feel safe this week saying it because the Ravens have been absolutely dominant in run defense in 2017. I don't want to start someone who is running against this team. Fournette will still likely see a large volume, but he could very well end up with a pretty low yards-per-carry average when all is said and done. Also, it's a London game. Those don't usually go too well.

Jordan Howard (Running Back, Chicago Bears)

Sigh. I was a big believer in Howard, but he's got an injured shoulder and he isn't involved in passing situations, which really limits his upside. The Steelers can put this game away fairly quickly and force the Bears into throwing the ball. Howard could rebound in the sense that he puts up more yards on the carries he gets, but I don't know if I see him getting as many carries as fantasy owners would like.

Jermaine Kearse (Wide Receiver, New York Jets)

Kearse has emerged as the Jets top receiving threat through two games, a player who is racking up the targets. But he's not...that good, is he? And Miami has a good secondary, right? This is one of those situations where someone thinks they're going to outsmart their league by playing Kearse and they quickly realize it isn't happening.

DeAndre Hopkins (Wide Receiver, Houston Texans)

Of all the players on this bust list, this is the one I feel the least confident about. Hopkins is the only real receiving weapon that Houston has and they're likely to be down big against New England, so he could see a high volume of targets and score big. But also, he has a rookie quarterback on the road against New England, so the ball might just never get to Hopkins. I'm avoiding.

Dez Bryant (Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys)

Another bad match-up this week. The Cowboys are going to likely rely on the run and on a bounce back game from Ezekiel Elliott. Also, Dez Bryant isn't the same player he used to be. I said this last week. It is still true this week. Avoid.

Jason Witten (Tight End, Dallas Cowboys)

I think there's a lot to like at the tight end position this week, but one player I'm avoiding is Jason Witten in a road game against Arizona. The Cardinals haven't looked great this year, but a lot of that is the offense's fault. I think Witten will find it tough going this week.

 

More Week 3 Lineup Prep




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Larry Nance Jr.

is Questionable for Game 1 on Tuesday
OG Anunoby

is Probable for Tuesday's Game 1
Luke Kornet

is Cleared for Game 1
New Orleans Pelicans

Jamahl Mosley Agrees to Become Pelicans Next Head Coach
De'Aaron Fox

is Ruled Out for Game 1 on Monday
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Set to Start Game 7
Corey Seager

Going on Injured List With Back Injury
Tage Thompson

Can Match Franchise Record With Another Multi-Point Game
Nick Suzuki

Seeks More Road Success Monday
Lane Hutson

Riding a Five-Game Assist Streak Into Game 7
Filip Gustavsson

Needs Offseason Surgery
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Monday Against Twins
Cam Skattebo

Dynasty Stock Rising Following NFL Draft
Kaleb Johnson

Logging First-Team Reps in OTAs
Evan Engram

Dynasty Value Fading After Production Decline in 2025
TreVeyon Henderson

Dynasty Outlook Clouded By Split Backfield in New England
Caleb Williams

' Dynasty Upside Remains Sky-High Entering 2026
Bijan Robinson

Is Bijan Robinson the No. 1 Overall Player in Dynasty Formats?
Woody Marks

Should Have Plenty of Opportunities to Catch Passes
Drew Allar

Working as QB4 in First OTA Session
Aaron Rodgers

Reports to Steelers Facilities on Monday
Alvin Kamara

Saints Remain Non-Committal on Alvin Kamara's Future
Chris Olave

Saints Continue to Work on Extension With Chris Olave
Parker Washington

a Sneaky Trade Target in Dynasty Leagues?
Melquizael Costa

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 117
Jarquez Hunter

Can Jarquez Hunter's Dynasty Outlook Improve in Year 2?
Arnold Allen

Bounces Back
James Conner

Off the Dynasty Radar Entirely?
Elijah Arroyo

Will Elijah Arroyo Continue to Have Trouble Getting on the Field?
Daniel Santos

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Tre Tucker

Not a Long-Term Solution in Dynasty Leagues
MMA

Dohoo Choi Wins His Third Consecutive Fight
Malcolm Wellmaker

Suffers His Second Loss In A Row
Juan Diaz

Scores Second-Round Submission
Christian Edwards

Defeated At UFC Vegas 117
CFB

Transfer Running Back Arnold Barnes Visiting Iowa State on Monday
Modestas Bukauskas

Gets Split-Decision Win
Jack Bech

a Dynasty Hold as New-Look Raiders Offense Takes Shape
Jaydon Blue

a Low-Value Dynasty Stash Until Depth Charts are Settled
Makai Lemon

a Top-Five Pick in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
George Kittle

a Dynasty Buy with League-Winning Potential
Jhostynxon Garcia

Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

a Dynasty Sleeper with High Touchdown Potential
Tobias Harris

Goes Cold in Game 7 Loss
Quinn Hughes

Open to Signing Extension This Offseason
Jalen Duren

Finishes Game 7 with Quiet Line
Cade Cunningham

Endures Cold Shooting Night Sunday
Joel Eriksson Ek

Misses Second Round Due to Heel Injury
Sam Merrill

Catches Fire in Game 7 Win
Evan Mobley

Posts Versatile Double-Double in Game 7
Jonas Brodin

Sits Out Round 2 Due to Toe Injury
Donovan Mitchell

Guides Cavaliers Into East Finals
Sam Malinski

Practices Fully Sunday
Jarrett Allen

Scores 23 Points in Cavs' Game 7 Rout of Pistons
Josh Manson

Rejoins Practice
Kevin Huerter

Active on Sunday Night
Caris LeVert

Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert Available Sunday
Dean Wade

Max Strus Replaces Dean Wade in Starting Lineup Sunday
Luke Kornet

Iffy for Monday
Larry Nance Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
De'Aaron Fox

Listed as Questionable for Monday's Action
Jalen Williams

Officially Available for Game 1 Against Spurs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Named MVP for Second Straight Year
Colt Emerson

Mariners Promoting Top Prospect Colt Emerson to Major Leagues
Bones Hyland

Wants to Stay in Minnesota
Munetaka Murakami

Fantastic First Season Continues With Two More Homers
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Dazzles With 13-Strikeout Complete Game on Saturday
Blake Snell

to Undergo Elbow Surgery on Tuesday
Clay Holmes

Could Miss Around Three Months
Jose Altuve

Exits After Swing
Corey Seager

Absent With Back Spasms on Saturday
Jeremy Lauzon

Misses Saturday's Practice
Mark Stone

Doesn't Practice Saturday
Josh Manson

Misses Practice, Considered Day-to-Day
Brent Burns

Day-to-Day Ahead of Conference Finals
Cale Makar

Considered Day-to-Day
Alex Lyon

Likely to Start Game 6 Against Canadiens
Owen Power

Available Saturday
Trevor Story

Hits the Injured List With Groin Injury
Blake Snell

Likely to Need Elbow Surgery
Kyle Schwarber

on a Heater, Hits Two More Homers to Take Major-League Lead
Clay Holmes

Suffers Fractured Fibula on Friday Night
Blake Snell

Heads to 15-Day Injured List
Blake Snell

Scratched From Start on Friday for Undisclosed Reasons
Max Fried

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Bone Bruise
CFB

Julian Sayin Looking To Build Off Of Strong Debut Season
CFB

College GameDay Set for First Three Weeks
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Aiming For Ohio State Receiving Records
CFB

Keshaun Singleton Projects as Auburn's WR1
CFB

Jeremiah Cobb Impresses New Auburn Staff
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Very Likely to Start for Georgia Tech
CFB

Charles Woodson Jr. Commits to Michigan
Jordan Westburg

to Have Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Melquizael Costa

Set For UFC Vegas 117 Main Event
Arnold Allen

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 117
Daniel Santos

Set For UFC Vegas 117 Co-Main Event
MMA

Dohoo Choi Returns At UFC Vegas 117
Juan Diaz

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Malcolm Wellmaker

Looks To Bounce Back
Christian Edwards

Set For His UFC Debut
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Tarik Skubal

Resumes Playing Catch, Ahead of Schedule?
Lane Hutson

Contributes Two Assists in Game 5 Victory
Nick Suzuki

Amasses Three Points in Crucial Victory Thursday
Juraj Slafkovsky

Dishes Out Three Assists in Game 5 Win
Carter Hart

Stops 31 Pucks in Series-Clinching Win
CFB

Virginia Tech Lands Commitment from Four-Star QB Peter Bourque
Byron Buxton

Scratched on Thursday With Hip Soreness
Cal Raleigh

Heading to Injured List With Oblique Strain
CFB

NFL Veteran Tom Moore Joins Iowa Coaching Staff
CFB

Can Cam Cook Dominate in Return to Big 12?
CFB

ACC, Big 12 Support 24-Team College Football Playoff
CFB

Anthony Colandrea Looking to Elevate Nebraska Back to National Contention
CFB

Kwazi Gilmer Set for Big Impact at Nebraska
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of PGA Championship Despite Concerning Form
J.J. Spaun

Trending Up Ahead of PGA Championship
Adam Scott

Riding Strong Form Into PGA Championship
Patrick Reed

Looking to Make Another Run at PGA Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Looks to Build on Strong Finish at Truist Championship
Sam Burns

Must Keep Ball in Play at PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth

Looks to Complete Career Grand Slam at Aronimink
Brandt Snedeker

Not the Best Option for the PGA Championship
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Volatile Option at PGA Championship
Maverick McNealy

Seeking Better Start in Philadelphia
Harry Hall

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Aronimink
Hideki Matsuyama

Attempts to Improve Over 2025 PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Defend PGA Championship at Aronimink
Nicolai Hojgaard

Wants to Keep Momentum Rolling in Philadelphia
Ben Griffin

Attempting to Bounce Back After Truist Championship
CFB

Transfer Defensive Lineman Devarrick Woods Commits to Clemson
Harris English

Will Need His Putter to Thrive at Aronimink
Akshay Bhatia

Creative Flair Could Show Itself in Philadelphia
Keegan Bradley

Knows the Aronimink Golf Club Well
Si Woo Kim

Struggles at Truist Championship
Gary Woodland

Can Continue Incredible 2026 Season at PGA Championship
Xander Schauffele

In Excellent Form Heading to PGA Championship
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF