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Keith Hernandez analyzes NFL players to consider sitting or benching for Week 3. These are his top potential fantasy football lineup busts to avoid starting.
Our Week 2 bust headliner was Drew Brees. Boy did he disappoint, but it wasn't because of a poor performance, but rather a thumb injury that required surgery and at least six weeks of rest. Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) will miss the rest of the season. Will JuJu Smith-Schuster be a season-long bust now?
Injuries are starting to pile up and we're only in Week 3. Cam Newton aggravated a foot injury and is trending toward sitting out this Sunday. The Eagles top two receivers, Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, could miss the next two games. Unfortunately, we can't predict who will get hurt before you put them in your fantasy lineups.
Below are 10 potential busts for Week 3 of the 2019 fantasy football season.
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Potential Quarterback Busts for Week 3
Baker Mayfield - Cleveland Browns Vs. Rams
If it wasn't for an 89-yard screen that Odell Beckham Jr. took to the house in the second half of Monday night's win over the Jets, Mayfield's final line would've looked much worse. He went just 19-for-35 for 325 yards, the one touchdown and a pick. After two games he's completed 60.3% of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
To put it kindly, Mayfield hasn't looked good. A Jets Defense minus their defensive play-caller (linebacker C.J. Mosley) and first-round defensive lineman (Quinnen Williams) confused Mayfield for much of the night and made him look uncomfortable.
The 24-year-old second-year gunslinger will have the benefit of playing at home in Week 3, but he's facing a Rams Defense that's allowing the fewest fantasy points per game (11.2) to quarterbacks through two weeks. Aaron Donald and company could feast on Cleveland's beat up and weak offensive line.
Carson Wentz - Philadelphia Eagles Vs. Lions
Wentz went from 313 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 71.8% completion rate in the season opener to 231 yards, one touchdown passing, two interceptions and a 58.1% completion rate in the Week 2 loss to the Falcons.
Why the big difference? As mentioned above, Philly lost both Jeffery and Jackson early in the game and they never returned. Wentz also lost No. 2 tight end Dallas Goedert to injury. With the trio expected to sit out this weekend against Detroit, Wentz could have similar trouble moving the ball through the air. Don't be surprised if the Eagles lean on the ground game early and often.
Others: Aaron Rodgers (Vs. Broncos), Andy Dalton (@ Bills)
Potential Running Back Busts for Week 3
Mark Ingram - Baltimore Ravens @ Chiefs
Ingram was lights-out in the Week 1 romp over the Dolphins, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. But he had just 47 yards rushing last week and could be phased out of the offense if the Ravens are forced to play catch-up on the road in the Chiefs home opener.
It's quite possible this game becomes a shootout, and Ingram isn't exactly the pass-catching type. The veteran has only two targets through the air, which is the same amount as Justice Hill and fullback Patrick Ricard.
James Conner - Pittsburgh Steelers @ 49ers
The Terminator has several things working against him going into Week 3. He suffered a knee injury in Week 2. While he's expected to play, he might not be 100 percent and could lose touches to backup Jaylen Samuels.
With Big Ben out for the year, Pittsburgh's offense could struggle to move the ball consistently with Mason Rudolph under center. And finally, San Francisco's defense, mainly their defensive front, looks to be for real. They've allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to running backs per game (10.6) through two weeks.
Josh Jacobs - Oakland Raiders @ Vikings
The impressive rookie is averaging a nice 5.3 yards per carry through two games. The concerning thing is he went from 23 carries in the Week 1 win to just 12 attempts in the Week 2 loss. He has just one target in the passing game and saw both Jalen Richard and Deandre Washington mix in more with the team trailing against Kansas City.
His usage could very well be game-script dependent. Richard and Washington have five combined targets in the passing game to Jacobs' one. Jacobs is fighting through a hip issue and an illness that has caused him to lose 10 pounds. It won't be easy on the road against a strong Vikings defensive front.
Others: Marlon Mack (Vs. Falcons), Kerryon Johnson (@ Eagles), Adrian Peterson (Vs. Bears)
Potential Wide Receiver Busts for Week 3
Brandin Cooks - Los Angeles Rams @ Browns
Cooks is the Rams unquestioned deep threat, but Jared Goff hasn't looked the same in 2019 and has been notably inconsistent on passes deep down the field. It won't get any easier on the road on Sunday night in Cleveland against Myles Garrett and company.
Cooks has seven fewer chances than both Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp through two games and has caught only half of his 12 targets. With the help of Denzel Ward, Cleveland's D has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game (11.5) to opposing wideouts.
NEW - Curtis Samuel - Carolina Panthers @ Cardinals
Samuel has a healthy 17 targets through two games, but he's only caught eight of those (47.06%). That's mainly because Cam Newton has struggled to put the ball on the mark for his receivers. Expecting backup Kyle Allen to do any better isn't wise, although the Panthers are facing a secondary without their top two cornerbacks. Carolina will likely feed Christian McCaffrey early and often to take the pressure off Allen.
Tyler Boyd - Cincinnati Bengals @ Bills
While Boyd hasn't found the end zone yet in 2019, he's been one of Andy Dalton's favorite targets with A.J. Green still on the mend, as evidenced by his 22 targets, 182 receiving yards and 10.1 yards per catch in two games. But Cincy's offense could be overwhelmed by an underrated Buffalo defense on the road this weekend. Expect Bills shutdown cornerback Tre'Davious white to shadow Boyd throughout the day.
Others: John Ross (@ Bills), Sterling Shepard (@ Buccaneers), Courtland Sutton (@ Packers)
Potential Tight End Busts for Week 3
Will Dissly - Seattle Seahawks Vs. Saints
Those hoping for a repeat performance from Dissly in Week 3 shouldn't expect one. He came out of nowhere to catch all five of his targets last week for 50 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks don't have many options in the passing game, but they remain a run-first unit and will be up against a Saints Defense limiting the position to only 3.0 fantasy points per game in two weeks.
Eric Ebron - Indianapolis Colts Vs. Falcons
Ebron is second on the team in targets (seven) behind T.Y. Hilton through two contests. However, he has just four catches for 33 yards through two games. It was nice to see him find paydirt against the Titans, but the 26-year-old will be a bust for fantasy owners if he doesn't score again. He continues to split playing time with Jack Doyle as well, and he only has two fewer targets than Ebron.
Others: T.J. Hockenson (@ Eagles), Jimmy Graham (Vs. Broncos)
