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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 9 Fantasy Busts? Players To Consider Avoiding

Lamar Jackson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Keith Hernandez analyzes NFL players to consider sitting or benching for Week 9. These are his top potential fantasy football lineup busts to avoid starting.

In most fantasy leagues, there are just five weeks left before the playoffs begin. Time is running out. Let's take a look at the top fantasy scorers (standard scoring) at each position thus far... Deshaun Watson leads all QBs with 229.8 fantasy points at 28.7 points per game. Do-it-all back Christian McCaffrey is the highest-scoring running back (167.8 points). Michael Thomas (110.6 points) leads all receivers, while tight end Austin Hooper (89.1 points) leads the thin tight end position. If you have one or more of these players on your fantasy squad, you should be a shoe-in for the postseason.

On the flip side, Baker Mayfield (119.8 points) headlines one of the biggest busts at his position after everyone hyped Cleveland's offense over the summer. Because of injuries, both Saquon Barkley -- the first overall pick in most leagues -- and Alvin Kamara have underwhelmed. Odell Beckham Jr. (56.3) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (62.3) have been the biggest busts at receiver. O.J. Howard was supposed to break out at tight end, but he's done nothing of the sort and ranks 38th at the position with 17.6 fantasy points. If you drafted any of these guys, it's been a long year for you.

Below are 10 potential busts for Week 9 of the 2019 fantasy football season.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

Potential Quarterback Busts for Week 9

Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers @ Chargers

Since his bust against the Cowboys on Oct. 6 (he was on this list that week), Rodgers has been lights-out in three games, going 72-for-103 for 1,017 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 129.8. He also has a touchdown on the ground and is averaging 11.38 yards per attempt, all while missing No. 1 receiver Davante Adams (toe).

He's been a surgeon in spreading the ball around to all of his receivers, but all three of his touchdown passes in Week 8 went to running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Getting Adams back this week would certainly boost Rodgers' upside, but the Bolts would likely stick Casey Hayward on him all game. LA has been more than adequate in limiting opposing QBs to 18.4 fantasy points per game.

Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens Vs. Patriots

Jackson ranks third at his position in fantasy points (202.1) through eight weeks, and his floor remains high because of his rushing prowess; he's gone over 100 yards rushing three times this year, including in back-to-back weeks. He's expected to get top wideout Marquise "Hollywood" Brown back from injury as well.

However, aside from his five-touchdown season opener, Jackson hasn't topped 300 yards passing and hasn't thrown a touchdown since Oct. 6 against the Steelers. He completed a season-low nine passes for just 143 yards in Week 7 before the team's bye. Positive game script has contributed to this, but Jackson will be facing an excellent defense on Sunday night. The Pats allow the second-fewest fantasy points per game (11.5) to QBs and have given up just two passing TDs and one rushing score to signal-callers all year.

Others: Baker Mayfield (@ Broncos), Daniel Jones (Vs. Cowboys)

 

Potential Running Back Busts for Week 9

Chris Carson - Seattle Seahawks Vs. Buccaneers

Seattle's bell-cow back has been one of the safest running back plays this year thanks to his 159 rushing attempts -- second only to Leonard Fournette. Carson has just three rushing scores on the year, but he's had 20-plus carries in the last five weeks, which has included three 100-yard contests and two of his scores. The fewest touches he's had in a game was 16 against the Saints.

Like the New Orleans game, Week 9 against Tampa could turn into a shootout, which would be bad news for Carson since he's not as involved in the passing game. The Bucs improved defensive line also allows the fourth fewest fantasy points per game (12.1) to opposing running backs.

James Conner - Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Colts

Don't let Conner's 145-yard rushing performance against the Dolphins on Monday night blind you from the fact that he's been a letdown this year with Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) injured. He salvaged his fantasy stat lines the previous two weeks with three total touchdowns, but the Terminator hadn't gone over 55 yards rushing in any game before Week 8.

He also suffered a shoulder injury on Monday that could keep him out of practice all week. He could easily disappoint coming off a big outing if he's playing at less than 100 percent against a Colts Defense that has allowed 308 yards on the ground and just one rushing touchdown in their last four games.

David Montgomery - Chicago Bears @ Eagles

The rookie had his best game as a pro in Week 8 against the Chargers (27-135-1) and his stock is on the rise heading into the second half, but you should temper your expectations this weekend against a Philly defensive front that allows the fifth fewest fantasy points per game (14.6) to running backs. Montgomery continues to lose valuable targets in the passing game to Tarik Cohen, too.

Others: Mark Ingram (Vs. Patriots), Marlon Mack (@ Steelers), LeSean McCoy (Vs. Vikings)

 

Potential Wide Receiver Busts for Week 9

Marquise Brown - Baltimore Ravens Vs. Patriots

The 22-year-old rookie burst onto the scene in Week 1 with 147 yards and two touchdowns. The very next week he had a season-high 13 targets, eight catches and an impressive 86 yards. On limited targets, however, he's predictably cooled off since then and has missed the last two weeks due to injury.

Brown has 44 yards on seven catches in his last two games and has played just 41.6% of the team's offensive snaps. He's expected to return on Sunday night, but the youngster will draw shadow coverage from Stephon Gilmore, perhaps the best shutdown corner in the league this year. Brown has the speed to take the top off a defense, but his limited involvement and tough matchup make him one to fade in his return.

Jarvis Landry - Cleveland Browns @ Broncos

Landry has been extremely mediocre outside of his eight-catch, 167-yard performance on Sept. 29 against the Ravens and has yet to find the end zone this year. He's the clear No. 2 behind OBJ and has been held hostage due to the struggles of his QB. It remains to be seen how the Broncos play it, but there's a good chance that Chris Harris Jr. shadows Landry in the slot. Harris has been shutting down opposing wideouts this year and just kept T.Y. Hilton quiet in Week 8.

Golden Tate - New York Giants Vs. Cowboys (Monday Night)

The 30 targets, 20 receptions and 267 yards that Tate has piled up the last three weeks come with an asterisk -- Sterling Shepard (concussion) has been sidelined. The 31-year-old will still be a nice safety blanket underneath for Daniel Jones, but Shepard's impending return will inevitably lower Tate's ceiling. That could come this week against a Dallas defense that has allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points per game (16.6) to wideouts.

Others: Terry McLaurin (@ Bills), Alshon Jeffery (Vs. Bears), Courtland Sutton (Vs. Browns)

 

Potential Tight End Busts for Week 9

Jason Witten - Dallas Cowboys @ Giants

Holding down tight ends has been about the only thing the Giants Defense has done well this year, limiting them to 4.9 fantasy points per game. Witten scored the first two weeks of the season but hasn't visited paydirt since, and he has had more than four targets in a game just once. Dallas won't need his services to beat the G-Men handily on the road.

Jimmy Graham - Green Bay Packers @ Chargers

Another aging and fading tight end, Graham is basically the same player as Witten nowadays. If he doesn't score a touchdown, he's basically a fantasy bust. The Chargers have allowed the third fewest fantasy points per game (3.4) to tight ends the last five weeks. And with Davante Adams (toe) on track to return in Week 9, Graham's targets could suffer even more.

Others: Mark Andrews (Vs. Patriots), Dallas Goedert (Vs. Bengals)

More Weekly Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF