As we near the home stretch of the fantasy football regular season, it’s crucial to avoid the next set of weekly traps that seem enticing but ultimately disappoint on game day. The recent case of Rams RB Zach Evans serves as a cautionary tale for fantasy owners: Proceed with caution when it comes to jumping on an unproven player’s hype train. Fortunately, we’re doing our part in making sure you’re not the next victim of a fantasy football dud like Evans, identifying overvalued players, such as D’Onta Foreman, Darrell Henderson Jr., and Joe Burrow, with our Week 8 bust list.
Of course, even “must-starts” can have off-days (look no further than Austin Ekeler in Week 7), but you won’t see those types of players among our bust picks unless we legitimately advise benching them. We’re looking for players on the start-sit bubble — not obvious starters and not players owned in just a small percentage of leagues. You might not have enough depth to bench the players below — or you might just disagree with our picks — but either way, it’s your team, so make the decisions that work best for you.
Last week, we called no-show performances from Evans, Craig Reynolds, Russell Wilson, Hunter Henry, and the Steelers D/ST, but we still didn’t hit on our bust picks at the rate we’re capable of.
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Be careful with this week’s crop of bust picks.
WEEK 8 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Projections | Start ’em, sit ’em
Fantasy RB Busts Week 8
D’Onta Foreman, Bears @ Chargers (Nick Musial). Fantasy owners might find it challenging to bench last week’s RB1, but we’re skeptical of Foreman’s chances to post starter-caliber numbers against the Chargers on Sunday night. L.A.’s defense has been one of the best run-stopping units in recent weeks, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards per game (80 ypg) over their past three contests. We don’t expect the Tyson Bagent-led Bears offense to generate many scoring drives, crushing Foreman’s hopes of reaching paydirt following his three TD-effort last Sunday. The addition of fellow RB Roschon Johnson, who’s likely to return from a concussion, also lowers Foreman’s ceiling.
Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Eagles (Vinnie Iyer). The Eagles keep dominating against the run (see the Miami game), and they’re also not giving much in the way of touchdowns or receiving of late, as teams target them with wideouts and tight ends. Robinson is headed for his first real all-around clunker, and the game script negatively can impact him, too.
Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams @ Cowboys (Matt Lutovsky). Henderson led the way with 18 carries last week, but he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. Royce Freeman actually ran better (5.5 ypc) and once again figures to be heavily involved. The Cowboys allow just 15.1 half-PPR fantasy points per game (FPPG) to RBs, so there just aren’t enough points to go around for Henderson in this matchup.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy QB Busts Week 8
Geno Smith, Seahawks vs. Browns (Musial). Smith couldn’t even take advantage of a plus matchup against a struggling Cardinals defense last week, so we have little faith in him delivering against the Myles Garrett-led Browns.
Matthew Stafford, Rams at Cowboys (Iyer). The high passing-yardage digits aren’t adding up to big fantasy days without the TDs and with the INTs, and Dallas on the road isn’t a get-well game. Stafford should be roughed up, and the Rams might need to rely on too many field goals again.
Joe Burrow, Bengals @ 49ers (Lutovsky). Burrow followed up his breakout Week 4 with an 185-yard, two-TD Week 5. We’re not convinced he’s fully “back,” and a matchup against an angry San Francisco pass defense doesn’t figure to help.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy WR Busts Week 8
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks vs. Browns (Musial). If DK Metcalf’s able to return from a hip injury, Smith-Njigba’s Week 8 fantasy prospects take a tumble. Cleveland’s defense has been the most efficient stop unit by a wide margin, so we’re fading the Seahawks’ offense at all costs.
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Browns (Iyer). There’s no way he can burn this tough overall secondary with slowed-down speed, and in general, it’s a good week to fade him also knowing the youngsters are getting more involved and DK Metcalf could be back.
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Chiefs (Lutovsky). Jeudy will do something eventually – we’re just not convinced it will be this week against Kansas City’s sixth-ranked pass defense.
WEEK 8 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Fantasy TE Busts Week 8
David Njoku, Browns @ Seahawks (Musial). We think the Seahawks-Browns game will be a disappointing one from a fantasy perspective and advise leaving Njoku on the bench against a Seattle defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to TEs.
Jonnu Smith, Falcons at Titans (Iyer). Don’t buy into this lame revenge-game narrative. Mike Vrabel will own Arthur Smith, knowing exactly what he’s going to do with limited work from the former Titan.
Cole Kmet, Bears @ Chargers (Lutovsky). Kmet’s disappeared the past two weeks with Tyson Bagent under center, catching just two-of-three targets for nine yards. We don’t see the two connecting against a tough Chargers’ TE defense.
Fantasy Defense Busts Week 8
Los Angeles Rams @ Cowboys (Musial). Despite the Cowboys’ offense enduring some rough patches the past two weeks, we think Dak and company get back on track against a Rams defense that just allowed a Matt Canada-coached offense to average 5.4 yards per play against them.
Miami Dolphins vs. Patriots (Iyer). It might seem like a good idea at home, but the Pats woke up vs. Buffalo and the Dolphins may still be battling key injuries. They also can’t be counted on to save their day with another pick-six.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Rams (Lutovsky). L.A. doesn’t have a dominant offense, but it generally doesn’t allow a ton of sacks or many takeaways, resulting in just 5.0 FPPG allowed to D/STs. In a week with no byes and a bunch of sleepers, you can do better than the Cowboys.