2013 Fantasy Football: 10 Biggest Offensive Fantasy Busts So Far
2013 Fantasy Football: 10 Biggest Offensive Fantasy Busts So Far
It was bound to happen to someone, it does every season. As fantasy football owners, we just pray to the fantasy gods that it isn’t our guy, that it isn’t our team. Sometimes it is your first round choice, other times it is the “steal” of a player you couldn’t believe fell to you in a latter round. Unfortunately, some players fall to injury and regardless of whoever’s team they are on, real or fantasy, the whole fantasy world is left without a shining star.
Whatever the case may be, this player is most likely the main culprit responsible for an unexpected losing streak, or a poor showing in the standings. At first you shook it off to just a poor game. Then it was a few games in a row, next thing you know, this guy might have only one or two good games on the season. It could have been one or a combination of many factors, an unfavorable matchup, a bad game plan by the coaching staff, a quick hole on the scoreboard in case of running backs, or a big lead that dooms the wide receivers to limited snaps and the exact opposite play calling that what you need. It could even be the emergence of a rookie, or the resurgence of a veteran.
Regardless, something is rotten in Denmark (to paraphrase Clarence Worley from True Romance) and the guy you thought could help carry your team to the top just is not getting it done. If one of your guns is on this list and performing more like a water pistol instead of a warhead, then I feel for you. Remember that you drafted these guys for a reason and some of them could still turn it around. That might be something worth remembering before you sell too low on a top prospect, or flat out cut him. It also holds value if you see the owner of this player has a team that is struggling and willing to trade what could be a top tier player for a win right now.
With all that being said, I present to you the 10 biggest offensive fantasy busts to this point in the season.
Dwayne Bowe
I wrote in the preseason that Dwayne Bowe could be in for a great year. I was dead wrong on this one and apologize to fantasy owners for that. Currently 68th in wide receiver scoring, Bowe has been victim to his quarterback, Alex Smith, who looks for the dink and dunk short passes and doesn’t take the deep shot.
Greg Jennings
Imagine that you drive a high end sports car, like a BMW 3 series and then you suddenly find yourself behind the wheel of more of a station wagon, like a Subaru. Now you know what it feels like to be Greg Jennings, who went from Aaron Rogers to whichever “quarterback” the Minnesota Vikings start from week to week. The thought was that Jennings could help the Vikings quarterback develop consistency, and open the field for Adrian Peterson, but that thought just hasn’t panned out. Jennings is 57th in wide receiver scoring.
Robert Griffin III
While Robert Griffin III hasn’t had a terrible season fantasy wise, 15th in quarterback scoring is a little low for a player who finished his rookie 2012 campaign seventh in overall scoring. Griffin has had the “benefit” of playing opposite a terrible Washington Redskins defense, forcing him into shootouts, providing owners with some garbage time points. The game tape has shown Griffin to be hesitant an inaccurate with reads and passes. I still think he is worthy of a buy low, as he did lead the Redskins on a tear to end last season, and could do it again.
Julio Jones
This might not be a fair one, but I’m putting Julio Jones on this list not due to his play, but due to his injury. Obviously I can’t fault him for getting hurt, but the fantasy world needs Jones. He is a highlight machine and a real threat to score any time he touches the ball, and fantasy football is just not the same without him. Despite not playing since week five, Jones is still first in receiving yards per game and 10th in the league in receiving yards. Hurry back Julio.
Marques Colston
Marques Colston is 74th in wide receiver scoring this season, averaging only 6.4 fantasy points per game, with only 324 yards and one touchdown. He is typically a slow starter, and definitely worth a look if Jimmy Graham’s injury lingers. However, while Drew Brees is amongst the quarterback leaders, Colston hasn’t made much of an impact.
Maurice Jones-Drew
I feel for the Maurice Jones-Drew owners out there. You deserve more from him than 29th in running back scoring, 379 total yards and only two touchdowns. The Jacksonville Jaguars are bad and fall behind early, leading to more passes than rushes. It doesn’t look to get much better for MoJo.
Trent Richardson
I couldn’t believe my luck when Trent Richardson was available to me at the end of round three in one of my leagues this season. Richardson is currently 41st in running back scoring in standard leagues. While I can forgive a few down games to the trade and having to learn a new system, I’m sure I’m not the only owner who was expecting more than a 7.04 per game average.
Roddy White
Darn you preseason! During week two of the preseason, Roddy White “tweaked” his ankle and missed the end of the preseason. There were questions all the way up to opening Sunday, where White played, and excelled as a decoy. He would later go on to injure his hamstring, forcing White to end his consecutive games streak, and give owners another reason to get ticked. White only has 129 yards this entire season.
Ray Rice
Even with the rumors of a possible timeshare in Baltimore, Ray Rice was still a hot commodity on draft day. Rice is currently 35th in running back scoring, averaging 7.93 points per game, with only three touchdowns and 356 total yards.
C.J. Spiller
Some had C.J. Spiller as a back to pick over Adrian Peterson, some had him as the number one overall choice. Currently, Spiller is 39th in running back scoring in standard leagues and 55th in per game scoring average. Definitely not what owners were expecting when drafting Spiller with a first round pick.
2013 Fantasy Football: 10 Biggest Offensive Fantasy Busts So Far
It was bound to happen to someone, it does every season. As fantasy football owners, we just pray to the fantasy gods that it isn’t our guy, that it isn’t our team. Sometimes it is your first round choice, other times it is the “steal” of a player you couldn’t believe fell to you in a latter round. Unfortunately, some players fall to injury and regardless of whoever’s team they are on, real or fantasy, the whole fantasy world is left without a shining star.
Whatever the case may be, this player is most likely the main culprit responsible for an unexpected losing streak, or a poor showing in the standings. At first you shook it off to just a poor game. Then it was a few games in a row, next thing you know, this guy might have only one or two good games on the season. It could have been one or a combination of many factors, an unfavorable matchup, a bad game plan by the coaching staff, a quick hole on the scoreboard in case of running backs, or a big lead that dooms the wide receivers to limited snaps and the exact opposite play calling that what you need. It could even be the emergence of a rookie, or the resurgence of a veteran.
Regardless, something is rotten in Denmark (to paraphrase Clarence Worley from True Romance) and the guy you thought could help carry your team to the top just is not getting it done. If one of your guns is on this list and performing more like a water pistol instead of a warhead, then I feel for you. Remember that you drafted these guys for a reason and some of them could still turn it around. That might be something worth remembering before you sell too low on a top prospect, or flat out cut him. It also holds value if you see the owner of this player has a team that is struggling and willing to trade what could be a top tier player for a win right now.
With all that being said, I present to you the 10 biggest offensive fantasy busts to this point in the season.
Dwayne Bowe
I wrote in the preseason that Dwayne Bowe could be in for a great year. I was dead wrong on this one and apologize to fantasy owners for that. Currently 68th in wide receiver scoring, Bowe has been victim to his quarterback, Alex Smith, who looks for the dink and dunk short passes and doesn’t take the deep shot.
Greg Jennings
Imagine that you drive a high end sports car, like a BMW 3 series and then you suddenly find yourself behind the wheel of more of a station wagon, like a Subaru. Now you know what it feels like to be Greg Jennings, who went from Aaron Rogers to whichever “quarterback” the Minnesota Vikings start from week to week. The thought was that Jennings could help the Vikings quarterback develop consistency, and open the field for Adrian Peterson, but that thought just hasn’t panned out. Jennings is 57th in wide receiver scoring.
Robert Griffin III
While Robert Griffin III hasn’t had a terrible season fantasy wise, 15th in quarterback scoring is a little low for a player who finished his rookie 2012 campaign seventh in overall scoring. Griffin has had the “benefit” of playing opposite a terrible Washington Redskins defense, forcing him into shootouts, providing owners with some garbage time points. The game tape has shown Griffin to be hesitant an inaccurate with reads and passes. I still think he is worthy of a buy low, as he did lead the Redskins on a tear to end last season, and could do it again.
Julio Jones
This might not be a fair one, but I’m putting Julio Jones on this list not due to his play, but due to his injury. Obviously I can’t fault him for getting hurt, but the fantasy world needs Jones. He is a highlight machine and a real threat to score any time he touches the ball, and fantasy football is just not the same without him. Despite not playing since week five, Jones is still first in receiving yards per game and 10th in the league in receiving yards. Hurry back Julio.
Marques Colston
Marques Colston is 74th in wide receiver scoring this season, averaging only 6.4 fantasy points per game, with only 324 yards and one touchdown. He is typically a slow starter, and definitely worth a look if Jimmy Graham’s injury lingers. However, while Drew Brees is amongst the quarterback leaders, Colston hasn’t made much of an impact.
Maurice Jones-Drew
I feel for the Maurice Jones-Drew owners out there. You deserve more from him than 29th in running back scoring, 379 total yards and only two touchdowns. The Jacksonville Jaguars are bad and fall behind early, leading to more passes than rushes. It doesn’t look to get much better for MoJo.
Trent Richardson
I couldn’t believe my luck when Trent Richardson was available to me at the end of round three in one of my leagues this season. Richardson is currently 41st in running back scoring in standard leagues. While I can forgive a few down games to the trade and having to learn a new system, I’m sure I’m not the only owner who was expecting more than a 7.04 per game average.
Roddy White
Darn you preseason! During week two of the preseason, Roddy White “tweaked” his ankle and missed the end of the preseason. There were questions all the way up to opening Sunday, where White played, and excelled as a decoy. He would later go on to injure his hamstring, forcing White to end his consecutive games streak, and give owners another reason to get ticked. White only has 129 yards this entire season.
Ray Rice
Even with the rumors of a possible timeshare in Baltimore, Ray Rice was still a hot commodity on draft day. Rice is currently 35th in running back scoring, averaging 7.93 points per game, with only three touchdowns and 356 total yards.
C.J. Spiller
Some had C.J. Spiller as a back to pick over Adrian Peterson, some had him as the number one overall choice. Currently, Spiller is 39th in running back scoring in standard leagues and 55th in per game scoring average. Definitely not what owners were expecting when drafting Spiller with a first round pick.
