Did you have Sam Darnold, DK Metcalf, or Deebo Samuel in your lineups this week and end up incredibly disappointed? Obviously, there are some locked-in starters who will put up some duds every once in a while; the key is to avoid the fringe starters who have underwhelming weeks.
Last week, we gave you names like Diontae Johnson, Zack Moss, and Sam Darnold as players to avoid in lineups. If you started any of these three, chances are that you were left wishing you had made a different decision. Thankfully, Week 6 is a clean slate with new matchups to analyze. It may be a new week, but the goal remains the same - avoid the lineup landmines.
We'll be using a roundtable style article for our Week 6 fantasy football busts. Three of our fantasy football analysts will be taking a look at the slate and covering one player who they will be shying away from at each position. Fantasy managers could be in line for a frustrating Sunday afternoon if they choose to start any of these players.
WEEK 6 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers
Fantasy QB Busts Week 6
Michael O'Hara: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals - Kyler Murray's fantasy season has been marked by significant peaks and valleys. He's scored over 25 points twice (Weeks 2 & 5) but failed to reach 16 points in his other three games. His spike weeks are also rather suspect. He was able to take advantage of a porous Rams secondary in Week 2 and 44 percent of his fantasy production in Week 5 came on a single 50-yard touchdown rush. Against a Packers defense that allows 16.4 PPG to opposing QBs, this is likely to be a pedestrian week for Murray.
Ed Williams: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars - After the start Lawrence has had to the 2024 season, this might seem like an obvious bust candidate. But Lawrence is coming off his best start of the season, going 28-for-34 for 371 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts. But he now has to face the Bears, who boast one of the toughest pass defenses in the league. They're especially strong on the outside, which is where the electric Brian Thomas runs most of his routes. If they can bottle up Thomas, Lawrence could have a long day Sunday.
Vinnie Iyer: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans - Did you know that so far this season, Stroud is down to QB19 in average scoring after five games? That's disappointing, given he was consensus-ranked and with an ADP in the top-10 at the position. The Texans have had some key injuries to hurt, but now Nico Collins' hamstring might be one to overcome. Besides, with the running game and defense rolling in New England with a highly positive game script, his volume will be limited vs. Jerod Mayo's unit on the road.
WEEK 6 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE
Full Waiver Wire list | Top Players to Target | How to spend FAAB
Fantasy RB Busts Week 6
O'Hara: Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys - After Rico Dowdle took over the Cowboys backfield and exploded for 19.4 PPR points, fantasy managers may be tempted to start him as their RB2. This just isn't the spot to test out Dowdle as a fantasy starter. He faces a Detroit defense that has erased just about every running back they've faced. They rank 31st in points allowed to running backs this season and Kenneth Walker is the back to rush for more than 50 yards on this defense. The improving role for Dowdle is encouraging, but this isn't a matchup where Dallas will be able to establish the run.
Williams: Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers - Even with Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren sidelined last week, Harris was only able to muster 42 yards rushing on 14 carries against the Cowboys. Next up for the Steelers are the Raiders. But at this point, I'm not sure the matchup even matters too much; there's just too much evidence to suggest that Harris just isn't very good. Harris hasn't hit pay dirt all season, and I don't expect that to change this week.
Iyer: Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos - He was a worthy sleeper last week given the matchup against the Raiders and the expected positive game script that gave him massive rushing and receiving volume despite losing the key touchdown to Jaleel McLaughlin. The Chargers are not the Raiders defensively and Los Angeles should run all over Denver relentlessly and make life rough on Bo Nix, who won't be on the field often.
Fantasy WR Busts Week 6
O'Hara: Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts - Fading Michael Pittman Jr. this week completely rides on the assumption that Anthony Richardson will return as the Colts' starter. Richardson has looked worse as a passer than almost anyone could have imagined. He leads all quarterbacks in off-target throw rate with over a quarter of his passes being deemed off-target. It shouldn't come as a shock that Pittman has failed to score 10 PPR points in the three games that Richardson has played a full complement of snaps. With Richardson under center, Pittman is borderline unusable in fantasy.
Williams: Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers - Fantasy managers who think they struck gold with a Quentin Johnston sleeper draft pick or early waiver claim may be excited to jam him back into their lineups following a bye. But proceed with caution. The Chargers are facing their division rival Broncos, and that means Pat Surtain will be on the prowl trying to shut down the opposing passing game. Johnston doesn't typically see enough volume to get by in this matchup.
Iyer: Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars - It's difficult to sit the red-hot rookie, yes, but the Bears are a tough coverage matchup for him downfield. You need to be run-heavy and effective to knock off Chicago and they are much weaker in the slot, where this lines up to be a Chrisitan Kirk game that also favors the top tight end, either Brenton Strange or a returning Evan Engram.
Fantasy TE Busts Week 6
O'Hara: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons - Please do not be tricked by Kyle Pitts' Week 5 performance. He had 15.8 PPR points in a game where Kirk Cousins attempted 58 passes. Pitts' eight targets still only accounted for a 15-percent target share. In a normal game script where Cousins is attempting 30-40 passes, a 15-percent target share likely won't cut it. Expect Week 5 to be the highlight of yet another disappointing season for Kyle Pitts.
Williams: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals - After hauling in 7-of-9 targets for 90 yards in Week 2, Mike Gesicki was a very popular waiver wire pick. After a solid Week 3, things have started to fall off a cliff, though. After -9 yards (yes, 9 yards less than 0) in Week 4, Gesicki caught two balls for 31 yards last week, but Erick All Jr. led all Bengals tight ends in snaps last week. All has been impressive, and it appears as though the Bengals view him as the better fit long-term, and perhaps that view is expanding to see him as the better fit right now as well.
Iyer: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens - This is just to point out a 55-yard receiving game with high volume from Lamar Jackson doesn't make him playable again, given Isaiah Likely had the random two TDs against the Bengals, while Charlie Kolar got involved, too, as a field-stretcher. Then there's Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. And Justice Hill in the backfield. How dare Jackson continue to mature and not get locked into the guy he trusted all the time as a younger QB! Hey, Andrews at least has become more valuable in leagues that award points for underrated run blocking.
Fantasy Defense Busts Week 6
O'Hara: Baltimore Ravens - The Baltimore Ravens have been known for their defensive prowess throughout the John Harbaugh era. They have been particularly good in the last two seasons. But after giving up 38 points to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Baltimore has shown that they're capable of having a tough day. With Jayden Daniels and the red-hot Washington offense on the schedule this week, it's hard to convince yourself to start the Baltimore defense in fantasy.
Williams: Cincinnati Bengals - The Begnals' defense is an absolute mess right now. They've given up an average of 29 points per game this season and that baloons to 32.25 points over just the last four games. Typically, the Giants have been an offensive unit to attack, but Daniel Jones and company have actually started figuring some things out over the last couple of weeks. And if Malik Nabers returns from his concussion, this could be another shootout.
Iyer: Denver Broncos - They have a become a red-hot surprising pickup the AFC side of the Vikings and keep getting the job done late with big plays and shutting down teams. That's because teams have been foolish to pass too often against them and create chances for those sacks and interceptions. Jim Harbaugh ain't nobody's fool and will have his team gladly steamroll the Broncos on the road in the rushing attack.
