It's inevitable, players who you are relying on in fantasy football will disappoint you each and every week. Hopefully, you spot those potential landmines ahead of time and go in another direction before it's too late. Avoiding players with tough matchups or those who won't see the necessary usage to succeed is crucial when setting your lineup each week.
Last week, we gave you names like Jayden Reed, DeAndre Hopkins, Caleb Williams, and C.J. Stroud as players to avoid in lineups. If you started any of these four, chances are that you were disappointed by their performance. Week 3 presents a new set of circumstances and matchups, but let's not make the same mistakes again.
We'll be using a roundtable style article for our Week 3 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 set up for disappointment if they choose to start any of these players.
WEEK 3 FANTASY PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy QB Busts Week 3
Michael O'Hara: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts - It's likely impossible to bench Anthony Richardson in most leagues. But if you have two high-end quarterback options, consider leaving Richardson on the bench. Last week, the Packers proved that it's possible to contain Richardson and the Colts' offense if you take away the deep ball. Richardson had two completions of 20-plus yards and was relatively ineffective otherwise. Richardson will now face a Bears defense that features a strong back end with Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kevin Byard, and Jaquan Brisker. They held C.J. Stroud to a modest performance in Week 2, and Richardson will likely face a similar fate.
Ed Williams: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars - Heading into this season, most fantasy managers thought that with some better health along the offensive line, we'd see a much-improved Trevor Lawrence compared to what we saw at the end of last season. And most fantasy managers also thought that the Bills would be weaker on defense after going through a lot of turnover in personnel. Neither has been true thus far. Lawrence hasn't won a game since Thanksgiving weekend, and the Bills are off to a 2-0 start, most recently stifling the high-octane Dolphins. Miami obviously struggled after Tua Tagovailoa went down with a concussion, but the Dolphins' passing game was struggling even before that. Look for Lawrence to struggle yet again in this matchup.
Vinnie Iyer: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans - The Vikings' defense is legit disruptive against the pass, featuring new stars such as former Texans Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman, along with former Dolphin Andrew Van Ginkel. They just held down the actual 49ers offense and Brock Purdy and can control a Bobby Slowik surrogate that might be slowed in the running game.
Fantasy RB Busts Week 3
O'Hara: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams - Puka Nacua will miss the Rams' Week 3 matchup against the 49ers. After suffering an ankle injury in Week 2, Cooper Kupp will be joining him on the sidelines. With their two star receivers (and a slew of offensive linemen) off the field last week, this offense was in complete shambles. It was a tall order to ask them to put together a sustained drive, let alone score points. Williams' Week 2 was salvaged by a touchdown, but his fantasy production was mediocre (11.2 PPR points), even with the punch-in score. Until this offense gets healthy, Williams' fantasy value takes a massive hit.
Williams: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings - The former Packers running back got off to a great start in Week 1 against the Giants with 94 yards and a touchdown on the ground and 15 more yards in the passing game. Things took a turn in Week 2 against the 49ers as he had five less carries and only 32 yards. He did tally five receptions to help salvage the afternoon in PPR leagues. Not only did Aaron Jones exit briefly with an injury, but Ty Chandler was already starting to eat into his carries. This has all the makings of turning into a committee situation, so until we see Jones with a more consistent workload, it's hard to start him with much confidence.
Iyer: Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers - Jacobs had a solid game in Week 1 and then went nuts with high volume in a run-heavy attack with Malik Willis in Week 2. The Titans, however, are a nasty team vs. the run with Jeffery Simmons getting more help up front. Jacobs will be contained between the tackles, as Dennard Wilson's defense shouldn't have to worry as much about the downfield pass minus Jordan Love.
WEEK 3 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE
Full Waiver List | Top Players to Target | How to spend FAAB
Fantasy WR Busts Week 3
O'Hara: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay will square off with a defense that features one of the league's true lockdown corners. Mike Evans will draw coverage from Pat Surtain II on Sunday. It involved some negated plays, but Surtain held George Pickens to just one reception for 16 yards in Week 2. It was a similar story for DK Metcalf, who hauled in three balls for 29 yards against Surtain in Week 1. Mike Evans will be the next victim of Surtain's blanket coverage.
Williams: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders - It's not likely we see Terry McLaurin on this list week in and week out. The talent is there, and even the targets have been there so far. But Kliff Kingsberry's infamous horizontal raid offense seems to have followed him from Arizona to Washington as Jayden Daniels hasn't really taken many deep threats. But for now, until McLaurin starts seeing more valuable targets, he's a risky play.
Iyer: Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts - He's disappeared with Richardson the first two games, and it won't get better here, as he's been hurt by the fact he's lining up mostly outside early on this season. Pittman can't run away from the Bears' corners, a la Nico Collins, to the inside, which is bad news facing Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson.
Fantasy TE Busts Week 3
O'Hara: Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams - Colby Parkinson is very much a routes-based bet, meaning he sparks interest simply because he's going to be out there running routes at a high rate. Well, as mentioned in the Kyren Williams blurb, the Rams' offense is currently a shell of its former self without Cooper Kupp (likely), Puka Nacua, and several offensive linemen. The 49ers' defense should keep the Rams' secondary weapons in check this week, including Parkinson.
Williams: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - There are just too many mouths to feed in this offense. Nico Collins is the clear alpha receiver in this group, but with Stefon Diggs operating out of the slot, Schultz is no longer the primary option in the middle of the field. Tank Dell, who had a monster rookie season last year, was practically invisible in Week 2. If anyone is due to see an increase in usage, it's probably Dell and not Schultz.
Iyer: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles - Even with A.J. Brown likely to sit at least one more game, it could be tough sledding for Goedert as the Saints are the toughest tight end draw in the biz. They don't allow much in the way of yardage or scoring shots at the position, making Goedert a shaky start.
Fantasy Defense Busts Week 3
O'Hara: Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens' defense has been a fantasy mainstay in recent years. In 2023, they were a "set it and forget it" option regardless of their opponent. Some turnover in their defensive personnel has created a different situation in 2024, and they can't be blindly started every week. Week 3 in a matchup against Dallas is one of those weeks. Don't be surprised if Dallas goes for 28-plus points this week.
Williams: Philadelphia Eagles - This team flat out laid an egg against Kirk Cousins and the Falcons on Monday night. The pass rush was non existent. A statuesque Cousins had all day in the pocket to find the open receivers. The secondary didn't perform well by any metric, but it doesn't make it any easier when the QB has all day to run through his progressions. Now, the Eagles travel to New Orleans to face the surprisingly red hot Saints - not exactly a get-right spot.
Iyer: Los Angeles Chargers - The Chargers have been very productive with sacks and takeaways early in the season, but the Steelers have been careful with the ball with Justin Fields, and this will be a tough long-distance road game. L.A. cools off after two plus weeks.
