Fantasy Football Week 5: Big-Name Busts You Must Avoid This Week
As Week 5 of the fantasy season approaches, we have officially moved past the one-quarter mark of the regular season, and can begin to get a pretty clear picture of the way things are going to transpire.
We can see trends beginning to emerge, and we can start to make real assessments of a player's contributions to your fantasy team. In particular, we can make assessments of who's been a bust through the first quarter of the season.
By this point, you know the drill; these are 20 guys widely considered busts in 2010. We'll explain why they've been busts, if they'll stay busts, and what you should do with them.
20. Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
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Why He's Been a Bust: Jackson was touted as the Bills' most polished, most consistent runner heading into the 2010 season. But through four weeks, Jackson was second or third banana in Buffalo's pecking order, losing most of his carries to the recently-departed Marshawn Lynch. On the carries Jackson was getting, he was simply failing to produce points.
Will He Stay a Bust: We'll know for sure by the end of the week. Lynch is plying his trade in Seattle now, and rookie C.J. Spiller hasn't shown he's capable of being an every-down kind of back, meaning Jackson should get the lion's share of carries. By Week 7, we'll know if he can right the ship.
Why He Should Be On Your Bench: Jackson's talent level indicates that all he needed was a consistent workload to produce solid numbers. But because he has yet to do it, you might be safer just to leave him on your bench for this week, to make sure he returns to his previous levels of production.
19. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
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Why He's Been a Bust: Colston's numbers are down across the board in 2010, the same way they always seem to be with the talented wideout in the early portion of the regular season. Against an extremely vulnerable Carolina team, Colston tallied a meager 3 points, and he has just 17 all season, good enough for 58th best of all wideouts.
Will He Stay a Bust: History says no. Colston's numbers are typically pretty awful in September and October, but in November and December, he produces enough yards and touchdowns to make up for it. But, nothing's ever a given in the NFL, so he could stay a bust in 2010.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Right now, there are more reliable wideout options out there than Colston. But you certainly don't want to drop him outright, not with the promise of much better days ahead.
18. Cadillac Williams, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Why He's Been a Bust: Williams is one of the most frustrating players in NFL history. Anyone who has watched him run knows the talent is there to be one of the league's better backs, but Williams has never quite been able to put it together. This year, he was supposed to be unchallenged for Tampa's lead runner position, making him a potential mid-to-late-round sleeper, but because of his inability to produce anything resembling consistent numbers, he's seeing rookie LeGarrette Blount and Kareem Huggins grabbing some of his carries.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Williams is one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football year in and year out. Rest assured he'll have a couple of big games to suck you back in, but he'll never be the consistent point producer we all expected him to be.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: With all of the running backs getting hurt around the NFL in 2010, it stands to reason someone in your league is foolish enough to get sucked in by Williams' potential, just like you did. Try to snag a bit of value from a trade, and if no one bites, let him walk.
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17. Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
4 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Celek's one of the NFL's best safety valve tight ends; his quarterback can dump the ball into his reliable hands, and watch him turn a broken play into 10-15 yards and possibly a touchdown. But with Michael Vick simply taking off and running with the ball, Celek's value plummeted through four weeks.
Will He Stay a Bust: With Kevin Kolb and his check-down, pocket passing ways back under center, Celek should return to his previous value levels.
Why He Should Be On Your Bench: With Kolb starting Week 5, go ahead and take a chance putting Celek in your lineup. He probably won't let you down. Although, if you have an alternative at tight end, perhaps you should stick with them for a week until we see what Celek will do with Kolb at quarterback.
16. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers
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Why He's Been a Bust: I realize Mathews has been hurt for essentially three weeks of the season. But when he was healthy, he only mustered 55 yards on 19 carries against Kansas City. With Mike Tolbert doing extremely well last week, there's a chance Mathews doesn't get as many carries now that he's back.
Will He Stay a Bust: Doubtful. Ryan looks up to speed and healthy, and should produce decent numbers for you from here on out.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Mathews has yet to break 70 yards in a game in his career, and he's only scored once. With Tolbert around to serve as the short yardage back, Mathews might not get you the scores you need this week. If you play him, be wary.
15. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers
6 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Jennings hasn't been a bad receiver in 2010; he just hasn't been the great one many expected him to be. Single-digit point totals three weeks running isn't going to cut it for most fantasy owners when they make you a second or third-round pick.
Will He Stay a Bust: No. Jennings is too talented to stay bottled up forever. He'll go off sooner or later.
Why He Should be on Your Bench: This ranking is more to serve as a warning about expecting high levels of production from Greg Jennings. Until he has that breakout game, he's no better than a WR2 in most formats.
14. Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans
7 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Jones looked poised for a breakout season in 2010, but through 4 games, he's produced just one touchdown and 19 points. That's not going to keep you on many rosters as the year progresses.
Will He Stay a Bust: It all depends on whether quarterback Matt Schaub starts calling his number on deep routes. Jones has the speed and hands to punish opponents over the top, but Schaub has been looking elsewhere through the first quarter of the year.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Jones will have a big game sooner or later, and he's too valuable to drop, but until he can show consistency and an ability to put up numbers, he's best suited to your bench most weeks.
13. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
8 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Rice has frequented this list in 2010, after being the fourth player chosen in most drafts. He has yet to score a touchdown, which is single-handedly killing his value.
Will He Stay a Bust: No. Rice will get points sooner or later; he's too talented not to find the end zone.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Until Rice produces touchdowns, there are more reliable running backs out there who you should use instead.
12. Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers
9 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Seven interceptions in 4 games has turned Smith into Mr. Inconsistency. For a guy with sleeper potential, he's been a colossal disappointment.
Will He Stay a Bust: Possibly. As he gets used to his new offensive coordinator, Smith could see his number climb back into fantasy relevancy.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Smith has potential; he just hasn't delivered in 2010. Keep him around on your bench for now, just in case.
11. Steve Smith, WR, New York Giants
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Why He's Been a Bust: So much for being the most reliable receiver in New York. Smith hasn't gotten the targets, and when he has, they haven't been in the red zone, which has put a damper on his fantasy potential.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. There are a lot of talented wideouts in New York, and Eli Manning can't feed them all at once. Smith should bounce back at some point.
Why He Should Be On Your Bench: Until he can produce consistent points for multiple weeks, Smith cannot be trusted for more than a game or two.
10. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills
11 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Spiller was touted as the most explosive back in Buffalo, someone who could get points by the bushel and put up big numbers. Through four games, though, the rookie has looked lackluster in the running game, to say the least.
Will He Stay a Bust: Spiller's touches should see a boost with Marshawn Lynch in Seattle, but it remains to be seen whether he can do anything with them.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: He's still too talented to drop, and Fred Jackson isn't the healthiest guy in the world. Spiller could be the top back in Buffalo before the season's out.
9. Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
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Why He's Been a Bust: He was supposed to be the top back in a run heavy system in New York. But through four games, fumbles and lack of production have seen Greene drop to second banana behind LaDanian Tomlinson. He was a fifth round pick in many leagues, if not higher, meaning he's been a colossal waste of space.
Will He Stay a Bust: Greene is explosive, but until Tomlinson struggles, he won't get a fair shot to take the starting job back.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Greene is talented, but too enigmatic to rely on at this point. With the Vikings' formidable run defense on the menu in Week 5, it's best to stay away.
8. Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Why He's Been a Bust: With no other wideouts to worry about in Jacksonville, teams are keying their defenses to shut down Sims-Walker, making him almost completely irrelevant most games. Other than a Week 2 explosion, he has yet to produce anything worthwhile.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Until the Jags can find a wideout who can draw a defender or two from Sims-Walker.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Sims-Walker still has big game potential, but with each disappointing week, he moves closer to drop territory.
7. Owen Daniels, TE, Houston Texans
14 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Daniels' return from an ACL injury sustained last season has been incredibly slow. He's talented, but has yet to record a strong performance in 2010. He's lacked his quick cutting ability and explosiveness from before the injury, and since you had to use a mid-round pick to get him, he qualifies as a bust.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Coach Gary Kubiak says Daniels looks better every week, but until he shows what he can do, it's hard to believe what Kubiak says.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Daniels is still one of the more talented tight ends in football, and he should produce at some point. But until he does, you can't rely on him as a starter.
6. Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys
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Why He's Been a Bust: Jones was supposed to make the leap in 2010, as he gained the designation of starting running back. But a lack of explosiveness, due to a gain of 20 pounds of muscle, and a lack of carries, have doomed the talented Jones to Steve Slaton-esque obscurity.
Will He Stay a Bust: Quite possibly. Even when he has carried the ball, Jones has lacked the explosiveness that defined him in 2009. Combine that with Dallas' crappy offensive line, and you have a recipe for trouble.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Feel free to cut Jones at this point, safe in the knowledge no one else wants him, either.
5. Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts
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Why He's Been a Bust: Injuries and an inability to catch the ball have turned Garcon from one of the preseason's potential breakout candidates into one of the biggest busts in the NFL. He was going as high as the third round in some leagues, but hasn't produced anywhere near the numbers you'd want from a third-round pick.
Will He Stay a Bust: Maybe. If he can't remember how to catch, Manning will throw the ball to people who can catch it, meaning Garcon will stay in the doghouse even after getting healthy.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Garcon still has talent, so it's risky to drop him. But you can't play him, and he'll be tough to trade.
4. Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
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Why He's Been a Bust: Crabtree was a breakout candidate in 2010, and has flashed big play potential when he's thrown the ball. But it's hard to generate numbers when your quarterback doesn't throw it to you.
Will He Stay a Bust: Maybe. Like I said, he's shown he can make plays when he gets the ball, but Alex Smith doesn't throw it to him. He showed signs of life in Week 4, so maybe he's turning the corner.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: He's too talented to cut, but hasn't produced enough to trade him. Leave him on the bench for now.
3. Brandon Jackson, RB, Green Bay Packers
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Why He's Been a Bust: No one drafted Jackson, but when Ryan Grant went down with a season ending injury, Jackson was immediately picked up by teams everywhere. However, he has failed to produce anything resembling decent numbers, and has lost carries to converted fullback John Kuhn.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Jackson has lacked explosiveness and doesn't get the ball enough to grind out decent numbers.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: At this point, it's safe to let Jackson go.
2. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
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Why He's Been a Bust: Many thought that Fitzgerald would still produce strong stats with Derek Anderson at quarterback. So far, that has been far from the case. Anderson and backup Max Hall haven't been able to find Fitz very often, and he has yet to have the kind of 100 yard, 1 touchdown performance we all expect from him.
Will He Stay a Bust: With the clowns Arizona has throwing the ball, there's a good chance this is a wasted season for Fitzgerald.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Even with crap at quarterback, Fitz is the best wideout in Arizona. He'll get mediocre stats, but probably nothing special, unless Kurt Warner comes out of retirement.
1. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
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Why He's Been a Bust: Like Fitzgerald in Arizona, Steve Smith has been the victim of some of the worst quarterback play since Akili Smith and Ryan Leaf. He hasn't gotten the ball regularly, plays for a run-oriented team, has no other wideouts to take pressure off of him, and has injury issues. It's really no surprise he's a bust.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. New quarterback Jimmy Clausen is a rookie, and as he improves, he could develop a rapport with Smith.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Smith's not putting up starter numbers consistently in 2010. Add to that the injury concern, and you've got a prime benching candidate. Don't cut him, but do try and trade him.
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