Fantasy Football Week 7: Big Name Busts You Must Avoid This Week
Week 7 is the halfway point of many fantasy football leagues, which means we've got a pretty good idea of who has been a real disappointment.
After all, we're not talking about one or two games here. These guys have consistently underperformed for half the season.
Can they still get out of their funks? Of course. But there's an equally good chance that they are what they will be this season: a disappointment. Let's get going.
20. Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
1 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Miller was a popular sleeper pick, but without Ben Roethlisberger throwing him the ball, his value tumbled.
Will He Stay a Bust: If Sunday's 11-point outburst against Cleveland is any indication, no. Now that Big Ben is back, we'll see whether Miller was just handcuffed by the Steelers' awful quarterback situation for the first four games of the year.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Give Miller another week to see if he can do it again, and if he does, then roll with confidence.
19. Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers
2 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Smith keeps throwing the ball to the team in the other hats, which is typically considered bad. Plus, he almost got benched in Week 5, only to plead with coach Mike Singletary to let him back in the game.
Will He Stay a Bust: Actually, probably not. He's looked much better since the Niners put their new offensive coordinator in place, and didn't turn the ball over for the first time all season last week. He might actually be turning it around.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Smith should be a spot starter even when he's playing at full power this season. Since he's not there yet, don't take the risk of having him cost you a victory with a howler.
18. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
3 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Colston was drafted as a fringe WR1, but he's barely been producing at WR3 levels so far in 2010. He has yet to record a touchdown catch, and defenses have been playing him pretty tight.
Will He Stay a Bust: Colston is historically a much better player in the second half of the season, but with wideouts, even that's not a sure thing.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: There are more productive options out there at WR1 than Colston, but because of his big play potential, you have to play him somewhere. Stick him at WR3 or a flex spot this week.
17. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals
4 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Injuries kept Wells off the field through the first two games of 2010, but since his return, he's struggled to find any sort of consistency, topped off with a 20-carry, 35-yard performance in Week 5.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Wells showed excellent potential in Week 3, but has yet to perform to anything near that 14-carry, 75-yard game since. The clock is definitely ticking on him.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Wells is too talented to cut, but until he starts producing with regularity, he can't be trusted in your starting lineup either.
16. Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans Saints
5 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Meachem came into 2010 with incredibly-high expectations, but through the first four weeks of the season, he seldom saw the ball come his way. He struggled to get open, and get looks from quarterback Drew Brees, and lost his starting spot to Lance Moore.
Will He Stay a Bust: Maybe not. Meachem has touchdown catches in each of the last two weeks, and seems to finally have gotten the ball rolling on this season. Based on last year's performance, it's possible that, like Colston, Meachem is more of a late season star.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: With the way Brees picks his wideouts each week, there's always a risk that Meachem's number won't get called this week.
15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Baltimore Ravens
6 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: When Housh ended up in Baltimore after Seattle cut him, he saw his fantasy prospects soar. But through seven games in 2010, T.J.'s been a colossal disappointment, failing to register more than 50 yards or three catches in any game this season.
Will He Stay a Bust: It's looking pretty likely that he will. With Derrick Mason taking over WR2 duties, there aren't many other balls to go around, and Housh just doesn't seem to have Joe Flacco's favor.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Housh and the Ravens get Buffalo's awful defense this week. If he can't get going this week, it's time to hand him his walking papers.
14. John Carlson, TE, Seattle Seahawks
7 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Carlson was a popular sleeper at tight end in 2010, but he's barely registered a blip on the Seahawks' offense so far this year. Other than a 12-point performance in Week 3, he has yet to score more than four points in any other game this season.
Will He Stay a Bust: Unless the corpse of Matt Hasselbeck remembers he's got a fantastic tight end and starts throwing him the ball, yes. Carlson will stay a bust.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Until he starts producing, it's time to cut him loose.
13. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
8 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: We all knew this day was coming, what with Kurt Warner retiring. But through six weeks, Fitz and the Cardinals have been flat-out awful throwing the ball, as Derek Anderson and Max Hall have failed to look all that great thus far.
Will He Stay a Bust: Probably not. Fitz had 97 yards on seven catches last week, and it appears that he and the rookie quarterback Hall have already got good chemistry working. As Hall matures, look for Fitz to slowly but surely round into form.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: He shouldn't be. Fitz is too talented to leave sitting on your bench, but don't expect massive production from him yet, either.
12. Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Minnesota Vikings
9 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Shiancoe was one of the hot names in fantasy football heading into the season, but over his last three games, he's laid a goose egg twice, and put up just two points in the third game. He's become a non-factor in the offense, as the Vikes need him to stay home and protect ancient quarterback Brett Favre.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Signs point to yes, now that Minnesota has more weapons capable of catching the ball in the middle of the field. But we all know how much Favre loves his tight ends.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Too talented to cut, and you might not get much value from him in a trade, Shiancoe should be on your bench until it's clear he won't produce this season.
11. Cadillac Williams, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Williams has been a colossal disappointment once more in 2010, despite lowered expectations. He hasn't produced touchdowns, and his yards per carry have taken a nosedive.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Williams is one of those guys who manages to lure you in every year, then frustrate the heck out of you.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Cut him. Even if someone else picks him up, he won't do much for them this year.
10. Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
11 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Could Randy actually be finished? The wideout has struggled to find any kind of space in 2010, and hasn't made all that much of an impact since coming back to the Vikings in Week 5.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Moss is still talented, but his chemistry with quarterback Brett Favre has been way off. Until it improves, he'll continue to disappoint.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: You can play Moss every week, but don't expect the freakish numbers he's put up in years past quite yet.
9. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
12 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Witten was viewed as a top five or top six tight end in most fantasy circles heading into 2010. However, he currently ranks 13th in points, and has frequently been a bit of an afterthought in the Cowboys' offense. He has been forced to help an awful offensive line block.
Will He Stay a Bust: Doubtful. Sooner or later, Witten will go off.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Witten's too talented to bench, but he's not producing points the way you'd want from an elite tight end. Perhaps a trade would be best, although it couldn't hurt to wait and see if he can keep his strong play against the Giants going this week.
8. Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings
13 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Favre has shown his age in 2010, struggling to find any kind of rhythm and battling injuries all season long. Right now, it's elbow tendinitis that has sapped the zip from his throwing arm.
Will He Stay a Bust: Probably. Favre can't get comfortable in the pocket, and he's struggled with his timing and throwing strength this year.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Favre's still capable of a good game now and then, we think. But he's inching closer to that cut line, and if he has another game like last week's, he'll get there sooner rather than later.
7. Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans
14 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Remember when Jacoby Jones was supposed to take Kevin Walter's starting spot heading into the season? We're still waiting on that, as Jones can't seem to make a serious impact this season. He's been hurt, but even when healthy, he's failed to live up to the hype.
Will He Stay a Bust: It's hard to say with speedy receivers like Jacoby. He's capable of blasting off on one deep ball, but he's also capable of failing to get past the five-point mark in any given week.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: He's too talented to cut, but until he gets going, he's not performing well enough to merit a starting gig, either.
6. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
15 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Bryant was supposed to take Roy Williams' starting job and be a breakout star in his rookie year. But six games in, things haven't gone as planned, as the rookie has failed to get the targets he'd need to shine.
Will He Stay a Bust: Doubtful. At some point, Tony Romo will give the kid some love. But when that will happen is anyone's guess.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Too talented to cut, not producing enough to trade or start, and a tough matchup with the Giants this week. Stay away.
5. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
16 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Smith has been plagued by injury and awful quarterback play in 2010, and has failed to live up to his draft status by any measure.
Will He Stay a Bust: Even when he's healthy, Smith might not perform to expectations, given the quarterback situation in Carolina.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Smith is still hurt, but even when he's healthy, he's not worth a start just yet.
4. Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
17 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Sims-Walker's one strong game can't make up for his no-shows the rest of the season. Teams know he's the only receiving weapon in Jacksonville, and shut him down accordingly.
Will He Stay a Bust: It's going to be an all-or-nothing kind of year for Sims-Walker, as he can't get open against even average defenses.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Mike Sims-Walker will still produce on occasion, making him tough to cut. But if he keeps failing to show up for games like he has in the first half of 2010, you might have no choice but to send him on his way.
3. Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins
18 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Brown might be the starting back in Miami, but he has yet to be the electric player we all knew from years past. He's struggled to find the end zone, and hasn't produced the big-yardage games to make up for it yet.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Brown's been successful before, and could be again, but he's not flashing the big-play potential we've come to expect from him.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: Brown isn't producing enough points to merit starting him, but it's hard to leave a back this talented on your bench. Perhaps finding a willing trading partner is your best bet.
2. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills
19 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Spiller was going as high as the fourth round in many drafts, but other than a 15-point outburst in Week 3, he has tallied all of six points this season. He's not getting the carries or the kick-return opportunities to make an impact.
Will He Stay a Bust: At this point, it appears as though Spiller won't get enough carries to dig himself out of bust territory.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: You can probably cut Spiller at this point. No one else wants him and you can't get any trade value for him.
1. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
20 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Williams was going in the second and third rounds of most drafts, but through five games, he's been a profound disappointment. He hasn't broken 100 yards rushing yet, and hasn't found much room to break off the big runs he's known for. To make matters worse, he's only scored one touchdown.
Will He Stay a Bust: Quite possibly. Until the passing game improves or the Panthers give their running backs 40 total carries per game, Williams will have no room to run whatsoever.
Why He Should Be on Your Bench: You can't cut him, he's too talented. But Williams hasn't merited a starting spot in 2010. Plus, San Francisco's been decent against the run, and with no passing game to worry about, they should close down Williams and backfield partner Jonathan Stewart.
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