Fantasy Football 2011: 6 Potential Busts for the 2011 Season

Every year you have your over-hyped players. These are the players everyone is talking about and expects big numbers from—but they go silent when the season rolls around. These are the players you want to look out for and try your best to avoid. Here are five busts for the 2011 NFL fantasy season.

 

New England Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Green-Ellis came out of nowhere last season and had career highs in carries, yards and touchdowns. His 13 rushing touchdowns were second in the league, only Arian Foster had more.

The last time the Patriots had a running back lead the team in rushing back-to-back seasons was in 2005 and 2006. I don't believe he will repeat his numbers from last year and neither does New England since they drafted two other running backs in this year's draft. Not to mention he is going to lose carries to Danny Woodhead who had a productive season last year.

There are other running backs that don't have such a risk that you can get at the same value. These would be someone like a LeGarrette Blount or Shonn Greene.

Atlanta Falcons RB Michael Turner

Michael Turner is on most fantasy writers top-10 lists as far as running backs go, and yes, he did put up great numbers last year. Although I do believe what Thurman Thomas said about the wear and tear on Turner's body may be starting to catch up with him.

The last three games of last season he averaged 3.3 yards and just one touchdown. Those three weeks are most fantasy league's playoff games and championship. He has carried the ball over 300 times in two of the last three seasons and in 2009 he was hurt. With the addition of Julio Jones it looks like the Falcons want to pass the ball more which will take some carries away from Turner.

He very well could be a top-five running back once the season is over, but do you really want to sweat your second-round pick not getting hurt every week? High risk/high reward, the choice is yours.

Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best

Best got off to a fast start his rookie season despite suffering from a turf toe injury. Best ranked third on the Lions roster with 58 receptions for 487 yards, and finished the year with six touchdowns.

He is extremely valuable, especially in PPR leagues, but I've seen him drafted in leagues as early as the fifth round. Don't be that guy. Mikel Leshoure is going to be splitting carries with him and even though Best may get a few more, Leshoure is expected to handle majority of the goal-line touches.

That drops Best's value a bit and with his injury history, he shouldn't be drafted any earlier than the seventh round.

 

Arizona Cardinals RB Chris "Beanie" Wells

Wells may be the starter in Arizona heading into week one but don't expect that to last very long. Wells had a decent rookie season but his production took a hit when he rushed for 397 yards and a lousy two touchdowns.

The Cardinals will probably re-sign Tim Hightower and with recently drafted RB Ryan Williams on the depth chart, Wells is on a short leash. He will get some goal-line touches and that makes him worth a late-round draft choice. Until he puts together a complete, productive season his value isn't very high.

 

Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice

Rice is a solid No. 2 receiver in the fantasy world, but there are some question marks surrounding him heading into the regular season.

How will he bounce back from his injury?

He did have hip surgery and that is a huge question heading into the season. The Vikings look to give the ball to Adrian Peterson a ton this year which is going to take opportunities away from Rice. The main reason Rice is going to be a bust this season is the quarterback situation. It's hard to like a rookie quarterback that has accuracy problems throwing him the ball.

He is a free agent and could find himself on another team, if so forget this paragraph ever existed. If in fact he stays on the Vikings, he could be that receiver you regret drafting.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick

This should go over well, but here goes. over Vick's eight-season career he has only played a full season once. The hits add up and he is extremely injury prone as last season showed. He has the offensive weapons around him and the talent to have another great season but I would not want my starting quarterback being one hit away from missing significant time.

Not to mention as the season went on he had a tougher time figuring out the blitzes and being as effective. I know after last season a lot of fantasy owners are in love with Vick but I am not one of them.