Week 3 Waiver Wire: Fantasy Busts That Can't Afford Another Bad Game

I'm a huge Chris Johnson fan, but fantasy owners can only wait so long for him to explode. Johnson has only 21 rushing yards through the first two games of the season. Yahoo! Sports had him projected as the eighth-best fantasy player, but his performance thus far has his actual ranking at 223.

That is unacceptable for a player you likely selected within your first three picks. If Johnson doesn't have a breakout game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, he may be dropped by a mass of fantasy owners.

When asked about the Tennessee Titans' rushing woes, Johnson told John Glennon of the Tennessean this:

"

The run game ain't working. We just aren't executing the plays. I don't know why we're not. People need to step up and do their job. They don't need to let people beat them. It don't matter who the opposing defense is, you can't let your guy beat you. You just can't give up plays.

You have to make plays like they make plays. I can't speak for the defense. I can only speak for the offense.

"

It doesn't matter if the issues are related to Johnson, his offensive line or a combination of the two. The bottom line from a fantasy perspective is that he isn't producing.

As the fantasy season progresses, owners can't afford to have dead weight on their teams. Here a few other examples of highly-regarded players that have been busts.

Matthew Stafford

The Lions and Tennessee Titans game will feature two big fantasy disappointments. Stafford hasn't been as advertised thus far. The Lions QB has only two touchdown passes, but he's thrown four interceptions. That is a far cry from what was expected of him this season.

He is 100 percent owned in Yahoo! Sports fantasy leagues, but he's only ranked 146 among all players. He was projected to be the 16th-best fantasy player in 2012.

Defenses are working hard to take Calvin Johnson away, and that is obviously Stafford's favorite target. However, that doesn't completely explain the slow start. A few of Stafford's throws have been poor decisions, and they led to turnovers.

If you are in a league that penalizes heavily for interceptions, you may be getting a little antsy about Stafford. 

Larry Fitzgerald

Let me make this clear, Fitzgerald's inclusion on this list has nothing to do with him as a player, but the chances that he'll have a solid fantasy year are slim. Through two games he has a total of 67 yards receiving. He has no touchdown catches, and worst of all, the Arizona Cardinals are 2-0.

The team has been winning depending heavily on defense and their ability to run the ball. Fitzgerald isn't the type to complain about his role—especially with the team winning.

If the Cardinals continue some measure of success through this season, Fitz's numbers will stay down. He'll likely elevate them a bit from their current level, but he won't reach the numbers he's capable of.

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