Highlighting the Biggest Fantasy Football Busts of the 2013 Season

Fantasy Football championships are won with consistency from a team's top picks, coupled with the discovery of late-round and free-agent gems.  Of course, if a fantasy team's foundation is weak, a collapse is difficult to prevent.  The 2013 Fantasy Football season is full of early-round busts.

Taking the preseason rankings created by CBS Sports' Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard, we quickly see the players that sabotaged their owners' hopes for a fantasy ring:

Let's look at the biggest Fantasy Football busts of the 2013 season.

C.J. Spiller, Early First-Round Bust

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Last year, C.J. Spiller had over 1,700 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns despite an underwhelming Buffalo offense to support him.  Spiller averaged six yards per rushing attempt and his explosiveness made fantasy owners salivate.  The Clemson product was drafted in the first half of the first round, in a majority of 12-team fantasy leagues.

Spiller's 2013-14 production has been dismal for any fantasy running back, let alone a first-rounder.

In standard leagues, Spiller has only scored double-digit fantasy points in three weeks and has produced seven stinkers.  Buffalo's feature back has had ankle issues throughout the season, but has only missed one game.

OUTLOOK:  Spiller is a supreme talent when healthy.  If given more touches, he may help teams in the fantasy playoffs this year.  Because of his lack of production, however, he may be a steal next year in the third or fourth rounds, especially if the Bills improve their offensive line and receivers.  While he has proven to be fragile in his four-year career, Spiller is still a game-breaking running back.

2014 DRAFT:  Spiller has never established himself as a consistent workhorse, so don't reach for him.  A good spot for Spiller is late in the second or early in the third round of 12-team leagues.

Doug Martin, Early First-Round Bust

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 As a rookie, Doug Martin had over 1,900 yards from scrimmage to go along with 12 touchdowns.  The Boise State standout proved to be an efficient workhorse, carrying the ball 319 times while averaging 4.6 yards per rushing attempt.  In his sophomore season, Martin was drafted in the first half of the first round in a majority of 12-team fantasy leagues. 

In 2013, Martin's season was cut short due to a torn labrum in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons.

While many fantasy owners' seasons went down in flames with Martin's injury, the smoke was evident from Week 1.  Martin averaged a weak 3.6 yards per carry and was barely involved in the passing game.

OUTLOOK:  Many fantasy owners will blame Tampa Bay's dysfunctional offense for Martin's failure this year, but the expectations for his production have to be lowered.  Martin's strength is his ability to be a major part of an offense, as a rusher and receiver, but can his body support the punishment?  It is possible that his enormous workload in 2012 (319 carries) weighed on him this season.

2014 DRAFT: Coming off an injury, Martin is a better bet in the second round.

Trent Richardson, First-Round Bust

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After being drafted third overall in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns, Trent Richardson went on to have a mediocre rookie season.  The Browns gave Richardson 267 opportunities to run the ball and he only amassed 950 yards, averaging a sickly 3.6 yards per carry.  His saving grace was that he scored 12 touchdowns.  Richardson's scores also allowed his Alabama hype to spill over into this season.

Richardson's lack of explosiveness last year may have been because he was recovering from a knee injury or because he played with broken ribs.  While Richardson claimed to be healthy in the 2013 preseason, his production has been atrocious with both the Browns and the Colts.

Richardson has played 11 games this season and has only scored double-digit fantasy points once.

OUTLOOK: Richardson claimed he was healthy this season, but has failed with both the Browns and the Colts.  Even with Andrew Luck and the threat of a serious passing game, Richardson cannot break free. The Alabama product appears to be a bust, both in fantasy and reality.

2014 DRAFT: Steer clear of Richardson until the late rounds.  Let an Alabama fan draft him.

Ray Rice, First-Round Bust

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Ray Rice had been a steady fantasy producer for four years prior to this season.

Last year, Bernard Pierce cut into his touches and fantasy owners tempered their expectations for Rice.  Regardless, Rice was entrenched in the first round of all fantasy drafts.

CBS Sports was correct in their assessment of a potential Super Bowl hangover for Rice but the Rutgers standout may just be breaking down early from the massive amount of work he has seen early in his career (1372 rushing attempts).  Rice's 2013-14 has been disastrous for his fantasy owners.

Rice has had two solid games this season, along with an average game and seven duds.  Clearly, he is poor value for a first-round fantasy selection.

OUTLOOK: Rice is averaging 2.9 yards per carry in 2013, which is a huge concern.  While Baltimore's offense is missing Anquan Boldin, that is no excuse for Rice's utter failure.  Rice's arrow is certainly pointing down.

2014 DRAFT: Rice is still worth drafting in the second round, with owners hoping that 2013 has been an aberration.

David Wilson, Late Second-Round Bust

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After being drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft by the New York Giants, David Wilson only carried the ball 71 times for 358 yards in his rookie season.  Wilson came on late, producing most of his totals in the last four games of 2012, including a kickoff return for a touchdown.  His game-breaking ability was tantalizing to fantasy owners and, coupled with Andre Brown's preseason injury, he went from sleeper to early-round pick.

One had to wonder why Wilson did not receive more of an opportunity in 2012  Was it solely his poor pass-blocking?  Wilson's poor performance in 2013 has shown why Tom Coughlin hesitated to give him more touches.

Although a neck injury has ended his season early, Wilson showed little elusiveness, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.  He was a key reason in the Giants' poor start.  The Virginia Tech product was a complete waste for any owner that drafted him.

OUTLOOK: Wilson has shown us little to date, and with the addition of a career-threatening neck injury, his potential as an NFL running back is in doubt.

2014 DRAFT: Wilson is nothing more than a late-round flier.

Roddy White, Third-Round Bust

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For the last five years, Roddy White has been a top-12 receiver, especially in leagues with points per reception. White has not been sexy, but has been consistent.

White turned 32 this year and while he has been dealing with an ankle injury, Father Time may have taken a few steps from him.  His demise has been precipitous and he has dragged his fantasy owners with him.

White has failed to score double-digit fantasy points this entire season.

OUTLOOK: White has looked terrible this season and while a high-ankle sprain may be the culprit, his best years are behind him.

2014 DRAFT: If you believe White simply needs an offseason of rest, draft him in the middle rounds (6-8).

Lamar Miller, Third-Round Bust

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With Reggie Bush out of the picture, Lamar Miller was going to be the Miami Dolphins workhorse.  Miller was fast, had good hands out of the backfield and had averaged nearly five yards a carry in 2012.  What was not to like?  The lack of a proven track record allowed Miller to slide into the third or fourth rounds, making him a potential fantasy steal for 2013.

Miller has shown his true colors and they are ugly for his fantasy owners.  Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks Miller 64th among all running backs, in yards after contact, averaging 2.0 yards per carry in that category. That means Miller either lacks the strength to shed tackles or is playing soft in an attempt to extend his career. Either reason is poisonous for his fantasy owners.

Thus far in 2013, Miller has four average games and seven utter failures.  He cannot be trusted in fantasy play.

OUTLOOK: Miller has proven to be a poor man's Reggie Bush, which is ironic for the Dolphins.  His fantasy value may never be as high as it was before this season began.

2014 DRAFT: Miami needs to upgrade its running back situation and Miller will likely become a back-up.  His speed allows for big plays, however, and he may be worth a pick in Rounds 8-9.