Two weeks of the preseason have now been completed! We are starting to see how depth charts, snap percentages, and usage is being implemented into offenses. Some teams play their starters more than others, but if certain players are sitting out, that is even more indicative of how the team feels about the player. The team will have big plans for them, and with Week 1 of the NFL season knocking on the door, there are big plans in the fantasy football world. Fantasy football drafts are an exciting time, and you don’t want that spoiled by drafting a bust to tank your team.
Fantasy football drafts have many factors. One being their ADP (Average Draft Position), is this player being taken way too early? Do they have injuries heading into the season? Are they on a bad team, or a bad offense with little opportunity to put up big yards and points? These are things to take into consideration during your fantasy draft. Also, just because a player may be considered a draft bust, doesn’t mean they are a bad player or don’t bring value to their team. The circumstances may just be against them this season. Here are five busts to avoid in fantasy football drafts.
Five Busts to Avoid in Fantasy Football
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
Jonathan Taylor is without a doubt, one of the premier running back talents in the NFL. However, he has had a concerning offseason for the Colts. Taylor suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 15 of last season and he remains on the PUP list. He has also had stints away from the team while he seeks a new contract. The Colts excused his most recent absence, but it is still cause for concern. A running back that is dealing with an injury all offseason and hasn’t been able to practice throughout the entirety of training camp will be one to avoid.
2. Miles Sanders, RB, Panthers
Miles Sanders came over to Carolina this offseason as a free agent from the NFC Champion Eagles. A new regime is starting in Carolina with head coach, Frank Reich and quarterback, Bryce Young. Sanders is currently dealing with a groin injury. Soft tissue injuries and tweaks throughout training camp can be a sign of things to come during the season. With the new offense, we aren’t sure what the Panthers will look like this season. Sanders is going off the board as the RB19, ahead of better players with better offensive lines.
3. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings
Hockenson is coming off a career year, where he was traded in the middle of the season to the Vikings. He posted 86 receptions for 914 yards and six touchdowns. That was good for 215.4 fantasy points. Those are great numbers for a tight end, so why label him a bust? Well, it can be concerning due to the fact that 35% of his points came in just two games. Based on the rest of his career, those games seem to be outliers. If you replace them with the rest of his season averages, he should be being taken much later in drafts. Hockenson is a good player with opportunity but is being taken in the range of elite tight ends.
4. Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers
This circumstance has much less to do with Godwin as a player, and more so to do with the fact that the Buccaneers still haven’t announced who their starting quarterback is. This seems to be a strange year for the Buccaneers with the retirement of Tom Brady. Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are battling out for the starting quarterback job, and through two preseason games, there is still no announcement. This could be a down year for the entire Buccaneers offense with uncertainty at quarterback.
5. Marquise Brown, WR, Cardinals
Marquise Brown is coming off a year where he dealt with injuries and played 12 games for the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is expected to be one of the worst teams in the league this year and we don’t know how long they’ll be without starting quarterback, Kyler Murray. A rebuilding team with no starting quarterback will be a passing offense to stay away from this year.
Main Image: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
