X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

10 Lineup Busts and Avoids for Week 8

There a lot of bye weeks (six!) this week, which means you have a lot more restrictions when building a lineup. I'll try to reflect that in this week's column by digging a little dip deeper on some of the bust picks, looking at some under-the-radar players who should stay under that radar.

It's hard to tell you some of the things I would say most weeks--like to sit Lamar Miller this week against a tough Seattle team--when you might not actually have anyone ready to go that's better than Miller.

Let's start with a recap of last week's column and then we'll get into this Very Special Edition of the bust column--this is the Bye Week Busters. (Yeah, that was a dumb name.)

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:

 

Recap of Last Week

Quarterback: Philip Rivers had another mediocre game against Denver, but mediocre is better than I was expecting from him. The Chargers defense controlled Denver's offense, which allowed Rivers to limit his mistakes--he didn't turn the ball over, though he only threw for 183 yards. Jameis Winston did a little better against the Bills, tossing three touchdowns on a defense that hadn't allowed that many all season. There was a lot of blown coverage by Buffalo, which allowed tight end O.J. Howard to break free for a pair of scores.

Running Back: Ty Montgomery was an afterthought in the Packers offense this week, with Aaron Jones controlling the ball. Orleans Darkwa was ineffective. Melvin Gordon ran for just 38 yards. It was a surprisingly good week for everyone who listened to me about running backs. I'm probably not going to go 100% every week at the position, though, so don't get used to it!

Wide Receiver: T.Y Hilton had two catches for 27 yards as the Jaguars defense continued to look very, very strong. Sammy Watkins had his third best fantasy game of the season, but that just meant he had three catches for 42 yards. Is Watkins droppable? I did it already! And Davante Adams had two catches for 12 yards in a game where the Packers very clearly missed having Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are in trouble. (Duh. That was one of the most obvious statements I have ever made.)

Tight End: I was wrong on Witten, though! Jason Witten reminds me of the San Antonio Spurs in that I counted them out so many times because of age concerns and was wrong. The Spurs then drafted Kawhi Leonard and now are a lot younger, though, which doesn't have an analogy to Witten because he is going to keep getting older, but cross-sport metaphors are always flawed.

Alright. Let's look at ten dudes who will disappoint you this week now!

 

Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 8

Trevor Siemian (Quarterback, Denver Broncos)

I know this feels obvious, but it's the Ultimate Bye Week Hell Match this week, so some of these are going to be obvious. Example #1: Siemian, who was just BAD last week--he threw the ball 35 times but only ended up with 207 yards and no scores. This week he gets an interesting test against a Chiefs defense that hasn't looked the best on paper so far against QBs, but has been sunk by two explosive performances from Deshaun Watson and Derek Carr. They held Ben Roethlisberger to 11.9 fantasy points a couple of weeks ago.

Alex Smith (Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs)

I think the Chiefs get back on the right track this week and beat the Broncos, but I'm expecting it be a low-scoring affair, something in the 13-7 range. Smith doesn't have much success in the past against Denver and the Broncos should be one of the toughest defense he'll face this season--they're allowing just 14.6 points-per-game to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. There are better options than Smith this week.

Jalen Richard (Running Back, Oakland Raiders)

Only four teams have allowed less fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Bills. Richard will likely see the most touches in the Raiders backfield this week with Marshawn Lynch suspended, but don't forget about the possibility of DeAndre Washington seeing a handful of touches. I know this week is tough--six teams on a bye plus the suspension of Lynch could leave his owners in a bind, but I'm not sure this backfield is going to be the best place for you to turn.

Tarik Cohen (Running Back, Chicago Bears)

I will admit he gets a juicy matchup against a Saints defense that is ninth-worst against running backs and has allowed 364 receiving yards and a touchdown to backs. But I'm also looking at Cohen's usage last week--he didn't record a single carry and he only had one catch (though it was an impressive one that went for 70 yards) and wondering how fantasy owners can be expected to trust him. Mitchell Trubisky (who would have made this column if there was anyone willing to actually start him) is bound to throw the ball a little more this week, but I just don't see Cohen as a safe call. He could break a huge touchdown! But he's more likely to not do that.

Rob Kelley (Running Back, Washington Redskins)

Washington's run game has struggled all season (outside of any play that has involved Chris Thompson, because those plays all did the opposite of struggled) and it seems like it's just an endless of stream of "maybe Kelley will play well! Oh, Perine instead! No, Kelley! Mack Brown???" going on in Washington. The Cowboys have only allowed two rushing touchdowns all season. Kelley's ceiling is probably 50 yards. Try to find a different direction to go in.

Will Fuller (Wide Receiver, Houston Texans)

Seattle defense? A wide receiver who has been almost completely reliant on touchdowns? On the road? Rookie quarterback (though he hasn't played much like a rookie)? Yeah, sit Fuller.

Terrelle Pryor (Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins)

This has less to do with his match-up and much more to do with how bad Pryor has been. Josh Doctson has replaced him in Washington's lineup, which means Pryor won't be on the field nearly as much as fantasy owners would like. Jordan Reed showed back up last week as well, which cuts even more into Pryor's dwindling share of Kirk Cousins's targets.

Dontrelle Inman (Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears)

The Bears just traded for Inman. Maybe these next two statements seem self-explanatory, but here they are. 1) Inman was just acquired, so there is no guarantee he will even play this week. 2) If he does play, he will likely not be a huge part of the offense yet because he will not know the offense. Add in a third problem: his quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, can't throw the ball very well. This seems like one of those moves you make to be sneaky and hope you get ahead of the rest of your league with, but no, no, no! Don't do it.

O.J. Howard (Tight End, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Go back and watch those touchdowns that Howard had--they were mostly due to blown coverages. He'll continue to be outsnapped by Cameron Brate and he plays the Panthers, who are allowed just ten points-per-game to tight ends. That's fifth-best among teams that are not on a bye this week. Howard could have another big game, but it's more likely he takes a backseat this week.

Jack Doyle (Tight End, Indianapolis Colts)

Speaking of defenses that are strong against tight ends, the Colts get to play the Bengals, who are allowing just 8.4 points-per-game to tight ends. Doyle hasn't had double-digit fantasy points in any game this season and only has two games with more than five points. He isn't a major piece of the Indianapolis offense and should not be trusted this week.

 

More Week 8 Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brendan Rodgers6 hours ago

Astros Sign Infielder Brendan Rodgers To Minor-League Deal
Las Vegas Raiders6 hours ago

Raiders Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Tre'von Moehrig
MLB6 hours ago

Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System To Be Used During Some Spring Games
Jesús Sánchez7 hours ago

Jesus Sanchez Will Get Reps In Center Field This Spring
Bryan Reynolds7 hours ago

Expected To Play Right Field; No Plans To Play First Base
Tyrese Maxey7 hours ago

A Full Participant In Tuesday's Practice
Oakland Athletics7 hours ago

Athletics Set To Play In Las Vegas In 2028
Joel Embiid7 hours ago

Practices On Tuesday
Luka Dončić7 hours ago

Luka Doncic On A Minutes Restriction Versus Charlotte
Indianapolis Colts8 hours ago

Colts Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Dayo Odeyingbo
Philadelphia Eagles8 hours ago

Eagles Release Nick Gates
8 hours ago

Lonnie Walker IV Signing With 76ers
Elfrid Payton8 hours ago

Signs Second 10-Day Contract
San Francisco 49ers8 hours ago

49ers Release Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Michael Thorbjornsen8 hours ago

Looks To Get Things Going In The Right Direction At Mexico Open
Cam Reddish8 hours ago

Cleared For Wednesday
Nyheim Hines8 hours ago

Browns Release Nyheim Hines
LeBron James8 hours ago

Might Miss Wednesday's Game
Chris Godwin8 hours ago

Void Date On Contract Is Extended
Moussa Diabaté8 hours ago

Moussa Diabate Ready To Play On Wednesday
Kyle Philips9 hours ago

Raiders Sign Kyle Philips
Davis Riley9 hours ago

An Unlikely Candidate For Success At Mexico Open
Minnesota Vikings9 hours ago

Byron Murphy Cannot Receive Franchise Tag
Mark Williams9 hours ago

Expected To Play On Wednesday
Baltimore Ravens9 hours ago

Ravens Have Had "Zero Tolerance" For Sexual-Misconduct Situations
LaMelo Ball9 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Wednesday
Denver Broncos9 hours ago

Broncos Could Try To Sign Zack Baun In Free Agency
Taysom Hill9 hours ago

Broncos Could Target Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill
Luke List9 hours ago

A Risky Play With Upside At Mexican Open
Trey Sweeney9 hours ago

Makes "Minor" Swing Adjustments
Carson Young10 hours ago

A Volatile Option At Mexican Open
Gleyber Torres10 hours ago

Expected To Hit In The Top Half Of The Lineup
Donovan Solano10 hours ago

Dealing With Visa Issues
Ryan Fox10 hours ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Play At Mexican Open
Luke Little10 hours ago

Will Ramp Up Slowly During Spring Training
Robert Garcia10 hours ago

Completes Side Session
Alex Smalley10 hours ago

A Solid Play At Mexican Open
MJ Melendez10 hours ago

Revamps Swing
Kevin Yu10 hours ago

A Risky Play With Upside At Mexican Open
Jameson Taillon11 hours ago

Hoping To Regain Some Velocity
Justin Turner11 hours ago

Cubs Could Pair Justin Turner, Michael Busch At First Base
Will Smith11 hours ago

Won't Play Until Next Week
Joe Ross12 hours ago

Being Built Up As A Starter
Taylor Moore12 hours ago

An Intriguing Option At Mexican Open
Shota Imanaga12 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Rasmus Hojgaard12 hours ago

Eyeing A Major Bounce-Back At Mexican Open
Sam Hentges13 hours ago

Placed On 60-Day Injured List
Michael Kim13 hours ago

Looks To Keep Momentum Going At Mexican Open
Kansas City Chiefs13 hours ago

Transition Tag More Plausible For Trey Smith
Sam Stevens13 hours ago

Continues His Excellent 2025 Season At Genesis Invitational
Patrick Rodgers13 hours ago

Finishes Tied For Third At Genesis Invitational
Thorbjorn Olesen13 hours ago

Makes First PGA Tour Start In 2025 At Mexico Open
Justin Lower13 hours ago

Playing Well Heading To Mexico Open
Kurt Kitayama13 hours ago

Returns To Mexico Open
Noah Schultz13 hours ago

Making Cactus League Debut Next Week
Harry Hall13 hours ago

Stumbles At WM Phoenix Open, Looks Ahead To Mexico Open
PGA13 hours ago

Chris Gotterup Searching For Consistency Heading To Mexico Open
Akshay Bhatia13 hours ago

Highlights Field For Mexico Open
Aaron Rai13 hours ago

Looks To Get Back On Track At Mexican Open
Aaron Rodgers13 hours ago

Could Jump At The Chance To Play For Rams
Kyle Nicolas13 hours ago

Faces Live Hitters On Tuesday
Sam Darnold13 hours ago

Vikings In No Rush To Place Franchise Tag On Sam Darnold
Jacob Stallings13 hours ago

Slated To Be Primary Catcher
Andy Dalton13 hours ago

Panthers Agree On Two-Year Deal
Cincinnati Bengals13 hours ago

Bengals Trying To Land Extensions For Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson
Drew Thorpe13 hours ago

Throws 20-Pitch Bullpen Session
Ryan Palmer14 hours ago

Avoid Ryan Palmer Like The Plague At Mexico Open
Matteo Manassero14 hours ago

In For A Long Week In Mexico
Daniel Jones15 hours ago

A Potential Target For Colts
Adam Thielen16 hours ago

Panthers To Give Adam Thielen A Pay Raise?
Washington Commanders16 hours ago

Jesse Madden Joins Commanders Coaching Staff
New Orleans Saints16 hours ago

Scott Tolzien Joining Saints Offensive Staff
Stefon Diggs18 hours ago

Texans Won't Use Franchise Tag On Stefon Diggs
Nathan MacKinnon1 day ago

Pots Two Goals In Monday's Win
Sam Reinhart1 day ago

Dishes Out Three Assists Against Finland
Lucas Raymond1 day ago

Tries To Extend Point Streak Against USA
William Byron1 day ago

Trusts His Instinct To Win Second Straight Daytona 500
Jake Guentzel1 day ago

Looks To Extend Multi-Point Streak Monday
Jimmie Johnson1 day ago

Has Unexpected Emotions After Podium Finish At Daytona 500
Jake Oettinger1 day ago

Starts Against Sweden
John Hunter Nemechek1 day ago

Gets First Career Top-Five Finish At Daytona 500
Jake Sanderson2 days ago

Slots Into Team USA Lineup
Matthew Tkachuk2 days ago

Ruled Out Monday
Gregory Rodrigues2 days ago

Gets TKO'd At UFC Vegas 102
Jared Cannonier2 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Nazim Sadykhov2 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Ismael Bonfim2 days ago

Suffers Fifth Career Loss At UFC Vegas 102
Rodolfo Vieira2 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 102
Andre Petroski2 days ago

Extends His Win Streak
Stephen Curry2 days ago

Named All-Star Game MVP
Ryan Blaney2 days ago

Strong Daytona 500 Performance Falls Short Of Victory
Kyle Larson2 days ago

Continues To Struggle At Daytona After Underwhelming Result
Chase Briscoe2 days ago

Scores First Top-Five Finish With Joe Gibbs Racing At Daytona 500
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

Quietly Finishes The Daytona 500 As The Runner-Up
Ross Chastain2 days ago

Daytona 500 Effort Ends In An Early Crash
Adam Wilsby2 days ago

Signs Two-Year Extension With Nashville
Filip Gustavsson2 days ago

Feeling Better, Expected To Be Available On Monday
Kevin Lankinen2 days ago

Starting On Monday
Cale Makar2 days ago

Viewed As Game-Time Call
Matthew Tkachuk2 days ago

Being Evaluated
Connor Matthews2 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 102
Jose Delgado2 days ago

Gets Quick Win In Debut At UFC Vegas 102
Dylan Budka2 days ago

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss At UFC Vegas 102
Edmen Shahbazyan2 days ago

Gets Knockout Win At UFC Vegas 102
Calvin Kattar2 days ago

Suffers Fourth Straight Loss At UFC Vegas 102
Youssef Zalal2 days ago

Gets Decision Win At UFC Vegas 102
Denny Hamlin2 days ago

Fights For The Win But Gets Eliminated In Last-Lap Crash
Austin Cindric2 days ago

Has Best Run At Daytona 500 Until Last-Lap Crash
Justin Allgaier2 days ago

Earns First Top-10 Finish Since 2015
Martin Truex Jr2 days ago

.'s Sour Luck Continues With Early Daytona 500 Crash
Helio Castroneves2 days ago

Eliminated From Daytona 500 In Crash With Teammate
Tyler Herro2 days ago

Wins Three-Point Contest
Donovan Mitchell2 days ago

Evan Mobley Win Skills Challenge
Mac McClung2 days ago

Wins Slam Dunk Contest
LeBron James2 days ago

Won't Play In All-Star Game
Joey Logano3 days ago

May Be A Favorite To Find The Front At Daytona, But What About For DFS?
Denny Hamlin3 days ago

Is Denny Hamlin Worth Rostering For Daytona Lineups?
Chase Elliott3 days ago

Could Chase Elliott Be Worth Rostering At Daytona This Week?
Ryan Blaney3 days ago

Should DFS Players Trust Ryan Blaney This Week At Daytona?
Alex Bowman3 days ago

Will Be One Of The Best DFS Plays Of The Week For Daytona
Brad Keselowski3 days ago

Is A DFS Lock For Daytona Lineups
Ross Chastain3 days ago

Has A Real Shot Of Winning But Should Be Avoided For DFS
Chris Buescher3 days ago

Undervalued For The Win At Daytona
Patrik Laine3 days ago

Collects Two Assists Saturday
Mikael Granlund3 days ago

Pots Overtime Winner Against Sweden
Filip Gustavsson3 days ago

Battling An Illness
Jordan Binnington3 days ago

Earns Another Start For Team Canada
Connor Hellebuyck4 days ago

Remains In Team USA Crease Saturday
Sam Bennett4 days ago

Enters Canada's Lineup On Saturday
Cale Makar4 days ago

A Game-Time Call Saturday
Sam Steel4 days ago

Signs Two-Year Extension
Thomas Harley4 days ago

Joining Team Canada
4 days ago

Kevin Knox II Expected To Sign 10-Day Contract
Damion Baugh4 days ago

Signs Two-Way Deal
4 days ago

Isaiah Wong Waived By Hornets
Jared Butler5 days ago

76ers Converting Jared Butler To Standard Contract
Gregory Rodrigues5 days ago

Searching For Fourth Consecutive UFC Win On Saturday
Yves Missi5 days ago

Suffers Hyperextended Knee On Thursday
Jared Cannonier5 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
Nazim Sadykhov5 days ago

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Anthony Davis5 days ago

Sidelined For "At Least" Four Weeks
Ismael Bonfim5 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 102
Rodolfo Vieira5 days ago

Seeking Victory In Eighth UFC Appearance
Andre Petroski5 days ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Connor Matthews5 days ago

Opens Up UFC Vegas 102 Main Card
Jose Delgado5 days ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 102
Dylan Budka5 days ago

Searching For First UFC Win On Saturday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Kirk Cousins - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Backup Quarterbacks To Buy In Superflex Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

Superflex dynasty fantasy football leagues have become increasingly popular in recent years. Many gamers prefer them as they believe the importance of quarterbacks is on par with that of the NFL. While that holds, this means it’s important to roster several backup quarterbacks as well. Signal-callers go down every year, and you don’t want to […]


Rashid Shaheed - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Values: Later-Round Targets For Dynasty Start-Up Drafts

The most important part of every Dynasty fantasy football league is the startup draft. There's nothing more impactful that you can do to boost your team in the short term than nail your picks in the drafts. But as the rounds wear on, less and less obvious picks are present. By the late rounds, it […]


Ladd McConkey - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Top AFC West Players To Buy In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

While the 2024 fantasy football season is in the rearview mirror, the grind never stops for dynasty players. However, now is the perfect time for fantasy players to look into trade options in their dynasty leagues. Let’s look at eight players from the AFC West that fantasy players should explore trading for this offseason.Be sure […]


Travis Hunter - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Draft Prospects, NFL Rookies

2025 Fantasy Football IDP Rookie Rankings (Pre-NFL Draft) -Abdul Carter, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, and more

We are only a few days removed from the Super Bowl, but rookie drafts are already underway, and the fantasy football landscape is, once again, being reshaped. As we get closer to the NFL Draft in Green Bay, understand that the market will change several times. It'll change after the combine, during free agency, and […]


Derrick Henry - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

The Running Back Age Cliff: When Should You Fade Aging Fantasy Football Veterans?

The NFL and other professional sports leagues are all centered around collecting the most genetically gifted and physically talented athletes and having them compete against each other. The mental aspect of the game is important as well, but without the raw physical ability, one simply cannot compete in the big leagues. For running backs, toughness, […]


Isiah Pacheco - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Sells - Players To Trade Away (AFC Edition)

While knowing which players to buy in dynasty fantasy football leagues is essential to success, it’s equally important to know which players to sell. You never want to get stuck “holding the bag” on players who seem to be heading down the wrong path. Surprisingly, many dynasty gamers stubbornly refuse to move off their prior […]


Tre Harris - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks, NFL Draft

Rookies to Target in Early 2025 Fantasy Football Best Ball Drafts

Best ball fantasy football formats are all about hunting for as much upside as possible. Drafting players who can produce explosive scoring games, like those in the 20 PPR point range or more, is massively important, especially in the later rounds. The uncertainty surrounding most NFL rookies and the constant whiffs by consensus opinions of […]


Rashee Rice - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL wr, Draft Sleepers

AFC Players To Buy In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

The offseason is the most important time for dynasty fantasy football managers to improve their teams. This could mean acquiring a star player who might be coming off a down year or trading away a top dynasty asset for multiple first-round picks. Many of those decisions will come down to how your team is currently […]


Omarion Hampton - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

NFL Draft RB Prospect Comparisons: Which 2025 Rookies Resemble Today’s Fantasy Football Stars?

It’s no secret that the 2025 NFL Draft class of running backs projects to be one of the deepest in recent memory. There are a slew of talented young backs with successful college careers who will hope to hear their names called between April 24 and 26. After the Super Bowl season that Saquon Barkley […]


Dak Prescott - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFC Players To Sell In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

There are always players other dynasty fantasy football managers may still have faith in. It's not always readily apparent which will be good buys and which ones you should sell, but that's what I'm here for. It can be hard to let go of players who have helped you win in the past. But you […]


Trevor Lawrence - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Early 2025 Fantasy Football Breakouts: Quarterback

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, it is officially the 2025 fantasy football draft season. While the landscape across the league is subject to change significantly throughout free agency and the NFL Draft, it’s never too early to get a head start on prepping for your draft. While three of the usual suspects […]


Ladd McConkey - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers From the 2024-25 NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoffs give fantasy football managers a unique chance to see how fantasy-relevant players perform in a higher-pressure situation than the regular season. Usually, performing well against higher-quality defenses, which often find their way into the postseason, can be revealing of a player's skill. It doesn't always give us a clear picture of how […]


Noah Gray - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Tight End Sleepers

Backup Tight Ends To Buy In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

Any time a starting tight end goes down, their backup's stock immediately rises. Maybe you were like me last season, jumping to pick up Grant Calcaterra for the wrong game. I could have had him on my roster for free if I had grabbed him before Dallas Goedert got hurt. It is a tight end […]