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Welcome back, RotoBallers, to our conference championship fantasy football busts, or players who may disappoint.
With four teams remaining, the busts list shrinks to three and the margin for error in DFS contests is razor-thin. One bust will tank your lineup.
Below are my fantasy football busts, or players who may disappoint, for the conference championship games of the 2024-25 NFL season. Hopefully, this will help you set winning fantasy lineups this week. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, WAS) at Philadelphia
Brian Robinson Jr. exceeded expectations in the upset win over Detroit. The Lions couldn't slow down the Washington offense and the Commaders lead back racked up 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Brian Robinson's second TD gives the Commanders a 10-point lead in the fourth!
📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gkUtPhlJ09— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025
The Eagles are the third consecutive elite run defense he's faced in the postseason. While he was successful against Detroit, Robinson totaled 38 yards on 14 touches in the Wild Card matchup against Tampa Bay.
The Eagles trail both teams in rushing yards allowed to the position but excel in keeping backs out of the end zone. Five running backs have scored against Philadelphia (on the ground and through the air).
Robinson was one of those backs to score against Vic Fangio's unit (Week 11). He also averaged 2.4 yards per carry, totaled 41 yards, and didn't score in the Week 16 matchup, a game Washington won.
Because of his limited impact in the passing game (that role belongs to Austin Ekeler), Robinson is typically mediocre without a touchdown. Odds say he won't find paydirt in the divisional rubber match.
Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI) vs. Washington
Jalen Hurts (knee) will play in the conference championship game. That's straightforward. The big question is how much his knee could hinder his rushing prowess.
Here is Jalen Hurts moving at practice with his left knee issue pic.twitter.com/KPrUL845iF
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 23, 2025
Hurts suffered the injury in the third quarter of the win over Los Angeles. His only rush following the injury was the final kneel to run out the clock.
The sportsbooks are projecting a lower rushing output from Philadelphia's QB1. His line is set between 30.5 and 32.5 rushing yards (depending on the book). He failed to go over 32.5 in just four games this season. He ran for 39 and 41 yards (in 12 snaps) in the two matchups with Washington in the regular season.
And we already know Hurts won't light up the box score in the passing department. He's thrown for over 180 yards once in his previous seven starts (including the game he left early with a concussion).
Hurts is my least favorite quarterback this week and carries the most downside of the quartet.
James Cook (RB, BUF) at Kansas City
The Buffalo Bills have leaned on James Cook a smidge more in the postseason but this sets up as the opportune time to call on their MVP, Josh Allen.
Cook was listed as a bust in this same matchup in Week 11. Technically, we were wrong. Cook scored twice and caught five passes. However, he totaled 27 yards on 14 touches. Without the short touchdown runs, Cook was a bust.
The same matchup is worrisome in the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs allowed the fewest fantasy points in the regular season, surrendered the third-fewest rushing yards, and didn't give up a receiving touchdown to the position.
Cook is one of the few running backs worth using this week (including Saquon Barkley). Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt will cannibalize each other. Robinson also draws a dreadful matchup. But that doesn't mean Cook is a safe play.
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