Atlanta Falcons

10 Fantasy Football busts from NFL Week 1

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

It’s great to have the NFL back, but these ten fantasy football busts disappointed their owners with their week 1 totals.

Dez Bryant was one of the biggest fantasy football busts of week 1, but he’ll hope to get on the same page with Dak Prescott in time for next week’s game. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

It was a great weekend of fantasy football as the season opened with plenty of exciting action and thrilling finishes. However, Week 1 wasn’t thrilling for everyone. For every fantasy football owners celebrating their first win of the season, there’s also an owner wondering where things went wrong. To help you find some company in your misery or find fodder to mock those who are miserable, check out these top ten fantasy football busts from week 1.

Each week in our top 10 fantasy football busts, you can find the most disappointing options at each of the main fantasy positions. I highlight the players that had high expectations coming into the week but failed to live up to them. Whether due to injury or ineffectiveness, these players burned their owners badly. You definitely don’t want your players to be on this list, but you do want them on this list of fantasy football scoring leaders.

Make sure to check back later today too for our fantasy football sleepers who emerged out of Week 1. For all our weekly coverage make sure to drop a bookmark on our fantasy football hub so that you’re ready for Week 2. You can also check out our new start/sit tool and follow @FansidedFantasy on Twitter to help you avoid fantasy football busts from sinking your team this week.

Let’s start the parade of shame as we look at these top ten fantasy football busts from week 1.

Jul 31, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge walks toward the locker room following practice at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, OH. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Barnidge-TE-Cleveland Browns

I wasn’t a huge fan of Barnidge coming into this season, and for one week at least–I got that one right. RG3 is too much of a vertical passer to get him involved, and Barnidge was really only productive last season when Josh McCown was forcing him tons of targets.

Barnidge may turn things around eventually, but he had a disastrous Week 1. He was only targeted twice, and to make matters worse he dropped both passes thrown his way.

He can’t get any worse than his zero points, but he may not get much better either. If you own and started Barnidge, you had as many fantasy points as he did making him one of the biggest fantasy football busts of the week.

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) leaves the field after losing to the New York Giants 20-19 at AT&T Stadium. Giants 20, Cowboys 19. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott-QB-Dallas Cowboys

This is one of the most controversial selection on my fantasy football busts lists this week and I’m already prepared for the Twitter blowback. Let me start by saying I’m actually a big Prescott fan. I think there’s a good chance he plays well enough to keep the job and grows into a solid NFL QB. However, people were a little over-aggressive on being “all in” on Prescott before this game, and he let them down. That letdown is why he’s in on my fantasy football busts for this game not because I think he will be a bust going forward.

Prescott was trusted to throw the ball 45 times in his first NFL start, but he only completed 25 passes for 227 yards. He did avoid turnovers, but he also totaled no touchdowns. He threw 26 of those 45 passes to check down options Jason Witten and Cole Beasley while failing to get play-makerDez Bryant involved (more on that later).

I think Prescott has he weapons to succeed and that he has a good chance to grow in the coming weeks. However, don’t over-react and make him a top-ten QB just yet. I still would wait on him having regular season success before using him as a starter except in the deepest of dual-QB leagues.

Aug 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) stretches during warmups prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Duke Johnson Jr.-RB-Cleveland Browns

One of the often over-rated running backs going into Week 1 was Duke Johnson Jr. of the Browns. Johnson has a ton of potential, and I’ve touted him as a breakout candidate, but he isn’t there yet and some people had him as a good flex play in week 1–spoiler alert: he wasn’t.

In the end he had three carries for 22 yards and added three catches for 28 more yards. 60 total yards doesn’t make him a total bust, but he lost a lot of touches to Isaiah Crowell including the goal line carry.

If Johnson ever gets the full-time job, he’ll be a good play, but until then don’t overpay for his potential. He belongs on benches until bye weeks in all formats or until he claims more of the workload in Cleveland.

Sep 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (27) breaks up a pass to New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Marshall-WR-New York Jets

The Jets suffered a tough loss (nothing new) to the Bengals on Sunday, and Brandon Marshall had a bad start to the season for both the Jets and his fantasy owners. However, he was heavily involved and should be fine in the grand scheme of things.

This week, though, is one that Marshall will try to forget. He was targeted eight times including twice in the end zone, but he only ended up with three catches for 32 yards and no touchdowns. He also had a critical drop on the Jets’ last drive.

Marshall will still be a fringe WR1 moving forward, but he was not great this week. He probably won’t be on our fantasy football busts list often, but he earned his spot this week to be sure.

Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) lays upside down after being tackled against the Baltimore Ravens defense at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrod Taylor-QB-Buffalo Bills

Taylor was on the edges of being a QB1 last season and many thought he could be a rotation candidate if you missed out on elite options for this year. He may still work into that spot, but he got off to a rough start to the season in his return to Baltimore.

Taylor was drafted by the Ravens, but he and the Bills could get nothing going against the Baltimore D this week. With Sammy Watkins at less than 100%, the Bills offense lacked playmakers, and the only offensive touchdown wen to LeSean McCoy on the ground.

Taylor finished just 15-of-22 passing for 111 yards and ran for just 11 more yards. While the Baltimore offense didn’t exactly go off against a much-improved Buffalo defense, it looks like the Bills could struggle offensively coming out of the gates.

Fortunately, Taylor won’t have long to ruminate on his spot in our fantasy football busts this week since he and the Bills have a short week. They’ll face the Jets on Thursday Night Football in Week 2 in an AFC East battle.

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) catches the ball prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Coby Fleener-TE-New Orleans Saints

The Saints brought in tight end Coby Fleener this offseason which was expected by some people to turn him into a fantasy football stud. He may still end up being later this season, but even with Drew Brees throwing for 400 yard Fleener was one of the biggest fantasy football busts of the week.

Fleener only managed one catch for six yards on four targets. He wasn’t a red zone presence and ultimately lost almost all his work to Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead who had monster games.

Alex Resendez felt the same way

@FanSidedFantasy @FanSided Fleener the biggest bust. He's the top candidate of my overreaction, early drop list.

— Alex Resendez (@Aresendez01) September 12, 2016

The buzz this preseason was that Fleener struggled to get the Saints playbook, and that looked to be the case in Week 1. Until he gets it going, he’s a risky play and could end up being one of the biggest fantasy football busts of the season since he was drafted as a starting TE in almost every format.

Sep 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by Miami Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams (94) during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson-QB-Seattle Seahawks

While other top-tier QB’s were lighting it up (see this post for Brees and Luck’s big days), Russell Wilson struggled at home against a so-so Miami defense. Wilson did manage to get the big touchdown at the end to win the game, but his fantasy numbers probably left his owners with a less-than-winning feeling.

Wilson ended up 27-of-43 for 258 yards. He did throw the game-winning touchdown pass, but he also threw a pick and lost a fumble. Wilson didn’t get a ton of work done on the ground either finishing with just 16 yards on his four rush attempts.

To add injury to insult, Wilson’s availability for Week 2 is up in the air after an ankle injury that some people are saying is “significant.”

#Seahawks QB Russell Wilson shrugged it off, but I'm told his sprained ankle is significant. It puts his availability vs #Rams into question

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2016

While Wilson’s numbers didn’t end up being horrible, he wasn’t the top-tier QB that many people drafted him to be. He and the Seahawks escaped Week 1, but he still was one of the biggest fantasy football busts of the week.

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs for a short gain during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson-RB-Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings offense was going to have to rely heavily on Adrian Peterson this week with Shaun Hill under center while the team gets Sam Bradford ready to take over. Fortunately for Minnesota, Hill ended up playing surprisingly well and their defense dominated. Even with Adrian Peterson making our list of fantasy football busts they were able to pull out the victory over the Titans.

The Tennessee defense clearly didn’t respect the passing game and keyed in on stopping Peterson. He finished with just 31 yards on his 19 carries and didn’t catch a pass.

Peterson is much better than this, and should be fine going forward. However, as the Vikings offense transitions from Hill to Bradford, it will be interesting to see how teams approach Minnesota. It’s not time to jump ship on Peterson, but there are some concerning signs.

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) misses a possible touchdown catch as New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) defends at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Dez Bryant-WR-Dallas Cowboys

Bryant owners were afraid this would happen when Romo went down, and their nightmares became all-too-real in week 1.

Bryant was targeted five times in the Cowboys Week 1 loss to the Giants, but he only managed one catch for eight yards. He nearly had a touchdown, but the ball came loose as he fell to the ground. Bryant didn’t seem to gel well with Dak Prescott and was surprisingly silent on a day when Prescott threw 45 passes.

Bryant owners have cause for concern going forward, and next week they’ll have to go up against Josh Norman and Washington. While I doubt Bryant is a regular on our fantasy football busts list this season, he could have a very rough start to the season and isn’t must more than a WR2 at this point.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) in the third quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Devonta Freeman-RB-Atlanta Falcons

Last year’s #1 overall fantasy football running back got the season off to a less than exceptional start as he took on the Bucs and their stout run defense. What really has to worry his owners going forward, though, is the success of Tevin Coleman and the work that Freeman could lose going forward.

Michael Munoz nailed it on Twitter when he posted:

@FanSidedFantasy @FanSided biggest fantasy bust was Davonte freeman

— Michael Munoz (@KnicksMetsGmen) September 12, 2016

Freeman wasn’t horrible but didn’t make enough plays either. He finished with 20 yards on 11 carries and four catches on four targets for 20 more yards. He didn’t get into the end zone, and he ended up on the sidelines as the Falcons had to throw the ball more as they tried to come back against the Bucs.

The real issue for Freeman owners going forward is that he only out-snapped Coleman 36-32 in the game, and Coleman outgunned him 117 yards to 40 yards even though he received fewer touches. The Falcons look like they’re going to ride the hot hand which could leave Freeman as one of the bigger fantasy football busts of the season if he isn’t careful.