Each week of the 2021 NFL season, I will be listing certain players as potential fantasy football busts for the upcoming week. No, this does not mean I believe these players are trash and should not be rostered.
The players I name in this article each week may have unfavorable matchups, situational changes that negatively impact their value, injury concerns, and other various reasons to avoid having them in your lineups for that specific week.
The adage “stick with your studs" only applies to a few elite fantasy options. You should not be married to all of your starters every week, but instead, pick and choose which players have the best matchups and highest potential of fantasy points each week.
I know that can be a lot of work, but don’t worry, I have you covered with fantasy football tips!
This weekly fantasy football bust article, partnered with my weekly waiver wire article, will assist you in your sit/start decisions every single week for the 2021 season.
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2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 6 - Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo Bills
It’s been a frustrating season for Ryan Tannehill‘s fantasy managers.
The veteran QB has thrown just 6 touchdowns in through Week 5, 3 of which came in Week 3. He’s thrown over 300 yards in just one game this year and is coming off of back-to-back weeks with fewer than 300 passing yards and just 1 touchdown in each contest.
Tannehill will have his toughest matchup of the season against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6, as their defense has given up the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2021. They haven’t allowed a quarterback to throw for more than 272 yards (Patrick Mahomes in Week 5) and no quarterback has thrown more than 2 touchdowns in a game.
NFL bye weeks begin this week and may limit your options to stream at the position, but I’d be looking to keep Tannehill on the bench this week.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina Panthers
Kirk Cousins was off to an amazing start, throwing multiple touchdowns in each of his first 3 games. In his last two outings, however, Cousins has thrown just 1 touchdown and an interception in each.
Given his recent downward trend, this doesn’t appear to be the matchup for Cousins to bounce back in.
The Carolina Panthers have held Jameis Winston, Dak Prescott, and Jalen Hurts under 200 passing yards this season. They have only allowed two quarterbacks to throw for more than 1 touchdown through 5 games.
Kirk Cousins has played poorly against worse defenses — not an encouraging sign for Week 6. Cousins has his bye week in Week 7.
More Week 6 Busts To Avoid:
- Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver Broncos
Find better Week 6 fantasy football players to start with our 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers Predictions.
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 6 - Running Back
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver Broncos
Josh Jacobs isn’t someone I expected to ever feature in this article, but his lack of production cannot be ignored.
In his 3 games played in 2021, Jacobs has yet to rush for more than 48 yards. He has a total of 88 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in his last 2 weeks. His involvement in the passing game has helped to save his overall production, but he just hasn’t been able to get things going.
The Denver Broncos have given up the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs and have allowed just one running back to rush for over 60 yards this season. Denver has also given up just 2 rushing touchdowns to running backs through the first 5 games.
This appears to be the week to bench Jacobs and play someone with a bit more upside given the matchup.
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals @ Cleveland Browns
James Conner has been a nice surprise for fantasy managers this season, scoring 5 rushing touchdowns in his last three games. He’s always had a nose for the end zone in short-yardage situations, so it’s nice to see him utilized that way.
Now for the negatives. Yes, Conner has scored 5 touchdowns in 3 weeks, but he isn’t getting the volume. Conner has yet to reach 60 rush yards, and he isn’t involved as a pass-catcher either, racking up just 4 targets on the season.
The Cleveland Browns have been very good against the run, allowing just the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. The best performance from a running back against the Browns was last week when Austin Ekeler ran for 66 yards. Prior to that, the best performance from a running back was Clyde Edwards-Helaire in Week 1 with just 43 rush yards.
Conner doesn’t pose the same threat as most of the running backs the Browns have shut down this season. Conner is an easy sit this week.
More Week 6 Busts To Avoid:
- Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans
Josh Jacobs has struggled to find production this season, and things aren’t expected to get any easier for him this week against the Denver Broncos. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 6 - Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo Bills
I was shocked to find that A.J. Brown hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1 and has yet to record 50 or more receiving yards in a single game this year. He sat out in Week 4 and had just 3 receptions for 38 yards in his return game against the Jaguars.
If Brown can’t be productive in games where Ryan Tannehill completes 30+ passes, I can’t expect him to be productive in a game where I anticipate Tannehill struggling.
The Buffalo Bills defense is just too good. They have given up the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina Panthers
This one isn’t an easy decision. Adam Thielen is capable of scoring multiple touchdowns any given week, but for the same reason I’m stacking busts for the Titans, I feel compelled to apply the same reasoning here.
As Kirk Cousins has cooled down over the last 2 weeks, so has Thielen. After catching 6 or more passes in each of his first 3 games, Thielen has just 5 receptions total in his last 2 weeks. He hasn’t had over 50 yards receiving since Week 1.
The Carolina Panthers have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, allowing just one wideout to have over 100 receiving yards in a game this year. Since Thielen is the WR2 in this offense, if anyone is going to have fantasy value in this game, it will be Justin Jefferson.
I’d put Adam Thielen on ice until after his Week 7 bye.
More Week 6 Busts To Avoid:
- Sammy Watkins, Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers
Find better Week 6 fantasy football players on the waiver wire with our 2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Top Pickups.
2021 Fantasy Football Bust for Week 6 - Tight End
Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots vs Dallas Cowboys
The Patriots’ offense has not allowed Jonnu Smith to get going this season. His target share has been decent, but given the inconsistent play from rookie quarterback Mac Jones, Smith hasn’t been able to convert it to much fantasy production.
He has totaled just 45 receiving yards and 1 touchdown in his last 3 games. His teammate, Hunter Henry, has been more of a productive target for Jones in recent weeks.
The Dallas Cowboys have been great on defense this year, ranking just outside of the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, but they can thank Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, and Dallas Goedert for that.
Jonnu Smith is not on their level. If you have him as your tight end, you may want to stream the position this year.
More Week 6 Busts To Avoid:
- Evan Engram, New York Giants vs Los Angeles Rams
2021 Fantasy Football Bust for Week 6 - Defensive Team
Cleveland Browns vs Arizona Cardinals
The Cleveland Browns defense has already given up a ton of points this year. This is not what you want to hear heading into a matchup against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals’ offense has scored 25+ points in all but 1 game this season and have 28 offensive touchdowns on the year. Bench the Browns defense.
If you have the Browns’ defense or defense on a bye week, I encourage you to check out my Week 6 waiver wire article. I list a couple of defenses for you to stream this week.
More Week 6 Busts To Avoid:
- Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo Bills
