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.
DFS Play of the Day
Looking for a new DFS site? PrizePicks offers contests for a wide variety of sports in what are essentially two contest formats and two modes of gameplay. Get a first deposit bonus of up to $100 using promo code .
Read our PrizePicks review for more insight and get your welcome bonus below, or continue reading our fantasy football tipster picks.
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 8 - Quarterback
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
Sam Darnold appeared to be an every-week starter at the position until Week 5. Prior to that week, Darnold threw over 300 passing yards in three of four games and had multiple touchdown passes in two of them.
Unfortunately, he has since cooled down in a big way.
In his last 3 games, Darnold has thrown just 2 touchdowns and twice as many interceptions. He’s thrown under 200 yards in two of the last three weeks and just barely over in Week 6 (207 passing yards).
Darnold was benched in the 4th quarter last week. In that game, he completed just 16 of 25 passes for 111 yards and 1 interception.
The Atlanta Falcons have given up the second-most fantasy points to the quarterback position. This may be enough for you to consider Darnold this week, though I’d suggest keeping him on ice until he can turn things around.
Definitely hold onto him for now, though, as his production could bounce back once Christian McCaffrey returns.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team @ Denver Broncos
Taylor Heinicke has also cooled down after a tremendous start to the season. Over his last three games, Heinicke has thrown just 2 touchdowns while turning the ball over 5 times. He’s putting up a decent amount of passing yards, throwing over 245 yards in two of the last three games, but he just hasn’t been able to put up many points.
His job doesn’t get any easier in Week 8.
The Denver Broncos have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and have held them to under 200 yards in three games this season. The Broncos defense has just as many games with multiple interceptions as they’ve allowed multiple touchdown passes (2).
Taylor Heinicke may lose his starting job after this week, as Washington will have to re-evaluate their quarterback situation during their Week 8 bye.
More Week 8 Busts To Avoid:
- Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns
Find better Week 8 fantasy football players to start with our 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers Predictions.
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 8 - Running Back
Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers
Everything appeared lined up for Mike Davis to have a great fantasy day against the Miami Dolphins last week. Instead, Davis finished the game with just 4 rush attempts for 10 yards. He wasn’t even targeted for the first time this season. A complete dud.
This week, the Falcons take on the Carolina Panthers with a potential “revenge game" for Davis against his former team.
I wouldn’t play into that narrative.
The Carolina Panthers have given up the fewest fantasy points to running backs this year. They’ve only allowed two running backs to eclipse 70 rush yards this season in Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook.
Davis has yet to reach 54 yards on the ground in 2021. There are times he appears to have some burst, but just when you think he’s getting things going, his production disappears. Davis has just 2 touchdowns on the season (1 rush, 1 catch), so he doesn’t even offer some upside with scoring.
Stay away from Davis this week.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team @ Denver Broncos
Antonio Gibson has yet to have a breakout game this season. The closest he came was in Week 5, when he rushed for 60 yards and 2 touchdowns.
It was a great fantasy day for Gibson managers, but he hasn’t come close to that production since. In his last 2 games, he’s rushed a total of 24 times for 95 yards without a score.
Although I expect Gibson to turn things around and see a spike in his production, I don’t see it happening in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos defense.The Broncos have given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs.
If Gibson was more involved in the passing game, I might feel slightly better about him this week, but he has just 2 targets in five of his last six games. His best rushing performances were in Weeks 1 (90 yards) and 2 (69 yards). Since then, he has rushed under 65 yards in every game.
If there is ever a time to bench Gibson, it’s this week. Hopefully, he comes back from Washington’s bye week more productive.
More Week 8 Busts To Avoid:
- Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
Robby Anderson’s inconsistent play at WR makes him a bust candidate in Week 8. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 8 - Wide Receiver
Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
I didn’t think I’d have to include Robby Anderson in this article, but seeing how he’s still 60% rostered, here it goes.
Anderson has been very inconsistent this season. He’s been targeted 11+ times in 2 games this season and has caught just 8 of those 22 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. The score came in Week 6 where he caught just 3 of 11 targets for 11 yards — not the yardage you’d expect from someone who received double-digit targets.
Maybe you feel compelled to play him against a Falcons defense that ranks among the bottom 10 in points to wideouts this year, but there are just so many better options than Anderson for you to roster.
He’s someone I would drop.
Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Odell Beckham Jr. may not be someone I’d drop just yet, but he’s getting close. He’s been unimpressive in all 5 of his starts this season, failing to eclipse 80 yards and score a touchdown.
OBJ’s target numbers have been decent, racking up 6+ in four of his five games. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to convert those targets into fantasy production.
OBJ has a mere 2 receptions in three of his five games. There really isn’t much else to say about a player that has disappointed everybody who drafted him.
He’s unstartable until we see some sense of life in his production. Jarvis Landry is the wide receiver in Cleveland to roster.
More Week 8 Busts To Avoid:
- Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots @ Los Angeles Chargers
Find better Week 8 fantasy football players on the waiver wire with our 2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Top Pickups.
2021 Fantasy Football Bust for Week 8 - Tight End
Mo Alie-Cox Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
Touchdowns are a tight end’s best friend. Mo Alie-Cox has scored 4 times in his last 3 games, though it appears to be fool’s gold, especially in his last 2 games. He’s combined for 4 catches on 6 targets for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns.
In Week 6, Alie-Cox caught a touchdown with his only reception of the game. Last week, he had just 25 receiving yards.
The Tennessee Titans have given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season and have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown just twice. A tight end has surpassed 25 receiving yards just twice against the Titans.
It’s safe to say Alie-Cox doesn’t have the benefit of receiving yards, and his touchdown chances against the Titans are slim.
More Week 8 Busts To Avoid:
- Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers
2021 Fantasy Football Bust for Week 8 - Defensive Team
New England Patriots Defense D/ST @ Los Angeles Chargers
The New England Patriots have been a decent defense this year. The typical “bend but don’t break" type of defense.
The truth is, the Patriots’ defense has performed well against bad teams and has struggled against good offenses. They have scored single-digit fantasy points against the Saints, Buccaneers, and Cowboys.
In Week 8, they will be tested once again as they take on Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers high-scoring offense. The Patriots will have to travel to Los Angeles and perform in a way they have yet shown against a top-10 fantasy quarterback.
You don’t want to bench the Patriots defense many weeks, but it’s safe to assume they will not provide great fantasy numbers this week against the Chargers.
More Week 8 Busts To Avoid:
- Pittsburgh Steelers Defense D/ST, @ Cleveland Browns
