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 9 - Quarterback
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Chargers
Jalen Hurts is coming off his worst performance of the season in a game where the Eagles scored 44 points. Ironically, in their first game without Miles Sanders, the Eagles relied heavily on their run game.
They evenly split the work between Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and Kenneth Gainwell with a total of 37 carries on the day. The running backs totaled 144 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. There were zero receptions from the group.
Hurts completed just 9 of 14 attempts for 103 yards and zero touchdowns. He did run the ball seven times for 71 yards, which added some value to a dud of a day for fantasy purposes.
The Eagles will face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9, who have given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Chargers have allowed a quarterback to throw for more than 260 yards just once this year and held Lamar Jackson to just 51 rushing yards in Week 6.
On the other hand, the Chargers’ defense has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs.
Hurts may take a back seat at least to begin the game this week. With the amount of success the team had running last week, the Eagles may try a similar approach against the Chargers.
If they are successful and keep the game in reach, Hurts would be in line for another disappointing performance.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Rams
The injury to Derrick Henry hurts the Titans in so many ways. Defenses will not have to respect the run game as much, which will allow them to focus more on Ryan Tannehill and his pass-catchers.
Tannehill did just throw from 265 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts in Week 8. Prior to last week, though, Tannehill had thrown multiple touchdowns just once through the first seven games. He has been held without a touchdown pass twice this season.
The Los Angeles Rams have given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and have not allowed one to throw for more than two touchdowns in a game. LA’s defense also just improved with the addition of Von Miller.
This is just not the week to play Tannehill. Let’s see how well the Titans’ passing game is without the presence of Henry.
More Week 9 Busts To Avoid:
- Justin Fields, Chicago Bears @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Find better Week 9 fantasy football players to start with our 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers Predictions.
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 9 - Running Back
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Khalil Herbert has been a bright spot for the struggling Chicago Bears since Week 5. He’s carried the ball 18 or more times and has 72 or more rushing yards in each of the last four games. So why bench him?
Herbert carried the ball a season-high 23 times last week against the 49ers. He totaled just 72 yards and caught both of his targets for negative yards.
This is not a good time for Herbert’s production to slow down. The Bears have one more game before their bye week, and David Montgomery is expected to return after their bye.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, and they have allowed a running back to rush for 100+ yards just once this season. Additionally, Pittsburgh has given up just two rushing touchdowns to running backs on the year and limited Nick Chubb to just 61 rushing yards last week.
Although this will likely be Herbert’s last game before Montgomery returns, it’s not the ideal matchup to leave a last impression as the lead back.
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers
Chase Edmonds hasn’t been awful for fantasy football (especially in PPR), but he hasn’t been a game-changer, either. Edmonds finally scored his first touchdown of the season last week, rushing just seven times for 30 yards. He also caught just three passes for 39 yards.
If it weren’t for that touchdown, his fantasy outlook would have been dismal.
James Conner has 94 rush attempts to Edmonds’ 75 attempts. The big difference has been touchdowns, where Conner holds an 8-1 edge. The Cardinals simply do not utilize Edmonds near the goal line — that’s Conner’s job.
The San Francisco 49ers have allowed just one running back to eclipse 100 rush yards this season (Jonathan Taylor in Week 7) and have only given up five rushing touchdowns on the season.
San Francisco has also been especially stingy against pass-catching backs, as they haven’t allowed a running back to have more than 34 receiving yards since Week 1 of this season.
More Week 9 Busts To Avoid:
- Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Chargers
Chase Edmonds’ production has taken a hit lately, and with the Arizona Cardinals leaning heavily on James Conner in the red zone, he’s an easy bust candidate for NFL Week 9. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 Fantasy Football Busts for Week 9 - Wide Receiver
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots @ Carolina Panthers
Jakobi Meyers‘ streak without a touchdown continues. His volume has saved him this season — Meyers has been targeted 5+ in every game this year — though his receptions have been more valuable than his yardage totals.
He has more than 50 receiving yards in just three games. Moreover, in the last three weeks, Meyers has totaled just 125 receiving yards and does not have a game with more than 44 receiving yards.
His matchup in Week 9 is enough to keep him on the bench.
The Carolina Panthers have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and have allowed just three touchdowns to the position in their last four games, though it’s not like touchdowns matter with Meyers since he doesn’t score them anyway.
Play it safe and bench a low-upside player in a tough matchup this week.
Marvin Jones Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills
Marvin Jones Jr. has been a decent option for fantasy lineups this season. He has struggled in difficult matchups, though, and it doesn’t get any tougher than the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills have given up the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. They’ve allowed a wide receiver to surpass 90 yards just once and have not allowed one to go over 91 yards on the year.
Buffalo has held wide receivers to just two touchdowns on the year (Diontae Johnson in Week 1 and Byron Pringle in Week 5).
At the end of the day, this is a nightmare matchup for the Jaguars as a whole. With James Robinson nursing an injury, it appears the Jaguars are in for a difficult day in both the run and pass game.
Do not rely on Marvin Jones Jr. in Week 9. It won’t be his day.
More Week 9 Busts To Avoid:
- Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Rams
Find better Week 9 fantasy football players on the waiver wire with our 2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Top Pickups.
2021 Fantasy Football Bust for Week 9 - Tight End
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos @ Dallas Cowboys
There are not many options at the tight end position each week. That said, you may want to fade Noah Fant in Week 9. Although he’s scored three touchdowns on the year, Fant’s floor is dangerously low.
Fant has under 40 yards and 0 touchdowns in half of his games this season. Moreover, he just had his worst game of the season in Week 8 against the Washington Football Team, totaling eight yards on just two catches.
The Dallas Cowboys have allowed just two touchdowns to the tight end position since Week 2. Additionally, they have held a tight end to under 30 receiving yards three times in 2021.
This is going to be a tough game for the Broncos’ offense. I imagine it will be a low-scoring performance, which is not what you want for a position that relies on touchdowns to be fantasy-relevant.
More Week 9 Busts To Avoid:
- Evan Engram, New York Giants vs Las Vegas Raiders
2021 Fantasy Football Bust for Week 9 - Defensive Team
Baltimore Ravens Defense D/ST vs Minnesota Vikings
Although the Baltimore Ravens are coming fresh off their bye week, they did not perform well in the week leading up to it, allowing 41 points to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Minnesota Vikings have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to defenses this year. The Ravens are a middle-of-the-pack defense against the quarterback and wide receiver position. They give up the most fantasy points to tight ends and sixth-most fantasy points to running backs.
The Vikings have many weapons on offense to hurt opposing defenses. Kirk Cousins has multiple touchdown passes in four games, Justin Jefferson has 65 or more receiving yards in six games, Adam Thielen has a touchdown in five games, and Dalvin Cook is one of the few elite running backs in the game.
This is not a great week to lean on the Ravens defense.
Refer to my weekly Waiver Wire article to see who you should target for a Week 9 defense.
More Week 9 Busts To Avoid:
- Cleveland Browns Defense D/ST, @ Cincinnati Bengals
