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Fantasy football busts - Week 3

September 19, 2008 @ 10:51:05

By Herija C. Green
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

In this article KFFL breaks down fantasy football busts of the week. Some high-level players will be included, because you need to know when is time to sit a player even though it may not seem appropriate. Primarily, however, we will address the midrange to low-end fantasy options that you rack your brai over each week. Read on to learn which of these players that you wouldn't want in your lineup.

Fantasy football busts: Quarterbacks

Matt Schaub, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

Fantasy value: Weak No. 1 or bench

The Texans received an unexpected Bye in Week 2 when damage caused by Hurricane Ike necessitated the postponement of their scheduled game with the Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile, the Titans were shutting down another passing attack, holding Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer to 134 passing yards and intercepting him twice in Week 1.
In two games, Tennessee has allowed just 174.5 passing yards, 0.5 touchdowns and two interceptions per game to opposing signal callers.
Schaub was knocked out of both meetings with Tennessee last season, leaving him just 8-for-13 for 57 yards in two games.

Jon Kitna, Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy value: Decent No. 1

Kitna was having a solid game in Week 2 before coming apart at the seams in the fourth quarter, throwing three interceptions in the final five minutes (two of which were returned for touchdowns) before getting pulled for quarterback Dan Orlovsky.
The 49ers continue to be surprisingly effective in coverage, allowing only 193 passing yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game to the position this season - they also returned a pick for a touchdown in Week 2.
Kitna threw for 202 yards, one touchdown and an interception in his last meeting with the 49ers in 2006.

Fantasy football busts: Running Backs

DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy value: Williams - Weak No. 3, Stewart - Weak No. 2 or strong No. 3
Stewart enjoyed a big Week 2 against a tough Chicago Bears defense, gaining 77 yards and scoring twice on just 14 carries.
Williams was held in check as his 12 total touches (11 carries, one reception) resulted in just 25 yards.
The Vikings boast arguably the NFL's best defensive line, and after leading the league in rush defense last year (74.1 yards per game) they have surrendered just 64.5 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards and one total touchdown per contest to the position this year.
Fifty-seven of the 129 rushing yards allowed this year by Minnesota came on one play, leaving 72 yards for the other 36 rushing attempts by backs.

Chris Perry, Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants

Fantasy value: No. 3

The Bengals offense has been dismal this season, though Perry has accounted for the team's lone offensive touchdown.
He is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on the year (40 carries, 106 yards) and has been a non-factor (two catches, negative-six yards) in the passing game.
The Giants have allowed 94.5 total yards per game to the position and are one of only six teams to have not allowed a touchdown to a running back this year.

NEW - Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

Fantasy value: Midrange No. 3

Lewis ran effectively, though sparingly, in Week 1 but was totally shut down (19 carries for 38 yards) by the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday night in windy conditions.
The Ravens stifled the run in their only game this season, limiting opposing backs to just 50 yards on 20 carries - plus coming off a Bye they figure to be rested and prepared for this Sunday.
The veteran back was effective against his former club in 2007, carrying the rock 45 times for 156 yards and scoring a touchdown in each game versus the Ravens.

Fantasy football busts: Wide Receivers

Santana Moss, Washington Redskins vs. Arizona Cardinals

Fantasy value: Weak No. 1 or strong No. 2

Two games, two touchdowns for Moss, who scored on a 67-yard pass in the fourth quarter as part of a seven-catch, 164-yard effort in Week 2.
Washington's passing game looked much improved this past Sunday, but they were facing a suspect New Orleans Saints secondary.
Arizona has held opposing wideouts in check through two games this season, allowing seven receptions for 93 yards per contest to the position - they have not surrendered a touchdown.
Moss faced the Cardinals in Week 7 last year and managed just two catches for eight yards.

Marvin Harrison/Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Fantasy value: Harrison - No. 2, Gonzalez - No. 3

Indianapolis' passing game picked it up in the second half last week, and Gonzalez had a huge game with nine receptions for 137 yards, both of which were career highs.
Harrison managed just one catch on four targets and played third fiddle to wideout Reggie Wayne and Gonzalez.
Harrison managed a mere three receptions for 16 yards against the Jags last year - it's worth noting that it was the only regular season game he played in after hurting his knee - while Gonzalez was held to a 22-yard catch in his lone meeting with Jacksonville.
Despite their 0-2 start, the Jags continue to limit the passing game, allowing seven receptions, 83.5 receiving yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game to enemy receivers this year.

NEW - Matt Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Fantasy value: Midrange No. 3

The Jags are off to a rough start in 2008, but Jones has been a pleasant surprise with 11 receptions and 130 yards on the year.
Indianapolis has surrendered a league-low 61 yards per game to enemy wideouts during the first two weeks while their five receptions per contest rank second.
Safety Bob Sanders (ankle, knee) is out of action this weekend, but that may prove to be more of an invitation for Jacksonville to pound the ball on the ground, which is their offensive preference.

Fantasy football busts: Tight Ends

Dante Rosario, Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy value: Weak No. 1

Rosario (foot) was bothered by a foot injury leading up to their Week 2 game and managed just one catch for six yards - a disappointing encore to his huge Week 1 performance.
The return of wideout Steve Smith from suspension gives quarterback Jake Delhomme his favorite weapon back, which should cut into Rosario's looks.
Minnesota has allowed a healthy 5.5 catches per game to opposing tight ends this year, but that has amounted to just 30.5 yards and no scores per contest.

Owen Daniels, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

Fantasy value: Weak No. 1

Daniels was held to three receptions for 33 yards in Week 1, and Hurricane Ike caused Houston's Week 2 game to be postponed.
The third-year tight end has averaged four catches, 46.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game in four lifetime encounters with the Titans.
Tennessee has surrendered virtually nothing to the position this year - three catches, 21.5 yards and no touchdowns per game.

NEW - Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions

Fantasy value: Flex or bench

Despite a lot of lip service this offseason about Davis being an integral part of the offense, the third-year tight end has caught just three passes for 51 yards in 2008; his six targets are just one more than wideout Josh Morgan, who is the team's fourth receiver.
For all of their shortcomings defensively, the Lions have allowed just two receptions and 28.5 yards per game to the tight end position this year.
Considering the damage backs and receivers have done against Detroit, Davis could be in for another quiet day.

Fantasy football busts: Place Kickers

Ryan Longwell, Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers

Fantasy value: No. 1

Longwell was a busy man in Week 2, accounting for all 15 of Minnesota's points by nailing five of his six field goal attempts.
Expectations should be tempered for next week as that was Longwell's highest output since 2005, and it was only the eighth time he has reached double figures in 34 games with the Vikings.
Carolina has yielded just two field goal attempts in the season's first two weeks.
Overall, they have allowed 5.5 points per game to the position.

Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins

Fantasy value: Decent No. 1

With quarterback Matt Cassel at the helm, Gostkowski matched his career high by attempting and making four field goals in Week 2.
He might see fewer opportunities this Sunday against a Dolphins team that has been giving up touchdowns (three extra points per game) instead of field goals (one attempt per game) - they're allowing just 4.5 points per game to opposing kickers.
In four career meetings with the Dolphins, Gostkowski has averaged 4.75 points per contest.

NEW - Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

Fantasy value: Bench

Bironas, who averaged 8.3 points per game in 2007, is averaging just 5.5 points per contest this season.
Only two teams have allowed fewer field goal attempts per game than the Texans, whose one attempt per contest sits in multi-way tie for third.
The Tennessee kicker had a record-setting day against Houston a year ago when he tallied 26 points, but he has averaged just 5.33 points per game in their other three meetings over the past two seasons.

Fantasy football busts: Defensive Teams

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy value: Bench

The Panthers have forced a modest three turnovers in their first two games - returning one for a touchdown in Week 1 - but they continue to apply minimal pressure with just two total sacks.
Minnesota has done a solid job protecting the football, committing two turnovers in their first two games.
They have allowed some pressure on quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (knee), but his mobility has limited their allowed sacks to four (two per game).
The Vikings are all about controlling the clock and limiting mistakes, which doesn't make for a lot of fantasy value for their opponents.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Fantasy value: Bench

Jacksonville has disappointed this season, and their defense hasn't made many big plays - two sacks, 1.5 turnovers per game.
They struggled in two meetings with the Colts last season, allowing 57 points, sacking quarterback Peyton Manning three times and forcing only two turnovers in a pair of defeats.
Manning and the Colts have been out of synch a bit this season - turning the ball over three times and allowing four sacks - but they still boast one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses.

NEW - Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers

Fantasy value: Bench

The Vikings played inspired ball for the better part of three quarters before surrendering 18 unanswered points in a tough Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Their vaunted defensive line has generated only one sack (the team has two total), and the Minnesota defense has forced just two turnovers.
Carolina has taken care of the football (one turnover per game) and held their opponent to two sacks per game this year.
Wideout Steve Smith is set to return after a two-game suspension, which gives the team their most dynamic downfield threat.