February 13, 2012
  • 12/10/08

    fantasy football

    By Ryan Chatelain

    Fantasy football: These 8 sure ‘busted’ out

    Photo credit: Game Face

    Braylon Edwards was arguably the most disappointing player in fantasy football this season. (Photo by Getty)

    By Ryan Chatelain

    Capturing fantasy football glory requires talent — and luck. Injuries can send a promising fantasy season south, but you also need to avoid drafting proven players who turn in a stinker of a season.

    Now, I call out those players who let down their owners — this year’s fantasy All-Bust Team.

    Quarterback

    Last season, Cleveland’s Derek Anderson emerged from obscurity and was one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. But Anderson, considered a top-six fantasy QB before the season, fell back to earth. He completed only 50.2 percent of his passes and tossed just nine TDs against eight picks. He was benched for Brady Quinn in Week 10.Running backs

    Willis McGahee was a second- or third-round draft pick in most 12-team leagues. He rushed for at least 990 yards in each of his previous four seasons, but he has just 521 yards through Week 14 and didn’t touch the ball at all in two games when he was seemingly healthy.

    The writing was on the wall that Edgerrin James, 30, was in decline. But that didn’t stop many fantasy owners from picking the Cardinals star in the third to fifth rounds. James, now third on Arizona’s depth chart, has rushed for 395 yards.

    Wide receivers

    Braylon Edwards was arguably the No. 3 receiver prospect during the preseason, behind only Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. Plagued by dropped passes, Edwards failed to reach 70 yards in nine of 13 games and ranks just 31st among fantasy wideouts in standard scoring leagues.

    The Bengals’ Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson has only surpassed 60 yards receiving once this season and ranks 46th among fantasy receivers. (He was sixth in 2007.)

    Tight end

    What a bizarre 2008 for Kellen Winslow. He was hospitalized for a mysterious illness, suspended for criticizing the Browns organization and then had a potentially season-ending ankle injury. And even when Winslow, a top-three preseason tight end, was on the field, he was dreadful — only once did he eclipse 65 yards receiving.

    Kicker

    In many leagues, the Colts’ Adam Vinatieri was the second or third kicker drafted — mainly based on his reputation. Yet the Super Bowl hero is the 30th-ranked fantasy kicker.

    Defense

    The San Diego Chargers were widely considered to have the second-best fantasy defense before the season. But superstar linebacker Shawne Merriman proved how valuable he is when he ended up on the injured reserve and the Chargers, who have the No. 18 fantasy defense to date, struggled to stop just about everyone.

    - - - -

    SIT

    Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta< (vs. Tampa Bay)

    The Bucs have given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

    Le’Ron McClain, RB, Baltimore (vs. Pittsburgh)

    There’s never any telling who the Ravens’ leading rusher will be from week to week. Why bother guessing at all against the NFL’s top run defense?

    Kevin Walter, WR, Houston (vs. Tennessee)

    The Titans have allowed a league-low two TDs to wide receivers.

    START

    Kyle Orton, QB, Chicago (vs. New Orleans)

    The Saints are allowing 231 yards per game through the air.

    Dominic Rhodes, RB, Indianapolis (vs. Detroit)

    Both the Titans’ and Vikings’ No. 2 backs had nice games vs. the Lions in recent weeks.

    Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo (vs. Jets)

    The erratic Evans should be fine against the league’s 31st-ranked pass defense.

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