Every week in fantasy football, there are guys who over-achieve, as well as guys who don’t reach expectations. Avoiding the busts can be the difference between a very good weekend or a frustrating loss.
Let’s take a look at some of the guys who have been very good this year but are not going to reach their standard this week.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
Busts in Week 5 of Fantasy Football
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Through four weeks, C.J. Stroud has been absolutely terrific for the Houston Texans. The rookie from Ohio State has been better than anyone could have hoped for. He has thrown for 1,212 yards and six touchdowns while not throwing a single interception.
However, his opponent this week is the Atlanta Falcons, who have been very stingy against the pass.
The Falcons enter this game allowing 176.3 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth in the NFL. Even though they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, they allowed only 207 yards to Trevor Lawrence. The most passing yards they have given up is 243 to Jared Goff in Week 3.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
Besides making it tough for quarterbacks, opponents are really struggling to score against the Falcons. Atlanta ranks in the top 10 in points allowed (19.3 points per game), so don’t expect the Texans to light up the scoreboard.
There is no denying that Stroud has been terrific this season and should be throughout the year. However, this is a bad matchup for him, and he’ll likely have his toughest game as an NFL quarterback.
Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard has been good to start the year for the Cowboys, as his 311 rushing yards rank fifth in the league. One thing that has hurt him this year is they have absolutely blown out three teams, taking some carries away from him.
Dallas is going to be in a much more competitive game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, and that reason makes Pollard a tough guy to count on this week.
MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings
The 49ers enter this game ranked third in rushing yards allowed (66.0 yards per game). They are also tied for third in points allowed (14.5, with the Baltimore Ravens). The defensive line in San Francisco is as good as there is in football, while Fred Warner is arguably the best linebacker in the sport.
The 49ers are going to force the Cowboys to throw the ball like they did last year in the playoffs. Pollard got the ball only six times for 22 yards, as he left the game with an injury in the second quarter. San Francisco held Dallas to only 76 yards on 22 carries. This is a bad matchup for Pollard, as the 49ers are very tough to run against.
Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have had some players get off to surprising starts. Receivers like Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua have both been fantastic. Another player who is performing at a high level who wasn’t drafted early is running back Kyren Williams.
The second-year back from Notre Dame was so good in training camp and early in the season that the team traded Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings. Through four games, Williams has 245 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The five touchdowns are tied for third-most amongst running backs with Kenneth Walker III and David Montgomery.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) runs the ball in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.Like the other guys on this list, the matchup is very tough for Williams in Week 5. The Rams will be hosting the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia is currently second in the league in rushing yards allowed (63.0 yards), trailing only the Detroit Lions.
The Eagles have struggled against the pass, so the receivers could continue their strong play to the year. However, this is not the week where Williams continues his surprising run.
Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos
Even though it doesn’t seem like it, Russell Wilson has been a very good fantasy quarterback. Wilson is tied for second with nine touchdown passes, trailing only Kirk Cousins, who has 11.
Against the Chicago Bears last week, he threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns. While he has been putting up big numbers, they are somewhat inflated. Many of those yards and touchdowns came when the team was down multiple possessions.
That has worked against secondaries like the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears, the New York Jets are a different animal.
These two teams have some bad blood after head coach Sean Payton made comments about the job current Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett did as the Broncos coach last year.
Last weekend, New York lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-20, but forced Patrick Mahomes into one of the worst games of his career.
They intercepted him twice and nearly a third if it wasn’t for a defensive holding. This Jets defense is very difficult to pass the ball against and will be ready for the Denver offense. As much as Wilson will be a bust this week, the Jets’ defense is absolutely a play.
Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast
Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.
