2016 Fantasy Football – 10 Busts (Aug. 31):
This is a list of my top 2016 fantasy football busts – players you should avoid unless they fall far in your draft. The Average Draft Position (ADP) is found on FantasyFootballCalculator.com.
I was dead on with some of my busts last year, namely Victor Cruz, Nelson Agholor, Joseph Randle and DeMarco Murray, all of whom were being chosen in the sixth round or earlier. However, I whiffed big time on two players: Tom Brady and Brandon Marshall.
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Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs ADP: 2.02.
Jamaal Charles hasn’t regained the full-time running back role despite his return, as Spencer Ware has been handling most of the first-string duties. The Chiefs aren’t going to use Charles all that much early in the year in an effort to preserve him for the playoffs. Plus, Ware has been very impressive. I’ve been avoiding Charles all summer, and I’d urge you to do the same.
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Matt Forte, RB, Jets. ADP: 4.06.
It feels like Matt Forte is being chosen two or three rounds too early. Forte is not nearly the dominant player he once was, and he’s certainly not going to handle the full workload on his new team; all reports indicate that Forte and Bilal Powell will share touches evenly. The Jets have a crowded backfield, so I wouldn’t take Forte before the sixth frame.
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Arian Foster, RB, Dolphins. ADP: 5.02.
Arian Foster had a solid third preseason game, but it doesn’t matter because he’ll be injured by the middle of October. Drafting him in the fifth round is a huge mistake.
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Chris Ivory, RB, Jaguars. ADP: 6.06.
Everyone seems to remember how dominant Chris Ivory was in the early part of the 2015 campaign, but they seem to have forgotten that he was so bad down the stretch that he was benched and barely used in Week 17’s must-win contest. Ivory, like Marion Barber before him, isn’t going to last very long because of his running style. He’s not even Jacksonville’s starter, so taking him in the sixth round is just dumb.
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Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders. ADP: 3.08.
It’s mind-boggling to me that players like Jeremy Hill and DeMarco Murray are being chosen after Latavius Murray. Oakland’s coaching staff soured on Latavius Murray last year, and there’s no reason to think that 2016 will be drastically different. Murray is way too risky to warrant a late selection in the third round.
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Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots. ADP: 4.12.
Taking Julian Edelman in the fourth round just seems crazy to me. Edelman has had surgery on his foot twice in the past 10 months, and he just re-injured it recently. The Patriots should consider themselves lucky if Edelman plays eight games.
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Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons. ADP: 2.07.
Most remember the great start Devonta Freeman had to begin his 2015 campaign, but few recall how much he struggled down the stretch, gaining 3.4 yards per carry or worse in five of his final six contests. He didn’t get off to a good start in his preseason opener. He’s currently way overdrafted at 2.07.
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Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals. ADP: 7.06.
Carson Palmer has looked off to me through two preseason games. His arm strength seems diminished. Perhaps it’s nothing, but there’s a chance Palmer is on a major decline. I wouldn’t trust him in the seventh round.
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John Brown, WR, Cardinals. ADP: 7.01.
John Brown missed practice Tuesday with a headache. Brown missed two-plus weeks of practice with concussion symptoms and was finally cleared. Now, he’s likely to go back into concussion protocol, as he continues to have headaches. Given this troubling issue, as well as Carson Palmer’s preseason struggles, I’d stay as far away from Brown as possible.
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Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers. ADP: 2.12.
I’d be worried about Doug Martin this season. He was second in rushing this past year, but he signed a big contract extension in the spring. Martin had been lethargic beforehand, so will he revert to that state? Also, the Buccaneers appear to be interested in allowing Charles Sims to handle more of a workload.
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Jimmy Graham, TE, Seahawks. ADP: 11.03.
I warned you about Victor Cruz last summer, telling you not to draft him in any round. I’ll say the same thing about Jimmy Graham. The Seattle tight end sustained a torn patellar tendon, which is nearly impossible to come back from, period, let alone less than a year.
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Torrey Smith, WR, 49ers. ADP: 10.05.
Why is anyone drafting Torrey Smith? Seriously, I don’t think I’d take him in the 110th round; let alone the 10th.
More 2016 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/15 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/15 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/13 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/13 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/27 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 9/1 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/31 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Real Draft - 8/29 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/25 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/24 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/13 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/11 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/4 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/4 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/2 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/28 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 7/21 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Draft - 5/13 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings - 8/26 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Articles:
2016 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/4 (Walt)
2016 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Preseason Quarterback Targets - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Targets - 8/31 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Auction Advice - 8/24 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Daily Fantasy Preseason Week 2 Streaming Options - 8/18 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Draft Queue: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends - 8/17 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Draft Queue: Quarterbacks and Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Training Camp Notes - 8/10 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Avoid - 8/6 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Running Backs to Avoid - 8/5 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Notes - 7/26 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets - 7/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Late-Round Running Back Targets - 7/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football ADP Values - 7/14 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: C.J. Anderson Profile - 7/7 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Favorite MFL Players - 6/29 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: 2016 NFL Draft Fallout: Chip Kelly - 6/23 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Marvin Jones Profile - 6/22 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Devin Funchess Profile - 6/15 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football 2-QB Draft - 6/9 (Chet)
Fantasy Football Beginner's Guide - 6/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: Running Back Drafting and ADP - 6/3 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Drafting and ADP - 6/1 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Eli Manning Profile - 5/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Jordan Matthews Profile - 5/24 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty Draft Wrap-up - 5/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: 2016 NFL Draft Fallout - 5/11 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Quarterback Values - 4/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Wide Receiver Values - 4/28 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Tight End Strength of Schedule - 4/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Strength of Schedule - 4/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Running Back Strength of Schedule - 4/20 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Strength of Schedule - 4/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 - 2/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Philip Rivers - 2/16 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback ADP vs. Reality - 2/12 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Fallout: Marshawn Lynch Retires - 2/11 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Fallout: Calvin Johnson Retires - 2/9 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Dynasty - 1/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Tight Ends - 1/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Wide Receivers - 1/14 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Running Backs - 1/13 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Quarterbacks - 1/12 (Chet)
NFL Picks - Nov. 22
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
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