2014 Fantasy Football – 15 Busts (Aug. 31):
This is a list of my top 2014 fantasy football busts – players you should avoid unless they fall far in your draft. The Average Draft Position (ADP) is found on FantasyFootballCalculator.com.
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Reggie Bush, RB, Lions. Bye: 9. ADP: 3.09.
Reggie Bush had some awesome performances early in the 2013 campaign, but struggled down the stretch. He was even benched at times for fumbling. He dropped a pass in his first two preseason games, so it appears as though the mistakes will continue. The Lions will likely continue giving Bush a shared workload with Joique Bell, so it’s hard to love Bush in non-PPR formats.
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Chris Johnson, RB, Jets. Bye: 11. ADP: 5.09.
One of the most overrated players in the NFL – check out this year’s Most Overrated NFL Players list – Chris Johnson will be part of a rotation in New York. However, he’ll be overdrafted because of his name. He predictably dropped a pass in the preseason opener, and most of his yardage this preseason has come against backups.
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Toby Gerhart, RB, Jaguars. Bye: 11. ADP: 4.02.
Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union expects the Jaguars to give Toby Gerhart only 12-15 carries per game. This is a very realistic projection. Gerhart is expected to be the starter in Jacksonville, but he won’t shoulder much of a workload because he’s not talented. Other publications are trying to push Gerhart as an RB2, but taking him as one will just lead to disappointment.
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C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills. Bye: 9. ADP: 4.04.
C.J. Spiller will split touches with Fred Jackson in Doug Marrone’s “Ancient Dumb Dumb Offense” (name thanks to forum member Leelee). Spiller won’t be utilized as much as he should be, and he’s not durable to carry the entire workload anyway. Also keep in mind that Buffalo will be dreadful this season, so that’ll limit Spiller’s scoring chances. Don’t waste a fourth-round pick on him.
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Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. Bye: 4. ADP: 1.09.
There’s major bust potential with Marshawn Lynch, given that he’s shouldered 1,000-plus carries over the past three seasons (including the playoffs). His YPC took a dive at the end of the year as well. He could be a threat to score double-digit touchdowns again, but he’s someone who will likely be overvalued. Keep in mind that including the playoffs, Lynch had more carries than any other running back last year. You want to stay away from running backs like that.
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Eric Decker, WR, Jets. Bye: 11. ADP: 8.06.
Free agent receivers who go from great teams/quarterbacks to less-lucrative situations often fail to meet expectations. That’s likely to happen to Eric Decker, who was a product of Peyton Manning. Decker won’t produce much with either of the Jet quarterbacks.
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Victor Cruz, WR, Giants. Bye: 8. ADP: 4.06.
I wrote in my preseason recaps that Eli Manning has looked like a dying animal this preseason. The offensive line has been equally horrific. Victor Cruz’s stats will be affected.
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49ers Defense. Bye: 4. ADP: 9.10.
I’ve been listing Seattle’s defense here for a while, but the 49ers need to be mentioned as well. They’re just going one round later, and yet they’re missing key personnel.
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Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills. Bye: 9. ADP: 8.11.
Sammy Watkins is a great talent. Unfortunately, he’ll be paired with E.J. Manuel in the near future, so his upside will be severely limited. Rookie receivers tend to be overrated anyway, so you’ll probably want to stay away from the Clemson product until 2015 when everyone forgets about him and focuses on Amari Cooper instead.
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Wes Welker, WR, Broncos. Bye: 4. ADP: 6.10.
Wes Welker, now 33, is being terribly overdrafted in the fourth round. He had very little left in the tank at the end of last season – he caught only two touchdowns after Week 6, and averaged just 44.6 yards per game in his final five contests – and now he’s a year older and has to deal with a tougher schedule. Oh, and he just suffered yet another concussion. Avoid.
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Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints. Bye: 6. ADP: 7.01.
I like Brandin Cooks, but he is going WAY too early in these fantasy mocks. The beginning of the seventh round is insane for any rookie wideout, and the fact that Cooks is being drafted before Marques Colston on occasion makes absolutely no sense.
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DeSean Jackson, WR, Redskins. Bye: 10. ADP: 5.06.
DeSean Jackson is coming off the best season of his career, catching 82 balls for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. It says a lot though that the Eagles cut him. Jackson might have some big games with the Redskins, but he should be avoided because he’s being drafted too early. Robert Griffin has been dreadful this preseason, so that doesn’t help.
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DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys. Bye: 11. ADP: 2.02.
DeMarco Murray just had the best season of his career, rushing for 1,124 yards and catching 53 passes despite playing just 14 games. Unfortunately, Murray has a dubious injury history and can’t be trusted. He’s being overdrafted at his 2.02 ADP.
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Jay Cutler, QB, Bears. Bye: 9. ADP: 7.04.
I don’t understand Jay Cutler’s ADP. Do people not realize that he’s had only one 4,000-yard season? Cutler never plays all 16 games; he’s missed 12 contests in the past three years. He’s not someone I’d like to rely on as my starter, so his ADP should be in the 10th round or so.
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Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles. Bye: 7. ADP: 6.04.
Jeremy Maclin always seems to be banged up, which is why he has yet to top 1,000 receiving yards in any season. Expecting him to stay healthy is a bit foolish.
More 2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/27 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/4 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/4 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/18 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/22 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/21 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/14 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/12 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 8/7 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 7/24 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/10 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - PPR - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 2-QB - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - TD - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 8/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: It's All About Value - 9/1 (Kenny)
2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 8/30 (Walt)
FanDuel $1 Million Contest - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy - 8/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs - 3/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/16 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/14 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/14 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Dec. 13
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
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Injured/injury risk
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Potential bust
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Potential sleeper
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Rank higher in touchdown leagues
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Rank lower in touchdown leagues
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Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues
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Rank lower in PPR leagues
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