2021 Fantasy Football Busts (Aug. 31):
This is a list of my top 2021 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 over the past three years. My top busts for 2019 were Antonio Brown and Todd Gurley. I had some misses as well, but Brown and Gurley were two players I didn’t want to select in the top three rounds.
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Darrell Henderson, RB, Rams. ADP: 4.01.
People are actually drafting Darrell Henderson atop the fourth round? Why!? Henderson has had his chance before, and he flopped. He’s not a good player. I believe Sony Michel, Jake Funk or maybe even Xavier Jones will supplant him at some point in 2021.
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Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants. ADP: 1.09.
Saquon Barkley has amazing talent, but he’s coming off a torn ACL and hasn’t been able to practice very much this summer. It’s likely that he’ll have a limited workload in the first month of the season, and there’s also a higher chance he’ll get hurt again. Is that something you want out of your first-round fantasy pick?
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Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders. ADP: 3.01.
This has nothing to do with Josh Jacobs’ talent, but rather the skill of those in front of him. The Raiders lost three offensive linemen this offseason, so Jacobs’ blocking won’t be very good in 2021.
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Myles Gaskin, RB, Dolphins. ADP: 4.05.
Malcolm Brown started and received most of the workload in the first quarter of the preseason opener. He was given nine carries – which he turned into only eight yards – before Gaskin saw his second attempt. Gaskin then played with the backups in the second quarter. Gaskin was way more active in the second preseason game, but from his first snap to his final one against the Falcons’ backup defense, he was on the field just half the time. Miami’s coaching staff has said the backfield will be time share, so this is not something I want out of my fourth-round fantasy pick.
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Julio Jones, WR, Titans. ADP: 4.07.
The oft-injured Julio Jones hasn’t seen his ADP change even though he’s now on the Titans instead of the Falcons. Jones won’t be accumulating as much garbage-time stats any longer on his run-first team.
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Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts. ADP: 1.09.
Jonathan Taylor’s ADP is 1.09, which is absurd to me. Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson are both hurt and could miss some time, which will make Indianapolis’ offense worse. Furthermore, Marlon Mack is still around. The Colts like him and will give him some touches. Taylor belongs in the third round of fantasy drafts.
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Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys. ADP: 4.12.
Both Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are banged up. It’s likely that they’ll both be able to play in Week 1, but there’s a chance that at least one won’t be effective.
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Melvin Gordon, RB, Broncos. ADP: 6.10.
I had Javonte Williams listed on my 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers page before his ADP surged. In that entry, I mentioned that the Broncos have been disappointed in Melvin Gordon. If the Denver coaching staff doesn’t really like Gordon, why would you want him on your fantasy team?
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Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings. ADP: 4.11.
Adam Thielen hasn’t been the same caliber of fantasy player since the Vikings have moved him out of the slot. I don’t think I could draft him in the first five rounds.
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D’Andre Swift, RB, Lions. ADP: 3.10.
I loved D’Andre Swift earlier this summer, but I’ve soured on him recently. He just can’t get healthy, and it seems as though everyone is worried about his Week 1 status. Furthermore, Detroit’s offense is going to struggle mightily this season, so that means fewer touchdown opportunities for Swift.
More 2021 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/1 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/9 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/9 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/9 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2021 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts - 9/3 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Half-PPR - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Articles:
2021 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/6 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/6 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Value Picks - 8/31 (Walt)
2021 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/30 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/30 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/12 (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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