Fantasy football: Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard are two Bust of the Year winners
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Most people have a favorite fantasy villain. It might be Darth Vader, maybe Lord Voldemort, perhaps Sauron, or the Wicked Witch of the West, or whoever the bad guy was in “The VelociPastor.”
The Madman’s top villain changes from season to season. This year, we had two primary archenemies.
Both played in most games and largely played poorly. This is worse than injury, because at least with an injury, you know you need a replacement.
Instead, these players left you guessing all season: Is this the week they turn it around? How can I sit this premier guy in this juicy matchup? Is this week’s favorite waiver scrub a better option?
Cowboys running back Tony Pollard was one of our antagonists. He was a mid-second-round pick, the sixth RB taken on average.
Managers drafted him to be their RB1. Yet, he had just two top-10 weeks during the fantasy season and finished RB14 on the year, behind a host of others who were available later in drafts.
His production fell well short of expectations, and he had fantasy managers eventually scrambling to try to find an option with more upside, if they had the gumption to bench Pollard.
So yeah, he was deserving of Big Bust consideration. But as bad as Pollard’s season was, it didn’t eclipse the disaster that was Austin Ekeler’s.
Ekeler was drafted as a top-four overall selection, coming off a season in which he was the top-scoring fantasy RB. And it looked like he was on track to have another outstanding year after a strong Week 1, but an ankle sprain sidelined him the next three games.
After a couple of sluggish outings upon his return, he rebounded with three straight when he ranked in the top six. He’s back, right? Nope.
The remaining seven games, his weekly ranking was 31.7, with one game in the top 10, and just one other even in the top 24. It was catastrophic for fantasy teams trying to make a playoff push.
For these reasons, Austin Ekeler, you earn the dishonor of the Madman’s Biggest Fantasy Bust of the Year. But as a consolation, Pollard gets our RB Bust of the Year.
QB Bust of Year: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
The consensus QB1 in the draft, he finished QB8, with managers questioning whether to keep him in lineups during the playoffs.
Betting on the NFL?
WR Bust of the Year: Cooper Kupp, Rams
Not holding his four-game absence against him. But we do judge him on the 28th-best WR average per game and WR39 overall — for the third WR taken in drafts. Honorable mentions: Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals; Davante Adams, Raiders; Garrett Wilson, Jets.
TE Bust of the Year: Travis Kelce, Chiefs
He wasn’t bad, he just wasn’t nearly as great as his draft cost demanded. To wit: He was 100 points better than the No. 2 tight end in 2022. Taken in the top 5-7 picks in 2023, two rounds ahead of the next tight end, you expected that kind of separation again. You didn’t get it.
Final straws
Tyler Huntley QB, Ravens
This type of decision is exactly why leagues should not have championships decided in the final week. With nothing to play for, there’s no reason to think the Ravens will put Lamar Jackson in harm’s way.
Chad Henne QB, Chiefs
The Chiefs are locked into the No. 3 seed, so expect to see some key guys get some rest/injury avoidance. But only use Henne if your starter is unavailable, not ahead of other QB scrubs. He is still bottom of the barrel.
Elijah Mitchell RB, 49ers
Christian McCaffrey left Sunday’s game with a calf injury. Expecting San Fran plays it safe in a meaningless game and keeps him out. That should give Mitchell plenty of touches.
Gerald Everett TE, Chargers
Has at least eight targets in four straight games. We’re willing to chase that type of volume at a thin position, even with a backup QB.
Last ditched
Matthew Stafford QB, Rams
Not convinced the Rams will keep Stafford on the field the entire game with just seeding (6-7) in the balance. The Niners D, even with no playoff incentive, is too rough an assignment to risk Stafford’s health.
Breece Hall RB, Jets
We worry the Patriots might get some juice from the idea this could be Bill Belichick’s last game with the team. If so, we would anticipate that manifesting most clearly in defensive aggressiveness.
Chuba Hubbard RB, Panthers
Tampa Bay has something to play for, not Carolina. And based on Sunday’s blowout loss, it looks like the Panthers have already packed it in for the season.
George Pickens WR, Steelers
Call it gut, call it animosity. We’re not using Pickens despite two straight big games. We don’t trust him, and we think Quitting Karma will eventually catch up.
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