BUSTS for 2026! Players to AVOID in Your Draft! (08/13 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Alec Pierce is a bust candidate because he is missing practice time while trying to learn a new role. The source would not draft him in the first 85 picks, preferring teammates like Josh Downs or Tyler Warren for the work he is expected to perform.

Dave Richard argues Breece Hall is a bust candidate because Frank Reich's history suggests a committee approach to running backs. Despite Hall being the lead back, Richard notes he had eight games under 10 PPR points in 2025 and believes he is not worth a third-round pick, preferring him in the fourth or fifth round.

The analysts view Bucky Irving as an 'ultimate trap back' and believe his current ADP (mid-fourth round) is too high. They suggest he is more appropriately valued as a round five or six pick.

Jamie Eisenberg highlights concerns regarding Christian McCaffrey's age (30), high career touch volume (two seasons over 400 touches), and current injury issues (tightness in practice). With the 49ers potentially implementing load management, Eisenberg suggests fading him in the first round if the missed practice time continues, noting he would now draft him no earlier than eighth or ninth overall.

Cortland Sutton is a bust candidate at his current ADP of 76th overall. While he may be second on the team in targets, the emergence of Pat Bryant and the presence of Jalen Waddle threaten his volume, likely leaving him with a low ceiling of six targets per game.

Dallas Goedert is currently being drafted too high (88th overall). While he has potential as a top-12 tight end and could benefit from Devonta Smith missing practice, the source suggests he should not be a top-100 pick given the depth at the position.

Darren Waller showed efficiency last year with 2.6 PPR points per target and 1.8 yards per route run, but his fantasy value is limited. The source suggests he could be a late-round streaming option to start the season against Chicago, but he is not a reliable long-term asset.

Darren Waller signed with the Panthers and, despite being 34, showed efficiency last year with 2.6 PPR points per target and 1.8 yards per route run. The source notes he may be used as a field-stretcher on the outside rather than a traditional tight end.

Heath Cummings expresses concern over Devon Achane's upside due to the loss of Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel's influence, noting a significant PPR point drop-off without Tua. Furthermore, reports from joint practices suggest the Dolphins' offense may struggle, making his first-round ADP 'terrifying' to the point where Cummings would prefer other RBs like James Cook or Chase Brown.

DeVonta Smith has been out of practice for a week, which the analysts note as a concern regarding his availability for the start of the season.

James Cook is viewed as a potential bust due to historical trends where rushing leaders see significant production drops the following year. Additionally, he has limited third-down route participation and splits goal-line work with Josh Allen. The source notes he is 190 pounds and coming off a 309-carry season, raising durability concerns.

Jamison Williams is considered a bust at his current ADP (59th overall) because the Lions' offense is expected to lean heavily on Sam LaPorta. Additionally, concerns about the offensive line's ability to protect Jared Goff suggest a shift toward shorter, safer throws, which limits Williams' upside.

Jonathan Taylor is labeled a potential bust because he has only finished as a top-six running back per game in two of his six seasons, yet is being drafted at that level. The source notes he performs significantly better in wins than losses and faces a challenging schedule, including tough run defenses like Houston, Tennessee, and Jacksonville.

The source advises against drafting Josh Allen in the second round, arguing it is at least a round too early. While he remains a top-tier quarterback, the value proposition compared to options available in rounds four or five makes him a player to avoid at his current ADP of 21.

Josh Jacobs is a player to avoid due to unresolved off-field issues and a current groin injury that has kept him out of practice. The source ranks him at the beginning of round four, significantly lower than his current ADP, citing too many variables that could lead to a bust season.

The source notes that Kenneth Walker is poised for a major role in the Chiefs' offense, which could reduce the reliance on short-area targets for players like Rasheed Rice and Travis Kelce. However, there is concern about his ability to sustain 17-plus touches per game for a full 17-game season.

Heath Cummings defends Kyle Pitts against 'bust' labels, arguing he is not being drafted as a top-five tight end. He notes that Pitts is moving well following his PCL injury and expects him to finish as a top-six tight end, especially given Kevin Stefanski's history of utilizing tight ends in the passing game.

Nico Collins is flagged as a potential bust because he requires a massive target share to justify his ADP at the 2-3 turn, yet he faces increased competition from Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz, and Jaden Higgins. Recent reports regarding CJ Stroud's practice performance also add to the concern.

While there are concerns about target distribution in the Jacksonville offense, the source believes Parker Washington is undervalued at his current eighth-round ADP. The source suggests he should be drafted in the fifth or sixth round due to his efficiency on a per-target basis.

Quinchon Judkins is considered a bust candidate due to a poor offensive line, limited passing game role, and a difficult quarterback situation. Coming off a major injury, his 17-game pace suggests he is being drafted near his ceiling as a mid-tier RB2.

The source labels Rasheed Rice a bust candidate due to knee concerns and the overall Kansas City offensive situation. With Kenneth Walker expected to take a major role, Rice's target volume on short throws may decrease. He is viewed as a round three pick in full PPR and late round three or four in non-PPR.

Rico Dowdle is preferred over Jalen Warren in the Pittsburgh backfield because he is viewed as the 1A option and is more likely to secure goal-line opportunities. The source notes positive camp reports for Dowdle, though warns that the seventh round is too rich for either player.

Terry McLaurin is viewed as a bust candidate because he has only finished higher than WR20 per game once in his career. With the additions of Diggs and other target earners, the source is skeptical that McLaurin will maintain the high target volume needed to outperform his current ADP.

Jamie Eisenberg notes that Kellen Moore's history suggests he does not utilize running backs as dominant pass-catchers, and the continued presence of Alvin Kamara limits Etienne's ceiling. Given the inconsistency in his career production, Eisenberg views him as a round five value rather than his current round four ADP.

Trevion Henderson is a bust candidate at his current ADP (51st-60th). The source notes he struggled significantly when Rhamondre Stevenson was healthy, averaging under 7 PPR points per game. He is viewed as a handcuff-dependent player, and the source prefers taking similar upside players like Blake Corum or Kyle Mononga rounds later.

Heath Cummings projects serious target regression for Trey McBride due to an expected decline in overall volume for the Cardinals' passing offense. Additionally, he notes that there are several tight ends available rounds later who offer similar fantasy value, making McBride a poor selection in the top 25-30 picks.

Despite concerns about target volume, the source projects Trey McBride to lead all tight ends in targets per game. The offense is expected to pass frequently, and McBride remains the team's best receiver with red-zone usage. Michael Fleur plans to integrate him into the offense in versatile ways, and the source dismisses the idea that he will decline significantly due to team changes.