Fantasy Busts in 2021
Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB Chiefs
As much as I love the opportunity for the Chiefs to have a major running game, when Patrick Mahomes is under center, the most carries a Chiefs running back can really have is 15 in a single game. While 15 carries in a game is solid production, in the Chiefs offense, he won't be able to get that many carries consistently. Even though the Chiefs did add Orlando Brown, Kyle Long, and Joe Thuney to their offensive line, I just can't see the Chiefs running the ball that much more in 2021. It's hard for me to draft any other Chiefs player than Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, or Travis Kelce, so I wouldn't think about touching Clyde Edwards-Helaire in year two.
Joe Mixon RB Bengals
While Joe Mixon is extremely elusive and a dual threat out of the backfield, he is in a very crappy situation. The Bengals offense has a ton of fire power, but they don't have the offensive line that will win them games. With the addition of Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow going into year two, Zac Taylor is going to want to throw the ball a lot this year. On paper, this offense looks really good, but they have a bottom five offense line in the NFL. Mixon can only make so many people miss at the line and I expect the Bengals to be playing from behind. This means that they'll need to throw the ball to catch up and Mixon won't be in the game nearly as much. Mixon is a guy who I wouldn't be touching until the third round in your fantasy drafts.
Taysom Hill QB Saints
Now that Drew Brees has retired, the Saints are in a transitional year. Drew Brees was a Saint for 14 years... that's a really long time and it's really hard to make a clean transition one year after the other. I expect the Saints to struggle this year and I'm not sure if Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill are franchise quarterbacks. Some people are expecting Hill to be the next Lamar Jackson, but I don't think he is. Hill is a phenomenal gadget player, but he's not a traditional drop back quarterback. If there were to be a quarterback on the Saints roster that is, it would be Jameis Winston. As fun as Taysom Hill is to watch, he is not a viable fantasy option and I think he should stay in his same role as the gadget guy.
Will Fuller WR Dolphins
Will Fuller was awesome last year. He's a great player and while he's only expected to miss one game this year (PED suspension), I'm concerned about his ability to stay on the field. Fuller's first healthy season was last year and he balled out, but then he was busted for taking performance enhancing drugs. Fuller is a phenomenal deep target, but Tua Tagovailoa isn't necessarily known for his ability to throw the deep ball. I also think Jaylen Waddle, who the Dolphins drafted in the first round, is a very similar player to Fuller. The Dolphins also have Devante Parker, Preston Williams, Jakeem Grant, and Lynn Bowden. That's a lot of mouths to feed so I expect a drop in Will Fuller's production this year.
Sam Darnold QB Panthers
There are certain players where I'm just not as high on as everybody else. I haven't been able to drink the Kool-Aid when it comes to Sam Darnold. Poor decision making and bad pocket presence is what I think of when Darnold comes to mind. However, he has weapons this year. Between Robby Anderson, DJ Moore, and Chirstian McCaffrey; Darnold has no reason not to be amazing this year. With that being said, if he does play poorly I expect him to be gone. The Panthers have a window and I don't expect them to capitalize with Darnold behind center. They'd be better off trading for Jimmy Garoppolo in my honest opinion. If Darnold was going to shine, it would have to be this season, but I don't see it happening.
