Identifying breakout players early is how you win fantasy leagues, right? But what about the opposite: identifying players who are going to be fantasy football busts? Identifying those players, especially in dynasty leagues, can help you get out of what I like to call the “Jalen Reagor Business” before it’s too late. We asked our featured dynasty experts to identify bust candidates they’re either avoiding or looking to trade away in their leagues. Their responses and accompanying justifications are below.

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Bust Candidates to Avoid or Trade Away in Dynasty Leagues

What RB inside of the 50 overall in our Dynasty Consensus Superflex Rankings are you avoiding or looking to trade away in dynasty leagues and why?

Rachaad White (RB – TB )

“Rachaad White (RB11 in the rankings) was the RB7, averaging 13.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game last year. However, he was an RB1 because of volume, not his talents. White was second in rushing attempts (272) but 14th in yards (990). Furthermore, he ranked 89th in yards after contact per attempt, 84th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 76th in explosive run rate in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data). While White should have a featured role again this upcoming season, that likely won’t be the case in 2025. I wouldn’t think twice about flipping him for Jonathon Brooks or a future first-round rookie pick.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI )

“It’s true that Saquon Barkley will be playing on the best offense of his career and behind the best offensive line unit that he’s ever been around, but there are too many red flags to his profile currently. Barkley’s receiving yards per game have declined almost every year of his career, sitting below 22 for three straight years. In 2023 Eagles RBs shared 86 targets between them, the twelfth-fewest league-wide. Not to mention the Eagles continue to have a cheat code in Jalen Hurts at the goal line. If Barkley isn’t excelling in the receiving game, or getting goal-line work, you’ve essentially got a shiny version of Jerome Ford.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)

“It’s nice that Saquon Barkley gets a significant upgrade to his ecosystem by leaving the Giants for the Eagles, but I’m pretty disinterested in Barkley for dynasty. It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the version of Saquon we thought we were getting when he came out of Penn State as a mega-prospect. One of the most appealing things about the young Saquon was his pass-catching ability, but he’s been very ordinary as a pass catcher for years. He’s averaged 4.6 yards per target and under 1.00 yards per route run over his last three seasons — poor numbers. D’Andre Swift posted the worst receiving totals of his career in Philadelphia last season, so it’s hard to imagine a spike in Saquon’s pass-catching productivity. Saquon is 27 and has a worrisome history of lower-leg injuries. Granted, an upgraded offensive line should give Saquon a boost in rushing efficiency, but he’s just not an investment I want to make in dynasty.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA )

“I don’t have very many shares of Kenneth Walker III at the moment. I don’t think he is the long term answer in Seattle with Zach Charbonnet taking away carries. On top of that, the entire Seahawks offense is just too chaotic for me to really bank on right now. Walker is going as 42nd overall, RB9, and at that cost I’d rather have other players going around him.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)

What WR inside of the 50 overall in our Dynasty Consensus Superflex Rankings are you avoiding or looking to trade away in dynasty leagues and why?

Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND )

“Michael Pittman Jr. has consistently been a solid WR2 since his rookie season. However, the veteran is too high as the WR15 in the rankings. The former USC star has never finished higher than WR15 in any year of his career in half-point PPR scoring. Pittman had a team-high 156 targets last season, more than twice as many as anyone else except Josh Downs. Unfortunately, the veteran receiver won’t see that type of target volume again after the addition of Adonai Mitchell. Furthermore, the Indianapolis Colts will be more of a run-heavy offense with Anthony Richardson and Jonathon Taylor healthy. I would happily flip Pittman for Nico Collins (WR19 in the rankings) or Rome Odunze (WR22).”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“Michael Pittman is being overvalued after a career-high 109 catches and 1,152 yards last season. Gardner Minshew made 13 starts for the Colts last year, and it’s inevitable that Indy will run the ball at a higher rate this season if QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor both stay reasonably healthy. Richardson is an exciting young QB, but the excitement is more about his running than his passing. He had a completion percentage under 60% last year, averaged 6.9 yards per attempt, and had three TD passes in four games. Pittman’s fantasy value is largely about catch volume, because he doesn’t make many big plays or score many touchdowns. He’s averaged 10.0 yards per catch over the last two seasons and has 15 career touchdowns in 62 games. Pittman’s dynasty value is being overstated, and I believe it will only go down from here.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF )

“Currently the WR10, Aiyuk is someone who has been awesome in real football terms but hasn’t delivered for fantasy in a way we’d truly hope. In 2023 Aiyuk managed only four top-twenty weekly finishes, was held below 80 receiving yards on eight occasions, didn’t score touchdowns in 60% of his games and finished as WR30 or worse on six occasions. Even if Aiyuk is traded, are we sure he ends up somewhere better? In Pittsburgh for example he’d play for an offensive coordinator who has never given more than 117 targets to an individual wide receiver.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)

“Brandon Aiyuk’s contract dispute is worrying me more and more with each passing day. If the 49ers don’t want to pay him, and they won’t trade him, maybe Aiyuk just won’t see the point in playing this year. I really hope he gets moved at some point, but either way, his WR11 (30th overall) feels very high given all of the risk associated with him. If I can get that value for him in a trade I’m very happy moving him for someone more stable.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)

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