The NFL season is nearly among us which means it's time to evaluate the top five fantasy football running back busts in 2021. Multiple factors can categorize a player as a fantasy football bust. It could come down to draft capital, lack of talent surrounding the player, or too much talent in the backup role.
Either way, it's important to know who the potential fantasy busts are. Avoiding them entirely will give you the best roster, increasing your chances of winning your league. Running back busts can be found throughout the draft, so it's important to keep an eye out for them.
When it comes down to it, five players could be a bust this year in fantasy football. Each of these players will contribute to their teams in real life, but their stats won't translate over to the fantasy football world. With that said, here are five fantasy football running back busts in 2021.
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5. Chase Edmonds
Chase Edmonds has finally received the reigns after Kenyan Drake failed to impress last year for the Arizona Cardinals. Edmonds has waited patiently for the starting role and has been a nice FLEX option so far. However, James Conner is the backup and looks to split the backfield evenly throughout the season. Chase Edmonds is being drafted within rounds 6-8, well ahead of Conner, giving Edmonds a questionable ADP. Additionally, Edmonds receives virtually no goal-line work, making him a risky play every week.
4. Darrell Henderson
After Cam Akers fell to injury, the Los Angeles Rams seemed open to the idea of Darrell Henderson working as the main running back. However, the front office recently traded for Sony Michel with the New England Patriots. Henderson will likely serve as the featured player in the backfield to start the year, but Michel is talented enough to earn a solid role on the Rams.
There is a real threat to Henderson's volume, which makes him a huge risk. Additionally, Darrell Henderson is being drafted within the first five rounds, which means you'll have to give up some solid draft capital to obtain him. There are too many red flags in regards to Henderson, making him a potential fantasy football bust.
3. Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs didn't quite live up to expectations last year which has many doubting his fantasy production for 2021. Even though the Las Vegas Raiders have a solid offense, there are still reasons to fade Josh Jacobs. For starters, the front office signed Kenyan Drake as the immediate backup. Drake will play a vital role in the offense, taking opportunities away from Josh Jacobs.
Even so, Jacobs is still a talented running back, but due to the red flags, he is not worth his current ADP. He's typically being selected in round five or six, which is pretty high for a running back who is likely to regress. If he drops into the seventh round of your draft though, you might as well take him, as he'll likely be the best running back left on the board at that point.
2. Miles Sanders
The Philadelphia Eagles are a difficult offense to figure out for fantasy football. Nearly all of their assets are a risky selection and could turn into a fantasy football nightmare. However, Miles Sanders is at serious risk of being a running back bust. Jalen Hurts is a dual-threat quarterback who will take rushing opportunities away from Sanders, particularly in the red zone. On top of that, rookie running back Kenneth Gainwell has been receiving a ton of reps with the first team throughout training camp and preseason, especially in two-minute drills.
Sanders' potential is capped by his dual-threat quarterback and his backup possibly taking playing time away. He's also being selected in round four, making him a huge risk for fantasy football. It's a shame that Sanders is in this situation, as he is an extremely talented running back.
1. Joe Mixon
Every single year Joe Mixon finds himself ranked within the first two rounds of fantasy football drafts. Even so, Mixon has been a letdown the last few seasons. He has all of the talent in the world, but it just doesn't translate over to fantasy football. Whether he's dealing with an injury, can't find running room behind a poor offensive line, or is written out of the game script, Mixon tends to struggle more often than not.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a bad team despite the hype the franchise has built since drafting Joe Burrow. Due to the poor roster, the Bengals are likely to script out the run game as they'll be airing it out throughout the season. Joe Mixon is a tempting option for fantasy football, but avoiding him is the smart decision.
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