Week 5 Fantasy Busts: Baker Mayfield, Jordan Mason headline expert sit 'em picks

Vinnie Iyer

Sloan Piva

Griffin Missant

Week 5 Fantasy Busts: Baker Mayfield, Jordan Mason headline expert sit 'em picks image

Starting a fantasy football bust early in the season doesn't necessarily ruin your chances at the playoffs. However, The Sporting News' experts are spotting patterns in predicting the performance of the names on our Week 4 list.

Many Week 3 stars appear on this list, which should warn fantasy players not to lean too much into hype. Look at each individual week, and assess your options on hand who could be better than these headliners.

Keep reading to see our staff picks for Week 4 fantasy busts.

PLAY THEM INSTEAD: Week 5 fantasy sleepers

Biggest Week 5 fantasy busts

QB fantasy bust picks this week

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers at Seahawks

Mayfield runs into a tough Seahawks defense on the road and this figures to be a limited scoring duel vs. fellow former Panthers castof QB Sam Darnold. Seattle is feeling it well with Mike Macdonald vs. the pass. - Vinnie Iyer

Carson Wentz and/or J.J. McCarthy, Vikings vs. Browns (London)

Wentz has been...okay...but he still makes the kinds of mistakes that remind us why he's a backup at this stage of his career. And, even if McCarthy returns in time for this Tottenham Hotspur tilt, we can't trust him against the Browns, who might be in competition with Minnesota for best team defense in the league. - Sloan Piva

Kyler Murray, Cardinals vs. Titans

Things in Arizona do not feel great, and it starts with Kyler Murray. A comeback helped salvage a two-interception game, but there were plenty of red flags. In Week 5, he'll face the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed just 14.6 fantasy points per game to the QB position this season. - Griffin Missant

TOP FANTASY PICKUPS: Week 5 waiver wire

RB fantasy bust picks this week

Jordan Mason, Vikings vs. Browns

Despite having the lead-back role, Mason was a disappointment in Week 4. In Week 5, they play another international game, but this time they play a stout run defense in the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have given up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to RBs. - Griffin Missant

Chase Brown, Bengals vs. Lions

Perhaps this is a reverse jinx to try to spark some home for Brown managers and those invested in the Bengals' offense in fantasy for the season. But the reality is, the Lions can be tough on his type of running back and Jake Browning starting is dragging down all the weapons. Brown is being swept up right there with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. - Vinnie Iyer

Nick Chubb, Texans at Ravens

There's a new sheriff in Houston's backfield, and his name is Woody. The veteran Chubb witnessed Woody Marks' breakout in Week 4, as the rookie turned 21 touches into 119 yards and two scores in the Texans' 26-0 rout of the Titans. DeMeco Ryans won't be able to give Chubb and Marks a combined 36 touches this weekend, so expect the elder statesman with the inferior pass-catching ability to be the odd man out. - Sloan Piva

WR fantasy bust picks this week

Calvin Ridley, Titans at Cardinals

Ridley isn't just a Week 5 bust — he's a drop candidate (pun intended). The veteran receiver sits among the league leaders in dropped passes, and he's barely averaging over six PPR points per game. In an offense that already has a terribly low ceiling, it's not worth holding onto a receiver plummeting down the depth chart by the week. - Sloan Piva

Jayden Higgins, Texans at Ravens

After finally catching a touchdown in Week 4, managers might be eager to start Higgins. However, the Texans continue to struggle to keep Stroud protected, which limits those deep routes. - Griffin Missant

DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Broncos

A.J. Brown gets Patrick Surtain II in coverage (most likely) but after his latest social media cryptic whine, he might get greased (again) as the squeaky wheel (again). Smith is more the big-play option in such matchups and the Broncos' pass rush and overall secondary can also keep him cold. - Vinnie Iyer

Click for our full group of fantasy football weekly rankings.

TE fantasy bust picks this week

Travis Kelce, Chiefs at Jaguars

Kelce has one touchdown so far. He has been forgotten even with the passing game reawakening with Patrick Mahomes making sure wide receivers and running back hit paydirt. Xaiver Worthy is back as the go-to guy at wideout, and otherwise it's more spreading the ball around. Sit Kelce if you can with a reasonable option with a better matchup than Jacksonville. - Vinnie Iyer

Brenton Strange, Jaguars vs. Chiefs

Strange has enjoyed back-to-back weeks with double-digit PPR points, but things might crash to a halt on Monday. The Chiefs have surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season, averaging out to a paltry 7.1 PPR points per game. - Sloan Piva

Hunter Henry, Patriots at Bills

Henry has been great for fantasy over the past couple of weeks, but it's been highly touchdown-dependent. In Week 5, he'll face the Bills, who allow just 5.4 fantasy points per game to TEs. - Griffin Missant

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D/ST fantasy bust picks this week

Dallas Cowboys at Jets

Yes, they play the New York Jets. No, you should never play them regardless of the opponent. They have allowed 30+ points 3 times this season. - Griffin Missant

New York Giants at Saints

This is a trap! The Giants played inspired defense vs. the Chargers last week at home but the Saints' offense is starting to function better under Kellen Moore and can cause their defense problems with their skill players. - Vinnie Iyer

Denver Broncos at Eagles

Don't drop altogether -- the Broncos D is way too good to cut to the waiver wire. But don't start this D/ST in Philadelphia if you have better options. The Eagles have yielded the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing D/STs this season. - Sloan Piva

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer has been with The Sporting News since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. Vinnie covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including draft prospects analysis, gambling and fantasy football. He also represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. 

Sloan Piva

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.

Griffin Missant

Griffin Missant joined The Sporting News in 2025 as a fantasy football intern. He graduated from Grand Valley State University, where he covered the Lakers football program. He has also worked for Sleeper and the Fantasy Trade Room. He has played fantasy for over a decade, and has been passionate about fantasy football ever since.