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 7 list.
Many Week 6 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 7 fantasy busts.
PLAY THEM INSTEAD: Week 7 fantasy sleepers
Biggest Week 7 fantasy busts
QB fantasy bust picks this week
Jordan Love, Packers at Cardinals
The desert can be a trap for such QBs and the Packers should prefer to run all over the shorthanded Cardinals and limiting taking shots downfield vs. the pressure and coverage seen from Jonathan Gannon's defense. - Vinnie Iyer
Sam Darnold, Seahawks vs. Texans
Fantastic Sam has looked — well, fantastic — over the past couple of weeks. However, the Texans D has looked pretty dang good, too. Considering the past three quarters combined have scored 13.5 fantasy points against Houston, you might be better off starting a different QB this week. - Sloan Piva
Jaxson Dart, Giants at Broncos
Since Dart has won the starting job, he's been talked about nonstop and for a good reason. The rookie looks promising, but has a tough task this week in arguably the toughest defense he'll face. The Giants travel to Denver for just Dart's second ever away game. When Dart played in New Orleans, he turned the ball over twice. I'm in on Dart for the long term, but not this week. - Griffin Missant
TOP FANTASY PICKUPS: Week 7 waiver wire
RB fantasy bust picks this week
Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Rams (London)
For the first 4 weeks of the season, Etienne looked like a league winner. The last 2 weeks, the production has slowed down for him. In Week 7, he has a tough matchup against the Rams' defense. LAR allows the third fewest FPPG to opposing RBs. - Griffin Missant
Bam Knight, Cardinals vs. Packers
Everyone is going zany for Zonovan as the hunt is on to play the right fill-in for James Conner and Trey Benson every week. But the Packers remain tough against the run so it will be TD or bust with Knight still more like a pawn with Michael Carter. - Vinnie Iyer
Cam Skattebo, Giants at Broncos
Skat-man went for the hat trick last week (Skat-trick?), scoring three rushing TDs vs. Philly while amassing 98 ground yards. The Broncos' stud defense will be preparing for the power-running rookie, just as it prepped for Breece Hall last week (5.9 PPR points). Don't count on another 30-point fantasy performance. - Sloan Piva
WR fantasy bust picks this week
DeVonta Smith, Eagles at Vikings
Smith has been pretty underwhelming all season, failing to reach double-digit PPR points in four of Philly's six games and finishing under five points twice. Now he draws a Vikings defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers on the year. Bench for a higher-upside option if you can. - Sloan Piva
Jakobi Meyers, Raiders at Chiefs
Meyers was not drafted as a league winner, but you drafted him for his consistency. Well, he's been anything but that with Geno Smith as the QB. He's currently the WR33 and has not scored more than 10 points in each of his last 4 games. Meyers will face the Chiefs in Week 7, who don't allow a ton of fantasy points to the WR position. - Griffin Missant
Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants at Broncos
Don't go chasing his massive Week 6 TNF outing vs. the Eagles as the Broncos pass defense is on fire now and with Darius Slayton hurting, it's difficult to trust Robinson with all of Denver's cornerbacks playing well. - Vinnie Iyer
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TE fantasy bust picks this week
Hunter Henry, Patriots at Titans
The Patriots being more confident in opening up the passing game with Drake Maye and using his receivers more will hurt as the Titans have limited a lot of damage vs. tight ends because they are so bad elsewhere. - Vinnie Iyer
Theo Johnson, Giants at Broncos
Taylor has been feasting on targets over the past few weeks, but he might come to a screeching halt against Denver on a neutral field. The Broncos have largely kept tight ends in check, surrendering the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. - Sloan Piva
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Eagles
Hockenson has simply not been good for fantasy football. He was overall TE21 before the bye week and, despite a QB change, was still not heavily involved. The matchup against the Eagles in Week 7 is not amazing either, as they allow just 7.3 FPPG to TEs. - Griffin Missant
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D/ST fantasy bust picks this week
Tennessee Titans vs. Patriots
There are two main reasons you should not play the Titans' defense in Week 7. The first is because Drake Maye has been dealing to start the season. The second is more of a gut, but I think the Patriots are going to come out for their coach in this one. In case you don't know, the Titans fired Mike Vrabel, who is now the HC of the Patriots. It's going to get ugly, and they might run up the score. - Griffin Missant
Houston Texans at Seahawks
The Texans will have trouble slowing down a pretty clean offense under Klint Kubiak on the road as Sam Darnold has protected the ball and Seattle should also run well at home. - Vinnie Iyer
Minnesota Vikings vs. Eagles
The Vikings D has been awesome this year, but facing the Eagles coming off a loss could spell disaster. Philadelphia has far too many offensive weapons and far too much motivation to get right. Consider a better streaming option, but hold onto Minnesota's D/ST if you can. - Sloan Piva