Fantasy football is back! We bring you our weekly list of players who have some downside as potential waiver wire busts. A few of these players may appear in our waiver wire suggestions, but this list is designed to point out factors that could affect or limit their production.
Fantasy football waiver wire advice, Week 14: Hot players with potential downside
Fantasy football is back! So are injuries, and now you may be preparing for a playoff run and looking to upgrade your roster. Here are a few players who are hot on the waiver wire lists but could have some potential downside.
WR Stedman Bailey - St. Louis Rams (owned in 2 percent of all leagues): Bailey has started to come on the past two games as the Rams have returned to veteran quarterback Shaun Hill. Bailey has been the most targeted receiver on the Rams in that time span, with 15 targets yielding 12 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Rams won't see the Oakland Raiders anymore this season and 100 of those receiving yards came against them in Week 13. Further, all of his production against Oakland came in the first quarter of that game. The upcoming matchups are not the most favorable as the Rams face Washington, Arizona, the New York Giants and the Seattle Seahawks to finish the season.
RB Jonathan Stewart - Carolina Panthers (owned in 27 percent of all leagues): Stewart might be the best running back option on the Panthers right now, but he is still splitting carries with DeAngelo Williams. Additionally, Mike Tolbert has returned from short-term injured reserve. Throw Cam Newton and Fozzy Whittaker in the mix and you get a lot of cooks in that running back kitchen. Stewart has 96 carries for 408 yards and two touchdowns on the year. He also doesn't add much in the passing game.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick - Houston Texans (owned in 8 percent of all leagues): Fitzpatrick is coming off a big game against the Tennessee Titans, throwing for 358 yards and six touchdowns. It was a career performance by Fitzpatrick facing one of the league's worst defenses. Fitzpatrick regained the starting role only after a season-ending injury to Ryan Mallett. The leash is short, though the remaining matchups are at least favorable since Houston faces the Jacksonville Jaguars twice plus Indianapolis and Baltimore. It remains to be seen if Fitzpatrick remains the starter or if rookie Tom Savage might see playing time if Houston is eliminated from the playoffs.
RB Andre Williams - New York Giants (owned in 40 percent of all leagues): Entering Week 13, Williams had gone back to a rotational role after starter Rashad Jennings returned from injury, but Jennings left in the fourth quarter in Week 13 with an ankle injury. Jennings is expected to play in Week 14, however, and can be used in both the run and pass game. He'll remain the starter if healthy, with Williams continuing to be used in that rotational role. The matchup is favorable in Week 14 since the Giants face the league's worst run defense in the Tennessee Titans.
RB LeGarrette Blount - New England Patriots (owned in 63 percent of all leagues): Blount has assumed the Stevan Ridley role, taking over for Jonas Gray who has seen only one carry since getting in Bill Belichick's doghouse after being late for practice prior to Week 12. In two games since returning to the Patriots, Blount has rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 13, Belichick used four running backs in his backfield including Brandon Bolden, who got the only rushing touchdown of the game. Predicting who Belichick will use at running back is virtually impossible, though it does appear Blount will remain greatly involved.
