As fantasy managers, we often face difficult decisions. To sit, or not to sit? In an age where data is coming at us more frequently than ever, it’s easy for information to become over-saturated or lost in translation. This article series will be here each week to help you cut through the jungle of statistics to help you make more educated lineup decisions. Welcome to the “Panic Meter.”
Each week, we’ll feature several underperforming players with an assigned grade corresponding to the appropriate level of panic for the respective player/performance. Below is a scale with grades between 0 and 4 and a strategy that correlates to the specific grade.
| PANIC METER GRADE | STRATEGY/PLAN OF ACTION |
| 0 | This past week was not ideal, but it can be chalked up as an anomaly. Don’t even think about benching them. |
| 1 | Panic is setting in. The leash becomes shorter but said player is still in consideration as a starter. Make sure a Plan-B is in place. |
| 2 | Officially panicked, exploring trade options and possibly benching for a more proven/reliable option. |
| 3 | Fire sale. Get rid of them for whatever you can before it’s too late. They can no longer be trusted as a starter. A borderline drop-candidate. |
| 4 | Sever all ties. Smash the drop button so hard that the man ends up in the shadow realm. |
Nick Chubb (RB – CLE) | Panic Meter: 1
In week 14, Nick Chubb failed to register 10 PPR points for the third time in his last four games. He has now failed to reach nine PPR points in back-to-back games. It’s a small sample size, but Chubb is averaging 8.2 points per game with Deshaun Watson at QB. His upside and high floor keep him in must-start territory. Nonetheless, his recent performance has been concerning. He is one more sub-10-point performance away from reaching a ‘2’ on the panic meter.
Amari Cooper (WR – CLE) | Panic Meter: 1
Speaking of Browns trending down… Amari Cooper has now failed to top eight PPR points or 42 yards in two consecutive games. Cooper is no stranger to delivering the occasional dud, but this recent decline in production likely correlates directly to Cleveland undergoing a QB transition. The Browns’ offense has scored just 16 points in their first two games with Watson. Cooper has drawn 16 targets during this span, so he gets the benefit of the doubt for now. If this recent trend of inadequate production continues for the Browns’ offense, then panic will undoubtedly escalate.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) | Panic Meter: 2
Three catches for 40 yards and seven PPR points. That is the sum of Jaylen Waddle’s last two games. In his last four games, he has finished as WR38, WR31, WR99 and WR63. Trends like these are the reason the panic meter was invented. It’s hard to say whether Waddle or Tua Tagovailoa’s recent regression (more on that later) is to blame for this recent skid. Nonetheless, it’s the sort of skid that has managers re-evaluating Waddle’s fantasy value. No matter how you slice it, he hasn’t cracked 14.0 PPR points in over a month. He remains in play as a starter but tumbles from a borderline WR1 to a low-floor WR2/flex.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA) | Panic Meter: 2
Tagovailoa weeks 8-10: 25.6 PPG, no weekly finishes below QB4. Tagovailoa weeks 11-14: 14.1 PPG, no weekly finish above QB17. After going just 10 for 28 in week 14 against a beatable Chargers defense missing several key starters and delivering his third consecutive game under 16 fantasy points, it’s fair for Tua managers to panic. With a threatening fantasy playoff schedule (@BUF, GB, @NE, NYJ), it is debatable whether or not Tagovailoa is a must-start. It might be a good idea to explore streaming alternatives.
Travis Etienne (RB – JAX) | Panic Meter: 2
A 3.2-point performance in week 14 (17 carries for 32 yards, zero targets) could be the straw that broke the camel’s back. At this point, excuses are in short supply for Travis Etienne’s recent production. In Week 9 he had 26.6 PPR points. He has a combined 21.4 points in the four games since. He has not finished inside the top 24 RBs once during that span. Granted, he left one of those games with an injury. Yet, the other three were straight-up duds. The simple fact is: Etienne hasn’t had an 11.0-point game in over a month. Panic is justified, and so is benching him.
Michael Carter (RB – NYJ) | Panic Meter: 3
Michael Carter has finished outside the top 45 fantasy RBs in each of his last three games. He has not scored more than 5.6 PPR points or managed 38 total yards once during that span. The fact is that Carter has lost his grip on the Jets backfield. Bam Knight looks explosive and efficient and has been reliable in fantasy. If RBs grew on trees, Carter would be droppable. At the moment, he is difficult to trust, even as a flex. He has become nothing more than Knight’s handcuff.
Cut list | Panic Meter: 4
Tom Brady, Kareem Hunt, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, DeAndre Carter, Marvin Jones
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