Arguably, the most frustrating thing in fantasy football is seeing someone in your starting lineup struggle that week. Therefore, the logic behind this article is simple – identify fantasy football lineup landmines.
These are players you’re leaning towards starting this week but could end up being a landmine that blows up and destroys your starting lineup, potentially costing you your matchup.
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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 3
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 3.
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI) vs. Los Angeles Rams
Fantasy players likely don’t have a better starting option on their roster this week. However, temper your expectations for the superstar quarterback against the Rams. He is the QB14 over the first two weeks, averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game. Yet, Hurts’ fantasy production has been almost exclusively because of his legs. He has 46 pass attempts for 253 yards, zero touchdowns, and 10.1 fantasy points as a passer over the first two weeks. Meanwhile, over half of Hurts’ fantasy production this season has come from rushing touchdowns.
The superstar quarterback has averaged more fantasy points per his 20 non-touchdown rushing attempts (0.39) than fantasy points per his 34 pass completions (0.3). More importantly, Hurts has struggled against Los Angeles in his career. Last year, he had 307 passing yards, one touchdown, 109 rushing yards, and one score in two matchups against the Rams, averaging 15.6 fantasy points per game, scoring 16.1 or fewer in both outings. Furthermore, Los Angeles has surrendered only one touchdown and 17.1 fantasy points to quarterbacks over the first two weeks.
Josh Jacobs (RB – GB) vs. Cleveland Browns
While Green Bay has arguably been the top team in the NFL over the first two weeks, their run game hasn’t clicked. Jacobs has been the RB16 over the first two weeks, averaging 14.2 PPR fantasy points per game. However, he has averaged 3.6 yards per rushing attempt, with only 31% of his 42 attempts totaling five or more yards. More importantly, the star running back has had zero impact in the passing game. He has one target and a 4% target per route run rate this year.
Furthermore, Jacobs’ fantasy production has been touchdown-dependent. He has a touchdown in both games this year, with 42.3% of his fantasy production coming from finding the end zone. Meanwhile, the Browns have held running backs to only 11.8 fantasy points per game over the first two weeks, the second-fewest in the NFL. Derrick Henry has only 23 rushing yards and 2.3 fantasy points against Cleveland. The Packers are 8.5-point favorites in this game. Therefore, Jacobs could end up sitting out most of the fourth quarter in a blowout win.
Nick Chubb (RB – HOU) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston is 0-2, as the offense has struggled to get going. Yet, Chubb has been solid for fantasy players. The veteran is the RB26 over the first two weeks, averaging 10.6 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he has averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt and 0.79 fantasy points per touch in 2025. However, Chubb has had 13 or fewer rushing attempts in both contests. Furthermore, the veteran needed a rushing touchdown and 29 receiving yards last week to avoid scoring under 6.3 fantasy points for the second consecutive game.
Unfortunately, Chubb will likely have another subpar fantasy performance in Week 3. Jacksonville has held running backs to 15.2 fantasy points per game this year, the ninth-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, they have given up only 120 rushing yards, zero touchdowns, and 3.3 yards per attempt to running backs. Where teams have been able to attack the Jaguars’ defense is through the air. Jacksonville has surrendered 9.2 fantasy points per outing in the passing game to running backs. However, Chubb has only a 25% route participation rate this season.
Mike Evans (WR – TB) vs. New York Jets
It has been a rough start to the year for Evans and his fantasy players. The future Hall of Famer got picked as a top-20 wide receiver in most fantasy drafts. Unfortunately, he is only the WR40 over the first two weeks, averaging 10.4 PPR fantasy points per game. By comparison, Emeka Egbuka is the WR13, averaging 18.3 fantasy points per game over the first two weeks. Yet, Evans leads the team in targets (19), first-read target share (37.8), and target per route run (28%), per Fantasy Points Data.
While fantasy players shouldn’t panic about his long-term fantasy value, Evan’s outlook for Week 3 is far from ideal. The Jets have surrendered 31.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, about league average. However, opposing No. 1 wide receivers have struggled against New York. DK Metcalf had four receptions for 83 receiving yards and 12.3 fantasy points in Week 1. Meanwhile, Keon Coleman had three receptions for 26 receiving yards and 5.6 fantasy points last week. Fantasy players should try to buy low on Evans heading into Week 4.
Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC) vs. Denver Broncos
Johnston has been one of the biggest surprises over the first two weeks, ranking as the WR7, averaging 20.4 PPR fantasy points per game. He has a higher fantasy points per game average than Ladd McConkey (11.6) and Keenan Allen (18.5). While Johnston might be a breakout star, fantasy players should be cautiously optimistic. He leads the Chargers in routes run (66) but is third in receptions (eight). Furthermore, he needed a 60-yard touchdown last week against an awful Las Vegas Raiders secondary to score more than 2.9 fantasy points.
The former TCU star is Los Angeles’ primary outside receiver. Johnston has run 81.8% of his route this year lined up outside, the highest among qualifying Chargers, 30.9% higher than the next closest player (Allen at 50.9%). Unfortunately, that means he will see plenty of Patrick Surtain II. The Broncos held Calvin Ridley and Michael Pittman Jr. to eight receptions on 13 targets for 67 receiving yards and 14.7 fantasy points. While Johnston started the season on fire, fantasy players should avoid starting him this week because of the matchup.
Jonnu Smith (TE – PIT) vs. New England Patriots
Fantasy players who need a streaming option or a replacement for Mark Andrews or Evan Engram should avoid adding Smith off the waiver wire and starting him in Week 3. The veteran tight end appears to be an appealing streaming option because of Arthur Smith’s offense. Yet, he is only the TE13 over the first two weeks, averaging 9.6 PPR fantasy points per game. Smith has nine receptions on 10 targets for 42 receiving yards and a touchdown over the first two weeks. Furthermore, his fantasy production is extremely unreliable.
Last week, he had only 6.7 fantasy points against a Seattle Seahawks defense that surrendered 10.5 fantasy points to Jake Tonges in Week 1. Meanwhile, Smith averaged three yards per reception in Week 1, scoring 12.5 fantasy points only after getting a jet sweep touchdown at the goal line in a game where Aaron Rodgers had 30 pass attempts and four touchdowns. More importantly, the Patriots have surrendered only four receptions on four targets for 38 yards and 7.8 fantasy points to tight ends not named Brock Bowers this year.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
