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.
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 7
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 7.
Brock Purdy (QB – SF) vs. Atlanta Falcons
Hopefully, Purdy can play in Week 7 after missing the past two games and four contests this year because of a toe injury. However, fantasy players should avoid starting the former Iowa State star if he suits up on Sunday night. Purdy hasn’t played well in his two healthy contests, completing 65.6% of his pass attempts for 293 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and 17.2 fantasy points per game, totaling 17.7 or fewer in both outings. Furthermore, fantasy players should avoid starting Mac Jones if Purdy can’t play this week.
The backup quarterback is dealing with his own injuries and scored a season-low 11.2 fantasy points last week. Both quarterbacks are risky starts because of the matchup against the Falcons. Atlanta has held quarterbacks to 13.7 fantasy points per game this year, the fifth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up only 153.8 passing yards, one touchdown, and 11.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks since Week 1, allowing under 181 yards and 16.3 fantasy points in every contest. Last week, Josh Allen had only 15.4 fantasy points against the Falcons.
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) vs. New England Patriots
Some believe the Titans’ offense could bounce back after firing Brian Callahan earlier this week. I am not one of those believers and would like to avoid starting every Tennessee player against the Patriots. More importantly, Pollard has struggled this season, ranking as the RB27, averaging 10.5 PPR fantasy points per game. He averaged 18.5 touches for 79 scrimmage yards per game over the first month without Tyjae Spears, playing at least 86% of the snaps in every contest. Unfortunately, the veteran has struggled with Spears back in the lineup.
By comparison, Pollard has averaged 14.5 touches for 62.5 scrimmage yards per game over the past two weeks, with the former Tulane star healthy, playing only 58.6% of the snaps. Last week, Spears out-snapped (36 vs. 26) Pollard and had more fantasy points (9.0 vs. 6.7). Meanwhile, the Patriots have held running backs to 62.2 rushing yards and 17.9 fantasy points per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. New England surrendered 39 rushing yards per game to Ashton Jeanty, De’Von Achane, and James Cook, holding each star under 50.
Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC) vs. Indianapolis Colts
Reports Sunday morning said Hassan Haskins would be the Chargers’ lead running back in their first game without Omarion Hampton. Yet, Vidal was the better fantasy option. He finished last week as the RB9, scoring 22.8 PPR fantasy points, totaling 18 rushing attempts for 124 yards, three receptions for 14 receiving yards, and a touchdown. However, the former Troy star took advantage of an awful Miami Dolphins defense that has surrendered 134.3 rushing yards and 26.9 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the fifth-most in the NFL.
Unfortunately, Vidal faces a significantly better Colts run defense on Sunday. Indianapolis has held running backs to 18.6 fantasy points per game, the seventh-fewest in the league. They have given up 23.2 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in every game, including under 18.2 in four of six contests. Furthermore, the Colts have surrendered only 78.8 rushing yards per game to running backs. While Vidal is coming off an outstanding performance, fantasy players should temper their expectations for him if they are forced to start him against Indianapolis.
Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR) vs. New York Jets
McMillan averaged 8.6 targets per game over the first five weeks, totaling at least eight in every contest. Yet, the rookie didn’t have a receiving touchdown this season until scoring two last week against the Dallas Cowboys. While he finally found the end zone, the former Arizona star set season lows in receptions (three), targets (five), and receiving yards (29) despite an excellent matchup against the Cowboys’ awful defense. Fantasy players shouldn’t panic about McMillan’s value for the rest of the year. However, they should bench him this week.
While the Jets’ defense has been awful this season, they have limited opposing passing attacks. New York has held wide receivers to 29.4 fantasy points per game, slightly below the league average. However, they have shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers, allowing only 3.3 receptions for 47.2 receiving yards and 10.1 fantasy points per game. The Jets held Courtland Sutton to one reception for 17 receiving yards and 2.7 fantasy points, a season low. McMillan won’t score double-digit fantasy points on Sunday unless he can’t find the end zone.
Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Hopefully, the Raiders trade Meyers before the NFL trade deadline next month. Unfortunately, fantasy players can’t trust him as long as he remains in Las Vegas. The veteran averaged seven receptions on 11 targets for 82.5 receiving yards and 15.3 PPR fantasy points per game over the first two weeks, totaling at least 6-10-68-12.8 in both contests. By comparison, Meyers has averaged 3.8 receptions on 5.3 targets for 41 receiving yards and 7.9 fantasy points per game over the past month, totaling 9.3 or fewer fantasy points in every outing.
Furthermore, Meyers hasn’t had over 40 receiving yards and eight fantasy points in three consecutive games despite facing several fantasy-friendly defenses. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have held wide receivers to 30.1 fantasy points per game, the ninth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve surrendered only 110.2 receiving yards and 24.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers since Week 1, allowing 111 or fewer yards and under 20.3 fantasy points in three of those contests. Last week, Kansas City held Amon-Ra St. Brown to only 45 receiving yards on 10 targets.
T.J. Hockenson (TE – MIN) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Fantasy players should have dropped Hockenson weeks ago. Yet, the veteran tight end is still somehow rostered in 85% of ESPN leagues. He is the TE24 for the year, averaging 8.1 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 9.8 or less in all but one game. Furthermore, Hockenson severely struggled with J.J. McCarthy under center, totaling four receptions on seven targets for 27 receiving yards and 6.7 fantasy points in two games with the second-year quarterback. Unfortunately, McCarthy could return to the lineup for Sunday’s matchup against the Eagles.
More importantly, Philadelphia has completely shut down opposing tight ends this season. They have held tight ends to 7.3 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. The Eagles have surrendered over 4.7 fantasy points to tight ends only once in the past month. Furthermore, Philadelphia has given up only one receiving touchdown to tight ends, the fewest in the league. The Eagles allowed Jake Ferguson, Travis Kelce, and Evan Engram to average only 4.3 receptions on six targets for 39 receiving yards and 10.2 fantasy points per game.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
