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 8
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 8.
Drake Maye (QB – NE) vs. Cleveland Browns
Maye has been outstanding for fantasy players this season. The former North Carolina star is the QB3 for the year, averaging 21 fantasy points per game. He has scored 19.2 or more in all but one game since Week 1, including at least 23.1 in three of the past four outings. However, Maye has had an extremely fantasy-friendly schedule, facing several awful defenses, including the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans. Meanwhile, he struggled in the matchup against the Buffalo Bills, totaling zero touchdowns and only 12.1 fantasy points.
Unfortunately, the second-year star faces an excellent Browns defense on Sunday. Cleveland has held quarterbacks to 13 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, Lamar Jackson is the only quarterback to score more than 17.5 fantasy points against the Browns. The other six quarterbacks have averaged 181.3 passing yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 10.9 fantasy points per game, totaling 14.6 or fewer in all but one contest. Expect Maye to have a quiet fantasy performance as New England likely won’t have to score much to beat Cleveland.
Chase Brown (RB – CIN) vs. New York Jets
Last week, Brown had his best fantasy performance since totaling 13.1 PPR fantasy points in Week 1 with Joe Burrow. He finished last week as the RB19, scoring 12 fantasy points, totaling 11 rushing attempts for 108 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown has averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game in the other five contests, scoring single-digits in 60% the outings. Furthermore, his role in the passing game has disappeared with Joe Flacco under center, totaling only four receptions for negative one receiving yard since the quarterback trade.
Hopefully, fantasy players can sell high on Brown after his performance in Week 7. Unfortunately, he is primed for a poor performance on Sunday against the Jets. New York has slowed down opposing rushing attacks lately after struggling early in the year. They have held running backs to 97.2 rushing yards, 0.6 touchdowns, and 18.6 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, allowing 18.1 or fewer in all but one contest. I wouldn’t start Brown as a top-20 running back this week, despite six teams being on bye.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Fantasy players had high hopes for Croskey-Merritt after the rookie was unstoppable against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5, totaling 14 rushing attempts for 111 yards, two touchdowns, two receptions for 39 receiving yards, and 27 PPR fantasy points, setting career-highs in every category. Unfortunately, he has severely struggled in back-to-back games despite facing two awful run defenses, totaling 30 rushing attempts for 94 yards (3.1 yards per attempt), zero touchdowns, two receptions for six receiving yards, and 10 fantasy points, scoring 5.8 or fewer in both outings.
Therefore, fantasy players should have no confidence starting Croskey-Merritt on Monday night against the Chiefs, especially with Jayden Daniels already ruled out because of a hamstring injury. Kansas City has held running backs to 18.6 fantasy points per game, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered only 56 rushing yards, zero touchdowns, and 11.2 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past three weeks despite facing Travis Etienne Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Ashton Jeanty. Fantasy players should avoid starting any Washington players on Monday night.
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) vs. Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee has averaged only 13.7 points per game, the lowest in the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders (14.7) are the only other team to average fewer than 16 points per game. Unfortunately, Pollard has been a massive fantasy bust after a solid start to the season. The veteran has averaged only 39.7 rushing yards and 11.2 PPR fantasy points per game, averaging four yards per attempt with Tyjae Spears healthy. Last week, Pollard needed six receptions for 43 receiving yards to score 12.1 fantasy points against the New England Patriots.
Furthermore, he has had 67 or fewer rushing yards in five consecutive games, including only 52 total over the past two weeks. More importantly, Pollard struggled in the first matchup against the Colts this year, totaling 16 rushing attempts for 45 yards and 13.9 fantasy points. Indianapolis has shut down opposing running backs, giving up only 17.4 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They have held running backs to 69.8 rushing yards and 15.8 fantasy points per game over the past month, allowing only one rushing touchdown.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) vs. Atlanta Falcons
While Waddle has been outstanding since the Dolphins lost Tyreek Hill to a season-ending injury, averaging 4.3 receptions on seven targets for 73.3 receiving yards, and 13.8 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring 15.8 or more twice. However, the veteran’s lone bad performance came last week against the Cleveland Browns, where Miami’s passing attack looked awful. The former Alabama star caught one of his four targets for 15 receiving yards, scoring 2.5 fantasy points. Unfortunately, Waddle has a dreadful matchup against an underrated Atlanta pass defense on Sunday.
The Falcons have struggled to stop the run this year, surrendering 124 rushing yards per game and 4.7 yards per attempt. However, they have shut down opposing passing attacks, giving up only 141.2 passing yards per game. More importantly, Atlanta has held wide receivers to 25 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered only two receiving touchdowns to wide receivers since Week 1. Last week, the Falcons held every San Francisco 49ers pass catcher to under 7.2 fantasy points and 32 receiving yards.
George Pickens (WR – DAL) vs. Denver Broncos
Pickens was outstanding as the No. 1 wide receiver with CeeDee Lamb out of the lineup, averaging six receptions on 8.8 targets for 106.8 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 24.2 PPR fantasy points per game from Week 3 through Week 6, totaling 31.8 or more twice. Unfortunately, he came back down to Earth on Sunday, totaling four receptions on six targets for 82 receiving yards and 12.2 fantasy points despite facing a depleted Washington Commanders secondary. More importantly, Pickens has an awful matchup on Sunday against an elite Broncos defense.
Everyone fears starting opposing No. 1 wide receivers in fantasy against Denver because of Pat Surtain II. Meanwhile, the Broncos have surrendered only 23.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fewest in the NFL. Denver has given up only 100 receiving yards and 19.1 fantasy points to wide receivers over the past four weeks, allowing zero receiving touchdowns. More importantly, the Broncos have held No. 2 wide receivers to 3.4 receptions on 5.7 targets for 41.9 receiving yards and 7.6 fantasy points per game this season.
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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.
