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 9
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 9.
Bo Nix (QB – DEN) vs. Houston Texans
Nix has been on fire lately after an awful start this season. He averaged 178.3 passing yards, 1.7 touchdowns, and 13.5 fantasy points per game over the first three weeks, totaling 13.4 or less twice. By comparison, Nix has averaged 263 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 31.9 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks, totaling at least 23.8 fantasy points and four total scores in both contests. However, he faced the New York Giants in a wild comeback victory and the Dallas Cowboys in those two games.
Unfortunately, Nix faces an elite Texans defense this week. They’ve held quarterbacks to 10.5 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. Houston has surrendered under 8.7 fantasy points to quarterbacks in four of their past five games. Furthermore, the Texans have given up only three passing touchdowns over the past six weeks, surrendering zero in over half the matchups. More importantly, Houston’s offense will likely struggle against Denver’s elite defense. Therefore, Nix and the offense won’t have to do much to secure the win, limiting his fantasy appeal.
Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Many had high hopes for Jeanty this year. Unfortunately, the rookie has been disappointing, ranking as the RB17 for the season, averaging 63.6 rushing yards and 13.7 PPR fantasy points per game. He is coming off the worst game of his career, totaling seven touches for 34 scrimmage yards and 4.4 fantasy points against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. Fantasy players should trade for Jeanty, as he has an appealing upcoming schedule. However, if possible, they want to avoid starting him this week because of the matchup.
While the Jaguars’ pass defense has struggled, their run defense has been outstanding. Jacksonville has surrendered 19.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, the ninth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up 70.4 rushing yards per game to running backs, allowed 73 or fewer in all but two games, including only 49 to Christian McCaffrey. More importantly, the Jaguars have held running backs to only two rushing touchdowns, the second-fewest in the league. Jeanty will struggle to score double-digit fantasy points this week, unless he has a significant target share.
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO) vs. Los Angeles Rams
Fantasy players wish the Saints would trade Kamara to a better offense. However, that likely won’t happen after the veteran basically threatened to retire if traded. Therefore, fantasy players shouldn’t bet on a second-half bounce-back from Kamara. He hasn’t found the end zone since Week 1. Furthermore, his role in the passing game has diminished, totaling three or fewer receptions in half of the contests. More importantly, the veteran has averaged 10.3 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling single-digits in half the games, including three of the past four contests.
New Orleans is making a change at quarterback, going from Spencer Rattler to Tyler Shough, giving the rookie his first career start on Sunday. Therefore, expect the Rams to load up to stop the run and make Shough beat them. More importantly, Los Angeles has one of the best run defenses in the NFL. They’ve held running backs to 15.9 fantasy points per game this season, the second-fewest in the league. The Rams held Christian McCaffrey to 57 rushing yards and Jonathan Taylor to 76 in their last four outings.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS) vs. Seattle Seahawks
There is no way fantasy players can trust starting Croskey-Merritt, despite multiple star running backs having their bye this week. The seventh-round rookie running back has been awful since his Week 5 performance against the Los Angeles Chargers. He has averaged 13 rushing attempts for 39.7 yards and 4.2 PPR fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling fewer than 4.3 fantasy points and under 34 yards in back-to-back contests. More importantly, Croskey-Merritt has had no impact in the passing game, totaling only seven receptions this year.
Not only has the rookie been awful for most of the season, but Croskey-Merritt has an awful matchup Sunday night against the Seahawks. They have surrendered 21 fantasy points per game to running backs, slightly below the league average. However, Seattle has shut down running backs on the ground, allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (57.4) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (two) this year. The Seahawks have struggled to stop running backs in the air, surrendering the most receptions (47) and the fourth-most receiving yards (359) to the position.
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) vs. Houston Texans
The Broncos’ passing attack has been on fire lately. Denver had a massive comeback win against the New York Giants in Week 7 and a blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys last week. Meanwhile, Sutton is the WR11 for the year, averaging 13.8 PPR fantasy points per game. He has been solid lately, averaging five receptions on eight targets for 77 receiving yards and 13.7 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks. However, fantasy players wanted more from Sutton last week with the excellent matchup against the Cowboys.
Yet, he had only 10.7 fantasy points against Dallas. By comparison, Troy Franklin had 26.9 fantasy points. More importantly, the Broncos face an elite Texans defense on Sunday. Houston has shut down opposing passing attacks, surrendering 26.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve held opposing No. 1 wide receivers to 4.3 receptions on 7.7 targets for 63.5 receiving yards and 11.7 fantasy points per game since Week 1, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba being the only one to score more than 12.2 fantasy points.
Hunter Henry (TE – NE) vs. Atlanta Falcons
Thankfully, fantasy players get several elite tight ends back off bye on Sunday. Furthermore, Brock Bowers is on track to play for the first time since Week 4. However, many will need a streaming option with several starting tight ends on a bye this week, including Dallas Goedert. Unfortunately, Henry isn’t an appealing replacement option despite being the TE8 for the year, averaging 10.1 PPR fantasy points per game. He has cooled off after a hot start, averaging 3.3 targets and 6.8 fantasy points per game over the past month.
More importantly, Henry has an awful fantasy matchup this week against the Falcons. Atlanta has completely shut down opposing tight ends. They have surrendered 4.4 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the fewest in the NFL. The Falcons have given up only one receiving touchdown to tight ends, the fewest in the league. Furthermore, tight ends have had under 37 receiving yards against Atlanta in every game, totaling fewer than 20 in every contest since the team’s bye week, including zero from George Kittle in Week 7.
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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.