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 10
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 10.
Aaron Rodgers (QB – PIT) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Last week, Rodgers was a massive fantasy bust after being one of the better quarterbacks over the previous three outings, averaging 234.3 passing yards, 2.7 touchdowns, and 18.9 fantasy points per game. The veteran had a quiet performance against the Indianapolis Colts, totaling 35 pass attempts for 203 yards, one touchdown, and 12.1 fantasy points in Week 9. The future Hall of Famer had his lowest passing yards, touchdowns, and fantasy point totals since the Steelers’ Week 5 bye. Yet, the 35 pass attempts were his second-highest total this season.
Furthermore, Pittsburgh’s defense was outstanding last week after struggling for most of the year, limiting Rodgers’ need to put up points. More importantly, the Chargers have held opposing quarterbacks to only 184.8 passing yards, 0.9 touchdowns, and 12.2 fantasy points per game since Week 1, allowing one or fewer touchdowns in all but one contest. Furthermore, quarterbacks have averaged 198.8 passing yards, one touchdown, and 10.9 fantasy points per game against Los Angeles over the past month, totaling 8.3 or less in all but one contest, including back-to-back outings.
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ) vs. Cleveland Browns
No one was more unhappy that Hall didn’t get traded on Tuesday than fantasy players. The former Iowa State star was outstanding in the Jets’ last game before the Week 9 bye, totaling 20 touches for 147 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, one passing score, and 32.9 PPR fantasy points in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he had struggled over the previous two weeks, totaling 33 rushing attempts for 97 yards, two receptions for 14 receiving yards, and 13.1 fantasy points, scoring 7.2 or fewer in both contests.
Moreover, Hall could lose work to Isaiah Davis, after the second-year pro was equally as impressive in Week 9, totaling 10.9 scrimmage yards and 17.9 fantasy points. Unfortunately, the star running back doesn’t face an awful Bengals run defense this week. Instead, the Browns have arguably the best run defense in the NFL, surrendering only 15.4 fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-fewest in the league. Furthermore, Cleveland has held running backs to 15.8 fantasy points per game and zero rushing touchdowns over their past three matchups.
Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Many fantasy players had high hopes for Vidal last week against the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, he severely struggled despite the excellent matchup against an awful run defense, totaling 12 rushing attempts for 30 yards and three PPR fantasy points. By comparison, the second-year pro averaged 16.7 rushing attempts for 87 yards, 2.7 receptions for 13 receiving yards, and 16.7 fantasy points per game in the other three contests with Omarion Hampton, totaling 19.7 or more twice. Fantasy players should have little faith in Vidal after his awful Week 9 performance.
The former Troy star faces an impressive Steelers run defense on Sunday night. Pittsburgh has held running backs to 19 fantasy points per game this season, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered three rushing touchdowns to running backs, including only one over the past seven weeks, despite facing multiple capable rushing attacks. Last week, Jonathan Taylor had only 14 rushing attempts for 45 yards, zero touchdowns, and 7.7 fantasy points against the Steelers, averaging 3.2 yards per attempt, setting season lows in every category except rushing attempts.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS) vs. Detroit Lions
At this point, fantasy players should be closer to dropping Croskey-Merritt than starting him. He looked prime for a breakout after totaling 150 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns, and 27 PPR fantasy points in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers on 16 touches. However, Croskey-Merritt has been a massive bust over the past month, averaging 12.8 rushing attempts for 39.3 yards, zero touchdowns, and 4.4 fantasy points per game, totaling 5.8 or fewer in every contest. Furthermore, he has been awful over the past two weeks, totaling 7.6 fantasy points.
Things go from bad to worse for the rookie running back this week, as Croskey-Merritt faces an elite Lions run defense. Detroit has allowed running backs to average only 16.7 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. They have held running backs to only 71 rushing yards and 14.7 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, surrendering zero rushing touchdowns. Furthermore, Chris Rodriguez Jr. could see more work after outperforming Croskey-Merritt last week, averaging 2.2 more yards per rushing attempt against the Seattle Seahawks.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) vs. Seattle Seahawks
Harrison was outstanding last week against the Dallas Cowboys. The former Ohio State star had seven receptions on 10 targets for 96 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 22.6 fantasy points, setting season-highs in receptions, targets, and fantasy points while nearly matching his season-high in yards (98 in Week 5). However, he faced an awful Cowboys pass defense. Meanwhile, Harrison had struggled, averaging 3.2 receptions on 5.7 targets for 54.2 receiving yards and 9.6 fantasy points per game over the previous six contests, scoring 7.8 or less four times.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ defense has been without multiple starters in the secondary for part of the year. Thankfully, they are getting healthier after a few rocky weeks. Seattle has held wide receivers to 19 receptions for 200 receiving yards and 37.3 fantasy points over the past three weeks, allowing 21.6 or less in every game. Furthermore, they’ve slowed down opposing No. 1 wide receivers, surrendering 11 or fewer fantasy points in half of their games, including back-to-back outings. Expect a quiet performance from Harrison against the division rivals.
Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAC) vs. Houston Texans
Unfortunately, Thomas suffered an ankle injury last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, the Jaguars are reportedly optimistic that he will play Sunday against the Texans. The former LSU star has been a massive fantasy bust this season, ranking as the WR39, averaging 10.7 PPR fantasy points per game. He has scored nine or fewer fantasy points in 62.5% of the games, including 8.5 or fewer in back-to-back contests. Meanwhile, Jacksonville traded for Jakobi Meyers on Tuesday, giving Thomas meaningful target competition with Travis Hunter being on injured reserve.
More importantly, Houston has held wide receivers to 26 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up four receiving touchdowns to wide receivers this year, the second-fewest in the league, allowing only two over the past seven weeks. Furthermore, the Texans have shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers, surrendering 3.9 receptions on 7.4 targets for 58.7 receiving yards and 11.4 fantasy points per game since Week 1. They held Courtland Sutton to only one reception for 30 receiving yards and 10 fantasy points last week.
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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.
