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 11
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 11.
Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) vs. Denver Broncos
While many had given up on Mahomes as a fantasy superstar, he has been outstanding this season. The former Texas Tech star is the QB2, averaging 22.9 fantasy points per game, scoring 22.1 or more in all but two contests. Furthermore, Mahomes has been a scoring machine, totaling three or more passing touchdowns in four of the past six games. Unfortunately, he was awful in the Chiefs’ last game, completing a career-low 44.1% of his pass attempts for 250 yards, zero touchdowns, and a season-low 10.5 fantasy points.
Thankfully, there are plenty of appealing replacement options this week that fantasy players can afford to bench Mahomes against an elite Broncos defense. They’ve held quarterbacks to 12.6 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. Denver has surrendered single-digit fantasy points to quarterbacks in 40% of the games this year, including three of the past seven contests. Furthermore, the Broncos have shut down quarterbacks despite missing Pat Surtain II, allowing 359 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and 15 fantasy points in the two games without the superstar cornerback.
Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI) vs. Detroit Lions
Barkley had his best performance this season before the Eagles’ Week 9 bye, totaling 14 rushing attempts for 150 yards, a touchdown, four receptions for 24 receiving yards, and a touchdown against his former team, scoring 33.4 PPR fantasy points. Unfortunately, he had been a fantasy disappointment before that matchup, averaging 44.2 rushing yards and 11.7 fantasy points per game over the previous five contests, scoring 9.5 or fewer in 60% of the outings. More importantly, the former Penn State star struggled against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.
Despite having 25 touches, Barkley finished with only 101 scrimmage yards, zero touchdowns, and 13.1 fantasy points. Furthermore, he needed a 41-yard reception in the fourth quarter to score double-digit fantasy points against the Packers. Meanwhile, the Lions have one of the top run defenses in the NFL, holding running backs to 16.5 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the league. They have surrendered 71 rushing yards and 14.7 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past six weeks, allowing only one rushing touchdown during that stretch.
Derrick Henry (RB – BAL) vs. Cleveland Browns
Hopefully, fantasy players traded for Henry during the Ravens’ Week 7 bye. After struggling earlier this season, the future Hall of Famer has played well since the bye week, averaging 20 rushing attempts for 88.3 yards, 0.7 touchdowns, and 14.5 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 11.4 or more in every outing. Unfortunately, the veteran has struggled against top-tier run defenses this year. Henry had only 11 rushing attempts for 23 yards, zero touchdowns, and 2.3 fantasy points against the Browns in Week 2, setting season lows in every category.
Cleveland has one of the league’s top run defenses, holding running backs to 16.8 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered 20 or more fantasy points to running backs in only two games this year. One of those matchups was against the Detroit Lions. The other came last week, where Breece Hall needed a 42-yard receiving touchdown to score double-digit fantasy points. Unless Henry miraculously becomes a significant factor in the Ravens’ passing game, the future Hall of Famer will struggle against the division rivals.
Deebo Samuel (WR – WAS) vs. Miami Dolphins
The Commanders won’t have Terry McLaurin this week after Dan Quinn ruled out the star wide receiver on Monday. Yet, fantasy players should avoid starting Samuel against the Dolphins on Sunday. The veteran started the year on fire, ranking as the WR7 over the first five weeks, averaging 7.6 targets and 17.7 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring at least 17.4 in all but one contest. However, he has struggled since then, averaging 5.5 targets and eight fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, scoring double-digits only once.
Surprisingly, Miami hasn’t given up a high amount of fantasy production to wide receivers despite having arguably the worst cornerback unit in the league. They’ve surrendered only 26.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, the Dolphins have allowed opposing wide receivers to average only 8.3 receptions for 93.3 receiving yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 20.6 fantasy points per game over the past month, despite facing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen during the stretch. Fantasy players should expect a run-heavy offense from Washington this week.
Xavier Worthy (WR – KC) vs. Denver Broncos
Many expected a sophomore-year breakout from Worthy this season, especially with Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games. Unfortunately, the former Texas star got hurt, missing all but three snaps over the first three weeks. More importantly, the explosive receiver hasn’t had a significant role on offense since Rice returned from his suspension, averaging 3.7 receptions on six targets for 37 receiving yards, zero touchdowns, and eight PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 7.8 or fewer fantasy points in two of the three contests despite facing multiple struggling defenses.
More importantly, Worthy will face an elite Denver secondary in a significant AFC West showdown on Sunday. The Broncos have held wide receivers to only 25.3 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the league. They have surrendered only two receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the fewest in the NFL, allowing half as many as the next closest team. More importantly, the only wide receiver to score more than 9.4 fantasy points against Denver without Pat Surtain II over the past two weeks is Nico Collins (14.5) on 11 targets.
Cade Otton (TE – TB) vs. Buffalo Bills
Last week, Otton was outstanding in the loss to the New England Patriots. He had nine receptions on 12 targets for 82 receiving yards and 17.2 PPR fantasy points, setting season-highs in every category, ending the week as the TE6, outscoring Sam LaPorta (10.3) and Dallas Goedert (8.3). Furthermore, the veteran has averaged 5.8 receptions on 7.4 targets for 63.8 receiving yards and 12.2 fantasy points per game over the past six weeks, scoring double-digits in all but one contest. However, Otton had several fantasy-friendly matchups during that span.
Unfortunately, that won’t be the case for him on Sunday against the Bills. Buffalo has shut down opposing tight ends this season, allowing only 6.2 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They’ve held tight ends to 2.6 receptions for 27.9 receiving yards per game, allowing fewer than 47 yards in all but the contest against the Kansas City Chiefs, giving up 66 to Travis Kelce. Furthermore, the Bills are one of three teams to surrender only one receiving touchdown to tight ends, allowing it in Week 2.
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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.
