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 who 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 15
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 15.
Drake Maye (QB – NE) vs. Buffalo Bills
Anyone who drafted Drake Maye in the double-digit rounds hit a home run and likely made the fantasy playoffs. The former North Carolina star is the QB3 for the season, averaging 20 fantasy points per game, totaling 23+ points in 38.5% of the contests. However, he has scored more than 16.4 fantasy points only twice over the past six weeks. More importantly, the second-year star had his worst fantasy performance of the season in the Week 5 matchup against the Bills, totaling zero passing touchdowns and 12.1 fantasy points.
Last week, Joe Burrow had 284 passing yards, four touchdowns and 23.4 fantasy points against Buffalo. The Bills set season highs in passing yards and touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks. However, they had shut down opposing passing attacks before Week 14. Since facing Lamar Jackson in Week 1, Buffalo had surrendered 174.5 passing yards, 0.9 touchdowns and 10.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, allowing more than 14.5 fantasy points only to Baker Mayfield (16.7). While he should be better this week, Maye is far from a must-start quarterback.
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Neither Tyrod Taylor (groin) nor Justin Fields (knee) practiced on Wednesday, which could mean Brady Cook makes his first career start in Week 15. Unfortunately, that means the Jaguars will have little concern about the Jets’ passing attack, even if Garrett Wilson plays, leading to them stacking the box to stop Breece Hall. Last week, the former Iowa State star had 14 rushing attempts for 43 yards and 4.3 PPR fantasy points, a season low. Furthermore, Hall had zero work in the passing game for only the second time this year.
Unfortunately, the veteran is borderline unstartable, even in deeper leagues, this week with Cook under center. Hall also faces an elite Jaguars run defense, which has held running backs to 17.9 fantasy points per game, the fifth-fewest in the NFL. Jacksonville has given up 49.3 rushing yards, 0.5 touchdowns and 13.7 fantasy points per game over the past month, allowing 14.3 or fewer points in all but one contest. Furthermore, the Jaguars surrendered only 74 rushing yards and 11.4 fantasy points to Jonathan Taylor despite the superstar having 21 attempts.
Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI) vs. Houston Texans
Head coach Jonathan Gannon told the media on Wednesday that Trey Benson won’t be activated from injured reserve (IR), ending his season. That means Zonovan Knight will be the Cardinals’ lead running back for the rest of the season. He played well since Benson got hurt, averaging nine rushing attempts for 30.1 yards and 10.3 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring 12.4+ points in 44.4% of the contests. Unfortunately, Knight struggled last week, totaling 10 touches for 34 scrimmage yards and 6.4 fantasy points against a talented Los Angeles Rams run defense.
Sadly, the veteran running back has another unfriendly matchup this week against the Texans. Houston has held running backs to 19.8 fantasy points per game, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. More importantly, their run defense has been outstanding lately. The Texans have surrendered 65.1 rushing yards, 0.4 touchdowns and 19.4 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past seven weeks, allowing over 15.1 points in only three contests. Furthermore, Houston held Jonathan Taylor to 85 rushing yards, zero touchdowns and 15.1 fantasy points on 24 touches two weeks ago.
Zay Flowers (WR – BAL) vs. Cincinnati Bengals
While he hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1, Zay Flowers has been a solid starting option for fantasy players. The former Boston College star is the WR20 for the year, averaging 12.6 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring 11.3+ points in 76.9% of the contests, including all but one since the Ravens’ Week 7 bye. However, the lone exception came in Week 13 against the Bengals, totaling two receptions on seven targets for six receiving yards and 0.6 fantasy points, setting season lows in nearly every category.
Many believe Cincinnati has the worst defense in the NFL. While that is the case when stopping the run or covering tight ends, the Bengals have done well at limiting opposing wide receivers. Cincinnati has surrendered 26.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year, the fifth-fewest in the league. Furthermore, they have been outstanding since their Week 10 bye, holding wide receivers to 6.5 receptions for 72.8 receiving yards, 0.3 touchdowns and 15.1 fantasy points per game, allowing 14.1 or fewer points in half of those contests.
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND) vs. Seattle Seahawks
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have heard about the Colts’ quarterback situation. Daniel Jones is out for the season with a torn Achilles. Meanwhile, Philip Rivers joined the team’s practice squad and could start on Sunday. The last time he was in an NFL uniform was in 2020. Whether Riley Leonard makes his first start on Sunday or Rivers steps on the field for the first time in five years, they have to face an elite Seahawks defense. Unfortunately, it’s a no-win situation for Michael Pittman.
The former USC star was the only Indianapolis pass-catcher to produce last week, totaling nine receptions on 12 targets for 79 receiving yards and 16.9 PPR fantasy points. However, Pittman was facing a fantasy-friend Jacksonville Jaguars pass defense. By comparison, Seattle has surrendered 26.6 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve given up 12 receptions for 71 receiving yards and 19.1 fantasy points to wide receivers over the past two weeks, holding Justin Jefferson to only 2.4 fantasy points in Week 13.
Travis Kelce (TE – KC) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Travis Kelce is the TE3 for the season, averaging 12.7 PPR fantasy points per game. However, the veteran hasn’t been the must-start tight end like a few years ago. Kelce’s average has been inflated by three games with fantasy-friendly matchups. Last week, he had 1.8 fantasy points against the Houston Texans, totaling one reception on five targets for eight receiving yards. More importantly, the veteran has become a touchdown-or-bust tight end. Kelce has averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game in the eight contests he didn’t find the end zone.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs could ask him to block more this week as their offensive line is dealing with multiple injuries. More importantly, the Chargers have held tight ends to 11.3 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL this season. Furthermore, they’ve surrendered 6.6 or fewer fantasy points to tight ends in five of their past 11 matchups. While Kelce scored 12.7 fantasy points in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, he needed a touchdown, and Kansas City was without Rashee Rice while Xavier Worthy played just three snaps.
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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.