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.
Brace yourself and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 17.
Jared Goff has been outstanding lately, averaging 371 passing yards, 3.7 touchdowns and 29.5 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling at least three passing scores and 22 fantasy points in every contest. Last week, the veteran quarterback had an exceptional performance despite playing outdoors, completing 71.9% of his pass attempts for 336 yards, three touchdowns and 25.3 fantasy points in the win over the Chicago Bears. However, fantasy players should consider benching Goff for their championship game because of his matchup against the 49ers.
San Francisco has held quarterbacks to 14.6 fantasy points per game, the fifth-fewest in the NFL this season. They’ve surrendered 14.7 or fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks in 73.3% of their games, including three consecutive contests. Furthermore, quarterbacks have averaged 171.7 passing yards, one touchdown and 11.7 fantasy points per game over their past three matchups against the 49ers. While he won’t be a massive bust on Monday night, Goff won’t put up anywhere near the 29.5 fantasy points per game average he has had over the past three weeks.
Last week, Chuba Hubbard was a man among boys in the upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran ended the week as the RB2, totaling 25 rushing attempts for 152 yards, two touchdowns, four receptions for 13 receiving yards and a season-high 30.5 half-PPR fantasy points. Unfortunately, Hubbard had struggled before last week’s matchup, averaging 55.7 rushing yards and 9.3 fantasy points per game over the previous three contests, posting 3.5 yards per attempt. More importantly, one of those games was against the division rivals.
The veteran had 12 rushing attempts for 43 yards and 2.3 fantasy points in the Week 13 loss to the Buccaneers, his worst performance since opening weekend. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has held running backs to 18.5 fantasy points per game, the 10th-fewest in the NFL. However, they’ve been lights out since their bye, surrendering only 48 rushing yards and 10.6 fantasy points per game to running backs, allowing 12.7 or fewer in four consecutive outings. They’ve given up only 56 rushing yards to running backs in their past two games.
While he had been on fire lately, Rico Dowdle ran into a brick wall in Week 16. The former South Carolina star averaged 21.7 rushing attempts for 130.7 yards and 16.4 half-PPR fantasy points per game over his previous three contests before last week. Unfortunately, Dowdle struggled against an elite Tampa Bay Buccaneers run defense after picking apart three of the worst units in the NFL over the prior three games. His rushing yards per attempt average fell from six over the previous three games to 1.8 in Week 16.
Unfortunately, Dowdle faces another elite run defense during the fantasy championship game week. The Eagles have surrendered only 14.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-fewest in the NFL this year. They have held running backs to 16.7 or fewer fantasy points in nine of the 11 games since the Week 5 bye, including 8.7 or fewer in nearly half of those contests. Furthermore, running backs have had only 67 rushing yards and 13.3 fantasy points over the past two weeks against Philadelphia, averaging 2.5 yards per attempt.
Jerry Jeudy was a must-start wide receiver with Jameis Winston under center. The veteran averaged 17.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game in Winston’s seven starts. Furthermore, he had been on fire since the bye, averaging 7.4 receptions on 10 targets for 126.8 receiving yards and 20.4 fantasy points per game before last week’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. While the matchup was fantasy-friendly, Jeudy was stuck with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center. He had only two receptions on three targets for 20 receiving yards and three fantasy points in the loss.
Fantasy players should avoid starting Jeudy in the championship game week, even if Winston is back under center. The Dolphins have surrendered 24.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fifth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up 16.3 or fewer fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 40% of their games. Furthermore, Miami has shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers lately, surrendering 55.7 receiving yards and 11.3 fantasy points per game over their past six contests, including only 51 and 7.1 to Jauan Jennings last week.
Buffalo is one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won nine of their past 10 games. Khalil Shakir has played a significant role in the team’s success, totaling 11 receptions on 15 targets for 145 receiving yards, two touchdowns and 32 half-PPR fantasy points over his previous two games before last week’s matchup. However, the third-year pro struggled in the win over the New England Patriots, catching only two of his six targets for 22 receiving yards and 3.2 fantasy points. Unfortunately, he will struggle again on Sunday.
The former Boise State star had his worst performance this year in the Week 6 matchup against the division rivals, totaling two receptions on two targets for 19 receiving yards and 2.9 fantasy points, setting season lows in every category. Meanwhile, the Jets have surrendered 23.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve allowed 20.2 or fewer fantasy points to wide receivers in 53.3% of their games. Last week, New York held Los Angeles Rams wide receivers to only 15.2 fantasy points.
Unfortunately, Jake Ferguson has been one of the least consistent tight ends in fantasy football. He is the TE26 for the year, averaging six half-PPR fantasy points per game. The former Wisconsin star has scored more than 8.4 fantasy points in only three contests — none over the past seven weeks. Ferguson has severely struggled since Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9. The veteran tight end has averaged five targets and 3.8 fantasy points per game with Cooper Rush starting, totaling seven or fewer points in every outing.
More importantly, Ferguson was awful in the Week 10 matchup against the Eagles, totaling four receptions on five targets for 24 receiving yards, a fumble and 2.4 fantasy points. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has surrendered 7.7 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They have held tight ends to 9.7 or fewer fantasy points in 73.3% of their games, including four of their past five contests. Tight ends have had 37 or fewer receiving yards against the Eagles in 66.7% of their matchups, including three consecutive games.
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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.
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