As fantasy managers, we often face difficult decisions. To sit, or not to sit? In an age where data is coming at us more frequently than ever, it’s easy for information to become over-saturated or lost in translation. This article series will be here each week to help you filter through the jungle of statistics so you can make more educated lineup decisions. Welcome to the “Panic Meter.”
Each week, we’ll feature several underperforming players with an assigned grade corresponding to the appropriate level of panic for the respective player/performance. Below is a scale with grades between 0 and 4, as well as a strategy that correlates to the specific grade.
- Surprises & Takeaways From Week 8
- Week 9 Waiver Wire Advice
- Erickson’s Rapid Reactions to Week 8
- Fantasy Football Heat Index
| PANIC METER GRADE | STRATEGY/PLAN OF ACTION |
| 0 | This past week was not ideal, but it can be chalked up as an anomaly. Don’t even think about benching them. |
| 1 | Panic is setting in. The leash becomes shorter but said player is still in consideration as a starter. Make sure a plan B is in place. |
| 2 | Officially panicked, exploring trade options, and possibly benching for a more proven/reliable option. |
| 3 | Fire sale. Get rid of them for whatever you can before it’s too late. They can no longer be trusted as a starter. A borderline drop-candidate. |
| 4 | Sever all ties. Smash the drop button so hard that man ends up in the shadow realm. |
George Pickens (WR – PIT) | Panic Meter: 1
Pickens flopped in week eight, finishing with zero catches on three targets. This makes sense when you consider he was being guarded by Darius Slay. In all likelihood, we’re looking at an anomaly. It was nothing more than a classic case of a rookie WR getting erased by one of the league’s top corners. Before last week’s goose egg, Pickens put together a four-game stretch with at least 60 yards and 14 PPR points in three games, seeing at least six targets in every game. Of all Steelers pass catchers, Pickens still projects as the most trustworthy every week. The Panic Meter has reached a one because we now know the kind of floor we’re dealing with. Considering the way the Steelers’ offense has looked, there is a possibility something similar could occur again. However, panic should be tempered for now.
David Montgomery (RB – CHI) | Panic Meter: 2
For the second week in a row, it appears Montgomery is in a full-blown committee with Khalil Herbert. Panic is justified because quite frankly, Herbert looks like the more explosive player. Montgomery has been out-produced and out-scored by Herbert in each of the last two weeks. Herbert also has more games with 15+ PPR points so far this season. The only reason Monty is at a two and not a three is that he is a talented player with a proven history of fantasy production, and is still receiving a minimum of 15 touches per game/playing the majority of snaps. There will be weeks he cashes in on that, but optimism is currently hard to come by. Given what we know about Montgomery and the usage he’s seeing, panic is moderate but, given his actual production, it’s rising each week.
Gabriel Davis (WR – BUF) | Panic Meter: 2
In week eight, Davis finished with less than 7.0 points for the third time in six games this season. Why? Because he didn’t score a TD. In games where Davis doesn’t score this season, he averages 4.8 PPG. He has just one game this season with more than three catches. Yet, he avoids a three on the panic meter because in games where he does score he averages 22.4 PPG. Essentially, he is a poor man’s Mike Williams. Recognize him for what he is and go from there. If you want to sell him as a high-upside WR2 and can get face value for him then, by all means, sell away. If you want to risk it to get the biscuit every week that’s fine as well. Just be aware of the risk you take when you roll the dice.
Leonard Fournette (RB – TB) | Panic Meter: 2
After two sub-RB1 weeks, it’s fair to ask: is it time to panic about Leonard Fournette? For the moment he is still a lineup lock, but his situation is worth monitoring. Trailing in most games so far, the Bucs haven’t had the luxury of establishing the run, and when they do run the ball they’re struggling mightily to do so. Lenny hasn’t topped 66 yards on the ground since week one. This isn’t a death sentence for someone who gets as much receiving work as he does, but it’s also something you don’t love to see. The more touches, the better. So the fact that Fournette has back-to-back weeks with less than 10 carries is a bit concerning. Perhaps the most concerning thing of all is the way Rachaad White has loomed in recent weeks, sometimes staying on the field for entire drives. There’s no need to make any hasty moves, but if you can get RB1 value for him it is certainly worth entertaining a trade.
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND) | Panic Meter: 3
No longer will JT enjoy the benefit of the doubt. After another dud in week eight, you should definitely be panicking about Taylor. He hasn’t accounted for 100 total yards or scored over 16 PPR points since week one. He delivered less than 7.5 PPR points in three of his last five games. In fact, Taylor’s only true RB1 performance this season came against the Texans, who are giving out fantasy points to RBs like it’s going out of style. Since you can’t drop him, you either have to bite the bullet and hope he shows up, or do your best to sell him. The bad news about trading him at the moment is you likely can’t get an equal return on investment. The good news: he’ll be off your hands.
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)| Panic Meter: 3
Sutton was off to a decent start, scoring at least 11 PPR points and drawing seven or more targets in every game weeks 1-5. It’s been all downhill ever since. Sutton has now finished with less than 25 yards or 5.5 PPR points in three consecutive games. After finishing with just one catch for 13 yards in week eight, panic has reached an all-time high. All of a sudden you can’t trust him as a starter, and he has lost his WR2 trade value. Yet, it’s still too soon to drop him. So what are your options? Best case scenario: you use him as an add-on in trade talks to sweeten a deal. You may want to act fast before things get worse because other than that, you have no choice but to hold and hope he breaks out of this funk.
Cut list | Panic Meter: 4
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
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