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 and a strategy that correlates to the specific grade.
| 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. |
Chris Olave (WR – NO) | Panic Meter: 0
Olave had his worst game of the season in Week 10, finishing with three catches for 40 yards and 7.0 PPR points. The reason there is no panic associated is included in the previous sentence: 40 yards and 7.0 points is his floor so far. You can certainly do a lot worse than that. It was just the second time this season he finished with less than four catches, 50 yards, or 10+ points. This should be viewed as nothing more than an anomaly. You’re starting Olave next week with confidence.
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO) | Panic Meter: 1
For the second consecutive week, Kamara failed to deliver double-digit PPR points. His Week 10 stinker (45 total yards, 7.5 points) was the third time Kamara has finished with less than 10 carries or 8.0 PPR points this season. There is cause for concern, but be careful not to overreact. Kamara is just two weeks removed from four straight games with 17+ points (averaged 25.5 PPG during that span). In all likelihood, this recent series of events is nothing more than a hiccup. However, if he turns in a third consecutive week of lackluster production, the panic will adjust accordingly.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET) | Panic Meter: 1
St. Brown managers rejoice! The panic is receding. After a quiet stretch, St. Brown turned in a signature performance, finishing with 20+ PPR points and 100+ total yards for the first time since Week 2. Things had begun to look grim, but St. Brown managers can now rest easy knowing he still possesses WR1 upside on any given week. With his Week 10 performance, he moves out of the doghouse and re-establishes himself as a must-start. With a similar performance next week, his meter would reset to zero.
Cordarelle Patterson (RB – ATL | Panic Meter: 2
In Week 10, Patterson managed just 20 total yards and 3.0 PPR points on six touches. After such a disappointing outcome, the burning question is: Was it nothing more than an outlier, or was it a sign of things to come? On one hand, it was the only time Patterson had less than nine touches this season. On the other hand, Tyler Allgeier (10+ touches in seven consecutive games) and Caleb Huntley (30+ rushing yards in six of his last seven games) both carved out a role for themselves when Patterson was injured and could eat into his volume more than managers would like. Since he hasn’t been involved as a receiver (six catches in six games), we may see more outputs like this from Patterson. He remains the best fantasy option out of this backfield. Panic is moderate until we see a repeat of this type of performance.
Deebo Samuel (WR – SF) | Panic Meter: 3
For the sixth time (in eight games), Samuel finished with less than 45 receiving yards in week ten. It was also his third game with less than three catches, his fifth game with less than 13.0 PPR points, and his second game (in a row) with less than 10.0 points. With just one game above 16.0 points this season, panic has reached critical levels. There are several factors contributing to Samuel’s decline, perhaps none more prevalent than the fact he’s been out-produced by Brandon Aiyuk (as a receiver and in fantasy) in each of their last four games together. Christian McCaffery commanding 20+ touches each week is also putting a cap on Samuel’s volume and overall upside. Of course, you can’t drop him, but he is hardly a lineup lock at this point. His designation of three on the panic meter reflects where he is now relative to where he started as a WR1.
Leonard Fournette (RB – TB) | Panic Meter: 3
The moment Fournette managers have been dreading finally came in Week 10 as Rachaad White began the game as the starter for the Bucs. He out-snapped and out-touched Fournette for the first time this season. A late-game hip injury contributed to decreased playing time for Lenny, yet White was heavily involved well before that. He took his season-high 22 carries for 105 yards, which is the most rushing yards by any Buccaneer since week one. He established himself enough this week that it seems he is now in a full-blown 50-50 split with Fournette, who is trending further down each week. Panic has reached a three, not because it’s urgent to sell him or because he’s a drop candidate, but because, at this point, he isn’t much more than an RB3/flex. Do with that information what you will.
Cut list | Panic Meter: 4: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Wan’Dale Robinson, Robert Tonyan, Kareem Hunt, Michael Gallup
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
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.
