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 cut through the jungle of statistics to help you 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 the man ends up in the shadow realm. |
Davante Adams (WR – LV) | Panic Meter: 1
Adams’s last three PPR finishes: WR39, WR59 and WR67. During that span, he has a combined 21.4 points (7.1 PPG). He has failed to top 10.1 points since Week 13. If Adams was the average player the panic alarm would be screaming. Instead, it’s at a mild ‘one’ to signal: you’re not benching him, but his recent struggles have been acknowledged.
Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF) | Panic Meter: 1
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before… Diggs’s last three PPR finishes: WR59, WR40 and WR60. During that span he has a combined 22 points (7.3 PPG) and has failed to top 10.7 points since Week 13. Just like with Adams, his recent struggles have been acknowledged. However, sitting Diggs (eight 20+ point games this season) remains out of the question.
Aaron Jones (RB – GB) | Panic Meter: 2
AJ Dillon now has four consecutive games with at least 11 touches (15+ in each of his last three) and at least one TD. He has outscored Jones (PPR) in each of the four aforementioned weeks. Jones’ talent and efficiency keep him in must-start territory, but all of a sudden he’s in a committee, one that he may not be the leader of. After being drowned out in Week 16 (eight touches, 34 total yards) that has become all too apparent. If you have both Dillon and Jones, suddenly it’s not such an easy choice between the two.
Geno Smith (QB – SEA) | Panic Meter: 2
Despite a juicy matchup in Week 16, Geno delivered a 12-point stinker. It was the second week in a row Smith failed to account for multiple TDs or score 16 fantasy points. Geno has proven to be a reliable fantasy QB this season, so panic is moderate. However, an upcoming matchup with a Jets defense that has allowed just 13 TD passes this season, potentially without Tyler Lockett again, suddenly this panic has merit.
Cowboys D/ST | Panic Meter: 2
Despite consecutive matchups with Houston, Jacksonville, and a Philly team fielding a second string-QB, the Cowboys D/ST has managed 8.0 total points in their past three games. They’ve recorded just one sack and surrendered an average of 28.3 PPG during this span. A lot of red flags have been raised lately for one of the few “elite” fantasy D/STs. It would be easy to succumb to panic in this situation. Yet, with a potential matchup against Malik Willis and the Commanders in consecutive weeks, the Cowboys remain in play as a streamer. Albeit, a suddenly sketchy one as of late.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA) | Panic Meter: 3
After a three-INT disaster in Week 16 (10.4 points) panic can no longer be ignored. Tagovailoa has failed to manage 20 fantasy points or finish as a top-12 QB in five consecutive games. He has scored less than 16 points in four of those five games. He will be incredibly difficult to trust against the Patriots and Jets in the final two weeks of the regular season. With your championship hopes on the line, dropping Tagovailoa for a QB like Jared Goff or Daniel Jones is very much in play.
Cut list | Panic Meter: 4
Elijah Moore, Deshaun Watson, Marquise Goodwin, Derek Carr, Antonio Gibson
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