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 this week.

• Pat Fitzmaurice’s Weekly Rankings
• Andrew Erickson’s Weekly Rankings
• Derek Brown’s Weekly Rankings

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 10

Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)

Prescott has been on fire lately. He has been the QB3 over the past four weeks despite having his bye, averaging 27.4 fantasy points per game. The former Mississippi State star has thrown three or more touchdowns in back-to-back games, scoring over 28 fantasy points in both contests. However, the Cowboys have needed Prescott to sling the ball all over the field. Yet, that won’t be the case against the New York Giants this week. Dallas is a 16-point favorite. More importantly, Prescott had only 24 pass attempts and 6.3 fantasy points in the 40-0 Week 1 victory.

Unfortunately, the Giants will be without Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor this week, making Tommy DeVito the starting quarterback for New York. They have scored 16 points over the past two weeks with the rookie quarterback playing. More importantly, the Giants have held quarterbacks to only 13.9 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They haven’t given up more than 13.9 fantasy points to quarterbacks in four consecutive matchups. This NFC East game will likely be a blowout by halftime. Cooper Rush probably plays most of the fourth quarter.

Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)

Despite missing the first three games this season with a suspension, Kamara is the RB13 for the year, averaging 17.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the veteran hasn’t been a productive runner, averaging 3.64 yards per rushing attempt and 1.87 yards after contact per attempt. Instead, his fantasy value has come in the passing game. Kamara has 49 targets this season, the second-most on the team over the past six weeks. Yet, the former Tennessee Volunteer showed fantasy players what happens when he doesn’t get a high target volume or finds the end zone in Week 9.

The veteran had at least seven receptions or a rushing touchdown every game this year until last week. Kamara scored nine fantasy points and averaged 2.9 yards per rushing attempt, both season lows a week ago. Unfortunately, the matchup against the Minnesota Vikings isn’t fantasy-friendly. Minnesota struggled against the Philadelphia Eagles backfield in Week 2. However, they have held all other running backs to only 59.8 rushing yards and 12.9 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the Vikings have surrendered the lowest explosive run rate (1.5%) this season outside of the matchup against the Eagles (per Fantasy Points Data).

Gus Edwards (RB – BAL)

There hasn’t been a hotter running back lately than Edwards. The veteran is the RB1 over the past three weeks, averaging 22.2 half-point PPR fantasy points and two rushing touchdowns per game, scoring 17 or more in every contest. However, he has become a touchdown-or-bust running back. Over 54% of his fantasy productive the past three weeks have been rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the veteran running back averaged only 6.5 fantasy points per game over the first six contests, scoring more than six fantasy points only once. That one game was when Edwards found the end zone.

Meanwhile, Keaton Mitchell is coming off a massive performance and will start to eat into the veteran’s workload. More importantly, the Ravens face an elite Cleveland Browns’ run defense. The Browns have held running backs to only 14.2 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Cleveland has given up only two rushing touchdowns to the position, the third-fewest in the league. Edwards averaged only 3.2 yards per rushing attempt and had 5.1 fantasy points when these two teams faced off in Week 4. Don’t be surprised if his touchdown streak comes to an end Sunday.

Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN)

Unfortunately, Cam Akers suffered a second torn Achilles in his short NFL career last week. That means Mattison will have more of a featured role moving forward. Mattison had 82.4% of the backfield workload in the three games without Akers this season. By comparison, he had 65.8% of the workload with Akers playing. While fantasy players should be excited about Mattison’s outlook for the rest of the season, he still hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown in 2023. More importantly, his matchup this week isn’t fantasy-friendly.

Minnesota faces the New Orleans Saints in a potential playoff-impactful matchup. The Saints have held running backs to only 14.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, the fifth-fewest in the NFL. They surrendered fewer than 13.8 fantasy points in 66.7% of the contests this year, including 11.8 or fewer in 44.4% of the matchups. More importantly. New Orleans has given up the seventh-fewest rushing touchdowns (seven) and zero receiving touchdowns to running backs. Unless this is the week Mattison finally scores a rushing touchdown, he will struggle to score double-digit fantasy points.

Davante Adams (WR – LV)

With Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and several other star wide receivers on a bye this week, fantasy players might not have a better option than to start Adams. However, they should temper their expectations for the veteran. Adams hasn’t been a fantasy superstar lately. Over the past five weeks, he is the WR61, averaging only 5.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the veteran scored fewer fantasy points than Tre Tucker last week (6.6 vs. 5.4) with Aidan O’Connell under center. Unfortunately, things get worse this week for the superstar wide receiver.

The New York Jets have arguably the top defense in the league. They have held wide receivers to only 17.1 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, New York hasn’t surrendered a receiving touchdown to a wide receiver since Week 1. According to Fantasy Points Data, the Jets have allowed the lowest target per route run rate (17%) and the second-lowest yards per route run (1.12) this season. More importantly, Adam has seen his target-per-route run rate drop from 37% over the first four games this year to 24% over the past five weeks.

Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)

Last week, fantasy players had high hopes for Pitts, with Drake London missing his first career game. Instead, the third-year tight end had four receptions on five targets for 56 receiving yards and 7.6 half-point PPR fantasy points. The former Gator had over 12 fantasy points in back-to-back games in Week 5 and Week 6. However, he has scored only 18.8 total fantasy points in the three games since then, scoring 7.6 or fewer every contest. More importantly, Pitts had fewer targets than Jonnu Smith and KhaDarel Hodge in Week 9.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals have held tight ends to only 7.1 fantasy points per game, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. Tight ends have scored more than 8.5 fantasy points in only a third of the games against Arizona this season. While Mark Andrews and David Njoku have a touchdown against the Cardinals in back-to-back games, fantasy players shouldn’t get their hopes up that Pitts continues the trend. Smith has a higher target share (17.1% vs. 11.4%) and target per route run rate (27% vs 14%) than Pitts in the red zone (per Fantasy Points Data).

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.