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. Panic is not necessary. |
| 1 | Panic is creeping up. It’s not time to sound the alarm yet, but it is something to be aware of. Said player should still be considered a starter but is now under surveillance. |
| 2 | Officially panicked, taking things week by week, considering a Plan B, exploring trade options or benching for a more reliable option. |
| 3 | Fire sale. Actively seeking a trade while the player in question still has value. They are no longer a trustworthy starter. In some cases, a borderline drop-candidate. |
| 4 | Sever all ties. Smash the drop button so hard that the man ends up in the shadow realm. |
Fantasy Football Panic Meter
Travis Etienne (RB – JAX) | Panic Meter: 0
The Jags got blown out in Week 10, leading to an uncharacteristic dud from Etienne. His 6.4 PPR points was his lowest weekly finish since Week 2. But there is no cause for panic, considering he had four straight games over 22 PPR points directly before this. He remains locked in as a rock-solid RB1.
Josh Allen (QB – BUF) | Panic Meter: 1
Josh Allen’s three-turnover performance in Week 10 certainly raised some eyebrows for fantasy managers. In a matchup most expected him to dominate, his recklessness with the football was on full display with those three turnovers. It marked his sixth consecutive game with an interception and he now leads the NFL in total turnovers. A performance like that heading into a scary matchup with the Jets, against whom he scored a season-low 9.04 points (plus four turnovers) raises at least a small amount of panic. Nonetheless, Allen is QB1 on the year in total points and remains locked in as a starter, but he is now under surveillance.
George Pickens (WR – PIT) | Panic Meter: 2
After a 7.5-point dud in Week 10, Pickens has now failed to score double-digit PPR points in three consecutive games. During this span, he has a combined six catches, 66 yards, and 18.6 PPR points (am average of 2 catches, 22 yards, and 6.2 points per game). Pickens’ recent skid can largely be attributed to the return of Diontae Johnson who has drawn nearly twice as many targets (27) during the same three-game span. Those who have committed to Pickens as a WR2 should be panicking. At best, he is a fringe-flex option right now.
Derrick Henry (RB – TEN) | Panic Meter: 2
Henry delivered a stinker in Week 10, finishing with just 3.0 PPR points. In the past five seasons, Henry has just two games under 4.0 PPR points, both of which have come this season. In the past four seasons, Henry played fewer than 50% of snaps in just two games. This season, Henry has four such games. He has yet to play over 75% of snaps in any game this season. Panic may seem silly, considering he is coming off three consecutive top-12 fantasy weeks. Yet, the writing is on the wall: we may be witnessing the fall of the King. His remaining schedule is rather friendly, so panic remains moderate, but he certainly feels more like an RB2 than a bona fide RB1 at this point.
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) | Panic Meter: 2
After Jackson finished with just 13.02 points in Week 10, the panic alarm has officially been sounded. It was the third consecutive game Jackson finished with under 13.5 fantasy points. In fact, if you remove his monster game in Week 7, Jackson is averaging only 12.7 points per game since Week 4. He has now finished under 13.5 points in 5 out of 10 games this season, although to be fair, he has finished as a top-five QB in the other 50% of his games. Jackson remains a must-start based on the weekly upside he provides, but his inconsistency and recent trend of lackluster fantasy production is just cause for panic. It wouldn’t be outrageous to consider him a QB2 with a great matchup on any given week.
Cut List | Panic Meter: 4
- Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX)
- Michael Thomas (WR – NO)
- Miles Sanders (RB – CAR)
- Christian Watson (WR – GB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
