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.

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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 17

Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)

After starting the year on fire, Tagovailoa has struggled over the past several weeks. Since the team’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany, the former Alabama star has been the QB18, averaging 13.5 fantasy points per game, scoring 13 or fewer in nearly 60% of the contests. Furthermore, Tagovailoa has scored fewer than 15.6 fantasy points in four of the past five games, including three consecutive. The star quarterback has also struggled away from Miami, averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game on the road.

By comparison, Tagovailoa has averaged 18.1 fantasy points per game at home this season. Unfortunately, he has to travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in Week 17. Baltimore has arguably the top defense in the NFL. They have surrendered only 12.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-fewest in the NFL. This past week, Brock Purdy had the worst performance of his career, totaling only 2.4 fantasy points and four interceptions against the Ravens. Fantasy players are better off streaming Derek Carr off the waiver wire than starting Tagovailoa.

Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG)

While the Giants decided to bench Tommy DeVito for Tyrod Taylor, fantasy players shouldn’t expect the quarterback change to impact Barkley’s fantasy outlook. The running back had a top-10 performance last week, totaling 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points against a struggling Philadelphia Eagles run defense. However, a rushing touchdown and two-point conversion accounted for nearly half his fantasy production. More importantly, he has averaged only 3.8 yards per touch and a 16% missed tackle forced per attempt rate over the past four games (per Fantasy Points Data).

Unfortunately, Barkley faces a Los Angeles Rams defense that has held running backs to 14.6 fantasy points per game this season, the second-fewest in the NFL. The Rams have allowed only one rushing touchdown by a running back since Week 7. More importantly, Los Angeles has surrendered only 48 rushing yards and nine fantasy points per game to running backs over the past three weeks, giving up zero rushing or receiving touchdowns. Fantasy players might struggle with sitting Barkley during the fantasy championship week. However, it’s the right move to make.

Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)

Fantasy players who spent a late first-round or early second-round pick on Pollard likely regret that decision. After scoring 13.1 or more half-point PPR fantasy points in four consecutive games, the former Memphis star has back-to-back awful performances, totaling only 11.5 fantasy points. Pollard hasn’t averaged more than 3.7 yards per rushing attempt in three of the past four contests. Furthermore, his role in the passing game has disappeared. After having four or more receptions in three of four games during his hot streak, he has three over the past two weeks.

Pollard’s recent cold streak likely will continue in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. The NFC North division winners have held running backs to 14.4 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They’ve surrendered only 13.8 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past five weeks, giving up 11.6 or fewer in all but one contest. Furthermore, Ty Chandler had a rushing touchdown last week against the Lions. Yet, he only scored 7.7 fantasy points. Pollard shouldn’t be that bad but will have a disappointing fantasy performance.

Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)

Every year, fantasy players have to deal with injuries on their team. However, this season has been one of the worst in recent memory. Chase missed this past week’s game because of an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Hopefully, he can return this week, but that’s still to be determined. Yet, fantasy players should avoid starting him if the superstar can play for the Bengals. Chase has averaged 12.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game with Jake Browning starting, scoring 8.4 or fewer in back-to-back contests.

Furthermore, the superstar took advantage of a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13, totaling 26.1 fantasy points. However, he scored 10.1 or fewer fantasy points in every other game that Browning started. Unfortunately, Chase faces a Chiefs defense that has surrendered only 22.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. This past week, Davante Adams had only four receiving yards and 0.9 fantasy points against the Chiefs. Hopefully, fantasy players have a solid backup option for Chase.

Amari Cooper (WR – CLE)

Raise your hand if you started Cooper last week and made it to the fantasy championship game. The star wide receiver was outstanding in Week 16, totaling 11 receptions on 15 targets for 265 receiving yards (a franchise record), two touchdowns, and 46 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Houston Texans. Following this past week’s performance, Cooper is the WR12 for the year, averaging 12.7 fantasy points per game. However, he was only the WR27, averaging 10.4 fantasy points per game before last week’s explosive performance.

More importantly, Cooper faces Sauce Gardner and the New York Jets tonight. The Jets have surrendered only 17.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the lowest average in the league. They have given up only four receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the fewest in the NFL by six. Furthermore, New York has held opposing No. 1 wide receivers not named Tyreek Hill to only 24.5 receiving yards and 3.6 fantasy points per game over the past six weeks. Don’t chase after last week’s performance and leave Cooper on the bench.

Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF)

Many fantasy players drafted Kincaid this year, hoping he would become a plug-and-play TE1 as a rookie. Unfortunately, the former Utah star was outstanding when Dawson Knox was injured, averaging 10.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a 23% target per route run rate, and a 20.5% receiving yards market share (per Fantasy Points Data). By comparison, Kincaid has averaged only 4.2 fantasy points per game, with Knox playing. Furthermore, he has scored 5.8 total fantasy points over the past three weeks since the veteran returned from a wrist injury.

Meanwhile, the rookie tight end faces a talented New England Patriots defense in Week 17. The Patriots have held tight ends to 7.4 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered fewer than 5.6 fantasy points to tight ends in nearly half of the games this season. Furthermore, New England held Travis Kelce to only 5.3 fantasy points two weeks ago despite the superstar having an 18.4% target share in the game. Fantasy players should avoid starting Kincaid at almost all costs.

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