Fantasy Football Panic Meter: Patrick Mahomes, Austin Ekeler, Stefon Diggs, Travis Etienne

We currently live in a world where you can’t trust (spoiler alert) Patrick Mahomes, Austin Ekeler or Stefon Diggs in your starting lineup. Up is down, hot is cold, Joe Flacco is in MVP-form and we’re all just trying to piece things together.

This week, on a special edition of ‘The Panic Meter’ we will feature several players you should be panicked enough to avoid starting, as well as streaming/bench alternatives to replace them.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations. If you fell short, you probably have a player on this list.

Without further ado, here is this week’s fantasy football panic meter.

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Fantasy Football Panic Meter

Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)| Panic Meter: 3

Sooner or later the Chiefs have to figure it out, right? We’ve been asking ourselves this question for 8 weeks now and nothing has changed. In week 16, Mahomes finished with less than 17 points for the seventh time in his last eight games. He is QB10 on the season. No QB will offer you the same upside as Mahomes, but there are several likely-available players that have displayed a much higher floor as of late. Consider these options:

• Baker Mayfield (QB – TB): averaging 22.9 PPG over his last three games.
• Joe Flacco (QB – CLE): averaging 351 pass YPG and 20.6 PPG over his last three games.

Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC) | Panic Meter: 3

So here’s the thing: Ekeler is not getting the job done as an RB1. He has failed to reach 12 PPR points in five of his last six games, and has been under 10 points in four of those games. Panic on Ekeler as an RB1 is through the roof. However, you’re probably not going to find a suitable RB1 replacement on the waiver wire. The real question is, where do we draw the line on him as a flex? Consider these options over him:

• Ezekiel Elliot (RB – NE): averaging 17.7 PPR points and 6.2 receptions per game since week 13.
• James Conner (RB – ARI): averaging 20.8 PPG and has four TDs in his last three games

Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF) | Panic Meter: 3

Since week 10, Diggs is WR49. Since then he has just one game with at least 50 yards or 9.0 PPR points. A few WRs with more points than Diggs in that span: Dontayvion Wicks, Quentin Johnston and Tank Dell who has been injured since week 13. After Diggs third consecutive single-digit game, enough is enough. If you’ve made it this far, it hasn’t been because of Diggs. Rip the band-aid off and consider these options:

• Rashee Rice (WR – KC): has outscored Diggs in every game since week 12, averaging 18.6 PPG during that span.
• Chris Godwin (WR – TB): averaging 16.5 points and has seen at least 11 targets in his last three games.

Others to panic about:

Panic Meter: 2

• DeAndre Hopkins (WR – TEN): Hopkins has no more two catches or 21 yards in two consecutive games. If Will Levis misses week 17, Hopkins is more risk than managers can afford in the championship round.
• DJ Moore (WR – CHI): Over the last two weeks, Moore has a combined seven catches, 70 yards and 14.0 PPR points. Last week, not only did Moore deliver a dud, but he picked up an ankle injury as well. This week, he faces the Falcons (fifth-fewest fantasy points allowed to WRs this season). His practice participation during the will be a key factor to determine where he stands.

Panic Meter: 1

• Travis Etienne (RB – JAX): Etienne has finished with single-digit PPR points in his last two games. He hasn’t had 100+ scrimmage yards or scored 20+ points since week eight. Since then he has deferred 1/3 of snaps to D’Ernest Johnson, which has capped his ceiling. Yet, panic is moderate. Based on volume and receiving usage, Etienne remains in play as a low-end RB1.