Welcome to the “Panic Meter!”
Each week, we’ll feature several underperforming players and assign them a grade that corresponds 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.
Without further ado, let’s get into this week’s fantasy football panic meter.
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| 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 possibly 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
Derrick Henry (RB – BAL) | Panic Meter: 0
Henry played just 46% of snaps in Week 1 and finished with a disappointing 10.6 PPR points. However, there’s no reason to panic. Game-script was the culprit in this one, as the Ravens found themselves trailing for the majority of the game. Don’t expect that to be a theme this year. Although Henry didn’t play with the hurry-up offense, he still handled 13 of the 14 Ravens RB carries in Week 1. Despite his receiving usage, Justice Hill is not a threat to eat into Henry’s carries. There will be plenty of volume to go around moving forward. Hit snooze on the panic alarm.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) | Panic Meter: 1
In a game that had 62 total points and over 600 combined yards of offense, Harrison managed just one catch for four yards. It was a tough break for managers who drafted him in the second round and a little panic is reasonable, but the sample size is too small to make any rash decisions at the moment. After all, it wasn’t exactly a high-volume passing day for the Cardinals; leading receiver Greg Dortch finished with just 47 yards. Despite the dud, Harrison unquestionably has the highest ceiling of any pass catcher in Arizona. For now, the rookie gets the benefit of the doubt and should remain in lineups.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET) | Panic Meter: 1
In all likelihood, St. Brown’s Week 1 performance (three catches, 14 yards on six targets) was nothing but a fluke. In fact, you’d have to go back to Week 7 of the 2021 season to find the last game in which St. Brown played at least 50% of snaps and finished with fewer than 5.0 PPR points. Yet, with Jameson Williams finally emerging, it is fair to be slightly panicked about the Sun God’s target share. As of now, there’s nothing to worry about, but the situation is worth monitoring.
Drake London (WR – ATL) | Panic Meter: 2
If you drafted London in the second round, nobody can blame you for being panicked. Two catches for 15 yards on three targets would be a concerning stat line for most. And considering the sample-size we have from him as a player, with a career average of 10.7 PPG, panic for London to break the mold is valid. The reality is that it may take some time for the Falcons’ new-look offense to work out the kinks. In the meantime, London’s breakout campaign may not be as guaranteed as many expected. Keep your panic button ready.
Mark Andrews (TE – BAL) | Panic Meter: 1.5
Andrews managers have plenty of reason to be panicked after he took a backseat to fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, who delivered an explosive performance in Week 1 with nine catches, 111 yards and one TD on 12 targets. Likely was an essential part of the Ravens’ passing attack and had two endzone targets in the final plays of the game. Meanwhile, Andrews was an afterthought, with two targets and two catches for 14 yards. We could be witnessing a changing of the guard in Baltimore. For now, Andrews remains a must-start, but the panic alarm has been sounded.