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 in Week 6.
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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 6
Josh Allen (QB – BUF) vs. New York Jets
Fantasy players likely don’t have a better option at quarterback on their roster than Allen this week. Therefore, temper your expectations if forced to start the superstar quarterback in Week 6. Allen is the QB5 for the year, averaging 18.8 fantasy points per game. He has scored 30.9 or more in two contests. By comparison, the veteran has averaged 150 passing yards and 10.6 fantasy points per game in the other three contests, totaling one passing touchdown and 22 fantasy points over the past two weeks.
Unfortunately, Allen’s struggles will continue Monday night against the Jets. New York has completely shut down quarterbacks in 2024. They have surrendered 7.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-fewest in the NFL. The Jets have given up the second-fewest passing touchdowns (two), passing yards (806), and adjusted completion percentage (64.7%). New York has held quarterbacks to 127.7 passing yards and six fantasy points per game over the past three weeks. Allen has had one or fewer passing touchdowns in three of the past four games against the Jets.
Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS) vs. Baltimore Ravens
Robinson is the RB7 for the year, averaging 14.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He was the RB14 in Week 5, scoring 13.8 fantasy points against the Cleveland Browns. However, the former Alabama star averaged only 2.6 yards per rushing attempt last week but managed to save his fantasy performance with two rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, Robinson is dealing with a knee injury, leading to the Commanders using Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols more than earlier in the season. Meanwhile, his Week 6 matchup is far from fantasy-friendly.
The Ravens’ defense has given opposing running backs headaches this year. Baltimore has held running backs to the fewest rushing yards (48) and fourth-fewest fantasy points (15.8) per game, giving up 53 or fewer yards and 16.6 or fewer fantasy points in all but one contest. That lone contest was last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, where their backfield scored 67.6% of their fantasy points (14.6 of 21.6) in the passing game. This matchup between the Commanders and Ravens should be a pass-happy game, limiting Robinson’s upside.
Rico Dowdle (RB – DAL) vs. Detroit Lions
While the latest rumor on the internet has the Cowboys trading for Travis Etienne Jr., the team will likely stick with the guys currently in the backfield. Thankfully, Dowdle has pulled away from Ezekiel Elliott and the other running backs as the lead guy in Dallas. Last week, he had 22 touches for 114 scrimmage yards, a touchdown, and 18.4 half-point PPR fantasy points on 50% of the snaps, all season-highs. However, Dowdle needed a blown coverage 22-yard receiving touchdown to score double-digit fantasy points in Week 5.
Detroit held running backs to 46 rushing yards and eight fantasy points per game over their first three matchups. However, they got obliterated by Kenneth Walker III before their Week 5 bye, giving up 12 rushing attempts for 80 yards, three touchdowns, and 31.6 fantasy points. Yet, fantasy players shouldn’t expect anywhere near that production from Dowdle. Walker is an elite running back with a 13.5% explosive run rate in 2024. By comparison, Dowdle has a 0% explosive run rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Bench him despite last week’s performance.
Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX) vs. Chicago Bears
I had Thomas as the WR11 in my Week 5 half-point PPR rankings. The rookie ended the week as the WR9, totaling five receptions on eight targets for 122 receiving yards, a touchdown, and a career-high 20.7 fantasy points. He has had eight or more targets in three consecutive games, totaling 18.9 or more fantasy points in back-to-back contests. However, the Jaguars should have Evan Engram for the first time since Week 1 because of a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, Thomas’ recent hot play will come to a halt this weekend.
The former LSU star takes on Jaylon Johnson and an elite Bears defense in London. Chicago has held wide receivers to 20.5 fantasy points per game, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. They haven’t given up only one receiving touchdown to wide receivers this season, surrendering a 28-yard score to Nico Collins in Week 2. Furthermore, Collins is the only wide receiver (23.5) to score more than 10.2 fantasy points in any game against the Bears this year. Fantasy players should been Thomas despite him having back-to-back WR1 outings.
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sutton has been Denver’s top wide receiver, leading the team in route participation (78.9%), target share (24.2%), target per route run (27%), air-yards share (48.1%), and first-read target share (32.4%) among those with at least 12 targets this season (per Fantasy Points Data). Yet, the veteran wide receiver hasn’t been productive for fantasy players. He is the WR53, averaging 7.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a lower average than Tre Tucker (8.2) and Rashod Bateman (7.7). Sutton is a fringe WR4 or flex option most weeks.
Hopefully, fantasy players can avoid starting the veteran this week. Los Angeles has held wide receivers to only 19 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered only two receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the fifth-fewest in the league. More importantly, the Chargers have shut down opposing No. 1 receivers. They held Davante Adams, Diontae Johnson, and George Pickens to an average of 4.3 receptions on 6.3 targets on 43.7 receiving yards and 6.5 fantasy points per game, giving up 8.4 or fewer in every matchup.
Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI) vs. Cleveland Browns
Unfortunately, the tight end position has been a nightmare for fantasy players this year. George Kittle (13), Brock Bowers (10.5), and Goedert (10.5) are the only three to average double-digit half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The Eagles’ tight end struggled over the first two games, scoring 5.3 or fewer fantasy points in both matchups. However, he was outstanding in the past two contests with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith injured, averaging 8.5 receptions on 9.5 targets for 116 receiving yards and 15.9 fantasy points per game.
Yet, Goedert struggled in Philadelphia’s last game, scoring 9.7 fantasy points despite the wide receiver core totaling seven receptions for 34 receiving yards and 12.9 fantasy points against an awful Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense. Meanwhile, Cleveland has held tight ends zero receiving touchdowns and the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game (5.3), giving up 30 or fewer receiving yards and four or fewer fantasy points in 60% of their contests. Thankfully, Brown and Smith will return this week against the Browns. Unfortunately, that crushes Goedert’s fantasy appeal.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.