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 8.

• Waiver Wire Advice
• Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 8

Geno Smith (QB – SEA) vs. Buffalo Bills

Smith has been quietly good for fantasy players, ranking as the QB7 this season. The veteran had his first two-passing touchdown performance in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons, totaling 17.8 fantasy points. He has scored 17.8 or more fantasy points in 71.4% of the games this year. Unfortunately, the veteran has struggled against talented defenses, totaling two interceptions and 12.5 fantasy points two weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers. More importantly, Smith will likely be without his top wide receiver, DK Metcalf, because of a knee injury.

Surprisingly, the veteran quarterback has played better on the road than at home, averaging 15.8% more fantasy points per game away from Seattle. Meanwhile, the Bills have dealt with multiple injuries on defense. However, they’ve held quarterbacks to 14.1 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. Buffalo has surrendered 9.9 or fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks in nearly half of their games, including last week. Furthermore, the Bills have given up one or fewer passing touchdowns in 71.4% of their games, including to Kyler Murray and C.J. Stroud.

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) vs. Detroit Lions

Many had high hopes for Pollard in Week 7 against an awful Buffalo Bills run defense. The veteran had a featured role with Tyjae Spears missing the game because of a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, Pollard struggled, averaging 3.8 yards per rushing attempt, totaling 7.5 half-point PPR fantasy points. By comparison, he averaged 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 17.1 fantasy points per game over his previous two contests, totaling two touchdowns. Furthermore, Pollard had at least 16.3 fantasy points in three of five games before last week’s matchup.

Head coach Brian Callahan told the media earlier this week that Spears could return to the lineup on Sunday. More importantly, Pollard has an awful matchup against the Lions. Detroit has held running backs to 15.5 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered fewer than 45 rushing yards to running backs in 60% of their matchups since Week 1. Furthermore, the Lions have allowed the third-lowest yards after contact per rushing attempt rate (1.93) this season (per Fantasy Points Data).

Alexander Mattison (RB – LV) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Raiders have one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL. While Zamir White was the starter heading into the season, Mattison has taken over as the featured running back. He accounted for 88.5% of the team’s backfield rushing attempts, outrushing White 23-3 against the Los Angeles Rams. More importantly, the veteran is the RB21 for the year, averaging 10.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Mattison has totaled 188 scrimmage yards and 28.8 fantasy points over the past two weeks, tallying 13.8 or more in both contests.

Unfortunately, the veteran running back will face his toughest matchup in 2024 on Sunday. The Chiefs have arguably the top defense in the NFL. More importantly, they have held running backs to only 12.2 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the league. Kansas City has surrendered only two rushing touchdowns to running backs, the third-fewest in the NFL, including zero over the past four weeks despite facing multiple elite rushing offenses. The Raiders are 10-point underdogs to the Chiefs, meaning Mattison might struggle to reach double-digit rushing attempts.

Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) vs. Chicago Bears

Washington has had one of the top offenses in the league, ranking first in points per game (31.1). Surprisingly, the team didn’t miss a beat last week despite losing Jayden Daniels early in the game to a rib injury, scoring 40 or more points for the second time this season. More importantly, McLaurin has had a career year. He is the WR13, averaging 12.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The veteran wide receiver has averaged 7.4 targets and 15.4 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks.

McLaurin has scored double-digit fantasy points in every game since Week 2. Unfortunately, that streak will end on Sunday. The Bears have held wide receivers to 21.9 fantasy points per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. They have given up only three receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the third-fewest in the league. More importantly, Chicago has shut down No. 1 wide receivers, holding them to 4.5 receptions on seven targets for 55.5 receiving yards and 8.9 fantasy points per game, surrendering 9.2 or fewer to everyone but Nico Collins.

Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR) vs. Denver Broncos

While Johnson has played better since the Panthers changed quarterbacks, the veteran wide receiver has struggled lately. He has been the WR11, averaging 12.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game with Andy Dalton under center, totaling three touchdowns in five contests. However, Johnson has had six or fewer targets in two of the past three games, including a season-low in Week 7 (three). More importantly, the veteran wide receiver has averaged only 7.8 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling 4.4 or fewer twice.

Thankfully, there are no teams on a bye in Week 8 because Johnson should be glued to fantasy benches. He faces a Broncos defense that should get Patrick Surtain II back from a concussion this week. They have held wide receivers to 19 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL, surrendering 18.6 or fewer in over half of their matchups. More importantly, Denver has shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers, holding DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Mike Evans, and Garrett Wilson each to under 4.7 fantasy points.

Travis Kelce (TE – KC) vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Chiefs traded for DeAndre Hopkins on Wednesday. However, that has nothing to do with why fantasy players should avoid starting Kelce in Week 8, if possible. The future Hall of Famer is the TE16 for the year, averaging 6.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Kelce played well in his first two games without Rashee Rice, totaling at least seven receptions on nine targets for 70 receiving yards and 11.5 fantasy points in both contests. Unfortunately, he regressed coming off the bye despite having two weeks to prepare.

Kansas City lost JuJu Smith-Schuster early in the game against the San Francisco 49ers to a hamstring injury. Yet, Kelce had only five targets and 3.7 fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Raiders have held tight ends to 6.7 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up 4.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the past three weeks, allowing 5.2 or fewer in every contest. More importantly, Kelce has had fewer than 45 receiving yards in four of his past five matchups against Las Vegas.

Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn

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