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 9.
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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 9
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA) vs. Buffalo Bills
Everyone was happy to see Tagovailoa back on the field in Week 8 after missing the previous four games with a concussion. The star quarterback played well, completing 73.7% of his pass attempts. However, he only had 14.7 fantasy points after totaling 234 passing yards and a touchdown in a 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. After totaling two or more passing touchdowns in nearly half of the games last year, Tagovailoa has thrown only one in every contest this season. More importantly, he has an awful matchup on Sunday.
Tagovailoa faces the division rival Bills in Week 9. Buffalo has held quarterbacks to 13.4 fantasy points per game, one of the lowest averages in the NFL. They have surrendered fewer than 10 fantasy points to quarterbacks in half of their matchups, including back-to-back games. Tagovailoa had only 145 passing yards and 5.5 fantasy points on 25 attempts in the Week 2 matchup against the Bills. Furthermore, the veteran has had under one or fewer passing touchdowns in seven of eight career matchups against the divisional rivals, including three straight.
J.K. Dobbins (RB – LAC) vs. Cleveland Browns
The veteran has been outstanding in his first year with the Chargers. Dobbins is the RB18, averaging 13.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he has scored fewer than 8.2 fantasy points in every game this season without reaching the end zone. Furthermore, the former Ohio State star has averaged 3.8 or fewer yards per rushing attempt in every game since Week 2 after averaging 7.7 or more in the first two contests. Dobbins has had fewer than 58 rushing yards in four of the past five games.
Fantasy players should explore trading away Dobbins with his awful fantasy playoff schedule. More importantly, he faces a dominating Browns run defense on Sunday. Last week, they held Derrick Henry to 73 rushing yards and 14.2 fantasy points, his lowest totals since facing the Kansas City Chiefs on opening night. Furthermore, Cleveland has given up fewer than 16.7 fantasy points to running backs in four of their past five games. Running backs have totaled under 80 rushing yards in 62.5% of their games against the Browns, including three straight matchups.
Nick Chubb (RB – CLE) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media after their Week 8 win that Chubb will continue to be on a snap count moving forward. The move isn’t surprising, with the veteran coming off a massive knee injury. Chubb has had 17 rushing attempts for 74 yards, a touchdown, and 14.9 half-point PPR fantasy points in his two games this year, totaling 9.7 or fewer in both contests. More importantly, the veteran has struggled despite seeing 73% of the backfield rushing attempts since making his season debut.
Furthermore, Cleveland’s passing attack has taken off with Jameis Winston under center. Meanwhile, the Chargers have shut down opposing rushing attacks. They have held running backs to 15.4 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. Los Angeles has surrendered the fifth-fewest rushing yards (84.3 per game) and the fewest rushing touchdowns (one) to running backs. The only running back to have a rushing touchdown against the Chargers is Samaje Perine in Week 4. Fantasy players should avoid starting every running back in this matchup, if possible.
Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Travis Etienne Jr. has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. However, head coach Doug Pederson told the media on Wednesday that he feels good about Etienne playing on Sunday against the Eagles. Therefore, Bigsby’s time as the starting running back could be coming to an end. More importantly, the second-year pro hasn’t been very productive this year. He took advantage of two awful run defenses, totaling 219 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and 49.2 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots.
While he scored 23.8 or more fantasy points in both matchups, Bigsby has averaged 4.9 fantasy points per game in the other six contests this season. Last week, he had 9.6 fantasy points against the Green Bay Packers with Etienne out of the lineup. Unfortunately, Bigsby is a touchdown-or-bust running back, scoring single-digit fantasy points in every game where he doesn’t find the end zone. Meanwhile, the Eagles have held running backs to the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game (16.8) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (two) this season.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU) vs. New York Jets
From one Tank to another, the fantasy football community should be anti-Tank in Week 9. Dell has struggled after an impressive rookie season. He is the WR58 for the year, averaging only 7.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The second-year wide receiver has scored single-digit fantasy points in every game but the two where he found the end zone. More importantly, Dell has struggled to see significant target volume because of Joe Mixon. The second-year pro has four or fewer targets in 57.1% of the games.
Furthermore, Dell hasn’t seen an uptick in targets with Nico Collins (hamstring) on injured reserve. He has earned only four targets in back-to-back games with Collins sidelined. While Stefon Diggs’ season is over after suffering a torn ACL on Sunday, fantasy players shouldn’t expect a big performance from Dell despite being the No. 1 wide receiver. Last week, John Metchie III saw more targets than Dell after Diggs left the game. Meanwhile, the Jets have held wide receivers to 20.8 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL.
Tucker Kraft (TE – GB) vs. Detroit Lions
Jordan Love didn’t practice on Wednesday after suffering a groin injury in Week 8. Hopefully, the franchise quarterback can play, but fantasy players should prepare for the Packers to start Malik Willis, giving Love three weeks to heel with the team’s bye coming in Week 10. Kraft has been great since Love returned from the knee injury, averaging a touchdown and 13.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling double-digit fantasy points in all but one contest. Unfortunately, he struggled with Willis under center.
The second-year pro had only five targets and six fantasy points in the two games Willis started. More importantly, Kraft has an awful matchup against the NFC North division rivals. The Lions have held tight ends to only 5.3 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL, surrendering 6.7 or fewer in all but one contest. Detroit has also held tight ends to only one receiving touchdown this year. Meanwhile, the Packers have averaged 17.8 fewer pass attempts per game, with Willis starting compared to Love (16.5 vs. 34.3).
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
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