Welcome to the Panic Meter.
If you’re new here, we feature several underperforming players each week and assign them a grade corresponding to the appropriate level of panic for the respective player/performance.
Below is a scale with grades between 0 and 4 and a broad strategy correlating to that specific grade.
Let’s get into this week’s breakdown.
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Fantasy Football Panic Meter
| 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. |
Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA) | Panic Meter: 0
Kenneth Walker had his first slow game of the season in Week 8. This is nothing but a case of bad luck. The Bills pulled away from Seattle early and game script became an issue for Walker. Before this week he was averaging 22.2 fantasy points per game (PPG). Nobody should be panicking. Carry on.
Joe Burrow (QB – CIN) | Panic Meter: 1
Joe Burrow managed just 12.86 points in Week 8 and finished the day with his second consecutive game under 15.0 points. He has scored fewer than 20 points in four of his last five games. Burrow has played very well in real life, but in terms of fantasy output, he has left a lot to be desired. Panic isn’t quite the word. Underwhelmed would be a more accurate description. He remains a starter as a low-end QB1 but certainly doesn’t feel like a must-start at this point when making fantasy start sit decisions.
Jayden Reed (WR – GB) | Panic Meter: 1.5
Jayden Reed’s embers have cooled in recent weeks. He began the season averaging 17.7 PPG from Week 1 to Week 6. He has failed to top four targets, two catches or finish with double-digit PPR points in the two games since (5.2 PPG). Normally, this wouldn’t be cause for much panic if not for the fact Romeo Doubs has shined during this span. Doubs has 215 yards, two touchdowns and is averaging 15.8 PPG over the last three weeks. Reed deserves to remain in the WR2 conversation but panic is apparent as there’s a possibility we are seeing a changing of the guard in the Packers’ pecking order.
DJ Moore (WR – CHI) | Panic Meter: 2
After a 5.4-point stinker in Week 8, panic is beginning to rise for DJ Moore. To be fair, Caleb Williams had 36 passing yards and four completions entering the fourth quarter, so it wasn’t entirely on Moore. Yet, that’s two weeks in a row with single-digit PPR points and fewer than six targets in two cake matchups. Moore is averaging just 9.8 PPR PPG this season when you remove his big Week 5 performance (27.5 PPR points). His schedule continues to be favorable but his recent play makes him increasingly difficult to trust in fantasy start sit decisions. He should remain in lineups for now as a WR2 but he’s on strike two. Keep your panic button ready.
Davante Adams (WR – NYJ) | Panic Meter: 2
The disappointing season continued for Davante Adams in Week 8 as he recorded his third consecutive single-digit game, making it two-for-two with the Jets. Many expected him to establish himself as the Alpha in the Jets’ wide receiver room over Garrett Wilson. It has been the opposite so far. Adams seems to be the second option in a low-volume Jets passing attack, which inspires as little fantasy confidence as possible. Is panic the word if your expectations were low to begin with? At this point, he’s fallen out of WR2 territory and is more of an upside Flex.
Cut List | Panic Meter: 4
- Devin Singletary (RB – NYG)
- Ray-Ray McCloud (WR – ATL)
- Tutu Atwell (WR – LAR)
- Dalvin Cook (RB – DAL)
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