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 11.

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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 11

Kirk Cousins (QB – ATL) vs. Denver Broncos

Cousins is the QB10 for the year, averaging 15.3 fantasy points per game. However, the veteran quarterback has been far worse for fantasy players than his season-long ranking suggests. He has been outstanding against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, totaling eight passing touchdowns and 63 fantasy points in the two games against the division rivals, scoring 28.6 or more in both matchups. By comparison, Cousins has averaged 1.1 passing touchdowns and 11.3 fantasy points per game in the other eight contests. Unfortunately, he doesn’t play the Buccaneers again this season.

Instead, Cousins faces a Denver defense that has held quarterbacks to 13.8 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, the Broncos have surrendered 1.3 passing touchdowns and 12 fantasy points per game in Denver. They have given up one or fewer touchdowns to all but two quarterbacks, including Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes. Lamar Jackson (23.8) is the only quarterback to score more than 16.5 fantasy points against the Broncos since Week 1. Don’t bet on Cousins breaking that trend this weekend.

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) vs. Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy players have plugged Pollard into the lineup without thinking twice lately. The veteran running back averaged 20.6 rushing attempts for 92.8 yards and 14.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his previous five contests before the Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Pollard was the featured running back, with Tyjae Spears missing those final three games with a hamstring injury. Last week, the veteran had only nine rushing attempts for 44 yards and 8.3 fantasy points, with the second-year running back returning to the lineup.

More importantly, Pollard has another awful matchup on Sunday after facing the Chargers in Week 10. The Vikings had held running backs to 15.5 fantasy points per game this season, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Minnesota has surrendered only three rushing touchdowns to running backs, with two coming in the matchup against the Detroit Lions. They haven’t given up a rushing score in three consecutive games, holding running backs to under 55 yards in back-to-back contests. Tennessee will likely be chasing points most of the game, further limiting Pollard’s upside.

Chase Brown (RB – CIN) vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Cincinnati’s offense has been on fire lately. Brown has played a significant role in the offense’s success. He is the RB4 over the past seven weeks, averaging 15.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, scoring double-digits in all but one contest. Furthermore, the second-year running back has been outstanding the past two weeks without Zack Moss, averaging 27 touches and 21.1 fantasy points per game, scoring 17.9 or more in both matchups. However, Brown hasn’t been very efficient, averaging 3.6 yards per rushing attempt over the past month.

Unfortunately, the former Illinois star has an awful matchup on Sunday night against the Chargers. Los Angeles has one of the top run defenses in the league, surrendering the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs (14.3). They have held running backs to 77.8 rushing yards per game since their Week 5 bye. More importantly, the Chargers have surrendered only one rushing touchdown to running backs, the fewest in the NFL. Unless he has a massive target share this week, Brown will struggle against Los Angeles.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – KC) vs. Buffalo Bills

Hopefully, fantasy players listed to me and sold high on Hopkins a few weeks ago. The veteran was the WR4 in Week 9, scoring 24.6 half-point PPR fantasy points. He finished with eight receptions on nine targets for 86 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on national television. Unfortunately, Hopkins has had only eight targets and 11.5 fantasy points in the other two games with the Chiefs. Last week, the veteran wide receiver saw an 11.9% target share on Patrick Mahomes’ 42 pass attempts.

By comparison, Travis Kelce (28.6%) and Kareem Hunt (23.8%) saw a target share at least twice as high as Hopkins. More importantly, the Bills defense has held wide receivers to 23.2 fantasy points per game this season, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They have shut down wide receivers lately, surrendering 127.8 receiving yards per game over the past month, giving up 103 or fewer in all but one contest. Meanwhile, JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to play this week after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury.

Josh Downs (WR – IND) vs. New York Jets

After foolishly starting Joe Flacco for the past two weeks, the Colts announced on Wednesday that Anthony Richardson will be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, the change at quarterback is bad news for Downs’ fantasy value. The second-year pro has averaged 9.8 targets and 13.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the five contests with Flacco under center, scoring double-digits in all but one matchup. By comparison, he has averaged 5.7 targets and 8.2 fantasy points per game in the three contests with Richardson.

Meanwhile, the Jets defense has struggled lately. However, they’ve shut down opposing wide receivers, especially slot pass catchers. New York has held wide receivers to 20.5 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They have given up 16.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past three weeks. More importantly, Downs has run nearly 85% of his routes from the slot this season. The Jets have held slot receivers to the third-lowest receiving yards per game and the fourth-lowest catch rate (per Fantasy Points Data).

Evan Engram (TE – JAC) vs. Detroit Lions

Engram is the TE22 for the year, averaging eight half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The veteran tight end has struggled despite averaging 7.6 targets per game since returning from a hamstring injury in Week 6, averaging 9.4 fantasy points per contest. He has scored single-digit fantasy points in three of the past four weeks. Unfortunately, Engram will be without Trevor Lawrence for the second consecutive game because of a shoulder injury. Given the Jaguars’ record, the team might shut down the franchise quarterback for the rest of the season.

More importantly, Engram couldn’t ask for a worse fantasy matchup on Sunday. The Lions’ defense has played well this year, bending but not breaking. They have surrendered 19 points per game, the eighth-fewest in the league. Detroit has shut down tight ends, giving up 5.7 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. The Lions have allowed tight ends to score only one touchdown, coming in Week 4. Furthermore, tight ends have scored 8.8 or fewer fantasy points against Detroit in all but one game.

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