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 12.

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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 12

Jordan Love (QB – GB) vs. San Francisco 49ers

Many consider Love a top-10 fantasy football quarterback. However, he has only three games with over 20 fantasy points this season. By comparison, the star quarterback has averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game in the other five contests, totaling 16.8 or fewer in every matchup. More importantly, Love’s touchdown rate has significantly dropped lately. He averaged three passing touchdowns per game over the first seven weeks, totaling two or more in every contest. Unfortunately, the former Utah State star has only one pass touchdown over his past three games.

While Love’s touchdown production will rebound over the next few weeks, fantasy players should temper their expectations for him in Week 12. San Francisco has surrendered 1.1 passing touchdowns per game to quarterbacks, allowing one or fewer in all but one of their past eight contests. More importantly, the 49ers have held quarterbacks to 14.1 fantasy points per game, the 10th-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered 12.6 fantasy points per game over their past five contests, giving up 13.6 or fewer in all but one matchup.

Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND) vs. Detroit Lions

Unfortunately, Taylor has hit a rough patch lately. The superstar running back averaged one rushing touchdown and 17.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his first five contests, totaling 18.2 or more in the final three matchups. However, he has struggled lately, averaging nine fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling 7.4 or fewer twice. Taylor hasn’t had a touchdown since Week 8, severely impacting his fantasy production. Last week, Anthony Richardson had two short-yardage rushing touchdowns to the disapproval of Taylor’s fantasy players.

Hopefully, Richardson won’t steal a pair of rushing touchdowns from Taylor again this week. However, the superstar has limited upside in Week 12. Detroit has an elite run defense, holding running backs to 15.8 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered seven rushing touchdowns to running backs, allowing none in half of their matchups. Furthermore, the Lions have surrendered only 87 rushing yards to running backs over the past two weeks. While fantasy players shouldn’t bench Taylor, they should lower their expectations for the superstar.

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Hubbard has been outstanding for fantasy players as a mid-round draft pick. He is the RB11 for the year, averaging 14.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The veteran running back has back-to-back games with over 20 fantasy points, totaling 225 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 5.2 yards per attempt in those two contests. However, Hubbard faced two struggling run defenses. By comparison, the former Oklahoma State star averaged 10.7 fantasy points per game over his previous three contests, scoring only one touchdown against a few talented defenses.

Fantasy players are excited to see Jonathon Brooks make his NFL debut in Week 12. While the rookie will likely be on a snap count in his first game, those touches will come from Hubbard’s workload. More importantly, the Chiefs have an elite run defense, surrendering only 12.8 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fewest in the NFL. While James Cook had 17.2 fantasy points against Kansas City last week, he averaged only 2.2 yards per rushing attempt, needing two touchdowns to reach that fantasy total.

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) vs. Houston Texans

Tennessee’s passing attack has looked significantly better since Will Levis returned from a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, their rushing offense has struggled lately. Pollard averaged 4.4 yards per rushing attempt and 13.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the first nine weeks, scoring 12.7 or more in all but two contests. By comparison, the veteran has averaged 3.3 yards per rushing attempt and 6.1 fantasy points per game over the past two matchups. More importantly, his workload has significantly declined, totaling 18 rushing attempts over the past two weeks.

By comparison, Pollard averaged 17.8 rushing attempts per game over the first nine weeks, totaling 16 or more in all but one contest. Meanwhile, the Texans have held running backs to 16.2 fantasy points per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. They have given up 10.5 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in two of their past three matchups despite facing Breece Hall and the Detroit Lions backfield in those contests. Houston has surrendered 10.8 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in over a third of their games.

Jordan Addison (WR – MIN) vs. Chicago Bears

Many had Addison on their do-not-draft list this season. While he has scored 13.6 half-point PPR fantasy points in two of the past three games, the second-year pro is a touchdown-or-bust wide receiver. Addison is the WR48 for the year, averaging 9.2 fantasy points per game. However, the former USC star has averaged only 5.1 fantasy points per game in the five contests without scoring a touchdown. By comparison, Addison has averaged 16.2 fantasy points per game in the three matchups where he found the end zone.

Unfortunately, the second-year wide receiver couldn’t have asked for a worse matchup in Week 12. The Bears have held wide receivers to 21.4 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve surrendered only six receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the third-fewest in the league. Half of those receiving touchdowns were either by opposing No. 1 wide receivers or Noah Brown’s Hail Mary catch. More importantly, Addison had fewer than 40 receiving yards in both matchups last season against the NFC North division rivals.

Cade Otton (TE – TB) vs. New York Giants

Otton has been productive for the Buccaneers and fantasy players this season. The third-year pro is the TE5 for the year, averaging 9.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite his slow start. However, most of his fantasy success has come over the past four games. Otton averaged 5.2 targets and 4.9 fantasy points per game, with Mike Evans healthy, totaling 8.5 or fewer in every contest. By comparison, he has averaged 9.8 targets and 15.6 fantasy points per game over the past four contests without the superstar wide receiver.

While Chris Godwin is out for the year with an ankle injury, Evans should play on Sunday after missing the past 3.5 games with a hamstring injury. More importantly, the Giants have held tight ends to 5.8 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They’ve allowed 9.2 or fewer fantasy points to tight ends in every game. Furthermore, New York has surrendered the second-fewest touchdowns (one) to tight ends. Fantasy players likely can’t bench Otton with six teams on a bye this week but should temper their expectations.

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