Fantasy Football Panic Meter: Jonathan Taylor, Deebo Samuel, Kyren Williams (Week 13)

Welcome to the Panic Meter

If you’re new here, we feature several players each week and assign them a grade corresponding to the appropriate level of panic that should be associated with them.

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.

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.

Kyren Williams (LAR – RB) | Panic Meter: 1.5

Williams is a unique case. He is still dominating snaps and touches out of his backfield. He has no competition and is on a solid offense. Somehow, that’s just not translating it to many fantasy points lately. Williams has scored less than 12 PPR points in each of his last four games. His production hasn’t crushed lineups, but it has been surprisingly lackluster for an RB1. With fantasy playoffs fast approaching, that’s enough to have any manager panicking. He remains a must-start but as more of an RB2 with Kupp and Nacua in the lineup.

Jonathan Taylor (IND – RB) | Panic Meter: 2

Taylor hit rock bottom in week 12, managing just scrimmage 35 yards and 3.5 fantasy points. He recorded a season low in total touches (11). He’s now had less than 60 rushing yards in three of his last four games. He hasn’t scored 15 PPR points since week eight. How can you not panic? It’s hard to call it a fluke when it’s been four consecutive weeks of subpar production. It wouldn’t be outrageous to consider benching JT if the matchup isn’t right.

Jordan Love (GB – QB) | Panic Meter: 2

Love’s fantasy production has taken a nosedive in the second half of the season. His 14.72 points in week 12 didn’t help his case. Since week seven, he has just four total TDs, three turnovers and is averaging 12.9 PPG. He has less than 15 completions in three of his last four games. If you’re still rocking him as your QB1, well you probably should’ve panicked a while ago. He’s more of a streamer than a starter at this point in the season.

Jayden Reed (GB – WR) | Panic Meter: 3

Reed has less than 30 yards in four of his last six games and single-digit PPR points in four of his last five. Since week seven, he’s had more than three catches just once. A lot has to do with Jordan Love’s underwhelming play recently. Regardless, there’s not much else to do but panic. For a player with the upside Reed has showcased this season, it’s a difficult pill to swallow but he’s a risky WR3 at this point.

Deebo Samuel (SF – WR) | Panic Meter: 3

Samuel has been a liability for fantasy managers this season. His 3.1 PPR points in week 12 isn’t even his season-low. However, it was a season-low in total touches (one). He has finished outside the top-40 WRs in six of his last eight games. He is a boom or bust flex without any of the boom. You probably have already, but if not, you should be smashing the panic button. Samuel does not deserve to be in your starting lineup until he proves himself again.

Cut List | Panic Meter: 4

Diontae Johnson, Tyler Lockett, Alexander Mattison, Jerome Ford