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 14.

• Waiver Wire Advice
• Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 14

Brock Purdy (QB – SF) vs. Chicago Bears

Unfortunately, things have gone from bad to worst in San Francisco. The 49ers lost Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) to season-ending injuries last week. Meanwhile, Purdy has 253 passing yards, one touchdown, two turnovers, and 20.5 fantasy points over the past three weeks. Furthermore, the third-year pro completed only 61.1% of his pass attempts for 94 yards and 2.2 fantasy points against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13. While the matchup and weather played a role in Purdy’s struggles, the former Iowa State star has struggled lately.

The veteran quarterback has scored fewer than 18.4 fantasy points in five of his past eight games, including back-to-back contests. Unfortunately, Purdy’s streak will likely continue in Week 14. The Bears have held quarterbacks to 12.7 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL. They have allowed quarterbacks to score more than 11.8 fantasy points in only half their matchups. Furthermore, Chicago has given up one or fewer passing touchdowns in 75% of the games. Don’t be surprised if the Bears come away victorious because of their defense.

Aaron Jones (RB – MIN) vs. Atlanta Falcons

After starting the season on fire, Jones has regressed lately. The star running back averaged 80.3 rushing yards and 16.1 half-point PPR points per game over the first four weeks. By comparison, he has averaged 62.8 rushing yards and 10.6 fantasy points per game over the past six weeks, totaling 11.1 or fewer in all but one contest. Jones scored 8.3 fantasy points last week, thanks to a receiving touchdown, totaling only eight touches for 28 yards. More importantly, he has only one rushing score over the past six weeks.

While fantasy players might not have better starting options in Week 14 with of the six teams on a bye, Jones is far from an ideal start against the Falcons. Atlanta has given up only 17.4 fantasy points per game to running backs, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. Last week, they held the Los Angeles Chargers backfield to 52 rushing yards and 3.8 fantasy points, both season lows for the Falcons. More importantly, Atlanta has surrendered only one rushing touchdown to running backs over their past five games.

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Hubbard has been outstanding as a mid-round fantasy pick. The former Oklahoma State star is the RB13 for the season, averaging 13.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had averaged 4.9 yards per rushing attempt and 1.4 fantasy points per touch this year. Unfortunately, Hubbard has struggled since his bye week. The veteran has averaged 50.5 rushing yards and 8.4 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt in those two contests. Furthermore, he is coming off arguably his worst performance this season.

Last week, Hubbard scored only 2.3 fantasy points, his lowest total since Week 1. More importantly, the veteran was outscored by Jonathon Brooks despite having six more rushing attempts and playing 40 more snaps. Meanwhile, the Eagles have surrendered 15.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They have held running backs to fewer than 11.8 fantasy points in four of their past seven contests. Don’t be surprised if Brooks continues to eat into Hubbard’s workload this week, especially with Carolina expected to trail for most of the contest.

Gus Edwards (RB – LAC) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Many had high hopes for Edwards this year. However, he struggled to see the field with J.K. Dobbins healthy. The veteran is the RB69 for the season, averaging 3.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 7.1 or fewer in every contest. Furthermore, he has only one rushing touchdown after totaling 13 in 2023. More importantly, Edwards played his first game without Dobbins this season in Week 13, finishing with only six rushing attempts for 32 yards and 3.8 fantasy points in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Fantasy players can blame the veteran’s struggles last week on the matchup against a talented run defense. Unfortunately, Edwards faces arguably the best run defense in the league on Sunday night. Kansas City has held running backs to 13.1 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered six rushing touchdowns to running backs, allowing four over their past nine contests. More importantly, the Chiefs held the Chargers backfield to only 2.6 yards per rushing attempt, 51 yards, and 9.6 fantasy points in the Week 4 matchup.

Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ) vs. Miami Dolphins

New York’s offense looked outstanding a few weeks ago against the Houston Texans. Wilson had his best fantasy performance of the year, totaling nine receptions on 10 targets for 90 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 25.5 half-point PPR fantasy points in the win. It was his third performance with over 20.6 fantasy points in the past five weeks. Unfortunately, Wilson and the Jets’ offense has fallen off the cliff since the matchup against the Texans, losing three consecutive games. The star wide receiver has become borderline unstartable in standard-size leagues.

The former Ohio State star has averaged 33.3 receiving yards and 5.7 fantasy points per game over the past three contests. Wilson had fewer than 42 receiving yards and 6.7 fantasy points in every game. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have held wide receivers to 22 fantasy points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL this season. They have surrendered fewer than 16.3 fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past three games. Furthermore, Miami has given up only two receiving touchdowns to wide receivers over the past four weeks.

Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) vs. New York Jets

Waddle has been one of the top busts in fantasy football this year. The former Alabama star is the WR41 for the season, averaging 8.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has had 9.3 or fewer fantasy points in all but two games, including every matchup but one since getting Tua Tagovailoa back under center. Two weeks ago, Waddle looked like he broke out of his cold streak, totaling eight receptions on nine targets for 144 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 24.4 fantasy points, setting season-highs in every category.

Unfortunately, the star wide receiver had only four receptions for 53 receiving yards and 9.3 fantasy points last week against the Green Bay Packers. More importantly, he saw seven fewer targets than Jonnu Smith (11), five fewer than De’Von Achane (nine), and had as many as Malik Washington (four). Meanwhile, the Jets have held wide receivers to 21.8 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered 21 or fewer fantasy points to wide receivers in 66.7% of their games, including four of the past five.

Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn

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