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 15.
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Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 15
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week, Hurts scored 24.2 fantasy points against the Carolina Panthers, his best fantasy performance since Week 10. However, the superstar needed two passing touchdowns on 21 attempts and a rushing score to reach that fantasy total. The Eagles have become one of the run-heaviest offenses in the NFL, with Hurts totaling 22 or fewer pass attempts in three consecutive games. More importantly, the star quarterback has struggled, averaging one pass touchdown and 18.9 fantasy points per game over the past four weeks, totaling 17.6 or fewer twice.
While offensive coordinator Kellen Moore told the media that he wants to get A.J. Brown the ball more moving forward, don’t expect Philadelphia’s passing attack to have much success against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has held quarterbacks to 12.6 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They surrendered 309 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 19.3 fantasy points to Joe Burrow two weeks ago. However, the Steelers have held quarterbacks to 0.7 passing touchdowns and 11.9 fantasy points per game in their other seven matchups over the past nine weeks.
Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC) vs. Cleveland Browns
Unfortunately, Pacheco is only the RB61 for the year, averaging 10.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The third-year pro missed nine games because of a fractured fibula. Sadly, he hasn’t played well since returning from the injury. Pacheco has 21 rushing attempts for 99 yards and 12.5 fantasy points over the past two weeks, totaling 7.1 or fewer in both contests. While Kareem Hunt has had a role despite Pacheco’s return, the star running back has played more snaps in the past two games (58 vs. 47).
Kansas City is winning games despite getting limited production from Pacheco. Therefore, fantasy players should expect the team to keep using a 1-2 punch in the backfield. Meanwhile, the Browns have held running backs to 17.9 fantasy points per game, the ninth-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered 20.1 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in 76.9% of their games, including half their matchups since the bye week. Expect the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes to shred Cleveland’s struggling pass defense, limiting their need to run the ball.
Najee Harris (RB – PIT) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Harris looked like he was going to have a breakout year before the Steelers’ Week 9 bye. The veteran running back averaged 107.3 rushing yards and 16.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests before the bye week, totaling 14.6 or more in every matchup. However, he has turned in a touchdown-or-bust running back since the bye week. Harris has averaged 3.3 yards per rushing attempt over the past five weeks, averaging 12.4 fantasy points per game, scoring 11.3 or fewer in all but one contest.
Furthermore, the former Alabama star is losing snaps to Jaylen Warren. Harris has played fewer snaps in two of the past three games. Last week, he played 42% of the snaps, while Warren played 52%. Meanwhile, the Eagles have surrendered only 15.9 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They have given up 11.7 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in three of their past six games. More importantly, Philadelphia has allowed the third-fewest rushing touchdowns to running backs this season (five).
Nick Chubb (RB – CLE) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Some had high hopes for Chubb this year despite coming off a gruesome knee injury. However, the veteran is the RB33 since making his season debut in Week 7, averaging 8.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 5.2 or fewer in over half the contests. Furthermore, he has played fewer snaps than Jerome Ford in every contest except the snow game in Week 12. While the veteran has scored 11.5 or more fantasy points in two of the past three games, Chubb needed three touchdowns to reach that total.
By comparison, he has averaged only 4.8 fantasy points per game in the four games without finding the end zone. More importantly, the Browns have become a pass-happy offense, with Jameis Winston taking over as the starting quarterback, averaging 43.3 pass attempts per game compared to 23.7 rushing attempts. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have allowed only 13.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered 15.2 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in four of their past five matchups, including three consecutive games.
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week, Smith returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury. Many had high hopes for him with Dallas Goedert (knee) on injured reserve. Unfortunately, the star receiver had only 11.7 half-point PPR fantasy points despite totaling 33.3% more targets than any other Eagle (six) while scoring a touchdown. More importantly, Smith was in a slump before getting hurt. He averaged 4.8 targets and 8.4 fantasy points per game over the five contests before the hamstring injury, totaling 4.9 or fewer in three matchups.
The Eagles have become a run-heavy offense, with Saquon Barkley chasing the NFL rushing record. Unfortunately, that has turned Smith into a risky WR3 or flex option for fantasy players. Philadelphia has averaged only 21.8 pass attempts per game since the bye week. More importantly, the Steelers have one of the top pass defenses in the league. They struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receivers in Week 13. However, Cincinnati surrendered only 21.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers in their other seven contests over the past nine weeks.
Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF) vs. Detroit Lions
Kincaid was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, putting him on track to play Sunday against the Lions. The second-year tight end has missed the past month with a knee injury. While many called the former Utah star a breakout candidate this season, Kincaid has struggled. He is the TE26 for the year, averaging 6.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The young tight end has scored 8.1 or fewer fantasy points in 80% of his games, including back-to-back contests, before missing time with the knee injury.
Meanwhile, the Bills’ offense has been clicking with Kincaid out of the lineup, as Mack Hollins has stepped up lately. While that shouldn’t stop fantasy players from starting the second-year tight end, the matchup is awful. Detroit has held tight ends to 5.8 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. Last week, they gave up 11.6 fantasy points to Tucker Kraft. However, the Lions surrendered zero receiving touchdowns and 4.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends in their other eight contests since their Week 5 bye.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.