Mike Fanelli | Thu, Dec 19th 2024, 6:03am EST

6 Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Start/Sit Advice (Week 16)

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 16.

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 16

Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Fantasy players would be crazy to bench Lamar Jackson outright for a desperation quarterback off the waiver wire. However, the superstar shouldn’t be inside the top six quarterback rankings in Week 16. He has had an outstanding season, averaging 2.4 passing touchdowns and 25.5 fantasy points per game, ranking as the QB1 in fantasy football. Jackson had five passing touchdowns last week in a blowout win over the New York Giants, his fourth game with four or more passing scores this year. He has been on fire lately.

The superstar has had two or more passing touchdowns and over 22.6 fantasy points in seven of his past eight games. Unfortunately, the lone exception came in Week 11 against the Steelers. Jackson completed a season-low 48.5% of his pass attempts for 207 yards, a touchdown and 14.9 fantasy points in defeat. Furthermore, he has only one game with over one passing touchdown in six career matchups against the division rivals, coming in 2020. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has held quarterbacks to 13.7 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL.

Joe Mixon (RB – HOU) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Unfortunately, the Joe Mixon train came off the tracks recently. The superstar was the RB5 over the first 11 weeks, averaging 95.5 rushing yards and 21.5 half-PPR fantasy points per game despite missing three contests with a high-ankle sprain. Furthermore, he had at least 16 fantasy points in every healthy contest, scoring 21.4+ points in 71.4% of those outings. However, Mixon has struggled lately, especially against elite run defenses. The veteran is the RB24 over the past month, averaging 48.7 rushing yards and 11.7 fantasy points per game.

Mixon had his way with an awful Jacksonville Jaguars run defense in Week 13, totaling 101 rushing yards and 19.9 fantasy points. However, he struggled last week against a below-average Miami Dolphins run defense that had surrendered over 24 fantasy points to running backs in back-to-back games, totaling only 8.1 fantasy points in the win. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have held running backs to 13.5 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They’ve surrendered fewer than 75 rushing yards to running backs in 85.7% of their games this season.

Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA) vs. Minnesota Vikings

Seattle has been without Kenneth Walker for the past two weeks because of a calf injury, bringing his total games missed this season to four. Hopefully, he can return for the final few weeks, with the Seahawks fighting for the NFC West division title. However, fantasy players should consider benching the star running back if he plays. Zach Charbonnet has played well filling in for Walker, which could lead to more work even when the star running back returns. More importantly, Walker hasn’t had a week-winning performance in several weeks.

While Charbonnet has had three rushing touchdowns over the past two weeks, Walker hasn’t scored that many touchdowns in his past five starts. More importantly, the former Michigan State star has averaged 9.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game over his past five contests, totaling 12.9 or fewer in every outing. Meanwhile, the Vikings have held running backs to 15.4 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. They have given up only three rushing touchdowns to running backs over their past eight games despite facing several talented rushers.

D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI) vs. Detroit Lions

The Bears’ offense played well for a few weeks earlier this season. Unfortunately, it’s been awful lately, especially on the ground. Swift is the RB19 for the year, averaging 11.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game. However, he has hit that total in only 35.7% of the games, including once over the past seven weeks. The veteran running back has been awful lately. Swift is the RB31 over the past four weeks, averaging 46.5 rushing yards and 7.6 fantasy points per game, totaling 9.4 or fewer in every contest.

Furthermore, he has one rushing touchdown over the past seven weeks despite Roschon Johnson missing the past two games (concussion). More importantly, Swift has an awful matchup against his former team. The Lions lost defensive lineman Alim McNeill to a torn ACL last week. However, they still have one of the league’s top run defenses. Detroit has held running backs to 17.6 fantasy points per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Swift had only 39 rushing yards and 8.4 fantasy points in the Week 13 matchup against his former team.

Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Terry McLaurin has had a career year with Jayden Daniels in Washington. He has a career-high 11 receiving touchdowns after totaling 25 over his first six seasons in the NFL. The former Ohio State star is the WR5 for the year, averaging 13.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, McLaurin has been on fire lately, averaging 82.7 receiving yards, 1.7 touchdowns and 21.6 fantasy points per game over his past three contests. The star receiver has had 11.4+ fantasy points in all but one game since Week 2.

Unfortunately, that lone exception came in Week 11 against the Eagles’ elite secondary. Philadelphia held McLaurin to only one reception on two targets for 10 receiving yards and 1.5 fantasy points in the win, as the superstar set season lows in every category. Furthermore, the NFC East division leaders have surrendered only 22.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up 18.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past six weeks, allowing 13.7 or fewer in all but two outings.

Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL) vs. New York Giants

Hopefully, fantasy players have a better starting option than Pitts. Some have called him a sleeper in Week 16 after the Falcons benched Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr. While the change at quarterback might help Pitts’ production, fantasy players shouldn’t take that chance during the playoffs. The veteran is the TE14 for the year, averaging 6.5 half-PPR fantasy points per game. He has averaged only 2.9 fantasy points per game over the past seven weeks, totaling 4.8 or fewer in all but one matchup.

Last week, Pitts had only 28 receiving yards and 4.8 fantasy points despite a friendly matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Furthermore, he had scored only 3.3 fantasy points over his previous three contests despite seeing 11 targets. Meanwhile, the Giants have shut down tight ends, holding them to 7.3 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered only three receiving touchdowns to tight ends this year, the sixth-fewest in the league while allowing the fifth-lowest receiving yards per game average (40.1) to the position.

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

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