6 Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Starting/Sitting Tips (Week 8)

Arguably the most frustrating thing about fantasy football is when someone in the starting lineup struggles that week. Therefore, the logic behind this article is simple: identify the landmines of the fantasy football lineup.

These are players you’d love to start this week, but they could end up being a landmine that explodes and destroys your starting lineup, potentially costing you your matchup.

Get ready and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 8.

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 8

Geno Smith (QB – SEA) vs. Buffalo Bills

Geno Smith was quite a good player for fantasy players and ranked as QB7 this season. The veteran had his first two-pass touchdown performance in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons and scored 17.8 total fantasy points. He has scored more than 17.8 fantasy points in 71.4% of his games this year. Unfortunately, the veteran struggled against talented defenses, totaling two interceptions and 12.5 fantasy points against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago. More importantly, Smith will likely be without top wide receiver DK Metcalf due to a knee injury.

Surprisingly, the veteran quarterback has played better on the road than at home, averaging 15.8% more fantasy points per game on the road in Seattle. Meanwhile, the Bills are dealing with several injuries on defense. However, as quarterbacks, they scored 14.1 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. Buffalo has given up 9.9 or fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks in nearly half of its games, including last week. Additionally, the Bills have given up one or fewer passing touchdowns in 71.4% of their games, including to Kyler Murray and CJ Stroud.

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) against Detroit Lions

Many had high hopes for Tony Pollard in Week 7 against a terrible Buffalo Bills defense. The veteran played a special role since Tyjae Spears missed the game with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, Pollard struggled, averaging 3.8 yards per rushing attempt for a total of 7.5 half-PPR fantasy points. In comparison, he averaged 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 17.1 fantasy points per game in his last two contests, totaling two touchdowns. Additionally, prior to last week’s matchup, Pollard had at least 16.3 fantasy points in three of five games.

Head coach Brian Callahan told the media earlier this week that Spears could return to the lineup on Sunday. More importantly, Pollard is having a terrible game against the Lions. Detroit has held running backs to 15.5 fantasy points per game, third-fewest in the NFL. They have given up fewer than 45 rushing yards to running backs in 60% of their matchups since Week 1. Additionally, according to Fantasy Points Data, the Lions have allowed the third-fewest yards after contact per rushing attempt this season (1.93).

Alexander Mattison (RB – LV) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Raiders have one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL. While Zamir White was the starter at the start of the season, Alexander Mattison has taken over the role of featured running back. He accounted for 88.5% of the team’s backfield rushing attempts, outscoring White 23-3 against the Los Angeles Rams. More importantly, the veteran is the RB21 of the year, averaging 10.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Mattison has totaled 188 scrimmage yards and 28.8 fantasy points over the last two weeks, for a score of 13.8+ in both contests.

Unfortunately, the veteran running back faces his toughest matchup of the season on Sunday. The Chiefs arguably have the best defense in the NFL. More importantly, they have limited running backs to just 12.2 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the league. Kansas City has given up just two rushing touchdowns to running backs, the third fewest in the NFL, including zero in the last four weeks, despite struggling against several elite rushing offenses. The Raiders are 10-point underdogs to the Chiefs, meaning Mattison could struggle to reach double-digit rushing attempts.

Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) vs. Chicago Bears

Washington had one of the league’s best offenses and ranked first in points per game (31.1). Surprisingly, despite losing Jayden Daniels to a rib injury early in the game last week, the team didn’t miss anything and scored over 40 points for the second time this season. More importantly, Terry McLaurin is having a career year. He is the WR13 and averages 12.2 half-PPR fantasy points per game. The veteran wide receiver averaged 7.4 goals and 15.4 fantasy points per game over the last five weeks.

McLaurin has scored double-digit fantasy points in every game since Week 2. Unfortunately, this series will likely end on Sunday. The Bears have held wide receivers to 21.9 fantasy points per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. They have given up just three receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the third fewest in the league. More importantly, Chicago shut down the No. 1 wide receiver, holding her to 4.5 receiving yards on seven targets for 55.5 receiving yards and 8.9 fantasy points per game, with 9.2 or fewer were given to everyone except Nico Collins.

Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR) vs. Denver Broncos

While Diontae Johnson has been playing better since the Panthers changed quarterbacks, the veteran wide receiver has struggled recently. He was the WR11 and averaged 12.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game with Andy Dalton under center, totaling three touchdowns in five contests. However, Johnson has had six or fewer targets in two of the last three games, including a season-low in Week 7 (three). More importantly, the veteran wide receiver has averaged just 7.8 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling 4.4 or fewer twice.

Luckily, there are no teams with a bye in Week 8, as Johnson should be tied to the fantasy benches in his fantasy starting spot decisions. He faces a Broncos defense that should have Patrick Surtain recovering from a concussion this week. They’ve held wide receivers to 19 fantasy points per game, second-fewest in the NFL, and have given up 18.6 or fewer in more than half of their matchups. More importantly, Denver has shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers, holding DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Mike Evans and Garrett Wilson to under 4.7 fantasy points each.

Travis Kelce (TE – KC) vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Chiefs traded for DeAndre Hopkins on Wednesday. However, that has nothing to do with why fantasy players should avoid starting Travis Kelce in Week 8 if possible. The future Hall of Famer is the TE16 of the year, averaging 6.4 half PPR fantasy points per game. Kelce played well in his first two games without Rashee Rice, totaling at least seven receptions on nine targets for 70 receiving yards and 11.5 fantasy points in both contests. Unfortunately, he took steps backwards after saying goodbye, even though he had two weeks to prepare.

Kansas City lost JuJu Smith-Schuster early in the game against the San Francisco 49ers due to a hamstring injury. Still, Kelce only had five targets and 3.7 fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Raiders have held tight ends to 6.7 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They have given up 4.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the last three weeks, allowing 5.2 or fewer in each contest. More importantly, Kelce has had fewer than 45 yards receiving in four of his last five meetings against Las Vegas.

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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. You can find more information from Mike here Archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.