As fantasy managers, we are often faced with difficult decisions. To sit or not to sit? In an age where data is coming to us more frequently than ever, it’s easy for information to become oversaturated or get lost in translation. This series of articles will be here every week to help you sift through the stat jungle so you can make more informed decisions. Welcome to the “Panic Counter”.
Each week we will feature several underperforming players with an assigned rating corresponding to the appropriate panic level for the respective player/performance. Below is a scale with ratings between 0 and 4, along with a strategy correlating to the specific rating.
PANIC COUNTER GRADE | STRATEGY/ACTION PLAN |
0 | Last week was not ideal, but it can be considered an anomaly. Don’t even think about benching them. |
1 | Panic sets in. The leash becomes shorter but said player is still considered as holder. Make sure a plan B is in place. |
2 | Officially freaked out, exploring business options and possibly looking for a more proven/reliable option. |
3 | Fiery sale. Get rid of them for all you can before it’s too late. They can no longer be trusted as starters. A borderline drop-candidate. |
4 | Cut all ties. Hit the drop button so hard that the man finds himself in the shadow realm. |
Tyler Lockett/DK Metcalf | Panic counter: 0
After a week where Lockett and Metcalf combined for just four catches and 51 yards in a cake game with Arizona, it’s only fair that a few eyebrows are raised. It’s probably nothing more than an anomaly and the product of a negative game storyline. Unless they get used to performances like this or Geno Smith regresses to the Jets days, there’s really no need to panic. You can continue to start them with confidence.
Najee Harris | Panic counter: 2
The panic remains constant at Najee Harris incorporated. Of course, he scored a TD in Week 6 which helped him stay afloat. But he once again delivered a largely ineffective day. In Week 6, Harris finished with less than 50 total yards for the third time this season. He doesn’t behave like the first-round RB you drafted him. It hardly delivers flexible numbers. He continues to do just enough to get by and avoid a three on the panic meter. But at this point, sitting him down would be justified.
Christian Kirk | Panic counter: 2
Fortunately, Kirk got a TD in the fourth quarter to salvage his fantastic day in Week 6, otherwise the panic meter would have reached a crescendo. Kirk’s first three games to his most recent three have been a two-receiver story. He has a combined seven catches for 95 yards over the past three weeks, and without that TD, it would have been three straight single-digit performances. Definitely don’t cut it, but the leash gets shorter week by week. If you can find a buyer, moving Kirk for a high-potential flex might not be a bad idea.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Panic counter: 2
Turns out you can’t maintain RB1 production by touching the ball less than 13 times per game. Who knew? The writing has been on the wall for CEH for weeks now. His point totals eventually caught up with his usage. Week 6 was the fifth time this season that he had seen less than 10 litters. Edwards-Helaire has now delivered back-to-back misses, most recently finishing with a season-low 3.3 points. Your window to sell him as RB1 has closed, but if you act fast you might still find someone who is interested. If you wait longer, there are no such guarantees.
Aaron Jones | Panic counter: 3
After another miss in Week 6, the panic alarm on Aaron Jones has officially been triggered. He had been enjoying the benefit of the doubt for a month, but not anymore. As a fantastic RB1, there is cause for concern. Jones has yet to register more than 20 touches in any game, he has more than 15 in just two. He scored over 10.6 PPR points only twice and has now finished 7.4 points or lower twice. Aside from a 32-point performance in Week 2, Jones has been largely disappointing this season. There is no point in trading it because its value is at its lowest. You definitely can’t let it down. So what can you do? Pray he goes next week against Washington and sell like you’ve never sold before.
DJ Moore | Panic counter: 3
In six games, Moore has zero games with 60+ yards, only one game with 12.2+ PPR points and two games with under 10 yards. He has as many games this season with single-digit PPR points as he has double-digit points. It’s baffling that someone as talented as Moore who saw six or more targets in every game could produce so little. Optimism for Moore is at an all-time low, while panic is at an all-time high. Your only hope at this point is *checks notes* Sam Darnold. Moore has little to no value in trade negotiations and should be far from a starting lineup. If he can’t deliver with Darnold, it’s Dumpsville for Moore.
Cutting list | Panic counter: 4
Chase Edmonds, Greg Dortch, Russell Gage/Julio Jones, Dalton Schultz
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