Welcome to Blitz Sports Media’s Fantasy Football “Panic Meter”. Each week we will identify some of the disappointing performances from the prior week to identify if it is time to panic about a certain player. Below is the official Blitz Sports Media panic meter discussing the reasoning behind each panic meter level.
Let’s get into all of the players who made this week’s version of the panic meter.
Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
Panic Meter: 2
On the season Wilson is tied with Jared Goff in receiving touchdowns. Not ideal for someone we drafted him as a top 12 WR and he has only finished within the top 12 fantasy WR’s once over his last 26 games. The Jets also are heavily rumored to bring in Davante Adams via trade while drawing an unfavorable schedule over the next month. Despite all of this Wilson is only a 2 on the panic meter. Wilson currently is averaging 10.9 fantasy points compared to his expected 17.1 points per game based on advanced stats. He should no longer be viewed as a WR1 going forward but a high-end WR2 that should bounce back soon.
Tyreek Hill WR (MIA)
Panic Meter: 3
Tyreek has now finished with three straight games under 10 PPR points and has only averaged 29 yards per game during that stretch. The Dolphins offense without Tua Tagovailoa has been a mess and they lack a downfield passing game to get Hill or Waddle going. Reportedly Tua will return by week 8 from his concussion that landed him on the IR. If you are 2-2 or worse, it might be time to shop Tyreek but for teams sitting 3-1 or 4-0 holding him might be your best bet.
Brandon Aiyuk WR (SF)
Panic Meter: 4
Aiyuk continues to move up the panic meter each week with his disappointing performances. The advanced numbers suggest that Aiyuk’s play this season has been on par with his numbers. He ranks 70th in target separation, 84th in QB rating per target, and 69th in route win rate while having the 1st-ranked route participation rate of all wide receivers. I’m afraid that Aiyuk got his bag, and the lack of preseason reps has made him a mediocre receiver. Remember he is also fighting for targets with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and now Jauan Jennings.
Patrick Mahomes QB (KC)
Panic Meter: 3
Mahomes on the season currently has 905 passing yards with 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His slow start combined with the injuries to Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco, and Marquise Brown hurts his fantasy outlook. Mahomes will eventually start playing better but the lack of weapons around him will result in fewer spike weeks in fantasy football. It is smart to play Mahomes when he has a good matchup going forward but bench him against some of the top pass defenses.
Breece Hall RB (NYJ)
Panic Meter: 1
Hall finished with 10 carries for 4 yards and was outshined by Braelon Allen on the ground in the Jets loss to the Broncos last week. According to PFF the Jets currently rank as the worst offensive line in football in rush yards before contact. This has resulted in Hall having 166 of his 174 rushing yards after contact on the year. Although it seems like Braelon Allen has carved out about 10 touches per game in this offense, Hall will still be one of the best running backs in fantasy football. Expect him to still be a mid-RB1 the rest of the season.
DJ Moore WR (CHI)
Panic Meter: 2
Moore on the season currently leads all Bears receivers in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns despite not living up to expectations early on this season. Blame Shane Waldron, if you look at his and other Bears receiver’s route trees right now you would not be surprised at the lack of chemistry between the receivers and Caleb Williams. In Seattle right now, their receivers are going ballistic in fantasy football. The Bears receivers concern me but the volume for Moore is there to finish as a WR2 this season.
Mark Andrews TE (BAL)
Panic Meter: 5
That is two straight weeks for Andrews with 0 catches on 1 target. Andrews has officially entered the highest stage of the Panic Meter and is droppable in all formats. The Ravens don’t throw the ball much and when they do Andrews is not even the best TE on his team. If someone in your league thinks that he somehow will figure it out, trade him for anything at this point.
Kyle Pitts TE (ATL)
Panic Meter: 5
I mentioned Pitts in the loser’s section of this week’s biggest winners and losers from week 4 due to the advanced numbers suggesting his poor performance to start the season should be expected going forward. Pitts currently ranks 33rd in target separation and 22rd in yards per route run. He frankly just can’t get open, and it has resulted in him becoming the 4th or 5th option in the passing game. Kyle Pitts is droppable in all formats.
Kyler Murray QB (ARI)
Panic Meter: 2
On the season Murray has only had more than 220 passing yards once with more than 1 touchdown once this season. This has resulted in him finishing with fewer than 15 fantasy points in 3 out of the last 4 weeks. His 9.9 points this week against the 32nd-ranked defense in fantasy football but incredibly disappointing. Despite his slow start, he has rushing upside with good weapons surrounding him for better fantasy weeks going forward.