Welcome to Blitz Sports Media’s Fantasy Football “Panic Meter” for Week 14. Each week, we will identify some of the disappointing performances from the prior week to determine if it is time to panic about said player sooner rather than later. There are plenty of players to talk about, especially with the playoffs quickly approaching. Below is the Blitz Sports Media panic meter of the season, discussing the reasoning behind each panic meter level.
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB) Jacksonville Jaguars
Panic Meter: 1
With a great matchup lined up for Travis Etienne and the Jacksonville Jaguars, they couldn’t run the ball last week against a porous Tennessee Titans team. He also got vultured by rookie Bhayshul Tuten, who is operating as their red zone back, with three touchdowns over the last five weeks. Etienne does have a stable enough floor with the volume, despite tying his season low in carries last week with 12, but he really has to score to pay off dividends for your team. This might be a split backfield moving forward with Tuten and his expanding role.
D.K. Metcalf (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers)
Panic Meter: 2
With the injuries to Aaron Rodgers and his own performance, I am not sure how you can trust D.K. Metcalf, as the Steelers haven’t even attempted any deep passes, let alone complete them with either Rodgers or Mason Rudolph. Ever since his bye for the Steelers, he’s only had three double-digit fantasy performances, but they aren’t the boom games you are looking for anyway in a start. So Metcalf has a low floor and a low ceiling, warranting a benching unless you don’t have many options at wide receiver. He isn’t a drop, though, as his schedule is favorable from Weeks 14-17.
Justin Herbert (QB) Los Angeles Chargers
Panic Meter: 3
Even if Justin Herbert plays against the Philadelphia Eagles for Monday Night Football in Week 14, there is clear concern about reaggravating the hand fracture that he had surgery for recently. With Omarion Hampton likely coming back this week and Kimani Vidal running wild as of late, there is no reason why the Chargers shouldn’t go run heavy against a Philly defense that got gashed by the Bears on the ground for the Black Friday game last week. I would go for another option or pick up someone on waivers at least for this week, and if Herbert looks ok managing it, then you can start him next week, but he will be a risky start moving forward regardless.
Cut List | Panic Meter: 4
- Aaron Rodgers (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers
- Parker Washington (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tre Tucker (WR) Las Vegas Raiders
- Ricky Pearsall (WR) San Francisco 49ers
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB) New York Giants
- Isiah Pacheco (RB) Kansas City Chiefs
- David Njoku (TE) Cleveland Browns
- Tez Johnson (WR) and Cade Otton (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Here are a few names to drop, as it is either due to injury or poor performance, or their roles are decreasing each week to the point where they are not worth a stash. You could save a roster spot or two by dropping these names this week, as there are some adds on the waiver wire worth adding before the playoff push.
