Welcome to Blitz Sports Media’s Fantasy Football “Panic Meter” for Week 16. 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. This is the second round of playoffs, where it’s crunch time, and matchups are lost or won on risky but high-reward starts and sits based on opponents.
Joe Burrow (QB) Cincinnati Bengals
Panic Meter: 1
Joe Burrow’s situation is described as “bizarre and somewhat troubling” after a shocking shutout loss the previous week. Burrow’s floor is suddenly scary for the Bengals. Even with a good matchup, his recent collapse and the team’s odd messaging make him volatile. But with him playing in Miami against the recently eliminated Dolphins, he should bounce back. Hopefully, Tee Higgins could come back, but if not, it will be a whole lot of Ja’Marr Chase, as they will hope for a strong fantasy finish to the season.
George Pickens (WR) Dallas Cowboys
Panic Meter: 2
George Pickens appears in Week 16 WR start/sit discussions where analysts warn that certain defensive schemes could “severely limit” production for high‑profile receivers. Pickens’ matchup is flagged as one that can shut down perimeter WRs against the Chargers, and his volatility makes him risky in playoff lineups. But most likely, you will have to play him if you don’t have any better options.
Some of the Cowboys‘ offense have been struggling, including Jake Ferguson and Dak Prescott. This does have a chance to be a high-scoring affair in a dome, so there are still startable pieces that are more reliable, like Javonte Williams and CeeDee Lamb. Pickens has had two back-to-back single-digit fantasy performances.
Tyler Warren (TE) Indianapolis Colts
Panic Meter: 3
Tyler Warren’s role is too fragile, and the Colts’ offense is not trustworthy enough to bank on in a semifinal matchup overall, as Phillip Rivers has another tough matchup against the 49ers. The pass-catchers like Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs get a big downgrade due to the passing volume decreasing. This seems like another game where they feed Jonathan Taylor till the wheels fall off and hope they survive.
Cut List | Panic Meter: 4
- Mark Andrews & Isaiah Likely (TE) Baltimore Ravens
- Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins
- Bam Knight (RB) Arizona Cardinals
- Rome Odunze (WR) Chicago Bears
- Brandon Aiyuk (WR) San Francisco 49ers
- Alec Pierce and Josh Downs (WR), Indianapolis Colts
- Patrick Mahomes (QB) Kansas City Chiefs
I don’t know how you trust a Ravens tight end after last week with Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, especially in primetime. With the benching of the Dolphins‘ Tua Tagovailoa and the injury to Chiefs‘ Patrick Mahomes, both are clear drops, along with 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk, who is not playing this season, and Cardinals‘ Bam Knight, who is also done for the season. Bears‘ Rome Odunze has been a major disappointment post-bye, so I wouldn’t blame anyone dropping him since it’s clear a bounce-back won’t happen, since he is out again this week. Both Colts‘ receivers, Pierce and Downs, could be drops, as the volume has tapered off with the veteran under center.
