X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Disaster Recovery: Sit Your Studs?

Multiple star players became duds in Week 14. Are there concerns for these guys heading in the fantasy playoffs? Steve Rebeiro examines.

Welcome to Disaster Recovery, where each week I'll examine why your studs played like duds. This isn't a place to find out why you should have sat a player for somebody else on your bench. Disaster Recovery is here to examine the guys who you didn't think twice about starting and to help you decide if you should be panicking at all about their value moving forward.

This season we've been focusing on one dud a week, but given that the fantasy playoffs have arrived, we're going to hit on a few of Week 14's biggest busts, and talk about whether or not these high-profile players are worth rolling with for the playoff run.

Let's take a look at some concerning players from the past week.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

Let it go? Let it go?!

Alvin Kamara's Week 14 stat-line: 13 rushes for 25 yards, four receptions for 18 yards

The Saints and 49ers played the game of the year so far on Sunday afternoon. The 49ers escaped New Orleans with a huge 48-46 victory. The two teams combined for nearly 1,000 total yards and 12 total touchdowns.

In this high-scoring game, Alvin Kamara failed to amass 50 total yards and didn't score a touchdown. Staying out of the end zone is nothing new for Kamara. He's only scored a touchdown in one game this season. That game was 11 weeks ago. In those 11 weeks, Kamara is averaging roughly 85 total yards and six receptions per game. Over the past two games, those averages have dipped to 63 total yards and four receptions.

Given his top-three ADP, Kamara has turned in one of the most disappointing fantasy campaigns of 2019. The fact that he's playing on the highest percentage of snaps in his career just adds to the disappointment. He's facing Indianapolis and Tennessee for the remainder of the playoff run, which are largely neutral matchups. However, Kamara has had a decent floor in PPR leagues and still has that big-play potential we grew to love in recent years. I'm not considering benching Kamara unless my alternative options are too good to bench, but view him more as a middling RB2 than the elite RB1 you drafted him to be.

Panic Meter: 4/5

 

Davante Adams' Week 14 stat-line: four receptions for 41 yards on six targets

Owners with Adams on their team that are still in the playoffs should give themselves a big pat on the back. You guys have absolutely earned it. It's been a nightmare.

Adams has been gobbling up targets when he's been on the field this season, but staying on the field has been a huge issue. In recent weeks, he's found the end zone enough to satisfy, but when it mattered most in the fantasy playoffs, Adams failed to deliver much of anything against Washington's horrifying defense. Aaron Rodgers and the Packer's passing attack was quiet against Washington. That's not the type of performance you'd like to see with matchups against Chicago and Minnesota on the horizon.

The plus side for Adams is that he's Rodgers top option in the passing game and he's proven that he can put up yards and touchdowns this season. He's had over 100 yards in a third of his games this season. Prior to this week's stinker, Adams had double-digit targets in four straight games, and scored three touchdowns across the previous two games. It's impossible to start Adams with full confidence in Week 15, but he's not somebody I'm putting on my bench for such a crucial moment in the season. In this case, start your stud.

Panic meter: 3/5

 

Odell Beckham Jr's Week 14 stat-line: two receptions for 39 yards on five targets

There are three sure things in life: death, taxes, and Odell Beckham Jr letting down the Browns and his fantasy owners in 2019.

Odell's five targets in Week 14 marked the lowest number of targets sent his way this season. Worse, his 39-yard showing isn't even one of his three worst games this season. This was Beckham's worst game since... well, last week. On top of all of this, he's apparently telling opposing players and coaches to have their teams trade for him, and he's been dealing with a sports hernia that he believes he should have had surgery on in the preseason. This should be an easy decision for the panic meter.

Panic meter: .........

It seems like the panic meter is broken. The arrow is going all over the place. On one side, we're talking about a player that's been so inconsistent and disappointing he probably doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in an article talking about studs. He's caught just two touchdown passes, has two games with over 100 yards, and is the second option in a mediocre passing game.

On the other hand, the Browns are playing Arizona this week. Arizona's defense is trash. It's hard to describe just how horrible their passing defense is. Last week was the first time in their last three games that they didn't allow an opposing receiver to produce over 130 yards. They're giving up the most passing yards per game by a solid 16 yards. Every team that has faced Arizona this season has scored at least 20 points.

If you have absolutely no faith in Beckham, you can bench him. There's no shame in benching him. But if you have the slightest shred of optimism for Odell, keep him in your lineup. There's no better matchup in fantasy football than the Arizona Cardinals. If there was ever a team for Odell to have a blow-up showing against, it's them.

 

Le'Veon Bell’s Week 14 stat-line: a career-high 251... just not on the football field

Bell put up his best performance since joining the New York Jets this offseason. Actually, according to Bell, it was the best performance of his career and was made even more impressive by the fact that he had the flu. Bell's flu-game showcase of a 251 was a feat unlike any the Jets have seen from their eight-figure running back.

Of course, I'm not referring to the Jets' victory against the Dolphins this week. I'm referring to Bell's bowling score this week. The Jets sent him home with the flu and he went bowling. A star player being held out of action going bowling doesn't always end well. Luckily for Bell, he's expected to suit up on a short week to face the Ravens.

Unluckily for Bell owners, he's been terrible on the gridiron this season. Baltimore is an awful matchup and a game that the Jets will likely be playing behind in. If you have any other real options to play at running back, now might be the time to shift Bell over to the bench. This simply isn't his year. For those unlucky fantasy players who don't have another option, Bell has had a fairly high floor, even if the ceiling isn't that high. You better hope the rest of your team can turn it up. He's not going to be the guy that carries you to victory.

Panic Meter: 5/5

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF