Warning Signals for RB/WR/TE - Week 11

November 14, 2018

Martin Konstantinov examines skill position players who have been busts or overvalued in 2018 heading into Week 11. These RB, WR, or TE could be cuts, drops or trade candidates in fantasy football leagues.

Every year, certain players are highly drafted in drafts by fantasy owners due to the belief that they will vastly outperform expectations throughout the season. Oftentimes, these players carry a significant amount of hype due to breakout potential, elite status, or lack of alternative options on their teams.

However, with every player that does meet the threshold for good performance, there seem to be several similar players that fail to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them by fantasy owners. Whether the players are drafted at the beginning, middle, or end of drafts, not living up to the draft capital spent on them is one of the weekly dilemmas for fantasy owners.

Because fantasy owners tend to hold on to players that they believe in for too long, it is important to recognize warning signals from players early on so that the players can be removed from lineups and the damage of their poor performances can be mitigated. Let's take a look at some players at each of the skill positions who have shown some worrying signs this week. Fantasy owners should proceed with caution with the following players.

Players With Warning Signals

Isaiah Crowell (RB, NYJ)

Yes, Isaiah Crowell scored a touchdown last week and yes, the Jets (surprisingly) suffered a negative game-script for much of the game against the Buffalo Bills. However, in recent weeks Crowell has failed to continue to play like a starting-caliber running back for fantasy football owners. Last week was the first time since Week 5 that Crowell crossed double-digit points in PPR formats and that was largely because of the rushing touchdown that the former Browns tailback was able to punch in. With less than 40 yards from scrimmage, Crowell showed us all that he has a worryingly low floor in a poor offense as a result of the presence of several other running backs in the rotation and his inability to consistently find the end-zone. Crowell should be left on the bench until further notice, as his matchups in the coming weeks do not justify starting the veteran running back.

Jamaal Williams (RB, GB)

Even for coach Mike McCarthy, it will be tough to justify giving Jamaal Williams any significant touches following the performance we all witnessed from Aaron Jones in Week 10. Williams had three carries for three yards against the Dolphins, and has only crossed 50 rushing yards once this entire season. With just one rushing touchdown to his name and less than 300 rushing yards on the season, Williams is clearly the second running back on the team's roster going forward. This is the Aaron Jones show now, and Williams should be left on the waiver wire or on benches in deeper leagues as his weekly floor and ceiling do not merit a start in any format.

Mike Evans (WR, TB)

These last two weeks have been very worrying for wide receiver Mike Evans, as the veteran wideout has 16 and 51 yards in his last two weeks. The quarterback struggles have been real for the Bucs this season, and Ryan Fitzpatrick has not had the same connection with Evans that he had at the beginning of the season. Although the elite talent of Evans should show sooner rather than later, some costly drops and low catch percentages are cause for concern for the wide receiver from Tampa. Evans is still a great option to have due to the team's affinity for passing and his status as the top target on the offense, but he has got to turn around this two-game performance drought in the next few weeks to maintain his status as a low-end WR1.

Golden Tate (WR, PHI)

Moving to a new team mid-season is sure to come with its host of challenges, and it seems that wide receiver Golden Tate is no different than any other wide receiver when it comes to being traded. Tate only had 19 receiving yards and played far fewer snaps than fellow wide receivers Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Jordan Matthews. Although he may come good by the time the team hits the playoffs, Tate has a bunch of competition for targets in a Philly offense that desperately needs to improve. Until he learns the playbook and is comfortable playing in the team's uptempo offense, Golden Tate should not be started in any format, despite the value that he had as a receiver when he played for the Lions in the first half of the 2018 season.

Jimmy Graham (TE, GB)

As has been the case for the past few seasons of Jimmy Graham's career, a strong performance is often followed by a slew of underwhelming games for the veteran tight end. Graham has definitely had some great days as a Packer this season, but his Week 10 performance only amounted to 14 yards through the air. Graham only has two touchdowns on the season, which is not what fantasy owners are accustomed to seeing from the 31-year-old tight end. Graham is a good player, but his status as the second option in the red-zone to wide receiver Davante Adams and the propensity for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to spread the ball limits his weekly fantasy upside and means that he is a tough option to start at the tight end position.

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