Warning Signals for RB/WR/TE - Week 12

November 21, 2018

Martin Konstantinov examines skill position players who have been busts or overvalued in 2018 heading into Week 12. 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

James Conner (RB, PIT)

Don't get me wrong, James Conner is still a fantastic option for fantasy owners for the rest of the season. The Steelers running back has been devastating in the absence of Le'Veon Bell, posting mouth-watering stats and generally playing like an elite running back in all fantasy formats. However, all of the wear and tear of the season seems to be catching up to the second-year pro. Against a tougher Jags run-defense, Conner was only able to put up 25 yards on the ground and 24 through the air. While these are no means abysmal totals, they are a far cry from what fantasy owners are used to given Conner's fantastic performances through the first half of the season. With no sign of Bell for the rest of the year, Conner is definitely still a top-level running back, but fantasy owners may want to consider the possibility that the young running back will not generate the huge points totals that he did over the first half of the season.

Austin Ekeler (RB, SD)

Since the Chargers bye week, Austin Ekeler has gradually ceded more and more work to star tailback Melvin Gordon. Ekeler started the season in a complementary role that saw him get a lot of action in the receiving game, but the talented running back's workload has slowly dissipated now that Gordon is picking up steam. Ekeler has had 53 receiving yards in his last three games combined and has not put up more than 29 yards on the ground in any of those performances. Additionally, the Chargers running back hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 5. Although some favorable matchups may give Ekeler receiving upside, the dynamic running back is certainly not the same player he was over the first few weeks of the season.

Demaryius Thomas (WR, DEN)

Since his trade to the Houston Texans, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has taken a bit of time to settle in. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Week 11, where Thomas failed to haul in his only target of the day. Although he did put up 61 yards in the game against his former team, Thomas will likely take the rest of the 2018 season to become fully acclimated to the Texans offense. With players like DeAndre Hopkins and Keke Coutee ahead of him, it looks as if Thomas's fantasy prospects have been greatly reduced by the trade. Consider Thomas a WR4 going forward who should not be trusted outside of deeper formats.

Marquez Valdez-Scantling (WR, GB)

When you play with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, you're bound to be fantasy-relevant. Such as been the case for Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling, who has replaced Geronimo Allison as one of the starting three wide receivers for the Packers. The rookie has lit up some weeks, with two 100+ yard performances and two touchdowns throughout the course of the season. However, with the Packers struggling overall, Aaron Jones's increased workload, and the overwhelming target share of fellow wideout Davante Adams, it seems like Marquez's run of fine form may be coming to an end (as witnessed by his eight-yard performance in Week 11). Although he is still a fine flex option with upside, Valdez-Scantling should not be trusted as a weekly contributor going forward.

Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)

The Minnesota Vikings offense revolves around wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. This makes it difficult for tight end Kyle Rudolph to get work on a weekly basis, and the red-zone weapon only has two touchdowns on the year. Although he hasn't scored since Week 3, what is more worrisome is the decreasing yardage totals of the veteran tight end. Rudolph has not topped 50 yards since Week 4, making him barely start-worthy at a completely barren position. The Vikings tight end should not be rostered outside of deeper formats and certainly is not a reliable option for fantasy owners going forward.

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