Warning Signals for RB/WR/TE - Week 16

Martin Konstantinov examines skill position players who have been busts or overvalued in 2018 heading into Week 16. 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

Sony Michel (RB, NE)

When Sony Michel took over the team's backfield in Week 4, the season looked bright for both the young running back and fantasy owners. Michel proceeded to rattle off three fantastic weeks, with four total touchdowns and over 300 yards from scrimmage. However, since then, the young back has not looked the same, as some niggling injuries and poor offensive performances from the entire team have limited Michel's upside each week. Michel only has one touchdown on the ground since Week 7 (compared to the four produced by fullback James Develin). Additionally, his last three performances have seen him fail to accumulate more than 63 rushing yards in each game. Michel's lack of receiving work and inability to generate consistent touches since the return of fellow running back Rex Burkhead and continued involvement of James White as a receiver out of the backfield have limited his upside, and a Week 16 clash with the Buffalo Bills may be tougher than expected for the young running back. Therefore, think twice before using Michel as a locked-in RB for the final week of the fantasy season.

Phillip Lindsay (RB, DEN)

2018 has been a truly impressive season for running back Phillip Lindsay. The former undrafted rookie has 991 yards on the ground, 33 receptions for 230 yards through the air, and 10 touchdowns on the season. It's clear that the backfield is Lindsay's going forward, despite the presence of fellow rookie Royce Freeman and veteran back Devontae Booker. However, the last two weeks have been rough for the running back - 30 rushing yards in Week 14 and 24 yards on the ground in Week 15. Additionally, Lindsay has been held to two yards-per-carry over the past two weeks; his only saving grace was the touchdown he scored in Week 14. With an easier matchup on paper against the Raiders, Lindsay is almost surely a must-start for fantasy owners. However, expectations should be tempered for the young running back who has seemingly lost steam to close out the year.

D.J. Moore (WR, CAR)

Week 15 was a disappointing performance in an otherwise good rookie year for wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore had two catches for 12 yards and a rush for 20 more yards on the ground (as well as a fumble on that play). Moore has 172 rushing yards on the year as well as 688 yards through the air; however, with only two touchdowns in his rookie season, Moore does not have the highest weekly floor. With a tougher divisional matchup with the Atlanta Falcons coming up in Week 16, Moore looks like a player who has upside but may struggle to put up the necessary weekly performance that fantasy owners in championship games would need to ensure victory.

Josh Gordon (WR, NE)

In his first season as a Patriots wide receiver, Josh Gordon has had some very good performances and quickly earned the trust of quarterback Tom Brady. However, with the presence of players like wide receiver Julian Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski, and running back James White, Gordon has found consistent targets hard to come by lately. Gordon's lack of targets was evident in Week 15, where he only had one reception on two targets for 19 yards. Gordon is clearly a talented wide receiver, but his lack of weekly looks makes him a difficult player to start heading into a critical Week 16 matchup for fantasy owners.

Zach Ertz (TE, PHI)

If you have tight end Zach Ertz on your team, you are definitely starting him in a crucial Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans. Ertz has been an elite option at the tight end position all season and will hopefully continue that trend in Week 16. However, if his last two performances are anything to go off of, there could be some cause for concern for the talented tight end. Ertz has only had 60 combined yards over the last two weeks and will now play with quarterback Nick Foles at the helm of the team's offense. Although he is still a locked-in option at the position, Ertz may not have the same upside that he possessed through the first 13 weeks of the season.

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