Warning Signals for RB/WR/TE - Week 8

October 24, 2018

Martin Konstantinov examines skill position players who have been busts or overvalued in 2018 heading into Week 8. 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

Mark Ingram (RB, NO)

Since coming back from his PED suspension, Saints running back Mark Ingram has largely split snaps with fellow running back Alvin Kamara. However, last season the two were both elite options at the position, with weekly touchdown upside and rushing/receiving volume as the most effective running back duo in the league. This year, things look a little different.

Although it has only been two games where the two have been healthy together, it seems as if one back each week will have a great game while the other will be forced into a complementary role that gives them flex value at best. This week, it was Ingram, as he was out-carried 17-12 by Kamara in the team's victory over the Ravens. Although Ingram still has weekly red-zone upside, perhaps he is closer to flex value than RB1 status in 2018. Wait it out a week or two, but keep an eye on how Ingram does before you decide whether or not he is worth trading.

LeSean McCoy (RB, BUF)

Gaining just one rushing yard before suffering a concussion, LeSean McCoy is not having the best of years as part of one of the worst offenses in the league. Although he played well in Weeks 5 and 6, the Bills offense clearly can't hang with the big boys and often lets McCoy handle the brunt of the opposing defense.

Although he is still clearly a talented running back, McCoy can't do everything on his own, and his situation is one of the worst for a running back. If you have kept him this long, odds are you are going to roll with him regardless of what happens, but it may be time to firmly place LeSean on your bench and not look back - the picture isn't a pretty one.

Allen Robinson (WR, CHI)

Allen Robinson, by all accounts, is having a reasonably solid season. Except for Week 7, Robinson has had at least 50 yards or a touchdown in every game he has played. With the way that Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky has been playing, however, it is difficult to see weekly upside from the veteran wide receiver.

Yes, he'll get you 60 yards or a touchdown on three catches, but the overall points totals barely creep into double digits, even in PPR formats. Additionally, in Week 7, Robinson was only able to haul in one catch for four yards. While this was more due to how the Patriots defense lined up and the fact that he was carrying a slight knock heading into the game, Robinson should be considered a high-end flex going forward just because of how he has been used to start the season.

Stefon Diggs (WR, MIN)

As usual, Stefon Diggs started the season on fire, with three touchdowns and 173 receiving yards in his first two games. However, since then, the talented wideout has been outplayed by fellow receiver Adam Thielen, who is perhaps the NFL's hottest name at the position this year. Diggs has had 33 receiving yards in each of his past two games and has failed to find the end-zone since Week 2.

Although he is more than likely to get good yardage numbers on a weekly basis, the wide receiver is simply the second option for quarterback Kirk Cousins (albeit on a good offense). If Diggs has a good game in the next week or so, it may be time to look for trade candidates and return maximum value for the wideout - that may be as good as it gets for the rest of 2018.

Jordan Reed (TE, WAS)

Jordan Reed is one of the centerpieces of the Redskins offense, contributing with 22 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown on the year. While this is fine from a football perspective, Reed has largely underwhelmed from a fantasy standpoint. The talented but oft-injured tight end looks like a decent TE2 at the position, but when fantasy owners are expecting TE1 value it's hard to justify holding on to Reed for much longer.

Reed has only crossed the 50-yard mark twice this season (and both were before the team's Week 4 bye). With a shift to the ground game and overall ineffectiveness of the Redskins offense, Reed is a luxury to have on the benches of fantasy owners. It may be time to consider dropping the Redskins tight end in favor of a player with more upside at the position.

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