Arguably the most frustrating thing in fantasy football is when someone in your starting lineup is struggling that week, so the logic behind this article is simple: identify landmines in your fantasy football lineup.

These are players you’d love to start this week, but they could prove to be a landmine that destroys your starting lineup and potentially costs you your opponent.

Get ready and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 1.

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 1

Caleb Williams (QB – CHI) vs Tennessee Titans

Many are excited to see the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft make his regular-season debut on Sunday. While Williams should play well for the Bears, fantasy players at the quarterback position may want to make other plans. Quarterbacks rarely put up great fantasy performances in their first NFL game. Last year, CJ Stroud scored 10.7 fantasy points and Bryce Young scored 7.5, while Anthony Richardson scored 20.9 points overall thanks to 40 rushing yards and a touchdown. More importantly, Williams did not have a great preseason, completing just 50% of his passes.

Although he will be relevant in fantasy this year, Williams should rank outside the top 15 quarterbacks in Week 1. He’s facing a Titans defense that limited quarterbacks to 15.5 fantasy points per game in 2023, ninth-fewest in the league. They also conceded just 20 passing touchdowns last season. More importantly, Tennessee signed several key players on defense in the offseason, trading for L’Jarius Sneed and Ernest Jones IV. While Williams belongs on the bench this week, the rookie has an attractive matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.

Devin Singletary (RB – NYG) vs Minnesota Vikings

The Giants lost Saquon Barkley in free agency but quickly replaced the superstar with Singletary. He was a popular mid-round draft pick due to a lack of competition in the backfield. However, the veteran is not a decisive player and could lose out to Tyrone Tracy Jr., especially in the passing game. Last year, he averaged nine half-PPR fantasy points per game. In addition, Singletary averaged 2.33 yards after contact per run attempt, ranking 41st among running backs with at least 100 attempts (per Fantasy Points Data).

Unfortunately, the veteran has a bad matchup in Week 1 against the Vikings. Minnesota allowed 17.1 fantasy points per game to running backs last season, the ninth fewest in the NFL. Singletary will face a crowded box with Daniel Jones at quarterback for most of the year. Last season, Barkley averaged 6.7 defenders in the box (per PlayerProfiler). Additionally, the Giants have one of the worst offensive lines in the league and received the third-worst run-blocking grade (40.9) from PFF in 2023. Expect a quiet performance from Singletary.

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) vs. New Orleans Saints

Carolina’s offense should be significantly better this season, with new head coach Dave Canales unable to play in 2023 after struggling greatly. The Panthers averaged 13.9 points per game last year, the second-fewest in the NFL. Meanwhile, their Week 1 implied team total on DraftKings is 19 points. Hubbard is the starting running back until Jonathon Brooks is healthy, giving him top-30 potential every week. Although he had some solid moments last season, Hubbard scored double-digit PPR fantasy points in the half-percent range in just 41.2% of games.

Those who drafted the veteran as part of a zero-RB draft strategy shouldn’t panic. Hubbard will have significant value until Brooks is healthy and has a favorable matchup in Week 2. Unfortunately, the Saints are one of the most underrated defenses in the league. They held running backs to 16.5 fantasy points per game in 2023, sixth-fewest in the NFL. Hubbard failed to find the end zone, averaging 4.1 yards per rushing attempt and 9.1 fantasy points per game in the two matchups against New Orleans last year.

Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) against the New England Patriots

Week 1 will be the only time fantasy players will see Chase’s name in this article for the entire 2024 season. Thankfully, the superstar wide receiver returned to practice on Wednesday after having to sit out most of training camp due to contract negotiations. While some believe he won’t play in Week 1 since he only had a few days of practice before the game, it would be foolish of the Bengals to leave Chase idle. However, the former LSU star will likely return to action after having to sit out training camp.

The likely number of snaps isn’t the only concern with Chase in Week 1. The Patriots held wide receivers to 27.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game last season, which is about league average. However, they didn’t have Christian Gonzales for most of the year. As a rookie, he was New England’s best cornerback and earned a 79.3 coverage grade from PFF, the best on the team. Fantasy players shouldn’t bench Chase without a clearly better option. Still, they should temper their expectations for the superstar because he’s a risky start.

George Pickens (WR – PIT) vs Atlanta Falcons

Pickens became a popular candidate to be his breakout third-year prospect after the Steelers traded away Diontae Johnson in the offseason and failed to sign Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers. Although Pittsburgh’s offense looked awful in the preseason, fantasy players should keep in mind that Pickens averaged 8.3 targets and 14.5 half-PPR fantasy points per game in the four games without Johnson in 2023. While I still believe he will have a breakout season, fantasy players will want to bench Pickens in Week 1.

Atlanta had a solid defense last year, allowing 21.9 points per game. They held wide receivers to just 22.6 fantasy points per game, fifth-fewest in the NFL. Unfortunately for Pickens, the Falcons have made several massive additions to the defense in recent weeks, trading for Matthew Judon and signing Justin Simmons. Fantasy players should keep Pickens on the bench in Week 1. However, the former Georgia star is a perfect trade target with exhibition games against the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants coming up.

David Njoku (TE – CLE) vs. Dallas Cowboys

I’ve been calling Njoku a fantasy draft bust all offseason. He’s set career highs in several categories, including receptions (81), targets (123), receiving yards (862), touchdowns (six) and half-point PPR fantasy points per game (10) in 2023. However, the veteran was the TE13 in the five games in which Deshaun Watson had at least six pass attempts and averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game. For comparison, Njoku was the TE1 in the five games with Joe Flacco at quarterback and averaged 15.2 fantasy points per game, scoring 13.4 or more in all but one game.

Unfortunately, Flacco is with the Indianapolis Colts and Njoku has a terrible matchup in Week 1. The Cowboys have given up just eight fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2023, the fourth-fewest in the league. Last season, they gave up the fewest receptions (64), third-fewest targets (95) and third-fewest receiving yards (710) to tight ends. While the loss of Dan Quinn is significant, Dallas still has a top-notch pass defense. With Watson preferring Amari Cooper, it wouldn’t be surprising if Njoku doesn’t get more than five targets on Sunday.

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