Fantasy Football Panic Meter After Week 5: Sam Darnold, Breece Hall, Marvin Harrison Jr., Dalton Kincaid and More

We are now five weeks into the NFL season and getting ready for week 6. Before we completely turn the page on week 5, let’s continue our panic meter series.

Here’s last week’s panic meter story. Also be sure to check out the one-hit wonder story/series.

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Quarterbacks

Sam Darnold and Deshaun Watson are the quarterbacks at the top of my list for this week.

Darnold had his worst game of the season on Sunday in London, completing just 14-of-31 passes for 179 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. He was facing a tough Jets’ defense (who just fired Robert Saleh), but many fantasy owners are wondering if Darnold is going to start looking like his old self after the performance, instead of the MVP-caliber player he was in the first month.

I try not to overreact too much to one game, but in this case, it’s definitely concerning. I think Darnold’s panic meter is at a 4. 

The thing that has Darnold’s panic meter that high after just one game isn’t just his inconsistent past either. His schedule ahead is brutal.

A lot of fantasy owners have desperately been trying to find a weekly starting QB, and could be writing off Darnold’s poor performance as a one-week outlier. I’m not in that crowd, and think more poor fantasy showings are coming up, and if you are in that same crowd, now would be the best time to sell Darnold - before things get worse.

Watson had a super favorable matchup in week 5, leading to a lot of fantasy owners labeling him as a sleeper. He was 15-of-28 passing for just 125 yards. Watson threw a touchdown and didn’t throw a pick, but he lost a fumble and only rushed for 14 yards.

Watson has under 200 passing yards in all five games this season. He’s got five touchdowns to three picks, and while he adds a bit as a runner, it’s not enough to make him a good (or even average) fantasy option in standard leagues.

Watson’s panic meter is at a 10. He might be a single loss away from losing his starting job for good, and he’s not even a fantasy option in standard leagues this week despite several good fantasy QBs being on byes. Avoid Watson in standard leagues and try to add another option in deeper leagues, because Watson simply isn’t cutting it.

Running Backs

Breece Hall and Travis Etienne are the running backs worth talking about this week.

Hall has been a pretty big fantasy disappointment this season, and things got even worse this week. He was held to 23 rushing yards on nine attempts, and he only added 14 yards on three catches and four targets. That came on 53 snaps, as the Jets had 72 overall.

Hall just hasn’t been nearly as involved as we all expected, and frankly, rookie Braelon Allen has been better in his touches. Maybe the firing of Robert Saleh will get Hall back on track, but his panic meter is still at a 7.

Hall was a top-end fantasy back coming into the season and hasn’t come close to delivering. Fantasy owners should have some hope that a coaching change will spark the team, and maybe Hall can get going, but another down game probably means Hall gets benched in standard leagues (if he isn’t already in week 6).

Etienne was another high-end draft pick who has severely underperformed this season. He had just 17 yards on six rushing attempts in week 5, although he was being limited a bit with an injury. Etienne did have 43 receiving yards on six catches and seven catches to offer some points for fantasy owners.

What’s most concerning for Etienne is that Tank Bigsby played more snaps, and has looked better all season. With all things considered, I’d say the panic meter for Etienne is at a 6.

I don’t think Etienne is going to be the workhorse in this offense this season with Bigsby around, and based on what we saw in week 5, Etienne might be limited to pass-catching work. He can still be a fantasy asset, especially in PPR leagues, but he’s trending toward being a major fantasy draft bust.

Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison Jr. and Deebo Samuel Sr. are the wideouts I want to talk about after week 5.

Harrison had a monster showing in week 2, but has otherwise been a pretty average fantasy wideout this season. He scored a couple times to mask otherwise down performances. In week 5, Harrison had 36 yards on two catches and seven targets.

Harrison has been the third-best rookie receiver - behind Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. - and that’s someone not many expected. Harrison’s inconsistent start to the season has his panic meter at a 4 for me. He’s not a locked-in starter in standard leagues, and based on where he was drafted in fantasy drafts, that is quite disappointing. 

Samuel was a surprise active in week 4. He played well in that game, so fantasy owners immediately locked him into their lineups for week 5, only to have the veteran only go for 11 yards on one catch and three targets. Samuel added nine rushing yards on three carries.

I had to look up Samuel to see if he maybe got hurt during the game, but he was on the field for 52 of the team’s 64 snaps. That makes Sunday’s showing pretty disappointing.

It was just Samuel’s first dud performance of the season though, so his panic meter is just at a 2. It could rise a decent amount if it happens again this week, but I’d confidently start him again.

Tight Ends

Cole Kmet and Dalton Kincaid are the tight ends worth discussing this week.

Kmet went for 57 yards on three catches and four targets in week 5, which isn’t terrible production, especially at tight end. Kmet makes this week’s list more because of his whole season of work.

It was just the second time he topped 50 yards in a game so far - he’s been under 35 yards three times. He only had over four catches once, and has scored just once.

Kmet went from a weekly starter a season ago to more of a fringe starting option, and for that reason, I’d say his panic meter is at a 5. It shouldn’t surprise many people given all the playmakers the Bears have, but Keenan Allen has been held in check so far, so there’s even more room for Kmet to possibly fall. Keep playing Kmet in the favorable matchups, but you really can’t ever confidently start him anymore.

Kincaid hasn’t stepped into the major pass-catching role that many fantasy owners expected. He had 34 yards on two receptions and six targets in week 5.

Kincaid has been under 50 yards in every game, has only scored once, and only has five catches and seven targets for a season high. After being a higher draft pick, Kincaid’s panic meter sits at a 6. 

He’s at least produced a few PPR points per game, but he’s been very disappointing overall. His role could expand as the season rolls along, but right now, he’s not a great starting option in standard leagues - and that should be a given of fantasy draft picks that high.