The Fantasy Football Panic Meter | The Hot Seat with Bob Harris
Bob Harris and Jeff Blaylock run through ten fantasy disappointments from the first three weeks of the season, sorting each into patient, concerned, panicked, or 'get me out' buckets based on whether the underlying role/usage metrics support optimism or signal real trouble. They stress separating emotional overreaction from rational analysis by digging into route shares, target share, and average depth of target rather than box scores alone.
This episode of The Audible puts ten disappointing draft picks through a panic-meter framework, sorting each into patient, concerned, panicked, or "get me out" buckets. Host Bob Harris and guest Jeff Blalock (Dynasty Compass) argue the key skill right now is separating emotional reactions from strategic ones — diagnosing whether a player's underperformance is a role problem, a talent problem, or a fixable situational issue before making roster moves.
The arguments
Drake May is concerning in redraft but worth holding in dynasty. Blalock notes this isn't new: over his last seven games May has been sacked 30 times, thrown 10 picks, lost five fumbles, and completed just over 60%. He's playing recklessly and forcing throws into bad spots, but Blalock frames it partly as a scheme issue tied to Josh McDaniels and AJ Brown's injury, not purely a May problem, and would buy him low in dynasty if a seller is willing.
Omarion Hampton's disappointment is a drafting-error problem, not a true bust. Blalock argues managers paid first/second-round prices envisioning a "prime Devon Achane" role, but Hampton is a bruiser who was never going to get that usage — he's getting early-down and only half the goal-line work, with no two-minute or passing-down role, while Keaton Mitchell looks more explosive. Both hosts land on concerned rather than panicked, and would consider using a bench back with a better matchup over Hampton.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is a "get me out" in redraft, patient-hold in dynasty. Blalock cites brutal target numbers — four catches on nine targets, 55 total targets through three weeks, fifth option in the passing game, ranked 172nd among all players including tight ends in target share. Both hosts agree the hope isn't improvement in Arizona but a future trade; Harris notes he was never in on Harrison entering the season.
Brian Thomas Jr. has shifted from patience to panic. Blalock points to sub-40% snap shares in two of the last three games, zero 12-personnel snaps, and being behind Parker Washington and Jacoby Myers in the pecking order — a disconnect from the offseason hype about his chemistry with Trevor Lawrence. Both hosts move to "get me out" in redraft and concerned/panic in dynasty, with Blalock saying he'd happily move Thomas for value.
Colston Loveland deserves patience despite ugly box scores. Blalock stresses the usage is real even if touchdowns aren't, and that last year at this point he was tight end 55 before finishing tight end 5. Both hosts agree not to bench him for streaming options, though Blalock floats Hunter Henry as a short-term matchup play only.
Travion Henderson's timeshare with Rhamondre Stevenson is a known feature, not a new problem. Harris and Blalock agree this pairing has always been messy — Stevenson keeps third-down and goal-line work even when he fumbles — and Henderson having more carries hasn't translated to better efficiency. Both call for patience since this was the expected risk at draft time.
Justin Herbert's struggles trace to his line and system, not talent. Blalock cites the fourth-highest pressure rate in the league, losing starting center Bradley Bozeman, a complicated new scheme, and the league's third-highest drop rate. Both hosts are "holding, even buying" in dynasty and in superflex leagues, while redraft single-QB managers can reasonably stream alternatives.
What it means for your roster
- Buy low: Target Colston Loveland and Terry McLaurin from panicked managers — both hosts call these clear buy windows, with McLaurin specifically valued as a WR3/flex, not a true WR1.
- Sell/shop: Brian Thomas Jr. is the player Blalock is most eager to move off his roster; he's fielding offers in both redraft and dynasty.
- Bench/platoon: Consider starting a backup over Drake May or Omarion Hampton in favorable matchup weeks rather than dropping either.
- Hold through bye-week math: Don't cut Justin Herbert for a streamer unless your bench depth can absorb it — both hosts still view him as startable, especially in superflex.
- Dynasty patience: Keep May, Harrison Jr. (pending a trade out of Arizona), and Henderson — treat Arizona/Harrison as a wait-for-a-trade asset rather than a cut.
- Don't chase box scores: Use underlying metrics (route share, aDOT, target share) before reacting — Jameson Williams and Xavier Worthy are both judged "patient" despite weak fantasy output, because usage signals remain intact.
“What is news in September is not going to be news in October.” — Jeff Blaylock
Players in this episode
→ Concerned in redraft due to continued turnovers, sacks, and poor decision-making dating back to last season's playoffs, but patient in Dynasty; viewed as a buy-low in Dynasty if available cheap.
↓ Drafted on misplaced expectation of an Ashton Jeanty-like role; instead only getting early-down/short-yardage work, losing passing-down and goal-line work to Kimani Vidal and looking worse than Kaseem/Keaton Mitchell; concerned but not panicked, open to trading if he fits as a buy-low RB3 elsewhere.
→ Struggles attributed to losing starting center Bradley Bozeman/Tyler Beadish-type issues, high pressure rate, drops, and Ladd McConkie's in-and-out availability rather than Herbert's own talent; hosts are holding/buying in dynasty, cautious about dropping in redraft given quality of weapons.
↑ Finally got more involved Monday night (4-4-31) but still low overall production; hosts remain patient/bullish given talent and Ben Johnson's offense, viewing him as a top buy target and dynasty hold, with Juwan Johnson as a short-term bench fill-in.
→ Stuck in a maddening timeshare with Rhamondre Stevenson, who still gets passing-down/goal-line work despite fumbling issues; hosts call this a feature of the offense, not a fixable problem, and remain just patient/concerned.
→ Production has been boom-or-bust by nature; three straight 'clunker' games are a bit concerning but hosts remain patient, citing his big games once Dan Campbell took over play-calling last year.
↑ Bounced back Week 3 with 6 catches, 77 yards and a TD; hosts were never worried about his first two bad weeks and are now actively 'buying in,' expecting a return to his elite form as Marcus Mariota and the rookie play-caller improve.
→ Despite fumbling issues, remains the 1A back getting passing-down, short-yardage, and goal-line work over Henderson, with Corey Kiner also stealing early-down snaps.
↓ Only 4 catches on 9 targets, ranked ~92-93 at WR; at best the team's fifth passing option behind even Kyle Pitts-level usage; both hosts are 'get me out' in redraft and view him as a dynasty hold only in hopes of a future trade away from Arizona.
↓ Playing under 40% of snaps in two of three games, zero 12-personnel snaps, behind Parker Washington and Jacoby Myers in the pecking order; hosts are 'get me out' in redraft and moving toward panic in dynasty, hoping he eventually lands elsewhere.
→ Suggested as a short-term bench streamer if a manager needs a fill-in while waiting on Colston Loveland's breakout.
→ Role/routes are fine but average depth of target has been cut roughly in half; still a complementary piece behind Rashee Rice; hosts are unconcerned since he wasn't drafted as a top-3 fantasy piece.
→ Mentioned as circulating back into the backfield mix, further muddying Hampton's workload.
↑ Looking more explosive than Hampton and viewed as a potential bigger factor in the backfield going forward.