The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Who to Drop for Fantasy Football Week 14

December 2, 2025

Rob's fantasy football players to drop when making waiver wire moves for Week 14 (2025). He helps fantasy football managers decide on who to cut from rosters.

We officially have one more week of the fantasy football regular season and, amazingly, one more week of bye weeks. Now, though, with just four weeks left, it should be fairly easy to identify what your starting lineup would look like for each of the remaining weeks, assuming everyone stays healthy. You should have a capable backup at quarterback, running back, and receiver. After that, aim for upside.

What's always interesting is that fantasy managers seem more prone to dropping someone like David Montgomery, a disappointing but still elite handcuff, compared to someone like Blake Corum, an ascending younger player who still just profiles as an elite handcuff. Both players should be rostered! Aim for upside!

This article will identify players who can safely be cut in 12-team leagues. Be sure to also check out my waiver wire article for Week 14, because with almost every cut, there's a new addition we welcome to our team. If you sign up for one of our premium subscriptions, please use the promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.

Running Backs to Consider Cutting

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints - 89.5% Rostered

Kamara missed last week with a sprained MCL. It's unknown if he'll return this week; however, even when he was healthy, Kamara was really struggling this year. He has six games with fewer than 8.0 half-PPR points, just four games with double-digit points, and zero with more than 15. Two of those four double-digit performances came all the way back in Weeks 1 and 2.

He's been held to fewer than 50 rushing yards in eight of his 11 games this year. Kamara has also been limited to fewer than 25 receiving yards in eight out of 11 games. Kamara appears to be a shell of his former self. That, along with the ineffectiveness of the New Orleans offense, has left Kamara borderline useless, with little reason to believe anything will change for the better.

Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs - 65.7% Rostered

Pacheco missed two games with a bye week sandwiched in between due to a sprained MCL injury. He returned last week, but Kareem Hunt maintained his clear lead-back role. Even when active, Pacheco has been stuck in a paltry fantasy football role in the Chiefs' offense.

He's not used in the passing game at all, evidenced by his only 13 receptions all year. He's also not utilized near the goal line. He only has one rushing touchdown this season. Meanwhile, Hunt has seven. He's generally only used between the 20-yard lines and rarely in the passing game. That limits Pacheco to four to seven points per game unless he breaks a long touchdown, which he hasn't done all year.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders - 55.2% Rostered

This past weekend, Croskey-Merritt seemed to fall even further down the Washington depth chart. Chris Rodriguez Jr. served as the team's primary ball carrier. Jeremy McNichols was used as the team's running back in passing situations. This left Croskey-Merritt with nothing more than bench fodder.

With how well Rodriguez has run the ball, it seems highly unlikely Croskey-Merritt will see his role change without an injury. Even then, the team seemed committed to featuring Croskey-Merritt earlier in the season, but moved away from him because of his ineffectiveness.

Other Running Backs to Consider Cutting:

• Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans - 73.2% Rostered
• Nick Chubb, Houston Texans - 44.2% Rostered
• Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 37.9% Rostered
• Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans - 36.0% Rostered
• Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 18.7% Rostered
• Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns - 13.4% Rostered

Wide Receivers to Consider Cutting

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers - 87.4% Rostered

Allen has not scored more than 7.5 half-PPR points since Week 7. That's five straight games. Dating back to Week 4, Allen has scored under 8.5 half-PPR points in eight out of his last nine games. He found the end zone in each of the first three weeks of the season, but has found the end zone just once since then.

Ladd McConkey has found his rhythm after a cold start. Quentin Johnston continues to be involved. Oronde Gadsden II has also come on strong before an injury seemed to derail his rookie season. Justin Herbert just suffered a broken left hand. Both tackles are lost for the season. This offense has struggled recently, and Allen's role has significantly decreased in recent weeks.

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings - 82.1% Rostered

J.J. McCarthy has been arguably the worst quarterback in the NFL this season. That includes Cameron Ward. So, when Max Brosmer took over, fans seemed to think it couldn't possibly get any worse. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. Brosmer was somehow worse than McCarthy. The quarterback's play has been absolutely crippling.

Justin Jefferson is averaging 10.4 PPG with J.J. McCarthy.

That would rank as WR27 on the season.

Jordan Addison is at 6.6 PPG with McCarthy (WR60).

The Vikings have gone run-heavy of late.

They have a 17.5-point implied total at the Packers.

Bench Jefferson and Addison.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) November 19, 2025

Addison hasn't scored in double-digits since Week 8. Since the team's Week 6 bye, Addison has just two games with more than three receptions. He has just one game over that span with more than 50 yards. He's a touchdown-or-bust receiver, and even then, there's no guarantee he'll have a good week. He found the end zone in Week 11 and managed just 9.0 half-PPR points, which is the highest score in his last five games.

Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks - 60.8% Rostered

Shaheed has not caught more than two passes since becoming a member of the Seattle Seahawks. His "high" score is 3.9 half-PPR points. In three out of his four games in Seattle, Shaheed has failed to eclipse 10 yards. He's a complete afterthought behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. There simply isn't enough volume in Seattle for Shaheed to have a consistent role week-to-week.

He's already being used largely down the field, and given just how few targets he's receiving, Shaheed's floor is zero every week, and that's simply not something fantasy managers need on their benches.

Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers - 47.0% Rostered

Christian Watson has been balling since returning from his torn ACL he suffered late last season. He's been immensely more effective than Golden and has established himself as the Packers' No. 1 receiver. Romeo Doubs remains a trusted option on third down and near the end zone. Dontayvion Wicks is finally healthy and coming off his best game of the season. It also appears that Jayden Reed's return is imminent.

LaFleur says WR Matthew Golden (wrist) could "potentially" play this week.

— weston hodkiewicz (@WesHod) December 1, 2025

Golden had his shot to make an immediate impact earlier this season when Reed, Wicks, and Watson were all out. To make matters worse, he's been dealing with a shoulder injury that has caused him to miss a few of the team's last few games. I generally hate dropping first-round rookies, but in the case of Golden, I'm finally willing to make an exception.

Others to Consider Cutting:

• Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns - 65.9% Rostered
• Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks - 52.6% Rostered
• Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills - 48.7% Rostered
• Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - 41.9% Rostered
• Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers - 21.6% Rostered
• Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers - 13.7% Rostered
• Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos - 11.9% Rostered

Tight Ends to Consider Cutting

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings - 72.5% Rostered

Hockenson, like Justin Jefferson and Addison, is experiencing one of his worst years in recent memory. The biggest culprit for that is the atrocious quarterback play of McCarthy and Brosmer. Unlike Addison and Jefferson, Hockenson is no spring chicken anymore and suffered a torn ACL just a few years ago. That makes overcoming such a negative situation that much harder.

For the season, Hockenson has had only one game in which he scored more than 9.0 half-PPR points. On the flip side, he has five games in which he's scored fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points. While most tight ends are touchdown-dependent, they're not on an offense so immune to scoring. The Vikings' offense hasn't scored a single point in their last six quarters. There's no reason to roster a touchdown-dependent tight end on an offense that doesn't score touchdowns.

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns - 56.5% Rostered

Njoku has been outplayed by Harold Fannin Jr. the entire year, despite Fannin's rookie status. Njoku had been lucky enough to maintain his role over Fannin. Which is to say that he had been playing more snaps and running more routes than Fannin. Since Njoku got banged up a few weeks ago, that is no longer the case.

Now, Njoku finds himself in a worse role than the one Fannin had to start the season. However, Njoku's target rate isn't nearly as high as Fannin's was. The Cleveland offense also continues to struggle to score points or move the ball consistently. It has low-passing volume and low success rates.

Others to Consider Cutting:

• Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 43.0% Rostered
• Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - 14.1% Rostered
• Mason Taylor, New York Jets - 13.4% Rostered

Holding, but Benching

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - 99.9% Rostered

Benching Jefferson sounds blasphemous, but that's the world we're living in. Jefferson hasn't scored 15 half-PPR points since Week 5. He hasn't scored double-digits since Week 9. He was just held to four receiving yards, the lowest of his career. He's averaging just 5.6 half-PPR PPG over his last four games.

Inept Offense Leads To Four Receiving Yards For Justin Jefferson https://t.co/KytwKbDfG6

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 1, 2025

I'd rather start Alec Pierce, Watson, Courtland Sutton, and Jauan Jennings over Jefferson. That seems incredibly outlandish to type, and yet, I think it's truthful. The quarterback play and the decimated offensive line have completely ruined what was once a promising offense. Fantasy managers cannot cut Jefferson, but there's virtually no way you can start Jefferson with confidence, although many teams may not have a choice.

Others to Hold, but Bench:

• David Montgomery, Detroit Lions - 92.3% Rostered
• Aaron Jones Sr., Minnesota Vikings - 86.5% Rostered
• Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars - 90.5% Rostered
• Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs - 88.1% Rostered
• Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills - 82.6% Rostered
• D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears - 81.1% Rostered
• Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers - 64.7% Rostered

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