The Cut List - Players on the Chopping Block (Week 9)

October 30, 2018

NFL players to consider cutting, dropping or benching for Week 9 of the 2018 season. Jason's list of fantasy football busts, injuries, and overrated players.

This is your weekly list of players to drop. I will do my best to limit this list to injured players and players you might consider holding. If you roster pure handcuffs or backups, obviously you can let them go at any time. The players on this list will, ideally, be guys that aren't clearly droppable, but no longer worth owning.

Below are my Week 9 cuts and drops for fantasy football. Each week from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep a roster spot on your fantasy football teams.

Let's get to it.

Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing

Jameis Winston (QB, TB)

I know Jameis Winston is more streaming candidate than an every week QB you consider starting, but he's owned in 74% of leagues. The problem with Winston has always been that he was a far better fantasy QB than real life QB. Eventually, that was going to catch up with him. It finally did in his unceremonious benching midway through the Bucs' near comeback against the Bengals last week. Winston somehow has 10 interceptions this season despite missing the first 3.5 games of the season and having a bye already. He is (was) one of the worst starting QBs in the NFL. I have a hard time seeing how Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't start this week. It goes without saying that real life backup QBs don't need to be rostered.

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN)

Thanks Andy! You've done your job...mostly. Andy Dalton has mostly done well with an incredibly easy schedule. It all ends now. The Bengals have a bye upcoming and while a home date with the Saints is certainly enticing, they follow with games at Baltimore, vs Cleveland, vs Denver, and at Los Angeles (Chargers). Return Dalton to the waiver wire and stream as needed.

Will Fuller (WR, HOU)

The Texans WR2 finds his name on this list for the worst reason - a torn ACL. If Keke Coutee is available in your league, he's worth a pickup as the de facto new WR2 when he returns from his hamstring injury.

Randall Cobb (WR, GB)

The good news for Randall Cobb is he looked healthy after missing about a month with a hamstring strain. The bad news is he ran a season-low 17 routes and saw just five targets. Cobb has not been even a remotely useful fantasy asset since Week 1. With the rise of rookies Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown as well as the involvement of Geronimo Allison, there just isn't much consistency behind stud WR1 Davante Adams.

Alfred Morris and Raheem Mostert (RBs, SF)

Unless its' Matt Breida, you don't need to own any SF RBs. Neither Alfred Morris nor Raheem Mostert are seeing any sort of consistent touches, even with Breida seemingly injured on every other play. And neither is good enough or on a good enough offense to justify stashing in the event Breida decides to actually rest for a game or three.

Duke Johnson (RB, CLE)

In Weeks 4 and 6, Duke Johnson eclipsed double-digit fantasy points. He failed to reach six fantasy points in every other game. Also relevant about the number six is it is the most amount of touches he's seen in a single game this season. There is simply no deliberate attempt to get Johnson the ball. He is not a part of what is a weak Browns offense. Even with consistent negative game script, Johnson can't even see touches on dump offs and check downs. Let him go.

Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't

Jakeem Grant (WR, MIA)

In what looked like a nice spot, Jakeem Grant started out strong, but then largely underwhelmed on Thursday night with just four receptions for 36 yards. He is still starting in three-receiver sets, though, and did see eight targets. Hang onto him if you can.

Nyheim Hines (RB, IND)

It is abundantly clear that Marlon Mack is the Colts primary back. However, there are two things working in Hines' favor. First, the Colts are one of the most pass-heavy teams in the league. Second, Mack hasn't exactly been the pinnacle of health. Hines still has his role as a pass-catching back. He won't give you zero. He's kind of like Theo Riddick, except with more upside and an actual ceiling in the event of a Mack injury.

Players To Add - Waiver Wire Pickups