RADIO
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care
what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway...
Before I proceed to give you my list of players that aren't worth holding onto in dynasty football, I first have to swear that I needed to look up those lyrics and DO NOT have them memorized. Since that's out of the way, let's see who needs to be dropped in dynasty football leagues for 2017 to make way for the incoming crop of rookies.
These players either haven't lived up to expectations or simply have been pushed aside by an incoming rookie or free agent, rendering them near-useless for fantasy purposes. I didn't go so far as to mention Leonte Carroo despite reports he is not even guaranteed a roster spot this season (maybe it's the Dolfan in me), but be warned that portions of this article may offend certain truthers!
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Players to Drop in Dynasty Leagues
Corey Grant (RB, JAX)
I was optimistic about Grant's potential usage in 2017 after seeing him jump into the lineup the last two weeks of the year, especially when he went off for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 17. Granted, it was the last game of the season for two non-playoff teams, but it at least showed he was a capable backup who could put up numbers if thrust into the starting job due to injuries. Then the Jags went out and drafted Leonard Fournette. Chris Ivory's contract be damned, the Jags are determined to finally get a ground game going with their first-round pick, which means Grant will probably not make the roster this season.
Matt Jones (RB, WAS)
The writing was on the wall for Jones even before Washington took Samaje Perine in this year's draft. Jones was benched after Week 7 for his fumbling issues, inconsistency and perceived lack of effort. Need I remind you that his replacement, Robert Kelley, was in fact an undrafted free agent out of Tulane, not exactly a back with a huge pedigree coming out of college. Jones has been given his unofficial walking papers by the team and his agent has officially requested his release. He will try to latch on elsewhere, which isn't uncommon for a running back, but he will be an RB3 at best on whatever squad he joins and simply has too many red flags. If you think a player who has more career fumbles (eight) than touchdowns (seven) is worth stashing, I beg you to reconsider.
Devin Funchess (WR, CAR)
Let the haters hate! This pick will undoubtedly get some backlash from Funchess truthers (who swore he would have a breakout season in '16), but that's OK with me. Funchess had plenty of opportunity to prove he was a starting caliber player in real-life and fantasy last season, but flopped miserably. People will blame Cam Newton, the offensive line, Mike Shula, et cetera, but need to own up to the fact Funchess didn't help his quarterback. He finished with a catch rate of 39.7% and averaged less than 25 yards per game, despite playing in 15 of 16 on the season. Curtis Samuel should emerge as the type of playmaker Funchess isn't. The Panthers don't have much depth after that, so Funchess will still see the field plenty, but I don't expect him to suddenly start producing. Regardless of opportunity, I'll take someone like Tyrell Williams or Allen Hurns over Devin Funchess any day, in any league type.
Sammie Coates (WR, PIT)
Technically he's still a Steeler, but he may be hard-pressed to make the roster. Rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster has gotten off to a good start in OTAs. Coates also has to contend with another pair of talented underachievers in Justin Hunter and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Hunter offers size and physical talent that Coates doesn't possess, while Heyward-Bey contributes on special teams. Coates was able to make an impact early on, making a couple of big plays that contributed to an impressive average of 20.1 yards per reception. He was a complete non-factor from Week 5 on, hauling in just two passes in the next nine games played. Coates was injured the majority of last season, so he'll have to show and prove he deserves a spot in Pittsburgh. Even so, he doesn't deserve one on your fantasy team, as he will be their WR5 at best.
Dion Sims (TE, CHI)
First, it seemed the Dolphins might keep Sims and make him the primary TE in 2017 after he scored four TD in a four-game stretch after claiming the starting job by default. Then, the Dolphins opted for Julius Thomas instead. Sims joined the Bears and it looked like he might compete for snaps with Zach Miller in Chicago under a fairly conservative passing attack that could favor the tight end. Then, they drafted Mitch Trubisky and Adam Shaheen, making it clear the youth movement is in full effect. With Miller the TE1 of the present and Shaheen being groomed as the TE1 of the future, Sims is in limbo. If Miller doesn't recover from a Lisfranc foot injury that has bothered him since late last season, it could open up a role for Sims. Still, his long-term prognosis has taken a nosedive just when it looked like he was emerging as a fantasy factor.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE, NYJ)
If you can't make it in New York, you can't make it anywhere. ASJ was cut by Tampa Bay two weeks into the season, quickly found a home with the Jets and did absolutely nothing. He totaled 110 yards in seven games, making it three straight disappointing seasons for the former second-round pick. The Jets' passing offense was abysmal last season, but he still had a golden opportunity to reel in targets and failed to stay on the field long enough to do so. With a two-game suspension kicking off his 2017 before it even starts, how much longer are we going to play the same game with him that we have with Josh Gordon and others who won't ever get it together? I'll use a roster spot on Jordan Leggett before wasting it on ASJ.
