RADIO
Andy's fantasy baseball cut list rankings, drop candidates for Week 17 waiver wire (2026). Is it time to drop these struggling players for better waiver wire options?
Howdy, RotoBallers, and welcome to our updated Cut List Rankings for fantasy baseball in Week 17 of the 2026 MLB season. The All-Star break is behind us, and it's time to get back to business ahead of the stretch run of the fantasy season.
In this week's edition, we will look at some struggling hitters, including Dylan Crews, George Springer, Jo Adell, and Royce Lewis, who appear to be entering drop territory.
Let's dig into this list of injured or disappointing players and work through how deserving they are of remaining in your fantasy baseball lineups. Read about our top players to cut for Week 17 of the MLB season. It's time to make some tough calls, RotoBallers!
Featured Promo: Save 50% off the regular price with discount code CHAMP, for a limited time. Exclusive access to our Team Sync platform, DFS cheat sheets, Lineup Optimizers, betting/prop picks, and exclusive content from Nick Mariano and Eric Cross! GAIN ACCESS NOW
Cut List Rankings: Fantasy Baseball Players to Drop?
The top players to consider cutting for fantasy baseball in priority order. Players at the top of the list should be dropped first and replaced on the waiver wire.
| Rank | Player Name | Pos. | Team | % Ros. | Baller Move |
| 1 | Brandon Woodruff | SP | MIL | 75 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 2 | Robert Gasser | SP | MIL | 15 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 3 | Noah Schultz | SP | CWS | 10 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 4 | Tatsuya Imai | SP | HOU | 35 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 5 | Zebby Matthews | SP | MIN | 20 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 6 | Dustin May | SP | STL | 30 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 7 | Alex Lange | RP | KC | 20 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 8 | Ian Seymour | SP | TB | 60 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 9 | Dylan Crews | OF | WSH | 30 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 10 | Shane Bieber | SP | TOR | 40 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 11 | Emerson Hancock | SP | SEA | 80 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 12 | Andrew Abbott | SP | CIN | 65 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 13 | Shane Baz | SP | BAL | 55 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 14 | Royce Lewis | 1B/3B | MIN | 35 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 15 | Cole Carrigg | OF | COL | 30 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 16 | Daylen Lile | OF | WSH | 60 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 17 | Will Warren | SP | NYY | 60 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 18 | Jung Hoo Lee | OF | SF | 35 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 19 | Travis Bazzana | 2B | CLE | 35 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 20 | Henry Bolte | OF | ATH | 10 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 21 | Gage Jump | SP | ATH | 30 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 22 | Ryan Helsley | RP | BAL | 65 | Hold in Deeper Leagues (IL Stash) |
| 23 | Corey Seager | SS | TEX | 85 | Hold in Deeper Leagues (IL Stash) |
| 24 | Nick Lodolo | SP | CIN | 65 | Hold in Deeper Leagues (IL Stash) |
| 25 | Austin Riley | 3B | ATL | 80 | Hold in Most Leagues (on bench) |
| 26 | Jo Adell | OF | LAA | 60 | Hold in Most Leagues (on bench) |
| 27 | Davis Martin | SP | CWS | 70 | Hold in Deeper Leagues |
| 28 | Teoscar Hernandez | OF | TOR | 85 | Hold in All Leagues |
| 29 | George Springer | OF | TOR | 70 | Hold in All Leagues |
| 30 | Brandon Marsh | OF | PHI | 80 | Hold in All Leagues |
Fantasy Baseball Drops: Week 17 Player News and Outlooks
Gage Jump, SP, Athletics
Cut List Ranking No. 21
Athletics left-handed starting pitcher Gage Jump has been knocked around in July, but the strikeouts keep showing up. He fanned eight over 3 2/3 innings against Washington on Friday, July 17, while allowing four runs, three earned. Jump now has a 7.30 ERA and 1.95 WHIP through three July starts. Ugly, yes. He also has 16 strikeouts in only 12 1/3 innings during that stretch.
His full major-league line looks much better: a 3.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts against 17 walks over 52 1/3 innings. The fastball averages 96.3 mph, and the swing-and-miss ability gives him a reason to remain patient. Jump is rostered in just 29% of Yahoo leagues. Tough home matchups may require some discretion, but he still belongs on rosters in 12-team formats for managers who need strikeouts.
Emerson Hancock, SP, Seattle Mariners
Cut List Ranking No. 11
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock (hand) is scheduled to take the mound to start against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Hancock was removed during his final start before the All-Star break after getting hit on the hand by a comebacker. Thanks to the break, Hancock received some extra time to rest and recover. It appears that Hancock won't require a trip to the Injured List, so the extra time off has helped.
This season, Hancock owns a 3.17 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 94/25 K/BB ratio across 18 starts but has endured some struggles, posting a 3.89 ERA since June 1. He has been a nice surprise story for the Mariners and is deserving of being rostered in deeper fantasy formats.
Brandon Woodruff, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Cut List Ranking No. 1
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) announced Saturday that he will undergo surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, ending his 2026 season. It is the same operation he had in October 2023, a recovery that cost him all of 2024 and kept him out until July 2025. Woodruff said he is going through with the procedure "with the goal in mind of pitching again" and pushed back on retirement talk, adding, "I'm not having a funeral or anything." The 33-year-old finishes 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings over nine starts.
He can be dropped in all redraft leagues. Shane Drohan and Robert Gasser are scheduled to start for Milwaukee this weekend while the club continues sorting through a depleted rotation.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Articles
Looking to add a player off the waiver wire? After diving into the cut list rankings, read about some waiver wire pickups to consider instead:
- Updated Waiver Wire Rankings
- Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups
- 7 Must-Add Waiver Wire Pickups
- Top 25 Prospects to Stash
Each week, our MLB team puts out a complete array of fantasy baseball waiver wire articles to complement our slick Who Should I Pick Up? waiver wire player comparison tool. Bookmark it!
In addition, be on the lookout for our other waiver wire articles all season long. We will be releasing weekly waiver wire articles for each position, FAAB bidding recommendations, streamers, and more throughout the week.
Who Should I Pick Up Fantasy Baseball Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire instead? Check the "Who Should I Pick Up" tool:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
2026 Player Decisions. Looking to pick up someone else instead? Today's focus is on specific players like Jasson Dominguez, Chase Meidroth, Reynaldo Lopez, Tristan Peters, Ryan Jeffers, Joshua Baez, Lane Thomas, Mason Montgomery, Jacob Webb, Heliot Ramos, Samuel Basallo. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four MLB players at once, and then click the Who to Pick Up? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pick Up? You may have noticed that our Who Should I Pick Up? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see MLB player tiles with stats, projections, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who to Pick Up
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pick Up tool for 2026 for players like Jasson Dominguez, Chase Meidroth, Reynaldo Lopez, Tristan Peters, Ryan Jeffers, Joshua Baez, Lane Thomas, Mason Montgomery, Jacob Webb, Heliot Ramos, Samuel Basallo:
More Fantasy Baseball Advice
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
