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NFL players to consider cutting, dropping or benching for Week 11 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 11 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.
Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.
Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing
Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR)
I truly despise having to put guys like Cooper Kupp on this list purely because of injury, but it is what it is. Kupp tore his ACL on Sunday just weeks after returning from a multi-week MCL sprain. Josh Reynolds is the next man up and if there were ever a week to spot start him, it's in a game where there should be about 90 points scored.
Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI)
There's just nothing here with Wendell Smallwood. He's clearly playing behind Josh Adams and only touched the ball five times last week. In a three-man committee with a sub 40% opportunity share, you don't need Smallwood on your bench.
Taylor Gabriel (WR, CHI)
I said to hang on for one more week and Taylor Gabriel rewarded my confidence in him but putting up a bagel. We live in a world where Mitch Trubisky is arguably the best QB in fantasy and Gabriel can't even catch a pass. This is four weeks in a row of Gabriel being largely unproductive. Time to move on.
Tre'Quan Smith (WR, NO)
The rookie is certainly a good receiver and has a future in this league, but right now, Tre'quan Smith is nothing more than a situational player in the Saints offense. They scored 52 points last week and Smith didn't record a single catch. He's too far down the totem pole to matter. You're obviously hanging onto him in dynasty formats, but in redraft, he doesn't need to be owned.
Mike Williams (WR, LAC)
This one was super obvious. Mike Williams started the season by scoring touchdowns at an unsustainable rate, but there was never any indication he was pushing Tyrell Williams for the starting job nor that he was a key component of the offense. Mike had scored in each of the Chargers previous two games, but he now has a grand total of three receptions in his last four games.
Carlos Hyde (RB, JAX)
I'm not quite sure why the Jaguars traded for Carlos Hyde. He was inactive for his first game as a Jaguar and barely played in his second. Then the Jaguars had their bye and now Leonard Fournette is back. Hyde is basically what Nick Chubb was in Cleveland before Hyde was traded. The difference, though, is that if Fournette went down again, I'm not so sure Hyde wouldn't be second fiddle to Yeldon.
Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't
T.J. Yeldon (RB, JAX)
With Leonard Fournette back and clearly commanding the lion's share of the work, fantasy owners may feel like T.J. Yeldon doesn't need to be owned. Sure, you can drop him if you must, but Yeldon is still the guy in there in obvious passing situations and the two-minute drill. In games where the Jaguars experience significant negative game script, Yeldon can rack up the receptions. There's also the possibility Fournette goes down again. Hang onto Yeldon.
Christian Kirk (WR, ARI)
After a game where he caught just two balls for eight yards against a weak defense, Christian Kirk certainly may be on your team's cutting block. Just hang on. Next week against the Raiders should be much better. Kirk is still operating as the team's clear WR2 behind Larry Fitzgerald and he has big-play potential that Fitz hasn't had for years. The rookie is super talented and could still be a factor going forward.
