The Cut List - Players on the Chopping Block (Week 11)

November 12, 2019

NFL players to consider cutting, dropping or benching for Week 11 of the 2019 season. Jason Katz'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.

Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing

Philip Rivers (QB, LAC)

I want to say I'm surprised I even need to put his name on here, but I'm not. Every year, without fail, fantasy owners draft Philip Rivers. Every year, without fail, he is not a QB1. Through nine games, Rivers has finished no higher than seventh on a given week and finished as a QB1 just three times. He has scored 13 points or fewer five times. I want to give him enough to credit to at least call him a viable streamer, but he's not even that good. He's proven as much in completely flopping in great matchups against Detroit and Oakland. This week against Kansas City sure looks appetizing, but Rivers has proven he belongs far away from fantasy teams. Sure, he will have a couple QB1 weeks ahead, but predicting them will be impossible.

Jonnu Smith (TE, TEN)

Outside of one excellent game, Jonnu Smith has been nothing more than a random TE2 providing easily streamable production. Even without Delanie Walker the last two weeks, Jonnu managed 7.0 and 4.8 fantasy points. The Titans are now heading into their bye and Walker is due back the following week, which should relegate Jonnu to part time duty.

Anthony Miller (WR, CHI)

I was surprised to see his ownership percentage as high as it was. Anthony Miller, for starters, is not any sort of special talent. Add in the fact that his quarterback is Mitch Trubisky, who can only support one receiver, that being Allen Robinson, and rostering his third receiver seems unwise. Miller has yet to crack double digits this season. It is doubtful he ever will.

Kalen Ballage (RB, MIA)

If you picked up Kalen Ballage because Mark Walton was suspended, shame on you! Yes, the process says to chase volume and any running back seeing significant usage is usually worth rostering. Key word: usually. Kalen Ballage is an extreme outlier in the sense that he is, legitimately, the worst running back in NFL history. There exists no situation and no amount of opportunity that would make Ballage a useful asset in any capacity. He should be 0% owned across every format of fantasy football imaginable.

Latavius Murray (RB, NO)

It goes without saying that you don't have to drop Latavius Murray. He is still one of the most valuable handcuffs in the league. Just understand he is nothing more than a handcuff. There is no standalone value with Alvin Kamara healthy. Murray played just 25% of the snaps last week compared to 78% for Kamara. Do not feel obligated to hang onto Murray.

Darrell Henderson (RB, LAR)

We were all wondering how Sean McVay would handle this backfield given how explosive Darrell Henderson looked compared to the other two plodders. We got our answer. With Malcolm Brown back, McVay promptly went right back to featuring Brown as the second man behind Gurley. Brown played 16% of the snaps compared to Henderson's 10%. The Rams are undoubtedly missing the playoffs as one of the NFL's weaker teams. This is not the same team you desperately wanted a piece of last season. Henderson is not going to happen as a rookie.

Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't

Tyrell Williams (WR, OAK)

While far from a must hold, Tyrell Williams is still the top wide receiver on an above average offense. The Raiders also boast one of the most favorable rest of season schedules, with matchups against the Bengals, Jets, and Chiefs on tap for the next three weeks. Williams should have his chances even though he's been revealed as a touchdown or bust WR3.

Players To Add - Waiver Wire Pickups