The Cut List - Players on the Chopping Block (Week 4)

September 24, 2019

NFL players to consider cutting, dropping or benching for Week 4 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 4 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 From Last Week You Need to Drop Already

• Jared Cook (TE, NO)
• Corey Davis (WR, TEN)

Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing

Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE)

Unless you have a no doubt starter, you might as well stream. Baker Mayfield is no better than a streamer. You can play Mayfield in a good matchup the same way you can play Jimmy Garoppolo or Matthew Stafford. You don't need to nor should you keep Jimmy G or Stafford on your roster. But they're there when you need them. Mayfield was viewed as an every week starter and rightfully so. After three weeks, we must react to new information. Mayfield has thrown three touchdowns against five interceptions. Watching him play on Sunday night was painful. He seems slow through his progressions and does not know when to just get rid of the ball. The Browns look like a mediocre offense. Let me ask you this question: Are you sure you'd rather start Mayfield against the Ravens over Daniel Jones against the Redskins next week? I think I'd rather Jones. Enough said.

Jamison Crowder (WR, NYJ)

This one isn't entirely on Jamison Crowder, but he needs to go. You can do better. After 17 targets in Week 1, Crowder has just 11 targets over his past two games. Much of the problem is due to Luke Falk being his quarterback, but that is not going to be remedied anytime soon. And even if Darnold makes it back by Week 7 or so, the Jets are looking at a bye, the Eagles, Cowboys, Patriots, and Jaguars. Crowder can survive on volume alone, but the team needs to sustain drives for that to happen. The only Jet that belongs on anyone's roster is Le'Veon Bell.

Robby Anderson (WR, NYJ)

See: Crowder, Jamison

Latavius Murray (RB, NO)

Last week, we saw warning signals. This week, the red flags are waving. In the absence of Drew Brees, the Saints are just going all in on Alvin Kamara, which relegates Latavius Murray to pure handcuff. Murray isn't good enough to survive in a non Brees offense, so he's an uninspiring handcuff at that. Murray played just 12 snaps last week. No need to hold on.

Warning Signals

Sony Michel (RB, NE)

You can drop Sony Michel if you want, but there is one reason to hang on and one reason only: touchdowns. The Patriots are a top five offense with a bottom five schedule. They will be in the red zone and at the goal line frequently. Michel has proven quite capable at falling into the end zone. He's a glorified LeGarrette Blount. Michel is certainly more talented than Blount, but not by much. He is, by far, the least talented running back on the Patriots. It is difficult to reach any other conclusion as every other running back is operating under the same circumstances and all of them are performing much better. If you combine Michel's numbers from Weeks 1 and 3, you get 24 carries for 25 yards. His 83 yards in Week 2 still took him 21 attempts. He's basically Jeff Wilson on a better offense - a pure touchdown or bust option that has proven capable of busting even when scoring. I'd rather roster Rex Burkhead.

Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't

Kenyan Drake (RB, MIA)

I know. I know. All things Dolphins are terrible. While that's true, Kenyan Drake has two things going for him. First, he's actually a pretty safe "won't get you zero" plug n play guy. He's scored 8.2 and 9.8 over his last two games. That isn't terrible if the rest of your team is good or you just need a warm body. Second, and more important, is the possibility he may be traded to literally anywhere else. Some landing spots are obviously better than others, but I can't fathom that any team would trade for him to not use him, which means, at the bare minimum, he should be what he is now with the upside for more.

Players To Add - Waiver Wire Pickups