The Cut List - Players on the Chopping Block (Week 6)

October 9, 2018

NFL players to consider cutting, dropping or benching for Week 6 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 6 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

Marquise Goodwin (WR, SF)

I don't think any player's stock rose more from May to August then Marquise Goodwin. As it turns out, whether you got Goodwin in round four or round nine, you paid too much. The 49ers offense is in shambles after losing its QB, top two RBs, and rookie WR. Goodwin has barely been healthy this season and hasn't done much when on the field. We are now entering Week 6 where teams need to start considering planning for the playoffs or focusing on getting to the playoffs. You don't need to keep him on your roster.

Lamar Miller (RB, HOU)

This one is far less surprising. We all knew Lamar Miller wasn't good at football, but some of us were enticed by the prospect of an injured D'Onta Foreman causing Miller to once again be guaranteed significant volume. Unfortunately, volume can't make a player suddenly produce, especially when running behind a poor offensive line. Miller was "active" Sunday night against the Cowboys, but Alfred Blue started and played all but one offensive snap. Blue wasn't spectacular on the ground with 20-46, but added 8-73 through the air. He is going to start regardless of Miller's health, relegating Miller to pure handcuff status.

Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)

I wanted to put him here last week, but I gave him the benefit of a game against Buffalo where we knew, for sure, there would never be negative game script. It didn't matter. Derrick Henry has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers all season. He has scored between 4.10 and 5.92 fantasy points in every game this season. He is consistently terrible. We have seen the Titans in games with largely neutral game script this season and Henry simply cannot get going. Enough is enough.

Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN)

Joe Mixon returned and played a career high in snaps. He also looked fantastic doing it. He is the feature back that the Bengals want. Giovani Bernard had likely carved out an increased role with his plus showing while filling in, but even when he returns from his sprained MCL in a couple weeks, he will be back to a pure handcuff. He doesn't have zero value, but he's not a must keep.

Mark Walton (RB, CIN)

Many people added Mark Walton after Marvin Lewis fooled everyone into thinking Walton might see some work ahead of Mixon. A few seconds of thought into that statement would've revealed how fraudulent it was. The idea that Lewis would see Mixon perform well and then take him off the field because "rest" was just nonsense. That is exactly what happened. Walton barely played while Mixon dominated touches and snaps. Even if Mixon were to go down, Walton would not just assume the every down role. And once Gio comes back, Walton is the handcuff to the handcuff.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR, BUF)

Josh Allen threw for 82 yards in a full game of football. He is one of the worst QBs to ever play in the NFL. It's astounding that the Bills actually won on Sunday. Kelvin Benjamin has no hope of being even a top 60 WR with Allen under center. Drop him in all non dynasty formats.

Jay Ajayi (RB, PHI)

I updated this list to include Jay Ajayi after it was revealed he tore his ACL, but he was teetering on the brink of appearing here due to his play. Ajayi is simply a terrible football player and while I never root for injuries, the Eagles just got a lot better now that he's gone. Wendell Smallwood will lead a committee with Corey Clement, Darren Sproles, and Josh Adams, in that order depending on the health of Clement and Sproles.

Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't

Quincy Enunwa (WR, NYJ)

I know he put up a goose egg last week, but similar to how I had Isaiah Crowell in this exact spot last week (how'd that work out?), Quincy Enunwa deserves the benefit of the doubt as well. He had been averaging around 10 targets per game before Week 5 and a lot of his failure had to do with randomness. Sam Darnold threw two long touchdowns to Robby Anderson and was just barely unable to connect with Enunwa on a few occasions. Enunwa will be fine.

Dion Lewis (RB, TEN)

While Derrick Henry should be dropped, Dion Lewis has enough kick in the receptions department to remain a worthy fantasy RB3. He's not going to be worth his draft stock, but he can fill in on byes and in a bind. The Titans are more likely to experience negative game script than significant positive game script, which means Lewis will have games where he pushes 10 targets. That's enough to be worth hanging onto.

Players To Add - Waiver Wire Pickups