The Cut List - Players on the Chopping Block (Week 8)

October 22, 2019

NFL players to consider cutting, dropping or benching for Week 8 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 8 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

Chiefs Wide Receivers not named Tyreek Hill

The only reason that Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, and Byron Pringle had any fantasy value was because of the prolific nature of the Chiefs' offense and the potential for one of them to pop on any given week. With Matt Moore likely under center until after the Chiefs' bye in Week 13, it will be Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and no one else. There won't be enough targets nor will the quality of targets be good enough to justify starting any of them. For what it's worth, you can probably drop Sammy Watkins, too. He's always hurt and hasn't been good in years. Even if he does return, he's just another random "not Tyreek Hill" receiver.

Mohamed Sanu (WR, ATL)

After a nice three game run as a WR2, Mohamed Sanu has fallen off the face of the Earth with a total of four receptions for 32 yards over the past two weeks. The Falcons are right there with the Dolphins, Redskins, and Bengals as one of the worst teams in the league. Sanu is still out-snapping Calvin Ridley by a significant margin, but the Falcons are just not a team you want to invest in. After they lose to Seattle this week, Dan Quinn will be fired during the bye and the full season flush will be complete. Matt Ryan is dealing with an ankle injury and could very well be held out if things get worse given the lost season. Move on from Sanu.

Damien Williams (RB, KC)

As I predicted back on September 20, Damien Williams' career as a relevant asset was over. He was always a product of circumstance. He was the guy because he was the last man standing as the guy. Once he got hurt, someone replaced him. That is the definition of replacement level. Williams got hurt and he was replaced. It is as simple as that. Williams reached double digit fantasy points in Week 1 and hasn't done so since. He only missed two games. Chiefs' running backs used to have value. With Patrick Mahomes out until Week 13, it is no longer "any running back will do." LeSean McCoy led the backfield with 43% of the snaps and will continue to hover around that 50% mark with the Williamses splitting backup duties. Damien is an easy drop.

Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)

Maybe I should've led with a borderline first round pick that is not droppable, but it's more fun to throw him in the middle here. Joe Mixon has all the talent in the world and it doesn't matter. Two weeks ago, he hit rock bottom, carrying the ball for eight times for 10 yards... except he didn't. He somehow managed an even worse performance last week, carrying the ball 10 times for two yards. Yes, that is a real stat line. He scored a touchdown, yet didn't even get to eight fantasy points. With the Bengals possessing the league's worst offensive line and incapable of generating any offense, Mixon is stuck with nowhere to go. The constant negative game script leads to more Giovani Bernard in comeback mode. The Bengals are heavy underdogs this week at the Rams, then they go on bye before returning for a home date with Baltimore. The Bengals will probably be underdogs in every game they play this season and while they've been in some competitive games, nothing has mattered for Mixon running into brick walls. I do caution that for this one, please refer back to the headline of this section, "Players to drop or consider replacing." I'm not suggesting you run to drop Mixon, but rather that you understand Mixon is okay to drop if you need the roster spot for something better.

Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't

Allen Lazard (WR, GB)

I know the returns of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison put a damper on Allen Lazard's upside, but Lazard still led all Packers' wide receivers in snaps at 85% last week. He has more talent than MVS and Allison combined. Matt LaFleur may not see it, but it's worth it to hang on for another week if you can. Davante Adams is probably not returning this week. I actually think he's not particularly close to a return. Aaron Rodgers likes Lazard and Lazard made a pretty impressive catch last week to reward Rodgers' confidence. Give him one more week if you can.

Players To Add - Waiver Wire Pickups