🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

The Cut List (Week 13): Players To Consider Cutting Bait On

Welcome to Week 13's edition of The Cut List, RotoBaller's weekly column filled with advice on who is fat to be trimmed from your roster and who deserves a little more time on your plate. Each player receives both statistical and social media analysis, providing both real and ridiculous reasons why we--Tony Peters and Ben Hamren of the All Stats A Salad weekly fantasy football podcast--feel the way we do. The season's chalk full of angst and anxiety, let us take you beyond the stats to tickle your funny bone and your brain.

All ownership rates are taken from Fleaflicker and opponent ranks are based on the last four weeks. Be sure to check our Week 13 (NSFW) episodes of the All Stats A Salad podcast--out every Wednesday and Friday--by clicking here.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 13 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

 

Week 13 Players to Consider Cutting or Replacing

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN) - 75% Owned

WK12: 26-of-48 for 283 yards, one TD; three rushes for 14 yards, no TD
WK10-WK12: 66-of-120 for 694 yards, three TD, three INT; 8 rushes for 39 yards, one TD
WK13: Eagles (10th in points allowed to QB)

BEN: "The Red Rocket" quietly was putting together a solid fantasy year this year. Then, in true Bengals' fashion, things began to fall apart. Since the team's Week 8 tie against Washington, Dalton has four touchdowns to four interceptions and hasn't thrown for more than 300 yards in a game. Add the loss of wide receiver A.J. Green and running back Giovani Bernard, and I see no reason why his numbers will improve. While still clearly the best NFL team in Ohio, their season is over and Dalton won't help them win a Super Bowl this season any more than he'll help fantasy players win championships. 10-team leagues should find a better way to use his roster spot.

All stats a salad...shout out to the meme I found about Tim Tebow having more wins in the playoffs than Dalton. That is a hard monkey to get off your back. There is hope though. Obviously not this year, but there is always hope. Just take it from Tom Treebow.

 

Allen Hurns (WR, JAX) - 62% Owned

WK12: 1-of-7 for 12 yards, one TD
WK10-WK12: 3-of-16 for 34 yards, one TD
WK13 Opponent: Broncos (17th in points allowed to WR)

TONY: It is time to break up the band. "The Allens"--wide receiver Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns--were one of the most valuable tandems in football last season, but they have utterly failed to repeat this season. While Robinson is still somewhat holding onto this WR1 fantasy value, Hurns has been left out to dry by struggling quarterback Blake Bortles. Since Week 8, Hurns has caught a truly depressing 4-of-20 targets for 34 yards and a touchdown while fellow receiver Marqise Lee has been establishing himself as the new Hurns, catching 16-of-28 targets for 223 yards and two touchdowns during the same time frame. Throw in an injured hamstring that could keep Hurns out of the Jaguars' Week 13 contest with the Broncos and you have a map to Dumpsville in 10-and-12 team leagues, followed by a pit stop to pick up the 10% owned Lee on the way home.

All stats a salad...I can't tell if Hurns is being trolled by UDFA linebacker Tyriq McCord recently on Twitter or if they are friends engaging in light-hearted ribbing. For a guy who has never played in an NFL game before, McCord is quite chippy on Twitter, talking smack on everything from Hurns' leg health to his choice of television. For Hurns' part, he has kept his cool when replying back to McCord's trolling and has yet to make light of the fact McCord is tweeting about games instead of playing in them.

 

Tavon Austin (WR, LA) - 68% Owned

WK12: 4-of-4 for 45 yards, one TD
WK10-WK12: 7-of-13 for 85 yards, one TD
WK13 Opponent: Patriots (23rd in points allowed to WR)

TONY: Graduating from Week 7's Hot Seat to the full-on cut section, wide receiver Tavon Austin has done very little to change his fantasy prospects in 10-and-12 team, standard scoring leagues. Sure, he's on pace to set new career-highs in all offensive categories, he's been trending downwards since catching 10-of-15 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown back in Week 7 against the Jets. With rookie quarterback Jared Goff set to face the vicious Patriots in Week 13, whatever goodwill that came from Goff to Austin in Week 12 is set to be rinsed cleanly away. Unless your league rewards fantasy points just for showing up, Austin's an easy cut.

All stats a salad...what the heck Austin is doing in this Instagram post from Thanksgiving? Did he just sneeze? Is he trying to catch a whiff of a post-meal fart? Is his wrist sore from a day of intense ping-pong? While the man has plenty of normal pictures on his account, he has a tendency to post pictures of him looking in the distance as if someone just called his name. Pictures are like passes, Tavon: they are best when facing forward.

 

Duke Johnson (RB, CLE) - 66% Owned

WK12: five rushes for 14 yards, zero TD; 3-of-5 targets for 26 yards, no TD
WK10-WK12: nine rushes for 30 yards, zero TD; 9-of-14 targets for 97 yards, no TD
WK13 Opponent: Bye

TONY: Don't let the bye fool you: this has been a long time coming. Running back Duke Johnson has a ton of real life value for the Browns, now and in the future, but has little to offer from a fantasy perspective right now. Stuck behind Isaiah Crowell, himself a lackluster fantasy option, there's simply no reason outside of PPR leagues that Johnson should be rostered. The Browns haven't won a single game this season. Do you really think that if Johnson was good enough to be owned in 66% of fantasy leagues that he'd be used as sparingly as he has? He's a thoughtless drop in all non-PPR leagues.

All stats a salad...while Johnson is a loser on the fantasy tip, the man wins a thousand times over with this Instagram post he made Monday afternoon. I have no idea who it is featured in the clip as it doesn't look like Johnson, but they lay down the soundest Thanksgiving leftover rulebook I have ever heard, calendar and itinerary included.

 

Hot Seat - Sending Warning Signals

Brandin Cooks (WR, NO) - 100% Owned

WK12: 0-of-0
WK10-WK12: 10-of-13 for 140 yards, one TD
WK13: Lions (27th in points allowed to WR)

BEN: Nothing! I wish wide receiver Brandin Cooks could give me the Gronk excuse of being hurt as the reason why he came up empty Week 12. But he isn't; he's just frustrating. His team put up 49 points, quarterback Drew Brees had 310 yards and four touchdowns...and Cooks hauls in nothing but sweet, sweet oxygen. The hope is that this isn't the new norm and is instead a blip, but he has had numerous duds this year. He should be a lock of the century of the week on this team, but the Saints hate the idea of a clear number one wide receiver and Cooks apparently isn't one to argue. He still can't be cut, but that doesn't mean you can't snarl at him on your roster. It's only fair.

All stats a salad...following this disastrous game for Cooks, coach Sean Peyton had some words of wisdom in regards to the lack of targets. In his words, “I think part of it is the result of some of the coverages.” Cooks follows this up by pinning a tweet of his very own crafting from July to let the people know what's up. There is nothing better than pinning a one-word tweet from months ago in regards to a squadoosh. Keep on keeping on, Cooks.

 

Marvin Jones Jr. (WR, DET) - 86% Owned

WK12: 4-of-11 for 54 yards, zero TD
WK10-WK12: 5-of-13 for 69 yards, zero TD (includes bye)
WK13 Opponent: Saints (20th in points allowed to WR)

TONY: As a fellow owner of wide receiver Marvin Jones, Jr., I am ready to cut bait on one of the worst fantasy producers at his position over the past four weeks. Despite playing in all of the Lions' last four games, he has two games with only a single catch and is still without a touchdown since Week 6. The only reason I moved him from the cut section above this is his 11 targets Week 12, his most since Week 2 during his hot opening to the season. The Saints have been steadily improving their pass defense this season, which doesn't bode well for Jones going forward. 10-and-12 team, non-PPR leagues should be very, very concerned about Jones' chances as the fantasy playoffs loom.

All stats a salad...Jones has been quiet on social media since he turned the lights out on his fantasy value post-Week 7. But looking back at this video he posted on Facebook the day after the Lions' Week 7 win, maybe it is our fault for being surprised that he has "dropped the ball" since then. Either that or his subconscious really likes to mess with him.

 

Thomas Rawls (RB, SEA) - 86% Owned

WK12: 12 rushes for 38 yards, no TD; 0-of-1
WK10-WK12: 26 rushes for 95 yards, no TD; 3-of-5 for 31 yards, no TD
WK13: Panthers (27th in points allowed to RB)

BEN: While it's easy to cut running back Thomas Rawls some slack for his lackluster performance since returning from injury, he is in the actual and fantasy football pressure cooker. His return lead to fellow back Christine Michael being cut just before C.J. Prosise went down with his own injury. This puts the running game squarely on Rawls, something that has not lead to super goodness so far. The Seahawks put up a stellar five points against the Bucs Week 12 and are facing a better than earlier in the year Panthers' defense this weekend. With the Hawks' shaky offensive line, he is going to have to make it happen himself (something his quarterback Russell Wilson would appreciate). But does he have the stuff? Hot seat material!

All stats a salad...I don't expect Rawls to be on the hot seat for long. Neither does he, not with this impressive picture of himself as a train. I choo-choo chose him for the Hot Seat simply because he might need a kick in the pants and looks like he'd be receptive to that sort of message. The only way this could be better is if the message was a big old Cole Train--WHOOOOOOOO!

 

Stash and Pray

Greg Olsen (TE, CAR) - 100% Owned

WK12: 4-of-5 for 45 yards, zero TD
WK10-WK12: 13-of-20 for 117 yards, zero TD
WK13: Seahawks (15th in points allowed to TE)

BEN: In my continuing segment titled “Carolina Doesn't Make Sense,” we have with us for the first--and most likely only time--tight end Greg Olsen! Some people (namely Tony) thought I was crazy to slap Olsen on this column due to how thin the tight end position is in fantasy this year and how historically productive he is. Well, tell that to his production the last five weeks. They look like Buzz's girlfriend: woof. Just like fellow Panther wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin last week, there is zero reason these dudes shouldn't get the ball more. Who is catching the ball...Ted Ginn? Really? This can't be reality. Olsen has to bounce back, he just has to.

All stats a salad...Olsen took on Von Miller--who has a sock line, by the way--in a charity Madden game. Now, I'm not going to pretend I looked up the contest but Olsen won 7-3. If the stats behind him are to be believed, mother of god his offense in Madden is as bad as it is in real life. Come on, Olsen!


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
Lonzo Ball

Available Against Knicks
Evan Mobley

Listed as Questionable for Christmas Tilt
OG Anunoby

Returns to Action Thursday
Jalen Brunson

Available on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Cam Whitmore

Out Indefinitely With Deep Vein Thrombosis
Corey Kispert

Lasts for 13 Minutes in Comeback Game
Jaxson Hayes

Makes Early Exit Versus Suns
Gary Trent Jr.

Limited to Five Minutes Tuesday
Matas Buzelis

Exits With Leg Injury Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Sustains Calf Injury Tuesday
Cameron Johnson

Scheduled for MRI After Hurting Right Knee
Chet Holmgren

Suffers Facial Injury Tuesday
Caris LeVert

Upgraded to Available Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP