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The Cut List (Week 7): Players To Consider Cutting Bait On

Welcome to Week 7'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. Be sure to check our Week 7 (NSFW) episodes of the All Stats A Salad podcast by clicking here.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 7 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!

 

Week 7 Players to Consider Cutting or Replacing

Darren Sproles (RB, PHI) - 61% Owned

WK6: four carries for 20 yards; 1-of-1 for four yards
2016: 28 carries for 116 yards; 15-of-18 for 187 yards and one touchdown
WK7 Opponent: Vikings (28th in points allowed to RB)

TONY: Look, we all know Darren Sproles is good for one big fantasy day of the year, and Santa Sproles came early this year, delivering in Week 3. Since then, he's been too quiet for 10-team standard scoring leagues, rushing nine times for 65 yards and catching all five of his targets for 28 yards. "Tank" was a great find in 2014, but he was rarely useful outside of deep PPR leagues last season and has done nothing to reset that trend this year. With his next three opponents all ranking near the bottom of points allowed to running backs over the past four weeks--Vikings (28th), Cowboys (26th) and Giants (25th)--he's a tough sell for a good while.

All stats a salad...in this throwback picture Sproles posted on Instagram earlier this year, he looks like a mini-version of boxer Mike Tyson. With Greg Hardy making news by attempting to transition into MMA, Sproles should stop wasting his time adding to his amazing career all-purpose yard totals and start fight training. Normally, common sense says you can't be an amazing fighter just by looking like one, but Hardy's delusions have convinced me anything is possible.

 

Chris Boswell (K, PIT) - 74% Owned

WK6: zero field goals, one XPM
2016: 4-of-5 FGM, 18-of-18 XPM
WK7: Patriots (tied for 31st in points allowed to K)

BEN: High-powered offense means all the points! This man came off the street in the wake of Josh Scobee killing dreams to redeem the position in Pittsburgh. Problem is, the Steelers score touchdowns and lots of them. They also live the two-point conversion life like it ain't no thang. Pair that with a team who just lost "Big Ben" for a bit of time and a Week 7 opponent suppressing nearly all fantasy value opposing kickers can muster and Boswell may end up going hungry without all those extra points kicks to pad his totals. Take a season long pass on this guy.

All stats a a salad...I always wonder who kickers are and who they hangout with as they have been wrongfully marginalized as not real members of their teams despite the crucial role they play. (Ask FSU if they agree with how important I think kickers are.) Anyways, this tweet from head coach Mike Tomlin makes me nothing but sad on the inside. They are the three best friends that anyone could ever have but no one wants.

 

Jason Witten (TE, DAL) - 84% Owned (This week's "Bye Week Busta Busta"/"Bye Week Felicia")

WK6: 4-of-8 for 42 yards
2016: 28-of-42 for 274 yards
WK7: Bye followed by Eagles (31st in points allowed to RB)

BEN: Hard hittin' Jason Witten, the gold standard for on-the-field tight end production long before the likes of Gronk showed up. For years Romo to Witten was as sure a thing as any tandem in the NFL. That is no longer the case with Romo perma-hurt and Dak Prescott having better things to do than throw to Witten with Zeke cutting a rug atop of every defense put in front of him. With Romo not even a guarantee to return to center, Witten is a cut in 10-team leagues.

All stats a salad...most people will tell you when Witten isn't tackling cheerleaders on the sidelines, he's a stand up guy who has praises the work ethic of all teammates, even Greg Hardy. If that doesn't call his credibility into question--one of fantasy's most important categories--it hit a new low when he was quoted as “channeling his inner Jerry Jones” using the Cowboys' owner "circumcise a mosquito" line. Is that even kosher? I'm siding with Martellus here.

 

Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA) - 58% Owned

WK6: 3-of-5 for 23 yards
2016: 11-of-20 for 152 yards
WK7 Opponent: Cardinals (23rd in points allowed to WR)

TONY: The issue here is that as great or not great Tyler Lockett is or isn't really doesn't matter when talking about his fantasy value. When your quarterback is Russell Wilson, you play for wins and wins alone. Russell is currently ranked 25th in the NFL with 170 passing attempts, 20th with 1,334 passing yards and 27th in touchdowns with five. So regardless of the lingering effects from Lockett's injured knee, he's only caught 4-of-8 targets for 33 yards over his last four games because there's nothing for him to work with. His only value at this point is as a deep league stash at best.

All stats a salad...fans seems to be enjoying pulling these autographed Tyler Lockett trading cards, especially the one that seems to taunt his fantasy owners. There have been almost exclusively bad days when rostering Lockett this season, let alone those who may be starting him.

 

Hot Seat - Sending Warning Signals

Pittsburgh Defense (DEF, PIT) - 86% Owned

WK6: 30 PA
2016: 20.5 PA per game, eight sacks, three INT, three FUM
WK7: Patriots (24th in points allowed to DEF)

BEN: This squad is less "Steel Curtain" and more Peyton Manning-era Colts. I'm sure there are some good individual defensive players on this team. But as a unit, they don't scare you as they work best with a lead. Enter Big Ben's knee injury that has him out for the foreseeable future and Week 7's opposing quarterback Tom Brady, then a bye week and a lot of tears. New England is as mean as they come and Pittsburgh is coming off a recent shredding at the hands of...wait, am I reading this right? Ryan Tannehill? Mother of god. Be worried.

All stats a salad...this is shot two at the Steelers this week. Take that Tomlin! With Lawrence Timmons puking on the field, no Brett Keisel beard to uplift spirits, this is a team amidst an upheaval. Where can the relief come from? The aforementioned Timmons, he has the answer: The Sims. This old tweet reminds us of the better, beardier times.

 

Michael Floyd (WR, ARI) - 75% Owned

WK6: 2-of-2 for 22 yards, one TD
2016: 14-of-36 for 192 yards, three TD
WK7 Opponent: Seahawks (27th in points allowed to WR)

TONY: With the quarterback position influx all season for the Cardinals thanks to an early injury to Carson Palmer, Michael Floyd has been extremely inconsistent and touchdown dependent. He has yet to top four catches in a game despite four games with over six targets (including one with 11), hasn't had over 36 yards since Week 3 and has only two catches on five targets over the past two weeks. His overall worth this season is padded by those touchdowns, and unless the Cardinals get their act together soon, that makes him a full-on boom-or-bust risk each week going forward, which is bad news for shallow leagues.

All stats a salad...Floyd retweeted this a couple weeks back, as if to tell any of his disappointed fantasy owners "back off, I promise I still like making you happy." With him putting up his worst two games of the season following this, I call classic smokescreen diversion and he really doesn't like to catch passes or put up points. Nice try.

 

Stash and Pray

Tavon Austin (WR, LA) - 74% Owned

WK6: 3-of-4 for 24 yards; three rushes for two yards
2016: 26-of-49 for 242 yards, one TD; 12 rushes for 52 yards
WK7: Giants (14th in points allowed to WR)

BEN: Case Keenum is going straight Peter Frampton out there: he is coming alive! He now has more positive games than negative this year, and that is without Mr. Gurley regularly cutting (foot)loose...yet. If Keenum can make the transition to the Bee Gees, the door will open for Gurley, allowing the team's wide receivers to get more attention. So far his darlings have been Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, but I have a feeling his heart can grow even bigger. If they can actually pick a job for Austin, he can start to do what he was drafted to do: be fast and make it happen. Keep the faith!

All stats a salad...if it hasn't become clear yet in this column, I might have an established distaste for fake athlete positive talk. I'm going to crown Mr. Austin the latest dumb-dumb for this nugget of wisdom that goes against science itself. You can't avoid sweat, embrace it. Let your pores breath, friend!

 

Dwayne Allen (TE, IND) - 86% Owned

WK6: 1-of-2 for 9 yards
2016: 18-of-27 for 192 yards, two TD
WK7: Giants (19th in points allowed to TE)

TONY: After a great Week 5, Dwayne Allen owners were excited coming into the Colts' Week 6 matchup against the Texans, even with their defense one of the top tight end suppressing units in the game lately. But before we could see what he could do, he was knocked out of the game during the Colts' first drive with an ankle injury that's going to keep him make him week-to-week for the foreseeable future. With him already losing touchdowns to fellow tight end Jack Doyle prior to this, Allen's fantasy value was already missing more often than not. Tight end is too weak this season to straight cut him in most leagues, but he's going to be an incredibly heavy stash that might not be worth carrying in the end.

All stats a salad...I wonder if Allen's sluggish 2016 can be partially blamed on over-consumption of complimentary samples from two of his most recent sponsors, Campbell's Chunky soups and American Dairy Association Indiana. Can you imagine how hard it would be to catch passes with a belly full of Beef with Country Vegetable and milk? I can now.


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




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Malik Davis

Appears to be the Front-Runner for RB2 Job in Dallas
Kayshon Boutte

to Compete for Snaps in Three-Receiver Sets
Alvin Kamara

Attends OTAs on Wednesday
Andrei Iosivas

Is it Time for Dynasty Managers to Drop Andrei Iosivas?
Tyjae Spears

Is Tyjae Spears Droppable in Dynasty Formats?
Jaylen Wright

the Dynasty Handcuff Running Back to Own in Miami?
Colby Parkinson

Facing Likely Regression After Career Year in 2025
Omarion Hampton

Remains a High-End Dynasty RB1 Despite Injury History
Rickie Fowler

Looks To Continue Resurgent Season At Memorial
Ollie Gordon II

Is Ollie Gordon II Still Worthy of a Dynasty Roster Spot?
Justin Herbert

Overhauling his Footwork This Offseason
De'Von Achane

Doing Individual Drills at Minicamp
Ashton Jeanty

Raiders Emphasizing Ashton Jeanty's Progress as Their Lead Back
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Still on the Mend From 2025 Injuries
Brandon Aiyuk

Warrant Issued for Brandon Aiyuk's Arrest in California
Blake Corum

Remains an Elite Handcuff in Dynasty Leagues
Chris Godwin Jr.

Consistency the Key for Chris Godwin Jr. in Dynasty Leagues
David Montgomery

Can Managers Look to Sell High on David Montgomery This Year?
Malik Willis

a Low-Cost Dynasty Target in Miami?
Terrance Ferguson

Can Terrance Ferguson Still be the Tight End to Roster in Los Angeles?
CFB

Can Eric Singleton Jr. Fully Break Out at Third School?
CFB

Katin Houser Steps into QB1 Role for Illinois
CFB

Savion Hiter an Immediate Impact Freshman for Michigan
CFB

Isaiah Horton Set to Take Over KC Concepcion's Role
CFB

UCLA Transfer Karson Gordon Signs with Austin Peay
CFB

Will Muschamp Bringing New Intensity to Texas Practices
Gary Woodland

Brings Boom-or-Bust Potential to Memorial
Jordan Spieth

Still Searching for a Breakthrough
Ted Hurst

Can Ted Hurst Find Consistent Fantasy Success in a Crowded Receiver Room?
Alex Smalley

Brings Elite Form to Memorial Tournament
Jayden Reed

Still an Unproven Dynasty Asset
Justin Rose

Looks to Recapture Memorial Tournament Success
Cameron Young

Looks to Get Back to His Contending Ways at Murifield Village
Chris Gotterup

Needs to Find Fairways at Muirfield Village
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Stay Hot at Memorial Tournament
Matt Fitzpatrick

Positioned for Success at Muirfield Village
Jalen Chatfield

Records Two Assists in Tuesday's Loss
Keegan Bradley

Looking for Another Strong Finish at Muirfield
Nikolaj Ehlers

Nets Two Goals in Game 1 Loss to Golden Knights
Shea Theodore

Notches Three Points in Game 1 Win
Brayden McNabb

Sets Up Three Goals in Game 1 Win Over Hurricanes
Justin Thomas

is an Exciting Play This Week in Ohio
Brett Howden

Starts Finals With Multi-Point Effort
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Win Memorial Tournament for Third Consecutive Year
Tomas Hertl

Scores Game-Winner in Finals Opener
Rory McIlroy

Looking for Better Performance at Muirfield Village
Drake Baldwin

Could Return During Braves Next Homestand
Garrett Crochet

Diagnosed With Low-Grade Lat Strain
Russell Henley

Coming to Ohio on the Heels of Latest Victory
Tommy Fleetwood

Looking for Better Iron Play at Memorial Tournament
Patrick Cantlay

Looks to Continue Dominance at Muirfield Village
Ludvig Aberg

a Great Fit for Muirfield Village
Isaiah Hartenstein

Hopeful to Stay with Oklahoma City
Luguentz Dort

Wants to Remain with Thunder
Mitchell Robinson

is Questionable for Game 1
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Has Contract Guaranteed for 2026-2027 Season
Oso Ighodaro

Gets Guaranteed Contract for Next Season
NAS

Chris MacFarland Joins Predators as President and General Manager
VAN

Canucks Name Manny Malhotra as New Head Coach
Brendan Gallagher

to Leave Canadiens This Offseason
Patrik Laine

Looking Forward to Free Agency
Jeremy Lauzon

Returns to Action Tuesday
Zach Werenski

Wins 2025-26 Norris Trophy
Aaron Judge

Out on Tuesday With Rib/Shoulder Injury
Josh Hader

Set to Return from Injured List on Tuesday
CFB

SEC Coach Calls Buster Faulkner a "Home-Run Hire"
CFB

Auburn a Sleeper in the SEC Under Alex Golesh?
CFB

Noah Fifita Primed for Strong 2026 Campaign
CFB

Oregon Assistant Coach Charged with DUII, Reckless Driving
CFB

Tight End Nick Pollack Commits to Clemson
Akshay Bhatia

Needs the Driver to be True in Ohio
Aaron Rai

Primed to take on the Memorial Tournament
J.J. Spaun

Rebounded at Charles Schwab Challenge
Xander Schauffele

One to Watch This Week in Ohio
Elly De La Cruz

to Miss 2-4 Weeks of Action
Chase Burns

is Scratched Due to Illness
Deiveson Figueiredo

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Song Yadong

Gets Second-Round Submission Win
Zhang Mingyang

Suffers Back-To-Back Losses
Alonzo Menifield

Gets Back In The Win Column
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Sergei Pavlovich

Scores First-Round Knockout Win
Cameron Smotherman

Suffers Third Loss In A Row
Edwin Arroyo

Reds Promote Top Infield Prospect Edwin Arroyo, Viewed as Priority Pick Up Ahead of MLB Debut
Kai Asakura

Earns His First UFC Win
Elly De La Cruz

Placed on IL with Right Hamstring Tightness
Denny Hamlin

Earns the first Nashville Cup Series Victory of his Career on Sunday
Christopher Bell

Finishes as the Runner-Up at Nashville
Chase Briscoe

Earns First Career Podium Finish at Nashville
Ryan Blaney

Scores A Solid Top-10 Finish at Nashville
Kyle Larson

Top-10 Streak at Nashville Ends after Late Flat Tire Spin
Elly De La Cruz

Exits with Hamstring Tightness
Tyler Reddick

Is One of the Top Favorites to Win at Nashville
Kyle Larson

May Continue his Top-10 Consistency at Nashville this week
Christopher Bell

Is One of the Top Competitors for the Win at Nashville
Chase Briscoe

Is A Must Start for Nashville DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

has Plenty of Upside for Nashville DFS Lineups
William Byron

Is William Byron A Playable DFS Option for Nashville Lineups?
Carson Hocevar

Is Likely to have Another Solid Result at Nashville
NASCAR

Should Fantasy Players Roster Bubba Wallace at Nashville?
Chris Buescher

Is A Decent All-Around DFS Option for Nashville Lineups
Daniel Suarez

is Likely to Drop Positions during the Cracker Barrel 400
Garrett Crochet

Suffers Setback, Likely to Undergo MRI for Lat Tightness
Denny Hamlin

Could Denny Hamlin Dominate at Nashville?
Ryan Blaney

Is a DFS Tournament Option at Nashville
Ty Gibbs

Don't Overlook Ty Gibbs at Nashville
Joey Logano

Could Show Life at Nashville
Ross Chastain

Needs a Good Run at Nashville
Chet Holmgren

Fails to Step Up in the Season Finale
Cason Wallace

Ends Postseason with Strong Showing
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Caps MVP Season with Game 7 Exit
Stephon Castle

Continues Postseason Run with 16 Points
Julian Champagnie

Shines in Series-Clinching Win
De'Aaron Fox

Provides Secondary Punch in Game 7 Triumph
Victor Wembanyama

Earns Conference Finals MVP in Spurs' Game 7 Win
NBA

Warriors Prioritize Depth Around Returning Steve Kerr
Donovan Mitchell

Remains Cleveland's Top Priority
Adou Thiero

Remains a Lakers Development Project
NBA

76ers Hire Mike Gansey as President of Basketball Operations
NBA

Chicago Bulls Explore Kevin Young as Coaching Candidate
Kyrie Irving

Reports He's Nearing Full Strength in ACL Recovery
Lane Hutson

Posts a Power-Play Assist in Game 5 Loss
Cole Caufield

Nets a Power-Play Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Seth Jarvis

Closes Out East Finals With Multi-Point Game
Logan Stankoven

Notches Three Points in Big Game 5 Win
Taylor Hall

Racks Up Three Points in Series-Clinching Win
Frederik Andersen

Remains Stellar as Hurricanes Clinch Finals Berth
Jacob Gonzalez

is Heading to the Big Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Exits with Hamstring Tightness
Mitchell Robinson

Plans to Play in Game 1 After Finger Surgery
Ajay Mitchell

Ruled Out for Game 7
Jalen Williams

Unavailable in Decisive Game 7
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez is Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Deiveson Figueiredo

Set For UFC Macau Main Event
MMA

Yadong Song Returns At UFC Macau
Alonzo Menifield

An Underdog At UFC Macau
Zhang Mingyang

Set For UFC Macau Co-Main Event
Tallison Teixeira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Sergei Pavlovich

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Cameron Smotherman

Looks To Bounce Back
Kai Asakura

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
CFB

Faizon Brandon In Position to Start Week 1
CFB

Dane Weber Commits to Cal
CFB

Joey McGuire Attempts to Add Texas to Schedule
CFB

Mike Leach on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
CFB

Maryland, Baylor Schedule Home-and-Home
CFB

Taron Dickens Decommits From North Carolina
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF