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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

Joel Embiid

is Returning for Game 3 on Friday
Brandon Ingram

Undergoes Heel Surgery
Josh Hart

is Available to Play in Game 3
OG Anunoby

is Downgraded to Out for Game 3 on Friday
Mitchell Robinson

is Returning for Game 3
Mats Zuccarello

Expected to Play Saturday
Joel Eriksson Ek

to Be a Game-Time Decision Saturday
Jonas Brodin

Still Out Saturday
Josh Manson

Could Return Saturday
Kaedan Korczak

Scratched for Game 3 Against Ducks
Radko Gudas

Likely to Remain Out Friday
Sam Carrick

Won't Play Friday
Isiah Pacheco

Can Isiah Pacheco Re-Establish His Dynasty Value in Detroit?
Rico Dowdle

Dynasty Ceiling Limited By Backfield Committee in Pittsburgh
Rashid Shaheed

a High-Risk, High-Reward Buy-Low Candidate for Dynasty Managers
Marcus Mariota

Is Marcus Mariota Worth Stashing as an Injury Replacement in Dynasty Leagues?
Jacoby Brissett

a Clear Sell-High Candidate for Dynasty Managers
Blake Snell

to Make Season Debut for Dodgers on Saturday
Najee Harris

Can Najee Harris Re-Establish Some Dynasty Value in 2026?
Cole Ragans

Royals Place Cole Ragans on Injured List With Elbow Impingement
Breece Hall

Jets Sign Breece Hall to Three-Year Extension Worth $45.75 Million
Sean Strickland

An Underdog At UFC 328
Khamzat Chimaev

Set For UFC 328 Main Event
Tatsuro Taira

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Joshua Van

Set For His First Title Defense
Alexander Volkov

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Waldo Cortes-Acosta Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Nick Lodolo

Officially Activated, Making Season Debut on Friday
Denver Broncos

Broncos Sign GM George Paton to New Five-Year Deal
Brandon McManus

Packers Release Kicker Brandon McManus
New York Jets

Jets Talking to a "Number of Veteran Quarterbacks"
Travis Etienne Jr.

a Reliable Dynasty Starter Entering First Season With Saints
Kenneth Gainwell

Is Kenneth Gainwell's Dynasty Stock Still Rising After Offseason Change of Scenery?
Mac Jones

a Deep-League Dynasty Stash Candidate
Tez Johnson

Facing Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Tampa Bay
Jared Goff

Remains a High-Floor Dynasty QB2 Heading into 2026
De'Von Achane

Remains a High-End Dynasty RB Despite Uncertain Supporting Cast
Xavier Worthy

Chiefs Limited Xavier Worthy's Usage After Injury Last Year
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Not Ready to Discuss Extension With Rashee Rice?
Cade Otton

Remains a Quality Dynasty Depth Piece
CFB

Walker Lyons Could be Go-To Target for Bear Bachmeier
Austin Reaves

Scores 31 Points in Game 2 Defeat
T.J. Hockenson

Bounce-Back Chances Stifled by Improved Pass-Catching Depth
CFB

Ty Benefield a Potential Game-Changer for LSU Defense
Chet Holmgren

Anchors Thunder Past Lakers in Game 2
CFB

Hayden Lowe Set for Significant Role Following Miami's NFL Departures
Jordan Addison

Facing Competition for No. 2 Role?
Tobias Harris

Stays Hot in Game 2 Victory
Cade Cunningham

Pushes Pistons to 2-0 Series Lead
CFB

Taylor Wein in Position for Big Season on Oklahoma's Defensive Line
Jarrett Allen

Provides Bright Spot in Cavs' Game 2 Loss to Pistons
CFB

Rasheem Biles an Instant Impact Player for Texas
James Harden

Struggles in Game 2 Loss
Donovan Mitchell

Finishes Game 2 Loss with 31 Points
Gradey Dick

Open to Trade Away From Toronto
Michael Porter Jr.

Wants to Stay in Brooklyn
Charlotte Hornets

Hornets Extend Charles Lee After 25-Win Improvement
Jarred Vanderbilt

Ruled Out for Game 2 Against Thunder
Luke Kennard

Cleared to Play Thursday
Ayo Dosunmu

Considered Questionable for Game 3 Against Spurs
Anthony Edwards

Remains Questionable on Injury Report Ahead of Game 3
Mitchell Robinson

Probable for Friday's Action
Kevin Huerter

Remains Out Thursday
Dan Vladar

Looks to Return to Winning Ways Thursday
Connor Dewar

Penguins Re-Sign Connor Dewar for Two Years
Mikko Rantanen

Played Through Torn MCL Late in the Season
Rasmus Dahlin

Ready to Go Friday
Alexander Nikishin

Set to Return Thursday
Christian Dvorak

Available Thursday
Owen Tippett

Remains Out Thursday
Roman Anthony

Heading for the Injured List
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Be Full-Go for Fall Camp
Tarik Skubal

Could Return in 4-6 Weeks After Successful Elbow Surgery
Cole Ragans

Royals Hopeful That Cole Ragans Makes his Next Start
Mark Stone

Nets Late Power-Play Goal in Losing Effort
Leo Carlsson

Pots Game-Winner Wednesday Night
Juraj Slafkovsky

Ends Point Drought in Game 1 Loss
Bowen Byram

Ties Franchise Record With Fourth Postseason Goal
Zach Benson

Posts Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game
Rasmus Dahlin

"Seems Fine" After Early Exit on Wednesday
Emilio Pagán

Emilio Pagan has Grade 2 Hamstring Strain, Expected to Miss 4-8 Weeks
Joe Ryan

Listed as Scheduled Starter for Saturday Against Cleveland
Tyler Glasnow

Not Expected to Land on the Injured List
Framber Valdez

Suspension Reduced to Five Games
Nils Hoglander

Will Miss World Championship Due to Injury
Framber Valdez

Suspended Six Games
Tyler Glasnow

Exits Early on Wednesday With Back Pain
CFB

Brauntae Johnson the Next Star in Notre Dame's Secondary?
CFB

Ethan Barbour a Name to Know in Georgia's Tight End Room
CFB

Payton Pierce Next Up at Linebacker for Ohio State
CFB

Javin Gordon to Play Significant Role for Tennessee?
CFB

Tanook Hines Stepping into WR1 Role for USC
CFB

Rueben Owens II has "Star Potential" in Fourth Campaign
Brandon Woodruff

has Fluid Drained From his Right Shoulder
Brandon Woodruff

to Resume Throwing on Saturday, Return Imminent?
Carlos Correa

to Have Season-Ending Ankle Surgery
Jacob Misiorowski

Listed as Friday's Probable Starter
Logan Webb

Dealing With Knee Discomfort
Carlos Correa

Expected to Miss Significant Time With Ankle Injury
Collin Morikawa

Withdraws From Truist Championship
Xander Schauffele

Carries Elite Form Into Quail Hollow
Hideki Matsuyama

Looks to Bounce Back at Truist Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick

Secures Third Win of 2026 Season
Patrick Cantlay

Continues Playing Well Heading to Truist Championship
Ludvig Aberg

Returns to Action For Truist Championship
Justin Thomas

Searching for Consistency at Quail Hollow
Jordan Spieth

Looks to Break Through at Quail Hollow
Adam Scott

Brings Strong Form to Quail Hollow
Robert MacIntyre

a Steady Option at Truist Championship
Jason Day

Looks to Overcome Approach Struggles at Quail Hollow
Akshay Bhatia

Looks for Complete Game at Truist Championship
Emilio Pagán

Emilio Pagan Headed for Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Emilio Pagán

Emilio Pagan Carted Off With Apparent Hamstring Injury on Tuesday
Justin Rose

to Continue Mid-Season Club Change at Truist Championship
Si Woo Kim

is Back to Peak Form Ahead of Truist Championship
Sam Burns

to Bounce Back at Truist Championship
Cameron Young

Looks to Carry Dominance to Quail Hollow
Rory McIlroy

Returns to Familiar Stomping Grounds This Week at Quail Hollow
Chris Gotterup

Looking to Bounce Back at Quail Hollow
MLB

Cardinals-Brewers Game Postponed on Tuesday
Tommy Fleetwood

Looking For Better Iron Play at Quail Hollow
CFB

Mario Craver Enters No. 1 Wide Receiver Role for Marcel Reed
CFB

LaNorris Sellers a Strong Rebound Candidate in 2026
CFB

Cam Coleman Poised for Monster Year at Texas?
CFB

Will Hammond Pushing to Be Ready for Week 1
Alex Fitzpatrick

Looking to Keep Up Ball-Striking Output at Quail Hollow
CFB

Notre Dame Leads College Football in Returning Snaps
CFB

Two Ole Miss Football Players Arrested, Charged with DUI
Ben Griffin

Looks Solid on the Surface Heading to Charlotte
Chase Elliott

Earns his Second Texas Motor Speedway Victory
Denny Hamlin

Misses Out on Winning at Texas
Alex Bowman

Finishes Third for the Second Week in a Row at Texas
Tyler Reddick

Earns Seventh Top-Five Finish of the Season at Texas
Chris Buescher

Scores his First Career Texas Finish in the Top Five
CFB

Bryce Underwood in Better Situation Entering Sophomore Season
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Emerging as Leader, Playmaker for UCLA
Jack Della Maddalena

Gets Dominated At UFC Perth
Carlos Prates

Shines At UFC Perth
Beneil Dariush

Suffers A First-Round TKO Loss
Quillan Salkilld

Remains Unbeaten In The UFC
Tim Elliott

Drops Decision At UFC Perth
Steve Erceg

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Ollie Schmid

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Marwan Rahiki

Remains Unbeaten
Christopher Bell

Is Christopher Bell Worth Rostering for Texas Lineups?
William Byron

Might have the Speed to Compete for the Win at Texas
Joey Logano

Provides Solid Upside for Texas DFS Lineups
Chase Briscoe

Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Pick for Texas Lineups?
Ty Gibbs

Should DFS Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Texas?
Daniel Suarez

Is Daniel Suarez Worth Rostering After Career-Best Starting Position at Texas?
Kyle Busch

Is a DFS Risk Starting in the Top 10 at Texas
Tyler Reddick

One of the Favorites to Win at Texas
Chase Elliott

Could Contend for Another Win at Texas
Carson Hocevar

on Pole at Texas
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Wrecks in Practice at Texas
Chris Buescher

Looking to Continue Strong Run at Texas
Austin Dillon

Blows Engine in Practice at Texas
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF