October 25, 2016

Tony Peters and Ben Hamren's fantasy football busts & overrated NFL players to consider cutting or benching for Week 8 of the 2016 season. These QBs, RBs and WRs should be cut or benched in both PPR & standard leagues.

Welcome to Week 8'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 8 (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 8 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB

Week 8 Players to Consider Cutting or Replacing

Arian Foster (RB, MIA) - 63% Owned

WK7: 29-of-29 for 342 yards, zero TD, zero INT;
WK5-WK7: six rushes for eight yards; 3-of-5 for 16 yards
WK8 Opponent: Bye

TONY: As a fellow owner of veteran running back Arian Foster, I was happy to get him back when it was announced he'd return Week 6. But that was before fellow back Jay Ajayi showed up for the Dolphins in the way they have long been hoping for: as a unstoppable machine. By piling up two straight games with over 200 rushing yards since then, Ajayi has knocked Foster down to pure handcuff status and a deep league PPR flex play as his best days are likely limited to pass catcher--one of Ajayi's warts--more often than not. With a Week 8 bye, Foster is an easy drop in 10-and-12-team standard scoring leagues.

All stats a salad...with Foster's recent discovery of the relief for testicular tyranny--going commando--he has learned one of the greater freedoms a man can enjoy. But "free ballin'" isn't just a thing you do; it is a way of life. A calmer, more easy-going lifestyle, the perfect type of mindset a veteran backup just happy to still be there.

Editor's Note: Arian Foster announced his retirement via Uninterrupted. With this latest news, there is no league that should still own him.

 
 
Jerick McKinnon (RB, MIN) - 73% Owned

WK7: 11 rushes for 43 yards; 1-of-1 for five yards
WK5-WK7: 31 rushes for 79 yards; 2-of-4 for 15 yards
WK8: Bears (19th in points allowed to RB)

BEN: How desperate are you for a running back? Hopefully not enough to have Jerick McKinnon. Fellow Vikings back Matt Asiata has fewer rushing yards, but he makes up for it in the receiving game and with touchdowns. McKinnon also managed to hurt his ankle last week against the Eagles, which makes the looming specter of Adrian Peterson more ominous. With an expiration date on his forehead, McKinnon should be past-due for many fantasy owners. 10-team leagues should cut bait, 12-team leagues should stay pat if you really have no other options.

All stats a salad...Harambe isn't the only RIP from Sunday's loss (awesome cleats, by the way). McKinnon's dreams and the undefeated hopes of the Vikings joined him after being shot down by the Eagles. The '72 Dolphins and Cincinnati zoo keepers alike are rejoicing.

Hot Seat - Sending Warning Signals

Carson Palmer (QB, ARI) - 84% Owned

WK7: 29-of-49 for 342 yards, zero TD, zero INT
WK5-WK7: 52-of-83 for 555 yards, one TD, zero INT (includes bye)
WK8 Opponent: Panthers (1st in points allowed to QB)

TONY: Don't misunderstand quarterback Carson Palmer's 342 yard performance this past Sunday night against the Seahawks as it was a huge disappointment to all who were forced to endure through it. The only reason he even had 300 yards was due to overtime providing extra opportunities for Palmer and his receivers to waste. If he can't get back on track against the Panthers this week in the best matchup a quarterback could ask for, he's a bye desperation start at best in all single-quarterback leagues, a low-end QB2 in those who start two.

All stats a salad...the media wants you to believe that the above random Twitter person is wrong and the reason for Palmer's struggles this year are because his injury history and age are starting to catch up with him or that the emergence of running back David Johnson is changing the offense's dynamics. But the actual answer is far simpler: he's been busy keeping cornerback Patrick Peterson in-check when he has one of his "were-dino episodes". That looks like a very demanding job.

 
 
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA) - 97% Owned

WK7: 24-of-37 for 225 yards, zero TD, zero INT; one rush for -2 yards
WK5-WK7: 49-of-74 for 495 yards, zero TD, zero INT; seven rushes for five yards (includes bye)
WK8: Saints (4th in points allowed to QB)

BEN: Good gravy Russell, you're hurt! You aren't getting any better by playing awful and leading your team to a triumphant tie. I feel bad for the defense, I really do. Also, if you knew how to throw the ball away properly, you wouldn't have gotten hurt in the first place. He even hasn't been running well at all this year, a bad sign for a mobile QB. The Saints are a great bounce back matchup, but I wouldn't trust Russell in 10-or-12-team leagues until he is actually healthy.

All stats a salad...instead of not being horrible for four straight quarters being the issue with Sunday's game, Russell Wilson knows how to actually stop overtime from being lame. A shoot-out for kickers! Everyone's favorite player on the team legging it out for the fate of all! Except that exact thing happened in this very game, and it was a travesty. Go home Russell, just go home.

 
 
Julian Edelman (WR, NE) - 96% Owned

WK7: 9-of-10 for 60 yards, zero TD
WK5-WK7: 18-of-27 for 125 yards, zero TD
WK8: Bills (29th in points allowed to WR)

BEN: If you are not in a PPR format, Edelman is making a poor friend. No touchdowns on the year even with a Gronk injury early in the season seems to indicate a reduction in opportunities. One of the culprits of that are Kevin Hogan and Martellus Bennett as they fill a role Danny Amendola never could: as consistent pass catchers. In a 10-team standard scoring league, he just isn't consistent enough to play a high chance of better options existing.

All stats a salad...Edelman is always palling around with Tom Brady. These dudes aren't just buds, they're bros! This Braveheart homage to his favorite #12 is emblematic that while their fantasy potential is waning, their friendship isn't.

Stash and Pray

Jeremy Maclin (WR, KC) - 96% Owned

WK7: 4-of-5 for 40 yards, zero TD
WK5-WK7: 7-of-8 for 89 yards, zero TD (includes bye)
WK8 Opponent: Colts (23rd in points allowed to WR)

TONY: After averaging almost eight touchdowns a season from 2013-2015, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin enters Week 8 with only a Week 1 score to show for his troubles. In the past, the offense went through Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce because there was no one else to throw to. But the team has grow into a more diverse passing team, with Smith throwing six touchdown passes since Maclin's. It is clear Maclin is no longer the gateway to passing for the Chiefs, lowering his expected value quite a bit in non-PPR leagues. Anyone in a standard scoring league under 16-teams should invest time into exploring other options in case this drought continues trending down.

All stats a salad...Maclin is a known fan of video games, tweeting about them quite often. But this most recent one shows a different side of his gaming love: that of frustration at a product with issues, NBA 2K17. As you can see, that's a detailed bug report on some sad issues and exploits shared with the game's official Twitter account. Video games are one way people--athletes included--relax, and if NBA 2K17 is failing to do that for him, this problem could go deeper than a change in offensive game plans.

Jordy Nelson (WR, GB) - 100% Owned

WK7: 1-of-4 for nine yards, zero TD
WK5-WK7: 10-of-24 for 125 yards, one TD
WK8: Falcons (20th in points allowed to WR)

BEN: Jordy Nelson started off so strong, but lately he's been looking a lot less “White Lightening” and more “Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.” In a Week 7 where quarterback Aaron Rodgers “bounced back,” Nelson was targeted a mere four times out of 56 pass attempts. On top of that, he was only able to nab one of those targets for a meager gain. What he and Rodgers have is real, so keep the faith but not the starting spot. This "pump the brakes" moment brought to you by supporters of 10-and-12-team leagues.

All stats a salad...this post is meant to be uplifting or whatever, but there is something sad about a man alone, eating cereal that features his name and face on the box. Not only that, Nelson fails in his plug as he doesn't even seem to be enjoying his own cereal. Pep up, Jordy!

Allen Robinson (WR, JAX) - 100% Owned

WK7: 2-of-8 for nine yards, zero TD
WK5-WK7: 5-of-14 for 58 yards, zero TD (includes bye)
WK8 Opponent: Titans (22nd in points allowed to WR)

TONY: While Nelson has dropped off as of late, Allen Robinson has been bad longer. Coming off draft boards as one of the first wide receivers taken and a clear WR1, quarterback Blake Bortles' season-long slump has suspended Robinson's elite production. He's been rendered a WR2 with potential at best, a ghost of player at worst, which we saw on Sunday. 10-and-12-team standard scoring leagues should downgrade their weekly expectations going forward on Robinson to the point of benching him until Bortles' gets his game together. Don't cut bait on him, but be very afraid Bortles' turnaround isn't coming.

All stats a salad...Robinson may have found the new "Madden Curse," "the Vizio Curse." He is currently involved in a promotion with the television maker that sees a fan and a local Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club both winning a television anytime he scores a touchdown. Could the real reason for Bortles' troubles be that he's feeling too much pressure trying to juggle producing TDs for Vizio and wins for his team? Could Bortles be taking cash on the side from Westinghouse to keep the ball away from Robinson? I haven't seen any proof to the contrary.