The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Who to Drop for Fantasy Football Week 12

Rob's fantasy football players to drop when making waiver wire moves for Week 12 (2025). He helps fantasy football managers decide on who to cut from rosters.

It was just pure carnage out there in Week 11. There were so many injuries. Injuries, byes, and suspensions! Xavier Worthy and D.J. Moore have certainly played their way onto the Cut List, but with the number of receivers currently projected to be out for Week 12, it's almost impossible to cut either player despite how disappointing they've been.

In Week 12, fantasy managers will likely be without Ja'Marr Chase, Brian Thomas Jr., Drake London, Mike Evans, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Terry McLaurin, Marvin Harrison Jr., Courtland Sutton, Garrett Wilson, Deebo Samuel, Jaylen Waddle, Zach Ertz, Oronde Gadsden II, R.J. Harvey, De'Von Achane, Josh Jacobs, and potentially even more. So, while several players have been incredibly disappointing, with a week where so many starting players are out, fantasy managers may be forced to hang onto some of them for at least one more week.

This article will identify players who can safely be cut in 12-team leagues. Be sure to also check out my waiver wire article for Week 12, because with almost every cut, there's a new addition we welcome to our team. If you sign up for one of our premium subscriptions, please use the promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.

Running Backs to Consider Cutting

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans - 74.2% Rostered

In general, fantasy managers shouldn't want to cut a starting running back. Pollard is technically a starting running back. The problem is that you're better off starting some kickers and even some defenses. Pollard has only scored double-digits twice this season. He's never scored more than 13.5 half-PPR points. In the two games in which he scored more than 10.0 half-PPR points, it took him scoring a touchdown to do so.

His high zero-touchdown game is 9.2 half-PPR points. It's not like Pollard was #good when Tyjae Spears was on IR the first four weeks, but he did score over 7.0 half-PPR points in all four contests. That's not good by any means, but it's a passable flex player, albeit a disappointing one. Since Spears has returned, Pollard has been held under 6.0 half-PPR points three times.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders - 71.9% Rostered

I'm far more comfortable cutting Pollard than Croskey-Merritt, although very little of that has to do with Croskey-Merritt. While Pollard has been incredibly disappointing, Pollard has continued to run hard and break tackles. It isn't his fault that the offensive line is dreadful, his quarterback is worse, and together, the offense is the worst in the league. None of that is changing for Pollard.

For Croskey-Merritt, the environment is not nearly as dire, which makes Croskey-Merritt a bit more appealing. The downside is that Croskey-Merritt's disappointing season is entirely of his own accord. That's not to say the Washington ecosystem has helped, but Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been far more efficient and effective in the same environment.

Croskey-Merritt has scored fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points in five consecutive weeks. It would've been six, but in Week 6 against the Bears, he managed to score a whopping 5.3 half-PPR points. He has not had a single game over 3.5 yards per carry in any of his last five games. That streak also stopped back in Week 6, when he averaged 3.6 yards per carry.

Washington traded Brian Robinson Jr. before the season, a sign that they solidly believed in the seventh-round rookie, but Croskey-Merritt has done very little in his first year to reward the organization for the kind of faith they put in him. It's been so bad recently that the team was forced to go to Rodriguez.

#Commanders Week 11 RB Usage

- Chris Rodriguez: 45% snaps, 15 carries, 9 routes, 1 target (85 yds)
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 27% snaps, 9 carries, 6 routes, 1 target (33 yds)
- Jeremy McNichols: 25% snaps, 4 carries, 7 routes, 2 targets (29 yds)

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 16, 2025

Croskey-Merritt hasn't had 40 yards rushing in a game since, you guessed, Week 6 against the Bears when he "went off" for a whole 61 yards. This past weekend, Rodriguez had 79 yards. In both games, Rodriguez has had 12 carries this season, and he's had at least 65 yards.

The team seems like they'll move forward with Rodriguez, but with their season spiraling out of control, they could eventually opt to give Croskey-Merritt another chance in hopes of accelerating his development for the 2026 season, and that's the risk in cutting him. Although based on his recent play, he's given fantasy managers no reason to keep him rostered.

Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs - 64.1% Rostered

Pacheco is dealing with an MCL sprain. He missed Week 9 with the injury, and despite having a bye in Week 10, Pacheco was unable to return this past weekend. Pacheco only has two games with double-digit fantasy points. Both games required him to score a touchdown to accomplish the feat. He did not break 12.0 half-PPR points in either contest. Through eight games, his "ceiling" performance has been 11.9 half-PPR points.

He has five games below 6.0 half-PPR points this year. He has just two games with more than 7.5 half-PPR points. He doesn't have a single game with 60 scrimmage yards. He has five games with one or fewer receptions. The only way fantasy managers will regret cutting Pacheco is if Kareem Hunt were to get hurt. Even then, the "upside" is mid-RB2. That's what Hunt has been doing the two weeks with Pacheco out.

Other Running Backs to Consider Cutting:

• Nick Chubb, Houston Texans - 53.5% Rostered
• Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans - 37.2% Rostered

Wide Receivers to Consider Cutting

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills - 58.3% Rostered

A healthy scratch for a second-year player who was drafted in the second round is a really bad look. It's even worse when it's to make Mecole Hardman and Gabe Davis active. Since Week 1, Coleman has had just one game with more than 8.5 half-PPR points, and get this! He's scored two touchdowns during that stretch! Somehow, he managed to score under 8.5 half-PPR points despite scoring a touchdown.

.@AdamSchefter reports Bills WR Keon Coleman is inactive for missing a team meeting.@JeffDarlington breaks down how this affects the Bills offense. pic.twitter.com/NXc8NnXMyq

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 16, 2025

In eight games since Week 1, Coleman has had five games with four targets or fewer. He's incredibly inconsistent. He doesn't earn targets at a high rate. The Bills have fully embraced a receiver-by-committee approach. Even in a best-case scenario, Coleman is third on the team's target hierarchy behind Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir.

Others to Consider Cutting:

• Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns - 68.9% Rostered
• Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks - 56.8% Rostered

Tight Ends to Consider Cutting

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings - 78.9% Rostered

Right now, J.J. McCarthy is playing extremely poorly. That's problem No. 1, and it's a big one. The second problem is that he's behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the team's target hierarchy, and there's an argument he could be behind Aaron Jones Sr. on some nights.

He has one game with double-digit half-PPR points despite having scored two touchdowns this season. His best game without a touchdown is 7.3 half-PPR points. He has four games this season with fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points. He has five games with four or fewer targets. He has yet to break 50 receiving yards in a single game this season.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots - 71.0% Rostered

Henry scored 25.0 half-PPR points in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Outside of that game, Henry is averaging 5.8 half-PPR points. He has the Bengals coming up in Week 12, who are on a historic pace of allowing the most points to opposing tight ends, which puts Henry firmly on the streaming radar. Chances are, if you're rostering Henry, you likely have a better tight end. If not, go ahead and keep him for another week.

Others to Consider Cutting:

• Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - 47.8% Rostered

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