The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Who to Drop for Fantasy Football Week 17

Rob's fantasy football players to drop when making waiver wire moves for Week 17 (2025). He helps fantasy football managers decide on who to cut from rosters.

Welcome to Championship Week. Since there are no more fantasy football games after this final week, the waiver wire rules are different from what they've been compared to the rest of the season. All those handcuffs that we've been holding just in case the starter got hurt, well, if the starter isn't hurt, those handcuffs are now completely cuttable.

Basically, the only rule this week is: do not drop anyone who may end up in your starting lineup, or anyone who may end up in your opponent's starting lineup. If your opponent has George Kittle and you've been streaming tight ends and have two to three on your roster, you can easily cut the tight ends you're not planning to start. Your opponent won't be needing them.

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 17, because with almost every cut, there's a new addition we welcome to our team.

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

Running Backs to Consider Cutting

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers - 70.6% Rostered

Hubbard missed Weeks 5 and 6 due to an injury. Since he returned in Week 7, Hubbard has just one game with more than 9.5 half-PPR points. In nine games since Week 7, Hubbard has scored fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points in five contests. In six out of those nine, Hubbard has not received 10 touches.

Chuba Hubbard Trending Downward After Inefficient Performance in Loss https://t.co/Vi8xlIpFmB

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 20, 2025

Since their Week 14 bye, Hubbard has scored 4.3 and 3.9 half-PPR points in his past two games. He's averaging just eight touches per game over the last two weeks. Rico Dowdle is back to operating as the team's No. 1 running back, and he's been far more efficient than Hubbard this season. Hubbard's lack of volume, lack of production, and recent performance are just part of the problem.

In Week 17, Carolina has a brutal matchup against the stout Seattle defense. He can be cut easily, even though his volume is just enough to give him some theoretical standalone value.

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 58.8% Rostered

Tampa Bay is now using a three-headed backfield. Bucky Irving is still the lead back and the most likely Buccaneer running back to have a good game. White is the team's No. 2 running back and is more than just a change-of-pace back. However, the problem is that the team has recently begun using Sean Tucker as their primary goal-line back. Tucker's emergence evaporates White's weekly ceiling by eliminating his touchdown chances.

Irving at least has volume on his side, but White does not. Since Week 12, White has just one game where he has nine or more touches. He has not eclipsed 8.0 half-PPR points in a single game since Week 6. Now, with Irving and Tucker healthy and part of the weekly rotation and gameplan, White's value is almost nonexistent.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers - 56.2% Rostered

Vidal is not a must-cut, but there are reasons to consider it. Vidal has been diagnosed with a neck strain, and even though his status is described as "day-to-day, trusting him is going to be a significant issue for fantasy managers. Omarion Hampton is back in the lineup. That's a big concern. Vidal's injury also presents its own problem, since fantasy managers will have no idea how much he will play or what his role will be.

Kimani Vidal Considered Day-to-Day With Neck Strain https://t.co/7BLC4Zdj9Y

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 22, 2025

The Chargers also play Houston in Week 17. The Texans have arguably the best defense in the NFL, and the Chargers' offensive line is missing both of their starting tackles. Given the matchup and his injury status, if Vidal is limited in any way, his floor could legit be zero. That's a scary proposition for Championship Week. With the matchup and Hampton's return, his ceiling is also murky.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders - 47.5% Rostered

Croskey-Merritt had a great game in Week 15 when Chris Rodriguez Jr. was inactive due to a groin injury. Croskey-Merritt had 96 rushing yards and a touchdown. Given where Washington's season is and Croskey-Merritt's rookie status, there was a chance the team would stick with its rookie in Week 17, but that wasn't the case.

Rodriguez regained his No. 1 status in the Washington backfield. While Croskey-Merritt did find the end zone, so did Rodriguez. Rodriguez finished with 15 carries to Croskey-Merritt's eight. With Rodriguez immediately being put back into the driver's seat of the Washington backfield, Croskey-Merritt can safely be cut.

Other Running Backs to Consider Cutting:

• Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints - 84.8% Rostered
• Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs - 59.9% Rostered
• Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs - 58.5% Rostered
• Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings - 54.4% Rostered
• Nick Chubb, Houston Texans - 39.9% Rostered

Wide Receivers to Consider Cutting

D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers - 96.8% Rostered

Metcalf has been suspended for two games due to an altercation with a fan in Week 16. Even if he appeals the suspension, it's impossible to believe it would be lifted 100%. Maybe it's reduced to one game, but that still keeps him out of Championship Week, thus making him cuttable.

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs - 83.7% Rostered

With the injuries at quarterback to both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, Worthy is now completely unstartable, even with the potential absence of Rashee Rice. Worthy has just one game with 10.0 or more half-PPR points. A Week 17 matchup against the Denver Broncos is the nail in the coffin for even the most adventurous fantasy managers.

Tight Ends to Consider Cutting

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs - 96.6% Rostered

Patrick Mahomes is currently on IR with a torn ACL. Minshew injured his knee and won't play this week either. That will leave 2022 seventh-round pick Chris Oladokun as the Chiefs' starting quarterback in Week 17. In Week 16, he completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and zero touchdowns. It wasn't the worst showing, considering he was thrown into the fire, but it was also against the lowly Tennessee Titans.

In Week 17, the Chiefs will play the Denver Broncos. Denver is one of the better defenses in the NFL. Kansas City will enter Week 17 with one of the lowest implied point totals of the week. Rashee Rice may or may not be back, as he's still dealing with a concussion. The argument for Kelce is that a young quarterback, lacking other pass-catching options, will lean on his tight end and pepper him with targets.

That's a possible outcome, but I would rather altogether avoid this offense given their signal-caller and the matchup. The floor, for any of these Kansas City Chiefs' skilled players, is zero, and that's not a risk I want to take in Week 17.

Other Tight Ends to Consider Cutting:

• T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings - 70.5% Rostered

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