After Week 1 of the NFL season, Fantasy Football managers feel one of two ways; they love their team and believe to be championship-bound, or they hate their roster and want to blow things up. Such is the life of a manager whose team started 0-1 and is now getting razzed by their friends in their home league.
There were certainly a lot of dud performances in Week 1 around the league. That has become the norm as the first few weeks of the regular seasons are almost used as preseason games by some franchises.
But, for Fantasy Football owners, not all duds are built the same. Some duds present opportunities for managers to buy low, acquiring talent at a discounted price. Then there is the other side of the spectrum, where it could be smart to already cut bait.
One player who should be under consideration to be cut from your Fantasy Football team is Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon. This is a full-blown time share between three players as McKinnon received only 20 snaps.
He wasn’t involved much on those snaps, receiving two targets, catching one for 10 yards, and zero carries. A touchdown-dependent player who has lost snaps to Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Unless an injury occurs, McKinnon hits a lot of Fantasy Football waiver wires this week.
Another running back in a tough spot is Devin Singletary of the Houston Texans. Signed this offseason to help a young team, Singletary already looks to be third on the team’s depth chart at the position.
Fantasy Football owners knew that Dameon Pierce would be handling early down work, but the emergence of Mike Boone was unexpected. He took over the passing down role, relegating Singletary to seven carries for 15 yards.
While he presents some handcuff value, there are likely higher upside options available in your Fantasy Football league. Especially with the unexpected presence of Boone in the backfield.
Staying in the AFC South, the Texans’ Week 2 opponents, the Indianapolis Colts, have a running back that should also be on your chopping block. Deon Jackson was the clear-cut starter with Jonathan Taylor on the PUP List and Zack Moss not recovered from his broken arm.
While the opportunity was there, Jackson didn’t seize it. He gained 14 yards on 13 carries, adding five receptions for 14 yards. Rookie Evan Hull being placed on IR will keep Jackson involved in the game plan, but Moss should take over the early down work with Jake Funk earning a role, too.
Moss is the only player with a likely clear-cut role and Taylor’s impending return makes Jackson even less desirable to keep on your Fantasy Football roster. A wide receiver that could be joining him on the waiver wire is Hunter Renfrow of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Renfrow was rotating with two other players, DeAndre Carter and Kristian Wilkerson, for the No. 3 role in the offense. Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams are locked in as the top two options and this isn’t a passing offense built to sustain a third wide receiver.
Meyers’s injury could open up more playing time for Renfrow, but that is the only thing that would keep him worth keeping on your Fantasy Football team. Once Meyers is clear, Renfrow should be waiver wire fodder even if he can claim the No. 3 role full-time.
Last but not least, tight end Gerald Everett should be a cut candidate. With Kellen Moore calling the shots offensively, the Los Angeles Chargers have changed their tight end usage. Everett and Donald Parham Jr. are now interchangeable, which has led to more blocking and fewer pass-catching chances for Everett.
Despite Week 1 being a cesspool for tight end production, Everett finished as TE28 with two receptions for 21 yards. This is a situation to avoid as there are better players to add to your Fantasy Football roster with higher upside than Everett.
