At the quarter point of the NFL season, Fantasy Football managers are going to have some difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks. With byes not starting around the league, fielding lineups will become more challenging.
Sometimes managers are left in a bind trying to field a full team. That could lead to some decisions that need to be made about players to add and drop, leading to some conflicts. But, if you are in a pinch about who to drop off your roster, there are a few players that you should be comfortable about dropping from your team.
One player who should hit free agency this week is Philadelphia Eagles running back Rashaad Penny. For the second time in four weeks, he was a healthy scratch and inactive on game day. Even if an injury were to occur to D’Andre Swift or Kenneth Gainwell, Penny isn’t someone the Eagles are turning to in a big role.
It would take two injuries for Penny to get regular snaps with the first-team offense as he is also behind Boston Scott. All the offseason hype surrounding him as a replacement for Miles Sanders has disappeared.
Another running back on a high-octane offense that could be safely dropped from your Fantasy Football team is Jerick McKinnon of the Kansas City Chiefs. This is Isiah Pacheco’s backfield on early downs and Clyde Edwards-Helaire has remained healthy, garnering a role.
The Chiefs are an offense Fantasy Football managers want a piece of, but the third player in a three-running back committee is tough to find value in. He is running fewer routes and seeing fewer targets, making him a player to avoid unless an injury occurs.
Sticking with the Chiefs, another player to consider dropping is wide receiver Skyy Moore. No one has emerged from that group as a weekly contributor in Fantasy Football or for Kansas City to rely on as they are using a five-man rotation.
This is a messy situation as injuries or a player emerging as a reliable option for head coach Andy Reid to rely on is the only thing that will break up the rotation. Moore isn’t in the top two of target share and has gone without a target in two of four games. The Chiefs have an explosive offense but regularly only one wide receiver has been useful for Fantasy Football purposes.
Another wide receiver that you can cut from the bottom of your roster is Odell Beckham Jr. The Baltimore Ravens paid him a large sum of money in free agency but after missing the last two games with injury, he won’t be returning to the same role.
Zay Flowers is the clear-cut No. 1 option and tight end Mark Andrews remains heavily involved when healthy. The presence of Nelson Agholor further complicates things for Beckham, as there are higher-upside options available in free agency if you are need of wide receiver help.
Despite an offensive coordinator change, this is an offense that still relies heavily on the run. As the third option, at best, for targets, Beckham provides little upside and should be cut if a hotter free agent is available.
Last but not least is another wide receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster of the New England Patriots. This offense has been a mess with Mac Jones under center as he hasn’t looked like a starting-caliber quarterback.
That has led to underwhelming numbers for his pass catchers, enough reason to drop Smith-Schuster. But, his playing time also took a hit in Week 4 despite the team trailing and needing to throw more, which is most concerning.
With Tyquan Thornton eligible to return to the lineup this week, Smith-Schuster’s outlook is bleaker. A low-volume passing attack that he isn’t a clear-cut No. 1 option? Fantasy Football managers can do better at this point.
