This season when I joined the League Winners writing team I knew I wanted to find an article that would challenge myself and make me a better fantasy football player. I have always struggled with cutting bait on players before they rot away on my bench. This series and the research behind it, helped me be successful in a lot of my leagues. I found myself more willing to drop players that I was previously afraid to drop because I wanted to make sure that I was willing to follow the advice that I was giving to anyone reading my work
As we enter the fantasy football playoffs, it is not time to get complacent. You need to make sure your roster is full of players you would feel comfortable starting. If you would never put a player in they have no spot on your roster. It is better to stash a quarterback, defense, or tight end to ensure you have good playoff matchups.
Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (56% Rostered, 30.7% Started)
A few weeks ago I put Carson Wentz on this list, even though he fell just short of my requirements to be a roster clogger. This week he surpassed the 50% roster requirement, so he is a legitimate roster clogger. In ESPN fantasy football leagues, more than half of the people that roster Wentz started him and they were let down. This most recent let down came in what should have been a decent matchup against the Texans.
Wentz and the Colts have a bye in Week 14, so he will not be able to help you get into the playoffs if you need a win. Following the bye, the Colts get the Patriots and Cardinals; both have been tough matchups for QBs. Starting Wentz those weeks would not be advised. However, he does get the Raiders in Week 17 which is a pretty good championship week matchup. Wentz is someone that you should be watching in a couple weeks as you prepare for your championship. But if roster spots are limited on your fantasy football team you do not need to hold onto Wentz.
Running Backs
Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons (50.4% Rostered, 13.4% Started)
Mike Davis was a feature of this article several times to start the year; but after a couple weeks I got bored writing about him. With him actually having a decent fantasy week last week, I wanted to bring him up again. Davis did lead all Falcons running backs in snaps and he did score a touchdown.
Mike Davis 17-yard TD, picking on right side of Bucs D pic.twitter.com/bdt9U7M2m7
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) December 5, 2021
That is only part of the story. When you look at his actual usage you see that he is clearly the RB2 on the Falcons, even though he scored more fantasy points. Davis only touched the ball eight times compared to the 16 touches for Cordarrelle Patterson. Davis did run more routes than Patterson, but Patterson still saw more targets. The heavy route running for Davis was likely related to the Falcons trailing towards the end of the game.
With Carolina and San Francisco next on the schedule, Davis should be in for a tough couple weeks. Even if he does get a touchdown he likely is not in your fantasy football lineup. He is better to drop and let an opponent clog up the roster spot.
Wide Receivers
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (77.7% Rostered, 3.1% Started)
Antonio Brown was on the Clogger Watch list a few weeks ago, but he has made the jump to the real list this week. I had him on the watch list due to his lingering injury and was starting to get nervous. But it was not injury news that spurred my addition to this list. It was his surprise suspension by the NFL.
Last week the NFL announced that it would be suspending Antonio Brown for three weeks after he violated the NFL’s COVID protocols. This suspension means that Brown will not be available until you are in your fantasy football playoffs.
Once his suspension is over, it's possible that the #Buccaneers will release WR Antonio Brown, according to @RapSheet https://t.co/ths7MESliI
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 5, 2021
With Brown missing since Week 7, I find it hard to believe I would be able to plug him into my playoff starting lineup in his first game back. I personally cut Brown last week after the news broke because I wanted to better stock my roster for a playoff push. If you have roster space available and are hoping to start him in your championship by all means go for it. I know that I would not be able to start him so I would rather an opponent waste the roster spot.
Tight Ends
I am not highlighting any tight ends on the main list this week. There is a tight end in the watchlist who could very well belong here once we hear injury news later in the week.
Clogger Watch List
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (38.4% Rostered, 10.1% Started)
We did not get to see the Ravens’ first round pick until Week 6 due to a preseason injury. In his first appearance, he caught 4 of his 6 targets for 29 yards and played 65% of the snaps. Nothing special, but was definitely promising.
Following that game Bateman had four straight games with over 55% of the snaps. In addition he had four straight games with at least 6 targets. However, the past two weeks have been pretty disappointing. He has played less than 50% of the snaps in both games. In Week 13, Bateman did not receive a single target.
Bateman does not technically meet my qualifications to be a fantasy football roster clogger. But I wanted to make sure that he was discussed. If Bateman has another low usage week then he should be considered a roster clogger.
Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team (56.2% Rostered, 28.5% Started)
After missing an extended period of time due to injury, Logan Thomas was back on the field in two straight games. After his first game back it was obvious that he was going to be a big part of the offense moving forward. On top of that, he had what appeared to be pretty light playoff schedule. His Week 13 performance did not let fantasy football managers down, but he was injured and could potentially miss the remainder of the season.
Logan Thomas recently returned from injury and his first touchdown since September 26th was decent I guess pic.twitter.com/cbyhHxqzog
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 5, 2021
I am not putting Thomas on the main list because we still do not know the extent of the injury. There was originally speculation that he tore his ACL, but that appears to not be the case. Thomas is expected to miss time and we really need to monitor that situation over the week. If you are a playoff team you should hold onto him until we know just how long he will be out. If you need to win in Week 14 to make the playoffs you can drop Thomas to add your favorite available player. (UPDATE: Logan Thomas will miss the rest of the 2021 season)
