Last week in my Roster Cloggers article I highlighted Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, Ronald Jones, David Johnson, Mecole Hardman, and Jonnu Smith. Fields and Lawrence had decent games, but they still are not ready to be in your fantasy football lineups. Ronald Jones had his best game of the season, but was only on the field for 17% of the snaps. Mecole Hardman was on the field for over 52% of the snaps, and continued to be the 3rd-most of the Chiefs WRs. Jonnu Smith had his best fantasy week of the season, but it hinged primarily on his touchdown catch. Smith finished outside of the top-12 at the TE position and was 2nd on the Patriots.
In addition to the players above, I put Darnell Mooney and Devin Singletary on my Clogger Watchlist. Mooney had a great game as Field’s looked much improved in his second start. Zack Moss out-snapped Devin Singletary, but was less productive and efficient.
There are some carryover cloggers from previous weeks. At this point in the season, we need to forget about draft capital and do what is best for our fantasy football teams.
Quarterback
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (36.9% Rostered, 1.8% Started)
Fields is below the threshold set for him be considered a roster clogger. But for now, there are not many QBs rostered in over 50% of leagues that are stuck on benches. After a poor start in Week 3, Fields did show some improvement in Week 4. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 209 yards. Fields did not have any touchdown passes, but he did have one interception. Like Week 3, we did not see the designed runs we were hoping for. Until Fields gets more of a rushing floor, he will continue to be a risky start.
Running Backs
Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (50.5% Rostered, 3.3% Started)
Ronald Jones has now been featured in this article in back-to-back weeks. Against the Patriots, Jones was only on the field for 13 offensive snaps. Leonard Fournette on the other hand, was on the field for 63 snaps. You likely invested a 6th or 7th round pick in Jones, so it will be tough to let him go. At this point in the season though, he is clearly the 2nd running back on the Buccaneers.
Jones had a season-high six carries for 25 yards and a touchdown – his best fantasy week of the season. This could offer you a chance to trade Jones. If you can not trade him, you’re better off cutting him and adding a more valuable player to your roster.
Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams (61.3% Rostered, 4.6% Started)
If you play in a league with a deep bench, you probably do not need to drop Sony Michel. Without Darrell Henderson in the lineup in Week 3, Michel took advantage of the extra opportunity. He had 20 attempts for 67 yard. With Henderson healthy in Week 4, Michel was only on the field for seven offensive snaps. While Henderson is healthy, Michel does not have enough of a role to be considered startable in fantasy football. If Henderson is to miss any time, Michel could be worthy of a spot start depending on the matchup.
Wide Receivers
Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (53% Rostered, 5.8% Started)
Jalen Reagor has been on the field for at least 70% of the snaps in each game. He is running routes on a fairly high percentage of his snaps. Unfortunately, it has not resulted in enough fantasy football points to make him a safe start. Reagor is 2nd on the team in targets and receptions, but 5th in receiving yards. With him running routes on such a high percentage of his snaps, there should be more opportunity coming his way. Until we see production on the field we can not put him into our fantasy football lineups and feel good about it.
Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins (75.7 Rostered, 4.8% Started)
Will Fuller missed the first two weeks of the season – Week 1 due to suspension, Week 2 for personal reasons. In Week 3, Fuller caught three passes for 20 yards. In Week 4 Fuller broke his finger early in the 2nd quarter after just one reception.
The Dolphins have already ruled out Fuller for their Week 5 matchup against the Buccaneers. If you can stash Fuller in your IR spot you should do that. If you do not have that ability, it might be in your best interest to move on from the oft-injured WR.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots (65.1% Rostered, 23,8% Started)
After signing a large contract this offseason, many expected Jonnu Smith to be a major part of the offense. In Week 4, Smith only caught three passes for 14 yards. One of his receptions did result in a touchdown, so fantasy football managers were not completely burned. So far this season, Jonnu has only been on the field over 50% of the offensive snaps just once. Once the Patriots offense steps up Jonnu will be more reliable. For now, he is just taking up a valuable bench spot.
Roster Clogger Watch
Ty’Son Williams, Baltimore Ravens (70.6% Rostered, 5.0% Started)
With so many offseason injuries, Ty’Son Williams was thrust into the starting RB role for the Ravens in Week 1. Williams got off to a solid start, but struggled in pass protection which lost him snaps. In Week 4, Williams was a healthy scratch. Prior to the healthy scratch, Ty’Son was only playing about 50% of the snaps anyways. We need to monitor this situation closely. We can not start Ty’Son until he is on the field more. If he continues to be a healthy scratch or losing snaps, it will be time to move on.
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (77.5% Rostered, 36.7% Started)
After a breakout 2020, Robert Tonyan is off to a disapointing start to the 2021 season. Prior to Week 4, Tonyan only had eight total targets and 66 yards on the season. In the Packers Week 4 matchup, Tonyan had seven targets. He only caught two of them for just eight yards, though. If Tonyan does not have a good game soon, he may not be worth rostering for much longer.
