With the start of Week 7 and a clearer picture of the league emerges, it’s time to take a look at a few fringe players that may or may not be cut candidates from your roster. I previously outlined some potential cut candidates to monitor after Week 4. Now let’s see who has reached the end of the road and decide whether they are a fantasy football drop or a hold.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
Aaron Rodgers has been on my watch list since Week 4 and has done little to solidify his spot on my fantasy football team since. Although he hasn’t killed you, he hasn’t helped you either.
That changed in Week 6 as he put up 9.84 fantasy points against the New York Jets and seemed to be a lost cause.
Rodgers is averaging 14.00 points/game, good for QB17. Rodgers is rostered in 98% of fantasy football leagues. The next two weeks will see him face the 25th ranked Commanders defense and the 3rd ranked Bills defense.
Verdict: Give him one more chance against the lowly Commanders. If he isn’t a top 10 QB, drop him.
Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos)
Russ has also been on my hit list for the majority of the season, as he hasn’t come close to living up to his lofty expectations. This in large part can be attributed to a combination poor coaching, and a lat strain he has been playing through; although Wilson himself has looked dated.
Wilson is averaging 13.81 fantasy points/game and currently sits at QB19. He is rostered is 78% of fantasy football leagues.
Russ has a middling schedule the next two weeks against the Jets and Jaguars. But with his lingering injury likely to limit the effectiveness of his deep ball it’s unlikely he can take advantage.
Verdict: Russ can be dropped until healthy for any starting QB that has the potential to help your team.
Carson Wentz (Washington Commanders)
Wentz started off the season red hot, but it seems as if the clock has struck midnight and he has turned back into a pumpkin. Carson totaled 1.16 fantasy points in Week 6 and has fallen to QB10.
He is averaging 16.74 fantasy points/game but the is largely buoyed by his early season production. Wentz is still owned in 41% of fantasy football leagues, but his shine has faded.
Washington will face the 4th ranked Packers pass defense in Week 7 and things don’t figure to improve for him.
Verdict: Drop him. The ride was nice but we all knew this was coming.
Tight Ends
Noah Fant (Seattle Seahawks)
Fant is the lone TE on my list and produced a moderately successful Week 6, racking up 7.50 fantasy points. But this team seems to be using multiple tight ends and relying on Ken Walker heavily.
Through Week 6 Fant in averaging 5.08 fantasy points/game and is TE21. He is owned in 20% of fantasy football leagues, but that’s likely because of the horrific tight end landscape.
The next two weeks Fant faces the Chargers and Giants, whose pass defenses both rank out in the average range; but Fant can’t be trusted as anything more than a dart throw touchdown dependent prayer.
Verdict: Drop him for any decent option. If your stuck in the tight end stream zone there are worse options, but there are better ones too.
Running Backs
Cam Akers (Los Angeles Rams – maybe)
Cam Akers is a mess on a whole different level. Through six weeks he was averaging 4.38 fantasy points per game. That is the first problem. The more concerning issue seems to be that his time with the Rams is over.
Akers was a healthy scratch in Week 6 and the team announced after that they were attempting to trade him. Akers is rostered in 61% of fantasy football leagues. The question here is – where does he end up playing?
The Rams offensive line is near the worst in the league, so any team would be an upgrade in that department. But his value likely depends on his role with a new team.
Verdict: If you can afford to hold him until you know where he plays, do so. If you are in need of the roster spot he can be dropped without fear.
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles)
Gainwell started off hot in Week 1, but is averaging 4.30 fantasy points on the season through six weeks.
He posted 2.50 points in Week 6 and currently sits as RB55. Gainwell is only rostered in 24% of fantasy football leagues. But with a bye in Week 7 and the Steelers in Week 8, Gainwell holds little value outside of a Miles Sanders injury handcuff.
Verdict: Easy drop. Eagles on a bye and Sanders as the clear RB1. Drop him without a second thought.
Wide Receivers
Elijah Moore (New York Jets)
Moore came into the season with high expectations despite playing on a poor Jets offense. The Jets are 4-2 and yet Moore has little to no fantasy football value.
Elijah Moore is averaging 5.58 fantasy points/game and sits as WR71; because the Jets are largely winning on the backs of defense and Breece Hall.
Moore is still rostered in 64% of leagues despite posting a 0 point game in Week 6 where he saw 0 targets.
The Jets get the elite Broncos pass defense in Week 7 and a Moore has been benched for that game by head coach Robert Saleh.
Verdict: Elijah Moore can be dropped for any player that could help you during bye weeks.
DJ Moore (Carolina Panthers)
The second Moore on the list is perhaps the biggest disappointment of the 2022 season. Moore is averaging 6.72 fantasy points/game and is being severely limited by a dink and dunk passing attack. He totaled 2.20 points in Week 6 with PJ Walker under center and sits as WR48.
DJ is rostered in 74% of fantasy football leagues. His next two matchups are back to back division rivals in Tampa Bay and Atlanta; neither of which seems particularly daunting. But given the state of this team, my hopes are fading.
Verdict: With Robby Anderson traded to Arizona I’m holding DJ for one more week. If he doesn’t have a top 15 week in Week 7 I’m kicking him to the curb.
Russell Gage (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Gage seemed to enter the season with loads of opportunity in front of him due to the Chris Godwin injury. Six weeks later and Gage has averaged 3.00 fantasy points/game.
With Godwin returning to form and Mike Evans already returned from suspension, there is little reason to roster Gage; despite his current rostership of 61%.
Gage sits as WR57 and will get juicy matchups with the Panthers and Ravens the next two weeks.
Verdict: If you have any better options to choose over Gage he can be dropped confidently.
