We’re back to make more business decisions ahead of Week 5. And it’s only getting more excruciating seeing names we all were once so excited about become less-and-less valuable.
Once again, if you’re curious as to who I might recommend picking up to fill the slots, check out:
- my colleague and fellow DKN analyst Zach Thompson‘s Week 5 Waiver Wire column, or
- my Fantasy Football Week Four Stash List; plenty of players had intriguing-enough performances on Sunday to warrant waiver consideration.
I’ll be accompanying this weekly article with a weekly thread on my handle @dansby_edits with more stats and info on these droppable players.
Sharpen the axe. I get a little spicy this week.
No-questions-asked droppable
In no particular order.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans (91.5% rostered)
I wanted it to happen this week. I wrote about buying low on Ridley and also called my shot on a potential fantasy breakout last night against the Dolphins. But I had also mentioned that air yards alone could be a bit of a fool’s vector to follow with regards to trends. It could, really, just mean that Will Levis was airing the ball out to Calvin Ridley and missing him poorly. Just because there’s opportunity doesn’t mean there’s good opportunity.
Maybe there’s something with Mason Rudolph’s prudence at the helm of that offense. Maybe they can shorten the passing game a bit. Can Ridley excel there if they do? I don’t know. Seems more Spears/Hopkins/Chig territory.
I can understand not being ready to let go just yet. But, situationally, this isn’t getting any better. And Ridley seems to be a player who needs a good situation to excel like he did in 2021 for the Falcons.
Carson Steele, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (62.3% rostered)
You’ve likely read about dropping Carson Steele everywhere. I wrote about Kareem Hunt’s potential in Week 4, and how I thought he might end up benefiting in the immediate as far as volume. I didn’t realize Carson Steele was going to fumble Hunt into the role.
But that’s what’s happened. Hunt is back. He’s looked great in practice. Steele is now a handcuff, plain and simple. I’m dropping him.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons (93.8% rostered)
Enough with this. No more slack on the leash for this fantasy investment. The Falcons are winning and Pitts had zero receptions in their last game. Kirk Cousins is the quarterback. He’s finding Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McLoud III more than Pitts. It’s time.
Pitts has got Tampa Bay’s defense next week. He’s already had a few years to prove himself, and he hasn’t, so why would I have faith in him against any defense, let alone the Bucs’?
Pitts is averaging 6.1 fantasy points per game currently. You’d be better off with a waiver replacement, if only for the sake of your blood pressure. Don’t let yourself be infuriated by this utter letdown one more week.
Mike Williams, WR, New York Jets (44.1% rostered)
This is not entirely about the possibility that Davante Adams might be a Jet in a month or so. But I do believe the existence of and traction to this rumor.
Everyone’s talking about Mike Williams’s 10.7 PPR-point game against the Broncos on Sunday like it was a breakout. Some breakout! He’s also had weeks of 2.2 points and 0 points so far this year.
This offense runs through Rodgers, Hall, Wilson, and Lazard. I think Conklin will end the year with more fantasy points than Mike Williams. He’s plenty droppable.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys (70.1% rostered)
The experiment is over. All hail Rico Dowdle. Zeke can go. He’s not going to be able to withstand a full-season’s workload. His role is already diminishing, and his fantasy value will go out this year with a whimper.
I’m not that nutbar, yet, but I’m starting to wonder:
Alternative title: Guys, depending on just how nutbar you’re feeling this morning, on whom you might buy low!
You get what I mean by the above category. Fringe guys. Players who’ve stunk through three weeks, who’ve just been occupying a bench slot and throwing up 8.7 PPR points every week, or something. But you hold onto them for their name value and draft price. Because, if you dropped them, it’d be chaos.
Maybe that’s a good strategy? You’d sure get to see your league-mates throw down some wacky FAAB percentages for these names.
I digress. Again—in no particular order.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (97.9% rostered)
Is there actually a world in which anyone would drop Brandon Aiyuk? Unlikely. But there’s a world in which someone might divorce Aiyuk’s performance from his name and potential upside and drop him. He’s averaging 7.4 PPR points per game. That’s atrocious.
This feels a bit like a case of an offense that’s been derailed by, well, a spinning disc of misfortune. I need not document here all the contract sagas and wardrobe malfunctions and freak injuries and regulation injuries the 49ers have suffered. He’s a far better buy-low candidate than he is someone with whom you should cut bait.
This offense will find itself. What we’re banking on is that, when it does, Aiyuk has gotten out of his own head. He already has more drops this season than he did all of the previous. Purdy’s passes could be a shade more catchable, too, and Shanahan might consider realizing defenses are trying to take Aiyuk out of the mid-depth game, where he excelled last year.
Hold for now if you have him. If you’re fielding trade offers, stay strong.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens (96.3% rostered)
The Ravens seem committed to putting the league on notice that they are going to be an absolute rushing wagon this season. Zay Flowers’s volume is suffering as a result.
The Ravens are not going to run Derrick Henry like that every game. Too much exposure to potential injury. Flowers should get his in the games the Ravens want to win dynamically. But it’s not encouraging to know they’re happy letting him just get cardio in during the games when their ground offense is hyper-efficient.
I wouldn’t drop him. I’d hold or buy low.
Still wondering but have not yet the courage to cast them out:
Guys who I’ve included on previous lists who are still on an absolute icer, but it still seems too early to take a bath on them.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins (93.7% rostered)
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts (94.4% rostered)
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $3.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is thegreatdansby9) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
