This is your weekly list of players to drop. I will do my best to limit this list to injured players and players you might consider holding. If you roster pure handcuffs or backups, obviously you can let them go at any time. The players on this list will, ideally, be guys that aren't clearly droppable, but no longer worth owning.
Below are my Week 6 cuts and drops for fantasy football. Each week from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep a roster spot on your fantasy football teams.
Let's get to it.
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- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
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Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing
Eric Ebron (TE, IND)
Clearly playing second fiddle to Jack Doyle and perhaps falling behind Mo Alie-Cox as well, Eric Ebron has yet to see more than five targets in a game and has yet to reach 50 yards in a game. He has nine catches on the season through five weeks. Ebron's 2018 was a fluke and everybody knew it. He is nothing more than a desperation streamer and does not belong on nearly as many rosters as he's on.
Duke Johnson (RB, HOU)
Everyone wants to make Duke Johnson happen, but how many weeks in a row does he need to be outplayed by Carlos Hyde before you give up? Johnson hasn't hit double digit fantasy points since Week 1. Supposedly known for his receiving work, Johnson saw just one target last week. The verdict is out on Johnson. I'm calling it. He's just not that good. No reason to hang onto him.
Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA)
There is nothing Chris Carson can do to lose Pete Carroll's trust. Nothing. The Seahawks burnt a first round pick on Rashaad Penny. They lit it on fire. He's a bust. I do think Penny is talented, but he is never going to get a chance absent a Carson injury and, at this point, Carson is almost guaranteed to reclaim his job upon his return from this hypothetical injury. Upside handcuffs are worth owning if you can afford it, but with bye weeks coming and the injuries piling up, do not feel obligated to roster Penny.
Wayne Gallman (RB, NYG)
It was fun while it lasted. Wayne Gallman was concussed last week and with the Giants on a short week playing Thursday night, there is no chance he will be cleared in time for that game. Even if Gallman is good to go by Week 7, Saquon Barkley will be back. Gallman's time in the spotlight lasted exactly one week.
Malcolm Brown (RB, LAR)
The upside is still there if you want to stash Malcolm Brown in case Todd Gurley's knee acts up, but Brown has zero value while Gurley is healthy. After having a deliberate role in Week 1, Brown has touched the ball nine times over the past three weeks. He is a pure handcuff and one you should freely cut if you need the spot.
Warning Signals
Sammy Watkins (WR, KC)
They say that all things Chiefs are worth something. "They" must not know about Sammy Watkins. All he's done for the past four years is prove that he is not particularly good at football. After fooling everyone with a mammoth opening week, Watkins hasn't finished better than a low WR4 since.
His coup de grace was Sunday night when he played through a questionable tag only to bounce after a couple of plays, giving you a nice fat bagel in your lineup. With Tyreek Hill likely returning this week and the Chiefs in possession of multiple receivers better than Watkins, if Watkins is going to miss any sort of extended period of time, do not be afraid to let him go.
Players You May Be Considering Dropping, But Shouldn't
Jaylen Samuels (RB, PIT)
There are plenty of reasons to be disappointed in Jaylen Samuels. After his deliberate usage in Week 4, he was an afterthought in Week 5. Mason Rudolph could miss multiple weeks after a scary concussion. The offense is in shambles. James Conner is the clear lead back.
With all that being said, Samuels is still an incredibly versatile player that would have a three down role if Conner went down. I know I mentioned above that pure handcuffs don't need to be owned, but Samuels is different because of the confidence in his workload if he took the job and because Conner has missed practice time with multiple injuries over the past two weeks.