X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

The Cut List - Players on the Chopping Block (Week 16)

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 16 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.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing

Anyone You're Not Starting Week 16

Let me first preface this by stating that you should not literally drop every single player you don't need for this week. You should also consider your opponent's roster and make sure you aren't dropping someone that your opponent can use. Players like Tom Brady, Jared Goff, and Baker Mayfield have been owned at a higher rate than their performance suggests, but they can be safely dropped this week with matchups against the Bills, 49ers, and Ravens respectively. You are not starting them and if you should not be concerned about your opponent starting them. If you've been using someone like Ryan Tannehill, but don't love his matchup this week, maybe hang onto him anyway because he's been good enough that he could be an upgrade for your opponent. This is the type of approach you should take towards all players.

Name Brands that Aren't Good

Odell Beckham has been terrible all season and now faces the Ravens. He's an easy drop. You can safely drop Cooper Kupp if you need to given his demotion to backup receiver and the bad matchup with the 49ers. In general, underperforming "stars" with bad matchups can be dropped.

Injured Players

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are both done for the season with hamstring strains. They are obvious drops. If the news on Dalvin Cook's shoulder is grim and he's not playing this week, he can be dropped. With Week 15 being a relatively light injury week, anyone hurt over the preceding weeks that you were holding out hope for a return can be let go once it's clear a return is not happening.

Handcuffs

It is the final week of the fantasy season. Either your handcuff is now the starter, or you don't need that handcuff. Handcuffing season is over.

 

Final Advice

This late in the season, you can pretty much drop anyone you don't have immediate use for. Your goal is to win your fantasy championship (or the third place prize if that matters in your league). That's really it. If you need a player to help you win Week 16, you can drop any player that is not going to help you win Week 16 and also won't help your opponent.

Even though we're at the end of the road and it's pretty much just hoping our players come through, there are still steps you can take to gain a small edge. You can utilize every available roster spot to benefit you. If your opponent is all set, then there's not much you can do. But, if your opponent needs to stream a defense or a quarterback or replace an injured receiver or running back, feel free to play defense and target the top guys you think your opponent will target. Use everything at your disposal to try and win this one last matchup.

Players To Add - Waiver Wire Pickups




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Justin Verlander

Headed to 15-Day Injured List
Tylor Megill

Punches Out 10
Anthony Santander

Exits with Hip Inflammation
MLB

Braves-Nationals Postponed on Wednesday
Isaac Paredes

Hits Two Long Balls in Loss to Rays
Dylan Crews

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain
George Kirby

to Make Season Debut on Thursday
Devin Williams

Yankees Don't Have Plans to Put Devin Williams Back in Closer's Role
Jared Jones

to Have Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Will Warren

Strikes Out 10, Earns Win Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early Tuesday With Left-Forearm Contusion
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Walker Buehler

Reinstated and Starting on Tuesday
MLB

Guardians-Twins Rained Out on Tuesday
Travis Bazzana

to Miss 8-10 Weeks with Oblique Injury
Ian Happ

to be Activated on Tuesday
Miguel Amaya

Drives in Five Against the Fish
Julio Rodríguez

Julio Rodriguez Smashes Huge Grand Slam Against the White Sox
Mookie Betts

Bashes Two Taters on Monday Night
Sonny Gray

Dominates Detroit To Secure Fifth Win
Kyle Schwarber

Hits Career Homer No. 300 Monday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
12
11
14
12
18
13
22
14
24
15
30
16
31
17
Max Fried NYY
35
18
42
19
Joe Ryan MIN
43

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
1
1
2
3
3
7
4
12
5
13
7
15
8
18
9
19
10
20