Cut-Down Casualties to Keep an Eye On For 2023 Fantasy Football

August 31, 2023

In preparation for the 2023 season, all NFL teams have trimmed their rosters down to 53 players. Andersen Pickard identifies the biggest cut-down casualties at each position to keep an eye on from a fantasy football perspective.

All NFL teams trimmed their rosters down to 53 players on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the moves were widely expected as organizations parted ways with players ranging from expensive veterans to non-impactful replacements to low-ranking rookies.

However, some cuts came as a bit of a surprise, and some of them could have somewhat significant fantasy football ramifications.

Let's explore the biggest cut-down casualties at each position to keep an eye on.

Running Back Cuts

La'Mical Perine

Update: Perine is expected to join the Chiefs' practice squad. 

Perine didn't generate a lot of hype heading into a make-or-break offseason. He needed to have a great camp to keep his name afloat in NFL circles, and he did just that. In the end, though, it wasn't enough to earn a roster spot as Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire beat him out. However, he could stick as a depth piece on a team that doesn't have nearly as much backfield depth as Kansas City.

Kenyan Drake

Drake remains a solid veteran running back ahead of his age-29 season. In fact, just last year, he totaled 126 touches, 571 scrimmage yards, and five touchdowns with Baltimore. Although he didn't make the Colts' initial 53-man roster, Drake's experience should earn him a new deal with Indianapolis or another team. If it doesn't happen right away, he'll surely be called upon when injuries pile up during the regular season.

Trey Sermon

Sermon never lived up to his pre-draft hype, failing to deliver much production with the 49ers in 2021 or the Eagles in 2022. The only reason he appears on this list? Unconfirmed reports that he generated some light trade interest on Tuesday. Although no deal was reached, perhaps something will get done in free agency.

Zonovan Knight

Update: Knight has been signed to the Lions' practice squad. 

Knight's release is the product of a very crowded backfield in New York. With Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook back on the practice field and Michael Carter and Israel Abanikanda offering valuable depth, there was simply no room for Knight. He's just 22 years old and averaged 57 scrimmage yards per game last year, so he should have no trouble latching on elsewhere.

Myles Gaskin

Update: Gaskin has been signed to the Vikings' active roster.

Gaskin was the RB28 in 2020 and RB24 in 2021, but his fantasy stock fell drastically last season when a new coaching regime, led by Mike McDaniel, arrived. He's a solid pass-catching back, but this was a divorce that has been brewing for quite some time. Alas, a fresh start for Gaskin.

James Robinson

Robinson's value has declined drastically since being the RB7 overall as a rookie in 2020. Travis Etienne's production prompted the Jaguars to trade Robinson to the Jets last year and a domino effect of divorces ensued. Robinson left the Jets in free agency, couldn't stick with the Patriots, and has now failed to make the Giants' 53-man roster. With that said, he has proven himself as a capable running back in the past, so he'll likely earn another shot somewhere else.

Melvin Gordon

Update: Gordon is joining the Ravens' practice squad. 

Gordon makes this list for the same reason as Drake: he's a veteran who proved to be a fine fill-in as recently as last year. At this point, he could quite possibly open the 2023 season as a free agent, just waiting for an injury to create an opportunity. He won't just be handed a job with a heavy workload, but he can certainly earn enough touches to at least generate a little bit of attention when waivers get remarkably thin.

DeWayne McBride

Update: McBride is joining the Vikings' practice squad.

Cook's release created an opportunity for McBride to earn a roster spot in his rookie season, but he ultimately didn't make the team. Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu will back up Alexander Mattison while McBride is a candidate for the practice squad.

Wide Receiver Cuts

Jamison Crowder

Crowder has delivered steady production throughout his career, including a 51-catch, 447-yard campaign in 2021. While injuries plagued his 2022 season, he's still just 30 years old and should earn a new opportunity to prove himself once again.

Cole Beasley

Update: Beasley (leg) is joining the Giants' practice squad to finish his recovery.

Beasley has been Mr. Reliable throughout his entire career, so although he didn't crack the Giants' initial roster, he could be one of the most appealing veteran receivers on the open market. Of course, he might not even test free agency; reports suggest New York will re-sign the tough, trustworthy 34-year-old.

Denzel Mims

If Mims were a hot commodity, he would've been signed as soon as he became a free agent last Friday. That obviously didn't happen. However, he still has second-round draft capital attached to his name, which might be enough to earn him a prove-it deal sooner rather than later.

Tight End Cuts

Zack Kuntz

Update: Kuntz is joining the Jets' practice squad. 

Kuntz didn't have a legitimate path to production this year, so his release isn't necessarily a surprise. However, the 2023 seventh-round pick is a physical specimen who could ascend into a household name with some development. The Jets would love to get him on their practice squad, but perhaps a team with minimal tight-end depth could make a move to get the Old Dominion product on their 53-man roster.

Zach Gentry

Gentry has provided the Steelers with solid depth, amassing 38 receptions over the last two seasons. He's a capable pass-catcher and blocker who should have no trouble latching on as a depth piece somewhere else.

Kicker Cuts

Brett Maher

Update: Maher is expected to sign with the Rams. He will join their active roster.

Maher's playoff struggles aside, the 33-year-old has one of the most powerful legs in pro football. He was K3 overall in fantasy football last season and should generate interest as soon as a team looks to make a change at the kicker position.

Cade York

Update: York is joining the Titans' practice squad. 

York performed very poorly this preseason and wasn't exactly great as a rookie in 2022, but he's just 22 years old. There are surely several teams willing to take a chance on York in hopes of re-igniting his long-term value, even if that means signing him to their practice squad.

Rodrigo Blankenship

Blankenship was exceptional as a rookie in 2020, finishing fifth among kickers in fantasy points. Just last year, he went 4-for-5 with Arizona, including hitting a kick from 50-plus yards out. He might not be a top-32 kicker in the league, but he's awfully close. Once a team needs to find a kicker, they'll work out a variety of free agents, including Blankenship. Workouts can lead to deals, and Blankenship should get another chance to prove himself relatively soon.

Michael Badgley

Update: Badgely is joining the Lions' practice squad. 

Badgley has now been cut by the Lions, Commanders, and Titans over the last two months. It's been a rough stretch of transactions for the 28-year-old, but it also shows that teams remain interested in giving him a chance to get back on track. He'll remain an intriguing name on the open market.

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