The Cut List – Who to Drop for Week 15?

December 14, 2021

Robert Lorge's fantasy football players to drop when making waiver wire moves in Week 15. He helps fantasy football managers decide on who to cut from rosters.

First off, congratulations to everyone who has made their fantasy playoffs with a special shout-out to those who managed to secure that all-important first-round bye. Just because you're in the playoffs and there are only a few weeks left doesn't mean fantasy managers should stop tinkering with their roster. Keep at it until that final whistle blows.

As we've done all season, we're looking at some of the fantasy players who are cuttable for fantasy managers. As always, fantasy managers should never cut a player just to cut a player, but all of these are cuttable players under the right circumstances.

One of the things fantasy managers should be looking to have is one or two solid bench players that in a pinch they can put into their starting lineup. The rest of their bench should be filled with handcuffs, high-upside bench stashes, and streamers with great matchups in Weeks 16 and 17. All of the players here have very low upside. Before we get to it, I want to wish everyone the best of luck in their future playoff matchups.

Quarterbacks to Drop for Week 15?

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

35.8% rostered

When Newton signed with the Panthers, the fantasy upside was there. It was clear. Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore with Robby Anderson gave him plenty of weapons to go along with his own ability to score points with his legs. To some extent, that much has held true. Fantasy managers have seen some of that upside, but the risk is far too great. The loss of CMC has hurt the offense dramatically, but now Moore is also banged up and has been deemed day-to-day. If he's out or limited, Newton will have what pretty much amounts to an empty cabinet. That's not even the biggest problem for Newton and his fantasy managers.

#Panthers HC Matt Rhule said they will continue to use both Cam Newton and PJ Walker at QB. Rhule also said Sam Darnold is getting close to returning and that could play a factor, but there's still time for that.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 13, 2021

Newton has been benched in the last two games and this is what leaves Newton completely unplayable, especially entering the fantasy playoffs. While his ability to score with his legs presents upside at the quarterback position, the risk of playing a quarterback who could be benched or pulled from the game is just way too much risk in a win or go home matchup.

Others to consider: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (58.5% rostered)

Running Backs to Drop for Week 15?

Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills

45.6% rostered

It's amazing that Moss still holds still a high rostership considering he's been a healthy scratch in two out of their last three games. One can reasonably assume it would have been the last three if the Bills didn't play in a game with incredibly strong winds and snow, which increased the importance of the run game.

Zack Moss A Healthy Scratch In Week 14 https://t.co/ox82XykE8D

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 12, 2021

There's no reason fantasy managers need to hold onto Moss. The upside with the Buffalo backfield doesn't exist as this offense will continue to be extremely pass-heavy and Moss is third on the depth chart, fourth if you include Josh Allen (who really ought to be counted seeing as he's the team's second-leading rusher).

Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers

44.8% rostered

Elijah Mitchell has missed two games in the last four weeks, which provided Wilson with increased opportunities. Both times he disappointed – big time. In Week 11, despite an amazing matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wilson was woefully inefficient. He received 19 carries and turned them into 50 scoreless yards. He received another chance in Week 15 against the Bengals, and once again, did very little with the chance. He received 13 carries and finished with 56 yards. In those two games where he was the starter, he received just two targets and was a complete non-factor in the passing game.

The bigger problem lies not at the running back position, but at the wide receiver one. Even if Mitchell were to get hurt again or miss extended time, does it even matter for Wilson? Sure, fantasy managers can count on 12–15 carries, but through two contests, the results have been inefficient at best. The worst part is he wasn't involved in the passing game and lost out on the high-value touches near the end zone. In Week 11 and 14, Deebo Samuel combined for 16 carries, 116 yards and two touchdowns. He was solidly outplayed by a wide receiver. So the question becomes, even if Mitchell is out, can fantasy managers trust him in their starting lineup? From his two spot-starts, the answer is no. He's combined for 11.9 half-PPR points or just 5.95 per game.

Others to consider: Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks (30.1% rostered)

Wide Receivers to Drop for Week 15?

Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills

58.6% rostered

Over the past seven games, Sanders is averaging just 4.24 half-PPR points per game. He is currently ranked WR72. During that time, he has received just 29 targets, which amounts to 4.14 targets per game. For four weeks in a row, Sanders has failed to score more than five points.

He left the Bills' Week 14 contest early due to a sprained knee and early reports are he is unlikely to play in Week 15. A timetable is unknown at this time, but fantasy managers already know he won't be available in Week 15. Then in Week 16 the Bills go on the road to face the Patriots, which is a matchup no fantasy manager will want to start Sanders. He can safely be dropped to waivers in almost any sized league.

Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears

65.8% rostered

It's amazing Robinson's rostership is as high as it is despite the season he's had. The former Pro-Bowler has not scored in double-digits all season and his best game was just 9.4 points all the way back in Week 2. He is currently averaging a disappointing 5.73 half-PPR points. If that wasn't bad enough, there was this in Week 14...

anddddd this is a major reason why Allen Robinson should be gone pic.twitter.com/Q4O39yYrkY

— Joseph Herff (@JosephHerffNFL) December 13, 2021

Robinson has completely checked out, and on some level, it's hard to blame him considering the coaching and quarterback play he's received during his stint in Chicago. Still, that effort level is embarrassing. It's so bad that it's hard to see a reason why the coaching staff would go back to him. At this point of the season, it would benefit the Bears to give his playing time to some young guys who can develop with Justin Fields because Robinson won't be in the Windy City in 2022.

Others to consider: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (74.4% rostered), Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (65.4% rostered), Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (58.4% rostered)

Tight Ends to Drop for Week 15?

Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers

48.7% rostered

He did score last week, but fantasy managers shouldn't go chasing yesterday's points. The No. 1 parameter for fantasy football is chasing volume. Cook is averaging just 4.9 targets per game, which ranks 19th among tight ends. Keenan Allen should be back in Week 15, which will once again push Cook further down the target hierarchy. He has just two double-digit games this season and seven games with under five points. There's very little upside here with the veteran tight end the floor is incredibly low.

In Week 15 the Chargers go up against the Chiefs, who on the season are allowing the 12th-most points to opposing tight ends, but that ranking is somewhat deceiving. Over the past six games, the Chiefs' defense has only allowed two teams to score double-digits. They are allowing just 10.8 points in those past six games. During that period, tight ends have averaged just 5.0 points per game and not a single one has scored in double-digits. During this six-game stretch, they've gone up against Darren Waller, Evan Engram, Dalton Schultz and Noah Fant. It's a bad matchup in Week 15 and Cook has done very little to show fantasy managers he can take advantage of even a good matchup.

Others to consider: Evan Engram, New York Giants (30.8% rostered)

On the Hot Seat

Noah Fant, Denver Broncos

80.4% rostered

If the tight end position wasn't so dire, Fant might already find himself on the Cut List, but the fact of the matter is – tight end is ugly. That doesn't mean you get a free pass forever though. In fact, fantasy managers are likely best treating Fant as the streamer he is and streamers simply don't need to be rostered week to week. The only thing keeping Fant from the chopping block is his incredibly fantasy-friendly schedule down the stretch. He has the Bengals, Raiders, and Chargers from Weeks 15–17. The Raiders have given up the most fantasy points to tight ends, the Chargers have given up the sixth-most, and Bengals the 11th-most.

Unfortunately, Fant played against the Chargers in Week 12 and only scored 2.7 points. In Week 11, the Broncos played the Eagles, who have allowed the second-most points to opposing tight ends and Fant was only able to muster 8.4 points. Still, unless you have a set it and forget starter, Fant is better than some considering his schedule over the rest of the season. If he doesn't come through in Week 15 in an excellent matchup, it's going to be very difficult for fantasy managers to trust him in the semi-finals in Week 16.

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

76.2% rostered

The name value and the first-round status sadly isn't worth any fantasy points. This Denver passing game is dreadful. Teddy Bridgewater is struggling to support one fantasy-relevant pass-catcher. Fant is getting the pass because he's a tight end and the bar at his position is incredibly low. Jeudy doesn't have that same luxury. In smaller leagues, Jeudy is a cuttable player. If you're in a 12 or 14-team league, Jeudy may be worth hanging onto, even though he shouldn't be anywhere near a starting lineup right now.

Broncos wide receiver fantasy finishes since Jerry Jeudy returned to action (NSFW)

Jeudy: WR55, WR21, WR36, WR71, WR27
Tim Patrick: WR43, WR10, WR66, WR67, WR87
Courtland Sutton: WR64, WR88, WR62, WR81, WR69

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 8, 2021

The above tweet did not include Week 14's ranking where he finished as WR51. The only reason Jeudy isn't exclusively on the Cut List is that he's leading the team in targets since he's come back. His six-target average ranks 39th since he returned to the lineup, which isn't anything to get excited about, but it does put him on the verge of WR3 status. He does have two WR3 finishes and another WR2 finish in the past six weeks, so he's still worth a hold.

Hold On

Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans

76.6% rostered

His final stat line wasn't anything to write home about – he finished with just six targets of which he caught four for 33 yards, but it was a positive step in the right direction. He didn't even play 50% of the snaps, which could be taken one of two ways. Fantasy managers could say he's not healthy and isn't going to be this season or fantasy managers could look at his production during half the game and say he might just be a boom-or-bust WR3 down the stretch.

Some of his advanced metrics are still very strong in 2021. According to PlayerProfiler, he is averaging 16.0 yards per reception, which ranks 12th among qualifying receivers. He is also averaging 10.8 yards per target, which ranks sixth and 2.47 yards per route run, which ranks ninth. In Week 15, the Titans are up against the Steelers who are allowing the 12th-most points to receivers. In Week 16, the Titans play the 49ers who are allowing the 8th-most points to receivers. In Week 17, the fantasy championship, the Titans are playing against the Dolphins who are allowing the fifth-most points to receivers. They have an excellent rest of the season schedule and A.J. Brown is still out for Week 15. If Julio's playing time goes up in Week 15, which it should, despite a disappointing season, fantasy managers might just be able to extract some value out of Jones yet.

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