Plainly and simply, this will be your weekly list of those end-of-roster guys that you can safely let go of, with the occasional unfortunate star player that finds his way here due to injury.
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. Below are my Week 5 cuts and drops for fantasy football.
Let's get to it.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing
Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN)
The moment Dalvin Cook went down, everyone in the football universe knew that it was over. Cook tore his ACL on Sunday and won't be seen in a regular season game again until September 2018. Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon both must be added. Murray played significantly more snaps than McKinnon after Cook went down, but neither back was particularly effective. The improved Vikings offensive line should give each a chance to succeed and both are worth the gamble. I would heavily prioritize Murray on your list of waiver wire targets.
Shane Vereen (RB, NYG)
I held onto hope as long as I could. He's been a five year project for me. I just can't let go. But now, it is time to let go. It's readily apparent that the Giants have no plans to make Shane Vereen anything more than what he's been - a passing down specialist. He is never going to see double digit carries. He will never see goal line carries. He will have his high reception games, but that's it. This one hurts, but it's time to let him go.
Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
Unfortunately, Chris Carson's left leg got trapped underneath a defender making a tackle and twisted in all sorts of unnatural directions. His season is over, which is really sad for a seventh round rookie trying to jump start his career. J.D. McKissic played quite well in Carson's stead and is infinitely more talented than Eddie Lacy. He is the correct replacement.
Theo Riddick (RB, NYG)
Another reality we must accept is that Theo Riddick's role on the offense in 2016 was entirely a product of Ameer Abdullah's injury. Abdullah is the main back. Zach Zenner/Dwayne Washington is the short yardage back. Riddick is is there to play on passing downs...sometimes. He isn't a special player. He was just good in the role he was given. That role no longer exists. Therefore, Riddick no longer has any value.
Justin Tucker (K, BAL)
It's rare that a kicker is on this list, but the consensus first kicker off the board and the most accurate kicker in NFL history heading into the 2017 season no longer should be rostered. It does not matter how good anyone is at their job if they're surrounded by complete incompetence. That's a generous description of the Ravens offense. Joe Flacco is going to go down as one of the worst QBs to ever win a Super Bowl. He has gotten worse and worse since that Super Bowl win. The Ravens are incapable of generating offense, thus rendering Tucker useless.