Three weeks of NFL football are in the books, and we now have an idea of the landscape ahead of us… at least until the next seismic shift occurs. After all, Mark Andrews was the face of this article last week, and he came out hot this week. But, if you’re going to add the new hotness like Tre Tucker or Trey Benson, or a third, mysterious trey (a rule of treys, perhaps), then you need to get someone off your roster. Here is the short list of recommendations. You won’t find Najee Harris on this list, as he does not make the 50% roster rate cut-off, but rest assured, he’s worm food, too.
QUARTERBACKS
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati (74% rostered)
He’s not coming back, folks.
C.J. Stroud, Houston (61% rostered)
The Texans are currently 0-3, and C.J. Stroud’s best finish was QB23 in week two. He is hanging onto fantasy rosters because of his name value, but he has a chance to make it 3/3 being a terrible starter in a 2QB league, let alone a 1QB league.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville (50% rostered)
He has completed 55% of his passes this season, has as many interceptions as touchdowns, and has surpassed 225 passing yards only once. Oh, and he gets the 49ers’ stingy defense next week.
RUNNING BACKS
James Conner, Arizona (99% rostered)
Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the loss to the 49ers.
RJ Harvey, Denver (88% rostered)
Through three games, RJ Harvey has 80 rushing yards (50 on one carry in week one), and five catches for 29 yards. There’s no reason to have him around, unless you need a J.K. Dobbins handcuff.
Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco (55% rostered)
While Robinson had a key run in setting up a San Francisco victory, he had two carries for 22 yards. Robinson is only valuable as a McCaffrey Handcuff (and given that McCaffrey has the second-most touches through three games for any running back of the last decade, you might need that).
Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh (51% rostered)
He did not log a statistic today, and his 0.00 fantasy points were his second-best game of the season, trailing only his 0.1 fantasy points from last week. Mike Tomlin buried him under the doghouse, at least for now.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee (93% rostered)
Ridley had one catch for seven yards against the Colts, marking his second consecutive game with exactly 27 yards, although he averages six targets per game. This is a pure shallow-league (eight teams) drop, because Ridley is far less valuable than a churning roster spot in a league that size. We are quickly en route to that expanding to a universal drop if struggling rookie Cam Ward & Ridley continue to fail to get on the same page.
Hollywood Brown, Kansas City (59% rostered)
Brown finished as WR9 in week one, and he has five fewer targets, one fewer reception, and 27 fewer yards in the next two games combined. With Xavier Worthy on the horizon, you can move on from Brown.
TIGHT ENDS
Mark Andrews saved himself this week, and tight ends comported themselves well, as a group. Congratulations, none of you are on the chopping block!
