We all love the waiver wire: some nearly-free additions to your roster that could make your season go from good to great. Unfortunately, that means that you have to move on from players already on your roster. I am your guide to your reaping, as these players are rostered in over 50% of fantasy football leagues, and their roster rate is just a tad too high. This season, I’m adding players I consider “on thin ice,” who are getting close to having the Eye of Sauron turned on them. Now remember, every roster is different, and every league is different. So this isn’t a be-all, end-all list; consider it more of a permission to give up on some guys. Let’s dive in.
QUARTERBACKS
Honestly, no quarterbacks did anything this week that made me uneasy about having them on my roster. Guys like Drake Maye will bounce back, and guys like Kyler Murray left the game because of injury. There was only one player rostered in over 50% of leagues who had what I would call a bad game (Baker Mayfield), and he gets the beyond-hapless Browns next weekend, who were most recently seen getting worked over by Trevor Lawrence & Company. Even Kyler is worth holding onto in case he clears protocol because the Vikings get the Bears, who are completely uninterested in playing defense.
On Thin Ice: Kyler Murray (75% rostered), Baker Mayfield (57% rostered)
RUNNING BACKS
Marshawn Lloyd, Green Bay (88% rostered)
While this isn’t a universal drop, Lloyd doesn’t need to be rostered in shallower leagues if you are in a roster crunch. Chris Brooks had the start in this one, and Lloyd finished with thirteen carries and one target for 37 yards. Chris Brooks outsnapped him, with Lloyd playing 44% of snaps to Brooks’ 56%. He’s currently a two-down banger in a timeshare, and one who isn’t particularly dynamic to begin with. He doesn’t need to be rostered in eight-team leagues.
Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas (53% rostered)
He was a hot draft pick this season due to Ashton Jeanty’s injury. Washington looked good on his seven carries, but Jeanty looked fantastic. He’s nothing more than a handcuff right now.
On Thin Ice: Rico Dowdle (93% rostered), Tony Pollard (92% rostered), Kenny Gainwell (80% rostered)
WIDE RECEIVERS
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona (93% rostered)
Harrison finished Sunday with three targets, one catch, and 33 yards. He took a back seat to Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and, shockingly, Kendrick Bourne. He isn’t a universal drop, but in shallow two-wide receiver leagues, I see no reason to keep him around as a boom-bust WR3.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis (87% rostered)
Downs, much like Harrison, took a back seat to an unexpected receiver on the roster. He finished with four targets for two catches and 37 yards. Newcomer Keenan Allen came in and immediately ate Downs’ lunch, running six fewer routes but getting two more targets. If you want some solace, Downs led the team in snaps and routes run, but early returns are bad. Like Harrison, he has no place in shallow 2WR leagues.
De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco (69% rostered)
While Stribling isn’t out for the year, the 49ers were cagey with his injury, saying it’s “at least” a month. If they don’t throw him on IR soon, you may have no choice but to move on and keep tabs on Stribling’s health, hoping to snag him back off of the wire as he nears his return. Given that it was a non-contact ankle injury, he might not be back to form when he returns, anyway.
On Thin Ice: Jordan Addison (84% rostered), Makai Lemon (71% rostered), Xavier Worthy (57% rostered), Romeo Doubs (54% rostered)
TIGHT ENDS
Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta (98% rostered)
The Cooper Rush Experience is somehow even worse than the Tua Tagovailoa one. If Rush is under center again, you simply cannot play Pitts. In a shallower league, that might mean the waiver wire. Obviously, you want to hang onto him if you can, but this is a problem.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas (79% rostered)
Hunter Henry, New England (54% rostered)
Both Ferguson and Henry are middling depth TE2s who shouldn’t be on your roster with other, more exciting options available.
On Thin Ice: George Kittle (96% rostered)
