Roster management is the single most crucial in-season task for fantasy football managers. Knowing which players to let go is as important as adding the right guys. Which players find themselves on our Week 13 fantasy football cut list?
All roster percentages are taken from Yahoo.
Players You Should Cut in Fantasy Football
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons (59%)
A handful of fantasy managers dropped Kirk Cousins over the past week, likely due to the Atlanta Falcons’ bye week. But he’s still on too many fantasy teams.
The only reason Cousins is so heavily rostered is because of his two games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The reality is that Cousins hasn’t performed anywhere near a level deserving to be on fantasy rosters or started on a weekly basis.
Against the Bucs, Cousins has posted games of 35.36 and 28.64 fantasy points. Versus Tampa Bay in 2024, he’s the best fantasy QB in history. Against everyone else, though, he’s averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game.
The Bucs are no longer on the schedule, so Cousins should be removed from fantasy rosters in a mass exodus this week.
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks (68%)
I really thought Geno Smith would be a solid streamer last week. Instead, he posted his second-lowest fantasy total of the season, scoring 13.36 fantasy points.
Smith has only had one truly awful game, but he’s also only had three games with 20+ fantasy points. The remaining schedule does not have a single pass defense that ranks in the bottom half. Smith isn’t necessarily a must-drop, but you can easily let him go if you need to.
Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (36%)
This week, Russell Wilson finds himself both on the waiver wire column and the cut list. You may be wondering how that’s possible.
This week, Wilson is a viable streamer in a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. At the same time, he’s not a quarterback that fantasy managers need to roster.
If you don’t need Wilson to start for you and you need someone to drop, he can easily be let go. Just realize that you are likely giving someone else in your league a streaming option.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (33%)
As a quick reminder, Dak Prescott is done for the season with a partially torn hamstring. He underwent surgery that comes with a 2-3 month recovery timeline. The Dallas Cowboys placed him on IR, and he can be safely dropped from fantasy rosters.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos (86%)
I have no idea what to make of the Denver Broncos backfield. Since Week 5, Javonte Williams has alternated a useable fantasy performance with a wasted one. The touches seem to change weekly with no rhyme or reason.
In Week 10, Sean Payton committed to getting rookie Audric Estimé more touches. As a result, Williams had one carry and two targets.
In Week 11, it was back to the Williams show. Javonte totaled 87 yards and a touchdown on 14 opportunities. Then, this past week, Williams carried the ball eight times for negative two yards.
At this point, I don’t know how you can trust Williams. He’s not a must-drop, but he can be dropped if you need to.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (83%)
There are certainly fantasy managers out there who thought Tank Bigsby’s absence would lead to some sort of improvement from Travis Etienne Jr. I was not one of them, putting Etienne on the sit list (and cut list) before the Jacksonville Jaguars’ bye, despite the expectation that Bigsby wouldn’t play.
The Jaguars never had a chance going into Detroit with Mac Jones at quarterback. It was an awful matchup for Etienne, but that doesn’t excuse his horrid performance. On several occasions, Etienne turned something into nothing, making what should’ve been a five-to-seven-yard rush into a two-yard rush.
Etienne’s 6.3 fantasy points against the Detroit Lions marked his highest total since Week 5. The Jaguars are past their bye but now have consecutive games against very good run defenses.
It can be difficult to drop your second-round pick, even this late in the season, with this large of a sample size. However, Etienne has been one of the worst players in the NFL at any position this season. Please drop him.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (39%)
If Etienne is a drop, how can Bigsby also be a drop? Welcome to the 2024 Jaguars. Neither of these backs has any fantasy value.
Etienne took the RB1 role back from Bigsby three weeks ago. Then, Bigsby picked up an ankle injury that cost him Week 11.
As a handcuff to Etienne, Bigsby’s upside in a Jones-led offense is minimal. With no role in the passing game, Bigsby would be a touchdown-dependent RB2 on an offense that can’t score. Even if Trevor Lawrence returns, my confidence in Bigsby is a zero.
Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers (43%)
One of the most dropped players across ESPN and Sleeper leagues over the past week, Jordan Mason has completely reverted to handcuff status upon Christian McCaffrey’s return.
Once an 80% snap share player, Mason has played a total of 14 snaps in the three games McCaffrey has played. It goes without saying that there is absolutely nothing here for fantasy unless McCaffrey gets hurt again.
You can hang onto Mason as the CMC handcuff if you have the roster spot, but don’t feel like you need to.
Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants (46%)
Devin Singletary scored the New York Giants’ lone touchdown against Tampa Bay, mostly because Tyrone Tracy Jr. was benched for fumbling (his second consecutive game with a fumble).
It seems improbable that the Giants would punish Tracy for the fumble beyond what they did in this particular game. They are playing out a lost season and have no reason to turn away from their talented rookie.
Singletary touched the ball all of four times against the Bucs, compared to 13 for Tracy. This is not a timeshare. Singletary remains a handcuff, but he doesn’t need to remain on rosters.
Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins (65%)
Since Tua Tagovailoa returned, there’s been a clear shift in the Miami Dolphins backfield. Raheem Mostert has handled a total of five carries over his last three games, scoring 5.4, -0.2, and 1.2 fantasy points in those contests.
De’Von Achane has completely taken over as the clear RB1. Meanwhile, rookie Jaylen Wright has been playing ahead of Mostert as the RB2.
It’s hard to find a reason to continue rostering Mostert in fantasy.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers (59%)
This is what you get with Green Bay Packers wide receivers. One week, Christian Watson catches four passes for 150 yards. The next, he doesn’t catch any of his three targets.
It easily could’ve been another big week for Watson, but he dropped a wide-open over-the-shoulder touchdown.
There’s just no predictability. It’s now Week 13, and Watson has given fantasy managers two useable weeks. That’s not someone you are ever trusting in lineups.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Baltimore Ravens (56%)
This is being written before Monday Night Football. However, I’m not sure what could happen that would change our outlook on Diontae Johnson.
Evidently, the Baltimore Ravens traded for Johnson simply because they could — because the price was so cheap. We are long past the point of him getting acclimated to the offense because he’s not part of it.
Johnson is a situational role player and is well behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. He has one catch for six yards in three games with the Ravens. Johnson is a talented player, but it’s become too difficult to defend rostering him.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers (34%)
Ricky Pearsall’s 4-73-1 game feels so long ago. Since that Week 10 performance against the Bucs’ bottom-10 pass defense, Pearsall has been invisible. He quite literally has not caught a pass since.
In his last two games, Pearsall has seen two total targets, catching zero. Last week, he wasn’t even targeted.
Ricky Pearsall failed to catch a pass in both Weeks 11 and 12 despite route participation rates of 64% and 69%. He didn't see a target against the Packers.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) November 25, 2024
To be fair, Brock Purdy being out severely hindered the San Francisco 49ers’ offense. Pearsall also picked up a leg injury. Regardless, the usage is incredibly concerning.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns (56%)
It was a fun run for Cedric Tillman, but I think it’s over. He was a nice surprise after such a dismal rookie year, but it was always unlikely that he suddenly figured out how to be an impactful receiver.
Tillman had his three-game stretch of elite WR1 numbers. Over the past two games, he’s posted 7.7 and 2.8 fantasy points. Currently, he’s also in the concussion protocol.
The Cleveland Browns have one of the most difficult schedules of pass defenses to close out the year (Broncos, Steelers, and Chiefs over their next three).
Given what Tillman has done recently, he will be very difficult to put in Week 13 lineups. Regardless of what he does this week, he’ll be hard to trust in Week 14 lineups against the Steelers again. That’s a long time to hold a player that may never start for you again.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions (94%)
As a reminder, this is a list of players you can cut; it doesn’t mean you absolutely must.
Sam LaPorta is still a very talented tight end. If Ben Johnson decides to call plays for him, I have every confidence in the world the sophomore TE will produce. However, we have no reason to think anything will change with the best offense in football.
We are headed into Week 13, so the sample size on the season is plenty large. LaPorta has hit double-digit fantasy points all of three times — when he scores. He could always score, but predicting his touchdowns is completely random.
LaPorta is far away from being a trustworthy weekly startable tight end. If you have a better option, you don’t need to continue burning a roster spot on him.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans (66%)
My guess is Dalton Schultz’s surprisingly high rostership percentage has a lot to do with the Week 12 bye-pocalypse. Fantasy managers needed a tight end, and Schultz is a recognizable name.
Against the Tennessee Titans, Schultz caught two passes for 20 yards. He hasn’t scored all season and doesn’t have a single game with double-digit fantasy points.
The matchup next week against the Jaguars is as good as it gets, but Schultz hasn’t proven capable of producing against any defense, good or bad. He doesn’t need to be on fantasy rosters.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers (61%)
Tucker Kraft had a nice run from Weeks 4-8 with TE1 performances in four out of five games. Since then, things have taken a turn.
Following the Packers’ Week 10 bye, Kraft has seen a total of three targets in two games. He was able to salvage his fantasy outing with a touchdown, but two catches for 26 yards is not getting it done.
It’s become clear Kraft is not a priority receiving option for Green Bay anymore and is no longer a must-roster.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (52%)
It’s been another dismal season for the Steelers’ TE. Last year, Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.4 fantasy points per game. This year, he’s averaging 7.7 ppg and has only even gotten to double-digit fantasy points because he has three games with touchdowns. Well, he only hit double-digits in two of those games. You are never trusting Freiermuth.
Player You May Consider Cutting but Shouldn’t
Alexander Mattison, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (49%)
Having the lead back for the Las Vegas Raiders certainly isn’t the most exciting thing for fantasy, but as we saw with Ameer Abdullah against the Broncos, any lead running back for an NFL team is capable of putting up useful fantasy numbers.
Alexander Mattison missed this week’s game with an ankle injury. It’s unclear how serious it is, but upon his return, I do believe he’ll get the lead RB job back.
It’s okay if you have to cut Mattison, but I would hang onto him, as I do not believe his injury to be season ending.