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 running backs find themselves on our Week 12 fantasy football cut list based on roster percentages from Yahoo? We take a closer look below.
If you’re looking for all other positions, head over to our Week 12 Fantasy Cut List, which covers quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.
Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX
Rostered: 90%
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) last week, despite the expectation that Bigsby would not play.
The Jacksonville 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.
Would you believe me if I told you Travis Etienne didn't get a 1st down on this play? pic.twitter.com/rLToJTBORV
— Ricky (@HHHHHawg) November 18, 2024
If you watched the game, you would see a running back who does not belong in the NFL. 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 off in Week 12, meaning you can’t start Etienne even if you wanted to for some reason. Then, they 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 | JAX
Rostered: 47%
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 two weeks ago. Then, Bigsby picked up an ankle injury that cost him Week 11.
Even 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.
Audric Estimé, | DEN
Rostered: 51%
Well … so much for Audric Estimé continuing to see looks. One week after seemingly vanquishing Javonte Williams, the rookie carried the ball just six times for 16 yards, with most of his production coming after the game was well out of hand.
Estimé played a total of 14 snaps in an exclusively positive game script for the Broncos. That doesn’t exactly scream “potential fantasy starter.”
With their bye week in front of them and only one soft run defense on the schedule, even if Estimé does see more work unexpectedly, he is unlikely to do much with it. As quickly as you added him you can also drop him.
Tyjae Spears | TEN
Rostered: 48%
I’ve held onto Tyjae Spears far too long in the leagues where I drafted him. That’s my mistake.
At what point has Spears been even remotely useful? He scored 10.1 and 11.9 fantasy points in Weeks 3 and 4. Aside from that, he hasn’t scored more than 7.2, while missing three games due to injury.
There’s certainly some hope for Spears if Tony Pollard were to miss time, but what was an ambiguous backfield entering the year hasn’t been for pretty much the entire season. Spears is nothing more than a low-upside handcuff.
Jordan Mason | SF
Rostered: 55%
One of the most dropped players across ESPN and Sleeper leagues over the past week, Jordan Mason has completely reverted to questionable handcuff status upon Christian McCaffrey’s return.
Once an 80% snap share player, Mason has played a total of five snaps in the two games McCaffrey has played. It goes without saying that there is absolutely nothing here for fantasy unless McCaffrey gets hurt again.
Khalil Herbert | CIN
Rostered: 16%
Anyone still rostering Khalil Herbert, hoping for some sort of role behind Chase Brown can give up on that dream. I genuinely have no idea what the Cincinnati Bengals would do if Brown got hurt. He’s averaging an 85% snap share since Zack Moss was lost for the season and is a true three-down back.
Given how little Herbert is even on the field, it’s hard to imagine he suddenly becomes fantasy-relevant if Brown goes down. Either way, you don’t need to continue stashing him to find out.