Roster management is the single most crucial in-season task for fantasy football managers. Knowing which players to let go is just as important as adding the right guys. Are Minnesota Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs, Houston Texans RB Dameon Pierce, and Chicago Bears RB Khalil Herbert all players that you can release to your league’s waiver wire?
Who Should You Cut in Fantasy Football for Week 15?
We are now officially in the fantasy playoffs. As a result, the theory behind who teams should roster changes. We now have two or three matchups to win for a league championship. The only thing that matters is rostering players that will benefit us for those particular matchups. That’s it.
Below, you will find a list of names that are worth dropping, but it isn’t exhaustive. At this juncture, any player you’re not going to start can be dropped.
This includes handcuff running backs with healthy starters. Of course, starters can still go down, but the reason we roster a bevy of handcuffs early in the season is the wide range of outcomes that can happen.
There are now only two more weeks in which a backup RB could emerge into a starting role. If it hasn’t happened yet, and there’s a player you need to add to help you or block an opponent, or there’s a defense you want to stash, do it.
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers (99% Rostered)
I have been watching football for over 25 years. This is easily the worst overall season I can remember. It won’t always be this way. It rarely is, but the QB injuries are so significant and so widespread that we’ve got over a third of the league starting or having previously started backup quarterbacks.
Justin Herbert broke his right index finger last week. According to Tom Pelissero, he will undergo surgery and be done for the season. Sadly, Herbert is the latest QB to be featured on the cut list due to injury.
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Minnesota Vikings (51% Rostered)
The dream is over. After lighting the world on fire during his first three games with the Minnesota Vikings, the “Passtronaut” has come crashing back down to Earth.
Joshua Dobbs bottomed out against the Las Vegas Raiders. After scoring zero points, HC Kevin O’Connell decided to turn to backup QB Nick Mullens.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Things didn’t get much better, as Mullens’ passes were equally erratic and inaccurate. Still, under him the Vikings at least scored three points, which was three more than they scored with Dobbs — and they won the game.
Dobbs likely won’t be starting next week, so fantasy managers can safely drop him.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans (65% Rostered)
Dameon Pierce is still a viable handcuff to Devin Singletary, but he has zero standalone value.
Just one week after working this backfield into a more even split, not only was Pierce well behind Singletary, but he was doubled up in snaps by both RB Dare Ogunbowale and FB Andrew Beck.
It’s been an incredible fall from grace for Pierce, as he provides yet another stark reminder of how tenuous the fantasy values of Day 3 picks and UDFAs are. He touched the ball a total of five times, amassing seven yards against the New York Jets.
With three tough matchups to close out the season, he can be safely discarded.
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears (57% Rostered)
I had a feeling that this was RB D’Onta Foreman’s job once he returned. That feeling was confirmed when he started against the Detroit Lions in Week 14.
While Foreman played just over half the snaps, it wasn’t Khalil Herbert serving as the RB2 — or even the RB3. Yes, that’s right. Herbert was out-snapped not only by Roschon Johnson but also by FB Khari Blasingame.
Herbert carried the ball three times for eight yards. That was his entire stat line. Drop him.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!