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 14 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 14 Fantasy Cut List, which covers quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders (70%)
Two weeks ago, Austin Ekeler suffered his second concussion of the season. As is often the case with second concussions, this one comes with a longer recovery time.
The Washington Commanders placed Ekeler on IR, which sidelines him for four games, not four weeks. That distinction is key, as the Commanders have a Week 14 bye. That means Ekeler cannot return until Week 18, thus, ending his fantasy season.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (81%)
The comeback story of J.K. Dobbins is easily one of the best of the season. Unfortunately, the oft-injured running back is … injured.
Dobbins is on injured reserve (IR) with a sprained MCL. The earliest he can return is Week 17 — the last week of the fantasy football season.
So many things have to go right for Dobbins to provide fantasy managers with one more game. First, he has to return when first eligible, which is no guarantee. Second, you have to make it to the championship. Third, you have to overcome the trend this season of players being limited in their first game back after an extended absence.
In fact, I think dropping Dobbins is actually a strategically savvy move, as he is more likely to be a poison pill for an unwitting foe.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (83%)
It is encouraging to see Travis Etienne Jr.’s roster percentage decline a bit. Fantasy managers are starting to figure it out.
Etienne has performed like one of the worst running backs in the NFL. Starters. Backups. Sincere McCormick was not active for the first two years of his career and immediately had as productive of a game (12-64-0) against the No. 1 run defense in the NFL as any Etienne has had this season (season-best 68 yards came on Sept. 23).
The last time Etienne hit double-digit fantasy points was back in Week 5. Even though he’s regained the clear RB1 job for the Jaguars ahead of Tank Bigsby, it doesn’t matter. He’s simply not good enough. Let’s see if that roster percentage continues to decline.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (45%)
Yes, both running backs on the Jaguars can be dropped. This is one of the worst offenses in the NFL. They are constantly trailing and thus throwing. Tank Bigsby is a front-running running back. He needs a lead and to be able to run downhill. That’s not happening in Jacksonville.
Bigsby touched the ball eight times against the Houston Texans, totaling 35 yards. He’s now scored 2.2 and 4.5 fantasy points in his last two full games. With Mac Jones presumably starting the remainder of the season, it’s unlikely the Jaguars win another game. That means more Etienne and less Bigsby. You’re never starting him.
Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, RBs, San Francisco 49ers (99% and 41%)
Everyone watching Sunday Night Football saw Christian McCaffrey go down. After, the game Kyle Shanahan confirmed it was a PCL injury that would likely end McCaffrey’s season. He’s since been placed on IR.
According to Adam Schefter, the injury isn’t too bad, but it does carry a six-week recovery period. McCaffrey will not play again this season. Sorry for all of you who held him for three months only to get three games out of him.
Kyle Shanahan said that Christian McCaffrey did injure his PCL and it is a 6-week recovery. His season now looks like it’s over.
49ers RB Jordan Mason suffered an ankle injury and also is being placed on injured reserve.
Two lost RBs. pic.twitter.com/tqxjJdKKrN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 2, 2024
While McCaffrey’s injury was apparent to everyone, I have no idea what happened to Jordan Mason, but apparently, he sprained his ankle at some point. He was placed on IR alongside McCaffrey.
High-ankle sprains typically carry a 4-6 week recovery period. Given that Mason is already on IR, it’s safe to say he’s not coming back either. You can cancel all of those waiver claims and pivot to dropping the hammer on Isaac Guerendo.
Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins (56%)
The Dolphins have pretty clearly moved on from Raheem Mostert. He has a mere two games all season with double-digit fantasy points but hasn’t hit that threshold since Week 8. Mostert also hasn’t carried the ball more than five times since Week 9.
De’Von Achane is the clear RB1 and Jaylen Wright has taken over as the primary backup. At 32 years old, it appears to be over for Mostert as an impact NFL player.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (78%)
I will admit to expecting the snap share to be more even between Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco. Instead, it was Hunt at 38% and Pacheco at 37%, plus a healthy dose of Samaje Perine at 23%.
This should consolidate more as Pacheco gets reacclimated to playing football. But either way, it’s not good for Hunt.
In his last chance to prove he deserves a meaningful role, Hunt managed 15 yards on seven carries. I firmly expect his touch count to be even lower next week. If Perine remains the passing-down back, then Hunt will barely play.
If you want to hang onto Hunt as a Pacheco handcuff, that’s perfectly fine, but he has no stand-alone value and can be dropped if you need to.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans (39%)
Since Week 4, Tyjae Spears has played a total of four games. He’s scored a combined 13.9 fantasy points. If you were able to get all four of his most recent games in one lineup for one week, it would still merely be a mid-RB2.
Returning after a one-game absence due to a concussion, Spears carried the ball once for three yards. Despite an extremely negative game script from the jump, Spears wasn’t targeted at all. He ran just nine routes to Tony Pollard’s 22.
This is not a timeshare. Spears, at best, is a tenuous handcuff. There is absolutely no stand-alone value here.
Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants (44%)
Here is another player you don’t absolutely have to drop. If Tyrone Tracy Jr. were to miss time, Devin Singletary would return to the clear RB1 role. But unless that happens, he has no fantasy value.
Singletary carried the ball seven times for 23 yards against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. That’s it. That’s the entirety of his stat line. He hasn’t hit double-digit fantasy points since Week 3. Singletary is nothing more than a low-upside handcuff.