The page has been turned to November, marking the final full month of the fantasy football regular season. Many league standings will be determined by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, meaning the time is now to start making some tough decisions. Some players haven’t given fantasy mangers a lot to be thankful for and find themselves squarely on the chopping block.
With trade deadlines looming across many leagues this week, it’ll be your last chance to make sweeping changes in the hopes of securing a playoff spot. In what’s become a disappointing season for some familiar faces, don’t let past performances dictate your future moves. Nine weeks into the season is plenty of time to see a big enough sample size, so don’t be afraid to cut bait on some more well-known names. To help make those decisions easier, here are five players we’re willing to show the door before Week 10.
Waiver wire players to cut after Week 9
QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The 2024 season has been nothing short of a disaster for the Cowboys. Dallas has taken a significant step back thanks in part to injuries on defense and a poor running game. However, some of that blame also has to fall on the quarterback, who inked a new contract before the season began. Prescott has to be feeling good that he locked in the lucrative long-term deal, which will pay him $240 million over four years. Fantasy has met reality for the star quarterback, who has eclipsed the 20-point mark in just one of eight games. He exited Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury and was ruled out quickly.
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Jerry Jones expressed concern about Prescott’s hamstring after the game. Those ailments can be pesky, meaning there is a chance he misses time. The signal caller hasn’t run much this year either, meaning his upside is fairly one dimensional. While Dallas’ game scripts typically lend themselves to better fantasy point totals, that hasn’t been the case for Prescott. These Cowboys shouldn’t be trusted. Drop Prescott with confidence and look elsewhere.
WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Maybe this is a shocking pick, but fantasy managers should have run out of patience with Waddle by now. The Dolphins’ speedy receiver certainly comes with plenty of upside, but high ceilings are worthless if you never reach them. Waddle certainly falls into that category of players. If it weren’t for the name, he’d still be on waivers as an afterthought. Fantasy managers can cling to hope that this Dolphins’ offense turns it around, but the sample size is big enough to make them hard to trust.
The receiver scored his first touchdown of the season on Sunday, but finished with negative four receiving yards. He’s posted double digit fantasy points just once and that was back in Week 1. Waddle should be warming your bench at best, but if you need the roster spot, don’t be afraid to shock your league by cutting bait.
RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
Fantasy pickings might be slim, but there’s no reason to trust anyone not named Brock Bowers on the Raiders if you can avoid it. Mattison finds himself safely in that category. His rushing upside is limited, especially on a team that feels like they’re trailing right after the opening kickoff every week. Mattison’s ability as a pass-catcher helps keep him somewhat fantasy relevant, but the Raiders are far too inconsistent to worry about which version of the silver-and-black you’re getting each week.
WR Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Allen has been a consistent fantasy weapon for years, but his move to the Windy City has blown him right out of consideration going forward. While he was targeted 10 times in Week 9, the Bears’ veteran was held to just four catches for 36 yards. On paper, that is just a bad day at the office, but Allen has posted an entire season like that. In terms of PPR leagues, Sunday was Allen’s second best game of the season. The Bears’ passing attack should be avoided like the plague.
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
The Packers have a lot of options in the passing game, which is a blessing for them and a curse for fantasy managers. Two weeks ago, we recommended saying ‘sayonara’ to Christian Watson. This week, it’s Doubs’ turn. It’s been a tough season for Jordan Love, who just can’t seem to catch a break. That reality has hampered the Green Bay passing attack, which cannot support multiple receivers in addition to a tight end and running back. Doubs is the victim of a numbers game.
