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It’s now or never for your fantasy rosters, as we’re a week away from all systems for the playoffs. Our teams need to be stripped of all grease and assumptions so that they are streamlined to be successful.
Those already destined for the playoffs can also use this week to drop players who are unlikely to come off the bench in favor of those with greater potential in their vital matchups to win or go home.
Below is a look at a handful of drop zone worthy players as we head into the NFL and Fantasy seasons. Some of them may be too aggressive for the big leagues or teams that have bye week issues, but those are the guys I think cut.
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Brandin Cooks, WR – Texans (69% listed on Yahoo)
Pour some for what could have been for Brandin Cooks this season, as a clear WR1 for the Texans with a juicy sixth-round ADP. He was fresh off back-to-back fantastic WR2 seasons and was set up with a promising young QB at Davis Mills. Fast forward to Week 14, and we’ve got a big upset with a calf injury, no ball catching from Kyle Allen.
We don’t know if Cooks will be back this week, but it really doesn’t matter since Houston’s passing game is anemic and the 29-year-old has already checked the franchise. There are 69% of managers at Yahoo fielding cooks right now, and you’re all better off with a WR on a better offense with more motivation to succeed over time.
The medal for most unfulfilled potential this season must go to Kadarius Toney, or at least he is on the podium. First in New York, then even more so at his new team in Kansas City, the second WR was full of promise but was nothing but a disappointment for those who still keep him on their rosters.
Toney has only played five games in 2022 and only once scored more than 2.3 points in a game. The 23-year-old’s best outing came in Week 10, where he caught four balls for 57 yards and a score, with two more carries for 33 yards. He’s since re-aggravated his hamstrings for the 11th time this season and he simply can’t be trusted with anything at stake in the fantasy playoffs.
It was unclear what to do with New York’s backfield once Michael Carter was ruled out in Week 13, but the picture is getting clearer, and James Robinson will be nothing more than a background figure for go forward. Zonovan Knight saw 20 touches in Week 13, followed by Ty Johnson’s seven, with Robinson carrying the ball just four times for a paltry 10 untargeted yards in the passing game.
Robinson’s impact has been minimal since moving to the Jets, and nearly 50% of managers expecting his fantastic relevance are expected to move on to more impactful options like James Cook or Knight.
As the default WR1 for LA with Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson on the shelf, you’d think Van Jefferson would be a usable option for fantasy football purposes. However, Jefferson hasn’t rushed for 41 yards this season and has only found the end zone once since Kupp suffered an ankle injury in Week 10.
Having to catch balls from the backup duo of John Wolford and Bryce Perkins isn’t exactly helping his cause, and with the byes ending this week, there are better options out there to elevate your respective fantasy teams like Michael. Gallup, Corey Davis, or DJ Chark.
The WR has had its moments in 2022, but is still relegated to the boom-or-bust fantasy category, even with key members of the Chargers offense sidelined this season. He seems to alternate between double-digit outs and outright misses, which isn’t what we need for fantasy playoffs.
Keenan Allen has been back for several weeks and Mike Williams is on track to return, leaving Carter as likely the sixth option after Allen, Austin Ekeler, Williams, Josh Palmer and Gerald Everett.
wound drops
This article originally appeared on 4for4.com
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A proud alumnus of the UGA Grady College of Journalism, Jennifer Eakins has worked in the sports industry for over a decade. She has worked with CNN Sports, the Atlanta Hawks and the Colorado Rockies. Her first fantasy football draft came in 1996 where she selected Ricky Watters with the first overall pick, and she’s been a fantasy freak ever since.
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