That will create plenty of roster dilemmas for fantasy managers hoping to play their way into the playoffs. It won’t just be about key start ’em, sit ’em decisions; it will also be about add/drop choices for their roster.
Late-season injuries have put fantasy stars such as J.K. Dobbins, in precarious positions. Will Dobbins return before the end of the regular season, or will he remain out through the fantasy playoffs? Owners will have to weigh that possibility as they investigate whether to keep Dobbins, and other banged-up stars, on their roster.
Here’s a look at five players to cut after Week 13 of the fantasy football season, including some big names who may no longer have fantasy value in redraft leagues.
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Waiver wire players to drop: Week 13
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Cousins has a high ceiling – as evidenced by his 509-yard, four-touchdown game earlier in the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – but his floor is low, as fantasy managers have learned the hard way in recent weeks. During his past three games, Cousins has failed to throw a touchdown while throwing six interceptions, four of which came against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13.
Could Cousins bounce back in short order? Sure, but he is facing a tough Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 14. It’s probably best not to start him in that contest, so you can drop him this week to pick up other pieces. And if he bounces back against the Vikings, then you can add him back for a more favorable three-game stretch against the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Washington Commanders.
But if not? Consider him a boom-or-bust QB2 the rest of the way.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Dobbins was one of the best sleeper picks from fantasy football drafts in 2024, but his owners are facing a brutal reality. The veteran running back suffered an MCL sprain in Week 12 and was put on IR just a day before the Chargers’ Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
That will put Dobbins out for at least four games. As a result, the earliest he can return to action is in Week 17, which will be the fantasy championship game in most fantasy leagues.
There is no guarantee that Dobbins will be in action in Week 17, especially if the Chargers are out of the AFC West divisional race and have a strong hold on a wild-card spot. If he doesn’t return for that contest, then he will simply spend the last month of the fantasy season eating up a roster spot that could be used on other waiver-wire pickups.
As such, fantasy owners needing roster flexibility might be best served dropping Dobbins. It will be a painful decision, but it is probably the right move at this point.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White is starting to look more and more like the No. 2 back for the Buccaneers. Bucky Irving out-touched him 27-9 against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13 and the rookie outgained White 181-34 in the quality matchup. Irving also scored a touchdown while White did not.
Keeping White certainly won’t hurt fantasy owners, as he looks like a high-end handcuff for a team that runs the ball well. At the same time, it will probably take an injury to Irving to make White a legitimate lead back again. Parting with him for a player at a position of need could be worthwhile for fantasy owners in need of depth at quarterback, tight end or defense.
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
There is little doubt that Lockett has dropped to third in the pecking order among Seattle’s receivers. He has posted three or less catches in five consecutive games and has only topped 20 receiving yards once in that span.
The Seahawks still have a higher-volume passing offense, but it’s clear that Geno Smith prefers throwing to DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba over Lockett. The veteran and longtime Seattle weapon might still occasionally pop off in favorable matchups, but you can’t really trust him as anything more than a shaky flex given his lack of volume.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Johnston is in a similar boat to Lockett. He will pop off on occasion, as evidenced by his three-game touchdown streak from Weeks 9 through 11, but he also has recorded 24 or less yards in five of his past seven games.
Johnston’s value doesn’t appear to be on the upswing, either. In Week 13, Justin Herbert threw the ball 23 teams. A whopping 12 of those targets went to Ladd McConkey while Johnston ranked second on the team with four targets.
Perhaps Johnston will be able to earn a more consistent share of Herbert’s looks as teams increasingly pay attention to McConkey. But barring a big-time change in the Chargers’ philosophy, Johnston figures only to be a streaky DFS play the rest of the season.
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