RADIO
Welcome to Week 9's edition of The Cut List, RotoBaller's weekly column filled with advice on who is fat to be trimmed from your roster and who deserves a little more time on your plate. Each player receives both statistical and social media analysis, providing both real and ridiculous reasons why we--Tony Peters and Ben Hamren of the All Stats A Salad weekly fantasy football podcast--feel the way we do. The season's chalk full of angst and anxiety, let us take you beyond the stats to tickle your funny bone and your brain.
All ownership rates are taken from Fleaflicker and opponent ranks are based on the last four weeks. Be sure to check our Week 9 (NSFW) episodes of the All Stats A Salad podcast--out every Wednesday and Friday--by clicking here.
Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 9 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB
Week 9 Players to Consider Cutting or Replacing
Martellus Bennett (TE, NE) - 86% Owned
WK8: 4-of-5 for 35 yards, zero TD
WK6-WK8: 10-of-12 for 88 yards, zero TD
WK9 Opponent: Bye
TONY: Picking on a guy while he is on a bye week may be considered slightly rude in some circles, but we here at ASAS know no boundaries. Martellus Bennett is still a quality tight end, but with Rob Gronkowski back and healthy, he's merely a deep PPR option with a magical feather in his hat. That feather, quarterback Tom Brady, means he could suddenly explode again like he did Week 5 against the Browns. But Bennett is far more likely to stick in the range he has been the last three weeks with the Patriots not facing a defense in the top-10 of points allowed to tight ends this season the rest of the way. The closest they get is the 12th-place Dolphins...in the last game of the season. He's expendable in most non-PPR 14-team and shallower leagues.
All stats a salad...Bennett--aka Martysaurus Rex--posted on Twitter Monday night about a fishing trip he has coming up this week with his daughter while the Pats have their bye week. He remarked about how he knows she's going to want to catch Nemo and Dory. To quote a certain episode of the "be careful what you wish for." There's nothing cute and funny about a real fish with a giant hook in it, flopping around like mad with the last of its strength. I also don't remember the part of Finding Nemo/Dory where the fish were cooked up and eaten. At least Bennett'll have plenty of time on the bench to rethink this decision.
Alex Smith (QB, KC) - 42% Owned
WK8: 9-of-19 for 127 yards, one TD, zero INT; two rushes for nine yards
WK6-WK8: 45-of-65 for 565 yards, three TD, zero INT; nine rushes for 15 yards
WK9 Opponent: Jaguars (24th in points allowed to QB)
TONY: The newest "Phantom of the Concussion," Alex Smith took two hits to the head Sunday against the Colts that led to an ear laceration and his removal from the game twice. The team says it "miscommunicated" post-game that he had suffered a concussion, but with him still going through concussion protocol, it's hard not to take that with a grain of salt. Halfway through the season, Smith continues to pace his acceptable yearly numbers with the Chiefs--3,200ish passing yards, 20 or so touchdowns--but he's still coming up short 50% of the time (including three single-digit fantasy points performance), even for two-quarterback leagues. With both of the Chiefs' best running backs likely out Week 9--Spencer Ware with a concussion and Jamaal Charles with further knee issues--Smith is going into Week 9 at a disadvantage even if he is healthy. Single-quarterback leagues 12 teams and under should reconsider how they spent his roster spot.
All stats a salad...Smith is making internet waves this week not just for his phantom "concussion." His wife was barking on Twitter Sunday at those talking negative about her hubby, targeting a Kansas City weatherman who dared to say Nick Foles ran the offense better Sunday than Smith. Considering he was just being a random fan who obviously doesn't know how awful Foles actually is, that's a bit of an overreaction there from Mrs. Smith. Maybe if Alex stuck to what he knew coming into this season, touchdown passes to Jeremy Maclin, the internet wouldn't be filled with way worse comments* than that weatherman's.
*Disclaimer: none of those comments are mine as I know better than to draft Alex Smith in fantasy football.
Hot Seat - Sending Warning Signals
James White (RB, NE) - 73% Owned
WK8: 2 rushes for 15 yards, zero TD; 2-of-5 for 14 yards, zero TD
WK6-WK8: nine rushes for 34 yards, zero TD; 12-of-19 for 93 yards, three TD
WK9: Bye
BEN: As fast as he appeared to be gaining fantasy relevance, James White looks to lose it with equal haste as he suffers the eventual fate of all New England running backs: obscurity. After starting the season with four weeks producing nothing to care about, he made waiver wire headlines with an impressive run from Weeks 5 to 7. This past week though, he plummeted back to earth, showing there's really only one Patriots' back to own, Blount, in an offense overflowing with options. PPR leagues with 12 or more teams are about the leagues he should be held in as standard scoring leagues with less than 16 teams are likely wasting their time.
All stats a salad...White is so popular, the second Google result for "James White" is this guy. To be fair, his Twitter handle @sweetfeet_white has a better ring, but still. Don't worry, White. Despite your lack of fantasy relevance, if you're still on the roster that means Bill still hasn't given up on you.
Brandon Marshall (WR, NYJ) - 100% Owned
WK8: 4-of-9 for 68 yards, zero TD
WK6-WK8: 10-of-23 for 177 yards, zero TD
WK9: Dolphins (seventh in points allowed to WR)
BEN: With fellow wide receiver Eric Decker still sidelined and the Jets defense not scaring anyone, you'd think the premier receiver--not to be confused with the linebacker--Brandon Marshall would be killing it. He isn't. The season started well enough for Marshall, but the team as a unit has decided winning just isn't for them and is phasing it out. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has had some struggles and backup Geno Smith could not last a single game in relief, comboing together with some uncharacteristic drops have stymied Marshall's season. A matchup against the not hard to figure out Dolphins offers promise, as does the Jets remembering to run the ball. If he wants to stay off of fantasy benches and out of shallower waiver wires, Marshall needs to produce now.
All stats a salad...role reversal! Apparently "ole Broadway" Joe Namath has a quick Twitter trigger and "old man" Marshall doesn't approve of all the tweeting. If Namath isn't tweeting about the lack of toughness out of Geno Smith after--gasp!--standing on the sidelines after tearing his ACL, he is game-planning for the nightmare scenario known as quarterback Bryce Petty. Cool it Joe, "old man" Marshall isn't having it!
Cam Newton (QB, CAR) - 100% Owned
WK8: 14-of-27 for 212 yards, zero TD, zero INT; seven rushes for 43 yards, zero TD
WK6-WK8: 41-of-74 for 534 yards, two TD, one INT; nine rushes for 44 yards, one TD
WK9: Rams (20th in points allowed to QB)
BEN: Hitting Cam Newton is possibly the most effective strategy to stopping him nowadays. The hits to the head have led to him missing some time in the concussion protocol and sadness across the Carolina landscape. His return against the Saints saw a return to the offensive form that had been absent for weeks. But despite his team putting up 30 points, Newton had average stats and has apparently lost his sense of fun when it comes to playing football. Hopefully, he can take time away from being sad at refs to practice and hopefully pep his game back up. Why does Matt Ryan get “more” protection from refs? 'Cause he is a statue! Newton remains a start in all formats, but have a sour expression while you make that choice.
All stats a salad...Newton is a good looking guy but mother of God, who dresses him? This last press conference is but one in a serial assault against good fashion sense. How can this man truly have the respect of his team or even from himself? Maybe offensive coordinator Mike Shula is calling so many run plays as a way to knock some sense into him. The injuries and bad performances could just be the counter-product of this hard love tactic.
Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA) - 98% Owned
WK8: 4-of-6 for 51 yards, zero TD
WK6-WK8: 14-of-20 for 151 yards, zero TD
WK9 Opponent: Bills (26th in points allowed to WR)
TONY: Since I can't (won't) put his quarterback Russell Wilson on the list two weeks in a row, Doug Baldwin has to take his place to roast for the Seahawks' fantasy shortcomings. The targets, receptions and yards are still there to provide for PPR leagues and to use as a WR3 or flex, but I highly doubt he was drafted/acquired at that price coming off a 14 touchdown season last year. With Wilson struggling this season with his passing game, Baldwin only has two, neither of which came in the past month. With a touch upcoming schedule that sees the Seahawks play against the Bills, Patriots, Eagles, and Buccaneers before their next soft matchup for wide receivers, even a good Wilson would have his hands full trying to keep Baldwin fed.
All stats a salad...two weeks ago, Baldwin faced off against Cardinals' cornerback Patrick Peterson in the Xbox Charity Challenge, with the loser having to post a video on Twitter singing Taylor Swift. Well, Dougy B won and Peterson came through with one terrible, terrible video. By winning, Baldwin actual gave the world a loss, not unlike the Seahawks' winning record despite their fantasy relevance drying up as of late. The drought continues.
Stash and Pray
Jamaal Charles (RB, KC) - 91% Owned
WK8: DNP
WK6-WK8: 10 rushes for 33 yards, one TD; 2-of-2 for 14 yards, zero TD
WK9 Opponent: Jaguars (15th in points allowed to RB)
TONY: If there wasn't an option in some leagues to place players ruled out onto the IR slot, Jamaal Charles would not only make the top section of this column, he would be booted off the team I own him on. After missing Sunday's game following a limited Week 7, he was set to visit surgeon Dr. James Andrew, a name fantasy players have come to fear connected to their players. Look, we all know how good this man can be. But Charles hasn't been healthy for over a year now and has shown nothing to indicate he could maintain even a backup's workload for the rest of the season. My gut says we are letting our respect for his abilities cloud our judgement on the soon-to-be 30-year-old, but if you can keep stashing him, there is no harm in continuing to do so.
All stats a salad...Charles posted a plug on his Twitter last week for the newly recently smartphone game, Football Unleashed 17 featuring Jamaal Charles, looking for fan feedback. I don't have an Apple product to test this one, but I was able to find this gameplay video. My thoughts: how about putting some actual Jamaal Charles in this game? The single graphic used for his "coaching" doesn't even have a bow tie, for crying outloud. Thumbs down.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, HOU) - 100% Owned
WK8: 1-of-4 for nine yards
WK6-WK8: 18-of-34 for 151 yards
WK9: Bye
BEN: Guys, DeAndre Hopkins is a top-five talent, no doubt. You know who isn't? His quarterback, Brock Osweiler. If this season is any indication, that front office decision is going to plague Hopkins his entire career, Andre Johnson style. (Enjoy your retirement, Johnson.) In years past, Hopkins has not had a quarterback but has managed to get his every once in awhile, so hopefully he can spend his bye week faxing Osweiler stat sheets about why he should throw him the ball more. Obviously, you can't and shouldn't cut this guy in any format. But if things don't change in a hurry, he'll turn into a matchup play going forward. And yes, I mean quarterback matchup play.
All stats a salad...so his nickname "Nuk" stems from the only pacifier he'd accept as a baby. He could probably use one while thinking about the quarterbacks that have/are submarining his career potential. I mean, look at this catch. He makes it happen, but he has to with a Duck like that. This is not the sport for quacks, Osweiler!
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