What's up RotoBallers. Welcome to the fantasy football Cut List column for Week 3. Each week, Tony Peters (that's me) and Ben Hamren - both from the All Stats A Salad fantasy football podcast - will break down a list of players to target as potentially droppable, replaceable assets. We'll be spicing up the usual stat-first column formula by mixing in our podcast hook of traditional analysis sandwiched between irrational blind fan nonsense. Why can't fantasy sports writers follow the lead of political talking heads and stuck-in-the-past sports announcers be the ones limited to backing up their opinions with blind and wild abandon? We believe they can.
This is not your standard cut list. There are some "bolder" names listed, so this column is not for the faint-hearted. It may not be suitable for all audiences. We are here to consider all different league sizes and formats, and make recommendations on where to drop dead weight. All player ownership rates take from Fleaflicker leagues, and all Week 3 opponent rankings are for the 2016 season.
Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests for Week 3. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!
Week 3 Players to Consider Cutting or Replacing
1) Kirk Cousins (QB, WAS) - 82% Owned
WK2: 28-for-46, 364 yards, one TD, one INT
2016 Stats: 58-for-89, 693 yds, one TD, three INT
WK3 Opponent: Giants (28th in points allowed to QBs)
BEN: Through the first two weeks, 693 yards looks pretty tasty. Playing without the lead lend itself to big fantasy point potential out of your quarterback. His 1 touchdown to 3 interception ratio is less concerning that the red zone interception he threw last week when the team really needed him to come through. With 89 passing attempts already, I don't think his arm can keep that going. Once the Dan Snyder owner drama happens, will the pressure begin to break Cousins? Or will you cut bait on Cousins while you still can and watch the Redskins fail in spectacular fashion as a spectator?
All stats a salad...this dude just finished watching Star Wars for the very first time this summer. This summer. How is that even possible? On top of that, it took him the entire offseason. How can his teammates trust a man you can't even binge Star Wars properly? They simply can't nor should we.
2) Golden Tate (WR, DET) - 92% Owned
WK2 Stats: 2-of-9, 13 yards, zero TD
2016 Stats: 9-of-16, 54 yards, zero TD
WK3 Opponent: Packers (14th in points allowed to WRs)
TONY: Wide receiver Golden Tate has been a bit of a pumpkin in 2016 after the first two games despite a healthy amount of targets from a throw-first offense. But the Lions' game plan appears to have him more in a gadget player role as he has been drawing most of his looks near the scrimmage line, seemingly falling off the touchdown horse he's ridden the past two seasons. With a Week 3 matchup against a Packers' defense that has only allowed one touchdown this season, Tate is easily being passed by better waiver wire options that shouldn't have any problem equaling or passing the production his owners were expecting.
All stats a salad...the real reason fantasy owners should cut Tate is simple. His official website is still showing his 2015 stats on the front page instead of his 2016 dud of a line. You ashamed, bro?
3) Devin Funchess (WR, CAR) - 39%
WK2 Stats: 2-of-4 for 19 yards, zero TD
2016 Stats: 3-of-8 for 28 yards, one TD
WK3 Opponent: Vikings (27th in points allowed to WRs)
TONY: After putting together a solid first season in the NFL last season, there were understandably higher expectations on wide receiver Devin Funchess coming into 2016. He has rewarded that faith with very little rewards, and with a Vikings' defense that is greatly limiting wide receivers this season as his Week 3 opponent, he's not hitting pay dirt for anyone Sunday.
All stats a salad...Funchess is coming up short because of his crush on singer Alicia Keys. He couldn't help himself on Twitter a few weeks ago, tweeting about her five times and making sure to let all women know--in caps because how else would they see it? (I say sarcastically)--they should model themselves after the singer. Since that public proclamation of love, he's been quiet on the field, no doubt proof he's been distracted by his inability to have her.
4) Vincent Jackson (WR, TB) - 68% Owned
WK2 Stats: 4-of-9 for 44 yards, zero TD
Season: 6-of-16 for 62 yards, zero TD
WK3 Opponent: Rams (29th in points allowed to WRs)
BEN: For two straight weeks in a row, wide receiver Vincent Jackson was number two on the Lions in targets, but he has not done the best of jobs converting them into anything of use. The hope is that with all these looks, he will eventually play a big role in this offense. Hope is the number one killer in fantasy sports. Sure, you can hope this 33-year-old, 11-year vet still has it, that he will re-carve a spot for himself amongst the other Bucs' receiving options. But with the straight facts being Mike Evans IS Buccaneer receiving, his quarterback is going to start looking elsewhere.
All stats a salad...Jackson's number one fantasy export in my eyes is sadness, which is not a stat in more conventional leagues. This singular player has caused me, very personally, untold grief that is only magnified when I see how many 1,000 yard receiving seasons he has had. not for me tough. Until the children's book author writes a book about series about that, I say boourns to you, Mr. Jackson. Boourns.
5) Jeremy Hill (RB, CIN) - 92% Owned
WK2 Stats: 11 rushes, 22 yards, zero TD
2016 Stats: 20 rushes, 53 yards, one TD
WK3 Opponent: Broncos (19th in points allowed to RBs)
TONY: Running back Jeremy Hill is off to a terrible start after setting a career-high in touchdowns last season with 11. He hasn't had more than 11 touches in either of the first two games while fellow running back Giovani Bernard has 10 between both games. With a brutal Week 3 matchup against the Broncos--whom have only allowed 53 yards and one touchdown on the ground this season--and two not-so-easy ones after that, Hill is going to have a hard time putting up fantasy points for awhile.
All stats a salad...Hill should find himself without a fantasy job simply because of his retweeting of posts on Kayne West's new cleat, the Yeezy 350, which has the pattern of a bad sofa. They may help your rap game, but those hideous eyesores are not going to help him in the box score should he choose to wear them.
6) Jonathan Stewart (RB, CAR) - 98% Owned
WK2 Stats: five rushes, nine yards, zero TD
2016 Stats: 20 rushes, 73 yards, zero TD
WK3 Opponent: Vikings (24th in points allowed to RBs)
BEN: Before running back Jonathan Stewart was forced out of his Week 2 game in the first quarter with a "multitude" of injuries, he was anything but productive. In a run-heavy offense, he has watched as quarterback Cam Newton carried the load Week 1 and backup Fozzy Whittaker in Week 2. If Whittaker and fellow backup Cameron Artis-Payne can put forth a solid effort in a tough Week 3 matchup against the Vikings, there will be no reason to rush a consistently banged up Stewart back into the line-up. To save you the tension of the "will he, won't he" game, do yourself a favor and cut him today.
All stats a salad...he was a product of the state of Washington who turned to the evil empire of Oregon come college time. Never a story you like to hear. Plus, his Twitter cover photo of the Macho Man (RIP) almost made me too sad to finish this column. R2D2soon, still.
7) Mark Ingram (RB, NO) - 100% Owned
WK2 Stats: nine rushes, 30 yards; four receptions, four targets, 17 yards
2016 Stats: 21 rushes, 88 yds; six receptions, six targets, 46 yards
WK3 Opponent: Falcons (fourth in points allowed to RBs)
BEN: Last week against the Giants, there was a lot of hope that we'd see another shoot-out reminiscent of their 52-49 matchup last year instead of the 16-13 affair we did receive. Despite the close score, Ingram only received nine touches while quarterback Drew Brees went for 44 pass attempts. Balance is not the Saints way, and if their defense plays up to their reputation of being bad, I would not have a lot of faith they will commitment to the run game.
All stats a salad...Ingram seems to be a good guy with a level head on his shoulders, but that Heisman belongs to Mr. Gilmore! Ingram tore the Gators up, making people realize that Alabama had never had a Heisman winner, so they gave him the nod over more deserving players. Side note, where is Pierre Thomas these days?
8) Coby Fleener (TE, IND) - 87% Owned
WK2 Stats: 2-of-8 for 29 yards, zero TD
2016 Stats: 3-of-12 for 35 yards, zero TD
WK3 Opponent: Falcons (second in points allowed to TEs)
TONY: As a first-year owner of Coby Fleener, I am learning quickly why he is one of the most frustrating fantasy players to roster. Despite all the talent in the world as well as one of the league's best quarterbacks in Drew Brees, he's started the year as bad as one could get in his position. His Week 3 matchup against a Falcons' defense that has allowed three touchdowns to tight ends already looks fabulous on paper, so was his Week 1 matchup and that ended in absolute heartbreak.
All stats a salad...Fleener is fairly active on Twitter and posts lots of cool pics and videos from behind the scenes with the Saints. But his overuse of this terrible photo filter from the Prisma app, which turns photos into blurry cartoon images using what the app likes to refer to as "modern art filters," easily makes his pictures look more like a blobby, distorted mess.
9) Jared Cook (TE, GB) - 58% Owned
WK2 Stats: 4-for-6, 31 yards, zero TD
2016 Stats: 5-for-8, 38 yards, zero TD
WK3 Opponent: Lions (first in points allowed to TEs)
BEN: After only two targets Week 1, tight end Jared Cook saw that number increase to six. But that positive aside, he only slightly nudged fellow tight end Richard Rodgers in snaps by ten. Yeah, the other guy in the miracle Rodgers-to-Rodgers hail mary against Detroit last year. With wide receiver Jordy Nelson working his way back into the offense, that's another mouth to feed in quarterback Aaron Rodgers' equal opportunity pass attack, making Cook a hard sale when it comes to a consistent chance of fantasy relevance despite an awesome matchup.
All stats a salad...Cook's very boring social media presence drew my ire trying to learn about one of the newest members of my favorite team. I wanted there to be something, but he had nothing to offer other than this funny fail he had while a member of the sad factory known as the Rams.
10) Eagles' Defense (DEF, OAK) - 51% Owned
WK2 Stats: 14 points allowed, three sacks, one interception
2016 Stats: 24 points allowed, six sacks, two interceptions
WK3 Opponent: Steelers (28th in points allowed to DEFs)
TONY: After two weeks of fantasy greatness, the wheels are coming right off of the Eagles' defense one as they face a team that is not only actually good, down right great in the Steelers. Not to mention, is very unlikely they'll knock out a third quarterback in a row and put quarterback "Big Ben Cheeseburger" in the trainer's room. With a bye week right after this slaughtering, save yourself some time now.
All stats a salad...Philly earns stank status this week because of this Twitter post on the official Eagles' account in what may be the weakest rally cry of the season so far. "Let's come out and rally around this football team" sounds like the kind of pep talk an animal receives at a slaughter house before meat time, a between-the-lines cry for forgiveness for impending pain. Also, why does he look like he's taking bets on how many times he can hit himself in the face?
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