Do you drop them or do you hold on to them? Should you fear their drop in usage? I’ll help you answer those! Every week I’ll be highlighting some players who are either losing opportunity on offense or underperforming based on their ownership percentage.
This can be used as a helpful way to decide on some players you can drop to waivers for the hot new items on the market. Maybe you’re on the fence about a bench player and seeing his name on this list will help you make that final decision!
I will only mention players with over 35% ownership in ESPN leagues because you can’t drop who you don’t have. I’ll also give my verdict on whether he’s a drop or a hold depending on if his drop in production may have other factors to it! All players are analyzed by their offensive snap% and their targets/touches week-to-week.
It’s a shorter list this week than I expected, but they’re the only dudes that stuck out to me.
Let’s do this!
Preston Williams – 58% Ownership
I was all aboard the Preston train heading into the season with the potential of benefitting from a pass-heavy Dolphins offense. Three weeks into the season this doesn’t seem to be the case. Williams is currently fifth on the team in targets and saw a drop in snap% this past week against Jacksonville. He happened to have his best fantasy game of the season with only 8.7 PPR points which is propped up by a three-yard TD reception.
Verdict: I don’t see myself adding Williams to my lineup anytime soon barring an injury to DeVante Parker. Until I see consistent snap share and more targets going his way, I’m comfortable with Williams on the waivers.
Dion Lewis – 51.1% Ownership
Yikes. I hope nobody relied on Dion Lewis this week or spent a chunk of FAAB on him after Barkley went down. After being in on 88% of snaps and having 14 touches in week 2 he immediately dropped to 38% and two touches. The New York Giants went on to sign Devonta Freeman last week and immediately took a chunk of offensive snaps by being on the field for 29% of snaps. Wayne Gallman also saw an increase in snaps from 0 to 35%. In a weak offensive showing against the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants seemed to bring out a three-headed backfield approach that I expect Freeman to gain a bigger chunk going forward.
Verdict: I don’t see Lewis having a role in this backfield. Unless you feel the need to see your investment in him pay off I’d drop him, but don’t get stuck in the sunk-cost fallacy so soon.
D’Andre Swift – 89% Ownership
As a Lions fan, I’m disappointed in the usage of D’Andre Swift this season. In a game where Detroit wanted to control the clock, Swift was on the field for only SIX OFFENSIVE SNAPS. SIX. In three weeks he’s had only 17 touches (eight carries and nine catches), but only ONE touch in week 3. I’m lost. Detroit OC Darrell Bevell also just came out saying that the team is rolling with Adrian Peterson as their lead back. Peterson dominated the Detroit backfield in snaps and touches in week 3 and it looks like it’ll stay that way for the foreseeable future. Cool.
Verdict: I’m off on Swift and dropping him in all league formats that aren’t dynasty. Detroit hasn’t had a consistent fantasy-relevant RB in quite some time and if it’s anyone this season it doesn’t look like it’ll be Swift. Good-bye, sweet prince.
