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.
Let’s do this!
CeeDee Lamb – 95.4% Ownership
So the Dallas Cowboys really are bad without Dak? Andy Dalton left this game early after a hit to the head and so did the entire offense. Lamb wasn’t the only player impacted on this offense as Michael Gallup (who I believe is droppable at this point) and Schultz (mentioned later) saw a lack of production which I expect to see for most of the season. The drop in targets in a game where they were behind big time isn’t promising.
Verdict: Until there’s a serious change of pace on this offense I don’t want a piece of it, but I don’t think I can drop Lamb yet. I’d hold and try playing someone else in his place until Dallas figures something out.
Jerick McKinnon – 92.1% Ownership
Where the heck was McKinnon on Sunday? Apparently, it was all part of Shanahan’s plan to rest him this week, but 12 snaps and just three touches when the starting RB goes down isn’t inspiring. I say starting RB in reference to Jeff Wilson but both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman are on IR and didn’t play, so is McKinnon really this deep on the depth chart?
Verdict: I hate to do it but I’m trusting Shanahan when he says it was just the plan and McKinnon will have a larger role going forward. I’m holding but if I don’t see promising numbers this week I’m out.
Dalton Schultz – 48.3% Ownership
Is this what I think it is? Another Dallas offensive player? Much of what I said about Lamb is applicable to Schultz. A lack of usage and production on a team that can’t produce isn’t what fantasy managers are looking for.
Verdict: Schultz is hitting the wire. The TE position is killing me this season and I have no mercy.
Keelan Cole – 42.8% Ownership
This Jaguars passing offense is all over the place. DJ Chark isn’t producing with all his targets, Laviska Shenault is droppable in most leagues, James Robinson is thriving and Gardner Minshew is just okay. The bye week for Jacksonville this week is making things cloudy for Cole after a 2.2 fantasy point performance on Sunday and the drop of seven targets doesn’t sit well with me.
Verdict: Cole is team-dependent on whether I’m holding or dropping. If I’m hit with bye weeks or injuries and need a player, I don’t mind dropping Cole. If I’m sitting pretty at WR and can afford the hold, I’m doing it. Maybe shop him around before waivers to a WR-needy team!
