The Pruning List is essentially high-profile players who are underperforming in fantasy, and we simply ask: is it time to cut them?
"Cut" by our definition merely means, take them out of your starting lineup, but could mean trading them or even actually dropping them if you prefer to do so. But for our purposes, we just mean, should we bench the fools? Here are five big name guys we are looking to prune off the starting roster, and perhaps off the roster entirely.
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson returned to action week 10 against Green Bay after rehabbing a finger injury that required surgery. His performance left some to wonder if the finger was fully healed...he backed that up with a game against the Colt McCoy-led Cardinals, which was equally disappointing. Wilson managed no touchdowns and just 207 yards in the loss.
Since his return he has managed just 16 total fantasy points over two outings, which is less than Trevor Lawrence and Carson Wentz in that span, and less than Tyrod Taylor scored in just one start against the Titans last weekend. Wilson and the Seahawks offense is in a free fall, and it is certainly time to bench Wilson in favor of QBs on more productive offenses. The complete lack of a run game has bottled up the identity of the Seattle offense and made Wilson ineffective coming off a crucial hand injury.
He faces the Washington Football Team this week, a team which is on a roll and has unseated some tougher foes behind Taylor Heinicke the past few weeks. In fact, if Heinicke is available in your league he is probably a better option to start this week vs Seattle than Wilson is against the swift Washington pass rush. I wouldn't straight drop Wilson yet, but benching him and exploring trade options on his name alone is worth a look. Get a solid backup tight end for him.
TJ Hockenson
TJ Hockenson was a definite top-5 TE entering the season and after two ridiculous weeks, the Iowa product has cooled off a little. Part of that is the Lions themselves, although their sloppy offense usually means extra work for the talented tight end. What we have seen instead is an inability to move the ball, and opposing defenses merely taking Hockenson out of the game in order to stifle the Detroit attack. That has been quite effective through 11 weeks.
Hockenson is the TE8 on the year in half-PPR formats, but take away his insane first two weeks and he is the TE17 from week 3-11. TE17. Guys like Mike Gesicki, CJ Uzomah, and even veteran Zach Ertz who changed teams midseason have 20-40 points more than TJ in that span. Guys like Ertz and Uzomah were not drafted. If you have TJ Hockenson, it may be time to hit the waiver wire and insert a productive tight end into your lineup, while trying to see what trade value TJ has on the open market. Don't be surprised if it isn't a lot.
Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper hasn't been the powerhouse WR1 in the high-flying Dallas offense many projected him to be. I thought he would have a good year, but be outshined by second-year CeeDee Lamb, and that ultimately is what has happened. Cooper has had two breakout games, one of them being week 1 (it seems so far away now...) and other than that he has posted some truly depressing numbers.
Week 8 against Minnesota he scored a touchdown and put up 20+ fantasy points, yet that was the island in a sea of 5 point outings. On top of that, Cooper missed week 11 due to Covid-19 protocols, forcing owners to bench him through the Thanksgiving game as well. We think...maybe leave him on the bench even after he clears protocols week 13 for the New Orleans matchup if all receivers are a go. Cooper seems to be drawing the coverage, not the targets, from Dak Prescott.
Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown was one of my biggest WR2 sleeper picks of 2021, and it's taken me awhile to give up on it. I think that time is here. Brown is 33 years old, a notorious diva, but one of the most talented to ever play the position and he hasn't had much wear and tear on his body lately after not playing for a loooong time. Tom Brady seemed to be able to wrangle him in, and his usage in the playoffs last year was undeniable. And hey, to my credit, when AB is on the field, Brady looks to him more than any other receiver except Gronk. Mike Evans disappeared in those games.
The main issue, AB can't stay on the field. Between several different lingering injuries, CoVid-19 protocols, CoVid-19 controversy now...he has only managed to play in five games this season. In those games he was incredible, with only one outing showing under 10 PPR points and three of the five games he went over 20. Not bad. He has been eating up a roster spot, however, and now he has an ankle he should be coming back from soon...but it keeps getting delayed...that's part of being a 33 year old wide receiver in the NFL. Brown may be more of a streaming option when healthy, rather than someone you need to keep rostered.
Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson has made an appearance on this list earlier in the year, and he really hasn't done much to keep him off it. Robinson has had some health problems, he is currently dealing with a hamstring that caused him to miss week 11, and rookie Justin Fields seems to be developing a rapport with Darnell Mooney rather than the veteran.
Part of this is simply the fact that Fields is still learning the position, while behind a less-than-stellar offensive line, so looking for complicated routes downfield has taken a backseat to escaping pressure and quick reads. This will develop in time, but the season is waning and the structure of the Chicago offense doesn't lend itself to excessive passing. Even a more targeted Robinson may not make him a reliable fantasy flex.
Most people have already cut Robinson, but that creates an interesting streaming opportunity down the stretch. He likely has a good game or two in him before the season's end if this hamstring clears up, and if you can pick the right one he could win you a game off the wire.
The Tennessee Backfield
After Derrick Henry went down, the Titans signed future HOF back Adrian Peterson, elevated D'Onta Foreman from the practice squad, and looked to their pass-catching back Jeremy McNichols to fill the void. Analysts were all over the place on who had the most fantasy value, with the general consensus being...wait and see.
Well, we waited, and we saw. Peterson dove in for a score during his debut, but other than that, the snap sharing (in addition to an overall lack of scoring in general) has hampered any production potential any of these three guys had. Foreman looks to be the most versatile, giving him the most potential value moving forward, but here at the SportsLeaf we are pruning these guys entirely. Especially staring down a week 12 matchup against New England, it's safe to cut bait on AP and McNichols to free up a roster spot for an incoming free agent. Foreman is someone worth keeping rostered perhaps, but only as bench depth if you have the room.
Follow for more news as we approach the Thanksgiving games on Thursday! Happy Holidays everyone.
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