That will create difficult roster decisions for fantasy managers, especially when assessing injured players. While fantasy footballers aren’t going to be moving on from the likes of Bucky Irving, there are plenty of other banged-up, flex-level players that may be worth releasing as they remain sidelined.
Fantasy managers will also be keeping a keen eye on matchups in the coming weeks. That doesn’t mean anyone will drop a star just because he’s facing a difficult stretch. However, fantasy managers looking to create roster spots can look at the upcoming schedules of fringe starters and streamers to identify potential cut candidates.
Who can you cut ahead of the Week 11 waiver wire? Here’s a look at the players you can drop from your fantasy rosters as the playoffs draw nigh.
Waiver wire players to drop: Week 11
QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Darnold flashed his high-end potential with a four-touchdown performance in Week 9 against the Commanders. In Week 10, he reminded fantasy managers of his floor, attempting just 12 passes in a blowout win over the Cardinals and logging 178 yards, one touchdown and three turnovers.
Granted, Darnold isn’t likely to see that low volume of passing most weeks. Seattle simply built an insurmountable lead early, thanks to a couple of defensive scores, and didn’t need to throw often.
Still, Seattle would prefer to be a team that relies on its running game and defense. That could limit Darnold’s fantasy potential, especially in more difficult matchups, like his Week 11 meeting with a Rams defense that entered Week 10 having allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
The timeshare between Hubbard and Rico Dowdle appears to be over. Dowdle has won the No. 1 overall role in Carolina’s backfield and out-touched Hubbard 21-4 in the Panthers’ 17-7 Week 10 loss to the Saints.
Hubbard has totaled just 121 yards on 37 touches across four games since returning from a calf injury. With that in mind, he can be safely released, as he doesn’t appear to be anything more than a handcuff at this point in the fantasy season.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
The Patriots are playing on ‘Thursday Night Football’ against the Jets in Week 11. Stevenson hasn’t been able to practice over the last two weeks while dealing with a toe injury, so his status for Thursday’s game is murky at best.
Even if Stevenson does return, he may cede his lead back role to TreVeyon Henderson, who is coming off the best game of his career against the Buccaneers. The second-round rookie had 147 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries against a tough Tampa Bay run defense.
WR D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
Moore appeared to be on the right track after posting back-to-back games with four catches and 72-plus receiving yards. Then came Sunday’s game against the Giants, during which he was targeted four times but was unable to make a catch.
Moore continues to rank a disappointing third in targets on the Bears behind Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus. As such, Moore remains an inconsistent, boom-or-bust flex from whom frustrated fantasy managers can move on.
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Downs’ three-game touchdown streak ended against the Falcons. He recorded just a single catch during that contest for 3 yards despite Daniel Jones attempting 26 passes in a 31-25 Colts overtime win.
Downs hasn’t yet topped 57 receiving yards in a game this season, so his fantasy value is more touchdown-dependent than anything else. With so many mouths to feed in Indianapolis’ offense – including Tyler Warren, Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce – dropping Downs would be understandable, especially as Indianapolis heads for a Week 11 bye.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy threw 42 passes against the Ravens in Week 10. Only two of them were in Hockenson’s direction, continuing a trend of the veteran tight end being an afterthought in Minnesota’s offense.
Hockenson has posted exactly two catches in three consecutive games and hasn’t yet surpassed 49 receiving yards in a game this season. Barring a change in his usage, it’s hard to imagine Hockenson re-emerging as a quality fantasy starter.