The Ditch List: Is It Time To Move On From These Disappointing Performers (Duke Johnson & More)

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

It’s easy to make a hasty decision when it comes to your fantasy football team, since the season feels more like a sprint than a marathon.  How long do you stay patient?  Is it time to cut bait and move on?  Let’s take a look at a few of the standout players who you may be considering cutting:

John Brown – Baltimore Ravens – Wide Receiver
Brown’s production since Lamar Jackson took over as the starting quarterback has been relatively pathetic:

Of course he had had 28 yards or fewer in three of the last four games with Joe Flacco at quarterback, so even if Flacco were to be returned to starting in Week 14 would you trust Brown?  Even if the answer were yes, and it shouldn’t be, regardless of Jackson’s performance the fact is that he’s led the team to a 3-0 stretch and therefore has earned the right for significant playing time.  At this point in the season the risk is far too great.

Verdict – Ditch ‘Em in 12-team formats or shallower

Duke Johnson – Cleveland Browns – Running Back
When the Browns made their coaching change there was a hope that Johnson would again become a useful part of the offense.  Against the Chiefs on November 4 he exploded for 9 receptions, 78 yards and 2 TD but that has since proved to be an aberration:

• November 11 (vs. Atlanta) – 4 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD
• November 25 (at Cincinnati) – 1 reception, 23 yards
• December 2 (at Houston) – 2 receptions, 12 yards

In fact he’s now had 31 receiving yards or fewer in five of his past six games and hasn’t had more than 5 carries or 36 rushing yards in a game this season.  Maybe he “booms” again at some point, but is it really something you want to bank on?

Verdict – Ditch ‘Em in 10-team formats

Trey Burton – Chicago Bears – Tight End
It would be easy to point to the absence of Mitchell Trubisky to explain Burton’s sudden disappearance, with only 1 target in Week 13 and 4 receptions and 28 yards between the past two games.  That would be taking a short-sighted approach, as Burton had 1 target in Minnesota recently and has been targeted more than 5 times in a game twice all season (and one came in Trubisky’s first missed game).

Burton was a much hyped option in the preseason, and while he has shown an ability to find the end zone (5 TD) he’s now gone four consecutive games without a score.  Tight end feels shallow, and it got even worse with the loss of Greg Olsen, but there’s no way to trust Burton.

Verdict – Ditch ‘Em in all formats

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com