The Ditch List: Is It Time To Move On From These Disappointing Performers (Marvin Jones & 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:

Duke Johnson – Cleveland Browns – Running Back
There has been talk all season about getting Johnson more involved in the offense, and with the sudden trade of Carlos Hyde the hope was this would be his shot.  Instead we saw the status quo, with Nick Chubb absorbing the opportunities left behind:

• Chubb – 18 carries for 80 yards and 1 TD
• Johnson – 1 carry for -4 yards, 4 receptions for 23 yards

Johnson still has not yet had more than 6 touches in a game this season, totaling 19 carries and 14 receptions for 275 yards and 0 TD.  If this wasn’t the week that he saw his role enlarge, just why do we think it’s ever going to happen?

Verdict – Can be cut in 12-team leagues

Marvin Jones – Detroit Lions – Wide Receiver
Detroit only threw the ball 22 times against the Dolphins, as they instead rode the combination of Kerryon Johnson (19 carries for 158 yards) and LeGarrette Blount (10 carries for 50 yards) to a victory.  It will be interesting if this is a sign of things to come, though it certainly has been the trend (Matthew Stafford attempted 26 passes in Week 5 and 30 passes in Week 4).  Jones has struggled to get anything going over this stretch (7 catches for 93 yards and 1 TD total) and will continue to have to battle others for opportunities.

Whether it’s Kenny Golladay (10 catches for 209 yards and 1 TD) or Golden Tate (17 catches for 201 yards and 2 TD), it’s clear that Stafford favors his other receivers.  Considering where the offense appears to be heading, fantasy owners should be looking for higher upside options off the waiver wire because trusting Jones appears to be impossible.

Verdict – Must cut in 12-team leagues, cuttable in 14-team leagues if you need the roster spot

Blake Bortles – Jacksonville Jaguars – Quarterback
Remember when he was the talk of the NFL after a dominating performance against the Patriots in Week 2?  Things have gone downhill since, including a 4 INT performance against the Chiefs in Week 5.  He’s followed that up by throwing for 149 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in Week 6 before getting benched yesterday against the Texans after he completed 6 of 12 passes for just 61 yards and lost 2 fumbles.

He was pulled in favor of Cody Kessler and there’s a very real chance that he’s lost his job.  In fact, with the Trade Deadline approaching would it be surprising to see Jacksonville shopping and trying to acquire a true starting quarterback?  We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold, but don’t be surprised if his time as the starter is over (at least in the short-term).

Verdict – Must cut in 1 QB formats, cuttable in all 12-team leagues (and maybe even deeper ones)

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com

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Make sure to check out all of our Week 7 rankings: