Perhaps you are aware that ESPN Fantasy delivers a rather extensive look at the top free agent players to add to your myriad football teams each and every Monday. I don't know the goofy fellow who writes it, but rumor is he looks quite like this. Regardless, the column analyzes players that tend to be in higher demand than the week prior, are available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues and are generally wise additions to your teams.
What that free agent column does not do is share the top options a fantasy manager, either on a winning or losing team, should send packing to free agency. So let's do that now.
Look, folks, it's October. Five weeks of the fantasy regular season are in the books, and so much has changed since draft day. Many things change every week, but we are seeing a whole lot of players on fantasy rosters who perhaps do not need to be there. We focus on ESPN standard leagues, because when the rules are different (roster sizes, roster spots, player scoring, etc.) then value is different. You're not dumping any starting QB in a superflex league, for example, not even the ones we name below.
Bottom line, what you really want to know, with all these players: "Is it OK to drop this guy, whom I so dearly coveted on draft day, but now truly hate to have on my roster?" With these guys, with the league-specific caveat above, you have our permission to move on.
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers (60.3% rostered)
What we believed six weeks ago: Herbert threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, and only nine quarterbacks scored more fantasy points. This is a talented player, perhaps on a Hall of Fame track if he gets some future playoff luck, who once exceeded 50 touchdown passes in 2021. The Chargers hired generally acknowledged offensive genius Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. The consensus was clear: Herbert might deliver his best season yet, and he became everyone's sleeper. What could possibly go wrong?
What we believe now: Herbert enters Week 6 averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game, well down from last season when it was 17.9 points. We thought, when Herbert scored only 13.26 points in a stunning loss to the hapless Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, that it was aberrant. It has been Herbert's top scoring output. The Chargers are winless! Blame McDaniel's new scheme, offensive line and WR injuries, a poor running game or whatever you like, but Herbert has been, arguably, the worst fantasy QB this season, and clearly so when considering he was the 10th quarterback off the board on draft day. The schedule eases up eventually but still, this isn't good.
Other quarterbacks to dump: Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (29.8%, injured, out for the season); Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (18.8%); Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins (8.7%); Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans (5.5%).
Don't dump yet, but perhaps soon: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (74.0%); Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30.1%).
Kenny Gainwell, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (62.1% rostered)
What we believed six weeks ago: Gainwell scored 221.3 fantasy points while with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, 16th among running backs, and he scored 13 points per game. He did this while catching 73 passes (fourth at the position), and then Gainwell took off for bigger money with the Buccaneers. It figured that Gainwell would, at the least, pick up the bulk of the 172 touches freed but by Rashaad White's free agent departure, and maybe even fully split touches with Bucky Irving, who struggled with injuries and underwhelming performance last season.
What we believe now: Gainwell might not catch half that many passes this season. It is stunning that the Buccaneers rewarded Gainwell with a two-year contract and then, through five games, have barely utilized him, but here we are. Irving, meanwhile, is thriving. Gainwell has 28 touches, fewer than six per game. The risk of injury to Irving is always there, so perhaps Gainwell does get a chance, but it wasn't supposed to be like this. This was supposed to be a quality tandem. It has been anything but that. With bye weeks to navigate pretty much every week leading up to bye-maggedon, it is hard for fantasy managers to keep backup running backs just in case an injury to another alters their outlook.
Other running backs to dump: De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins (41.4%, injured, out for the season); Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (26.6%); Isiah Pacheco, Detroit Lions (20.1%); Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (16.4%).
Don't dump yet, but perhaps soon: David Montgomery, Houston Texans (93.2%); Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers (78.8%); Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks (72.8%); Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (68.9%); Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (65.2%); Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers (64.2%).
Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos (76.2% rostered)
What we believed six weeks ago: Sutton, a two-time Pro Bowler who surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, figured to take a step backward with the franchise trading for Miami Dolphins starter Jaylen Waddle. After all, only 12 wide receivers outscored Sutton for fantasy last season. The Broncos wouldn't just forget about him, though, would they? Nix led the NFL with 612 pass attempts last season, so surely there would be enough targets for Sutton, whose preseason ADP (WR30) reflected a potential reduction in production but serviceable flex status nonetheless.
What we believe now: Hmm, when does Waddle join this ignominious list, too? Perhaps that is premature, but Nix is having a terrible season, scoring only 13 fantasy points per game (not quite as bad as Herbert, but bad). Waddle's target share is lower than expected, but he has converted 18 of 31 targets into 204 receiving yards. The terribly inefficient Sutton has caught a mere 11 of 25 targets, and for only 104 yards, a dreadful pace of only 354 receiving yards. That's like two games for Jaxon Smith-Njigba! Sutton's first touchdown was a 5-yarder Sunday, one of only two receptions for the game. Don't let the touchdown dissuade you from clicking that drop button.
Other wide receivers to dump: Michael Pittman Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers (62.0%); Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (60.8%); Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (41.1%); Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks (33.2%); Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars (32.4%); Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (29.9%, out for the season); De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers (25.1%); Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (12.5%).
Don't dump yet, but perhaps soon: Marvin Harrison Jr., Houston Texans (75.3%); Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (67.9%); Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (58.8%); Tyreek Hill, free agent (44.8%).
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (73.6% rostered)
What we believed six weeks ago: Thanks to 82 receptions and eight touchdowns, only four tight ends scored more fantasy points than Ferguson last season. It was surprising. The Cowboys figured to boast one of the top offenses in the sport again, so it was reasonable to trust Ferguson. It didn't take a high pick to get him, either, as 11 tight ends went prior to Ferguson in ESPN ADP. He seemed like a late-round bargain pick for those waiting at the position.
What we believe now: Ferguson scored two touchdowns in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, and another the following week, but that is about it for production. He has totaled 30 receiving yards the past two games, along with several drops, one of which turned into an interception. Ferguson's target rate is down, and he is pacing for only 51 receptions and 347 receiving yards, though he may reach double-digit touchdowns. There are 14 tight ends with more fantasy points.
Other tight ends to dump: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (77.7%); Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (41.7%).
Don't dump yet, but perhaps soon: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (91.0%); T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (70.6%); Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta Falcons (69.2%); Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets (49.9%).