Fantasy Football: 3 Players You Can Drop After Week 2

Players to Drop at a Glance

• Tony Pollard, RB, Titans
• MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers
• Kenny Gainwell, RB, Buccaneers

Every week, basically every fantasy website in the industry puts out a waiver wire column. But in some instances, the real problem isn't deciding who to pick up — it's figuring out which players to part ways with.

Knowing when to drop an under-performing player is a tough call, but I'm here to help you out.

After this past week, here are some players you can drop and why.

All NFL projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook. Statistics via NFL Next-Gen Stats and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise stated.

Fantasy Football Drop Candidates

Tony Pollard, RB, Titans

It’s going to be really hard for Tony Pollard to carve out a weekly flex-type role in the current Tennessee Titans‘ offense as long as Tyjae Spears is healthy.

If any RB in any offense is dominating snaps and touches, they’re going to be useful in fantasy regardless of the offensive environment. But Pollard and Spears are splitting things, with Pollard’s snap rates at 55% and 52% through two games.

Add in how miserable Tennessee is offensively, and it’s nearly impossible to see a path for Pollard to have any real upside unless Spears misses time (or Spears starts playing a lot less).

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers

When Josh Jacobs got suspended, MarShawn Lloyd became a hot commodity, driving his Yahoo roster percentage up to 84%.

While it’s been only two weeks, it seems like the Green Bay Packers are already done with their Lloyd RB1 experiment. Lloyd was seemingly benched for fumbling and ended up handling just six carries and two targets in Week 2 while playing 27% of the snaps. Chris Brooks (47% snap rate) and Kaleb Johnson (27%) have made this a three-way committee, and that just isn’t going to lead to much fantasy goodness for anyone.

I see no reason to hold Lloyd.

Kenny Gainwell, RB, Buccaneers

There was a lot of chatter this offseason about new Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Kenneth Gainwell eating into Bucky Irving‘s role and potentially even splitting things pretty evenly. That hasn’t happened at all.

Gainwell has played 46% and 36% of the snaps and has recorded seven total carries and five total targets. Irving, meanwhile, has garnered 25 total rushing attempts and 11 targets, running as the Bucs’ clear lead back.

That relegates Gainwell to handcuff territory, and even if Bucky gets hurt, Gainwell would likely cede some ground work to Sean Tucker. So all in all, Gainwell isn’t a very enticing bench piece right now.

Fantasy Football Players to Drop FAQ

When should you drop a player in fantasy football?

A player can become droppable when his role, workload, or opportunity has significantly declined and there are better options available on the waiver wire. Injuries and depth-chart changes can also quickly alter a player's fantasy value.

How long should you wait before dropping an underperforming player?

It depends on the player's draft capital and underlying usage. Early-round picks usually deserve more patience, while late-round players with declining snaps, targets, or touches can be moved on from much sooner.

Should you drop an injured player in fantasy football?

Not necessarily. Consider the severity of the injury, expected recovery timeline, and whether your league has an injured reserve spot before making a decision. High-upside players are often worth holding if their absence is expected to be temporary.

Should you drop a player for a waiver-wire pickup?

Yes, if the waiver option has a better path to consistent touches, targets, or playing time. Fantasy managers shouldn't hold onto a struggling player simply because they used a draft pick on him.

What should you look at before dropping a fantasy football player?

Snap rate, touches, targets, depth-chart position, injuries, upcoming matchups, and changes in a team's offense can all help determine whether a player is worth holding or dropping.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.