Fantasy Football: 3 Players You Can Drop After Week 7

Players to Drop at a Glance

• MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders
• Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars

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

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers

MarShawn Lloyd‘s window for standalone fantasy value may have closed with Josh Jacobs back in the lineup.

Jacobs made his season debut in Week 7 and immediately reclaimed the top spot in the Green Bay Packers‘ backfield. He played 35 offensive snaps compared to Lloyd's 22 and handled 16 of the Packers' 24 running back touches.

Lloyd finished with six carries for 20 yards and two catches for 15 yards.

There's still handcuff value with Lloyd. If Jacobs misses time, Lloyd would likely move back into a significant role. But depending on your situation, it’s probably not worth keeping Lloyd on your bench.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is another player whose roster percentage hasn't fully caught up with his current situation.

The Washington Commanders placed Croskey-Merritt on injured reserve after Week 5 due to a groin injury, meaning he'll miss at least four games. With the Commanders being on a bye last week, JCM is going to miss at least the next three games.

That's troublesome enough at this point in the fantasy season, but Washington's backfield also isn't waiting around for him.

Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler give the Commanders two established alternatives while Jeremy McNichols has returned from injured reserve. Even when Croskey-Merritt is eligible to come back, there isn't a guarantee that he'll immediately return to the same workload he held earlier in the season.

If your league uses IR spots, it’s perfectly fine to stash Croskey-Merritt there. Other than that, I’d be fine letting JCM go.

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars

This one would've sounded unthinkable not long ago, but Brian Thomas Jr. is no longer a must-roster player in standard fantasy leagues.

Thomas has just 9 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown through six games this season.

More concerning than the production is his shrinking role.

Thomas played only 15 offensive snaps in the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ most recent game before its bye, representing just 21% of the team's offensive plays. He wasn't on the field for a single second-half snap and went without a reception for the second consecutive game.

Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers have established themselves as prominent pieces of the passing game while rookie Josh Cameron has also eaten into Thomas' playing time.

There is at least some hope that the bye week allowed Jacksonville to rethink Thomas' role, and coach Liam Coen said Monday that he expects Thomas to help the offense moving forward. There’s also a chance BTJ could get traded to a situation where he can play a bigger role. All of that is enough to make Thomas a player I'd prefer to hold in deeper formats.

But in a typical league, we can't continue rostering a wideout based almost entirely on what he did two seasons ago.

Check out our fantasy football buy low running backs article for Week 8.

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.