Fantasy Football: 5 Players You Can Drop After Week 7

Players to Drop at a Glance

• Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars
• Chris Godwin Jr., WR, Buccaneers
• Bo Nix, QB, Broncos

One of the hardest parts of managing a fantasy football roster is knowing when to move on.

Draft capital and name recognition can make it tempting to hold an underperforming player for too long, but bench spots become increasingly valuable as bye weeks and injuries pile up. At some point, current usage and production have to matter more than what we expected from a player before the season.

With that in mind, here are five players you can consider dropping entering NFL Week 7.

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 This Week (Week 7)

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

It feels strange to put Brian Thomas Jr. on a drop list considering what he did as a rookie, but we're at the point where his roster spot is becoming extremely difficult to justify in standard-sized leagues.

Thomas has only 9 catches for 105 yards and one touchdown through six games. Even worse, he's gone without a reception in back-to-back weeks, seeing a total of just five targets over that span.

The decline has been dramatic. Thomas produced 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, followed by 707 yards and two scores in 2025, but his role has continued to shrink this season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are also on bye in Week 7, so fantasy managers aren't even getting the possibility of an immediate bounce-back.

It’s time to let him go.

Chris Godwin Jr., WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris Godwin is another recognizable name whose current production doesn't match his reputation.

Godwin has 23 catches for 216 yards through six games and has yet to score a touchdown. He's also failed to reach 50 receiving yards in any game, and his season high is only 46 yards.

His Week 6 performance offered little reason for optimism as Godwin caught 4 of 8 targets for 37 yards. Volume like that can occasionally provide usable PPR production, but the lack of yardage and touchdowns has made his weekly ceiling extremely limited.

If I'm choosing between holding Godwin and taking a shot on a younger receiver whose role is expanding, I'm comfortable moving on from the vet but keeping Godwin on my watch list to see how he does once Baker Mayfield returns.

Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans

Dalton Schultz‘s season numbers are being propped up by one massive game.

Schultz erupted for 12 catches and 140 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Outside of that performance, he has failed to reach 40 receiving yards in any game this season and still hasn't scored a touchdown.

His recent usage has also been underwhelming. Schultz has totaled 9 catches for 72 yards over his past three games, including 4 catches for 33 yards in Houston's 34-point outing against Jacksonville in Week 6.

Unless you're in a particularly deep league or dealing with a barren tight end waiver wire, there simply isn't enough weekly upside here. I'd rather stream the position than keep waiting for another outlier performance.

Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

Oronde Gadsden showed enough upside as a rookie to enter 2026 with some fantasy appeal, but that hasn't carried over.

Gadsden has produced just 12 receptions for 103 yards through six games. He has only one touchdown and has been held below 40 receiving yards in every game.

Even a five-target Week 6 outing against the Kansas City Chiefs resulted in only 3 catches for 17 yards. The Los Angeles Chargers' passing game has also spread opportunities around at tight end, which makes it difficult to project consistent volume.

With Los Angeles heading into its Week 7 bye, this is a good time to use the roster spot on a player with more immediate upside.

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

Bo Nix can still be useful in two-quarterback and superflex formats, but I don't think he needs to be rostered in one-quarterback leagues.

After a solid 2025 campaign, Nix’s numbers have cratered. Nix has thrown for fewer than 215 yards in five of his six games, and he's topped one passing touchdown only once. Over his past two starts, he's combined for just 230 passing yards and one touchdown.

The rushing production that once helped elevate his fantasy ceiling hasn't been there, either. Nix has only 47 rushing yards through six games and hasn't topped 10 rushing yards since Week 5.

Quarterback is generally too deep in one-QB formats to hold onto a player struggling this badly. I'd be comfortable cutting Nix rather than waiting for the Denver Broncos‘ offense to turn things around.

Check out our favorite buy low running backs for this week.

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.