Dead Weight Report: Week 12 Fantasy Football Drop List

Nov 21, 2023

David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

I suppose a Thanksgiving turkey-drop pun is in order this week, but instead, I am reminded of the legendary late '70s/early '80s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. The majority of you likely weren’t around then, so enjoy this clip from one of their Thanksgiving episodes entitled “Turkeys Away”.

Here is this week’s list of players possibly weighing down your respective rosters as we head down the stretch. If you’re looking for some players to stash for future use, I also have you covered there.

Editor's Note: Check out the Week 12 Waiver Wire Watch

Gabe Davis, WR - Bills

If a Hall of Fame existed for boom-bust players, Gabe Davis would be a first-ballot nominee. He’s seen anywhere from zero to 12 targets per contest this season and sits as the WR45 in half-PPR points per game through the first 11 weeks. He’s finished as a WR1 twice, a WR2 twice, a WR3 twice, and a WR6 or worse five times so far in 2023.

There are 88% of Yahoo managers wrestling with whether to start Davis from week to week and it may alleviate some mental anguish to let him go. New Bills OC Joe Brady seemed to favor a more run-heavy approach last week with 12 more rushing attempts than in Week 10 and 22 more carries than Week 9’s game script, making it even harder for Josh Allen to feed multiple pass catchers, and it appears Khalil Shakir has pulled ahead of Davis in the WR2 department. If you want to hang on for their Week 12 matchup against a soft Philly secondary go for it, but the Bills have a Week 13 bye, then face the Chiefs and Cowboys in very important fantasy weeks. This is a drop that most likely won’t make, but if you’re fighting for a playoff spot, you may need a WR with a higher chance to actually show up.

Jakobi Meyers, WR - Raiders

This drop may not be for everyone as well, but Jakobi Meyers may be the only negative casualty of the Raiders' departure from Josh McDaniels and Jimmy Garroppolo. He’s averaging just four targets per tilt with Aidan O'Connell under center and is the WR43 in half-PPR scoring on a per-game basis in that same time frame.

With a stout Chiefs secondary on tap and zero teams off this week, Meyers likely won’t crack your starting lineup, and then he’s on a bye in Week 13. It’s understandable to want to hang on after his solid start to 2023, but it’s almost win-or-go-home time and with O'Connell at the helm, Meyers isn’t going to be a difference-maker.

Chuba Hubbard, RB - Panthers

Pain has been the theme for the Carolina Panthers in both real and fake football this season with the exception of Adam Thielen. They’ve lost all but one contest in 2023 and the only fantasy-relevant player in their offense is a 33-year-old WR who is somehow managing to put up WR14 numbers in half-PPR scoring per contest.

Miles Sanders made this column back in Week 9 and now it’s teammate Chuba Hubbard’s time. The two are splitting carries nearly 50/50 and the Panthers are 29th in the NFL in rushing attempts (23.5 per game) and 29th in rushing yards (92.3). Free yourself of the pain, while you still can.

Tyler Boyd, WR - Bengals

I actually wrestled between Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins for this column this week which is something I never saw coming heading into this season. After we’re all done shower-crying over the loss of Joe Burrow for 2023, we need to come to grips with the fact that this offense won’t be the same moving forward. Tee Higgins has a shot at returning in Week 12, leaving Boyd as the odd man out in an offense that may not support more than one WR.

Boyd’s season has been relatively quiet outside of one WR12 performance in Week 10. With Higgins out again last week, the 29-year-old had just three receptions for 22 yards which was the third time he’s had just three catches over the last four contests. Higgins is likely droppable too in the Bengals Burrow-less offense but if he can get back this week and remain healthy, he could be servicable down the stretch.

Also droppable: Darrell Henderson, RB - Rams, Quentin Johnston, WR - Chargers, Justice Hill, RB - Ravens