Dead Weight Report: Week 3 Fantasy Football Drop List
Evaluating who to drop and when to click that button is never easy, especially after only two weeks of play. However, we need to evolve and make roster improvements, especially after some of the soul-crushing performances of Week 2.
Editor's Note: Check out the Week 3 Waiver Wire Watch
Here are my recommendations for some players to cut loose ahead of Week 3, or at least keep a short leash on moving forward. You won’t find any monster names on here yet since two weeks is just not enough time to bail on a high draft pick, but there will be more prominent names in the coming weeks.
Colston Loveland, TE - Bears
Just when we all sent Cole Kmet out to pasture for the shiny new horse (or Bear in this case), he’s received three more balls than Colston Loveland’s sad six targets through the first two games and outsnapped the rookie 121-74 of the first 125 Chicago snaps. Loveland has been a non-factor in both real and fantasy football, and we can’t keep taking the loss at the TE position. With players like Juwan Johnson and Harold Fannin on waiver wires seeing 20 and 14 targets so far, respectively, it’s time to let the Loveland dream go, and we’ll try again next season.
Rashod Bateman, WR - Ravens
The Rashod Bateman truthers just can’t quit him, but I have and will continue to do so. He saw just four targets in each of the first two contests, which he turned into a meager 4-25-0 line combined. Bateman has out-snapped DeAndre Hopkins 70-28 so far, but is being outplayed by the 33-year-old, who has posted a total of 99 yards and two touchdowns in half the targets as Bateman. It also doesn't help that the Ravens have attempted the fourth-lowest number of passes so far in 2025. Do your mind and rosters a favor and move on from Bateman early to alleviate any more suffering at his expense.
Ray Davis, RB - Bills
Drafted as a premier handcuff this offseason, Ray Davis had one carry in Week 1 and nine last week, which he turned into an inefficient 2.6 yards per carry. Davis has been on the field for the least amount of snaps in the Bills RB room, which includes Reggie Gilliam, and even if James Cook sustains an injury, it doesn't seem like Davis will be the guy.
Adam Thielen, WR - Vikings
While it was fun to see Adam Thielen back in a Minnesota uniform in 2025, his usage as the third WR in three-WR sets has not been enough to warrant a spot on fantasy rosters. Jordan Addison will be back in Week 4, which likely won’t help the lack-of-volume situation for the 12th-year pass catcher.
If you believe in a Carson Wentz Vikings offense and want to hang on for another week to see if there’s more production, go right ahead, but you’re probably better off investing in some waiver wire action in the form of Wan'Dale Robinson or Troy Franklin.
Cam Ward, QB - Titans
He may have a fruitful career ahead of him in the NFL as well as our purposes, but Cam Ward is not a viable fantasy option this early. After two weeks, he’s the QB35, averaging just 6.1 fantasy points in each of his first two contests. The rookie has completed just 50.3% of his passes for 287 yards and a touchdown, and also ran four times for eight yards, losing two fumbles. Better times are likely ahead for Ward, but there’s no reason to keep him in single QB leagues when Trevor Lawrence, Daniel Jones, or even Bryce Young are available.
On Thin Ice:
- Evan Engram, TE - Broncos
- Braelon Allen, RB - Jets
- Mark Andrews, TE - Ravens
- Marvin Mims, WR - Broncos
- Xavier Legette, WR - Panthers
- Demario Douglas, WR - Patriots
Injury Drops:
- Austin Ekeler, RB - Commanders
- Joe Burrow, QB - Bengals (if your league doesn't have IR, you may need to drop him since he’s likely out 3 months)
- Jayden Reed, WR - Packers (if your league doesn't have IR, you may need to drop him since he’s out 6-8 weeks)
