Fantasy Football Cut Candidates: Week 1

Week 1 is always full of surprises. Some players who looked like solid mid-round picks suddenly find themselves in smaller roles, while late-round fliers explode into opportunity. The first waiver run of the season is often the most important of the entire fantasy year, as it can define rosters for months to come. That means managers must be willing to make tough choices and cut bait quickly, even on players they were excited about just a week ago.

Dropping players early is not about overreacting to one bad game. It is about identifying where our assumptions were wrong: depth chart positions, usage trends, and offensive philosophies that do not match preseason expectations. A running back drafted for volume who only sees a handful of snaps, or a wide receiver buried in a low-volume passing attack, can be cut without regret if it frees space for someone with a clear path to touches.

In 12-team leagues, clinging to name value or draft cost is a mistake. The key is recognizing who is clogging the bench versus who has a realistic path to fantasy relevance. With that in mind, here are the Fantasy Football Cut Candidates fantasy managers should consider moving on from after the opening week of action.

Wondering who to pick up? Check out the Week 1 waiver wire pickups here!

Fantasy Football Cut Candidates: Week 1

Quarterbacks

Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins (Rostered: 30%)

Tagovailoa’s opener was brutal: 14 of 23 passing (53.8%) for 114 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, and a lost fumble. His 51.7 passer rating was among the worst of Week 1 starters. With no rushing upside to buffer the floor, Tua is not worth holding in 1-QB 12-team formats. In Superflex, he still holds value, but in most leagues, he’s cuttable.

Running Backs

Jerome Ford – Cleveland Browns (Rostered: 63%)

Ford opened 2025 as Cleveland’s starting running back but delivered little value in the opener. He played on just 30 percent of snaps and handled 22 percent of the rushing attempts, finishing with 6 carries for 8 yards and 1 catch for −3. Rookie Dylan Sampson led the way in the passing game (8 receptions for 64 yards), while Raheim “Rocket” Sanders scored the team’s rushing touchdown. With Quinshon Judkins expected back soon, Ford’s grip on high-value touches is tenuous.

Tank Bigsby – Jacksonville Jaguars (Rostered: 66%)

Travis Etienne Jr. dominated the backfield in Jacksonville’s win, logging 16 carries for 143 yards. Bigsby was a clear secondary piece with just 5 carries for 12 yards and no red-zone work. He was not targeted and played fewer than 20 percent of snaps. Without standalone usage, Bigsby does not justify a roster spot in 12-team formats.

Wide Receivers

Rashod Bateman – Baltimore Ravens (Rostered: 46%)

Baltimore attempted only 19 passes in Week 1, and nearly half went to Zay Flowers (9 targets, 7 catches, 143 yards, 1 touchdown). Bateman saw just 4 targets, catching 2 for 10 yards. With a modest pass volume offense consolidating production in one player, Bateman’s path to relevance looks bleak. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can safely cut him.

Conclusion

Churning the bottom of the roster is essential early in the season. Based on Week 1 usage and efficiency, Tua Tagovailoa, Jerome Ford, Tank Bigsby, and Rashod Bateman are droppable in 12-team leagues and can be left out of most rosters in Week 2. Freeing those roster spots now allows managers to stay aggressive on the waiver wire.