That’s right folks! My drops column of the season is back, baby!
What? I’m just as surprised as you are. No blackmail, honestly. Not that I wouldn’t do it, mind you – I just have nothing to incriminate.
For fantasy managers, this column is a red flag. A red flag. If, when you look through this column, you see that a player listed here currently occupies a spot on your roster, you should ask yourself whether or not that’s such a good idea.
This column is a lot of fun for the author. Yes, it’s about identifying players who are best left to fade away quietly, but it’s also an opportunity to rant against those who have wronged me – be they players or coaches. If you think I’m done with Arthur Smith just because the Atlanta Falcons are done, you’re completely wrong.
Now, this first edition of 2024 drops is admittedly not the most exciting – it’s a bit difficult to get worked up about players who haven’t played yet. Only one of this week’s players is on the roster in over 15 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues. But that doesn’t mean we can’t tinker with rosters a little before Week 1.
So what did I do with that promise?
DROPS OF THE WEEK 1
Derek Carr, NO, QB (10% of roster – can be dropped in all 1-QB leagues)
That Carr makes $37.5 million per season is proof we all chose the wrong job. Carr’s first season in the Big Easy was rocky – he had fewer passing yards than Sam Howell, fewer touchdown passes than Baker Mayfield and a lower passer rating than Jake Browning. However, Carr told reporters that he expects the Saints’ entire offense to take a big step forward in 2024.
“We’re trying to build this year on what we had last year,” he said. “The relationships. The bonds, the unity, the time we spend together. I felt like we were 10 times further along coming into this offseason compared to the last. And I mean that as a team, as a group, as a unit. The bonds we have. It’s the ultimate team sport, and that’s the most important thing, the team. So we’re trying to build this year on what ended last year.”
Here’s the thing: At his best, Carr was never a great fantasy player, and it’s been a while since he was at his best. Aside from Chris Olave, the talent in the passing game in New Orleans is pretty “meh.” Last year, Carr had fewer fantasy points per game than Easton Stick, Nick Mullens and Jeff Driskel, and there’s already talk in some circles that rookie Spencer Rattler could dethrone Carr at some point this season.
Dalvin Cook, RB, DAL (13% – can be dropped in all leagues)
How can you tell the Cowboys aren’t brimming with confidence about the state of their backfield? The team signed Cook to its practice squad at the end of the preseason. Speaking to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Cook said he’s confident he can get back into shape and help the Cowboys this season.
“In my years in Minnesota, it was Dalvin, Dalvin, Dalvin, give him the ball. Now I have to adjust a little bit,” Cook said. “Help everybody and be productive. That’s just my mindset. I’m going to be ready to go. Being around Zeke, I can obviously learn a lot from him. He’s older than me. I’m just still soaking up the game. And I’m learning from the young guys, too. I feel like we’re going to push each other just because we’re part of this group.”
Guys, seriously, what are we doing here? Yes, Cook was a 1,000-yard back in 2022 with the Vikings. But last year with the Jets, Cook averaged 3.2 yards per carry and rushed for 214 yards. There were 31 other teams that could have signed Cook. The Cowboys could have done that back in June. That they didn’t is telling. Just because Jerry Jones decided to stockpile washed-up running backs doesn’t mean fantasy managers should. And with all due respect to what Cook accomplished in the NFL, he’s washed-up. Done.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL (11% – can be dropped in all leagues)
Mitchell was a darling of the waiver list last year – after giving the Seahawks 138 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries, FAAB was thrown all over the place in fantasy leagues. But then Mitchell tore his ACL in December, and although head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that the young speedster’s rehab is progressing well, Mitchell will not be ready for the start of the 2024 season.
“It’s not a comeback during training camp or the first game,” Harbaugh said. “I think we all know that. It’s sometime during the season. It’s not right around the corner. We shouldn’t be biting our nails wondering if he’s coming back. But I would say he’s on schedule, maybe even ahead of schedule. He’s doing a really good job. He always has a smile on his face.”
Not only did Mitchell open the season on the PUP list, but recent reports say he won’t be back until November. Even in leagues with IR spots, that means you’re burning one up on a player who won’t be back until midseason at the earliest, and likely won’t be anywhere near 100 percent then. Mitchell showed signs of his electrifying talent as a rookie, but we have to be realistic about the chances of him being that guy again in 2024.
You’re not good, folks.
Jahan Dotson, WR, PHI (15% – can be dropped in all leagues)
Dotson showed some potential as a rookie, scoring a touchdown on one in five passes. But the former first-round pick was completely invisible in Washington last season, prompting the Commanders to trade him to the Eagles within the NFC East. Now Dotson is trying to get his flagging career back on track, and according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia, the 24-year-old is trying to get as many reps as possible with Jalen Hurts.
“I stayed with him after practice and did some reps at the stadium,” Dotson said. “I just did extra reps because you can’t do everything in practice, so the different things that you know are going to come up at some point, you just have to do them after practice and do those one-on-one reps and talk things through.”
Some will no doubt say Dotson wasn’t treated fairly in Washington. Or point to his draft slot. But a Commanders team that isn’t exactly loaded with wideouts was willing to trade him… to a rival! The Eagles Are Because Dotson is a strong presence in the passing game and is the fourth (or fifth) option in the passing game, it’s hard to imagine him getting enough targets to be relevant in fantasy games.
The good news: If he appears in this column twice more, he will get a free sandwich.
Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC (8% – can be dropped anywhere on Earth)
Like Dotson, Quentin Johnston is a former first-round pick – Chargers in 2023. Unlike Dotson, Johnston has accomplished absolutely nothing in the NFL – a 38/431/2 stat line as a rookie in a debut season filled with bad routes and drops. Of course, new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters about Johnston’s progress in his second training camp.
“Our guys and our coaches are doing a phenomenal job and I see the players taking that and putting it into practice. That’s when you see really good coaching happening. Q has been steadily improving and going in a great direction. He’s going at it, really mentally tough, staying consistent, going at the meetings, training and drills. Great discipline, real football discipline, which to me means you can do what you’re capable of doing repeatedly. I see Quentin going that way.”
Harbaugh then ate a notebook while yelling, “ATTACK THE MEETING!” Or maybe he didn’t. Who knows?
Here’s the cold, hard truth – Johnston isn’t very good at football. He had a golden opportunity when Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were gone, but he ranks behind Joshua Palmer and rookie Ladd McConkey in the Bolts’ passing game. As it turns out, being able to catch is pretty important for an NFL wideout.
Noah Fant, TE, SEA (32% – can be dropped in 12-team leagues)
Seattle has a new head coach and offensive coordinator, and one of the new regime’s first acts was to give Fant a two-year contract that will pay him an average (and I’m not kidding) of over $10 million per season. Speaking to the media, Fant said he believes Ryan Grubb’s strategy could be the key to finally turning his potential into performance.
“The coolest thing about him that we’ve talked about is that he gives the guys the best position possible that fits their game, that he just wants the guys to succeed and that he believes in his guys,” Fant said. “I think that’s the coolest thing, the versatility on offense to be able to move around and stuff, so I’m excited about that.”
Where have we heard that before? Oh yes, seemingly every season with Fant – “This will be the year…”
The problem is that his actual numbers are going in the wrong direction. The sixth-year veteran set career lows in catches (32) and yards (414) last year, failed to reach the end zone for the first time in his career and had more games with two or fewer targets than more. Explain to me how that’s going to change on a Seahawks team with three solid (or better) wide receivers?
No, really. Explain it to me like I’m five.
Gary Davenport has twice been named Football Writer of the Year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. Follow him on X at @IDPSharks
(Top photo of Jahan Dotson: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
