Players to Drop Going into Week 5: Mac Jones, Dalvin Cook and Kadarius Toney
While some players are becoming fantasy relevant because of their strong play, other players are going in the opposite direction. Four weeks is enough time to start considering dropping players who have started slowly, and that’ll be the topic of this discussion.
We’ll be focusing on New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, New York Jets running back Dalvin Cook and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including predictive waiver analytics to help prioritize waiver pickups, projections, auction values, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant.
Mac Jones Fantasy Outlook
This season appeared to be the make-or-break season for Jones, and he hasn’t gotten off to a great start.
He had deceivingly good numbers back in week 1, when a pick-6 he threw early against the Philadelphia Eagles forced the team to play from behind. He completed 35-of-54 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.
Jones has thrown two touchdowns to three interceptions and for just 582 total yards across the last three games. This past weekend, Jones was just 12-of-21 for 150 yards and two picks before being replaced by Bailey Zappe. At this point, the Patriots appear to be sticking with Jones as their starter.
While Jones remains the starter, he has become unplayable for fantasy purposes. In one-quarterback leagues, Jones should be dropped. If you need to stream another quarterback, there should be other solid options on the waiver wire. If there isn’t, try to trade for someone.
The only way I’d keep Jones on my roster is if you are in a deep league or have multiple starting quarterbacks, and in those cases, I’d do whatever I could to make sure he avoids my starting lineup.
Dalvin Cook Fantasy Outlook
Coming into the season, I believed Cook would be a solid fantasy asset for owners. I didn’t see him as the starter, but thought he’d get enough work as the No. 2 back to be a solid flex player each week.
Cook got 16 touches in week 1, which appeared to be a promising start. That was the same game quarterback Aaron Rodgers was lost with his injury, and the Jets have had to shift their focus these past three games. The Jets’ back had gotten just 22 touches since week 1, going for 12, 29 and 18 total yards.
The shift away from utilizing Cook hasn’t always come because the Jets are forced to throw because they are down big. New York has lost the last two games by a combined eight points. Tight, low-scoring games seem like a perfect time for a team to utilize two backs, but Cook just hasn’t produced when given opportunities. Seeing as the Jets seem committed to Zach Wilson at quarterback, these low-scoring contests are going to become a theme for the Jets, and seeing what Cook has produced in those games so far, I’m comfortable dropping Cook right now.
Cook was owned in 84% of leagues and started in 12% going into week 4 according to our charts. The only situation I’d consider holding Cook is where you are using him as a handcuff to Breece Hall. Even in those situations, I’d probably move on from Cook after looking into what Hall has done outside of the first week of the season.
Kadarius Toney Fantasy Outlook
Toney was the first Kansas City receiver to go off draft boards according to our Average Draft Position (ADP) charts. Those that did draft Toney as a potential sleeper pick have been greatly underwhelmed.
Toney has totaled just nine catches for 57 yards on 13 targets through four games. He has not scored a touchdown.
I was surprised to see Toney still owned in 35% of leagues and started in 2% coming into week 4. He hadn’t played over 30% of the team’s offensive snaps in weeks 1 or 2 and was coming off an injury in week 3. In week 4, Toney played under 25% of the offensive snaps.
Kansas City’s receivers as a whole have underwhelmed so far, but Rashee Rice and Skyy Moore have passed Toney for targets, and with tight end Travis Kelce healthy again, Toney‘s chances to start making a difference are getting slimmer by the day.
If you haven’t already dropped Toney, you are safe to do so now. Unlike Jones and Cook, who are still useful in some formats, there isn’t much reason to roster Toney in any format. Use your roster spot on a rookie that’s starting to emerge or simply play the best waiver wire guy you can find each week.
