The first order of business each week of the College Fantasy Football season is to evaluate the players on your roster and decide if there are players that could be cut to make room for new talent. Purple Reign has reviewed last week’s action and identified several players that fantasy owners may be considering the “Keep Or Cut?” question for.
QUARTERBACKS: Keep
Seth Henigan (Mem)
Fantrax Ownership 96%
Season Stats: 195 Att, 125 Comp, 1339 P-Yds, 7 P-TD, 2 INT, 24 Ru-Att, 60 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Coaches are favoring the running game in the redzone which is limiting Henigan’s TD opportunities (averaging 1.4 pass TDs/game), WR core isn’t making enough plays to score on long passes, wait until his next two games in Weeks 7-8 before making a decision to cut him.
QUARTERBACKS: Cut
Noah Fifita (Ariz)
Fantrax Ownership 83%
Season Stats: 179 Att, 110 Comp, 1361 P-Yds, 7 P-TD, 6 INT, 15 Ru-Att, 17 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
The Texas Tech game in Week 6 was the target game to decide Fifita’s fate for fantasy rosters. Against Tech he threw the ball 49 times and reached 300 yards passing for the first time since Week 1, but he failed to score a TD and threw 2 INTs. He now has only scored 3 passing TDs in the last four games. There are a few good match-ups left on the schedule but if he couldn’t produce on 49 attempts against Texas Tech, it’s hard to place Fifita in your line-up for those later season match-ups.
Brady Cook (Mizzou)
Fantrax Ownership 83%
Season Stats: 165 Att, 105 Comp, 1132 P-Yds, 5 P-TD, 1 INT, 37 Ru-Att, 108 Ru-Yds, 4 Ru-TD
The thing that stands out the most about Cook despite all the talent at WR, is that he has only 5 passing TDs in five games this year. His 4 rushing TDs are the only thing keeping his fantasy points in a decent range. Cook does have UMass this week, but the schedule will get tough after that and its going to be hard to see him keep his rushing production up against SEC defenses. There are other good options out there so no need to hang onto to Cook even longer.
RUNNING BACKS: Keep
Ismail Mahdi (TxSt)
Fantrax Ownership 99%
Season Stats: 80 Att, 343 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD, 11 Tgt,11 Rec, 89 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
If you remove the Week 1 game against an FCS team Mahdi has not had a 100-yard rushing game and has only scored 1 rushing TD. The coaching staff is spreading touches around to twice as many players (RBs and WRs) as they did last year. Call it the curse of the abundance of riches. This trend has been playing out all year. Another trend has been throwing the ball for red zone scoring opportunities instead of feeding Mahdi. The schedule is very nice moving forward so wait and see how he fares against Arkansas State and Old Dominion over the next two weeks.
Ollie Gordon (OkSt)
Fantrax Ownership 100%
Season Stats: 101 Att, 384 Ru-Yds, 4 Ru-TD, 22 Tgt, 15 Rec, 88 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Gordon may have been hurt in Week 2 but now appears to be healthy, still has not had a 100-yard game this season and only scored 1 rushing TD, and doesn’t have a good match-up again until TCU in Week 11. I would only drop him if there is a good waiver wire option that is getting 17+ carries/game.
Damien Martinez (MiaFL)
Fantrax Ownership 100%
Season Stats:664 Att, 292 Ru-Yds, 5 Ru-TD, 13 Tgt, 10 Rec, 130 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Has not had a game with 15 rushing attempts, has faced poor run defenses and now the match-ups get tougher moving forward, and may have games remaining where the match-up isn’t good but the coaches feed him the ball to run out the clock. I would only drop him if there is a good waiver wire option that is getting 17+ carries/game.
Kaden Feagin (Ill)
Fantrax Ownership 76%
Season Stats: 67 Att, 306 Ru-Yds, 3 Ru-TD, 6 Tgt, 5 Rec, 37 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Has only broken 100 yards against an FCS school, the offense is throwing the ball in the red zone, and is averaging 11.67 carries/game. Keep him for the Week 7 game against Purdue, then cut him loose as the schedule becomes too difficult.
RUNNING BACKS: Cut
Abu Sama (IaSt)
Fantrax Ownership 98%
Season Stats: 48 Att, 242 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD, 4 Tgt, 4 Rec, 8 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Sama had a good outing in Week 5 against Houston, rushing for 101 yards and 1 TD. If you remove that game Sama has had 37 carries for 141 yards and 0 TDs over all four remaining games. The coaches are spreading the rushing opportunities out too much, and Sama just isn’t getting a reliable workload. Just ignore what happened in Week 5 and move on.
Justice Haynes (Bama)
Fantrax Ownership 83%
Season Stats: 31 Att, 223 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD, 8 Tgt, 8 Rec, 38 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Heading into the season the thoughts from College Fantasy Football analysts was that Alabama would have a split carry backfield but Haynes would emerge as RB1 because of his talent level. That has not played out, and instead Haynes has become the solid RB2. He has only reached 100 yards once against Western Kentucky, and has only had double digit carries once against South Florida. So far this season he is averaging 6.2 carries for 44.6 yards and 0.4 TDs per game. This workload won’t generate a fantasy worthy running back.
Gavin Sawchuk (Okla)
Fantrax Ownership 99%
Season Stats: 18 Att, 33 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD, 3 Tgt, 2 Rec, 10 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: The QB position is syphoning too many rushing opportunities, Sawchuk is running second string and averaging a paltry 4.5 carries/game.
Tomarion Harden (UCLA)
Fantrax Ownership 90%
Season Stats: 48 Att, 151 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD, 20 Tgt, 18 Rec, 147 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Has only had double digit carries in two games, has not rushed for 55 yards in a single game, game script will work against Harden as UCLA will be playing from behind.
Marcus Carroll (MIZ)
Fantrax Ownership 86%
Season Stats: 43 Att, 190 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD, 7 Tgt, 6 Rec, 50 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Carroll ended up as the #2 RB for Missouri and only averaging 8.6 carries/game.
Jacquez Stuart (Toledo)
Fantrax Ownership 71%
Season Stats: 37 Att, 109 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD, 9 Tgt, 8 Rec, 147 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Toledo is using too many rushers and Stuart is only averaging 7.4 carries/game.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Keep
Jordan Moore (Duke)
Fantrax Ownership 87%
Season Stats: 56 Tgt, 30 Rec, 443 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD
Moore has been on a slide over the last 3 games. During those games he is averaging 6 targets for 2.33 receptions, 45.67 yards and 0.33 TDs per game. The biggest reason for these stats is the decrease in play from QB Maalik Murphy. This could be a small slump or Murphy could have a minor injury. Duke enters a bye week where they can get healthy and clean up the issues with the passing game. The next two games against Florida State and SMU will be good match-ups for Moore to bounce back.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Cut
Rashod Owens (OkSt)
Fantrax Ownership 90%
Season Stats: 38 Tgt, 19 Rec, 291 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD
Owens has developed into the WR3 of the Cowboys’ offense. He has only had one game with 10+ targets, has not had a game with 65 receiving yards, and has scored 10+ fantasy points in one game. The emergence of De’Zhaun Stribling on the outside has tanked Owens’ fantasy value. QB Alex Bowman is also struggling right now which will keep Owens’ chances for more targets low.
Evan Stewart (Oreg)
Fantrax Ownership 100%
Season Stats: 24 Tgt, 16 Rec, 182 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Stewart has not become the deep threat in the offense, is averaging less than 10 yards/reception in 3 games, unable to accurately predict which games Stewart will score a TD.
Marquarius White (Tenn)
Fantrax Ownership 98%
Season Stats: 21 Tgt, 15 Rec, 159 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD, 1 Att, -7 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Not receiving the same workload he had in 2023, offense is spreading the ball out to multiple WRs.
Noah Smith (SamHu)
Fantrax Ownership 95%
Season Stats: 23 Tgt, 14 Rec, 110 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD, 8 Att, 567 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Smith is lacking the heavy workload he that produced his 2023 fantasy value, is averaging 3.8 targets/game, and has yet to score a TD this season.
Dalvin Smith (W Ky)
Fantrax Ownership 84%
Season Stats: 18 Tgt, 12 Rec, 123 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Smith has never had more than 5 targets, or 4 receptions, or 37 yards in a single game and is not being featured in this offense.
Jimmy Horn (Colo)
Fantrax Ownership 74%
Season Stats: 36 Tgt, 23 Rec, 327 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD, 1 Att, 3 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Since Week 2 he is averaging 6.75 targets for 4 receptions, 32.25 yards and no TDs per game, he has now become unpredictable for fantasy output and is more likely to lose you a fantasy game than win one.
Zachariah Branch (USC)
Fantrax Ownership 73%
Season Stats: 37 Tgt, 21 Rec, 227 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD, 2 Att, 17 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: Outside of the Michigan game he is averaging 6 targets and 4 receptions, 45.4 yards and 0 TDs per game. The only reason to hang onto Branch at this point is if you are in a keeper or dynasty league as he is only a sophomore and has time to grow in this offense.
TIGHT ENDS: Keep
None
TIGHT ENDS: Cut
Caden Prieskorn
Fantrax Ownership 86%
Season Stats: 14 Tgt, 11 Rec, 194 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Ole Miss is spreading the ball around too much to pass catchers and keeping Prieskorn from building a fantasy worthy workload. He is averaging 2.8 targets and 0 TDs per game which shows that he is an afterthought in this offense. This might be the Ole Miss offense, but its not an offense for fantasy success at TE this year.
Luke Lachey (Iowa)
Fantrax Ownership 93%
Season Stats: 23 Tgt, 17 Rec, 136 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Summary of previous week’s Cut write-ups: I stated the Ohio State game would determine if Lachey should be kept. He had 5 receptions for 39 yards and no TDs. The QB play is awful and there aren’t good match-ups on the schedule.