When do you cut bait on a good player? (1 Viewer)

[solorca]

Over the pass week, I've been struggling with a decision on who to cut on my team. Every player on my team has benefits that outweigh many of the options that are available on the waiver wire, but at the same time, there are also positions on my team that could use some extra players for depth.

When you are dealing with a situation like that, what do you typically do? In my specific case, I have three tight ends (Fred Davis, Olsen, and Gresham) that I consider very close for the year, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to cut, so I'll probably end up hanging on to all three to see how things play out, rather than taking a shot at some WR depth that I need.

The easy answer would be to trade or drop one of those players. In this specific case, a trade hasn't been possible, but I know that they would instantly be scooped up by another team in my league that could use the TE help if they were dropped.

I'm not really interested in specifics around my team, as my decision has already been made...but I'm curious about the thought process of the shark pool in cases like this. Do you hang on to the good players who don't offer a ton of benefit to your team, or do you take the lesser player who may be more helpful?

 

[Kitrick Taylor]

Over the pass week, I've been struggling with a decision on who to cut on my team. Every player on my team has benefits that outweigh many of the options that are available on the waiver wire, but at the same time, there are also positions on my team that could use some extra players for depth. When you are dealing with a situation like that, what do you typically do? In my specific case, I have three tight ends (Fred Davis, Olsen, and Gresham) that I consider very close for the year, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to cut, so I'll probably end up hanging on to all three to see how things play out, rather than taking a shot at some WR depth that I need. The easy answer would be to trade or drop one of those players. In this specific case, a trade hasn't been possible, but I know that they would instantly be scooped up by another team in my league that could use the TE help if they were dropped. I'm not really interested in specifics around my team, as my decision has already been made...but I'm curious about the thought process of the shark pool in cases like this. Do you hang on to the good players who don't offer a ton of benefit to your team, or do you take the lesser player who may be more helpful?

I usually wait for an injury, then put one of my guys on IR. I'd be hesitant to pick up a player that is clearly lesser than one of those guys. There will always be a WR on the wire that you can grab for depth should you need one. As an example, Donald Jones is on a lot of WW's right now. He's a respectable pickup, but I doubt he'll be anything more than a WR4 this year. I wouldn't drop one of your TEs in favor of him though unless I was truly desperate for a WR starter this week. Is Jones really going to be that much better of a start than someone like Brian Hartline? I honestly doubt it.

 

[solorca]

Over the pass week, I've been struggling with a decision on who to cut on my team. Every player on my team has benefits that outweigh many of the options that are available on the waiver wire, but at the same time, there are also positions on my team that could use some extra players for depth. When you are dealing with a situation like that, what do you typically do? In my specific case, I have three tight ends (Fred Davis, Olsen, and Gresham) that I consider very close for the year, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to cut, so I'll probably end up hanging on to all three to see how things play out, rather than taking a shot at some WR depth that I need. The easy answer would be to trade or drop one of those players. In this specific case, a trade hasn't been possible, but I know that they would instantly be scooped up by another team in my league that could use the TE help if they were dropped. I'm not really interested in specifics around my team, as my decision has already been made...but I'm curious about the thought process of the shark pool in cases like this. Do you hang on to the good players who don't offer a ton of benefit to your team, or do you take the lesser player who may be more helpful?

I usually wait for an injury, then put one of my guys on IR. I'd be hesitant to pick up a player that is clearly lesser than one of those guys. There will always be a WR on the wire that you can grab for depth should you need one. As an example, Donald Jones is on a lot of WW's right now. He's a respectable pickup, but I doubt he'll be anything more than a WR4 this year. I wouldn't drop one of your TEs in favor of him though unless I was truly desperate for a WR starter this week. Is Jones really going to be that much better of a start than someone like Brian Hartline? I honestly doubt it.

I think that is why I decided to hold on my guys. There are exceptions of course, like last week when someone dropped Lance Moore and I would have surely dropped one of the guys for him if I wasn't beaten to the punch. The one person I considered this week was Jacoby Ford, and I'm still kicking myself a little bit for not grabbing him...but I would also be kicking myself if one of the TE's that I'm hanging onto were to have step up at a top 5 guy for the remainder of the year.

 

[sbonomo]

I was just contemplating this very quandary. Specifically I am looking at J. Freeman. For me he has performed terribly so far this year. When drafting I was sure that he would have breakout year given the young talent behind him and his final few games last year. Fast forward to week four…he has looked mediocre at best. This week he is playing at home against a terrible pass defense (Indy). If he cannot turn the corner I will be packaging him with other depth players and trading him for a more reliable option. Four weeks to me seems like plenty of time for a player that I projected to have a strong year. Now someone like Big Ben will get way more time to get back on track. He is a proven commodity and will have top 10 numbers by the end of the year.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

I was just contemplating this very quandary. Specifically I am looking at J. Freeman. For me he has performed terribly so far this year. When drafting I was sure that he would have breakout year given the young talent behind him and his final few games last year. Fast forward to week four…he has looked mediocre at best. This week he is playing at home against a terrible pass defense (Indy). If he cannot turn the corner I will be packaging him with other depth players and trading him for a more reliable option. Four weeks to me seems like plenty of time for a player that I projected to have a strong year. Now someone like Big Ben will get way more time to get back on track. He is a proven commodity and will have top 10 numbers by the end of the year.

I guess it means you have a lot of faith that even a good player like Freeman has some redeeming trade value. I tried very hard to offer a package deal to move a similar guy in Sam Bradford and my backup TE Gresham and got no bites. Maybe it's the league I'm in, and nobody wants to trade. But at this point, I am cutting bait on a good player like Bradford, because I can't seem to make room on my roster for a needed defensive pickup for this week. I'd love to buy Big Ben low, but I doubt that his owner is willing to take my deal. I already tried the Fitz owner and no dice. I'd say try all you can to do a deal, but don't let a guy that you don't have any confidence in starting linger on your roster for too long. You need to take a chance and dump even good players to accomodate positions of need off the waiver wire.

 

[mr roboto]

In redraft, I look at dropping players who have a very clear ceiling. I want the breakout, high ceiling guys if I am solid enough at the starting requirement spots.

Example: MSW has a decent floor. Prob 3/40 with a ceiling of 5/80 1 TD occasionally. Torrey Smith or D Moore may not be consistent or proven, but as we saw, very high ceilings. I would be fine dropping MSW for either of these guys b/c MSW shouldn't be one of the defacto starters anyway.

Dynasty is a different animal. For another post.

 

[FDC]

When faced between a choice of QB/TE vs RB/WR I force myself to stash RBs and WRs (especially RBs). Lets face it Fred Davis probably is not going to win you a championship. One of Kendall Hunter, Jacquizz, Powell, etc just might. In other words its all upside all the time.

 

[BobbyLayne]

When do you cut bait on a good player?

Generally, anywhere from one to five days before they blow up.

 

[Lord Fantasy]

When faced between a choice of QB/TE vs RB/WR I force myself to stash RBs and WRs (especially RBs). Lets face it Fred Davis probably is not going to win you a championship. One of Kendall Hunter, Jacquizz, Powell, etc just might. In other words its all upside all the time.

This may be my new mantra, but don't you also need role player/bye-week fill in guys, too? I guess depends on your scoring system/number of teams in league, but isn't there something to be said about the pickup that you know will help you establish a floor?

 

[Johnny Blood]

After the third game I start thinking about it. I'm on the edge of cutting Bradford. I knew the Rams would have struggles with their early schedule but Bradford hasn't even shown flashes of what I was hoping for.

However, unless you have deep rosters I'd never keep 3 TEs. TE is deep this year and I don't think that's really helping you.

 

[Banger]

Agree with Johnny, there's no reason to lock your roster up with 3 average TEs. It will just cause you weekly headaches on which one to start..if someone else picks them up so be it or you can try to swap one of TEs (or package some players) to a team that you think needs TE help. Free up a roster spot (or two) and get some guys on there that can give you some upside. That's a waste of roster space with zero upside....TE's are largely irrelevant outside the top couple and the difference between the 5th best and 14th best is like 1.5 pts a game...who cares? You get guys like Tate, Hardesty, Scott on there so when something happens you can really make a difference. I know you are going to say that it's easy to pick those now but I've had those guys on and off rosters all year when a spot opens up. You want guys off your bench that can give you home runs, not just singles.

As far as when I cut bait on a good player, that's hard to say. If the player has a track record I'll stick longer, if it's a player that I thought could step up but hasn't I'm more apt to drop/move them. It also depends on the situation and why something is happening...take Pitt for example, they have a big time o-line problem and even though you may love Mendy, I'd be looking to deal him where ever I could even though he's a good player, they are just likely going to have problems moving the ball and sustaining drives.

 

[FDC]

This may be my new mantra, but don't you also need role player/bye-week fill in guys, too? I guess depends on your scoring system/number of teams in league, but isn't there something to be said about the pickup that you know will help you establish a floor?

Yeah depends on league size and bench size. For 12 teams or less 1QB start leagues the floor for a free agent QB league is so high I think a no backup QB strategy should actually be suggested in a year like this (for most leagues). Usually RB/WR roster management is a big reason why I reach on a stud QB or TE. But then again, this year is a bit different also in that regard because there was so much stud depth at QB and TE. Each year should be approached differently but forcing yourself to stash RB/WRs should be a rule ever year. JMHO

 

[Sweet Love]

In my 12 team leagues with deep benches, I tend to hold good players hoping they will turn it around. Ironically, in what is my least competitive league (a 10 teamer with very short benches), I am just terrible at managing good players that under perform. Each year, I let these guys sit and fall behind...it is just hard to cut a guy like Chris Johnson, but in that league, I ALWAYS miss the WW darlings because I never think that player will be better than my 4th RB or WR. I just ditched CJ Spiller this week 9not a big deal), but really should be tossing Santonio Holmes for a guy like Eric Decker...just can't get myself to do it.

 

[beaux]

Usually a Tuesday, but sometimes on a Wednesday.

 

[fightingillini]

I was just contemplating this very quandary. Specifically I am looking at J. Freeman. For me he has performed terribly so far this year. When drafting I was sure that he would have breakout year given the young talent behind him and his final few games last year. Fast forward to week four…he has looked mediocre at best. This week he is playing at home against a terrible pass defense (Indy). If he cannot turn the corner I will be packaging him with other depth players and trading him for a more reliable option. Four weeks to me seems like plenty of time for a player that I projected to have a strong year. Now someone like Big Ben will get way more time to get back on track. He is a proven commodity and will have top 10 numbers by the end of the year.

I guess it means you have a lot of faith that even a good player like Freeman has some redeeming trade value. I tried very hard to offer a package deal to move a similar guy in Sam Bradford and my backup TE Gresham and got no bites. Maybe it's the league I'm in, and nobody wants to trade. But at this point, I am cutting bait on a good player like Bradford, because I can't seem to make room on my roster for a needed defensive pickup for this week. I'd love to buy Big Ben low, but I doubt that his owner is willing to take my deal. I already tried the Fitz owner and no dice. I'd say try all you can to do a deal, but don't let a guy that you don't have any confidence in starting linger on your roster for too long. You need to take a chance and dump even good players to accomodate positions of need off the waiver wire.

I am thinking the same way.....Freeman's trade value is pretty low. Note that other owners are seeing the same thing and saying "Freeman potentially is going to be a bust all year, why would I acquire him for anything decent? Now if I can get him for practically free, sure".

 

[Topes]

When do you cut bait on a good player?

When you can fill their roster space with somebody you value more.

 

[TidesofWar]

Roll the dice

Keep Davis, send the Turk to one of the other two, and pick up somebody who might help down the road

 

[Da Guru]

Agree with Johnny, there's no reason to lock your roster up with 3 average TEs. It will just cause you weekly headaches on which one to start..if someone else picks them up so be it or you can try to swap one of TEs (or package some players) to a team that you think needs TE help. Free up a roster spot (or two) and get some guys on there that can give you some upside. That's a waste of roster space with zero upside....TE's are largely irrelevant outside the top couple and the difference between the 5th best and 14th best is like 1.5 pts a game...who cares? You get guys like Tate, Hardesty, Scott on there so when something happens you can really make a difference. I know you are going to say that it's easy to pick those now but I've had those guys on and off rosters all year when a spot opens up. You want guys off your bench that can give you home runs, not just singles.As far as when I cut bait on a good player, that's hard to say. If the player has a track record I'll stick longer, if it's a player that I thought could step up but hasn't I'm more apt to drop/move them. It also depends on the situation and why something is happening...take Pitt for example, they have a big time o-line problem and even though you may love Mendy, I'd be looking to deal him where ever I could even though he's a good player, they are just likely going to have problems moving the ball and sustaining drives.

Totally agree. Those three TEs are run of the mill. Pick the two you like best and cut the other one.

 

[footballnerd]

Ya I agree, unless your league start 2TEs there is no reason to hold 3. My rosters are packed with RBs and WRs and only one of the rest......I too live dangerously!

 

[solorca]

The new Ford owner offered to give him back to.me for Davis (who I originally traded for him anyway)...I think I am going to go for it. I love Olsen this season, and I think he puts up comparable numbers anyway.

Sorry this thread got derailed into an assistant coach thing...it wasn't my intention.