Each NFL season offers its triumphs and trials; as a fantasy football participant, there are players who are expected to underperform and should therefore be removed from your roster this week. Take Justice Hill, the running back for the Baltimore Ravens, for instance. Despite being the Ravens’ second-string RB, Hill initially exhibited potential as a receiver, securing 16 receptions for 161 yards in the first quartet of games. A standout performance surfaced in Week 4 as Hill caught six passes, concluding with 78 yards and a commendable 21.6 fantasy points.
However, since that peak, Hill has seen a steep decline in his contributions. He’s gained a mere 19 yards on rushes and 10 yards on receptions since that point. In the most recent match against the Commanders, he only touched the ball twice—one rush and one pass—both netting an underwhelming 2 yards each. For those considering Hill as a backup to Derrick Henry, the current league-leading rusher, it would be wise to explore other alternatives prior to the Ravens’ face-off against Tampa Bay in the upcoming ‘Monday Night Football’.
Jerome Ford, the running back for the Cleveland Browns, also warrants attention. In the wake of a knee injury that benched Nick Chubb, a recurring feature in the Pro Bowl, Ford premiered the season admirably, amassing 69 yards and a touchdown from 19 touches in the Browns’ first-round match against the Cowboys. He ended just outside of Week 1’s top ten with 18.9 points, however, his performance has not revisited those heights since.
Chubb’s imminent return after a six-game absence does not promise a rosier picture for Ford’s prospects. This is layered with the misfortune of Ford himself suffering a hamstring injury during the first quarter of last Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, leading him to miss Wednesday’s practice. Given these factors, it seems logical that as Chubb returns to the spotlight, Ford should recede from the week’s lineups.
Dalton Schultz, the Houston Texans’ tight end, also delivers a cautionary tale. Owners who were hopeful for a performance boost with Nico Collins’ absence due to an injury were left disappointed last week by a meager 6.7 fantasy points offered by Schultz. The absence of Collins, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Bills in Week 5, marked his first missed game of the season.
Despite Schultz wrapping up the previous year as one of the top-10 fantasy tight ends with an impressive 150.5 points, this year has not seen him surpass a seven-point game yet. Some optimists may be tempted to keep Schultz active in this week’s lineup against a Green Bay defense notorious for relinquishing 13.8 fantasy points per game on average to tight ends. Yet, it is vital to recall that Schultz’s score already plunged below five points against both the Colts and Vikings, each bearing a suspect secondary.
The Houston TE is still claimed in 69% of leagues; however, persistent underperformance could exhaust the patience of fantasy managers. A lackluster display in Week 7 may well be the breaking point pushing Schultz off the roster for many. In conclusion, predicting the ebb and flow of fantasy points may not always be straightforward. However, assessing player performance and shifts in team dynamics can certainly guide decision-making, as demonstrated by the situations with Hill, Ford, and Schultz.