Fantasy football Week 5 drops: 5 players you need to consider cutting

The first four weeks of the season are in the books. In other words, nearly 25% of the fantasy football season is in the books. With standings and situations that change fast, there is no time to sit around and wait. There is also no time to hang onto past triumphs. From here on, it's all about the

Football Zone

SEE ALL

Falcons Wire

Where to watch Falcons vs. Saints today, TV channel, stream Week 4

USA Today

NFL Week 4 winners and losers has Texans looking down for the count

Steelers Wire

Joey Porter Sr. fires shot at Steelers, goes crazy for Cowboys in son's debut

What is the story about?

The first four weeks of the season are in the books.

In other words, nearly 25% of the fantasy football season is in the books. With standings and situations that change fast, there is no time to sit around and wait. There is also no time to hang onto past triumphs. From here on, it's all about the future.

And that includes making some uncomfortable drop decisions.

Injuries, inconsistencies and much more have clouded the fantasy picture all season long. However, we can clearly see what the future holds for some players.

Here's a look at some players you can part with after Week 4.

Waiver wire players to drop: Week 5

QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

We've reached the point of the season where it's time to start fading entire offenses. And one we want no part of happens to reside

in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Love has three interceptions in four games and no rushing upside, while playing for a team that is allergic to scoring a bunch of points.

That means the quarterback's path to fantasy relevance is a steep uphill climb, with no destination in sight. The Packers are at their best when they're running the ball. With Josh Jacobs' situation remaining up in the air, this is one team we want to avoid. And Love tops that list.

RB Kenny Gainwell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gainwell was a fantasy weapon in 2025, but that couldn't be further from reality in 2026. Bucky Irving's backup isn't seeing enough opportunity to make him anything more than a handcuff to Tampa's RB1. At this point though, why would you buy stock in the Bucs' offense?

Baker Mayfield is out anywhere from three to six weeks, putting us into almost November before the Tampa signal-caller returns. Even with Mayfield, this offense was incapable of putting points on the board. Without him, it feels impossible. Do yourself a favor. Drop Gainwell off at the waiver wire and don't look back.

RB Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

Some had thought that Wright would be the fantasy beneficiary of De'Von Achane's season-ending injury. It didn't take long to see that wasn't the case. Ollie Gordon II had nine carries for 100 yards and a touchdown against a stout Vikings defense in Week 4. He showed some explosiveness and it would make sense to use the remainder of the season to evaluate the 22-year-old.

After all, that's what this season is all about for the Dolphins. Wright might be 23, but he's also someone who remains glued to the sidelines. The Dolphins have told us what they think of Wright. Perhaps we should believe them.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

The Thomas breakout isn't coming. The bounce back isn't coming either. This is it for the Jags receiver, who has been relegated to a support role behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers. He scored a touchdown, but it was only one of two total catches for Thomas on Sunday. That won't get the job done in fantasy.

It's an unfortunate reality for the former LSU star, but it is reality. Thomas doesn't have any fantasy value unless there is an injury above him on the depth chart. Of course, a trade could open the door for him again. However, Jacksonville has no reason to deal him unless a trade request comes through.

Michael Pittman Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittman was one of the bigger names on the move this offseason, but names don't score fantasy points. The receiver hasn't recorded more than three catches in a game this season and still hasn't scored a touchdown. Given the Steelers aren't explosive and don't score a lot of points, it's hard to see any path to fantasy relevance for Pittman in this offense.

Don't keep him on your roster because of his previous production. Drop him because there's no reason to believe that'll be his production in the future.