Kenny Rogers' advice in his 1978 song "The Gambler" can apply to fantasy football.
In the former No. 1 country hit, Rogers sings, "You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away and know when to run." In an NFL context, fantasy football managers ought not to hold on too tightly to some of the players on their teams that may be holding them back from greater success.
As early as Week 2, some underperforming players have emerged as candidates to cut from fantasy rosters. But which underperformers are safe to cut without giving league-mates an advantage on waivers?
USA TODAY Sports has compiled a list of five players worth considering dropping for other waiver claims heading into Week 3:
need to consider cutting after Week 1
Waiver wire players to drop: Week 3
WR Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars
Meyers looked like a breakout fantasy star heading into this year. After he landed with the Jaguars at last year's trade deadline, the former Raiders wideout produced enough to warrant serious FLEX consideration every week. Even in Week 1, Meyers still seemed to be trending in a generally positive direction for fantasy because of the touchdown he caught.
After Week 2, it's becoming more apparent that the Jaguars' receiver is no better than a tertiary – or even quaternary (maybe quinary?) – option in Jacksonville's passing offense. Meyers' Week 1 touchdown catch came on one of just two targets in the season opener. In Week 2, he was targeted only once. Through two weeks, he's averaged just 1.39 yards per route run, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) – 64th overall and fourth on the Jaguars behind Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr. and sixth-round rookie Josh Cameron.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals
In Week 1, Allgeier took most of the Cardinals' backfield workload as rookie Jeremiyah Love worked his way back from an ankle injury. Even so, the former Falcons running back tallied just 70 total yards on 19 touches (17 carries, two receptions), for an average of 3.68 yards per touch against the Chargers in a Week 1 win.
Against the Seahawks in Week 2, the rookie Love took control of the Cardinals' run game – though that was limited in a game in which Arizona largely trailed. Still, Love out-touched Allgeier 12 to seven and out-gained him 45 to 19 against Seattle. Is Allgeier still worth holding onto as a handcuff? Maybe. But fourth-year back Bam Knight also out-gained Allgeier on just two carries for 24 yards. Allgeier shouldn't be expected to be a fantasy contributor unless a disaster strikes Love, the Cards' No. 3 overall pick.
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gainwell was always projected as a backup for the Buccaneers, but fantasy managers bet on his upside as a pass-catcher out of the Tampa Bay backfield in 2026. But through two games this year, the veteran running back has done little rushing or catching.
In Week 1, Gainwell had as many rushes as quarterback Baker Mayfield and only one catch on one target for three yards. Against the Browns in Week 2, Gainwell again had fewer rushes than Mayfield and only three catches on four targets – tied for fewest among Bucs pass-catchers in the game – for five yards. More concerning is Bucky Irving's snap-count dominance, even on passing plays, where he's out-snapping Gainwell 48 to 27, per PFF.
WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Hunter is an absolute non-factor for fantasy football in his second season in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are using the former Heisman Trophy winner almost exclusively on defense.
Last year's No. 2 overall pick has just 11 snaps on offense so far this year – five of them spent run blocking – according to PFF. Meanwhile, he has 66 snaps at his other, defensive position: cornerback. Any fantasy managers hoping Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was just waiting a beat to unleash the former top pick after Week 1 were let down by even fewer passing-play snaps in Week 2.
TE Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
Mayer had a nice first week as an unexpected fill-in for the injured Brock Bowers. He led the Raiders with seven targets and finished with six catches for 32 yards. That increased volume of looks and catches did not carry over into Week 2, as Mayer saw only four targets – catching three of them for 22 yards.
The drop-off in production will likely continue in Week 3. Bowers – Las Vegas' top pass-catching target – is expected to return to action after missing two weeks following his meniscus trim procedure. Mayer has never recorded as many as 40 catches, 350 yards or two touchdowns in either of the two full seasons since the Raiders drafted Bowers, even as the latter missed time with injury last year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 3 drops: 5 players you need to consider cutting
