The first two weeks of the NFL season have provided fantasy managers with a clear picture of how teams plan to utilize their personnel. Injuries have already dashed some preseason hopes, while others have faded due to disappointing roles or being pushed down depth charts. Roster churn in September is one of the keys to winning a league — holding onto players who no longer have a realistic path to production only blocks access to future breakout performers.
Here are five notable Fantasy Football Cut Candidates: Week 2**,** who are still widely rostered but are no longer worth holding in 12-team leagues. For insights on who to pick up, check out the Week 2 waiver wire advice here!
Sep 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) breaks a tackle by New York Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium.
Injury-related
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals (Rostered ~100%)
Burrow’s season is effectively on hold. The Bengals quarterback underwent toe surgery and is expected to miss around three months, with the earliest possible return coming in Week 14 or 15. Even if he is cleared late in the year, Cincinnati may choose not to push him back onto the field depending on their playoff picture. In single-quarterback formats, it is simply too long to hold a bench spot, especially when streaming quarterbacks can provide weekly production. Unless you have an IR slot, Burrow should be dropped.
Austin Ekeler – Washington Commanders (Rostered ~75%)
Ekeler’s time with Washington has already come to an abrupt end. The veteran running back suffered an Achilles injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. It is always tough to cut a player with Ekeler’s track record, but there is no reason to keep him rostered in redraft leagues. With no chance of returning in 2025, he is a straightforward drop.
Opportunity-related
Kaleb Johnson – Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered ~73%)
Johnson generated some preseason interest but has quickly settled into a reserve role. Over two weeks, he has functioned as the Steelers’ RB3, seeing only a handful of snaps and touches while operating almost exclusively on special teams. With Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell firmly ahead of him, Johnson has little chance to carve out a significant role. His high roster percentage is based on preseason hype rather than real opportunity, and fantasy managers should not hesitate to move on.
Ollie Gordon – Miami Dolphins (Rostered ~46%)
Gordon entered the season as one of the more intriguing young backs, but the situation in Miami makes him expendable in standard leagues. De’Von Achane is the clear starter and has handled the bulk of the rushing and red-zone work through two games. Gordon’s only realistic value is as a direct handcuff to Achane, which means he is not worth a roster spot unless you already have Achane. In 12-team formats, he can be cut if you need space.
Jaydon Blue – Dallas Cowboys (Rostered ~43%)
Blue’s roster percentage remains surprisingly high considering his lack of involvement. He has been a healthy scratch in both Weeks 1 and 2, while Javonte Williams has emerged as a true workhorse in Dallas. With Williams playing heavy snaps and handling the majority of touches, Blue has no path to fantasy relevance. He is an easy cut for managers still holding onto him.
Conclusion
Injuries, depth chart realities, and usage trends have already clarified which names no longer deserve fantasy roster spots. Joe Burrow, Austin Ekeler, Ollie Gordon, Jaydon Blue, and Kaleb Johnson are all droppable heading into Week 2. Being decisive early in the season can make all the difference in staying ahead of the competition.
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