Players to Drop in Fantasy Football Ahead of Week 8: Juwan Johnson and More

With bye weeks becoming more and more of a factor, waiver moves are going to be extremely crucial for fantasy rosters. You are going to have to add players to pick up and start to replace players on bye, but it’s important to know which players you can safely drop when making those moves.

Players to Drop in Fantasy Football Ahead of Week 8

Juwan Johnson | TE | New Orleans Saints

Roster percentage: 69.5% (ESPN), 78% (Yahoo)

Juwan Johnson

It might be over for Juwan Johnson.

After a strong first four weeks of the year where he averaged 6.8 targets, 5.3 catches and 15.6 PPR PPG, Johnson has completely fallen off as of late. Over the last three weeks, Johnson has combined for 5 catches for 23 yards and zero touchdowns on 10 total targets. The lack of usage is obviously troubling, but especially when it’s paired with a declining role.

The Saints continue to deploy three tight ends: Johnson, Noah Fant and Oscar Delp. Since Week 5, Johnson has run less than 60% of the routes, well below his 73% route rate from Weeks 1-4. New Orleans now heads to its bye in Week 8, and when they return in Week 9, first-round rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson could be ready to return. Johnson would probably be the player to see his already-declining targets cut into the most by Tyson, making him a player you likely don’t need to hold onto through the bye week.

Kendre Miller | RB | New Orleans Saints

Roster percentage: 42.5% (ESPN), 43% (Yahoo)

Kendre Miller

Let’s keep the positive vibes going in New Orleans, shall we?

Following a 20-carry effort in Week 6, it appeared as if Kendre Miller had emerged as the lead running back for the Saints. Sure, Alvin Kamara would take some work, especially in passing downs, while CJ Donaldson handled two-minute snaps, but Miller projected as the early-down option and goal line favorite.

That was very short-lived.

Over in Paris this weekend, Miller took a backseat, logging just 39% of the snaps and eight carries, which he turned into a whopping six yards. The Saints rushing attack is as bad as it gets right now, averaging 0.88 yards before contact per rush. Perhaps the return of Travis Etienne can provide a spark for this run game, but that won’t happen until after the Saints' Week 8 bye, which means Miller isn’t worth holding onto anymore.

Tyler Allgeier | RB | Arizona Cardinals

Roster percentage: 57.1% (ESPN), 65% (Yahoo)

Tyler Allgeier

To open the season, it appeared Tyler Allgeier would have some standalone fantasy value due to Jeremiyah Love’s ankle injury. And through the first few weeks, he definitely played a role, especially on passing downs, but wasn’t seeing enough usage to warrant a starting spot in your lineup. The Cardinals have since recently shut down Love for a few games to heal, paving the way for Allgeier to operate as the team’s workhorse running back, while also emerging as a viable fantasy option.

It’s safe to say he has not taken advantage of the opportunity.

With Love sidelined over the past two games, Allgeier is averaging 15 touches per game, but just 6.8 PPR points per contest. Despite giving Allgeier a 2-year, $12 million deal this offseason, Arizona has turned to Bam Knight as the early down option, especially this past week. On Sunday, Knight led the way with 53% of the snaps and 63% of the two-minute drill. The main appeal of rostering Allgeier was the idea of him in a workhorse role in the event Love misses time. But through two weeks of Love being sidelined, the Cardinals have deployed a two-man committee, with Knight getting the slight edge.

Feel free to move on.

Chris Godwin | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Roster percentage: 57.2% (ESPN), 73% (Yahoo)

Chris Godwin

It’s not his fault Tampa Bay only dropped back to pass 11 times in a surprise blowout win over the Panthers on Sunday. But nonetheless, it’s still frustrating that Chris Godwin only recorded four catches for 27 yards in the absence of Emeka Egbuka.

At the end of the day, there just really isn’t much of a ceiling with Godwin right now. Perhaps that changes with a healthy Baker Mayfield and more pass-friendly game scripts going forward, but the passing game is going through Egbuka (27% target share) and the running backs right now. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is scheming most of the pass game looks for Egbuka, who still leads all pass-catchers in routes from motion, despite missing a game. If you want to hold onto Godwin and see what happens with a healthy and (hopefully) improved Mayfield, by all means. But I also don’t think you’re giving up top-24 fantasy upside if you do decide to move on.