There are some fantasy players to drop each week that won’t keep you up at night — your second TE, a handcuff RB etc. But as the season progresses, bye weeks and injuries will force your hand and create some difficult choices. We’re here to help you make the move you won’t regret later as you make your waiver wire decisions.
Players to Drop in Week 8
Cam Newton, Quarterback, New England Patriots
What a terrible two weeks it’s been for Cam Newton and the New England Patriots. Following an 18-12 loss to the Denver Broncos, Newton turned in one of the worst passing performances of his career throwing for 98 yards and three interceptions against the 49ers. While the 49ers rushing attack absolutely shredded the New England defensive front, the only thing separating the Patriots from a victory against the Broncos was competent QB play from Newton.
Newton was benched Week 7, and Cam has gone as far to say that it may be a permanent benching if he can’t rapidly turn his play around. The nosedive in Newton’s play is concerning not only because the Patriots are now 2-4, but because of how bad these last two weeks have truly been. Newton has thrown 5 interceptions the past two games and has been a detriment to the New England offense. No, Cam will not continue to turn in 98-yard, three interception games, but his fantastic week 2 performance against Seattle seems like it occurred a season ago.
Everyone in New England, including Head Coach Bill Belichick, have raved about Newton’s approach to the 2020 season. So, what’s the reason for the drastic drop in play the last two weeks? Could it be that New England’s top offensive weapon is 34-year-old Julian Edelman who has been on the injury report all season? Edleman has been quiet since the Seattle game and N’Keal Harry certainly hasn’t looked like a first-round draft pick.
In addition, New England has been unable to find a consistent source of rushing productivity outside of Newton. Newton leads New England in rushing and only running back Rex Burkhead has been available for all six games of the Patriots 2020 season.
Or is it possible that with age and injury history Cam has hit a wall physically, and no longer possess the same arm talent and passing ability to be a consistent thrower in the NFL?
Despite leading the Patriots to a 2-1 start, Newton was only averaging 238 yards by air through the season’s first three weeks, and that average was entirely bolstered by a 397-yard performance against a Seattle Seahawks team that everyone has shredded.
Outside of Seattle, Newton has thrown for 155, 162, 157, and 98 yards. Some of those low passing totals are a result of the Patriots game plan, like Newton’s week one win against the Miami Dolphins. Cam may have only thrown for 155 yards but completed 79% of his passes and added an additional 75 yards on the ground at a 5.0 yard per carry clip. That’s efficient and winning football no matter how you slice it.
Take the Raiders game week three, however, and you get a totally different story. The Patriots won 36-20, but Newton completed 60% of his passes for 162 yards and threw one touchdown to one interception. Thanks to three turnovers from the Raiders, including a fumble returned for a touchdown, the Patriots won by a comfortable two score margin. Now five game into the 2020 season, Newton is averaging 193 yards through the air.
With so many question marks surrounding the 2020 NFL season, including Newton’s own COVID-19 diagnosis and injury history, it’s hard to provide a concrete answer on Newton’s troubles. The Patriots at their best are clearly a run first football team headlined by Newton’s own rushing abilities. However, in order for the Patriots to win football games, Cam and the Patriots offense need to find a way to move the ball more successfully through the air.
Unfortunately, a trip to Buffalo is not the ideal place to start, and the result of the Bills game likely determines if the Patriots are buyers or sellers at the November third trade deadline. Newton can no longer be considered a solid starting option for fantasy football until shown otherwise. Cam should be safely droppable from your roster.
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
The former first round pick was a popular waiver wire add following a 109-yard, two-touchdown explosion against the New Orleans Saints Week 5 and facing below average Jacksonville Jaguars secondary Week 7. Unfortunately, Williams turned in a one catch, four-yard performance, during which quarterback Justin Herbert completed 27 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
Williams has big game potential and has displayed that throughout his uneven pro career, but Williams has yet to be a consistent receiver week in and week out for both the Chargers and fantasy football managers. Williams has 13 receptions and 213 yards for the Chargers this season, slotting him fourth on the team in both categories. Williams does not receive the volume in the Chargers offense to be a consistent fantasy football option.
