Dynasty Stock Market: Roster Cloggers

Ryan McDowell Posted On November 7, 2013

Nearly a year ago in the Dynasty Stock Market, I introduced readers to my definition of roster cloggers. To refresh your memory, roster cloggers are the players that dwell at the end of your bench, holding down a valuable position with no threat of ever again entering your starting lineup. Most of these players have been useful players at one time in their career, but age, injuries or their current role on their team has caused them to struggle and all upside is gone.

Holding these players on your team means you are likely hoping they either regain a former level of play, which rarely happens, or you are expecting this player to suddenly breakout. While we often see players enjoy breakout seasons like Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron this year, those players are usually ones that not experienced failure at the NFL level, but have been hampered by injuries or buried on the depth chart.

Identifying and removing roster cloggers can actually be a difficult process. Many cloggers have been long-time fantasy starters, while others are personal favorites of owners, but may have failed to live up to the high expectations. Dynasty owners must begin the process by objectively reviewing their rosters. Whether your team is a playoff contender or a building team acquiring picks and youth, you want to steer clear of roster cloggers.

Before I identify a few examples of roster cloggers, allow me to take a reflective look back to a season ago at the eight players I suggested you rid yourself of in any way possible. I chose two players from each position (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end) and believe it or not, these players were rostered in the majority of competitive dynasty leagues I play in or track as part of my data collection. The players I tabbed as cloggers last year were: Matt Cassel, Mark Sanchez, Isaac Redman, Knowshon Moreno, Laurent Robinson, Robert Meachem, Marcedes Lewis, and Anthony Fasano. Clearly, I feel good about nearly all of those selections, but recommending owners to give up on Moreno hurts, and gives me perspective as I choose the candidates for this season’s edition of Roster Cloggers. On the other hand, even one year removed, it’s hard to believe the other players on this list were actually still on dynasty rosters.

One last note before we get to the cloggers…the majority of my leagues feature between twenty-two and twenty-six man rosters. Obviously, the roster size your league uses will change the level of player who could be labeled as a roster clogger. A general rule that can be used regardless of roster size is this. Ask yourself if you ever see this player as a quality fantasy starter for your team. If the answer is no, there’s a good chance your roster is being clogged.

Quarterback

Brandon Weeden, QB CLE

This one probably goes without being said, but Weeden can be cut in all formats. He has taken heat since the Browns spent a first round draft pick on him, mostly due to the fact that in only his second year, he is already thirty years old. Of course, if he had come in, won games and posted big numbers, his age would not be a concern. The real issue is that Weeden has been bad. Bad enough that he’s already been replaced twice this season by journeymen Brian Hoyer and Jason Campbell. Weeden is a long shot to remain with the Browns beyond this year and there is already speculation he may not receiver any interest on the open market.

Matt Schaub, QB HOU

Another quarterback who has seemingly lost his job is Schaub, who was replaced by undrafted rookie Case Keenum after being injured. Schaub is now healthy, but the Texans are playing much better under Keenum and it looks like Schaub is now in his final few games as a Texan.

Christian Ponder, QB MIN

Though only in his third season, it seems the Vikings have already moved on from former first round pick Ponder. The team has already started three different quarterbacks this season, including newly acquired Josh Freeman, and are now back to Ponder. The team is expected to draft a quarterback with their first round pick, which should be a high one. Ponder has never finished among the top twenty fantasy quarterbacks.

Carson Palmer, QB ARZ

For a time, Palmer was considered the top fantasy quarterback in the game, but that was ten seasons ago. Palmer was expected to make a huge difference in his first season with the Cardinals, but has again disappointed. Palmer is currently a low-end QB2, but has only eclipsed twenty fantasy points in two games this year. At nearly thirty-four years of age, this looks like Palmer’s last chance as a starter. If Arizona had any other options, he would’ve already been replaced.

Running Back

Rashard Mendenhall, RB ARZ

There’s a chance this could end up looking like my Moreno call a year ago. After all, like Moreno, Mendenhall is a former first round pick who has had some moderate success in the past, posting back to back 1,000 yard rushing seasons in 2009 and 2010. Like Palmer, the Cardinals brought in Mendenhall this off-season and expectations were moderately high. Instead, Mendenhall is posting the lowest yards per carry of his career and is on pace for less than 650 yards. Mendenhall has only eclipsed ten fantasy points in two games this season, meaning he can’t be started in fantasy games, even though he starts for his team.

Willis McGahee, RB CLE

McGahee was brought in following the Trent Richardson trade and while the Browns were not expected to run the ball much, McGahee immediately gained value due to his status as a starting running back. As I discussed in last year’s article, dynasty owners should not place value on a player simply because he is a starter for his team. In his time in Cleveland, McGahee has less than three hundred rushing yards and just one touchdown.

Wide Receiver

Miles Austin, WR DAL

When I mentioned the difficult decisions of parting with players, Austin is the one I had in mind. Austin has two WR1 finishes in his career, but those feel like a distant memory now. With rookie Terrance Williams emerging, it seems the Cowboys feel they no longer need Austin. There have even been rumors they will shut him down for the remainder of the season. Austin is signed for three more years with Dallas, but it is clear that contract will not be honored.

Davone Bess, WR CLE

Bess is one of those receivers, and there are many, who will give owners one or two big games a year. Of course, it’s impossible to predict when that game might occur. For Bess, it was last week as he found the end zone twice. Regardless, he’s not worth a roster spot and should never be in your starting lineup.

Jacoby Jones, WR BAL

The leader of the subpar Baltimore offense, Joe Flacco, is dangerously close to being a roster clogger himself, but he’s not alone in the Ravens offense. Who wants to roster the third wide receiver who has a career best fantasy finish of WR58? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Jones is one of the possession wide receivers who will have a long career and also helps out the Ravens on special teams, but he should be part of your dynasty team.

TJ Graham, WR BUF

Graham was a nice surprise for the injury riddled Bills in 2012, even earning a starting spot by season’s end, but his numbers were not even good enough to get him into the top one hundred wide receivers. This past off-season, Buffalo added even more youth at the wide receiver position and Graham is now buried. He’s another player that is a better NFL player than fantasy option.

Jon Baldwin, WR SF

Baldwin was a first round draft pick three years ago but has failed to live up to the huge expectations. He has only forty-four receptions in three years and is now with his second team after the Chiefs gave up on him and dealt him to the 49ers. Baldwin has never finished among the top one hundred fantasy wide receivers and it looks like he won’t change that trend this season. Dynasty owners can move on.

Dexter McCluster, WR KC

McCluster is actually on pace to have his best season as a wide receiver, but the problem for dynasty owners is that he will likely not get anywhere near his high fantasy finish of WR48. How is that possible? In 2011, not only was McCluster used as a receiver, but also carried the ball over a hundred times for more than five hundred yards. With Jamaal Charles dominating the Kansas City offense, McCluster only has eighteen carries the past two seasons and cannot be trusted as a fantasy wide receiver.

Tight End

Brandon Pettigrew, TE DET

Pettigrew has some name value based on previous production, including two top twelve tight end performances, but he is not even scoring well enough this season to rank as a TE2. Undrafted rookie Joseph Fauria is getting all of the work in the red zone, so touchdowns are not really an option and despite the Lions’ lack of depth at wide receiver, Pettigrew is getting few targets between the twenties.

Brent Celek, TE PHI

Celek is still holding down the starting job for Philadelphia, he just has some help as rookie Zach Ertz is now listed as the co-starter at the tight end position. Ertz has not been overly impressive. In fact, Celek has outscored him, but he still has more upside in that offense. Celek is 28 and has been inconsistent this season, making him impossible to rely on as a fantasy starter.

Brandon Myers, TE NYG

Last year, Myers enjoyed a breakout season with the Raiders and was a surprise starter for many fantasy teams. Hopes were high for him this year as he signed with the Giants, but his numbers are way down and he is the fourth option in the passing game at best. After two solid weeks to open the season, Myers has only 22.5 fantasy points in the past six games.

Follow @RyanMc23 on Twitter

Author
Recent Posts

Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.