Roster Cutdown Blog

Ken Kelly Posted On August 31, 2014

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We’ll be updating this blog throughout the weekend with all the important cuts, trades, roster moves and other important information as teams cut down to the required roster limitations. This is always one of the most exciting weekends as we finally found out what the coaches are truly thinking about some young players. If you’re new to the blog, read from the bottom up, as the latest information will be at the top.

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SUNDAY – AUGUST 31

CHARLES JOHNSON CAN’T CUT IT IN CLEVELAND

As early as this AM, we were hearing that Johnson would be a receiver to watch behind Miles Austin and Andrew Hawkins. As it turns out, everyone but the Browns thought so. Johnson was given his walking papers.

RYAN MALLETT TRADED TO HOUSTON

It was the rumor that everyone was watching during the 2014 NFL draft that never transpired. But finally, the Patriots shipped Mallett to Houston, who then wasted no time in cutting Case Keenum.

JIMMY GAROPPOLO IS #2

The trade of Ryan Mallett clearly shows just how much confidence the Patriots have in rookie Jimmy Garoppolo. He’s a deep dynasty stash in all formats.

T.J. GRAHAM PICKED UP IN TENNESSEE

The Titans will slide Graham in as their WR4 after adding him from waivers (Buffalo). The diminutive receiver has shown ability in the past and the Titans will provide a fresh start.

MICHAEL SAM PASSES THROUGH WAIVERS

Expect Sam to land on another roster shortly as he certainly showed enough ability to be rostered in the NFL. He’ll take another year of development before making another run at an active roster.

JEFF JANIS GETS HIS LOCKER

As expected, Janis has made the 53-main roster for Green Bay. He’s got plus size and hands so anything is possible.

KYLE ORTON NOT DONE YET

The Bills have signed Kyle Orton and guess what? Orton will bring in a reported $5M for this one season. Don’t look now E.J. Manuel, but that’s not a vote of confidence! $5M for a single season makes the rope on Manuel extremely short.

EARLIER STORIES

YOUNG QUARTERBACKS FARE PRETTY WELL

While we may not have a rookie start week one (unless Derek Carr gets the nod in Oakland), the young quarterbacks did pretty well overall. We know all about Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater, but there were others who impressed this preseason. Jimmy Garoppolo won the backup job over Ryan Mallett in New England. AJ McCarron looks like he’s going to stick around in Cincinnati as the third quarterback. Tom Savage (Texans), Zach Mettenberger (Titans), Aaron Murray (Chiefs), Dustin Vaughan (Cowboys), David Fales (Bears) and Logan Thomas (Cardinals) all made their teams in some way, shape or form as well. We’ll have to see if they stick around after the second wave of waiver activity, but it was a good day to be a young quarterback.

FUMBLIN’ STEVAN RIDLEY MAKES THE PATS

New England cut Jonas Gray, thus giving Stevan Ridley what will undoubtedly be his last chance to be the short yardage and early down back for the Patriots this season. Can he hold on the ball and the job?

ROBERT MEACHEM WAIVED

The second stint for Meachem in New Orleans has now come to a close. Meachem was a huge free agent bust with San Diego and enjoyed a bit of a revival last season, but he’ll now be running a “go” route in a city near you!

COWBOYS CUT RYAN WILLIAMS

It would have made a great story, but alas, Ryan Williams was cut by Dallas. The Cowboys are set with Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar behind DeMarco Murray. Williams looked pretty good this preseason, so he may get another chance.

LITTLE LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME

The career of Greg Little has hit a new low as he was cut by the Raiders. He’s been a total bust in Cleveland and Oakland – if you’re still holding out hope, you’re one of few remaining.

TJ GRAHAM GETS THE AXE

The Bills have released the inconsistent TJ Graham. He has a lot of talent and should move toward the top of the free agent receiver lists. At this point, his dynasty future is cloudy at best, though.

SAINTS CUT BRANDON COLEMAN

Coleman was a nice sleeper of sorts as a UDFA from Rutgers. He was another prime pickup early this off-season (after all, the Saints have quite the offense), but he wasn’t able to progress quickly enough for the Saints to not risk sending him to waivers. He’s a practice squad candidate if he clears through the process unclaimed.

EAGLES WAIVE/IR KENJON BARNER

Barner will head to IR or simply be cut outright later on, but regardless, this is a disappointment after his trade from the Panthers that re-united him with Head Coach Chip Kelly, whom he played for at Oregon. The move (along with the others today) make Chris Polk the clear handcuff for McCoy.

CHARGERS CUT VINCENT BROWN

What was unthinkable not long ago became inevitable today as the Chargers have moved on from Vincent Brown. Once thought of as a dynasty league sleeper, Brown has really struggled to regain his form after breaking his ankle in 2012. San Diego has found their main target in Keenan Allen and Brown didn’t fit in any longer, especially since he just hasn’t looked the same in two-plus years.

PATS DUMP BOYCE, GALLON

The Patriots made a couple of significant cuts in their receiving corps, releasing Jeremy Gallon and Josh Boyce today. Gallon was a chic pick to be a slot receiver this season and failed to impress enough to make the active roster. Boyce couldn’t beat out Kenbrell Thompkins, who had his second straight solid camp this year.

JETS END THE STEPHEN HILL ERA

Much like the Dolphins, the Jets are giving up on a player they invested mightily in. A former second round pick, Hill proved he couldn’t catch a cold and was subsequently let go of by the Jets. He’ll likely resurface as a project, but he’s a fringe player on dynasty rosters, even in the deepest of leagues.

DANIEL THOMAS FINALLY GETS HIS WALKING PAPERS

…and sarcastic owners of Thomas hope he doesn’t get tackled at the door. Thomas was a massive disappointment for the Dolphins ever since he was taken in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. At the moment, it looks like rookie and favorite DLF super sleeper Damien Williams may have made the team, at least initially.

BILAL POWELL MAKES THE JETS

The Jets are going to go into the season with Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell as their top three running backs after they waived Daryl Richardson today. It ends a value freefall for Richardson, who was once thought to be a starter in St. Louis at this time last season.

LIONS FINALLY MOVE ON FROM LESHOURE

Veteran dynasty league owners certainly remember the Mikel Leshoure hype train that was steaming down the tracks years ago. Unfortunately, that train has derailed in Detroit as he’s been let go by the Lions. It may actually be a good thing for Leshoure in the end as he wasn’t going to get any work behind the likes of Reggie Bush, Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. Some team out there will likely take a chance on him recapturing his pre-injury form.

NATE BURLESON MAY BE DONE

Cleveland waived wide receiver Nate Burleson, who may have just seen the end to a pretty decent career. His departure could mean good things for some youngsters like Charles Johnson, but Burleson is likely going to find work very hard to come by. He can safely be dropped in dynasty leagues.

KING DETHRONED IN CAROLINA

The Panthers released Tavarres King, which has to be considered a mild upset considering the lack of weapons at Cam Newton’s disposal. It doesn’t bode well for his future, given the lack of weapons the Panthers have. Keep an eye on him through waivers, though. The Broncos tried to stash him last year before Carolina snatched him up.

SILAS REDD PULLS AN UPSET

Former Penn State and USC running back Silas Redd has apparently made the Redskins roster, beating out Evan Royster, Chris Thompson and Lache Seastrunk, who were all cut by Washington. Redd deserves some deep roster consideration as a player who could get some time if Alfred Morris gets injured. As for Seastrunk, he proved he could be explosive, but his lack of pass catching and pass blocking ability is likely going to put him on the practice squad.

BROWNS CUT LEWIS AND KEEP CROWELL

It looks like Isaiah Crowell may have just played his way on to the Browns roster with a great final preseason game. The Browns have cut Dion Lewis and Chris Ogbonnaya, leaving Crowell, Terrance West and Ben Tate as the three remaining running backs. Crowell had played very sparingly over the preseason, but he was great in Cleveland’s final preseason game with 102 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. There was little chance the Browns were going to be able to slip Crowell on to their practice squad, so it looks like they’re going to simply keep him on the active roster. It looks like a big win for owners of Crowell, who looked like they may end up with egg on their face after this weekend.

SEATTLE PULLS THE PLUG ON PRYOR

Terrelle Pryor actually played quite well this preseason and still has loads of talent, but Tarvaris Jackson has a stranglehold on the backup job in Seattle. Pryor could be snapped up by another team, but his accuracy issues are always going to limit him as a quarterback. A move to tight end would be the only thing that could really salvage any type of dynasty value for Pryor.

RAMS RELEASE GILBERT

Some felt Garrett Gilbert could be a nice deep sleeper at quarterback, especially with the loss of Sam Bradford. It wasn’t meant to be as Gilbert was released by St. Louis after a lackluster preseason. Gilbert doesn’t merit roster consideration even in the deepest of leagues at this point.

CHARGERS CUT SWEET FEET

Tevin Reese has been one of our favorite deep sleepers all Summer, but it looks like the Chargers may want to stash him or don’t believe he can hold up in the NFL after cutting him. Reese will be another player to monitor through the waiver process as he’s shown some tremendous speed.

EAGLES CUT TWO PRESEASON STARS

We’ll have to wait and see, but Chris Polk may just be safe after all. Philadelphia released Henry Josey, despite his fantastic preseason. Josey may end up being claimed by another team and the Eagles have to be crossing their fingers he can make it on to their practice squad. Philadelphia also cut Ifeanyi Momah, the receiver who made waves early in camp, but faded quickly at the end.

BENGALS NO LONGER RETAIN A LAW FIRM

Cincinnati cut ties with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. It’s no real surprise as he was outplayed by rookie Jeremy Hill. It looks like Hill and Giovani Bernard will form a nice little 1-2 punch for the Bengals this season. Green-Ellis may find a job hard to come by as an aging back, despite being productive the past few seasons.

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK