Making the Cut: NFC Cutdown Blog

Ryan McDowell Posted On September 2, 2018

I don’t know about you, but my head is still spinning from trying to keep up with all of the roster cuts, trades and more around the NFL today. While it can be a challenge, it is paramount that dynasty players closely monitor and then react to busy days like this. In this piece, I’ll take a quick look at every team and the dynasty relevant cuts, or other moves, they made to reach a final 53-man roster. Sorry IDPers, this will focus only on the offensive side of the ball. For more information, make you check out our player update tool as well.

Let’s take a look at the NFC.

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Arizona Cardinals

Brice Butler, WR
Greg Little, WR

At the beginning of the off-season, career backup wideout Brice Butler essentially threated the Dallas Cowboys to either make him a starter or he would leave as a free agent. When they didn’t, he signed with the Cardinals, who had a need at the position after losing both Jaron Brown and John Brown. Butler did little with his opportunity and is now a free agent again. The Cardinals also gave former dynasty darling Greg Little another shot and while he had some flashes, it clearly wasn’t enough to sniff the roster.

Atlanta Falcons

None

The Falcons were one team that had no dynasty relevant moves as cutdown day came and went. Barring an injury, their entire offense is basically set for the season.

Carolina Panthers

None

Much like their NFC South rival Falcons, the Panthers faced no real tough decisions on Saturday when it came to their offensive skill players. This looks like a potential breakout season for running back Christian McCaffrey, though offensive line woes could play a part in that. Carolina had to trade for another body on the line as tackle Matt Kalil remains sidelined with a bad knee.

Chicago Bears

Ryan Nall, RB

The Bears parted ways with rookie running back Ryan Nall, a player that many seemed to like throughout the off-season. I always saw a poor man’s Spencer Ware, but that is irrelevant because the big news for the Bears centered on the defense. I’ll save the analysis to our IDP team, but the Bears traded multiple future first-round picks, among other picks, for former Oakland linebacker Khalil Mack. They weren’t done there as they wasted little time in signing him to the richest contract ever given to a defensive player, a six-year pact worth $141 million.

Dallas Cowboys

Bo Scarbrough, RB
Deonte Thompson, WR

Much of the speculation when it came to cut down day and the dynasty perspective of the Dallas Cowboys actually centered around tight end Rico Gathers, an athletic favorite of many, even though he’s yet to record an NFL reception. When veteran Jason Witten retired earlier this off-season, the immediate thought of many was that Gathers would quickly claim the job. Although that hasn’t happened, he did survive the cut, despite a Friday arrest for drug possession. The Cowboys also decided that even with their questions at wideout, Deonte Thompson wasn’t for them. Rookie running back Bo Scarborough is a candidate for the practice squad.

Detroit Lions

Jake Rudock, QB
Dwayne Washington, RB

The Lions backfield has been the focus of the off-season after the team drafted former Auburn banger Kerryon Johnson and signed short-yardage specialist LeGarrette Blount, adding to the backfield including Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah. At least one of these was expected to go and Abdullah owners were actually hoping it was him so he could get the fresh start and second chance he will need to contribute in the league. For now, that hasn’t happened as the quartet all survived cuts. Johnson is currently listed as the team’s starter.

Green Bay Packers

None

The Packers drafted three wide receivers in the 2018 draft, adding them to established starters Davante Adams and Randall Cobb. This group, along with former Bengals practice squad receiver Jake Kumerow, has been the talk of camp. Dynasty owners were projecting how many and exactly which wideouts might be given the boot, with the veteran Cobb even rumored to be in danger. As of now, they’ve all made the squad. Green Bay currently has eight wide receivers on their roster. It would be a surprise if this was still the case bby gameday later this week.

Los Angeles Rams

None

After finally signing star defender Aaron Donald late in the week, the Rams took things easy. There had been some reports suggesting second year receiver Josh Reynolds could be in danger of not making the team, but he stuck on the roster, though he is currently expected to obviously play behind both Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods.

Minnesota Vikings

Kendall Wright, WR

The Vikings didn’t let a lack of receiver depth force them into keeping a player who simply didn’t fit. With third year wideout Laquon Treadwell finally looking like a contributor and Adam Thielen set to man the slot, there was really no role left for Wright – this leaves the Vikings with just five receivers, including Stacy Coley and Brandon Zylstra, so…this leaves the Vikings with just three receivers. Look for them to make a move, adding a veteran who can play on the outside.

New Orleans Saints

Michael Floyd, WR
JT Barrett, QB
Jonathan Williams, RB
Tom Savage, QB

The Saints made a handful of dynasty relevant moves, but the only real surprise was dumping backup running back Jonathan Williams. This is the second consecutive year that dynasty owners have been blindsided by Williams’ release after he was dumped by the Bills around this time last year. With veteran Mark Ingram facing a four-game suspension, dynasty owners have been studying this backfield, contemplating the value of Williams and other veterans like Terrance West and Shane Vereen. When the Saints dumped West around a week ago, which coincided with multiple positive reports about Williams, his value began to climb again. Not only did I expect him to fill in admirably for Ingram, I was beginning to tell myself a story of how Williams could maintain that role for the entire season. That won’t be the case and maybe it’s time dynasty owners, myself included, accept that Williams just isn’t good enough. Also, Vereen was place on the injured reserve list, ending his season.

After the big move to acquire veteran Teddy Bridgewater from the Jets, both JT Barrett and Tom Savage were expendable, though the team did keep Taysom Hill as their third-stringer. It helps his case that he also plays special teams.

New York Giants

Roger Lewis, WR

The Giants wide receiver depth chart doesn’t look much better than it did a year ago, but that didn’t help Roger Lewis’ chance of making the roster. Lewis was actually second on the team in most receiving statistical categories last year, but that was only due to injuries to Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall.

Philadelphia Eagles

Christian Hackenberg, QB
Donnel Pumphrey, RB
Josh Adams, RB

The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles had a good problem to deal with this preseason – they had too many quality running backs. While Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement seem locked into the top two spots and veteran pass-catcher Darren Sproles will be around as long as he wants, the final spot, or even the possibility of keeping five backs, was often discussed. With Sproles around, the team couldn’t really use their fourth rounder from last season, Donnel Pumphrey, who also dealt with multiple injury issues. Although he went undrafted, former Notre Dame running back Josh Adams has been one of the more impressive rookies this preseason. I am sure the Eagles would love to hang onto Adams via their practice squad, but it is quite possible another team makes a run at him.

San Francisco 49ers

Joe Williams, RB
Aldrick Robinson, WR
Jeremy McNichols, RB

Despite the hectic cutdown day, the 49ers had much bigger concerns as running back Jerick McKinnon suffered a non-contact knee injury which was later revealed to be a torn ACL. The Niners signed McKinnon away from the Vikings and his value quickly climbed as fantasy owners projected him to be the next successful back to play in the Shanahan system. That won’t be the case this year. San Francisco is left with veteran Alfred Morris and second-year back Matt Breida. While Breida is obviously the dynasty target, Morris should see much of the work early on, though the team will now add another runner, potentially one of the two they just cut.

Seattle Seahawks

Amara Darboh, WR

After letting star tight end Jimmy Graham walk without even a fight, the Seahawks signed veteran Ed Dickson, who enjoyed a mini-breakout season for the Panthers a year ago. Now, Dickson is dealing with a quad injury, has been placed on the reserve/NFI list and will miss the team’s first six games. Another hit to the pass-catching corps came when cuts rolled in and the team pulled the plug on second-year wideout Amara Darboh. The Michigan product was dealing with injuries all off-season, which sealed his fate. He’s yet another young player who could land on the practice squad. Running back CJ Prosise was not considered a lock to earn a roster spot, but he claimed his spot as Seattle got down to 53 players.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Charles Sims, RB

The Bucs made the decision to move on from backup runner Charles Sims, who has been dealing with a knee injury, earlier in the week. That left them with few difficult decisions on the offensive unit.

Washington Redskins

Simmie Cobbs, WR
Kapri Bibbs, RB

Injuries to Chris Thompson and Derrius Guice forced the Redskins to be creative at the running back position, including signing veteran Adrian Peterson, who played well in his limited preseason action. There were rumors second-year back Samaje Perine may be in danger of losing his roster spot, but instead, it was veteran Kapri Bibbs. Undrafted free agent receiver Simmie Cobbs also was dumped, while Mr. Irrelevant Trey Quinn has made the team, at least initially.

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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.