PFN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe admits Kirk Cousins has been far better than anyone expected this season. He still wants him off fantasy rosters. Soppe ranked his top five drop candidates for Week 8 on Pro Football Network's YouTube channel. He put the Raiders quarterback at No. 1, followed by Courtland Sutton, Juwan Johnson, Davante Adams and Wan'Dale Robinson.
All five cases rest on roster space. Each player has a bye, a shrinking role, an injury or a run of matchups where Soppe would not start him, and he would rather use the spot on a waiver pickup.
Soppe called this pick a little weird, because by his account Cousins is coming off a good game. "I understand that he's been good," he said, crediting Cousins with multiple touchdown passes in six of seven games. "He's been far better than any of us would have ever expected."
Video via Pro Football Network.
His concern is how long Cousins keeps the job. Las Vegas is 3-4, and Soppe said the Raiders have lost four in a row and are "evaluating everything" while a veteran plays ahead of a No. 1 overall pick. "Kirk Cousins on his way out," Soppe said. "You would think sooner rather than later."
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The schedule doesn't help. Soppe ranks Cousins outside his top 15 quarterbacks for Week 8, a road game against the New York Jets. After that, the Raiders visit the 49ers, host the Seahawks and travel to Denver. "Even if he's starting for this team, I don't think he's starting for your fantasy team," he said.
He would trade Cousins first if anyone will give something for him, then stream the position. "If you can't, I think you cut ties."
Soppe thinks Sutton should already be gone in more leagues. "Honestly, surprised he's rostered as much as he is," he said. By his count, the Broncos receiver has no top-35 finishes and hasn't reached 100 air yards in any game this season.
He doesn't see Sutton moving up the pecking order. "It's all Bo Nix can do to get Jaylen Waddle a couple looks," Soppe said. He also expects the running backs to take a lot of the volume on a 5-2 Denver team that, in his words, "wants to play defense and win games that way."
Sutton made his fantasy money downfield and in scoring position, according to Soppe. Denver rarely gets into scoring position, and it isn't throwing deep to him. "If you take away his two super powers, he's just a normal human walking around," Soppe said.
Soppe's answer to the question in the video's title is yes. "He's average, at best. That's kind of what he is," he said of the Titans receiver, who by his count has one double-digit fantasy game and two top-40 finishes at the position.
Tennessee is 1-6. The Titans play in Cincinnati in Week 8, have a bye in Week 9 and host Jacksonville in Week 10, a game Soppe called a tough matchup. "You're not playing him in any of the next couple of weeks, so why hold on to him? You can always circle back if need be."
Soppe doesn't expect to need that second look, and he said Robinson doesn't belong on most rosters right now.
This pick was hard for Soppe to make. "I had him as a top 12 guy coming into the season," he said of the Saints tight end. Johnson flashed early but hasn't lately, and by Soppe's count he has one catch on 40 routes run over the past two weeks.
Soppe expects things to get worse once wide receiver Jordyn Tyson nears his season debut. Tyson is still out, but Soppe said that with Noah Fant and Oscar Delp healthy, Johnson is "kind of an afterthought in this offense."
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New Orleans is 2-5 and on bye in Week 8, then hosts Cleveland in Week 9. With no game for Johnson until then, Soppe sees no reason to hold him.
Soppe called Adams the most conditional name on his list. The Rams receiver is currently out with an injury, and Soppe said it should keep him sidelined for about two more months. Nobody knows which version of Adams will return.
He was already skeptical before the injury. "I kind of think he's a touchdown vulture anyway," Soppe said. Without much yardage, that gives Adams a low floor whenever he isn't at his best. Soppe cited three finishes outside the top 50 receivers with Puka Nacua on the field, and he expects that floor to stay in play once both are healthy.
"If you need the roster space, I would understand getting rid of Adams," he said.
In practice, Adams belongs in an open IR spot if you have one. If you don't and the roster spot matters, Soppe is fine with cutting him.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
