While on the road, I constantly mined twitter and websites for updated NFL Cut List information. Some of these players will eventually emerge on other teams or find themselves on a practice squad for 2015. With the dust settled, here are some notable cut players to monitor:
Quarterbacks
Logan Thomas: Advocated stashing him in QB-premium formats or uber-deep leagues when he came out with a Cam Newton-light profile. Firmly on the NFL fringe and showed little when seeing live fire in the NFL to-date.
Running Backs
Terrell Watson: Above-average in all three major categories for backs (athleticism, rushing, receiving). Thought he was a sneaky primary backup to Jeremy Hill’s power role in Cincy. One of the better small school and undrafted running back prospects in recent years.
Gus Johnson: Good production score and middling athleticism. Dynasty owners had the dark horse label pinned on Johnson in the Dallas backfield for a span of time.
Jonas Gray: Any running back cut from New England is relevant as they go around the dynasty value wheel at some point. Gray will always have his glory game in the sun from 2014…oh, and sleeping in.
Toben Opurum: I still think I was the only fantasy football analyst to publish a feature post about Opurum. He did not make the Saints this week. Go Deep!
Michael Dyer: What an 18-year-old phenom he was at Auburn. It has been a long time since, but Dyer has the difference-maker in him somewhere. Probably too long since and his average workout was an indicator. Worth a shot for the free price then and now in deep leagues as space allows.
Malcolm Brown: Brown is like Michael Dyer, but better: a former 18-year-old stud years removed from top play. I did not like the signing in St.Louis behind Todd Gurley and Tre Mason, now Brown gets a shot elsewhere if he can stick in the NFL
Wide Receivers
Jeremy Butler: Thick with average athleticism and strong small school production. Undrafted 2014 rookie who I thought would stick in Baltimore’s lackluster receiver depth chart. Had a brief window of relevance in deeper dynasty leagues this offseason.
Dezmin Lewis, Andre Davis: Both cut in Buffalo. Have the size, but athleticism is lacking without difference-making production entering the NFL.
Jake Kumerow: 6’5″ and strong production out of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I liked him early in the draft process, but he lagged in athletic drills and had little shot to make the Bengals 53.
Vince Mayle: 123 overall back in May and cut from the Browns. Yikes. Other than a quality size score, not much I liked about the Washington State product.
Jordan Taylor: You mean catching Peyton Manning’s eye doesn’t look a receiver into a 53-man roster spot? Above-average athleticism but lacking thickness and production.
Duron Carter: I hope you bailed over the last 10 months as recommended. Some owners even got a Round 2 rookie pick for Carter. Average across the board with metrics and already got a shot at the NFL years ago.
Seantavius Jones: The metrics liked him more than Brandon Coleman, but Jones’ stock had faded for months now in New Orleans.
Corey Washington: Strong preseason flash moments and outstanding production strong (above-average size, athleticism). With Victor Cruz on the mend, I wish New York had kept Washington around….
Rasheed Bailey: The Metric folks love Bailey (along with earlier cut Devante Davis) in Philadelphia. Bailey has size and production on his side.
Tre McBride: I loved McBride on tape, similar to Roddy White. McBride is a complete prospect with well-rounded metrics and the film to match. Once thought to be in the Day 2 mix, McBride fell to Round 7 and now off Tennessee’s 53 man roster to open to the season.
Tight Ends
Ben Koyack: UTH did a Player Spotlight on Koyack and the tape was promising. Securing the primary backup role to oft-injured Julius Thomas would have been a plus as well.
