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As we approach the halfway point in the 2023 NFL season, a clear list of fantasy football busts has emerged and been dropped by fantasy owners. Allen Lazard and Cam Akers should have been cut weeks ago, while Tee Higgins and Aaron Jones are still standing on thin ground. While the real duds are already in the free agency pool, a new list of mediocre fantasy assets begins to emerge. Perhaps an early-season waiver-wire pickup who is back on the bench or an early draft pick trusted based on past and not current production.
With fantasy football Week 8 ahead and the bye weeks in play, feel free to continue carefully culling your roster. This is our Fantasy Football Week 8 Drop List.
2023 Fantasy Football Week 8 Drop List
Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
After missing two games with a shoulder injury, Deshaun Watson returned to the field Sunday and clearly did not look to be himself. He struggled to generate power on his throws, completing 1/5 passes and throwing an interception before the injury forced him to leave the game. He will undergo testing to diagnose the full extent of this reaggravation, but based on his Week 7 showing, fantasy owners should avoid Deshaun Watson for the next few weeks.
Running Backs
Zach Evans (Los Angeles Rams)
With starter Kyren Williams on the IR for the next four games, all the hype in the Rams backfield this week was around rookie sixth-round pick Zach Evans. Instead, Evans was the third-stringer behind Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman, and he failed to garner a touch or even an offensive snap against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with Kyren Williams out, Zach Evans does not have fantasy relevance.
Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders)
Fantasy football managers have been more than patient with Commanders running back Antonio Gibson this season. He rushed for 1,000 yards just two years ago and even with the emergence of Brian Robinson Jr., fantasy owners felt they had a solid 1B back or at the very least a valuable handcuff. Instead, Gibson has lost his role in the Washington offense. He has not exceeded seven touches in a game and has been out-carried by rookie Chris Rodriguez 11-5 over the last two weeks. With his role as the next man up now in question, it is no longer worth rostering Antonio Gibson.
Keontay Ingram (Arizona Cardinals)
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Ingram led the Cardinals backfield with 10 carries in the team's first game without an injured James Conner. One week later, he did not even register a touch. As noted in last week's summary, stay away from the Arizona backfield until Conner returns.
Wide Receivers
Jameson Williams (Detroit Lions)
The Detroit Lions first-round pick a year ago, Williams finally found the field in Week 5. Through three games in the NFL, he has only managed four catches. At best, he is the fourth option and an occasional deep threat in the Detroit passing game — neither makes him a useful player in fantasy.
Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Backed to return in Week 7 after missing the Week 5 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Pat Freiermuth reaggravated his hamstring injury in practice last week, leading the Steelers to place him on the injured reserve.
Zach Ertz (Arizona Cardinals)
Early-season production backed the rise of Zach Ertz as an underrated fantasy tight end, but recent performances show that this was just a mirage. Ertz has seven catches over his last three games, with a touchdown catch in Week 5 providing the only semblance of fantasy value. Ertz has not reached 12 fantasy points in a game yet this season, and with his floor continuing to drop, it is time to look elsewhere for production at the tight end position.
