Who is Being Dropped & Why (Week 24)

The dropped players make up a shortlist this week as the season winds down. Lots of the moves are from the fantasy managers playing the weekly short game and not caring about the long-term production. They are the right moves with just three weeks left in the season.

For this weekly feature, I use the NFBC Main Event because of the number of identical leagues. Additionally, the managers stay engaged longer on the whole since each spent $1700 per team. I tried to find that sweet spot between the obvious and bizarre drops and will focus on players dropped in six to nine leagues. Previously the number was six to nine, but I adjusted with the Main Event adding four leagues since I did the report.
Hitters

• Anthony Alford: After making three starts in a row against righties, his last three starts have been against lefties. It is nearly impossible to roster someone on the short side of a platoon.

• Darin Ruf 러프: The Giants face six righties this week, so Ruf will only get one start.

• Jake Meyers: With Chas McCormick off the IL, the pair are splitting time in center field. I did hold Meyers in a couple of deeper leagues to see if he got full-time at-bats with Brantley hurt.

• Phil Gosselin: He’s sort of starting most of the time while hitting .270/.322/.363 with 5 HR and 3 SB in 301 PA. He’s a fine replacement for an injured player.

• Max Stassi: He’s struggled in the second half (.697 OPS) after being a must-start in the first half (.873 OPS). I think he should be rostered by some team in a 15-team, 2 catcher league.

• Kevin Pillar: He was a decent one-week option but Brandon Nimmo is expected back later this week.

Starters

• Johnny Cueto: On the IL with elbow problems.

• Edward Cabrera: Managers gave up on the potential and are tired of his walk rate (5.5 BB/9) being higher than his strikeout rate (5.0 K/9). Both of those are leading to a 6.61 ERA.

• Bryse Wilson: He didn’t have the best two-step this past week (6.97 ERA, 10.1 IP, 4 K, 1.65 WHIP), so they quickly moved on. Probably to another two-start time bomb.

• Glenn Otto: While I’m interested in him in about 75% of his starts, the next two (vs HOU, at NYY) have him heading to the wire.

• Miles Mikolas: He just came off a two-start week where he allowed seven runs and struck out just four batters while walking three in ten innings. Not good.

• Luke Weaver: It’s a single start week for him against the Dodgers. With every start mattering, he is off to the wire even though he’s startable most weeks.

Relievers

• Adam Ottavino: After a couple of recent blowups, he might not have the closer’s job (see Garrett Whitlock) and his other stats don’t measure up to other non-closing relievers.

• Garrett Whitlock: It’s interesting to see both Ottavino and Whitlock dropped. Whitlock has been the better pitcher (1.12 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 1.92 ERA), but with neither one having the closer’s role, they are droppable for some managers.

• Tyler Clippard: On the COVID-IL and not worth holding on to for a possible Save or two.

• Kwang Hyun Kim 김광현: Moved to the bullpen where his fantasy value disintegrates.

• Adbert Alzolay: Another once starter who is now in the bullpen.

• Sergio Romo: For a minute or two, he looked to be Oakland’s closer but Andrew Chafin now seems to have the job.