Not every win comes from a waiver add — sometimes it’s from freeing a roster spot. These are the names you can cut in most 10–12 team redraft leagues after Week 4.
🗑️ Calvin Ridley — WR, Titans
Ridley has become a weekly headache for fantasy managers. Through four games, he’s averaging just 4.8 half-PPR points per game (WR75) and has been held under 30 yards receiving in three of those four matchups. The Titans’ passing attack is part of the problem: Tennessee ranks 31st in passing yards and dead last with only two passing touchdowns on the year.
Ridley technically still leads the team with a 21% target share, but those opportunities haven’t translated into production. Rookie Elic Ayomanor is starting to eat into his role, and Ridley hasn’t found any rhythm with QB Cam Ward.
With the Titans sitting at 0-4 and their offense in shambles, Ridley isn’t just underperforming — he’s dragging down rosters. His 89% roster rate in Yahoo leagues reflects name value more than fantasy value. Unless you’re in a very deep format, it’s time to cut ties rather than let him clog a valuable bench spot.
🗑️ Cooper Kupp — WR, Seahawks
This one stings, but the numbers don’t lie: Kupp is the WR67 in per-game half-PPR scoring and has only one double-digit fantasy outing through four weeks. Aside from a solid Week 2 (7 receptions, 90 yards on 9 targets), he’s been stuck under 35 receiving yards in his other three games.
The efficiency drop is striking. Kupp is setting career lows in yards per route run (1.71), average depth of target (6.6), and YAC per reception (5.3). Even when Seattle tried to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba going as a decoy, Kupp managed just 4 catches for 26 yards against Arizona. Meanwhile, rookie Tory Horton has flashed big-play upside with a 16.9 aDOT, making it possible Kupp falls further in the pecking order.
Sam Darnold is spreading the ball around — eight different pass-catchers were targeted in Week 4 — leaving Kupp as more of a low-ceiling floor play than a must-start. If you’re fine with 4.5–7.5 points most weeks, you can hang on. Otherwise, it may be time to accept reality and let go.
🗑️ Jonnu Smith — TE, Steelers
Smith looked like a potential sneaky value heading into 2025, given his history in Arthur Smith’s schemes and the chance to carve out a secondary role in Pittsburgh. Four weeks in, that upside has evaporated. Over his last three games he’s averaged just 3.5 targets per contest, totaling 9 catches for 56 yards and no scores.
The volume is shallow, and the efficiency is even worse. Smith is sitting at a career-low 5.1 yards per reception and is being deployed almost exclusively near the line of scrimmage. His best performance so far — a 5-catch, 15-yard outing in Week 1 where he lucked into a touchdown — is more fluky than encouraging.
Since then, his involvement has dwindled, hitting rock bottom last week with 2 receptions for 6 yards. Meanwhile, Darnell Washington played 91% of the snaps in Week 4 and drew looks of his own, signaling that the Steelers are invested in developing him. With Pittsburgh heading into a bye, there’s no reason to stash Smith when streamable options like Brenton Strange or Theo Johnson are sitting on waivers.
🗑️ Darnell Mooney — WR, Falcons
Mooney teased some life in Week 3 with 11 targets, but even that spike turned sour — he converted it into just 4 receptions and failed to capitalize on the opportunity. The Falcons quickly adjusted in Week 4, dialing him back to a season-low 1 target against Washington before he exited early with a hamstring injury.
Missing all of training camp already had Mooney playing catch-up, and now the added injury concern only worsens his outlook. With Drake London cemented as the alpha and Bijan Robinson commanding heavy passing usage, there isn’t much room left for Mooney to establish steady value. To complicate matters further, Kyle Pitts has re-emerged as a legitimate secondary option, cutting into Mooney’s lane even when healthy.
Unless you’ve got a deep bench or want him as a fragile insurance piece alongside London, Mooney is an easy drop candidate in most standard formats.
🗑️ Josh Downs — WR, Colts
Downs has become the definition of “just a guy” in fantasy lineups. Over the first three games, he posted a 16% target share on only a 54% route participation rate. Week 4 offered a potential turning point with Alec Pierce sidelined by a concussion — but instead of expanding Downs’ role, the Colts turned to Adonai Mitchell, leaving Downs stuck in his usual slot-only usage.
He did tick up slightly to 63% of routes, but his target share actually dipped to 15%, resulting in the same bland production we’ve seen all season. Through four weeks, Downs is averaging just 4.8 half-PPR points per game, and his role hasn’t grown at all in three years with the team. Even his calling card — per-route efficiency — has slipped, as he now has to contend with Tyler Warren stealing short-area looks.
The Colts’ offense has shown improvement overall, but Downs is locked into a role that caps his upside. With no realistic path to more snaps or targets, he’s nothing more than roster clutter in 10–12 team formats.