Trades always seem to release the most dopamine in my brain of any fantasy football action. The anticipation of finding out whether I made a brilliant move or a big mistake is a reward in itself, and each trade creates a storyline to follow. But what if you are in a league where people are reluctant to make trades? Another fun risk/reward move is the "sabotage drop", a term coined by my friend Paul Charchian.
What is a "Sabotage Drop"?
A Sabotage Drop is a player with:
- Strong name value/ADP
- Fantasy value that is dim/inconsistent enough to make you not want to consider them in any given week
That makes them a drop, but where does the sabotage part come in?
- Another team will spend significant FAAB or waiver priority
- Drop another potentially useful player and clog a roster spot
- Use that player in their lineup and find out why you were willing to drop them
- Maybe even in a matchup against you!
In other words, "sabotage drops" are players who have more value than the lower-end waiver pickups of the week, but are more likely to cause aggravation than help your fantasy team in the long run. The fantasy football conventional wisdom has been to hold this type of player on your bench to see if they come around, but by being decisive, we can create new ways to entertain ourselves in the context of our leagues! Now let's figure out who our sabotage drop of the week will be. We will also track how the previous sabotage drops are going each week as we take on this topic.
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou (RIP)
Previous SDotW Picks
Week 2: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR-ARI) - Inactive, traded to Houston
Week 3: J.K. Dobbins (RB-DEN) - 18 carries, 68 yards, 2 targets, 2 catches, 6 yards
Week 4: Jadarian Price (RB-SEA) - Placed on injured reserve (chest)
Week 5: Jalen Hurts (QB-PHI) - 21 of 40 for 220 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 2 rushes, 2 yards
Harrison's downward spiral continues. Dobbins had a solid game, but Jonah Coleman is coming, and the Seahawks are up next, so you can't play him. Hurts was courageous, but save for one big breakdown on a long touchdown by Darius Cooper and a 13-play second-quarter touchdown drive, it was a very quiet afternoon for the Eagles offense. Hurts has the first of a string of three easy matchups when the Panthers come to Philadelphia this week.
On Sabotage Drop Watch
Jacoby Brissett (QB-ARI) - Is he rostered? Do folks believe the garbage-time scoring diet that made him a QB1 last year is going to last this year? Drop Brissett in 1QB leagues.
Jeremiyah Love (RB-ARI) - Love is telling us that this has been the longest year of his career. It's a tell that this is going to be a long year to have him on your fantasy team, with the team seemingly at the beginning of a nosedive. He's just too talented to drop. The Cardinals bye isn't until Week 14, but if Love can just turn the corner with his ankle injuries, he could still transcend this situation. I can't bring myself to do it.
Kyle Pitts Sr. (TE-ATL) - He caught five balls and scored in a prime-time game. You might even consider picking him up if someone else sabotage-dropped him because of the matchup with Chicago. If you have been holding onto him and don't need him in Week 6, try to trade Pitts
TreVeyon Henderson (RB-NE) - Henderson is out for multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain. He has league-winner upside if Rhamondre Stevenson goes down now that Drake Maye has found his game, but you have to carry him through multiple weeks where your bench may need to cover byes or injuries, so there's a temptation to drop him now in short bench leagues, and hope that Stevenson stays healthy and Henderson ends up being a sabotage drop.