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-HOU) - 12 snaps, 4 targets, 1 catch, 6 yards, 1 touchdown
Week 3: J.K. Dobbins (RB-DEN) - 6 carries, 23 yards, 1 touchdown
Week 4: Jadarian Price (RB-SEA) - Placed on injured reserve (chest)
Week 5: Jalen Hurts (QB-PHI) - Placed on injured reserve (blood clots)
Week 6: Cam Skattebo (RB-NYG) - 17 carries, 124 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 target, 1 catch, -3 yards
Week 7: TreVeyon Henderson (RB-NE) - 13 snaps, 3 carries, 9 yards, 2 targets, 2 catches, 14 yards
We had our first Oooopsie of the year when Cam Skattebo redeemed himself after getting benched for fumbles two weeks ago. Tyrone Tracy Jr. scored the first touchdown and then left with a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve, but no excuses - a sabotage drop is mostly based on a lack of belief in the player, and Skattebo proved himself again with the kind of runs that got us excited about him before his catastrophic ankle injury last season. Jonah Coleman came back from injured reserve (he was placed there after Dobbins was designated as the Week 3 sabotage drop), so we're back on track there. Henderson has clearly fallen out of favor and could be in a committee with Corey Kiner if Rhamondre Stevenson (the clear lead back in Week 7) goes down. Price's window to return from injured reserve has opened, and the team just traded for Quenton Nelson, and Zach Charbonnet hasn't played yet even though his window opened on October 1 and he practiced in full last week... stay tuned.
On Sabotage Drop Watch
Xavier Worthy (WR-KC) - Would anyone pay much to add him? The matchup against the Broncos this week is not a favorable one, although after that the Chiefs get the Jets, Falcons, Cardinals, and Bills, so he could have some what-the-heck flex value in PPR leagues.
Jordan Addison (WR-MIN) - Again, is this even controversial? Addison was drafted as a priority bench wide receiver, but he's not going to get enough targets on a weekly basis to trust as even a what-the-heck flex while Kyler Murray is out of sync in the Kevin O'Connell square-peg, round-hole passing attack.
Juwan Johnson (TE-NO) - A few weeks ago this would have been a good one. The Saints' pass blocking has fallen off, and they are valuing blocking more from their tight ends than receiving, which has marginalized Johnson; he can be dropped during his bye, but it's doubtful anyone would pick him up.