Tracking the 2023 Roster Cut Casualties for Fantasy Football
The sad time of final cuts is upon us once again, as NFL teams around the league trim their rosters to get down to the 53 players allowed for the regular season. This year, we have just one cut-down day, with August 29, 2023, the last day for players to land a spot on the final 53-person roster. For many, this may be the last chance at a career in the NFL. For a few, this day marks vindication for a lifetime of hard work and struggle to reach this pinnacle of athletic achievement.
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For fantasy managers, final cut day tells a different story. As teams finalize rosters, fans and fantasy managers are treated to a flurry of activity that could make or break a fantasy team. Did you draft the right backup running back? Did your veteran quarterback win the job? Is your kicker still employed? Add to that the excitement of the impending NFL regular season, and it’s a good time to be a football fan.
To keep track of all these moves, 4for4.com has you covered! This article will be updated throughout final cut day, including updates as players are scooped up off waivers, so check in before your fantasy drafts for any potentially impactful transactions. The below team-by-team brief analysis is not meant to be comprehensive but will highlight any fantasy-relevant moves.
Additionally, players placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list or on injured reserve (IR) during final cuts will be noted. The IR designation on final cut down day typically means a player's season is done—although, in some cases, a team can get creative about when they use the temporary IR designation and bring a player back. Meanwhile, landing on the PUP list makes a player ineligible to play for the first four weeks of the season. Likewise, the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list allows teams to reserve a player for a non-football injury for at least the first four weeks of the season.
Make sure to bookmark this link and check back frequently for updates.
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Arizona Cardinals
Colt McCoy, QB; Kyler Murray, QB (PUP)
McCoy is a surprise cut, but means we're staring at a season with Joshua Dobbs and Clayton Tune at quarterback in Arizona. No shock that Murray begins the year on PUP.
Acquisitions: Joshua Dobbs, QB (Trade)
Dobbs is expected to battle Clayton Tune for a starting role while Kyler Murray remains on the mend.
Atlanta Falcons
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Baltimore Ravens
Melvin Gordon, RB; Keaton Mitchell, RB (IR)
Gordon's release and Mitchell missing at least four games leaves an opening for Justice Hill to expand his role.
Buffalo Bills
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Carolina Panthers
Matthew Wright, K
Eddy Pineiro seems like his groin injury will be fine for Week 1 after the Panthers let go of Wright.
Chicago Bears
P.J. Walker, QB
Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent looks poised to be the backup to Justin Fields after the surprise release of Walker, though Nathan Peterman was released and then brought back.
Cincinnati Bengals
Trevor Siemian, QB
Jake Browning will be the back up to Joe Burrow after the release of Siemian.
Cleveland Browns
Joshua Dobbs, QB (Trade)
Dobbs was vying for the backup job, but it looks like rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson has won out. He doesn't have any value in redraft leagues as long as Deshaun Watson is healthy, but in dynasty leagues, he's worth a tax squad spot.
Acquisitions: Pierre Strong Jr., RB (Trade); Dustin Hopkins, K (Trade)
Strong gets added to a logjam at backup running back. With Jerome Ford ailing, Strong provides some insurance behind Nick Chubb. Cade York should be very concerned after the Browns traded for Hopkins.
Dallas Cowboys
Malik Davis, RB
Rico Dowdle seems to be the backup to Tony Pollard with Davis getting cut.
Acquisitions: Trey Lance, QB (Trade)
The addition of Lance puts backup Cooper Rush at risk.
Denver Broncos
Elliott Fry, K; Albert Okwuegbunam, TE (Trade); Brett Maher, K
It seems Brett Maher has won the kicking job. There just wasn't enough room on the roster for Albert O, as Greg Dulcich and Adam Trautman seem to be the top two on the depth chart. Look for Maher to land elsewhere.
Acquired: Will Lutz, K (Trade)
The Broncos traded for Will Lutz on cutdown day, and subsequently cut Brett Maher.
Detroit Lions
Denzel Mims, WR; Hendon Hooker, QB (NFI)
Mims was a longshot to make the roster anyway, but he wound up waived with an injury settlement. He could still land elsewhere, but this is now one less player for Dylan Drummond to compete with for a roster spot. No shock that Hooker starts the season on the NFI list, as he was always considered more of a future option than an immediate backup to Jared Goff.
Green Bay Packers
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Houston Texans
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Indianapolis Colts
Lucas Havrisik, K; Kenyan Drake, RB; Jonathan Taylor, RB (PUP); Jelani Woods, TE (IR)
As expected, Havrisik's release means Matt Gay will be kicking for the Colts this year. Drake's release makes the Colts' RB situation slightly less murky. Deon Jackson seems like the short-term beneficiary while Zack Moss is hurt and Taylor misses at least the first four games of the season. Woods was a potential starter at TE, but it seems unlikely that any of the other tight ends on the roster will be fantasy viable with the way the offense looks.
Jacksonville Jaguars
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Kansas City Chiefs
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Las Vegas Raiders
Keelan Cole, WR
Cole's release likely means DeAndre Carter is safe as the WR4 and probably return specialist on the roster.
Los Angeles Chargers
Jalen Guyton, WR (PUP); Dustin Hopkins, K (Trade)
Guyton missing the first four weeks of the season leaves more room for Josh Palmer and rookie Quentin Johnston to slot in as the WR3 and WR4 on the depth chart. Cameron Dicker has won the kicking job with the team trading away Hopkins.
Los Angeles Rams
Brett Rypien, QB; Tanner Brown, K
Rookie Stetson Bennett seems to have won the backup job behind Matthew Stafford. The Rams don't currently have a kicker on the roster after cutting Brown.
Miami Dolphins
Chosen Anderson, WR; Myles Gaskin, RB; Jeff Wilson, RB (IR)
Anderson's release isn't really a surprise, but keeps Cedrick Wilson and Braxton Berrios as the WR3 and WR4 on the depth chart. The Dolphins decided to keep four running backs, leaving Gaskin out in the cold, although Wilson going on IR (the four-week kind) a couple days later makes Raheem Mostert an intriguing fantasy option for at least the first quarter of the season.
Minnesota Vikings
N'Keal Harry, WR
Harry was fighting for the last couple of WR spots on the roster, but the Vikings look like they're going with more versatile options instead. The WR4-6 on this roster is still very much up in the air.
Acquisitions: Myles Gaskin, RB
Gaskin is unlikely to rise higher than third on the depth chart (or fourth), but he probably has more opportunity in Minnesota than he did in Miami. He should remain on waivers in most leagues.
New England Patriots
Pierre Strong Jr., RB (Trade); Ty Montgomery, RB; Nick Folk, K (Trade); Bailey Zappe, QB; Malik Cunningham, QB/WR; Tyquan Thornton, WR (IR)
Offloading Strong is a bit of a surprise, but leaves Kevin Harris with more opportunity. Rookie Chad Ryland will be the kicker this year with Folk shipped off to Tennessee. Mac Jones is currently the only quarterback on the roster. Thornton will miss at least the first four weeks of the season on IR, leaving room for rookie Demario Douglas to get some additional snaps.
Acquisitions: Matt Corral, QB
Corral immediately becomes the second quarterback on the roster. He's an interesting dynasty hold in New England, but still has no redraft value.
New Orleans Saints
Will Lutz, K (Trade)
It seems Blake Grupe will be the kicker for the Saints, and a decent fantasy option inside a dome.
New York Giants
James Robinson, RB; Collin Johnson, WR; Jamison Crowder, WR, Cole Beasley, WR
Robinson has now been released by multiple teams over the past 12 months after failing to beat out Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray for a roster spot with the Giants. The wide receiver room was too deep for Collin Johnson to make the final 53. The release of Crowder and Beasley likely mean Wan'Dale Robinson (who was taken off PUP) is recovering well.
New York Jets
Corey Davis, WR (Retired); Zonovan Knight, RB
Davis' retirement is surprising, but he was a fringe fantasy option anyway. His absense from the depth chart definitely solidifies Mecole Hardman and Allen Lazard as the third and second wide receivers, respectively. Knight's release means rookie Israel Abanikanda has the RB4 job.
Philadelphia Eagles
Dan Arnold, TE; Greg Ward, WR; Trey Sermon, RB
Arnold was vying for the backup job behind Dallas Goedert, a job which will now likely go to Grant Calcaterra or newly acquired Albert O. Ward got pushed out by some new additions, but he quietly had 13 starts in his three years with the team. Sermon was active in the preseason, but the running back room was too deep for him.
Acquired: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE (Trade)
Adding Albert O gives the team depth behind Dallas Goedert.
Pittsburgh Steelers
B.T. Potter, K
Chris Boswell will start his ninth season as Pittsburgh' kicker.
San Francisco 49ers
Trey Lance, QB (Trade)
Lance being traded means Sam Darnold is unequivocally the backup quarterback now.
Seattle Seahawks
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Tennessee Titans
Caleb Shudak, K; Trey Wolff, K; Michael Badgley, K
The Titans brought in veteran Michael Badgley and cut their two youngsters. Then they cut Badgley. They will add a kicker after the final round of cuts are complete, presumably.
Acquired: Nick Folk, K (Trade)
Folk should be the kicker after a couple weeks of musical chairs at the position in Tennessee.
Washington Commanders
No significant roster cuts at this time.
