Tracking the 2017 Roster Cut Casualties
The sad day 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 is a day when teams make the hard decisions that will ultimately decide whether a player lives out his dream, or has to start thinking about a life after football. 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.
For fantasy owners, final cut day tells a different story. As teams make their final cuts, fans and fantasy owners are treated to a flurry of activity that could make or break a fantasy team. Did you draft the right handcuff? 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 right up until the final cut is made preparing for the 2017 NFL season, 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. Cuts will filter in over the next few days, with the final cut to 53 players due this Saturday, September 2nd.
Additionally, players placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and placed on injured reserve (IR) during final cuts will be noted. IR designation typically means the players’ season is done, although in some cases a team may bring one player back after six weeks. Meanwhile, PUP makes the player ineligible to play for the first six weeks of the season. Likewise, the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list allows teams to reserve a player for a non-football injury for the first six weeks of the season.
Arizona Cardinals: Chris Johnson, RB
Kerwynn Williams ran well enough in the pre-season to make the veteran Johnson expendable.
Atlanta Falcons: None
No significant roster cuts at this time
Baltimore Ravens: Larry Donnell, TE//Bobby Rainey, RB//Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB//Thad Lewis, QB
Donnell couldn't beat out Nick Boyle for the last TE spot, and Rainey's release means Buck Allen still has a chance to earn some time on passing downs. Taliaferro was moved to fullback in the offseason, but his release means good things for Terrance West to continue getting two-down work. Lewis was only emergency insurance for Flacco's injury.
Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Williams, RB
Williams was a surprise cut, as he was expected to be the primary handcuff behind LeSean McCoy. Those duties may fall to Mike Tolbert now, but keep an eye on the transactions to see if Buffalo picks someone else up.
Carolina Panthers: None
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Chicago Bears: Victor Cruz, WR//Roberto Aguayo, K//Jeremy Langford, RB//Ka'Deem Carey, RB (IR)
The waters got a little less murky for Kenall Wright and Markus Wheaton after the release of Cruz. Aguayo's struggles continued in Chicago and it looks like Connor Barth will remain the kicker in Chicago for a second season. Langford fell out of favor early last season and wasn't really going to be in the mix for backup duties behind Jordan Howard, but Carey's release likely means rookie Tarik Cohen and Benny Cunningham will split the job.
Cincinnati Bengals: Jake Elliott, K
Randy Bullock will remain the kicker for the Bengals after winning the position battle over Elliott.
Cleveland Browns: Brock Osweiler, QB//Cody Parkey, K
Osweiler was outshined by rookie DeShone Kizer, and the presence of Cody Kessler made him expendable. Rookie Zane Gonzalez will be the kicker for the Browns this season after the release of the incumbent Parkey.
Dallas Cowboys: Kellen Moore, QB//Luke McCown, QB
Youngster Cooper Rush looks like he'll be the backup QB to Dak Prescott this year.
Denver Broncos: Stevan Ridley, RB//Carlos Henderson, WR (IR)//Jake Butt, TE (NFI)
With a crowded depth chart in Denver, Ridley's attempt at a comeback was short-lived. Henderson was pushing Cody Latimer and vying for special teams work, but will have to wait until next year after being placed on IR. Butt was drafted injured, so it's no surprise he landed on the NFI list. He's still a late-round dynasty option.
Detroit Lions: Matt Asiata, RB//Brad Kaaya, QB
Asiata has been a reliable backup in the past, but his release likely means Zach Zenner's job is safe. Kaaya lost the competiton for the backup job to Jake Rudock as the Lions elect to go with two QBs entering the season.
Green Bay Packers: None
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Houston Texans: Nick Novak, K
Ka'imi Fairbairn will have big shoes to fill replacing Novak, who made 35 field goals for the Texans last season.
Indianapolis Colts: Eric Swoope, TE (IR)
Signings: Matt Jones, RB
Swoope was the primary competition for Jack Doyle. Hard to love Doyle without Andrew Luck in the lineup, but Swoope being lost for the season should ease the mind of those who drafted Doyle. The signing of Matt Jones means competition for Robert Turbin and rookie Marlon Mack behind the ageless Frank Gore.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mychal Rivera, TE (IR)
Rivera going to IR takes away any upside at the TE position in Jacksonville. Mercedes Lewis and Ben Koyack are the likely beneficiaries.
Kansas City Chiefs: C.J. Spiller, RB
Not surprising, but Spiller's time in Kansas City is over, which means Charcandrick West remains the handcuff to rookie Kareem Hunt.
Los Angeles Chargers: Josh Lambo, K//Kellen Clemmons, QB
Lambo lost the kicker job to newcomer Younghoe Koo from South Korea. Cardale Jones looks to be the backup to Philip Rivers this season after coming over in a trade with Buffalo earlier during the off-season.
Los Angeles Rams: Travis Coons, K//Lance Dunbar, RB (PUP)
No shock that Legatron Greg Zeurlein keeps his kicking job after Coons' release. With Dunbar on PUP, Malcolm Brown should be the primary handcuff to Todd Gurley.
Miami Dolphins: Andrew Franks, K
Signings: Cody Parkey, K
The Dolphins switched kickers after the Browns released Parkey.
Minnesota Vikings: Marshall Koehn, K//Teddy Bridgewater, QB (PUP)
Koehn was brought in to push Kai Forbath, but it looks like Forbath will be the guy moving forward. No surprise that Bridgewater will start the season on PUP, but that makes Sam Bradford the unquestioned starter for at least the first six weeks of the season.
New England Patriots: Brandon Bolden, RB
The release of Bolden probably means good things for Mike Gillislee, who is now the primary player on the roster who packs a punch running inside.
New Orleans Saints: None
No significant roster cuts at this time.
New York Giants: Will Tye, TE//Mike Nugent, K
Jerell Adams and Evan Engram are both younger and have more athleticism than Tye. Engram has to be considered the clear starter at TE now, and has the chance to be the rare rookie with streaming value at the TE spot. It's surprising that Nugent lost out to Aldrick Rosas for the kicking job.
New York Jets: None
Signings: Will Tye, TE//Jeremy Kerley, WR
No significant roster cuts at this time, but the signing of Will Tye means that Austin Seferian-Jenkins will have competition when he returns from suspension. Tye caught 90 passes over the past two seasons combined and could become a streaming target if he holds onto the job. Kerley returns to New York and should find his way onto special teams and possibly in the slot.
Oakland Raiders: None
No significant roster cuts at this time.
Philadelphia Eagles: Paul Turner, WR
Injuries derailed Turner's promising career as an Eagle, but his release combined with the previous trade of Jordan Matthews means Nelson Agholor is probably penciled in as the WR3 in Philly.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Knile Davis, RB
Davis was in line for the kick return position and the backup RB spot, but his release solidifies rookie James Conner as the primary handcuff for the Steelers.
San Francisco 49ers: Matt Barkley, QB//Tim Hightower, RB//Joe Williams, RB (IR)//Jeremy Kerley, WR
The release of Barkley means rookie C.J. Beathard should be the primary backup behind Brian Hoyer. Beathard should be grabbed in dynasty leagues, and expect Hoyer to have a short leash. Hightower's release and rookie Joe Williams going to IR will make Matt Breida the primary handcuff for Carlos Hyde. Kerley was the only real threat to take targets away from Pierre Garcon, and Marquise Goodwin and rookie Trent Taylor both benefit from his release.
Seattle Seahawks: Alex Collins, RB//Trevone Boykin, QB
Collins became expendable after rookie Christopher Carson had a produtive preseason. Boykins lost the backup job to Austin Davis.
Tampa Bay Bucs: Jeremy McNichols, RB//Zach Hocker, K
McNichols was thought to push for a job but struggled to catch on in camp and the Bucs will likely stick with Peyton Barber as the fourth back on their roster. Nick Folk looks to be the kicker for the Bucs this year with the release of Hocker.
Tennesse Titans: Tajae Sharpe, WR (IR)//Jace Amaro, TE
Amaro was an upside guy who never panned out, so rookie Jonnu Smith is likely to fight with Phillip Supernaw for the backup job behind Delanie Walker. Sharpe was last year's pre-season darling, but was shut down after getting hurt against the Chiefs. That means rookie Corey Davis and Rishard Matthews should get a few more targets.
Washington Redskins: Matt Jones, RB
Jones failed to take advantage of his opportunities the last two seasons and there wasn't enough space on the roster for him after the arrival or rookie Samaje Perine.
