Week 13 Waiver Wire: Players To Drop Before Fantasy Football Playoffs

The fantasy football playoffs are around the corner — they start in Week 13 for some people — and it’s important not to waste a roster spot on a player who’s not reliable.

All of your playoff roster spots need to be filled with guys you’re not afraid to play because you never know how injuries will change your lineup.

Here are five players to consider dropping before your fantasy football league’s playoffs commence.

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Palmer is no longer a QB1 for fantasy owners. He’s thrown five touchdowns with five interceptions in his last three games, while completing less than 60 percent of his passes during that span. Palmer isn’t worth owning for the playoffs in any league that punishes quarterbacks for turnovers.

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans
Osweiler’s still owned in too many leagues. Despite having plenty of weapons on offense, the young quarterback has struggled in his first season with the Texans. He threw three interceptions in Sunday’s loss to a below-average San Diego Chargers defense. He also has five interceptions over the last four games and zero 300-yard games on the entire campaign. There’s no reason to own Osweiler, even as a backup. Find a better player for that roster spot.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
Hopkins was a first-round pick in most leagues, but he’s been one of the most disappointing fantasy players of the season. He’s been decent in PPR leagues — five or more receptions in six of his last seven games — but he’s scored zero touchdowns in the last six games and just one score in the last nine matchups. Hopkins also hasn’t hit the 100-yard mark since Week 2. Don’t be afraid to find a more reliable wideout.

John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Brown has a total of just 13 receptions over the last six games, along with only one touchdown and one 50-plus yard game in that span. He’s not consistent enough to be owned at this stage of the season. Larry Fitzgerald is the only Cardinals wide receiver who should be regularly started.

Arizona Cardinals’ Defense
The Cardinals were expected to have one of the league’s premier defenses, but this unit has struggled in recent weeks. They’ve allowed 30 or more points in three of the last four games, and their amount of turnovers forced has decreased as well.

Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images