Andy Richardson
It's cutdown day in the NFL, which means there will be lots of small names cut who fantasy owners care about and big names cut who casual fans will react to with surprise. Here are 10 players I think might -- might -- be among the surprising cuts of the day.
Tim Hightower: If I see one more story about how Tim Hightower, if healthy, would be the starter in Washington, I might cry. He's not healthy. He's the fourth-most talented running back on the roster. He's a fumbler. He should be cut today, which will enable me a certain satisfaction over the guy who drafted him a couple months back thinking he was sniping me after I'd drafted Roy Helu. Alfred Morris, of course, was not drafted.
Brandon Jacobs: OK, this one is a little out on a limb because Jim Harbaugh has said Jacobs will make the team. But Anthony Dixon has had a very good preseason, and he's a whole lot younger. I am guessing Jacobs is with a new team this season, which will be a nice plus for the value of the other backs on San Francisco's roster.
Matt Moore: It's a little risky for Miami to enter the season with just David Garrard coming off knee surgery behind rookie Ryan Tannehill. But I suspect they'll do it anyway, because they like Garrard more. Than Moore.
Curtis Brinkley. Just a guess, but I don't think the Chargers see a future in Brinkley. He hasn't played well, he's not healthy, and he's not a viable backup for Ryan Mathews. They'll try to get by with Ronnie Brown, LeRon McClain and Jacob Hester until Mathews returns. Jackie Battle is another possible cut.
Mike Kafka: Tough one here. Nick Foles isn't going anywhere, and with Kafka hurt, Trent Edwards had a strong preseason. Entering the preseason Kafka was the projected backup to Michael Vick, but he seems like the team's third-best option for that spot right now. Maybe the Eagles try to trade one of them, but it will be difficult.
Josh Morgan: No! Yes, it's possible. Washington has some younger wideouts who have shown more this preseason. Morgan has never lived up to his debut preseason in San Francisco. I think Washington surprisingly cuts bait with the unremarkable Morgan.
Adrian Arrington: How long are the Saints going to wait for him? Not much longer I suspect.
Delone Carter: OK, maybe not that surprising.
Brad Smith: The Bills talk Smith up as a jack-of-all-trades type, but I don't think they need him anymore. They have other returners and other gadget type players.
Chris Ivory. Struggled with this one because I like Ivory, but he only has a role if somebody gets hurt, and I don't think the Saints will want to cut Travaris Cadet. Somebody's got to go from this crowded backfield, and my guess is it will be Ivory.
If the day ends and not one of these cuts has come to pass, well, I was wrong. Sometimes when you go out on a limb, it gets cut off. But that's why the NFL is so much fun -- things happen that surprise you, all the time. Come 9 p.m. ET tonight, we'll know for sure if any of these did.
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Posted by John Evans | Aug. 31 at 05:17 AM
Ivory has some value. I think that he can be a starter for a team like the Lions and Steelers this year. No doubt that both teams will be looking at the Saints to drop either Cadet or Ivory. I honestly think that the Saints may temporary IR Cadet and find a way to keep both. But if one gets dropped and you have a guy you don't mind dropping...get em
Posted by Todd Weigel | Aug. 31 at 05:30 AM
You noted in the Washington section of the magazine that Shanahan's offenses like to get the ball to the top-two WR's. And that if the team's wrong on Morgan, then Leonard Hankerson's the guy. Is that still true? Would Hankerson be worth a late-round flyer in my keeper leagues?
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Aug. 31 at 05:45 AM
Hankerson definitely has keeper value. He is probably the No. 2. But Washington held Santana Moss out of the preseason finale, suggesting he is also going to be an important part of the offense. So Hankerson looks like no more than a late-round flier (plus I might be wrong about Morgan being cut).
Posted by MARK CLURE | Aug. 31 at 06:00 AM
If Ivory was cut, seems like he'd end up on another roster. He might start in Detroit or Pittsburg. Worht a gamble?
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Aug. 31 at 06:05 AM
Ivory is a guy who should be owned in dynasty leagues, but if he gets cut or traded, he's not going to go somewhere and be an immediate starter this close to the start of the season. I think he's talented, but teams will go through the top guys on their own depths first before putting a new guy into the starting lineup.
Posted by MARK CLURE | Aug. 31 at 07:26 AM
Thanks, Andy. I am wondering about the values of Kenny Britt(#62 WR), knowing he's suspended just one game, and Taiwan Jones(unranked),knowing he's #2 behind McFadden. I think the cheat sheet came out before that info was public.
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Aug. 31 at 08:03 AM
Ian answered the Britt question in the corrections thread from yesterday: "he's in the right spot." Jones shows up at 72 in the yardage and TD cheat from yesterday. If McFadden gets hurt we've got Jones playing in a committee, whether he's technically the No. 2 or not.
Posted by BEN HOGEVOLL | Aug. 31 at 01:06 PM
Andy, Great call on Hightower and you can smile at the guy who tried to snipe you!Your biggest problem unless you drafted him is, i think Morris will be the featured back.
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Aug. 31 at 01:27 PM
It's early yet but so far Kafka (being shopped) and Hightower are the only correct calls. Some of the others remain possibilities.