ClutchPoints
Another week of fantasy football chaos is now in the books, turning the focus now onto Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. With a full month of data at hand, fantasy football managers can now feel comfortable narrowing down a list of drop candidates.
Whether due to injuries, frustrating performances or a slow start to the year, Week 5 is typically when fantasy football managers begin hitting the open market the most. Expect nothing less in 2025, particularly given the hectic start to the year.
The Week 5 waiver wire figures to be the most chaotic of the year to date. All players who began the season on injured reserve are now eligible to return, with several suspensions also set to end. A handful of players have already returned and will be atop the priority list once waivers clear.
This drop list will not include obvious drop candidates who will miss the rest of the season due to injury. It will also not include short-term injury replacements, including Marcus Mariota or Jake Browning.
Before most leagues clear waivers on Wednesday, consider cutting the following players if making roster changes.
Cedric Tillman was somewhat of a revelation in 2024, and he got off to a strong start to the 2025 NFL season. However, with Tillman landing on IR with a hamstring injury, it is time for fantasy football managers to cut ties.
The Browns have not provided an exact return timeline for Tillman, and hamstring injuries are notoriously difficult to predict. Regardless, he has not done enough to warrant holding onto, even in leagues that permit an IR spot.
Since posting five catches for 52 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Tillman has been virtually invisible. He has garnered just 12 catches in the last three weeks to tally a mere six catches, 54 receiving yards and one touchdown since Week 2.
At best, Tillman is the second or third option in a dismal passing offense. Even if the Browns make the switch to Dillon Gabriel, there is not a lot to look forward to when he returns.
Rhamondre Stevenson has felt like he has been operating on borrowed time from the start. He has managed to hold onto the Patriots’ RB1 role through four weeks, but his window seems to be quickly shutting.
After a two-fumble disaster in Week 3, Stevenson appeared destined for a demotion. However, head coach Mike Vrabel denied that notion, and Stevenson remained in the Week 4 starting lineup. He still struggled with efficiency and was out-gained in total yards by rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
One month into the year, Stevenson is averaging just 4.0 yards per carry and has been an effective pass-catcher in just one of the Patriots’ four games. He can only hold off Henderson for so long, and these performances are not going to cut it long-term.
The Patriots demolished the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, but...
