Go ahead, drop these guys

We’re a week beyond the end of the byes at this point. Frankly, there shouldn’t be too many truly worthwhile pieces available on your waiver wire. Those that are were probably mentioned in a previous waiver-wire article (or else we disagree on the while of their worth).

So instead of spending this week discussing why you should go after Sidney Rice, Vincent Jackson or Keiland Williams (go for it, within reason), I’ve decided to look at some significant name players who I think can be dropped at this point.

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego
The rookie previous missed Week 3 with an ankle injury, similar to the situation that kept him out of the Week 11 Monday night game. Mathews also ceded the start to Mike Tolbert in the two games following his return at that time. It took him five outings before he got 15 carries in a single one. He got hurt again the following week. Overall, Matthews hasn’t reached 20 carries in a game since Week 1 and has just the one other 15-rush outing. He’s produced decently with the light workload, but is a 10-carry back someone you plan on starting in your fantasy playoffs? If so, then by all means, keep him. I look forward to playing against you.

Steve Smith, WR, Carolina
This one might seem obvious to many fantasy owners, but Smith remains at least 69 percent owned in Fantrax.com leagues, Yahoo! leagues and CBS Sports leagues. (CBS – where I have to admit I have yet to drop him for lack of an intriguing replacement in a fairly picked-over “experts” league -- comes in the highest at 81 percent.) I don’t know how much keeper leagues account for those numbers, but such formats make up a fairly small portion of fantasy leagues overall. If you own Smith in a redraft league and are clinging to hope, let go. He has caught more than four passes in just two games this year, and only one of those gave him more than five. Both outings came with Matt Moore under center.

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco
This one might be a tougher sell because Crabtree has caught touchdowns in four of his past six games. OK, then try to trade him instead (if your deadline hasn’t passed already). I think the proximity of Crabtree’s scores clouds the overall mediocrity of his production. His four touchdowns for the year ties him for 27th in the league with 17 other players. Of those 17 (including some who have missed games), only six have fewer receptions so far than Crabtree. Six sit behind him in yardage. As for Crabtree’s particular upside, the Niners’ supposed No. 1 wideout has reached 60 yards just twice all year, only once surpassing 61. Like Smith, he has reached five catches in a game just twice and surpassed that only once. If I’m starting a guy that I hope will deliver a touchdown to realize some fantasy value, I’d much rather take my shot with Robert Meachem or Mario Manningham, and Lee Evans even brings a higher ceiling. All three of those players sit among that four-touchdown group as well.

Chris Wells, RB, Arizona
I put Wells last because he’s the most conditional of this group. I don’t think that all Wells owners should go dump him right now for whatever attractive piece is out there, but I do think plenty can. To put it mildly, Wells has been awful this year. Injury has obviously played a huge role, keeping him out of three full games and limiting the second-year player in who-knows-how-many others. That limitation is part of the anti-charm. Even when the young Cardinal is active, we generally have no idea just how many times he’ll carry and no reason for optimism that he’ll finish the game healthy. When he has been on the field this year, Wells has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. He has reached 60 yards only once, with 75 against Oakland. That was also the only time he averaged at least 4 yards per rush. Perhaps the only week that fantasy owners knew they could use him and got something resembling a reward for doing so was in his lone start against Tampa. Wells finished that one with 50 rushing yards, a touchdown and one catch for 14 more yards. He carried once the following week and missed the game after that. If Wells gets right and claims the primary role within the next week or two, perhaps he could position himself as a playoff helper. As things stand, though, fantasy owners need to see him do it for at least a week before being able to trust Wells in an all-important matchup. Time is dwindling for show-me-something players.

Like with Wells, I’m not advocating that all fantasy owners blindly dump the rest of the guys on this list. A sensible move in one league will be an unnecessary risk elsewhere. If you’re eyeing the waiver wire this week, however, ready to pick up some help and wavering on whether to dump one of these disappointments, consider this your push in the right direction.