The little things matter in fantasy football, including defense and special teams. And you have to make the right decisions on the waiver wire. It’s not always easy. Here is the NFL Week 2 fantasy football drop list.

A lot of this depends on your league’s stash rules. Some leagues have generous injured reserve lists. So keep that in mind for these recommendations.

WR Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks

There was never a good reason to be excited about Shaheed for fantasy purposes. In his five-year NFL career, Shaheed had a career high of 719 yards. That was the same season, 2023, when he totaled his highest number of touchdowns with five.

But Shaheed has never been a target monster. Even last year with the Saints and Seahawks, his 92 targets produced only 59 catches. Yes, he’s a deep threat, and that makes a completion percentage difference. However, for fantasy purposes, you need catches other than the occasional bomb. You need consistent production week to week. And Shaheed is likely never going to offer that for fantasy managers.

And with Sam Darnold’s injury, it’s time to cut bait with Shaheed. If Darnold comes back and Shaheed ticks back into backup material, it shouldn’t cost a huge amount of your budget to get him back. But, again, why would you want him?

RB Tyrone Tracy, Giants

We get it. Tracy was decent in 2024 with 839 yards rushing and five scores. Last year he added 740 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, he can catch the ball out of the backfield with 74 catches and three scores over those two seasons.

But Tracy is clearly behind Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary on the depth chart. And the Giants even have Najee Harris. Also, the Giants added Phil Mafah to their practice squad on Monday.

Tracy fumbled the ball against the Cowboys, which didn’t help his cause. And his words this summer aren’t being backed up, according to a post on X by Ryan Dunleavy.

“Tyrone Tracy Jr. said this summer: ‘I’m not a fumbler. My teammates know I'm not a fumbler.’ He fumbled 5x as a rookie, 1x last year, 1x this preseason, and now on his 2nd carry (against the Cowboys).”

QB CJ Stroud, Texans

If you’re keeping him as a backup, it’s probably not a great idea. He averaged under 15 points per game last season, and finished outside of the top 20. He’s not immobile, but he doesn’t do much damage with his legs.

Plus, look at his touchdown passes. He had 23 as a rookie in 2023. Then 20 in his second season. And only 19 last year. Those are awful numbers in today’s fantasy world for a quarterback.

Don’t set your fantasy roster based on the advice of Alex Smith. He sparred with Teddy Bruschi on a recent ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown, according to nypost.com.

“He is, though, Teddy, he is,” Smith said. “He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. Fact.”

Not in the fantasy world, Alex.

QB Cam Ward, Titans

It’s getting hard to see Ward becoming a fantasy-relevant quarterback ever. And he’s certainly unlikely to do it this year. He doesn’t complete a high percentage of passes. He’s very little threat in the touchdown passing category. And if you’re not throwing a consistent amount of TD passes, you don’t belong on fantasy rosters.

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Robert Saleh is still trying to be a salesman about Ward’s potential, according to the Titans YouTube page via NBC Sports.

“His growth will happen throughout the year,” Saleh said. “His growth is gonna happen next year and the year after. This young man is at the floor of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. But he has all the tools, the mental makeup to get to where he needs to go.”

Sell.

QB Sam Darnold, Seahawks

Even if he wasn’t injured, it’s just difficult to put your fantasy fortunes on Darnold. Yes, he tossed 35 touchdowns for the Vikings in 2024. But remember last year when everybody seemed to rave about him? He totaled 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Even if Darnold finds his way back into the lineup soon, it doesn’t look like it will be a banner fantasy year for him. Jaxon Smith-Njigba does make him interesting. But if you have a strong QB1 and you need help at another position, Darnold can be exposed to the waiver wire. It’s likely that he will still be there if you wind up in a desperate situation later.

WR Travis Hunter, Jaguars

Folks, it’s just not happening for Hunter on the offensive side of the football. Even if he gets more chances, he’s in a deep receiver room. How many targets would he get from week to week? It’s hard to see a high ceiling. And the floor is scary low.

Hunter logged just four snaps on offense in Week 1. The writing is on the wall.

WR Cooper Kupp, Seahawks

Like Shaheed, he suffers from the Darnold injury. Plus, at age 33, Kupp will never be a fantasy star again. It wouldn’t be a shock to see this be his last NFL season.

RB Dylan Sampson, Browns

It was difficult to get excited about Sampson because of the Browns’ offense. And now that he is expected to miss significant time, there’s no longer a reason to keep him on a fantasy roster.