Fantasy football managers watching teams tied to Arizona, Louisiana and California got a clearer picture this week of which slow-starting stars are worth keeping and which may need to go.
The Kyle Pitts Jr. situation got its answer on Thursday night. Despite the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Pitts hauled in just a single 5-yard catch, cementing his status as one of the least productive fantasy assets on rosters right now.
For Los Angeles Chargers managers holding Justin Herbert, the advice is to stay patient. The offense, run by offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, has a scheme with a track record of producing elite vertical passing once the pieces mesh. The talent around Herbert remains intact, and selling low on a top-tier quarterback this early would be premature.
Arizona’s rookie standoff
The bigger red flag is in Arizona, where head coach Mike LaFleur has made clear he isn’t satisfied with rookie Marvin Harrison Jr.’s performance or effort. Asked by a Cardinals beat writer about manufacturing touches to get Harrison going, LaFleur pushed back.
“Well, just get some easy completions to get going. And that’s fine. You also have Trey McBride, who’s one of the best underneath guys in the world. And there’s only about 60, 65 plays a game. And you’ve gotta run the ball. And you’ve got Kendrick, who works underneath pretty well too. So everyone’s kind of got their role.”
That response doesn’t suggest a coach eager to expand Harrison’s role. Fantasy managers should treat him as a legitimate drop candidate if he doesn’t show better effort or target conversion when the Cardinals visit San Francisco on Sunday.
New Orleans backfield squeeze
In Louisiana, Travis Etienne Jr. has been one of the season’s bigger disappointments. He isn’t an ideal fit for head coach Kellen Moore’s scheme, which demands quick processing and versatility as both a runner and receiver. Etienne is already losing high-value touches and passing-down work to an aging Alvin Kamara, which caps both his floor and ceiling. Given how hot the running back trade market runs, managers may be better off finding a trade partner who still values Etienne’s name before his role erodes further.
The overall advice: try to trade before you cut. But with the pace of a fantasy season, tough calls have to be made to stay competitive. Starting 0-2 is survivable — falling deeper than that is not.
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