Fantasy Football: Who to Drop Before Week 5? Caleb Williams comes to mind.

This is a fun column to write one of my favorites. And I say that as someone who writes more than ten fantasy columns a week during the season. There's something cathartic about being able to say out loud that a player needs to go. Four weeks into the season, we got a good idea of ​​who should and should not be on the list. And some players in the latter group are big names in whom fantasy managers have invested significant draft capital.

Of course, the season is only a month away. A lot can (and will) change. Sometimes patience is advisable. Trust me, I want to include Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts here so bad I can taste it (what the hell? Does Arthur Smith still call Atlanta every week to tell them to ignore Pitts? Never mind that, even after last week's goose) Egg, he's still a tight top-12 in a year where that position has been a nightmare.) Maybe I'll list him here soon. But jumping the gun can backfire.

Of course, it could also be that you're holding on for too long, any space occupied by a fantasy scrub is one that can't be filled with someone actually useful. I can't just shout about dropping the same players every week because that would get boring quickly. That includes recommending dropping guys who are only included in a few leagues.

So I'm trying to walk a tightrope of sorts. I caution that just because a guy is listed here doesn't make him a must-drop, but he certainly isn't a must-hold. I mention players who have actually been included in quite a few leagues. And then I conclude, tastefully and respectfully, that maybe it's time to consider showing them the door.

Yes. That's me. Tasteful and respectful. Always.

(Wait for lightning strike)

Okay, let's do this.

(Roasted percentages courtesy of Yahoo!)

QB Caleb Williams, Chicago (65 percent available in shallow leagues)

While Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders has rewritten the record books and racked up fantasy points, the player drafted right before him has not. But while Williams hasn't racked up stats like Daniels, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters After last week's win over the Los Angeles Rams, he was impressed with the progress Williams has shown on a weekly basis.

He was better because I thought he looked down the field for the shots, and when they weren't there, he took the checks, Eberflus said. We have a lot of meters with that. So I think that was better for him. Again, he's got to continue to improve every week, but I do think for him the No. 1 job of the quarterback is the operation, honoring the football, taking care of the football. He did an excellent job today.

Will Williams improve as an NFL player? Yes. But he has one decent fantasy outing in four starts, averages less than 200 passing yards per game and ranks outside the top-20 quarterbacks in fantasy points. What are the odds that in successive drafts the team that selected first would want a Mulligan with that pick and both selections would involve the Bears?

It could have been worse that they could have drafted Bryce Young.

RB Carson Steele, Kansas City (61 percent available in all competitions)

Remember the good old days about two weeks ago, when Steele was this great story, the undrafted free agent forced into a starting role by Isiah Pacheco's broken leg? Unfortunately, that all happened a few fumbles ago and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged to reporters that Steeles ball security issues, while solvable, are a problem.

Carsons had to hold the ball, that's obvious, Reid said. Traditionally, he wasn't a clumsy guy, but you know, we actually saw this with Kareem (Hunt) when he was young, so if that's a positive. He's got to figure that part out and make sure he's holding the football.

After Steele lost a fumble in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers, it was time for milk cartons. Steele finished the game with three touches, while Kareem Hunt converted 16 touches for 85 total yards. Hunt is a proven pro who led the league in passing during his first stint with Kansas City. Steele and his pet alligator officially have plenty of time to FaceTime each other again as Steele warms up the Kansas City bench.

WR Keenan Allen, Chicago (84 percent shot in shallow leagues)

After 11 years and over 10,000 receiving yards with the Los Angeles Chargers, Allen was acquired by the Bears this offseason to be a veteran safety blanket for Caleb Williams. After missing time with a heel injury, Allen was back there in Week 4 he told reporters he remains confident he can be a productive member of the Chicago offense in 2024.

That's why we played it safe. Just deal with it day by day, week by week, see how it feels, Allen said. Just all (us), guys, everyone, we just have to find a way to execute better, execute the plays that are called for, and just accept the challenge to make everything right on offense and just put it on our shoulders to lay.

The problem is, Allen received all three targets against the Rams last week and caught them all for 19 yards (I'll pause for applause here). Right now, Allen is at best the No. 3 option in a passing game that isn't even averaging 170 yards per game, and that won't get better as we get further into the season and the weather in Chicago gets nasty.

Allen has had a fantastic career. But if you don't drop him now for WanDale Robinson of the New York Giants, you're living in the past.

WR Brandin Cooks, Dallas (29 percent available in all leagues)

Talk about living in the past.

There was optimism entering the season that Cook's second season in Dallas would be more productive than the first. After all, he was a proven veteran with six 1,000-yard seasons, and the team needed someone to line up opposite CeeDee Lamb. But if Mike Crum wrote for Cowboys Wirethat certainly didn't happen.

One of the reasons there was hope for improvement for the 2024 Cowboys offense was because Brandin Cooks was entering his second year with the offense, he said. He has just eight receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in four games. CeeDee Lamb had a more productive night against the Giants than Cooks has had all season combined. He had just one reception on four targets against New York. He doesn't get separation and isn't an impact player on offense. Jalen Tolbert has outperformed Cooks with 10 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.

It's hard enough to justify selecting Tolbert, who had three catches for 24 yards against the Giants in Week 4. But unless you're in a ridiculously deep league, keeping Cooks on the so-called payroll is impossible. He doesn't even score any touchdowns, unfortunately the eight he had last season. Cooks was once a valuable fantasy asset. But we don't live in a fairy tale.

If so, Kyle Pitts would truly be part of the Atlanta offense!

Take a deep breath, Gary. Deep breaths.

TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati (49 percent available in all leagues)

Want to know how jacked the tight end position has been in fantasy? Managers were actually happy to land Mike Gesicki, who seemed to be a real part of the Cincinnati offense early in the season. While addressing the mediaBengals tight ends coach James Casey said Gesicki's catching radius makes him a real threat in the red zone.

He can still run and he's an elite jumper with long arms, he said. I remember a play from last season or the year before when he was in the back of the end zone and it was one of those. It looked like the quarterback was throwing it away, but he jumps up and catches it. That was impressive. Not many guys, even (wide) receivers, come up with that play.

The problems with Gesicki are twofold. First, after missing time earlier this season, wide receiver Tee Higgins is back in the lineup for the Bengals. Then there's the matter of rookie Erick All, who outscored Gesicki 40 to 22 in last week's victory in Carolina. Gesicki had one reception for minus nine yards in that game.

God, I hate tight ends this year. All. Just on general principle.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Yell at him at X to @IDPSharks

(Top photo of Caleb Williams: Tim Warner/Getty Images)