The 2023 fantasy football season is down to its precious final few weeks, putting a lot of scrutiny on who is occupying those crucial end-game fantasy roster spots. With this in mind, we decided to pose a key question on this subject to two of our experts — Michael Salfino and Gene Clemons.

Q: Who are the two players you refuse to cut from your bench because you want them around for the playoff run?

Gene Clemons: The important thing to ask yourself when considering the bench players you’re unwilling to cut down the stretch (and into the playoffs) is how close to being a starter are they? I would have said not to cut Zack Moss even before Jonathan Taylor was injured recently because running backs who hold out tend to suffer an injury at some point during the season as they overcompensate to prove they deserve whatever it is they wanted or received. Even with Taylor back, Moss still has been a fringe starter with only a couple dud games this season. But since Taylor is out (again) and it forces Moss to play, I went in a different direction.

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The Green Bay Packers defense is a low key “do not cut” on my bench. The name of the game is keeping offenses out of the end zone and they are eighth in the NFL in red zone defense. Their offense is surprisingly good on 3rd down which helps them maintain possession and drain the clock away from opposing offenses, which is also great for the defense. After this weekend’s matchup with the Chiefs, who have had an inconsistent offense all season, they have the Giants, Bucs, Panthers, Vikings, and Bears. There’s a good chance that all of those teams could be purposely tanking by Week 14 — perfect for Green Bay’s defense and a gift for me if I need to play them.

Michael Salfino: I like this call but the issue is that you have to roster the Packers and not play them this week, which may be critical. However, while holding two defenses is really dumb in-season with so many bye weeks, it’s acceptable now. In fact, it’s recommended where you look ahead and then pick a defense that is okay but likely to be elevated by facing a terrible offense/quarterback (one who gets sacked a lot, as sacks are a QB stat mostly). So if someone has dropped the Packers and you’re not killed by byes this week, I highly recommend picking them up with that schedule. After this week, you have only Washington and Arizona with byes. So we’re getting into the part of the season where you are smart to handcuff your own RBs and to roster two D/ST, things that are sub-optimal earlier in the season.

I agree with you, Gene, about trying to imagine tomorrow’s headlines and new starters, especially at RB. The guy I would not cut now is Royce Freeman. The Rams’ running game is great. Kyren Williams leads all backs (min. 100+ carries) in success rate, and he actually trails Freeman (63 carries) in the stat. So if anything were to happen to Williams, Freeman would be extremely valuable. I get that the Rams schedule is brutal, but you’re not playing him against the Browns this week anyway — and then it’s the Ravens, Commander, Saints. So one good run defense and two beatable ones. Elijah Mitchell is a similar player should an injury befall Christian McCaffrey. But I don’t really trust Mitchell’s health and do think that Jordan Mason, who has been a dynamic runner in his limited pro opportunities, would be elevated into at least a minor committee role weighted heavily toward goal-line carries. But you get the idea here — what backup RB on your roster or available on waivers is one play away from high fantasy relevance?

Clemons: Mike, although I continue to disagree with you on who sacks should be attributed to, I 100% agree about Freeman. Williams’ injuries this season do not make him a lock to make it through the remainder of the season without missing time. If they need to turn to Freeman, especially with Matthew Stafford back at quarterback, he is a more than viable option. After all, who else are they going to get at this point in the season?

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The other must-keep on my bench is Chris Godwin. With the inconsistency at quarterback, he has not been able to regularly crack my lineup, but he is undeniably valuable and has already been a solid add on bye weeks and when other receivers are out with injury. If he needs to replace someone in my starting lineup, I never hesitate. Just like those rotisserie oven infomercials late at night, I just “set it and forget it.” He does not have a game this season with fewer than five targets and he is bringing in 64% of those throws. Yes, there are lottery ticket receivers out there who you are hoping will get you points, but Godwin is guaranteed production if he is on the field.

Salfino: Picking wide receivers in-season is tough. Even an injury may not substantially change their world, even if they’re elevated into a starting/snaps role — the targets don’t have to follow like the touches have to with running backs. This is why we construct our teams to be stronger at WR — they’re harder to find because their opportunities are less projectable than for a RB who is suddenly starting. Complicating this further is that the QB play is so bad in 2023.

I’m going to go tight end with my next pick, a guy who is widely available on waivers and who should function as a de-facto WR in his team’s offense, at least in the near term. Juwan Johnson was a college receiver and is being thrust into a bigger role, in all likelihood, given the injury-depleted Saints wide receiver corps. The Saints play the Lions, Panthers and Giants all at home and then at the Rams and Bucs (the latter of which is a pass-funnel team). Beyond this week, Michael Thomas is on IR, Rasheed Shaheed is week-to-week with a thigh injury and Chris Olave (concussion) should be back in Week 14. But the opportunities for Johnson after this coming week are murkier, for sure. My rule of thumb is a guy who is week-to-week is expected to be out three weeks.

Clemons: Last season, Johnson had one big fantasy game over the final four games of the season. That Week 15 performance against Atlanta was heavily dependent on the two touchdowns he scored. He had seven catches for 92 yards and no touchdowns over the next three weeks. The excitement for this Saints offense has dissipated quickly and they’ve only managed 13 passing touchdowns; Johnson has hauled in just one. In fact, the tight end position only has three touchdown receptions for the season; it not seem to be a focus of this offense and even with the various injuries, is that going to be more opportunity for Johnson or for Taysom Hill? I just feel like Johnson is rolling the dice and I don’t play the lottery.

(Photo of Royce Freeman: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)