Much of fantasy football in-season owner strategy centers around which players to pick up from the waiver wire or to target in the trade market. However, roster spots are a premium resource. Cutting a player - or adding them to a trade - opens a roster spot for a key waiver wire addition or flexibility to keep a currently injured player through a missed game or two. Here are the key players to cut or trade after Week 2:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Last week the big recommendations were:
Trading Eddie Lacy
Even for peanuts, the proved to be worthwhile. Chris Carson dominated the snap count for Seattle and Lacy plummeted all the way to a healthy scratch with Thomas Rawls back and C.J. Prosise manning the receiving role.
Cut Kenny Britt, LaQuon Treadwell
Even with Corey Coleman getting hurt, Britt has looked like a shell of himself through two games and Rashard Higgins was the uptick name for the Browns receiver corps in Week 2. Treadwell saw plenty of snaps but is a distant No.3 in the receiver pecking order and continues to struggle to create separation on his routes.
On to Week 3...
Why: The big back in Philadelphia has quickly eroded to the RB3 in snaps and did not see a carry in Week 3.
Why: At best Hill is on the wrong side of a committee in Cincinnati struggling to find their way offensively.
Why: Perkins has mired through an offseason tag as the de facto 'lead back' for the Giants. Without a good situation or being a strong overt talent, Perkins has minimal upside to turn it around at this point.
Why: What was buzzed to be a breakout season for Perriman has looked like an invisible one from his two-week involvement level.
Why: His upside on a lower-level passing game in Cleveland is not worth holding for a couple months in more shallow redraft leagues.
Why: His Week 1 production was centered around a long broken-play touchdown and his involvement Week 2 was minimal. With tight end being stream-worthy if without a strong option rostered, churn Hooper in shallow redraft leagues for another position or a good Week 3 matchup.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-25 roster spots*
Last week the big recommendations were:
Cut Robert Turbin, Darren McFadden, Tyler Higbee
McFadden was another healthy scratch and Gerald Everett made an impact for the Rams in an ancillary role. Turbin had a healthy No.2 role in terms of snaps, but Marlon Mack looks like the clear upside play behind Frank Gore of the two.
On to Week 3...
Why: There is little clarity on the pecking order beyond Jay Ajayi. Combined Drake and Williams saw five snaps in Week 2. Without a clear next-man-up, side with other stash backs in medium-depth leagues over guessing on marginal talents in Miami. Trading to the Jay Ajayi owner is a worthy exploration before cutting.
Why: Booker is working back through an injury but C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles both look fantastic through two weeks. Where Booker fits in a rotation is murky at best.
Why: Yeldon has fallen all the way to healthy scratch status with Chris Ivory and Corey Grant garnering the RB2/3 roles on game day. Yeldon is an easy cut recommendation if still holding outside of the deepest of formats.
Robby Anderson
Why: The Jets are a limited passing offense and the top receivers are looking like Jermaine Kearse and Jeremy Kerley going forward. Add in Austin Seferian-Jenkins back from suspension and Anderson is a minimally-interesting stash for the near-term.
Why: Martavis Bryant rebounded from a rough Week 1 for the top production of Pittsburgh's passing game in Week 2. Juju Smith-Schuster also out-snapped Rogers for the WR3 role this week. Rogers is buried and falling out of the flex-if-desperate category. Explore trading for a marginal upgrade if possible before cutting.
Why: Ben Watson rebounded in Week 2 and both he and Nick Boyle are dominating Williams in snaps thus far in 2017. Williams has looked generally unathletic with his snaps and the upside even if Watson or Boyle were to miss time looks minimal.
Why: With the touchdown record in the rearview, Gates' profile is a marginal fantasy option centering on a rogue touchdown for impact. Hunter Henry surged in Week 2 and the Chargers passing game is littered with options even before Mike Williams gets involved.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Last week the big recommendations were:
Cut Brandon Coleman, Tom Savage, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jaron Brown, Sammie Coates Jr
Coleman had a nice game, but unless starting him in Willie Snead's short absence, Coleman is a flip candidate at best. Savage is taped to the bench with Deshaun Watson under center in Houston (premium format recommendation regarding Savage). Jaron Brown had a golden opportunity with John Brown out in Week 2, but J.J. Nelson outshined him on less snaps and targets. Sammie Coates Jr has elevated opportunity with Corey Coleman out, but inconsistent hands remain his weakness and Rashard Higgins stole the show in Week 2. Cordarrelle Patterson saw surprising work as a traditional running back among the Oakland committee of backs and remains a 'manufactured touch' player.
On to Week 3...
Why: Williams was in an ideal spot as the RB2 in Buffalo, but his release and landing with Denver were not ideal even projecting down the line.
Why: With his added suspension time in 2017, Dixon will be a long hold with a minimal security of a role next year as Baltimore. Even on a small dynasty IR squad, there are better uses for the spot over the next 12 months.
Why: The Colts signed Matt Hazel this week and Rogers is still battling to return from a hamstring injury. At best Rogers is looking at the WR4 role with Kamar Aiken entrenched as the WR3.
Why: Two critical drops in Week 2 and Amara Darboh continuing his integrating as an ancillary target puts McEvoy in the crosshairs of seeing even less time for Seattle in the 'big receiver' role of the offense.
Why: Stewart continues to get passed by added options (Jermaine Kearse and Jeremy Kerley most recently) with minimal reason to keep invested in a flyer-level wide receiver.
Why: Zay Jones and Jordan Matthews are dominating the No.1 and No.2 snap count roles for Buffalo at receiver.