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 8:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: Despite the optimistic matchup against Cincinnati, Winston was benched after posting four interceptions and a hefty deficit. Ryan Fitzpatrick returned to Fitzmagic mode in the comeback and, even if Winston is the starter this week or soon, he is an in-game risk to be benched and not worth the risk in fantasy lineups. Winston has multiple interceptions in all four games he has played this season and rostered in 95% of MFL leagues.
Why: Rostered in 89% of MFL leagues, Clement has faded into obscurity over the past two weeks with Wendell Smallwood and now Josh Adams gaining prominence in the Eagles backfield. Clement is at maximum a handcuff for shallow league GMs and a luxury roster spot most GMs cannot afford. Clement has a Week 9 bye as further reason to move on for greener pastures in the coming weeks.
Why: Like LeSean McCoy a few weeks ago, Baldwin is one of the boldest calls of this article's history as Baldwin is rostered in 100% of MFL leagues. Seattle is a low-volume attack through the air (Russell Wilson with only two games all season with more than 26 attempts and none since Week 2) and Baldwin's impact has downshifting into a piece of the receiving game more than a strong 1A. The rushing offense has become of the NFL's best with at least 155 yards in each of the last four games. As a result, Baldwin is averaging less than 40 yards per game and in the shallow format land where a big ceiling is needed to be on a roster at all, Baldwin is middling depth at best.
Why: Rostered in 63% of MFL leagues, Watson's snap counts have been concerningly low even with the occasional decent game (Week 3 with 5-71-0 and Week 7 with 6-43-1). Josh Hill has been seeing more snaps dating back to Week 2 than Watson and now Dan Arnold is seeing regular pass routes and even Taysom Hill is working as an ancillary target. Watson is a tough streaming bet any week with competition for targets and snaps.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Coming off a bye week, Mariota was already a tenuous hold a week ago. Tennessee's offense has been abysmal this season, including a single prominent game from Mariota back in Week 4. Mariota has more than 130 yards through the air in only two games and yet is still rostered in 50% of MFL leagues. There is no dream matchup left on Mariota's schedule and a tough defensive unit in Dallas up in Week 9.
Why: Riddick has missed two games now with a tough closing schedule for opposing running backs. Add Kerryon Johnson's rise and Riddick's tepid-at-best results (one game of 40+ total yards in five games) and Riddick is rostered in far too many leagues at 46%.
Why: Beasley has a single game this season of more than 14 PPR points (Week 6) and with Amari Cooper entering the fold with a big sticker price of the acquisition, will see every opportunity to justify his addition with a high market share. Beasley has been a low-level flex option at best in terms of 2018 lineup utility with an MFL start rate below 30% in every game but Week 7. For teams chugging towards the playoffs, Beasley is a shoulder-shrug bye week or injury hedge at best and yet is rostered in 54% of leagues.
Why: Swaim already was a middle-of-the-road streaming option at best in fantasy terms, but now a sprained MCL and Amari Cooper's arrival sap whatever projectable upside was left from Swaim's profile. Dallas also has a brutal adjusted strength of schedule for tight ends over the next three weeks making Swaim a longer range hold with minimal upside compared to being rostered in 38% of MFL leagues.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: Bridgewater made an appearance in this section earlier in the season but deserves another mention. Taysom Hill is all over the field as a playmaker, even taking some production from Drew Brees in the red zone and throwing a long completion in Week 8. At a minimum, Hill would siphon production from Bridgewater if Brees were out and at a maximum, Hill is the long-term stash quarterback in New Orleans, not Bridgewater. Despite all that, Bridgewater is rostered in 21% of MFL leagues compared to 9% for Hill.
Why: Abdullah has three offensive touches on the season and completely blocked from relevance on the Lions. In addition, Abdullah had a negative impact on special teams in Week 8 with a kick return fumble lost, leading to an opponent's touchdown. Abdullah is tagged as a reclamation project by a faction of deep dynasty GMs but with strong 2017 and 2018 classes populating plenty of NFL depth charts, Abdullah will have a tough time carving any meaningful role in the NFL next season.
Why: Williams has seen a steady stream of snaps as an outside receiver in Arizona this season, yet has been a black hole of efficiency. Williams is averaging a mere 10 yards per catch and has yet to post more than 35 yards in any game. With Arizona a strong candidate to address wide receiver in the offseason with Larry Fitzgerald aging and Williams underperforming, Williams is a low-level stash even for deep league formats. On 18% of MFL rosters, Williams lacks end-of-roster efficiency.
Why: Kroft is already a middling upside play and more of a blocker than receiver as a general tight end profile. Add to this Kroft's recent injury and Jordan Franks flashing as the TE2 for Cincinnati in Week 8 and Kroft is a low-level stash in deeper formats despite being on 16% of MFL league rosters.