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 5:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: A shallow format means carrying multiple quarterbacks is not optimal. Winston is 100% owned by MFL (myfantasyleague.com) but with the Panthers one of the stiffest matchups for opposing quarterbacks up in Week 6, followed by a bye week and Tennessee the following week, there are better streaming options and multi-week plays over this stretch for shallow redraft depth. Winston is a quality start coming back in Week 9-10 with Seattle and Arizona but move in the near term.
Why: The veteran was benched for pass protection issues in Week 5 and was working through an injury. With Damien Williams back and performing well, this is a firm committee at best for McCoy going forward for lineup decisions. McCoy was a part of the rising tide of the Kansas City offense but with Patrick Mahomes II also dealing with an ankle injury, Sammy Watkins injured, and Tyreek Hill also working back to active status, McCoy is not an auto-roster player in shallow formats like his 100% MFL ownership would suggest.
Why: Bold calls on precious roster spots are required in shallow roster redraft leagues, especially during the bye week gauntlet. Ridley posted a solid game in Week 5 against the beatable Houston secondary, one to target with opposing wide receivers. However, the next strong matchup for the Falcons wide receivers is not until Week 12 (Tampa Bay) with a myriad of negative matchups and a bye week added. Also, Mohamed Sanu has been rock solid in 4-of-5 games this season and Austin Hooper is an above-average tight end option. Clear the spot in the meantime for an injury-away running back upside bet over a better ancillary wide receiver schedule over the short term for bye week spot-starting opportunities.
Why: Howard has been one of the more quizzically lack of involved tight ends in the NFL through five weeks. His 14 targets have resulted in a solid 11-141-0 stat line but he is clearly behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the Tampa Bay pecking order. The schedule is not looking up for Howard either with Carolina, a bye week, and Tennessee the next three weeks before an exploitable Seattle and Arizona tandem in Weeks 9-10. Howard is a tough streaming option until then and hold in shallow redraft formats.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Mariota exploded in Week 4 with three touchdowns, but mired back to his lagging production in the tough matchup against Buffalo in Week 5 (196 total yards, no touchdowns). The schedule features the Broncos and Chargers in consecutive weeks and a firm spot on non-superflex fantasy benches. Over the next eight weeks, only Tampa Bay in Week 8 offers an optimal matchup for Mariota.
Why: Williams was a trendy pickup over the past weeks with Damien Williams on the mend and Darwin Thompson firmly behind Darrel Williams in the Chiefs running back pecking order. However, Darrel Williams' 14 and 11 touches in back-to-back weeks turned into zero in Week 5 even with LeSean McCoy struggling in pass protection. Damien Williams is back, and as a result, Darrel Williams is back to the waiver wire outside of deeper and dynasty-centric leagues.
Why: The Jets are circling the drain as a passing offense and the volume-infused Week 1 Crowder performance is a month in the rearview mirror and a mere 14 targets for the volume-dependent Crowder. Sam Darnold's return is sure to help the struggling-for-first-downs Jets offense let alone find the end zone regularly, but Demaryius Thomas, Robby Anderson, and a Week 6 debuting Chris Herndon are sure to be equal-or-higher on the target food chain compared to Crowder.
Why: The Minnesota passing game rebound in Week 5 did not include a Kyle Rudolph revival. He has a mere six catches on the season with a single target in all but one game (Week 2). Rudolph is fighting to keep his minimal status over the challenge of rookie Irv Smith from below him more than pushing for more targets. Rudolph is far more name value than streaming option until further notice and only a mandatory hold in deeper dynasty leagues or 2TE formats.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: Older veterans carry minimal dynasty trade value and Sproles certainly qualifies as 'lineup value only' at this point in his mid-30s. Also, Sproles is considered week-to-week with a quad injury as if Miles Sanders developing quickly into a quality receiving weapon for the Eagles was not enough of a hindrance to Sproles' offensive role. Sproles has eight touches total since a strong Week 1 and looks to be on the outside, looking in, for significant touches for the loaded Eagles skill position roster.
Why: Outside of venturing into 30+ or even 35+ man dynasty rosters, it is tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel for holding Mike Boone. The profile is decent with Boone's speed, but he is firmly fourth on the weekly rotation for Vikings running backs as Ameer Abdullah sees sporadic snaps and touches as the RB3. Even a Dalvin Cook or Alexander Mattison injury moves Boone up only marginally for potential touches. In said instance, Boone would become an injury-away pickup but until then, a roster clogger outside of deeper dynasty formats.
Why: Moncrief has devolved all the way to inactive status in Week 5 after posting a blank box score in Week 4. His 3-7-0 stat line in Week 1 was only a harbinger of things to come for Moncrief as he has sagged behind all the young receivers in Pittsburgh. On his third NFL team and flaming out with each faster than the last, Moncrief is closer to the NFL fringe than relevancy currently.
Why: Tyler Eifert has not been a high-end producer despite being healthy and Uzomah has not been an integral target amongst Cincinnati's strong passing volume through five games. Drew Sample is a challenger as a Day 2 rookie for snaps and targets the longer the season wears on. Uzomah has not been as valuable in the short-term as hoped after a solid Week 1. Uzomah is a cut outside of 2TE formats and at least 30 roster spots in dynasty leagues.