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 14:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: Drake has a single touchdown for the struggling Cardinals offense and the schedule is tough to close the season with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Seattle. David Johnson is warming back up and Chase Edmonds is back healthy as well. High upside is the watchword for shallow formats especially in the playoffs and Drake is a non-optimal play with his 31 PPR points over the last three weeks and a more difficult schedule coming.
Why: Hyde is already a limited play with his lack of receiving work (seven receptions all season) and in addition to not hitting more than 14 PPR points since Week 6, Duke Johnson Jr was involved as a season-high level in Week 13. Also, Houston's schedule is one of the most difficult in running back aSOS to close the season.
Why: Beasley is on a hot streak of late with five touchdowns over the past seven games including a season-high 23 PPR points in Week 13. The schedule turns sour for the slot maven, however, with one of the most difficult aSOS closing stretches for wide receivers in the NFL.
Why: Graham has turned into a relic with 11 receptions over the last five games and Week 4 was the last time Graham had more than five targets. Graham is on the lower rung of even streaming options with an argument to be a cut in even medium-depth leagues if not best ball.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Carr has a razor-thin margin to be streaming viable for playoff teams in the closing weeks. Carr has not thrown for multiple touchdowns since Week 9 and the schedule does not have a quality matchup left. With questions at wide receiver and still not using Joshua Jacobs much in the passing game, it will take an offseason upgrading his weapons to be a more projectable starter.
Why: Scarbrough's limitation is being a non-factor in the passing game. Scarbrough has a single target over three games as a touchdown-or-bust play. The schedule is also brutal for Detroit's run game over the final three games with Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Denver.
Why: Gabriel is in concussion protocol and Anthony Miller surged with the opportunity in Gabriel's absence in Week 13 to the tune of a career day. Even if Gabriel returns, the schedule is brutal for the Bears receivers in aSOS with Dallas, Green Bay, and Kansas City all stingy matchups.
Why: Eifert is barely playing for the Bengals and the 29-year-old is running out of gas (and chances) in the NFL for a starting role. Eifert will hit free agency in the offseason and the Bengals, the franchise which knows him in-depth since drafting him in Round 1 years ago, signed Eifert to a one-year prove it deal last offseason. The most alarming aspect about Eifert is for years durability was his limitation and 2019 has seen Eifert stay healthy but be unproductive and a shell of his former self.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: Edmunds was a healthy back of the moment for the Steelers at his peak when he accrued 12 carries back in Week 9. However, Edmunds has devolved to two touches in Week 12 and not sniffing the ball last week with Benny Snell back. Edmunds is at best a middling NFL depth option and unlikely to have any role next season, let alone in the final weeks of the season.
Keelan Cole
Why: Cole has turned into a shadow with D.J. Chark's development this season. The Jaguars are also a trendy bet to add a wide receiver in the offseason. Even if Cole returns to the Jaguars (restricted free agent), expect a dwindling role even from the minimal involvement this season.
Why: Cain was a big recruit and devy dynasty name years ago but has already bounced out of Indianapolis and it on the roster fringe for the Steelers to close 2019. Cain, at best, is competing with a couple of dozen incoming rookies and the free agent shuffle for ancillary roles in the offseason.
Why: Watson turns 39 years old in a couple of weeks and the Patriots passing game is in disarray. Watson needs to be a 'now' proposition for deeper dynasty owners and Watson has yet to find the end zone or top 52 yards in a game this season. In the offseason, New England is one of the glaring depth charts to expect a rookie or free agent of consequence added at tight end. Watson is a dicey play in 2TE formats down the stretch, let alone start-1 leagues.