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*
Why: Jones has more interceptions than touchdowns through two games, the offensive line is an issue, plus Saquon Barkley is out for the season to temper and already struggling run game. Jones also gets the 49ers and Rams in the next two weeks. In shallow formats, a better streamer or upside play is available from the waiver wire.
Why: Despite an 87% rostered rate on myfantasyleague.com (MFL), Michel has done nothing through two weeks to warrant such a standing. Michel has 56 total yards and no targets and even with no James White and Damien Harris in Week 2, Michel was a shadow on the Patriots offense. Michel's upside, at best, is a touchdown-centric flex play, which does not warrant a roster spot in shallow formats.
Why: Miller's Week 1 quality showing came on just six targets and devolved to see his snaps fall below rising rookie Darnell Mooney and Javon Wims to WR4 in the pecking order. At best, Miller is a secondary option to Allen Robinson on a pedestrian passing game with one of the shaky starting quarterbacks in Mitchell Trubisky. Some NFL WR1 types and plenty of WR2 roles on better passing games are on fewer MFL rosters.
Why: Hooper was paid a significant contract from Cleveland in the offseason, but the offense is centered around their two talented running backs, then Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, and then possibly Austin Hooper. As a result, Hooper has just six targets and a 4-37-0 stat line this season. A rogue good game or two is bound to happen, but nothing predictable.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Coleman is projected to miss a few weeks and even before his Week 2 injury Coleman had a paltry 64 total yards and averaged less than 2.0 yards per carry this season. When Coleman returns, he is a committee player, and Raheem Mostert is likely back before him. The value of the roster spot is greater than holding out for a healthy Coleman.
Why: Thompson found the end zone in Week 2 and was still a marginal FLEX play if he happened to be in lineups. James Robinson has impressed with the lead role in Jacksonville and Thompson has a mere seven touches in two games, yet still has a 61% roster rate on MFL. Ryquell Armstead is projected back soon to further cloud Thompson's upside down the line, if there is any.
Why: Ross has an anemic 2-17-0 stat line on seven targets this season and his snap rate plummeted in Week 2 to 30%, which was WR5 on the team. Tee Higgins is a rising rookie in the offense and Ross' chances of carving a meaningful role without a team change are slim.
Why: Graham quizzically is still on 48% of MFL rosters and in the TE20-30 range of said roster rate. Demetrius Harris and Cole Kmet both rose in snaps in Week 2 and Graham has been a minimal part of a questionable-at-best Chicago passing game with 43 yards over two games. Graham is not even on the streaming radar and would require far deeper rosters for consideration.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: Washington is limited with its offensive weapons to start (beyond Terry McLaurin). Haskins offers minimal rushing upside and his passing has been lagging with accuracy which goes in and out along with failing to throttle down his power throws when needed. Haskins has a tough projected schedule as well. Reserve a roster spot for Haskins only in superflex or applicable formats.
Why: Leonard Fournette surged in prominence (and snaps) in Week 2, putting another young and pedigreed running back between McCoy and relevance in the Tampa Bay backfield. McCoy is multiple injuries away at a minimum and is averaging a paltry 3.3 yards per touch.
Why: Clement had just 21 yards with Miles Sanders out of the lineup in Week 1. Clement is clearly behind a healthy Boston Scott now and upside of Scott in a future Sanders' absence is even a question mark. Clement is not one of the priority RB3 types for roster consideration unless pushing beyond 30 roster spots and without 2TE or 2QB dynamics.
Why: The former Round 2 pick could not carve a role in the 49ers passing game through two weeks, despite Deebo Samuel being out of the lineup in both games and first-round selection Brandon Aiyuk debuting in Week 2. Pettis' snaps fell off a cliff in Week 2 to 16%, aligning with Aiyuk's addition as he was a central figure. Pettis stands to lose even more ground with Mohamed Sanu added and Samuel back in due time.