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 7:
*Roster Rate referencing the percentage of myfantasyleague.com fantasy leagues where the player is rostered*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: Kelley was running as the clear RB3 for the Chargers in Week 8 with Justin Jackson and NFL nomad Troymaine Pope both as preferred options and Kelley has looked pedestrian for weeks. At best, Kelley is the RB2 to Jackson in the near-term with Austin Ekeler back Week 12 by Jene Bramel's listed target. The window is short for Kelley to benefit from a Justin Jackson injury and then the upside with the role would be a question mark.
Why: Hilton is quizzically still WR46 in MFL Roster Rate despite only one game this week (6-69-0) of 10+ PPR points this season. Hilton injured his groin in Week 8 to further cloud his upside going forward and rookie Michael Pittman returned to the depth chart as well. With their three notable tight ends (Trey Burton, Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox) all healthy plus Nyheim Hines out of the backfield, Hilton has tangible competition for targets even if full strength later in the season.
Why: Williams is WR57 in Roster Rate yet has only one game this season with more than two receptions. Williams is a contested-catch maven but now has to contend with a rookie quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) instead of the bold (to a fault at times) gun-slinger Ryan Fitzpatrick under center for the Dolphins. Williams has been a WR4/5 weekly Start Rank option this season and few GMs (20%) got credit for his lone 10+ PPR point effort in Week 5.
Why: Higbee is TE16 in Roster Rate and has been a shadow this year after a historic finish in 2019. Higbee has yet to see more than five targets in a game and has posted 10+ PPR points just once. Higbee is a tough hold through the Rams' Week 9 bye and in general in redraft leagues unless, at a minimum, Gerald Everett misses time in future weeks.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Minshew has been ruled out for Week 9 already with a thumb injury but was already on the hot seat to be benched. Minshew has yet to provide one impactful week this season as QB10 is his weekly high-water mark in 2020 despite having multiple elite matchups in the first half of the season to exploit. Minshew is the definition of replaceable and if running a quarterback by committee, Minshew can be churned for help at another position.
A.J. Dillon
Why: Dillon has been the clear backup to Jamaal Williams in recent weeks with Aaron Jones out of the lineup, making Dillon a Williams injury away from lineup consideration. Now, Dillon has been placed on the COVID-19 list, clouding when he will be eligible to play next. Add in Aaron Jones likely returning in Week 9 (or at least soon) and Dillon will revert to multiple injuries away from a clear and projectable role in the Green Bay backfield and for fantasy lineups.
Why: Jalen Reagor returned for the Eagles, along with Dallas Goedert in Week 8. Alshon Jeffery is soon around the corner after the Eagles' Week 9 bye week. Travis Fulgham became the Eagles' WR1 when the depth chart was depleted, not Ward, who is a replacement-level player who has produced when targets have been readily available. Ward's highest Start Rate of the season is a middling WR44 for any week and he has only one finish in the top-30 of the position, which was in Week 3, where his Start Rate was outside WR100.
Why: Trey Burton is healthy and so is Mo Alie-Cox to cloud the Colts' tight end depth chart and Michael Pittman returns within the wide receiver group. Doyle has yet to hit 10 PPR points in a game this season with a high-water mark of a mere four targets (back in Week 1). Doyle has the least upside of the Colts tight ends and needs at least an injury to one of the others to get back on the streaming radar outside of 2TE formats.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
DErnest Johnson
Why: Johnson has sparsely played over the past three weeks as Kareem Hunt has been the clear RB1 for the Browns in Nick Chubb's injury absence. The Browns now go on bye in Week 9 and Chubb is projected back in Week 10 or soon after. The window for Johnson to benefit from a Hunt injury is narrow before Chubb returns to extract a streaming start from him.
Why: In a similar situation to DErnest Johnson, Clement has been a clear backup even with the Week 1 starter (Miles Sanders in this case) out for multiple weeks. Boston Scott has been the weekly fantasy start and the window is closing for Clement to benefit from a Scott injury. Sanders is projected back in Week 10 or 11 and Philadelphia is on bye in Week 9.
Why: Still on 17% of MFL rosters, Thompson is the RB4 in Kansas City now with LeVeon Bell incorporated into the mix and Darrel Williams still ahead of Thompson in the RB3 perch. Thompson is a flimsy dynasty hold considering his non-prototypical frame and lack of pedigree (Round 6 in the NFL Draft) for being so low on an NFL depth chart in Year 2.
Why: Thomas was a breakout candidate for 2020 as a young tight end who has flashed on occasion with now Greg Olsen out of the picture in Carolina. Instead, Thomas has been an afterthought of the offense with 15 targets over eight games and more than 20 yards in just one game. Thomas is not even on the 2-TE starting radar despite being the receiving TE1 on his own NFL depth chart. Some of the injury-away tight ends are preferred roster spots over Thomas.