Much of fantasy football's in-season team 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 (and finite) resource. Cutting a player - or adding them to a trade - opens a roster spot for a key waiver wire addition or the flexibility to keep a currently injured player through a missed game or two. Here are the key players to cut or trade after Week 13:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
QB Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Why: QB20 in Roster Rate. It has been five weeks since Carr has logged a 20-point fantasy game, and much of this season has been Carr underwhelming despite a drove of weapons around him. Carr is now working through the concussion protocol for Week 14, making him unlikely to play. The Giants and Rams are neutral matchups awaiting Carr to open the fantasy playoffs if Carr is back.
RB Devin Singletary, Houston Texans
Why: RB31 in Roster Rate. Dameon Pierce returning to a full split of the backfield is a significant downgrade for Singletary. Pierce dominated the rushing split in Week 13 and Singletary's 40% route share is sub-optimal considering Houston is No.31 on the season in HLO (High-Leverage Opportunity) score. Singletary has 12 and 9 touches the past two weeks and is more of an injury-away option than a clarified lineup option until further notice.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Why: RB40 in Roster Rate. Cordarrelle Patterson has challenged Tyler Allgeier for the RB2 role in recent weeks and is winning the battle. Allgeier has zero receptions in five of his last eight games (six receptions total), and Patterson had four times Allgeier's routes in Week 13. Allgeier has devolved from a clarified RB2 to a committee back (or worse) if Bijan Robinson were to miss a game down the stretch.
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Why: TE20 in Roster Rate. Henry has been getting by on name value all season. After 11-108-2 on 13 targets over the first two games of the season, Henry has one game of more than 10 PPR points since and 21 receptions in the 10 games since Week 2. The Patriots are a weekly guessing game for the starting quarterback, got shut out by the lowly Chargers defense in Week 13, and the Steelers and Chiefs offer tough tight end matchups the next two weeks.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Why: QB25 in Roster Rate. Levis has a total of three touchdowns in five games since his four-score debut in Week 8. Also, Levis' lack of rushing upside has been jarring, considering the assumptions of his collegiate profile. Levis has 17 yards in six games on the ground, essentially a statue in the pocket. There are no optimal matchups left on his schedule pointing to streaming opportunities, either.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos
Why: RB57 in Roster Rate. McLaughlin has sagged down in the committee split beyond Javonte Williams in Denver in recent weeks. Samaje Perine saw double the routes of McLaughlin in Week 13 as the most recent example. Expect McLaughlin to be on the wrong side of the split if Williams misses time, and in 25 and fewer roster spot formats, is a wasted bench spot.
WR Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs
Why: WR71 Roster Rate. The "Skyy Moore breakout season" talk has died down over the past two months, but the more important question is, "Why is Skyy Moore still on so many rosters?" Moore has one game of more than 42 yards on the season, one game of more than four targets, and contributes as many negative plays every week as positive ones. Case in point was Moore misplaying a ball en route to a Patrick Mahomes II interception in Week 13.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs
Why: WR81 in Roster Rate. The boom-bust Valdes-Scantling has exactly one modest boom week in 2023 (3-84-1 in Week 7) despite quality routes and a pairing with Patrick Mahomes II. Even the phrase "Marquez Valdes-Scantling in a best ball" stock line is wearing thin at this point.
TE Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts
Why: TE44 in Roster Rate. The 72 yards in Week 13 is appealing for box score scouts, but it came on just three targets and, most importantly, just 26% of team routes. The Colts sported one of the biggest four-headed tight end splits in recent memory, with Andrew Ogletree, Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, and Granson all in the 25-30% route range. Granson is a dart-throw lineup streamer despite the 72 yards this past week.
ROSTER SPOT PIVOTS
Who to pick up instead...
- RB67 Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals
- RB68 D'Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB73 Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
- RB112 Patrick Taylor, Green Bay Packers
- WR102 Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
- WR117 Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
- TE44 Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati Bengals
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