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 15:
This is the final installment of the season, looking through a dynasty roster lens to prepare for the offseason.
CONTENDERS
QB Joshua Dobbs, Minnesota Vikings
Why: Dobbs' slump down the depth chart from starter to emergency quarterback happened swiftly. Dobbs threw four interceptions against Chicago, kept his job through the Week 13 bye, but then had a short leash against the Raiders when he completed just 10 of 23 passes before getting the hook. Dobbs has been a nomadic player and the Vikings being out of the playoffs point to Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall the rest of the way. Dobbs is not even a strong bet to start in Week 17 if Mullens or Hall goes down this week.
RB Dalvin Cook, New York Jets
Why: Cook is out of time to aid contending teams as the Jets are out of the race, and Israel Abanikanda is a threat to see significant usage if Breece Hall is shut out or misses time to close the season. Cook lacks any juice to find a job in the offseason and will be a big enough name a la Leonard Fournette in 2023 to keep a dynasty manager sucked into holding Cook for far too long in the offseason.
WR Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams
Why: Iffy for Week 16 with a concussion, Tutu Atwell has been mired in 10 or fewer PPR points in every game since Week 3. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are dominating the targets and Demarcus Robinson continues to flash weekly in the WR3 role.
Others of Note
- RB Matt Breida, New York Giants: If Saquon Barkley is struggling to be a fantasy option, Breida would be an avoid lineup option even if Barkley is out. Plus, Breida is a lackluster veteran as an offseason hold.
- RB Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ke'Shawn Vaughn was released, but Tucker is still two injuries away for a lively Tampa Bay team pushing for the playoffs.
- WR Allen Robinson II, Pittsburgh Steelers: Robinson's fall has been swift in his later 20s to the tune of 8.1 yards per catch and nominally catching meaningless passes in long-yardage situations for the Steelers this season. Even if suddenly Diontae Johnson and George Pickens are out for Week 17, Robinson would be a middling starting option.
- TE Donald Parham, Los Angeles Chargers: Parham is on the mend himself (shoulder), and the Chargers are reeling with no Justin Herbert and a team in flux heading into the offseason. Gerald Everett is still healthy in the lead role as well.
- TE Daniel Bellinger, New York Giants: Darren Waller returned, and Bellinger was already a low-upside streaming option with Waller out.
NON-CONTENDERS
QB Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
Why: Ridder is a dead man walking for the starting job next year. He has held the starting spot over Taylor Heinicke longer than assumed, but the performances have been troubling. Ridder's last two-touchdown game through the air was Week 6, which he paired with three interceptions. The last seven games Ridder has played include only four passing touchdowns against four interceptions. The Falcons offense will look completely different in 2024, and the main reason is replacing Ridder.
RB Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers
Why: The Chargers will have significant change in the offseason, and Kelley is a baseline Day 3 backup running back swimming in an ocean of potential RB2/3 jobs for 2024. Kelley types are a dime a dozen in the early months of the offseason for dynasty teams.
WR Allen Lazard, New York Jets
Why: Lazard has a single game of more than 50 yards this season (61) and is the classic mid-later career veteran with no juice in an offseason. The Jets are likely to add to the passing game. Garrett Wilson is the WR1, and Breece Hall is essentially the WR2 until an upgrade on the wide receiver depth chart arrives.
Others of Note
- QB Bailey Zappe, New England Patriots: The Patriots will have to do some housecleaning, and Zappe's best chance is a middling backup job.
- QB Teddy Bridgewater, Detroit Lions: Bridgewater has already declared retirement at the end of the season.
- QB Case Keenum, Houston Texans: A ho-hum veteran, which has minimal place as a stash in the offseason burning a roster spot.
- RB Latavius Murray, Buffalo Bills: A running back in his mid-30s is a road to nowhere in the offseason unless they are coming off a starting season.
- RB Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions: Reynolds has a lack-of-flash profile and is two injuries from seeing a spike in production which could help is cash-out chances in early 2024. Reynolds is a "circle back in the summer" type of player if he is relevant on a depth chart.
- RB Trayveon Williams, Cincinnati Bengals: Williams was passed like a speed bump by a healthy Chase Brown for the RB2 role. Williams is a road to nowhere until further notice.
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs: Valdes-Scantling continues to devolve into one of the worst wide receivers in terms of snaps and routes compared to quality plays made. This despite being with Patrick Mahomes II and Andy Reid.
- TE Robert Tonyan Jr, Chicago Bears: Tonyan had an ugly drop in Week 15, only his second target since Week 9. Tonyan is an older veteran and unlikely to nab a starting job in the offseason.
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