Cutting the Cord: Week 4

Photo: USA Today Sports

Much of fantasy football 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 3:

*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*

SHALLOW FORMATS

*15-18 roster spots*

QB Mac Jones, New England Patriots

Why: QB22 Roster Rate. After two middling fantasy games, even with DeVante Parker back in the lineup, Jones has two touchdowns total and barely more than 200 yards in either contest. The schedule stiffens with the Cowboys and Saints the next two weeks. Jones is more of an emergency premium format streamer than 1QB-lineup viable if there are other starters on the waiver wire.

RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Why: RB11 in Roster Rate. Week 3 was the big opportunity for Harris against an inviting Raiders defense against opposing running backs, and Harris even received 19 touches. The result? 65 total yards and a single target. Jaylen Warren is being used more in the passing game, and Harris continues to be unstartable. All this is without Diontae Johnson in the lineup. At Houston in Week 4 is Harris' last legitimately good matchup in a while, and even that was not able to save Harris this past week.

RB Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers

Why: RB37 in Roster Rate. Kelley's two starts without Austin Ekeler have been a proverbial train wreck. His 24-51-0 rushing stat line has been paired with a single reception over the span. The Chargers have minimal interest in their run game, and frankly, their defense has struggled to keep opposing teams off the scoreboard. Kelley's lack of use in the passing game is the surprising part, as Austin Ekeler's role has gone unfilled. The Raiders offer a good matchup in Week 4, but Najee Harris is the most recent example of a struggling back who failed to take advantage of even an exploitable matchup. Ekeler projects back, at a minimum, after the Chargers' Week 5 bye, so Kelley is squeezed down to this one start where fantasy teams have minimal confidence.

TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Why: TE11 in Roster Rate. Njoku's route share is concerning as a starting tight end. Even with Deshaun Watson's best game as a Brown in Week 3, Njoku logged 20 receiving yards through a collection of check-down usage. With the Browns adding Elijah Moore, targets are squeezed even more for ancillary (non-Amari Cooper) targets, especially Njoku. Also, the schedule has difficult Baltimore and San Francisco matchups sandwiched around a Week 5 bye. In shallow formats, there are tight ends on the waiver wire with more route market share to stream and explore on a weekly basis.