Cutting the Cord: Week 8

Photo: USA Today Sports

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 7:

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

SHALLOW FORMATS

*15-18 roster spots*

RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders

Why: RB41 in Roster Rate. Chris Rodriguez's rise over the past two weeks in rushing market share points to Rodriguez being the Brian Robinson replacement in the run game. Gibson's likely role without Robinson would be very close to his current one: a receiving-centric one and not that of a foundational back. Be careful rostering Gibson with the assumption he will be an auto-start fantasy option if Robinson is out in a future week.

WR Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs

Why: WR67 in Roster Rate. While the shine has come off Moore in Roster Rate since the beginning of the season, he is still held too high in the hierarchy of the position. Moore has one game of more than 42 yards or three receptions this season. The advancement of Rashee Rice in recent weeks and Mecole Hardman back via trade are both net negatives for Moore to elevate his standing on the spread-it-around Kansas City passing game beyond Travis Kelce.

WR Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams

Why: WR53 in Roster Rate. Atwell, like Tyler Higbee below, has been a different fantasy player since Cooper Kupp has returned to the lineup. Before Kupp's return, Atwell averaged 14.3 PPG. Since? 7.0 PPG. And Atwell's lone catch in Week 7 was a target not even intended for Atwell on a chunk touchdown to prevent a fantasy doughnut outcome. Unless Atwell is a dart throw streaming option this week (and he should not be, considering no NFL teams are on bye), throw Atwell back in shallow formats.

TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Why: TE12 in Roster Rate. Higbee has a total of 5-45-0 on a paltry nine targets in the three games since Cooper Kupp has returned to the lineup. Kupp and Puka Nacua have combined to essentially block out the sun in terms of target market share for other options of consequence. Higbee also has no strong aSOS matchups remaining this season to point to obvious streaming situations for the low-upside tight end.