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 2:

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

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

QB Matthew Stafford, LA Rams

Why: Losing Puka Nacua in Week 1 was just the beginning as Stafford lost Cooper Kupp in Week 2. Despite Arizona being a leaky defense, Stafford and the Rams were blown out in Week 2 and Stafford managed 216 empty yards and no touchdowns. Stafford already was a minimal rushing option for fantasy, where multiple passing touchdowns are required for a strong fantasy outcome. Now, 300 yards or multiple touchdowns seem like a pipe dream being down their two target monster wide receivers for the foreseeable future. Also, the 49ers and Bears the next two weeks offer no schedule reprieve. Stafford is QB16 Roster Rate.

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas

Why: Rico Dowdle drew the start for Dallas in Week 2 after Elliott was on the right side of the even-ish split in Week 1. Elliott has also looked pedestrian at best, hanging on for a relevant role in the NFL more than rising to a more prominent one. Dalvin Cook is a wild card for Dallas' depth chart who has the best case of running with the lead job of the three main options. Elliott is RB33 in Roster Rate and should be rostered in fewer leagues than the highest-upside RB2 types like Braelon Allen, Tyler Allgeier, etc.

RB Miles Sanders, Carolina

Why: Starter Chuba Hubbard is struggling for relevance in Carolina, let alone the upside projection for Miles Sanders in the RB2 role. Expect Raheem Blackshear to squeeze Sanders for receiving upside, at a minimum, if Hubbard were to miss time. Also, second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks is looming to crash the entire depth chart later in the season to render Sanders irrelevant by then.

WR Curtis Samuel, Buffalo

Why: WR61 in Roster Rate, Samuel has been invisible through two weeks with a 3-18-0 stat line and buried on the Bills' wide receiver depth chart. Samuel is running just nine routes per game and has not been involved in the run game.

WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay

Why: Wicks found the end zone in Week 2, but was still running as the clear WR4 in the rotation and has been on the field for fewer than 50% of the team routes on the season. Until Wicks is up in the 75% or higher route share range and WR3 or higher in the pecking order, Wicks is reserved for deep leagues or dynasty formats only, not WR71 in Roster Rate.

Medium Depth

*18-22 roster spots*

QB Bryce Young, Carolina

Why: After a second straight dud performance to open the season, Young was benched as the team turns to veteran Andy Dalton in Week 3. Young salvaged only a poor Week 1 fantasy outing thanks to a late-game rushing touchdown. In Week 2, Young barely averaged three yards per pass attempt and totaled 90 yards. There is no reprieve on Carolina's schedule in the coming weeks with the Raiders, Bengals, and Bears up next. Young is essentially waiver wire fodder in 1QB leagues and redraft Superflex formats alike.

QB Daniel Jones, NY Giants

Why: Jones enjoyed the pinnacle matchup on the Giants' schedule, their Week 2 game against the horrific Washington defense. The result? 210 total yards and two touchdowns. There are no other obvious streaming matchups until the Giants find the Commanders again on their schedule in Week 9. Jones has the downside of losing his grip on the job by then or sustaining an injury if his running style like Taysom Hill continues when he ventures from the pocket. 

TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay

Why: While Chris Godwin has thrived this season and Mike Evans put up a strong Week 1, Otton has mired thus far. Otton has managed just four targets for five yards as Tampa Bay has also upgraded their WR3 presence from last season with rookie Jalen McMillan. Otton also lacks upside on his targets with middling athleticism to produce bigger plays. Otton is a 'pray for a touchdown' type at tight end who is averaging 0.07 targets per route run, one of the worst figures of any starting tight ends in the NFL.

TE Greg Dulcich, Denver

Why: The Denver offense has been a black hole for fantasy through two weeks. The passing game has been beyond conservative and the field has shrunk as Bo Nix gets up to speed. Another glaring observation is Denver lacks playmakers with any semblance of speed to spread out a defense. Dulcich has the starting role, which was not a given in August, but has a mere 5-28-0 stat line on 11 targets over the first two weeks. Big plays and successful drives are a constant challenge for Denver. Dulcich is a deep league, or strong tight end-premium format roster spot only.

DEEP FORMATS

*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*

RB Tyler Goodson, Indianapolis

Why: Goodson is clearly behind Trey Sermon in the Colts' pecking order for RB2 work. Also, the Colts are 29th in running back targets through two games with Anthony Richardson big game hunting for long gains more than sustaining drives at this early stage of his career. Goodson has a receiving option, even if in the lead role as the result of two injuries on the depth chart, would not be a conducive fit for strong fantasy upside.

TE Jordan Akins, Cleveland

Why: Akins was a trendy streamer in Week 2 but came up as a fantasy dud with a 1-10-0 stat line and, more disappointing, was his barely 50% route share as the Cleveland wide receivers sucked the oxygen from the passing game market share. Akins is a 'recycle back to the waiver wire' option in Week 3. Brenton Strange is available in most/all leagues as a pivot.

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