Cutting the Cord, Waiver Wire Drops: Week 4

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 3:

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

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

QB Justin Herbert, LA Chargers

Why: Herbert is a high-end name to include, considering his QB18 Roster Rate. However, he is working through a new ankle injury after already being a game-time decision for his foot in Week 3. Herbert has been minimally active on the ground with 11-24-0 rushing through nearly three games of action and yet to hit 150 yards through the air. The Chargers are performing well NFL-wise with their improved defense and avoiding mistakes offense, but the signs are clear Herbert is a low-upside fantasy option. Seek upside elsewhere, as Herbert is unlikely the best fantasy quarterback on the team roster, and using a shallow format roster spot on a QB2 like Herbert is a sub-optimal decision. A Week 5 bye looming also pressurizes the roster decision on Herbert.

RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay

Why: White's 31 carries on the season have produced just 66 yards, and he is steadily losing his grip on a strong RB1 role by the week to rookie Bucky Irving. White is RB33 in PPG on the season and Irving has a rushing stat line of 25-154-0 on the season. White is still holding on to his route share edge over Irving, but that could be fleeting. At a minimum, do not consider White an auto-start lineup option and there still might be teams willing to trade for White like he is a top-24 running back.

RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh

Why: RB34 in Roster Rate, Warren eroded to being in a split with Cordarrelle Patterson for the RB2/3 rotation in Week 3. Remember when Warren was in a full-blown split with Najee Harris as the projection in the preseason? Three weeks into the season, we are seeing Warren declining to being a non-flex consideration and questioning his elite upside if Harris were to miss time in future weeks.

RB Trey Benson, Arizona

Why: The Round 3 rookie has been slow-played out of the gate to the point where he essentially comes into the game to get a carry and little else. This is concerning for a world in a future week with James Conner out. Expect Emari Demercado to siphon much of the passing work and Benson to mandate a touchdown for a decent fantasy performance.

WR Michael Pittman Jr, Indianapolis

Why: Despite being WR24 in Roster Rate, Pittman has yet to have even 40 yards in a game this season. Anthony Richardson has struggled with accuracy, especially on the intermediate routes where Pittman has thrived in the past. Use Pittman to acquire an injured but higher upside option for later in the season or pivot to another position.