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 4:

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

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

RB Gus Edwards, LA Chargers

Why: J.K. Dobbins has seized the starting role in recent weeks. In addition, the Chargers are dead last in high-leverage opportunities (goal line carries and targets) for the running back position. Edwards has been lagging in receiving acumen during his career to already limit potential upside. Edwards is one of the least appealing primary backup running backs on the landscape and reserved for deeper leagues.

RB Cam Akers, Houston

Why: Akers has struggled in two games with Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce in the lineup. The biggest concern has been his lack of passing game usage, with one reception over the two games and just 22 carries. This was an optimal setting for Akers to win the RB2 role once Mixon returns but also post quality games. Akers did neither, and now questioning his upside if a clarified opportunity presents itself later in the season is valid. Dare Ogunbowale is the preferred pass-catching option in Houston.

RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago

Why: D'Andre Swift surged to an elite performance in Week 4 just when his grip on the starting role was questioned by Roschon Johnson rising in Week 3. Both are clearly ahead of Herbert on the Chicago depth chart, plus Herbert has lagged in his receiving game involvement in previous stints with a prominent role. Herbert has more name cache than realistic opportunity to see clarified starts being two injuries away from fantasy lineups.

WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee

Why: Since DeAndre Hopkins has returned to the lineup with quality snaps, Ridley has gone missing in the Tennessee offense. Ridley has a 2-14-0 receiving line over the past two weeks and now has a Week 5 bye. Offload Ridley in a trade for help this week in shallow formats.

TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati

Why: Erick All Jr.'s rise in recent weeks is a concern for Gesicki's volume. Gesicki barely saw 50% of the routes in Week 4, and All has surged to collect four receptions in each of the past three games. All is not going away. All has more targets and yards per route run than Gesicki on that season. That, combined with Tee Higgins' return to the passing game and Gesicki, is a sell-drop consideration more than a streaming candidate.

Medium Depth

*18-22 roster spots*

QB Will Levis, Tennesee

Why: Levis has the perfect combination of factors to drop him after Week 4. Levis has struggled this season with nine turnovers in a shade more than three games. He exited Week 4 with a shoulder injury. Plus, Tennessee enters their Week 5 bye with Levis' health and a quarterback decision to make. A decision that may not come until the news cycle in Week 6. Levis has yet to show the upside worth the time value of the roster spot for the next two weeks should he be healthy enough to start.

WR Demarcus Robinson, LA Rams

Why: Robinson's targets have dwindled by the week and the rise of Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington is concerning for Robinson's future market share of the Rams' passing game. Robinson is also dealing with a groin injury and has a Week 6 bye looming. Atwell and Whittington have been the two most productive receivers without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, locking Robinson into a lower-level streamer at best.

TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay

Why: Musgrave has lost the battle with Tucker Kraft for the starting tight end role in Green Bay. Kraft is averaging 15 more routes per game than Musgrave, who has been one of the worst tight ends in the NFL in converting routes into yards. Even if Kraft were to miss time, Green Bay has a deep collection of wide receivers to make tight end an ancillary aspect of the passing game. Musgrave has just 22 yards through four games.

Deep Formats

*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*

QB Skylar Thompson, Miami

Why: Thompson devolved from the potential four-week starter in Tua Tagovailoa's absence to the emergency third quarterback after struggling against Seattle in Week 3, plus sustaining an injury. Thompson, at his peak pre-Week 3, was worth a future Round 3 pick in Superflex dynasty leagues. That exit potential has vanished like water in the desert, making Thompson a straight-forward drop for another shot at the backup quarterback or running back lottery this week.

QB Taylor Heinicke, LA Chargers

Why: Justin Herbert ended up being active for Week 4 against the Chiefs, and the Chargers now enter their bye week. Outside of the strong injury-away backup running backs and quarterbacks, cutting them loose over their bye week is an optimal bench waiver wire decision for an option with a team actually playing, giving them a shot to benefit from an injury. Plus, the Chargers have been a low-volume passing attack even with Herbert under center. Expect tepid-at-best results from Heinicke if prompted to start.

RB Kenny McIntosh, Seattle

Why: With Ken Walker III back healthy for Seattle, McIntosh is back to an invisible role behind two strong running backs. McIntosh was a worthy hold while Walker was out for multiple weeks, but circle back with a roster spot when Walker or Charbonnet miss time in a future week.

WR Jahan Dotson, Philadelphia

Why: Dotson's WR75 Roster Rate is quizzical, considering Washington dealt him to the Eagles for a song. Plus he has done nothing with both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith out recently. Dotson is struggling to find any productive pathway in the NFL, even connected to a strong Philadelphia offense. His stat line of 5-25-0 is that of a running back this season more than a wide receiver.

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