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 5:

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

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland

Why: In addition to Cleveland's offensive line struggling and the passing game not providing balance, Ford has not had more than 10 carries in a game since Week 1. Add D'Onta Foreman's rise to an even split of carries with Ford in Week 5 and Pierre Strong Jr's return to siphon a few routes. Plus, Nick Chubb's return is looming within a few weeks, making Ford a risky start and an even riskier hold by the end of the month. Ford is RB26 in Roster Rate.

WR Demarcus Robinson, LA Rams

Why: WR68 in Roster Rate, Robinson has been lapped by Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington in efficiency and earning targets on a per-route basis. The window is closing on a Rams' passing game with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, both out with injury, making Robinson an easy cut when at least one of them returns. However, Robinson has scored 20 points over the past three games and has waned in streaming appeal since Atwell and Whittington's rise. Entering a Week 6 bye makes cutting Robinson an easy decision to make a clean break before burning a valuable week on a fantasy bench.

Medium Depth

*18-22 roster spots*

QB Deshaun Watson, Cleveland

Why: Watson is one of the hot-seat quarterbacks after failing to throw for even 200 yards for a fifth straight game to open the season. Watson's five passing touchdowns are only offset slightly by averaging more than 25 rushing yards per game and finding the end zone once on the ground. Watson has struggled even with choice matchups like the Jacksonville and Washington defenses, the weeks most likely for Watson to find fantasy lineups. 

RB Cam Akers, Houston

Why: Akers has eroded from being the clear starter with Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce out earlier in the season to now, post-Week 5, being the clear backup to Dare Ogunbowale even if Mixon are Pierce remain out in Week 6. Akers' receiving upside has been completely sapped by Ogunbowale and Akers is a touchdown-or-bust proposition for even a decent fantasy outcome. Also, at least one of Mixon or Pierce were projected back in Week 5, making Week 6 even more likely the depth chart will return close to full strength in the immediate future.

RB Jeremy McNichols, Washington

Why: McNichols was a quality bench stash when Austin Ekeler was out and Brian Robinson Jr was iffy. Since then, Robinson and Ekeler have returned to the lineup, pushing McNichols to a solid RB3 on the depth chart. Even in a blowout win in Week 5, McNichols had 10 routes plus carries, distantly behind Austin Ekeler's 22 total opportunities. McNichols will lure plenty of fantasy teams to hold him due to his three touchdowns on 15 carries over the past two weeks, but the small sample size and receding down the depth chart are straight-forward reasons to let McNichols soak up a roster spot on another team.

WR Elijah Moore, Cleveland

Why: Still getting by on name cache more than substance, Moore has a running back-like stat line of 15-92-0 on the season with only one of five games accruing more than 20 yards. Moore is clearly behind Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy in the Cleveland passing game, which is miring in subpar play from Deshaun Watson. Moore is rostered almost universally in dynasty leagues and in too many sporadic redraft leagues, considering he would not even be a quality streaming option in Cooper or Jeudy were to miss time.

Deep Formats

*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*

RB Ronnie Rivers, LA Rams

Why: Rivers was an underrated RB2 to begin the season, and the era of optimism ended in Week 5. Blake Corum was the clear RB2 (as many expected this season) and looked the part mixing in with starter Kyren Williams. Rivers' lone appeal was his job title as the injury-away option to Williams and the RB2 in a quality offense. With the title gone from his desk, Rivers is an easy cut for greener situational pastures this week.

WR Bo Melton, Green Bay

Why: A speculation play with Christian Watson injured and Romeo Doubs suspended for Week 5, Melton blended into the background of Green Bay's deep wide receiver room with two yards and 12 yards. Melton is clearly behind Dontayvion Wicks, and Wicks is behind the 'big three' of Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs when they are healthy. Melton is a dangerous type of stash in dynasty leagues as a low-pedigree wide receiver on a blocked depth chart. These are Jeff Janis type of assets that can clog dynasty benches for years at a time if not careful.

TE Greg Dulcich, Denver

Why: Dulcich was a healthy scratch in Week 5, devolving all the way from a promising upside option in the offseason if healthy. Denver's passing game has been one of the worst in the NFL to open the season, and the tight end depth chart has been the lowlight of the entire offense on a per-route basis. Dulcich has not caught a pass since Week 2 and is yet to surpass 20 yards in a game this season.

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