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 8:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland
Why: Jerome Ford's injury coincided with Nick Chubb's return to the starting role. Add in Cleveland's Week 10 bye and Ford is a multi-week hold on the prospect of being an injury-away option later in the season. Ford is one of the sub-optimal backup running backs to roster in shallow formats on multiple levels.
RB Zamir White, Las Vegas
Why: Zamir White at RB49 in Roster Rate is one of the more perplexing data points at running back. Considering White languished as the starter early in the season, missed time, and now has returned to a clear backup role, White makes little sense as a bench spot. white has six touches over the past two games since his return.
WR Tutu Atwell, LA Rams
Why: WR65 in Roster Rate, Atwell plummeted in involvement with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back from injury in Week 8. Atwell was barely on the field as the WR4/5 in the rotation and both Kupp and Nacua emerged without an injury setback. Atwell is a drop in shallow and moderate-depth leagues as a result.
WR Diontae Johnson, Baltimore
Why: Johnson exits a Carolina environment where he has dominated targets on a per-route basis this season, especially with Andy Dalton. Now, Johnson enters Baltimore, where Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews are entrenched elements and Baltimore is already a below-expected pass rate offense. Strangely, Johnson's dynasty trade valuation is up with the trade to Baltimore.
Medium Depth
*18-22 roster spots*
RB Cam Akers, Minnesota
Why: Back with the Vikings, Akers is ideally challenging Ty Chandler for the RB2 role later this season. Given the lack of clarity with his role or potential upside for the rest of the season, Akers is reserved for deeper rosters (think 28+ roster spots) or dynasty teams looking ahead to the offseason.
RB Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay
Why: Wilson is one of the concerning backup running backs in the evaluation coming out of Week 8. Wilson ceded time to Chris Brooks (newly added by the Packers) in the RB2/3 rotation behind Josh Jacobs. Wilson also has the fragility of MarShawn Lloyd returning (eventually) and being given every opportunity to win the RB2 role once healthy. Wilson's appeal in the short term of being the clear RB2 is very much in question heading into Week 9.
WR Trey Palmer, Tampa Bay
Why: Palmer was one of the clear potential benefactors with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin being out. In Week 8 the result was 2-29-0 on a meager two targets. In short, there was no difference for Palmer as he averaged 0.82 yards per route run on the season, which was right in line with his career average. Palmer, along with Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan, have been massive disappointments this season.
Deep Formats
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
RB D'Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville
Why: D'Ernest Johnson's prospects of splitting the backfield with Tank Bigsby have waned in recent weeks. Travis Etienne Jr. has been a consistent (and dreaded) game-time decision but trending towards returning (finally) in Week 9.
WR Zay Jones, Arizona
Why: Jones' return in Week 7 resulted in minimal involvement in the Arizona offense, totaling two targets and three yards over two games. Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch will be significant hurdles to the requisite routes to be fantasy-relevant.
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