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 9:

Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville

Why: The run of Travis Etienne Jr.'s game-time decisions turning into inactive status ended in Week 9. Etienne's return to the lineup resulted in five touches, Tank Bigsby's market share being largely unaffected, and Etienne having a 12% rushing share and 34% route share in the backfield. Week 10 is critical for another data point to see if Etienne's Week 9 was merely a ramp-up game or if there has been a changing of the guard for the starting role. With market value slipping from Etienne, Week 10 is a risk not worth taking by holding Etienne.

RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas

Why: Mattison has underwhelmed of late with Zamir White taking a goal-line touchdown away after returning to the lineup and Ameer Abdullah nearly doubling the routes of Mattison in Week 9. This is in addition to the Raiders generally struggling on offense and giving Desmond Ridder a shot under center last week. Dylan Laube is interesting later in the season when Las Vegas is firmly looking ahead to 2025. Until then, this backfield is a mess week to week, and Mattison seeing a reduction in receiving work is a significant step back.

RB Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay

Why: Sean Tucker has devolved instantly back to a sparse player in their running back rotation after his massive Week 6 performance (192 total yards, two touchdowns) as Tampa Bay ran over the Saints. Rachaad White is the clear receiving option, and Bucky Irving has the rushing edge, leaving Tucker as the third wheel of minimal weekly import. With a Week 11 bye, even if a White or Irving injury occurs this week, there is additional time for recovery and Tucker to still not benefit from a larger role in Week 12. Tucker was rightfully a hold following Week 6, but three games of reinforcement of him being solidly third on the depth chart is enough time to soak up the sun on fantasy benches.

WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis

Why: Alec Pierce has been a dud for a month straight, despite a quarterback change and averaging four targets per game to provide deep opportunities. Josh Downs' elevation has hurt Pierce's involvement, which has dwindled to a 13% target per route run without a massive pop from Michael Pittman Jr or Adonai Mitchell's routes increasing of late. The schedule is also firmly against Pierce with only one target matchup remaining (Week 12, Detroit); otherwise, a bevy of avoid matchups litter the remaining slate for Colts wide receivers and Alec Pierce.

Medium Depth

*18-22 roster spots*

QB Daniel Jones, NY Giants

Why: Week 10 is Daniel Jones' potential last stand. Jones has significant contract ramifications with an injury and future commitment from the Giants. Drew Lock is likely to see a chunk of starts to end the season, and the Giants will be on bye in Week 11 as well. Unless streaming Jones in Week 10, specifically against Carolina, this is Jones' last moments before typical trade deadlines to work a deal or transition elsewhere.

RB Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay

Why: Chris Brooks' rise to challenge Emanuel Wilson for the RB2 role in recent weeks has been a quick journey. Brooks had more snaps and routes than Wilson in Week 9, and now, they are entering their bye week. Flimsy backup running back bets for a clarified role (especially with low pedigree) are the perfect churn players entering their bye week or even the week before. Wilson is the quintessential "float" player this week as Josh Jacobs is unlikely to get hurt this week (on bye), and Wilson may not even be the clarified option once the team returns in Week 11 or there is a potential chance for a streaming start in Week 12 at the earliest.

TE Dalton Schultz, Houston

Why: Despite a litany of injuries for the Texans to create opportunities for Dalton Schultz, the veteran tight end has not taken advantage this season. Schultz has one game of more than 35 yards and is yet to score a touchdown. This on a team with C.J. Stroud at the helm and Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs missing a swath of the season. Schultz is a known floor play, but even the floor has been a question mark with five of nine games with five or fewer PPR points. Nico Collins is set to return in the next week or two, Houston bye is still in front of them (Week 14), and the best aSOS tight end matchup left (Kansas City) for Schultz is not until Week 16.

Deep Formats

*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*

WR Kayshon Boutte, New England

Why: The big plays have dried up in recent weeks for Kayshon Boutte, leaving his weak 1.04 yards per route run and 11% target per route run on the season. Boutte has run more routes of late, including a whopping 52 in Week 9. But Demario Douglas continues to run circles around Boutte, and Kendrick Bourne is getting up to speed by the week.

TE Hayden Hurst, LA Chargers

Why: Will Dissly excelled in Hayden Hurst's absence, with Hurst returning to the lineup in Week 9. The result was Dissly with more routes than Hurst (23 vs. 5) and an edge in targets (3 vs. 1). Hurst has yet to eclipse five points in a game this season. His most appealing moment was Week 6, when Dissly was projected to miss the game and Hurst exited early with an injury himself. 

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