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 12:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues.
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland
Why: Winston faced his toughest matchup yet in Week 12 (Steelers) and floundered to 219 passing yards and an interception. The next two weeks are equally as difficult with Denver and Pittsburgh (again) on tap. Winston is most likely a bye-week or backup option, and the matchups point to staying away even before adding the risk that a poor start opens up the possibility Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaces Winston in-game to thwart fantasy lineups.
RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh
Why: Risk abounds with Najee Harris entering the closing fantasy weeks. Jaylen Warren is back to his vibrant self, and the near-even backfield split in Pittsburgh has returned. Warren dominated the route share (53% of the team total to Harris' 28%) in Week 12, and Harris saw only five more carries than Warren. Harris is a touchdown-centric play until further notice (or a Warren injury) rather than a lineup lock in more shallow formats. Finally, the Steelers have the most daunting remaining strength of schedule among running backs with no target matchups and the Chiefs lingering in Week 17 as the cherry on top as an avoid matchup.
TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay
Why: TE7 in Roster Rate, Otton enjoyed a massive run of production in Weeks 7-9 with no Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. In Week 12, Evans returned, and Otton had a single reception on just three targets. Tampa Bay is optimizing their drove of running backs as well. Otton is the perfect trade candidate for an underrated option (plus an upgrade elsewhere) like Jonnu Smith, Tucker Kraft, or Evan Engram.
Medium Depth
*18-22 roster spots*
RB Dameon Pierce, Houston
Why: Relegated to special teams work of late, Dameon Pierce is firmly behind Dare Ogunbowale for the RB2 role in Houston. Also, Houston has Kansas City and Baltimore in Weeks 16-17, the money weeks in most fantasy leagues should injuries mount and leave Pierce as the last healthy Houston back standing.
RB Dylan Laube, Las Vegas
Why: Dylan Laube was a worthwhile speculation add last week with injuries throughout the Raiders' running back depth chart. Alexander Mattison and Zamir White being out paved the way for Laube to see an opportunity on offense. The result, however, was Laube played on special teams with Ameer Abdullah as the starter and Sincere McCormick as the RB2 on game day. Outside of dynasty leagues and stashing for the offseason, Laube is a fish to toss back into the waiver wire ocean this week.
TE Dalton Schultz, Houston
Why: Cade Stover's Week 12 performance (3-26-1 on 4 targets) of 11.6 PPR points was better than any Dalton Schultz game this season. This despite Schultz being a full-time starter and attached to a quality quarterback. Schultz has not found the end zone all season or hit 10 PPR points in a game. Schultz has been the epitome of finding a replaceable floor play with no ceiling. This is despite Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins both missing significant time.
Deep Formats
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
RB Carson Steele, Kansas City
Why: Carson Steele has made minimal progress to move up from RB3 on the Chiefs' running back ladder in recent weeks. Isiah Pacheco is set to return from the injured reserve to make a rise even more daunting for the undrafted rookie. Steele has been used like a fullback more than a traditional running back as well to cloud his future development into a fantasy factor.
RB JaMycal Hasty, New England
Why: JaMycal Hasty challenged and usurped Antonio Gibson for the RB2 role in New England for a moment in time earlier this season. That was very short-lived as Hasty has receded to the clear RB3 role in recent weeks and Gibson has surged to challenge Rhamondre Stevenson for lead back touches. Hasty is a fringe NFL talent at this stage of his career and with minimal market value upside as a stash player.
TE Davis Allen, LA Chargers
Why: Davis Allen's rise as the Rams' starter has been stunted by historically poor per-route performance in recent weeks. For the season, Allen has a bench-worthy (or NFL cut-worthy) 0.35 yards per route run and 11% target per route run. Colby Parkinson was one of the least inspiring streaming candidates in the early weeks of the season and sits at 1.03 yards per route run on the year (nearly triple that of Allen) as a point of reference.
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