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Much of fantasy football in-season owner 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 resource. Cutting a player - or adding them to a trade - opens a roster spot for a key waiver wire addition or flexibility to keep a currently injured player through a missed game or two. Here are the key players to cut or trade after Week 11:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: On 89% of MFL rosters, Fitzpatrick's hot start through three games has morphed into six touchdowns over his past four outings compared to five interceptions and puzzling decision-making in scoring range. The schedule is dicey with the Giants and 49ers below-average quarterback matchups the following two weeks plus Fitzpatrick is at risk to get benched at any time. Add a tough Baltimore matchup in Week 15 and Fitzpatrick offers less utility than most fantasy GMs can to acknowledge.
Why: Leonard Fournette is back and healthy, plus Carlos Hyde would be the primary early-down option even if Fournette were to miss time again. Yeldon is a low-ceiling handcuff relying on receiving production down the stretch plus Jacksonville only has two good adjusted running back matchups left. Yeldon is not an optimized roster spot in shallow leagues and yet is on 98% of MFL rosters.
Why: Agholor has not surpassed 13 PPR points since Week 2 and Golden Tate is just beginning to be incorporated in the Eagles' passing game. Agholor is already behind Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz in the pecking order and is on too many MFL rosters (77%) for an ancillary option with a tempered weekly ceiling.
Why: On 70% of MFL rosters, Watson's snaps have not eclipsed 50% in over a month now. As a possible streamer, Watson's appeal is based on a rogue touchdown or end zone target, not optimal for shallow leagues. Add Brandon Marshall as potential competition for similar targets over the middle of the field and in the red zone and Watson is reserved for deeper leagues.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: The Raiders are bottoming out for the rest of the season and 2019 may not even be some substantial turnaround. Carr is the focal point has Jared Cook is clearly the best weapon in the passing game and he is an inconsistent career underachiever. Even in the microcosm view, Oakland gets stingy Arizona and Baltimore for quarterback matchups the next two weeks.
Why: Clement's involvement in the Eagles' running back committee has sagged of late, plus Josh Adams has shown the best of the trio if there is more of a market share available for one option. The Eagles have morphed into a pass-happy offense anyway to limit the upside of the running game. Clement is still on 71% of MFL rosters and may not even be an injury away from being viable for fantasy lineups as a flex option.
Keelan Cole
Why: Cole is on 58% of MFL rosters but has been a shadow since his Week 2 breakout game of 7-116-1. Cole has 39 total receiving yards over his past three games and the Week 2 touchdown is his only score of the season. Cole has eroded to not see a single target in Week 10.
Why: While not cuttable in dynasty formats, Gesicki has shown little to inspire confidence in an uptick of production to finish the season. Gesicki is arguably closer to third on the Miami tight end pecking order than first and Gesicki has not seen 50% or more of the snaps since the opening month.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: On 29% of MFL rosters, Dorsett is clearly behind Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman even on his best games in New England's passing game. Dorsett has a mere nine targets over the last six games as an early-season wonder in terms of impact.
Why: Pryor is running on fumes in terms of NFL chances, landing with the Bills midseason. Pryor is still on 26% of MFL rosters despite Pryor being closer to being out of the NFL than emerging as a fantasy viable receiver in the coming weeks. Pryor will be tough to validate holding through the offseason as well.
Why: Williams has soaked up snaps all season without a whiff of impact (4-34-0 on eight targets has been his highest involvement). Williams has struggled on the perimeter and Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald are dominating targets elsewhere on the field. Despite his late Day 2 draft pedigree, Williams is on track to be a bust, mirroring his questionable metric profile entering the NFL.
Why: Gates has eroded from even being a touchdown-dependent option in deep leagues. Gates has a single touchdown on the season and the past two weeks have been the lowest two-week snap rate for Gates all season. Unless starting Gates in a diabolical two-tight end format, Gates is waiver wire material.