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 4:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: Murray is a decent fantasy option, but not one to have sticky fingers with in shallow redraft formats. Murray has added rushing production over the past two weeks (69 and 27 yards respectively), but the passing game limitations - especially bogging down in the red zone - are noteworthy. Murray is owned in 95% of MFL leagues and is a middling streamer at best until further notice in start-1QB formats.
Why: The 49ers were on bye in Week 4, but the depth chart is a muddy mess for fantasy terms with Breida not seeing much red-zone work, Raheem Mostert playing well, and Tevin Coleman's return from injury looming in the coming weeks. Breida's upside is squeezed on multiple fronts and his balmy 98% MFL ownership represents minimal downside acknowledgment for shallow leagues considering the limited upside.
Why: In shallow formats, Metcalf's alarming drop in offensive involvement for Seattle the past two weeks, especially in Week 4 is enough to break roster ties against the rookie receiver. Jaron Brown and David Moore healthy have turned the rotation into a WR2-by-committee behind Tyler Lockett. Metcalf is a boom-bust option dependent on optimal deep contested targets to log a touchdown and a decent fantasy day - not a preferred profile for shallow leagues considering likely waiver wire and streaming options available.
Why: Ebron's inconsistency and lack of targets combination is concerning in shallow formats (or even moderate ones). Jack Doyle is healthy to limit Ebron's role and, even with T.Y. Hilton out in Week 4, Ebron needed a late-game touchdown to salvage his fantasy day. Ebron has yet to see more than five targets in a game and needs the perfect storm in terms of lack of competition for targets (a la 2018) to be worth a shallow league roster spot outside of a Doyle injury.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Keenum was supplanted in the first half against the Giants for a proclaimed-by-the-team-not-ready Dwayne Haskins in Week 4. Keenum devolved from a decent first two games into a trainwreck over the past game and a half to the tune of two touchdowns and four interceptions. With minimal wiggle room as a low-upside veteran, Keenum is a hold in only superflex formats as there is minimal upside in start-1QB formats even if Dwayne Haskins is not the starter for the rest of the season considering Washington's state of affairs.
Why: While a starter on paper, Peterson has four receiving yards on the season on a team likely to consistently face negative game script this season. Chris Thompson is the far better fantasy option fit with his passing game prowess and Peterson, even if Washington were to salt away a rare win, is a bet on at least one, if not two, touchdowns needed for an impactful fantasy performance.
Why: Stills injured his hamstring in Week 4 and was already firmly the WR3 behind DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Missing time for an ancillary target during the bye week gauntlet is a tough roster hold especially considering Stills' 14 targets in four games and being largely a handcuff to elevate to a bigger role.
Why: Burton has 41 yards over three healthy games this season and the Bears are rolling with a passing-game-by-committee feel. Burton is even on the low-end of the spectrum of said committee with 11 targets this season and averaging a meager 5.1 yards-per-catch. With a healthy Adam Shaheen and without multiple receiver injuries in the future, Burton is reserved for deep leagues until further notice.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: In start-1QB formats, Tannehill felt close to hitting the starting lineup for the Titans considering Marcus Mariota's struggles thus far. However, Mariota's big road win and functional performance likely buys him more starts and Tannehill on the pine for now. That could change with the Bills and Broncos up the next two weeks, but Tannehill is a luxury hold rather than a necessity in start-1QB formats.
Why: Hill was finally active in Week 4 against the Titans, but did not see the field for Atlanta on offense. Hill projects as multiple injuries away from fantasy lineup consideration with Ito Smith back from a concussion and Devonta Freeman healthy as well. Hill may be ahead of Qadree Ollison for the time being, but Hill is only a hold recommendation in the deepest of dynasty formats (at least 30 rosters spots and likely without Superflex or 2TE lineup elements).
Why: Hollins surged to 4-62-0 on seven targets in Week 3, the height of Philadelphia's injury report at wide receiver. Alshon Jeffery returned in Week 4 and, even with Nelson Agholor having a muted game and no DeSean Jackson, Hollins was a shadow. Hollins will be back to his special teams-only role soon after a clunky audition for more offensive involvement.
Why: LaCosse produced the proverbial doughnut stat line in Week 4 as the Patriots continue to ignore the tight end position this season. Ben Watson is also set to return from suspension to further complicate LaCosse rising from the ashes to a fantasy-relevant level. LaCosse is only a hold in the deepest of 2TE formats.
