Cutting the Cord: Week 12

Photo: Ed Mulholland, USA Today Sports

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 11:

*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*

SHALLOW FORMATS

*15-18 roster spots*

RB Nyheim Hines, Buffalo Bills

Why: The RB48 in Roster Rate at nearly 70%, Hines is an ancillary RB2 with the rise of James Cook in Buffalo following their bye week. Hines has been more of a special teams contributor than on offense since his acquisition, yet Hines' Roster Rate points to being on plenty of shallow redraft rosters.

RB Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

Why: The "starter" by moniker for seeing the opening snaps of the game, but Cam Akers and Kyren Williams dominated the snap share in Week 11 for the uninspiring offense of the Rams. Even if sharpshooting the clear starter, the upside for shallow formats is minimal.

RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles

Why: The combination of being a pass-centric back on a team near the bottom of the NFL in running back targets per game is a rough situation for Gainwell. Even if Miles Sanders misses time, look for Boston Scott to siphon away enough opportunities from Gainwell to make holding Gainwell sub-optimal in all but deeper and/or dynasty formats.

TE Tyler Conklin, New York Jets

Why: The Jets' passing game has torpedoed south in recent weeks, aligning with Zach Wilson's continued struggles for a Year 2 boost in his progression. Conklin has one game of more than 8.2 PPR points since Week 3 and this is with Corey Davis missing time. Conklin's trend line is fading from the streaming radar with two tough matchups over the next three weeks as well.

MEDIUM DEPTH

*18-22 roster spots*

RB Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts

Why: Moss is still mired in the RB3 role, sparsely playing in Week 11. Deon Jackson is healthy and back in the RB2 role, and Jonathan Taylor is a full go as the starter as well. Moss is officially in nomad mode of his career, attempting to catch hold for multiple seasons, which as a try-hard back without overt traits, poses a challenge for Moss beyond 2022.