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*
RB James Robinson, New York Jets
Why: RB32 in Roster Rate, Robinson was a healthy scratch in Week 12 and has not looked explosive as this season has progressed. Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight both played well in Week 12 in Michael Carter's absence in-game, questioning Robinson's upside even if Michael Carter were to miss time and making Robinson more of a deeper redraft roster spot than a shallow recommendation.
WR Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals
Why: Boyd has failed to take advantage of JaMarr Chase's absence in recent weeks, and his WR27 Roster Rate points to being essentially on rosters regardless of redraft depth. Boyd has 19.2 PPR points over the past three games combined, and Chase is projected to return in Week 13.
WR Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears
Why: WR45 in Roster Rate, Claypool has been worse in Chicago than Pittsburgh. Claypool has 15.7 PPR points over his four games with the Bears and has yet to collect more than two passes in a single game. Even with Darnell Mooney out in future weeks, Claypool is a medium-depth play, not a shallow format option.
TE Robert Tonyan Jr, Green Bay Packers
Why: TE18 in Roster Rate, Tonyan has faded from streaming appeal in recent weeks. Tonyan has one game with more than 10 PPR points on the season, and 35 yards is his high-water mark over the past six games. With Christian Watson healthy and Randall Cobb back, Tonyan's competition for targets is high.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
RB Matt Breida, New York Giants
Why: Gary Brightwell is playing well and certainly better than his invisible 2021 rookie season. Brightwell impedes Breida's chances of a foundation back role should Saquon Barkley miss time to close the season. Breida shifts down in the hierarchy of backup running backs and requires 28 or more roster spots to secure a bench spot in most cases.
RB Eno Benjamin, Houston Texans
Why: Benjamin had another healthy scratch in Week 12 and has shown no signs of moving up the Houston depth chart since arriving via trade. Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale are both strong pass-catchers, squeezing Benjamin even if a part of a committee if Dameon Pierce were out in future weeks.
RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Why: Gus Edwards returned in Week 12, and the combination of Edwards and Kenyan Drake siphoned nearly all of the backfield work away from Justice Hill. As the RB3 on a depth chart that does not throw to the position as a whole, Hill is a dynasty talent speculation bet for the future far more than worth holding in redraft-centric settings.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
RB David Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Why: Mark Ingram is nearing his return, which would signal an abandon ship roster spot action for Johnson, who barely found an opportunity on an NFL depth chart this season.
RB Trestan Ebner, Chicago Bears
Why: Darrynton Evans ran with the RB2 job in Week 12, making Ebner a distant memory with Khalil Herbert still out. Evans played well and out-snapped Ebner 18-to-1 and had 16 opportunities (routes plus carries) compared to just one for Ebner.
TE Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Why: D.J. Moore and Terrace Marshall have both flashed in recent weeks, as Tremble has shown minimal progress in Year 2. The Round 3 pick averages fewer than 10 yards per reception, totaling 11 catches for the season. Add in quarterback questions entering the offseason, and Tremble is a 2TE format stash only.
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