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 8:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Why: While the starter by title and playing first in the game, Harris is being squeezed by Rhamondre Stevenson by the game. Harris has not seen more than two targets in a game since Week 3 and has just 47 receiving yards on the season, and Stevenson has started squeezing Harris for carries in recent games as well. Harris is more of a primary backup in his usage than a starter, let alone a fantasy starter for shallow formats.
RB Michael Carter, New York Jets
Why: With Breece Hall out and James Robinson newly acquired in Week 8, Carter had a golden opportunity for his peak usage going forward. The result was fewer than 50% of the routes and just 7-of-15 running back carries against the Patriots. 61 total yards on 11 touches was his net result. James Robinson is poised to rise in prominence in future weeks and already saw six carries to Carter's seven in his protracted debut of just 13 snaps.
RB Jeffery Wilson, San Francisco 49ers
Why: Christian McCaffrey is fully incorporated into the offense and Wilson is the RB2, for now. Elijah Mitchell is projected to return in the Week 10 zone, and Wilson would be fighting for the RB2 role with Mitchell. Wilson should be treated as more of a medium-depth format roster spot and not for shallow leagues.