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 9:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Why: RB33 in Roster Rate. Quizzically, Sanders remains on more fantasy rosters than Chuba Hubbard, despite Hubbard playing over Sanders for multiple weeks now and firmly so in the passing game. Sanders saw a paltry nine touches in the loss to Indianapolis and has a string of tough matchups after Week 10 against Chicago, with the presumption Hubbard is the starter again next week.
RB Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs
Why: RB48 in Roster Rate. McKinnon has been held tightly on fantasy rosters despite scoring double-digit fantasy points in one game this season, and his high-water mark for touches is a middling five in a game. McKinnon enters his Week 10 bye, an ideal chance to pull the rip cord for a true injury-away running back with upside in a given week to turn into a clarified starter.
WR K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
Why: WR50 in Roster Rate. Osborn sustained a concussion in Week 9 and is an iffy bet to play in Week 10 against the Saints. Add Justin Jefferson's possible return, and Osborn is a fringe roster spot in shallower formats. Even with a clarified opportunity, Osborn has 10+ PPR points just once since Week 2.
TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Why: TE18 in Roster Rate. Higbee was invisible in Week 9 with a single target as Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Tutu Atwell each gobbled up 25% of the team targets. Higbee's single-game high this season is 12.1 PPR points, and he has not hit double-digits since Week 4. Higbee is not worth holding through his Week 10 bye week in shallower formats.