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 13:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
QB Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Why: QB20 in Roster Rate. It has been five weeks since Carr has logged a 20-point fantasy game, and much of this season has been Carr underwhelming despite a drove of weapons around him. Carr is now working through the concussion protocol for Week 14, making him unlikely to play. The Giants and Rams are neutral matchups awaiting Carr to open the fantasy playoffs if Carr is back.
RB Devin Singletary, Houston Texans
Why: RB31 in Roster Rate. Dameon Pierce returning to a full split of the backfield is a significant downgrade for Singletary. Pierce dominated the rushing split in Week 13 and Singletary's 40% route share is sub-optimal considering Houston is No.31 on the season in HLO (High-Leverage Opportunity) score. Singletary has 12 and 9 touches the past two weeks and is more of an injury-away option than a clarified lineup option until further notice.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Why: RB40 in Roster Rate. Cordarrelle Patterson has challenged Tyler Allgeier for the RB2 role in recent weeks and is winning the battle. Allgeier has zero receptions in five of his last eight games (six receptions total), and Patterson had four times Allgeier's routes in Week 13. Allgeier has devolved from a clarified RB2 to a committee back (or worse) if Bijan Robinson were to miss a game down the stretch.
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Why: TE20 in Roster Rate. Henry has been getting by on name value all season. After 11-108-2 on 13 targets over the first two games of the season, Henry has one game of more than 10 PPR points since and 21 receptions in the 10 games since Week 2. The Patriots are a weekly guessing game for the starting quarterback, got shut out by the lowly Chargers defense in Week 13, and the Steelers and Chiefs offer tough tight end matchups the next two weeks.