Much of fantasy football 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 2:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Dalvin Cook, New York Jets
Why: RB21 in Roster Rate, Cook has struggled mightily this season with 17-40-0 rushing and adding a mere four targets as a receiver. With Aaron Rodgers out and Breece Hall more involved than projected back in August, Cook is a committee back on a weak offense. Treat him like an injury-away option and a questionable shallow roster spot.
RB Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Why: Down to RB24 in Roster Rate heading into Week 2, Akers was a healthy scratch in favor of Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers in Week 2. Let's not forget Akers was in the dog house last season and a trade candidate before rebounding to be the Week 1 starter in 2023. Akers was ineffective in Week 1 before devolving to a healthy scratch.
WR Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams
Why: Through two games, Jefferson has been lapped by Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. It does not even matter if Cooper Kupp returns, as Jefferson has been one of the worst receivers in the NFL, earning targets on his routes and gaining yards on his routes. Jefferson is rostered at a rate where he is a shallow league cut but warrants moving away from in medium-depth leagues, too.
TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Why: TE17 in Roster Rate, Schultz is the proverbial 'road to nowhere' for fantasy upside. Houston's passing game is thriving due to volume and overt catch-up mode through two weeks. However, Schultz has posted a barely-there 6-38-0 stat line on 11 targets. Schultz was down to 75% route share in Week 2, and a darkhorse factor to monitor is Brevin Jordan playing 15% of routes and arguably being the best passing option on the depth chart in Houston. Also, Tank Dell and Nico Collins producing well pinches the tight ends from upside overall.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
RB Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts
Why: Jackson turned invisible this week with Zack Moss back in the lineup as the clear starter. As the weeks dwindle before Jonathan Taylor is projected to return, and Jackson is behind Moss in the meantime. Add Jackson's poor Week 1 with a strong market share of the backfield, and Jackson is a deep league stash only.