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 4:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
QB Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Why: QB22 in Roster Rate. Carr surprisingly played this week and underwhelmed yet again. The quarterback has been the glaring anchor holding back the Saints' skill position talent this season. Carr offers nothing rushing-wise and has just one touchdown over the past three games without a stingy slate of defenses. The Patriots are up next, and Carr offers more downside than ceiling in fantasy until further notice.
RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Why: RB52 in Roster Rate. Hill was back in Week 4 but buried on the depth with Gus Edwards healthy as the RB1 and Melvin Gordon playing plenty alongside Hill in an ancillary role. Baltimore struggles to optimize the position with high-leverage opportunities already, so a murky depth chart softens the appeal of Hill even more.
WR Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs
Why: WR50 in Roster Rate. Moore has 112 yards and 15 targets in a month yet is rostered at a rate where even shallow leagues have Moore soaking up a bench spot. Moore is unstartable (18% start rate in Week 4) and has been shut out as a receiver twice in the opening month. Rashee Rice is the Chiefs receiver to bank on IF there is a breakout player. Moore's usage as a low-volume gadget option in Week 4 supports moving on in shallow formats.
TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Why: TE21 in Roster Rate. The healthy wide receivers and poor quarterback play both work against Juwan Johnson, who injured his calf in Week 4. Johnson was a breakout candidate before the season but has eroded from weekly starter to streamer to irrelevant and injured within a month.