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 7:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Devin Singletary, NY Giants
Why: RB31 in Roster Rate, Singletary returned from injury, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. remained the clear starter for the Giants. Singletary was one of the most uninspired projected starters through the offseason, and Tracy ran with his opportunity in Weeks 5-6. With upside paramount to shallow league roster spots, Singletary falls into the modest zone of backup running backs and is not an assumed player to retain with the Steelers up in Week 9.
RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland
Why: With Nick Chubb back in the lineup, Ford is the projected RB2 once back on the active roster. The Browns struggle to maintain offense, and Amari Cooper's departure also adds to the hurdles for Cleveland to stick with the run game in any matchup. Pierre Strong Jr is a plus receiver and would squeeze the valuable catch-up mode receptions from Ford even if Chubb missed time in future weeks. Ford, like Singletary, is more of a moderate league stash than shallower redraft formats.
RB Dameon Pierce, Houston
Why: The projected split if Joe Mixon were to miss time would be pronounced between Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale. Pierce would need a touchdown for a decent fantasy performance as Ogunbowale would siphon away much of the passing game work. Cam Akers' departure aids Pierce's role clarity, but Ogunbowale is the bigger threat to Pierce's three-down upside.
WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee
Why: Compared to the contract given in the offseason, Ridley has been the most disappointing wide receiver this season. While Will Levis has been a factor, Ridley mired in a 3-42-0 stat line on nine targets in Week 7 with Mason Rudolph. Tyler Boyd, DeAndre Hopkins, and even Nick Westbrook-Ihkine all have had more moments or relevance than Ridley, who has 12 catches over six games. Ridley's catches versus targets is the wide receiver equivalent of Anthony Richardson.