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 Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville
Why: The run of Travis Etienne Jr.'s game-time decisions turning into inactive status ended in Week 9. Etienne's return to the lineup resulted in five touches, Tank Bigsby's market share being largely unaffected, and Etienne having a 12% rushing share and 34% route share in the backfield. Week 10 is critical for another data point to see if Etienne's Week 9 was merely a ramp-up game or if there has been a changing of the guard for the starting role. With market value slipping from Etienne, Week 10 is a risk not worth taking by holding Etienne.
RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas
Why: Mattison has underwhelmed of late with Zamir White taking a goal-line touchdown away after returning to the lineup and Ameer Abdullah nearly doubling the routes of Mattison in Week 9. This is in addition to the Raiders generally struggling on offense and giving Desmond Ridder a shot under center last week. Dylan Laube is interesting later in the season when Las Vegas is firmly looking ahead to 2025. Until then, this backfield is a mess week to week, and Mattison seeing a reduction in receiving work is a significant step back.
RB Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay
Why: Sean Tucker has devolved instantly back to a sparse player in their running back rotation after his massive Week 6 performance (192 total yards, two touchdowns) as Tampa Bay ran over the Saints. Rachaad White is the clear receiving option, and Bucky Irving has the rushing edge, leaving Tucker as the third wheel of minimal weekly import. With a Week 11 bye, even if a White or Irving injury occurs this week, there is additional time for recovery and Tucker to still not benefit from a larger role in Week 12. Tucker was rightfully a hold following Week 6, but three games of reinforcement of him being solidly third on the depth chart is enough time to soak up the sun on fantasy benches.
WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis
Why: Alec Pierce has been a dud for a month straight, despite a quarterback change and averaging four targets per game to provide deep opportunities. Josh Downs' elevation has hurt Pierce's involvement, which has dwindled to a 13% target per route run without a massive pop from Michael Pittman Jr or Adonai Mitchell's routes increasing of late. The schedule is also firmly against Pierce with only one target matchup remaining (Week 12, Detroit); otherwise, a bevy of avoid matchups litter the remaining slate for Colts wide receivers and Alec Pierce.