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 3:
*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City
Why: Another week and another market share of a lead back for Isiah Pacheco, yet Kareem Hunt siphons a short-range touchdown, leaving Pacheco with a middling empty-calorie usage and a dud fantasy outing. Pacheco's RB27 Roster Rate is perplexing, as his ceiling is difficult to imagine with the Chiefs' offensive struggles and Hunt taking goal-line opportunities. Trading Pacheco for even a high-end backup running back like Tyler Allgeier or Blake Corum would be prudent.
WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville
Why: Travis Hunter has consistently functioned like the third wide receiver for Jacksonville in the offensive rotation. Dyami Brown exited in Week 3 with an injury. The result? Parker Washington jumped up in the hierarchy for additional routes, not Hunter. Hunter's role and utilization have devolved by the week, a quizzical development for the No. 2 pick, who has a running back-like stat line of 10-76-0 receiving on 16 targets. Hunter, uniquely, carries the risk of Jacksonville playing him more on defense at any time, whether due to Hunter's skills on that side of the ball or simply the team's needs.
TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh
Why: The Steelers' tight end duo was generally an avoid situation already with Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth splitting the starting role. In Week 3, Smith had seven more routes than Freiermuth, showing upside for Smith. This leads to further concern for Freiermuth as a hold as anything more than a high-end backup who needs an injury (to Smith) for viability.