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 15:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues.
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh
Why: Kenneth Gainwell has surged in recent weeks within the Steelers' backfield, splitting all the way to seeing more snaps, routes, and carries than Warren in Week 15. This was despite a game with a positive game script against Miami. Gainwell would be even more preferred in the rotation with catch-up mode enabled. Warren is a low-upside option, and the schedule has Detroit and Cleveland remaining, both negative running back matchups and a decent chance for a negative game script, pointing towards Gainwell.
RB Ken Walker III, Seattle
Why: The concept of a "revenge drop" has come into vogue in recent years. The idea is to drop a notable player who sounds like a quality pickup and start, but in reality is more likely to hurt your fantasy matchup chances. Walker is a prime example. As a big name, it sounds crazy to drop Walker, but the pitch is: Seattle is a full-blown committee where Zach Charbonnet is more likely to get goal-line carries in a particular game than Walker. Plus, the team is 32nd (yes, last) in running back targets. Where does that leave Walker? A flimsy case for predictable upside. I would welcome my opponent to pick up and start Walker against me, especially against the Rams in Week 16, hence a revenge drop to tempt my leaguemates and, hopefully, my opponent in the fantasy semifinals.
WR Tre Tucker, Las Vegas
Why: Tre Tucker has been living off of his 40-point barrage in Week 4 for far too long. Tucker has yet to hit 15 points in a game since Week 4 and has devolved along with the rest of the Raiders' offense in recent weeks. Tucker has 15 points total over the past month, despite seeing 21 targets over the span. The Raiders draw the elite Houston defense in Week 16. Finally, ask yourself with your final flex or wide receiver spot, if you do lose, do you want it to be betting on the Raiders' offense to show something different than nearly all of their games and data points this season?
