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 2:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues.
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
RB Travis Etienne Jr., Saints
Why: A concerning trend for Etienne over the first two weeks is his lagging backfield share. In Week 1, Etienne did not secure even 50% of the team's running back carries or 50% of the team's routes. In Week 2, it was worse. Alvin Kamara returned, and Etienne lagged to 44% rushing and 33% route share. Shop before you drop, but Etienne is an anchor lacking upside in lineups until further notice, and a sabotage drop (hoping someone picks him up to play against you) is warranted here.
WR Keenan Allen, Colts
Why: Through two weeks, Allen has looked like a 'stick a fork in me' old wide receiver. Despite Alec Pierce's injury, it has been Josh Downs and even Laquon Treadwell who have stepped up to viability, not Allen. None of Allen's underlying utilization metrics point to a rising player. At best, Allen is a bye/injury fill-in, which has minimal appeal in shallower/stock formats.
TE Greg Dulcich, Dolphins
Why: After giving it two weeks, it is time to pull the parachute on Greg Dulcich. Despite Miami being in catch-up mode in both games and an extremely young/unproven wide receiver group, Dulcich looks like a shoulder-shrug TE2 at best in fantasy terms. Miami is dragging down De'Von Achane, which is a bad indicator for everyone else on the offense, as Achane is a strong RB1 if given even a neutral-level infrastructure. Dulcich and Darren Waller were tight end dart throws to stash for Week 1, with Waller rising to a must-hold and Dulcich waving to a must-cut.