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 5:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues.
Shallow Formats
15-18 roster spots
QB Kirk Cousins, Raiders
Why: The hot start for Cousins and the Raiders has faded in recent weeks. Three straight weeks of three touchdowns for Cousins, a 3-0 record, and being one of the surprise teams in the NFL has turned into back-to-back losses, three total touchdowns for Cousins, and Fernando Mendoza seeing his first NFL action in the blowout loss to the depleted-in-the-secondary Patriots. The Bills and Rams offer little reprieve for the Raiders over the next two weeks, and by midseason, with the 49ers, Seahawks, and Broncos all on the schedule by Week 11, point to Cousins struggling more. QB19 in Roster Rate, Cousins is more of a bye-week option than a stable weekly starter.
RB David Montgomery, Texans
Why: Houston's run game has been a punchline this season as they are in the bottom bucket of HLO (high-leverage opportunities) for the position. Add a weak offensive line and split backfield and, outside of extreme consolidation, both David Montgomery and Woody Marks are avoid options for lineups. Montgomery picked up a groin injury in Week 5, pointing to a shot for Woody Marks in a consolidated role if Montgomery misses time.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals
Why: Allgeier was viewed like a spot starter approaching Week 1 with a high ankle injury sustained by Jeremiyah Love during the preseason. However, Love saw 13 touches in Week 1 and has not missed a game yet. The Cardinals were also viewed as a potential offense with regular fireworks and a shot to have two fantasy-relevant running backs. The pair are averaging 17 PPG combined, with neither in the top 25 in PPG to finish Week 5. The Cardinals have finished in the bottom 10 of the weekly HLO rankings three of the past four weeks and are below average in running back targets and goal-line carries on the season. Even with the lead role uncontested, Allgeier might be a low RB2 outcome. At RB39 in Roster Rate, Allgeier is rostered more than Mike Washington Jr., Kaelon Black, and Emmett Johnson.