Much of fantasy football in-season owner 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 resource. Cutting a player - or adding them to a trade - opens a roster spot for a key waiver wire addition or 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:
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: Newton is owned in 95% of MFL leagues and early Week 4 reporting is Kyle Allen start this week with the ambiguous tag of Cam Newton will be back when healthy, without much of a timeline expectation. Considering Newton was not running, his biggest fantasy boost, to start the season and struggling as a passer, there needs to be a giant leap on both fronts to regret shedding Newton during the waiting period for Newton to return in shallow formats.
Why: At 99% ownership on MFL, Johnson should be an auto-start weekly. However, Johnson is an expensive handcuff as Carlos Hyde dominates the rushes attempts the Houston passing game is packed with viable options at wide receiver (DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Kenny Stills) as well as two flashing tight ends in Week 3 (Darren Fells, Jordan Akins). Johnson is fighting for scraps unless Hyde misses time and Johnson is not a priority handcuff to hold in shallow redraft formats.
Robby Anderson
Why: At 91% ownership on MFL, Anderson enters his bye week plus Chris Herndon is close to returning to the lineup. The Jets offense is dealing with Luke Falk in the short term until Sam Darnold returns and only LeVeon Bell is surviving from a fantasy front to-date this season. Anderson also has Jamison Crowder pacing him in targets the past two weeks after more in Week 1. The Jets will struggle to support more than one middling fantasy pass-catcher at best, and Anderson is an uncertainty even within that lens.
Why: Graham is clearly not healthy, but battling through to the tune of the past two games and two empty targets. With a myriad of streaming options for shallow redraft formats with lower ownership (Will Dissly, Jason Witten, Chris Herndon soon to return from suspension to name a few), Graham is a roster albatross until further notice.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Mariota is still owned in 55% of MFL leagues and with Week 3 turning into the latest example of his deficiencies, Mariota needs to worry about his job security more than the upcoming schedule. The schedule is daunting by the way with Atlanta, Buffalo, Denver, and the Chargers over the next month. Plus, Tennessee is a decent team otherwise so Ryan Tannehill looming offers save-the-season potential merely by being average at the quarterback position.
Why: One of the buzz players in the offseason Thompson has barely sniffed the field through three games despite Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy both being dinged and missing time over the past two weeks. Thompson has six touches for 12 yards and is clearly behind Darrel Williams even for RB3 work when the depth chart is at full strength. Thompson could be one of the RB3/4 types on NFL depth charts to prioritize, but at this depth of league, there are clear RB2 depth chart options readily available.
Why: At 64% MFL ownership Goodwin has been barely on the radar with no more than three targets in any game this season, posting a rogue Week 2 touchdown for a decent performance. Deebo Samuel is the wide receiver, if there is one, and George Kittle the feature element of an offense which is dominating opponents on the ground. Goodwin enters his bye week with minimal reason to keep him for future use.
Why: Rudolph, a previous cut recommendation in shallow formats, now makes it to the medium depth level, still sporting a 74% MFL ownership rate. Rudolph has 4-20-0 on a meager six targets on the season and rookie Irv Smith is already flashing in his opening month. The Vikings have been a run-preferred offense as well, which would limit Rudolph's volume even if his snaps and market share within the position alone were stable (teaser, they are not).
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: Sam Darnold inches closer to returning and the Jets hit their early-season bye in Week 4. Falk has been forgettable on an equally-forgettable Jets passing game through 47 passes (essentially two games) with less than 300 yards and zero touchdowns. Falk also offers nothing as a runner as LeVeon Bell is the only fantasy-relevant player on the Jets offense pending Sam Darnold (or Chris Herndon) improving things in the coming week.
Why: Sproles is clearly behind Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard in the running back pecking order in Philadelphia, After 12 touches in Week 1, Sproles has four touches over the past two games combined. Sproles' fantasy outlook weekly hinges on an optimal red zone touch at best for a middling fantasy outcome. Outside of super deep best ball formats, Sproles is a low-upside hold where the juice is not worth the squeeze.
Why: Benjamin has been a shadow on a Chargers offense despite Hunter Henry out and Mike Williams dinged up by injury through three weeks. Benjamin has shown zero dynamic movement to his game, a former tenant of his game, and has lagged to a 4-17-0 stat line on 10 targets.
Why: Smith is an injury-away option on a stunted Tennessee passing game. Smith showed little in his extended fill-in time last season when Delanie Walker was out of the lineup. Smith is back to his reserve status with no positive framing, even if Walker were to miss a chunk of the remaining games, Smith would be a viable option outside the deepest of 2TE formats considering the quarterback level of play and competition for targets.
