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 7:
*Roster Rate referencing the percentage of myfantasyleague.com fantasy leagues where the player is rostered*
SHALLOW FORMATS
*15-18 roster spots*
Why: Newton has survived through his rushing production this season (nearly 50 yards per game, 1.0 rushing TDs per game). However, the New England passing game has been a rough watch with Newton on pace for less than 3,000 yards with five more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (2). Newton is QB13 in Roster Rate with a road game against Buffalo up next. Newton is a middling streamer at best in shallow formats.
Why: With a 60% Roster Rate, Johnson is surviving based on name cache and a good chunk of dynasty league teams holding on. Johnson is a distant RB3 in the Lions rotation and has not seen more than five touches in a game since Week 2, bottoming out with no touches in Week 7. Unless Johnson gets traded before the NFL deadline, Johnson is multiple injuries away from lineup consideration for the rest of 2020.
Darius Slayton
Why: Sterling Shepard returned this week, paired with Golden Tate already active and Darius Slayton saw four targets (13% market share) for the Giants. Slayton has a 90% Roster Rate and at best is the third in line for the target pecking order, contending with Golden Tate within the offense, which is middling at best. Slayton is a trade target (upgrade at another position, can probably shift to A.J. Green+ or Brandon Aiyuk, Corey Davis, etc. in redraft).
D.J. Chark
Why: Chark enters a bye week and Jacksonville has an unsettled quarterback situation with Gardner Minshew on the weekly hot seat now to potentially be yanked. Mike Glennon would be a drain on the Jaguars passing game and Jake Luton is a low-pedigree unknown if the position shifts that direction later in the season. The Jaguars have a 'spread it around' style offense and Laviska Shenault, Chris Conley, and Keelan Cole all have their moments as the feature element. If looking towards the fantasy playoff schedule for Chark to be an impact, the quarterback situation looms as well as Baltimore and Chicago on the docket in Weeks 15-16.
MEDIUM DEPTH
*18-22 roster spots*
Why: Dalton has needed 73 passes over his two starts to log even 341 yards (4.7 yards-per-attempt) with three interceptions. A concussion in Week 7 clouds his Week 8 availability, but the Eagles and Steelers the next two weeks would push the struggling Cowboys off the Dalton streaming radar. A Week 10 bye points to Week 11 (Minnesota) as the next possible usage for Dalton in lineups outside of deeper premium formats.
Why: Gore is a fantasy roster spot trap who cannot be started, cut, or traded. Gore is the starter by tag line for the Jets, but Lamical Perine is the fantasy option with actual upside to be impactful for lineups. Gore saw 11 empty touches (nothing near the goal line, zero receptions). The Chiefs are a lock for negative game script next week as well. Gore remains above a 50% Roster Rate.
NKeal Harry
Why: Harry exited early in Week 7 with a head injury, but he has been a massive disappointment overall and is in a critical Year 2 either way. Harry had a volume-infused decent Week 2 (8-72-0) on 12 targets, double that of any other game this season. Harry is averaging fewer than 10 yards per catch and 30 yards per game and this is with Julian Edelman taking a massive step back in 2020 and minimal tight end presence in the passing game. Harry is a run for the exit dynasty trade asset and a safe drop in redraft.
Why: Brate is an injury-away from viability with Rob Gronkowski but he is averaging 7.4 yards-per-catch on the season and Tampa Bay is healthy in the passing game at wide receiver plus adding Antonio Brown. Brate would be a flimsy streamer even if Gronkowski were out due to the team's crowded running back and wide receiver positions for touches.
DEEP FORMATS
*25+ roster spots, more dynasty-focused*
Why: LeVeon Bell enters the Chiefs running back rotation and Williams is now a shadow for even and injury-away viability. Williams has a 31% Roster Rate but is multiple injuries away and would still have to be preferred over Darwin Thompson and DeAndre Washington in said instance. Williams is reserved for more close to 35+ roster spots for dynasty consideration.
Why: Homer has a 17% Roster Rate but is behind Chris Carson (the early report is Week 7 injury is not considered serious), Carlos Hyde, and (debatable to some degree) DeeJay Dallas. Homer has looked replacement level in his NFL time to-date, so situation would be his greatest asset if the unchallenged starter, which has eroded of late.
Cedrick Wilson
Why: Wilson was a revelation with his big Week 3 (5-107-2). However, the Dallas offense looks like a fraction of its former self with no Dak Prescott and an offensive line in a heap of trouble. Wilson is still rostered in 20% of leagues, far too high for a buried wide receiver on an average-at-best Dallas passing game with questions circling its viability overall.
Why: Firkser was a trendy pickup last week with Jonnu Smith looking dicey during the early part of the week and through fantasy waivers. However, Jonnu Smith was active and a full go against the Steelers so Firkser is back to injury-away status and saw two targets. Firkser's 31% Roster Rate is bloated for his role, reserved for 35-man roster 1TE formats and 2TE leagues overall.
