Cutting the Cord: Week 3

Photo: Imagn Images

Much of fantasy football 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 Sony Michel, Los Angeles Chargers

Why: Michel is within the top-70 running backs in Roster Rate. However, Michel is firmly behind Joshua Kelley on the Chargers' depth chart. Michel is not the primary backup, saw barely half of the snaps of Kelley in Week 2, and lost the routes run battle with Kelley a hearty 11-to-2. Michel is not an automatic roster spot assumption in shallower formats.

WR DeVante Parker, New England Patriots

Why: Jakobi Meyers is the clear WR1 for the Patriots, and few, if any, other passing game options in New England are worth rostering in shallow-to-moderate depths. Parker has four targets with an anemic 1-9-0 stat line through two weeks. Let another team roster Parker on the off-chance he turns into a weekly starter.

WR Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs

Why: WR63 in Roster Rate, the rookie was solidly behind Justin Watson for the WR4 role, limited to special teams duty. Moore was in on just two snaps, both run-blocking efforts. At this point, even two injuries in front of Moore on the depth chart might not unlock him to be fantasy lineup viable. With bye weeks fast approaching, stashing Moore for later in the season on the chance he turns into a weekly starter is a sub-optimal roster spot.