Photo: USA Today Sports

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 1:

*Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues*

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

QB Caleb Williams, Chicago

Why: Williams is QB16 in Roster Rate and was dreadful in Week 1. 3.2 yards per attempt is tough to take away any positives, and his rushing upside is less than most projections evaluating Williams as a prospect. On the road against the Texans in Week 2 is hardly a reason to double down on Williams in lineups. Seek an option like Geno Smith and shop Caleb Williams on the trade market. 

RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago

Why: As expected, D'Andre Swift was the starter in Week 1, but Travis Homer squeezed Herbert in the RB2/3 rotation significantly in the passing game. The appeal of backup running backs in shallow formats includes some combination of an elite expected workload if the starter is out and/or an elite offense to raise the tide for all boats. Chicago struggled and Herbert does not even look like a strong market share if Swift were to miss time.

WR Michael Pittman Jr, Indianapolis

Why: At WR22, Pittman is a high-level cord-cutting recommendation. Anthony Richardson's bold downfield throws, rushing volume, and high-variance accuracy are the worst combination of traits for Pittman to be the chain-moving short-to-intermediate target vacuum at his best. In a competitive game with a comeback game script, Richardson threw only 19 passes. Outside of best ball moments, question the predictable upside of any pass-catcher in the Colts' offense.

TE Dalton Schultz, Houston

Why: TE12 in Roster Rate, Schultz is fighting a losing battle with three strong wide receivers in Houston. Schultz also is poised to play a career-low route rate from the slot. In Houston last year, Schultz ran 33% of his routes in the slot. Week 1 saw Schultz barely half of that at 17%. Schultz needs the passing game to clear out for viability, as he was a situation-volume play previously and has never been more than an average-adjacent talent.

TE Cole Kmet, Chicago

Why: The tea leaves from the preseason turned into reality in Week 1. Cole Kmet ran nine fewer routes than Gerald Everett, in addition to the Bears' passing game looking middling at best. Kmet is fourth or fifth on the list of Chicago skill positions likely to get right if Caleb Williams improves significantly in a future week. Kmet's limited routes make him a questionable play/hold even in premium formats, let alone stock redraft leagues.