Cutting the Cord, Waiver Wire Drops: Week 3

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 2:

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

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

QB Matthew Stafford, LA Rams

Why: Losing Puka Nacua in Week 1 was just the beginning as Stafford lost Cooper Kupp in Week 2. Despite Arizona being a leaky defense, Stafford and the Rams were blown out in Week 2 and Stafford managed 216 empty yards and no touchdowns. Stafford already was a minimal rushing option for fantasy, where multiple passing touchdowns are required for a strong fantasy outcome. Now, 300 yards or multiple touchdowns seem like a pipe dream being down their two target monster wide receivers for the foreseeable future. Also, the 49ers and Bears the next two weeks offer no schedule reprieve. Stafford is QB16 Roster Rate.

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas

Why: Rico Dowdle drew the start for Dallas in Week 2 after Elliott was on the right side of the even-ish split in Week 1. Elliott has also looked pedestrian at best, hanging on for a relevant role in the NFL more than rising to a more prominent one. Dalvin Cook is a wild card for Dallas' depth chart who has the best case of running with the lead job of the three main options. Elliott is RB33 in Roster Rate and should be rostered in fewer leagues than the highest-upside RB2 types like Braelon Allen, Tyler Allgeier, etc.

RB Miles Sanders, Carolina

Why: Starter Chuba Hubbard is struggling for relevance in Carolina, let alone the upside projection for Miles Sanders in the RB2 role. Expect Raheem Blackshear to squeeze Sanders for receiving upside, at a minimum, if Hubbard were to miss time. Also, second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks is looming to crash the entire depth chart later in the season to render Sanders irrelevant by then.

WR Curtis Samuel, Buffalo

Why: WR61 in Roster Rate, Samuel has been invisible through two weeks with a 3-18-0 stat line and buried on the Bills' wide receiver depth chart. Samuel is running just nine routes per game and has not been involved in the run game.

WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay

Why: Wicks found the end zone in Week 2, but was still running as the clear WR4 in the rotation and has been on the field for fewer than 50% of the team routes on the season. Until Wicks is up in the 75% or higher route share range and WR3 or higher in the pecking order, Wicks is reserved for deep leagues or dynasty formats only, not WR71 in Roster Rate.