Cutting the Cord, Waiver Wire Drops: Week 5

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 4:

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

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

RB Gus Edwards, LA Chargers

Why: J.K. Dobbins has seized the starting role in recent weeks. In addition, the Chargers are dead last in high-leverage opportunities (goal line carries and targets) for the running back position. Edwards has been lagging in receiving acumen during his career to already limit potential upside. Edwards is one of the least appealing primary backup running backs on the landscape and reserved for deeper leagues.

RB Cam Akers, Houston

Why: Akers has struggled in two games with Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce in the lineup. The biggest concern has been his lack of passing game usage, with one reception over the two games and just 22 carries. This was an optimal setting for Akers to win the RB2 role once Mixon returns but also post quality games. Akers did neither, and now questioning his upside if a clarified opportunity presents itself later in the season is valid. Dare Ogunbowale is the preferred pass-catching option in Houston.

RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago

Why: D'Andre Swift surged to an elite performance in Week 4 just when his grip on the starting role was questioned by Roschon Johnson rising in Week 3. Both are clearly ahead of Herbert on the Chicago depth chart, plus Herbert has lagged in his receiving game involvement in previous stints with a prominent role. Herbert has more name cache than realistic opportunity to see clarified starts being two injuries away from fantasy lineups.

WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee

Why: Since DeAndre Hopkins has returned to the lineup with quality snaps, Ridley has gone missing in the Tennessee offense. Ridley has a 2-14-0 receiving line over the past two weeks and now has a Week 5 bye. Offload Ridley in a trade for help this week in shallow formats.

TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati

Why: Erick All Jr.'s rise in recent weeks is a concern for Gesicki's volume. Gesicki barely saw 50% of the routes in Week 4, and All has surged to collect four receptions in each of the past three games. All is not going away. All has more targets and yards per route run than Gesicki on that season. That, combined with Tee Higgins' return to the passing game and Gesicki, is a sell-drop consideration more than a streaming candidate.