Cutting the Cord, Waiver Wire Drops: Week 12

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 11:

Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues.

Shallow Formats

*15-18 roster spots*

QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta

Why: QB14 is an aggressive valuation for a fade player, but Cousins and Atlanta have an in-house option in Michael Penix Jr. as a pivot, plus they still have playoff (and division) aspirations. The schedule also is working against Cousins with a Week 12 bye, with the Chargers and Vikings following. If in must-win scenarios, holding Cousins and not starting him potentially for the rest of the fantasy regular season is difficult in shallower redraft formats.

RB Raheem Mostert, Miami

Why: RB32 in Roster Rate, Raheem Mostert has eroded from a committee with De'Vone Achane to being a clear backup and is now injured and a question mark. Mostert will be tough to trust even if Achane misses time down the stretch, and Week 12 against New England offers the best matchup left for Miami running backs.

TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh

Why: Pat Freiermuth has posted more than 10 PPR points in a game just once this season and his worst stretch has come since Russell Wilson took over as the starting quarterback. The last time Freiermuth had more than three targets in a game was Week 4, plus Darnell Washington has eight receptions over the past four games including two chunk plays. With low passing volume and George Pickens' strong market share, there is little room for anyone else to be fantasy viable.