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 12:
Roster Rate references data collected from myfantasyleague.com leagues.
Shallow Formats
*15-18 roster spots*
QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland
Why: Winston faced his toughest matchup yet in Week 12 (Steelers) and floundered to 219 passing yards and an interception. The next two weeks are equally as difficult with Denver and Pittsburgh (again) on tap. Winston is most likely a bye-week or backup option, and the matchups point to staying away even before adding the risk that a poor start opens up the possibility Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaces Winston in-game to thwart fantasy lineups.
RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh
Why: Risk abounds with Najee Harris entering the closing fantasy weeks. Jaylen Warren is back to his vibrant self, and the near-even backfield split in Pittsburgh has returned. Warren dominated the route share (53% of the team total to Harris' 28%) in Week 12, and Harris saw only five more carries than Warren. Harris is a touchdown-centric play until further notice (or a Warren injury) rather than a lineup lock in more shallow formats. Finally, the Steelers have the most daunting remaining strength of schedule among running backs with no target matchups and the Chiefs lingering in Week 17 as the cherry on top as an avoid matchup.
TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay
Why: TE7 in Roster Rate, Otton enjoyed a massive run of production in Weeks 7-9 with no Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. In Week 12, Evans returned, and Otton had a single reception on just three targets. Tampa Bay is optimizing their drove of running backs as well. Otton is the perfect trade candidate for an underrated option (plus an upgrade elsewhere) like Jonnu Smith, Tucker Kraft, or Evan Engram.