This creates a dilemma for managers. You have to cut players you believe in. How do you get down to the roster limit? Who should you cut and, more importantly, why?

I'm here to help you get down to your roster limit and make the right decision about who to cut. Let's examine some of the ways to get your roster down to size.

Time Is Your Friend

First and foremost, time is usually on your side. You shouldn't be dropping anyone until the deadline to do so. For most leagues, that is the start of Week 1.

You won't be able to make certain moves before then, like adding players to your taxi squad, but there is no rush. Having more players on your roster only benefits you. You get a chance to see how things play out in training camp. Injuries, depth chart changes, and trades happen all the time in July and August.

Don't rush to cut someone just because you want to tinker with your starting lineup. There are no bonus points for being the first team at or under the roster limit.

Make a Trade

The first obvious move is to make a trade. It's not the easiest way to get to your roster size, but it can provide the most value. You can go about it three ways: trade the player you're likely to cut for a pick, do a 2-for-1 trade, or do a 2-for-2 trade involving a pick.

Trading the player you're most likely to cut is hard to do. They are a cuttable player for a reason. There would have to be a very valid reason for another team to want to acquire them from you rather than waiting to scoop them off waivers. Most other managers are in the same situation as you and don't want to take on more fringe players.

The lopsided trade is a great way to trim your roster. What usually holds this up is that managers are always trying to "win" the trade. What you should be doing is trying to tier up slightly. Even if you're getting a player in the same tier, just higher in it, you've accomplished something.

You could trade away Wan'Dale Robinson (TEN) and Jaylin Noel (HOU) and get Christian Watson (GB) or D.J. Moore (BUF).

The other option is to do a 2-for-2 trade where you give up two players and get back a player and a pick. You are tiering down. You give up Robinson and Noel and get Quentin Johnston and a third-round pick.

But what if you can't execute a trade? How do you decide who to cut if you have to?

What Gets Them Into Your Lineup?

I see a ton of dynasty managers holding onto players who will never actually get into their lineup. This goes beyond cutting players and into the hoarding of a certain position, but that's a discussion for a later date.

What would be the circumstances for that player to actually make your fantasy lineup?

TE Mike Gesicki is an intriguing player, but he won't crack a starting lineup on a roster with Brock Bowers, Brenton Strange, and Oronde Gadsden. You can have too much depth at a specific position to the point where, no matter what happens, a player won't make your lineup.

Those are the players you should be trying to trade or possibly drop.

The Then, Could, and And Premise

This is the general thought process I go through when looking at players' potential. I ask myself one question: What needs to happen for this player to become relevant in the NFL?

You will generally end up with one of these answers.

If, Then

These are the players I definitely want to roster.

The answer to the question is: If player X gets injured, then my player becomes the starter or sees more targets.

If Brock Purdy (SF) gets injured, then Mac Jones (SF) becomes the starter. If Breece Hall (NYJ) gets banged up, then Braelon Allen (NYJ) becomes the primary back.

Those are players I want on my roster and don't want to cut. They hold value as backups or handcuffs.

If, Could

This becomes more of a guessing game for managers.

The answer to the question becomes: If player X gets hurt, my player could become more valuable.

If Brock Bowers (LV) misses time, Dont'e Thornton Jr. (LV) could see more targets. If Saquon Barkley (PHI) gets worn down by the course of 300-plus carries, Will Shipley (PHI) could get more involved in the offense.

These types of players are in contention to be sacrificed in order to meet roster-size requirements, but there are still other factors to consider.

If, And

This answer to the question makes a dynasty manager project the best-case scenario for the player in a dream world.

If Carnell Tate (TEN) isn't as good as we expect and Wan'Dale Robinson (TEN) doesn't gel in the new offense, then Chimere Dike (TEN) is a valuable player to the roster.

If Emeka Egbuka (TB) has a sophomore slump and Chris Godwin (TB) is past his prime, then Tez Johnson (TB) and Ted Hurst (TB) become necessary.

If James Conner (ARI) gets traded and is the starting back, he still has some juice.

I generally don't want these players on my roster unless there is a clear reason to believe things will change next season.

This question should narrow the list down for you. But you might still have more names than you need to cut.

Other Considerations

There are times when I make the decision based on my roster depth. If I have a list of four players and only need to cut three, I'm going to look at what my roster depth is.

Do I have more wide receivers than running backs or tight ends? What positional group do I lack the most?

Even if a player is a complete lottery ticket with limited upside, they still give you hope. They will probably be dropped for a waiver pickup at some point anyway, but if you have a positional need, it can make sense to hold onto them.

Future Regret

I often ask myself, "Who would I feel worse about if they get picked up off waivers by another team?"

Maybe it's a player you were high on during the pre-draft period. Maybe it's a player on your favorite team or from your favorite college program.

Fantasy football is about having fun, and there are guys you just love despite their lack of production. Fandom should matter some, but only as a tie-breaker. You have to try to stay objective, but let's not forget that having fun and rooting for your players is part of the experience.

Specific Role

Does the player have a specific or valuable role on an offense? Are they the goal-line or pass-catching back? Are they the big jump-ball red-zone threat like Isaac TeSlaa (DET)?

It might be hard to judge in the preseason unless they are a carryover on their team from last year, but a specific role can give a player more value than his overall talent might suggest.

League-Specific Scoring

Does your league have a bonus for different things?

Does Marvin Mims (DEN) get extra points for kick-return yards or touchdowns? Do big plays give you extra points, making Marquez Valdes-Scantling (DAL) more valuable?

Make the Cut

Cutting players is one of the less enjoyable parts of dynasty fantasy football, especially when you've spent months or even years believing in them. But eventually, every roster has to get down to its limit.

Don't feel like you need to make those decisions immediately. Give yourself as much time as possible, look for trades, and let training camp and the preseason provide more information. When you do have to make a cut, ask yourself what needs to happen for that player to become relevant. If the answer is simply that someone ahead of him needs to get hurt, you may have your answer. If it takes two or three things to go exactly right, that player should probably be near the top of your cut list.

There will always be players you don't want to let go. That's part of dynasty football. You won't get every decision right, either. The goal isn't to predict the future perfectly. It's to give yourself the best chance of keeping the players who can actually help your team while leaving yourself room to find the next player who can.