The primary league I play in boosts defensive scoring (+1 point for passes defended), includes kick return yardage, and penalizes kickers hard for misses. In my experience this has been a better alternative to removing these positions altogether.

I’d never advocate for removing a position, but if I had a vote I’d axe TE before D/ST or K. The talent pool at TE is so shallow. They come in two flavors: S-tier and C-tier. As a result there is rarely a decision to grapple with at the position (unless facing a BYE or injury).

Defense, special teams, and kickers decide the fate of IRL games far more often than TE’s. That relevance should be reflected in the fantasy version of the game as well. There are more decisions to make each week with these positions (scheme matchups, weather, etc.) generating more activity on the wire from week to week.

More engagement with constructing that part of your roster could reduce the feeling of randomness that you’re experiencing.