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It's Week 5 in the NFL, which means the first round of byes is here. That brings questions for all of us. Chief among those questions is, "Why does any NFL team need a bye this early in the season?" It's a valid question, especially since the NFL added an extra game in 2021. Odds are most teams with a bye this early are asking the same question, since a Super Bowl appearance would likely require that they play 16 straight weeks.
The answer to why there are so many bye weeks, including at the outset of the season, is that it helps the NFL put more games on more screens each week. Spreading byes out means advertisers can plaster ads on Monday night, Thursday night, Sunday night, and all over your Sunday afternoons. So, the process is understandable from a marketing perspective, but it has a significant impact on fantasy rosters.
This week proves how hard early byes can hit IDP leagues, even when only a few squads are off. Despite only four teams being on bye this week, multiple key fantasy defenders are unavailable as a result. Three of our top ten DBs are out, three of our top ten LBs have gone home, and one of our top three edge rushers is on vacation. In total, 16 regulars in our IDP ranks are all on bye, yet many of you have yet to plan for this early hiccup.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
IDP Scoring System for Rankings:
6-points per Defensive Touchdown
4-points per Forced Turnover (FF/INT)
3-points per Sack
2- points per PD, FR, Safety
1-point Solo Tackle
0.5-points Assisted Tackle
Note: These rankings are also based on leagues that start one player at each defensive position (DL, LB, DB) and two DFLEX.
Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | T.J. Watt | Steelers | Ravens |
| 2 | Micah Parsons | Cowboys | 49ers |
| 3 | Maxx Crosby | Raiders | Packers |
| 4 | Nick Bosa | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 5 | Alex Highsmith | Steelers | Ravens |
| 6 | Jaelan Phillips (Q) | Dolphins | Giants |
| 7 | Chris Jones | Chiefs | Vikings |
| 8 | Aidan Hutchinson | Lions | Panthers |
| 9 | Danielle Hunter | Vikings | Chiefs |
| 10 | Chase Young | Commanders | Bears |
| 11 | Aaron Donald | Rams | Eagles |
| 12 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | Giants | Dolphins |
| 13 | Josh Sweat | Eagles | Rams |
| 14 | Brian Burns | Panthers | Lions |
| 15 | Christian Wilkins | Dolphins | Giants |
| 16 | Javon Hargrave | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 17 | Josh Allen | Jaguars | Bills |
| 18 | Rashan Gary | Packers | Raiders |
| 19 | Montez Sweat | Commanders | Bears |
| 20 | Jonathan Allen | Commanders | Bears |
| 21 | Kwity Paye | Colts | Titans |
| 22 | Daron Payne | Commanders | Bears |
| 23 | Josh Uche | Patriots | Saints |
| 24 | Will Anderson Jr. | Texans | Falcons |
| 25 | Trey Hendrickson | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 26 | Zaven Collins (Q) | Cardinals | Bengals |
| 27 | David Onyemata | Falcons | Texans |
| 28 | Demarcus Lawrence | Cowboys | 49ers |
| 29 | Grady Jarrett | Falcons | Texans |
| 30 | Leonard Williams | Giants | Dolphins |
| 31 | Haason Reddick | Eagles | Rams |
| 32 | Deforest Buckner (Q) | Colts | Titans |
| 33 | Jeffery Simmons | Titans | Colts |
| 34 | Denico Autry | Titans | Colts |
| 35 | Dexter Lawrence | Giants | Dolphins |
| 36 | Jalen Carter | Eagles | Rams |
| 37 | Carl Granderson | Saints | Patriots |
| 38 | Byron Yong | Rams | Eagles |
| 39 | Nik Bonitto | Broncos | Jets |
| 40 | George Karlaftis | Chiefs | Vikings |
| 41 | Dorance Armstrong | Cowboys | 49ers |
| 42 | Quinnen Williams | Jets | Broncos |
| 43 | Harold Landry III | Titans | Colts |
| 44 | Arik Armstead | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 45 | Cameron Jordan | Saints | Patriots |
| 46 | Kenny Clark | Packers | Raiders |
| 47 | Dennis Gardeck | Cardinals | Bengals |
| 48 | Preston Smith | Packers | Raiders |
| 49 | Duane Brown | Panthers | Lions |
| 50 | John Franklin-Myers | Jets | Broncos |
DL Riser of the Week:
David Onyemata, Atlanta Falcons
When I began prep for this week’s article on Thursday, I had Onyemata pegged as my DL Riser. Then he broke out against Jacksonville, with his promising pass rush metrics turning into sacks a week earlier than expected. The Falcon is winning over 20% of his pass rush battles while seeing 100% of the Falcons’ pass rush snaps this year. His opportunities should continue to rise as Atlanta’s schedule gets tougher, too.
The Texans are now a pass-oriented offense, and a high-volume one at that. While C.J. Stroud hasn’t been sacked in two games, his line remains battered and his sack rate is still over 6.8%. He's seeing pressure on 33% of his throws, and he's attempting a healthy 38 passes per contest. Expect good volume for all Falcons pass rushers this week, with Onyemata being the most effective option.
DL Disappointment of the Week:
Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers
As I have said, players like Burns are hard to bench or cut in even the shallowest leagues. He is a tremendously productive pass rusher who occasionally struggles with consistency in run support and tackling. That said, Burns and the Panthers' pass rushers have a tough matchup that forces us to fade them this week.
The Lions' offense has surrendered a paltry 35 quarterback pressures through four games. Only 11 of those have come from the edge, where Burns predominantly plays. Worse, Detroit is currently the fourth-most run-heavy offense in the NFL, which does not play into Burns' strengths. There is a strong possibility that Detroit secures an early lead and runs the clock out in the second half, which could nullify Burns.
Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Zaire Franklin | Colts | Titans |
| 2 | Foyesade Oluokun | Jaguars | Bills |
| 3 | Roquan Smith | Ravens | Steelers |
| 4 | T.J. Edwards | Bears | Commanders |
| 5 | Quay Walker | Packers | Raiders |
| 6 | Ernest Jones | Rams | Eagles |
| 7 | Logan Wilson | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 8 | Cody Barton | Commanders | Bears |
| 9 | C.J. Mosley | Jets | Broncos |
| 10 | Nick Bolton (Q) | Chiefs | Vikings |
| 11 | Alex Singleton | Broncos | Jets |
| 12 | Bobby Okereke | Giants | Dolphins |
| 13 | T.J. Watt | Steelers | Ravens |
| 14 | Fred Warner | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 15 | Patrick Queen | Ravens | Steelers |
| 16 | Kyzir White | Cardinals | Bengals |
| 17 | Azeez Al-Shaair | Titans | Colts |
| 18 | Pete Werner | Saints | Patriots |
| 19 | Matt Milano | Bills | Jaguars |
| 20 | Dre Greenlaw | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 21 | De’Vondre Campbell (Q) | Packers | Raiders |
| 22 | Tremaine Edmunds | Bears | Commanders |
| 23 | David Long Jr. | Dolphins | Giants |
| 24 | Josey Jewell (Q) | Broncos | Jets |
| 25 | Terrel Bernard | Bills | Jaguars |
| 26 | Denzel Perryman (Q) | Texans | Falcons |
| 27 | Frankie Luvu | Panthers | Lions |
| 28 | Demario Davis | Saints | Patriots |
| 29 | Henry To’oTo’o | Texans | Falcons |
| 30 | Divine Deablo | Raiders | Packers |
| 31 | Devin Lloyd (Q) | Jaguars | Bills |
| 32 | Shaquille Leonard | Colts | Titans |
| 33 | Quincy Williams | Jets | Broncos |
| 34 | Jordan Hicks | Vikings | Chiefs |
| 35 | Germaine Pratt | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 36 | Nicholas Morrow | Eagles | Rams |
| 37 | Micah Parsons | Cowboys | 49ers |
| 38 | Kaden Elliss | Falcons | Texans |
| 39 | Zach Cunningham | Eagles | Rams |
| 40 | Jack Campbell | Lions | Panthers |
| 41 | Christian Harris | Texans | Falcons |
| 42 | Ja’Whaun Bentley | Patriots | Saints |
| 43 | Robert Spillane | Raiders | Packers |
| 44 | Ivan Pace Jr. | Vikings | Chiefs |
| 45 | Jack Gibbens | Titans | Colts |
| 46 | Alex Anzalone | Lions | Panthers |
| 47 | Nate Landman | Falcons | Texans |
| 48 | Cole Holcomb | Steelers | Ravens |
| 49 | Micah McFadden | Giants | Dolphins |
| 50 | Kamu Grugier-Hill | Panthers | Lions |
LB Riser of the Week:
Pete Werner, New Orleans Saints
Werner doesn't add many splash plays, but that's okay in standard formats. This season, the Ohio State product is averaging a steady 8.5 tackles per game. It's not sexy, and he doesn't have the tackle ceiling of Roquan Smith or Quay Walker, but he's a steady player in tackle-premium scoring with a solid matchup in Week 5.
For some reason, the Saints started Derek Carr this past weekend despite him being clearly and severely limited. It resulted in a ton of screens and just 197 total yards of offense. Meanwhile, the Patriots benched the limited Mac Jones for the more limited Bailey Zappe in Week 4. With Zappe under center, the Pats averaged just 6.3 yards per pass attempt.
There is potential that this matchup pits a gimpy Carr versus Zappe. That is an underwhelming prospect for everyone in fantasy except the linebackers. Expect massive run-volume and tackle opportunities for Werner if Carr and Zappe play. Werner is an LB2 this week and a good bye-week filler.
LB Disappointment of the Week:
Shaquille Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Let’s beat this dead horse. Shall we?
I've previously mentioned you should fade Leonard. I must continue to acknowledge his upside and elite history while harping on his lack of production. Now we are faced with the prospect that his playing time could go down significantly, adding insult to ineffectiveness. Leonard played just 45% of Indy’s snaps in a competitive game against the Rams but received no injury tag or explanation after the game. That’s troubling.
Leonard has yet to silence questions surrounding his health, usage, and production this season. However, he remains the 11th most rostered LB in fantasy and the 10th most started, as of this writing. The former superstar has done nothing since 2021 to merit that kind of faith from fantasy managers. Stash him in deep and long-term leagues based on the possibility he could still rebound, but he can't be trusted in most lineups right now.
Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | L’Jarius Sneed | Chiefs | Vikings |
| 2 | Jalen Pitre | Texans | Falcons |
| 3 | Jevon Holland | Dolphins | Giants |
| 4 | Talanoa Hufanga | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 5 | Kyle Hamilton | Ravens | Steelers |
| 6 | Reed Blankenship | Eagles | Rams |
| 7 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Steelers | Ravens |
| 8 | Camryn Bynum | Vikings | Chiefs |
| 9 | Jaquan Brisker | Bears | Commanders |
| 10 | Julian Blackmon | Colts | Titans |
| 11 | Kamren Curl | Commanders | Bears |
| 12 | Rayshawn Jenkins | Jaguars | Bills |
| 13 | Jeremy Chinn | Panthers | Lions |
| 14 | Jordan Poyer (Q) | Bills | Jaguars |
| 15 | Kyle Dugger | Patriots | Saints |
| 16 | Nate Hobbs (Q) | Raiders | Packers |
| 17 | Brian Branch (Q) | Lions | Panthers |
| 18 | Dax Hill | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 19 | Kevin Byard | Titans | Colts |
| 20 | Harrison Smith | Vikings | Chiefs |
| 21 | K’Von Wallace | Cardinals | Bengals |
| 22 | DeShon Elliott (Q) | Dolphins | Giants |
| 23 | Nick Scott | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 24 | Jessie Bates III | Falcons | Texans |
| 25 | Richie Grant | Falcons | Texans |
| 26 | Rasul Douglas | Packers | Raiders |
| 27 | Tyson Campbell | Jaguars | Bills |
| 28 | Daron Bland | Cowboys | 49ers |
| 29 | Andre Cisco | Jaguars | Bills |
| 30 | Eddie Jackson (Q) | Bears | Commanders |
| 31 | Justin Simmons (Q) | Broncos | Jets |
| 32 | Marcus Williams | Ravens | Steelers |
| 33 | Darius Slay | Eagles | Rams |
| 34 | Jason Pinnock | Giants | Dolphins |
| 35 | Jalen Thompson | Cardinals | Bengals |
| 36 | Xavier McKinney | Giants | Dolphins |
| 37 | Darrick Forrest | Commanders | Bears |
| 38 | Roger McCreary | Titans | Colts |
| 39 | Adoree Jackson | Giants | Dolphins |
| 40 | Kerby Joseph (Q) | Lions | Panthers |
| 41 | Jordan Whitehead | Jets | Broncos |
| 42 | Patrick Surtain II | Broncos | Jets |
| 43 | Darnell Savage | Packers | Raiders |
| 44 | Emmanuel Forbes | Commanders | Bears |
| 45 | Donovan Wilson | Cowboys | 49ers |
| 46 | Cam Taylor-Britt | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 47 | Jordan Fuller | Rams | Eagles |
| 48 | Deommodore Lenoir | 49ers | Cowboys |
| 49 | D.J. Reed | Jets | Broncos |
| 50 | Delarrin Turner-Yell | Broncos | Jets |
DB Riser of the Week:
Adoree Jackson, New York Giants
Jackson receives our weekly boost for lead corners facing the Dolphins. While it's possible Miami will jump out to a large lead and run the ball against New York, they are coming off an embarrassing loss to a division rival. Tyreek Hill and company will want to hang at least 40 points on the Giants, meaning volume shouldn't be an issue for Jackson and the Giants' secondary.
DB Disappointment of the Week:
Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
Despite being down early in multiple games this year, the Giants are averaging the eighth-fewest offensive plays per game. While Daniel Jones is averaging the 14th fewest pass attempts per game and always offers turnovers, Big Blue doesn't have a standout wide receiver for Howard to shadow. Miami’s corners are big-play-dependent desperation plays against this low-volume Giants attack.
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