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Andrew Ball analyzes bye week strategies for fantasy football and whether it's smarter to stack or stagger bye weeks on your fantasy roster.
Constructing the perfect fantasy football roster is about answering the tough questions.
Do I draft a quarterback or tight end early? Should I prioritize running backs or wide receivers? Do I select a third-year wideout with upside or the consistent, seasoned veteran? Do I worry about bye weeks?
The last question has been the subject of debate for decades. Let's talk about it.
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How To Manage Bye Weeks
There are three schools of thought: Those who track bye weeks to avoid having too many players out in one week, those who draft similar bye weeks to be at full strength for the majority of their schedule, and those who don't worry about bye weeks at all.
The ideal strategy is the third option, but a case can be made for the first thought, depending on the format. If you are a fantasy manager who works the waiver wire during the season and completes trades, your roster and bye weeks will look a lot different than they did on draft day. You want to assemble the best team possible. Letting bye weeks dictate your selections prevents that from happening.
Drafters should only pay attention to quarterback bye weeks in 2QB leagues. With a limited number of weekly starters, having two off in the same week could leave managers with an unfillable hole in their lineup.
Be Cautious Of Week 14
If you are truly undecided about two players when you're on the clock, a potential tiebreaker can be when their bye week occurs. Bye-week groupings usually consist of four teams, but there are just two teams away from the game in Weeks 7 and 9. There are also six teams off in Weeks 12 and 14 (a.k.a. a bye-nado).
BYE WEEKS
Week 5 - (4) - DET, LAC, PHI, TEN
Week 6 - (4) - KC, LAR, MIA, MIN
Week 7 - (2) - CHI, DAL
Week 8 - (0)
Week 9 - (2) - PIT, SF
Week 10 - (4) - CLE, GB, LV, SEA
Week 11 - (4) - ARI, CAR, NYG, TB
Week 12 - (6) - ATL, BUF, CIN, JAX, NO, NYJ
Week 13 - (0)
Week 14 - (6) -…— NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL) May 16, 2024
In the majority of leagues, Week 14 is the final week of the regular season. In a win-and-get-in scenario, you'll want your roster at full strength. Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, New England, and Washington are the final teams to get a week off.
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