Bye weeks are a crucial aspect of fantasy football to some, while others pay less attention to it. Early bye weeks mean a very tough stretch in the second half -- while late bye weeks can also leave you hanging in crunch time. As you can see, week 8-9 are the heaviest of any other week, with five teams having byes. There is no bye week in week 12, due to Thanksgiving games. Getting a jumpstart on bye weeks will help your draft process, and have you better planning weeks down the line. Keep an eye on week 13, as some playoffs start that early. Tennessee and Cleveland both draw the last bye week of the season.
With the NFL introducing out-of-country games in London, and now Mexico City this year — the bye weeks become much more important. Indianapolis has a very odd schedule. Most teams that go to London, have the bye week immediately after. The Colts do not, they travel to Chicago, and then have their bye week all the way in week 10. Their opponent (Jacksonville), takes their bye week right after the London trip. It is an odd sequence, but it does have a factor. Bye weeks help give a break, as well as prepare for stretches of games. Be sure to keep an eye on your byes, and happy drafting in 2016.
Know your bye weeks! Many season long fantasy footballers fail to do their research and pay the price. You could be left with empty roster spots and give up a much needed win. Bye weeks in 2016, start in Week 4.
2016 NFL Bye Weeks
Week 4 (Oct. 4th):Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
Week 5 (Oct 9th):Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 6 (Oct 16th): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings
Week 7 (Oct 23rd):Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers
Week 8 (Oct 30th):San Francisco 49ers , Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams
Week 9 (Nov 6th): Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals
Week 10 (Nov 13th): Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills
Week 11 (Nov 20th): San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons
Week 13 (Nov 4th): Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns
2016 NFL Bye Week Fantasy Notable Players
Week 4 (Oct. 4th):
QB: Aaron Rodgers
WR: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb
RB: Eddie Lacy
TE: Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers
Week 5 (Oct 9th):
QB: Russell Wilson
WR: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett
RB: Thomas Rawls, CJ Prosise
TE: Luke Willson
QB: Drew Brees
WR: Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, Michael Thomas
RB: Mark Ingram
TE: Coby Fleener
QB: Alex Smith
WR: Jeremy Maclin, Albert Wilson, Chris Conley
RB: Jamaal Charles
TE: Travis Kelce
QB: Blake Bortles
WR: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee
RB: TJ Yeldon, Chris Ivory
TE: Julius Thomas
Week 6 (Oct 16th):
QB: Jameis Winston
WR: Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Kenny Bell
RB: Doug Martin, Charles Sims
TE: Cameron Brate, Austin Seferian-Jenkins
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
WR: Laquon Treadwell, Stefon Diggs
RB: Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon
TE: Kyle Rudolph
Week 7 (Oct 23rd):
QB: Tony Romo
WR: Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Darren McFadden
TE: Jason Witten
QB: Cam Newton
WR: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn
RB: Jonathan Stewart
TE: Greg Olsen
Week 8 (Oct 30th):
QB: Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick
WR: Torrey Smith, Bruce Ellington, DeAndre Smelter
RB: Carlos Hyde, Mike Davis
TE: Vance McDonald, Blake Bell
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
WR: Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Sammie Coates
RB: Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams
TE: LaDarius Green
QB: Joe Flacco
WR: Breshad Perriman, Steve Smith, Kamar Aiken, Chris Moore, Mike Wallace
RB: Javorius Allen, Justin Forsett, Kenneth Dixon
TE: Maxx Williams, Corckett Gilmore, Ben Watson
QB: Eli Manning
WR: Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard
RB: Rashad Jennings, Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen
TE: Will Tye, Jarrell Adams
QB: Ryan Tannehill
WR: DaVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Leonte Carroo, Kenny Stills
RB: Jay Ajayi
TE: Dion Sims, Jordan Cameron
Week 9 (Nov 6th):
QB: Kirk Cousins
WR: DeSean Jackson, Josh Doctson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder
RB: Matt Jones, Keith Marshall
TE: Jordan Reed
QB: Tom Brady
WR: Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Malcolm Mitchell
RB: LaGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis
TE: Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett
QB: Brock Osweiler
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Braxton Miller, Jaelen Strong
RB: Lamar Miller, Tyler Ervin
TE: CJ Fiedorowicz
QB: Andy Dalton
WR: AJ Green, Tyler Boyd, Brandon Lafell
RB: Jeremy Hill Giovani Bernard
TE: Tyler Eifert, Tyler Kroft
QB: Jay Cutler
WR: Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White
RB: Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard
TE: Zach Miller
QB: Carson Palmer
WR: Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, JJ Nelson
RB: David Johnson, Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington
TE: Troy Niklas, Jermaine Gresham, Darren Fells
Week 10 (Nov 13th):
QB: Derek Carr
WR: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree
RB: Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington
TE: Clive Walford
QB: Andrew Luck
WR: TY Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett
RB: Frank Gore
TE: Dwayne Allen
QB: Matthew Stafford
WR: Golden Tate, Marvin Jones
RB: Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick
TE: Eric Ebron
QB: Tyrod Taylor
WR: Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods
RB: LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams
TE: Charles Clay
Week 11 (Nov 20th)
QB: Phillip Rivers
WR: Keenan Allen, Stevie Johnson, Travis Benjamin
RB: Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead
TE: Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry
QB: Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick
WR: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Devin Smith
RB: Matt Forte, Bilal Powell
TE: Jace Amaro
QB: Paxton Lynch, Mark Sanchez
WR: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders
RB: CJ Anderson, Ronnie Hillman
TE: Jeff Heuerman
QB: Matt Ryan
WR: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu
RB: Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman
TE: Austin Hooper, Jacob Tamme
Week 13 (Nov 4th):
QB: Marcus Mariota
WR: Dorial Green-Beckham, Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter, Rishard Matthews
RB: DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry
TE: Delanie Walker
QB: Robert Griffin
WR: Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman
RB: Duke Johnson, Isaiah Crowell
TE: Gary Barnidge
2016 NFL Bye Week Fantasy Replacement Players
This is your way too early section for potential fantasy replacement players for the bye weeks that could have your starters Off the field.
Week 4 (Oct. 4th):
QB: Kirk Cousins (vs. CLE)
WR: Travis Benjamin (vs NO), Stevie Johnson (vsNO)
RB: Danny Woodhead (vsNO), Melvin Gordon (vsNO)
TE: Benjamin Watson (vs OAK)
Week 5 (Oct. 10th):
QB: Jay Cutler (@IND)
WR: Jeff Janis (vs NYG), Marvin Jones ( vsPHI)
RB: Latavius Murray (vs SD)
TE: Zach Miller (@IND)
Week 6 (Oct. 16th):
QB: Brock Osweiler (vs IND), Joe Flacco (vs NYG)
WR: Kendall Wright (vs CLE), Will Fuller (vs IND)
RB: Matt Jones (vs PHI)
TE: Benjamin Watson (vs NYG), Jordan Cameron (vs PIT)
Week 7 (Oct. 23rd):
QB: Alex Smith (vs NO)
WR: Mohamed Sanu (vs SD), Jamison Crowder (@DET)
RB: Jeremy Hill (vs CLE)
TE: Lance Kendricks (vs NYG), Jacob Tamme (vs SD)
Week 8 (Oct. 30th):
QB: Brock Osweiler (vs DET)
WR: Will Fuller (vs DET), Marvin Jones (@HOU)
RB: Tyler Ervin (vs DET)
TE: Dwayne Allen (vs KC), Austin Hooper (vs GB)
Week 9 (Nov. 6th):
QB: Alex Smith (vs JAX), Carson Wentz (@NYG)
WR: Kendall Wright (@SD), Reuben Randle (vs PHI)
RB: Duke Johnson (vs DAL), Bilal Powell (@MIA)
TE: Jeff Heuerman (@OAK), Dwayne Allen (@GB)
Week 10 (Nov 13th):
QB: Jay Cutler (@TB), Mark Sanchez (@NO)
WR: Markus Wheaton (vs DAL)
RB: C.J. Prosise (@NE)
TE: Zach Miller (@TB)
Week 11 (Nov 20th):
QB: Jay Cutler (@NYG), Alex Smith (vs TB)
WR: Marquisse Lee (@DET), Markus Wheaton (@CLE)
RB: Derrick Henry (@IND), Ameer Abdullah (vs JAX)
TE: Zach Miller @NYG), Jordan Cameron (@LA)
Week 13 (Nov 4th):
QB: Alex Smith (@ATL), Joe Flacco (vs MIA)
WR: Chris Moore (vs MIA), Malcolm Mitchell (vs LA)
RB: C.J. Spiller (vs DET), Sean Draugn (@CHI)
TE: Charles Clay (@OAK) Will Tye (@PIT)