4 October 2023
After four weeks of easy roster decisions, when fantasy football mavens needed only worry about injuries when crafting their lineups, things are about to get complicated.
Bye week season is upon us. For the next 10 weeks, your team’s depth will be tested as never before.
The scourge of byes, though, is beginning with only mild pain. Four teams are on bye this week (Browns, Chargers, Seahawks, Buccaneers), and the number of fantasy studs that will be on the sideline is not overwhelming.
Here’s our look at the three main position groups, with the standouts who will be missing this week and possible replacements you might still be able to claim on waivers.
Quarterbacks – There’s only one first-tier QB on bye this week: the Chargers’ Justin Herbert. Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson is also idle. If you look for a QB on the waiver wires, you will likely find two guys you NEVER would have considered adding before. Arizona’s Josh Dobbs has been surprisingly effective for the plucky Cardinals. And this week he’s facing a Cincinnati defense that has struggled all season. Want to try someone even riskier? The Jets’ Zach Wilson had a career best game last week against Kansas City, and he gets to pick on the Broncos’ putrid defense this week.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs (9) throws during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct 1, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Running backs – The biggest name on bye this week is the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler, who has been sidelined by injury lately anyway. Seattle’s Kenneth Walker and Cleveland’s Jerome Cole are also on bye. The pickings on the RB waiver wire are slim. Your best options might be Baltimore’s Justice HIll, who appears to be the head of the Ravens’ committee, and the Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard, who keeps getting his fair share of work as teammate Miles Sanders struggles.
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pass catchers – Here’s the biggest talent shortage. Idled receivers include the Chargers’ Keenan Allen, the Browns’ Amari Cooper, the Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and the Bucs’ Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. If you need a waiver replacement, a good one would be Washington’s Jahan Dotson. Or you could take your pick of one of the Jets’ Green Bay refugees: Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. Neither will see any tight coverage in Denver.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) makes a catch against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Matchup game
Who’s going to be running through the Denver Broncos’ poor excuse for a defense this week? Jets RB Breece Hall, the clear starter in light of the alarming decline of Dalvin Cook. … Chicago QB Justin Fields had a career game against the Broncos, and he’ll be good again Thursday night against Washington (though the Bears will still find an inventive way to lose). … Miami rookie De’Von Achane will score at least one touchdown against the Giants. … Same goes for Indy QB Anthony Richardson against Tennessee. … Houston’s offense will look good again against the Falcons, so you should start QB C.J. Stroud and WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell.
New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) in action against the Miami Dolphins during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Brad Penner/AP Images for Panini)
Sitting stars
Joe Burrow is an excellent quarterback, but the Cincinnati star is too banged up to continue starting on your fantasy team. … There is not a Jones quarterback worth using, neither the Patriots’ Mac nor the Giants’ Daniel. … Speaking of the Patriots, RB Rhamondre Stevenson has been disappointing and will continue to underwhelm against the Saints. …. As for New Orleans, the return of Alvin Kamara appears to be very bad for the numbers of WR Chris Olave. … Detroit rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs appears to be losing ground in his competition with teammate David Montgomery.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) fumbles as Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) leans over him during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Injury watch
The most noteworthy Week 4 injury was the broken rib suffered by Cincinnati WR Tee Higgins. He may try to play this week, but you cannot count on him. … Two quarterbacks who were banged up were the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett. We’d try to avoid using either this week. … Players listed as questionable include two top running backs (Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Rams’ Kyren Williams), Packers tight end Luke Musgrave and Jaguars receiver Zay Jones.
Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) takes a break during their NFL football game against Tennessee Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
The deepest sleeper
Bet you can’t guess who’s the all-time leading rusher in college football history. It’s a guy named Jaleel McLaughlin, who ran up 8,166 yards, mostly for Youngstown State. He’s with the Denver Broncos now. He saw his first major action last week when Javonte Williams suffered a hip injury. The diminutive rookie came in and tallied 104 total yards and one touchdown. He could see even more work this week in Denver when the New York Jets come to town. The Broncos will need to score a bunch to make up for their pitiful defense, and McLaughlin will be key to that.
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin carries the ball as Chicago Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn makes the tackle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Thursday pick
Bears at Commanders (-6½):
Pick: Commanders by 1
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Commanders 34-31. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Breaking news
We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at [email protected].
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