The bye weeks are coming! The bye weeks are coming! OK, enough with the poor attempts at humor.
The 2023 NFL season is only a few weeks away, and the bye weeks will be right around the corner. Bye weeks begin in Week 5 and run through Week 14. However, there are no teams on a bye in Week 12 because of the Thanksgiving triple header or in Week 8 because the NFL decision-makers rarely make sense. With eight bye weeks to account for, fantasy managers must do their homework and plan for bye week replacements.
In this article, the top-12 quarterbacks, according to FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR), will be labeled as starting quarterbacks to cover the typical 12-team fantasy league. I have provided two target streamers for every bye week to help you find the best matchup for your starting quarterback’s bye. Pay attention to the repeat names in this article and the defenses you want to pick on this season.
However, there are three weeks (Week 6, Week 11, and Week 14) where none of the top-12 quarterbacks have their bye. Furthermore, none of the quarterbacks inside the top-16 of the ECR are on a bye during those three weeks. Therefore, fantasy players should have no trouble filling their quarterback spot those weeks. So I won’t cover them in this article.
Also, take advantage of FantasyPros’ Bye Week Cheat Sheet and Quarterback by Committee Finder before your draft. These are excellent tools to help you win your draft and league.
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Quarterback Bye Week Analysis: Draft Strategy & Streaming Targets (2023 Fantasy Football)
Week 5
- Starting Quarterbacks on a Bye: Justin Herbert (LAC), Deshaun Watson (CLE)
- Target Streamers: Kirk Cousins (MIN) vs. KC, Sam Howell (WAS) vs. CHI
Cousins sits just outside the top-12 quarterbacks in the ECR at 13. However, the veteran has an outstanding matchup in Week 5 against the Chiefs. Last year he was the QB8, averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game. With Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison at his disposal, Cousins should have no trouble picking away a Kansas City defense that gave up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year. More importantly, the Vikings will have one of the weaker defenses in the NFL in 2023. Therefore, fantasy players should expect both quarterbacks in this matchup to put up massive fantasy numbers.
Despite playing only one game as a rookie, Howell is an intriguing later-round target in superflex leagues. The former North Carolina star scored 18.3 fantasy points in his lone start last year, totaling two touchdowns. While he has to keep Jacoby Brissett from stealing the starting job in training camp, Howell’s rushing ability and set of weapons will make him a popular bye-week filler this season. Meanwhile, the Bears surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year. Furthermore, they didn’t do much to improve their secondary in the offseason. Howell won’t be the QB1 that week but will give fantasy players top-10 production.
Week 7
- Starting Quarterbacks on a Bye: Joe Burrow (CIN), Dak Prescott (DAL)
- Target Streamers: Geno Smith (SEA) vs. ARI, Brock Purdy (SF) at MIN
Last year, Smith surprised everyone and had a career year in his first season as the starter in forever. The veteran was the QB5 in 2022, averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game, a career-high. Furthermore, he led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) and was fourth in passing touchdowns (30). Smith had 275 passing yards, two touchdowns and 20.8 fantasy points in the home matchup against the Cardinals last season. With DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal, the veteran should have no trouble picking apart an Arizona secondary that lost its top cornerback this offseason.
Whether Purdy, Trey Lance, or Sam Darnold is starting for the 49ers in Week 7, they will be a popular streaming option. Last year the Vikings gave up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, surrendering 19.7 per contest. Furthermore, they gave up the 10th-most passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the trio of Purdy, Lance, and Jimmy Garoppolo combined averaged 1.7 passing touchdowns and 16.7 fantasy points per game in 2022. San Francisco has arguably the top set of weapons in the NFL. Regardless of which quarterback starts for the 49ers, fantasy managers should expect them to have a top-10 performance.
Week 9
- Starting Quarterbacks on a Bye: Trevor Lawrence (JAC)
- Target Streamers: Derek Carr (NO) vs. CHI, Desmond Ridder (ATL) vs. MIN
Carr had high expectations after the Las Vegas Raiders acquired Davante Adams last season. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan. The veteran ended the year as the QB17, averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Carr got benched with two weeks left in the season and was eventually released. However, the veteran has a solid supporting cast in New Orleans, led by Chris Olave. This Week 9 matchup is appealing for fantasy players. Last year, the Bears gave up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, surrendering over 19 fantasy points per contest.
Unfortunately, Atlanta waited until the final four weeks of the 2022 season to give Ridder the starting role. The rookie was solid for the Falcons over his first three starts, protecting the ball. However, he ended the year with an impressive performance in Week 18. Ridder had 224 passing yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, scoring 15.9 fantasy points in the win. The rookie ended the week as a top-10 quarterback. Meanwhile, the Week 9 matchup is excellent for Ridder. His matchup, the Vikings, gave up nearly 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season, the fifth-most in the NFL.
Week 10
- Starting Quarterbacks on a Bye: Patrick Mahomes (KC), Jalen Hurts (PHI), Tua Tagovailoa (MIA)
- Target Streamers: Aaron Rodgers (NYJ) at LV, Baker Mayfield (TB) vs. TEN
I believe ECR is underrating Rodgers. While Dak Prescott and Tua Tagovailoa round out the top-12, I would rather draft Rodgers over both. Regardless, his Week 10 matchup against the Raiders is excellent news for fantasy players. Despite playing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand for most of the season, the future Hall-of-Famer finished seventh in passing touchdowns in 2022 with 26. Meanwhile, Las Vegas gave up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last year, surrendering 19.1 per contest. Furthermore, the team did very little to improve their secondary this offseason. Fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised if Rodgers and Garrett Wilson have massive performances against the Raiders.
Assuming Mayfield is still starting in Week 10, the veteran has an appealing matchup against the Titans. Tennessee has struggled to defend the pass over the past few years. Last season they surrendered 20.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the fourth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Titans gave up the most passing yards and fifth-most passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Mayfield might not be an elite quarterback, but he has an excellent set of weapons. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have been two of the better wide receivers over the past few years. While he won’t be a top-five quarterback, the matchup gives Mayfield low-end QB1 value in Week 10.
Week 13
- Starting Quarterbacks on a Bye: Josh Allen (BUF), Lamar Jackson (BAL), Justin Fields (CHI), Daniel Jones (NYG)
- Target Streamers: Aaron Rodgers (NYJ) vs. ATL, Derek Carr (NO) vs. DET
Week 13 is the bye week from Hell for fantasy quarterbacks. Three of the top six quarterbacks in the ECR are on a bye. Thankfully, there are several appealing streaming matchups that week. Rodgers faces the Falcons at home. Last year Atlanta gave up 17.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the 12th-most in the NFL. While they slightly improved their defense in the offseason, that won’t be a problem for Rodgers. The California kid likely won’t have a top-three finish in Week 13. Yet, he will be a solid mid QB1 for fantasy managers.
Carr makes the streamers list for the second time in this article. While no one believes the veteran will be a fantasy star, his teammates have compared him to Drew Brees this offseason. More importantly, the former Raider finished 12th in passing touchdowns last year, despite missing the final two weeks, throwing two scores in nearly 70% of the games. Meanwhile, the matchup against the Lions is perfect for fantasy players. Last year Detroit gave up 23.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Lions have an explosive offense. Therefore, fantasy managers should expect this matchup to be high scoring, leading to massive performances from both quarterbacks.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
