Fantasy Football: How to Use the Waiver Wire to Prosper During the Bye Weeks

Now the real fun begins. You're not really playing fantasy football until you're dealing with injuries AND bye weeks. So buckle your chinstrap and let's figure out how to get you a "W" this week, shall we?

In an ideal world, you've got a perfectly balanced bench with solid back-ups at every position. In reality you're probably strong at one position and weak at another. Odds are you're not carrying a backup for your TE, DST or kicker. How do we deal with this?

IF YOUR KICKER IS ON A BYE - Cut him for another kicker. A kicker is a kicker is a kicker. There will be weeks where Stephen Gostkowski gets four points while Dan Bailey kicks five field goals. So if your kicker is on a bye, drop him for a kicker that isn't.

IF YOUR DST IS ON A BYE - First of all, you should already know your league settings. Check them now if you don't. How much does the average DST score per week? How many points does your current DST score per week? Most likely, the only DSTs worth carrying through their bye week are the Ravens and Packers. If you play in a league where the scoring setting has it so that a DST you have is a top-5 unit, consider keeping them. Otherwise, cut your current DST for the best available unit. Don't worry about carrying a 2nd DST to prepare for the week after the upcoming week yet. That's something to worry about after your bye weeks are over.

IF YOUR TE IS ON A BYE - Week 5 is pretty easy on the TEs. The following TEs are on a bye in Week 5:

• Jason Witten
• Fred Davis
• Ed Dickson
• Ben Watson
• Lance Kendricks
• Anthony Fasano

Obviously if you own Witten, you have to keep him and just find a backup TE to plug in for Week 5. If you have Fred Davis, I would try to keep him if at all possible. If you can't find anybody else cut, do it, but try to pick him back up in Week 6. Feel free to cut the rest of the TE's on the list for the best available option in Week 5.

IF YOUR QB IS ON A BYE - Week 5 is not too bad on the QB's either. Tony Romo is the only every-week starter on a bye. Here's the list:

• Tony Romo
• Joe Flacco
• Rex Grossman
• Colt McCoy
• Sam Bradford
• Chad Henne

Obviously you wouldn't cut Romo. I really wouldn't want to cut Flacco unless I was in a shallow, 10-team league. The rest of the list you can cut if you need to. UNLESS: You're in a deep league where there a very few or no starting QB's on the waiver wire. If you drafted early, took Peyton Manning and have had to rely on Rex Grossman, don't just cut him. In deep leagues like that (usually 14+ teams) try to hold onto a solid backup QB at all times if possible. If you need one, be on the lookout during the bye weeks. Another team might cut their backup QB to fill another need on their roster. If so, be ready to scoop him up.

Now it's time to find some help for Week 5. Here are some players who can help you if you're having issues this week. (NOTE: These are pickups to help you if you need a fill-in for Week 5. Players whose teams are on a bye in Week 5 are NOT listed.)

QB

ANDY DALTON (@ JAGUARS)
Dalton seemed to find the rhythm that he had in Week 2 vs. the Broncos against the Bills in Week 4. Dalton passed for 298 yards and a TD while also adding a TD on the ground. The Jaguars defense is giving up 238.5 passing yards and 1.5 passing TDs per week. The Bengals could be forced to throw more often if Cedric Benson misses the game due to his possible suspension.

RB

STEVAN RIDLEY (vs JETS)
I hope you grabbed Ridley last week. If he's still available in your league, you need to pick him up. He has physical ability that BenJarvus Green-Ellis does not have. Danny Woodhead suffered an injury against the Raiders. There's opportunity here. Don't let the match-up against the Jets scare you. They're not very good at running the ball or stopping the run right now.

ISSAC REDMAN (vs TITANS)
Rashard Mendenhall suffered an injury late in the 3rd quarter of the game in Week 4 and did not return. Should Mendenhall miss Week 5, Redman would be an interesting flex option. Mwelde Moore would also pitch in some on passing downs. The Titans' run defense has been excellent so far, but the Steelers could be forced to lean on Redman if they are without Mendenhall and Roethlisberger.

KENDALL HUNTER (vs BUCS)
While Frank Gore had his best game of the year in Week 4, Hunter totaled 100 yards from scrimmage. With Gore looking more effective in a smaller role, look for the 49ers to continue to give Hunter around 10 carries a game. And he will usually catch a couple passes, which is always nice for owners in PPR leagues.

BERNARD SCOTT (@ JAGUARS)
NOTE: This is if Cedric Benson begins serving his suspension in Week 5. If Benson is NOT suspended in Week 5, don't pick-up Scott with the intention of starting him in Week 5.  But, if Benson is suspended, Scott should see about 20 touches against the Jaguars as he has when starting for Benson in the past. His skills in the passing game make him a decent option for owners in PPR leagues.

WR

VICTOR CRUZ (vs SEAHAWKS)
It's pretty obvious that the Giants want to get Cruz onto the field. He played over Mario Manningham in 2 WR sets for most of the game which is a surprise, because the Giants' coaches had indicated that Cruz would be used in the slot. But he's actually a better outside WR. If the Giants are willing to play him outside at the expense of Manningham, Cruz could gain value quickly. Either way he should help you in a plus match-up vs the Seahawks secondary.

ANTONIO BROWN (vs TITANS)
We've been waiting on the Steelers WRs to settle on a pecking order after Mike Wallace. At least the 2nd spot has been filled. Brown is the 2nd most targeted WR on the Steelers and has been the 2nd most effective in fantasy as well. Throw in some added value because Brown serves as the punt and kick returner for the Steelers as well.

DONALD JONES (vs EAGLES)
For all the talk about the vaunted Eagles' secondary, the one thing that they've done well is cover opposing team's #1 WR. The Eagles are actually in the bottom third of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to secondary WRs. David Nelson might already be owned in your league, but Jones has actually seen more targets in each of the past two games.

TE

JARED COOK (@ STEELERS)
We finally got to see Cook's after-the-catch ability after he took a short catch 80 yards to the house. There was a reason that Cook was a preseason sleeper for a lot of people. He has insane physical ability. The injury to Kenny Britt is now finally giving him the receiving targets he needs to utilize that ability.

See, it's not really that bad. There are options out there for your team. Never make a panic move just to cover yourself for one bye week. Nothing is worse than trading an asset for a player you only start once who does absolutely nothing the one week that you start him. Just find the best guy you can on the waiver wire and hope for a good week.

Good luck to all in Week 5. If you have any questions or comments, please use the comments feature or reach out to me on Twitter.