Fantasy Football Week 5: Tips and Sleeper Pickups to Survive Bye Weeks

We are about to enter the period of the season fantasy football owners loathe more than any other—bye weeks. It seems like every week you have to deal with one or two key cogs in your lineup having the week off, while your opponent somehow avoids any major losses.

It's not impossible to navigate your way through bye weeks, though. You just need to have the right strategy and make savvy additions and you will be able to survive the next seven weeks without watching your season crumble.

Without further ado, here is everything you need to know to stay afloat until Week 12.

Tip No. 1: Prepare Ahead of Time

If you own Aaron Rodgers you probably didn't feel the need to draft a backup quarterback because you felt safe that he would be your starter every week. While that was the right decision, Rodgers has a Week 8 bye and the time to search for his replacement is now, not Friday of that week.

There are five other teams with a bye that week and the owners of Matt Ryan, Josh Freeman and Jay Cutler will also be searching for one-week replacements. So, instead of waiting for them to beat you to the highest projected scoring QB on the waiver wire, add one now.

The best option would be Washington Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman. Grossman is owned in less than one-third of ESPN leagues, is averaging 10 points per game and will be going up against the shaky Buffalo Bills secondary.

Amend this strategy to your star quarterback's bye week and beat your opponents to the punch.

Sleeper Pickup No. 1: QB Matt Hasselbeck

Matt Hasselbeck currently ranks as the ninth-best fantasy football quarterback at over 15 points per game, ahead of players like Tony Romo, Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco. Yet, he is owned in just 28 percent of leagues.

Chris Johnson has struggled to find a rhythm after missing the majority of preseason practices because of a contract dispute. That has led to Hasselbeck throwing more often than originally anticipated and it has worked out well as the Titans are 3-1.

Even without Kenny Britt, who is going to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, Hasselbeck was able to put up 20 fantasy points in Week 4. If your quarterback situation is a little murky, Hasselbeck is a nice option to have on your bench.

Tip No. 2: Outsmart Your Opponent

During the weekend before you face your next opponent take a look at the team and see which players are going to have a bye the next week. If you see one of their star players will be out, like Tom Brady, Darren McFadden or Jermichael Finley, pick up the best available player at that position.

It's unlikely that your bench is so talented that you don't have at least one player to sacrifice to stop your opponent from getting a serviceable replacement. Plus, it will give you an even larger advantage at that position than you would have originally had.

Sure, you might receive a couple nasty notes on the league message board, but you're there to win. And if the plan helps you win the week, it will be well worth the verbal abuse from your boneheaded counterpart.

Sleeper Pickup No. 2: RB Stevan Ridley

Stevan Ridley's workload continues to increase at the expense of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. Bill Belichick goes with what works and right now that's Ridley, who gained 97 yards on 10 yards against the Raiders.

The Patriots wouldn't have used an early third-round pick on him unless they planned on incorporating him into the lineup right away. If he can continue to build off the positive momentum from last week, there's a chance he will become the starter moving forward.

The one thing that Ridley brings to the table, which neither Green-Ellis or Woodhead have, is home run ability. He already has a carry of 33 yards in just 18 touches whereas the longest run by the other two guys was just 36 yards all of last season.

Tip No. 3: Tailor Pickups to Match Missing Players

Not every bye week loss should be treated equally. For example, if you are missing a workhorse running back like Adrian Peterson, you must handle that situation differently than if you will be without a boom-or-bust option like Felix Jones.

For a marquee player like Peterson, you will want to add a player who is going to get guaranteed touches, like Thomas Jones. He might not be capable of putting up a huge score, but you need to get something out of that spot where you usually excel.

As for a more spotty running back like Jones, you can take some chances. Since you are looking for a big score and not the consistent production of a first-round RB, you can be a risk-taker on a guy like Jones' teammate Dexter McCluster, who has the potential to break off a long touchdown.

Sleeper Pickup No. 3: WR Victor Cruz

It's time to start believing in Victor Cruz. He has posted more than 30 fantasy points over the last two weeks while hauling in nine catches for over 200 yards and two touchdowns. He has big-play potential and will be a terrific bye-week option.

Cruz was working as the No. 2 receiver for the Giants, ahead of Mario Manningham, against the Arizona Cardinals. Manningham looked rusty in his return from a concussion and it allowed Cruz to step up and have another big game.

Don't be surprised if that switch holds, especially if Cruz continues to make plays this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Regardless, the Giants are passing more this season and Cruz has become a fantasy-worthy WR.