Every NFL team gets one week off per 18-week season and plays a total of 17 games (that odd number still bothers me, but I digress). The rest is necessary for NFL teams, and in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the players angle for a second bye week to accommodate the grueling schedule in the future. I would support that. (As would commissioner Roger Goodell, who has openly expressed interest in an 18-game, 20-week schedule, with the Super Bowl falling on President’s Day weekend.) But for our game of fantasy football, bye weeks are often inconvenient and force us to start players we don’t want to. Yes, the dreaded Week 14 bye — a pox for high-stakes players — is back in 2024. Also in 2024, we have six teams off in Week 14, which is going to tilt players advancing in FFPC, NFFC, or big-money best ball contests.
And if you’re drafting two quarterbacks or two tight ends, as is necessary for best-ball drafts on a site like Underdog Fantasy, you likely want players who are taking their byes on different weeks. So consider this a resource to bookmark so you can easily determine which teams are off a particular week when you draft your fantasy football teams in 2024.
2024 NFL Fantasy Football Bye Weeks
Week 5
Detroit Lions
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Tennessee Titans
Jalen Hurts is the only high-end fantasy QB off in Week 5, but a potentially high-upside pairing with Jared Goff or Justin Herbert is off the table. Hurts drafters will need an alternative cheap QB2 to Will Levis, as well.
Week 6
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
Patrick Mahomes drafters will need to find a streaming QB in Week 6 of 2024. Those drafting on Underdog Fantasy or other best-ball sites will need to avoid a pairing with Matthew Stafford or Tua Tagovailoa, while JJ McCarthy is no longer an appealing cheap QB2 for Mahomes teams.
Week 7
Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys
Fantasy managers would need a significant investment to pair Dak Prescott with Caleb Williams, anyway — they’re both top-12 QBs by ADP. But the shared Week 7 bye makes it inadvisable.
Week 8
There are no teams on bye in Week 8 in 2024. I’d sure prefer six teams off this week than in Week 14. Ugh.
Week 9
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
It’s possible the Steelers have already moved from Russell Wilson to Justin Fields by this point. If not, they could make the mid-season switch if they’re struggling. This isn’t a particularly consequential bye week for Brock Purdy drafters.
Week 10
- Cleveland Browns
- Green Bay Packers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Seattle Seahawks
Only one QB carrying a top-20 positional ADP — Jordan Love — is off this week.
Week 11
Arizona Cardinals
Carolina Panthers
New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deja vu from Week 10 — only one top-20 QB by ADP — Kyler Murray — is off in Week 11 of 2024.
Week 12
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New Orleans Saints
- New York Jets
The QB1 by ADP — Josh Allen — is off in Week 12 of 2024. He’s joined by another top-10 QB in Joe Burrow and three more top-20 QBs in Trevor Lawrence, Kirk Cousins, and Aaron Rodgers.
Week 13
There are no teams on bye in Week 13 in 2024. I’d much rather all the Week 14 byes be pushed to here.
Week 14
Baltimore Ravens
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots
Washington Commanders
What are we doing, NFL? We know you care about fantasy football… but you put six teams on bye in Week 14 of 2024? Disgusting.
Moreover, three of the top six QBs by ADP — Lamar Jackson, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson — are off this week. They’re joined by three rookie QBs, including one with nuclear fantasy upside in Jayden Daniels.
This is really difficult territory for fantasy players in high-stakes leagues like the FFPC to navigate. High-stakes playoffs are typically underway by Week 14. If the Week 14 byes don’t stop, it’s possible we’ll have to reevaluate playoff formats for fantasy.
I’ve covered the NFL professionally for nearly 20 years. I do not understand why the league is scheduling byes this late.
Please, please stop with the Week 14 byes.
