The 2013 NFL season has reached the first bye weeks, and the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers will sit out this week. Drafting requires some consideration of bye weeks, and this first bye week is a pretty big one. The Packers and Panthers feature a host of talented players, so it is time to start considering your alternatives on the waiver wire if you have not already done so.
Week 4 NFL byes: Fantasy football losses for the Packers, Panthers
Week 4 of the NFL season provides the first bye weeks. The Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers will be sitting out this week. We break down the players that will be absent and some QB considerations.
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The following players will be sitting out this week:
Green Bay Packers
QB Aaron Rodgers
RB James Starks
RB Johnathan Franklin
WR Randall Cobb
WR Jordy Nelson
WR James Jones
TE Jermichael Finley (injured)
Carolina Panthers
QB Cam Newton
RB DeAngelo Williams
RB Mike Tolbert
WR Steve Smith
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
TE Greg Olsen
Although teams will be looking to replace a variety of players, bye weeks are frequently most important for the quarterback position. You will start a guy like Aaron Rodgers every available week, but a bye week forces you to consider alternatives. In considering your options for Week, there are some interesting matchups to consider.
The two guys potentially on your waiver wire that bring the most to the table are Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith, and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Smith gets the label of game manager, but he can be a decent QB option in a pinch. He faces the New York Giants at home this weekend, which is a pretty great matchup for him. Roethlisberger and the Steelers have struggled, but they face a Vikings defense that was shredded by Brian Hoyer in Week 3.
Make sure to check your lineups, and get replacements for players on bye. We’ll be back each Tuesday looking at the notable bye week absences.
