Bye weeks have been mostly a nuisance so far this season. That changes this week with a half-dozen NFL teams on hiatus.
Say goodbye, for one week, to the Lions, Rams, Seahawks, Jaguars, Cardinals and Raiders. That means the fantasy talent pool will be missing many:
Top running backs: Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Las Vegas’ Ashton Jeanty, Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III.
Top receivers: Detroit’s Amon-Ra St Brown, Seattle Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jags’ Brian Thomas Jr.
Top tight ends: Cards’ Trey McBride, Lions’ Sam LaPorta.
Top quarterbacks: Rams’ Matthew Stafford, Cards’ Kyler Murray.
Who’s left on the waiver wires near the season’s midpoint? Here’s our picks for some fellows you still might be able to grab:
Joe Flacco (Bengals QB) — It’s amazing what working with Ja’Marr Chase can do for an old guy’s stats. Flacco passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns last week, and 16 of his passes were caught by the NFL’s No. 1 receiver. He’ll pad his stats against the Jets on Sunday.
Joe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter in the game at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Michael Penix (Falcons QB) — Atlanta faces the quitting Dolphins this week, and that bodes well for the second-year QB with more than 800 yards and four TDs over the past three weeks.
Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons makes a pass in the first quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Kyle Monangai (Bears RB) — The rookie from Rutgers is increasingly sharing with D’Andre Swift, getting 81 yards and his career TD against New Orleans. Struggling Ravens are next.
Kyle Monangai #25 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Kayshon Boutte (Patriots WR) — He already has 356 yards and four scores for playoff-bound New England. We call the Pats that because of their easy slate, which this week features Cleveland.
Kayshon Boutte #9 of the New England Patriots catches the ball for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
WanDale Robinson (Giants WR) — The Jaxson Dart-led offense has been showing life, and Robinson has tallied 446 yards and two TDs. But he’ll be facing angry Eagles this week.
Wan’Dale Robinson #17 of the New York Giants carries the ball after making a catch as Andrew Mukuba #24 of the Philadelphia Eagles defends during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Pat Freiermuth (Steelers TE) — He finally broke out against Cincinnati with five catches for 111 yards and two TDs. And we know Aaron Rodgers will be passing a lot in his Green Bay return.
Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a 68 yard touchdown against Jordan Battle #27 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter in the game at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Sitting stars
The Eagles’ proud defense will not let Giants RB Cam Skattebo run wild again in their rematch. … Minnesota’s defense will shut down the Chargers’ meager running attack led by Kamani Vidal. … Miami’s offense is dead, and that bodes ill for WR Jaylen Waddle against Atlanta. … Two receivers currently slumping are Chicago’s D.J. Moore and the Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy, the latter because of the return of Rashee Rice. … Two QBs that will have rough weeks are Dallas’ Dak Prescott against Denver and Houston’s C.J. Stroud versus the 49ers.
Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants stiff arms Ja’Quan McMillian #29 of the Denver Broncos in the second quarter of a game at Empower Field At Mile High on Oct. 19, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Matchup game
The Vikings’ Jordan Addison is getting open a lot with all the coverage focusing on Justin Jefferson, and he will again Thursday night against the Chargers. … Green Bay RB Josh Jacobs will steal the headlines from Aaron Rodgers. … Chicago RB D’’Andre Swift has never looked better, and that won’t change against the battered Baltimore defense. … Other RBs we like this week are Patriots’ Rhamondre Stevenson versus Cleveland and Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle against Buffalo. … WR Tee Higgins will have a big day for Cincinnati against the lowly Jets … Same with Bucs WR Dez Johnson. … And Denver QB Bo Nix will follow up his fantastic finish against the Giants with a great start versus Dallas.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) in action in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings, 28-22. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Injury watch
The big news is the return of two top quarterbacks: Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy. … Washington got good news on the hamstring injury for QB Jayden Daniels. Not as serious as first feared, though Marcus Mariota may still start against the Chiefs. … Carolina QB Bryce Young is definitely out, so ancient Andy Dalton starts this week. … Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans is out again, this time for the season, after breaking his clavicle. … The list of questionables at midweek includes eight pass catchers (Houston’s Nico Collins, Washington’s Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin, the Titans’ Calvin Ridley, Tampa’s Chris Godwin, Indy’s Josh Downs, Browns tight end David Njoku, Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid).
Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens sits on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/Getty Images)
Deepest sleeper
Oronde Gadsden was a solid receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the early 21st century. Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II is doing his dad proud in his rookie season. His coming out party was last Sunday against Indianapolis, when he tallied 164 yards and a touchdown. He has had seven receptions each of the past two weeks, becoming a favorite of Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert.
Nick Cross #20 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on while Hassan Haskins #28 and Oronde Gadsden II #86 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrate Gadsden’s receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Thursday pick
Vikings at Chargers (-3½)
Pick: Chargers by 7
Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks to pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter of a game at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
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