An oddly organized NFL schedule assigned six teams a Week 9 bye, giving fantasy football managers fewer options than usual.
No more than four teams take any other week off, but the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans were the only two squads unfortunate enough to draw a Week 4 bye. Add in the Thursday-night showdown, and 12 games remain on a light schedule.
Gamers will have to dig deeper into the roster and waiver wire, and Week 9's rankings for both standard and point-per-reception leagues will seem shallower than the typical order. Yet plenty of sturdy players will take the gridiron on Sunday and Monday in a crucial week for real and fake teams alike.