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Fantasy: Quarterback bye-week replacement guide

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Bye weeks shouldn't be a major concern when selecting a fantasy quarterback, but you should keep them in mind to avoid being left empty-handed when your QB1 is unavailable.

Consider this an early cheat sheet. It shows which quarterbacks you should target on the waiver wire in the weeks leading up to your starter's bye.

We took into account how the potential replacements should fare in 2023, how opposing defenses performed against fantasy quarterbacks last year, and how those defenses may improve heading into this season.

Week 5

Bye Top Replacements
Justin Herbert Derek Carr at NE
Deshaun Watson Jordan Love at LV
Geno Smith Bryce Young at DET
Baker Mayfield C.J. Stroud at ATL
Kenny Pickett vs. BAL
Sam Howell vs. CHI
Ryan Tannehill at IND
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. GB
Mac Jones vs. NO
Desmond RIdder vs. HOU

Week 6

Bye Top Replacements
Jordan Love Derek Carr at HOU
Kenny Pickett Bryce Young at MIA
C.J. Stroud vs. NO
Sam Howell at ATL
Ryan Tannehill vs. BAL
Mac Jones at LV
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. NE
Baker Mayfield vs. DET
Desmond Ridder vs. WAS

Week 7

Bye Top Replacements
Joe Burrow Derek Carr vs. JAX 
Dak Prescott Jimmy Garoppolo at CHI
Aaron Rodgers Jordan Love at DEN
Bryce Young Sam Howell at NYG
C.J. Stroud Kenny Pickett at LAR
Ryan Tannehill Baker Mayfield vs. ATL
Desmond Ridder at TB
Mac Jones vs. BUF

Week 8

No byes

Week 9

Bye Top Replacements
Trevor Lawrence Derek Carr vs. CHI
Jared Goff Bryce Young vs. IND
Russell Wilson Jordan Love vs. LAR
Brock Purdy Kenny Pickett vs. TEN
CJ Stroud vs. TB
Sam Howell at NE
Ryan Tannehill at PIT
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. NYG
Mac Jones vs. WAS
Desmond Ridder vs. MIN
Baker Mayfield at HOU

Week 10

Bye Top Replacements
Patrick Mahomes Derek Carr at MIN
Jalen Hurts Bryce Young at CHI
Tua Tagovailoa C.J. Stroud at CIN
Matthew Stafford Jordan Love at PIT
Kenny Pickett vs. GB
Sam Howell at SEA
Ryan Tannehill at TB
Mac Jones vs. IND
Baker Mayfield vs. TEN
Desmond Ridder at ARI
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. NYJ

Week 11

Bye Top Replacements
Anthony Richardson Bryce Young vs. DAL
Derek Carr Jordan Love vs. LAC
Mac Jones Kenny Pickett at CLE
Desmond Ridder C.J. Stroud vs. ARI
Sam Howell vs. NYG
Ryan Tannehill at JAX
Jimmy Garoppolo at MIA
Baker Mayfield at SF

Week 12

No byes

Week 13

Bye Top Replacements
Josh Allen Derek Carr vs. DET
Lamar Jackson Bryce Young at TB
Justin Fields Kenny Pickett vs. ARI
Daniel Jones Jordan Love vs. KC
Kirk Cousins C.J. Stroud vs. DEN
Jimmy Garoppolo Sam Howell vs. MIA
Ryan Tannehill vs. IND
Mac Jones vs. LAC
Baker Mayfield vs. CAR
Desmond Ridder at NYJ

Week 14

Bye Top Replacements
Kyler Murray Derek Carr vs. CAR
Sam Howell Bryce Young at NO
Jordan Love at NYG
Kenny Pickett vs. NE
C.J. Stroud at NYJ
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. MIN
Ryan Tannehill at MIA
Mac Jones at PIT
Baker Mayfield at ATL
Desmond Ridder vs. TB

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