We made it to October. And we made it to Bye Week Season. The shape of fantasy football is about to change.
Every fantasy manager feels they drafted a contending squad in the summer. But when October rolls around, it's time for some unemotional self-scouting. Maybe you're at the top of your standings, with a healthy roster and a clicking sleeper or two.
Perhaps you're dealing with injury and underperformance, still looking for a win. And maybe you're stuck in the middle somewhere. No matter the situation, it's time to put in some work and come up with a plan.
Who's the league favorite at the moment? Who's got the most injury-riddled roster or the heaviest group of talent sitting in Week 5? And most importantly, where do you fit in the league? Most teams have similar goals in August and September, but strategic paths start to diverge now. Are you focused on now or later? If you're that 4-0 juggernaut, you have the luxury of planning further ahead than most teams. Maybe you're the club that speculates on a high-upside running back who's several weeks away; you have the leverage to be patient.
Maybe you're the manager who trades for some star players who have an upcoming bye. Teams stuck on one win or zero wins might have to downshift to "win now" mode. The Eagles don't play in Week 5 — maybe you can't wait on A.
J. Brown or DeVonta Smith. Understand this is not a mandate to trade star players frivolously.
Still do your league diligence, make sure everyone knows star talent is .