The Replacements: Finding the Right QB for your Bye Week Blues

With only four regular season fantasy weeks remaining, Week 10 officially kicks off the 2014 #Playoff Push brought to you by Planters “Naturally Remarkable” Peanuts — and brings the toughest QB bye-week bonanza to date. Three of the top six fantasy players will be off duty: Andrew Luck (at home watching film like any stud should), Philip Rivers (at a bar, cooling his Red Robbin-red face with a cool towel while trying to forget the Week 9 Miami shellacking) and Tom Brady (on a boat in the Caribbean learning the ways of GRONK).

Here, we break down which free agents QBs (available in 50% or more of Yahoo! leagues) can fill your stud’s shoes and keep your playoff life raft afloat.

Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (available in 55% of Yahoo! leagues)

Often times finding the right bye week fill-in is about starting a guy who won’t lose you the game (see Week 9, Weeden, Brandon). Consider sir Alex chicken soup for the conservative owner’s soul. Smith has thrown picks in just two of his eight starts this year. Yes, he is up against a shockingly adequate Buffalo secondary (anything above average in Buffalo earns that distinction) that has given up the third fewest points to opposing QBs this year; however, Smith has two speedy RBs in Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis who are primed abuse the Bills underneath through the screen game. That makes starting Smith in relief as tasty as a pile of pile of burnt ends doused in Arthur Bryant’s BBQ sauce.

Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns (available in 83% of Yahoo! leagues)

Soon there will come a day when Johnny Football leads this team — and by association your fantasy squad — to the Promised Land. Sunday, November 9 is not that day. The Browns are quietly 5-3, and Hoyer’s steady hand (and ability to keep Johnny’s seat warm) is a big reason why. He has a full squad of so-so receivers, which strangely works in his favor: Defenses don’t have one guy to key on. Thus, they must spread their coverage efforts across the field and deploy some soft zones. Expect Hoyer to go for two TDs and 200-plus yards against a Bengals defense that ranks 15th against the pass…the definition of mediocrity.

Mike Glennon,* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (available in 93% of Yahoo! leagues)

I’m writing this from my office at 3:15 pm EST, so no, I’m not drunk. This could be Glennon’s #BigDay! The Bucs are improving! In all seriousness, they are coming off two very narrow losses against the Browns and Vikings and get to host the m.a.s.h. unit that composes the Atlanta Falcons secondary. Neither team has a run game that warrants fantasy value, so watch as the passing yardage pour down like a Seattle morning between August and May. Glennon will throw at least one pick, but he’s also hit double-figure fantasy points in 80% of his starts. (His other appearance this season came in mop up duty.)

Glennon connected with young stud Mikey Evans for 7 catches, 124 yards and 2 TDs last week against Cleveland’s strong(ish) secondary. Expect that train to keep rolling, and those in desperate need of QB relief need to hop before it leaves the station. Note: You probably have until 12:59 pm on Sunday to board this train.

*Glennon is currently the 69th-rated player in Yahoo! Fantasy Football