2025 NFL Bye Weeks: Complete Schedule and Fantasy Football Guide
As the 2025 NFL season looms, fans and fantasy football players are gearing up for a thrilling 17-game, 18-week ride, kicking off September 4, 2025, and wrapping up January 4, 2026. A key factor in navigating the season—whether you’re cheering from the stands or managing a fantasy roster—is each team’s bye week. These one-week breaks, spread across Weeks 5 to 14, give teams a chance to rest, recover, and strategize, while fantasy managers must plan around missing stars. Below is the confirmed 2025 NFL bye week schedule, complete with fantasy impacts and tips to stay ahead.
What Are NFL Bye Weeks?
Bye weeks are a scheduled pause when a team doesn’t play, allowing players to heal, coaches to adjust game plans, and fans to catch their breath. For fantasy football, bye weeks are a puzzle, forcing managers to find replacements for key players. With byes concentrated between Weeks 5 and 14, and none in the first four or final four weeks, here’s how the 2025 season shakes out.
2025 Bye Week Schedule
The 2025 bye weeks are set, with teams taking breaks as follows. We’ve highlighted key fantasy implications for each week.
NFL Byes Week 5
Fantasy Impact: Early byes hit hard with the Falcons (Bijan Robinson, Drake London), Bears (Caleb Williams, DJ Moore), Packers (Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs), and Steelers. Stock up on running back and receiver depth to cover Robinson and Jacobs.
NFL Byes Week 6
Fantasy Impact: A lighter week, but the Texans (C.J. Stroud, Joe Mixon) and Vikings (Justin Jefferson, J.J. McCarthy) are tough to replace. Managers rostering Jefferson or Stroud will need solid bench options.
NFL Byes Week 7
Fantasy Impact: The Ravens (Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry) and Bills (Josh Allen, James Cook) take a breather. With only two teams off, this week is manageable, but losing dual-threat QBs like Jackson and Allen stings.
NFL Byes Week 8
Fantasy Impact: Week 8 is a fantasy nightmare with six teams off, including the Lions (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs), Jaguars (Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas), Rams (Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua), and Seahawks (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker). The Cardinals (Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison) and Raiders (Brock Bowers) add to the strain. Build a deep bench to survive.
NFL Byes Week 9
Fantasy Impact: The Super Bowl LIX champion Eagles (Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley) join the Jets ( Justin Fields, Breece Hall), Browns (David Njoku, Jerry Jeudy), and Buccaneers (Bucky Irving, Mike Evans). Running backs like Barkley and Hall make this a tough week.
NFL Byes Week 10
Fantasy Impact: Week 10 packs a punch with the Bengals (Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase), Cowboys (Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb), Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce), and Titans (Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley). Replacing elite QBs and receivers like Burrow and Chase requires savvy planning.
NFL Byes Week 11
Fantasy Impact: The Colts (Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor) and Saints (Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave) make this a lighter week. Managers with Taylor or Kamara should have backup running backs ready.
NFL Byes Week 12
Fantasy Impact: Week 12 challenges managers with the Broncos (Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton), Chargers (Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey), Dolphins (Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa), and Commanders (Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin). Losing Hill and Daniels hurts dynamic lineups.
NFL Byes Week 13
- No teams on bye
Fantasy Impact: Week 13 is a rare treat with all 32 teams in action, giving fantasy managers a full roster and fans a packed Sunday slate.
NFL Byes Week 14
Fantasy Impact: The final bye week features the Panthers (Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard), Patriots (Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs), Giants (Malik Nabers, Russell Wilson), and 49ers (Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy). The 49ers’ loaded roster, especially McCaffrey, makes this a critical week, coinciding with many fantasy playoffs.
Fantasy Football Tips
Bye weeks can make or break a fantasy season, especially in heavy weeks like 8 and 10. Here’s how to stay ahead:
- Draft Strategically: Avoid stacking players with the same bye, particularly in Weeks 8 or 10, where stars like Mahomes and Gibbs are absent. Use draft tools like FantasyPros to track byes.
- Prep for Week 8: Six teams off means thin rosters. Prioritize depth at running back and receiver, and consider streaming waiver wire options.
- Watch Week 14: The 49ers’ bye could derail fantasy playoff runs. Pair their players with those who have earlier byes, like Week 5 or 6.
- Use the Waiver Wire: Target players from teams with no bye in tough weeks. Week 13’s full slate is a great time to snag long-term pickups.
Why Bye Weeks Matter
For teams, bye weeks are a lifeline—early byes (Weeks 5–6) offer rest but a long grind afterward, while late byes (Weeks 12–14) help playoff hopefuls like the Chiefs or Eagles recharge. Coaches tweak strategies, and players heal nagging injuries, though some teams struggle with “bye week rust.” For fans, it’s a quiet week but a chance to scout rivals. Fantasy managers, meanwhile, face a test of depth and foresight.
The NFL schedules no more than six teams off per week to keep the season lively, with international games (e.g., London, Brazil) likely influencing Week 8’s heavy bye load for teams like the Jaguars and Rams.
2025 NFL Team Bye Week Chart
The 2025 bye weeks are locked in, giving fans and fantasy players a roadmap for the season. Whether you’re rooting for the Eagles to defend their Super Bowl title or battling for a fantasy championship, planning around these breaks is crucial. Keep an eye on NFL.com or fantasy platforms like FantasyPros for any updates, especially for teams playing internationally. Get ready for kickoff, and let’s make the 2025 NFL season one to remember!
Player News
{{item.text}}
{{analysis.analysis}}