Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season is finally upon us. Take a look at the four different teams that are on a bye for the first time this season.
We are finally at the point in the 2017 NFL regular season when teams are going to be on their bye-week, looking to get healthy for the rest of the year. This means you need to know which teams will not be playing this coming weekend, that way you can adjust your plans and fantasy football rosters accordingly.
The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins will all have the luxury of getting some much-needed time off in Week 5. With injuries mounting and a tough schedule ahead, each of these franchises will take every opportunity to rest and study game-film over the next week.
If there’s one team out of the group that desperately needed this week off, I would have to argue it’s the Atlanta Falcons.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
The Dirty Birds entered Week 4 with an undefeated record, ready to face the 2-1 Buffalo Bills in their second-ever, regular season game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After they were already playing without three of their starters, wide receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu both left the game before half-time and never returned.
Needless to say, losing the team’s top two wide-outs left Matt Ryan scrambling for his back-up receivers to make some plays in the second-half. As you may already know, Atlanta ended up fall just short of a come-from-behind victory over the Bills on Sunday afternoon.
The other team that will need some much-needed rest this weekend is the New Orleans Saints. Not only are they coming off of two-straight victories, but they just finished playing the Miami Dolphins in London, England. I’m not sure why the ‘Fins didn’t get the luxury of a bye week right after their east coast trip, although they do get to play at home for the first time in 2017.
Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Week 5
That said, this week off is going to benefit each of the teams I mentioned above. Whether it’s for injuries, rest or simply changing up game-plans – Atlanta, New Orleans, Denver and Washington will all benefit from not playing this weekend.