It's a debate that rages every August:
When drafting a fantasy roster in standard 12-team leagues, are owners better off spreading out star-driven byes over a nine-week period (Weeks 4-12), or would they profit more from maintaining a maximized roster for eight of the aforementioned weekends — with the intent of self-immolation for one Sunday per year?
Most fantasy GMs, experienced or novice, prefer the safe route of building a team that would seemingly compete for victory every week, even when not at full strength.
For me, though, there's great intrigue in pursuing an all-out draft strategy that leans on stars from the Week 9 bye — involving the Broncos, 49ers, Giants, Jaguars, Lions and Cardinals.
The following piece has no regard for the 'safe' rationale. Instead, it presents potentially dynamic options for Week 9, citing Rounds 1-11, when assigned a back-end slot in 12-team drafts.
(For Rounds 12-16, feel free to chase a backup QB, No. 5 tailback, No. 5 receiver, kicker and backup tight end with no bye-related constraints.)
**Fantasy GMs would enjoy a bye-free advantage over their respective opponents for eight Sundays (Weeks 4-8 and 10-11).
**By unloading core starters right before the trade deadline (Nov. 13 or 20), Week 9-strategy owners could potentially skip out on all bye weeks at tailback, quarterback and receiver.
**Calvin Johnson (NFL single-season record of 1,964 receiving yards last year) will likely be available at No. 9 overall in standard drafts — given the heightened urgency for premium tailbacks in Round 1. But if he's off the board, please don't reach for Peyton Manning in the first 11 picks. Just grab A.J. Green and reconvene the 'Week 9 Strategy' for Round 2.
**Owners could double-dip receiving yards/touchdowns with the QB-WR tandem of Peyton Manning (4,657 yards passing, 37 TDs last year) and Eric Decker (85 catches, 1,064 yards, 13 TDs).
**Clip and save: The last time Jones-Drew (76 career touchdowns) missed multiple games to injury ... he captured the league rushing title the following season (1,606 yards in 2011). He's only 28 years old.
**Cardinals wideout Michael Floyd (45 catches, 562 yards, two TDs) saved his best for last in 2012, racking up eight receptions for 166 yards and one touchdown against the 49ers in Week 17.
**Another Round 3 option: Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas (94 catches, 1,434 yards, 10 TDs last year).
**Other Round 4 options: Lions tailback Reggie Bush or receivers Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), Victor Cruz (Giants) and Wes Welker (Broncos).
**Another Round 5 option: Broncos backs Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball or Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks, who tallied 28 catches, 43 targets, 444 yards and four TDs in four playoff games during the 2011 season — before injuries set in.
**Other Round 6 option: If no Peyton in Round 2, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who boasts two-year averages of 5,002 yards passing and 32.5 touchdowns.
**This one's fairly obvious: If your team desperately needs a victory in Week 9, you'll have to cut a few trades just to be relevant that weekend.
**Come late October, some GMs might be reluctant to trade for a player with an upcoming bye week.
But then again, it might be extremely hard to pass on Calvin, Peyton, MJD, Frank Gore, MJD, Wilson, Cruz, Bush or Hakeem Nicks in trade circles.
