As you deal with the second week of roster gaps thanks to the NFL's bye weeks, here's some general advice to keep in mind:

• Don't worry so much about kickers

And don't carry two kickers for five weeks just because Rams K Jeff Wilkins is on a bye in week 9. I'm not a fan of dropping a decent kicker during his bye just to protect a some third-string bench-warming wideout, but there is always someone on the waiver wire who can be plugged in that hole just a day or two before. Holding onto a second-tier kicker might earn your 3 or 4 points that one week out of the year; Using that spot to stash away a backup RB or a developing rookie TE is a much better investment.

• Worry about those QBs and RBs

At the other end of the spectrum, plan ahead and make sure you have starters when your QB and RBs hit their bye weeks, because there won’t be any worthwhile players on the wavier wire if you wait until the last minute. There’s nothing worse than being forced into starting Trent Dilfer (or Kelly Holcomb) because you didn’t plan ahead. Usually, the waiver wire has some wide receivers and tight ends all year long that are passable one-week fill ins, but the other good skill players get grabbed early. So think twice before dropping Detroit RB Tatum Bell.  

• Keep an eye out for cast-away defenses

If you got caught with a dud of a D in the draft, this one is a must. Owners who gambled on the Miami Defense early in the season should be keeping their eyes open to see if someone casts aside the Oakland or Philly defenses on their bye week. And for owners carrying just one defense, those backup cast-aways could help save them when their defense hits its bye in just a few weeks. No one is going to dump a Chicago or a Baltimore, but a San Diego or a Seattle might sneak on there if you’re lucky. 

Any other advice? What were your best bye-week moves? E-mail us a football@stripes.osd.mil or leave a comment below.