“Explore key takeaways from the NFL schedule release and learn how to apply sharp best ball strategies in your 2025 fantasy football best ball drafts.”
The NFL schedule is out, and that means it’s officially time to recalibrate how we approach fantasy football best ball drafts. Every year, the bye weeks, playoff paths, and roster pairings shift once the calendar is set. It’s no longer smart to draft in a vacuum. You must adapt to the new layout.
Avoiding double byes in onesie positions—especially quarterback and tight end—is now essential. That includes examining ADPs for stacked bye-week risks and correcting course if you already drafted pre-schedule.
Eliminators on Underdog Fantasy have also opened. This is one of the most exciting formats out there. With the schedule now released, players can enter these contests with far more confidence and structure. Whether you’re building for a 17-week sprint or one-on-one eliminations, your strategy starts here.
(This is an AI-generated article from a recently published IDP+ Betting Podcast transcript.)
More Fantasy Football And Draft Advice
Breaking Down the Bye Week Hazards
Weeks 5 through 14 now demand serious attention. Early drafters already saw the damage, and Week 5 offers a real trap. Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, and Michael Penix all share the same bye. Those three are often drafted in similar ranges, which could cripple a three quarterback roster.
Tight end builds suffer too. Week 6 includes T.J. Hockenson and Dalton Schultz. Week 7 knocks out Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Hurts and Fields both sit in Week 9. If you stacked them, you’d need a third QB.
Week 8 is the year’s only “bye-pocalypse.” Six teams are off, many with viable QBs. Week 10 includes Burrow, Prescott, and Mahomes. Week 12 is just as dangerous with Herbert, Daniels, and Tua. Late bye weeks can derail otherwise well-constructed builds.
Don’t overload positions with the same bye. Stacking is fine. Avalanche stacking is not.
Optimizing for Playoff Matchups
Playoff matchups matter more than just Week 17. Fantasy football best ball winners often come from teams with favorable three-week runs. Miami draws Pittsburgh in Week 15, then closes with Cincinnati and Tampa at home. That’s a soft finish.
Houston is even better. They get three dome games, all against manageable defenses: Arizona, Las Vegas, and the Chargers. Philadelphia faces Las Vegas, Washington, and Buffalo. Even the Bills’ matchup showed shootout potential in past years.
Atlanta has a Monday night Week 17 game against the Rams. It could be a fantasy track meet. Tampa, Carolina, and New Orleans all benefit from soft defenses and manageable travel. All four NFC South teams have positive playoff environments.
Detroit matches Houston with three dome games in the fantasy playoffs. Their final game at Minnesota could be another barn burner. These schedules create opportunities. Favor these teams when building for a full playoff run.
Key Best Ball Strategies for the Eliminator Format
The Eliminator format on Underdog is brutal but rewarding. Every week is a playoff week. One slip, and you’re done. In 2025, the new structure will have improved clarity. Week 1 is a top-6 advance from your 12-team pod. After that, it’s head-to-head every week.
Early quarterback seems to matter more than ever. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels provide weekly high floors and low ceilings. You don’t want to face them—you want to start them.
You should also always draft for volume. Known roles matter. Avoid mystery boxes and rookie overload because volume equals fantasy points. Touches and targets win weeks. This is not the format to bet on breakouts or slow-developing rookies.
Most importantly, don’t build fragile rosters. Spread out bye weeks. Avoid overstacking teams with the same schedule gaps. A six-man Week 8 bye stack could end your run before it starts.
Understanding Week One in the Fantasy Football Best Ball Eliminator Format
There’s a debate over whether to optimize strictly for Week 1. The truth? Week 1 is probably the easiest round. You only need to beat 55% of your pod. Every other week is 1-on-1 survival. So technically, Week 1 gives you the best shot to advance.
But if the field is optimizing for Week 1, and you’re not, you may fall behind. That creates a prisoner’s dilemma. Don’t go out of your way to prioritize it, but don’t ignore it either.
Be aware of your draft room. Watch for early matchups. If most of your starters draw elite defenses in Week 1, you may want to pivot. The risk of starting slow could cost you the entire tournament.
Drafting around Week 1 shouldn’t dominate your build. But you must survive it to cash. So it does deserve consideration, just not obsession.
Final Thoughts: Draft With Purpose
With the NFL schedule now finalized, your fantasy football best ball drafts should take on a sharper edge. No more guessing. Every bye week, every playoff path, and every matchup matter now.
The Eliminator format adds pressure. One bad week ends your run. That’s why smart fantasy football best ball strategies must balance upside with stability. Don’t let six starters disappear to a single bye. Don’t bet your tournament on developmental rookies. And don’t pass on elite QBs when they can anchor your lineup.
The rooms are filling fast. Now’s the time to jump in. Draft smarter. Draft balanced and draft for the long haul.
Thank you for reading this article by @IDP_Plus. This article was created using IDP+ AI and edited by an IDP+ Staff Member. Be sure to check out the video above, which this article is based on, talking about fantasy football best ball strategies. Follow the host @theJoelWirth on X!
