What NFL Teams have a Bye Week 6? Everyone who's out for this week
Four franchises will sit out Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season, giving players an opportunity to recover while fantasy football managers must find replacements for some of their biggest names
The NFL's 2026 regular season is moving into a crucial stretch, and Week 6 brings the first significant scheduling challenge for fans tracking all 32 teams.
While most franchises will be back on the field between Thursday, October 15, and Monday, October 19, four teams will not play at all this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings are the four franchises scheduled for a bye.
Their players will have a weekend away from game action, while coaching staffs can use the break to review their performances and prepare for the remainder of the campaign. The schedule has been confirmed by both FOX Sports and the NFL's official listings.
For supporters, a bye week means waiting an extra week to see their team compete. For fantasy football players, however, it can require some immediate decisions.
Managers who rely on players from Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami or Minnesota will need to check their lineups and consider alternatives before their Week 6 matchups begin.
The four teams arrive at their break at different points in their respective seasons. Minnesota has made an impressive start, while Cincinnati, Detroit and Miami will have their own reasons to use the pause constructively.
The additional preparation time could prove valuable as teams work through injuries, assess tactical adjustments and prepare for the second half of the regular season.
Which four teams are missing Week 6, and what happens next?
Here is the complete list of NFL teams with a bye during Week 6:
None of these franchises will play a game between October 15 and October 19. Their next scheduled appearances will come in Week 7, when the regular-season schedule resumes for them.
The bye-week system is designed to give every NFL team one scheduled break during the 18-week regular season.
Each franchise plays 17 games, so the league builds in one week without a fixture for every team. The breaks are staggered to keep the majority of the league in action each weekend.
The timing can make a difference. A team that has struggled during the opening weeks can use the time to regroup, while a side that has built momentum may look to preserve its form and avoid losing rhythm.
Coaches can also evaluate film, make adjustments and give players extra time to recover from the physical demands of professional football.
Week 6 is not a particularly large bye round compared with some later points on the calendar, but four teams still represent a substantial portion of the player pool. Fantasy managers should pay particular attention to their starting quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends from these franchises.
A player can be in excellent form and still contribute nothing to a fantasy score during his team's scheduled rest week.
The break also affects the wider NFL viewing schedule. With four teams unavailable, the remaining 28 franchises will provide the action across the week, including the Seattle Seahawks ' Thursday night visit to the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans ' international meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.
Other Week 6 matchups include the Chicago Bears against the Atlanta Falcons , the Baltimore Ravens against the Cleveland Browns , and the Los Angeles Chargers against the Kansas City Chiefs .
The Dallas Cowboys will visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, before the Washington Commanders face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
The bye schedule continues in Week 7, when the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders are due to sit out. The following week, the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers will receive their break.
For now, the key takeaway is straightforward: the Bengals, Lions, Dolphins and Vikings are the four teams missing from Week 6. Their absence may change fantasy lineups and viewing plans, but it also gives those franchises a valuable opportunity to recover and prepare for the challenges ahead.
