We’ve only got a couple of weeks left in the fantasy football regular season. A very good time to have all your standout players in action. And a very bad time to have the NFL’s biggest bye week.

Alas, this week’s slate of games will not include six teams with a slew of vital fantasy performers: the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and, of course, your Minnesota Vikings.

We feel your pain, as nearly half of The Loop’s regular starters will be watching Red Zone along with us on Sunday. To help you out, we’ll break down the five main position groups, list the Sunday casualties and then offer some waiver-wire options you might be able to call on to save your postseason prospects.

>> Quarterbacks – Bye bye Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Josh Fields and Joshua Dobbs.

Options: Steelers’ Kenny Pickett, Colts’ Gardner MInshew and Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – NOVEMBER 26: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball during the second half of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

>> Running backs – Bye bye Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, James Cook and Alexander Mattison.

Options: Rams’ Kyren Williams, Steelers’ Jaylen Warren, Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard and Denver’s Samaje Perine.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 26: Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a touchdown while Josh Woods #10 of the Arizona Cardinals defends during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

>> Wide receivers – Bye bye Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams and D.J. Moore.

Options: Cowboys’ KaVontae Turpin and Brandin Cooks, Packers’ Jaylen Reed, Commanders’ Curtis Samuel and Rams’ Tutu Atwell.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 23: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass for a touchdown in the game against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

>> Tight ends – Bye bye T.J. Hockenson, Dalton Kincaid and Cole Kmet.

Options: Steelers’ Pat Freiermuth, Tampa Bay’s Cade Otten and Houston’s Dalton Schultz.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) celebrates a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

>> Kickers – Bye bye Justin Tucker, Tyler Bass, Greg Joseph and Cairo Santos.

Options: Texans’ Matt Ammendola, Steelers’ Chris Boswell and Buccaneers’ Chase McLaughlin.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 26: Matt Ammendola #16 of the Houston Texans kicks a field goal during the fourth quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

Bengals RB Joe MIxon has found precious little room to run since Joe Burrow went down, so we’d bench him against Jacksonville. … Philly RB D’Andre Swift won’t do much against San Francisco, especially with Jalen Hurts and the Tush Push taking away nearly all of his scoring opportunities. … You probably have to keep starting Rams WR Cooper Kupp, despite his injuries and slump and a tough foe this week (Cleveland). … Adam Thielen’s renaissance has apparently ended, so you can sit the former Viking against Tampa Bay. … It’s time to give up on Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts as he meets the Jets’ still-tough defense. … And two quarterbacks we would avoid this week are Green Bay’s Jordan Love against Kansas City and Seattle’s Geno Smith vs. Dallas.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 16: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals is tackled by Geno Stone #26 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 16, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Matchup game

Tampa Bay RB Rachaad White will roll through Carolina. … Same goes for a somewhat revitalized Steeler Najee Harris vs. Arizona. … Two receivers will stay hot: the Bucs’ Mike Evans vs. the Panthers and Jaguars’ Calvin Ridley vs. the Bengals. … Speaking of the Jags, we predict THIS is the week tight end Evan Engram gets his first TD. … Watch Saints TE Taysom Hill get into the scoring column again vs. Detroit. … Chiefs WR Rasheed Rice will be their No. 1 option against Green Bay since everyone else drops the ball. … QBs we expect strong numbers from this week include Washington’s Sam Howell against Miani and Detroit’s Jared Goff against the Saints.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 26: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball in the second half of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Injury watch

The issues begin Thursday night as Seattle RB Kenneth Walker is having oblique issues that will either limit him or sideline him entirely against Dallas. … Indy RB Jonathan Taylor will not face Tennessee this week because of a thumb injury. … Green Bay RB Aaron Jones and Miami RB De’Von Achane may not return from their injuries. … Notables listed as questionable include New Orleans receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Cleveland WR Amari Cooper, Houston WR Noah Brown, Cincinnati WR Tee Higgins and Green Bay tight end Luke Musgrave.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The deepest sleeper

Since we’ve already given you our best sleepers for this week, here’s one for the rest of the season. Giants wideout Jalin Hyatt is on bye this week, but he could be a keeper for the rest of the season. He caught six passes for 109 yards last week against Washington and has emerged as a favorite of the new Jersey legend, Tommy DeVito. But it won’t be easy to post great numbers, as the Football Giants play the Eagles twice in the final five weeks.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 05: Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt #13 of the New York Giants makes a catch against safety Marcus Epps #1 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hyatt came down out of bounds on the play. The Raiders defeated the Giants 30-6. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Thursday pick

Seahawks at Cowboys (-7½):
Pick: Cowboys by 10

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 23: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys takes a bite out of a turkey leg after a win over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Breaking news

We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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