Week 6 Waiver and Free Agent Pickups
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

**Week 6 Bye Week Teams – Chicago, New Orleans, Carolina, Jacksonville

Quarterbacks

Alex Smith, QB SF
He’s been solid all year. Sunday he was terrific, posting a monstrous 31 point game. Smith gets the Giants at home next week. A very juicy matchup.

Christian Ponder, QB MIN
A nice rebound week at home in Week 5. He has WAS, AZ, TB the next three weeks. Ponder is a serviceable QB option.

Running Backs

Alex Green, RB GB
Cedric Benson is out for most if not all of the season, it looks like Green will be the primary replacement. He was pretty good in relief on Sunday. Don’t expect him to receive the same opportunities Benson did.

Brandon Bolden, RB NE
15 more touches this week. In spite of classic Belichick Patriot Games, Bolden looks to have a very legitimate role.

Danny Woodhead, RB NE
I know. How many of these guys can there be? Woodhead is starting to look like the low-end flex play that I plugged a leak with and won a championship a few years ago. Averaging a steady, yet declining 8.6 ppg over the last three.

Shaun Draughn, RB KC
The more you watch, the more he looks like a Jamaal Charles clone minus some speed. 13 touches on Sunday. Chiefs are getting him involved.

Jahvid Best, RB DET
Indications are that he may return in Week 7. He will be fresh but rusty. The Lions will likely ease him back into action. Joique Bell’s recent production figures to keep him in the picture and Mikel LeShoure is getting every opportunity to be the #1 back moving forward. Kevin Smith continues to lie in wait. (If Bell is available, he is also a viable desperation play)

David Wilson, RB NYG
He had two carries in garbage time. One of them was a long touchdown that demonstrated his big play ability. Wilson is not a reliable option at this point but these type of plays help his cause. It feels like the Giants are giving their 1st round pick every opportunity to prove himself. Wilson is a roster stash that could pay off later in the season when Bradshaw gets hurt or succumbs to a timeshare.

LeGarrette Blount, RB TB
The Bucs were increasing his workload in the weeks prior to the bye. Don’t be surprised if the running attack shifts back to a more even timeshare after the bye. You don’t ever play him unless you have to, but a split backfield and goal line duties could warrant a look.

Beanie Wells, RB AZ
Ryan Williams is now out for the season. It’s entirely possible Arizona makes a trade, as Wells is still relegated to IR for another month. Wells will be the only legitimate option if that does not happen. Depending on your roster dynamics it could be a bit early to stash him. If you can finagle the room it could be worth it down the stretch.

**UPDATE 10/10 – Colts RB Donald Brown is set to miss a few weeks. Vick Ballard will hold down the fort and possibly steal some long term value from Brown.

Wide Receivers

Andre Roberts, WR AZ
10 more targets in Week 5. He’s been serviceable to good all year long.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR OAK
He is on track to return in Week 6. Carson Palmer has exhibited chemistry with both DHB and Denarius Moore at different times, but never together. It will be interesting to see which guy emerges as Palmers go-to man. Heyward-Bey has been the most consistent receiver of late in Oakland. Denarius Moore is more talented and better fits the role. DHB is worth a flyer, as he was almost a 1,000 yard receiver last season.

Chris Givens, WR STL
The Danny Amendola injury. 103 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. Only two receptions though. A big play guy that could see some more action.

Brandon Gibson, WR STL
See: Chris Givens. He had 104 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games of the season then tapered off.

Andrew Hawkins, WR CIN
13 more targets for the shifty playmaker in Week 5. The trend continues.

Armon Binns, WR CIN
6 targets, 41 yards. Nothing to write home about but he’s always doing something and has some big play ability.

Josh Gordon, WR CLE
8 targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. He just might be the receiver to own in Cleveland.

Jordan Norwood, WR CLE
9 targets for 81 yards. Brandon Weeden throws it A LOT. Maybe he is worth a flyer in Cleveland too.

Sidney Rice, WR SEA
He led the team in targets for the second week in a row and posted a respectable 67 yards. Take it for what it’s worth, Rice is finally emerging as the top option in the Seattle pass game. Albeit, a very low volume and conservative pass game. He was a decent bye week fill in for me in Week 5.

Jeremy Kerley, WR NYJ
His name his creepy, his game is not. Kerley has been solid all year. If MNF was any indication, Kerley will be the guy who replaces Santonio Holmes. 94 yards on 9 targets in Week 5.

Kendall Wright, WR TEN
11 target for 66 yards in Week 5. Not making a ton out of the opportunities but even Matt Hasselbeck is throwing in his direction a lot. Wright has been pretty decent for a rookie and should continue to get better. (Keep an eye on Kenny Britt s he tries to return to form)

Nate Burleson, WR DET
Always a solid bye week WR play. Burleson can come through. He was targeted 20 times in the two games prior to the Week 5 bye. At Philly in Week 6 isn’t the easiest matchup but you could do much worse.

Justin Blackmon, WR JAC
He has a bye in Week 6 and he’s only been a 4 point guy. The targets are there though. Eight more this week, to lead the team again. He is improving every week. If you are in desperate need for roster help or just looking for a stash Blackmon should be on your radar. The talent and opportunities are there.

Eddie Royal, WR SD
A desperation move in deep leagues. The Chargers have been getting him more involved. A wildcard playmaker.

Devery Henderson, WR NO
During training camp it looked like Henderson would be the guy to benefit from Robert Meachem’s departure. It turned out that Lance Moore was the beneficiary. With Lance Moore injured, Henderson got his due on Sunday Night. The Saints have a bye coming up, so this is only a stash move if Lance Moore’s injury woes continue. Henderson has nice upside in that scenario.

Devin Hester, WR CHI
His production has picked up the last few weeks. He was supposed to be the starter opposite of Brandon Marshall before the much better rookie, Alshon Jeffrey, stole the job. Jeffrey is out with a broken hand. Expect to see Devin Hester running a lot more deep sideline routes. The Bears have a bye this week.

Earl Bennett, WR CHI
He’s been a Jay Cutler favorite in past years. This season there isn’t a close second on the favorites list to Brandon Marshall. He’s been sidelined by injury the last few weeks. Bennett could be a more steady beneficiary of the Alshon injury than Hester. Chicago has a Week 6 bye.

Tight Ends

Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, TE IND
Allen had 5 targets and a touchdown. Pass happy Andrew Luck targeted his old college buddy, Coby Fleener, 9 times.

Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen, TE DEN
It never hurts to buy stock in Peyton Manning. Usually safer than sorry. Tamme collected 11 targets and Dreessen had a touchdown on Sunday.

Dennis Pitta, TE BAL
Owners that had stashed Pitta may have grown weary and dropped him. He is still a reasonably good tight end option moving forward.

James Casey, TE HOU
Houston’s secret training camp weapon is starting to make some hay. Casey fills a very similar role to Aaron Hernandez. Unfortunately, he may be designated as a running back in some fantasy leagues. Even so, he may be useful as a desperation RB play.

Defense

Tampa at home versus Kansas City
Atlanta at home versus Oakland
Miami at home versus St. Louis
New England at Seattle
Cincinnati at Cleveland
Buffalo at Arizona
St. Louis at Miami