The starting roster scramble is about to begin in earnest for fantasy football owners.

With the first bye weeks of the 2009 NFL regular season on the docket this weekend, fantasy owners will spend precious team management time plugging holes in rosters left by idle players.

Complicating matters for several owners are injuries to both starting fantasy players and those on the bench. Those in an extreme pinch will need to seek salvation from the waiver wire in order to make it through the weekend.

Let the hysteria begin.

There is hope, however. Many a fantasy owner has had to strategically manipulate the waiver wire to find the perfect plug-and-play starter over the years. We all have been there.

Usually it happens with the least carried positions on fantasy rosters: Tight ends, kickers and defenses. However, those with rosters decimated by injuries will need more than a one-week stop gap at the least valuable fantasy positions.

Scouring the waiver wire for the right plug-and-play is risky business, but there are several players who could fit the bill this weekend.

Week 4 Byes
Cardinals: Kurt Warner, Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin
Falcons: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez
Panthers: DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith
Eagles: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek

Potential Week 4 Plug-and-Plays

The players listed below are unowned in a majority of fantasy football leagues and have favorable match-ups in week 4. Any one of these guys is worth a start this weekend for an in-need fantasy football owner.

Quarterbacks

David Garrard, Jaguars (v. Titans)
Tennessee is getting torched through the air this season.

Shaun Hill, 49ers (v. Rams)
No Frank Gore and a rookie running back means more passing for Hill.

Jason Campbell, Redskins (v. Buccaneers)
Good yardage totals in bad games, should sprinkle in a touchdown or two this weekend.

Running Backs

Michael Bush, Raiders (@ Texans)
If Darren McFadden’s fumbles are a problem, Bush could get the call against a terrible run D.

Mewelde Moore, Steelers (v. Chargers)
Willie Parker is battling turf toe and the coaching staff trusts Moore with the load.

Wide Receivers

Johnny Knox, Bears (v. Lions)
Becoming a favorite of Jay Cutler’s.

Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars (v. Titans)
David Garrard has to throw the ball to someone and it has been Sims-Walker the last two weeks.

Kenny Britt, Titans (@ Jaguars)
The rookie is becoming one of the nicer surprises so far this season.

Tight Ends

Anthony Fasano, Dolphins (v. Bills)
At some point, the Dolphins have to get him involved.

Donald Lee, Packers (@ Vikings)
Great Monday Night Football match-up, could come up with a short touchdown.

Kicker

Steven Hauschka, Ravens (@ Patriots)
Who knew the Ravens actually had an offense?

Defense/Special Teams

Bengals (@ Browns)
Playing very well so far and gets turnover-prone Derek Anderson this week amid controversy in Cleveland.