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 5 Byes
Bears: Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Greg Olsen
Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver
Saints: Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey
Chargers: Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson

Potential Week 5 Plug-and-Plays

The players listed below are unowned in a majority of fantasy football leagues and have favorable match-ups in week 5. Any one of these guys is worth a start this weekend for an in-need fantasy football owner.

Quarterbacks

Seneca Wallace, Seahawks (v. Jaguars)
If Matt Hasselbeck sits again, Wallace draws a nice match-up at home.

Jason Campbell, Redskins (@ Panthers)
Campbell has the skills, just needs to avoid the turnovers.

Running Backs

Jerome Harrison, Browns (@ Bills)
For fantasy owners’ sakes, Jamal Lewis could use another week off.

Glen Coffee, 49ers (v. Falcons)
Not a great performance in his first week as the starter, but the 49ers kept giving him the rock.

Beanie Wells, Cardinals (v. Texans)
Had an extra week to learn more of the offense, which could come in handy against a terrible run D.

Wide Receivers

Sam Hurd/Patrick Crayton, Cowboys (@ Chiefs)
Roy Williams might not go this weekend, so if Tony Romo can complete some passes it could be to either of these guys.

Austin Collie/Pierre Garcon, Colts (@ Titans)
As long as Peyton Manning is throwing the ball, all Colts’ receivers are viable in fantasy leagues.

Tight Ends

Heath Miller, Steelers (@ Lions)
Two touchdowns last week could be a mirage, but fantasy owners in a pinch should like the upside.

Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings (@ Rams)
The Vikings unleashed Brett Favre on Monday Night Football; That is good news for Shiancoe.

Kickers

Adam Vinatieri, Colts (@ Titans)
Colts score a lot of points, Titans have been getting torched.

Jeff Reed, Steelers (@ Lions)
Robbie Gould had a stellar fantasy day against the Lions last weekend and Reed should be able to convert indoors.

Defense/Special Teams

Browns DST (@ Bills)
Unsexy defensive options on most waiver wires but Bills’ offense is in a rut.

Panthers DST (v. Redskins)
Turnover prone Jason Campbell could lead to a score for the Panthers’ defensive unit, coming off a bye.

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