fantasy football, NFL, sports news

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

With several 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 6 Byes
Cowboys: Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Jason Witten
Colts: Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie
Dolphins: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams
49ers: Shaun Hill, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis

Potential Week 6 Plug-and-Plays

The players listed below are unowned in a majority of fantasy football leagues and have favorable match-ups in week 6. Any one of these guys is worth a start this weekend for an in-need fantasy football owner.

Quarterbacks

Jake Delhomme, Panthers (@ Buccaneers)
Always a risk with the interceptions, but gets to sling it against one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

Jason Campbell, Redskins (v. Chiefs)
Campbell still a favorite around here as a bye-week fill-in with another favorable match-up.

Running Backs

Cadillac Williams/Derrick Ward, Buccaneers (v. Panthers)
The Tampa Bay backfield is as unsexy as any in the league right now but a decent match-up at home.

Beanie Wells, Cardinals (@ Seahawks)
Wells has not done anything to warrant a start but could be worth the gamble for owners in a pinch.

Wide Receivers

Donnie Avery, Rams (@ Jaguars)
Owners may have lost faith in Avery and placed him on the open market with Marc Bulger set to return.

Antwaan Randle-El, Redskins (v. Chiefs)
Somebody has to catch Campbell’s passes and it may as well be Randle-El, who is due for a decent game at some point.

Bryant Johnson, Lions (@ Packers)
If Calvin Johnson is out, Bryant Johnson should garner most of the looks in the passing game.

Tight Ends

JerMichael Finley, Packers (v. Lions)
Those who picked up Finley after his Monday Night Football explosion are ready to use him after the bye; If he still is available, you should use him too.

Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars (v. Titans)
The Jaguars’ passing game faltered on the West Coast so a trip home against a bad pass D is just what the doctor ordered.

Kickers

John Kasay, Panthers (@ Buccaneers)
In a game of attrition, field goals could be plentiful.

Defense/Special Teams

Jaguars (v. Rams)
Everyone has been picking on the Rams lately. Hopefully Kyle Boller continues to start at quarterback.

Buccaneers (v. Panthers)
Tampa Bay has one of the worst defenses in the league. Use only if absolutely necessary.

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