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

With more teams observing bye weeks of the 2009 NFL regular season 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 7 Byes

Ravens: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap
Broncos: Kyle Orton, Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler
Lions: Matt Stafford, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson
Jaguars: David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mike Sims-Walker, Torry Holt
Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck, Julius Jones, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, John Carlson
Titans: Chris Johnson

Potential Week 7 Plug-and-Plays

The players listed below are unowned in a majority of fantasy football leagues and have favorable match-ups in week 7. Any one of these guys is worth a start this weekend for an in-need fantasy football owner.

Quarterbacks

Chad Henne, Dolphins (v. Saints)
If the Saints dictate the tempo, Henne and the Dolphins will have to abandon the Wildcat and take to the skies.

Derek Anderson, Browns (@ Packers)
Not the sexiest of starting quarterbacks, but decent for an owner in a serious pinch.

Running Backs

Laurence Maroney, Patriots (@ Buccaneers)
Likely a hot waiver wire add this week, Maroney would be a good play this weekend.

Donald Brown, Colts (@ Rams)
Game could get out of hand quickly meaning mop-up duty for Brown and Co.

Justin Fargas, Raiders (v. Jets)
No Kris Jenkins could open some running lanes for the rejuvenated Fargas.

Wide Receivers

Michael Jenkins, Falcons (@ Cowboys)
The D will try to focus on Michael Turner, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez and there are not enough quality corner backs to around in Dallas.

Hakeem Nicks, Giants (v. Cardinals)
Establishing himself as a legitimate weapon, perhaps he has supplanted Mario Manningham on the pecking order?

Michael Crabtree, 49ers (@ Texans)
The rookie is ready to start for the 49ers and could be worth a flex play against the porous Texans’ secondary.

Tight Ends

Kevin Boss, Giants (v. Cardinals)
In what should be a shoot-out, Boss should get plenty of work in the middle of the field.

Kickers

Jay Feeley, Jets (@ Raiders)
If Oakland plays as well as last weekend, this could be a game of field goals.

Defense/Special Teams

Raiders DST (v. Jets)
The Raiders are next in line to bash Jets’ rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.

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