Week 6: Pickups of the Week

QB Kevin Kolb, ---

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Week 5 was arguably Kolb's worst start of the year and it was his team's first loss. Nevertheless, the Arizona pivot managed to put up an impressive 289 passing yards against zero touchdowns all while being hurried on nearly every snap. The pressure won't ease much in Buffalo, but his fantasy prospects will. Only the Redskins have given up more passing touchdowns than the Bills, who on the season are conceding an inflated 103.6 passer rating to opposing QBs. Kolb is one to consider this week for Cam Newton, Jay Cutler, Drew Brees and nervous Robert Griffin III owners.

QB Christian Ponder, ---

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Ponder is becoming a regular in this column and will remain so until the fantasy public wises up and awards him with ownership in more than 70 per cent of leagues. Right now two out of five leagues remain Ponder-free, which means people have been missing out on the services of a QB with a 3:1 TD-to-interception ratio who is completing nearly 70 per cent of his passes. Ponder's aerial success thus far is no fluke. He's shown tremendous growth in his second NFL season and has the benefit of an Adrian Peterson-led running game to keep safeties from doubling his receivers. Considered a game manager, Ponder is a threat to produce his first 300-yard performance of the season this Sunday against the Redskins and their league-worst passing defense. For context, Josh Freeman is alone among Washington opponents in failing to exceed the three-century mark (Tampa Bay's embattled QB only managed 299 yards).

RB Brandon Bolden, ---

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Stevan Ridley dominated the score sheet in Week 5, but there have been plenty of RB opportunities to go around in New England lately. Patriots backs have split 94 carries and seven touchdowns between them over the last two weeks, creating multiple avenues to fantasy goodness. While the committee approach isn't likely to go away any time soon, there's reason to believe Bolden's share will increase given Ridley's recent fumble troubles. The presumptive lead back has fumbled twice in the last two games and was also benched by coach Belichick back in 2011 for putting the ball on the turf. By comparison, Bolden has been steady and surehanded. He could be the safer bet against Seattle's stalwart and ball-hawking defense this week.

RB Alex Green, ---

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Cedric Benson suffered a foot injury during Green Bay's Week 5 loss. Forget him just missing one game as initially projected. The veteran runner is out at least eight weeks with a lisfranc injury and could be out for the season if surgery is required. Yikes. That means Alex Green, who handled RB duties after Benson's early departure, vaults to the top of the thin waiver wire list among runners. Green, who typically projects as a pass catching/change of pace option, managed 63 total yards against the Colts, though most of them came on a single 41-yard run. James Starks remains on the radar, but hasn't played yet this season and his status is unknown while John Kuhn won't be more than a goal line vulture. At a minimum bye-week weery owners may have to turn to Green for short-term insurance in Week 6, though he'd be a luke warm fantasy option this week against the Texans. Green Bay may return to a truly pass-heavy approach without Benson or add a veteran free agent runner, but for now Green appears to be best backfield threat.

RB William Powell, ---

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With first Beanie Wells and then Ryan Williams suffering severe injuries, the Arizona backfield has become one of the most dangerous places to work in the NFL. The Cardinals are down to just Powell, LaRod Stevens-Howling (who has missed the last two games with hip flexor trouble) and the freshly re-signed Alphonso Smith. Though Powell suffered a possible concussion during last Thursday's game, the Cardinals don't play again until Sunday afternoon (which should give him time to recover). We expect him to handle first chair duties until Wells recovers. Stevens-Howling will be the third down back once he's healthy. Owners in PPR leagues and leagues that reward for return yardage should give him a long look too.

WR Brandon Gibson, NE

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No Amendola, no problem... right? Wrong. Even including his injury-shortened performance Thursday night, Amendola has still accounted for nearly 40% of all St. Louis receptions this season. His loss creates a black hole in the roster that may be impossible to fill. Someone needs to step forward and the only other Rams wideout who has shown any life this season has been Gibson. He is a very distant second on the team in catches (13 to Amendola's 32) and targets (23 to Amendola's 49), but inherits the number one job by default. The next three St. Louis opponents -- Miami, Green Bay and New England -- all fall within the top third in terms of most fantasy points allowed to receivers, so Gibson's forthcoming usage boost could pay dividends for owners who scoop him up.

WR Robert Meachem, ---

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There's nothing more gratifying for a pro athlete than scorching your former team, and Meachem did just than on Sunday exploiting an admittedly weak Saints secondary for two touchdowns. These occasional big games were Meachem's calling card in New Orleans, where he was plagued by inconsistency -- although not to the degree he has struggled this season. Prior to Sunday's breakout, Meachem had twice been held catchless. He remains a risky pickup, but owners now have reason to hope he's finding his stride with the new team.

TE Joel Dreessen, ---

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Owners who will be without Greg Olsen and Jimmy Graham this week may have to dig deep into a well-plumbed waiver pool in the hopes of extracting talent. We've recommended numerous high-performing tight ends in this column and most of those have since reached ownership in the majority of fantasy leagues. The desperate will have to turn to someone like Dreesen, who (though not even a starter at his position) has managed to find the end zone in each of his last three games. Given their propensity for playing from behind (and given Peyton Manning's current lack of arm strength), the Broncos have been leaning heavily on the tight end position. So far it is Dreesen, not Jacob Taame, who has been the biggest benefactor.

TE Brandon Myers, ---

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Myers is another option for deep-leaning and adventurous owners who have been hurt by the bye week. A little known 6th round choice out of Iowa, Myers has been surprisingly effective so far this season, catching 16 of the 17 balls thrown his way. He leads his team with 228 receiving yards and (though he has yet to find the endzone) has been the lone bright spot in an anemic offense. Hard up TE-searchers could do worse.

PK Connor Barth, ---

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The kicker for the offensively challenged Buccaneers has been solid this season, averaging 8.5 points per game. He has so far hit on all of his extra point and field goal attempts, including three kicks of more than 50 yards. Despite his success, he could be lingering on the waiver wire -- he's coming off the bye week and fantasy owners, like NFL owners, have neither the patience nor the roster space to spare on kickers who aren't active. Barth faces the Chiefs this week and could be busy; only three teams have given up more field goals this season than Kansas City.