The Week Six Waiver Wire Pickups may not feature as many options as the past, but that usually happens. As the weeks go on, we see which guys are worthy of being started every week and the ones who were the one-and-bust types. Lets take a look at some guys who popped up on the list due to consistent play or because of injuries.
QUARTERBACKS
Andrew Luck - Colts (ESPN Owned - 74.6%)
Playing on emotion for his head coach Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed leukemia in September, the Colts not only made it a fun game to watch against the Packers, but Luck continued to show why the Colts made the right call in making him the No. 1 draft pick. Despite getting manhandled and taking 4 sacks from the Green Bay Defense, Luck went on to pass for 362 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Through 4 games, Luck has notched 3 300+yard games, with 7 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions. He might not be a true every-week QB1, but he's certainly on his way. Pick him up as a QB2 with a ton of upside.
Kevin Kolb - Cardinals (ESPN Owned - 16.6%)
I know what you're thinking: Shouldn't Kolb be dropped after the loss against the Rams? The answer is still no. Despite running for his life against the Rams front 7, Kolb still managed to put up 289 passing yards with no interceptions. Kolb will never be a QB1. His ceiling simply isn't high. But the fact that the team literally has no ground game, Kolb will continue to have to air it out as much as possible.
Christian Ponder - Vikings (ESPN Owned - 27.7%)
I had high hopes that Ponder would eventually become QB1 material, but we have yet to see it. But in the very best of matchups, he could still be bye-week fodder. Against the Titans, Ponder threw for 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, but notched his first 2 interceptions of the year. Ponder hasn't eclipsed 200 passing yards since Week 2, so don't expect every-week value. He's just not there yet.
Brandon Weeden - Browns (ESPN Owned - 3.7%)
Weeden finally broke out against the Giants, passing for 291 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He was up-and-down, which was to be expected. But he is starting to show more poise in the pocket and the coaching staff obviously wants to open up the offense a bit more every week. He is still a low-end QB2.
Brady Quinn - Chiefs (ESPN Owned - .1%)
Matt Cassel is expected to be sidelined for the team's Week 6 game against the Buccaneers after suffering a possible concussion against the Ravens. Cassel was close to being benched anyway after a largely disappointing first quarter of the season. Quinn doesn't offer much upside, but at least he's a different face under center. And he could provide a spark to an offense that has been relying quite heavily on Jamaal Charles.
RUNNING BACKS
Rashard Mendenhall - Pittsburgh (ESPN Owned - 82.5%)
Mendy may not have hit the 20 carry mark like I predicted on our Google+ show against the Eagles, but he still had a spectacular comeback, rushing 14 times for 81 yards and a score. The problem with some owners is that when they look for waiver-wire options, they use the "Total Points To Date" option, instead of looking at names. So if Mendy hadn't scored a point leading up to Week 5, he wasn't going to show up. There is a small chance he could still be on your waiver wire. Some will be skeptical due to Todd Haley's usage of a two-back system back in Kansas City. Don't worry about that. This team needs a lead back, so expect Mendy to skyrocket back to an RB2 going forward.
Kendall Hunter - 49ers (ESPN Owned - 11.4%)
Hunter got a lot of garbage time work against the Bills, rushing 11 times for 81 yards. That's two-straight weeks of production on the ground. Heed my warning though. Brandon Jacobs is set to come back, which will eat into Hunter's and Frank Gore's production. Hunter is someone to keep in case Gore suffers his usual 1-2 game injury, but he isn't an every-week flex option.
James Starks - Packers (ESPN Owned - 5.9%)
Cedric Benson was off to a fast start against the Colts, accounting for 41 total yards in the first quarter. He wound up missing the rest of the game with a left foot injury. He says the injury is not severe, but we won't know how much damage there is until Monday or Tuesday. Alex Green came on after Benson left and rushed for 55 yards, but Starks could officially get the nod if Benson, for some reason, has to sit out Week 6. You know what you get in Starks by now; A guy who is probably going to get about 50-60 rushing yards at best. He could wind up in a timeshare with Alex Green against the Texans, which will limit both players' value. Hopefully Benson will be able to start so we can avoid this situation completely.
Alex Green - Packers (ESPN Owned - .8%)
If you take out the 41 yard scamper Green had against the Colts, he would have rushed 8 times for 14 yards. I'm not all that excited about his prospects. If the team thought he could be a starter, they wouldn't have signed Benson before the season.
Brandon Bolden - Patriots (ESPN Owned - 21.1%)
Through two weeks, Bolden has amassed 191 rushing yards behind Stevan Ridley. But don't let the numbers fool you. Bolden has been used in clock-killing mode with the Patriots jumping out to big leads. Still, in 16 teamers or higher, he is an intriguing option to pick up. And if Ridley was ever injuryed, Bolden's value could jump quick. Avoid him in 12 team leagues and lower. He simply isn't worth it right now unless you can grab-and-stash.
La'Rod Stephens-Howling - Cardinals (ESPN Owned - .4%)
With Ryan Williams out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury last week against the Rams and Beanie Wells still out with a turf toe injury, Mike Jurecki of XTRA Sports believes Stephens-Howling will take over as the starter. I'd be hard pressed to recommend him as even the most desperate of options given how bad the team's run game has looked so far. Alfonso Smith and Stephen Powell could also receive touches.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Josh Gordon - Browns (ESPN Owned - 0.3%)
With the Browns' receiving corps a mess with injuries, Flash Gordon finally had his chance to shine to the tune of 2 catches, 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. Temper expectations as Gordon beat Giants LB Chase Blackburn on a 62-yard bomb. Still, Gordon has a ton of hype after being selected in the second round in the supplemental draft. He is worth a shot if you have a guy who you've been sitting on, but has yet to pan out. To get a glimpse on Gordon, make sure to check out my previous sleeper article from the Summer. The Browns play the Bengals next week.
James Jones - Packers (ESPN Owned - 69%)
With Greg Jennings shut down with a groin injury, Jones has continued to put up decent numbers in his absence. After putting up 2 scores last week against the Saints, Jones followed that up with 4 catches for 46 yards and another 2 touchdowns in the loss to the Colts. Pick him up as a WR3 until Jennings is healthy enough to return.
Randall Cobb - Packers (ESPN Owned - 28.8%)
Just like Jones, Cobb has fared much better with Greg Jennings out. After his breakout Week One, he looked like a one-week wonder from Week 2-3. But with Jennings sidelined, Cobb has amassed 11 catches for 148 yards and a score. Continue to also use him as a WR3 until Jennings comes back.
Brandon Gibson - Rams (ESPN Owned - 7.4%)
With Danny Amendola out for the next 6 weeks, Gibson becomes the team's new No. 1 receiver. But is that really that exciting? In 5 games, Gibson has totaled a mere 13 receptions for 184 yards and 2 scores. The team could go with a more running attack with Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson, but Gibson is worth picking up if you are THAT desperate. And I mean THAT desperate for receiver help.
Kendall Wright - Titans (ESPN Owned - 10.5%)
With Kenny Britt less than 100% due to an ankle injury, Wright was targeted a team-high 11 times, catching 9 passes for 66 yards. If Britt suffered any setbacks against the Vikings, Wright could be a decent WR3 in Week 6 as he seems to have earned Matt Hasselbeck's trust.
Devery Henderson - Saints (ESPN Owned - 1.7%)
Henderson may have had an extremely productive night, but don't let this one-week wonder fool you. Through the first 4 games, Henderson managed 74 total receiving yards. So while his 8 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown seems intriguing, his value rests solely on whether Lance Moore (hamstring) will be in the starting lineup or not.
TIGHT ENDS
Scott Chandler - Bills (ESPN Owned - 1.7%)
I can't believe I am adding Chandler to the waiver wire list yet again, but he continues to put up TE2 numbers. Chandler racked up 4 catch for 40 yards and now has two-straight 4 catch games. Just remember he is ONLY a TE2.
D.J. Williams - Packers (ESPN Owned - .1%)
Jermichael Finley suffered a shoulder injury in the loss to the Colts, but it's not yet known just how bad the injury is. Finley downplayed it right after the game yesterday, but it's too early to say if Finley will be ready for Week 6. Just like in 2010 when everyone jumped on the Andrew Quarless bandwagon when Finley was out, don't go out of your way to snach up Williams.