Everything you need to know (and a lot that you don’t) about the fantasy implications of Sunday’s action.

QUARTERBACKS

Trent Edwards threw two picks and fumbled, but he threw for more than 197+ yards and a TD for the sixth time in eight games…Kyle Orton suffered an ugly ankle injury and it looks like he could be out for a month. Rex Grossman will fill in for him…Gus Frerotte (182 yards, 3 TD, INT) continues to play solid ball for Minnesota. Since he took over six games ago, he is averaging 245 yards and 1.3 pass TD per game.

RUNNING BACKS

Kevin Smith got 16 touches to Rudi Johnson’s 10, and Smith also scored a TD, so it looks like he is the lead back in Detroit…Cedric Benson (25 touches, 109 yards, TD) seems to be settling into the RB1 role in Cincy…All that pregame talk about Michael Bennett getting most of the work for Tampa Bay turned out to be erroneous. Earnest Graham is a solid start as long as Warrick Dunn is out. He fumbled twice, but threw a TD to Alex Smith to make up for it…There were rumors that the Cardinals were going to cut Edgerrin James’ touches and give Tim Hightower more of the workload, but I wasn’t expecting Hightower to register 23 touches (108 yards, TD) and James to register zero. It looks like Hiightower is officially RB1 in Arizona…Ryan Grant (20 carries, 86 yards) ran pretty well against a good Titans defense, which is encouraging for his owners. He failed to score a TD, however…The Denver running game was awful against the Dolphins. Three RBs (Michael Pittman, Andre Hall and Ryan Torain) combined for 12 yards on 11 carries…Michael Turner (31 carries, 139 yards) once again tore up a bad rush defense. He has four 104+ yard games (OAK, GB, KC, DET) against mediocre-to-bad defenses and four sub 58-yard games (PHI, CHI, CAR, TB) against four good defenses. He doesn’t get any action in the passing game (3 receptions all year), so he can’t make up for a bad rushing day in PPR leagues…Maurice Morris (8 touches, 43 yards) and Julius Jones (11 touches, 45 yards) split the RB work almost evenly…BenJarvus Green-Ellis (16 touches, 65 yards, TD) and Kevin Faulk (15 touches, 98 yards) split the work with Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan out. Faulk has more value in PPR leagues while Green-Ellis is the better play in standard and TD-heavy leagues.

Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I use the ESPN league data when filtering players, so the only players eligible for discussion here are those that are available on the waiver wire of at least 50% of ESPN’s leagues. I’ll list each player’s percentage-owned after their name so you have an idea of how available they are in leagues around the country. I’ll always try to mention a few players that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters. I’ll rank them in the order I’d pick them up in a league with a high-performance, PPR scoring system.

QUARTERBACKS

The following guys are owned in more than 50% of leagues, and I’d pick them up in this order before moving onto the rest of the list: Matt Ryan, Matt Cassel and Chad Pennington. I’d pick up Jeff Garcia after Marc Bulger.

Gus Frerotte (29.4)
257 yards and 1.0 TD in five starts. Good matchup this week.
Marc Bulger (45.6)
Starting to show signs of life. Also has a good matchup this week.
JaMarcus Russell (37.3)
He has been decent in four of his last five starts.
Shaun Hill (0.5)
He was named the starter in San Francisco.
Kerry Collins (24.5)
Joe Flacco (16.8)
Tyler Thigpen (1.4)
Looked pretty good against the Jets.
Dan Orlovsky (8.6)
Ryan Fitzpatrick (7.6)
Brad Johnson (34.3)
Seneca Wallace (2.5)

Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I use the ESPN league data when filtering players, so the only players eligible for discussion here are those that are available on the waiver wire of at least 50% of ESPN’s leagues. I’ll list each player’s percentage-owned after their name so you have an idea of how available they are in leagues around the country. I’ll always try to mention a few players that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters. I’ll rank them in the order I’d pick them up in a league with a high-performance, PPR scoring system.

QUARTERBACKS

I’d grab Trent Edwards, J.T. O’Sullivan, Matt Ryan, Chad Pennington and Matt Cassel first (in that order) – they’re all owned in more than 50% of leagues – and then move onto this list:

Gus Frerotte (32.3)
Since he took over as the starter, Frerotte is averaging 257 yards and 1.0 TD per game. He throws a few picks, but he’s a capable fantasy backup.
Marc Bulger (44.7)
We’re still holding out hope that Bulger could return to his glory days, but that seems to be a real longshot at this point. Still, things are looking up now that Scott Linehan is gone.
Jeff Garcia (41.8)
He isn’t flashy, and he probably isn’t going to have too many multiple-TD games, but he should be good for around 200 yards and a score each week, and that’s not bad for a backup.
JaMarcus Russell (40.9)
He posted 203 yards and a TD against a so-so Jets pass defense.
Brad Johnson (41.6)
His uninspired play against the Rams will have Cowboys management rushing Romo back asap.
Brady Quinn (13.4)
Doesn’t it feel like it’s almost the start of the Brady Quinn era in Cleveland?
Ryan Fitzpatrick (4.3)
He could post decent numbers with some good weapons around him.
Kerry Collins ( 23.6)
Dan Orlovsky (4.6)
This we know…the Lions will throw a lot because they’ll trail a lot.
Tyler Thigpen (0.2)

Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I use the ESPN league data when filtering players, so the only players eligible for discussion here are those that are available on the waiver wire of at least 50% of ESPN’s leagues. I’ll list each player’s percentage-owned after their name so you have an idea of how available they are in leagues around the country. I’ll always try to mention a few players that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters. I’ll rank them in the order I’d pick them up in a league with a high-performance, PPR scoring system.

QUARTERBACKS

I’d grab Trent Edwards, Matt Schaub, David Garrard and Derek Anderson first, but if they’re gone…

1. Matt Ryan (47.0)
At this point, I’d take the rookie (who is wise beyond his years) over anyone else on this list. Beware – he has a bye this week.
2. Brad Johnson (0.5)
He’ll take over for the next three games in Dallas. He’s a vet and a pro, so expect capable production with a good set of weapons to throw to.
3. Jeff Garcia (18.0)
175 passing yards and a TD every week seems about right. He has a good matchup this week.
4. JaMarcus Russell (45.4)
Erratic arm with upside. He has a nice matchup this week.
5. Marc Bulger (49.7)
Where is the Bulger of old? (Torry Holt wants to know.)
6. Chad Pennington (41.5)
7. Gus Frerotte (25.3)
8. Kerry Collins (22.1)
9. Joe Flacco (13.9)
10. Seneca Wallace (0.3)
11. Brodie Croyle (4.8)
12. Ryan Fitzpatrick (1.4)

Here’s a look at several players that might be available in your league…

Zach Miller was once again the Raiders’ top receiver (3-46) and it seems like he and JaMarcus Russell are starting to develop a rapport…Jeff Garcia (173 yards, TD) is back to being a decent fantasy backup…Devin Hester is averaging 4.7-60-0.7 over the last three games. It will be interesting to see if he can keep this up once (if) Brandon Lloyd returns…Don’t go crazy trying to pick up Patrick Cobbs (3-138-2) this week. This looks more like an aberration than anything else…Greg Camarillo (4-49) continues to post decent numbers in PPR leagues…With Joseph Addai hurt, Dominic Rhodes (25 carries, 73 yards, TD) looked strong. Addai tweaked his hammy, so Rhodes’ value will depend on when Addai can return…Joe Flacco (241 yards, 3 INT) was brutal against the Colts…Donnie Avery (4-73) has caught at least three passes in each of the last three weeks… Just when fantasy owners gave up on Matt Jones (7-69) again, he put up another good game in PPR leagues…Michael Pittman (23 touches, 125 yards) got all of the work with Selvin Young out. Oddly enough, Andre Hall didn’t register a touch…Steve Breaston (8-102-1) continues to shine with Anquan Boldin out.

Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I use the ESPN league data when filtering players, so the only players eligible for discussion here are those that are available on the waiver wire of at least 50% of ESPN’s leagues. I’ll list each player’s percentage-owned after their name so you have an idea of how available they are in leagues around the country. I’ll always try to mention a few players that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters. I’ll rank them in the order I’d pick them up in a league with a high-performance, PPR scoring system.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Kyle Orton (38.4)
“Beard� (formerly “Neck Beard�) has posted 267 yards passing and 2.3 TD over the last three weeks. He’s definitely QB2 caliber now.
2. Marc Bulger (48.8)
Bulger resumes his starting duties this week.
3. Matt Ryan (43.4)
Ryan threw for 194 yards and two TD against he Packers, and almost had a third TD.
4. Chad Pennington (35.3)
Pennington has a nice matchup with the Texans in Week 6.
5. Gus Frerotte (16.1)
With the Lions on tap in Week 6, Frerotte is a good pickup this week.
6. JaMarcus Russell (46.5)
Russell seems to be playing better, and with the Saints coming up, he’s a viable spot starter.
7. Kerry Collins (25.2)
8. Joe Flacco (15.2)
9. J.P. Losman (0.6)
The Bills are on bye and Trent Edwards should be ready for Week 7, but if not, Losman will have some value.
10. Brodie Croyle (4.0)
Croyle will be the starter after KC’s bye.
11. Jeff Garcia (17.6)
With Griese nicked up, Garcia has a chance to reclaim the starting job.