2012 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 5

Paul Frederiksen - US PRESSWIRE

Let's get ready to hit the waiver wire for week 5.  If you are not winning enough then you probably should be working the waiver wire a bit harder.  Also, as you start to stack up on studs from the waiver wire remember to make trades as well.

Five Star Pick-ups

Greg Olsen (TE, CAR) - most likely not on your waiver wire, but the consistency can not be overlooked and his ability in a PPR league to put up points is solid.

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN) - tons of us have underperforming QB’s, well let’s make a change and use Andy Dalton who has been hot this season.

Rarshard Mendenhall (RB, PIT) - last week to stash him.  No RB in Pitt has made it hard for Mendenhall to come back and be productive.

Four Star Pick-ups

Denarius Moore (WR, OAK) - Darrius Heyward-Bey has been nursing injuries and Moore is stepping up big time.  He is on waiver wires and worth selecting to help you through bye-weeks.

Jerome Simpson (WR, MIN) - we talked about him on the radio show this week.  This bye week helper is off suspension and ready to play.  Simpson would have had many more yards this last week, but there were a couple pass-interference calls not showing in his true stats.

Matt Hasselbeck (QB, TEN) - Locker will be out a while with an injury, so if you are looking for a bye week fill in then pick-up Hasselbeck as he has put up fantasy relevant numbers in the past. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, BUF) - quietly putting up usable fantasy numbers, and can be used in a bye week.

Nate Burleson (WR, DET) - not the most fun player to pick up but his consistency every week can not be ignored.  If you are in a PPR league and needs some points during bye weeks then look to Burleson.

T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND) - Keep an eye on Hilton as he was trending upward before the bye week.  Must add in Dynasty leagues.

James Jones (WR, GB) - With Greg Jennings potentially missing more time Jones will continue to make plays.  He is a very tempting spot starter as long as Jennings remains sidelined.  

Three Star Pick-ups

Leonard Hankerson (WR, WAS) - Hankerson is now a starter in Washington and will be a solid performer in PPR leagues. He has nice upside. 

Domenik Hixon (WR, NYG) - interesting that Barden was demoted, but Hixon was started and as long as Nicks is out Hixon is worth a spot start.

Owen Daniels (TE, HOU) - He is quietly collecting catches so only look towards him in PPR leagues, but he does find the end-zone on occasion. 

Jackie Battle (RB, SD) - a RB worth monitoring as he took away a ton of carries from Matthews.  He more than likely won’t put up type of numbers he put up last week.

Randall Cobb (WR, GB) - as long as Jennings is out then he can be used in PPR formats.

Mike Williams (TB, WR) - it wasn’t too long ago that Mike Williams was a solid WR in TB.  Mike Williams could be used in tight spots during the bye weeks, but there are better options available. 

Two Star Pick-ups

Mario Manningham (WR, SF) - worth monitoring as he is an up and down type player, so you would would have to have little options during the bye week.

Scott Chandler (TE, BUF) - finding the endzone this weekend, but has shown that he is getting targets from Fitzpatrick.  Only use if you are in a really tough situation.

Brian Hartline/Davone Bess (WR, MIA) - flip a coin each week, these two are up and down each week, but both offer upside for gamblers.  Brian Hartline will never have another game like he had this weekend, but in PPR leagues he can be a player to gamble on.

Brandon Bolden (RB, NE) - worth a stash, but Ridley is still the clear starter there in NE.

One Star Pick-ups

Chaz Schilens (WR, NYJ) - finally healthy and was inserted right away into the starting line-up.  He is someone to keep an eye on but not worth rostering.

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