Oct 16, 2009 - Ah the vagaries of fantasy football. Just as owners were about to throw in the towel on guys like Roddy White, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Turner, they finally broke out with performances worthy of their high draft picks. Roddy White owners especially have to be doing back-flips.

So which under-performing top picks are likely to have big days in week 6? Rams running back Steven Jackson is due to get his first touchdown of the season this week. Likewise, I expect Steelers RB, Willie Parker (not Mendenhall) to find the endzone this week as well. On the receiving end of the ball, look for Detroit's Megatron, Calvin Johnson and the Cardinal's, Anquan Boldin, to both pick up their second scores of the season this week. I also believe Jacksonville's off-season pick up of Torry Holt could pay off with his first touchdown of the season in Week 6.

The San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts are all sitting out watching the MLB Playoffs this weekend. Go Rockies. Oh wait, they already got cut down by the Phillies. Your following fantasy studs are on the bench this week:

QBs - Peyton Manning, Chad Henne, Tony Romo and Shaun Hill

RBs - Donald Brown, Joseph Addai, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Glen Coffee and Frank Gore

WRs - Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Ted Ginn, Jr., Miles Austin, Roy Williams, and Josh Morgan

TEs - Jason Witten, Dallas Clark, Vernon Davis and Anthony Fasano

--Plug and Play Buys for Week 6 --

--Quarterbacks--

Last week, three of my plug and play bye options turned out to be complete busts. Derek Anderson was dreadful, as was David Garrard. I don't expect much from Anderson this week, but Garrard...

David Garrard, JAX - This is the third week in a row I've recommended Garrard. The first week he was lights out fantasy sizzle. Last week against a team he should have lit up he was fantasy fizzle. Losing his best wide receiving threat, Mike Sims-Walker, hurt his day. This week he gets the lowly St. Louis Rams to beat up on.

Matt Hasselbeck, SEA - Hassel is my bye week play of the week. Surprisingly, even after his 4 TD performance in week 5, he's still available in 30% of fantasy leagues. This week he gets to torch the Cardinals porous secondary. Look for another big game. How good should he be? I'm playing him over Drew Brees this week.

Matt Cassel, KCC - Cassel is starting to find his groove for the Chiefs. This week he gets the Washington Redskins in a game I think they just might steal. Cassel has had 2 TD passes in his last two games. This week should make it three in a row. Statistically his counterpart, Jason Campbell is the better play this week, but the Redskin offensive line is very banged up, and I just have a gut feeling about the Chiefs this week.

Kyle Orton, DEN - I may die and go to fantasy golf hell for recommending Orton, but the fact is he's done very well this season, and he faces a suspect San Diego secondary in week 6. Even the Chargers admit, WR Brandon Marshall is the toughest receiver to corral on the field. And last week, stud receiver Eddie Royal finally broke out too. San Diego is atrocious against the run, which means Orton should get plenty of opportunities to pass, while the Chargers try and stem the flow of Knowshon Moreno.

--Running Backs--

Last week the only RB I suggested who didn't pan out was the Browns Jerome Harrison. Who knew Mangini would hand the running duties back over to Jamal Lewis last week? There are really no worthwhile free agent RBs this week because, let's face it, we fantasy owners hoard every RB with a pulse. So here are the guys who should have great games, not named Adrian Peterson:

Rashard Mendenhall, PIT - The Steelers rushing messiah has two back to back star performance games. This week he faces the Cleveland Browns rush defense. Nuff said. Or is it? Mendenhall has been dealing with the flu this week, meaning Willie Parker has been taking the first team snaps. That could mean a reversal of fortunes for the two backs this week against the Browns.

Knowshon Moreno, DEN - Moreno faces the league's worst rush defense. If he doesn't hit 100 yards and a TD, California just may fall off into the ocean.

Tim Hightower, ARI - Hightower has quietly become very productive in PPR leagues. If you're in a PPR league, the Cards RB has a nice match-up against the Seahawks this weekend, and should post solid fantasy numbers.

Thomas Jones/Leon Washington, NYJ - These guys face the Bills this week, and they have been very poor at stopping the run. Jones is likely already on a team in every league, but Washington could be a very nice plug and play in PPR leagues.

--Wide Receivers--

Last week I pegged Miles Austin, Austin Collie, Jeremy Maclin, Mohamed Massaquoi and Mike Sims-Walker to have big games. Austin, Maclin and Collie did. Sims-Walker got benched right before the game, and Massaquoi caught one of the only two passes Derek Anderson managed to complete.

Michael Walker-Sims, JAX - His benching last week was a blow to fantasy owners and his team. This week he has an even better match-up against the St. Louis Rams.

Donnie Avery, STL - Avery finally showed up for the Rams last week with almost 100 yards and a TD. This week he faces the Jaguars who surrendered 4 TD's to Seahawks receivers in week 5. The Jaguars are second worst at giving up points to receivers. He could/should have another big game.

Santana Moss, WAS - Moss has been a huge bust this season, but if there's any game in which he could finally bust out, this is it. The Chiefs are third worst at giving up points to wide receivers.

Mike Wallace, PIT - Wallace has a better yards-after-catch than both Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. The Steelers will be giving the Browns a lot of Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall this week, meaning they will be susceptible to the deep ball. Wallace is their deep threat receiver. He's still available in most free agent pools. Oh did I mention Santonio Holmes is having wrist issues and Hines Ward has missed practice this week for undisclosed reasons?

--Tight Ends--

Of the three guys I recommended last week, Heath Miller, and Vinsanthe Shiancoe both scored TDs. All three guys I'm recommending this week should find the endzone.

Todd Heap, BAL - Faces the league's worst at surrendering points to tight ends; the Vikings

Jermichael Finley, GBP - The Lions have already given up 6 TDs to tight ends in 5 games. Can we make it 7?  Look for Aaron Rodgers to connect with him at least once for a TD this week.

Ben Watson, NEP - Anyone remember Watson's 2 TD performance against the Bills in the opening weekend? Tennessee may get a firsthand reminder. They've already given up 389 yards and 3 TDs to tight ends.

--Week Six - Start and Sit--

Generally, I always recommend starting your top picks, regardless of match-ups, barring injury, of course. It is obvious that you'll almost always play guys like Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees. I try to save this list for guys who are not always obvious starts.

Note: This week TEs Brent Celek and Antonio Gates have statistically very bad match-ups. The numbers say you should not play them, but their abilities say you must. Last week I recommended benching Randy Moss, and he was invisible all day.

Quarterbacks		Tight Ends
Start	Sit	Start	Sit
Donovan McNabb, PHI	Mark Sanchez, NYJ	Marcedes Lewis, JAX	Steve Heiden, CIN
Brett Favre, MIN	Trent Edwards, BUF	Dustin Keller, NYJ	Heath Miller, PIT
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	Derek Anderson, CLE	John Carlson, SEA	Kevin Boss, NYG
Marc Bulger, STL	JaMarcus Russell, OAK	Kellen Winslow, TBB	V. Shiancoe, MIN
Jason Campbell, WAS	Kerry Collins, TEN	B. Pettigrew, DET	Sean Ryan, KCC
Wide Receivers		Running Backs
Start	Sit	Start	Sit
Wes Welker, NEP	Antonio Bryant, TBB	Cedric Benson, CIN	Sammy Morris, NEP
Steve Smith, CAR	Braylon Edwards, NYJ	Kevin Smith, DET	Willis McGahee, BAL
Donald Driver, GBP	Terrell Owens, BUF	Ryan Grant, GBP	Jamal Lewis, CLE
Housh/Burleson, SEA	Lee Evans, BUF	Brian Westbrook, PHI	Reggie Bush, NOS
Roddy White, ATL	Derek Mason, BAL	Steven Jackson, STL	Brandon Jacobs, NYG
Team Defense		Kickers
Start	Sit	Start	Sit
Minnesota Vikings	Seattle Seahawks	Steve Gostowski, NEP	Nate Kaeding, SDC
Philadelphia Eagles	Arizona Cardinals	David Akers, PHI	S. Janikowski, OAK
Green Bay Packers	New York Jets	Josh Scobee, JAX	Billy Cundiff, CLE