Let the bye weeks begin! Now, more than ever, fantasy owners will be scrambling to the waiver wire to find help in keeping their teams together for the next six weeks. And while there are no fantasy saviors available in most leagues, help can still be had in the form of “upside-challenged” veterans and young, emerging talent.
 
More change could be in the air in coming weeks, especially at the quarterback position, but for now, Brian Griese, Kerry Collins and Gus Frerotte can keep teams afloat. Youngsters Brady Quinn and Drew Stanton could be getting their shots in Cleveland and Detroit, respectively, any day now, but aren’t worthy of full endorsements just yet.
 
Correll Buckhalter will be the prized waiver target in most leagues, as owners either look to replace injured Brian Westbrook or score a big-time playmaker. Touchdown vultures otherwise leave their marks on this week’s crop of running backs, with Baltimore Ravens fullback Le’Ron McClain topping a list that also includes Arizona’s Tim Hightower and New Orleans’ Pierre Thomas.
 
Returns, from injury and suspension, are the sources of value in the wide receiver class. Seattle’s Bobby Engram and Cincinnati’s Chris Henry won’t provide immediate help - the earliest they can debut is Week 5 - but can provide a much-needed push to your fantasy team’s playoff chances. Minnesota’s Sidney Rice will get back into the lineup and get better quarterback play from backup Gus Frerotte.
 
The full list of free agent candidates follows. These are players available in at least 50 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Some notable candidates who just missed the cutoff, but are worth additions: Buffalo’s Trent Edwards, Detroit’s Rudi Johnson and Houston’s Steve Slaton.
 
QUARTERBACKS
 
J.T. O’Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Reaping benefits of a Mike Martz offense
Key Stats: Has passed for 510 yards and 3 TDs in last 2 games - both 49ers wins
What to Watch For: Results against much better defenses - New England in Week 5, Philadelphia in Week 6
Other Notes: Wouldn’t be the first no-name QB to find success in a Martz offense … Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger, and to a lesser extent, Jon Kitna have all done the same … running back Frank Gore is clearly the engine that makes the offense go, but is a factor in the passing game and a nice safety net for O’Sullivan.
 
Brian Griese, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Status: Putting former starting QB Jeff Garcia in rearview mirror
Key Stats: 67 pass attempts in Bucs’ OT win vs. Chicago
What to Watch For: Continued job security - he’s safe now, but he may not be if his performances go downhill
Other Notes: Not a ton of talent in the Bucs’ receiving corps, but their possession abilities help the weak-armed Griese … has obvious value if large number of attempts continue, but is prone to make mistakes … had 407 yards and 2 touchdown passes, but threw 3 interceptions in Tampa Bay’s 27-24 win over Chicago.
 
Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans
Status: Still Tennessee’s starter, as long as Titans keep winning
Key Stats: Averaging 159 passing yards and a TD in 2 starts
What to Watch For: Health of Vince Young, espeically if Titans start to struggle
Other Notes: Titans QB job not a glorified one; their run-first approach takes burden off QB, which means fewer opportunities to air it out … Collins is only an option in extremely deep leagues and those that start two quarterbacks.
 
Gus Frerotte, Minnesota Vikings
Status: Named starter for the rest of 2008
Key Stats: Averaging 229 yards/game in last 5 starts
What to Watch For: How Frerotte can get weapons involved in downfield passing game
Other Notes: Frerotte was OK as a starter last year, but has better weapons around him in ‘08 … results in Week 3 weren’t spectacular, but were enough to warrant attention in fantasy for upcoming bye weeks.
 
Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns
Status: Becoming more deserving of shot to start
Key Stats: Starter Derek Anderson has 5 INTs in last 2 games
What to Watch For: How seriously coach Romeo Crennel is about opening starting jobs up to competition
Other Notes: Expect Anderson to get one more shot in Week 4 … if the Browns remain winless going into their Week 5 bye, Quinn will get his shot … can infuse some life into a stagnant offense, which could mean better play from another disappointment, WR Braylon Edwards. 
 
RUNNING BACKS
 
Correll Buckhalter, Philadelphia Eagles
Status: An injury fill-in for Brian Westbrook (ankle)
Key Stats: Had 87 total yards and a TD in Week 3 win over Pittsburgh
What to Watch For: MRI results on Westbrook’s ankle, any status updates leading up to Sunday
Other Notes: Can be a “Westbrook Lite” type player, who will get involved in the passing game and rack up solid yardage totals … Westbrooks’ injury looked serious enough to miss at least one week of action … must-add in all leagues, especially for Westbrook owners in dire need of a handcuff.
 
Le’Ron McClain, Baltimore Ravens
Status: Looking like strong goal-line option
Key Stats: Led the Ravens with 17 carries, 66 yards and 2 TDs vs. Cleveland
What to Watch For: Willis McGahee’s return to full health (knee), how it affects goal-line carries
Other Notes: Big Week 3 performance comes on the heels of a strong Week 1 effort … combination of goal-line carries, short-yardage work, and bruising change of pace touches gives him big value … physical Ravens ran 44 times and called just 19 passes in win over Cleveland.
 
Pierre Thomas, New Orleans
Status: Preferred goal-line back for Saints … for now
Key Stats: Has just 12 carries for 23 yards, but 3 TDs in past 2 weeks
What to Watch For: Deuce McAllister’s return from knee surgery, how it affects Saints’ backfield situation
Other Notes: Saints are high on his ability … if McAllister stays sidelined, will retain precious goal-line touches … Saints use spread attack to march downfield, then pound it at goal-line with Thomas … good change of pace to Reggie Bush, at least until (if) McAllister is back at full speed.
 
Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals
Status: Taking goal-line carries from Edgerrin James
Key Stats: No scores in Week 3, but career-high 61 total yards
What to Watch For: Arizona’s ability to create goal-line chances
Other Notes: Won’t get regular work between the 20s, but is a sure thing inside opponents’ 10-yard lines … may be this year’s top “touchdown vulture,” a nice title for those in scoring-only leagues … was a fifth-round pick in the ‘08 draft out of Richmond.
 
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
Status: Established as option No. 2 to Larry Johnson
Key Stats: Has 15 carries to fellow backup Kolby Smith’s 2 through 3 weeks
What to Watch For: Chiefs ineptitude and how it relates to usage of workhorse back Johnson
Other Notes: Any kind of injury to Johnson would open the door for Charles … also, the constantly disgruntled veteran could find himself on the bench as Kansas City struggles, which would also be a boost to Charles’ value … will be interesting to see how the speedy back is used as KC continues to tank.
 
WIDE RECEIVERS
 
Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings
Status: Recovering from knee injury
Key Stats: Had 31 yards and a TD in Week 1
What to Watch For: How he meshes with new QB Gus Frerotte in his return to action
Other Notes: Is a legitimate deep threat who figures to benefit the most from the switch to Frerotte … has scored touchdowns in four of his last seven games, dating back to last season … has had a tendency to disappear, though, which makes for inconsistent fantasy weeks.
 
Bobby Engram, Seattle Seahawks
Status: Could be returning by Week 5
Key Stats: 94 catches, 1,147 yards, 6 TDs in ‘07
What to Watch For: Prolonged health - attempting to return from shoulder injury at the age of 35
Other Notes: With Seattle’s depleted receiving corps, Engram would return in great situation to produce … be careful, though; at 35 years old, is no sure thing to duplicate his career 2007 season.
 
Chris Henry, Cincinnati Bengals
Status: Finishing his suspension in time for Week 5
Key Stats: 17 of his 88 career catches have been for TDs
What to Watch For: Better performance of Cincy offense - his return could help
Other Notes: Is a big-time red zone threat, who has been unable to stay out of trouble … will no doubt get looks from QB Carson Palmer in the end zone once again … will be the team’s No. 3 option, behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson.
 
Steve Smith, New York Giants
Status: Emerging as good intermediate target
Key Stats: Season-high 7 catches for 60 yards last week
What to Watch For: Touchdown possibilities - has 37 catches, including the postseason, and zero TDs
Other Notes: Main beneficiary as defenses double team Plaxico Burress … is especially valuable in PPR leagues …. at 5-foot-11, doesn’t stand to catch many TD passes, but specializes in the possession game.
 
Brandon Lloyd, Chicago Bears
Status: Gaining attention of QB Kyle Orton
Key Stats: 11 catches for 190 yards, TD in last 2 weeks
What to Watch For: Consistency of Orton - needs steady play to have fantasy value
Other Notes: Is best of a mediocre group of wideouts …. still flying under the radar when it comes to opponents’ game plans … is two years removed from a nice 48-catch, 733 yard, 5-TD campaign in San Francisco.
 
Ike Hilliard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Status: Consistently producing decent stat lines
Key Stats: Has 4+ catches in each of Tampa’s 3 games
What to Watch For: Return of Joey Galloway - fewer targets to go around means fewer catches
Other Notes: For a second straight year, Hilliard has proven a more-than-capable possession wide receiver … change to Brian Griese at QB is a lateral move, not an upgrade or downgrade over Jeff Garcia.
 
Kevin Walter, Houston Texans
Status: A vastly underrated fantasy option
Key Stats: Has 7 catches, but for just 56 yards
What to Watch For: Improvement in Houston offense
Other Notes: Is a big and reliable target for QB Matt Schaub … had 5 or more catches in 7 of his final 12 games last season … got unexpected bye in Week 2 because of damage caused by Hurricane Ike.