Week 5 Waiver Wire: Matt Hasselbeck and Top Bye Week Subs

The bye weeks have begun which means guys like Steven Jackson, Ray Rice, Tim Hightower, Peyton Hillis, Tony Romo and Joe Flacco are all taking a seat.

It’s a big blow to lose a healthy Jackson, Rice or Hillis for a week, no doubt about it.

Yet you can really soften the blow by picking up one of these five players that are currently available in the majority of ESPN leagues.

Week 5 byes: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins.

5. Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots

It’s never the greatest feeling to start a Patriots running back, but Ridley is a great option for the next few weeks.

Danny Woodhead is dealing with an ankle injury that will likely keep him out for a game or two.

Ridley showed great speed against the Raiders, he’s 10 pounds heavier than BenJarvus Green-Ellis and is potentially the better goal line back for the Pats.

He only needed 10 attempts to land 97 yards and a touchdown…imagine if you double his touches.

Ridley is worth a start in Week 5 against a Jets defense that is 27^th in the NFL against the rush.

4. Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans

Andre Johnson’s injury looked a lot worse than it really was…but he will likely miss Week 5.

Jones would take his spot in the starting lineup against a very weak Raider secondary.

May I remind you that Jones had 185 yards in two games without Johnson last year? Considering fellow starter Kevin Walter started against the Steelers and failed to catch a pass…it’s Jones that will see a large amount of targets.

He hasn’t done much this season, but assuming Johnson is a no-go then Jones is a great option.

3. Bernard Scott, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

This is completely based off if starter Cedric Benson is suspended. Right now he’s in the middle of the appeals process and is still waiting on a ruling from the NFL.

If the three-game ban holds up, grab Scott immediately.

He’s more elusive than Benson and has the ability to break off a long touchdown with his terrific speed. Brian Leonard will get some carries, but he’s more of a fullback and two-minute drill guy.

Scott will get around 20 touches against a below-average Jaguars defense if Benson’s suspension begins this week. 

2. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Tennessee Titans

We were all worried about the Titans offense after they lost Kenny Britt for the season. Yet the team didn’t miss a beat and Hasselbeck is proving to the doubters that he does in fact have some juice left in the tank.

He has eight touchdowns in four games and is limiting his turnovers. In ESPN standard-scoring leagues, Hasselbeck has yet to score less than 16 points.

That’s fantastic consistency and certainly worth a spot start in Week 5. 

1. Issac Redman, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

It was bound to happen.

After getting over 400 touches in the Steelers run to the Super Bowl last year, Mendenhall had a big red flag next to his name going into the season.

He suffered a right hamstring injury in Sunday’s loss and is questionable against the Titans.

Redman is the main backup and has produced decent numbers in limited action. The 40 yards on six carries he got against the Texans is great value. He also had one catch for 12 yards.

The Titans have given up double-digit fantasy points to the opponents' running back and Redman would be the guy assuming Mendenhall isn’t going to play much, if any at all.

Even if Mendenhall does start, his body is breaking down and odds are there is no way he lasts all 16 games.

Redman is a great pickup for Week 5 and the foreseeable future.