Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: 6 Players Who Can Save Your Fantasy Season

It's been a crazy first quarter of a season in the NFL, with catastrophic injuries, surprising stars and well, Mike Shanahan all vastly effecting the world of fantasy football.

Week 5 is the start of the dreaded bye weeks for fantasy managers, and while this list of players will help you get through this week, each of these players have significant upside value going forward this season for various reasons.

Here are the top six waiver wire pickups that will not only help you through Week 5, but through the rest of your league's season.

Jacoby Jones

Look, Andre Johnson isn't walking out of that tunnel in Houston anytime soon owners, and it's time to pick up the Jacoby Jones insurance policy.

It's been reported that Johnson will be out "indefinitely" due to having surgery on his hamstring and the Texans have stated that Jones will take his place as the number one receiver in their offense.

The speedy receiver out of Lane College may be known more for his legs than his hands, but Matt Schaub isn't going to stop passing the football and outside of tight end Owen Daniels, there isn't a much better option on the roster than Jones.

If you're looking to replace Johnson or make it through what should be your last week without Miles Austin, run to the nearest computer and grab this Texan.

Stevan Ridley

Running back Stevan Ridley was the talk of the preseason for the New England Patriots, but now seems to be getting a more involved role in the games that count.

The rookie out of LSU was three yards away from eclipsing the 100-yard mark against the Oakland Raiders last week, and has seen his workload increase each week so far this season.

Danny Woodhead practiced for the first time all week, after suffering an ankle injury last weekend, but knowing how head coach Bill Belichick can be, he might stick with the proverbial hot hand and keep Ridley involved in the rushing attack.

The Patriots backfield has been a guessing game since the Laurence Maroney project was ended last season, so it's still tough to judge but Belichick is known for giving players a chance to prove themselves.

Ryan Torain

Speaking of backfields hard to judge, Washington Redskins' head coach Mike Shanahan continues to prove to be fantasy owners' number one enemy.

Tim Hightower owners were "Shanahan'd" last Sunday when Ryan Torain ran for 135 yards on 19 carries and found the end zone against the St. Louis Rams.

Week 4 was literally the first time the third year running back touched the ball in the 2011 regular season, with many fantasy analysts such as ESPN's own Matthew Berry recommending his owners to abandon ship.

The Redskins backfield will always continue to be a head scratching predicament, but after that performance it's obvious that the demise of Ryan Torain was greatly over exaggerated.

Victor Cruz

If you didn't know New York Giants' wide receiver Victor Cruz's name before this past Sunday, chances are you know it by heart, now.

His controversial catch sealed a G-Men victory against the Arizona Cardinals, and posted 98 receiving yards that day.

Week 4 marked the second straight game where Cruz marked great numbers in the receiving game, as he posted a 110-yard day against the Philadelphia Eagles on just three catches the previous week.

Mario Manningham was targeted just once last weekend and both him and Hakeem Nicks have dealt with injuries already this season.

Eli Manning has to throw the ball to somebody, and considering he doesn't have a reliable tight end to dump the ball off to and has two banged up receivers, Cruz has a chance to become a quality fantasy contributor going forward.

Isaac Redman

Look, there's no way around it, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is one you should avoid until further notice.

That being said, with Rashard Mendenhall being the latest player to fall victim to the dreaded hamstring injury, it's possible for Isaac Redman to start in the backfield against the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans have been impressive on both sides of the football out of the gate this season, posting the seventh best defense in the league up to this point.

There's no question that Redman is a tough play this week, considering the matchup as well as the porous offensive line the Steelers keep suiting up. But there's a chance that Mendenhall's hammy issues continue through the rest of the year.

If so, Redman has the chance to see more on-field action, which could help owners still struggling from the Jamaal Charles' injury and Knowshon Moreno's mediocrity.

Sage Rosenfels

Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions in the fantasy football world, and sometimes that means adding Sage Rosenfels if you're hurting at quarterback.

Sam Bradford has been disappointing, Peyton Manning isn't coming back anytime soon, Donovan McNaab may lose his job (again) and Chad Henne is out for the season.

Many of those names aren't top of the line quarterbacks, but if you waited until the late rounds to draft your starter or find yourself in a deep two quarterback league, Rosenfels may just be your only option out there in the free-agent pool.

The Miami Dolphins have reported Henne will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery and Fox Sports has stated that the 'Phins have signed Rosenfels presumably to take over as starter.

Obviously, if you're debating picking up the new Miami QB, you need help at this position and it would be good to start sending out some trade options to owners who have a surplus at quarterback.

Regardless though, if you need depth and the Curtis Painters of the world are already rostered, you'll have to bite the bullet and pick up the journeyman.