Week 6 Waiver Wire: 7 Players Guaranteed to Save Your Fantasy Football Season

Beginning in Week 6, the following seven players can turn your depressingly bad start into a championship season.

They have the potential to be fantasy stars, and at the very least they can be valuable backups.

Don't waste time time. Run out and bolster the weak spots on your team before your opponents get to these emerging powers.

RB Ryan Torain: Washington Redskins

Torain and the Redskins had a bye in Week 5, but there is the very real possibility he will become the main ball-carrier in Washington when they return to action.

Torain may not be the starter, but that has little bearing on who ends up with the most carries for the Redskins.

Mike Shanahan was clearly impressed with Torain's performance in Week 4, in which he had 11 more carries than either Tim Hightower or Roy Helu.

And he produced. Torain ended with 19 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams.

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: Oakland Raiders

Don't look now, but Darrius Heyward-Bey is turning into a No. 1 receiver.

In the last two weeks, he's recorded 11 catches for 211 yards and one touchdown.

He is part of a crowded receiving corps for the Raiders, but he is the one guy who consistently gets targeted.

The Raiders have always tried to get Heyward-Bey the ball. Now that he is actually producing, that approach won't stop.

RB Jackie Battle: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs appear to have come to the realization many already arrived at last year—Thomas Jones is washed-up.

This led to the Chiefs giving his carries to Jackie Battle on Sunday, and Battle produced to the tune of 19 carries and 119 yards against the Colts.

Battle is a grinding running back who will get consistent positive yards when given the chance. He is also on a team that is just a year removed from leading the NFL in rushing.

Battle should be a consistent, but not spectacular, producer for the remainder of the season.

QB Curtis Painter: Indianapolis Colts

Curtis Painter has brought the Colts' offense back from the dead.

Painter has been inconsistent since taking over the starting job, but he has shown flashes of brilliance.

You should expect his consistency to grow the more he plays.

I don't expect him to progress to a regular fantasy starter, but in a pinch you could do worse than throwing him into your starting lineup.

His fantasy value also benefits from the fact the Colts are going to be behind in virtually every game, which will mean plenty of throws for Painter.

WR Kevin Walter: Houston Texans

Jacoby Jones was getting the most waiver hype when it was announced that Andre Johnson would miss time with a hamstring injury.

It was Kevin Walter who led the way afterwards.

Walter had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. This guy is a reliable receiver, and I expect his role in the Texans' offense to grow.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see him stay involved when Johnson returns.

QB Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos

It is finally Tebow time in Denver.

While John Fox hasn't said that Tebow will be the starter when the Broncos come out of their Week 6 bye, he would have to be insane not to start Tebow.

I don't expect Tebow to light the world on fire when he returns, but he should put up some decent points and would be a solid backup if your current backup isn't working out.

Tebow has a solid set of receivers and will gain extra fantasy points with his legs as well.

WR Victor Cruz: New York Giants

I honestly cannot believe Cruz is still available in fantasy leagues.

This is the third straight week I have been hyping him, and all he has done is go out and produce in a big way.

This week, Cruz had eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown against Seattle.

He is obviously the Giants' No. 2 receiver now, and the Giants are throwing the ball a lot.

Cruz is playing well enough to just be penciled into a starting lineup and left there.