Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 6: Should Owners Add QB Alex Smith?

If you're in the need of a solid backup QB or if your league happens to start two QBs, San Francisco's Alex Smith is a great choice.

Through five games this season, the 49ers are 4-1, and it's clear that Jim Harbaugh was the perfect head coach to hire in the offseason.

Just look at what Smith has done so far this season: 965 yards, seven TDs, one pick, overall rating of 104.1 and a 65.9 completion percentage.

Now look at his array of weapons in the receiving game: WRs Ted Ginn Jr., Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards, and TE Vernon Davis.

The injury to WR Josh Morgan definitely puts a damper on the potential of how prolific Smith can be, but that's only going to allow of the four mentioned players a chance to step up for him.

With RB Frank Gore producing on the ground (400 yards, three TDs), and a team ranking of No. 12 in rush offense, the pressure has been taken off Smith to perform miraculously each week.

Sure it helps being in the NFL's weakest division, but with Seattle winning in New York and the 49ers whipping Tampa Bay last week, the NFC West is much better than advertised.

In addition, the 49ers have a rather favorable schedule remaining, as five are in the division, and they get the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants all at home.

What's impressive about Smith this season is that his worst single game rating is 85.6 (Cincinnati), and the one INT he threw was in the home loss to Dallas where he finished with a rating of 99.1.

The only concerning factor here is that Smith's per game average is only 193 yards, and his highest total this season is just 291 against Philadelphia.

And perhaps Smith came close to that 300-yard milestone since San Fran was down 23-3 halfway through the third quarter. Nonetheless, if you need a backup QB, Alex Smith has proven that he is valuable enough to get the job done.

Starting him each week may be a tough decision, but he's not going to hurt your team if you start him on occasion. Despite having seven TD passes, in two of the five games he didn't throw one.

In the worst-case scenario, Alex Smith can provide reliable depth, as depth is equally important to fake football as it is real football.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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