Week 6 Waiver Wire: Alex Smith and the 5 Best Fantasy Football Bye Week Subs

Bye weeks in fantasy football are always tricky to navigate around, and the first batch of NFL teams get a break in Week 6.

What does that mean? It's time to go to the waiver wire to plug in the holes left by those teams that will be watching games this Sunday. 

Here are the some of the big names with bye weeks and how you might go about subbing for them on the waiver wire:

QBs with byes: Philip Rivers, Chargers; Matt Hasselbeck, Titans; Kevin Kolb, Cardinals; Matt Cassel, Chiefs  

Fill-in: Alex Smith, 49ers

Don't laugh. I've had Smith in this space for two weeks now, and he's responded with big weeks against two pressure defenses in the Eagles and Buccaneers. In Week 6, Smith gets the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. It's not a perfect matchup, but the 49ers have shown that they can hang with the big boys. Smith has shown the same, throwing for almost 500 yards and five scores the past two weeks. He's available in over 90 percent of ESPN leagues.

RBs with byes: Ryan Mathews, Chargers; Chris Johnson, Titans; Beanie Wells, Cardinals; Willis McGahee, Broncos 

Fill-in: Earnest Graham, Buccaneers

LeGarrette Blount (hamstring) might not play when the Bucs take on the Saints this weekend, and Graham figures to get his touches if that's the case. He carried the ball five times for 30 yards after Blount went out against the 49ers. Graham has been used sparingly the past three seasons, but he's worth a look as a fill in against a Saints defense that got gashed on the ground in Week 5. Graham can be had in over 95 percent of ESPN leagues.

WRs with byes: Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs; Vincent Jackson, Chargers; Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Brandon Lloyd, Broncos; Sidney Rice, Seattle 

Fill-in: Darius Heyward-Bey, Raiders    

I was skeptical of Heyward-Bey after he posted a four-catch, 115-yard game in Week 4, but he backed that performance up with 99 yards and a score against the Texans last Sunday. DHB has been getting the targets all season, which is obviously important for fantasy production. But now that he's cashing in on the opportunities, Heyward-Bey is a guy that is a must-add for owners that need receivers. He's available in in 97 percent of ESPN leagues.    

TEs with byes: Jared Cook, Titans; Antonio Gates, Chargers; Jeff King, Cardinals

Fill-in: Jermaine Gresham, Bengals

It's not a devastating week for tight ends, but owners that need production from the position should look to Gresham, who can be had in over 60 percent of ESPN leagues. Andy Dalton continues to target him in the red zone, which has resulted in three touchdowns in 2011.

DEF/STs with byes: Titans, Chargers  

Fill-in: Buffalo Bills

 Again, not a tough week for defenses. The Bills are a nice pickup against the Giants, however. You just never know when Eli Manning is going to have one of his turnover-laden games, and the Bills defense has been good at getting their hands on the ball. Win-win matchup.

K with byes: Nick Novak, Chargers; Rod Bironas, Titans; Ryan Succop, Chiefs; Jay Feely, Cardinals 

Fill-in: David Akers, 49ers

There are plenty of starting-caliber kickers on the pine this weekend, but Akers is a fine replacement in the case that yours is in that group. Akers has at least two field goal attempts in four of five games this season, and he's only missed one kick.