Now that we’re a quarter of the way through the 2012-2013 NFL season we are starting to get a real feel for who are the more powerful teams and standout players. However, early season injuries and inconsistencies on both sides of the ball have left some fantasy owners unsure of who will be the real studs on their team to carry them into the playoffs. Week 5 is also the first “real” bye week—I say this because only 2 teams had byes last week, whereas from this week up until week 11 at least 4 teams per week will have byes. This leaves fantasy owners already starting to scramble for the waiver wire and to trade.
Waiver Wire Pickup of the Week: James Jones. As the Packers’ offense looks stronger each week, keep an eye out on waivers for James Jones. He had a huge week last week, and if Greg Jennings continues to have groin injury issues (which it seems as if he will, he didn’t practice again today due to the injury), he has real sleeper potential. Granted he did have rough weeks against Chicago and Seattle, totaling 7 receptions, 54 yards, and 0 touchdowns in these 2 games combined, Jones still has more fantasy points on the year than Jordy Nelson. The shocking part of this stat is that 
Nelson is owned in 100% of fantasy leagues, and is started in nearly all of them as well, compared to Jones’ 34% ownership and started only in 7.8% of leagues. Blame it on his inconsistencies early in the season, but Nelson’s no better. Pick Jones up if he’s available, especially if you’ve got a bye week spot you need filled. Even if he doesn’t come up big this week, don’t drop him. He’s one you’ll want to keep on your roster for a while especially with Green Bay up against mediocre pass defenses like Indy, Jacksonville, Arizona, and St. Louis in the coming weeks prior to their week 10 bye. If he produces and establishes his presence in these games, he will surely get looks from Aaron Rodgers throughout the rest of the season.
Other players that I like this week: The only team Frank Gore has gone without a score against is Minnesota, who has the second best run defense in the league right now. If this deters you, consider that he faced the league’s third best run defense in Detroit the week prior, and managed to get 105 all purpose yards and a touchdown against them. Gore is a must start against Buffalo this week, who is ranked 28th in yards allowed to opposing rushers. Expect a big week from him.
Anybody catching a ball for Atlanta: Namely Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, but Julio Jones has some big point-earning potential as well; the only team with a worse pass defense than Washington is Tampa Bay, so expect these three (and maybe even Michael Turner—he did get his first career receiving TD last week–but I wouldn’t bank on him turning into a PPR star) to get a solid amount of catches.
Kyle Rudolph is a good pickup if your tight end has a tough matchup or a bye (looking at you, Heath Miller, Brandon Pettigrew, and Jason Witten owners). He’s owned in only 40% of 10 team leagues, so you have a decent chance at scooping him up. Minnesota is looking like a stronger team offensively, as quarterback Christian Ponder emerges as a player who can up the ante on the passing game for a team that is classically run-first. With Percy Harvin as the only viable receiver (as of now, but Jerome Simpson just came back from suspension so keep your eye on him too), Rudolph is getting a lot of looks from Ponder. There’s no reason to think that’ll stop anytime soon, especially since they face Tennessee this week, who has allowed a whopping 421 total yards per game (31st in NFL).
If Green Bay goes up big early in their game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Colts will be looking to play catch up by passing. Even though T.Y. Hilton had more receptions, yards, and touchdowns than Reggie Wayne in week 3’s game against Jacksonville, Wayne will be able to pick apart Green Bay’s less than stellar pass defense a little easier than the rookie Hilton. Expect Hilton to have no more than 5 receptions and 50 yards, even if the Colts do go pass-crazy, but I’d venture to say that Wayne will have double Hilton’s stats plus a touchdown.
Also, because Green Bay is favored and because Indianapolis has allowed over 90 yards per game to opposing rushers, Cedric Benson is a good replacement for one of your starters that may have a bye, like DeMarco Murray or Darren McFadden, especially (like with Reggie Wayne) if Green Bay has a lot of wiggle room and needs to run the clock down later in the game. I’m not saying you should expect a monster game from Benson, but he’ll put up his share of points, both by rushing and maybe even a little receiving (he’s had 4 receptions in each of the last 3 games).
Dud of the Week: The San Diego Chargers just named Jackie Battle the starter over Ryan Mathews this afternoon. This is a real blow to Mathews, since New Orleans is last in the league for rushing yards allowed and Battle should have a decent day.
rc2cs 
It’s been a crazy seson so far. Just like we all love it :).