Week 6: Pickups of the Week

WR Brandon Gibson, MIA

No Amendola, no problem... right? Wrong. Even including his injury-shortened performance Thursday night, Amendola has still accounted for nearly 40% of all St. Louis receptions this season. His loss creates a black hole in the roster that may be impossible to fill. Someone needs to step forward and the only other Rams wideout who has shown any life this season has been Gibson. He is a very distant second on the team in catches (13 to Amendola's 32) and targets (23 to Amendola's 49), but inherits the number one job by default. The next three St. Louis opponents -- Miami, Green Bay and New England -- all fall within the top third in terms of most fantasy points allowed to receivers, so Gibson's forthcoming usage boost could pay dividends for owners who scoop him up.

WR Robert Meachem, SD

There's nothing more gratifying for a pro athlete than scorching your former team, and Meachem did just than on Sunday exploiting an admittedly weak Saints secondary for two touchdowns. These occasional big games were Meachem's calling card in New Orleans, where he was plagued by inconsistency -- although not to the degree he has struggled this season. Prior to Sunday's breakout, Meachem had twice been held catchless. He remains a risky pickup, but owners now have reason to hope he's finding his stride with the new team.

TE Joel Dreessen, DEN

Owners who will be without Greg Olsen and Jimmy Graham this week may have to dig deep into a well-plumbed waiver pool in the hopes of extracting talent. We've recommended numerous high-performing tight ends in this column and most of those have since reached ownership in the majority of fantasy leagues. The desperate will have to turn to someone like Dreesen, who (though not even a starter at his position) has managed to find the end zone in each of his last three games. Given their propensity for playing from behind (and given Peyton Manning's current lack of arm strength), the Broncos have been leaning heavily on the tight end position. So far it is Dreesen, not Jacob Taame, who has been the biggest benefactor.

TE Brandon Myers, NYG

Myers is another option for deep-leaning and adventurous owners who have been hurt by the bye week. A little known 6th round choice out of Iowa, Myers has been surprisingly effective so far this season, catching 16 of the 17 balls thrown his way. He leads his team with 228 receiving yards and (though he has yet to find the endzone) has been the lone bright spot in an anemic offense. Hard up TE-searchers could do worse.

PK Connor Barth, TB

The kicker for the offensively challenged Buccaneers has been solid this season, averaging 8.5 points per game. He has so far hit on all of his extra point and field goal attempts, including three kicks of more than 50 yards. Despite his success, he could be lingering on the waiver wire -- he's coming off the bye week and fantasy owners, like NFL owners, have neither the patience nor the roster space to spare on kickers who aren't active. Barth faces the Chiefs this week and could be busy; only three teams have given up more field goals this season than Kansas City.

Remember to read all our columns for this week and use our Who To Start Rankings