If you lost wide receiver Greg Jennings last week in the first round of the fantasy playoffs, James Jones and Donald Driver aren't going to make you feel any better.

But they could be decent fill-ins for Jennings, who, as productive as he is, still suffers at times from the Packers spreading the wealth.

Jennings -- who had four touchdowns in his last five games but hadn't recorded a 100-yard contest since Week 7 -- suffered a knee injury last week that will keep him out of the remainder of the fantasy postseason. That leaves Jones and/or Driver as likely fantasy starters for desperate owners this week in the final four.

Before we get to this week's waiver-wire picks, we want to recommend Jones -- who is owned in 58.6 percent of the ESPN leagues, which doesn't make him "eligible" for the coveted weekly selections -- over Driver if both are available in your league.

Jones is a big-play threat (he is averaging 18.4 yards per reception this season) who has five TDs on the year. In his last six games, he hasn't been as much of a part of the Pack's attack (he has seven catches in that span, compared to 19 in Green Bay's first seven contests), but he figures to start with Jennings out of the lineup.

Six Packers have 26 catches or more this season, but Jordy Nelson and Jennings have been the primary TD targets (the two have combined to account for 19 of Aaron Rodgers' 39 touchdown passes).

Sunday, the Packers will play at Kansas City, which ranks 10th against the pass. Not that it matters any to Rodgers.

I would consider Jones a lower-level No. 3 starter in fantasy this week. As for Driver, he is one of our three waiver-wire recommendations. As always, the following players are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com. This trio is available in more than 81 percent of the ESPN formats.

1. Kevin Walter, WR, Texans (owned in 12.4 percent of the ESPN leagues): Walter had six receptions for 76 yards and a TD last week, his first game with more than two catches since Week 8. The touchdown was his first since Week 5. If Andre Johnson returns from a hamstring injury, Walter's value is obviously diminished. If Johnson is out, Walter is a decent play the next two weeks against the Panthers (No. 19 vs. the pass) and Colts (No. 21). Carolina and Indy have combined to allow 45 TD passes in 26 games this season.

2. Donald Driver, WR, Packers (18.1 percent): Driver has had four receptions in three of his last four game. The 36-year-old had four catches for 75 yards last week and two TDs the week before. From 2004 to '09, he was a 1,000-yard receiver each season.

He's no longer much of a fantasy option, but, like Jones, he is a mediocre fallback choice if you are without Jennings.

3. Chris Ivory, RB, Saints (0.6 percent): Ivory had 13 carries for 53 yards last week -- only his second game with more than six rushing attempts this season. Rookie Mark Ingram is expected to miss another game because of turf toe, leaving Ivory to share carries with Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. Last week, Ivory had two more carries than Thomas (six) and Sproles (five) combined.

Last season, Ivory rushed for 716 yards, scored five TDs and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. This season, he can't be counted on, even with Ingram out, because of the Saints' tendency to ignore the run. His matchups aren't great, either. Sunday, the Saints will play the Vikings, who rank ninth vs. the run, followed by a game against the Falcons (No. 5). Both teams are allowing fewer than 4 yards per carry. At best, Ivory is a desperation play.

Past waiver-wire picks who remain undervalued: Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals (owned in 30.0 percent of the ESPN leagues); Marion Barber, RB, Bears (46.1), Donald Brown, RB, Colts (23.2); Jabar Gaffney, RB, Redskins (34.5); Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos (9.7); Titus Young, WR, Lions (3.1); Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders (12.8); Nate Burleson, WR, Lions (28.7); Jake Ballard, TE, Giants (30.3); Brent Celek, TE, Eagles (23.5).

In a column for Friday's print and online editions, we address Randy Moss' value as a Titan, along with the emergence of Jacob Tamme as a top-10 option at tight end because of all the injuries at the position.

Click here early Friday morning to find the column.

Until then, let's update more key injuries as we enter Week 9:

-- Cardinals running back Beanie Wells suffered an allergic reaction to a lubricant injection in his right knee (unfortunately, it always seems to be something with this former Buckeye). He plans to practice Friday, and he's scored a touchdown in two consecutive games. Arizona's opponent Sunday, the Vikings, rank 13th against the run, an uncharacteristically high number for Minnesota. If Wells is active (the Cardinals play at 1 p.m., so time won't be an issue), I'd consider him a flex play in 12-team leagues.

-- Colts running backs Joseph Addai (neck and shoulder injuries) and Mike Hart (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, and both seem to be doubtful for Sunday's game at Philadelphia. Enter Donald Brown and Javarris James. The latter is a rookie from Miami with three carries for 4 yards. The former is a 2009 first-round pick who hasn't lived up to expectations and has been outplayed by Hart, a sixth-round selection in 2008. Of the two, I'd play Brown, but only if both Addai and Hart are inactive. The Eagles rank 18th against the run.

-- Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (foot) is expected to sit for a second consecutive week. Jonathan Stewart (14 carries for 30 yards) was a bust last week, but I would start him Sunday against the Saints, considering six teams have a bye this weekend -- making Stewart a top-20 back almost by default. The Saints are the league's No. 16 run defense, but have allowed only two rushing TDs in eight games.

-- Colts receiver Austin Collie practiced fully Thursday and is in line to start Sunday, which is a week or two earlier than we were led to believe he would return. He's a must play, especially with Anthony Gonzalez again hampered by an injury (this time, his knee).

-- Up-and-down Seahawks receiver Mike Williams missed practice Wednesday with a bruised knee, and Seattle will face the league's top pass defense Sunday in the Giants. I wouldn't play him unless you're desperate for a third receiver.

-- Packers receiver Donald Driver, who hasn't had a catch in his last two games, won't play Sunday against the visiting Cowboys because of a quadriceps injury. He is expected back in Week 11, following the Packers' bye next week. If you are looking for help, teammates James Jones and Jordy Nelson will be the Nos. 2 and 3 receivers. Jones, who had four catches for 107 yards in Week 7, is the better start in leagues that don't award a point per reception. Nelson should be the more productive of the two in PPR leagues after catching 13 passes in his last three games. The 2008 second-round pick hasn't scored a touchdown this season.

-- Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd probably will miss a third consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Sounds like a good week to start teammate Patrick Crayton against the Texans, who are giving up a league-worst 299 passing yards per game.

-- Texans receiver Andre Johnson isn't practicing because of a sore ankle, but he's expected to play Sunday. The Texans play at 1, so by now you know the drill with A.J., who always produces and always seems to have a lingering injury.

-- Vikings receiver Percy Harvin lost Moss, who significantly increased his fantasy value, as a teammate on Monday. Now Harvin might be out because of an ankle injury. With Harvin banged up and Sidney Rice not ready to return, Bernard Berrian could return to a prominent role in the passing game. Minnesota will play host to Arizona on Sunday. The Cards rank 21st against the pass.

-- Patriots receiver Deion Branch was limited in practice by a hamstring injury. He had only one catch for 21 yards last week, and I wouldn't play him Sunday against the Browns.

Stat of the week

7.2: Yards per touch for Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles this season. He has 103 carries for 666 yards, an average of 6.5 yards per attempt, and 16 receptions for 191 yards (11.9). In Kansas City's first three games, Charles had 39 touches. In the last four contests, he has 80 touches for 527 yards (428 yards rushing, 99 receiving). I think I speak for every Charles owner when I say, thank you for coming around, Todd Haley and Charlie Weis.

We'll address the impact of the Vikings unceremoniously dumping Randy Moss -- and seemingly infuriating everyone but Brad Childress in the process -- but first we'll take a quick trip around the NFL as we enter Week 9, just past the halfway point for leagues that play a 13-game regular season and three-week postseason.

-- Cadillac Williams, you had a good run, or at least an injury-filled one. But that sound you heard Sunday was the keys being handed to LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries against the Cardinals. Granted, it was the Cardinals, but considering the state of fantasy running backs, I'd play the young Buc who has rushed for 192 yards on 33 carries (5.8) in his last two games.

Start 'em

-- Jacob Tamme, TE, Colts: Hey, why not? First, you'll probably have to pick him up, since Tamme was owned in only 4.2 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com entering Week 8. Tamme didn't have a catch all season and had six catches for 47 yards in his three-year career prior to Monday. After a six-reception, 64-yard, one-TD performance in place of Dallas Clark against the Texans, he's certainly worth a starting spot.

-- Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions: He threw for 212 yards, four touchdowns and one interception his his first game since Week 1. He also has Calvin Johnson on his team. That's good enough for me.

-- Steve Breaston, WR, Cardinals: In his first appearance since Week 3, he had eight receptions for 147 yards. He's played in only four games and his quarterback may or may not be Derek Anderson, but if you need a third receiver, you could do a lot worse than a player who has 22 receptions for 330 yards in four games. An aside: Arizona's schedule in Weeks 14-16 (fantasy playoff time): home against Denver, at Carolina, home against Dallas.

Sit 'em

-- Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys: He bruised his left forearm and sprained his ankle in Week 8. Since rushing 14 times for 109 yards and catching four passes for 17 yards in Week 5, he has 31 rushes for 89 yards (2.9) and zero touchdowns. The only positive (and it's not Marion Barber still poaching the goal-line carries): Jones has 16 catches for 102 yards in that span.

-- Donald Driver, WR, Packers: He's been bothered by thumb and quad injuries, leading to the veteran failing to catch a pass in back-to-back games. The Packers have a bye in Week 10, so it might make a lot of since to rest him Sunday against the visiting, reeling, rancid, rudderless (feel free to insert your negative description here) Cowboys.

Stock up

-- BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots: Now this is a surprising development. A Patriots running back has a TD in five straight games, and his name sounds like someone you would choose to represent you if you're a Vikings fan deciding to sue Childress for neglect of talent. Green-Ellis had 17 carries for 112 yards and two scores against the Vikings. In the five-game span, he has rushed for 330 yards and six TDs, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Stock down

-- Jahvid Best, RB, Lions: Sunday, he split carries with Kevin Smith. The rookie had five TDs in his first two games and has zero in five contests since. He has rushed for 199 yards in the five games and is no longer an automatic start. Best is much better suited to PPR formats. He's on pace for 82 receptions this season.

-- Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: He had nine carries for 7 yards in Week 8 at Oakland. He got some of our hopes up by scoring a TD in his first game after being traded by Buffalo to Seattle, but the former fantasy must-start has 33 carries for 96 yards (2.9) with zero TDs and zero receptions in his last two games.