Before we get to this week's waiver-wire picks, two quick notes:

-- Lions receiver Titus Young is owned in 51.2 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com, a number that is too high for the rankings below. Regardless, Young should be considered a decent flex option in point-per-reception leagues after Nate Burleson broke his leg in Detroit's 13-7 loss to the Bears on Monday night.

In that game, Young had six receptions for 81 yards, and he should get quite a few targets with Burleson out. Detroit has 277 pass attempts, compared to 146 rushes, which also doesn't hurt Young's chances of making an impact.

-- If you're wondering why we aren't writing more about Rashad Jennings here, we did that late last night.

As always, we only consider players who are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com, and we like to go much lower than that.

On to the rankings:

QUARTERBACKS
1. Brandon Weeden, Browns (owned in 8.8 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Christian Ponder, Vikings (38.1)
3. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (5.6)
4. John Skelton, Cardinals (2.4)
5. Mark Sanchez, Jets (20.5)
Dropped out: Russell Wilson, Seahawks; Matt Hasselbeck, Titans
Just missed the cut: Hasselbeck (15.0 percent)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Rashad Jennings, Jaguars (13.7 percent)
2. LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals (10.5)
3. Montario Hardesty, Browns (8.5)
4. Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers (18.5)
5. Danny Woodhead, Patriots (38.9)
Dropped out: Vick Ballard, Colts (now owned in 45.7 percent of the ESPN leagues, which makes him too obvious of a choice); Alex Green, Packers (59.9); William Powell, Cardinals
Just missed the cut: Daryl Richardson, Rams (11.4 percent); Powell (8.4)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Josh Gordon, Browns (36.7 percent)
2. Andre Roberts, Cardinals (35.9)
3. Kendall Wright, Titans (18.5)
4. Brandon Gibson, Rams (29.5)
5. Santana Moss, Redskins (24.9)
Dropped out: Randall Cobb, Packers (now owned in 55.2 percent of the ESPN leagues); Davone Bess, Dolphins
Just missed the cut: Bess (8.3 percent); Greg Little, Browns (16.7); Brandon Stokley, Broncos (12.0); Andrew Hawkins, Bengals (24.3); Donnie Avery, Colts (12.5)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Dustin Keller, Jets (16.8 percent)
2. Brandon Myers, Raiders (3.2)
3. Greg Olsen, Panthers (26.3)
4. Joel Dreessen, Broncos (4.5)
5. Coby Fleener, Colts (30.6)
Dropped out: Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (now owned in 53.4 percent of the ESPN leagues)
Just missed the cut: Dallas Clark, Buccaneers (2.4 percent)

Past waiver-wire picks: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7

We didn't expect much from Cedric Benson as the Packers' featured back.

And Ced certainly delivered.

Benson, prior to suffering a foot injury Sunday that could sideline him for at least eight weeks, rushed for 248 yards in five games and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He caught 14 passes for 97 yards and scored one TD -- a 1-yard run against the Seahawks in the now-infamous Monday night Replacement Referee Bowl on Sept. 24.

With Benson out, running-back needy owners likely will be scrambling to the waiver wire this week, and it's a particularly interesting time to search for a back, since Arizona's Ryan Williams suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last week (we broke down the Cardinals' backfield situation on Monday).

The best Packers running back from a fantasy perspective should be Alex Green, who had nine carries for 55 yards Sunday at Indianapolis.

Green, a third-round draft choice by the Pack in 2011, could be Green Bay's back of the future -- and present.

I wouldn't consider him a No. 2 running back in fantasy, but he is a decent option as a flex play in deeper formats if you're desperate for help. For the time being, Green likely will share carries with James Starks, who might get the start Sunday because of his pass-blocking ability.

Starks -- the Packers' leading rusher in 2011 with 578 yards -- hasn't played this season because of a toe injury, and he scored only one TD on 162 touches, including 29 receptions, last season.

Green is the better long-term choice, and he's the top back in our rankings this week.

As always, we only consider players who are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com, and we like to go much lower than that.

On to the rankings:

QUARTERBACKS
1. Christian Ponder, Vikings (owned in 27.8 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Kevin Kolb, Cardinals (16.6)
3. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (5.4)
4. Mark Sanchez, Jets (22.7)
5. Brandon Weeden, Browns (3.7)
Dropped out: Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Just missed the cut: Wilson (13.1 percent)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Alex Green, Packers (0.8 percent)
2. LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals (5.4)
3. James Starks, Packers (5.9)
4. William Powell, Cardinals (0.1)
5. Brandon Bolden, Patriots (21.1)
Dropped out: Jackie Battle, Chargers (now owned in 54.1 percent of the ESPN leagues); Joique Bell, Lions; Bilal Powell, Jets; Lance Ball, Broncos
Just missed the cut: Bell (1.5 percent); Danny Woodhead, Patriots (9.3); Shaun Draughn, Chiefs (4.3)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Randall Cobb, Packers (28.8 percent)
2. Kendall Wright, Titans (10.5)
3. Andrew Hawkins, Bengals (31.4)
4. Jeremy Kerley, Jets (33.2)
5. Andre Roberts, Cardinals (29.1)
Dropped out: Brian Hartline, Dolphins (now owned in 91.0 percent of the ESPN leagues); James Jones, Packers (69.0); Donnie Avery, Colts
Just missed the cut: Davone Bess, Dolphins (9.2 percent); Domenik Hixon, Giants (17.3); Rueben Randle, Giants (38.4); Brandon Stokley, Broncos (11.5)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Scott Chandler, Bills (40.2 percent)
2. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (33.6)
3. Greg Olsen, Panthers (29.3)
4. Brandon Myers, Raiders (1.0)
5. Coby Fleener, Colts (14.6)
Dropped out: Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (now owned in 50.8 percent of the ESPN leagues)
Just missed the cut: Joel Dreessen, Broncos (2.8 percent)

Past waiver-wire picks: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5

If you're a fantasy owner who is always interested in acquiring a running back, an injury to a starter is something that usually gets your attention.

Depending on the NFL team, a backup running back might not be owned in your league. And once you get into Week 6, a starting back on the waiver wire -- let me be Captain Obvious for a second -- receives quite a bit of interest.

With that in mind, I researched the Cardinals' situation when it was announced Monday that Ryan Williams -- who was replacing the oft-injured Beanie Wells -- would miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

What I found was the equivalent of looking for a quality movie and seeing Adam Sandler on every cable channel.

The four Arizona running backs who have recorded carries this season -- Williams, Wells (who is out until at least Week 12 with a toe injury), LaRod Stephens-Howling and William Powell -- have combined for 250 yards on 102 attempts, an average of 2.5 yards per carry. Stephens-Howling and quarterback Kevin Kolb have the Cardinals' only rushing TDs this season (one each).

Only Oakland is averaging fewer than Arizona's 63.4 rushing yards per game.

All of which is why it's been speculated the Cardinals will explore free agents -- Tim Hightower, Joseph Addai, Steve Slaton, Cadillac Williams and Maurice Morris were mentioned in this Arizona Republic blog -- or a trade to fortify their backfield.

Unless they traded for, say, DeAngelo Williams, the Cardinals' options would be free-agent retreads such as Hightower or Addai. Translation: Don't expect much.

If they stay in-house, you probably shouldn't have high hopes, either, but at least there might be a serviceable fantasy choice in Stephens-Howling or Powell.

Of the two, Stephens-Howling would seem to be the best option in fantasy.

In 2010 and '11 with the Cards, Stephens-Howling rushed for a combined 280 yards on 66 carries, a 4.2-yard average, and scored three total touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving). In point-per-reception leagues, he will have the most value -- Stephens-Howling had a combined 29 catches for 345 yards in 2010 and '11.

He has missed the last two games with a hip injury, but is expected to play Sunday against Buffalo.

Powell had a strong preseason in 2012, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and scoring touchdowns in three consecutive games. But he's played in two regular-season games in his career and has all of eight touches (three rushes and five receptions).

The third option being mentioned for the Cardinals at running back is Alfonso Smith, who seems to be the least likely of the trio to have an impact. Smith hasn't had a carry this season, and he averaged 3.4 yards on 30 attempts last season.

If you're desperate and Stephens-Howling seems to be over his hip injury, the latter is at best a flex option this week. As noted in the Arizona Republic blog, Stephens-Howling's 5-foot-7, 185-pound frame probably isn't built for 15 carries or more.

Powell might be worth a roster spot in deep formats, but you shouldn't play him until we have a much better idea how the Cardinals plan to divide the carries -- and if they can manage any semblance of a running game.

An advantage for Stephens-Howling this week: Arizona will play host to Buffalo, which ranks 30th against the run and is allowing an average of 171.8 yards per game on the ground.

The Bills have given up a league-high nine rushing TDs.

We'll be back Tuesday with our weekly waiver-wire picks and break down the Packers' options at running back with Cedric Benson out this week.