I'm not saying you should start Brandon Weeden this week.

You shouldn't.

Here is what I am saying, er, writing: The Browns' rookie quarterback is on pace to throw for 4,051 yards and 19 touchdowns. In his last two games, he has thrown for 522 yards and four TDs.

Sunday, the Browns will play at the Colts, who rank third against the pass, allowing an average of 201 yards per game, but are tied for 22nd with 10 touchdown passes given up -- in five games.

I'm aware Weeden is a walking turnover -- a league-high 10 interceptions.

I'm aware he might be throwing to Josh Gordon, Ben Watson and The Uncatchables. (Gordon, Watson and The Stonehands? I'm open to suggestions.)

The only reason I'm bringing Weeden up is there are six teams on a bye this week, and four of them have Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers and Michael Vick at quarterback. (Or maybe you have Vick or Rivers and are encouraging them to take a week off.)

If you play in a very deep league (say, 16 teams) ... and your starting QB is off ... and you're desperate for a one-week fill-in ... Weeden might not be terrible Sunday.

That's my ringing endorsement.

That brings us to this week's waiver-wire selections. And a reminder: We wrote about Felix Jones -- the top target in many leagues this week -- on Monday. He's not ranked below because he is owned in 51.3 percent of the ESPN leagues -- a number that seems too high.

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 36.7 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (12.3)
3. Brandon Weeden, Browns (6.0)
4. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (6.2)
5. Matt Hasselbeck, Titans (6.7)
Dropped out: Kevin Kolb, Cardinals; Mark Sanchez, Jets
Just missed the cut: John Skelton, Cardinals (1.9 percent)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Alex Green, Packers (28.4 percent)
2. William Powell, Cardinals (3.2)
3. Vick Ballard, Colts (32.0)
4. Montario Hardesty, Browns (0.4)
5. LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals (23.7)
Dropped out: James Starks, Packers; Brandon Bolden, Patriots
Just missed the cut: Bolden (26.6 percent); Danny Woodhead, Patriots (15.6); Dexter McCluster, Chiefs (9.0); Joique Bell, Lions (3.0); Cedric Peerman, Bengals (0.1)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Randall Cobb, Packers (36.0 percent)
2. Kendall Wright, Titans (13.2)
3. Josh Gordon, Browns (2.5)
4. Davone Bess, Dolphins (9.7)
5. Brandon Stokley, Broncos (11.4)
Dropped out: Andre Roberts, Cardinals (now owned in 50.6 percent of the ESPN leagues); Jeremy Kerley, Jets (44.3); Andrew Hawkins, Bengals
Just missed the cut: Hawkins (31.0 percent); Donnie Avery, Colts (7.4); Brandon Gibson, Rams (24.8); Domenik Hixon, Giants (17.0); Stephen Hill, Jets (15.1); Santana Moss, Redskins (10.4); Michael Jenkins, Vikings (0.1)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (32.2 percent)
2. Greg Olsen, Panthers (25.9)
3. Brandon Myers, Raiders (1.6)
4. Joel Dreessen, Broncos (5.1)
5. Coby Fleener, Colts (13.7)
Dropped out: Scott Chandler, Bills (now owned in 46.1 percent of the ESPN leagues)
Just missed the cut: Anthony Fasano, Dolphins (2.0 percent)

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

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