If you're in a league in which Lions running back Mikel Leshoure is somehow available, you should immediately stop reading this and put in your waiver claim.

Seriously, go. We'll be here when you get back.

Leshoure's ESPN ownership percentage is a comically low 36.9. It's unlikely he's available in any league with more than 10 teams, but he should be considered a starter in any format.

In his NFL debut last week at Tennessee, the Lions didn't gradually work Leshoure, who was suspended for the first two weeks, into the lineup.

They gave him 30 touches, which produced 134 yards and a touchdown.

Leshoure should be a productive No. 2 running back in fantasy, especially when you consider he plays in an offense that could average 30 points per game.

He's a no-brainer as the top-ranked running back this week, and it should be the last week of the season in which he's available in more half of the ESPN formats.

As always, we only consider players who are owned in fewer than 50 percent of the ESPN leagues, and we try to go much lower than that.

On to the rankings:

QUARTERBACKS
1. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills (owned in 42.2 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Christian Ponder, Vikings (5.9)
3. Matt Cassel, Chiefs (35.9)
4. Mark Sanchez, Jets (32.0)
5. Jake Locker, Titans (7.4)
Dropped out: Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Just missed the cut: Wilson (14.1 percent)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Mikel Leshoure, Lions (36.9 percent)
2. Andre Brown, Giants (41.9)
3. Bilal Powell, Jets (1.1)
4. Tashard Choice, Bills (0.4)
5. Jacquizz Rogers, Falcons (9.4)
Dropped out: Dexter McCluster, Chiefs; Daryl Richardson, Rams; Jackie Battle, Chargers
Just missed the cut: Danny Woodhead, Patriots (5.3 percent); Shaun Draughn, Chiefs (3.9); Lamar Miller, Dolphins (3.1)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Andrew Hawkins, Bengals (6.3 percent)
2. Kendall Wright, Titans (12.3)
3. Donnie Avery, Colts (15.6)
4. Jon Baldwin, Chiefs (25.4)
5. Ramses Barden, Giants (0.7)
Dropped out: Danny Amendola, Rams (he's now owned in 81.4 percent of the ESPN leagues); Brandon LaFell, Panthers (now at 49.1 percent ownership); Brian Hartline, Dolphins; Greg Little, Browns
Just missed the cut: Alshon Jeffery, Bears (16.7 percent); Davone Bess, Dolphins (8.2); Jeremy Kerley, Jets (4.8); Golden Tate, Seahawks (1.3)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Dennis Pitta, Ravens (43.0 percent)
2. Heath Miller, Steelers (27.6)
3. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (20.5)
4. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (14.2)
5. Greg Olsen, Panthers (16.6)
Dropped out: Coby Fleener, Colts; Brandon Myers, Raiders
Just missed the cut: Scott Chandler, Bills (24.6 percent); Myers (1.1)

Past waiver-wire picks: Week 2, Week 3

Before we get to the top five at each position, let's get to a few quick notes on four players we really like this week:

-- Giants running back Andre Brown could be the featured back Thursday night at Carolina. Starter Ahmad Bradshaw left last week's game against the Buccaneers with a neck injury, and he's questionable for this week.

Since it's a short week for the G-Men, the guess here is Bradshaw will sit, which would make Brown -- not rookie David Wilson -- a decent option as a low-end No. 2 running back in a deep league or as a flex play. Brown had 13 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Bucs, and he caught two passes for 19 yards.

Carolina ranks 28th against the run. The Panthers are allowing 146.5 rushing yards per game and 4.7 yards per attempt.

-- Rams receiver Danny Amendola, as you know by now, is a machine in point-per-reception leagues. Amendola enters this week owned in only 19.2 percent of the ESPN leagues -- a number that should increase to the 90s by tomorrow. Amendola caught 15 passes for 160 yards and a TD last week against the Redskins, and he should be considered an immediate starter in any format. He has a ridiculous 25 targets in two games, and 20 of them have resulted in receptions.

-- Lions running back Mikel Leshoure could be the featured back after Kevin Smith managed just 53 yards on 16 carries Sunday night at San Francisco. Leshoure, a rookie, returns from his two-game suspension this week, and it sounds as if Detroit will waste no time getting him into the flow. Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told the team's website Leshoure will "definitely be involved heavily in the game plan, and we'll go from there." If you're desperate for help at running back, Leshoure should be considered a No. 3 option in 12-team leagues and a low-end starter in deeper formats.

-- Colts receiver Donnie Avery has received 18 targets in two games, and last week he caught nine passes for 111 yards. Considering Andrew Luck has attempted 76 passes and thrown for 533 yards in two contests, Avery should continue to produce. He's a decent No. 3 receiver in deeper leagues.

On to the rankings. As always, we only consider players who are owned in fewer than 50 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills (owned in 42.5 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Matt Cassel, Chiefs (32.9)
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (16.3)
4. Mark Sanchez, Jets (37.9)
5. Christian Ponder, Vikings (5.0)
Dropped out: Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars
Just missed the cut: Brandon Weeden, Browns (2.1 percent)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Andre Brown, Giants (1.5 percent)
2. Mikel Leshoure, Lions (20.0)
3. Dexter McCluster, Chiefs (24.6)
4. Daryl Richardson, Rams (1.1)
5. Jackie Battle, Chargers (0.4)
Dropped out: Alfred Morris, Redskins (he's now owned in 90.4 percent of the ESPN leagues); Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers; Evan Royster, Redskins; Ronnie Brown, Chargers
Just missed the cut: Royster; Shaun Draughn, Chiefs (3.0 percent)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Danny Amendola, Rams (19.2 percent)
2. Donnie Avery, Colts (1.0)
3. Brandon LaFell, Panthers (26.8)
4. Brian Hartline, Dolphins (0.7)
5. Greg Little, Browns (17.4)
Dropped out: Kevin Ogletree, Cowboys (now owned in 71.4 percent of the ESPN leagues); Stephen Hill, Jets; Randall Cobb, Packers; Alshon Jeffery, Bears
Just missed the cut: Cobb; Jon Baldwin, Chiefs (25.9 percent); Kendall Wright, Titans (14.5); Andrew Hawkins, Bengals (2.4); Brandon Gibson, Rams (0.5)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Martellus Bennett, Giants (35.6 percent)
2. Dennis Pitta, Ravens (24.8)
3. Coby Fleener, Colts (32.6)
4. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (12.0)
5. Brandon Myers, Raiders (0.1)
Dropped out: Heath Miller, Steelers; Jermaine Gresham, Bengals
Just missed the cut: Miller; Gresham; Scott Chandler, Bills (18.0 percent)

Past waiver-wire picks: Week 2

Jon Baldwin, not Dexter McCluster, was the Chiefs receiver many of us targeted late on draft day.

Baldwin, after all, was Kansas City's first-round pick in 2011, and was earning rave reviews during training camp.

In Sunday's loss to the Falcons, however, Baldwin barely played and Steve Breaston -- for reasons known only to Romeo Crennel and Brian Daboll -- was the starting receiver opposite Dwayne Bowe.

In the slot was McCluster, a second-round draft pick in 2010 who has alternated between running back and receiver in his first two NFL seasons.

The latter part is key in fantasy.

McCluster is eligible at both running back and wide receiver in most leagues, and Sunday he had a team-high six receptions for 82 yards.

McCluster was targeted 10 times, and in point-per-reception leagues he's a decent No. 3 running back or receiver because of his versatility and explosiveness.

Last season, McCluster averaged 4.5 yards per carry as Kansas City's second-leading rusher and had 46 receptions.

This year, he should be more productive than any Kansas City wideout aside from Bowe.

If you're looking for a No. 3 running back in PPR leagues, consider adding McCluster, who is available in more than 96 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com.

That brings us to this week's waiver-wire picks. As was the case last season, we only consider players who are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com.

A different twist this year: We're going to rank the top five players from the under-50-percent club at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills (owned in 46.4 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Mark Sanchez, Jets (12.3 percent)
3. Matt Cassel, Chiefs (31.2)
4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (24.5)
5. Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars (2.1)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Alfred Morris, Redskins (18.2 percent)
2. Dexter McCluster, Chiefs (3.9)
3. Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers (18.2)
4. Evan Royster, Redskins (16.8)
5. Ronnie Brown, Chargers (22.9)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Kevin Ogletree, Cowboys (49.8 percent)
2. Stephen Hill, Jets (7.4)
3. Danny Amendola, Rams (9.0)
4. Randall Cobb, Packers (13.4)
5. Alshon Jeffery, Bears (11.5)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Coby Fleener, Colts (23.3 percent)
2. Martellus Bennett, Giants (36.7)
3. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (22.9)
4. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (9.9)
5. Heath Miller, Steelers (8.4)

If you drafted Steven Jackson, we can only hope you had a backup plan in mind.

Ditto for Marques Colston.

Let's play the waiver-wire game, and hope Jackson doesn't stub his toe on the way to the trainer's room this week.

1. Devery Henderson, WR, Saints (owned in 15.1 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com): We believe he's the best available free agent this week (unless you play in a very shallow league) because of injuries to Colston and Lance Moore. Colston is expected to miss four weeks because of a broken collarbone, and Moore sat last week with a groin injury. Henderson had six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown on Thursday at Green Bay. It was his first 100-yard game since 2009 and he has only 18 TDs in 93 career games, so don't get too excited if he's available. But he is capable of making a big play (Henderson's career average is 18.6 yards per catch), and Drew Brees has to throw to a wideout other than Robert Meachem.

2. Cadillac Williams, RB, Rams (14.3 percent): Jackson strained his quad on his opening carry of the season -- a 47-yard touchdown run -- leading to a flashback game from Williams. The Cadillac, who hasn't averaged more than 3.9 yards per carry in a season since his 1,178-yard rookie year (2005), had 19 carries for 91 yards and five catches for 49 yards last week. With Jackson out at least this week, Williams will be the Rams' primary back Monday against the Giants.

3. Dustin Keller, TE, Jets (40.8 percent): He had five catches for 61 yards and a TD last week. Keller is underrated after a productive 2010 (55 receptions for 687 yards and five scores) and should be considered a lower-level starting tight end in a 12-team league.

Five other possible free agents of note:

-- Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills (41.9 percent): We ranked him as the top Peyton Manning replacement option last week, and all Fitzpatrick did Sunday was throw for 208 yards and four TDs at Kansas City. That gives him 27 TDs and 15 interceptions in 14 games dating to the start of 2010.

-- Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots (35.1 percent): We like Rob Gronkowski better, and Tom Brady might, too, but when the Pats throw for 517 yards, there are plenty of catches to go around. Hernandez had seven receptions for 103 yards and a TD on Monday night, slightly better than Gronkowski's six catches for 86 yards and a score. Both are quality starting options, and both are better than Chad Ochocinco, who had all of one catch in his New England debut.

-- Ben Tate, RB, Texans (33.5 percent): If you own Arian Foster, we're assuming you already have Tate. If not, it might be too late after the latter rushed for 116 yards and a TD on 24 carries against the Colts. Derrick Ward, who was expected to split the carries last week with Foster out, sprained his ankle, allowing Tate to show he can be a featured back. Foster might return this week, and if he does, Tate is a fantasy reserve. Regardless, he's a must-have for anyone who invested a first-round pick on Foster.

-- Nate Burleson, WR, Lions (18.7 percent): He had five catches for 60 yards last week and caught 55 passes for 625 yards and six TDs in 2010. If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, Burleson should be productive enough to consider a low-end No. 3 fantasy receiver.

-- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals (8.4 percent): Is it me, or are there more quality tight ends than ever before (no jokes please)? Greshman had six receptions for 58 yards and a TD last week, and he caught 52 passes as a rookie last season.

Before we address the latest in the Peyton Manning saga, a quick disclaimer.

I was wrong. Manning's streak of 227 consecutive starts, including the playoffs, will end Sunday because of a third neck surgery in the last 19 months. So much for a third-round value pick.

ESPN reported the typical recovery for such a procedure is 8 to 10 weeks, and the Colts said in a news release Thursday they won't place Manning on injured reserve.

If you have Manning, you should keep him on your roster for the time being unless you absolutely can't afford to reserve a spot for a player who won't help you until, at best, mid-November.

If you drafted Manning and are scrambling for a starter this week, here are five possible replacements. All are available in more than 75 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com.

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills (owned in 24.1 percent of the ESPN leagues): Fitzpatrick threw for 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in 13 games last season. Sunday, Buffalo will play at Kansas City, which ranked 17th defending the pass last season (220 yards allowed per game, 23 TD passes by the opposition).

2. Kerry Collins, Colts (3.7 percent): The 38-year-old won't be able to fill Manning's sizable shoes, but he certainly can be adequate. In 10 games last year for the Titans, Collins threw for 1,823 yards, 14 TDs and eight interceptions. In Tennessee's 31-17 win Dec. 19 over the Texans, Sunday's opponent, he was 14 of 24 for 233 yards, two TDs and one pick. The Texans should be improved against the pass this season -- they couldn't get any worse -- but they should still be generous to opposing QBs. In 2010, Houston allowed a league-worst 4,280 yards passing, gave up 8.2 yards per attempt (the second-worst in the league) and 33 TD tosses (tied with the Cowboys for the most).

3. Matt Hasselbeck, Titans (10.1 percent): Hasselbeck hasn't been good the last three seasons (a combined 34 TDs and 44 picks in 35 games), but he gets to face a Jaguars defense that ranked 28th vs. the pass in 2010 (4,004 yards). The Jags tied for 26th in the league by yielding 28 scoring passes last season.

4. Rex Grossman, Redskins (2.7 percent): In three games after replacing Donovan McNabb in 2010, Grossman threw for 840 yards, seven TDs and four picks. The Giants, however, aren't a very good matchup. New York was the NFL's No. 9 pass defense (3,352 yards), but the G-Men did allow 24 TD tosses.

5. Jason Campbell, Raiders (22.9 percent): Campbell's passing numbers were nothing to brag about last season (2,387 yards, 13 TDs and eight picks), but the same goes for Denver's defense. The Broncos, who will play host to the Raiders on Monday night, ranked 25th against the pass, allowing 3,780 yards and 26 TD passes. The latter number tied for 24th in the league in 2010.

If you're thinking more long term, I would rank the five QBs in this order for the rest of the season: 1. Fitzpatrick, 2. Collins, 3. Grossman, 4. Hasselbeck, 5. Campbell.

We'll get to Tony Romo's possible season-ending injury later this week, but first let's take a quick look around the NFL from a fantasy standpoint after a Week 7 that was more high-scoring than an old-school Golden State Warriors game.

Start 'em

-- Dwayne Bowe, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt after catching nine passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games. But like colleague Mark Podolski, I don't trust you, not after you had nine catches for 152 yards and one TD in the Chiefs' first four games.

-- Brandon Jackson, RB, Packers: He has 35 carries for 226 yards (6.5 average) and one TD in his last three games. He's only receiving about 15 touches per game, but he has made them count of late. In point-per-reception leagues, Jackson has been valuable the last few weeks (he has 11 catches for 100 yards in the three-game span).

-- Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks: He has 21 catches for 210 yards in his last two games. Maybe Pete Carroll knows what he's doing. Or was it Matt Millen?

Sit 'em

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears: I give up. Cutler has thrown one TD pass and been picked off five times in his last three games. He had the reverse (five TDs and one pick) in his first two contests. He just got sacked while you read those two sentences.

-- Brent Celek, TE, Eagles: He was very productive last season (76 catches, 971 yards and eight TDs), but apparently Donovan McNabb took Celek's value with him to Washington. Celek has scored twice, and both passes were from Kevin Kolb, who will be benched in favor of Michael Vick when the Eagles return from their Week 8 bye. Celek has 229 yards in seven games.

Stock down

-- Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons: Roddy White is so excellent Gonzalez is an afterthought. The game's most productive tight end ever has 29 catches for 292 yards and three TDs in seven games. He is on pace for 667 yards, which would be his fewest since 1998, his second NFL season. I wouldn't bench Gonzalez, but I would be concerned.

Player to watch

-- David Gettis, WR, Panthers: The rookie had eight catches for 125 yards and two TDs last week, and Carolina plays at St. Louis on Sunday. I wouldn't start Gettis, but he's worth monitoring with Matt Moore back as the starting QB.

Free-agent picks

Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson is somehow owned in only 14.1 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com, and he should be considered an every-week starter while Ryan Fitzpatrick is piling up numbers. Johnson has a touchdown in four straight games, capped by an eight-catch, 158-yard, one-TD performance Sunday at Baltimore.

Fitzpatrick has thrown for 594 yards and seven TDs in Buffalo's last two games. If you're desperate for a QB (Romo and Brett Favre owners?), he's worth a look, depending on the matchup.

Quick slants

-- Nice to have you back, Darren McFadden, but next time you plan on scoring four touchdowns, can you do us all a favor and make it look like you're going to be a big part of the game plan during the week?

-- That's seven TDs in five weeks for Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt, after he had five catches for 41 yards and no scores in his first two contests. I'd say he has a fighting chance of having a productive season. Thanks. I'll be here all week.

-- You can't bench him, but Ray Rice has only two TDs overall, and he has 24 catches for 139 yards on the year. The Ravens running back caught 78 passes for 702 yards last season.

Stats of the week

5: That's McNabb's number, and it's the reason Santana Moss seems to be rejuvenated. The Redskins receiver has 42 receptions for 548 yards and two TDs in seven games. He's on pace for 96 catches for 1,253 yards.

Moss has had only one 1,200-yard season -- a 1,483-yard career year in 2005. That is the only year in which he has had more than 79 catches (he had 84).