What a week it was in the NFL in Week 6. After 22 combined points in his three previous games, Matthew Stafford went berserk and launched a 33-point outing in Detroit's win over Chicago. A Saints tight end not named Jimmy Graham nearly led the position in scoring, as Benjamin Watson had 18 fantasy points in a victory over the Falcons. And a Packers running back posted 117 total yards and two touchdowns on just 11 touches. The last part isn't surprising, except for the fact that it wasn't Eddie Lacy.
It was James Starks, the leader of our Week 7 waiver-wire adds. (Note: players must be owned in less than 50 percent of leagues on ESPN.com to be eligible for this list)
James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers (22.3 percent): Let's not put the cart before the horse here and suppose Starks will leapfrog Lacy as the starter in Green Bay, but it's worth noting that Lacy was active and on the field Sunday, so it's not as if Starks' big day came strictly as an injury fill-in. Lacy just took a back seat to Starks (think of a hot-hand approach in the backfield), who was already a priority for all Lacy owners as a handcuff. Now, any RB-needy owner should target Starks for the possibility of a prominent role in a high-octane offense (note: Green Bay has a bye in Week 7).
Christine Michael, RB, Dallas Cowboys (31.3 percent): The winds are apparently shifting in the Dallas backfield, as Michael appears primed to take on a more prominent role for the Cowboys. He has immense natural tools (he was a combine standout before the 2013 draft), but they have yet to materialize into NFL production. The Cowboys' offensive line is still an excellent group to run behind.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings (3.0 percent): An exciting young player who has taken on a featured role in the past two games, totaling 13 catches for 216 yards. Charles Johnson has been dealing with a rib injury and Mike Wallace a knee injury, opening the door to more reps for Diggs. The talent is apparent here. He's a worthwhile add in 12-team or larger leagues with interesting upside.
Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (47.0 percent): I'll get to a host of other QBs on the radar in a bit, but Bortles kept up his solid 2015 in Week 6. He's averaged more than 18 fantasy points per game since Week 2, throwing for 12 touchdowns in that span. Jacksonville has a way to go as a team, but Bortles' fantasy production makes him a borderline top-12 QB and a strong bye-week fill-in if you're set with a starter already.
Brandon LaFell, WR, New England Patriots (20.5 percent): LaFell is eligible to play as soon as this Sunday after starting the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. It's uncertain when his game action will officially begin, but he was the Patriots' No. 2 wideout last season and finished 23rd among wide receivers in scoring for the 2014 regular season. For someone with roster flexibility in leagues of any size, LaFell is a worthy addition with a high ceiling. The Patriots have been utilizing just three pure wide receivers (that does not include special-teams maven Matthew Slater) in recent games.
Marvin Jones, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (29.1 percent): He's scored a touchdown in half of the six games Cincy has played this season, though the other three games have amounted to just seven fantasy points. He's not an add in 10-team leagues, but I think he's a worthwhile add for a team with roster flexibility in a 12-team league and a surefire add in 14-team or larger leagues.
QB fill-ins/2-QB league adds
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (47.8 percent): He's quietly a top-15 quarterback in scoring thus far, though it's been a bit of a yo-yo experience. He has three 20-plus-point efforts and then just 23 total points in his other three games.
Brian Hoyer, Houston Texans (6.2 percent): His past three games have been strong: seven touchdowns and just one interception to go along with 837 passing yards. Next up are the Miami Dolphins.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets (11.3 percent): He has multiple touchdown passes in four of five games this season and has 13 points or more in every game.
Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears (23.9 percent): He has quietly strung together a three-game, 53-point stretch and done so with multiple injuries to key pass-catchers. He's on a bye this week, but can serve as a fill-in in future weeks.
Deeper-league adds
Albert Wilson, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (0.1 percent): He had three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown last week. Jeremy Maclin also suffered a concussion that could thrust Wilson into a featured role.
Branden Oliver, RB, San Diego Chargers (1.3 percent): It sure looks like Melvin Gordon is going to have to earn his way back into the lineup after a pair of fumbles (one lost) versus the Packers. Oliver is a stash play who filled in nicely.
Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers (25.2 percent): A handcuff of sorts to Keenan Allen, who left Sunday's game with a hip flexor. Floyd is still excellent in competitive catch situations down the field.
Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions (26.0 percent): With 31 catches in his past five games, Riddick is a PPR-league add. He also had seven carries in Week 6 with Ameer Abdullah struggling with ball security.
Robert Turbin, RB, Cleveland Browns (1.5 percent): He saw 10 carries in his Browns debut. They amounted to just 27 yards, but Turbin is on the radar at a position of scarce quantity. It wouldn't be a surprise if he took on a larger role as the season moves along.
Jeff Janis, WR, Green Bay Packers (0.9 percent): Ty Montgomery left Sunday's game with an injury and Davante Adams remained out. If either of those players is unavailable for Week 8 (Green Bay has an upcoming bye), Janis carries values as the third wideout in a top-flight offense.
Benjamin Watson, TE, New Orleans Saints (4.0 percent): I mentioned him at the top. A very good athlete who had his best game to date in Week 6. He'll be a top-20 tight end in my Week 7 rankings.
Toby Gerhart, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (7.9 percent): A name to consider if T.J. Yeldon sits again in Week 7 and you're RB-needy.
Denard Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (16.6 percent): The higher-upside reserve runner for the Jaguars. Like Gerhart, he has value only if Yeldon sits.
Lance Moore, WR, Detroit Lions (0.2 percent): He has 11 catches and a pair of touchdowns in his past two games. He's a super-deep-league add who has benefited from the Lions throwing frequently the past two games.