BY ADAM HELBLING

Go directly to the waiver wire, do not pass go, do not collect $200:

Waiver Wire

QB Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Smith saw his first action of the season after the 49ers offense was able to total just 50 yards in the first half. He finished the game with 206 yards passing and three touchdowns. Head coach Mike Singletary announced Monday that Smith would be the starting QB going forward. “”I think right now overall Alex Smith really just kind of fit the bill in terms of doing the things that we need to get done,” Singletary said. “I think Alex has matured, I think he’s grown and I think he’s ready to play. We’re going to find out. We’ll find out next week.” Singletary also said they will not play musical quarterbacks. It is Smith’s job to lose. The 49ers will remain a run first offense regardless, but the addition of Michael Crabtree and the emergence of Vernon Davis gives the offense weapons to use. Owners of Brett Favre  might want to make a move for Smith who plays the Titans when the Vikings are on their bye during Week 9.

RB Shonn Greene, New York Jets

Greene showed why some people had him down as a sleeper draft pick after his 144 yards rushing and two touchdown performance against the Oakland Raiders. With Leon Washington out the remainder of the season with a fractured fibula Greene steps into the No. 2 role for the Jets. His touches will be limited, but depending on match-up could serve as a flex option. He is currently available in nearly all leagues polled.

RB Mike Bell, New Orleans Saints

It has been a RBBC for the Saints since Bell returned to the line-up with Pierre Thomas getting the bulk of the carries. However, fantasy owners should note that it was Bell and not Thomas carrying the load down the stretch this week. Bell is no more than a flex option for now, but if he starts getting most of the carries and the red zone looks he could work as a weak No. 2 running back (depending on the size of your league). Bell is currently available in nearly half of all leagues polled.

RB Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals rookie running back had his best game of the season with 67 yards rushing and one touchdown this week. Wells will still share the workload with Tim Hightower, but for this week it was Wells who took the lead role. If this is a trend that continues, Wells could serve as a decent flex option in deeper leagues and add depth in others.

WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wallace is the team’s fourth option in the passing game, but the rookie wide receiver has still been a consistent producer for fantasy owners. Over the past four games Wallace has averaged 55 yards receiving and 0.5 touchdowns per game. The Steelers wide receiver is currently available in 90 percent of leagues polled.

TE Fred Davis, Washington Redskins

Davis stepped in for the injured Chris Cooley Monday night and instantly became QB Jason Campbell’s favorite target. Davis hauled in eight passes for 78 yards and a garbage-time touchdown. In fact Davis had dropped a pass in the end zone on the previous play and Campbell looked to him again right away. Cooley will miss a significant time, if not the season, with a broken right foot paving the way for Davis to make an immediate impact. The second-year pro battled through some fumbling issues during preseason, but was praised for his work ethic by HC Jim Zorn and now has a chance to win over some fantasy owners as well. As one might expect, Davis is available in over 99 percent of leagues polled.

Defense/Special Teams, Indianapolis Colts

Entering Week 7 the Colts defense was averaging 2.6 sacks, 1.6 turnovers and were allowing 14 offensive points per game. They finished the week allowing the Rams just six points, totaled three sacks, forced two interceptions and scored one touchdown. This is a more aggressive unit than in the past and with Bob Sanders finally healthy it is a unit to own. They are currently available in more than 30 percent of leagues polled.

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