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All last week, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was nursing a sore shoulder that, by most accounts, threatened to keep him out of Sunday's contest with the Falcons. He was listed as questionable and declared a game-time decision. Rodgers wound up passing for 313 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.

A shoulder injury, and the compounded effects of 16 sacks in the first four games, limited Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in practice last week. He received a pain-killing injection in his arm Thursday while backup Byron Leftwich took the majority of the snaps in preparation for the Jaguars. But Big Ben sucked it up, suited up and completed 26 of 41 passes for 309 yards and a trio of touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:58 left.

Amazingly, Rodgers and Roethlisberger were the top two fantasy passers of the day. Only Bears quarterback Kyle Orton – yes, Kyle Orton – passed for more yardage (334), though he notched just two scoring tosses against Detroit.

Another iffy prospect, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, shook off the inflamed elbow that kept him out of his Week 4 matchup with the Browns to post a respectable 217-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, Eagles running back Brian "Game-Time Decision" Westbrook overcame the high ankle sprain that cost him last week's matchup to reward his owners with an early touchdown run against the Redskins. A subsequent rib contusion limited him to just 33 rushing yards on the day, but the multi-talented tailback added six catches for 51 yards, making him a solid, if not exceptional, starter in any fantasy lineup.

By now I'm sure you've guessed the moral of this story: Don't hesitate to start your horses even if they've got a hitch in their giddy-up. If the organization that pays them millions thinks they can perform, that should be good enough for you, too.

After all, as the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail proclaimed after King Arthur chopped off both of his arms in a hilariously lopsided duel, "It's just a flesh wound!"

To win a fantasy championship, you need to start with a good draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at a few players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Kyle Orton, QB, Bears: I would rather spend a Saturday night at the opera than recommend a Chicago quarterback. But just as we endure certain hardships to maintain marital harmony, sometimes we must set aside our fantasy biases and trust our lying eyes. Orton has passed for 801 yards and seven touchdowns (with four interceptions) over the last three weeks, against opposition both solid (Bucs, Eagles) and awful (Lions). He should continue to shine against Atlanta and Minnesota over the next two games, so feel free to pinch your nose and toss him into your lineup if you have injury or bye-week issues.

Mike Walker, WR, Jaguars: Looking for a sleeper candidate to break out in the second half of the season? Meet Mike Walker, who is quietly emerging from the riff-raff that is the Jaguars' receiver corps to become a favorite target of David Garrard. And why not? The second-year player (whose rookie season was lost to finger and knee injuries) is a great route-runner with excellent hands. Walker has hauled in 11 passes for 153 yards over the last two games. Only Matt Jones has better stats this season, but his days are surely numbered. Meanwhile, the Jags' schedule offers several tantalizing matchups in the weeks ahead.

Brian Griese, QB, Buccaneers: The elbow injury Griese suffered against the Broncos gives you a second excuse to dump him. The first – poor play – would suffice. Since throwing for 407 yards against Chicago in Week 3, Griese has been awful, and he no longer merits a position on your team. Jeff Garcia is likely to reclaim his starting job, but I wouldn't rush to acquire him, either. Remember that his ineffectiveness was what gave Griese his shot in the first place.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals: Yes, I realize Chris Perry just lost his fifth fumble of the season. And yes, he's as brittle as they come in the NFL. So why wouldn't I recommend picking up Benson, who just ran for 30 yards on his first 10 carries of the season? Because I saw what the chronic underachiever did as the starter in Chicago, and that's all I need to judge his potential in Cincinnati. That's why.

Domenik Hixon, WR, Giants: The third-year pro made the most of the opportunity presented by Plaxico Burress' suspension, catching all four passes thrown his way Sunday to amass 102 yards and a score. But a concussion sustained in the second quarter forced him to sit out the rest of the way. Even if the injury proves to be minor, he shouldn't be counted on for similar production once Burress returns next week. There are too many other worthy options – including Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss and Kevin Boss – competing for Eli Manning's attention.