STANFORD, Calif. -- A year ago, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre watched his struggling team play Stanford close early before a pair of quick scores just before halftime broke the game open and helped catapult the Cardinal to its third Pac-12 championship in four years.How quickly things have changed.This season the Buffaloes are tied for first place in the South Division and charging hard toward a potential berth in the conference title game while Stanford is two games off the pace in the North and simply trying to stay in the postseason picture.Both teams can take a big step forward when they meet for a rare noon kickoff Saturday at Stanford Stadium.Beating Stanford would not only enhance the Buffaloes (5-2, 3-1) hold on the division lead but it would also make them bowl eligible just one year after they lost eight of their nine conference games.Thats nice, Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay said, but he and his teammates remain focused on a bigger prize.Our goal is Pac-12 champs, theres nothing less than that for us, Lindsay said. The bowl game will come as we continue to win games. We just need to focus on ourselves and Colorado football.The Buffaloes are off to their best start since 2005 but have lost five straight to the Cardinal, including all three times since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011.MacIntyre said his team has to match Stanfords toughness in order to win, something the Buffaloes failed to do a year ago when they lost 42-10We have to be more physical than we were last year, MacIntyre said. We have to go in there and go toe-to-toe with them. We have to surpass what they do to be able to win the football game. Thats a big challenge for us.This year could be different.Stanford (4-2, 2-2) has come back to the pack after being dominant in the conference for several years. Many of the problems have come on offense and have been self-inflicted, from turnovers to costly penalties in the red zone that have repeatedly derailed the Cardinals once-prolific offense.Those are things that we dont have here and that we dont accept here, Stanford coach David Shaw said. The thing with us is not doing those things that hurt us. Its just those one or two plays that kill a drive that we just cant have.Here are a few more things to look for when Stanford hosts Colorado:MCCAFFREY ON THE MEND: Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey was held out of last weeks win over Notre Dame with an unspecified injury. The 2015 Heisman Trophy finalist did some light on-field work three days after the Cardinal beat the Irish but is still questionable. If McCaffrey cant go, Stanford will once again lean on Bryce Love, who had his first career 100-yard game against Notre Dame.RETURN OF THE MAC: Before taking over the Buffaloes program in 2013, MacIntyre spent three seasons as the coach at San Jose State and went 16-21 with the Spartans. While hes looking forward to going back to the Bay Area, MacIntyre wont have much time for walking down memory lane. After the game Ill probably get to see a few of those guys before we get on the bus to head back, MacIntyre said. That was a very special place in our familys lives.LINDSAY ON A ROLL: While McCaffrey is must-see TV every time he touches the ball, Lindsay has also done quite well for himself this season. The Colorado junior leads the Pac-12 with 614 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns and is the reigning conference player of the week after rushing for a career-best 216 yards and three scores against Arizona State.GILBERTS PASS RUSH: Colorado outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert leads the Pac-12 with 6 + sacks this season and leads the nation with five forced fumbles. Gilbert has had at least one forced fumble in three consecutive games and will be facing a Stanford offensive line that has been banged up most of the year. Cheap Lakers Jerseys . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Fake Lakers Jerseys . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Los Angeles Lakers Store . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. This is not a great week for the fantasy football waiver wire and thats a good thing. That means there were no major injuries to key players.There were some good performances from unheralded receivers that deserve notice and there are always running backs to stash in case of injuries.Even if you dont have a major need, always take a look at the waiver wire. Here are some players to consider adding:---MARCUS MARIOTA (QB, Titans)Mariota is a good Week 6 streamer. He hasnt attempted more than 33 passes since Week 1, but he rushed for 60 yards on seven carries with a score against the Dolphins last week and passed for 163 yards with three scores. The Browns have allowed 14 passing touchdowns.BRAIN HOYER (QB, Bears)He has passed for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in three consecutive games and could keep the job even when Jay Cutler is healthy. Hoyer has another good matchup in Week 6 against the Jaguars.BOBBY RAINEY (RB, Giants)Game flow has benefited Rainey the last two weeks with the Giants playing from behind and in pass mode. Rainey is the pass-catching back in the offense. He caught seven passes for 43 yards on nine targets in Week 4 and caught all six targets for 52 yards on Sunday.DEVONTAE BOOKER (RB, Broncos)Booker has seen his snaps increase every week and he had six carries for 23 yards and four catches for 36 yards on six targets. C.J. Anderson owners need to get him.BILAL POWELL (RB, Jets)For the third consecutive game, Powell was a key part of the passing game. Powell has six receptions in each of those games and is averaging eight targets per game in that span. He had six catches for 41 yards in Week 5 and has reached double-digit points in point-per-reception formats in the last three games.JAMES WHITE (RB, Patriots)White played more snaps than LeGarrette Blount and that wasnt a surprise with Tom Brady back at quarterback. The Patriots will be a pass-heavy team and White sees an increase in value. He had four catches for 63 yards and five carries for 26 yards on Sunday.JACQUIZZ RODGERS (RB, Buccaneers)Rodgers will not get the volume he did Monday night with 35 touches for 129 yards. Doug Martin is scheduled to return in Week 7 following the Buccaneers bye and he will be the feature back. Rodgers, who has value in PPR leagues. will see some action in the passing game and Charles Sims, who was placed on injured reservee, caught 51 passes in that role last season.dddddddddddd.JAMES STARKS (RB, Packers)Starks has not been good at all but if Eddie Lacy misses time with an ankle injury, Starks will get touches. Starks is averaging 1.8 yards per carry and the Cowboys have been solid against the run due to their ball-control offense. Dont spend a lot on a free agent acquisition bid or a high waiver pick on Starks. Hes only in play if youre desperate and Lacy is out.CHRIS HOGAN (WR, Patriots)Forget anything that happened with the Patriots the first four weeks. Things are vastly different with Tom Brady back from his suspension. It is a big boost for Hogan, who had a connection with Brady in the preseason. Hogan is the player in the offense that can be a vertical threat and it was evident on Sunday with four catches for 114 yards, including catches of 43 and 63 yards.SAMMIE COATES (WR, Steelers)Coates averaged 70.5 yards per game through four weeks, but didnt score and his drops were documented. The drops continued in Week 5 with three, but Coates caught six passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 11 targets. He has six catches of at least 40 yards, including a 72-yard TD against the Jets. Ben Roethlisberger continues to target Coates deep.CAMERON MEREDITH (WR, Bears)Meredith is 6-foot-3 with a large catch radius and took advantage of a great matchup with nine catches for 130 yards on a team-high 12 targets. Dont blow the budget, but he has a nice skillset and hes worth a stash to find out if he can become a consistent part of the offense with Kevin White on injured reserve. Eddie Royal and Alshon Jeffery are not 100 percent either.JEREMY KERLEY (WR, 49ers)Kerley has become the top target in a bad 49ers offense that will be playing from behind and throwing often. Kerley had eight catches for 102 yards with a touchdown in Week 5. He has at least six targets in each game and is averaging nine per game.CHARLES CLAY (TE, Bills)Clay is seeing more targets with Sammy Watkins on injured reserve. Clay caught five passes for 47 yards in Week 4 and five passes for 73 yards on Sunday. He doesnt have a high ceiling, but is a solid fill-in.---This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com ' ' '