Quarterbacks went early in our draft, so I got stuck with Matt Leinart and Vince Young. They both had bad weeks and cost me a game. First, who should I start this week between them and second, should I search the waiver wire for a new quarterback? -– A. Mihalopoulos, Old Tappan, N.J.
Michael Fabiano: Neither Young nor Leinart performed well in Week 1, but it's not time to panic. I can almost guarantee that despite their regular-season openers, Young will finish with more fantasy points than Jake Delhomme, Josh McCown and Chad Pennington. Unless there's a player like Jay Cutler on waivers, I would stand pat with Young and Leinart. Neither has a favorable matchup in Week 2 (Young vs. Indianapolis, Leinart vs. Seattle), but I would side with the Titans quarterback overall.
What happened with Deion Branch last week? He didn't score a single point. Should I start him in Week 2 with Javon Walker or use Isaac Bruce, Mark Clayton or Wes Welker instead? -– T. Kooi, N.A.
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M.F.: It was a shock when Branch went without a catch and was targeted a mere three times against Tampa Bay, but that won't happen in Week 2. In fact, head coach Mike Holmgren blamed himself for Branch's lack of opportunities and promised change is on the horizon.
"That can't happen. It shouldn't happen. It's our job to get him the ball," Holmgren told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "I must get him the ball. I don't want him to have games where he doesn't have a catch. It's not him. It's me."
I would still stick with Branch this week, but Welker warrants more consideration if your league rewards points for receptions.
I have Tony Romo at quarterback and Shaun Alexander, Marion Barber, Frank Gore and Clinton Portis for my running backs. I have been offered Donovan McNabb for Barber. Should I make this deal? I don't want to lose backfield depth since Gore and Portis have been prone to injuries, but it seems like a nice deal. -– S. Adebiyi, Nigeria
M.F.: I like the deal on paper, but I'm not sure Romo and McNabb will be that far apart in fantasy points at the end of the season. As a result, you might be trading for headaches in terms of having to select a No. 1 quarterback each week. I think the trade would make more sense if you needed an upgrade at the position, but Romo is solid. In fact, he was the most productive player in fantasy football in Week 1 with a 42-point effort against the New York Giants.
Which quarterback should I start in Week 2: Drew Brees or Jake Delhomme? Brees killed me last week. –- G. Hart, Ocala, Fla.
M.F.: Delhomme outscored Brees by an incredible 26 points in Week 1, but Brees is still a far more attractive fantasy starter. Even the best players will have their share of bad weeks -- look at Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson -- so be sure to keep Brees active in Week 2 against Tampa Bay. In two starts against the Buccaneers last season, Brees had 485 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 111.4 passer rating.
I have LaDainian Tomlinson and my quarterbacks are Jeff Garcia, Trent Green and Steve McNair. I have been offered Steven Jackson and Jake Delhomme for Tomlinson. Should I make this trade? –- T. Abari, Laurel, Md.
M.F.: The owner who has Delhomme is being smart with the old sell-high trade offer. Delhomme's value might never be higher this season than it is now -- that's what a three-touchdown performance will do in fantasy football -- but we all know that such numbers from Delhomme won't happen often. While it would be nice to upgrade your quarterbacks, this deal doesn't do it. Plus, it would be hard to ever trade Tomlinson.
I am in a league that starts just one running back, so I have to start either Larry Johnson or Adrian Peterson. What should I do for Week 2? -– J.M. Verrault, Canada
M.F.: This is a difficult call because I tend to stick with my studs. However, the fact that Kansas City faces Chicago at Soldier Field makes Johnson a risk. The Bears held Tomlinson to minimal rushing yards last week, and the Chiefs don't have even close to the offensive line as San Diego. On the other side, Peterson was a statistical monster in Week 1 and could be the featured back with Chester Taylor at less than 100 percent. The rookie also has a fantastic matchup in Detroit, where he'll face a Lions defense that made LaMont Jordan look like Marcus Allen. It would be hard for me to bench Johnson, but in this case I think I would.
Is it too soon to release Chester Taylor? Should I add Eric Johnson to replace Owen Daniels? Thanks for the tip in Week 1 – I released the Dallas defense and started Minnesota. Thanks for the win! -– M. Milner, Pensacola, Fla.
M.F.: Glad to help with the Vikes. As for Taylor, it is too soon to release him unless you're in a small league. While Peterson is the better back in Minnesota, Taylor still warrants a roster spot in most fantasy leagues. As for the tight end position, I would add Johnson and release Daniels. While I like Daniels overall, Johnson has a chance to be a nicer asset in what should remain a prolific Saints offense.
I have no idea why Ravens head coach Brian Billick didn't use Willis McGahee near the goal line against Cincinnati. What's the deal – should I be worried about McGahee not seeing goal-line work? -– C. Kissam, Oakland, Calif.
M.F.: I would be a bit worried, because Billick didn't seem to trust McGahee near the goal line (contrary to training camp reports that said otherwise). Musa Smith, not McGahee, was used near the goal line against Cincinnati, and the team passed the football with Kyle Boller under center rather than run McGahee late in the contest. If McGahee is ever going to produce a monster stat line, however, it will be this week against the New York Jets. In his past four starts against the Men in Green, McGahee has averaged 132.7 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns.
I have Philip Rivers and Matt Schaub at the quarterback position and Plaxico Burress, Chad Johnson and Randy Moss at wide receiver. Should I deal one of my wideouts to improve at quarterback? -- M. Warmington, England
M.F.: I might trade high with Burress, but overall I don't think you're that bad off with Rivers and Schaub. Again, there's no reason to panic after one week. Rivers didn't post solid numbers, but few quarterbacks do against the Bears. As for Schaub, he showed some flashes of brilliance in Houston's win over the Chiefs. Neither Rivers nor Schaub has a tremendous matchup in Week 2 (Rivers at New England, Schaub at Carolina), but I'd side with the former unless a quarterback like David Garrard or Jay Cutler is available.
I have the Green Bay defense and the Carolina defense and want to add a running back off waivers. Which one should I release? Also, was Chris Brown a one-week wonder or is he a sleeper? Also, should I move Ronald Curry ahead of Mark Clayton on my depth chart? –- O. Byrne, New Zealand
M.F.: The Packers have one of the most underrated defenses in fantasy football, and I'd start them this week against a Giants offense that will be without Brandon Jacobs and maybe even Eli Manning. Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher wants to use a 60-40 split of carries between LenDale White and Chris Brown, but the veteran out of Colorado sure did look solid against Jacksonville. I wouldn't call him a one-week wonder, but he's not going to set the fantasy world on fire either. Brown is well worth a roster spot in all formats, but this week's matchup against the Colts doesn't seem too favorable.
