Cafe Mailbag: Week 2

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Hello, Cafe brethren. Each and every week, we’ll be taking e-mails from fantasy football owners with difficult lineup, trade and waiver wire questions. We’ll post some of these here in our Saturday mailbag segment. Want your question answered? Send it along to ffcmailbag@gmail.com. On to your dilemmas.

TRADE!! 1/2 ppr, 1 pt 10 yds rushing and 1 pt 15 yds receiving. I get Ray Rice and Nate Burleson and give up FWP and Ochocinco. 2 WR, 2 RB, and a Flex we start. I have Wayne and V Jax. He needs a WR. Fair trade? — Steve

You have to take that deal. Willie Parker looks like he may be on his way out of the league, while Ray Rice could be the next great young breakout RB. Downgrading from Ocho to Burleson is a big one, but it’s worth it for the upgrade you’re making. As a great receiving back, Rice will also help you a bit more than Parker in your 0.5 PPR league.

I’d love to get your feedback on my starting lineup for Week 2. My team is listed below. I’ve indicated who I’m starting by placing an asterisk (*) by their name. — Gina

QB – *Flacco and Palmer
WR – *Jennings, *Murphy, *Moore and Avery
RB – *Gore, *M. Bush, Barber and Moreno
TE – *Carlson and Keller
K – *Bironas
DEF – *Washington and Pittsburgh

LS2Throwed: Starting two Oakland Raiders? It’s not crazy, but it’s very very risky, especially in relying that Murphy equals his output again. Why are your going with Bush over Barber? I don’t like that move, Barber is much more active, he starts, gets all the goal line carries, on a MUCH better offense. Dallas will be in the red zone more than Oakland, and Felix isn’t eating into his carries yet. Go with your gut because that’s all you can count on, but i think Bush over Barber would be a mistake.

I also like Donnie Avery over Louis Murphy, but I can see why you went with Murphy. You have to realize though that Russell is a terrible QB, and Murphy is a rookie WR — it would be really tough to envision him scoring in back-to-back weeks. Avery was coming off injury and should be back to huge games very soon.

For a second running back, should I go with Correll Buckhalter or Derrick Ward? Which two WRs should I start along with Reggie Wayne: Bernard Berrian, Roddy White, Josh Morgan, Michael Clayton, Louis Murphy? — Ryan

LS2Throwed: As far as RB, definitely go with Ward. He’ll be involved a lot more, and that TB O-line makes some huge holes. Buckhalter isn’t as good, neither is Denver, and I don’t think he’s startable yet.

As far as WR, outside of Wayne, Roddy is a must start also, every week. Those two should be in your lineup no questions asked. After that I like Josh Morgan a lot. He may have started off slow, but I think he provides the most upside. Clayton is still a #2 WR, Berrian is still recovering and not healthy, and Murphy is a rookie who I don’t trust to repeat that type of performance just yet.