Melissa Jacobs

  (3:01 PM)

Hi everyone! Welcome to my very first (and hopefully not last) fantasy chat. I'm here to guide your lineup decisions, trade dilemmas, and help out any newbies with general fantasy how-to.Look forward to getting to know you and your fantasy rosters over the next couple months. Let's get started!

Dom (Cincy)

What do I do about Arian Foster? Is he starting or not, and how limited do you think he'll be if he does start?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:03 PM)

Hi Dom and thanks for joining. Foster's status seems to be a hot topic of debate. I'm going to trust our injury expert Stephania Bell when she said earlier that Foster had done more and more over practices this week. She predicts a start. And yes, if he starts, you should start him too.

Katherine (Tulsa)

Start Bears or Steelers D/ST? Bears may be w/o Urlacher, but Steelers have something to prove

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:05 PM)

That's a toughie. The Bears loked fierce last week and obviously will be playing with a little extra gusto for Urlacher. But the Steelers host the Seahawks and the turnover possibilities are endless.

Tom Coughlin (NYC)

Melissa, if you aren't 5 minutes early to the chat, you're late! Now drop and give me 20...

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:05 PM)

OK, just did. Already tired. Thanks TC. Next....

Robby White (Oklahoma City)

Should I start Julio Jones or Shonn Greene as my flex, Green looked terrible & Jones looked good, your thoughts?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:08 PM)

Wow, I thought Roddy White was chiming in for a sec. Had to do a double take. Greene looked awful last week but you should still opt for him based on opportunities alone. And wouldn't feel good about any #2 WR against the dreamy Eagles

Brian (Indy)

Romo or Big Ben?and in another league Rivers or Big Ben?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:11 PM)

Hi Brian,Big Ben has a favorable matchup vs Seattle and will be playing to avenge last week. I like him over Rivers.But I like Romo over Roethlisberger because the Niners secondary is awful and susceptible to he big play. Seattle's is as well. but I think the DAl/SF will be a tad closer, increases Romo's pass numbers.

Jennifer (Tampa)

What should I do about Chad Ochocinco?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:12 PM)

Hi Jennifer,Drop him. Drop him. Drop him. I think there's a good chance he's released by Week 5. No sources on that. Just a hunch.

Chris Fiegler (Latham,NY)

What is your Favorite NFL Team?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:13 PM)

Like Stephania,the 49ers. Our glory days are way too far behind us. Yes, I said us.

Rachel (Hattiesburg)

Hi Melissa! What is this talk about East Coast Mike Williams being shut down against Minn this week? What is your take on this?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:15 PM)

Hi Rachel,Williams didn't look great last week but still got a score. I believe that's four game sin a row with a TD for him. Vikings give up big plays to WRs. I'd happily start him.

Big Buddy (DeKalb, IL)

Hi Melissa, QB question: should I start Jay Cutler or Sam Bradford? Cutler had better #s last week, but I'm a little nervous about him doing it in a hostile environment with his crappy O-Line. Plus, he has a face I just want to punch.

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:17 PM)

Wow. With an injury depleted Rams team, you really should start Cutler. The Saints have given us no reason to believe they can shut Cutler and the Martz system down. Just try not to punch your tv during any Cutler close-ups.

Megan (New York)

hi melissa - do i drop peyton to free up space or think its worth holding on for the mid-end of the season?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:20 PM)

Hi Megan,Thanks for the question. I was in the same situation and just dropped #18 fro Rex Grossman (never thought I'd say that!). His injury could very well be season ending, let alone career ending.

nikki (nj)

Randall Cobb or Dwayne Bowe?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:22 PM)

Hard not to go with Bowe here. He'll get 5 times the amount of targets, and he did lead WRs in TDs last year. That should count for something.

Laura (Gainesville, FL)

Witten or Gronkowski? Rivers or Fitzpatrick? Thanks!

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:24 PM)

Hi Laura,I'd go with Witten. He had a ton of targets last week (9, I believe) and will likely see the same against San Francisco.

Christina Jones (Twitter)

Start Sanchez v JAC or Rivers v NE at QB

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:26 PM)

Hi Christina,I like Rivers this week. If Chad Henne can put 416 yards against the Pats, so can Rivers. San Diego will likely be playing from behind as well.

Meredith (Columbus, Ohio)

Go 49ers! I have the option of E. Manning or C. Newton at QB- some ratings are telling me Newton, but he's facing the Packers and I think week 1 might have been a flash in the pan (yes, that is a Niners/Gold Rush reference). The younger Manning isn't a great choice, but will he generate me more points than Newton this weekend? Thanks!

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:28 PM)

Hi Meredith,Can you pick someone up in free agency? Rex Grossman? Assuming no, I'd go with Manning by default. Newton is so much fun to watch but this week should be blitz city and he'll be prone to mistakes all game long.

Mike (Ohio)

Not a fantasy question but an espnW question: When are you guys gonna get Amanda Rykoff a chat? She'd kill

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:29 PM)

Yes, Amanda rocks. Are you her boyfriend? Dad?

Amanda (New York, NY)

Hi Melissa - I am a LeGarrette Blount owner. Should I be worried that he only had 5 carries in the opening game? Do you foresee a bounceback week for him? What about longer term? Thanks!

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:31 PM)

Hi Amanda,Thanks for writing. I do see a big bounce back for Blount (a mouthful there!). After the game, Morris vowed to get Blount a significant number of carries and recognized that's he's a playmaker. I'd start him one more week.

Sarah (Washington, New Jersey)

Start Vick or Kolb this week? Will Vick pull out all the stops? I know they are saying vick isn't going in with vengeance but what about the Falcons? That defense has to be holding something emotional on the line for this one...

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:32 PM)

Hi Sarah,Vick all the way. All defenses are emotional when they play Vick. It doesn't generally get them too far.

Elijah (West Virginia)

Start Joe Flacco or Michael Vick? I cant make up my mind.

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:33 PM)

Hi Elijah,Same advice to you to start Vick. Flacco should start over almost anyone else, but Vick is too much of a weapon. There's a reason you presumably took him with your first pick?

Danielle (NJ)

I have Ochocinco too.. If I do drop him.. who would be a god receiver to pick up? One preferably I wouldn't have to make a trade for. (Somebody not too known)

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:35 PM)

Hi Danielle,I'd look at a guy like Jacoby Jones in Houston, who will be starting this week. Domenick Hixon would be a good bet if Nicks can't start. and at this point, I'd take it a week by week basis (based on injury openings)

susanne Whiting (san diego)

I have two choose between Shon Greene, Mike Tolbert and Frank Gore...help please

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:38 PM)

Hi Susanne,I like Tolbert because he's dangerous at the goal line and in the air. And Gore, just because he's such an integral part of the Niners offense at this point.

kyle (michigan)

Who do you think will have a better week, michael vick vs. Falcons or mark sanchez vs. Jaguars?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:39 PM)

Vick

bob (NY)

Hi, do I take the risk of starting Hakeem Nicks? or sit him?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:40 PM)

Depends on your other receivers but probably not. Unless your backup receivers are very low end probably not worth the risk. And Nicks does seem very 50/50 at the moment.

Mike Cannoli (NJ)

Jimmy Graham or Fred Davis at TE?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:43 PM)

Hi Mike,I say Davis. It's really a matter of matchups (Davis vs. Ari, Graham vs. Chi) and the fact that Davis appears to be the top weapon for Grossman at the moment. Subject to change, of course.

megan (new york)

do i drop my falcons defense given vick will tear it up and pick up the texans based on them playing miami this week?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:45 PM)

Yeah, i wouldn't feel comfortable trotting out the Falcons D. I'd look at Denver and Detroit as options as well. Love defenses playing subpar quarterbacks at home.

Kyle Orton (Denver)

Why does everybody hate me? Is it the beard?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:46 PM)

I don't hate you Kyle.

Talal AlGharaballi (Twitter)

Steve Smith, Nate Burleson, or Robert Meachem?!

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:47 PM)

Hi Talal,Steve Smith. While the other two are viable and the Panthers face a mountain in GB, Newton will likely be airing it out to Smith multiple times. He catches one or two of those bombs, it's a successful fantasy day.

Mark (San Diego)

Malcolm Floyd or Jacoby Jones? PPR and return yards

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:49 PM)

Hi Mark,I like Jones, particularly for the KR yards and the fact he's starting.. I don't expect Floyd to lead the Chargers in targets again this week.

Ronan (chicago)

who should I start- Antonio Brown, Braylon Edwards, or Nate burleson? I have Vincent Jackson who's an obvious start and my other WR is colston who is injured..

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:53 PM)

Antonio Brown doesn't seem like he's going ot be a big part of the Steelers offense. Braylon likely wont do much until Jim Harbaugh takes the straightjacket off of Alex Smith. So Burleson, who should get a lot of decent looks again this week vs KC.

J.B. (PA)

What is your feeling on carrying two defenses on your roster? If you had some combination of Jets, Packers, and Eagles would you say it's OK to carry two?

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:54 PM)

Hi J.B.,I'm all for it as long as you have a solid (and uninjured) starting lineup and a few good backups. Often times in drafts he just throw darts up in the bottom five rounds and wind up dropping most of those guys anyhow.

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:55 PM)

Also, if you don't get one (or two) of those elite defenses, I like to add and drop weekly based on matchup. It's been a winning strategy for me for years.

Melissa Jacobs

  (3:56 PM)

Well, time to go make sure my lineups are in order. Very much appreciate you guys and girls joining me. Hope the advice helps you pull out a big W this week. And hope you'll join me here again next week. In the meantime, check out my fantasy coverage on espnW!