Doc:
Please provide some advice for a frustated owner. The first two weeks of the season, I started Larry Johnson (a 3rd-round draft pick) and left guys like Chris Johnson (Round 9) and Jonathan Stewart (Round 7) on my bench. I also started either Chad Ocho Cinco (Round 5) or Marvin Harrison (Round 6) and left Hines Ward (Round 10) on my bench. Needless to say, I'm not happy with the results. Do I have any reason to keep playing the higher picks? Everything I've read says L.J. is done (and K.C. is horrible) and I've seen Pittsburgh play the last two weeks and it looks like Hines has become Ben Roethlisberger's No. 1 red-zone option again, making him, in my opinion, a better option than C.O.C. or Harrison on a go-forward basis. Your thoughts please. Thanks for your help.

— Pete

I can feel your pain, Pete, as there's nothing more frustrating than picking the wrong guys to start each week and then watching them struggle while your bench players go off. Honestly, from what I've seen so far this season, I think Chris Johnson has more value going forward than Larry Johnson does. L.J. has been a disappointment thus far and is upset with his limited role. Plus, the Chiefs' passing game is so terrible that defenses will go all out to stop Larry. Chris Johnson, meanwhile, has dazzled through two games and only figures to get more touches as the year goes on. He has fantasy star potential. At WR, I wouldn't give up on Ocho Cinco yet, as he's too good to stay in this rut all season, but Harrison is looking to be on his last legs. Ward has been impressive and should catch a lot of TDs. I'd play him over Marvin for sure. Remember, the round in which you drafted a guy isn't important — his performance is.

Doc,
I have Steven Jackson at one running back and also have Reggie Bush and Matt Forté. Between Forté and Bush, who would you recommend that I start most weeks?

— Ed

Well, Ed, the way the season has gone so far, maybe you should start both Bush and Forté and leave Jackson on the bench. No, don't do that, I'm just kidding. Jackson should break out of this slump soon. To answer your question, if you want to pick one guy to start and stick with him, I'd probably go with Forté. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm one of Reggie's biggest fans, but he's going to be inconsistent from week to week and isn't going to get you much in the rushing department. In fact, he only has 79 yards rushing through two games. He's piled up a bunch of receiving yards, but those could drastically vary from one week to the next. Forté, on the other hand, has had 23 carries in each of the first two games, rushing for 215 yards and a TD. I expect him to be a weekly producer with fewer ups and downs and more TDs than Bush.