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Defenses don't normally play a huge part in fantasy leagues, but they can be the deciding factor in close matchups on certain weeks.

In Week 1, the Baltimore Ravens defense forced seven turnovers on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger four times.

The Ravens helped many owners win their league matchups this week. Let's look at three defenses who could do the same for you.

1) Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins defense has done a nice job in their Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants. Through three quarters, the Redskins allowed just 14 points.

Washington's defense was ranked 31st in the league last season, but they will be better this season in head coach Mike Shanahan's second year with the team.

2) Houston Texans

The Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 34-7 in their opening week matchup, and looked very good defensively.

Even though the Colts were without all-pro quarterback Peyton Manning, the Texans defense proved they are an improved unit and will be much better against the pass this season.

Houston plays the Colts one more time, and the rest of their division opponents, Jacksonville and Tennessee, each have average to below average quarterbacks,

The addition of free agent cornerback Jonathan Joseph will be huge for the Texans this season, and they will certainly cause a lot of turnovers.

3) Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions started the 2011 season well with a 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Lions forced four fumbles, and a Josh Freeman interception. Detroit has a very good defensive line, and an improving linebacker corps. They will get better with each game and could be a valuable defense for your team. 

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It's frustrating when your fantasy football star and first round draft pick does poorly in the opening week, but don't panic, the worst moves are ones made in frustration.

Take a deep breath, and relax. Let's take a look at three underachieving stars you should not give up on, yet.

1) Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson has 49 total yards in the Titans opening week loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The most concerning part of his low yardage total is the amount of touches he received.

Jackson got 15 touches on nine carries and six receptions, much too little for a player of his caliber who just signed a massive contract extension recently.

Johnson is still a top fantasy running back, and will no doubt be more of a factor in the Titans offense, They were down early today against the Jaguars, so quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was throwing often in the second half.

Don't give up on Johnson, even after his terrible Week 1 performance.

2) Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs had a terrible pre-season, and their Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills was equally as poor.

Cassel has just 188 passing yards, with one touchdown and an interception in a 41-7 loss to the Bills.

Cassel will be better, and has plenty of weapons at his disposal, including running back Jamaal Charles who played pretty well against the Bills.

The Chiefs also play in the AFC West, one of the worst divisions in the NFL, and one full of mediocre pass defenses.

Don't give up Cassel, he's still the quarterback of a talented team that will make a strong playoff run.

3) Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles

Jeremy Maclin had a tough summer in which he battled a viral infection, and was unable to work with his teammates much during the pre-season.

Maclin started the Eagles' opening week game against the St. Louis Rams, and caught just one pass for 20 yards.

Maclin will be a factor in the explosive Eagles offense led by quarterback Michael Vick this season, and will return to form quickly.

He's just starting to get his strength and awareness back, and is worthy of a start next week unless you have a more reliable option at wide receiver.

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If your fantasy team is already struggling, you'll need to find some players you can add off the waiver or trade for so you don't fall to far behind your league's leaders.

There were several players in Week 1 who surprised with great performances, and should be looked at for a player on your starting roster.

Let's take a look at three players from the opening week you need to add to your team.

1) Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans

Wide receiver Kenny Britt made Matt Hasselbeck's first start at quarterback for the Tennessee Titans a little easier with his big play ability.

Britt caught five passes for a whopping 136 yards and two touchdowns. With a lack of a star receiver, Hasselbeck likely won't stop throwing the ball deep to Britt, who has good speed.

Britt has emerged as the Titans premier pass catcher, and should be considered a No. 2 wide receiver option in any type of fantasy league.

2) Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions

Jahvid Best showed what he can do when fully healthy for the Detroit Lions in their opening week matchup against Tampa Bay, racking up over 100 total yards.

Best caught four passes for 42 yards and rushed for 72 yards on 21 carries. The Lions made an effort to get Best involved, which is a good sign for fantasy owners wondering how Best would figure into the Lions offensive plans.

Best is a quality No. 2 running back choice in any league, and in a Lions offense which looks like it'll be among the best in the league, Best could be in for a breakout season.

3) Ben Tate, Houston Texans

Ben Tate did a great job of filling in for Arian Foster at running back today for the Houston Texans in their 34-7 win over AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts.

Tate, in his first NFL game out of Auburn, rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown. He and veteran running back Derrick Ward did a nice job for a Houston offense firing on all cylinders in Week 1.

Tate won't play much if Foster comes back from a hamstring injury soon, but until Foster returns he's worthy of a starting role on your team.

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The Monday Night Football debut has been a long time coming. Soon enough we'll get to hear Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski going back and forth about players they've studied into the wee hours of night and why they're playing so well.

But we can tell you before it actually happens. And for your fantasy team knowing before the game starts is all that matters.

Here are three players set to explode on Monday night.

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

The league's reigning MVP is going to pick up exactly where he left off last season.

Brady was dominant a season ago the Dolphins' defense has no answer him. To make matters worse, the Dolphins were absolutely miserable at home last year winning only one game.

The Patriots are going to use the national stage to send a message to the league that they're back and ready to dominate once again.

All that starts and ends with Brady tomorrow night.

Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders

The Raiders' star running back lit the Broncos' miserable rush defense on fire last season.

In two games against Oakland he ran for over 250 yards and four total touchdowns. He also had six receptions in those games.

The Broncos' new 4-3 defense will be better this year, but it isn't much better yet. Expect the Raiders to use McFadden early and often to help get Jason Campbell on track.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Patriots

There will be no better way to welcome No. 85 to the New England Patriots than getting him involved early.

Brady is going to spread the love around, but I think we can expect to see him give Ochocinco a few opportunities early to help make him comfortable.

The former Bengal loves the spotlight and will shine under the bright lights a nationally televised game.

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As the the first batch of NFL games in Week 1 conclude, there are already some fantasy football stars who have underachieved.

Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans, St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel all put in horrible opening week performances.

Let's look at why you should be concerned about these player's first games of the 2011 season.

1) Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson had only 49 total yards in the Tennessee Titans opening week loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Johnson wasn't much of a factor in the either the rushing or passing attacks, and did not find the endzone.

He only received nine carries and caught just six passes. This amount of touches is really poor for a player of his caliber.

Johnson should be a concern for all owners because the Titans aren't good, and his backup Javon Ringer is a good running back too.

2) Sam Bradford

Many fans and experts believed Sam Bradford would have a solid sophomore season for the St. Louis Rams, but the young quarterback struggled against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.

Bradford did not look comfortable in the pocket today, and could only manage 188 yards passing against the talented Eagles secondary.

He also completed just barely over 50 percent of his passes.

Bradford plays in a weak division and will get better as the season goes on, but he won't be a player who will throw for 300 yards consistently, and won't throw many touchdowns.

However, if Rams running back Steven Jackson misses games due to injury, Bradford might have to throw more than the Rams would like in the coming weeks.

3) Matt Cassel

Fantasy owners weren't too concerned about the Kansas City Chiefs' poor pre-season, but after a Week 1 thrashing at the hands of the Buffalo Bulls, owners of Matt Cassel should be very concerned.

Cassel had just 119 yards passing, one touchdown, and an interception in a 41-7 loss to the Bills.

The Chiefs as a team were really bad, but Cassel has a better group of receivers this season than he had last year, but couldn't the new guys involved.

One newcomer, receiver Steve Breaston, caught just two passes for 26 yards. Oddly enough, those 26 yards led Chiefs receivers for the game.

Cassel's Week 1 performance was atrocious, and you should be very concerned if he's your starting quarterback, especially if you play in a one starting quarterback league.

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Fantasy season not starting off the way you wanted?

Looking across the early portion of the league things certainly cannot be great for everyone.

Fortunately there are still a few games to go and that means you can still make something happen.

Here are three players you must start.

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals

It may be the first game for Kevin Kolb with the Arizona Cardinals, but it is a must start for game for Fitzgerald.

The veteran wide receiver is almost always a must start, but that was brought in question last year with the terrible quarterback play around him.

That is not the case this year, at least to our knowledge, and he's going to be the major focus for the Cardinals against the Panthers.

Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants

Although the Giants are believed to be keen on giving more carries to Brandon Jacobs, it is Bradshaw who will see the balls out of the backfield.

The Giants have owned the Redskins in recent years and will look to get their new offensive line together quickly by running the football.

Bradshaw will find the end zone for New York, possibly more than once.

Santonio Holmes, Jets

I don't trust Mark Sanchez at all, but the Cowboys' secondary is banged up and he'll lean on Holmes early and often.

The highly-paid wide out will be the first option for Sanchez and the Cowboys have no way of covering him. 

Expect Holmes to find the end zone and see the ball at least 8 times in the Sunday night matchup.

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One thing to always be on the lookout for during fantasy football season is backups who could become starters due to injuries and great performances.

When star players go down, being the first to pick up their backup of the waiver wire is crucial to winning your league.

Let's look at three players who will find themselves in a starting role this season.

1) Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants

New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs had a good preseason and is hungry to overtake starter Ahmad Bradshaw on the depth chart.

Jacobs is a big back who is a goal line threat, and has the size and strength to muscle of tacklers in the open field.

Don't be surprised if Jacobs and Bradshaw split more carries this season than last year.

2) Derrick Ward, Houston Texans

Derrick Ward started the Houston Texans Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, and will likely be the starter until Arian Foster is ready to return from a hamstring injury.

Foster may not be back for some time, and Ward is an experienced back who runs well between the tackles.

Ward will be on the field in any situation, including goal line scenarios, and will also factor in the prolific passing attack of the Texans.

3) Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh Steelers

Emmanuel Sanders had a solid pre-season, and will be a vital part of the Steelers offense going forward.

With Hines Ward aging and not the elite receiver he used to be, the young Sanders will be an important part of Ben Roethlisberger's passing attack for years to come.

Sanders has good speed and not drop many passes, and is also a good option in keeper leagues.

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Running backs can be very consistent in fantasy football. If you take a guy like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson, you can count on a solid stat line almost every week.

However, Week 1 has a few matchups where top ranked running backs won’t succeed. They play some tough defenses and won’t be able to perform up to their expected level.

Let’s take a look at three backs who will let you down in Week 1.

Ray Rice

The Ravens play their mortal enemy, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to start their season. The Steelers have a notoriously tough defense and will make it extremely hard for Rice to have a solid day.

I’m very high on Ray Rice as a fantasy player, especially with new addition Vonta Leach, but you are going to have to wait until Week 2 for him to go wild. I’d still start him, but don’t expect much from Rice.

DeAngelo Williams

The Arizona Cardinals are going to stack the box against the Panthers this week. They rightfully have no respect for Cam Newton and will let the rookie QB try to beat them through the air.

I believe that Newton is going to be a star in the NFL, but his first game on the road as a starting QB is going to go horribly. The Cardinals will shut him and the running game down and win handily.

Michael Turner

The Falcons are going to crush the Chicago Bears, but they are going to do it through the air.

The Bears had the No. 2 ranked rushing defense in the league last year and simply shut that aspect of offenses down.

Unfortunately for them, their secondary is not up to par and the Falcons are going to exploit it this afternoon. Look for Julio Jones and Roddy White to go hog wild against this terrible pass defense.

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Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

There are a number of factors working against Tony Gonzalez on Sunday. For one, the 11-time Pro Bowler is 35 years old and, as such, has lost a step or two from what he once had. In the process of, well, growing older, "Gonzo" has slipped to the third option for Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, behind Roddy White and rookie Julio Jones.

As far as matchups are concerned, Gonzo will be going against a Bears defense that gave up only two touchdowns to tight ends last season, thanks to Chicago's stellar linebacking combo of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. 

Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Fantasy owners around the country were left shaking their heads when Jacksonville cut David Garrard, and not because any of them necessarily had the Jaguars' quarterback on their teams.

No, that collective sigh you heard was one of sadness for Marcedes Lewis, whose production will be contingent on how many errant throws from Luke McCown that he'll be able to haul in. Add in the fact that Lewis managed only 76 total and no touchdowns in two games against the Titans last season, and he becomes a surefire sit for Week 1. 

Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

For whatever reason, no one seems to be paying much attention to Antonio Gate's health. The Chargers' star tight end has been a full-time participant in practice of late after struggling early in camp with plantar fasciitis, the very same injury that kept him out of action for six games last season.

San Diego should have plenty of success against Minnesota's defense on Sunday, though the Vikings' voracious linebacking corps of Chad Greenway and EJ and Erin Henderson figures to put Gates' gimpy foot to the test.  

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Expect epic performances from your fantasy stud.

That is, if you have one of these five running backs.

If not, well, you’re probably going to be 0-1 to begin the season. Such is life.

Just remember, don’t panic! There’s still a lot of football to be played. Just kick yourself for not drafting one of these five running back monsters.

5. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams

Steve Spanguolo will put all of his defensive attention to containing Michael Vick. That’ll leave “Shady” McCoy with a ton of room to work with. The offensive line will open holes for McCoy on draws and counters to get him more space. More importantly, Vick is going to be checking down to him early and often because Stevie Spags will be coming with the pressure from the get-go.

4. Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Hillis is going to annihilate Cinci’s underrated defense and guarantee himself a big contract sooner than later. Hillis will easily top 100 total yards as Colt McCoy uses him as his No. 1 receiver.

The Brownies’ wrecking ball of destruction is a man-beast of epic proportions. He is looking to shed the one-year wonder label and will do so with a bang. He could very well top 150 total yards and a score to kick off the season in glorious fashion.

3. Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers

Carolina will be forced to double-team Larry Fitzgerald all afternoon and are always looking to make Kevin Kolb’s first Arizona start a living hell. That’s why Beanie will receive a ton of carries to take the pressure off Kolb and the aerial attack.

Ron Rivera attempted to bolster the front seven this offseason, but Arizona’s offensive line shouldn’t have trouble creating gaping holes for Beanie to drive through like the bulldozer he is.

2. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

Nobody has a tastier matchup than Charles, who gets the lowly Bills at home. There are concerns with Matt Cassel and the passing game, so look for Todd Haley to rely on his rushing attack.

Thomas Jones isn’t going away anytime soon, but Charles can do massive damage on limited touches. He has the speed and agility to obliterate Buffalo’s blitz-happy unit.

1. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Say hello to your top primetime performer. Darren McFadden is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. He broke out last season, but this is the year he becomes a top-five RB.

I mean, what are the Raiders going to do, throw the ball with Jason Campbell?

Yeah right, the only thing the Raiders are going to do is give the rock to McFadden anyway they can. That means expect at least 150 total yards, half-a-dozen receptions and two scores.

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Injury reports are huge when it comes to fantasy football, and we all know that players get injured all the time in the NFL.

If you’re quarterback or running back is injured, you best know it and pull them out, or you’re in for quite a disastrous week.

Even defensive injuries matter if you’re playing matchups. Perhaps you have an offensive player going against a team that just got hit hard with injuries. That would be a good time to start.

Things can get real dicey though when a player is a game time decision, or is questionable, especially when you’re considering putting them in your starting lineup.

Do you have any questions about player you think may be injured?

Let us know what your concerns are.

In the meantime, here are three injuries you need to be aware of as you set your final rosters:

Arian Foster, RB Texans:

Obviously Foster is the most watched injury in most fantasy leagues right now. He is expected to be a huge producer, but two hamstring injuries leave him questionable for the opener. Here’s what the injury roundup on NFL.com has to say:

No changes for Texans RB Arian Foster (hamstring), who is still a game-time decision against the Colts. Officially, he ‘s listed as questionable

Sidney Rice, WR Seahawks:

This is an extremely disappointing situation for both the Seahawks and owners of Rice. He is expected to be the No. 1 option this year and produce a lot of fantasy points. NFL.com says he’s doubtful.

Terrence Newman & Mike Jenkins, CB Cowboys:

Dallas has two of their corners on the injury report and one of them is definitely out, so this is good news if you’re planning on starting Mark Sanchez or any of his wide receivers. Here’s NFL.com’s report:

After missing practice all week, Cowboys CB Terence Newman (groin) was ruled out against the Jets, while RT Tyron Smith (knee), C Phil Costa (knee) and CB Mike Jenkins (neck/knee) are questionable.

Let us know if you have any injury concerns for anybody on your lineup that you want us to check into. As always, injuries can be a very fluid situation in the NFL, so keep checking for updates.

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It’s not always a smart move to start a quarterback in your fantasy football league just because he is a big name in the NFL.

Obviously it’s hard to determine who will produce and who won’t, but the best way to figure it out is by looking at matchups.

Even a star like Tom Brady is susceptible to having a bad game if he’s going against a good defense, or there are odd situations surrounding the game.

That’s what makes fantasy football so intriguing. You never know, yet you win or lose based on your information and intuition.

Quarterback is obviously an integral part of any fantasy squad, so your decisions with the position will really impact how you do on any given week.

It’s an even harder decision when you have to good quarterbacks on your team, and need to play the matchups.

That’s why we are here though.

What matchups are you looking at, and do you have any quarterback controversies on your squad?

Let us know in the comments section and we’ll be sure to give you our input. For now, here are three big time quarterbacks you should consider sitting:

Josh Freeman, Buccaneers:

When all is said and done in 2011 I think Freeman is going to be a great player and a solid fantasy producer. First game jitters and a tough Lions front four may cause him to be a little bit off though. If he’s the best you have than you must start him, but if you have another option I would consider it.

Eli Manning, Giants:

Manning is a turnover machine, and the Redskins defense is a little bit underrated. They should be able to get pressure on him, and I really like the playmakers they have in their defensive backfield. This could get ugly fast, so I’d stay away from Manning.

Jay Cutler, Bears:

Cutler is in the same boat with Manning. He can produce some big numbers for you, but he’s also a liability with turnovers. He’s going against a solid and somewhat underrated defense, and even though he’s at home, I can’t trust him until I see how he comes out this year.

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Even though it may seem like a no-brainer to start an NFL star in week one of your fantasy football leagues, I would suggest that there are some players to stay away from.

Be it a bad matchup, a bad week at practice, or even just a really good hunch; sometimes the smartest thing to do is to big name stars that everybody else things will do well.

That’s what separates the truly great fantasy owners from just the average ones.

The great ones know when to take a risk and do something somewhat unconventional, and starting a surefire star is definitely unconventional.

There are certain stars that come with high-risks though in week one of the NFL season.

Here are three high-risk stars that I suggest you stay away from:

Tony Romo, QB Cowboys:

Plain and simple, it’s very hard for me to trust Romo. Sometimes he comes out looking good, and other times he looks like he doesn’t know how to play football! He’s turnover prone, which I think will plague him going against a stout Jets defense.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB Steelers:

If you’re using Roethlisberger as your primary quarterback, I suggest you go to your backup this week. Steelers vs. Ravens is always a defensive matchup, and I think the Ravens are going to be coming hard after him. If you do start him, don’t expect much production.

Reggie Wayne, WR Colts:

Wayne was projected pretty high in most drafts, but now with the news of Peyton Manning being out, I wouldn’t expect such a big season. He’s still a huge option for the Colts, but the Texans defense is going to be coming out for revenge and I think they will blanket Wayne.

Those are three stars that I think you should avoid.

Which players do you think should be sitting this weekend, and what fantasy football questions can we answer for you?