1. The Man from Nowhere: Derek Anderson

You can probably count on one hand the number of people nationally who marched out Derek Anderson as their starting QB this week. Less than 24 hours later, the whole fantasy world is frenzied after his 328-yard, 5-touchdown performance. Inquiring owners everywhere want to know: Is Anderson a one-week wonder or something more?

My Take: Derek Anderson may not have any more Sundays this year like this one, but if he’s available in your league this week, don’t hesitate to pick him up. Anderson’s got some incredibly good young weapons in Braylon Edwards & Kellen Winslow to work with and an offensive line that gives him time to throw the ball. Plus, the Browns would prefer get Brady Quinn into the lineup later than sooner. Good skill position players make for good numbers from a quarterback. Bank on Anderson having several more big weeks in the months to come based upon that fact.

2. Running Back Reborn: Jamal Lewis

I hate to reference two players from the same game right off the bat, much less the same team. But, you simply can’t ignore what took place between the Browns and Bengals on Sunday. The teams combined for 1,085 yards. Simply put, we may not see another game like that for the remainder of this year. And, amidst of all this yardage was Jamal Lewis rushing for 215 yards…just like old times. So, what’s the Buzz surrounding Lewis this Monday morning? Is he truly experiencing a rebirth?

My Take: My gut tells me that this will prove to be Lewis’s best day of the 2007 season. If you’re deep at RB, you might see what you can get for him via trade while he’s a hot commodity. After all, he faces the Ravens & Steelers three more times and the Bengals D just seemed lost on Sunday. So, is the Jamal Lewis of old reborn? I think not…although, he certainly looks better than he did last year.

3. High Pick Headaches: Lee Evans, Maurice Jones-Drew, Steven Jackson, & Larry Johnson

There’s a good chance that four names you’ll hear a lot of complaining about at the fantasy water cooler this week will be Evans, Jones-Drew, Jackson, and Johnson. This quartet has now combined for zero touchdowns through two weeks, and if you spent a high pick on one of them (which somebody in every league did), you’re thoroughly frustrated. The question is: Which of these four will bounce back in the weeks to come and who is truly in danger of being a season killer for your fantasy team?

My Take: One thing to be concerned about regarding Steven Jackson is that unlike Larry Johnson, his first two lackluster performances have come at home. The Buzz is that last year’s heavy workload may have cut into Jackson’s explosiveness some. No need to trade him, as you won’t be able to get equivalent value, but I think you need to find some talent to complement him on your roster, as he’s not going to carry the load for you like he did last year. As was noted above, Johnson’s got some favorable match-ups ahead at home. Don’t panic and trade him- he has better days ahead. Jones-Drew is an enigma through two games, but the Buzz is that he’s just not getting enough touches and with the team only scoring 13 points vs. Atlanta today that should change. Lee Evans? Looks like he’s getting off to the same kind of start he did in 2006. Bottom line on him: Continue to play him vs. the league’s worst dozen defenses. Bench him when that’s not the case. You can’t afford 0.5 points per week from a supposed “stud” WR.

4. The Debate Rages On: Steve Smith vs. Chad Johnson

How many hundreds of articles all over the web and in magazines sought to answer this question: Who will be the best fantasy wide out in 2007? After two weeks, is there any doubt? With apologies to Andre Johnson (who is a must start now every week), Smith and Johnson appear to be in a class by themselves. But, who’s the best? It’s a great debate to engage in with those in your fantasy circle this week.

My Take: As good as Chad Johnson is, Steve Smith is darn near un-coverable. I’ll take Smith by a nose even though Chad has the better QB. Look for both to score 15+ TDs this year if they can stay healthy and look for both to be on a lot of fantasy playoff teams come December.

So, there you go, some of the hottest topics of this Monday morning. If you’re feeling pretty blue this morning, remember the sun will come up tomorrow and the Saints offense plays better at home. God Bless!