Aaron Rodgers has helped me reach the playoffs (I had a bye in Week 14), and Matt Cassel is my backup. If neither of these quarterbacks is available, who should I target off the waiver wire as a replacement? Any advice is greatly appreciated! - D. Laurie, Buffalo, N.Y.
Michael Fabiano: In the event that you're down both quarterbacks, I would look to add (in order): David Garrard, Josh Freeman, Jon Kitna and Kerry Collins. Garrard has averaged around 18 fantasy points in his last six games, and he scored 24 against this week's opponent, the Colts, earlier in the season. Freeman has a nice matchup in Detroit, and Collins is a viable sleeper against the Texans. Their defense has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than any other team in the league. Kitna has played well in recent weeks and has a nice matchup against the Redskins - their defense ranks a dreadful 29th against the pass this season.
I need to start two running backs, three wide receivers and a flex player (RB/WR) this week from Arian Foster, Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice, Miles Austin, Malcom Floyd, Sidney Rice, Pierre Garcon and Percy Harvin. How would you rank these players? - P. Reilly, Mooresville, N.C.
M.F.: Foster is a no-brainer, and I would start Rice over Mendenhall at running back. Your wide receivers should be Austin, Floyd and Garcon, and I would start Mendenhall ahead of Rice or Harvin at the flex position. If Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson are out against the Bears, neither wideout would be a strong play in Week 15.
I need to start two running backs from Darren McFadden, Michael Turner and Peyton Hillis. Also, I need to start three wide receivers from Marques Colston, Chad Ochocinco, Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith (NYG). Who should I choose? - A. Green, Boise, Idaho
M.F.: This is a tough call, as all three running backs are solid options. But based on the matchups, I would sit Hillis. McFadden has been an absolute beast over the last two weeks, and now he faces a Broncos defense that's allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs. Turner, who has also been on fire lately, should dominate the Seahawks and their porous run defense. At wide receiver, go with Colston, Holmes and Maclin. Colston has been too hot to bench, and Holmes should be motivated to put up a nice stat line against his old team, the Steelers. I would also go with Maclin ahead of Ochocinco, who has been a serious disappointment for fantasy owners in 2010. Smith has been lost for the season with a knee injury and can be released.
I'm worried about the value of Greg Jennings this week if Rodgers is unable to start against the Patriots. Would you start Jennings or Mike Williams (TB) in the event that Rodgers is sidelined? Also, would you start Jonathan Stewart over Mendenhall? I think it's a risk, as Mendenhall is one of my stars. - J. Law, Collinsville, Va.
M.F.: Honestly, I don't like one single member of the Packers offense without Rodgers. The drop in talent from A-Rod to Matt Flynn is severe -- that was evident last week against the Lions. As a result, I would roll with Williams (who faces the Lions this week) over Jennings if Rodgers were out of action. To answer your second question, I would start Stewart ahead of Mendenhall. You mention the Steelers running back as a star, but is he? Let's look at his numbers in recent weeks. Believe it or not, Mendenhall has scored double-digit fantasy points just once in his last five games. On the flip side, Stewart has rushed for a combined 323 yards with one touchdown in his last three games. He also has a much better matchup, facing a Cardinals defense that has allowed more fantasy points to running backs than any other team in the league. Mendenhall faces the Jets, who have been stout against the run overall.
I'm one game away from our league's fantasy championship, and I'm struggling to decide which three wide receivers to start from Rice, Wes Welker, Wallace and Terrell Owens. Wallace has been solid, but I fear Darrelle Revis! What do you think? - T. Gardner, Pittsburgh, Pa.
M.F.: Due to the fact that the Vikings play on Monday night -- and you might not know if you're looking at Favre, Jackson or Joe Webb (gasp!) at quarterback -- it's best to bench Rice and start Welker, Wallace and Owens. Sure, the prospect of facing Revis is enough to hurt the value of even the best wide receiver. But who's to say that the Jets won't put Revis on Hines Ward and Antonio Cromartie on Wallace? As for Owens, hopefully he can wake up from his recent statistical slumber against the Browns. Welker is a great play regardless of the opponent. Since his midseason slide, he has scored double-digit fantasy points in four straight games. Welker has also scored four times in those contests.
Would you sit Adrian Peterson against the Bears? I need to start two running backs from Peterson, Ahmad Bradshaw, LeSean McCoy, Thomas and Tim Hightower. I'm worried about the state of the Vikings running game if Favre and Jackson are both out. - N. Perez, Fort Mill, S.C.
M.F.: I'd be worried about Peterson too, as he didn't look all that effective in Monday night's loss to the Giants. I'm not sure if his ankle was bothering him, or if he hurt his knee when he collided with Jackson, but that wasn't the old Purple Jesus we know and love. If Webb is the quarterback, the Bears could put their entire defense (or at least most of it) in the box to stop him. I'm the sort of fantasy owner that sticks with his studs, so it would be tough for me to put A.D. on the sidelines. However, I wouldn't blame you if you decided to start Bradshaw and McCoy ahead of him if there's been no word on the Vikings quarterback situation before your lineup deadline.
Which quarterback would you start this week, Ben Roethlisberger or Matt Schaub? Also, which three wideouts would you start from Jennings, Ward, Floyd and Johnny Knox? I can also add Mike Sims-Walker, Louis Murphy or Danny Amendola off the waiver wire. - S. Santiago, Ringwood, N.J.
M.F.: Schaub definitely gets the nod ahead of Roethlisberger, who has a tough matchup against the Jets and is dealing with a cornucopia of injuries. Big Ben also has a patchwork offensive line ahead of him right now. Schaub, who has been putting up a ton of fantasy points lately, should continue to thrive against the Titans. Back in Week 12, he tossed two touchdown passes and scored 15 fantasy points against them. At wide receiver, I'd start Jennings, Knox and Floyd. In the event that Rodgers is out of action, though, it might be a good idea to start Ward over Jennings. None of the three players you mentioned off the waiver wire make more sense than your current wideouts.
Should I release LaDainian Tomlinson and Pierre Thomas to add Tashard Choice and Derrick Ward (handcuff to Foster)? Tomlinson is losing carries to Shonn Greene and faces the Steelers and Bears the next two weeks. Thomas is in a committee with the Saints, and he has to face the Ravens and Falcons. I also think that Choice could be a stud in Week 16 against the Cardinals. My regular starters are Foster and Bradshaw. Thoughts? - J. Rodriguez, San Diego, Calif.
M.F.: You're not going to start anyone over Foster or Bradshaw, barring injuries, so I don't see the harm in dumping Tomlinson and adding Ward as insurance. Choice, like Thomas, is also in a committee. In fact, he saw just seven carries last week in a loss to the Eagles. I'd hold onto Thomas for now, especially with Chris Ivory dealing with a hamstring issue. Keep in mind that Falcons defense has also struggled against the run recently - their defense has allowed 100-yard rushers in each of the last two weeks.
I have McCoy, Thomas Jones and LeGarrette Blount. Who should I start in Week 15? Do you think there might be better options on the waiver wire? - T. Jones, Washington, D.C.
M.F.: McCoy is a must-start runner regardless of the opponent, and Blount's matchup against the Lions is favorable indeed. Their defense has allowed an average of over 20 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. I would start Stewart ahead of Blount if he's available, but that could be a stretch. Ryan Torain is also worth a look if available. The Redskins running back is currently a free agent in close to 70 percent of NFL.com leagues. That's certain to change this week, however.
I need to start either Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco this week. Help! - H. Jagger, England
M.F.: Ryan is definitely the quarterback to start. He hasn't put up huge numbers in recent weeks (especially on the road), but a date with the Seahawks should cure what ails him. Their defense has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing signal-callers. On the flip side, Flacco goes up against the Saints -- their defense has surrendered a mere eight touchdown passes and the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com. Have a burning question for Michael on anything fantasy football related? Leave it in our comments section or send it to **AskFabiano@nfl.com**!