Week One is in the books and many fantasy owners got their first taste of whether or not their team is destined for playoffs or for mediocrity. Either way, don’t panic. The season is young, and any smart GM who makes the right moves and starts the right players can lead his (or her) team to the promise land.

Here is a look at some of the most intriguing Week 2 matchups. It’s all about starting quality players when they have a favorable matchup, and the most savvy owners know when it’s time to take a chance on lesser players facing softer defenses. Take the first step here - in the first edition of The Good, Bad and Ugly.

THE GOOD:
Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe vs. Oakland
In case you didn’t see Monday night, Oakland’s pass defense got torched by QB Jay Cutler, WR Eddie Royal and others. This is good news for a big, speedy receiver like Bowe who could find similar success. Bowe went for 49 yards and a TD on five catches against the Patriots and seemed to fair better with Damon Huard, who will start Week 2, throwing to him.

Denver QB Jay Cutler vs. San Diego
Cutler started off the ’08 season on fire and he may not cool down in Week 2. He will face the Chargers, who despite being lauded as one of the NFL’s top defenses, surrendered 247 passing yards to Steve Smith-less Carolina last week. Cutler, who already seems to have chemistry with rookie WR Eddie Royal (9 rec., 146 yds., 1 TD) will also regain the services of No. 1 option Brandon Marshall this week.

Tampa Bay WR Joey Galloway vs. Atlanta
The Falcons seemed to miss CB DeAngelo Hall in Week 1. They allowed 262 yards in the air to Detroit, and Galloway, along with the rest of the Buccaneers will be looking to take advantage. Galloway led the Bucs with six catches for 56 yards in Week 1 and if QB Jeff Garcia can play, he could be primed for a productive week playing at home.

Green Bay RB Ryan Grant vs. Detroit
All Detroit did in Week One was allow Michael Turner to run for an Atlanta-record 220 yards on the ground. Grant must be salivating at the chance to run through gaping hole after gaping hole in Week 2. Against one of last year’s stingiest rush defenses in Minnesota, Grant went for 92 yards on Monday night. Expect that number to drastically increase this week.

Tennessee RB Chris Johnson vs. Cincinnati
Johnson’s Week 1 performance went a long way in justifying the hype surrounding him. He amassed 127 total yards and a TD. This week he will face the woeful Bengals defense that allowed 229 yard on the ground, including 86 to FB Le’Ron McClain (yes, I said FB). The Titans will rely on the run game more this week with QB Vince Young out, and Johnson should flourish.

New York Giants QB Eli Manning vs. St. Louis
Donovan McNabb and the Eagles (without their top two wideouts) had their way with the St. Louis defense in Week 1, to the tune of more than 400 passing yards. Unless drastic adjustments are made, Manning (and a full receiving corps) should also tear up the St. Louis defense. Manning threw for 216 yards, no TDs and one INT in Week 1, but should come close to surpassing 300 yards and have a pair of TDs in Week 2.

Pittsburgh TE Heath Miller vs. Cleveland
Cleveland’s defense got outplayed by Dallas in all areas in Week 1, but maybe it was no more apparent than at tight end. Dallas’ Jason Witten seemed to be open every play and recorded 96 yards on six catches. Similar numbers could be in store for Miller (3 rec. for 26 yds In Week 1) if the Browns don’t right their many wrongs.

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cleveland
Another Steeler is on this list because, well, Cleveland just looked that bad. They gave up 487 yards of total offense, including 320 in the air, and seemed to give Tony Romo an eternity to throw. Roethlisberger, like Romo, has the weapons to hurt you if he has time in the pocket and he very well should in Week 2. He had just 137 yards passing as Pittsburgh dominated on the ground last week, a mark he’ll likely improve upon.

Buffalo TE Robert Royal vs. Jacksonville
To say his Week 1 performance was fit for a king would be corny, but rookie TE Royal was impressive with 52 yards and a score. Jacksonville surrendered six catches and 105 yards to Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife in Week 1, so Royal should be able to put up similar numbers. If he does, he will be a worthy addition to your fantasy team.

Tennessee D/ST vs. Cincinnati
With all the injuries, controversy and name changes, the Bengals offense seemed to running in place in Week 1, amassing 10 points on only 154 total yards. They couldn’t get anything going and now they run into the Tennessee defense that effectively held Jacksonville to only 189 yards of total offense. If you have the Titans D/ST, don’t be fooled by the matchup and don’t hesitate to use them.

THE BAD:
Dallas RB Marion Barber vs. Philadelphia
In his first game as the main man in Dallas, he had 16 carries for 80 yards and two TDs, despite having to leave the game with a rib injury. This week, the feisty Philadelphia defense will be eager to pound his wounded rib cage and stop Dallas’ ground attack. The Eagles did a good job of stopping the run last week, allowing Steven Jackson’s Rams to only 36 yards rushing, so this is a less than desirable matchup for Barber - although he may be too good to sit.

St. Louis QB Marc Bulger vs. New York Giants
The Rams didn’t have much to smile about after getting trounced by the Eagles 38-3 last week, and it doesn’t get any easier for them in Week 2. They run into the defending Super Bowl Champs, who limited Washington to 133 yards in the air last week. Adjustments will have to be made, but Bulger is not exactly a candidate to improve on his 158-yard, zero-TD performance. Keep Bulger on your bench, unless you have no other options.

San Diego WR Chris Chambers vs. Denver
Denver has a pair of stellar corners ’Dre Bly and Champ Bailey, and they shut down the Raiders on Monday night. In fact, they only allowed Oakland’s wideouts to collect seven catches for 84 yards – combined, and most of that was in garbage time of a blowout. This is not good news for Chambers, who despite finding the end zone against the Panthers, finished with just that one catch for 44 yards.

Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham vs. Atlanta
Atlanta held Detroit to 2.95 yards a carry and only 62 yards on the ground in Week 1. Atlanta’s early lead forced Detroit having to throw more, but they still did a respectable job shutting down rookie RB Kevin Smith. Graham, who had 10 carries for 91 yards, is better than Smith, but if Atlanta can duplicate that type of stinginess on the ground, Graham may have trouble finding room to run. If you have other starting caliber options this week, use them.

Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck vs. San Francisco
The 49ers held Kurt Warner and the Cardinals under 200 yards passing in the first week, and they will be looking to do the same against Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck’s biggest obstacles, aside from the 49er defense, will be injuries. WR Nate Burleson got injured in Week 1 and is out for the year, and the Seahawks are still missing WRs Deion Branch and Bobby Engram. With a depleted WR corps and a stout defense, Hasselbeck is not attractive an option this week.

St. Louis WR Torry Holt vs. New York Giants
Holt is on this list for the same reason Bulger is. The Rams offense looked abysmal in Week One, and now they have to face the Giants who held Redskins receivers to only 8.85 yards per catch in the first week. Holt had only one catch for nine yards against Philadelphia, and although he may benefit from playing on the turf at home, he is still a risky start.

Cleveland RB Jamal Lewis vs. Pittsburgh
Lewis, like the rest of the Cleveland offense, looked very pedestrian in Week One, running for 62 yards on 13 carries. Facing Pittsburgh is never an easy way to turn things around, so I’m not optimistic Lewis will. Pittsburgh allowed Houston’s leading rusher Steve Slaton to 43 yards on 13 carries in Week 1, and I expect Lewis to put up similar mediocre numbers at home on Sunday night.

Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb vs. Dallas
McNabb came out on fire to start the season and many fantasy owners were ecstatic that they waited to pick a starting QB in the later rounds. What was more astounding was that he put up his gaudy numbers (361 yards, 3 TDs) without his top two options, Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis. Brown may even be back this week, but McNabb will not be as fortunate against a tough Dallas defense that allowed only 114 yards in the air to Cleveland in Week One. Start McNabb cautiously.

Houston QB Matt Schaub vs. Baltimore
Baltimore lived up to its reputation as one of the leagues most feared defenses in Week One. The Ravens held Carson Palmer to only 99 yards passing on only 10 completions. You can’t expect Baltimore to always be that dominant, but this certainly isn’t a favorable matchup for Schaub. Schaub was average, going 25-for-33 for 202 yards, one TD and two INTs in Week 1, and against Baltimore this week, he should be average once again.

Jacksonville RB Fred Taylor vs. Buffalo
Taylor seems like a risky start for a few reasons. Not only did the Bills hold Seattle to 85 total yards on the ground, but Jacksonville’s offensive line is in shambles – down three key contributors. Taylor only had nine carries for 18 yards in Week 1 and he, given the matchup and injuries to this O-line, will likely not have a breakout week. If you have other options at RB or Flex, don’t hesitate and start them.

THE UGLY:
Despite his merits (which I’m sure exist, but nobody really knows), there will be no uglier site around the league than seeing No. 16 Matt Cassel, not No. 12 Tom Brady, under center for the Patriots on Sunday. New England is replacing one of the all-time great quarterbacks with a QB that last started a game in high school. I don’t care how much promise he showed in practice, that’s a huge drop-off.

Against the Jets this week, and for the rest of the year, New England’s receivers all drop in value. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are still starting options, but I can’t see them equaling last year’s success. Jabar Gaffney may be a non-factor all year and Ben Watson, unless he becomes Cassel’s security blanket, may no longer be warranted as a starter.

Adding to the ugly fantasy angles in this game is that not only will New England face a Jets run defense that allowed only 49 rushing yards in Week 1, but the Pats gave Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris 10 carries each last week. Since the Jets will be keying on the run game, and Maroney and Morris split carries, neither may be a great fantasy option.

It only gets uglier when you consider the other side of the ball. New England is one of the league’s top defensive units and as much as the Jets looked good in Week 1, they weren’t great, so even the Jets fantasy options like Brett Favre, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Thomas Jones may struggle a little bit in this intense rivalry game.

All in all this is an ugly fantasy game where no player figures to put up huge numbers – and the main reason is the absence of No. 12.