I know the company line in fantasy sports is never panic after Week 1. If there is ever a season to challenge that rule, however, it is this one. The loss of Tom Brady (and a host of other stars struggling) and the explosive effort of the rookies has to give even the most seasoned fantasy owner pause.

It seems to me that the people are calling for a staggering overreaction to these events. With that in mind, I could try to keep some sense of perspective this week. Or I could just produce a bunch of lists that pass absurd judgments after just 60 minutes of football.

Uhhhh…


THREE PLAYERS WHO SHOULD NOT BE ON ANY FANTASY ROSTER

Rudi Johnson is not the Rudi Johnson of 2005. He had three carries on Sunday and will back up Kevin Smith all season. There is no reason that you should waste a spot on Johnson when useful players such as Eddie Royal and Sammy Morris are available.

It’s time to call it a day with Reggie Williams. Will the Jaguars ever develop a legitimate number one receiver?

Vince Young as “The Fugitive” was not as good as Harrison Ford but much better than Tim Daly in the 2000 TV series. His injury (MCL), combined with a year of terrible play, makes him a no-go for 2008.

ONE FUTURE HALL OF FAMER I’M SORT OF WORRIED ABOUT

Torry Holt is going to face double-teams all season (a problem that killed Jenna Jamison’s value in the 1998 Vivid Draft), and his one-catch effort on Sunday may not be his only poor performance. I don’t think he’s done by any measure, but he might (at age 32) be starting that slow decline.

TWO GREAT SELL-HIGH CANDIDATES

If I had offered you Steven Jackson for Michael Turner a week ago it would have been a no-brainer, right? One huge game from “The Burner” and that all changes. Should it? I’m not advocating trading Turner but his value will never be higher. I’d move him for Marshawn Lynch, for example.

If you believe that Donovan McNabb is going to stay healthy all year then keep him. He’ll be a top six or seven QB if that’s the case. The reality, though, is that he’s averaged just 11 games played over the last three seasons. If you have another QB on your roster that you like I would try and deal McNabb for a solid every-week flex option.

TWO GREAT BUY-LOW CANDIDATES

Another guy I’d trade Michael Turner for is Clinton Portis. I guess it’s possible that Turner is a 1,500-yard back, but the truth is that he has never carried the ball more than 71 times in a season. He has 12 career receptions. Portis has five seasons with more carries than Turner’s career total (250). If healthy, Portis is an absolute guarantee for 1,200 yards, 10 TDs and about 40 catches. Is the same true for Turner?

This one is a bit of a reach, but if you get the right kind of owner you might be able to land Peyton Manning. I’m serious, we all know that one owner in the league who freaks out after one game. No preseason, a bad Week 1 on national TV (a game that featured an all-time Madden top fiver: “Kyle Orton gets better as he gets closer to the end zone.” Really? Do his 12 career TD passes confirm this? I know this would never happen, but if Al Michaels had asked Madden to produce a single piece of statistical information to back that claim is there any chance that he would have had one?) and the injury to Jeff Saturday are all legitimate concerns for Manning owners. But this is the classic “guys are what they are” example. Manning will throw for his 3,800 yards and 30 TDs. Wayne is Wayne, Harrison looked great Sunday and Addai will be fine. But if I had McNabb I’d I package him and a decent flex and see if I get lucky.

THE SECOND-WORST STORY OF WEEK 1

For me, it has to be the Bengals. Hello, 4-12. Carson Palmer’s last 14 games? 17 TDs, 17 INTs. Chad Johnson (and that will be his name again in what, three years? He’ll announce it during a Sunday Night Conversation with Stuart Scott before his first game with the Raiders. That, of course, will come after his release by the Bengals and stints with the 49ers and Cowboys.) is (to his credit) playing hurt but looked awful in Week 1 (one catch). T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the one Cincinnati player I trust will have a decent season. Palmer was, in most leagues, the fifth or sixth QB taken. Jay Cutler was the 10th or 11th. If you are a Cutler owner would you ever deal him for Palmer today?

THE BEST STORY OF WEEK 1

Has to be the rookies, right? Royal, DeSean Jackson, Matt Forte, Chris Johnson (think Reggie Bush with the ability to run the ball), Felix Jones, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden, Kevin Smith, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain all played major roles for their teams in the first week. I still like Forte as Rookie of the Year but Johnson is going to be right there as well.

THE NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND BEST STORY OF WEEK 1

Ok, so he blew his ACL out and his season is over, but Tom Brady’s foot seemed fine on Sunday.

ARE THESE GUYS GOING TO BE OK?

Larry Johnson looked like a tracing of his former self on Sunday. He broke off a 22-yard run in the fourth quarter but did nothing otherwise. Jamaal Charles looked good against the Patriots and may start stealing some carries.

A lot has been written this week about Randy Moss. I really don’t think he’s going to be a problem. Has he quit on teams in the past? Sure. The coaches of those teams? Mike Tice and Norv Turner. I think Cassel will get him the ball enough to keep him happy (didn’t seem to be a problem in Week 1). I do think Wes Welker takes a hit. I don’t see him posting another 100-catch season without Brady. He’ll still be a useful fantasy option, however, and could still total 80+ receptions.

I’d be worried if I owned Derek Anderson. I really didn’t like him going into the season (lots of picks and a bad completion percentage in 2007) and his effort against the Cowboys did little to calm those concerns. Plus the Browns need to win to keep him on the field. If they are 3-6 or 4-7 it will be tough to keep Brady Quinn out of the lineup

THE THREE THINGS ALL TOM BRADY OWNERS SHOULD DO

First, do not panic. The draft is important, but not as important as in-season management. A few good waiver wire moves and a solid trade or two and you are fine.

Jon Kitna, Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme are all late-round (or undrafted) picks that are backups in most fantasy leagues. Any of those three could land among the top 10 QBs this season. I’d try and put together a minor deal for one of those guys (if you don’t have a backup you trust as a weekly starter).

If Cassel is available I’d pick him up and stash him away for a few weeks. No other QB in the league (with the possible exception of Romo) has the weapons to match what Cassel will have at his disposal. That alone warrants a spot on a fantasy roster until proven otherwise.

Kirk Minihane, WEEI.com Contributor, is the resident Fantasy Football expert for WEEI.com.