In football, "skill position" players are those who regularly handle the ball, such as quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. The obvious inference is that it takes skill, a.k.a. talent, to hold down such an important job.

Offensive linemen are rarely afforded such respect, as if any 300-plus-pound meathead could slap on pads and a helmet and make do. After all, they're just skill-deprived "monsters" or "behemoths" or "hogs," right?

Right. And Hooters built their success off fantastic food.

If you ever needed proof that the men toiling in the trenches are far more than so many interchangeable parts, you're getting it over the first two weeks of the 2008 season.

Start in Indianapolis, where Joseph Addai and, to a lesser extent, Peyton Manning are struggling without starting center Jeff Saturday and guard Ryan Lilja, both of whom are out with knee injuries. The Colts previously lost starting guard Jake Scott to the Titans in free agency, and tackle Tony Ugoh left Sunday's game with an undisclosed injury. Right tackle Ryan Diem is the only starter from last year's line currently healthy.

Jacksonville's front five has been even more decimated, after a disastrous Week 1 when three guards joined their starting center and tackle on the injured list. As a direct result, David Garrard has been sacked nine times in two games (including on his first pass attempt in both losses) and has already matched his interception total (three) for the entire 2007 season. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor, the NFL's most prolific rushing duo last season, have yet to surpass 100 yards. Combined. In two games.

Kansas City and St. Louis once boasted two of the finest lines in the business. Injuries, retirements and free agency have stolen its most talented players over the last two years. Now, Larry Johnson is lucky to get past the five guys in front of him. Marc Bulger is playing on borrowed time, having been sacked ten times already this season, while Steven Jackson is still looking for his first 60-yard rushing day.

It's easy to point to the junior varsity receivers rotating through the Seahawks' huddle as the reason for Matt Hasselbeck's implosion. But injuries to his starting right guard and tackle are equally troubling.

Weather, matchups and injuries to your "skill" players must always be factored into your roster decisions. But don't overlook the big guys leading the way for your starters. Think of them as canaries in the fantasy coalmine. If they drop, your stars could be next.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, you need to start with a good draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at a few players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's line-up.

Catch 'em while you can

Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers: Don't look now, but Carolina has successfully toppled San Diego and Chicago with their biggest playmaker on the sidelines. Steve Smith returns in Week 3 just in time to face the Vikings' suspect pass defense. After his subpar fantasy totals Sunday, this is an ideal time to make a play for Delhomme, whose value could soar over the next few weeks.

LaMont Jordan, RB, Patriots: Laurence Maroney got the start. Sammy Morris got the scoring plunge. But Jordan got the most carries (11) and yards (62), all of which came in the second half. A sign of things to come in the Matt Cassel era? Possibly. With Miami and San Francisco offering delectable matchups on either side of a Week 4 bye, Jordan could be a decent flex option in a pinch.

Robert Meachem, WR, Saints: His only catch of the day was a 19-yard touchdown. In and of itself, that's nothing to write a column about. But when you factor in his outstanding preseason, and the fact that Marques Colston will be out another few weeks, the talented second-year player should be on your radar. Both David Patten and Devery Henderson have proven themselves to be inconsistent and unreliable. Meachem offers true upside.

Tony Scheffler, TE, Broncos: I suspected Jay Cutler was on the verge of a breakout season, but I can't say I saw this coming. Cutler-to-Brandon Marshall looks like this year's version of Brady-to-Moss, while Eddie Royal plays the Wes Welker role. Meanwhile, Scheffler roams freely in the middle of the field. After dropping a sure touchdown pass in Week 1, the tight end was targeted ten times on Sunday, resulting in six receptions for 64 yards and a pair of scores.

Don't be fooled

J.T. O'Sullivan, QB, 49ers: Give him props for compiling 321 yards in his second start as a 49er, especially on the road against a hostile division rival. But before you anoint O'Sullivan the latest Mike Martz passing sensation, keep in mind that he was sacked eight times by a Seahawks team that recorded only one sack the week before. Few quarterbacks can take that kind of beating, much less a journeyman wearing his ninth different NFL jersey (not counting the Frankfurt Galaxy's). San Francisco is still a team that will struggle to score most weeks, and 15-year veteran Isaac Bruce is more likely to produce closer to his Week 1 totals (zero catches, zero yards) than yesterday's (four catches, 153 yards).

Chris Perry, RB, Bengals: It's not a stretch to say that Cincinnati is a team in disarray. The passing game is a mess, and the defense may have even regressed from the sorry 2007 squad, if that's possible. Perry's 64-yard, one-TD outing was the lone bright spot of Week 2, and the solitary offensive touchdown of the Bengals' season to date. With a brutal schedule ahead, this may be your last best chance to trade the injury-prone back while he still has some value.

D.J. Hackett, WR, Panthers: He failed to take advantage of a gift-wrapped opportunity to mesh with Delhomme, catching just six passes for 70 yards during Smith's two-week absence. With the All-Pro receiver's return to the starting lineup, Hackett is no longer roster-worthy.