Fantasy Football Q&A

Fantasy football drafts are spreading like swine flu, and, in my opinion, fantasy addiction is the more serious condition. Knowledge is power in fantasy sports, and the only way to gain an advantage over your cohorts is to be better prepared than they are.

I asked a group of Bleacher Report NFL Featured Columnists a variety questions about the upcoming fantasy season. Their answers could help you make some critical decisions during your draft, or give you an idea of what your competition will be thinking.

Have your own opinion? Feel free to answer any of the questions on your own by commenting on the article.

Is this the year you would consider drafting a WR in the first round?

Lou DiPietro:

On the whole? No, because RBs are still king. Sure, there are a handful (Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Randy Moss) who are among the top 10-15 players in the league and will go that high every year, but its much easier to find a productive WR in middle to late rounds than a starting RB.

Chris Trapasso:

No. Still the smartest move is to grab a viable running back with your first pick. Especially if they catch a lot of passes. Still can draft Fitzgerald, Johnson, or Moss have value in round 2 or 3.

JP Frederick:

With all the tandem backfields, yes. But would I draft Fitz over LT? Probably not. Fitz over Gore? Probably not. Fitz over Steven Jackson? Maybe. But that comes down to personal preference.

Kim Lakner:

Yes, definitely. The only receiver who is first round-worthy is Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. With Anquan Boldin still playing opposite of him, it will give Fitzgerald a number of one-on-one opportunities and Kurt Warner proved last year that he can still be effective in this league.

Slot receiver Steve Breaston burst onto the scene last year as well and look for second-year receiver Early Doucet to get some reps as well. Take Fitzgerald.

Dan Parzych:

The only WR I would consider drafting in the first round is Larry Fitzgerald. Other wise, all other receiver selections will wait until at least the third round.

Jeff Shull:

The only wide receiver I would draft in the first round is Larry Fitzgerald because of his offense and his incredible ability. All other receivers can be taken later anyways so if you are looking to take one in round 1, Fitzgerald is the only option.

Mike Carley:

Absolutely. All too often, people get caught up in how many total points a player will have at the end of a given season when assessing a player's fantasy value.

Instead, one should focus on how much comparatively better a potential draft pick will be compared to others at his position to make the highest value pick at each selection.

For instance, D'Angelo Williams is going to put up major points at running back this season.

However, can we really guarantee he will be that much better than Frank Gore, Chris Johnson, LT, and the slew of other top tier backs that look to be available at the middle-to-end of the first round?

Conversely, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson, especially in PPR leagues, provide a much better comparative level of production than the next closest wide receivers, as both Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson will have around 30 less catches than Fitz and Andre, and the next tier of top receivers (Steve Smith, Greg Jennings, Roddy White, etc) won't even come close to touching.

With that in mind, I can definitely justify taking Fitz or Andre Johnson towards the end of the first round.

Is Brian Westbrook too much of an injury risk to draft, or is he a great value because people are hesitant to draft him?

Lou DiPietro:

Great value. He was "hurt" last year too, and still had 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 14 TD. Plus, the additions of Maclin and Vick mean he might not have to run as much, so he'll stay more explosive longer.

Chris Trapasso:

Depends on where you want to draft him. I wouldn't draft him in the first round like previous years. Still too worried about injury.

JP Frederick:

He drives the Eagles' bus. If he plays, they probably win. If he touches the ball over 20 times, they always win. And he'll produce if he gets 20 touches. Injuries happen, fact of football. I'd think about him with the first-round swing pick, and would cream in my jeans if he falls to the third or fourth.

Kim Lakner:

If this was last year I would have said no, but with rookie running back LeSean McCoy behind Westbrook and ready to see a big role, I would wait until the third round to take Westbrook. He could be a great value at that spot.

Dan Parzych:

The thing about Westbrook is he has been playing through injuries his entire career. Considering he has recorded 10 or more total touchdowns the last three seasons, not to mention he makes a great option for McNabb to toss the screen to, I would consider drafting Westbrook in fantasy drafts this season.

Jeff Shull:

Brian Westbrook is not only a liability in terms of his injury, but also in terms of the carries he will lose to LeSean McCoy. McCoy is impressing the Eagles' staff and is sure to get some playing time.

Westbrook is no longer the sexy every-down back he once was, McCoy instantly dropped his draft stock in my opinion. Oh and did I forget to mention he is coming off knee and ankle surgery?

Mike Carley:

Brian Westbrook has been an injury risk for the entirety of his career. As long as those drafting him recognize that he can still be a valuable asset for your team.

Even with the presence of Michael Vick and McCoy in the backfield, Westbrook will still put up monster fantasy numbers for the first three-to-four weeks.

After that, all it takes is a simple week 3 trade offer to a floundering team desperate for a running back, and, in the words of John Madden, Boom, you turn Westbrook's inevitably huge first three weeks into a great wide receiver and a solid RB#2 while avoiding all of the aforementioned injury risk that usually rears its ugly head at Westbrook around Week 6 or 7.

What is the best draft strategy for the first 2 rounds this year, RB RB or RB WR?

Lou DiPietro:

I think unless you have an early pick in a 10+ team snake draft, it's always RB-RB. Again, the Mosses, Smiths and CJs of the world will go quickly, so my scenario is the only one where really, you can get an elite WR and probably two elite RBs.

Chris Trapasso:

I like the RB then WR. Often times getting a top flight wide receiver can take you a long way.

JP Frederick:

Probably RB WR, because after those first five receivers, the rest are pretty similar.

Kim Lakner:

The best draft strategy is RB, WR. I say this because a number of teams are employing a 2-back system, lowering the value of a number of backs. If you have a high first round pick and can take a Michael Turner or Matt Forte, you are set.

Most of the every-down running backs will go in the first round (Maurice Jones-Drew, Clinton Portis), giving you an opportunity to pick up a stud wide receiver early in the second, i.e. Steve Smith or Randy Moss.

Dan Parzych:

The best draft strategy for the first 2 rounds is RB RB. It's tempting to snag a player such as Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson, but running backs have a higher potential to gain points for an owner since they are more likely to contribute on the ground and through the air.

Jeff Shull:

Depending on where you draft, both strategies can work. I have been doing mock drafts on Yahoo!, and I've noticed (doing a 10 team draft) if you have a pick near the end (7-10) it is better to get two RB such as Frank Gore and Steve Slaton, but if you have a top three pick, the elite RB are usually gone and you can take a top tier RB No. 1 and Steve Smith or Greg Jennings at No. 20, which no one would fuss about.

Either way, it seems you are getting 1,200 yards and 10 TDs, maybe more.

Mike Carley:

RB-WR or vise versa is absolutely the way to go. There are similarly scarce numbers of truly top tier RB's and WR's, but it's the next tier of talent at each position that should dictate your strategy on draft day.

If you miss out on the AP's, Michael Turner's and MJD's of the world, you still have about 15-20 RB#1 or RB#2 starting caliber running backs who should be around well into the third round.

However, if you miss out on Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson, and don't make a move on Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, or one of the other top receivers in the second round, the wide receiver talent left in the third round will be far less productive then the running backs left after the first two rounds have concluded.

It is therefore much more important to grab a big-time wideout in the second round, as there will be much more starting running back talent left in the third round than there will be premier wide out talent.

Which handcuff RB is the most likely to become a fantasy stud this season?

Lou DiPietro:

Ahmad Bradshaw. No Derrick Ward means he'll get a chance to be wind and fire this year, and Jacobs is due to get hurt.

Chris Trapasso:

Tough one. I like Rashard Mendenhall rebounding from last year and the Steelers can always run the ball. Still gotta love LenDale White because of his knack for finding the end zone.

JP Frederick:

I'd probably say LeSean McCoy, which is odd cause I didn't mention him with the other rookies. But as much as I love Westbrook, there's no denying he is injury-prone. So, if he's hurt, McCoy is the new Westbrook.

Kim Lakner:

Donald Brown of the Indianapolis Colts. Brown led the nation in rushing last season for UConn and will be behind starter Joseph Addai on the depth chart.

Addai rushed for only 544 yards last season in 12 games and his workload could decrease with Brown waiting in the wings. A two-back system in Indy could serve both Addai and Brown well and make Peyton Manning even more dangerous.

Dan Parzych:

I'm going to have to go with New York Giants running back Ahman Bradshaw. Now that Derrick Ward is with the Bucs, Bradshaw should be seeing more carries. Not to mention Brandon Jacobs has a history of injuries.

Jeff Shull:

The best handcuff RB this season will be either LeSean McCoy or Ahmad Bradshaw. McCoy is playing behind the injury-prone Westbrook, and Bradshaw is on the run friendly Giants, who produced two 1,000 yard backs last season.

Did anyone see his run against the Panthers on Monday Night? Bradshaw is a stud and should get 700-900 yards and 6-8 TDs, nothing short of great for a guy on your bench.

Something you will probably notice, Joseph Addai is not getting any love in Yahoo! mocks, so if you have two backs and need a sure-fire insurance policy, go after Addai.

Mike Carley:

LenDale White. He gave up the sauce, trimmed 30 pounds, and is in a contract year. Those factors, combined with the fact he will get most (if not all) carries inside the 10 yard line, will produce both monstrous, and, more importantly, consistent touchdown production that will make White valuable even if his yardage and receptions are nowhere near those of other premier backs.

Is there a viable fantasy running back in the New England Patriots' backfield?

Lou DiPietro:

Yes, but with a caveat. If they fully give up on Maroney, Fred Taylor becomes a late-round steal.

He had a down 2008, but the Jags had no passing game. New England is built on the pass, so Taylor could quietly sneak in 750 yards and a few TDs - which is fine for a third RB.

Chris Trapasso:

Not really. Picking up Fred Taylor late maybe. They won't run enough and one particular guy won't get enough touches to be considered viable.

JP Frederick:

Every week there will be a viable fantasy running back; have fun figuring out which one it'll be. I'd rank it 1) Morris; 2) Taylor; 3) Faulk; 4) Maroney.

Kim Lakner:

No there is not. Fred Taylor is not what he once was and Laurence Maroney has been a disappointment since he came into the league in 2006.

Sammy Morris led the Patriots with 727 yards on the ground with 7 touchdowns last season, so do not count on a running back from their roster giving you a ton of points.

Dan Parzych:

I see this season as a breakout year for Laurence Maroney (if he can stay healthy). He played well alongside Corey Dilon his rookie season a few years ago.

With Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk assisting him in the backfield, I believe Maroney won't feel as much pressure, which will allow him to put up big numbers this season.

Jeff Shull:

Fred Taylor is a guy who is going to work hard no matter what, and if you need someone to stick in for your bye week, he is your guy.

Lawrence Moroney might be out to prove why he was the starter at Minnesota over Marion Barber, so keep your eye on him as the Patriots will be looking to protect Tom Brady more by running the ball.

Mike Carley:

No. With one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Joey Galloway to throw to, I don't think the Pats will see any shortage of big plays and scores from outside the red zone.

Running backs who might not accumulate starting-caliber yardage are only valuable on teams that lack big play potential through the air and need to sustain drives through running plays and short passes, resulting in many third-and-shorts and running opportunities in the Red Zone.

The big-play potential of the Pats passing game will present the talented New England backfield with far fewer red zone touches than most backs in the league, and therefore none should even be considered draftable until at least the fifth or sixth round.

What rookie running back is going to score the most fantasy points, and which one is the best value pick?

Lou DiPietro:

Most points: Knowshon Moreno. He's already Denver's No. 1 back by default, and with Kyle Orton at the helm, he might get a LOT of carries.

Best value: Donald Brown. He'll be there in the 10th round or so, and with an injury-prone Addai ahead of him, he could end up being very productive.

Chris Trapasso:

Donald Brown. I haven't jumped off the Colts bandwagon yet and he'll be this years Felix Jones. Pre injury. Value pick. Beanie Wells. I think he'll recover from his ankle and be used in the red zone frequently.

JP Frederick:

Flip a coin between Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno, but I'd probably lean towards Beanie. But Donald Brown probably has the best value, since he'll be the last one drafted and could easily outperform the other two.

Kim Lakner:

LeSean McCoy, due to Brian Westbrook’s injury, McCoy will get plenty touches and Donovan McNabb has more receiving weapons to open the field for the running game.

Shonn Greene of the Jets will be the best value pick because Thomas Jones has been rumored to be on the trading block and he’s 31 years old.

Even with a possible rookie starting at quarterback for the Jets, they still have a solid offensive line, anchored by D”Brickashaw Ferguson, Allen Faneca and Nick Mangold.

Dan Parzych:

I expect LeSean McCoy to score the most fantasy points this season as a rookie running back (and I''m not just saying that because I'm an Eagles fan).

He fills in the void left by Correll Buckhalter at backup running back and could see a significant amount of carries if Westbrook gets hurt.

Jeff Shull:

The obvious choice here is Knowshon Moreno, since he will carry the load for the Denver Broncos, but I wouldn't sleep on Beanie Wells either.

Tim Hightower faltered at the end of the year and Wells is being taken a little later in drafts so he may in fact be a better value pick.

Mike Carley:

Beanie Wells. Unlike the Kyle Orton show in Denver, Beanie Wells and the Arizona running game will at best be a tertiary concern behind stopping Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

He will therefore see fewer men in the box on average than his counterpart in Denver, Knowshon Moreno. A case could be made for Donald Brown in Indianapolis, but I believe Joseph Addai will vulture far more carries from Brown than Tim Hightower will take from Wells.

Which WR is most likely to make the jump from sleeper pick to fantasy star this year?

Lou DiPietro:

Donnie Avery or Keenan Burton. Steven Jackson is good, but the Rams have to throw the ball to someone. Avery was a great No. 2 last year, and now is his chance to be the man. Likewise, it's Burton's chance to step up and be a solid No. 2.

Chris Trapasso:

Robert Meachem of the Saints. He's big and physical and will be a bigger part of the Saints offense this year. Well be talking about how good he and Colston are together at season's end.

JP Frederick:

What's a sleeper? Is Anthony Gonzalez a sleeper? Probably not.

Kim Lakner:

Anthony Gonzalez of the Colts. With Marvin Harrison announcing his retirement this past off-season, Gonzalez will assume the No. 2 receiver role opposite Reggie Wayne.

In his first two seasons, Gonzalez has caught 94 balls for 1,240 yards and seven touchdowns. Look for Gonzalez to hook up with Peyton Manning for around 75 catches, 950 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Dan Parzych:

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry appears to be a new player since he realized he had to grow up. With the impressive off-season he has had (not to mention Ochocinco and Coles playing beside him), Henry could put up big fantasy numbers this upcoming season. Did I mention Carson Palmer will be back at quarterback too?

Jeff Shull:

There are several choices that leap out at me here: Limas Sweed, DeSean Jackson, and Lee Evans. But if I had to bet money on it, I would say Anthony Gonzalez without a doubt.

He is rated in the 70's on Yahoo! and will be the wide out opposite Reggie Wayne with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. When Marvin Harrison left the team, all fantasy players should have instantly thought of Anthony Gonzalez.

Mike Carley:

Bernard Berrian. I was tempted to be a Dallas homer and say Miles Austin, but Berrian's position in Minnesota's passing game is far more prominent than Austin's.

Berrian is an absolutely burner who has either had a quarterback with a big arm, or an accurate short-throwing quarterback, but never had both in one individual. He now has that in First Team All American Fence Sitter Brett Favre.

If Brad Childress isn't completely insane, the main focus of the Vikings offense should remain Adrian Peterson and the running game. That, combined with Berrian's speed and Favre's still considerable arm, will make Berrian a fantasy superstar this season.

At what pick would you first consider drafting a QB?

Lou DiPietro:

Fourth round. Unless you want Peyton, Brady or Brees, you can get a good to great quarterback after the first few rounds.

Hell, I did a draft the other night for a 10-team league and got Matt Ryan in the ninth round (overall pick No. 82).

Chris Trapasso:

If Brees or Brady are available, I'd go maybe in the second round. Look early third.

JP Frederick:

Seventh.

Kim Lakner:

I took Drew Brees in the third round last season and he put up some unbelievable numbers for me. I would take Brees and ONLY Brees with a TOP 5 pick.

He has two solid running backs in Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, along with a healthy Marques Colston and Devery Henderson. I believe this will also be the year that Robert Meachem will emerge as a solid number 3 receiver for the Saints. Jeremy Shockey will bounce back in the receiving game as well this season.

Dan Parzych:

I would wait until the fifth or sixth round to draft a quarterback. In 2008, there were 20 quarterbacks who averaged 200+ yards passing per game. Save the early picks to draft a top running back or wide receiver.

Jeff Shull:

The highest I will pick a QB is in Round Five, and that's only if Aaron Rogers is available. I try and solidify my WR and RB position with two studs each before I take a QB.

Plus, guys like Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb and Jay Cutler can all be taken after round five.

Mike Carley:

I could live with myself selecting Tom Brady as high as 6 or 7 overall, even though in most leagues he should be around for a few picks after that.

No matter what Drew Brees does or has done in the past, the NFL has never experienced anything like a fully healthy Brady-Moss combo. I look at best case and worst-case scenarios for Tom Brady next year assuming he doesn't get injured.

I would place his worst-case season TD total at around 28, and his realistic best-case TD total at 40-45. Only four quarterbacks threw for more than 28 touchdowns last year, and none threw for more than 34.

Brady can throw 15 touchdowns less than he did in 2007, the last season him and Moss were both fully healthy, and would still more than likely lead the league in touchdown passes. Need I say more?

Which middle-round RB is the best value?

Lou DiPietro:

Ronnie Brown. Call him overhyped, but he's Miami's No. 1 back. Even with Pat White on board to take Brown's place running the Wildcat, when you can get a 1,000-yard guy in the late middle rounds, you jump on him.

Chris Trapasso:

Best mid-round value is Fred Jackson (some bias, I know). He's more of a late round pick but with Lynch suspended and his great hands along with Trent Edwards loving to dump down, he'll accumulate more points than many think.

JP Frederick:

Larry Johnson. They're going to have to run, they should be able to run more with Cassell as the QB, and he should be a mad truck. But yeah, he could flame out just as easy.

Kim Lakner:

Tim Hightower of the Arizona Cardinals. Last season, Hightower stepped in the starter’s role over Edgerrin James and rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns.

With Beanie Wells already experiencing ankle problems, the Cardinals will depend on Hightower even more to carry the load this season.

Dan Parzych:

I'm going to have to go with Darren McFadden. If he doesn't start for the Raiders at the beginning of the season, I believe he will slowly make his way up to the starting role and post up impressive fantasy numbers.

Jeff Shull:

I would say Ray Rice is definitely someone who can be taken in rounds 7-10 and be a solid No. 2 guy if you somehow get through the first 6 rounds with 1 RB, 1 QB, 3 WR and a TE.

With the Ravens' young and solid offensive line combined with Willis McGahee getting older, Ray Rice may emerge as the No. 1 guy very soon if he hasn't already.

Mike Carley:

LenDale White. Pretty much for all the same reasons I listed in No. 4.

Who is high on your draft board because he's just so fun to watch play?

Lou DiPietro:

Wes Welker. He's the prototype of a smash mouth, get it done receiver, and he is a huge part of the Pats' offense.

Chris Trapasso:

Drew Brees. May throw a couple picks, but he plays like he's on his own fantasy team.

JP Frederick:

Roethlisberger. You never know if you're gonna get three TDs, a running touchdown, or a complaint from Vegas.

Kim Lakner:

Ted Ginn Jr. The former Ohio State standout made some strides as a receiver last season with 56 catches for 790 yards and two touchdowns. He has only one touchdown on special teams (punt return), but a couple would-be touchdowns were called back last season.

He is in his third season, which is typically the year that receivers make their biggest jump. He can also be utilized on end-around pass plays and reverses which make him a dangerous threat to score on any given play.

Mike Carley:

As a Cowboys fan it's obviously Felix Jones. I can't wait to see how many big plays he can break off if he can stay healthy for an entire season.

If I had to be more objective, it would absolutely be Devin Hester. I feel like I can talk myself into drafting Hester because Jay Cutler's huge arm finally gives him a quarterback that can throw as far as he can run fast.

Therefore, even if I will inevitably end up yanking my hair out after he drops a touchdown that would have won me my match-up that week two or three times this season, it will be far worth it for those rare "2 catches for 130 yards and 2 touchdown" stat lines that Hester has the potential to drop on any given week with Cutler under center.