Ian Allan's Mailbag
Posted Aug. 06 at 03:48 AM
Publisher Ian Allan fields your questions on strategy, how to run your league, player ratings -- and whatever else you think of. Updated every Friday during the season; Tuesdays and Fridays during the last two months of the preseason. You must be registered and signed-in to submit a mailbag question. After you sign in at the top of the page, the link to submit a mailbag question will become visible.
Question 1:
So I have yet to see where y'all would rank Santonio Holmes on your cheat sheet. I know he'll miss some games but he will still out produce a number of receivers that you do have ranked. Where would you rank him?
KEVIN WEAKLAND [LAKEHILLS, TX]
A:
On my last board, he was 77th to 81st, depending on what scoring system you use. He’s not a guy who interests me. Not at all. The Jets won’t rank in the top 20 in passing yards or touchdowns. Last year, they were close to last in both categories – 162 yards per game, with 12 TD passes. Mark Sanchez will be better this year and he’ll do more, of course, but they’re not going to be an above-average passing team. And they’ve got plenty of other receiving options. Braylon Edwards supposedly is stepping up his game. Dustin Keller is a good pass-catching tight end. And Jerricho Cotchery can play – he outplayed Edwards last year. So are you sure Holmes will even start ahead of Cotchery when he comes back from his four-game suspension? I don’t see him helping fantasy teams.
Question 2:
I hope I can explain this in an understanding fashion. I am in a league that you MUST start 2 QBs and on top of that there are a few interesting scoring rules. QBs get .2 for a completion. So basically 20 completions is an extra 4 pts, in this league that's like an extra TD. RBs get .2 for each rushing attempt as well. It is also PPR. I was able to tweak the custom rankings to everything except for those rules. They really do matter though as the top 15 scorers each year are like 90 percent QBs. My question is do you think there's a way to tweak the custom values to have a decent cheat sheet and if you had pick #10, would you take QBs in both rounds? Thank you for reading such a long submission.
Michael Zendano [NORTH TONAWANDA, NY]
A:
I wouldn’t worry too much about the points per completion. Sure, it’s like an extra 4 points for quarterbacks, but all quarterbacks are getting a bonus close to that value. The important rule is the one calling for starting double quarterbacks. That’s the one that greatly enhances that position – and makes it a near certainty that you will select quarterbacks with both your first- and second-round picks. If you want to look at a more exact draft board using our projections, got to the “Custom Cheat Sheet” area of the website. In your scoring system, you can account for the completions and rushing attempts by converting them to yards. Pass completions tend to go for about 10-11 yards, so just put in that you get 1 point for every 50 yards (that will be very similar to getting .2 points for each completion). Same thing with running attempts. Just change it to backs getting an extra point for every 30 yards. To see an overall board, with the positions weighed against each other, use the auction values feature. We are in the process of adding completions and rushing attempts to our package of trackable stats.
Question 3:
I'm in a league that awards WRs and TEs 1 PPR and RBs .5 PPR. Is there any way that your custom auction values program can account for this format?
DAVID DIGREGORIO [NORRISTOWN, PA]
A:
I hadn’t thought of that. You found a loophole. We’re not set up to handle different scoring systems for different positions. We’re in the process of adding some bells and whistles right now, and maybe there’s still time to add that one to the list. For now, my only thought would be to use the stat projections that come in the download – in the Excel file. If you know your way around that program (how to do formulas and calculations inside cells) it’s easy enough to configure.
Question 4:
I know he usually posts consistent numbers and I've actually never had him on my fantasy teams for whatever reason, but you have Gore ranked extremely high. Does he belong over Rice and the QBs?
Bill Petilli [Larchmont, NY]
A:
They’re similar backs, in my opinion, with the answer likely determined by scoring system. Rice will catch more numbers. Gore carries at the goal line. In a TD-only format, I think Gore is the obvious choice. In a PPR league, I think you go with Rice.
Question 5:
I have a drastically different D-ST scoring system in my league and am unsure how to apply it to the excel worksheet I downloaded. I'd appreciate any help on how figure this out. In analyzing last year’s results, of the top 10 scorers, 9 were QB. Of the top 20, 12 QB, 5 D-ST, 3 RB. Top 30: 18 QB, 8 D-ST, 4 RB. This is a league where most still don't realize the RB isn't king of the draft. For defenses, a shutout is worth 20 points. 1-6 points 15, 7-13 points 10, 14-20 points 8, 21-27 points 5.
Maxwell Cameron [Windsor, ON]
A:
Just because 9 of the top 10 scorers (18 of the top 30) in your league were quarterbacks last year, that doesn’t mean that position is more valuable. To me, that means that there will be a bunch of high-scoring quarterbacks available in the later rounds. The key to value is measuring the difference in what you can get in the later rounds versus the early round – how much value do you add by selecting a player early? Same deal with the defenses. Eight of the top 30 are defenses. You’re giving a lot of points for allowing few points, and it looks like at least a half dozen defenses will finish in the top 30 overall. But do you know the identities of those teams? And when will other teams in your league take defenses? That’s a key question. No sense using a first-round pick on the Vikings if you can get the 49ers in the fifth round. I don’t have your league’s exact scoring system for defenses, so I can’t comment in more detail, but projected points allowed seems to be the key figure. In the Excel file (the stat download) you’ll see points allowed for each defense.
Question 6:
Do you make any significant strategy changes for "best ball" leagues? I'm in a 12-team PPR league that drafts 22 players and then starts your best lineup every week. Normally I'd go heavy on WRs in a league like this, but I'm wondering if the best ball format allows one to "fake" the WR position a little better than the others, since you don't have to predict when a hit-and-miss guy will have a big week. Appreciate the help!
BILL REHOR [CULVER CITY, CA]
A:
Are waiver moves allowed in this league? That’s a big one. With no waiver moves, you really want to make sure that everyone you draft will contribute. You constantly want to be adding oars to the water. With PPR, I like to load up on as many pass catchers as I can that can be counted on to catch 80-plus balls. They tend to be more valuable than the running backs.
Question 7:
I'm in a 10-team keeper standard yardage league that starts 2 QBs, 2 RBs and 2 WRs. I can keep B.Marshall, D.Jackson and K.Moreno. I can keep any combination, but it will cost me a 5th, 4th and 3rd if I keep all three. Only a 5th if I choose one (5th and 4th if I keep two). Which players would you keep?
RYAN OTTE [NATICK, MA]
A:
I think you keep Marshall and Jackson. That leaves you free to pick two quarterbacks and a running back with your first three choices.
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Question 1: So I have yet to...
Posted by David Barenborg | Aug. 06 at 10:27 AM
Ian- please remind me. How do we adjust the auction value settings to adjust for roster differences from league to league? I'm in one league with 2 QBs and a flex and another starting three WRs- what adjustments should be made to optimize comparative rankings in cheat sheet?
Question 2: I hope I can explain...
Posted by Dave (MOJO) Smith | Aug. 06 at 04:15 AM
Amazing what you can do with the custom cheat sheet.
Question 7: I'm in a 10-team keeper...
Posted by Grant Markgraf | Aug. 06 at 11:46 PM
standard yardage plus TD league. I am keeping Benson and Mendenhall. My draft position is 6th and am looking for some guidance. In practice drafts I am consistency left with either Gore, Turner, Brees, Manning, and A. Johnson. When I select a RB at great value, the top WR's and Brees/Manning are off. What would you recommend doing with the 6th and 14th pick?