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Posted Oct. 02 at 09:02 PM

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:

I think I read something in the offseason about Andre Hall having a grudge against Coach Gruden in Tampa. Think he's worth a "shot in the dark" start here for the slight chance they give him a goal line carry?


JODY SMITH [LEAGUE CITY, TX]

A:

I think I tend to get suckered into the whole payback deal a little more than I should. Sometimes it might be a factor. A player scores a touchdown against his former team, and we tend to connect the dots, reasoning that said player had a bigger role or played harder out of hatred for a former coach or management that wouldn't give him a new contract. But probably more likely, there are very few cases where it actually plays a significant role. I tried to look into this a year or two back and wasn't encouraged by what I found. Will the Bears give Kevin Jones a few more carries this week? Help him get back at the Lions team that kicked him to the curb? We'll see. As for Hall, he's just one of three former Denver running backs who've played for the Buccaneers. They've got Anthony Aldridge, who's on injured reserve, and they've got Michael Pittman, who's been doing their short-yardage rushing for them.


Question 2:

Ian ... Love your info ... Lance Moore in game 4 was a super call. New question is ... When do we accept that Randy Moss can't help our team without a quality QB? How long will Belichick allow such talent to be squandered?


Joe Nordstrand [Dickinson, TX]

A:

Did you know that Bill Belichick's actual last name is Bilicic? Croatian name. It got altered by a school teacher way back when. I believe she started writing the grandfather's name Belichick so that the pronunciation was clearer. If any NFL person should be changing his name right now, it's Belichick -- not Chad Johnson. But I digress. I don't see Moss being a top-level receiver this year. In that offense, he's not going to hang with the likes of Brandon Marshall, Steve Smith and Terrell Owens. But Moss is still a talented player. He could still be a top 15 or 20 receiver. Maybe 1,000 yards and 9 TDs are in reach.


Question 3:

What's your take on Julius Jones and Andre Johnson the remainder of the season. Sell high or buy low for each?


Rob Dammers [MORRIS PLAINS, NJ]

A:

I would sell Julius Jones, if you can find any takers. When Maurice Morris returns (likely in week 6), I think the Seahawks will go back to a time-share approach. Jones won't get more than 55-60 percent of the carries -- and they'll use T.J. Duckett when they're inside the 3. As for Johnson, I think he'll come around. He's an awfully talented guy. He comes off a couple of disappointing games, but Johnson caught 10 passes back in the week 1 loss at Pittsburgh. He should be OK.


Question 4:

With Branch and Engram coming back for the Seahawks who do you see as a more viable pickup?


Jake Haugen [DULUTH, MN]

A:

I like Engram more. I think he's going to catch a half-dozen balls per game. Branch, on the other hand, has never really fit into that offense. (He's actually never really excelled in ANY offense. He's like another Lynn Swann -- great in Super Bowls, but he's never had a 1,000-yard season). In addition, Engram is coming back from a broken shoulder; I think that's far less performance-effecting than an ACL surgery. Engram.


Question 5:

Two high-quality rookie RBs, Chris Johnson and Matt Forte, are on my roster, along with Frank Gore and DeAngelo Williams. I also have Tim Hightower and Kevin Smith, which reveals an embarrassing fondness for drafting rookie RBs. At any rate, past experience has shown that rookies who start off hot can be dealt pretty easily to other owners looking for the "diamond in the rough." As a result, I'm hoping to move one of Johnson or Forte in the weeks to come, but I'm wondering which one you think has the better prospects for the rest of the year. This is not a keeper league.


PAUL GRUBB [FORT COLLINS, CO]

A:

I don't see why you would want to move either one of them. I think they'll both continue to do pretty much the same things they did in the first quarter of the season -- I think they're both really good. And your team really has only three good running backs. DeAngelo Williams is just a time-share guy for the Panthers; I don't think you'll be able to rely on him unless Jonathan Stewart gets hurt.


Question 6:

If Aaron Rodgers really does have a separated shoulder, we have to figure he's out longer than a few days, right? Does this decimate the fantasy value of G Jennings and D Driver?


Randall Brater [WASHINGTON, DC]

A:

I believe the injury is probably similar to what Ben Roethlisberger has been dealing with -- a mild separation. Maybe it keeps him out for only a game (or not at all), but it should be a few weeks (or longer) before Rodgers is back to something close to 100 percent. And I see it definitely having an impact on the team's passing production. Matt Flynn is just a rookie; he's not ready to play at a high level. Against Tampa Bay, Flynn completed 2 of 5 passes for only 6 total yards.


Question 7:

What do you make of the resurgence of Deuce McAllister? will he really continue to split carries with Reggie Bush like he did this past Sunday (and he looked pretty good doing it)? Also, it seems Lance Moore is making a strong case to get the bulk of the looks at WR while the Saints' real starters recover from injuries. Do you think that Moore will out-catch Patten over the next few weeks (or was it just the groin injury woes that kept Patten from good numbers)?


Randall Brater [WASHINGTON, DC]

A:

I think the Saints would like to continue to use McAllister in the kind of role you saw him in on Sunday. Give him about 15 carries and let him bang out some tough yards inside. Take away some of the wear-and-tear on Bush. But that won't work against every opponent. McAllister, for example, should have very little success against the Vikings on Monday -- they don't give up those kind of yards inside. They held LenDale White to 13 yards on 11 attempts last week. I think a realistic expectation for McAllister for the final 12 games of the season would be about 6 TDs and 45 yards per game. That's if his surgically repaired knees hold up -- I don't think they will. As for Lance Moore, I think he's now separated himself from David Patten. He's just better, and I think he'll continue to be a starter (even after Marques Colston returns). Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson are better big-play options, but the Saints don't seem to want to use those guys for anything more than spot duty.


Question 8:

I'm in a 12 ppr league.I think I can trade RBush for APeterson.I already have L T,Forte,ChrisJohnson,and Chester Taylor.New Orleans' offense is explosive,while Minn is dissappointing.I'm having second thoughts about trading Bush.Help,Ian!!!


mike dauzat [deville, LA]

A:

I'll keep Bush over Adrian Peterson. Peterson is a much better runner and overall player, and should score more touchdowns, but receptions are huge in the PPR format. Basically, it translates into players getting double credit for receiving production -- they get 1 point for every 10 receiving yards, plus they get 1 point for every catch -- which is the same as getting 1 point for every 7-9 receiving yards. That makes a running back like Bush, who should catch 80-90 passes, solid gold. He's less likely to get hurt as well.


Question 9:

Offered Thomas Jones for Gates. PPR, 25 yds per point. 6 per TD. Thin at RB: Westbrook, Chris Perry, Fred Jackson, need to start 2. Have gates and Owen Daniels at TE with Carlson available on waivers. Need to start 1. Can use either position for an additional flex starter. Gates injuries worry me and Jones schedule seems to be favorable. What do you recommend?


Spencer Frost [BURLINGTON, WI]

A:

Would this guy take Owen Daniels for Thomas Jones? With Favre, the Jets are becoming a passing team. The last 12 TDs that team has scored have all come on pass plays. So what exactly does Jones do for you? At best, he's a mediocre No. 2 fantasy back. I'd rather have Gates, who'll probably be the second-best tight end from this point going forward (behind Jason Witten). You do have a need at running back, of course. Maybe you could fill that by trading Daniels for Jones (or some other back). Or you could continue to be patient, waiting for starting tailbacks around the league to go down with injuries -- it happens at this time of year.


Question 10:

My question is about Chris Johnson, the rookie rb from the Titans. Based on everything I've seen or read, the sky is the limit for him. I just traded for MJD and am considering a straight up for Johnson. What can we expect from Johnson the rest of the way and as a keeper for years to come.


JOHN SHELBROCK [FRANKENMUTH, MI]

A:

Johnson certainly has the speed, no doubt about that. My main worry is his durability. He's a relatively slender guy, he runs pretty high, and he doesn't shy away from contact. I could see him being one of those backs who tends to miss about a month's worth of games each year. I'd put him behind Jones-Drew on my board.


Question 11:

I have Donald Driver and Roy Williams in a PPR League. Not exactly tearing it up. Who has more value from this point forward, Kevin Walter or Muhsin Muhammad?


JOHN RUPPE [FORT MYERS, FL]

A:

I think Walter and Muhammad have similar value. Right now, I have them both around No. 40 among receivers on my board. With Muhammad, you have the advantage of him being one of just two guys (at Texas, they've also got the tight end significantly involved). With Walter, I like that there's more likely to be an injury to the big No. 1 guy there (Andre Johnson), which would greatly enhance his role. Slight edge to Walter for now.


Question 12:

What do you make of Santana Moss? Now that he is a #1 wr in a West Coast offense, can we expect this production?


TAKI ZAMBARAS [COATESVILLE, PA]

A:

He's playing very well right now. Should help you win some games. My main concern is durability. Like Donte Stallworth, he has a history of hamstring and quad injuries, and he's just not the same guy when he's not fully healthy. Also, it looks like second-rounder Devin Thomas is getting more comfortable in that offense. As Thomas gets more involved, it might detract from Moss.


Question 13:

I'm in desperate need of a RB. I currently have C.Johnson, J.Lewis,Ricky Williams and T.Hightower. I'm looking to drop R.Williams and pick up either Rudi Johnson or Ryan Torain. Do you think Torain will make an impact when he's back from his injury.


JOHN FALVO [BOLTON, ON]

A:

I don't think Torain will do anything. I think the Broncos are probably pretty comfortable with what they have -- Young, Hall, Pittman. Maybe Torain at some point takes the place of ONE of those guys, but I don't envision the Broncos just handing him the job and telling those other three to go stand on the side. It makes a lot more sense, in my opinion, to bring in Rudi Johnson for a look. See what he does.Try him out for two or three games and go from there.


Readers' Comments

Question 1: I think I read something...

Posted by MICHAEL ROPER | Oct. 03 at 04:39 AM

Ian, Just a correction, Anthony Aldridge is a rookie out of Houston. Denver signed him after the draft and he got hurt in the final preseason game, so he hasn't played for anyone but Denver.

Question 1: I think I read something...

Posted by IAN ALLAN | Oct. 04 at 04:02 PM

My bad. I read an article in August in which Pittman talked about taking a player under his wing in Tampa. For some reason, I remembered that guy as being Aldridge (who was having a pretty good camp at the time). But you're right; it was Andre Hall.

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