Ian Allan's Mailbag
Posted Oct. 16 at 09:57 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:
Now that Roy Williams is a Cowboy and won't have to catch passes from Dan Orlovsky anymore, do you see his value changing? He has a better quarterback, better coaching, and he plays on a better team but he also has more competition in Dallas with Jason Witten and Terrel Owens. What do you think?
Jake Haugen [DULUTH, MN]
A:
I'm not a big Williams fan. I think he's a good -- not great -- receiver, and I think he'll be crowded out in Dallas. Terrell Owens and Jason Witten are going to be the main guys there, and I think Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin are still going to contribute as well. Williams has had some problems with injuries. He's not a burner. And he's also got to learn a new offensive system.
Question 2:
I have amazing RB depth, Gore, MJD, Chris Johnson, T. Jones, J. Stewart & D. Williams. I am seriously considering trading T. Jones for Colston to start alongside Fitz instead of Lee Evans. We start 2 RBs, 2 WRs & 2 flex and get a PPR in a 10-team league. Do you think that's a good enough deal considering my depth, I was really wanting a top 10 WR (TO maybe?) to perhaps put me over the top which I think Colston can be. I would really appreciate your input. Thanks.
Trevor Sharp [COLUMBUS, OH]
A:
You start two flex players, so you can just set the positions aside. With it being a PPR format, I've got Colston higher on my board. According to my projections, Jones will finish with 13 more total yards per game (79-66) and about 1 more TD over the rest of the season, but Colston projects to beat him by 3-plus receptions per week -- that's 3 points per game in this format. The Saints may have plenty of pass catchers, but they're currently averaging well over 300 passing yards per game, so I think you have to view Colston as a viable candidate to catch 5-plus balls per game for the rest of the season. Had he not suffered the thumb injury, I believe Colston would have finished this season with 80-100 receptions.
Question 3:
What do you do with Earnest Graham? He's getting 5 yds/carry and they won't give him more than 50% of the carries. What's the deal there?
Bill Petilli [Mt. Vernon, NY]
A:
The Bucs featured Warrick Dunn on Sunday not because of any dissatisfaction with Graham, but because all of their fullbacks were out with injuries. In an emergency, Graham filled in there (so Dunn had to carry the load at tailback). Now the Bucs have re-signed Jameel Cook to play at fullback, so they can go back to running their regular offense, with Graham getting about a 60-40 share of the workload. I think he'll be very good on Sunday night against a struggling Seattle defense that always seems to play particularly poorly on the road.
Question 4:
Hi Ian: my question centers around Marion Barber. Obviously anyone who has him is getting alot of trade offers. I have my choice of Reggie Bush, Frank Gore, and Adrian Petersen. If you were going to make this trade, who would you prefer. I am looking at this trade both short term and long term. This is also a point per reception league.
JOHN SHELBROCK [FRANKENMUTH, MI]
A:
I've got Gore and Bush as the top two players overall in a PPR format. They catch tons of passes, and that gives them a big edge over the vast majority of other running backs. I'm not a fan of the PPR format -- I don't think it's fair. You give running backs a point for every 10 yards (whether it be by rushing or receiving), and then you essentially give them credit again for their receiving yards by awarding points for catches. It's like receiving production is doubled. If a player runs for 20 yards and catches 3 passes for 30 yards, that's the same in value as a running back who runs for 80 yards but doesn't catch any balls. Doesn't seem fair to me. In that type of format, you always want to get your hands on running backs who are going to consistently catch 4-plus passes -- Gore, Bush, Brian Westbrook and Steven Jackson are solid gold in that type of system.
Question 5:
I have been offered S.Slaton, S.Morris and E. Royal for Randy Moss and R. Grant. I have been holding on to Moss and Grant waiting for them to start producing. Should I take this trade or keep holding my hand?
TIM JAYROE [AMARILLO, TX]
A:
I like the matchup Ryan Grant has this week. Maybe he can get back on track against an Indianapolis defense that is horrible against the run. But I think the safer route is to just take the bird in hand -- Slaton is already a franchise back right now. And if you wait until after this week, when Slaton should put up big numbers against the Lions, the trade might not be on the table anymore. Those are the key guys in the trade. With the way the Patriots are struggling, I don't think Moss will be a whole lot better than Royal (though I'd give the veteran the edge for this week -- at home in prime time against a leaky defense).
Question 6:
I am need of a kicker and would like to add the NY Giant's kicker. I cannot get a clear read on when Tynes will be back and if he will then keep the job for the rest of the year.
ROBERT STASNEY [WAUSAU, WI]
A:
Looks like it's going to be Tynes. He says he's going to kick on Sunday. Carney says he expects to be released after Sunday. As well as the Giants are playing, I expect Tynes to be very good from this point going forward. Taylor Mehlhaff was very shaky in his debut last week for New Orleans, so Carney might quickly land there.
Question 7:
Orlovsky or Stanton? Which one holds more fantasy value through the rest of the season? Trading Williams seems to indicate they are already looking to next year, so I would guess they'd start Stanton in the next couple weeks to see what they've got in him.
L DALE GANDER [SUN PRAIRIE, WI]
A:
I don't think either one of them will be particularly good. I don't think you go into any week counting on either of those guys to finish with more than 200 yards or 1 TD pass. I believe Orlovsky is the starter for now, and then they'll re-examine the deal week to week. At some point, they'll want to get a look at Stanton.
Question 8:
Hey, I know the jags' two guards are out for the season, but isn't their center coming back soon?..curious cause i have mjd.
JEFF FOSTER [CHICO, CA (hometown of Aaron Rodgers)]
A:
Brad Meester has been out all year with a ruptured tendon in his biceps. He's practicing with the first-team offense now, and he's expected to be in the lineup when the team returns from its bye.
Question 9:
How much value will Steve Breaston have when Anquan Boldin returns after the bye week?
ZACH LEAVITT [ENGLEWOOD, CO]
A:
If either Larry Fitzgerald or Boldin gets hurt, I think Breaston will be very good -- maybe a top-20 receiver. Unfortunately, wide receivers don't tend to get hurt nearly as often as quarterbacks or tailbacks, so I think your odds of finding a special player are better if you use that roster spot on a No. 2 tailback. I think Breaston will be one of the best No. 3 receivers in the league during the final 11 weeks of the season, but I don't think he'll be a big help to your fantasy team.
Question 10:
Would you trade D Rhodes and D Bowe for B Berrian. The person I'm trading with has Addai so he gets 2 weeks of a Rhodes before Addai comes back. I see Berrian's knee is tweaked and I'm a bit hesitant to pull the trigger
DEO GARLOCK [RALEIGH, NC]
A:
I don't think Berrian is actually hurt. They've been dinkering around with him on the injury report for three weeks. He's fine.
Rhodes, though, has a lot of upside. Hamstrings can be tricky, so Rhodes might wind up starting more like 4-5 games. With the Colts offense starting to come around, he could be a top-10 back for the next month.
Question 11:
In your next update, please print that John McCain is a "lead pipe cinch" to win the election. And then put Sarah Palin on the cover of your magazine.
Many thanks.
Barack Obama [Chicago]
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Question 2: I have amazing RB depth,...
Posted by Trevor Sharp | Oct. 17 at 06:07 AM
Thank you for the thorough answer. The Colston owner is getting cold feet so I've asked around - what do you think about TO & Hightower for T. Jones & Vincent Jackson?
Question 3: What do you do with...
Posted by victor kitzes | Oct. 17 at 02:45 PM
So for this week, do you see Graham or Mewelde Moore as the better play with Parker now out?
Question 9: How much value will Steve...
Posted by ANDREW FRITZ | Oct. 17 at 08:30 AM
I can't help but notice the similarities of this team to the "greatest show on turf" Rams. Great passing attack, pretty decent running game, and a defense that will give up enough points to keep them from going too conservative. I am not saying Super Bowl bound, but cetainly good for fantasy owners. As a Warner owner i am licking my chops for the return of Boldin to that trio or WR's.