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Posted Nov. 11 at 11:22 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:

Since Fred Jackson is going to be 31 next season I was woundering how often has a player 31 years old (or older) reached 1,000 yards.


ERIC SCOLNICK [Redmond, WA]

A:

I’ve studied this a little. You will hear people say that running backs burn out at 30. But I don’t think that’s true. I think they tend to burn out at 31 or 32. The way guys train and take care of their bodies, I don’t consider a 30-year-old to be a high-risk player. By my count, in the last 15 years we’ve seen 14 different players run for 1,000-plus yards at the age of 30 – it happens almost every year. But only seven guys at age 31 and only three at 32. And none who were older than 32. Thomas Jones could to mind as a guy who was fine at 31 (1,402 yards) but simply doesn’t have it anymore. In the case of Jackson, he hasn’t played that much or taken a beating, so I would expect he’ll be fine at age 31 next year. It will be 2013 when I would expect he’d be moved back into a part-time role. I will post a chart showing all runners who were 30-plus years old later today or tomorrow.


Question 2:

What is going on with Hillis? He has a hamstring injury but then goes back into the game. He gets a temperature and doesn't play, ticking off his teammates. He wants a new contract. Is this about his hamstring or about a conflict with his team over his contract? Does he have any value going forward, or should I cut the waste?


DAVID DIGREGORIO [NORRISTOWN, PA]

A:

I think he’s been preoccupied with his contract situation. Supposedly, there was some kind of intervention where teammates called him out over it. I think he’s pretty much radioactive now. I can’t imagine any team would give him a big deal. So fantasy-wise, I think he has very limited value. He’s going to miss the cherry game against the Rams this weekend. Then they’ve got Jacksonville; I don’t know if he plays in that one either. After that, the schedule gets remarkably difficult. The Browns are at Cincinnati, who rank 2nd in run defense, then four of their last five are against the Ravens and Steelers. I


Question 3:

Do you have access to the All-22 tape when you are analyzing games? There is an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal about the game day tape. Just Curious.


Matt Moyers [CHICAGO, IL]

A:

Thanks for passing that along. I’ve never seen an All-22 tape. It's an interesting deal. I'd like to take a peak at one of them. But I'm not sure if I would be knowledgeable enough football-wise for an All-22 tape to help with fantasy analysis. My guess is that it would take somebody really good with Xs and Os to pull anything out of that All-22 tape to create a fantasy advantage. For me personally, the only thing I could think of using the All-22 for personnally would be to track some of these shutdown type corners. It would make it possible to check every play what a guy like Darrelle Revis, Joe Haden or Ike Taylor is doing. Are those guys following one receiver on every play? Or are they tending to play who lines up on their side?


Question 4:

Trade question: Would you trade Big Ben(7th round keeper) and a future 2nd round pick in exchange for Aaron Rodgers (I cannot keep him) and a future 5th round pick? I'm nervous that Rodgers will possibly sit in the cruical playoff weeks 14,15, and 16.


Bill D'Allesandro [HUNTINGTON, NY]

A:

It’s worth thinking about, but I see your league doesn’t use Week 17. That’s the week where you might be most nervous of all about losing Rodgers. I’m not concerned at all about Rodgers opting out of Week 14-15. So he’s at least a guy who could get you to your championship game. With Roethlisberger, the team has its bye in Week 11 – he’s definitely not playing there. And Pittsburgh is at San Francisco in Week 15, which could be a really tough situation for him.


Question 5:

Ian, I'm holding on to a one game lead with five to go and need RB help. I have Ringer and would like to upgrade. Barber, Brown, Grant, Helu, Jacobs and Tate are all available. Which to you has the most upside for the next five weeks? Thanks. Darrell Prestella. Carson City, NV.


DARRELL PRESTELLA [CARSON CITY, NV]

A:

I would go with Brandon Jacobs. Ahmad Bradshaw has the stress fracture in his foot, so there’s really no telling how much the team will be able to get out of him the rest of the way. When Bradshaw is out, Jacobs should be pretty good as a full-time type back.


Question 6:

Would you trade Brady and Fitz for Ben and Megatron? This is a ppr league.


Bill Petilli [Larchmont, NY]

A:

According to my projections, Brady is worth about 1.5 points per game more than Roethlisberger, while Johnson is worth about 2.5 points than Fitzgerald. So the Roethlisberger-Johnson side seems to come out ahead. But you would need to have a quarterback to fill in for Week 11, which helps to even it. (Roethlisberger is the only player in that group who hasn’t yet had his bye.)


Question 7:

Will you have analysis/reports/cheat sheet updates in time for Thursday night games (like SD v Oak this week)?


MARK COLON [CALEDONIA, MI]

A:

There will be Thursday games the rest of the year, so we’ve revised our schedule. The product will come out on Wednesday the rest of the way. This is before any of the teams release their initial injury reports, so there will be more changes in the rankings when we release our Friday supplement. But at least people will get something in their hands and have time to mull lineup decisions and waiver moves.


Question 8:

Why is Big Ben so much higher ranked then Eli this week? On a normal week they should be very similar. Based on what you say about the SF defense Eli will be passing a lot verse what you say about the Cinci defense and Ben's history there one would think Eli should be much higher then Ben.


ERIC SCOLNICK [Redmond, WA]

A:

It looks like Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) will play, so that will help Manning close the gap some. I will re-examine those guys and release updated projections later today. When I did the original projection for Manning, I wasn’t sure if Nicks would play.


Question 9:

My question centers around 3 wr's. M Austin, L Fitzgerald, and R White. I have the opportunity to trade for any of the 3. Who would you attempt to acquire for the 2nd half of the year? Thanks, Jack Shelbrock


JOHN SHELBROCK [FRANKENMUTH, MI]

A:

Fitzgerald, I think, will be the best of those three. Arizona’s schedule gets a lot easier in the second half of the season. Austin has a hamstring injury that will keep him out until December, so he has limited value at this point.


Question 10:

At the top of the league 7 - 2 record with playoffs weeks 15,16,17. Haven't clinched yet, but as the top 8 of 12 make it I think I'm pretty safe. I'm weak at DEF - have been platooning throughout the season. This week I used Arizona who is on my roster. Top Defenses on our Waiver wire are San Diego, Washington, Minnesota and it goes down from there.

Any good ones to target for the playoff weeks? And if you have a RB or WR who might be lurking on the waiver wire I'm always looking as well. Just picked up Jacoby Ford who's probably the weakest guy on my team...


Charles Mobraten [WOODSIDE, CA]

A:

I would stay with the Arizona defense over any of the three you mentioned. Patrick Peterson has scored on 3 punt returns; he’s a threat. And the Cardinals have good matchups in two of those three weeks you mention (at home against the Browns and Seahawks).


Question 11:

I have been offered Jordy Nelson or Ahmad Bradshaw for Marshawn Lynch. (I love sell high opportunities)

My WR's (we start three) are Roddy White, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, and Crabtree (we start three)

My RB's (start two) are Fred Jaxson, La Garrette Blount, Felix Jones, Maurice Morris and Lynch)


PHIL MUSSALLEM [FORT WAYNE, IN]

A:

I like Nelson. The kind of numbers they’re putting up in Green Bay, you know he’s going to have some good games. But I would be nervous about getting rid of Lynch. The Seahawks are starting to get their running game going. Note that they’ve still got two games left against the Rams, who rank last in run defense.


Readers' Comments

Question 2: What is going on with...

Posted by Scott Anderson | Nov. 11 at 12:21 PM

In my dynasty league, I have Hillis under contract through 2013. He is taking up 14.5% of my salary cap; so do you think I should cut him & free up that cap space for free agents & next year's auction, or do you think he might get another chance next year (I'm already assuming I get nada out of him for the remainder of this season).

Question 2: What is going on with...

Posted by MARLEN KRUZHKOV | Nov. 12 at 04:03 AM

In a .5 ppr list, which 2 of 3 would you start this week: Adrian Peterson, Ray rice or Steven Jackson? thanks.

Question 2: What is going on with...

Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Nov. 12 at 06:19 AM

Marlen, he has rice highest, then Jackson and Peterson back to back. Scott, I think Hillis will definitely get a chance to start somewhere next year, sure. Tough to say if you will have better options for that cap space, but Hillis will be a candidate, in Cleveland or elsewhere.

Question 2: What is going on with...

Posted by Goran Yordanoff | Nov. 15 at 06:44 PM

This is not meant to sound sarcastic... But what am I missing with Ryan Mathews continuing to be rated so undeservedly high in the weekly Redrafter? The guy is a fantasy Succubus. You start him and he sucks all the goodness out of your Sunday...He doesn't play on 3rd downs, he doesn't play on passing downs, he doesn't play anywhere remotely near the goal-line and he doesn't play when the team is behind..which seems is most of the time. Mathews won't score a TD unless he breaks a long run. Great talent? Absolutely. Fastest RB on the team? Sure But did he back over Norv Turner's dog after practice one day?

Question 4: Trade question: Would you trade...

Posted by DAVID TURNER | Nov. 12 at 06:12 PM

Eli and Antonio brown for vick and J knox

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