Ian Allan's Mailbag
Posted Dec. 30 at 01:11 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:
What teams do you think will play their regular starters for week 17 & which teams do you think will sit them.
Tod Denison [BAKERSFIELD, CA]
A:
I’m concerned about the Falcons; I believe as they’re taking the field, they’ll know that they’ll be locked in as the No. 6 seed, so many of their front-line players could be either held out or make cameo appearances. Green Bay, I’m confident, will hold out a whole bunch of their key guys. In that same game, Jim Schwartz says the Lions will go for the win and play their regulars. But Kevin Smith has been dealing with a sprained ankle for a month; I’m guessing they’ll hold him out. The Texans are locked in as a No. 3 seed; they’ve lost two in a row, so I believe they’ll treat it more like a regular game and try to recapture some momentum for the postseason. Andre Johnson, however, is coming back from a hamstring injury; he’ll play only part time. And Arian Foster is a physical, workhorse back; I’m guessing they’ll dialed down his role some. With the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger has the ankle injury. He’ll play, but there’s a good chance they’ll sit him down at halftime.
Question 2:
Alright Ian. Week 17 of a ppr league. Points only. No head to head. I'm in 4th place only 36 points out of 1st. I need a home run. Major QB problems though. I have Roethlisberger and Grossman. Only free agent QB's available are Orlovsky, Alex Smith, Ponder, Josh Freeman and T. Jackson. Do you see any of these guys having a bigger day than Big Ben or Grossman? Do you think Ben Ben plays a full game against a tough Brown defense against the pass? Will he be effective? I also have Mike Wallace.
Johnny Bazzano [SANTA ROSA, CA]
A:
I don’t think you can start Roethlisberger. There’s a good chance he won’t even play in the second half of that game, and Cleveland has a really tough pass defense anyway. These teams played a few weeks ago, and it was only 7-3 with under three minutes left when Roethlisberger completed a short pass that turned into a 79-yard touchdown. Without that pass, Roethlisberger could have finished with 205 yards. I would be looking at the free agents. The Falcons could be resting players, and that makes Josh Freeman an intriguing possibility. I would also be considering Josh McCown. McCown looked surprisingly serviceable last week against the Packers, and now the Bears are playing against the worst pass defense in the league. The Vikings are allowin 69 percent completions, with 33 TDs and only 7 interceptions. As you say, you need a home run. You need to take some chances and hope for the best. I think Freeman and McCown are the guys most likely to help you close that gap.
Question 3:
Here's a challenge for you, and no, I don't know the answer, but if anyone can find it, you can. Feel free to use it as a trivia question sometime. When I was a kid, NFL games ended with a gun shot. "It begins with a whistle, and ends with a gun..." When did that end? What was the last game that happened in?
JOHN MACHO [ELKO NEW MRKT, MN]
A:
Former NFL official Jerry Markbreit used to write a question and answer column for the Chicago Tribune. This same question was asked six years ago, and Markbreit answered that the pistol was eliminated about 1980. I’m not sure of the exact year. Elsewhere on the web, somebody wrote that they had just watched a broadcast of a 1982 playoff game, and a pistol was used. They typically re-air all the past Super Bowls in late February on the NFL Network. That would be one way to check. I’m guessing the last pistol shot ever will occur at the end of the Super Bowl following the 1982 or 1983 season. Those were the two that both involved Washington – beat the Dolphins than losing to the Raiders. The rules change is not documented in the 2011 version of the NFL Record & Fact Book.
Question 4:
Playing for 1st pick in the draft next year, but I need to win to aquire the pick. I have Kahlil Bell as a starter and don't know if I should take a chance with Gore or K. Smith opposite him, or look at another RB on waivers. Maybe D. Thomas if Bush is out. And it looks like Jordy nelson won't play, but Denarius Moore scares me.
JOHN RUPPE [FORT MYERS, FL]
A:
I like Bell a lot. He’s a full-time back, and there simply aren’t a lot of those around. For the other spot, you’ll need to perform due diligence on all 32 teams. Daniel Thomas is a possibility; the Dolphins have ruled out Reggie Bush. Toby Gerhart? Right now, I don’t think you can count on Kevin Smith even playing. Gore is certainly in the mix. Maybe they dial back his playing time a little, but he’s playing against an awfully soft Rams defense.
Question 5:
I'm in a veeeerrry deep dynasty league. Kept out of the championship game this year by Rodgers. We keep two TEs and I've get Hernandez, Cook, and Moeaki coming off IR. I keep thinking Cook is going to break out, and maybe he finally has, but Moeaki oozes potential. With Hernandez as a solid starter, who do you think is more likely as a stud down the road?
David Livingston [Shawnee, KS]
A:
Tony Moeaki, I think, is the safer option. He’ll be a starter for a half-dozen years and crank out a bunch of seasons with 40 catches and 4 TDs. But I think Jared Cook is the one you should keep. He has more downside. He’s limited as a blocker, and that’s hurt his playing time in a lot of games. But as a pass catcher, he looks like he could develop into a Hernandez-Sharpe type talent. The team has made more of a commitment to him recently (they want to see what he can do) and Cook has gone over 100 yards in back-to-back games. Remarkably, he’s caught 17 of the 19 passes thrown his way in the last two games. Fantasy football is about finding difference makers – guys who give you an edge. Cook is more likely to develop into that kind of player, so he’s the guy I would keep.
Question 6:
Keeper question. We can keep 2 players. Would you keep Frank Gore or opt for Greg Jennings or even Jordy Nelson. Gore is curently #10 among RB's in our standard yardage league, but he's not getting any younger. I'm keeping Drew Brees and am playing for the #1 pick in next years draft. If I lose I pick 6th in a 12 team league.
JOHN RUPPE [FORT MYERS, FL]
A:
Jennings and Nelson are the two guys I’d be considering. Jennings is a little more proven, but he’s also two years ago. Nelson has more big-play ability. For me, Gore isn’t even in the mix. He’s been a great back for a lot of years, but he’s taken a pounding and will be 29 on opening day next year.
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Question 3: Here's a challenge for you,...
Posted by DAVE HUERKAMP | Jan. 06 at 05:54 AM
Maybe you could provide some up-to-date info. I purchased your redrafter for the playoffs and used it in our draft last night to take Lance Moore fairly early. I was planning on him this weekend, and he has missed practices the last two day. Why can't you update your list when info like that is available?