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Fantasy Football Index publisher Ian Allan answers your questions about fantasy football. Click here to submit a question.

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Mailbag for December 29, 2017

Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition: Ben Roethlisberger's home-cooking magic. Looking ahead for top PPR running backs for the 2018 season.

Question 1

What factors are there that may effect Big Ben’s away performances? Whats different for home games?

CRAIG LEEDY (Sacramento, CA)

He probably has a comfort level playing at home, where he used to stadium and field. Crowd noise could be a factor. They might be more comfortable using audibles and taking chances when they are at Heinz Field. It might not be just Roethlisberger. The various factors could also cause Todd Haley to call the plays differently when they’re at home. Maybe they tend to get more conservative when playing in hostile territory. But it’s definitely real. Roethlisberger puts up much better stats when playing at home. In his last 32 games on the road (two seasons worth of work) he’s thrown 39 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Not very good.

ROETHLISBERGER: LAST 32 ON ROAD
YearOppScoreYardsTDInt
2013Balt.L 20-2225720
2013G.B.W 38-3116721
2014Balt.L 6-2621701
2014Car.W 37-1919620
2014Jac.W 17-927310
2014Clev.L 10-3122811
2014NYJL 13-2034312
2014Tenn.W 27-2420711
2014Cin.W 42-2135030
2014Atl.W 27-2036000
2015N.E.L 21-2835111
2015St.L.W 12-619201
2015Sea.L 30-3945612
2015Cin.W 33-2028201
2015Balt.L 17-2022002
2015Clev.W 28-1234932
2016Wash.W 38-1630031
2016Phil.L 3-3425701
2016Mia.L 15-3018912
2016Balt.L 14-2126411
2016Clev.W 24-916700
2016Ind.W 28-722130
2016Buff.W 27-2022003
2016Cin.W 24-2028610
2017Clev.W 21-1826321
2017Chi.L 17-2323510
2017Balt.W 26-921611
2017K.C.W 19-1325211
2017Det.W 20-1531711
2017Ind.W 20-1723621
2017Cin.W 23-2029021
2017Hou.W 34-622620

In his last 32 games at home (again, two NFL seasons worth of work) he’s averaged 59 more yards per game. He’s thrown over twice as many touchdowns in those games – 85 of them. Huge difference.

ROETHLISBERGER: LAST 32 AT HOME
YearOppScoreYardsTDInt
2013Buff.W 23-1020411
2013Det.W 37-2736740
2013Mia.L 28-3434930
2013Cin.W 30-2019111
2013Clev.W 20-717912
2014Clev.W 30-2736511
2014T.B.L 24-2731430
2014Hou.W 30-2326520
2014Ind.W 51-3452260
2014Balt.W 43-2334060
2014N.O.L 32-3543522
2014K.C.W 20-1222010
2014Cin.W 27-1731721
2015S.F.W 43-1836930
2015Cin.L 10-1626213
2015Oak.W 38-3533421
2015Clev.W 30-937931
2015Ind.W 45-1036440
2015Den.W 34-2738032
2016Cin.W 24-1625932
2016K.C.W 43-1430050
2016NYJW 31-1338040
2016Dall.L 30-3540830
2016NYGW 24-1428921
2016Balt.W 31-2727932
2017Minn.W 26-924320
2017Jac.L 9-3031205
2017Cin.W 29-1422420
2017Tenn.W 40-1729940
2017G.B.W 31-2835142
2017Balt.W 39-3850620
2017N.E.L 24-2728121

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Question 2

It’s never too early to speculate about next year. Assuming no major injuries, trades, retirements, etc., my way too early top 5 RBs, in order, PPR, are Gurley, Bell, Elliott, David Johnson, and Kamara. Just missing the top 5 are Hunt, Ingram and Gordon. Look about right?

STEVEN MATH (Austin, TX)

Looks good to me. Same five I would go with. In PPR, you want guys who are going to catch passes, so I might even put Kamara a couple spots higher. He’s a playmaker as a runner and will score touchdowns, but I think he might also catch 80 passes. David Johnson is also an elite pass catcher and I’m not concerned at all about the wrist injury that shelved him for almost all of this year, but who’s coaching Arizona in 2018? If it’s not Bruce Arians, then that entire offense could be re-worked. The 2017 season re-affirmed the value of coaches, with Sean McVay turning around the Rams and the Falcons really suffering without Kyle Shanahan. You didn’t mention Dalvin Cook. If he’s right physically (which granted is an if) he might be the No. 7 back on my board (behind Kareem Hunt).

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