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

Mailbag

Mailbag for November 13, 2024

Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. Is Tee Higgins undervalued? Defenses to pick up for the playoffs. Long-term value of rookie running backs. And more.

Question 1

The Buccaneers d/st face so many “bad teams” after their bye. Is this defense worth running the year out with? I have the 49ers but they seem to have a rough schedule and haven’t excelled this year.

David Fetterman (Kirkland, WA)

That makes a lot of sense to me. The 49ers in the near future will be playing at Green Bay and at Buffalo. I have no interest in their defense in those games. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has a troublesome game left against the Chargers. Justin Herbert has thrown only 1 pick all year. But their other remaining games could not be better: Giants, Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys, Panthers, Saints. I believe the Bucs will put up better defensive numbers than the 49ers.

4 Comments | Add Comment

Question 2

I noticed that Tee Higgins' rankings for the remainder of the season has fallen. We know he's been hurt, but he's scheduled to return (I think). The games he has played in this year have been productive. Why have you guys projected him to be less effective for the remainder of the season?

Bryce Erickson (Dallas, TX)

There are two components to the player’s grade. There’s the question of how many games he’s going to play? He was a limited participant at practice today, making it seem like he’ll probably be back in the starting lineup this week. And then there’s the question of how he’ll perform. Higgins has played in five games this year; he’s averaged 5.8 catches for 68 yards in those five games, with 3 TDs. If you want to more optimistically argue that he was knocking rust off in his first game back (back in Week 3), you might view him as having averaged 6.5 catches for 76 yards in his last four games, with 3 TDs. If you’re more of a big-picture guy, you might point to him averaging 4.3 catches for 62 yards the last two years, with 12 touchdowns in 27 games. In our current modeling, we’ve got him penciled in conservatively at 4.3 catches for 51 yards when he returns. The thinking being that perhaps the offense has changed some while he was away. Mike Gesicki has caught a bunch of balls the last few weeks – is he now part of the offense? And Jermaine Burton looks ready to now start rotating in for some snaps. But the offense is definitely rolling, with Joe Burrow in top form. As you point out, I may be a little too low on Higgins.

3 Comments | Add Comment

Question 3

Dynasty league: I have kickers Fairbairn and Moody, and Karty on my taxi squad (thanks to your preseason recommendation), so I need to trade one of them. Who would you shop around and how high of a pick would you ask for? I was thinking of offering Karty since he just had a 5 fg game and his future worth may be the riskiest, with Stafford getting older. Would asking for a 2025 5th-round pick in a rookie dynasty draft be reasonable?

David Jung (San Francisco, CA)

The market is the market, as they say. A lot of owners simply have no interest in trading anything more than a bag of chips for a kicker. So you’ll have to check around, seeing if anyone has any interest in these guys. I would think most would order them Fairbairn-Moody-Karty, but they’re all good. If Fairbairn could fetch you a second, while nobody was offering more than a fifth for either of the others, you’d have to consider moving your top guy. Moody just missed 3 field goals, which is hardly a selling point, but San Francisco’s offense has been awfully kicker friendly. The 49ers are averaging 10.6 kicking points, which is over a point more than even Fairbairn. I wouldn’t worry too much about Stafford. Sean McVay is a good coach; he’ll find somebody who can run his offense.

1 Comment | Add Comment

Question 4

Enjoy this article weekly! In an auction/keeper league, i am always looking for the future stars. I am especially interested in RBs: Vidal, Davis, Estime, Spears, and Lloyd. What do you expect from these players, next year and the following 2-3 years?

mark meyer (Ocean Park, WA)

Estime looks like he’s ready to move to the top of the depth chart in Denver. He got most of their carries at Kansas City. (I think they’ve gotten tired of waiting for Javonte Williams to come around.) Vidal had that nice touchdown catch on a wheel route a few weeks back, but he took a step back on Sunday. He was a healthy scratch against Tennessee, with the Chargers instead going with Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins as their backup running backs. Spears is sharing time with Tony Pollard but doesn’t look particularly likely to ever develop into what we might call a big-time back. Lloyd should be activated soon by the Packers, but I’m not sure he’ll be moving above Emanuel Wilson on the depth chart anytime soon. With Davis, I would need a hint of who we’re talking about.

2 Comments | Add Comment

Question 5

It's that time of year – the weather turns cooler, the leaves change colors and the thoughts of fantasy managers turn toward the playoffs. Can you give us a short list of DSTs that stand to do well in Weeks 15-17?

Geoff Maleman (Los Angeles, CA)

We can take the performance numbers for each defense, comparing them against the offenses they will face. If we give equal weight to both sides of the ball (averaging the offensive and defensive numbers) we can get initial estimates for the 96 games in that three-week period. The Vikings in Week 15 (hosting Chicago) project to have the best defense, while the Falcons in Week 17 (at Washington) project to have the worst possible defense. The 96 games (in order) appear below. Vikings the only team with two games in the top 10. Three others have two of the top 20: Bills, Bears, Chargers. Rankings assume 1 point for sacks and 2 for each takeaway.

DEFENSIVE MATCHUP ESTIMATES, WEEKS 15-17
Wk	Defense	Opp	Sack	Int	FL	Pts
15	Minnesota	Chi.	3.78	1.11	.44	6.89
17	New Orleans	L.V.	2.77	1.16	.65	6.38
17	Chicago	Sea.	2.89	1.00	.72	6.33
16	Indianapolis	Ten.	2.66	1.01	.78	6.24
17	Philadelphia	Dall.	2.72	.89	.78	6.06
17	Minnesota	G.B.	2.33	1.39	.44	6.00
16	Buffalo	N.E.	2.85	.85	.70	5.95
15	Denver	Ind.	2.85	.95	.50	5.75
15	Houston	Mia.	2.73	.93	.58	5.75
16	Cincinnati	Cle.	3.24	.74	.42	5.57
15	LA Chargers	T.B.	2.92	.95	.37	5.57
16	Green Bay	N.O.	2.32	.86	.75	5.53
17	Pittsburgh	K.C.	2.33	1.06	.50	5.44
16	Seattle	Min.	2.67	.89	.50	5.44
17	NY Giants	Ind.	2.90	.65	.60	5.40
17	Buffalo	NYJ	2.40	.90	.60	5.40
16	LA Chargers	Den.	2.57	.80	.57	5.32
17	Jacksonville	Ten.	2.61	.86	.48	5.29
15	San Francisco	LAR	2.39	.94	.50	5.28
16	Chicago	Det.	2.39	.94	.50	5.28
17	Tampa Bay	Car.	2.30	.85	.55	5.10
15	Arizona	N.E.	2.80	.55	.60	5.10
16	Washington	Phil.	2.85	.48	.63	5.07
17	San Francisco	Det.	2.28	1.06	.33	5.06
15	Carolina	Dall.	1.93	.81	.74	5.03
15	Philadelphia	Pitt.	2.72	.44	.61	4.83
16	Kansas City	Hou.	2.81	.58	.42	4.79
16	NY Jets	LAR	2.77	.49	.47	4.69
16	Baltimore	Pitt.	2.88	.41	.48	4.66
17	LA Rams	Ari.	2.08	.65	.62	4.63
15	Detroit	Buff.	1.98	.92	.38	4.58
16	Dallas	T.B.	2.48	.73	.32	4.57
17	Cleveland	Mia.	2.78	.33	.56	4.56
17	Washington	Atl.	2.35	.60	.50	4.55
17	Houston	Balt.	2.10	.75	.45	4.50
15	Cleveland	K.C.	2.61	.56	.39	4.50
16	Atlanta	NYG	1.95	.70	.50	4.35
15	Seattle	G.B.	1.83	.89	.33	4.28
16	Las Vegas	Jac.	2.09	.68	.35	4.15
15	Jacksonville	NYJ	2.20	.60	.35	4.10
16	Miami	S.F.	1.83	.67	.44	4.06
15	New Orleans	Was.	2.15	.70	.25	4.05
17	Cincinnati	Den.	1.70	.60	.55	4.00
15	NY Giants	Balt.	2.45	.15	.55	3.85
17	New England	LAC	2.58	.26	.37	3.83
15	Tennessee	Cin.	2.15	.37	.47	3.82
15	Las Vegas	Atl.	1.94	.68	.20	3.70
16	Carolina	Ari.	1.35	.40	.70	3.55
16	Minnesota	at Sea.	3.22	1.39	.56	7.11
17	Green Bay	at Min.	2.72	1.11	.83	6.61
15	Green Bay	at Sea.	2.78	1.11	.78	6.56
15	Chicago	at Min.	2.83	1.00	.78	6.39
16	Detroit	at Chi.	3.44	1.00	.44	6.33
17	LA Chargers	at N.E.	3.32	.80	.52	5.97
16	Tampa Bay	at Dall.	2.73	.81	.79	5.93
15	Pittsburgh	at Phil.	2.72	.83	.67	5.72
17	Detroit	at S.F.	2.39	1.11	.56	5.72
17	Indianapolis	at NYG	2.60	.75	.80	5.70
16	Houston	at K.C.	2.56	1.15	.42	5.69
15	Kansas City	at Cle.	3.44	.72	.39	5.67
16	Jacksonville	at L.V.	2.72	.81	.65	5.63
15	Baltimore	at NYG	3.05	.65	.55	5.45
17	Baltimore	at Hou.	3.30	.60	.45	5.40
16	San Francisco	at Mia.	2.50	.83	.61	5.39
17	Miami	at Cle.	3.17	.72	.39	5.39
15	Buffalo	at Det.	2.31	1.05	.46	5.32
15	Cincinnati	at Ten.	2.41	.91	.53	5.29
15	Atlanta	at L.V.	2.12	.91	.65	5.23
17	Seattle	at Chi.	3.28	.61	.33	5.17
15	LA Rams	at S.F.	2.39	.89	.50	5.17
17	Denver	at Cin.	2.90	.55	.55	5.10
16	LA Rams	at NYJ	2.48	.85	.42	5.03
15	Indianapolis	at Den.	1.95	.70	.80	4.95
15	NY Jets	at Jac.	2.75	.50	.60	4.95
17	Dallas	at Phil.	2.78	.56	.50	4.89
16	NY Giants	at Atl.	2.80	.45	.55	4.80
16	Arizona	at Car.	2.10	.85	.50	4.80
16	Denver	at LAC	3.08	.41	.42	4.73
16	New Orleans	at G.B.	1.77	1.16	.32	4.71
17	Arizona	at LAR	2.37	.64	.52	4.69
15	Dallas	at Car.	2.18	.88	.37	4.67
15	Washington	at N.O.	2.45	.50	.55	4.55
15	Miami	at Hou.	2.53	.58	.42	4.52
16	Tennessee	at Ind.	2.10	.77	.42	4.47
15	Tampa Bay	at LAC	2.73	.31	.52	4.38
17	Tennessee	at Jac.	2.15	.57	.52	4.32
16	Pittsburgh	at Balt.	1.87	.66	.53	4.25
16	Cleveland	at Cin.	2.65	.26	.52	4.21
16	Philadelphia	at Was.	2.44	.43	.43	4.17
17	Carolina	at T.B.	1.80	.70	.45	4.10
17	Kansas City	at Pitt.	2.39	.39	.44	4.06
15	New England	at Ari.	2.00	.35	.60	3.90
17	Las Vegas	at N.O.	2.04	.58	.25	3.70
17	NY Jets	at Buff.	2.25	.30	.35	3.55
16	New England	at Buff.	1.90	.40	.30	3.30
17	Atlanta	at Was.	1.50	.45	.25	2.90

Add Comment

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Mailbag

Mailbag for November 13, 2024

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service