Some of you may have already drafted your championship Fantasy Football team while others are squeezing in some last minute draft prep.
Senior Fantasy Writer Dave Richard will answer questions of all shapes and sizes Thursday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. He'll answer as many questions as he can in an hour.
Feel free to submit a question in advance or come back Thursday afternoon!
08/27 Chat with Dave Richard
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(08/27 16:02 PM) Good afternoon, everybody! We're on the cusp of the most relevant week of the preseason and it's a great time to start talking Fantasy Football. I'll begin the chat with your in-depth questions before spending the last 10 minutes or so answering as many short questions as I can. Having just returned from the filming of our Fantasy Football Preview show, I'm chock-full of Fantasy news and strategies to help you win your league. Let's go!
(08/27 16:02 PM) Chris, Boston,MA - Hey Dave Thanks for taking my question. I have jacobs and pierre thomas as my starting rb's in my 1/2 point ppr league. I have leon washington on my bench and santana moss and derrick mason as my starting wr. Should I try to packing washington and a wr to upgrade at wr?
(08/27 16:03 PM) Chris, you could try but I'm not sure how far you'd get. Obviously splurging on running backs and other positions didn't work out for you since Moss and Mason are who you'll roll with to start the season. It never hurts to try and talk trade, and if there's someone in your league excited enough about Washington, maybe they'll downgrade at receiver for him and Moss. Plus, you'd open a roster spot up for a sleeper off waivers, which is always nice.
(08/27 16:04 PM) Joey K, Chicago - Is it bad to take 2 WR on the same team?
(08/27 16:06 PM) Joey, taking two players from the same team is like going double-or-nothing on how that team will do each week. If it's a team with a gaudy offense, it might not be such a bad idea -- teams like Indianapolis, New Orleans and New England should be lighting up the scoreboard each week. It's the players on teams with good but not great offenses I'd stay away from -- the Bengals, the Falcons and teams like that. Really, I don't mind investing multiple starting spots into players on the same team so long as the team either has a good matchup or is expected to put up a lot of points.
(08/27 16:06 PM) Ken Swineheart, Phila, PA - You recommend a strategy of RB-WR-WR with an early pick. Does this change in a league with 1Q, 2RB,2WR,TE,K,DST and 6 points for a passing TD?
(08/27 16:08 PM) Ken, it all depends on where you draft. Here's the basic guide: Take an elite RB if you can; if you can't take an elite WR. Do this until both are exhausted, then look at quarterbacks. A league with six points for passing touchdowns does tip the scales a little bit in favor of quarterbacks, but even the guys ranked seventh through 12th in our rankings should easily top 20 touchdowns, which is a tough mark for players at other positions to reach.
(08/27 16:08 PM) Jeff, Des Moines, Iowa - im in a 16 team league, with RBs getting 1 point for every 25 yards and 6 points for TDs. Would you rather have Glen Coffee or Justin Fargas? Thanks
(08/27 16:09 PM) Jeff, how could anyone go against Glen Coffee after the preseason he's had? He's looked excellent tearing up defenses in his two games and has likely earned some extra playing time this season -- perhaps with Frank Gore on the field with him. Fargas meanwhile is a veteran back who won't have many carries once Darren McFadden begins thrashing through opponents this year. I'd take the shot on Coffee.
(08/27 16:10 PM) Jeff, Dayton - Which two should I keep between Brady, Gore, Chris Johnson? Will be picking last in a 12 team league. Thanks!!!
(08/27 16:12 PM) Jeff, let's assume you're in a standard league where all touchdowns count for six points. I'd go with Brady and Gore and take my chances on replacing Johnson later on. The uneasy feeling we have about Johnson is that he's going to lose touches, namely at the goal line, to LenDale White. Last season White had 15 touchdowns; Johnson had nine. Both are good, but imagine if Johnson had wound up with 24 scores! Plus, the Titans want to throw the ball a little more this season. Brady's too good to leave out there in a 12-team league with everyone keeping two guys, so I'd keep him almost regardless of the scoring system.
(08/27 16:12 PM) KMD, Miami FL - I have the 7th pick in a sake PPR league. QB also gets 6 for a TD pass. LT, Slayton or too early for Larry Fitz?
(08/27 16:14 PM) KMD, you know how I feel about LT. I think he'll be good but in a PPR league I like Slaton a lot more. He's younger, healthier and has room to improve off of his awesome rookie season. Tomlinson has begun showing his age and has not looked like his old self through limited reps in preseason action. I like LT as a late first-round/early second-round pick, and CBSSports.com drafters agree with me because his average draft position is right around there. And yes, you're too early for Fitz unless you really, really want him.
(08/27 16:14 PM) Da Bears, Crown Point, IN - In a ppr league, how do these backs rank in your opinion: Ryant Grant, Mcfadden, Kevin Smith, Pierre Thomas, Thomas Jones, Knowshon? I know I will have to pick one up in my 3rd or 4th round as my #2 and one on the way back as my #3 (If all goes accordingly)
(08/27 16:16 PM) Bears, the PPR format changes this because you'll want a running back who can give you those extra points for receptions. I think Smith would be my first pick, followed by McFadden and then Grant, but that's really really close. Grant has been moving up and up my rank list. Thomas would be next, but he's a sleeper for monster receptions in those games Reggie Bush doesn't play. Moreno should grab his fair share and Jones would bring up the rear on this list. A lot of Jones' receptions will go to Leon Washington. I'd aim for two of those first four running backs in Rounds 2 and 3 if I were you.
(08/27 16:17 PM) Julian, Ann arbor MI - Would you trade Westbrook for Colston in a PPR league, my other RB's are D. Williams, P. Thomas, L. McCoy. My WR's are Welker, Royal, Gonzo, and Berrian
(08/27 16:18 PM) Julian, I don't see the reason for this trade. You already have some really good receivers with potential to catch anywhere from 70 to 110 passes and your running backs are good but not reception magnets -- except Westbrook. I'd stick with what you have. By the way, nice job getting Westbrook and McCoy on the same roster.
(08/27 16:18 PM) Kris, Aberdeen, SD - I have the 2nd overall pick. Forte or MJD? My heart says Forte, but my head says MJD. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(08/27 16:20 PM) Kris, we went deep into this argument on the site and I encourage you to read Jamey Eisenberg's stories on MJD, Forte and Michael Turner. If it's my pick, I'm taking MJD. He's the veteran of this duo (or trio), he's been doing this for years, he has the better offensive line, and the offense will completely revolve around him. In Chicago, Forte will share the spotlight with Jay Cutler, and that might be just enough to make him third-best, not second.
(08/27 16:20 PM) Alex, Detroit - should i do this trade?
I give up P Manning, Tim Hightower(he's one of my starting RBs, Bad i know), and Kevin Walter. I get Warner, Lendale White, and Steve Breaston. Thanks a lot
(08/27 16:22 PM) Interesting trade, Alex. I consider Walter and Breaston a wash, so for me it comes down to LenDale/Warner vs. Peyton/Hightower. I happen to like Hightower as a good breakout running back this year because he's healthy and rookie Beanie Wells isn't. Plus he'll hog touchdowns. White will too, but Hightower could outproduce White. And I think it goes without saying that everyone would take Manning over Warner, right? So let's stick with what you have and not sell the farm just yet.
(08/27 16:22 PM) Patrick, Albany, NY - Dave, I had my flex lg draft lastr night. I waited to long for a qb and i got left with Hback & Delhomme. The rest of my crew is Andre johnson, Randy Moss, DeSean Jax, Ginn, Ronnie Brown, Ryan Grant, Addai, Kevin Smith, Felix Jones and Cooley. Do you think I'll be alright with those 2 QB's or should I give up Brown or Grant and DeSean for Aaron Rodgers?
(08/27 16:24 PM) Patrick, your draft is an example of punting on the quarterbacks in order to get rich at other positions. It's not a bad choice, but it does force you to play the waiver wire for a quarterback week after week. I don't like you dealing from your thin WR corps to get a quarterback -- maybe you could offer Addai straight up for a lesser passer (Ryan? Palmer? Cutler?). Maybe the owner of Donald Brown would be interested in Addai? The trade offer you put up there would be one I'd pass on. Just get ready to ride the Hasselbeck/Delhomme gravy train.
(08/27 16:25 PM) Bdizzle, NY, NY - How long should you wait for a qb in a 4pt per pass td league, should you just load up on RBs and wrs and worry about a qb in round 7 or 8?
(08/27 16:27 PM) I definitely would. If passing touchdowns are worth 4 points, you're not going to have the same value for them as touchdowns for RBs and WRs. For instance, the equivalent of a running back who scores 15 touchdowns is a quarterback who throws 23 touchdowns. Sure, you could justify taking a quarterback who might score 30 touchdowns early, but remember this: In most leagues you only need one quarterback but you'll also need multiple rushers and receivers. Supply and demand, Bdizzle.
(08/27 16:27 PM) JaMarcus Russell, Oakland, CA - who do you think will start more games this year, Garcia or myself?
(08/27 16:29 PM) Ha ha, nice to hear from you JaMarcus! Hope all's well by the Bay. I'd be stunned if you didn't start every game this season. How else could the Raiders justify your salary? The only way you'll be benched is if you get hurt or play like you did before you got comfortable late last season. I'll guess that neither will happen and you'll go 16 games ... but you're still a No. 3 Fantasy QB.
(08/27 16:29 PM) Dennis, Irving, TX - Hey Dave...thanks for all your insight...I am thinking of trying to get LJ, Lynch, T. Jones, or Addai in the 4th round of draft...what order do you like them in at this point?
(08/27 16:32 PM) Dennis, I'd throw Lynch off your radar -- the guy won't play in the first three weeks of the season and that's a headache you can avoid. I've actually seen Lynch fall into the middle rounds in drafts, by the way. I'd take him then. I'd go for LJ first, then Addai, then Jones, then a couple of other backs, then Lynch. Johnson hasn't looked great this preseason but seems to be motivated to play well for the Chiefs and he should get a lot of work. Addai has looked great this preseason but is expected to shed some carries to Donald Brown. If you do take Addai, you should aim for Brown a round or two later.
(08/27 16:32 PM) Shawn, Madison, WI - Which side of this trade do you like better Chris Johnson & Breaston or Kevin Smith & Colston? Thanks
(08/27 16:33 PM) I like the Smith and Colston side. Let's consider this: Smith is a third-round pick or so, Colston is a Round 3 or 4 receiver. Johnson is a first-round talent, but Breaston is a mid-round guy. Moreover, his best stats came last season when Anquan Boldin was hurt. I'd go with the two guys I can knowingly expect good things from each week in Smith and Colston vs. Johnson and a question mark.
(08/27 16:33 PM) George, Washington, DC - What's your take on Marion Barber? I had the #1 overall pick in a 10-team draft. After AP in round 1, I wound up taking the best WR available and then Barber at the 2/3 turn. Did I reach?
(08/27 16:34 PM) Nah, George, you didn't reach. Getting a runner who should land 15 touches per game plus goal-line work in Round 3 is a steal. Plus, you were able to fill two important spots with two very good players in AP and an elite receiver (let's say Greg Jennings). That's a great start to a draft, especially since some people value Barber as a first-round pick.
(08/27 16:36 PM) Mike, SC - I think someone is going to offer the broncos a 1st and a 4th for Marshall. Who do you think will do this, and how does that affect Marshall's value?
(08/27 16:36 PM) Peter, SIC - Dave: Thoughts on Eddie Royal. I think Marshall implodes and Royal explodes. Any insight?
(08/27 16:38 PM) A couple of Broncos questions back to back -- let's answer both. First of all, no team is coming for Marshall. He's damaged goods and he's proving to be a nightmare for the Broncos. Who would pay a second-round pick for that, much less a first (or a first and a fourth). Marshall is the Broncos' problem, but I think he'll be fine this season, as will Royal. Josh McDaniels might be an offensive mastermind but the new Denver coach did nothing to help the defense out. The Broncos will be forced to throw a bunch this year and both Marshall and Royal will get their totals. I don't see an implosion from Marshall -- I see a guy who wants a big pay day in another city, so he'll give a good effort in 2009 so long as his body lets him.
(08/27 16:38 PM) Bobby, South Beach - i have Peyton as my #1 QB, and Eli as my #2. Since both of them are on good teams and they both might sit week 17, is it a good idea to take/pick up Matt Leinart hoping that the Cards will sit Warner the last week?
(08/27 16:39 PM) Bobby, you're getting way ahead of yourself. There's no reason for Fantasy owners to start planning for Weeks 13-17 yet. I'd start looking that late around Week 10. For now, enjoy the Manning brothers. Do you get points for television ads? If so, you win!
(08/27 16:39 PM) Brady, Del Mar, CA - Thanks for taking my question. How do you value Knowshon Moreno this year? Thanks
(08/27 16:40 PM) I think Moreno will wind up with the most carries for the Broncos, but not many touchdowns. There are too many teammates -- LaMont Jordan, Peyton Hillis, Correll Buckhalter -- who will take reps out of his hands. Moreno told me in July that he's fine with that, but we as Fantasy owners are not. He's got a shot at 1,200 total yards if he can stay healthy (he's a small man) but the touchdowns might max out at six.
(08/27 16:40 PM) Charles, Santa Rosa, CA - He Dave!
I was thinking of trying to package Witten, Marshall, and either Michael Bush or Rashar Mendenhall for Larry Fitzgerald or Randy Moss.
my league is a 10 team league and ppr.
My line-up goes as Schaub, Forte, K. Smith, Andre, Marshall, Reggie (flex), Witten.
i have Cooley to replace Witten so i would be fine at TE. If i can pull this off do you think its worth it? Thanks for the help man!
(08/27 16:42 PM) Hey Charles. You're going for the kill before Week 1 -- I like it. Problem is, the guy you're talking with has a bird in the hand with his elite receiver and might not bite on the overpayment. On paper, the trade actually hurts you because Witten Marshall and a sleeper RB would outscore Fitz or Moss, but since you have the depth, you could try. You'd have to sell the owner on Marshall playing -- if you need help with your argument, read the paragraph I wrote above
at 4:37 p.m.
(08/27 16:42 PM) Al, DC - Dave, Ocho Cinco or TJ Housh - pick one and why?
(08/27 16:44 PM) Al, I'll go with the current Bengal over the ex-Bengal. Ochocinco has the better quarterback, and at this point the offensive lines are a wash since Seattle might struggle to protect Hasselbeck this season. The good news is that both receivers have running back teammates who aren't expected to be monster statisticians, so each of them should top 1,000 yards. Ochocinco has potential for as many as 1,200 yards and an extra touchdown or two over Houshmandzadeh.
(08/27 16:44 PM) Nate, Green Bay, WI - Hi Dave, I love the chat! I know you and Jamey are high on the WR-WR with your first two picks when you draft late. What RB would you draft #8 over Fitzgerald if he fell to you?
(08/27 16:46 PM) Nate, take a look at our rankings (they're linked from the front page of our site). I'd take any of the first seven running backs listed over Fitzgerald before I stopped to think about whether or not I'd go with Chris Johnson over him. Fitzgerald is so talented and such a safe pick compared to Johnson, who could be erratic in delivering his numbers. If it's a PPR league, Fitzgerald is a no brainer, and he's good enough to roll with over Johnson in standard leagues too.
(08/27 16:47 PM) Guys, I'm outta here. We'll do a lightning round next time. If your question didn't get answered, feel free to write me at dmfantasyfootball@cbs.com and I'll do my best to answer it for you. And be on the lookout for our Fantasy Football Today Preview Show, an on-demand show that will help you get ready for the 2009 campaign. Thanks for coming to the chat, and we'll talk again soon.
