Hi Michael, I'm in a standard NFL.com league and drafted a solid set of receivers that includes Dwayne Bowe, Bobby Engram, James Hardy and Reggie Wayne. However, I'm considering dropping Hardy and adding Devin Hester as a free agent and possible breakout candidate. What do you think about this move? -- J. Snare, Australia
Michael Fabiano: I like Hardy's chances to have a nice rookie season in Buffalo, but I'd rather take a chance on Hester. After all, most first-year wideouts struggle in their transition from college to the much quicker pro game. Furthermore, the Bills offense will be centered around Marshawn Lynch and the run, so it's hard to expect Hardy to finish with monster numbers. Hester will have to split time between return specialist and receiver, but he brings a level of excitement to the Bears passing game that Marty Booker, Mark Bradley or Brandon Lloyd can't replicate. The coaching staff has also raved about Hester's skills as a receiver in offseason workouts, so he's a player to watch.
Hi Mike, I'm in a standard 12-team league and have been offered Tony Romo and Willis McGahee for Peyton Manning and Ryan Grant. Should I accept? -- A. Pickering, Scotland
M.F.: This trade is basically apples for apples. Romo and Manning are close in fantasy value heading into the season, as are McGahee and Grant. When I make a trade, I'm either trying to improve a weaker point of my team or selling high and buying low to steal a player from an opponent's roster. (Remember, all's fair in love and fantasy football!) Unless you feel like Grant was no more than a one-season wonder and McGahee has much greater value between the two runners, I'd pass on this trade.
I'm in a 10-team keeper league that uses a standard scoring system and rewards six points for all touchdowns. My keepers will be Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson, and I have the second overall pick in the re-draft. It looks like Derek Anderson, Matt Hasselbeck and Donovan McNabb will be the best quarterbacks available. My plan is to take Anderson in the first round and focus on wide receivers in the next few rounds. What do you think of this strategy, and would Anderson be your pick of the three quarterbacks? -- P.J. Brewer, Scio, Ore.
M.F.: There should be more depth at the quarterback position in a 10-team league with two keepers per team, so I'd pass on Anderson, Hasselbeck and McNabb in the first round and target a star wideout. Even if every other team in your league retains at least one receiver (which isn't likely), you should still land the likes of Marques Colston, Chad Johnson or Steve Smith with the second overall selection. I would then either take another wideout or a quarterback in Round 2, based on the flow of the draft. If I had to make a choice between Anderson, Hasselbeck and McNabb, I'd take Hasselbeck.
I have the Vikings DST but would like to trade it straight up for the Cowboys DST. I know the Vikings are rated higher, but I just have a feeling that the additions of Adam Jones (as a cornerback and return specialist), Mike Jenkins and Zach Thomas could make them a dangerous group. Thoughts? -- K. Cardwell, Nashville, Tenn.
M.F.: I love what Jones (if reinstated) brings to the table for the Cowboys DST, both on the field and in fantasy land, and the presence of Thomas and Jenkins makes this unit that much more valuable. But it's hard to ignore the success the Vikings have had on defense in recent seasons. The team ranked first against the run last season, holding opponents to an average of just over 74 yards per game. They also scored a combined nine touchdowns on defense and special teams, and finished eighth in the NFL with 38 sacks. That number is certain to rise after the addition of DE Jared Allen, who had 15.5 sacks of his own with the Kansas City Chiefs. These units have similar value, but I'd have to side with the Purple People Eaters over the Doomsday Defense.
You have been consistent in your enthusiasm towards Devin Hester as a late-round selection. However, the Browns have said that they will increase Joshua Cribbs' workload on offense in a variety of packages. In a league that awards points for kick and punt returns, should Cribbs be taken over Hester? Who is a more viable sleeper candidate? -- E. Batke, Cleveland, Ohio
M.F.: The one difference between Chicago and Cleveland is the level of their wide receivers. As I mentioned earlier, the trio of Booker, Bradley and Lloyd isn't about to make defensive backfields sweat. However, the Browns field solid threats in Braylon Edwards, Donté Stallworth, Joe Jurevicius and Kellen Winslow, so Cribbs won't have the same number of opportunities as Hester. He could pick up more reps if Jurevicius' knee issues keep him out of action at the start of the season, but I still like Hester over Cribbs. However, both of these electric athletes have more value in leagues that reward points for return yards.
I'm in a 12-team league and drafted a backfield of Joseph Addai, Ahmad Bradshaw, Ryan Grant and Kevin Smith, but Addai, Bradshaw and Smith are all off in Week 4. Should I release one of them and add Ryan Torain, or should I make a trade? I'm stacked at wide receiver with Jabar Gaffney, Santonio Holmes, Calvin Johnson, Santana Moss and Terrell Owens. Please help! -- K. Kane, Oakland, Calif.
M.F.: I might offer Bradshaw to the owner who has Brandon Jacobs, simply because of the potential handcuff value between the two backs. Otherwise, I would look to add Torain at the expensive of a third quarterback, a second tight end (if you have a solid starter), a second kicker or a second defense. If that isn't an option and you can't pull off a favorable trade, I'd sit back and wait to see what happens in the preseason before making a move. Depth chart movement and unexpected injuries will no doubt alter draft values in the weeks to come, so there could be an unknown player whose value soars out of nowhere.
I had the second overall selection in our draft and landed LaDainian Tomlinson after Tom Brady went first. What surprised me was that a total of nine quarterbacks were selected before I could choose again (No. 23 overall), so I was able to select Joseph Addai in the second round and Willie Parker in the sixth round. I also selected David Garrard (Round 3), Brandon Marshall (Round 4) and Santonio Holmes (Round 5). The rest of my team includes Matt Schaub, Chester Taylor, Jerricho Cotchery, Anthony Gonzalez, Alge Crumpler, Tony Scheffler, Olindo Mare and the Giants DST. What do you think I can do to improve my roster? -- S. Simas, Brazil
M.F.: The fact that 10 of the first 22 picks in this draft were quarterbacks is proof that the position has seen a vast increase in value, while the stock of runners has fallen. Still, this seems to be an extreme example of what will be a popular trend in countless drafts. I think you made an intelligent move not to follow the quarterback run and take Addai in the second round, but I would have passed on Garrard to take an elite wideout in Round 3. Because of your backfield situation, I would examine the rest of the teams in your league to find a roster that lacks depth at the position. That could be the perfect opportunity for you to make a trade for an elite wideout. I would also look to add another kicker, because I think rookie Brandon Coutu, not Mare, will be the starter in Seattle.
I was reading your article on "The first-round quarterback experiment" and wanted to get your opinion on the team that I drafted. I'm in a 12-team, standard league and had the eighth overall selection. Here are the results: Tom Brady (Round 1), Larry Johnson (Round 2), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Round 3), Laurence Maroney (Round 4), Santonio Holmes (Round 5), Wille Parker (Round 6), Lee Evans (Round 7), Matt Forte (Round 8), Jerry Porter (Round 9), Jake Delhomme (Round 10), Rashard Mendenhall (Round 11), Zach Miller (Round 12), Kris Brown (Round 13), and Ravens defense (Round 14). -- J. Brown, Oroville, Calif.
M.F.: You were still able to secure a nice backfield (and handcuff Parker with Mendenhall) despite taking Brady in the first round, so kudos for that accomplishment. With Brady, Johnson, Maroney, Parker, Forte and Mendenhall, you'll see some serious fantasy production at the quarterback and running back positions. I like Houshmandzadeh and Holmes, but Evans and Porter could be inconsistent at wide receiver. Miller has some sleeper value, but he should be seen as more of a No. 2 fantasy tight end in drafts. If he doesn't pan out this season, you'll be in trouble at the position. Overall, though, I think this will be a competitive team.
I'm in a 12-team keeper league with a standard scoring system and need to retain three players from Derek Anderson, Jon Kitna, Kevin Smith, Maurice Jones-Drew, Chester Taylor, Brandon Marshall and Steve Smith. I will have the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. Who should I retain? Thanks! -- G. Riggs, Buffalo, N.Y.
M.F.: Your email included Kevin Smith, a rookie who wouldn't be on your roster if you haven't held a draft to this point, so I'll give you two answers if that was a mistake. If you do in fact have Smith, I'd keep him along with Jones-Drew and Steve Smith. If you don't have the Lions runner, I'd keep Jones-Drew, Marshall and Steve Smith. However, I'd side with Anderson ahead of Marshall if 10 or more teams in the league are expected to retain one quarterback, as that would shrink the position's overall depth.
I'm in a 12-team keeper league with a standard scoring system. We start 1 QB, 1 RB, 1 RB/WR, 1 WR, 1 WR/TE and 1 TE, and I can retain three players. I have Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis at running back, but my only other notable keeper options are Ben Roethlisberger and Larry Fitzgerald. It would be great to start off the season with three of the top 12 running backs in fantasy football, but I can only start two of them each week. I'm thinking of keeping Gore, McGahee and either Roethlisberger or Lynch. What is your suggestion? Thanks! -- C. Gauldin, Chicago, Ill.
M.F.: I think your top keepers are Gore and Lynch (not McGahee), and the decision on whether to keep Roethlisberger or McGahee really depends on your position in the re-draft. If you have one of the top five overall picks, I'd retain Roethlisberger and look to re-acquire McGahee or an elite wideout in Round 1. If your pick comes later in the first round, I'd keep McGahee and target Big Ben (or another quarterback) and a wideout in the first two rounds.