Which wide receiver is more likely to have a comeback season -- Dwayne Bowe or Larry Fitzgerald? - @YourAverageJoe3 (via Twitter)
Michael Fabiano: To be quite honest, I think both of them are going to be much better in the stat sheets this season than in 2012. But of course, Fitzgerald is going to be the more valuable of the two from a fantasy perspective. With new coach Bruce Arians calling the shots and Carson Palmer under center, I expect the future Hall of Famer to finish in the top 10 in fantasy points among wide receivers -- at worst. He won't be on the board after the second or third round in most leagues. As for Bowe, he'll be a terrific grab as a No. 3 fantasy wideout with the potential to be a No. 2.
Which running back do you like more for next season: Le'Veon Bell or Lamar Miller? I've done a lot of mock drafts and it seems like it's one or the other in the sixth or seventh round! - J. Stipanovich (via Facebook)
M.F.: I'm a fan of both backs heading into the 2013 campaign, but I like Miller a bit more. The second-year player has been running with the first-team offense at Dolphins' OTAs and is a virtual lock to be the bell-cow for coach Joe Philbin. He also has the easiest schedule among running backs based on fantasy points, which makes him that much more attractive. I would target Miller as a borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy running back somewhere in the middle rounds.
I assume the value of Aaron Hernandez rises with all of this Rob Gronkowski news? - @shanehockey28 (via Twitter)
M.F.: Not necessarily, because there are no guarantees that Gronkowski will even miss regular-season games due to multiple forearm surgeries (or a potential back procedure) heading into the 2013 campaign. Also, keep in mind that Hernandez himself is coming off a minor shoulder scope, though he is expected to be back in plenty of time for the start of training camp. If there's any reason to like the Florida product going into 2013, it's that the Patriots don't have a whole lot of great options at the wide receiver position. That could mean more targets for Hernandez in the pass attack. Overall, I have him ranked as the third-best tight end in fantasy land behind Jimmy Graham and Gronkowski.
I'm in a PPR keeper league and need to retain two players from Robert Griffin III, Arian Foster, Alfred Morris and Brandon Marshall. I'm thinking about keeping the two running backs, but RG3 and Marshall have been huge for me! - S. Jenkins (via Facebook)
M.F.: You have to keep Foster, that's a no-brainer. It's the second player where there's a major debate. To me, though, releasing a quarterback the caliber of RG3 would be difficult. I know there are some question marks about him for 2013 coming off a major knee reconstruction, but you have to think long term in keeper leagues. And if I am thinking long term, Griffin III is the player to retain.
Does the whole Mike Goodson situation mean more fantasy value for Chris Ivory? - @theJonBaber (via Twitter)
M.F.: We won't know the answer to that until the legal process plays out -- and if the Jets decide to even keep Goodson on their roster after his off-field incident. Regardless, I absolutely love the upside Ivory brings to the table (with or without Goodson in the mix). As long as he can remain out of the trainer's room, I would consider him a lock to finish among the top 20 running backs in fantasy land this season. Ivory will come off the board somewhere in the fifth or sixth round in a lot of leagues and will be a steal if you can landed him later.
Keeper league question -- should I retain Doug Martin or Trent Richardson? - R. Schweizer (via Facebook)
M.F.: This is an absolute toss up, but I'm a huge fan of Richardson. This kid has a chance to be one of the best running backs in fantasy football for the next several seasons, as his combination of skills as a runner and receiver make him a potential superstar. Playing in the offense of new coordinator Norv Turner also makes him that much more attractive. Remember, running backs like Ricky Williams, LaMont Jordan and Frank Gore all had their best statistical campaigns with Turner at the helm. Again, this is a close call, but I would have to side with Richardson.
Which rookie wide receiver will make the biggest fantasy impact in 2013? - @djtrailmix85 (via Twitter)
M.F.: The first player who comes to mind, of course, is Tavon Austin. He's a major playmaker who should see more than his share of opportunities as a rookie in St. Louis. In fact, Austin is the lone rookie wideout who is a lock to be drafted in all seasonal fantasy leagues. There is something to keep in mind, though -- over the last four years, A.J. Green is the lone rookie who was the first wideout taken in his class to also finish first in fantasy points that season. Justin Blackmon (2012 - 29th), Demaryius Thomas (2010 - 99th) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (2009 - 107th) were all mediocre at best from a fantasy perspective. With that being said, don't be surprised if someone like Cordarrelle Patterson, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, Robert Woods or even an Aaron Dobson makes a bigger impact in 2013.
Would you retain Green in favor of Aaron Rodgers? I already have Richardson, who I plan to keep. - P. Conroy (via Facebook)
M.F.: Green is a star in fantasy circles among wide receivers, but I couldn't keep him ahead of Rodgers. Arguably the best quarterback in fantasy football, he's finished no worse than second in points at the position in each of the last five years. That is what I call consistent. At the age of 29 and with a whole lot of major statistical seasons still ahead of him, Rodgers is a must-keeper player in this scenario.
Why does Matt Ryan keep falling in drafts? I saw you landed him in Round 9! - @TButtitta (via Twitter)
M.F.: It's just the depth at the position that will cause solid players like Ryan, Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford to fall in 2013 drafts. I was in a recent experts league draft that saw Griffin III fall into the ninth round! That had a lot to do with the fact that he's coming off a major knee reconstruction (and it's May), but that still says a lot about the depth of the quarterback spot. I'm telling everyone now what I've been saying the whole offseason: grab running backs and wide receivers in the first five rounds at least, and wait to grab that signal-caller until the middle rounds.
I'm in a league that rewards one point per catch, and I need to keep either Andrew Luck or Dez Bryant. I'm torn, because I think both will be superstars for years to come. Thoughts? - J. Couture (via Facebook)
M.F.: As a Dallas Cowboys fan and fantasy football owner, I'm clearly a fan of Bryant. It was nice to hear him say that he has found himself during a recent interview, especially after a 2012 offseason that saw his name in the off-field headlines for all the wrong reasons. Still, it would be hard for me to pass on keeping Luck. The Stanford product has all the tools to be the next great quarterback in fantasy football, and that's no exaggeration. Coming off a rookie campaign that saw him throw for a record 4,370 yards with 28 total touchdowns, it's apparent that the sky is the limit in terms of his statistical potential. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he ranked in the top five in fantasy points among quarterbacks in 2013.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
