I'm in a league that rewards six points for all touchdowns. In this case, would you take any quarterbacks in Round 1? - @WhrsWierzbowski (via Twitter)
Michael Fabiano: I still wouldn't do it. Sure, the value of the position rises with six points being rewarded for touchdowns passes, but remember that it doesn't just rise for the elite players like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady; it makes all the quarterbacks more valuable. I will continue to contend that unless you're in a league that requires two starters per week at the position, taking a quarterback in Round 1 of your 2013 draft is a bad idea.
Does the departure of Wes Welker make Rob Gronkowski even more valuable? Would you draft any New England Patriots receivers other than Danny Amendola? - G. Johnson (via Facebook)
M.F.: I would be less worried about Gronkowski's targets for the upcoming season and more concerned with his health. The Boston Globe is reporting that according to "a source familiar with the case," Gronkowski is going to need a fourth operation on his broken forearm. This procedure would require changing the plate in his forearm. The big question is whether or not tests show any new infections that might require a fifth surgical procedure. The Patriots and fantasy owners alike are all hoping for a best-case scenario, but there's still at least an outside chance that Gronkowski could be in danger of missing the start of the 2013 campaign. This is a situation to watch.
I love Chris Ivory, but how is he going to run against 11 men in the box? The Jets are garbage! - @NFLxyz (via Twitter)
M.F.: I would argue that the Jets have more talent on offense this season with the addition of rookie Geno Smith, Ivory and Mike Goodson, plus the expected return of Santonio Holmes. Also keep in mind that despite a lackluster offense around him, Shonn Greene still rushed for over 1,000 yards and finished 15th in fantasy points among running backs last season. As I have said all along, I think Ivory is a better back than Greene, so expecting him to duplicate or surpass Greene's 2012 totals is not at all unrealistic. I have the new Jets' runner coming off the board in Round 4 in a recent mock draft.
Does Denard Robinson have any sleeper value as a hybrid player in the Jaguars offense? - M. Herrera (via Facebook)
M.F.:Jaguars general manager David Caldwelltold Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com that the plan is to give Robinson 10 to 15 snaps (not touches) per game, so there's not much value in that sort of role. Just keep in mind that he'll remain behind Maurice Jones-Drew (and maybe even Justin Forsett) in the backfield, so playing time isn't guaranteed. In the event that Robinson does finish second on the depth chart to "Pocket Hercules," he'll also become a popular handcuff for a runner that missed most of last season with an injured foot.
I plan to retain Arian Foster and Calvin Johnson, but I need to keep one more player from Julio Jones (Round 4), Demaryius Thomas (Round 5), C.J. Spiller (Round 10) and Stevan Ridley (Round 11). - @jacobpackrulzz (via Twitter)
M.F.: You have four great options based on talent and pure value because of the rounds you will lose, so this is a tough call. My first thought is to retain Spiller, who averaged more fantasy points per touch than any other prominent running back in the league last season. He's also young at the age of 25, will be a first-round lock in most seasonal fantasy drafts and has more room under his statistical ceiling. Assuming that you are going to lose your first two picks (compensation for Foster and Megatron), it will also be nice to have consecutive picks in Rounds 3-9. So unless this is a PPR league, in which case Jones becomes more attractive, I think Spiller is the best bargain.
Which player will be the most valuable this season from Le'Veon Bell, Lamar Miller and Tavon Austin? What rounds should these players be targeted? - K. Wilson (via Facebook)
M.F.: I have Bell listed as the top fantasy rookie for 2013 right now, and Austin is also in the top 10 among first-year players. However, I like Miller to outproduce both of them. The Miami (FL) product is the favorite to start for coach Joe Philbin, and has little competition for a prominent role in the backfield. Miller, who also has the easiest schedule in the league (based on fantasy points) at his position, should come off the board somewhere in the fifth to sixth round in most drafts. Bell will be picked in the same area, while Austin will come off the board somewhere between Rounds 8-10 in a standard 10-team format.
Who are your top three fantasy defenses for 2013? - @shawnblanks (via Twitter)
M.F.: As it stands, the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears (in that order) are the top three defenses in fantasy football. The top five also includes the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. The NFC West is represented quite well at the position, as the Seahawks, Niners, Cardinals and Rams are all among the top 12 defenses overall. Who would have thought that would be the case just a few years ago? As is the case with all fantasy drafts, though, I wouldn't even think about taking a defense until one of the last three rounds.
How will the presence of Marcus Lattimore affect the 49ers backfield? Will it turn into a committee? - D. Kovalik (via Facebook)
M.F.: According to a report in *CSN Bay Area*, the Niners are expected to place Lattimore (knee) on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp. As a result, he'll likely miss the first six games of his NFL career. When you also consider the depth the team has in a backfield that includes Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James, I wouldn't be surprised if Lattimore misses the entire 2013 campaign. He has more dynasty-league appeal than in seasonal formats.
Which player should I keep: Steven Jackson, A.J. Green or Jimmy Graham? - @BostonOcho (via Twitter)
M.F.: The decision here is between Green and Graham -- Jackson is less attractive in a keeper league due to his age. I would side with the former, as the talented Georgia product has all the tools to be one of the best wide receivers in fantasy football far into the foreseeable future. Also a young player at the age of 24, Green makes for a terrific No. 1 wideout in all fantasy formats.
Which team's players should be avoided the most in fantasy football drafts? - L. Fuller (via Facebook)
M.F.: I never say never when it comes to avoiding a player(s), because most teams have at least one who is capable of making a nice fantasy impact. The Jets, for example, have few players I would consider viable fantasy options. However, I'm on record as saying I think Ivory is a breakout candidate. He might be the lone member of Gang Green I will target, though. The Cleveland Browns don't have a lot of fantasy value as a team either, but Trent Richardson is a surefire first-round selection. The Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders also lack good fantasy options, but that won't cause me to pass on the likes of Spiller or McFadden (as a No. 2 runner) in 2013 drafts.
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**!
