Where do you rank Dwayne Bowe now that he's staying with the Kansas City Chiefs and has Alex Smith throwing him the football? - @Mr_Pivetz (via Twitter)
Michael Fabiano: To be honest, I like the fact that Bowe is playing in a pass-laden offense under new coach Andy Reid more than him catching passes from Smith. During his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, Smith failed to help even one of his wide receivers reach 1,000 yards -- Michael Crabtree had the most in a single season (874 yards, 2011). Part of the reason for that statistic was the offensive attack, however. The Niners ran the football a ton with Smith under center, which didn't allow him or his wideouts a glut of opportunities to produce in the stat sheets. With that being said, I still like Bowe as a high-end No. 3 fantasy wideout in leagues with 10-12 teams.
Where will Colin Kaepernick be selected in 2013 drafts? Will he post monster huge numbers? - E. Olivas (via Facebook)
M.F.: When you consider how deep the quarterback position will be heading into next season, I think Kaepernick should come off the board in the fourth or fifth round. But because of his postseason success en route to an appearance in the Super Bowl, the Nevada product is going to be drafted in the second or third round in a lot of leagues. As much as I love Kaepernick as a fantasy quarterback - I have him ranked seventh at the position - I still won't reach for him in drafts. My strategy will remain to target running backs and wideouts in the first four to five rounds before I even think about filling the quarterback spot. As for Kaepernick's projections, I can see him throwing for near 3,500 yards, rushing for another 700-800 yards and scoring around 25-30 total touchdowns.
Is a healthy Darren McFadden, running in a power-back scheme, worth picking with one of the first 20 selections in a fantasy draft? - @dlew2475 (via Twitter)
M.F.: Remember when you were a kid, and your mother told you not to touch the stove because it's hot? Well, sometimes you still touched the stove out of pure curiosity (or rebelliousness) - and ended up getting burned. That's the same thing that can happen if you take McFadden in one of the first two rounds of your fantasy draft. Sure, he'll enter the 2013 campaign healthy and in a contract year, and we all know what kind of potential he has in the stat sheets. But if we have learned anything from the past, it's that McFadden will inevitably end up getting injured - he's missed at least three games in every season as a pro including a combined 13 in the past two seasons. While he's still a No. 2 fantasy runner in most formats, I wouldn't even think about drafting him until the third or fourth round. I'd also be certain to target his eventual backup, whether it's Marcel Reece or another back.
LeSean McCoy is being talked up quite a bit with Chip Kelly now the coach, but I drafted him last season and I'm not sold. Is he a top-five running back, even with Bryce Brown in the picture? - G. Stoecker (via Facebook)
M.F.: McCoy, one of the bigger fantasy disappointments last season, should be in a position to rebound in the stat sheets under Kelly. Kelly's offenses at Oregon produced huge numbers for running backs (look at the college stats of LaMichael James), and McCoy is still in the prime of his career at age 24. There should also be enough carries for both McCoy and Brown in the offense, at least based on what Kelly did with the Ducks. In his four years at Oregon, Kelly's No. 1 runner averaged 262 carries while the No. 2 back averaged 118 totes. I have McCoy ranked sixth among backs for 2013 behind Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles.
Do you think Trent Richardson can be a top-three running back in his sophomore season? - @biggestgmenfan (via Twitter)
M.F.: I'm a huge fan of Richardson, who finished ninth in fantasy points among running backs as a rookie despite missing one game. With a much easier schedule ahead in an offense that will lean on him as the centerpiece under new coordinator Norv Turner, T-Rich could be in line to bust out. Keep in mind, running backs like Frank Gore, LaMont Jordan and Ricky Williams all had their best fantasy seasons while playing in Turner's scheme - and I think Richardson is next. I'm not sure that means he'll emerge into a top-three runner, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if he finished in the top five at the position. He won't make it out of the first 12-15 overall picks in 2013 drafts.
Who are your top three fantasy quarterbacks for 2013? - P. Pandyz (via Facebook)
M.F.: The top three quarterbacks for next season are the same three from 2012 - 1. Aaron Rodgers; 2. Drew Brees; 3. Tom Brady. While a number of young signal-callers like Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Kaepernick, Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III are on the rise from a fantasy perspective, I would still stick with the three veterans atop the position for at least one more season.
What is Griffin III's fantasy value in a keeper league coming off reconstructive knee surgery? I can retain him for a sixth- or seventh-round selection. - @TweetsofaJD (via Twitter)
M.F.: If I had the option of keeping RG3 for a sixth- or seventh-round selection, I would absolutely be dancing in the streets - and that's despite the fact that he's coming off a major knee operation. At 23, the talented and versatile Washington quarterback is one of the most valuable players at his position in all formats - seasonal, keeper and dynasty. It also bodes well that players like Peterson and Charles have made quick and successful returns from similar procedures, as the medical world has made the ACL tear far less of a statistical death sentence than it was in the past. Griffin III is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery - he even did an Adidas ad with the slogan "All in for Week 1" - and his status will be one of the most talked about topics in the fantasy world in the weeks and months to come.
What are your thoughts on Marshawn Lynch for next season? Where do you have him ranked among running backs? - J. Potter (via Facebook)
M.F.: I wasn't a believer in Lynch heading into 2011, but how can you doubt the man now? He's coming off the best fantasy season of his career, rushing for 1,590 yards with 12 total touchdowns. The veteran out of California has also finished among the top five players at his position in each of the last two seasons. Lynch should still have plenty left in the tank at the age of 26 (he'll be 27 in April), and his role as the bell cow for coach Pete Carroll isn't in any doubt. The third-ranked runner on my board, Lynch is a surefire first-round selection in all formats.
Unofficial list of free agents
NFL free agency is set to begin on March 12. Check out this unofficial list of the 2013 NFL restricted and unrestricted free agents for every team, which includes Greg Jennings. **More ...**
Which Denver Broncos wide receiver would you rather have next season - Demaryius Thomas or Eric Decker? - @Broncoholic (via Twitter)
M.F.: Thomas was a member of my "Fantasy Man Crush list" last season, and there's no reason I would change course and take Decker ahead of him in 2013. The Georgia Tech product is a physical specimen with major statistical potential, which he showcased in 2012 to the tune of 94 receptions, 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns. With Peyton Manning still under center, I can see Thomas duplicating those totals and remaining a No. 1 fantasy wideout. As for Decker, he's also a strong fantasy option - I'm just not so sure he can post 13 touchdown catches in back-to-back campaigns. Still, he's a surefire high-end No. 2 fantasy wideout.
What do you think of the value of Jacquizz Rodgers? Where should he be drafted? - M. Herrera (via Facebook)
M.F.: Rodgers is a nice running back with speed and elusiveness, but he's more of a Darren Sproles type who doesn't have the build or frame to be a true No. 1 running back at the NFL level. In fact, reports suggest that the Atlanta Falcons will be hot on Steven Jackson's tail when the free-agent period starts on March 12. Assuming the Falcons do add Jackson or another starter to replace Michael Turner, Rodgers will be relegated to more of a middle- to late-round selection in standard fantasy leagues. He'll have a bit more value in PPR formats, however.
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**!
