Live Fantasy Football Draft Prep Q&A
RotoBaller writer and lead NFL editor Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) answers all of your fantasy football questions every Monday night through the NFL preseason, and all through the fantasy football season.
Ed has been studying tape all summer to prepare for the NFL season and help you win your fantasy leagues! Last night he held a live advice session to answer your fantasy football draft prep, sleepers, rankings dynasty, rookie and draft strategy questions. Below is the recap of the Q&A.
Come join in on the fun every Mnday night and get your fantasy football draft strategy questions answered. If you want your own chat username, register here!
Draft Prep & Advice – August 17th Q&A Transcript
Don’t forget you can always head over to our fantasy football chatroom, anytime, and for a “free for all” banter about fantasy football. Enjoy RotoBallers!
What's up guys. Welcome to the live Q&A chat. Let's get some questions going, I'm here to help you prep for your fantasy football drafts. |
|
Ed - Stewart or Melvin Gordon? |
|
@Jodi, Jonathan Stewart has the better upside. Gordon is only for the injury risk. I'd say Stewart though. |
|
how many touches per game average for DeMarco Murray this year in PHIL? 17-18 or 20-21? |
|
@Patricia, can't say per game touches, but they run the ball about 420 times. He'll get enough to reach over 240 for sure. |
|
Edward - David Cobb or Bishop Sankey? |
|
@Moneyball, Sankey. Goes against all logical thought but hear me on this. Whisenhunt has no history of playing rookies. He's benched everyone from first round picks to last rounders. Michael Floyd sat the bench for half his rookie year, so did Taylor Lewan, Beanie Wells split with Tim hightower. He benches rookies. |
|
Sankey is going to get every opportunity to perform and on top of that Cobb has no value in the passing game, which is bad when you have a rookie QB who needs a blocker and passing option. |
|
Antonio Andrews is likely going to be ahead of Cobb for touches. |
|
im trying get marshawn lynch for andre ellington and torrey smith? fair?? |
|
@Kenisha, not fair to them at all. they're going to decline. |
|
frank gore or doug martin? PPR |
|
@kenisha again, Gore over Doug Martin 100%. Gore's going to get a ton of touchdowns with the Colts. |
|
Ed should I handcuff Stewart? |
|
@Jodi, i don't raelly believe in "handcuffing" players unless that player s significantly talented. I'd just tell you to pick up an extra "safe" back. |
|
Edward - Doug Martin or Charles Sims? |
|
@Moneyball, Martin. I've never been a fan of Sims going back to when he was entering the draft. Think his best role is as pass catching change of pace. |
|
how much action will nelson agholor see? starter in game 1and a big year? |
|
@Patricia hard to really say how rookies will adapt to the NFL's speed. If he's quick to get use to it, he'll be getting a lot of work since he's taking on the X role. |
|
Deandre Hopkins or Jordan Matthews? |
|
@Augustina, Matthews for me. Loss of Foster is only going to make that offense stutter constantly and neither Mallett nor Hoyer are going to be good enought o carry that workload and keep them scoring consistently. Matthews isn't going to face that issue no matter who the QB is. |
|
Is this a John Brown breakout year? |
|
@Kazuka, All signs are looking like it but hard to predict breakouts. Probabilities high with the Floyd injury though. |
|
@ Edward Who are some Rookie WR's that can break out? |
|
@Moneyball, Amari Cooper, Nelson Agholor, and Devin Funchess are the only three rookie WRs i really expect significant contribution from at this moment. Cooper's obvious, he's very NFL ready with his route running and is playing with a QB who can take advantage of his timing. Agholor's also obvious, explained a little above, one of the best best offensse in the NFL regardless of QB. Funchess is a different story.. |
|
I personally hate Kelvin Benjamin, mention that a lot of times. Funchess is huge, understands how to play the game, and with Benjamin being unrealiable because of his drops and weak route running there's a chance Funchess becomes the option Cam Newton feels more comfortable with. |
|
Ed Cooper or kelvin? |
|
@Jodi, i hate Benjamin. I'm seriously saying Cooper because that's how much i hate Benjamin. |
|
How legit is Latavius Murray and which round should he be going in PPR 10 man |
|
@kazuko, he's got some sweet running back skills. He's a lot better than just an athlete. He makes smart decisions and seems to understand the value of chain moving small plays, as well as how to work the defensive line to create holes from time to time. With Musgrave's history, he likes to keep 1 back on the field. Doesn't really switch them up often. There's a chance he's a legit low end RB1 but realistically you gotta draft him like he's your high RB2. |
|
you like Stevie Johnson and Eddie Royal as Round 11 pickups? |
|
@Patricia, yeah, both are really nice options for late round. Not a ton of upside, but startable. I like them more in deeper leagues than regular ones though. Stevie has the chance to surprise though. |
|
Edward - With the signing of CJ2K in Arizona, will he slide into the backup roll or is David Johnson the better pick? |
|
@Moneyball, think it's gotta be Chris Johnson running inside now. Johnson has some erratic movements behind the LOS and brings himself down when he makes contact. |
|
Ed Chris ivory or Isaiah Crowell? |
|
@Jodi, Crowell has an easier schedule and better offensive line with less injury history. |
|
Edward - Should I be worried abou Andre Ellington with CJ2K there now? |
|
@Moneyball, nah. Andre's role should remain unchanged. |
|
Lots of debate here on Joseph Randle. Is he an RB 3 or flex option? |
|
@Patricia, RB2 as long as he's starting but the whole issue is whether or not he's starting. The only reason people like him is for his situation, and his situation works for every single player on the cowboys- so it's not like he's the only one benefitting. If someone outplays him, he's gonna sit pretty easily. |
|
Edward - Which RB's not starting now do you think will end up starting at the end of the year? |
|
@Moneyball, Matt Jones is the first that comes to mind. Morris has gotten worse from year to year and the Redskins look like a team that's going to be behind a lot. They'll need their pass catching back on the field more and more and Jones still has the significant kind of talent to run the ball 18 times a game. |
|
Ed what are your thoughts on Kendall wright? |
|
@Jodi, Think for his price he's worth the risk. Marcus Mariota's short accuracy should help Wright as long as he can get use to the NFL speed. Wright was still top 10 in YAC per catch and MTs last year. |
|
In fact he improved on his YAC per catch and MT rate last year. |
|
Big year for Justin Forsett w/ Trestman? Any concern about his age or durability? |
|
@Particia, oh yeah, forsetts ready to have a huge year. Trestman backs catch a miminum of 60 passes. His age shouldn't be an issue considering he's had low mileage but his durability is a bit of a concern. Still for his price and upside, that should be in the back of your mind. I'd be very very surprised if Forsett finished this year with less than 1600 total yards. |
|
With The Bengals tougher than normal schedule playing the NFC West this year is Alfred morris an even line versus Jeremy Hill in PPR? or is it way off |
|
@Kazuko, Way off for me. Morris' team is awful looking and will be behind a lot. The Redskins already showed last year they'll take him off the field when they're down. |
|
Or even Matt forte vs Hill knowing knowing Fox |
|
@Kazuko, I'd take Forte over Hill regardless of the scheduling argument. A lot safer to expect production from Forte than Hill. |
|
Is forte better than forsett this year then? |
|
@Kazuko, not for me. I'd tie them. |
|
I have the 12th pick in my draft back to back picks 4 points for a throwing TD 6 points for a running and receiving TD should I go Rb Rb? |
|
@Delia, you gotta go with whaever the best players on the board are Delia. Can't look at it as rigidly as RB/RB. Most likely your best choices at 12th are going to be WR/WR but you're probably not comforatble with that decision. |
|
Ed where do you have forsetts ADP? |
|
@Irish, I have him ranked at 2.06. No joke. I'm really high on him. Ravens O-line is really, really good and the usage in the passing game is going to be a huge boost. |
|
say i have adrian peterson or jamaal charles and forsett makes it back to me would you go forsett or a randall cobb, alshon jeffrey, a.j. green basically a decent wr1 |
|
@Shari, i'd go AJ Green. |
|
so rb+wr or you just like green that much |
|
@Shari, just have Green ranked that high. |
|
lower end TE choice Tyler Eifert or Austin Seferian-Jenkins? |
|
@Patricia, Eifert. Last year in preseason he was going insane, uncoverable. Open on every play. Only played 9 snaps last year but had 3 receptions for 37 yards. All training camp was Dalton throwing wide open verticals to him. This year was the same thing in training camp. He's going to blow up. |
|
how about the other 2 vs forsett |
|
@Shari, I'd take Forsett over the others. |
|
Is C.J. anderson overrated this year? and by how much |
|
@Kazuko, "Overrated" is hard to say, cause if he's starting he's going to be an RB1. Kubiak doesn't not make RB1s. He only makes RB1s. Whoevers starting there will be an RB1. Right now, it's looking like hes the starter but Kubiak is almost like Shanahan with his potential to change it up all of a sudden. Supposedly he really likes Juwan Thompson. |
|
Are you sold at all on ASJ? is he worthy of a TE1 with his upside |
|
@Kazuko, ASJ has been having a bad camp. Struggled with drops and stuff. TE's playing with rookie QBs rarely put up TE1 numbers, think there's only been 1 in the last 15 years to be honest, and that was Jermaine Gresham in Daltons rookie year. |
|
Ed who would you take as your wr 2 if you want rb wr wr with the 3rd pick? |
|
@Jodi, whoever the best value drops to you is. If that's AJ Green, i'm taking Green. |
|
so you take best value instead of doing a stragedy |
|
@Jodi, yes |
|
in a ppr charles or ap |
|
@Shari, AP's my #1 in any mode. Norv's going to get him the ball through the air at least 30 times. He's going to get work on those catches, and he's also going to run for 1200/10 (he's never run for less in a full season). Add the extra motivation and he's about to go nuts. |
|
Is Amari Cooper a good wr2? |
|
@Jodi, looks like he will be right now. Musgrave offenses target #1 WRs a lot. About 130+ times on average. |
|
m. bryant or cooper in ppr? |
|
@Anastasia, definitely leaning on Cooper. Martavis Bryant still has to develop in order to become a fixture in that offense. |
|
Would you feel comfortable with him as your wr2 Ed? |
|
@Jodi, yes. |
|
im in a 8 team league and have 7th pick. Aaron Rodgers or Antonio Brown if they are there |
|
@Doretha, i'd never recommend taking a QB in the first unless your league has monster scoring rules for them. Brown for sure. |
|
ok if he's gone then you should i take |
|
@Doretha, Dez Bryant or Julio Jones become my next guys. DeMarco Murray if you want a RB. |
|
Dynasty draft 21 overall: do I take Doug Martin, Alfred Blue, Dorial Green-Beckham, or take Brock Osweiler way too early? |
|
@Antonia, grab DGB. DGB has serious WR1 potential. |
|
With such a weak OL Do you see less yards for Marshawn Lynch ? I am also not sold on Jimmy Graham as the 2nd best TE in PPR . Is there any truth to this? |
|
@Kazuko, Lynch always runs behind a weak line, hasn't really stopped his production yet. Unger missed half of last year and he was still getting 4.4 ypc. The zone scheme works to cover those kinds of O-line issues. |
|
Regarding Graham, i do. The Seahawks always want to go deep and throw to their TE, but they haven't had the target. Zach Miller wasn't good enough. Luke Willson definitely isn't good enough. Graham's going to become a focal point in an offense that's tried to turn into a more balanced team but hasn't had the players to do it. |
|
No Demaryius Thomas? Wont he get more targets this year? |
|
@Doretha, i'm scared of Peyton. That's all it is. Whether it shows on the numbers or not, Peyton's arm is starting to go. That has to ask the question of how many times are they planning to throw and how good are those throws going to be. Even last year while healthy Peyton struggled with putting the ball in the right place consistently. I don't want to take the risk. |
|
so youre saying CJ Anderson has a lot of upside now |
|
@Doretha, whoever's starting has a ton of upside just because of Kubiak. Whether that's Anderson, or Ball, or Thompson, that DEN RB position is goingt o be a lot of points. |
|
what about ronnie hillman? kub spoke highly of him |
|
@Irish, i mean, whoever it is. It's going to be up in the air until we see it. |
|
depth chart comes out tomorrow |
|
@Irish, these early depth charts are kinda nonsense. Play on the field is going to dictate who's winning the battles more than what they have there. |
|
would you pick Andrew Luck or Rodgers |
|
@Doretha, Rodgers. Luck is getting a lot of his value off of volume. He's still improving, so he can get even better- but it's more possible that as the team improves (like the addition of gore) his volume begins to decrease. Rodgers on the other hand has gotten all his value off of efficiency. It's a lot easier for his volume to grow. |
|
You said earlier that you dont like Handcuffing and Kubiak is going to have an RB1. Is Denver the place to go against your rational of handcuffing and do it? |
|
@Kazuko, yeah. that's the kind of situation where the handcuff starts having value if their cheap. It's why i'll own shares of Juwan Thompson, since he'll be free. |
|
Alfred Morris or Lamar Miller |
|
@Doretha, Miller. Even if Miller isn't getting the full load, he's still touching the ball just as much as Morris and on a better offense with a team that'll be a lot more compettiive. |
|
That being said do any other teams have that sort of feel like denver does? |
|
@Kazuko, well handcuffing is strictly a term used when you own the main player- so in that scenario no. There aren't really any teams around where i feel like owning the #1 and #2 option, except maybe GB. I'll own other players handcuffs pretty often though. |
|
Weird comparison here, but if I only have the auction cash for one, do I target Calvin Johnson or Matt Forte. Half point PPR, Demaryius Thomas as WR1, Le'Veon Bell at RB1. |
|
@Cristine, think you'll have to grab Forte because if you're having trouble with cash, youre going to have a harder time paying up for the middling RBs than the middling WRs. |
|
You really do hate Morris he is your 25th best back? lol |
|
@Kazuko, yeah, i just can't feel him at all this year. Nothing makes sense about his situation to perform. |
|
victor cruz in 7th good? |
|
@Anastasia, Yeah, i'd say so. Cruz's best seasons came from playing in the slot. Doubt he ever hits 1500 yards again, but another 1k year is likely. |
|
green-beckam or agholor |
|
@Shari, Agholor. DGB is still sitting on Whinsehunt's team, and Whinsehunt doesn't like playing rookies. |
|
I would give away Demarius Thomas, Owen Daniels for AJ Green and Travis Kelce. Which side of the trade do you like? Std league |
|
I prefer the Green/Kelce side honestly. Green's had two top 5 performances in the past and had 100 yards/game last year. Kelce had a top 5 TE season playing only 60% of the snaps. |
|
Like i mentioned above, i just don't feel like betting on Peyton's arm. |
|
greg olsen or kelce? |
|
@irish, Kelce. |
|
amari coopper or jonathan stewart |
|
@Vern, gotta take Stewart. I like Cooper but he's not realistically WR1 material. Stewart is RB1 if he's healthy all year. Sometimes you gotta play to win. |
|
will antonio gates do what he did last year when he comes back? |
|
@Irish, hard to say without seeing him play extensive time in the preseason. |
|
he looked slow last year too, but was a td machine |
|
@Irish, yeah but the important thing was he looked better than Green. |
|
What do you think of this lineup? QB Ben R RB CJ Anderson RB Lamar Miller WR1 Dez B WR2 AJ Green TE Zach Ertz FLEX Carlos Hyde K Steven G D/ST SEA |
|
@Doretha, looks pretty strong minus the TE/FLEX position. Those two need to improve in my opinion. |
|
you don't like Hyde |
|
@Doretha, lukewarm on hyde. Reggie Bush is going to take passing touches and the 49ers aren't looking like a good offense. Division is tough too. |
|
Gore or Stewart |
|
@DutchOven, Gore. Better offense, less injury history. |
|
Do you rank J stuwart over L Murry solely based on the teams they are on and Oakland will be passing more? How does Murray do catching the ball? |
|
@Kazuko, J Stewart over Murray mostly because of how i imagine they'll get used. I know Stewart can be an RB1 with the Panthers, especially since Cam's rookie year where Stewart was healthy gave Stewart like 40-50 receptions |
|
Usage should be high for Stewart as long as he can stay on the field, and it's not like Murray has a better track record of being healthy either. |
|
Hey Eddy G, keep 1/ppr league: L.Murray, A. Ellington, Giovani Bernard? |
|
L Murray of those 3. Ellington's going to lose touches one way or another while they want to give Murray more. |
|
Think Eric Ebron will emerge this year? |
|
@Oscar, not at all. Supposedly having a bad camp. |
|
With that, i'm going to close up shop for tonight. I'll be back next week, same time. Also i'll be on the regular football chat pretty often. |
|
thoughts on Clive Walford? |
|
@Oscar, see him a bit more as a blocker than a catcher, especially early on. But i didn' watch that many games of him. |
|
Okay, that's the last one for real. |
|
thanks for the help |
|
Anytime. Be sure to check back next week, same time and place, and come to our live Q&A chat rooms anytime: |