Eric Karabell

  (11:01 AM)

Hello all and welcome to another Wednesday morning fantasy sports chat. Let's get right to the questions...

Robert (Cincinnati, OH)

Good morning, Eric - which is the stronger WR2 play for this weekend: Andre Johnson, Hines Ward or Roddy White? I'm leaning towards AJ myself.

Eric Karabell

  (11:03 AM)

I'd probably lean that way as well. I ranked Johnson No. 12, and Ward 13 and White 15, so I didn't see much difference in them. It certainly looks like Sage Rosenfels can get the ball down the field, so that is good for Andre.

Rebecca (StL)

Good morning, Eric. Kolby Smith or Selvin Young in a PPR league?

Eric Karabell

  (11:04 AM)

I think Kolby Smith bounces back, though not to 150 yards, but he should be good enough for fantasy. With Selvon you're taking a chance. He had a great game, but he's still the backup to Travis Henry, and they will split carries.

Matt (DC)

What is the status of A. Peterson (min)?

Eric Karabell

  (11:06 AM)

He's playing. He had a bad game on Sunday, and I expect it will not happen again. Stick with Peterson, but if you own Chester Taylor I think he's a top-20 back as well.

Mitch (MN)

Why doesn't anyone have love for rudi johnson? The guy seems like he is back and is starting to get his feet moving again!! Would you start him over l white and selvin? Addai is my #1?

Eric Karabell

  (11:07 AM)

I gave Rudi a nice ranking this week, at No. 11 at RB. I would use him and Addai and feel confident.

Riaz, OH

Eric, Please help. Cutler or Warner this weekend. I need to decide by tommorow. Its round 1 of the playoffs. Thanks

Eric Karabell

  (11:08 AM)

I have Warner at 9 and Cutler one spot back at 10, so clearly I think they are similar. Warner is safer, but I don't think it will be long before we trust Cutler.

Burr (NJ)

How about a baseball question?? If A-Rod had a fantasy football team, would he play Brandon Jacobs or Selvin Young?

Eric Karabell

  (11:09 AM)

Ha! I'll take real baseball questions. Today's blog is baseball. A-Rod would play Brandon Jacobs. He loves New York!

Matt (Chicago)

Going against Brady this week. Any chance he throws for "only" 3 or 4 tds? The Jets seem to be playing a bit better on D.

Eric Karabell

  (11:10 AM)

I wouldn't worry about Brady. Worry about your own team. The weather is gonna be a bear this weekend in the Northeast, and it should affect games, but Brady is a must-play no matter what. I think he'll get 3 TDs. I think he'll try for 6. I really think the Patriots want to score 50.

Tom, NYC

Silly here, but should I worry about my kicker now? Bironas has been quiet, I can get Elam or Jeff Reed? I'm playing against Brady so it's hopless anyway right?

Eric Karabell

  (11:15 AM)

Not at all. In fact, I've talked to quite a few people who have Brady and didn't even make it to the playoffs, or have already lost. He's just one player. That said, I wouldn't put much thought into your kicker. Half of them are really the same.

Lacey (Minnesota)

Was Plaxico's performance a fluke last week? Will he be able to put up good numbers again this week? Should I play him over Marshall? Thanks Eric!

Eric Karabell

  (11:17 AM)

Plaxico always seems to look healthy when he plays Philly, doesn't he? I think Plax and Brandon Marshall are each safe options, and I ranked them 17 and 19. Flip a coin, really.

Jeff (TX)

I need to try and counter the owner with Brady this week. Thinking of picking up Edwards or Rosenfels to play over Warner. Also, should I pick up the runner dejour for the Texans and play as a flex over Chester Taylor?

Eric Karabell

  (11:18 AM)

You don't need to anything but try to score the most points you can. Doesn't matter who your opponent has. I still never understand why fantasy owners think this way. Warner is clearly your best QB option, why using Sage over him counters Brady I don't get it. Also, Dayne is not officially out for Thursday, but even if he is, you would trust Darius Walker over Chester Taylor? I wouldn't.

Jake (VA Beach)

Am I the ONLY one in a league where the Brady owner was tied for last place?

Eric Karabell

  (11:19 AM)

No, you are not. There's a mistaken theory in fantasy that if you owned A-Rod or have Brady that you can't lose. You can.

Rob (Philadelphia)

Who would you start at RB this week, Clinton Portis versus the Giants or Darius Walker versus the Broncos, can I really bench Portis for a Walker, who was reccently on the Texans practice squad?

Eric Karabell

  (11:21 AM)

While I would pick up Walker in case he plays, I do it mostly to keep him away from others. Same with Samkon Gado and other RBs who I don't think are good options. I'd play Portis. No question. Walker didn't even run that well on Sunday, as 16 carries for 46 yards proves. But, opportunity is nice.

Tyler (Iowa)

Eric looking towards next baseball season give me your top ten picks as of rightnow.

Eric Karabell

  (11:23 AM)

This was in my Wednesday baseball blog two weeks ago, but I will be running more feedback on it today. A-Rod, Hanley, Reyes, Wright, Pujols, Rollins, Soriano, Utley, M.Cabrera and Holliday are my top-10.

Kirk (Dayton)

Baseball question...who is a better keeper in a $30 auction league...Braun at $1.00 or BJ Upton at .05??

Eric Karabell

  (11:24 AM)

Wow! Two great choices. I think Braun is better, actually, even though Upton will run. I just think Braun can sustain his power and average, and Upton still has some more hurdles. The price difference looks small.

Matthew Berry (TMR)

Need help with my rankings: do you have Warner or Palmer higher?

Eric Karabell

  (11:25 AM)

He could have just poked his head out of his office. Palmer.

Sam, Chicago

Eric, any reason I should start Anderson over Romo this week ?

Eric Karabell

  (11:26 AM)

It wouldn't be the worst idea, but I have Romo ranked second overall and Anderson fourth, with Peyton wedged in between. Really, I don't see how any Romo owner can ever complain, or ever sit him, unless he owns Brady.

Larry (St. Louis)

You have Pujols kinda high I think - these Cardinals are going to be aweful and he isn't going to see the opportunities that he has in the past. Football: Gaffney, A. Gonzalez, or Chris Henry

Eric Karabell

  (11:27 AM)

I don't think other players on the Cardinals will hurt Pujols very much. As for the WRs, I do have Gaffney ranked, but a good 10 spots worse than Gonzalez and Henry, who I have at 27 and 28. I think both should be decent flex options this week.

John, Green Bay, Wisc

I assume Fantasy Football is #1- what is the SECOND most popular fantasy endeavor? And... Start Kitna against my starting defense-SD, or add Rosenfels or Collins, and start one of them instead? Thanks.

Eric Karabell

  (11:29 AM)

Fantasy baseball is clearly No. 2, and there's a huge gap after that. As for your QBs, Kitna is still the guy I rank best of this group, and while I understand hedging your bets because you have the SD defense, I'd still play him. People don't realize, it's risky to overthink this. What if Kitna plays great and the SD defense gets few points? You're just guessing if you take Rosenfels over him.

Paul (Kansas)

Should a person who doesn't play anymore games in a league be allowed to still make waiver pickups?

Eric Karabell

  (11:31 AM)

This has been a matter of debate here. I would not allow it. If the team is in a consolation round, and playing for something, then yes. But if the 10th place team has no games left, I think it's silly to allow them to make pickups, unless it's a keeper league.

Chad (Ohio)

Eric please help, what is your take on players sitting, does Addai and the rest of the Colts sit, does Tomlinson sit????? and if so when do they sit and who plays if they do????

Eric Karabell

  (11:32 AM)

You don't have to worry about this today, or for three weeks. You should have plenty of depth just in case, but as of now, I'd say the top NFC teams are more likely to sit players in Week 17.

Dave (Longmont)

What about the horrible weather forecast for the Giants game - could be a real low scorer. Weather is usualy underplayed when it is REALLY bad...why don't you guys discount based on it?

Eric Karabell

  (11:34 AM)

I think we do. I think sometimes we discount too much for it. For example, a basic snowy day can affect the traction, but so can a cold rain, or something like we saw that Monday night in Pittsburgh-Miami. I do take weather into account for rankings and who I play, but I can't assume Brady will be so affected that he's not a good play.

Eric(Dallas ,TX)

Cabrera 9th? He's going to have 170 RBI in that lineup next season. Also, he's moving out of the spacious Miami park.

Eric Karabell

  (11:35 AM)

I have considered moving him up since I did the rankings, but there are middle infielders who run ahead of him, and I haven't found reason to drop someone else yet. He could have 150 RBIs. Let's not go too overboard.

Davis (Indiana)

Eric I have continued to stick with Kitna even though he has not been thowing any TD's over the last few weeks. Do you expect him to break out of the slump this week?

Eric Karabell

  (11:37 AM)

No, I gotta say, I really don't expect great things from Kitna this week, and I didn't want to rank him as well as I did. I just couldn't make a strong case to rank others ahead of him. It's not a deep week for quarterbacks. I have Kitna No. 13, but if push came to shove, I might go with Rivers and a few others over him.

Ben, New Jersey

Is it crazy to bench MJD this week? I have Selvin Young, Darius Walker, Peterson (the bad one) and Gado all ready to step in. Too risky?

Eric Karabell

  (11:40 AM)

Selvin is a dangerous guy in fantasy, because he could go off again if things work out right, or he could get 10 carries for 20 yards. Really, there's a huge difference in what he could do. That said, I expect so little from Maurice Jones-Drew in Pittsburgh this week, I would think about it. Chicago's Adrian Peterson is not bad, by the way, he just had a bad game. Jones-Drew is still my pick, barely over Selvin.

Thad (Dallas, TX)

Who would you start as your #2 RB in a league that only gives 1 pt for every 20 yds and 6 pts for TDs? My not-so-good options are Jacobs, Gado and Foster.

Eric Karabell

  (11:44 AM)

I still think it's Jacobs, easily. So he didn't have the best game, but the Giants really rely on him, and there's no official word that if the Giants get to the 1-yard line that Droughns would come in. Play Jacobs. Why would anyone want DeShaun Foster active, or go with Gado against the Ravens?

Mike (Denver)

With Brady as a QB on the team, which 3 WRs would you pick from Colston, Gaffney, Berrian, Crayton and Cotchery?

Eric Karabell

  (11:46 AM)

Even with Brady, it wouldn't stop me from playing other Patriots wide receivers. What that team is doing is special, and breaks conventional fantasy wisdom. Colston is a definite for you, and I think if Crayton is healthy he should have a big game, too. Cotchery or Gaffney? I have to say Gaffney.

eric-dc

am i CRAZY to play taylor and peterson? my other options are edge, k.jones or maroney.

Eric Karabell

  (11:49 AM)

Crazy? No, I don't think so. I would go with AP and Edge, but I have Taylor ranked only a few spots after Edge. I can tell you this, I would not rely on Maroney.

Matt NY

Big trouble here, no idea who to start at my 2nd RB spot: Denver RB (Young or Henry) or Stecker

Eric Karabell

  (11:51 AM)

Yeah, that's not a great situation. I think Stecker is a definite under this scenario, and I have Henry ranked a few spots before Young. It's close. I think you have to play the guy who gets the carries, and the goal line ones.

Wes (Philadelphia)

Eric, what's up with your new picture? Do fantasy football experts really have to wear suits to work?

Eric Karabell

  (11:52 AM)

Ha! We wear that on TV, but not all the time.

Tom (Burlington, VT)

Who would you play this week? Kevin Curtis against Dallas? Or Derrick Mason against Miami?

Eric Karabell

  (11:53 AM)

I would play Mason. The Dolphins are just so bad, and that's on defense as well as offense, I could see Boller finding Mason quite a bit. I don't have much confidence that McNabb will have a good day, and it's been a looooong time since Curtis scored.

Lane (Denver)

Pick one: Holt, Jennings or Marshall..

Eric Karabell

  (11:54 AM)

Wow. I'd say Jennings, but all three are nice options.

Emil (Maine)

your oppinion matters..flex question... PPR league, pick one, C Henry, Furrey, M Morris, J Walker. Thanks

Eric Karabell

  (11:55 AM)

Probably Chris Henry of the Bengals. I think he has a nice week. I'd play Morris if I knew how many carries he'd get, but nobody does.

Brian (NY, NY)

Eric, nice snazzy new photo. Who would you start at flex this week to make it to the Super Bowl-- K. Smith, T. Jones, or R. White?

Eric Karabell

  (11:56 AM)

I would start Kolby Smith. He should bounce back nicely. I have Thomas Jones on a few teams, and I expect nothing from him, so I am going to sit him.

G-Money (Stillwater)

Lendale White or Frank Gore this weekend?

Eric Karabell

  (11:57 AM)

I think it has to be LenDale. San Fran can't move the ball, and other than one nice week, Gore has struggled.

Matt (Nashville)

would you sit T. Jones for "the other" AP?

Eric Karabell

  (11:58 AM)

Yeah, even against the Vikings, I have the Chicago Peterson a few spots better. The Jets are going to get blown out. They won't be running, I don't think.

Eric Karabell

  (11:58 AM)

OK, thanks to all for the fine questions. Best of luck in Week 15 and beyond, and remember, there's a Thursday and Saturday game this week! Have fun... adios.