AJ Mass

  (3:02 PM)

Hello gang. Not sure how long I can stay today, but that should be OK, since the football season is, for the most part, behind us.

Dave (Pueblo, CO)

What's your opinion on buying LT? If the chargers loose to the Jags, you have more money to put towards some Patriots, and if he advances, you got him early, right?

AJ Mass

  (3:03 PM)

Sounds good to me. You want players who can go deep... and LT has that chance.

Jon (Tulsa, OK)

Baseball keeper question (4 keeper league, no restrictions): I'm keeping Wright, Rollins, and Fielder, but not sure on the 4th out of Sizemore, Crawford, Phillips, Bedard, and Papelbon. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, A.J.

AJ Mass

  (3:05 PM)

I'd go with Crawford. Still a believer in his steals numbers.

James, CA

AJ, I HATE week 17, my normal starters that were not supposed to play, play and i dont start them, so i lose by 1 point, when i have 43 sitting on the bench... Any suggestions on starting a keeper league for next season, i am the commish, wondering what you thought

AJ Mass

  (3:07 PM)

Get a group of people together around the MLB all-star break and figure out what rules you want to play with - like a title game in Week 16. Write it all down and then pick a website (like ESPN) to figure out the stats for you. That's the best way to start.

JIM ---- BOSTON

Who's a better keeper ---- John Smoltz or Ben Sheets THANK YOU

AJ Mass

  (3:08 PM)

It's a pretty close call here. I'd go with Smoltz, since he has more upside if he plays the whole season, even if his win total may fall a bit in Atlanta.

Mark (Kearny, NJ)

AJ, is it safe to say the top 3 this year are clearly A-Rod, Hanley, and Pujols? More importantly, is it me or does it seem like nearly 10 players are worthy of that #4 spot? One can make an argument for Miggy, Wright, Holliday, Rollins, Reyes, Utley, Howard, and Fielder.

AJ Mass

  (3:12 PM)

Still too early to lock them in stone, but I would go Reyes 1, Hanley 2 with Byrnes and Pierre as possible high picks as well.

Adam (NY,NY)

Crawford over Sizemore? You are a football expert i guess right?

AJ Mass

  (3:14 PM)

And you probably didn't notice Crawford outperforming him last season.

James, OC

AJ, is it me, or is Miggy Cabera due for a HUGE season with all that talent around him? could he be a steal at #10?

AJ Mass

  (3:15 PM)

I'm actually leaning the other way. With all that around him, he might not get a chance at such a large % of RBI's.

Dave (Santa Rosa, CA)

Keeper question, 16 team league. Already keeping Addai and Jacobs. Please help with picking one more while giving up draft pick. TO 1st, Burress 3rd, Calvin Johnson 4th. or Favre, Big Ben or Hacket 5th. Thanks

AJ Mass

  (3:18 PM)

Don't love doing keeper picks so early... so much can change in an off-season. I'd keep Big Ben at 5th, that's "stealworthy".

TC (Cols, OH)

Hi AJ. My FFB playoffs redraft using Playoff teams. Who do you warn against as an injury risk (will TO be ready in two weeks?) and who do you think will be hot in the wildcard games? (we draft a full roster, four teams make it, one plays four/two plays three for the entire three weeks of the playoffs, entire roster plays and as teams lose you lose players, three week total advances to SB and redraft).

AJ Mass

  (3:20 PM)

You can't worry about predicting injuries... but TO is someone to be concerned about - he'll play, but could easily be a one and done kind of player. I like to load up on the teams I think will win WC weekend. LT, Jags backs - and then load up on the seeded faves like Wayne and Patriot WRs.

Adam (NY,NY)

Sorry should have waited for that 2nd baseball answer, Pierre as a high pick?

AJ Mass

  (3:22 PM)

I do like Pierre that high. In my ratings for 2007 he was 6th hitter overall - and that was with ZERO HR's. Any pop at all, even only a handful and his value gets higher.

Stu - Toronto

Happy New Year - David Price, 2008 late season call up or does he wait till 2009.

AJ Mass

  (3:25 PM)

I'd love to see the cup of coffee and see what the Commodore has got. With the prospects of a new ballpark looming, and voters to decide these matters, perhaps we get that wish.

Laura (milwaukee, wi)

so what is your superbowl prediction?

AJ Mass

  (3:26 PM)

My prediction? Pain! Wait- that ws Clubber Lang's prediction in Rocky 3. My bad. I like Pats and Bucs.

Rebecca (St Louis)

I been hearing a lot of talk about Hanley Ramirez lately. Is he really worthy of the #1, 2 or 3 overall pick in drafts? Granted he had a great year last year, but do you really think he can put up those numbers again? Especially with the departure of Cabrera? Shouldn't people be drafting more proven players with picks that high in the draft?

AJ Mass

  (3:29 PM)

So many angles to take this question, Rebecca. The one thing other lineup spots do nothing to change is speed. Ramirez' steals are so incredibly valuable... and the fact he's younger means his wheels are fresher. I'd be more leery of Hanley if were exclusively a power hitter.

Ben (SF)

I need 3 keepers out of: A-Rod, Rollins, Grady, Braun, Bedard, Peavy, Webb. Your thoughts?

AJ Mass

  (3:32 PM)

A-Rod and Rollins are likely Top 10 candidates. I'm not sold on a Braun repeat. Bedard has value in a K league, but I like Webb best of the three.

Brady (Colorado)

Will AP be a good pick next year? Thanks for your help this year.

AJ Mass

  (3:33 PM)

He should be fine. The Vikings simply need to get a better QB and better WRs around him so he doesn't face 8 or 9 in the box every down.

Kev - NJ

Will we see a playoff fantasy mock draft for this year on the site ?

AJ Mass

  (3:34 PM)

Not as such, I don't believe, but you can join the Gridiron Playoff Challenge and see what the ESPN experts are saying about it.

The Orange Mascot (Syracuse, NY)

Who will be have the best NFL season next year: Adrian Peterson, Uncle Bobo, or Marty the Fishboy?

AJ Mass

  (3:35 PM)

I'm not entirely sure who this alleged Otto is, but the question made me chuckle.

Anthony (nyc)

In a 5 team keeper league i have crawford, howard, Holliday, BJ upton as my def 4....my choice for the 5th spot is Markakis or Lackey or nobody and pick up a 4th round pick..whats your advice???

AJ Mass

  (3:36 PM)

Right now I have Lackey as my top starter. I'd make him my last keeper.

S (R)

Hey AJ. I have Julius Jones in a keeper league where do you think he ends up in free agency???

AJ Mass

  (3:37 PM)

I think he gets few takers and ends up right back in Dallas.

Lee

5 player keeper league...I'm already keeping a-rod, miguel cabrera, and braun... please pick two of these players to keep...cano, m young, granderson, lincecum, hughes

AJ Mass

  (3:39 PM)

I'd keep Granderson before I kept Braun, so there you go.

Chris (Oregon)

Why do these Fantasy chats only cater to Baseball and football?? I realize that they are the most popular, but come on! There are a lot of Hoops and Hockey fantasy players out there looking for answers for these sports as well...there's only so many times you can see "Should I keep Braun or Sizemore" or "Where should I draft LT in my Keeper league next year"....why not throw us a bone and have 1 or 2 chats of the 10 you have every week devoted to either or both of these sports....?

AJ Mass

  (3:43 PM)

Chris, many of these chats are "open-ended", and by that I mean whatever questions you want to ask, you can. However, the volume of NFL/MLB Q's way outnumber the NBA/NHL Q's. In addition, not every chatter is an expert in every sport. I'll be honest... NFL and MLB and NCAA hoops is what I know best. I'm simply more likely to answer those Q's because I'm not just throwing out a guess.

Laura (milwaukee, wi)

I have michael turner in a keeper league. Where do you think he ends up next year? Starting?

AJ Mass

  (3:44 PM)

I'd certainly love to see him in a Texans uniform.

tc (toronto)

Just traded Chris Young ($2)(pitcher) and Renteria ($5)for AJ Burnett ($5) and Holliday ($32) good trade? I think I robbed him.. even with Holliday's high salary..

AJ Mass

  (3:46 PM)

Certainly if the cap room is there, you made out like a bandit. The pitchers are essentially a wash and Holliday is a huge upgrade.

Peyton(Belichek"s nightmares)

AJ...Do you see Kenny Watson playing a role next year in Cincy or does Rudi hold onto the job?

AJ Mass

  (3:49 PM)

I think the days of one team/one back are slowly leaving the NFL. Unless you have an outright superstar like LaDainian, you're more likely to see teams go with a two-headed monster. Heck, the Cards were going to go with a two-headed QB before Leinart completely broke down. They're likely to compete hard in camp for #1 status, but in the end, both will see a Taylor/MJD-like platoon.

Aaron (Casper, Wy)

Do you think Adrian Peterson will go ahead of LT in most drafts for next season?

AJ Mass

  (3:53 PM)

Not without major roster changes in Minnesota. LT is still the No 1 RB. But that's not to say that AP won't be gone by the time you pick second in YOUR league. He will get grabbed early - it's just a question of how early.

AJ Mass

  (3:53 PM)

I've got time for two more, folks.

Steve (MA via E. Hartford)

Is Victorino worth keeping for his speed over a pitcher like Bedard or Sabathia?

AJ Mass

  (3:56 PM)

I think with Bedard, you're looking more at a "one-category pitcher" with K's being his strength. In that sense, a "one category" Victorino is a better keeper. But C.C. as a No. 1 starter is a better keep than Shane.

Bart (Cleveland, OH)

In a football 2 player keeper league is it typically better to keep 2 rb's or 1 rb and 1 qb?? (For reference players referred to are Jamal Lewis and Drew Brees, with AP obvious keeper)

AJ Mass

  (3:58 PM)

I'd always keep RBs over QBs - unless we're talking Brady or Peyton. It's a question of positional scarcity. Even with all the injuries, because most fantasy leagues play 2 RBs, you need at least 4-5 RBs to get through a season. QBs? You can get by on 2, and likely one of those will only play one game for you.

AJ Mass

  (3:58 PM)

Thanks a lot gang! We'll be back again next week for another hour of fantasy fun!