Scott Engel

  (2:59 PM)

Good afternoon everyone! Glad to se you all - bring on those offseason fantasy football questions and anything about our Arena Football Pick 'Em game or NASCAR.

Jeremy (New Orleans)

Last week i remember you got a lot of flack for talking football in your chat. Then some guy named Brett decided that he should hang it up. Have anything to say to the hecklers.

Scott Engel

  (3:01 PM)

My Mondya chats are mostly football and i will take some occasional baseball questions on Fridays. We try to cover it all throughout the week, plus we have the Answer Guys for Insider subscribers. I would say to those who care on Favre, expect Ryan Grant to face more defensive attention and for the TD numbers of Greg Jennings to drop.

Trey (VA)

Why doesn't Alfonso Soriano get any love in the first round? If ESPNs projections hold true, he'd be one of only 4 players to hit at least .280-30-90-30 and OF doesn't seem as deep as it usually is.

Scott Engel

  (3:05 PM)

Personally, age and recent injuries make him more of a concern. But just because he is not a first-rounder doesn't mean he is not a fine pick still, especially for power and speed.

Rob (Fort Meyers, FL)

Is it a problem having a Ryan Howard and Dan Uggla on the same team. These guys are 1 and 2 in strike outs. My league does score based on strike outs and average. Would you recommend that I drop or trade one of them.Note: That I do have A-Rod, Jeter, Torii Hunter and Ortiz to get me some runs and jaks.. Well what do you think?

Scott Engel

  (3:07 PM)

I would try and move Uggla in your scoring system - I think you obviously know you need to make a move in order not to get overwhelmed in the Ks category

Bob (Baltimore)

Who will be the comeback player this year? Caddy, R. Brown or...

Scott Engel

  (3:09 PM)

Not looking good for Cady with a patella tendon issue. I would count more on Brown to play better or Thomas Jones to play better than he did. If Shaun Alexander ends up in Detroit, that could be interesting as well

Alex(Yardley)

Football- Which free agent will make the biggest improvement over last season- Besides Turner?

Scott Engel

  (3:11 PM)

There reallya ren't any other major impact moves besides Turner. I am still waiting to see where D.J. Hackett ends up

Jamal (dog pound)

whatup Scott...my team has made many upgrades to the offense in the offseason...do you see me having 12-14 tds next season??

Scott Engel

  (3:14 PM)

Probbaly not - with Derk Anderson now established and Stallworth giving him the chance to make even more big plays downfield, I see Cleveland scoring more through the air

Jeff (Ohio)

What round do you see Derek Anderson going after his breakout campaign and then flameout in the fantasy playoffs?

Scott Engel

  (3:15 PM)

O think the flameout will be less remembered than the overall breakthrough season. I believe he will be a fifth-rounder in yearly leagues

Joshy (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)

I don't usually like to take 2 pitchers within my first 4 picks, but if someone like Brandon Webb is still available at pick #39 (already have beckett, utley, wright), Do i need to take him?

Scott Engel

  (3:16 PM)

I think you have to jump on him there, and then you can focus more on offense in the following two to three rounds

Bill (Berkeley)

What kind of numbers do you expect from Grant next year? With Favre gone, I think he'll get more carries, but they won't be quite as productive.

Scott Engel

  (3:18 PM)

I agre - I think we are looking at about 1150-plus yards and eight ot nine TDs - not as good as his late-season 2007 numbers might indicate, but still quite good, and inconsistent

Jay (Manalapan):

Whats your take on Eric Byrnes this year? He's had back-to-back good years now. Is a repeat of last year's 20-50 obtainable?

Scott Engel

  (3:19 PM)

That's probbaly the best I would expect - he plays hard and is a good value, but I would only look for the same or slightly lower numbers

Pat, NY

In a h2h league, understanding steals are at a premium and already having Wright and Upton on the team, would you prefer Ichiro or Berkman?

Scott Engel

  (3:21 PM)

I would go with Berkman - the lineup looks better and you will still get good power numbers from him, even though last year he was down a bit

Jeremy (New Orleans)

Roto standard scoring Bigger Steal, Braun @ pick 17 or oswalt @ pick 64??

Scott Engel

  (3:23 PM)

I would actually go with Oswalt - he is still going to eb very good, even if not quite up to past standards

Bill (Berkeley)

Are 1350 yards and 11 TDs out of reach for Marshawn Lynch? Trent Edwards seems like more of a game manager, so I Think the Bills will lean on Marshawn pretty heavily.

Scott Engel

  (3:24 PM)

That may be a bit much - receiving is still and issue and teams will still focus heavily on Lynch from the defensive perspective - I think we will be looking more at 1200-plus and nine.

JB (Grand Cayman)

Am I crazy for thinking that WR Chris Henry could have a HUGE year in Cincy this season???

Scott Engel

  (3:27 PM)

I think that is too hopeful considering he won;t be a starter and will have some big games, but you can't expect consistency.

Shaun Alexander (Seattle)

Do you think the Seahawks are crazy for bringing in 2 new backs in the offseason?

Scott Engel

  (3:28 PM)

I think they could have done better than Julius Jones - but they could not afford Turner, at least not now. I think they should have drafted someone, and Alexande r really needs a chnage of scenery to possibly regain respectable form.

JB (DC)

Scott: What do you make of Beltran's status? Is he questionable enough to not freeze and keep Eric Byrnes? Please help, freezers are due by 5 PM!

Scott Engel

  (3:31 PM)

I would keep Beltran - he is just not rushing himslef when there is a full regular season ahead and he should be fine. Spring training can serve as his time to fully recover so he can be ready when it really counts

John (Philly)

Scott: Last night, I turned down sex with my wife so I could go over position eligibility of players. Do I have a problem?

Scott Engel

  (3:32 PM)

No, you just need to know when to take a break. I know when to put MLB2k8 on Pause.

Marques Colston (New Orleans)

With the mega contracts that subpar wrs are getting this offseason, and my bosses the bensons are going to let me play in a contract year... Is 100-1500-12 out of the question for me??

Scott Engel

  (3:33 PM)

I think 1,500 is a little lofty, but the numbers will still be very good and Colston will be an elite fantasy WR again.

Tuna (Tuna of the sea)

What do you think Ricky Williams is going to do this year?

Scott Engel

  (3:34 PM)

At best, get a few spot carries per game to keep Brown fresh if he stays in Miami.

Barry Bonds (SF/FA)

Will I ever play baseball again?

Scott Engel

  (3:35 PM)

I think someone will give in for the power and drawing capacity - but I don't think it will be Tampa Bay or the Mets

Kurt Warner (Arizona)

Do you think I'm the man for the starting job in Arizona over Matt Leinert?

Scott Engel

  (3:35 PM)

I think Leinart gets a firm shot to win the job. Warner is just very good insurance.

Alex (Yardley)

Will the Browns offensive players put similar numbers as last year? Especially B. Edwards?

Scott Engel

  (3:36 PM)

I think Lewis will score less, and you may see a rise in production from Winslow, while Edwards will be very comparable.

Reggie Bush (NO)

Is it safe to say I'm a bust and that I could not adapt to life in the NFL?

Scott Engel

  (3:38 PM)

Too early to say that - the leraning curve is taking longer than expected. BTW, these question swhere someone pretends to be the actual athlete are the most annoying.

Mike ( Boston )

How much will Markakis's value be hurt if Roberts is traded to the Cubs?

Scott Engel

  (3:38 PM)

Not too much, I believe. He ha sperformed well with not much around him already.

Tom (Nashville)

Does the loss of Cabrera affect Hanley Ramirez at all?

Scott Engel

  (3:40 PM)

Maybe slightky in terms of runs scored, but he'll get on base just a smuch and I don't see a major falloff in the other categories

Moe

Who's going to win this week's race?

Scott Engel

  (3:41 PM)

I like Edwards - he is the one guy that really could have taken the win from Busch last week, and he has a great sense of urgency after he dropped to 17th in the standings

Trey (VA)

You mentioned MLB 2K8. What do you like better, MLB 2K series or MVP Baseball series?

Scott Engel

  (3:43 PM)

Not a fan of college baseball - I love MLB2k8 for its realism and I can play on classic mode until I learn the new controls - my gamertag is ack41- sen me a friend request and remind me you saw my gamertag in this chat

Bill ( Denver)

What will the Broncos RB situation look like- T. Henry will be Bench, Cut or Starter?

Scott Engel

  (3:44 PM)

Henry, I believe is staying, but could end up in a timeshare unless he has a great camp.

Steve (Shreveport LA)

Keeper League (3 players) - Adrain Peterson (Minn) and Andre Johnson seem to be obvious. Grant or Fast Willie for #3?

Scott Engel

  (3:45 PM)

I would go with Grant - I don't trust parker to be consistent, especially in the TD department

Jason (Atlanta)

Scott, I've got Beckett at $24 in our keeper league, where inflation rates are usually around 35-40% for the top players. I've also got Sabathia and Verlander in my staff, as well as several offensive studs. Should I take the risk and keep Beckett, or cut him loose and allocate that money to another pitcher in the auction? Several quality pitchers will be available this year.

Scott Engel

  (3:46 PM)

For peace of mind, I would toss him back intot he player pool - at the worst, you can get him back if you don;t land another quality pitcher with less concerns

Jon (Boston)

What if it is the actual athlete asking the question and just happens to want to know your opinion?

Scott Engel

  (3:47 PM)

I think the odds of that happening are longer than Mo Vaughn making a comeback

Chris (Baltimore)

Any change in draft strategy when your play 2 extra OF's, MI, and CI in addition to the usual positions (mixed 5x5 league)??

Scott Engel

  (3:48 PM)

I think oF will still be pretty deep - but I would certainly put a much higher emphasis on getting MI's early on

Jason (OH)

I think he meant the MVP game that EA made until 2K sports bought the rights to MLB games. I personally think MVP 2005 by EA Sports is the best baseball game ever made (I have never played the MLB The Show series).

Scott Engel

  (3:49 PM)

That was three years ago, and games have come a long way - in that era, I really liked All Star Baseball 2002 and preferred that franchise over MVP.

Jimmy (NYC)

I have 2K8, not that impressed, the game freezes and the gameplay is VERY slow. Not too mention the pitches don't break nearly as much as the old MVP series that EA made.

Scott Engel

  (3:50 PM)

There is a patch on the way, from what I hear. I am having a lot of fun with it.

Bo Bo

The best up and coming pitcher for the Yankees -Phil Hughes -Ian Kennedy -Joba Chamberlain ?

Scott Engel

  (3:51 PM)

Joba gets all the hype - but I could end up liking Hughes a lot too for fantasy purposes in the long run

Bill (Berkeley)

Speaking of Markakis, do you think his power numbers continue to progress? Are 30 HR a possibility?

Scott Engel

  (3:52 PM)

I think you should be happy with what you have gotten so far, and don't look for much more upside there

Zac (MN)

Don't you think the Show is better?

Scott Engel

  (3:52 PM)

I have the 360.

Garrett (NC)

Do you see J.R. Towles picking up where he left off last year for the Astros?

Scott Engel

  (3:54 PM)

He obviously has a lot of upside. I see only good things ahead for him.

Tom (Philly)

What RBs increase their value the most in PPR leagues- Westbrook and...???

Scott Engel

  (3:55 PM)

I think you will see a healthier Ronnie Borwn become much more of an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield

Tony

To pick Damon.. or not to pick Damon.. Thats my question for you Scott.

Scott Engel

  (3:56 PM)

He can still be servicable. I think he still has some value when you need depth.

Derek (Chicago, IL)

Scott, sorry to make this a video game chat but do you notice that every time you pitch to a stud hitter he hits a home run? Justin Morneau went 3-3 with 3 HR's off me and the rest of the lineup combined got 1 hit.

Scott Engel

  (3:57 PM)

depend on who you are pitching with - I buzzsaw everyone with Santana, and Oliver Perez can be tough

Jeremy (New Orleans)

can my saints become a top 10 fantasy d?

Scott Engel

  (3:58 PM)

I think they can be better and become a good backup unit for occasional starts - don't expect a major upgrade

Tony

we got two minutes left scott. Who's your fav. team in the NFL?

Scott Engel

  (3:59 PM)

Seattle Seahawks fan since 1983.

Moe

Scott, video games? When are you going to grow up?

Scott Engel

  (4:00 PM)

I think you need to grow up - mature people don't judge others and respect their interests.

Mike (Carbondale, IL)

PPR....and you didn't answer LDT? The guy is a lock for 50+ catches.

Scott Engel

  (4:01 PM)

We were talking about who would improve - not who is established ;)

Jeremy (New Orleans)

Happy to see Shawn go?? i think he is gettin a raw deal. No one has been able to run since Hutch got paid

Scott Engel

  (4:02 PM)

the current ofefnsive line does not suit his running style - see my offseason NB on him today on the FFL page.

Scott Engel

  (4:02 PM)

Thanks a lot everyone - have a good weekend - go NY Dragons!