AJ Mass

  (11:00 AM)

Good morning gang! A lot of fantasy questions to get to over the next hour, so let's get right to it. Second cup of coffee in hand. Who pray tell is up first today?

Frank (A Dark Place)

Hey AJ, As a cowboy fan im more than worried about Witten being out for an extended period of time. But how much does this affect Romo and the other bumped and bruised receiving corp for dallas from a fantasy stand point if he is unable to play. thanks!

AJ Mass

  (11:01 AM)

Obviously, it doesn't help. But it's not Witten's potential absence that concerns me as much as the porous O-line that will have the biggest impact on whether or not Romo becomes a Pro Bowler or a pinata in 2012.

Steve (IND)

Somebody just dropped Carl Crawford in my 12-man 5 player keeper league. Is he a must-pick-up?

AJ Mass

  (11:03 AM)

Hard to justify keeping him over a ton of outfielders who have been healthy and productive and won't be coming off of surgery next year. As a flier, though, if you don't have other guys you like... why not?

Wing (NYC)

when is the earliest you would draft matt ryan in a 12 team where qbs fly off the board early?

AJ Mass

  (11:04 AM)

Right now I have him in Round 6 of a 12-team league. That's where I'd take him. I expect a lot of QBs going early in most drafts this season.

Will (Parkersburg)

Is Carl Crawford a must pick up? Haha I would almost consider him a must drop!

AJ Mass

  (11:05 AM)

He was talking keeper league. Obviously in a one-and-done, he's of no value.

Matt (Houston)

AJ, are people overreacting to the whole QB situation? I've been in 2 drafts thus far where 5 QB's were taken in the top 12. Not that I mind as I would up with Shady, Forte and AP as my top 3 picks...

AJ Mass

  (11:07 AM)

It's a reflection of the uncertainty at RB after the first few names. I can see five QB in the top 20 picks easy. However, it does make the one guy going old school RB/RB look real good, assuming he's the only one going that route.

Jeff S. (Vermont)

Do you see any added or subtracted value to Stephen Drew being traded to the A's?

AJ Mass

  (11:08 AM)

He's still Stephen Drew.

Keith (VA)

Did I make a mistake taking Foster over Rogers with the #1 pick?

AJ Mass

  (11:09 AM)

I don't think so. But one pick does not win or lose your league, even the No. 1 pick. As long as the rest of your draft went well, you'll have as good a shot as anyone.

AK (Milwaukee)

Dan Straily just got optioned to Triple-A...do you think he's going to be back soon and worth a roster spot, or is his major league season done?

AJ Mass

  (11:10 AM)

Absolutely will be back when rosters expand. Just a numbers game. That said, I don't know he'll have a ton of impact down the stretch for fantasy owners.

Patrick (NH)

Have you read your colleague's (Chris) book yet? Would you drop M. Morse for any of these: A. Gordon, J. Werth, or Y. Cespedes

AJ Mass

  (11:12 AM)

I have not yet gotten around to "Slotback Rhapsody" -- to paraphrase Jesse Ventura, "I ain't got time to read!" But I've heard good things... I'd drop for any of the three. YC>JW>AG.

Andy Smith (Tampa)

Do you buy into Berry's QB/TE in the first two rounds theory?

AJ Mass

  (11:13 AM)

Depends on my spot. For me, I'm still going RB with the first three spots. Having said that, at No. 4 and on, depending on who goes off the board, QB/TE might well be how I play it.

Roger (Cali)

Just finished reading your book AJ, GREAT STUFF. I have the #7 pick in a 10 teamer non ppr, in my mock drafts CJ2K and Brees has been falling to me, I really want Run DMC but he is not coming back to me at #14, is taking him at 7 to much risk?

AJ Mass

  (11:16 AM)

Thanks for the kind words. I really don't get the McFadden love to be honest. A lot of people are fine taking him top 10. I just don't see it, even in a PPR. Forget about 16... you're praying for 12 games.

Pat (Bronx)

In PPR leagues, how high would you take Sproles?

AJ Mass

  (11:17 AM)

End of the second.

Geoff (DC)

Expectations for Ryan Matthews? Where would you draft him? Thanks

AJ Mass

  (11:18 AM)

Early-to-mid second. Would have been first easy had he not gotten hurt, but still worth the risk I think.

jay (st louis )

please stop answering rankings questions, there are rankings all over espn

AJ Mass

  (11:19 AM)

You do understand how these chats work, right? Asking me for my opinion. Thanks for stopping by, though.

fast freddy (griftville)

i have been going rb ,te it has worked pretty well . do you like this thinking?

AJ Mass

  (11:20 AM)

I don't think you should get married to a positional strategy. Sure if you get Gronk or Graham, you're going to like your TE. How can you not? But if they're gone, you don't grab Gates in the second because you had the "plan", you know?

Jay (Phoenix)

If whining is a category, I'm taking jay (st louis) in the first...

AJ Mass

  (11:21 AM)

BAM!

JoLieT JaKe (Joliet, IL)

Would you feel more comfortable drafting: Eli in the 6th, Ryan in the 8th, or Schaub in the 10th?

AJ Mass

  (11:22 AM)

I'd rather have Eli, but the value of Ryan in the 8th is better.

jorge (los angeles)

any currently unowned pitchers you expect to be worthwhile to use for the whole month of september in a 16 team league? jacob turner, luke hochevar, bruce chen, will smith, zack wheeler, chris volstad?

AJ Mass

  (11:24 AM)

Most of those are of the streaming variety. I guess Turner and Hochevar are the two I like best of that bunch, but have no illusions.

Mark (Utah)

I'm in a ppr league that gives an extra point per completion to QB's as well as WR's. Is there a reason not to grab one of the top three QB's in the 1st round if possible, irregardless of draft position?

AJ Mass

  (11:27 AM)

It's always important to run the numbers specific to your league's format, but given that there are already three QB's in the first round without that extra point, odds are you'd want to have one of those guys even more in yours.

Matt (Houston)

Any reason at all to draft a Lions RB? Kevin Smith? Leshoure? Will they bring anything worthwhile to the table?

AJ Mass

  (11:29 AM)

Probably not... I mean at some point, yards are yards and you need to draft RBs to fill spots and bye weeks.

josh (rockville)

ETHICS QUESTION: if you don't want to use up any of your remaining 6 moves before the h2h playoffs, how ethical do you think it is to urge other teams who could easily drop a roster spot or two to pick up all the remaining SP so nobody else can use them?

AJ Mass

  (11:30 AM)

So, what you're asking is if it is ethical to ask other people to make moves they don't need to because you're too yellow to do the dirty work yourself? Do I got that right, Josh?

Jennifer (Tampa)

Any strategy when picking 12th in a 12 team league? Target specific positions of just grab best available?

AJ Mass

  (11:32 AM)

You should always grab best available in the beginning of the draft. You won't know where the positional droughts will be until at least Round 3.

Jordan (Providence RI)

Better ROS and as a keeper, Jaso, Lucroy or Avila?

AJ Mass

  (11:32 AM)

Jaso this year, Lucroy overall for future.

josh (rockville)

hey now! im not too yellow, i just don't want to be vulnerable to dirty streaming!

AJ Mass

  (11:33 AM)

But no issue with dirty collusion. Got it.

Mickey (South FLA)

Thoughts on Demarco Murray...ppr league, you have him as a RB1?

AJ Mass

  (11:34 AM)

Nope, a No. 2. Don't like the Dallas offense overall and let's face it... other players with longer histories are there for the taking.

Randy (Tha Dimas)

What are ur thoughts on Spiller? Could he be a good flex play in a 12 Teamer?

AJ Mass

  (11:36 AM)

Absolutely. Have him as RB27 in a PPR and not much lower in standard.

Matt (DE)

Peyton in the 10th, Vick in the 4th, for keeper value in a 2 QB, 6 pt for passing td league... gotta be Peyton, right?

AJ Mass

  (11:37 AM)

Vick might not last four quarters this season... no way I pay that much for him.

Matt (Cleveland, OH)

Would you drop Span for Brantley, Saunders, or Aoki?

AJ Mass

  (11:38 AM)

For Brantley, I would.

Kenny (Chicago)

Who do you think ends up being the most valuable rb in Pittsburgh this season?

AJ Mass

  (11:38 AM)

I think it's Mendy by the end of the year, though Redman will have a good month head start on overall point total.

Ry (OH)

What is the earliest you'd draft Trent Richardson in a 10 team league given the knee surgery and uncertain timetable?

AJ Mass

  (11:39 AM)

Personally, I'm probably not taking him at all... though certainly at some point he becomes a value pick... no way before third round for me.

Randy (Tha Dimas)

Are u high on Percy, He is healthy and has had time to work with Ponder?

AJ Mass

  (11:40 AM)

Percy is a WR1 in most formats with no health issues. He's always a ? come lineup time, but that said, I have no doubt that when healthy there are few better for fantasy.

Justin (Redondo Beach, CA)

Miles Austin for Shonn Greene. All things being equal, who got the better end of that deal?

AJ Mass

  (11:41 AM)

There is little to like in that Jets offense, and Greene is not in the positive side of the ledger.

Scott (Here n There)

Is Andre Johnson a must have?? He always gets injured!! Would you rather have AJ Green, Jennings, Julio Jones or Welker in a PPR league??

AJ Mass

  (11:43 AM)

I'd rather have Welker, and you can make an argument for Julio as well, but Johnson's injury history is not *that* scary to me. Still Top 5.

Randy (Tha Dimas)

Do You See "LGB" Taking Over Martin's Carries At Any Point This Season?

AJ Mass

  (11:45 AM)

Assuming Blount's injury does not prove to be an issue, I see a 50-50 here at best for LeG.

Chris (Cincy)

Who gets the carries: Ridley or Vereen? Would you start Ridley at your flex over Malcolm Floyd?

AJ Mass

  (11:45 AM)

Ridley will get the carries, but we're talking 200 max for the year. I'd have to look at matchups to decide on flex.

Will (Orlando)

Keep 2 out of this group...A.P., A. Rodgers, Jimmy Graham?

AJ Mass

  (11:46 AM)

Let AP go.

Mike (San Clemente)

You okay with J. Charles as your #1 RB?

AJ Mass

  (11:47 AM)

Not my first choice, but if I don't have an early enough pick, I am.

Kevin (Winnipeg)

Just picked up Anderson.....sit and watch today, right?

AJ Mass

  (11:48 AM)

My take is always to sit, even if it means missing out on a Garcia day. Odds are there will be rustiness or an unofficial pitch count. Risk-reward analysis makes it just not worth it for me.

Rory (Vegas)

Do I drop or Keep Austin Collie?

AJ Mass

  (11:49 AM)

When did you draft him? He's not likely to be anything more than a bye week fill-in anyway, so why not keep him? By the time you need him, he will presumably be OK.

JoLieT JaKe (Joliet, IL)

What round makes you the most comfortable in taking MJD now that we're going in week 3 and he still has not played a down?

AJ Mass

  (11:51 AM)

He would not have played too many downs anyway... I think he's fallen out of top 5 RBs for me, but once they're all gone, he definitely moves into the conversation.

Rick (Kansas)

I drafted Vick on Sunday and after 2 games I'm pretty sure I should probably pick a back up. RGIII and Luck are off. Locker? Ponder? Flynn? eek...

AJ Mass

  (11:51 AM)

I think a backup QB is always a good idea. I'd go with Locker of those three.

Stevo25 (Tulsa)

2nd overall pick in draft qb is the way to go am i correct?

AJ Mass

  (11:53 AM)

Again, I don't like to make broad generalizations because every league is different, but for me it's Foster/Rice/Shady in some order as 1-3. Then you can go Aaron.

Matt (Cleveland, OH)

Who would you drop to make room for Marcum? Niese or W. Chen or none at all?

AJ Mass

  (11:54 AM)

I'd drop Chen. Although I was definitely in his corner in the spring, I do think the IP count will catch up with him going forward.

Ramsey (Los Angeles)

I have Greinke, Dempster, and Anibal on my roster. So far, the switch to the A.L. hasn't been kind to any of them. Please tell me that they'll be OK.

AJ Mass

  (11:55 AM)

I have my doubts with all three to be honest and had them when the trades were made.

Dan (NY)

Thoughts on an RB from the Redskins??

AJ Mass

  (11:56 AM)

Don't love getting bogged down in Shanahanigans... at this point, gun to head, I think I'd go with Hightower of the group.

Jamison (FL)

Tyler Skaggs looks like hes getting called up Wednesday for doubleheader. he stick around in the rotation after?

AJ Mass

  (11:57 AM)

Not if the move is made as the special "26th man" rule for double-dips. But he probably gets called up as soon as rosters expand, so we're talking a week's wait.

Matthew (Toronto)

Should I be worried about Mike Wallace yet?

AJ Mass

  (11:58 AM)

Steelers aren't caving. I think he'll show up eventually, but he's losing invaluable rep time with Big Ben.

Chris (Cincy)

What StL WR are you drafting late? Amendola looks the best so far.

AJ Mass

  (11:59 AM)

I'm going with Quick, but it's because of the fact that I'm going home run hunting at that part of the draft.

Rich (NYC)

Thoughts on Haren...this year and the future. Thanks.

AJ Mass

  (12:00 PM)

Future, fine. This year, I think there's an injury there that needs some serious tending to that will hamper him the rest of the way.

Andrew (Chicago)

Antonio Brown or Erik Decker as a keeper, both were free agent pickups so they would fill a late round spot.

AJ Mass

  (12:00 PM)

Brown.

AJ Mass

  (12:01 PM)

That's the final Q for the day, gang. Thanks for all who took part. We're on Twitter (@ajmass) if I didn't get to you. Until the next time, good luck and may the odds be EVER in your favor!