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Posted: Friday October 3, 2008 1:56PM; Updated: Friday October 3, 2008 5:14PM Fantasy Football Mailbag: Week 5The Wizard dishes out fantasy advice and answers all your football questions right here!
For the top stories of Week 4, go right HERE. And be sure to check out this week's injury and bye week reports HERE. The Browns, Jets, Raiders, and Rams all have byes in Week 5 -- no one on those teams should be in your lineup! Who should I get: Broncos QB Jay Cutler ($7,200,000) or Cowboys QB Tony Romo ($8,800,000)? I think they're both in for big weeks, Max. But I think Romo is in for a slightly bigger week. Coming off a home loss to the rival Redskins, I could see the Cowboys taking out their frustrations on a battered Bengals secondary. Do you have to fill all your spots on your team or can you leave a low scoring position like kicker out to save more money? No, DON'T DO IT ROB! If you leave any roster spot empty, your team automatically gets a big fat 0 for the week. So always be sure to fill out your lineup in full! Who is Stinky Pete? Ah yes, Stinky Pete. You see Tommy, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's nicknames were all on the lame side: "All Day" and even worse, "Purple Jesus" (there's nothing less original than nicknaming a great player "something Jesus"). So we at SIKIDS.com held a contest last season to give Peterson a real nickname. The winner, by a landslide, was "Stinky Pete." It's awesome because not only is "Stinky Pete" just a really funny name, but it's the opposite of what Peterson is (as a player; I don't know if he smells good or not). It's like nicknaming a really big, fat guy "Tiny." Is Vikings RB Adrian Peterson ($9,700,000) in or out with an injury? Whatever he is, should I put him on my team? Peterson has been questionable the past couple weeks with a hamstring injury, Amor. But he's fully expected to play on Monday night. And I think he's in for a big day against the Saints. And as for my philosophy on questionable players: I usually don't put them in my lineup. It's just not worth the risk, considering they might not play at all and I'll end up with zero points. I want Titans QB Vince Young ($5,750,000), but I know that Colts QB Peyton Manning ($8,100,000) is better. Who should I have? And who should I get between Eagles RB Brian Westbrook ($1,400,000) and Titans RB LenDale White ($6,450,000)? Oh, you don't want Vince Young right now, Cooper. He's been demoted to third string behind Kerry Collins and Chris Simms for the time being. Definitely go with Peyton. And as for Westbrook, I have a feeling he's not going to suit up on Sunday. I'm not a huge LenDale White fan, but I'd definitely take him over Westbrook this week since Westbrook is questionable with an ankle injury. Who's better, Pakcers QB Aaron Rodgers ($6,950,000) or Chargers QB Philip Rivers ($6,950,000)? I'd give Rivers the edge, Matt. Even when they're both 100 percent, I think Rivers is the better fantasy player because he's surrounded by so much talent. Rodgers is also struggling through a sprained throwing shoulder right now. I wouldn't take a chance on him in Week 5, especially since he might not play at all. Do running backs get points for throwing a TD pass like Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown ($6,550,000) did in Week 3? Or even if a wide receiver like Hines Ward did it? They sure do, Thomas. Any player who throws a TD pass gets the 60 points for the TD, plus the yardage. So that 19-yard TD pass was a 79-point play for Brown. Should I keep Packers WR Donald Driver ($7,150,000)? I get hundreds of questions every week, and Zack and Jack sent the same question within one minute of each other. Weird. And their names rhyme! But anyway, I wouldn't go with Driver, guys. He's clearly the Number 2 receiver behind Greg Jennings ($7,300,000) right now and just isn't getting many passes thrown his way. Do you like AC/DC? Don't they rock? They do indeed, David. When I was a kid, "T.N.T." was pretty much my favorite song. Who would you play between Vikings RB Adrian Peterson ($9,700,000) and Cowboys RB Marion Barber ($8,000,000)? Actually Tony, I'd like to play both of them if I could. The Cowboys realize they made a huge mistake by not giving the ball to Barber often last week. I think they'll correct that mistake and run over the Bengals on Sunday. As for Peterson, I see him having a big Monday night performance against the Saints. His hamstring looked pretty much healed up and he had a great day against a nasty Titans defense last week. Do you think I should keep Patriots WR Randy Moss ($12,250,000)? Yeah, I think it's time to give Moss the boot, Bob. He's just not producing without Brady's perfect throws. Moss struggled when he didn't have a great quarterback in Oakland, and it looks like he's going to struggle again without Brady in New England. Which of these three players should I start: Titans RB Chris Johnson ($5,250,000), Titans RB LenDale White ($6,450,000), or Bucs RB Earnest Graham ($7,400,000)? I'd go with Graham in Week 5, Aidan. After a terrible Week 3, he bounced back nicely with 111 yards and a TD against the Packers last week. And this week he'll face a Broncos defense that struggles to stop the run. Not only do Johnson and White face a very strong Ravens D this week, but they'll continue to share the workload, cutting into each other's fantasy value. Is Colts QB Peyton Manning ($8,100,000) going to finish off the season well? I think he will, Connor. But Peyton's no longer the sure bet he used to be. The good news is that his knee will likely get healthier as the season goes on. But Indy's defense is a problem. Opponents will continue to dominate the Colts on the ground and eat up the time of possession. And, obviously, the less Peyton is on the field, the fewer chances he has to score fantasy points. Since Giants WR Plaxico Burress ($7,800,000) is out, who should I put in his place? Well Jessica, I'm a big believer in Broncos WR Brandon Marshall ($8,000,000), who costs only a little bit more. But if you need to go cheaper than Plax, I'd take a good look at WR Santana Moss ($6,350,000) and Lions WR Calvin Johnson ($6,250,000) too. Do you think you could win the Madden Bowl? Nope! I used to be a decent Madden player, Nick, but I kind of gave it up. I just felt like I was paying $60 per year for the same game as the year before. But hey, that's just me. Right now, Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano ($5,100,000) is my backup TE. Should I release him and get either Broncos TE Tony Scheffler ($6,000,000) or Texans TE Owen Daniels ($6,100,000)? Thanks! P.S. Should I get Browns QB Brady Quinn ($5,400,000) as a backup? I think I like Daniels the best out of that batch, Noah. He's consistently the first or second look for Texans QB Matt Schaub. Those other two guys are just a little too risky for my tastes. And I'd hold off on Quinn for now. Not only has he not overtaken starter Derek Anderson just yet, but Quinn looked anything but sharp during the preseason. Hey Wiz! I'm having trouble with picking either Cowboys RB Marion Barber ($8,000,000) or Ravens RB Willis McGahee ($7,800,000). Answers? Oh, I think Willis made up your mind for you, Danny. He's dealing with sore ribs, and backup Le'Ron McClain has outperformed him this season anyway. I wouldn't take McGahee if I were you. Plus, I think Marion the Barbarian is in for a big bounce back week against the Bengals on Sunday. Who should I pick: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson ($9,700,000) or Saints RB Reggie Bush ($7,550,000)? Oooh, picking between the two runners in the Monday night matchup, eh Andrew? I think Peterson is the clear-cut choice. Not only is Stinky Pete the superior talent, but the Saints run defense is much weaker than the Vikings run D. I think Bush will do some damage in the passing game, but overall Peterson should have a much better night. Fantasy Football managers are talking of needing a salary cap increase. You are right that the smaller cap makes things tougher. But what I don't understand is that they added a new position (defense and special teams) and did not increase the cap at all. Why is that? It's a valid point Matthew, but keep this in mind: Even though the cap didn't go up when DSTs were added, the average player salaries went down. My personal opinion is that it evened out in the end. But I'll have a discussion about it with the SIKIDS.com Fantasy Football rule makers after the season. Wiz, in another league I was offered Colts QB Peyton Manning for Jets QB Brett Favre. Should I accept? I'd do it, Kaden. I don't think Brett will have many days like last week's six-TD performance. He and the Jets got a big boost from all those Arizona turnovers. I think, in the end, Manning is the better player by a little bit. And as an added bonus, he's already had his bye week. Favre's bye week is this weekend. That means, if you make the trade for Week 5, Manning will give you one extra game from here on in. Who is better than Raiders RB Darren McFadden ($7,950,000) and has a smaller salary? There are a couple good ones out there, Jake. And since the Raiders have a bye in Week 5, McFadden should definitely be out of your lineup. I'd look at Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew ($7,700,000), Saints RB Reggie Bush ($7,550,000), Bears RB Matt Forte ($6,150,000), Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown ($6,550,000), and Bucs RB Earnest Graham ($7,400,000). I wouldn't say all those guys are definitely better than McFadden, but they're all at least on the same level. Should I pick up Lions RB Rudi Johnson ($5,450,000)? I wouldn't do it, Riley. I think Rudi's a great guy, but I think he's done being a productive NFL runner. And the fact that he plays for a terrible Lions team doesn't help matters at all. He'll get the occasional TD when the Lions get it deep into an opponents' territory, but I don't think Johnson will pick up mush rushing yardage this year. Especially since rookie RB Kevin Smith will cut into Johnson's playing time. Greetings, wizards! I have taken a break from my studies to ask the Great One a fantasy football question. Fantasy Wizard, is Bears QB Kyle Orton worthy of a starting spot on my fantasy team this Sunday? Also, do you think he's the Jay Gibbons of the NFL? Thanks! Ah yes, my old apprentice, Matty Two-Times, writing in from his Wizard's Academy. You fantasy baseball managers remember Matty, right? I know I know, he grew up so fast. But anyway, I'm not expecting big things from Orton on Sunday, Two Times. I think the Bears would prefer to steamroll the hapless Lions with their power running game. Keep in mind that, even though their pass defense is indeed cruddy, only Aaron Rodgers has put up big numbers against Detroit. That's because the Falcons and 49ers jumped out on the Lions early and spent most of the game controlling the clock with the ground game. And speaking of Jay Gibbons, I can't believe the Brewers didn't put him on their post-season roster. If Gibbons was facing Brad Lidge in the ninth on Thursday, I think it's safe to say Milwaukee would be leading that series 1-0. Hey Wiz, should I put in Chiefs RB Larry Johnson ($8,300,000) for Cowboys RB Marion Barber ($8,000,000)? LJ rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns last week. I wouldn't do it, Mahmoud. LJ had a great day last week, but it came against a Broncos defense that has struggled mightily against the run the past two seasons. I don't think he'll have anywhere near that kind of success against a pretty good Panthers defense on Sunday. And, like I've said before, I think Barber's going to have a big day against the Bengals this week. I'm thinking about Bears RB Matt Forte ($6,150,000) and 49ers RB Frank Gore ($9,450,000) because of their favorable matchups. Also, do you think that Eagles QB Donovan McNabb ($7,250,000) will have a big game this week? I was very disappointed in Gore last week, Kevin. But I think he has a chance to gash a Patriots defense that got stomped by the Dolphins in their last game. And I think the Bears will give Forte a ton of touches against the Lions, and he'll respond with big numbers as well. As for McNabb, he has a good history against the Redskins. The last seven times he has faced Washington, D-Nabb's numbers have ranged from good to great.
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