Are there any rookies out there this season who can make the same sort of impact as Adrian Peterson? Thanks! -- T. Hunter, North Dakota
Michael Fabiano: Rookie seasons like the one Peterson put together are rare. Sure, there have been others to produce solid totals in their first NFL season (Edgerrin James, Randy Moss and Clinton Portis are a few of the names that come to mind). But overall, those sort of seasons are very hard to predict. With that said, I don't really see a rookie out there that can make such an enormous impact.
With no legitimate options at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end from the 2008 class, the best chance for a solid season comes from the rookie running backs. Darren McFadden has all the tools to succeed, but he doesn't have a great offensive line in front of him. What's more, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush will also see carries. Jonathan Stewart is also a talented back, but the presence of DeAngelo Williams suggests a backfield committee could be imminent.
Matt Forte and Kevin Smith both have the chance to earn prominent roles, but rushing for over 1,300 yards with 12 touchdowns (as Peterson did last season) isn't likely for either of these runners. Chris Johnson and Ryan Torain are also rookies to watch, but again, there's little chance for a Peterson-type impact in 2008.
I have done several mock drafts, and it seems like the running back position is a crapshoot after the elite options are off the board. So my question is, which back do you think will have a better season between Julius Jones and Michael Turner? -- P. Cross, Burlington, Vt.
M.F.: While he can put up decent numbers from time to time, I never felt like Jones was tough enough to be a true featured back. Now in Seattle, he is expected to share carries with Maurice Morris, which limits his value. He has had success at Qwest Field in the past, but the team's offensive line hasn't been the same since it lost OG Steve Hutchinson to Minnesota. Overall, I just don't see Jones as more than a No. 3 fantasy back or flex starter.
On the flip side, I think Turner can become a viable No. 2 fantasy runner in Atlanta. There are some questions about the offensive line, but Turner is an explosive back and a perfect fit for the power running game that offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey will utilize this season. The Falcons will also use Jerious Norwood, but I think Turner will see 300 touches in what promises to be a running offense.
Anyone can pick players in the first three rounds, but I think championships are won in the later rounds with sleeper picks. What do you think of these potential sleepers: Earl Bennett, Chris Brown, Randy McMichael, Aaron Rodgers and the Raiders defense? -- R. Klareich, Atlanta, Ga.
M.F.: I don't think there's a wide receiver in Chicago with 1,000-yard potential, and Bennett will need to perform well in the preseason to earn a prominent role. Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd have been lining up as the team's starting wide receivers early in camp, and the team still fields Mark Bradley, Marty Booker and Rashied Davis. I see a rotation of receivers being used in the pass attack, so Bennett will be hard pressed to make an impact.
Brown has played a mere 17 games over the past two seasons, and reports out of Houston suggests he's already dealing with some nagging injuries. The Texans have an overload of runners, so Brown isn't a great bet to produce for fantasy owners. McMichael is an interesting option in St. Louis, as new offensive coordinator Al Saunders likes to use his tight ends (Tony Gonzalez, Chris Cooley). The veteran could become a nice late-round value pick in leagues with 12-plus teams.
Despite all the Brett Favre madness, it looks like Rodgers is and will be the No. 1 quarterback in Green Bay. He has all the tools to find success -- a strong arm, a solid line in front of him and a boatload of talented options to choose from on offense. He'll be drafted as a No. 2 fantasy quarterback, but Rodgers could have added value against lesser opponents. The Raiders defense has some sleeper value (will anyone dare to throw on this team?), but it needs to stop the run to be truly productive.
I like the team I drafted aside from the quarterbacks, which includes Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Schaub. With that said, I've picked up Brett Favre off the waiver wire. What will Favre's value be now that he's asked to be reinstated? Should I release Schaub now? -- L. Borden, Troy, N.Y.
M.F.: I'm sure owners everywhere are adding Favre off their league's waiver wire. While there's no telling where he'll be in 2008, it looks like Favre will in fact be active this season, and he's firmly back on the fantasy radar. But before you get too excited about his return, be aware that Favre has little chance to duplicate last season's totals on another team. There's also a little matter of the Madden cover curse, which has doomed prominent players for more than a decade. I would still rather have Favre ahead of Schaub (if he is projected to start in Green Bay or elsewhere), but again, there are no guarantees that he'll find continued success.
Which wide receiver has the most value for this season: Braylon Edwards, Andre Johnson or Steve Smith? -- T. Hyland, Louisville, Ky.
M.F.: I love all three of these wideouts, but it's hard not to rank Edwards as the best option after a season with 80 receptions, 1,289 yards and an incredible 16 touchdowns. Johnson, who could catch 100 passes and score double-digit touchdowns in Houston, is no slouch, either. And with Jake Delhomme back in Carolina, I expect Smith to have a solid season. Overall, you really can't go wrong with any of these three talented wideouts.
How does Jeremy Shockey affect the value of Drew Brees and Marques Colston? -- M. Mathison, Chantilly, Va.
M.F.: Brees won't move past Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Tony Romo on our list of the top quarterbacks, but he does become more attractive with Shockey in the mix. Outside of Colston, Brees doesn't have a significant second receiver in the pass attack (unless you include Reggie Bush), so the addition of Shockey allows him another viable target. Colston, who proved that his rookie season was no fluke with 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007, will remain a No. 1 fantasy wideout with Shockey on the team.
Would you recommended drafting an elite tight end like Antonio Gates or Jason Witten as high as Round 4, or is it a better idea to get a lesser but still solid tight end later in the draft? -- J. Bosdell, Richmond, Va.
M.F.: While it's nice to have Gates or Witten, I prefer to sit back and wait at the position a few rounds. After all, I can still land a solid option like Tony Gonzalez or Chris Cooley after the fourth or fifth round. Todd Heap, Dallas Clark and Jeremy Shockey could be on the board even later than that, and I wouldn't mind any of this trio serving as my No. 1 fantasy tight end. With sleepers like Greg Olsen and Tony Scheffler available in the late rounds as well, I'd wait on the position.
I have the third overall pick in our 12-team PPR league, and I know that LaDainian Tomlinson and Tom Brady will be the first two selections. My question is, who do I take between Adrian Peterson and Brian Westbrook? -- M. Marble, Brandon, Miss.
M.F.: There's really not a lot to think about here. As much as I like Peterson, Westbrook has more value in leagues that reward points for receptions. Last season, Westbrook outscored A.P. 352 to 235 in one of my leagues that used a standard scoring system but rewarded one point for catches. That's an enormous difference. Here's another reason to take Westbrook: He had 92 more targets than Peterson last season.
I'm in a 12-team, three-keeper league that rewards four point for passing touchdowns and one point for every 20 passing yards and one point for every three catches. I also lose the round of the players I retain. My options are Steven Jackson (Round 1), Marc Bulger (Round 2), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Round 3), Julius Jones (Round 4), Kellen Winslow (Round 6), Bernard Berrian (Round 8), Greg Jennings (Round 12) and Ryan Grant (Round 15). Suggestions? -- M. Gaona, Mexico
M.F.: Jackson is a no-brainer despite the first-round price tag, and Grant is an absolute steal for a 15th-round selection. I would also retain Houshmandzadeh, who broke out last season and is now in a contract year. With two backs and a stud wideout as your keepers, I would focus on a quarterback or another wideout in Round 2.
I'm in a four-player keeper league and will retain Marshawn Lynch, Tony Romo and Brian Westbrook. However, I can't decide who to keep between Marques Colston and Jason Witten. What do you think? -- A. Sayari, Northridge, Calif.
M.F.: You'll be able to land a solid tight end in the re-draft much easier than a No. 1 fantasy wideout, especially with four keepers per team, so I'd have to retain Colston. He's a virtual lock for 80-plus catches, 1,100-plus yards and eight-plus touchdowns in New Orleans' prolific pass attack.
