Ray Rice

Who should I draft with the 9th pick, Darren McFadden or Chris Johnson?

After the top three runningbacks (Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, and Ray Rice) are off the board, many fantasy owners will be trying to decide between Chris Johnson or Darren McFadden as the next back off the board. Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Johnson, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Matthew Stafford are likely 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 off the board. Your 2012 fantasy football draft will really start to get exciting around the 9th pick and odds are that you’re trying to decide between Chris Johnson and Darren McFadden.

Each back has some concerns going into the 2012 season. Can Darren McFadden stay healthy? Will Chris Johnson rebound from a poor 2011 campaign? Last year was a disappointing season for Chris Johnson who held out throughout the offseason until he landed a huge contract. Johnson saw career lows in yards, touchdowns, and yards-per-carry. Darren McFadden, on the other hand, got off to a great start in 2011 and put up ridiculous numbers in his first four games of the season until going down with a sprained foot in week 7 which kept him out for the remainder of the season.

Let’s start off by comparing the stats.

2011 Stats

2012 Fantasy Projections

NFL.com’s composite rankings has Chris Johnson #10 and …

Question: I need help setting up my week 4 fantasy roster.

Pick three WR:

Calvin Johnson v. Green Bay
Larry Fitzgerald v. San Diego
Kevin Walter v. Oakland
Mike Wallace v. Baltimore
Demaryius Thomas v. Tennessee
Derrick Mason v. Pittsburgh

Pick two RB:

Ray Rice v. Pittsburgh
Pierre Thomas v. Carolina
Brandon Jackson v. Detroit

I feel that I absolutely have to go with Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald even though they have had just mediocre years so far to say the least. Kevin Walter has performed well so far this year and the match p looks good, especially since Asomugha will be covering Andre Johnson. As far as my running back picture is concerned, Rice has a tough match up and he’s a going to be playing hurt. Pierre Thomas has a good match up but he also has some injury concerns, and Jackson hasn’t shown me much this year. What do you guys think?

Answer:

Man you are screwed this week. All you WRs are facing some strong passing defenses.

Ray Rice should struggle against Pittsburgh even if he was healthy.

Pierre Thomas has a great match up, but he has some injury concerns.

I have Brandon Jackson so I feel your pain. I’m also afraid that the Giant’s Kuhn is going to steal Jacobs TDs at the goal line.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!…

Question: Who do I play in week 4?

RB: (Start 1-2): Pierre Thomas vs. NYJ, Ray Rice @ NE, Glen Coffee vs. STL

WR: (Start 3-4): Reggie Wayne vs. SEA, Chad Johnson @ CLE , Donald Driver @ MIN, Vincent Jackson @ PIT

I was thinking I will start:

RB: Thomas and Coffee
WR: Wayne, Ochocinco, and Driver

I don’t want to sit Vincent Jackson, but I hate his match up @ Pittsburgh. I could put him in the roster in place of Coffee, who I picked up since I picked him up on waivers since he should tear up Seattle with Frank Fore being limited in action.

Answer:

Start Pierre Thomas and Glen Coffee. St. Louis’ run defense is pathetic and the Saints will put up big numbers.

At wide receiver, I would start Reggie Wayne, Ochocinco, and Vincent Jackson, even though he’s playing against Pittsburgh. You have to play your best players regardless of their matchup. I don’t think Pittburgh’s defense is too overwhelming right now, especially with Polamalu out. The Chargers offense is too strong at this point to bench him.

You have a phenomincal receiving corp.

What do you think? Answer below!…

Question: Which RB do I go with in week 2?

I’m in a PPR league and have Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Tolbert. Who do I start?

Best answer:

Ray Rice is  starter every week. I also expect Mendenhall to bounce back against a horrendous Seahawks defense. Good Luck

What do you think? Answer below!…

Question: Fantasy Week 1 Sit Vs. Start, Chris Johnson or Ray Rice?

Chris Johnson is my first-round pick, but he is playing against the best run defense in the league in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ray Rice plays Kansas City and will most likely get the most of the carries, but my concern is that he shares carries with a couple other running backs. Who do you think I should start?

Answer:

Obviously Johnson. This is a NO BRAINER. Go with Johnson and you will not be sorry. GOOD LUCK!!…

Question: Looking for some week 5 fantasy start/sit advice.

I have two RB spots and a Flex to fill in a PPR league.  Here are my best options for this week.

Ray Rice vs. DEN
LeSean McCoy @SF
Cedric Benson vs. TB
Peyton Hillis vs. ATL

Both Rice and McCoy have been cleared to play this Sunday. Who should I start in my flex, Peyton Hillis or Cedric Benson? What does everyone think?

Best answer:

Great job at drafting a solid set of runningbacks. I would start Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy with Peyton Hillis in the Flex. Good Luck.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!…

Question: I need some WR/RB start/sit help for week 4.

I need some advice for this week at these positions

WR:  Eddie Royal vs. DAL or Percy Harvin vs. GB

RB: Ray Rice @NE or Donald Brown vs. SEA

Thanks!

Answer:

Play Percy Harvin. He has shown me much more than Eddie Royal. I would also go with Ray Rice. Although McGahee is stealing all of his TDs, Rice picks up all of the yards and gets more touches than Donald Brown.

What do you think? Answer below!…