July 7, 2008, 12:13 PM

Answer Guys: Don't underrate Lions' Bell

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Hunter By Dave Hunter
ESPN.com
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You have questions, we have answers. The Answer Guys is an Insider service in which ESPN.com experts personally answer questions about your fantasy team. These are a few of the more challenging questions we've received from Insiders and our answers.

Which running back do you expect to get the most carries in Detroit this year?
Seay

Tatum Bell
Drew Hallowell/Getty ImagesHey, let's not forget that Tatum Bell is still the expected starter in Detroit, not Kevin Smith.
Dave: I expect Tatum Bell to get the first crack at the starting job in Detroit and eventually end up with the most carries for the Lions in 2008. I know there are some Kevin Smith supporters who might not believe that, but Bell has succeeded previously as a running back in the NFL. The circumstances are different than they were in Denver, and Bell will be given a legitimate chance to win the job. Meanwhile, new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto will bring more balance to the offense instead of the "pass-first" mentality that ex-coordinator Mike Martz had. Smith is a talented rookie running back, but the Lions aren't just going to hand over the job to him. Look for some heavy competition and a possible time-share situation in Detroit, but with Bell still getting a majority of the carries.

I was in an eight-team league last year, and now we want to expand to 10 teams. Most of the owners from last year want to make it a keeper league in which we would hold three players from the previous season, but we're not sure what rules we should set. Some owners have suggested giving the new owners the first picks of the draft, while the owners from last year wouldn't be penalized a draft pick for their keeper slots. I believe this would give the incumbent owners too much of an advantage over the expansion owners. Do you agree?
Joy C

Dave: That's a very interesting situation you have there. Normally I would suggest you redraft completely for the start of the 2008 season. If current teams are allowed to keep three players off their rosters without giving proper compensation to the new owners, it creates a significant imbalance to the league, and the league will have difficulty retaining those new owners. Early-round draft slots for the new owners are not enough to balance the league. So you should redraft for this year, and then move along to keepers for next year.

If that's not an option given the current owners' stance, then an expansion draft should be in order. Here's how that works: If you decide the number of keepers per team will be three, then each existing owner is allowed to protect just one player initially. After the first player protection is announced, the two new teams would then be able to fill their first keeper slot by choosing which player they want from the remaining 2007 rosters. The existing owners would then protect one more player for a total of two keepers and the new owners again draft from the remaining players. One more time around and you have a total of three keepers protected by each team and three keepers selected by the new owners.

Keeping the integrity of the league intact is very important as you add teams and change your league rules. I would make sure every owner has a clear understanding of the rule changes, too, and that any issues are cleared up well before the draft. Good luck.

I can keep three players for a maximum of three seasons in my league with these starting roster settings: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR/TE, 1K and 1 Defense. I have chosen Adrian Peterson (MIN) and Braylon Edwards as my first two keepers. However, my dilemma is with my third keeper. I've narrowed it down to Earnest Graham, who I can potentially keep for two seasons, and Andre Johnson, who I can keep only for the 2008 season. I know Johnson had knee surgery in the offseason, but when healthy he's a No. 1 wide receiver. It looks like there will be plenty of running back options available in the draft this year, including some top-end options. Do you think I should keep Johnson or Graham?
MVS

Andre Johnson
Jeff Harwell/US PresswireWouldn't it be sweet if Andre Johnson could play in all 16 games?
Dave: I agree with you completely that when Andre Johnson is healthy, he is a sure-fire No. 1 fantasy wide receiver. Given the fact that Johnson is the primary offensive option in Houston and that there are still some questions surrounding the Buccaneers' backfield this season, you need to hold Johnson. He's as explosive as any receiver in the NFL, and he has big-play scoring ability that few receivers in the NFL have. In nine games last season, Johnson put up some astounding numbers, averaging just less than 100 yards and a touchdown scored per game played. I like Graham, and he did just sign a new contract to stay in Tampa Bay, but Carnell Williams and Warrick Dunn are still hanging around to pick up scraps this season. That in itself is enough to push me toward Johnson.

I'm in 14-team league, and our draft is 18 rounds. Should I draft more than one defense this year?
Troy

Dave: I would never draft more than one defense unless it was required by my league constitution. You're much better off grabbing running back or wide receiver depth and relying upon your free-agent list for a bye-week replacement on defense. Drafting a second defense is usually just a waste of a roster spot. Stay away from grabbing that second defense, as you really can't afford to make any mistakes during your draft.

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