RotoExperts.com Senior Writer Scott Engel answers your pressing fantasy football questions.

Today is a day to celebrate new beginnings. It's our first edition of the Mailbag. Also, it's the release date of Madden 09. The new season has begun on the PS3 and the Xbox360. Keep the e-mails coming at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , and I'll see you later in the online lobbies!

C.J. Bell: I agree that defense/special teams and kickers should go in the last two rounds...and it still baffles me when I see people picking these anywhere from rounds 10 or on. Have you heard of leagues that don't even bother with these positions? Or if they do use defense only (which is fine by me), or they drop the kicker? It's just so often a random shot in the dark (or dartboard toss as you put it) and seems like all the strategy you can put into your early picks, sleepers, etc. is wasted when a random kicker with five field goals beats you some week. I would think hard work and strategy would be worth more in a league that doesn't use kickers.

My Angles: I am not a fan of kickers, either, but I haven't seen a league without one. It's part of real football, so it should be part of fantasy football, and there are definite elements of the fantasy game that makes it very challenging and compelling.  That includes the luck and unpredictability that often comes into play, not just at kicker. The position is tough to scout for fantasy purposes, but I don't think it should be eliminated completely, especially when you only have to use one final round selection on them. You usually have around 14 rounds to build the rest of your roster and that should suffice. Kickers can save your team at times and they aren't totally worthless. You just shouldn't bother trying to project them, in my opinion. Just go for guys who appear to be fairly consistent on an annual basis. I have played in some leagues where defenses alone are used, but I believe special teams should then be included in individual player stats. I don't like eliminating any factors, I just prefer to place less importance on some. As for those who draft at these positions too early, be thankful for them. They help better selections fall to you.

Andrew Park:  I have the 12th pick and did a couple of mock drafts to see what could possibly be available. In one draft, I did RB/RB then WR/WR and ended up with Clinton Portis, Ryan Grant, Anquan Boldin, and Roddy White. In another, I decided to go WR/RB both times, I ended up with Ryan Grant, Terrell Owens, Laurence Maroney, and Anquan Boldin. I know you’re big on Maroney this year, as am I, but which of these two strategies do you think netted a better roster? I think the only reason I picked Portis the first time was because he was available. I have him rated personally as my seventh-best player and doubt he will be available in my other league, which will mean I would probably have a roster with Willis McGahee instead of Portis.

My Angles: Mocks are obviously excellent practice and give you a good overall picture of what to expect, but none of them can truly mirror what will happen for sure in your real draft. I don't think either strategy is better.  You just have to adjust on the run and take the best players available while not loading up too much at one position and focusing on filling out your starting slots. As you saw the first time with Portis, you never know who may fall to you or who could go earlier before you expect them. Don't try to project ahead too much regarding the first round. Just be ready to pick the best player at the top of your cheat sheet when it's your turn, and then build from there. The first four rounds may even include a very appealing QB falling to you at some point. I like both quartets of players and it appears you will be ready for anything, so just relax and keep doing your homework instead of trying to predict the outcomes in the early rounds. I would steer clear of McGahee for sure if Maroney is available, and may even leave him alone in the second round considering his knee issues and the shaky overall outlook for the Baltimore offense.

Joseph M. Long: I've been having many discussions with my older brother about who is the better choice between Frank Gore and Marion Barber III. I noticed Barber didn't even make your list for a first round pick in a 14-team league. What makes you pick Gore towards the end of the first round? And why don't you have Barber going in the top 14 picks? I like Gore over Barber myself, and my brother would rather have Barber.

My Angles: In my original rankings published in our Draft Kit in late June, I ranked Gore eighth among running backs and Barber 11th. In the One-Man Mock Draft, also published around the same time, Gore went 12th overall, while Barber went 17th. Yet I would not argue much with anyone who took him just outside the top 10. I have seen him going as early as fourth, which is simply too soon, and I am not quite comfortable with him inside the top 10. I like Barber a lot, but I think Felix Jones is going to take some carries for sure and Barber is not explosive, he's more of a "workhorse", and there will still be some weeks when he posts disappointing numbers, especially when Dallas uses other weapons to score. I liked Gore more originally, but the more I see and read about the San Francisco offense, the less I like him in the top 12 or so, as he may not get enough help on offense to keep constant defensive attention away from him. Look for revised versions of both features soon, and when you see them, you'll find Barber just ahead of Gore. I like Barber to score more often and he's playing in a more balanced offense.

Brookes Weinstein: I am in a keeper league with standard scoring. I am keeping Drew Brees as a fourth-rounder and choosing between Brandon Jacobs or T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a third-rounder. I also would like to know whom you think I should take with my first round pick between Gore and Portis, both are available.

My Angles: I would certainly keep Houshmandzadeh, who has more good seasons ahead of him as a perennial top 10 wide receiver. Jacobs' admirable, but reckless style of running makes him an injury risk. He also shares significant touches with other Giants running backs. The Washington offense is built better for success right now and in the future.  So go with Portis as he should produce better this year as a rusher.  As the passing game evolves, he will see a lot of openings and can finish off many scoring drives for a well-balanced attack. The San Francisco offense may be rebuilding next year, too. That doesn’t help Gore in terms of defensive attention and scoring chances.

Gary D. Worek: Last year, I went for the gusto and obtained two top players for my playoff push, but at the price of my first and second round picks in this year’s draft. Unfortunately I finished second! Thusly, I have the ninth spot in a 10-team draft. So which two of the following players do I keep for my team this year from Jay Cutler, Earnest Graham, Chris Brown, Roddy White and Tony Scheffler (Note: we can only keep players either drafted after the fourth round last year or who were undrafted/picked up during the year) When it does finally get to my first picks (29th and 32nd overall) who should I draft?

My Angles: Considering you don't have to apparently sacrifice earlier-round picks for them, I would give Cutler, Graham and White the strongest consideration. Anything from a sixth-rounder on in terms of sacrifice is great for the very promising Cutler, and Graham is very good from the fifth on to help you at least win this year. White is another good pick for the sixth round and beyond. Scheffler has a lot of promise, but I would not sacrifice anything more than say, a ninth rounder for him yet. Forget Brown, a brittle backup in Houston. I would go with Cutler and Graham foremost, and then take a WR at 29 and another RB at 32. If you don’t keep either one, go RB/WR, one of each, in no certain order with your first two picks.

Jake Soerens: My favorite league is an eight-team standard scoring keeper league. We can retain any three players. I won last year, so I have the No. 8 and 9 picks. I've got Tom Brady, Joseph Addai, Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, and Terrell Owens. We start two running backs and three wide receivers. Which three would you keep? My gut tells me to stick with Brady, Addai and Jackson. But I am a bit concerned about Addai staying healthy and losing carries to Dominic Rhodes or Mike Hart. Also, we start three WRs and I would be dropping an elite one, which makes me a bit hesitant.

My Angles: It's very difficult to evade the lure of a Jackson/Addai RB combo. Any carries Addai's backup gets are for change of pace and to keep him fresh, and won't be a major deterrent as he posts fine numbers  regularly and he has only missed one game in his first two years, and durability should not be a major concern, either. Owens should have another fine year, but he is getting up in age and you will have Addai for longer. Keep Brady, Jackson and Addai. Gore would be a nice keeper if you already didn't have two guys who clearly are better choices.

Rudy Daunno III: I am in a 10-team, point-per-reception keeper league and I have the first choice. Adrian Peterson and LaDainian Tomlinson are both being kept. I will have my choice between Steven Jackson and Brian Westbrook.

My Angles: Certainly not any easy decision, as Westbrook is the obvious pick in a PPR format in a yearly league. Jackson, however, is four years younger than Westbrook. Still, you want to win now, this year, so you have to go with Westbrook, a PPR king. 

Daniel Gittleson: My league is 10-team, 5 x 5 points only format, no head to head. We do an auction draft. Do you spend top money on WRs or hope to piece meal a core together? Every time I spend top dollar on receivers it backfires (like Marvin Harrison last year).

My Angles: In any format, you should not focus your dollars at just one position. Target specific players to build around, two or three to anchor different positions. Then everything should fall into place around them. With more uncertainty at RB (not as much in your format as you are slightly less concerned about consistency), you should set your sights on a top RB in addition to a WR. Bargains will fall to you at some point and dollars all across the board will go down later in the auction, so you can shoot for the stars early on if you want to and still form a pretty balanced roster.

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