Yes, the mailbag is back. We put it on hiatus for a while, but I put a feeler out to see if there was a want for it. Lo and behold, you all showed up with things you wanted to know. And while I’m but a man, I will do my best to answer these questions in between episodes of Supernatural. Let’s do this.
Q: I hear some hype about Fields, but is he really any different than when he was here or with the Bears and could not go through his progressions? – SteelWoman
A: Just about everyone who’s been a reader for a while knows I was Team Justin Fields. He obviously comes with shortcomings, but his mobility is something that bumps him up a tier. The Steelers didn’t really lean into that last season, and when they did against the Colts, he nearly completed a massive comeback in Indianapolis. I don’t think the Jets are a playoff team – the lack of field vision in the passing game is a real knock on Fields – but a respectable 7-10-ish team that is a tough out every week is in the cards.
Q: Can you please define “WR2”? Does he catch less than WR1? Or someone who can pick up the slack when WR1 is injured and misses games? Can you please let us know how many teams have a “true” WR2? – Polamolicules_Dude
A: It’s hard to put it in words. Rather, you know it when you see it. Devonta Smith is a great WR2. Tee Higgins is a great WR2. George Pickens is a very good WR2. So if I had to define it, it would be a wide receiver who isn’t elite, but is very good and could potentially be a WR1 on another team. And there are a good number of those guys. Adam Thielen made a career of being a great No. 2 to Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison is a great No. 2. Jaylen Waddle has been a very good No. 2, but it looks like he’s about to become their No. 1. My rough count of teams with “true No. 2s” is 11: Bengals, Dolphins, Chiefs, Colts, Lions, Vikings, Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, Buccaneers, Rams.
Q: Will Tomlin get a contract extension if the 2025 team wins 9 games? – DekesLeft
A: I don’t think any contract talks will come after this season and will be more of a 2026 topic of discussion.
Q: Are you a Fantasy Football player? If so, which position would you recommend to a new (new as back into FF) would you say should be targeted in the first 2-3 rounds: RB, WR, QB? – Polamolicules_Dude
A: I do, but I’m not crazy into it in terms of obsessing over it. I don’t listen or watch any fantasy content – it’s jut not my thing. That said, I did win my league last year (if you’re a wrestling fan, tell Sean Ross Sapp I can’t wait to take his money in our league again this year). My strategy is to always hoard receivers, get a mobile quarterback, and circle back for RBs. I won my league with Chuba Hubbard as my top RB.
Q: What do you think about the Micah Parsons trade to the Packers? – Pittsblitz56
A: I picked the Packers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl before the trade, so I feel even better about that now. As long as Dak is healthy, the Cowboys will be competitive, but their ceiling certainly gets lower. Shameless plug, but I wrote about the Cowboys no longer being America’s Team; rather, they are Twitter’s team. You can read that on my Substack The Snap.
Q: It seems like only yesterday that TJ Watt was the highest-paid non-QB in the league, and today he was dethroned. Do you think these guys really care who makes the most, or is it all hype? – p-squared
A: I’m sure it’s different with every player. For example, I’d bet money T.J. wanted to top Myles Garrett’s AAV just as a middle finger to Garrett. But how many times throughout history have you heard guys say, “I’d play for free if they let me.” Some guys truly would play for league minimum money, which is still more than 99 percent of people make in a year. The people who really care about the whole “highest-paid player” thing are agents, but also the NFLPA. Because hypothetically, let’s say T.J. Watt signed a deal for $5 million per year. That would absolutely tank the money that guys could earn going forward because owners would be able to say, “Well, T.J. Watt only took a $5 million deal, why should we pay you more than that?” So I would say most of that pressure comes from the union to secure as much current and future money for players as possible.
Q: Why do you think so many sports bloggers, pundits, etc keep tagging the Steelers anytime a WR comes up when it is clear the Steelers are operating like it’s not an urgent need in 2025 after trading for DK and a healthy Roman Wilson? – NAS204PSU
A: Well, because several people are reporting that the Steelers are reaching out. Teams will always put on a good front. Omar Khan can stand there and say, “Yeah, we like Roman, we like Calvin, we feel comfortable with them,” but he wouldn’t be making calls and trying to get a proven guy if that were really the case. Roman Wilson hasn’t proven anything, and we don’t know if he’s good. Calvin Austin is a good No. 3, No. 4 slot piece, but a 5-foot-7 slot receiver can’t be your second WR option if you plan to have a deep run in January. I still expect them to add someone. It’s not going to be someone of the echelon of Chris Olave or Terry McLaurin (obviously), but they called about both of those guys, which says a lot. They know the room needs a better No. 2 option.
Q: Which running back do you think will end up with the most carries and/or yards this season? Jaylen Warren, in my opinion, would be the obvious frontrunner going in as RB1 and having experience. That said, most fantasy leagues think Kaleb Johnson will end up with more points. Anything can happen, especially if something unexpected, like an injury, happens. What are your thoughts? – Status Quo Is God
A: I fully expect Warren to get the majority of carries at the start of the season, but Johnson will get more opportunities each week. Should Warren go down, I don’t think Johnson would give the job back.
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