ROOKIE RUNNERS DOWN AND OUT

	Adrian Peterson is one of many rookie running backs who will miss Week 11 with an injury. AP
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Watch your back if you're a rookie running back. They're dropping like flies. First, Stinky Pete himself, Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson ($5,750,000), tore a ligament in his right knee and will miss at least this week's game. If the Fantasy Wizard had to guess, I'd say we won't see Peterson again until Week 14. But that wasn't the only bad news. The other star rookie RB, Buffalo Bills RB Marshawn Lynch ($5,500,000), seemed to suffer a minor ankle injury last week. Turns out it was much worse. Lynch should miss at least Buffalo's Week 11 game against the Patriots, and could miss a couple more. But this is the question that seems to be on everyone's mind: With Stinky Pete out, who in his price range can replace him? Well, in reality the answer is no one. But there are some cheaper alternatives who could give you at least decent production. I'd take a look at New York Giants RB Brandon Jacobs ($5,650,000) or Tennessee Titans RB LenDale White ($5,000,000.

LINEUP DEADLINES ARE MOVING UP

Be aware everyone: starting next week (Week 12), you'll have to set your lineups by Wednesday! That's because there will be Thursday night NFL games every week until Week 17, the final week of the season. You'll also be able to find the Fantasy Mailbag a day earlier than usual from here on in!

THE FANTASY WIZARD FUMBLES

Over the past two seasons, I have given out approximately 4,822,055 pieces of fantasy sports advice. So far, 4,822,053 of those pieces of advice have been great advice. Unfortunately, one of last week's questions and one from two weeks ago didn't work out so well. In the November 1 Mailbag, I told Chris from Oregon he would get points from some of his players even though he didn't fill out his entire lineup. And last week, I told Noah from California that while I wouldn't recommend playing without a kicker, he could still get points for his other positions. I was wrong, wrong, wrong. So very wrong. You will NOT get ANY points from ANY players if your LINEUP IS NOT FILLED OUT IN FULL. So if you have a quarterback who throws nine TD passes but no kicker in your lineup, you don't get any of that quarterback's points. My sincerest apologies go out to anyone who the Fantasy Wizard has wronged with that misinformation.

FANTASY WIZARD NFL TRIVIA CHALLENGE: CHAPTER 2

You know the deal. If you send the correct answer (by noon on Tuesday, November 20), I will answer any fantasy football question you ask (just submit a question along with your answer), AND give you my respect and admiration, AND officially proclaim you to be "Awesome" in next week's mailbag. Now onto this week's question...

Taking a quarterback in the first round has become a risky business. Just look at how badly some recent passers taken Number 1 overall are struggling: Alex Smith and David Carr have been two of the NFL's worst QBs this season, and Tim Couch isn't even in the league anymore. Since quarterback is such a tough position to adjust to, most first-round QBs come from major programs. Over the past 20 NFL Drafts (1988-2007), 41 of the 42 quarterbacks taken in the first round were from Division I-A schools. But there was one first-round quarterback who did not play college football for a Division I-A school. Who is this mystery QB?

Do you have what it takes to be a Trivia Challenge Champion? We'll find out soon enough. For now, check out this week's mailbag...

MAILBAG

Hey Gary, I've got New England Patriots QB Tom Brady ($7,800,000) and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger ($7,160,000), but I really like Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre ($7,130,000) and New York Giants QB Eli Manning ($6,230,000) instead of Big Ben. What should I do?
-Will, Mississippi

I'd say stay the course, Will. Big Ben has looked great of late, and the Steelers should be able to move the ball against the Jets on Sunday. Favre is probably just as good an option as Roethlisberger, but I think the Panthers have a better chance at slowing down the Packers than the Jets do of holding down Pittsburgh. Even though he's facing a weak Lions secondary on Sunday, I just don't think Manning is worth the risk right now. Sure, he could have a big game. But Manning hasn't looked particularly sharp since the G-Men torched the Falcons back in Week 6. And his top receiver, Plaxico Burress, is dealing with a nagging ankle injury that just seems to be getting worse.

Hey Whiz! I can't choose between Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards ($11,250,000) and Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens ($7,280,000) of the Cowboys. I'm a Cowboys fan, so I lean towards Owens, but Edwards has a smaller salary and has more fantasy points. Who should I pick?
-Peter, Nevada

Well Peter, if money is not an object T.O. should be your pick. The entire Cowboys passing game is just going too good right now. Owens is a good, safe pick. As for Edwards, there are a lot of variables that will affect his value Sunday. First, Derek Anderson was pretty erratic in last week's loss to Pittsburgh. Granted, the Steelers defense is great at putting on the pressure. But even when Anderson had time, his throws were way off. That's why Edwards had just one catch last week (although that one catch was for a TD). On top of that, the Browns play the Ravens on Sunday, and Baltimore cornerback Chris McAlister could return from injury. McAlister is one of the NFL's best cornerbacks and one of the few guys with the size to neutralize Edwards. If McAlister is in the lineup, I wouldn't expect a big day for Braylon.

Yo Wiz, who's the best kicker? I've been having trouble with that category for a long time. I have Houston Texans K Kris Brown ($6,460,000) right now. And, why don't the Browns trade Brady Quinn instead of Derek Anderson. They'd get more for Quinn, and they've already got a great QB in Anderson.
-Danny, Maryland

Right now, Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski ($6,400,000) and Dallas Cowboys K Nick Folk ($5,250,000) are the best kickers in fantasy football. The way their teams move the ball, it's impossible for them not to score points. But really, kickers aren't going to make or break your fantasy team. Just add a guy who kicks for a team with a good offense and you'll be fine. As for Quinn vs. Anderson, I won't go into the super-boring details about NFL contracts. But the Browns would have to waste salary cap space if they traded Quinn because they signed him to a big, long-term contract after drafting him. They'd get a "cap penalty." Meanwhile, Anderson is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Unless he really starts playing poorly, Anderson will get a big-money offer somewhere. The Browns won't be able to match it because they can't afford to pay a ton of money to two quarterbacks. But Cleveland will get a draft pick or two in return. And teams would want Anderson more than Quinn anyway. Anderson has shown he can be a very good NFL quarterback. We just don't know that about Quinn yet. There have been so many quarterbacks drafted in the first round who turned into busts. Just look at San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith and Carolina Panthers QB David Carr. They were Number 1 overall picks in the draft. And, at least right now, they both kind of stink.

I am wondering why all the quarterbacks have little dots on the back of their helmets?
-Grant, Minnesota

That's a common question Grant. The green dot indicates that the player's helmet is equipped with a radio receiver so he can hear the coaches on the sideline call plays. Teams aren't allowed to have more than one helmet with a radio on the field at a time. Apparently, some teams used to sneak radio ear pieces into the helmets of wide receivers as well as their quarterback, making it easier to run no huddle or spread offenses (it can be tough for a wide receiver to hear the quarterback's calls from so far away, especially in a loud stadium). The green dot helps assure that only the QB is getting that technology.