Is there a benefit to redshirting a guy near the end of the season with the theory being he would gain more in his ratings in case of a WE drop? Is there any benefit to redshirting before the season starts or early on?

well if you know he's going to take the rs just do it at the beginning. if you wait and he accidently plays in a game you cant rs him anymore. 

if you know or suspect there will be a drop, then yes to your question, but like trobone mentions - even guys not on the depth chart set at mop up can get into a game if you run into massive foul trouble, and even playing 1 minute means no RS...

Would that be true if you have them set to 'rest'?

cant set a guy who isnt injured to rest

Depending on the player, having him not playing can (I think) also cause a WE drop (albeit more slowly). I know this is true if he plays very little, not 100% certain if he plays not at all. If it is, you could have him slowly lose WE over the full season, then put the RS on at the end only to learn he would have been fine taking it. And, at that point, you cannot recover that lost WE.

No.  FR WEs do not drop even if they sit the entire season.

Posted by mullycj on 7/8/2012 12:31:00 PM (view original):
No.  FR WEs do not drop even if they sit the entire season.

Interesting and good to know. Thanks!

And not putting them on the depth chart at all?

you can leave him off the depth chart and set him to mopup, but if you get into extreme foul trouble for instance (or have your team set to substitute in cases of blowout) the player can still play. Won't play much - maybe a minute or 2 somewhere, and maybe you'll get away with it and he won't play at all...that's what makes it a gamble...it can be done though, but there is a risk.