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49er QB
Steve Young |
As we always do at this time of year, Pro Football Weekly has paged its resident
fantasy-football guru, the Fantasy Doctor, to make the picks for the midseason All-Pro and
All-Bust fantasy teams.
Since the Doctor remains a scientist at heart, the choices for the All-Pro team are
based strictly on statistics. For the All-Bust team, the Doc free-lances a bit, basing his
selections on two factors: productivity and players’ preseason rankings.
All of the selections are based on PFW’s scoring system, which heavily emphasizes
touchdowns (six points for TD’s scored; three points for TD passes) and also takes
yardage into consideration (three points for 100-yard rushing/receiving games and 300-yard
passing games).
The All-Pro team
Quarterback
Steve Young, 49ers — It’s not even close. According to the PFW system, Young
has 110 points — more than all but two quarterbacks accumulated all of last season!
Young leads the league in TD passes (21) and 300-yard passing games (six), and he leads
all quarterbacks in rushing TD’s (four). The Doc verifies that Young is human; other
members of the PFW staff aren’t so sure.
Running backs
Terrell Davis, Broncos — We’re positive Davis isn’t human. We’re
also sure he’s the most unstoppable fantasy force since Emmitt Smith was in his
heyday with the Cowboys. With 14 rushing TD’s, Davis is on pace to break Smith’s
single-season record of 25. Davis also has seven 100-yard rushing games.
Robert Smith, Vikings — Smith and the Doc go way back but haven’t seen much
of each other this year. The oft-injured Smith has played in all eight games for the
Vikes, accumulating 60 fantasy points. He nosed out Atlanta’s Jamal Anderson (57) and
hot-shot rookies Fred Taylor of Jacksonville (57) and Robert Edwards of New England (54).
Wide receivers
Antonio Freeman, Packers — Freeman is one of the few wide receivers who has lived
up to the Doc’s lofty expectations. Ranked No. 1 in the preseason, Freeman has
delivered consistently (at least one TD in 5-of-8 games).
Randy Moss, Vikings — The Doc usually doesn’t care for rookie wideouts, but
Moss (51 fantasy points) is the exception to many a rule. Thanks largely to his four TD
catches of 40-plus yards (he gets three-point bonuses for those), Moss edges veterans
Jermaine Lewis (48 points) and Ed McCaffrey (45).
Tight end
Shannon Sharpe, Broncos — Sharpe’s fantasy pulse fluctuates wildly from year
to year. He scored 10 TD’s in 1996, had three last year and is on pace for 10 again
in ’98.
Placekicker
Gary Anderson, Vikings — Minnesota’s offense sets ’em up, and Anderson
knocks ’em down. He has been perfect on 31 extra-point attempts and 16 field-goal
attempts.
The All-Bust team
Quarterback
Kordell Stewart, Steelers — Last season Stewart led all quarterbacks with 145
fantasy points. This season he has 30, unacceptable for the No. 2-ranked signalcaller.
Stewart didn’t pass for more than 200 yards in a game until Week Nine, also the first
time this year he has thrown more than one TD pass in a game. He hasn’t rushed for a
score since Week One.
Running backs
Dorsey Levens, Packers — First, he held out (against the Doc’s advice). Then,
after two lackluster games (one TD; 102 total rushing yards), Levens got hurt. He is
expected to be out until December, with all of six points on his ’98 résumé.
Napoleon Kaufman, Raiders — His yardage numbers are OK (three 100’s), his
scoring numbers are not (one TD). Highly ranked RB’s Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis and
Ricky Watters have been slightly less mediocre than Kaufman.
Wide receivers
Herman Moore, Lions — Moore caught nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in
Week One. He hasn’t scored since. The reluctance of rookie QB Charlie Batch, who
replaced Scott Mitchell in Week Three, to throw into tight coverage has all but eliminated
Moore from Detroit’s offense.
Michael Irvin, Cowboys — Irvin got off to a flying start (119 yards in Week One).
Then starting QB Troy Aikman got hurt, and Irvin hasn’t been the same since (two
100’s, zero TD’s entering Dallas’ Week Nine Monday-night game at
Philadelphia).
Tight end
Mark Chmura, Packers — He is second on the Packers in receptions and yards, but
one TD? Hey, isn’t this guy supposed to be one of Brett Favre’s best buddies?
Placekicker
John Kasay, Panthers — The Doc was sure Kasay (40 points) and Carolina would turn
things around after lackluster performances in ’97. So were the Panthers. |
