Ask the Fantasy Doctor
By Michael Lev, Senior editor
Editor’s note: Because of time restrictions, the Fantasy Doctor, a very busy
man, is unable to answer ALL of your questions. He appreciates your interest and will try
to get to as many of them as he can. Again, thank you for e-mailing the Fantasy Doctor.
Bricciardi: I have been offered the following
trade — Curtis Martin, Errict Rhett and the Miami defense for Isaac Bruce, Michael
Pittman and the New Orleans defense. Your thoughts?
Fantasy Doctor: I like the trade from your perspective. You’re getting
three pieces you can plug into your lineup right away and basically giving up only one.
Martin is an every-week starter whose value is enhanced by the Jets’ shift in
offensive philosophy from pass-first under Vinny Testaverde to run-first under Rick
Mirer/Ray Lucas. Rhett isn’t upper-echelon, but he’s a serviceable starter. If
the Miami defense isn’t the best in the league, it’s definitely in the team
photo. Bruce is a stud, no doubt, but productive receivers are easier to come by than
running backs. I view Pittman as a second-half sleeper, though I’m not sure
Arizona’s offense will ever get on track. And why would you want a defense that
can’t bat down a Hail Mary pass?
Bradgraham: I have been offered Randy Moss for Fred Taylor. I would be left with
Marshall Faulk, Ricky Williams and Tyrone Wheatley at running back. Moss has not seen as
many balls come his way since Jeff George took over at QB. What is your advice?
Fantasy Doctor: I would make the trade based on your solid depth at running
back. As much as I like Taylor’s prospects for the rest of this season, you
don’t really need him with Faulk and Williams on your side. Plus, with Wheatley,
assuming he’s healthy, you have a decent No. 3 option. Moss will get his, probably
sooner rather than later. The reason he hasn’t been catching as many balls is that
George is taking what the defense is giving him. Moss is being double-teamed a lot, so
George is throwing to his other weapons, such as Cris Carter. The more damage Carter does,
the more attention he’ll start to get, freeing up Moss.
SOUP1682: I need RB help pretty badly. I have been offered a trade, and I’d
like to get your advice about it. I am being offered Fred Taylor and Terance Mathis for
Cris Carter and Olandis Gary. My other RBs are Tiki Barber, Donnell Bennett and Adrian
Murrell, with Robert Smith on IR. It seems like I might be giving up a little too much. Am
I?
Fantasy Doctor: You need a No. 1 running back, my friend, and that’s what
Taylor is. In my opinion — and, as with any bit of doctor’s advice, you’re
welcome to get a second opinion — Taylor will be one of the top five scorers in the
league over the second half of the season. He’s a huge upgrade over Gary, whereas
Mathis is only a slight downgrade from Carter. Don’t get me wrong: I like Gary’s
potential. But he’s no Taylor, assuming the Jaguars’ star runner stays healthy.
Mathis has been much more productive since switching positions (from flanker to split
end). He’s fantasy-starter material as long as his quarterback, Chris Chandler, is in
the lineup.
JACXX42: Since Joey Galloway needs to be on the Seahawks’ roster for six
weeks to become a free agent after this season, is he worth holding on to in our re-entry
draft next week? I already have Derrick Mayes. J.J. Johnson is available.
Fantasy Doctor: I would hang on to Galloway. My hunch is that he will indeed end
his holdout in order to get six games on the roster and have this season count toward his
free agency. It makes absolutely zero sense for him not to show up. How quickly he’ll
be able to contribute once he does report remains to be seen, but let’s say he gives
you a handful of good games, starting about Week 14. That could be just what the doctor
ordered to get your team over the top in the playoffs. I like Johnson’s potential,
but I don’t seen him getting more than 50 percent of the carries in Miami. He played
a lot this past week because Cecil Collins was in Jimmy Johnson’s doghouse after
fumbling in Week Seven. But Collins isn’t buried deep enough in the doghouse to lose
his spot in Jimmy’s RB rotation.
Jstordeu: My two quarterbacks are Kurt Warner and Steve McNair. I was offered
Cris Carter and Jerome Bettis for either QB. Is this a good trade? Or should I ask for
Stephen Davis or Ricky Williams, the other running backs this owner has?
Fantasy Doctor: The structure of the deal should depend on which quarterback
you’re willing to part with. I believe Warner is the more valuable QB, so if
you’re going to trade him, I would insist on getting Davis in return instead of
Bettis. If those negotiations break down, I believe dealing McNair for Carter and Bettis
would be equitable, though I’d prefer Williams over Bettis if you can pull it off.
Regardless of which players get moved, I like the idea of dealing from depth to enhance
your team at weaker spots. That’s sound management.
Editor’s note: If you have a question for the Fantasy Doctor, you can send your
e-mail to fantasydoctor@pfwa.com. He will
answer several questions from our on-line readers in this space each Wednesday. We reserve
the right to edit your question and print your e-mail user name.
|
