| I have the 10th pick in the 10-team Pro
Football Weekly fantasy football league … and I couldn’t be happier. How
strange is that?
If I was a real general manager and I had the last pick in the NFL draft, I don’t
think I’d like my options. But in the world of fantasy football, the end is the place
to be.
On PFW’s final draft board — which appears on Page 77 of the Kickoff Issue,
now on sale — the 10th- and 11th-ranked players are WR Terrell
Owens and RB Lamar Smith, and I would be thrilled to claim those two with my first two
picks.
Remember, PFW uses a snake-draft format, so I always have back-to-back picks.
But how often do draft boards hold true to form? Never. So here’s what I
anticipate:
There’s no question in my mind that, with our basic-scoring system (six points for
TD runs/catches, three points for TD passes and some yardage bonuses), RBs Marshall Faulk
and Edgerrin James, WRs Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison and QBs Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner
and Daunte Culpepper will be gone. That’s seven players off the board, leaving two
spots still in question.
Those spots could be filled by RBs Fred Taylor and Eddie George. But many owners are
scared of Taylor because of his injury history, and even George’s stock has dropped a
bit because of a toe injury that has limited him in the preseason.
To that, I say hogwash. Injuries don’t scare me. Anyone can go down at any time.
If either Taylor or George falls to me at No. 10, I would be more than happy to draft him.
After Faulk, Taylor has the best big-play ability of the running backs, and George has
turned into one of the most consistent point-producers of anyone. I would take one of them
over Smith in a second.
I have a hard time believing Owens won’t be there for me at No. 11. Some owners
might be scared off because of the 49ers’ shaky running game, as well as the passing
game’s lack of an adequate replacement for Jerry Rice. But I’m not. The Jeff
Garcia-Owens connection will remain alive and well, thank you, because the WR pups the
Niners have coming in aren’t so bad, and a running back by the name of Garrison
Hearst is on the comeback trail.
But let’s just say Owens is gone. He likely would push a running back to me. If
that happens, perhaps I can draft two stud rushers. George and Smith? Taylor and Smith?
George and Taylor?!?
The last combination would be my dream scenario. Sure, I’d be risking a lot, but
the risk would be worth the reward.
Anyway, the point is this: At No. 10, I like my odds of drafting two big-time players.
So just because you drew the shortest straw, don’t think your chances of building a
winner are slim. In my mind, they’re enhanced.
"In Our Opinion" fantasy columns have now resumed for the 2001 season.
Columns will appear daily, Tuesday through Friday, throughout the regular season. The
Fantasy Doctor has returned with your pigskin prescriptions, so send your fantasy
questions to the Doc's attention at fantasydoctor@pfwa.com |
