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The Fantasy Doctor will be checking his messages and making house calls on Fridays this
season. E-mail your fantasy questions to fantasydoctor@pfwa.com
Andy: Our system favors QBs (six points for passing TDs and five points at 300
passing yards). Who would you take with the No. 1 pick ? Do I go for the stud runner
still, or one of the big three QBs? It’s an eight-person league and QBs go quick. My
next pick won't be until 16. PLEASE HELP ME!
Fantasy Doctor: It’s an interesting dilemma because the big three are all capable
of 35-40 TD passes, but I’d still take Faulk (not Kevin). He’s the most
productive fantasy player out there, and you should feel more secure with him at running
back and a Rich Gannon or Brett Favre type at quarterback than you would going in the
other direction.
Scooby: I have a dilemma in an online fantasy league. I'm
stacked everywhere: McNabb and Culpepper, Harrison and Alexander, Freddie Jones, Stover,
Gramatica and two solid defenses. My biggest problem is at running back. I have
Biakabutuka, Redmond and Prentice. My question is, should I trade a big quarterback like
McNabb or Culpepper for a very good running back? Please point me in the right direction.
Fantasy Doctor: Well, Scooby, you’re right. Your RB situation is potentially
uglier than Gheorghe Muresan. I would advise to definitely make a trade to bolster that
group, and it would logical to use a quarterback as bait. Don’t expect to get a
big-time producer by dangling McNabb out there, but you should be able to get a 1,000-yard
rusher without too much of a problem, and that’s something you don’t have now.
John: Running backs are huge in our fantasy league of 10
players. I am picking No. 7 overall, and I am pretty confident that I can get Stephen
Davis in the first round. I am having some concerns regarding my second pick. Which of
these players would you recommend taking if they happen to be available: Ricky Williams,
Lamar Smith, Curtis Martin or Jamal Anderson. I like Jamal this year due to the easy
schedule. Are the other three backs better picks? Would you recommend Terrell Owens
instead?
Fantasy Doctor: All good choices there, John. I really don’t think you can lose
with any of them. In PFW’s most recent mock draft, Davis went 10th, Owens
14th, Smith 15th, Williams 16th, Martin 18th
and Anderson didn’t go until midway through the fourth round. However, I hear
Anderson is quicker than ever and happier than ever in Atlanta, so if you can get Owens in
the second and Anderson maybe in the third, you’d be sitting pretty. If you want to
get your RB position secure right away though, you can go with Martin (consistency and
versatility), Smith (workhorse numbers in first year as starter) or Williams (huge
potential in Saints offense if healthy) and not be unhappy.
Dgor: Doc, I drafted Tomlinson from the Chargers and Levens
from the Pack to back up Ricky Williams in my league. What kind of numbers could you
project for these two in case Williams gets banged up?
Fantasy Doctor: The Chargers were mighty impressed with how much Tomlinson studied the
offense during his holdout, and he showed up in great shape. However, his offensive line
in San Diego, which was weak to begin with, is banged up and missing its two best players
for at least the first week, maybe more. Levens, on the other hand, probably will play
second fiddle to Ahman Green from here on out. Green was just too good after he took over
last year, and Levens is playing with tendinitis in his knees and a broken hand. Over the
course of the season I’d say you can expect more from Tomlinson because he’s a
starter and his legs are fresh, but the Chargers’ problems will limit him somewhat
this year.
Jay Allen: My draft went pretty well. I ended up with Warner,
Griese and Hasselbeck at QB. RBs are Hearst, Taylor, Staley and Tomlinson. I am hurting
for a top-tier WR though, with Qadry Ismail being my best starter. Any ideas on who to use
as trade bait?
Fantasy Doctor: You definitely need to do something to stop the bleeding at wideout.
The question is whether you will get enough gauze in a trade. With Warner entrenched as a
starter and Hasselbeck looking pretty solid in Seattle, I would say Griese could be the
best possibility because of his value on the open market. Staley or Tomlinson could draw
plenty of interest as well, but whatever you do, make sure you don’t get
shortchanged, because the WR position is the deepest out there.
Frank: Hi, Doc. I had a draft last night and took Mike
Anderson. Someone else drafted Terrell Davis. No one knows who is going to start come
September. What are your thoughts? In addition, who do you think is going to win the RB
battle in Cleveland and Chicago?
Fantasy Doctor: Neither Davis, Anderson nor Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan knows who
is going to start and get the majority of the carries from week to week. I think the
Broncos would love it if Davis could get back to his old self and carry a decent share of
the load, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if all three running backs are used
extensively to keep everyone fresh for the postseason. A plan like that just makes sense
for the Broncos, but it also makes for some sleepless nights for fantasy folks out there.
To answer your other question, I like the rookie James Jackson in Cleveland and James
Allen in Chicago.
Jeff: Doc, we are having our draft the Friday before the
season starts. I ran the league as commissioner last year and am going to do so again this
year. I have one problem that I am facing right now. Last year we threw the league
together quickly, and I went with the scoring on our Web site and did not realize that QBs
were given six points per TD pass. I have a problem with such a high total for TD passes.
In essence, no other players will even come close to coming up with 30 TDs other than QBs.
In other leagues, QBs are given three, four and five points per TD pass. I am in favor of
a lower point total but need a convincing argument to present to the rest of my league to
make it official. Can you give me some points to pass on as to why we might need to have a
lower point total?
Fantasy Doctor: I am in favor of three points per TD pass and six per
rushing/receiving, and here is the reason why. There are a handful of quarterbacks who are
capable of 30 TD passes, just as there are a handful of backs or receivers who are capable
of 15 TDs; therefore, making passing TDs and rushing/receiving TDs even in terms of
fantasy points heavily favors quarterbacks. For instance, Lamar Smith of the Dolphins had
a quality 2000 campaign, scoring 14 rushing TDs and two receiving TDs for a total of 16.
Jeff Garcia of the 49ers also had a dynamite season with 31 passing TDs, nearly twice what
Smith scored. Make sense? Having TD passes worth half as much as rushing/receiving TDs
just makes it a more level playing field.
Falky: I got offered Jerome Bettis and Torry Holt for LaDainian Tomlinson. I
already have Joe Horn and Eric Moulds, and my other running backs are Priest Holmes, James
Allen, James Jackson and Ron Dayne. My RB crew is nothing to right home about, but I am
scared that Bettis is not worth the risk because Tomlinson has so much potential. Plus, in
my league, I get to keep rookies for the next two years. Do you think I should make the
trade?
Fantasy Doctor: OK, here we go. First off, the Fantasy Doctor and his legion of
associates are big fans of Holt, and if you are allowed to start three wide receivers on a
weekly basis, that would be a pretty good trio to stick in your friends’ faces. While
your RB crop is filled with a bunch of "maybes," you could get by with one of
them teamed with Bettis if you can start the three receivers. Your point about keeping
Tomlinson for the next two years is enticing because he’s only going to get better
with time, but you’ve got to decide if you’re gearing up to win this year or a
few years from now, because Bettis should be more productive this year.
Jeff: Hey, Doc, help! I am in a league that gives six points for rushing TDs
over five yards, three for under five yards, six points for all receiving TDs and one
point for every 10 yards rushing/receiving. I was just offered Duce Staley for Eric
Moulds. My wide receivers are Rod Smith, Derrick Alexander, Moulds and Peter Warrick. My
running backs are Faulk, Warrick Dunn, LaDainian Tomlinson and Tyrone Wheatley. I took
three stud WRs because if I actually make it to my league's championship game, Rod Smith
is off, so I'd just play Alexander and Moulds. If I accept the trade, I would also be
dropping Wheatley (who might be losing value). I just don't know if it makes sense? What's
your take?
Fantasy Doctor: I don’t think I would pull the trigger here. Staley, in my mind,
is a bit of a question mark for a number of reasons, and you seem pretty stable there. And
I don’t think the Raiders’ addition of Garner should drop Wheatley’s stock
too terribly much. He’s still the No. 1 guy in Oakland and will get the call at the
goal line.
Let’s go Blue: I am the commissioner of a 10-team, two-division league. I
am having all kinds of problems coming up with a schedule. I would like to have each team
play teams within their division twice and outside of their division an equal amount of
times. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Fantasy Doctor: Let me guess, Michigan boy, are Wheatley, Elvis Grbac and David Terrell
going to be fixtures on your squad this season? Correct me if I’m wrong, but this
seems as easy as intercepting Ryan Leaf. Let’s say you’re in Division A. You
play the other four teams twice each, so that would equal eight total games. Then you play
the other teams in Division B once each, so that would equal five games, totaling 13 in
all for the regular season. That would also leave Weeks 14, 15 and 16 for the playoffs,
eliminating the possibility of problems when NFL teams typically rest players in Week 17.
Scott: I'm in a league in which we keep two players from last year. My first
choice (Moss) is obvious, but my second isn't. Should I keep Warrick Dunn, Donovan McNabb
or WR Derrick Alexander?
Fantasy Doctor: I like all three of those players, but if good running backs are as
tough to come by in your league as they are anywhere else, I would lean toward Dunn.
McNabb could be a great one, and Alexander had a big 2000 season, but you don’t want
to have to scramble like crazy to the find the few quality backs who aren’t
protected.
Greg: I’m debating on a few of my picks. I got Curtis
Conway, Wesley Walls and Terry Allen as my final three picks. I'm thinking of waiving one
or more and picking up James Jackson and/or David Terrell. What do you think of the latter
two in comparison in a scoring/yardage league?
Fantasy Doctor: I like Terrell, just not this year. Not with the problems the Bears
have on offense. If you’re OK at running back, I’d send Allen packing. The
Ravens aren’t happy with what they have at the position and probably will be shopping
around the free-agent wire again soon. I think Jackson will start in Cleveland and be much
more productive than Allen ever could be.
Maccinhoez: I have a very sorry defense — Clevland or San
Francisco. Even though I believe the 49ers may be an up-and-coming defense, I have a
chance to pick up San Diego and drop the Browns. What should I do?
Fantasy Doctor: Do it. The Chargers should be solid this season after adding more of a
pass-rushing presence and two starting cornerbacks to what was already a decent unit.
The Fantasy Doctor has joined his associates at the golf course but will be back next
week. Please direct all questions to fantasydoctor@pfwa.com.
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