| And the winner is … Would you believe
Daunte Culpepper — in a walk no less?
What we’ve got here is a most interesting response to the question I posed to you,
the readers of this weekly web column, in this same space last week:
If you, like me, had the fourth overall pick in your 2001 fantasy draft, with the
knowledge that the first three picks were going to be RBs Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin
James and QB Peyton Manning in that order, who would you pick?
As of this writing, I had received exactly 81 answers to this question, with the great
majority of the responses coming within 24 hours of the column’s initial posting on
our PFW website.
Here are the results: Culpepper (41); Eddie George (13); Randy Moss (12); Fred Taylor
(4); Kurt Warner and Ricky Williams (tied with 3 each); Brian Griese (1); readers who
didn’t offer a suggestion but had the same dilemma as me and just wanted to know what
I was going to do (2); and readers whose responses I accidentally zapped during a
Dunkin’ Donuts coffee rush of major proportions (2 … my deepest apologies go out
to "Reynoso" and "Eagle 22").
With complete faith in your fantasy judgment, "The Arkush Boys" (my
12-year-old son, Brandon, is once again my fantasy draft co-conspirator) are set to select
Mr. Culpepper in the PFW inter-office draft tonight with the fourth overall pick —
unless fellow editor Nolan Nawrocki suddenly changes his mind and decides not to select
Manning with the third-overall pick, which an amazing number of you readers suggested he
ought to do (at least 15).
A lot of you indicated you would take Culpepper without hesitation with the third
overall pick. In addition, a lot of you predicted he would easily exceed the far-out
fantasy numbers he compiled last season (33 TD passes, seven rushing TDs, 3,937 passing
yards, five 300-yard passing performances).
Hey, who am I to argue?
I must confess, though, that I find these results to be very surprising. While I
consider myself to be a fairly conscientious fantasy pulse-taker, I didn’t realize
how big a leap Culpepper has taken in the eyes of fantasy football geeks far and wide.
I think I might have had it etched in my brain that a running back would ultimately be
my best bet in a league that doles out 3 points per TD pass and places the biggest premium
on TDs scored. But if Daunte delivers 35-40 TD passes and double-digit TD runs, as many of
you believe he will, then Bandon and me are going to be living large baby!!!!!
At least in the first round.
Just for fun, here’s one last scenario.
If Nolan does indeed pull a fast one on me and steals Culpepper away, whom would I
take?
Even though you guys liked George a tiny bit more than Moss, I would have to take a run
at Randy.
Yeah, Eddie would be steady as usual. But it seems like there are a lot more decent RB
alternatives than WR alternatives this year.
Even though I absolutely love Terrell Owens’ 2001 potential, Moss is clearly the
best pass catcher available.
With a pitcher like Culpepper, how could be not be?
Thanks for your help!
"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 |
