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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
Jason: I am in a league that gives a point for every10 yards rushing and
receiving and a point for every 25 yards passing. I have been offered Peyton Manning and
Charlie Garner for Ricky Watters and Mark Brunell. The other running backs on my roster
are Fred Taylor, Michael Bennett, Jerome Bettis and Priest Holmes. Do you think the
improvement at quarterback is enough to justify giving up Brunell and Watters, considering
the fantasy playoff matchups of Brunell include Cincinnati, Cleveland and Minnesota, while
Denver has a bye week during our fantasy championship? Thanks for any second opinion I can
get out of a doctor that practices for free.
Fantasy Doctor: Who told you I work for free? Let’s not let rumors like that get
around, OK? First off, I’m not sure what the significance of Denver having the bye
week during your championship is unless you forgot to tell me something about your team.
Regardless, go get Mr. Manning. Watters will still be solid this year and Brunell is a
fine player, but you have a chance to get arguably the best quarterback out there and you
seem rock solid at the RB position without Watters. Someone in your league must be pretty
hard up for a running back. Just be glad it’s not you.
ARC computers: Hi Doc, I’m in a regular points league, and I have:
QBs — Manning and Hasselbeck
RBs — Taylor, Emmitt Smith, Levens and James Allen
WRs — Galloway, Graham, Qadry Ismail, Darnay Scott, Jurevicius and Keyshawn
PK — Hollis
Defense — Oakland
Any ideas on how to make my team better in a 10-team league?
Fantasy Doctor: Yes, trick someone into trading you Marshall Faulk and Randy Moss for
Dorsey Levens and Joe Jurevicius. If that happens to fail somehow, you may want to try to
upgrade your WR position, as you have several "maybes" there. It looks like it
will be a weekly decision on whom to play (other than Keyshawn, who should always be in
the lineup) at wide receiver, so look at the matchups closely each week in terms of your
players and the defenses they’ll face.
Paul: Eddie Kennison has been an enigma since his second year in the league.
His production has never approached his potential. Do you anticipate a change now that
he's a No. 2 with great support around him in Denver?
Fantasy Doctor: You’re right on with your assessment, Paul. One could assume that
he certainly can do more than just fill a lineup spot in Denver. That offense is more than
explosive, and all the versatility there means Kennison will get his chances, if
you’re patient enough to wait for them.
Storm: Doc, I am in need of a quality third receiver in my combo league. I have
Travis Taylor and Joey Galloway but may drop one or both based on this past weekend. What
would you suggest, and who would you pick up, and in what order, out of the following?
Stokley
Stokes
Morton
Q. Ismail
Kennison (although I have Griese and T. Davis)
Pinkston
Schroeder
Fantasy Doctor: I would prescribe not to jump ship on the team you drafted because of a
poor Week One showing. Give it a little time for things to settle out. Take a long look at
Stokes, Kennison and Schroeder, probably in that order. Stokes is seemingly ready to
flourish now as a full-time starter, Kennison finds himself in an important spot in
Denver’s plans and Schroeder, if he proves to be the main No. 2 receiver in Green
Bay, could be a nice addition as well.
Brian: Hey, I love your site. I built my team around Kurt Warner. Someone is
offering me Isaac Bruce and Tim Biakabutuka for Corey Dillon and David Terrell. That trade
would make my starting running backs James Stewart and Thomas Jones to go along with
Warner, Bruce, Jimmy Smith or Peter Warrick. Do you think Stewart and Jones will have
solid seasons on their bad teams, or will I be frustrated every week? Also, is Warrick
worthy of starting as a No. 2 receiver? Thanks for reading.
Fantasy Doctor: I wouldn’t give up Dillon if all you have is Thomas Jones to go
with Stewart. The prospect of teaming Bruce with Smith together is enticing, but
definitely not that enticing. Warrick is a work in progress as a fantasy player. He should
improve if Jon Kitna can stay consistent at quarterback in Cincinnati, and he’s
always capable of taking the ball to the house any time he gets his hands on it.
Alex: Who is getting the better end of this deal? Shannon Sharpe and Ahman
Green for Wesley Walls and Edgerrin James?
Fantasy Doctor: Hard to say without knowing what the rest of your rosters looks like.
The chance to get James doesn’t come around very often, and I’m very surprised
he’s even on the trading block. Whoever has James should just sit tight and hope for
the best from Walls. Green could be a good one, but I think James is almost untouchable,
or at least should be. Call me about the proper medication for this person. If it’s
you, have someone else call.
Jay: Doc, I took your advice and put Griese up for grabs. How does Isaac Bruce
sound in a straight-up trade? I still have Warner and Hasselbeck and Taylor, Staley,
Tomlinson and Hearst at running back. Quandrified...
Fantasy Doctor: Griese is worth a bundle on the open market, and Bruce sounds like a
pretty even exchange. If your trading partner is really deprived at quarterback, see if
you can sneak something else (in addition to Bruce) out of him for Griese. He or she may
scoff at the idea, but it’s worth a shot.
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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