|
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
Dawson: I have Brian Griese, Mark Brunell and Brad Johnson on my team. I
normally start Griese, but he's playing Baltimore this week. Should I bench him in favor
of the other two quarterbacks? And if so, which one? (I'm leaning toward Johnson since
he's playing the Vikings.)
Fantasy Doctor: With the state of the Vikings in general, and especially their
secondary, I understand your reasoning for leaning toward Johnson. However, the only
quarterback I’d probably start ahead of Griese right now is in Indianapolis. My
associates and I are big fans of playing your star players no matter what, especially if
they’re on a roll.
The Pheasant: Doc, I've just been offered Faulk for Warner. My backup is Aaron
Brooks, and my RBs are Bennett, Wheatley, Alstott, Pittman and Mike Anderson, and I'm in a
traditional scoring league (six points per rushing or receiving TD and four points per
passing TD). In your professional opinion, is this a no-lose trade or should I be shopping
Brooks around instead?
Fantasy Doctor: With your RB lot relatively void of a superstar (unless Anderson
somehow gets all the carries in Denver), I think you should either pull the trigger to
acquire a player like Faulk or shop Brooks around. Always look at it this way: You’ve
got to get the best possible lineup on the field, and if that means sacrificing one stud
quarterback when you have two, then that’s what has to be done. The longer you wait,
the more points your losing at a different position.
Russ: I'm in a yardage league that scores for touchdowns as well. I smoked the
draft at RB — Faulk, R. Williams, Dillon, J. Anderson, and Stewart. Where I took a
hit was at QB — Flutie and Hasselbeck, and I just picked up Jim Miller off waivers.
I'm looking to trade either Dillon or Anderson for Jeff Garcia. Which player do you advise
putting on the block, or should I just stand pat and hope I pick the correct quarterback
of my current three? In Week One I went with Hasselbeck, and in Week Two I started Ty
Detmer. I didn't say I was perfect.
Fantasy Doctor: Detmer over Flutie in Week Two? Wow, you didn’t have to tell me
that. Perhaps a review of your current medication is in order. I wouldn’t trade
Dillon unless you have to. If you can snare a player like Garcia by only dangling Anderson
or Stewart on the trading block, that is the way to go. You could package them both and
maybe get a receiver in addition to the quarterback.
Jordan: Dear Doc, I need some help at the WR position. The following people are
free agents in my league. Who would you pick up? Johnnie Morton, Keenan McCardell, Darnay
Scott, Marcus Robinson, Kevin Johnson, Tony Martin and J.J. Stokes. In my league you carry
four wide receivers and start three. Should I drop Warrick and Westbrook and pick up two
of these guys? I would appreciate your help.
Fantasy Doctor: I like all of those free agents actually, and I can’t believe some
of them weren’t drafted. I would say Robinson, McCardell and Stokes have the most
upside this season. However, I don’t think dropping Warrick for one of the others
would benefit you. If you have two superstars at your other WR spots, maybe you could get
by with exchanging Westbrook for McCardell, Stokes or Robinson.
Windsurfer: My QB situation is not good (Hasselbeck and Testaverde). I do have
some depth at WR (Bruce, Muhammad, Pathon and Stokes) and can only start two. Another team
has offered me Mark Brunell for Muhammad. Is that worth it?
Fantasy Doctor: Brunell is quietly having himself a nice season thus far, and
he’ll likely be asked to do more now that Fred Taylor has taken his yearly visit to
the injury report. Muhammad has started strong as well, however, so it’s a toss-up.
While Hasselbeck looks confused vs. all the blitzes he’s facing, I think Testaverde
can still be a fantasy starter. I guess my answer would be to make the deal only if
you’re satisfied with starting Stokes or Pathon on a weekly basis. If you’re
not, start Testaverde and look to the free-agent market for another passer.
Ed: I have a real fantasy situation. I am fortunate to possess the two top QBs
in football at this point (Manning, McNabb). My problem is I do not have a productive RB
(Watters, Stewart and Henry). Each is steady and consistent, but not a high scorer. Do I
trade McNabb for a top-quality RB and a quality WR, or do I remain with both QBs for the
season and alternate them based upon their respective opponents? I have been constantly
changing my WR corps and currently have Muhammad, Boston, Kennison and Troy Brown. I have
attempted to obtain Pathon and Olandis Gary off waivers. Thanks.
Fantasy Doctor: Doesn’t sound like you have too many problems with your team, Ed.
However, if you’re set on getting a top-of-the-line back, you could deal McNabb and
shouldn’t feel bad about it. I wouldn’t "alternate" Manning at all,
and there’s no reason to have McNabb on the bench when his value could put a nice All
Pro somewhere else on your roster. If you can secure a backup quarterback who at least has
a pulse in case of injury, you should be able to reel in some quality talent for McNabb.
Just make sure you get enough for him.
Brian: Hey Fantasy Doctor, I have a large dillemma at wide receiver. I have
Cris Carter, but I'm afraid that the Vikings’ offense is on the verge of a
Redskins-like meltdown! So should I bench him in favor of one of my reserves (my reserves
being Albert Connell and Darnay Scott)?
Fantasy Doctor: I wouldn’t pull the plug on Carter just yet, but Connell may be
your best bet for down the road in case the Vikings can’t right the ship. Scott needs
some more time in my opinion.
Jeff: Do you think the addition of Stacey Mack is worth giving up either Terry
Allen or James Allen? (Terry Allen has tougher defenses coming up, and James Allen hasn't
done much for two weeks.) Have fun on the greens.
Fantasy Doctor: Mack has enough going for him for the next month to warrant dropping
Terry Allen in my professional opinion. James Allen is on bye this week and is probably
expendable as well. Neither has been all that productive, but James Allen could benefit
from having the downfield-throwing Jim Miller in the lineup now.
Dennis: My starting WRs are Joe Horn and David Boston. What value, if any, do
my backups have? They are Jerry Rice, Marvin Minnis and J.J. Stokes. Are Curtis Conway,
Hines Ward, or Laveranues Coles worth picking up over any of these backups?
Fantasy Doctor: I like all three actually. Minnis is out this week, as he is still
recovering from his Week Two concussion, and Trent Green can’t seem to find his
wideouts right now. Rice, I believe will be a big contributor in the Raiders’ system
because his strengths are utilized so well by Gannon & Co. Stokes, as long as he
shakes this injury bug, showed his potential in Week One and could be huge with Jeff
Garcia seemingly picking up where he left off last season. Out of the latter three, I
think Conway is the best bet. He’s ahead of Minnis right now in my book.
Wendy: I picked up Tony Richardson this week for some RB bench depth and still
have Priest Holmes hanging around from my original draft. Which one of these two Chiefs
should I start this week? Which one is more likely to have good season stats overall? I'm
worried about Holmes. (My other RB is guaranteed-starter Ricky Williams, so no worries
there.)
Fantasy Doctor: I would be worried about Holmes as well. The Packers showed they could
run the ball vs. Washington, and the Redskins’ defense suffered some key injuries in
that game, so the Chiefs’ ground game could actually yield positive results. If I
knew who was more likely to post better numbers this season, I’d be on the
Chiefs’ payroll and not wearing this stupid lab jacket. However, I think Richardson
is probably the better choice because he does more with the football and is the
team’s choice in one-back sets.
JW Leroy: I have been offered two trades for Randy Moss. The first is Garcia
and Owens for Moss and K. Collins. The second is A. Brooks, Joe Horn and D. Mason for Moss
and Warrick. Should I do either one? It is a 12-team league with a combo scoring system.
There are bonuses for 100 yards rushing/receiving and length of TDs.
Fantasy Doctor: I kind of like both of them from your side of things, but the first
thing that caught my eye was the possibility of having the 49ers’ quarterback and top
receiver on the same team. The second one is respectable as well, because I think Brooks
is only going to get better. Eventually the Vikings will snap out of their funk, but until
then, Moss probably won’t have the value on the open market like he did before the
draft.
Mike: Mr. Fantasy Doctor, I have RBs Ron Dayne, Tiki Barber, Mike Anderson,
Tyrone Wheatley, Terry Allen and Nick Goings, and I don't know which two I should play.
Could you help me out?
Fantasy Doctor: I can try, Mike, and I appreciate the formal title there. Problem is,
every single on of your backs is splitting time and carries with someone else. Wheatley
has to play vs. Seattle. I know it’s a different Seahawks defense this season, but he
had over 300 yards rushing and a touchdown in two games against them last season. And I
would probably lean in the direction of Anderson, even vs. the Ravens. Barber and Dayne
make for too tough a decision on one team, and they’re facing the Saints.
Brad: Hi Doc, I enjoy your analysis, and with that, I need some advice this
week. I'm in a 14-team league, and I need to start either 3RB/2WR or 2RB/3WR. I have
George (bye) Allen, R. Anderson, Olandis Gary and Duece McCallister at running back. At
wide receiver I have Moulds, Connell, McCardell, Toomer and Mason (bye). Thanks.
Fantasy Doctor: With the group you have and with George on bye, there is no way you can
start three running backs. I suppose you have to go with Allen and Gary at running back
because the other two are just situational players. The WR situation is a little more
difficult to analyze. I think McCardell and Moulds should get the nod along with Toomer
despite the fact he’s facing the Saints’ secondary.
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. |
