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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
Dave: Doc, I am in a 12-person league and needing more points. Right now, I
have J. Smith, T. Owens, J. Pathon and Willie Jackson at WR and Culpepper and Brunell at
QB. Where I am hurting is at RB. I have L. Smith, D. Staley, J. Bettis and Travis Henry.
The best running backs available are Holmes, Shaun Alexander, Maurice Smith, Buckhalter
and Thomas Jones. Are any of these guys worth picking up?
Fantasy Doctor: Let me tell you, Dave. You’re not hurting at running back as much
as a lot of people who write in. I think over the short term, Alexander and Buckhalter are
good choices, especially Alexander because of the significance of Ricky Watters’
injury as opposed to Staley’s, meaning he’ll be playing longer. Smith, however,
could the best choice if you’re looking to nab someone for the remainder of the
season. The Falcons are rolling with rejuvenated QB Chris Chandler, and they like
Smith’s speed and size in the framework of the offense. And he won’t lose his
starting job down the road because Jamal Anderson’s not coming back like Watters and
Staley.
Rob: Which two players should I start this week at wide receiver among Terrell
Owens, James Thrash, Travis Taylor and Laveranues Coles?
Fantasy Doctor: I can always tell a serious fantasy player by whether they spell
Laveranues or Tshimanga right. Good job, Rob. Owens should never come out of the starting
lineup. As far as the rest of those guys, they’re all facing secondaries that have
had their share of problems. I would avoid Coles because the Jets’ offense still
looks out of sync. It’s a close call between the other two, but I’d lead toward
Thrash against the Cardinals.
Chris: I have Ahman Green and Ricky Williams for my starters. My backup is
Richard Huntley. Do you think I should drop Huntley and pick up Pittman, who is still
available, seeing that he has gotten the starting job?
Fantasy Doctor: Certainly. That would be a wise move. Huntley has been slow to get
going this year with a bad hamstring and has Tshimanga Biakabutuka and Nick Goings ahead
of him on the depth chart. Pittman fits the Cardinals’ offense much better than
Thomas Jones.
Jebodin: Does Deuce McAllister's potential (if/when Williams goes down) make
him worth keeping, or should I pick up Shaun Alexander? I have Dillon, James Allen and
Richard Huntley in an 18-team league.
Fantasy Doctor: I would hang on to McAllister, drop Huntley and definitely add
Alexander, who should be your second starter until Watters returns. But that’s just
me.
David: Hi Doc, I am somewhat confused as to who I should start this week at RB.
I've got Correll Buckhalter, Stephen Davis, Tyrone Wheatley and picked up Maurice Smith
this morning on the free-agent wire (Jamal Anderson's replacement). With Garner injured
and somewhat questionable this Sunday, might it be worth starting Wheatley against a weak
Dallas defense? With Davis up against a strong Giants defense this weekend, might it make
sense to start Buckhalter or Smith over Davis? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Fantasy Doctor: I wouldn’t admit you for a battery of psychological tests if you
did, David. With the state of the Redskins, I would probably shy away from Davis vs. the
Giants as well. Buckhalter (vs. the Cardinals) and Smith (vs. the Bears) are interesting
choices, but rather than start two young backups who have both been thrown into the
limelight, it may be best to go with Wheatley and only one of them — Buckhalter, in
my mind.
Tim B: Doc, Besides my WR starters — Holt and Harrison — I also have
Laveranues Coles, Todd Pinkston and Bill Schroeder. Available in my league are notables
such as Terance Mathis, Tony Martin, James McKnight, Chris Chambers, Willie Jackson,
Jacquez Green, Peter Warrick, Tim Dwight and Peerless Price. Do you see any Add/Drop
action to be had here? Thanks for your time.
Fantasy Doctor: Jackson and Warrick pop up as possibilities immediately in my mind.
Jackson has emerged as the Saints’ go-to receiver early this season, which is a
positive sign with Aaron Brooks throwing in a balanced offense. Warrick is a playmaker,
plain and simple. And in the Bengals’ new offense that moves him around and spreads
the field, it’s next to impossible for teams to double-team him. Coles and Schroeder
could be expendable for those two.
Jaysumi: Will Jim Miller continue to start, or will a healthy Shane Mathews get
his old job back? Also, is Marcus Robinson back to 100 percent, and will it matter to him
which QB gets the start?
Yes, no, yes and yes are your answers. It’s Miller’s gig from here on out,
and Robinson has shown to be a much more focal part of the offense when Bears quarterbacks
throw downfield. That is something Miller does significantly better than Matthews.
007: Doc, I can start two of the following this week: Wheatley, Bennett,
Pittman, Dayne or Huntley. (I also have Dunn, who is out.) Who do you recommend and why,
and should I maybe make a trade (I'm weak at QB with Fiedler, Miller, Hasselnightmare)?
Thanks.
Fantasy Doctor: I wouldn’t advise against a trade to try to shore up your QB
situation, but I doubt any of your backs will lure a big-name quarterback. Start Dayne
this week, as Tiki Barber is expected to be limited with a bad hamstring, if he plays at
all. Teams have been running through that battered Redskins defense like a sieve. I would
hold off on Bennett until the Vikings get back from a trip to the Big Easy. Your best bet,
according to my medical expertise, would be to go with Wheatley because Pittman is facing
the Eagles’ defense, and Wheatley is going up against the Cowgirls.
Loren: I might have an opportunity to trade Stephen Davis for Fred Taylor. I
know Taylor is hurt, but Davis isn't exactly lighting it up, nor does he look to in the
future. Would this be a wise trade?
Fantasy Doctor: I like your way of thinking, Laura. The Redskins are clearly in
shambles, and we all know what Taylor can do when he gets back from the inactive list
— look at his nine consecutive 100-yard games last season. The only concern I have is
whether you have enough capable bodies at running back to keep you going until Taylor
returns.
William: I risked a low pick (12th round out of 17) on Panthers WR Patrick
Jeffers. I have been following his progress as best as I can. When will he be ready to
play? I hear he is practicing but never plays.
Fantasy Doctor: Unfortunately, knee problems have robbed the NFL of one its most
exciting receivers, and I wouldn’t expect anything from him in 2001. Some of my
colleagues in the Charlotte area told me it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the
Panthers put him on injured reserve soon.
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. |
