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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
Edmond: I picked up Santana Moss a few weeks ago as a free agent, hoping to add
scoring punch later in the season and keep him on as a keeper-league protected player.
It's really difficult to get any information on how long he will be out this year. Do you
have any idea if he will be back before Week 12? Also, what do you think about Tony
Richardson as a No. 3 back? I have Lamar Smith and Terry Allen ahead of him. Thanks for
your time.
Fantasy Doctor: Moss may be a good risk if you have an injured list or taxi squad in
your keeper league, but don’t expect him to play before December or be all that
effective this season coming off surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee. I like Tony
Richardson as a No. 3 back, but keep in mind he could be out for another 2-4 weeks with a
bum shoulder. He’s a very underrated football player, and, when healthy, the
Chiefs’ guy in one-back sets. Problem is, the Chiefs have only shown a real
commitment to the run once, and that was when he was out and Priest Holmes ran wild on the
Redskins.
Stephen: Trent Green is killing me at quarterback. Would you trade Eddie George
for Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb? I know someone who has both and has nothing at running
back. My other running backs are Ahman Green, Shaun Alexander, Kevin Barlow and Olandis
Gary.
Fantasy Doctor: I think you’d be foolish not to. Many of my colleagues rode Eddie
George to fantasy stardom last year, but that Titans offense doesn’t look like
it’s capable of pulling out of its shell this season. Either one of those
quarterbacks would seem to be enough quality for George, and you seem to be set at running
back at least until Ricky Watters is healthy again.
Steve: I know it is early in the season, but my patience is growing thin with
Stephen Davis. I know the Redskins play Dallas and Arizona twice (where he should put up
good numbers), but the rest of the way looks bleak. Without a decent quarterback to lead
them, opposing defenses are going to key on Davis. If I do offer him, what kind of back do
you think I could get for him?
Fantasy Doctor: Hard to say. By now, any fantasy owner with a pulse and access to a
television knows about the plight of the Redskins. Therefore, the value for Davis might
not be as high as you’d like it to be, and no one is likely to give you a back with a
major upside in return. Why would they? If your depth at running back is adequate, you may
want to deal him for an upgrade at another position. Approach the guy with the weakest RB
lot first.
Jeffrey: Hey, Doctor, what is the prognosis on Brian Griese? Does he have a
terminal case of Missing McCaffreyitis, or will he recover?
Fantasy Doctor: I think he’ll recover, but not having McCaffrey available
certainly has thrown a bit of a wrench into his statistics. It may not be as pretty of a
show, but he’s still deserving of a starting role in my medical opinion. Unless you
have someone named Warner or Manning on your team, that is.
Aaron: Fantasy Doc, please help me with this WR dilemma. I have been starting
Randy Moss, Rod Smith and Tim Brown. I was so psyched at the start of the year with these
three. But Moss has been a disappointment, and Brown has been outplayed by Marty Booker,
who I scooped up as a free agent on draft day. Which three do I play? Do I trade one? I am
a little thin at RB. Since Jamal Anderson went down, I have Lamar Smith, Shaun Alexander,
Buckhalter, Barber and Dayne, with Canidate on taxi. Any advice? Your help is greatly
appreciated.
Fantasy Doctor: Asking the Fantasy Doctor if he has any advice is like asking Ted
Washington if he’d like a second helping. I would probably stand pat. With Alexander
the man now in Seattle and Duce Staley’s injury history, I think you’re just
fine at running back. I would hold on to all four receivers and just do your best to pick
the right No. 3 based on who’s hot and what defense they’re facing. Moss and
Smith shouldn’t come out of the lineup no matter what.
CP: I have the Seattle defense. I'll be dropping them either this week or next
as A.) They aren't good and B.) They have a bye in Week 6. Of these teams that have had or
will have their bye by this week, which one should I pick up: Pittsburgh, Jacksonville or
Chicago?
Fantasy Doctor: Chicago. The Bears are young, fast, hungry and capable of making big
plays now.
Don: I'm in a scoring-only league with 10 teams. I have a chance to trade Brian
Griese and Tony Gonzalez for Peyton Manning. Byron Chamberlain is my second tight end. My
running backs are Edgerrin James and Ricky Williams, and my wide receivers are Jimmy
Smith, David Boston, Marcus Robinson and Keyshawn Johnson. My backup quarterback is Jeff
Garcia. I think the upgrade at QB may put me over the top for a playoff spot and a second
Super Bowl championship. What do you think?
Fantasy Doctor: That is a pretty solid team, and I think Manning would help. Despite
his first 100-yard game last week, Gonzalez has been a disappointment. He is facing two
and three defenders in the red zone, and the Rams-style offense Dick Vermeil brought in
has stayed grounded for the most part under Trent Green’s guidance. I wouldn’t
have a problem starting Griese or Garcia and keeping the status quo either though. Look at
it this way: Even with a sub-par year, Gonzalez is still as good or better numbers-wise as
any other tight end. Is Manning’s consistency enough to override having a potential
100-yard/one or two-TD performer at tight end when no one else does?
Todd: Hey there. OK, with Kevin Barlow hurting, should I start Garrison Hearst
this week? He's looked stronger the past two games. Or should I go with Priest Holmes,
Charlie Garner or Ron Dayne. My other starter is Curtis Martin. Please help! I'm 2-2 and
need a boost!
Fantasy Doctor: Hearst has been a pleasant surprise this season. Although Barlow
represents the future and will spell him, Hearst has done enough to warrant a start
without a doubt. The impressive thing about him is that, like most great backs, he seems
to get better and stronger in the late stages of games.
Ivan: I am thinking about trading Brian Griese and Anthony Thomas for Jay
Schroeder, Warrick Dunn and Mike Anderson. What are your feelings about this trade? I
still have Aaron Brooks as my QB. Thanks.
Fantasy Doctor: Perhaps you know something I don’t about a possible Jay Schroeder
return from retirement, Ivan. Just kidding. Assuming you mean Bill Schroeder of the
Packers, I would go ahead with it. Getting two starting running backs like Dunn and
Anderson is huge, and with Brooks, you’re still set at quarterback. Make sure you
have a viable backup there before you start buying polish for your league trophy though.
Jim: My league has a swing position — WR or RB. I am starting Mike
Anderson and Charlie Garner for my RBs. Who would you start for a scoring and yards league
between Mike Alstott, Terance Mathis or Curtis Conway? How do you feel about Keith Poole's
value over time?
Fantasy Doctor: Even with Warrick Dunn’s rapid recovery, I’d probably still
lean in Alstott’s direction for this week because of his increased workload. Keith
Poole’s value is difficult to determine. With Eddie Kennison’s disappearing act
and Kevin Kasper’s ankle injury likely to keep him out at least another 2-3 weeks,
Poole could be asked to contribute right away now that he’s healthy. But the system
in Denver is tough to master, and no one has stepped up to fill the No. 2 WR role yet.
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. |
