Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001

The latest cry for help

Decisions on Bettis, Culpepper top huge list of concerns

By Dan Arkush, Executive editor

I also gave some thought to writing about the Falcons’ increasingly intriguing fantasy situation, with FB Bob Christian suddenly bursting out of the woodwork, and Maurice Smith, who has done such a nice job replacing the injured Jamal Anderson this season, possibly having to decrease his workload because of ankle and knee injuries and thus giving more playing time to backup Rodney Thomas.

But after receiving the latest standings/update of the PFW inter-office fantasy league late yesterday and realizing that, at 6-5, "The Arkush Boys" face pretty much a must-win situation this Sunday against Keith Schleiden’s team (rumor has it that Schleiden is so fired up over this week’s encounter that he was actually seen doing what looked like a push-up on his office floor), I once again need your help.

Real quickly, for better or worse, here’s my roster: QBs: Daunte Culpepper and Kordell Stewart; RBs: Jerome Bettis, Priest Holmes, Antowain Smith, Emmitt Smith and Charlie Garner (taxi squad); WRs: Rod Smith, Joe Horn, Willie Jackson and Curtis Conway (our league plays 3 WRs each week); TEs: Ernie Conwell, Byron Chamberlain and Alge Crumpler (taxi squad); PKs: Mike Vanderjagt and Gary Anderson; defenses: Giants and Patriots.

Already, I have made a pivotal decision that couldn’t wait for your advice: I’m playing "the Priest," who goes up against the Eagles tonight. It was not an easy decision. On one hand, you have to like Holmes, the AFC’s third-leading rusher, going up against an Eagles defense ranked in the bottom half. On the other hand, you just never know which Priest Holmes is going to show up from game to game.

But the damage is done. As a result, either Bettis, who hasn’t been much of a fantasy force lately, or Antowain Smith, who has come on like gangbusters, will have to sit. Two questions for you, guys. Did I make the wrong decision playing Holmes? And, secondly, whom do I play between "the Bus" and Antowain? As I said, Bettis has come down to earth as the Steelers’ passing game has started to pick up. But against the Minnesota defense he’s facing this Sunday, I think even I could run for over 100 yards. Antowain, meanwhile, is up against a Jets rushing defense that has made a dramatic improvement in recent weeks.

Help!

Two other questions:

Do I go with Culpepper, who is bothered by a sprained left knee (did you see him dragging that leg around last Sunday night against the Bears as if he had a cannon ball attached to it?), or Stewart, who is coming off an awesome performance vs. the Titans?

What the heck do I do about Rod Smith? The latest report I saw said that he is "very questionable" with injuries to both ankles for the game against Miami. But this is Rod Smith we’re talking about! While he didn’t score any TDs vs. Dallas on Turkey Day, he still looked pretty good to me (I decided not to play him last week, though). And Denver has had a 10-day rest.

Decisions, decisions. If you have any friendly advice, contact me at darkush@primediasi.com. And if you’re in a similar boat and need another set of brain cells to help you out, I’m here for you.

As always, thanks. Now, go get ’em, Priest!

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2001 - 2002 Season