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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
Cody: Playoffs start this week. Would you start Lamar Smith or D. Rhodes? Also
at receiver, I am starting Terrell Owens, but what other one do I need to start out of
Jerry Rice, Kevin Johnson, and Plaxico Burress?
Fantasy Doctor: My bet is you looked at Smith’s last game against the Patriots and
caught a case of uncontrollable salivation, seeing the possible number of points Smith
could put up. But, I’d advise you to avoid getting too excited about that outing. The
Patriots are a better team, and the Dolphins’ running game has struggled. Consider
also that Rhodes is facing a Jets defense that has had a tough time against the run. As
for your receiver problems, I’d rule out Johnson and Burress, who despite a few
recent outings, isn’t as consistent a fantasy threat as Rice.
John: I need some professional advice. Our playoffs are this week and because
of injuries I'm scrambling for a lineup. I need to start one of these WRs: Chris Chambers
(faces the Patriots’ defense in N.E.), Eric Moulds (who’s done nothing most of
the year but faces the Falcons’ lousy pass defense) or Muhsin Muhammad (faces the
Rams). I'm leaning toward Muhammad as he’s had a bye week to get healthy. Also, the
Rams will be leading so the Panthers will be throwing early and often. Also, if Bettis
can't go I'll be forced to start either Stacy Mack against the Vikings or Fuamatu-Ma'afala
against the Lions. Can you help me lead my team to a win?
Fantasy Doctor: While Chambers has developed into a big-play threat, he’s too
reliant on the inconsistency of QB Jay Fiedler and his turnover issues. Muhammad has had
time to get healthy, and the Panthers will probably be throwing more, but I’m here to
tell you to lean away from Muhammad and lean toward Moulds. Moulds hasn’t been
special at all this year, but he’s more likely to put up bigger numbers against a
much, much worse defense in Atlanta than Muhammad is likely to put up against the Rams. As
for your RB situation, while Fuamatu-Ma’afala is no Bus, he should have an easier
time against the Lions at home than Mack will in the Metrodome.
James: Hope you don't mind doing a little pro bono work for an uninsured
patient. Fantasy Bowl is this week in my league (1 pt. per 10 yards rushing receiving, 1
pt. per 20 passing yards, bonus over 100 yards). I need to choose one of the following to
start in addition to Manning, A. Smith, J. Smith, Owens, Pollard, Carney, and the Ravens
‘D’: Warrick Dunn, Amos Zereoue, Kevin Dyson, Chris Chambers or Terry Glenn.
Fantasy Doctor: Well, Zereoue is banged up, so I’d avoid him. Chambers I spoke
about in the previous item, and I’d avoid him in this case too. Glenn is intriguing,
but he’s been overshadowed by Troy Brown and David Patten on the field, and Tom Brady
is only developing a rapport with Glenn now. Dunn is healthy, but he’ll be in a more
limited role since Mike Alstott is performing better, so I’d avoid Dunn. Dyson has
benefited from the struggles of RB Eddie George and the semi-emergence of Steve
McNair’s passing skills. Dyson would probably be your man, even with him going up
against the Raiders’ strong secondary. He’s at least more of a certainty than
the others.
Sharif: Who do I start, Jeff Garcia or Kordell Stewart? I have both of them on
two of my teams and I face Kurt Warner in both games.
Fantasy Doctor: Three weeks ago, you wouldn’t be asking me this question. But now,
with Garcia’s status still up in the air and Stewart playing phenomenal football,
it’s an issue. You’d like to go with the hot hand in Stewart, who’s also
playing against the Lions’ defense. He’s also a certainty to play. But with
Garcia, you have more fantasy potential. The problem is, will he or won’t he play? My
sources tell me that Garcia was to be re-evaluated on Friday after he threw passes in
Thursday’s practice. While the word on Garcia hasn’t officially come down yet,
this week’s game against Philadelphia is a pretty important one, and Garcia will
probably play in the games that are must-wins to get a home playoff game as a wild card.
The uncertainty of the Garcia situation and the fact that he’s playing the
Eagles’ solid defense makes me lean toward Stewart here.
Mike: Hey doc, I've advanced to my league's semi-finals with mirrors. At WR, I
usually start Qadry Ismail and Troy Brown. With Cris Carter playing his last game (likely)
in Minnesota, should I look to start him? If so, who do I sit. Normally, I'd ride who
brought me (Brown and Ismail), but I need all the points I can get. Kevin Dyson is also on
my roster, but I have no thoughts of playing him.
Fantasy Doctor: Mike, I’m a big fan of dancing with the girl who brought you, and
I think you probably wouldn’t go wrong with that scenario in most cases. If you have
no thoughts of playing Dyson because of the matchup against Oakland, then you probably
shouldn’t start Brown either, as he’s matched up against Miami’s strong
secondary. In that case, start Ismail and Carter. Carter may have a big game if he’s
motivated by the fact that it could be his final game. On the other hand, he could sulk on
the sideline if he doesn’t get enough looks in what could be his final game. If
Carter knows he’s done after this year, I’m sure he’ll be in his
teammates’ ears to get him the ball often.
Kevin: I'm in a strictly points league, and it is the first week of the
playoffs. I have Marshall Faulk, Mike Alstott, Skip Hicks and Kevan Barlow for RBs. I can
only start two. Of course, Faulk will play for me this weekend, but whom would you
recommend for my second back?
Fantasy Doctor: So, you’re halfway there with Faulk, the no-brainer, in the
lineup. After him, I’d suggest going with the proven hot hand right now, and
that’s not Hicks. Sure, Hicks went nuts last week in limited time spelling Eddie
George, but that’s not to say he’s going to get the same number of carries this
week. If George gets rolling against the Raiders’ garbage run defense, the Titans may
not pull him. Barlow is still splitting time with Garrison Hearst, so he’s out. Go
with Alstott, who will lose some carries to Warrick Dunn, but Alstott should be featured
more than Dunn and has had a nose for the endzone this year.
The Fantasy Doctor has joined his associates for the holidays but will be back next
week. Please direct all questions to fantasydoctor@pfwa.com. |
