I need help with my fantasy team.

[JPFair]

This is my second year of being involved in a fantasy league, and was wondering if I could tap some knowledge from other Football aficionados on this site.

I think I'm going to be pretty competitive in this league, as I have Daunte Culpepper as my starting QB with Stve McNair as my backup. I have J. Pitten at Tight End and Joe Horn (New Orleans), Deion Branch, and D. Driver (Green Bay) at WR with Mark Clayton (Baltimore), T.J. Houshmanzadeh, and Andre Davis (New England) as my backups at the WR position. I think I might try to get rid of Davis, but other than that I'm set at WR and QB.

Now, HERE'S my predicament. I have a few good RB's, but don't know enough about them from a fantasy standpoint. My RB's are as follows: DeShaun Foster (Carolina), Tatum Bell (Denver), and Tiki Barber (NYG). I know Tiki Barber put up some pretty good numbers last year, but some are wondering can he do it again this year. I'm going to take a chance, at least for the first few games to see how he goes. BUT, and this is a BIG but, DeShaun Foster is listed at the top of the Carolina Depth chart at RB, and this will be his first full year at RB. His numbers last year looked 'average' at best, but the return of Stephen Davis may put Foster back to second on the Depth Chart, which would mean I'd want to start looking for a starting RB. The other question is Tatum Bell. As it is with DeShaun Foster, this will be Bell's first year as the starting RB in Denver. It looks like they're going to release Maurice Clarett, but they're still stacked at RB. It's a big gamble starting DeShaun Foster and Tatum Bell as my featured RB's, and was wondering if anyone else had some opinions regarding the situation. While these RB's are all capable of putting up big numbers, it's a tough decision to make since they're both going to be battling for that coveted number one role, and the lack of available numbers from last year makes this an excruciatingly difficult position to be in for me.

Just FYI: The rest of my team looks like this:

K - Adam Viniateri
Lawrence Tines from K.C.

TE - L.J. Smith from Philly

Defense- Philly
San Diego

Anybody with some ideas, suggestions, concerns, criticisms, advice?

I'm going to try and do a straight up trade to get J. Pitten off my lineup for another tight end. I would rather die than have a Cowpuke on my starting team.

[admin]

I'd definitely think about dropping Foster, as there's a logjam in Carolina with Smart, Davis and Goings there too. I'd say to look for another RB but pickings are likely slim and I can't offer any advice without knowing who's available.

I'd keep Bell to see how he does before you go pinning the starter job on him yet (I presume you start 2 RBs in your pool?). If you have to start 3, then again, i'd look to other options.

Tiki Barber is a no-=brain starter until he proves otherwise... not only was he solid last year... he was stellar. Whether or not he can repeat is non-consequential to the fact that he's going to get you fantasy points catching and running the ball. He'll get a lot of touches and a lot of all-purpose yards... but how the pool scores the RBs dictates whether that's as important as how many TDs he puts up.

[HailSkins94]

To me, you could use another reciever and running back. I think Davis is going to get the bulk or carries for Carolina once he gets on the field again because Fox loves to pound it with BIG backs.

[DEHog]

I assume your talking about Witten at TE...your weak at RB. First check your leagues waiver wire and see who's there. Than look at the rosters and see who is deep at RB and try to move one of your guys. Witten is reguarded as a Stud TE but he just a TE..the only TE's I wouldn't give up are Gates and Gonzales. You can live with Smith at TE if you upgrade at RB. Another option is Branch he's living off of last years post season, so he went high in alot of drafts...you know how N.E. speads it around, try to trade him while his value is high
My two cents...Good Luck

[curveball]

I realize that pulling for Witten may not feel good inside, but if you let "fanhood" effect your team you might as well mail it in, you won't win. You'll beat your opponent at TE almost every week with what you have there. Keep that.


Jump onto a Broncos board as try to get a feel for how much they think Shanny will play Bell (I personally don't think it will be much, but that's my own opinion). Remember, a starting RB in Denver is good for some serious points. If you come back with the same negative opinion of Bell's point potential for this year, try to package him and TJ Housh for a little higher caliber RB.

See if Willie Parker's a FA. He'll be a nice starter for week one (given Bettis' injury), giving you time to upgrade.

[DEHog]

but if you let "fanhood" effect your team you might as well mail it in

Very True!!

[JPFair]

I appreciate all of the well articulated points made. I think I might get rid of Foster, keep Bell, and see how the Cedric Benson situation plays out in Chicago. The RB from Chicago, T. Jones is available, so I might try and take him if Benson doesn't sign. I was in touch with some Bronco fans and they seem to think Bell is going to get the bulk of the snaps at RB for Denver. But, from what I've been able to gather, it's a toss up between Bell and Anderson. Clarett is out of the picture, but I might keep my eye on him to see if he goes to Cleveland or Chicago. I've gotta pick up a marquee RB. Other than that, I think I've bot a pretty competitive team. I might just suck it up and keep Witten. I've been reading up on him, and he put up some solid numbers last year. Another risk is Mark Clayton in Baltimore. I have him, and I think they're going to try and throw him right into the deep end. I think he might be a sleeper pick for me.