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This season the Fantasy Doctor will answer a few of our readers' fantasy questions on an almost daily basis, Monday through Friday. Send your questions to the Doc at the address above.
Fantasy Doctor, I need a cure! My favorite league is a small 8-man keeper league. I won last year, so I have the #8 and #9 picks. We can and have to keep only 3 players. I've narrowed it down to Tom Brady, Frank Gore, Joseph Addai, Steven Jackson, and Terrell Owens. My gut is telling me to stick with the RBs and keep Brady, Addai and Jackson (we only start 2 RBs). However, I am a bit worried about Addai with Dominic Rhodes back and would consider keeping T.O. over Addai (because we also start 3 WRs). If I drop T.O., I could draft the likes of Plaxico Burress, Torry Holt, or Brandon Marshall with my first 2 picks. If I drop Addai or Jackson, I could draft the likes of maybe Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Jacobs or Jamal Lewis. I am trying to trade Gore for a first-round pick; if that happens I will be sitting pretty either way. But, WHO SHOULD I KEEP?
— Jake Soerens
Wow, Jake, that's a ridiculously good group of players you have to choose from. Even though it's a difficult decision, I think I agree with your first thought of keeping Tom Brady and your top two running backs. Brady is the No. 1-ranked QB and is an automatic keeper. After him, I'm with you that Joseph Addai and Steven Jackson are your best options. Both guys are young, play in prolific offensive systems and have a nose for the endzone. They are definitely safe keepers. Holding on to T.O. is certainly tempting, but remember that he is 34 years old and has a very checkered past. Plus, the other receivers you can get are not a huge drop-off from Owens. Stick with your gut and you'll be on your way to a winning fantasy season.
Who would you protect: WR - Santonio Holmes vs. Roy Williams; and RB - Earnest Graham vs. Brandon Jacobs? The choices seem like a coin flip to me. Thanks for your help.
— Jim Smith
I'm with you about those decisions being virtual toss-ups. At running back, I slightly favor Brandon Jacobs because of his propensity to find paydirt. Earnest Graham had a very nice season in '07, but part of me thinks he will be a one-year wonder and fail to match last year's stats. Jacobs, meanwhile, churned out very impressive numbers when he wasn't hurt, and he'll definitely score more than he did last season. If he can stay healthy, Jacobs makes for a good sleeper pick. As for your receiver, you really can't go wrong either way, but I'll recommend Roy Williams simply based on the fact that he's his team's No. 1 WR and will catch more passes than Santonio Holmes. I like Holmes a lot this year, but he's a bit more of a gamble — he could have a lot of all-or-nothing games.
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