A Fantasy Football Question...

[Leeroy]

I've been in an eight team league with some friends from college for twelve years running now. We each keep two players from the previous year. This year, I have one easy call, with Chargers RB LaDanian Tomlinson (had him his whole career)...My question is, who should I keep with the other pick?

Marvin Harrison
Kevin Jones
or Tiki Barber

I've boiled it down to those three, but I can't make up my mind. Assuming there aren't any injuries before my draft in mid- August, who should I keep?

Harrison is tempting because of his consistency, and because there are so few elite, sure thing fantasy receivers out there (but quite a few running backs). His downside is Peyton Manning's trend towards spreading the receptions and the TDs around, and that he's starting to pick up some years.

Tiki Barber is very consistent, and racks up a lot of yards. But he never scores many TDs, and he may suffer (as he did in the 2nd half last year) as teams gang up on him and force Eli Manning to beat them. Plus, he's prone to fumbles, and to getting knicked up, and I have a feeling Brandon Jacobs may steal some carries around the goal line.

Kevin Jones may very well explode. He also has the look of a kid who could hit a wall, or regress, or just be very inconsistent. I'm not sure if the light turned on for good in the 2nd half las year, or what.

I'm leaning towards Jones, because of his upside. What do y'all think?

[Pantera Canes]

I'd keep Harrison. I still think the other two are later around picks.

[eNgLiShBuC]

Harrison. The other two are just too hit-or-miss.

[BucPride2003]

Harrison. Guarenteed 11 TDs and over 1000 yards receiving.

[Th3Clayt0nat3r]

Harrison would be the safe bet.......

In my FFL, I'm going to attempt to get Reggie Wayne.....

[OnTheGrind]

Kevin Jones, he led NFL in rushing 2nd half of the season.

[TheDisciple]

Kevin Jones. Youngest, most productive late in the year, and has the most upside.

One great year from Barber is not enough, and Harrison is slowly phasing out as Wayne steps in.

[warrensappisgod]

You're leaning in the right direction. Jones has all the makings of a stud RB and he was only a rook last year, the best option there is in fantasy keepers. It's Jones, hands down and I hated him when he went to VT so you know there's no bias. :D

[KCBucfan]

The key here is it is a keeper league....go with Jones. You will have Jones and LT over the next 5 years or so, maybe longer, damn good 1-2 punch!

[Mr. Fantasy]

Easy...


Keeper League - You gotta go with Kevin Jones. He was one of the most productive backs the 2nd half of last Season. He has the job all to himself and will only continue to get better this year. He is pretty durable and is also capable of breaking the long ones on any given play. It also helps that he has 3 talented Wideouts on his team to help spread then field. I believe he'll be a Top 10 Back this year.

Barber was great last year but he was never considered a "Fantasy Stud" before that. The Giants' Coaches have been raving about Brandon Jacobs so far in camp. It wouldn't surprise me to see this turn into a Duce Staley-Jerome Bettis situation. Barber gets all the yards, while Jacobs gets all of the 1-3 Yard TD Runs.

Harrison is very consistant but Reggie Wayne is starting to turn into a dynamic WR. Don't get me wrong, Harrison will still get his... but I'd rather take a back with the potential of Jones' over an aging Harrison.

[Leeroy]

I've pretty much made up my mind to keep Kevin Jones. I think you guys are selling Barber short though. He's not sexy, but he's productive as can be. I made up my mind to eliminate him from competition after reading today that Brandon Jacobs looks great so far, and that he may be the goal line guy for the Giants this season.

As for Harrison, he very well may have reached the top of the mountain. Manning will not throw 49 TDs again, and Reggie Wayne is up and coming. Fact is, I think there's a much better chance Kevin Jones will make me regret not keeping him than there is Marvin Harrison will make me regret not keeping him.

I'll have to use my first pick on a the best receiver left out there, though. The only reciever I see being protected is Randy Moss, and maybe Chad Johnson. People talk about running backs as being key, but there simply aren't too many "dependable" receivers out there. I'll have to take the best one on the board in the first round, and follow him up with another back, in case Kevin Jones regresses to his early form, or Mooch tries to platoon, or he gets hurt again.

If Jones has a big year, I'll pretty much have my keepers set for the next decade. Can't beat that.