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The traditional fantasy football season has come to a close. So just how does one get by for the next nine months?
First, you can play TSN's Fantasy Football Playoff Games to put what you've learned this season to the test. Second, it's never too early to think about what you might do better when putting together your team next season.
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A good fantasy football owner does homework in the offseason, so nothing can
faze him at that August draft at Chotchkie's. That means closely tracking what
happens in the April NFL draft in New York, through the frenzy of free agency
and into the position battles of training camp.
Here are 20 postseason fantasy questions to ponder -- all are asked, but not all can be answered completely:
1. Where will Terrell Owens land? If he lands on a team with a sound quarterback situation and a solid No. 2 option opposite him (say in Atlanta), he will rebound with a strong season -- assuming there are no lingering effects of his broken collarbone. If he becomes a former 49er, then the values of Cedrick Wilson and Brandon Lloyd shoot up, especially with Tai Streets also being an unrestricted free agent. If Owens returns, San Francisco would have the depth at wideout to ease the double coverage on him, and Jeff Garcia should have a healthier, more consistent 2004.
2. Who will emerge as the Eagles' feature running back? The three-man committee is down to two for the playoffs, as Correll Buckhalter and Duce Staley will split the load as Brian Westbrook (torn triceps) is likely to be on the shelf. Credit Staley for being a team player after being a camp holdout, but how much longer he can accept spot duty remains to be seen. Figure on Buckhalter and Westbrook staying in Philly, with Staley perhaps finding a No. 1 job elsewhere.
3. What teams will Kurt Warner, Mark Brunell and Tim Couch be quarterbacking next season? Of this trio, Couch, because of his relative youth, has the most upside if he gets into the right system where he can learn to make better reads. It will be tough for the Rams to move Warner, but he also could wind up being their starter again. Brunell is the most intriguing, because he can immediately become a leader for a younger team.
4. Will the Patriots have a true go-to receiver? They don't at the moment, and that's what's made their offense so successful. Tom Brady spreads the ball around well, using the different talents of Troy Brown, Deion Branch, David Givens and Bethel Johnson. And, oh yeah, David Patten might be back, too. The best bet as a Brady favorite target, especially in the red zone, however, will be tight end Daniel Graham. New England tapped into Graham's potential in the second half of the season -- he just needs to improve his hands to match his athleticism.
5. What's next for Corey Dillon? Bill Parcells likes big, bruising backs that can help his team play ball-control. If Dillon ends up as the marshal in Dallas, he could have a Stephen Davis-like resurgence. Dillon has plenty left in the tank, and his departure from Cincy also would make Rudi Johnson an every-week starting fantasy back.
6. Has the Raiders' offense become a fantasy wasteland? Yes. Jon Gruden is long gone and Bill Callahan should be on his way out. Rich Gannon, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown are all near the end of the line, and Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner aren't that young, either. The future of this team may be Jerry Porter and Justin Fargas, but their aging offensive line also needs an overhaul.
7. Are the Lions ready to take the next step under Steve Mariucci? Matt Millen has had a tumultuous reign as the GM, but his smartest move was hiring Mooch to oversee his team and help his young offense. Detroit's big win over St. Louis was a great boost of confidence for Joey Harrington. If wide receivers Scotty Anderson and Charles Rogers both come back healthy, and James Stewart and Artose Pinner take over as the 1-2 backfield punch, the Lions will have some ways to move the ball. They also have some versatility in tight ends Mikhael Ricks and Casey Fitzsimmons.
8. Is Randy Moss once again the best fantasy receiver in the game?. Yes -- that's an easy one. With all due respect to Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt, Moss' league-leading 17 receiving touchdowns to go with 1,632 yards make him worthier of a selection over a No 1 fantasy back.
9. Will a third year mean breakouts from Ashley Lelie and Josh Reed? The third-year receiver trend held form this year, with Chad Johnson, Chris Chambers, Santana Moss and Steve Smith leading the pack with awesome fantasy production. Lelie and Reed were huge disappointments as sophomores, but see how they progress through training camp to see if they'll bust out in 2004.
10. What rookies are likely to make the biggest splash?. If Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald is eligible for the draft, he can contribute immediately as a rookie like Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson did this year. At running back, keep an eye on Oregon State's Steven Jackson.
11. Is Ricky Williams still worthy of a top-five pick? No. Especially not if Jay Fiedler remains the quarterback and doesn't provide enough balance. Priest Holmes, LaDainian Tomlinson, Clinton Portis, Jamal Lewis and Ahman Green are all better picks than Ricky.
12. Will Byron Leftwich become a viable No. 1 fantasy quarterback? As long as Fred Taylor is there to make defenses stack the box and if the Jaguars add a few more receiving options at tight end and wideout, Leftwich has all the tools to thrive as the centerpiece of Jacksonville's rebuilding project. He is the top sleeper QB for '04.
13. Is Michael Vick worth risking a high draft pick on again? Yes. He wasted no time in dazzling us again after returning to full health. Proceed with caution, however -- make sure you have a strong backup in mind.
14. Has The Bus stopped running in Pittsburgh? Probably. It's time for the Steelers to consider a youth movement, and the future backfield answer won't come from either Jerome Bettis or Amos Zereoue. The only true top-25 pick from this team next year will be Hines Ward.
15. Is Drew Bledsoe no longer a fantasy option? Yes. Forget him being your starting quarterback -- considering 23 quarterbacks threw more than his 11 TD passes this season, he shouldn't occupy a spot on your bench, either.
16. Will the Giants' entire offense be better? Injuries to the offensive line, Jeremy Shockey, Ike Hilliard and Kerry Collins helped make Tiki Barber and Amani Toomer two of 2003's biggest fantasy disappointments. Assuming everyone's healthy come September and the team brings an offensive coordinator who can make use of all their talents like Jim Fassel did, there is no reason to think that New York can't return to its 2002 form.
17. Does Brett Favre have another 30-plus TD season left in him? Of course. He just threw for four TDs in Weeks 15 and 16, so he finished 2003 with a flurry. With Green providing solid balance, Favre has become Mr. Consistency -- he has thrown at least one TD pass in 25 consecutive regular-season games.
18. Are Kevan Barlow and T.J. Duckett safe bets as No. 1 backs? Injuries to Garrison Hearst and Warrick Dunn were the only way the 49ers and Falcons realized how much talent they had in their younger running backs. Both Barlow and Duckett have made strong claims for starting jobs in 2004. If that happens, they will become excellent second-tier fantasy backs.
19. Has Matt Hasselbeck moved in the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks? Yes. He should only get better if wide receivers Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson don't drop as many passes and if tight end Jerramy Stevens emerges as a big part of Seattle's offense. The presence of Shaun Alexander always will give Hasselbeck favorable throwing chances.
20. Is the Bucs' defense
headed for a downfall? Tampa Bay was the slam-dunk No. 1 fantasy unit before
this season, but with Warren Sapp being an unrestricted free agent and age creeping
up on other players, that no longer will be the case in '04. Either New England
or Baltimore will emerge as the defense worth drafting the earliest.