Damifiknow

From the 2007 Rookie Scouting Portfolio: "Bradshaw has the best vision of any back in this draft and runs with a sound combination of power and elusiveness. A sleeper." On the few ocassions I was able to catch a Giants game, and he played, I saw exactly that. Glad I drafted him, and glad I held onto him. If he stays healthy, he'll be something special, and he's far more likely than Jacobs to stay healthy.

Based on the RSP 2006 and 2007, I drafted Jones-Drew, Colston, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith (NYG), Trent Edwards, John Beck - and those are the ones that just come to mind without thinking. I'm in several deep dynasty leagues, and wouldn't be without RSP. Am watching for Sharon to show up in one league. Sounds like a good catch. Paid through 2009 last year, so I'm eagerly awaiting the 2008 version. Thanks for the hard work!

5.1 Ahmad Bradshaw

Would it make a big difference if the trade were E.Manning/J.Beck for P. Manning? E. Manning and J. Kitna are both 2nd tier, but Kitna is 34, Eli is 26, Beck is 26, and Peyton is 31. The only starting QB older than Kitna is Favre. Can I win this year? Somewhere between probably and maybe. I have: RBs Tomlinson, McGahee, Cadillac, some also rans, and drafted Ahmad Bradshaw and Brian Leonard WRs Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Santana Moss, Vincent Jackson, Nate Washington, some also rans. Drafted Mike Walker, but IF he can make it on skill rather than size, it will be a year or two AT LEAST TEs V. Davis, H. Miller PKs R Gould and S Graham Ds SD and Seattle Winning this year would be nice, but my goal is to learn to build a good dynasty team when I was already fortunate to start with some big guns. I'm trying to look long term, and if I can have a highly competitive team this year WITHOUT Peyton, and at the same time improve my odds for the future, then it's the right move. Just don't know if I am using the right set of scales.

Dynasy league I have P. Manning, Leinert, and just drafted Trent Edwards. Wanted John Beck, but someone else grabbed him first. Have been talking with that someone about what he'd take for Beck. The trade I think is best is J. Kitna/J. Beck for P. Manning. I believe Beck will be starting before the season is over, and Edwards will be a great starter somewhere in the next 3-4 years. So with Beck and Edwards, I'm set for the future. Is that worth trading P. Manning now, and going with Kitna or Leinert for the immediate future? Will offer to help with your issues, but I'm still enough of a rookie myself that it might not be worth it to you . . .

Don't think I said I have 3rd pick in the draft. That said, I go back and forth on the "Branch vs Ward" choice, for the reason you give - age. I watched Branch closely last year, and when he was given the chance, he GENERALLY came through. You can't catch it if it's thrown to the other guy. On the bottom 3, I'm very comfortable with Rivers and Coles, but Clayton worries me. The Bucs are my home team, and I'm just not sure Gruden will give him the opportunity to be at his best. What I've seen is Gruden picks favorites, and sticks with them long after everyone else has seen the writing on the wall. It's like once he tips his hat, he can't admit he could have been wrong. So guys like Gradkowski (may be great someday, but was badly used by Gruden, IMO, when he just wasn't ready) get more chances than they or the team need, and guys like Clayton don't get enough. With the TE situation, most are ranking Smith in the top 10 (OF TEs!), and I wouldn't mind having that position filled. But you've given me some good ideas to mull over when I can't sleep at night! Thanks for the input. Am watching that closely. I like Rivers, and think his upside is better than Green's, but I could be wrong. Just wish I could keep more of the top 6, but rules are rules, and sometimes they even apply to me! Thanks for the input! Good points - thanks! I'm not crazy about Green, but I recognize he could be a good pickup. I just hope I can manage to make a better 2nd QB pickup in the draft. And as I said earlier, the Branch vs Ward issue is probably my most important and difficult. I'm beginning to lean more toward Branch as I get more info, and more opinion.

Thanks, Pinto. Will likely hear that a lot - it's my own first inclination as well. But, I'm also looking for any other ideas about the rest of the keepers. Is there a strong case for switching any of my choices?

I'm the new owner of an established team. We keep 6, with rules that limit me to 3 of the following, and I'm leaning toward keeping the bolded ones: RB's Reggie Bush, Warrick Dunn, Cadillac Williams WR's Deion Branch, Derrick Mason, Hines Ward The remaining keepers come from the balance of the team, same thing with bold: QB - Philip Rivers, Trent Green, Joey Harrington RB - Verron Haynes WR - Laveranues Coles, Michael Clayton TE - LJ Smith, Jerramy Stevens K - Dave Rayner D - Dolphins, Colts So, I need one more keeper, and I'm thinking it should be Rivers, but if the Dolphins D looks good enough, maybe that would be a better move, and allow me to pick up better players in the early rounds. If you don't keep 6, you have to fill your roster in free agency. Would appreciate some outside thinking on this.

"Never Underestimate A Reptile!" Damifino (A 'Nole, but a Floridian first!)

THANKS to both of you who have responded so far!!! I think you're both echoing my instincts, but I've felt that my instincts might be wrong. Will most likely keep him, since that's one less position I need to worry about, and I'm REALLY thin at RB.

Keeper league, and we can keep 6 total. I'm happy with my QB and RB selections, and have 2 WRs I'll likely keep. That gets me to Branch, or my PK. Nobody likes to waste a keeper pick on a kicker, even if he's a Rackers or Gould. This is the last week for trades, and if I'm not going to keep him, I may want to put him on the block and see what I can get for him. So, I'd appreciate some thoughts on whether Branch's value (to me!) is likely to improve the second half of the season to the point where I could consider him a keeper, OR if those who have watched him longer than I have think he's worth keeping for because he'll rebound next year. And yes, I tried the help board, but there were no responses in 2-3 days, so I'm trying here. Thanks!

Keeper league, and we can keep 6 total. I'm happy with my QB and RB selections, and have 2 WRs I'll likely keep. That gets me to Branch, or my PK. Nobody likes to waste a keeper pick on a kicker, even if he's a Rackers or Gould. This is the last week for trades, and if I'm not going to keep him, I may want to put him on the block and see what I can get for him. So, I'd appreciate some thoughts on whether Branch's value (to me!) is likely to improve the second half of the season. Thanks!

Bump

I'm trying to decide whether to be patient and see what happens, or make a move, and would like outside points of view. Keeper league, my first year. I have 5 WR. We start 3. Three of mine have the same bye week, so I'm going to have to do something down the line. The three with week 6 bye are Deion Branch, Matt Jones, and Ernest Wilford. I also have a deep sleeper, but he's a different bye week so not a consideration, and my top WR is Torry Holt. Possible trades include Stallworth, McCardell, Mark Clayton, Nate Burleson, Eric Moulds, and Brandon Lloyd. I haven't made any offers yet. My gut feeling is to wait and see what happens with Branch, since IF he's picked up by another team, the bye issue might disappear. If I offer a trade, it would be Wilford for one of those named above, and I'd kinda like to keep him if I can. I also have 2 PKs (Vinatieri and Feely) and could let one of those go and pick up a FA. I planned to drop one after week 6 anyway, but could do it earlier. Your thoughts?

OUCH!!! You weren't kidding about being in a world of hurt! RB and QB REALLY suck. Just my personal take, but if this is a 10-team league, can we assume you've scoured the FA list, and absolutely NO upgrades are available? You've probably done that. RB seems like the first thing to look at, and I'd rank your current crew Jones, McAllister, Anderson. If you can trade UP at RB, offer one of your QB's and ANY RB for someone higher than Jones. QB - I can't believe there's not a Brad Johnson, Chris Simms, etc. on the FA list. At least they're starters, and EVERYONE ranks them above Grossman and Frye AND the Tenn. starter. Drop one and replace with a WR or RB from the FA pool, unless you can make a trade you think is better. WR - Smith AND Coles are your starters ahead of Toomer, and if you don't have to carry 2 DEF or 2 K's, I'd hold onto Carolina and either of the K's, and try to find a couple of sleeper WRs or RBs. My favorite picks (JMHO and I admit to being a 2nd year rookie with a good track record) are RB Maurice Jones-Drew, and WRs Ernest Wilford and Michael Clayton who aren't really sleepers, but if your league is shallow enough, may not have been picked up. How about TJ Houshmandzadei? He's been available post draft in a couple of my leagues. Good luck!