Message-ID: <31952499.1075861337582.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 19:47:00 -0800 (PST) From: noreply@ccomad3.uu.commissioner.com To: frank.ermis@enron.com Subject: CBS SPORTSLINE.COM FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWSLETTER Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: CBS SportsLine.com X-To: Ermis, Frank X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \FERMIS (Non-Privileged)\Ermis, Frank\Inbox X-Origin: Ermis-F X-FileName: FERMIS (Non-Privileged).pst Fantasy Football Newsletter November 2, 2001 Fantasy Sports Fantasy Football CBS SportsLine.com Welcome to another edition of the 2001 Fantasy Football Newsletter! The Fantasy Football newsletter will arrive in your e-mail inbox every Friday. We'll include news about the web site; tips on using all the features available; and answers to your player-related questions from the "Gridiron Guru." Inside * Statistics Changes * In the Trenches * Gridiron Guru * Tip of the Week _____ Statistics Changes Statistics for our Fantasy Football games are provided by the same service that keeps official stats for the NFL, and your league is scored according to these official stats. Occasionally we receive changes to the stats we initially post after the games on Sunday or Monday nights. This happens when a stat was incorrectly reported during a game. Please note that you will rarely, if ever, see these changes reflected in published box scores, whether on-line or in print. However, we include all stat changes that we receive by Tuesday at midnight ET each week. _____ In the Trenches Check out our In the Trenches column every Wednesday for a look at all the news coming out of the recent weekend's games. We'll cover injuries, roster moves, depth chart changes and more. Check the Fantasy News area - click News, Fantasy News on the toolbar - for In the Trenches, and make sure your Fantasy facts are up-to-date. Check the Fantasy News area throughout the week for more news and advice from the experts. _____ Gridiron Guru Welcome to Gridiron Guru, where we'll answer your questions about players and offer Fantasy Football roster advice. We invite you to send your own scouting reports and comments on players to: gridguru@commissioner.com . You'll get the chance to be heard by thousands of Fantasy players just like yourself! Question - Jonathan Stark, St. Paul, Minnesota I have to bench either Tim Brown, Troy Brown, Marty Booker or Laveranues Coles. Who would you bench this week? Answer - GG Tim Brown always seems to save his best for AFC West matchups, and should have a big game against the Broncos. A Monday Night audience only adds to his motivation. Coles has become New York's No. 1 WR, and will be facing an erratic New Orleans secondary. The Jets may also have to play catch-up, and throw the ball at New Orleans. Troy Brown is facing one of the most porous secondaries in the NFC (Atlanta). We must recommend sitting Booker, who is facing the fundamentally superior Cleveland defense. Question - John Olsen, Rockaway, New Jersey This week I was able to pick up Dominic Rhodes, the backup to Edgerrin James. I also have Ahman Green vs. Tampa Bay and Anthony Thomas vs. Cleveland, along with Mike Alstott and Maurice Smith. Which two running backs should I start this week? Answer - GG Rhodes is still an unproven player, despite his excellent game against the Chiefs. Alstott has hurt the Packers before, and ran a decisive 37-yard TD in the teams' first meeting this year. The inconsistent Smith is a risky start against the Patriots. You simply have to go with your two best players here. Green is playing in a pivotal NFC Central matchup, and no one has been able to stop Thomas yet. Question - Jason Yearot, Williamsburg, Virginia Daunte Culpepper is off this week, and Vinny Testaverde is my backup. Should I use Vinny vs. New Orleans, or grab Rob Johnson off waivers? Also, would you start the Miami defense vs. Carolina or the Bears defense vs. Cleveland? Answer - GG Johnson showed a lot of grit in last week's game against the Chargers, and is facing a vulnerable Colts defense. But he is banged up, and Testaverde might test an inconsistent New Orleans secondary at times. Neither is a great start, but Testaverde is healthy, and Johnson could hurt your numbers if he takes another big hit and leaves the game. The Bears won't be tested by Cleveland's running game, but Tim Couch and Kevin Johnson may hurt them. Carolina doesn't have the running game or receiving talent (besides Muhsin Muhammad) to challenge the Dolphins, who are the better pick. _____ Tip of the Week Shawn Abel, Midlothian, Virginia: It is time to stop recommending Fantasy teams bench their quarterback when facing the Baltimore Ravens. I benched Mark Brunell last week in favor of Vinny Testaverde and it cost me dearly. Brett Favre, Tim Couch and Brunell have proven the past three weeks that a quality quarterback can torch Baltimore's defense. This message has been provided free of charge and free of obligation. If you prefer not to receive emails of this nature please send an email to remove@commissioner.com . Do not respond to this email directly.