Fantasy players need to dump Kurt
by Chris Taylor, reporter

    It's only three games into the fantasy football season, so there's no need to panic, but it might be time to unload some big names before their value goes totally down the tubes.

    I'm speaking specifically about Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams.

    Warner hasn't done much for most fantasy football owners, but there was a chance he could rebound, but instead broke his finger.

    Now, he will be out for awhile and leave owners scrambling for a replacement.

    The Rams have not looked good at all this year, and the old fantasy strategy of starting as many Rams' players as possible is not working like before.

    I'd say bail on Warner after the Dallas game and grab a good running back and another quarterback while you still can.

    Or you can hang on to him and hope he recovers.

    Granted, that strategy could sink your team down the road, but it could also cost you in more important games.

    Between the two fantasy teams IÕm running this year, Nihilists at 2-1 and the Oompaloompas at 1-2, I'm at a .500 record.

    I have Warner as my starting quarterback on the Nihilists, and, luckily, my team has been carried by my running backs and my defense.

    Warner is just one of several disappointing players this season.

    Marshall Faulk, Terrell Owens and Randy Moss have all played below their expectations. If only Moss would show the same kind of aggression to opposing defenses that he shows toward traffic cops.

    Some of the surprises this season have been Marty Booker, wide receiver for the Bears; Tom Brady, quarterback for the Patriots, and Lamar Smith of the Panthers.

    Possibly, the biggest surprise of the season has to be Priest Holmes of the Chiefs.

    Holmes was never expected to duplicate last season's statistics, but so far is on pace to better them.

    One owner in my league has Holmes and Travis Henry of the Bills and has dominated the league so far. Holmes has proved himself the best running back out there in the still-early season.

    It's a toss-up as to whether he will continue to produce for the entire season the way he has up to this point. If you can grab him in a trade, I'd say do it now before his value goes up any higher.

    Anyone who plays fantasy football knows that running back is the most important position on a team. Most leagues require two backs to start. In a 12-team league, that means 24 will be taken, and there are only 32 teams. Not all of those 32 teams have a legitimate number one running back.

    A position where quality players are scarce and generate most of your team's points is definitely one where you need to be consistent.

    Most teams took the known backs, expecting production equal to previous seasons, but new names have dominated the lists.

    So far it has been a strange season for fantasy owners. Remember, the season's still early, so don't panic, yet.