-On trading - Dodds, don't trade down again. Get the best available players for your need at WR. Every one else has been stockpiling talent in rounds 3-4 while you traded down in order to pounce into a talent pool. That pool right now is WR. I recommend Toomer. You have the opportunity, in the 5th round now, to build a team many would drool for in this type of league - 2 RBs who perform at a high level, plus three-four WRs, any of whom, could have a huge week on any given week. Get Toomer now and look for RB3 and another WR at your turn at the bottom of the round.
-Forget QB - go QBBC starting at your late 6th round pick and get another at your turn in the bottom of the 6th. Look for the Hasselbeck/Ramsey, types who could be huge, but might not. The high reward players at QB late is a good strategy since any of them could go 300/3 in any given game, but might not on a weekly basis. Luckily, you don't have to pick which one will go off each week!
-Didn't know one off-handed handcuff comment, the most minor point in my post, would cause this much controversy. I've never PLAYED this type of league, but I UNDERSTAND how it works. I re-familarized myself with the rules to make sure I didn't miss something. I stand by my handcuff comment and below is the reason why.
1) handcuff to backup - normally not a good idea.
2) handcuff within a RBBC? Ala, getting Pittman RB3 and Alstott RB4, good idea.
3) Taylor is an exception - I consider Taylor this year in the same way I considered him last year. I would not hesitate to grab him because he plays so well, but I consider him automatically two roster spots. He's worth a "wasted" roster spot in this format because Tiki plays every week, and if Taylor's playing, the points you might get from the available RB4 on your roster are IRRELEVANT. If Taylor goes down, his backup usually performs at a HIGHER LEVEL than the RB4 you have available. In any case, you are counting on getting production weekly from both Taylor and Tiki OR from Tiki and Taylor's backup, with the occasional week from your RB3/4. If Taylor goes down in week 3, you look like a genius. So, even if using only 4 RBs, handcuffing FOR TAYLOR ONLY is a recommended strategy. Personally, I'd keep 5 RBs on my roster. Taylor is so good and his backup is so valuable if he plays that keeping a 5th RB for Taylor's backup is recommended.
- picking RBs - If picking a RB 5.02, Hearst ,Pittman or Emmitt at RB3 is recommended. Either way, Dodds needs one of these guys at his pick at the turn. Hearst, if cut, will be starting somewhere else. Hearst, if not cut, will still have a few real good games. I like Emmitt here, too, since he IS a feature back. He wants one more 1000 yards season and he might just barely get it in AZ. And, given the horrendous WR corps, he may see a lot of underneath and outlet passes. He's always had good hands. Pittman catches the ball well, and got 250 touches last year. I see his role increasing if TB's O improves and could be worth the gamble that he emereges as the Charlie Garner in Gruden's offense.
DO NOT pick Mack at this point. Since Houston has Wells, and is reportedly interested in trading for Jones, I see a RBBC situation developing on a team that will be getting demolished offensively each week. Production will be minimal, and he's not really known as a pass catcher - besides, Texans have a ton of pass catching options and Mack's reception numbers probably won't be high. At least Emmitt is the clear cut feature back on a team that will have offensive problems, and he can catch the ball when the AZ receivers are (inevitably) shut down.