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Fantasy Football: Running backs not your only early option

DAYTON, Ohio — Fantasy football early-round draft strategies tend to echo real football offensive strategy.

The three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-FieldTurf guy will go running back-running back in every draft, every year.

The run-and-shoot owner will try to pick two Pro Bowl receivers and a quarterback and then take risky running backs with "upside."

Then there's the owner who takes a bunch of RBs and WRs and grabs Brett Favre late. You know who you are.

Owners can and do win with all of the above. You have to satisfy your tastes. Pick a strategy and stick with it, but leave a little room for audibles.

RB-RB: If this is the only real option in your league, the scoring is too skewed toward running backs. Count passing TDs as much as others. Give receivers more points for the same yards as RBs.

WR-QB-WR (or other variations): In a few leagues, you can win with this only if the scoring makes sense (think points per reception) and getting lucky on picking RBs late who end up starting.

RB-WR-RB-WR-RB-etc.-Favre: Maybe it's not always Favre. But if INTs are not too punitive in your league, there's always QBs later (Grossman, Eli Manning, Kitna, Roethlisberger) who are just a notch below the top statistical guys.

Surprising stats

• Carolina's Steve Smith probably will be one of the first three receivers picked in your league. Yes, he's great (example: 2005), but take a closer look. In 2006, he had 83 catches for 1,166 yards and eight TDs in 14 games.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh's numbers? He had 90 catches for 1,081 yards and nine TDs ... in 14 games. Funny commercials aside, how much farther down will "Housh" go?

Who has the better quarterback? Who has the better receiver on the other side. Will you miss the RB you could have had in the top two rounds by taking Smith while your buddy gets a good back and Houshmandzadeh?

It's all about value and production, not what's listed in your cheat sheet. Yes, you're projecting this year and not rehashing 2006, but it's good to look at real numbers. Some other comparisons of chic picks (listed first) and players with similar numbers in 2006:

• Marques Colston (70-1,038-8 TDs) vs. Joey Galloway 62-1,057- 7 TDs).

• Edgerrin James (1,210 yards, 6 TDs) vs. Fred Taylor (1,146 yards, 5 TDs).

• Tom Brady (3,529 yards, 24 TDs, 12 INTs) vs. Eli Manning (3,244 yards, 24 TDs, 18 INTs).

If you have fantasy football questions or comments, please e-mail mgokavi AT daytondailynews.com and put ffball in the subject line.