This now is the third installment of our Difficult Decisions series. I tackled the enigmatic Chad Johnson with the first edition and the No. 7 draft spot in the second.

I hope everyone is getting some useful information from this series, as it appears to be doing pretty well. I love reading the comments on issues like these, because everyone fantasy owner out there likely has an opinion on what to do in the situations I present.

With training camps underway across the country, the biggest name on the holdout list right now is St. Louis Rams’ runningback Steven Jackson.

Early reports out of St. Louis indicated the holdout might not last more than a few days. Rams’ fans everywhere were encouraged to calm down, and the story seemed to take a back seat to Devin Hester’s holdout and the never-ending Brett Favre saga.

Now, however, Hester has signed his extension with the Bears and Favre … well … he still is being Favre. Jackson, meanwhile, still is not in camp. Time to press the panic button?

Last season, Larry Johnson executed a long holdout, keeping fantasy owners at bay for the duration of the summer. Many were unsure what to expect from LJ if and when he signed, which he finally did just before the start of the regular season.

LJ struggled out of the gate before picking up some steam midseason. And then he went down to injury, which seems to happen to other big-name runningbacks after they get paid (see: Shaun Alexander). The same worries now apply to Jackson, who, while still in his youth, is seeking big money before he sets foot on a practice field this summer.

Fantasy owners now are sweating Jackson’s holdout, and rightfully so. Despite being injured for much of 2007, Jackson returned for the tailend of the season and was extremely solid down the stretch. Trust me, I know: He helped me win the championship in my main keeper league.

I would not expect a major slip in his average draft position for now, but he is bunched in there with Brian Westbrook, Joseph Addai and Tom Brady behind the big two of LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson. I would not be surprised to see him fall a little below Westbrook and maybe even Addai if this holdout is prolonged deep into August.

If I was drafting now and had the opportunity, I still would take Jackson at No. 3. But you better cross your fingers and hope for the best.