awards

1 Comment Posted on January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Awards 2015

Has your Fantasy Football withdrawal kicked in already? Are you already thinking about next year’s draft? Yeah, me too…That’s why I’ll be frequently updating my draft boards on MichaelPiff.com starting next week.

But first…

We have some awards to hand out from the 2015 season!

We see you @gregolsen88! pic.twitter.com/eY2nur3acu

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 4, 2016

This season was wild. Injuries, suspensions, surprises, Gary Barnidges, backup quarterbacks, drama and more drama…We’ll look at all the impact players, and some of the worst, that dictated your fantasy season this past season.

MVP

Cam Newton, Panthers

Every year you do your Fantasy draft, who usually goes off the board first?…Running backs. Then someone drafts Aaron Rodgers (probably Andrew Luck this year too) ridiculously high and some wide receivers will round out your first round. Quarterbacks don’t typically start to go in bulk until the 4th round and Cam Newton wasn’t even being considered until the 8th. His average draft position was 77.1 overall, average round was 8.4.

Those who rolled with Newton, and weren’t afraid of the lack of hype around his wide receivers, reaped ALL the benefits of #1 scoring quarterback in football. He finished the season leading the league in total touchdowns with 45 (35 passing, 10 rushing) and added 4,473 yards from scrimmage (3,837 passing, 635 rushing). Newton’s stretch from Week 11-15 (19 total touchdowns) likely helped carry you to your league’s championship too.

Next Best: Carson Palmer

Hard not to consider Carson Palmer as an MVP as well since he regularly gave you at least 290+ yards and 2-3 touchdowns through the air.

Biggest Bust of the Year

Eddie Lacy, Packers

I can’t fault players who miss time or underperform due to injury. The top tier of the running backs almost all suffered this, besides Adrian Peterson. Eddie Lacy wasn’t hurt though. Lacy was a Top 5 pick in most leagues, and he gave you just 3 rushing touchdowns and 758 yards on the ground in 15 games. He was out of shape, missing curfews, and just simply…bad. If any of his 3 games of 100+ yards helped you, I imagine it was because you were desperate at running back. It took Lacy until Week 11 to do so.

Next Worst: Dez Bryant

I’m probably breaking my injury rule here, but you likely picked Bryant late 1st or early 2nd round, held on to him while he was injured, and got just 3 touchdowns and 401 yards in 9 games for your patience. Tony Romo or not, Bryant is supposed to be a game changer…not THAT.

Draft Steal

Devonta Freeman, Falcons

If you paid close attention to the Falcons in the offseason, you were weighing your options of taking rookie Tevin Coleman or 2nd year RB Devonta Freeman as one of your flier picks. If you picked Freeman, you CHOSE WISELY. Freeman went 119th overall on average, 2 rounds or so after Coleman, and he gave you 1,639 yards from scrimmage and 14 total touchdowns (most in the league). He also helped you stack up some wins from Weeks 2-6 with 10 touchdowns (9 rushing, 1 receiving).

Next Best: Tom Brady

If you picked Tom Brady before his suspension was lifted, you got him at backup value in later rounds. If you took him after, you still enjoyed his #RevengeTour with 36 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions.

Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year

DeAngelo Williams, Steelers

While Le’Veon Bell served his 2 game suspension to start the year, DeAngelo Williams filled in with 204 yards and 3 touchdowns (all in one game). After Bell went on IR following Week 8, Williams gave you high-end RB1 production, averaging 125 yards from scrimmage and finishing tied with Freeman for the league’s lead in rushing TDs.

Next Best: Gary Barnidge

Might gut went with Gary Barnidge initially, but Williams’s value after Bell went down was just too strong…Barnidge was certainly the breakout player of the year, posting 1,043 yards and 9 touchdowns on 79 catches at the age of 30. Before this year, Barnidge’s career totals were 604 yards, 44 catches and 3 touchdowns over 7 years.

Comeback Player of the Year

Doug Martin, Buccaneers

I’ll admit it. I wrote off the Muscle Hamster. After recording nearly 2,000 yards yards from scrimmage his rookie season, the guy barely hit half of that total over the next 2 years because of injuries, bad offensive lines and worse offensive coordinators. Bucs OC Dirk Koetter figured it all out though and made Doug Martin into the league’s 2nd leading rusher, picking up 1,402 yards on the ground. For someone who went in the 9th round on average in most fantasy drafts, I think you’d take that.

Next Best: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick is the definition of a journeyman quarterback. 6 teams in 10 years, never making the playoffs and a career high of 24 touchdown passes in both the seasons he started all 16 games…until this year. Surround his beard with 2 excellent possession receivers, a quality offensive line, and 2 viable running backs and Fitzpatrick turns into FitzMagic throwing 31 touchdowns. He threw multiple touchdowns in 12 of his 16 starts…Who figured Geno Smith getting punched in the face would benefit them so well?

Rookie of the Year

Todd Gurley, Rams

It’s hard not to picture Todd Gurley being drafted in your first round next season. In 12 starts, the rookie out of Georgia 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground (2nd highest in the league). Gurley was the Rams’ only source of offense, which explained some of the slow down in production down the stretch as opposing defenses keyed in on him. Expect Gurley to just get stronger and scarier now that he’ll have a full offseason without rehabbing an injury.

Next Best: Jameis Winston

It’s easy to compare Jameis Winston with Marcus Mariota, both rookie QBs with Heisman trophies in their mantles. Winston separated himself from Mariota with big play ability, ranked 2nd in yards per completion (13), and was more consistent for scoring in the 2nd half of the season.

Best Lineup

QB: Cam Newton, Panthers – 3,837 yards, 35 TD passing / 636 yards, 10 TD rushing

WR: Antonio Brown, Steelers – 1,834 yards, 136 catches, 10 TD

WR: Julio Jones, Falcons – 1,871 yards, 136 catches, 8 TD

WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Texans – 1,521 yards, 111 catches, 11 TD

RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings – 1,485 yards, 11 TD rush / 30 catches, 222 yards receiving

RB: Devonta Freeman, Falcons – 1,061 yards, 11 TD rush / 73 catches, 578 yards 3 TD receiving

FLEX: Odell Beckham Jr, Giants – 1,450 yards, 96 catches, 13 TD (15 games)

TE: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – 72 catches, 1,176 yards, 11 TD

K: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots – 33/36 FG, 52/52 PAT

DEF – Denver Broncos – 52 sacks, 14 INT, 16 fumble recoveries, 5 TD

Rising Lineup

QB: Kirk Cousins, Washington

WR: Allen Robinson, Jaguars

WR: Doug Baldwin, Seahawks

WR: Brandin Cooks, Saints

RB: Todd Gurley, Rams

RB: David Johnson, Cardinals

FLEX: Lamar Miller, Dolphins

K: Brandon McManus, Broncos

DEF: Minnesota Vikings

Who are your picks for our Year-End Fantasy Awards? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter! Stay tuned for year-round Fantasy Football info for next year’s draft!

Leave a comment Posted on December 9, 2015 Movies, TV

The 2016 SAG Award Nominations and My Thoughts

The 2016 SAG Award nominations were announced Wednesday morning, and two things struck me:

The Screen Actors Guild LOVED Trumbo, maybe a bit more than me.
I don’t think they’ve seen Fargo yet on FX. Seriously…

This is just one of several award shows (which airs Jan. 30th on TNT and TBS), but it’s one of the few that gauges my interest more than others because it acknowledges both the film and TV world. Here are the nominees and some quick thoughts on each category.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
Johnny Depp – Black Mass
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl

I really have no problem with this category. I have yet to see Revenant or The Danish Girl, but I don’t doubt the performances of DiCaprio or Redmayne carry their films like the other nominees. If there was someone that I would like to see get more credit, it’s Jason Segel as David Foster Wallace in End of the Tour. It didn’t take much transforming, aside from the obvious hair and glasses, but Segel’s performance is as engaging and natural as any from the summer…especially in his interactions with Jesse Eisenberg.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett – Carol
Brie Larson – Room
Helen Mirren – Woman In Gold
Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
Sarah Silverman – I Smile Back

I can’t get upset about this category because I think it’s Brie Larson’s award to lose, and hers alone. However, I’m surprised Jennifer Lawrence was left out after another highly anticipated David O’Russell role. Of course the film hasn’t hit theaters yet, so I can’t really talk..Alicia Vikander deserves more love for Ex Machina because she still haunts my dreams for her performance.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale – The Big Short
Idris Elba – Beasts of No Nation
Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon – 99 Homes
Jacob Tremblay – Room

This category is HEAVY. Even without Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), Sylvester Stallone (Creed) or Paul Dano (Love & Mercy), it looks stacked…but I’d like to see them all in it.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Rooney Mara – Carol
Rachel McAdams – Spotlight
Helen Mirren – Trumbo
Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs

Helen Mirren has 3 nominations here and I’m not sure she’s winning any of them. It will be fun to see what her batting average is though by the night’s end. I would be interested to see what kind of buzz Jennifer Jason Leigh gets after Hateful Eight is released.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Beasts of No Nation
The Big Short
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton
Trumbo

Spotlight is my favorite film from this year and it deserves all the good things that come its way. I am surprised both The Martian or Steve Jobs were left out of this category, considering how star studded their casts were. Their performances didn’t disappoint either.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Idris Elba – Luther
Ben Kingsley – Tut
Ray Liotta – Texas Rising
Bill Murray – A Very Murray Christmas
Mark Rylance – Wolf Hall

I don’t have many thoughts on this other than (1) Luther rules, (2) I turned off A Very Murray Christmas after 10 minutes and (3) Where is Oscar Isaac for Show Me A Hero.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Nicole Kidman – Grace of Monaco
Queen Latifah – Bessie
Christina Ricci – The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
Susan Sarandon – The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe
Kristen Wiig – The Spoils Before Dying

I literally have zero thoughts about this one, because I haven’t seen any of the nominated performances yet.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones
Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Rami Malek – Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Kevin Spacey – House of Cards

I’m happy to see Rami Malek get props for playing the best introvert on TV, but this is Don Draper’s victory lap and I don’t see anyone getting in his way. I’m also always shocked to not see Mads Mikkelsen ever nominated for Hannibal. I guess that’s for fringe loving types like me.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Claire Danes – Homeland
Viola Davis – How To Get Away With Murder
Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife
Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey
Robin Wright –House of Cards

Viola Davis has the momentum from the Emmys but I will always maintain that the past two seasons of House of Cards have been great nearly because of Robin Wright as much as Spacey.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell – Modern Family
Louis C.K. – Louie
William H. Macy – Shameless
Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory
Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent

Modern Family to me is “What Will Phil Dunphy Do Next?” because that’s all I watch for now, but Jeffrey Tambor holding a torch for the transgender community has become way more important.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Uzo Aduba – Orange is the New Black
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
Ellie Kemper – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep
Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation

That is all.

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

If you’ve been watching the second season of Fargo, you’re probably wondering if perhaps the actors didn’t know how to spell it filling out their nominations, considering every Monday night feels like the show’s best episode…If you’ve been watching Homeland this season, you might be wondering why it’s on here. The season finale is in a week and I still have no idea if it was good or not this year.

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory
Key & Peele
Modern Family
Orange is the New Black
Transparent
Veep

I would love to see Key & Peele ride off into the sunset with some hardware.

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

Everest
Furious 7
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Fury Road is one of the best films of this year and a modern classic. Pick against it and you lose.

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

The Blacklist
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Marvel’s Daredevil
The Walking Dead

I just watched end Episode 2 of the first season again. This is why I love Daredevil.

How are you pulling for this Awards season? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter.

1 Comment Posted on January 6, 2015 Fantasy Football, NFL, sports

Fantasy Football Awards 2014

The dust has settled. Champions have been crowned. Now we can hand off the hardware to the players that helped you win (or lose) your Fantasy Football season.

Weeks prior to the regular season’s finale, I nominated 4 players in each of the 5 different categories you’ll see below. I then let YOU, the readers, add a 5th nominee to be considered for each award. There weren’t any repeats, in terms of a player being nominated for multiple categories. I think that’s a testament to how crazy this season really us.

Then I put it to YOU via Facebook and Twitter to help choose the winners. I’ve included your picks, as well as mine.

And without further ado, drum roll please…

Comeback Player of the Year

Nominees:

– Rob Gronkowski

– Arian Foster

– Jeremy Maclin

– Randall Cobb

– Julio Jones

YOUR CHOICE – Arian Foster

While the leader of the Texans defense, JJ Watt, got most of the publicity (as he rightfully deserved), Arian Foster was back to being the player who you wanted with one of your league’s coveted top draft picks. Foster ranked 6th in rush yards total (1,246), 2nd in rush yards per game (95.8), 3rd among running backs for total yards per game (121.3) and 5th in total touchdowns (13). Not too shabby for a running back returning from back surgery. Oh, AND HE CAN PASS!

MY CHOICE: Rob Gronkowski

I love Arian Foster. He’s a big reason I hope the Texans are chosen for Hard Knocks this summer. But 2014 was A Gronking To Remember (read that last link at your own risk). Rob Gronkowski was a big reason the script changed on the Patriots’ season. It went from a “Trade Tom Brady” 2-2 to “AFC Powerhouse” East Division Champion 12-4 because Bill Belichick upped Gronk’s usage. After two consecutive seasons shortened due to forearm and knee injuries, Gronkowski was named 2014’s unanimous All-Pro tight end leading the position in yards (1,124) and tied for touchdowns with Julius Thomas and Antonio Gates (12). He’s also receiving NFL MVP consideration…and unlike Foster, played all 16 games. And that’s the kind of effort you need in a Fantasy season.

Biggest Draft Bust

Nominees

– Adrian Peterson

– Jimmy Graham

– Montee Ball

– Toby Gerhart

– Zac Stacy

YOUR CHOICE: Adrian Peterson

The truth is, there isn’t anyone more deserving. You likely spent a Top 5 pick on AP and he gave you 1 game and 75 rush yards to show for it. The reasons for that are well documented. And you can raise your hand from wherever you’re at if you were “that guy” trying to claim Peterson off waivers hoping he’ll get on the field some way, some how…

MY CHOICE: Adrian Peterson

There was some clamoring for Ray Rice. I didn’t feel bad for anyone who drafted him. And there were mentions for Doug Martin. The Tampa Bay situation was bad from the start with the worst offensive line in football, a questionable offensive coordinator hire, and Martin’s injury history should have given you enough caution to stay away from him in the draft.

Breakout Player of the Year

Nominees:

– Justin Forsett

– CJ Anderson

– Ryan Tannehill

– Mike Evans

– Odell Beckham Jr.

YOUR CHOICE: Odell Beckham Jr.

I’ve written at length how impressive the 2014 rookie wide receiver class was. None of them caught 100 passes, but 3 recorded over 1,000 yards, and those same 3 caught 9+ touchdowns: Kelvin Benjamin (9), Mike Evans (12) and Odell Beckham Jr. (12)…and Beckham led them all playing just 12 games. Missing 4 games and still posting a line that also included 91 catches and 1,305 yards certainly has you considering ODB on top of your WR draft board next season.

MY CHOICE: Justin Forsett

I won’t argue with the choice of Beckham. He was a miraculous game changer, especially down the stretch. But in a game where consistency from running backs is SO crucial, Justin Forsett was fantastic story. In his 7th season in the league, 4th different team, Forsett doubled his career highs in attempts (235), yards (1,266) and touchdowns (8). Forsett also led the league in yards per carry with 5.7, running away with the starters role left vacant by Ray Rice. At 5’8 and 197 pounds, it was hard to not root for a guy like Forsett…who was also giving you winning outputs week-to-week.

Steal of the Draft

Nominees:

– Antonio Gates

– Lamar Miller

– Tom Brady

– Kelvin Benjamin

– Ben Roethlisberger

YOUR CHOICE: Antonio Gates

I think there are strong arguments for all of the players nominated, but nobody was getting drafted later than Antonio Gates among them. For some reason, Ladarius Green was being selected ahead of him, yet Philip Rivers was making Gates his most reliable receiver in the red zone. In his 12th season, Gates surpassed the 10,000 yard milestone and caught posted his second most total for touchdowns with 12. I took him with my very last pick.

MY CHOICE: Antonio Gates

There was a strong push for Kelvin Benjamin and he was a close choice for me as well. A middle-to-late round choice in most leagues but so consistent as a scoring option through the first 14 weeks of the season. I also would like to take credit for Lamar Miller as an “I Told You So” Guy. While I only had time to preview the East divisions in the AFC and NFC before the start of the season, I had Miller as player you should snag late while you should be weary of Knowshon Moreno.

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

Nominees:

– Andrew Luck

– Aaron Rodgers

– DeMarco Murray

– Le’Veon Bell

– Peyton Manning

YOUR CHOICE: DeMarco Murray

Durability questions? Answered. Contract year? Cha-ching…DeMarco Murray was HISTORICALLY good this year. He broke Emmitt Smith’s single-season Cowboys rushing record. Yes, Emmitt Smith who is the league’s all-time leading rusher. Murray’s league leading 1,845 yards were 484 more than Le’Veon Bell’s, a beast in his own right, and a margin bigger than anyone’s since Chris Johnson ran for 2,000 yards in 2009. Johnson beat out Steven Jackson that year by 590 yards. Murray had 15 rushes of 20+ yards and 13 touchdowns while no other running back had 10 of either statistic.

MY CHOICE: DeMarco Murray

I think Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers would make excellent choices. However DeMarco Murray proved to be the best at his position for the entire season. Le’Veon Bell is a close second though with 2,215 yards from scrimmage, 83 receptions, and 11 total touchdowns.

Thank you everyone for following along this season! Wish we were already drafting for next season. Keep coming back to MichaelPiff.com in the meantime for more than football. It’s going to be a good bit of fun.

Leave a comment Posted on December 18, 2014December 18, 2014 awards, Fantasy Football, NFL, sports, TV

NFL Week 16 Fantasy Mailbag: CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK

In football, many say “defense wins championships”.

In Fantasy Football, scoring more points than your opponent wins championships. I actually find that accurate in all sports, both fantasy and real. That has been your goal on a week-to-week basis, and the overall goal was to be competitive for THIS WEEK.

(As I have noted for weeks now) If your league is waiting to hold its championship for Week 17, this is all I have to say to your league’s commissioner…

Do you really want to leave THE CHAMPIONSHIP up to suspicion that key fantasy players will be sat in the final week of the season for rest until the playoffs? Look at the standings, the AFC Specifically…

If you have contributors from the Broncos (Manning, Anderson, Sanders, and both D. & J. Thomas), the Patriots (Brady, Gronk, Edelman) or the Colts (Luck and Hilton), there is good chance they will get minimal reps or not even play to be preserved for the post season.

But back to this week…

How did we get here? I don’t know each every one of your seasons week-by-week, but I can chronicle mine to relate.

It started with a The Draft.

Yes, I know some of these picks are cringe worthy in hindsight…

8 of my 14 picks are no longer on my team. That is evident by my 0-6 start to the season.

And then came the moves. Up until today, I’ve made 39 adds/drops but here are the ones that mattered. (Along with a rotating defense week to week because Cincinnati’s DEF/ST couldn’t be consistent)

I included Denard Robinson as a part of the key moves, because my wide receiver situation has been awful and it was nice to have his consistency in my WR2 slots. With the recent news of Julian Edelman’s concussion, I’m left making this last move hoping for points from at least one of my WR slots.

So thanks to the waiver wire, I went 6-1 to clinch a playoff spot…

Yes, revenge was sweet…but a 6 game win streak to reach the championship was even sweeter. And it was further proof of how right Kevin Garnett was (as much as it pains me to)

The point is that you shouldn’t get discouraged after a bad start. Even a month and a half into your Fantasy season, there’s a lot of football left. Now you’re left clenching on to everything and anything for the most suspenseful 5 days of your season…

Quick Hits

Whether you call him ODJ or ODB (that’s my choice), Odell Beckham Jr. is balling out. In his past 2 weeks, Beckham has caught 23 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns on 30 targets…more than anyone in the league. The 2014 rookie wide receiver class is one that is drawing comparisons to the 1983 quarterback class, and it seemed as though Mike Evans was leading the pack with his NFL leading 11 touchdowns…but now Beckham has launched himself into the conversation for “who’s better?” He’ll have an opportunity to improve his side of the debate against a Rams defense that hasn’t faced an elite receiver since Demaryius Thomas in Week 11, who caught 7 passes for 103 yards.

I mentioned two quarterbacks last week that I expected to rebound after tough Week 14 games. Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense appear to be in December mode: Being smart with the football, keeping Manning upright, and riding the success of their running back, CJ Anderson…Drew Brees on the other hand, looked like Drew Brees again on Monday Night Football. I actually got to watch him throw dirt on the grave of the Chicago Bears’ 2014 campaign, in person. It was awkward…What else is worth noting, Brees is leading the league in completion percentage at 70% and red zone touchdown passes with 24. And this is a down year for him. This week, Brees faces a Falcons defense that has allowed 290+ yards to their last 7 opponents. Brees also has multiple touchdown passes in 13 of 16 meetings with Atlanta as Saints quarterback.

Keep in mind, this week’s NFL schedule is weird. There are two Saturday games being played, Philadelphia vs Washington at 3:30 CT and San Diego vs. San Francisco 7:30 CT. So set your roster accordingly…And then there’s tonight’s edition of Thursday Night Football: Titans vs. Jaguars. Sounds awful, right? I’m still making a play from this game with an un-good wide receiver situation…Nate Washington. There’s gotta be some offense from somewhere tonight, and I see it going to Washington who caught 6 passes on 10 targets for 102 yards last week. Even if Kendall Wright returns tonight, Washington is expected to be the focal point against the league’s 28th ranked defense.

Fantasy Awards Update

Last week I announced the nominees for our first Fantasy Awards (First Annual is incorrect and sounds weird). I chose 4 players per category and let you, THE READERS, choose the 5th. So without further ado, here are the nominees with THE READERS CHOICE included.

Comeback Player of the Year

– Rob Gronkowski

– Arian Foster

– Jeremy Maclin

– Randall Cobb

– Julio Jones (Readers Choice)

Biggest Draft Bust

– Adrian Peterson

– Jimmy Graham

– Montee Ball

– Toby Gerhart

– Zac Stacy (Readers Choice)

Breakout Player of the Year

– Justin Forsett

– CJ Anderson

– Ryan Tannehill

– Mike Evans

– Odell Beckham Jr. (Readers Choice)

Steal of the Draft

– Antonio Gates

– Lamar Miller

– Tom Brady

– Kelvin Benjamin

– Ben Roethlisberger (Readers Choice)

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

– Andrew Luck

– Aaron Rodgers

– DeMarco Murray

– LeVeon Bell

– Peyton Manning (Readers Choice)

Next week you’ll have the opportunity to vote for the winners of each award via Facebook and Twitter. I’ll announce the results after the holidays! Good luck on your matchup this weekend don’t hesitate to ask questions!

Leave a comment Posted on December 11, 2014December 11, 2014 Fantasy Football, sports

NFL Week 15 Fantasy Mailbag: Awards Nominees

The title made me pause for a second. Week 15? Already?

At this point, you’re either:

A) One wins away from your league’s championship.

B) Two wins away from the championship because your commissioner is a monster for scheduling it for Week 17.

C) Playing for things that aren’t the championship…and we’re all still happy for you.

With it being the start of awards season and all, I decided we should nominate our own Fantasy Football Awards which YOU can vote on. I’ll nominate 4 per category and YOU can pick a 5th. The player mentioned the most in the comments section, and on Twitter & Facebook combined will be added to the category. We’ll announce the winners after Week 16. So without further ado…*drum roll*

Comeback Player of the Year

– Rob Gronkowski

– Arian Foster

– Jeremy Maclin

– Randall Cobb

Biggest Draft Bust

– Adrian Peterson

– Jimmy Graham

– Montee Ball

– Toby Gerhart

Breakout Player of the Year

– Justin Forsett

– CJ Anderson

– Ryan Tannehill

– Mike Evans

Steal of the Draft

– Antonio Gates

– Lamar Miller

– Tom Brady

– Kelvin Benjamin

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

– Andrew Luck

– Aaron Rodgers

– DeMarco Murray

– LeVeon Bell

Again, don’t forget to nominate your own player for each category in the comments section, on Twitter or on Facebook! We’ll open voting for the winners in Week 16.

Quick Hits

The last time the Broncos played the Chargers, CJ Anderson had just one carrie while Ronnie Hillman was rushing for 109 yards and catching 3 passes for 29 yards. For the last 5 weeks, Anderson has recorded either 100 yards rushing or a touchdown. He’s averaging 131 yards on the ground his past 3 games and has accumulated 5 touchdowns in that span. The Broncos have proven they can scheme a run game against the Chargers but expect more of Anderson’s production to come through the air this weekend. You’ll likely be fist bumping your buddy like these two refs did when Anderson scored last week.

Though neither receiver’s team won over the weekend, AJ Green and Julio Jones certainly helped their fantasy owners with big victories when it mattered most. Green caught 11 passes on 15 targets for 224 yard and 1 TD while Jones caught the same number of passes for 259 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay. It is worth noting that with his last performance, Jones is now the all-time leader in receiving yards per game with 88.6, surpassing Calvin Johnson’s 88. With a league leading 1,428 receiving yards this season, Jones would need to average 179 yards in his final 3 games to take Megatron’s single-season record.

Did you survive Peyton Manning’s 173 yards and 2 interceptions performance? There were casualties, but be glad if you weren’t one of them. Manning should bounce back nicely against a Chargers defense that is allowing 272 yards and 2.6 touchdowns per game to competent quarterbacks. Drew Brees owners should feel better this weekend as well. The Bears are giving up 301 yards and 2.9 touchdowns to quarterbacks not named Teddy Bridgewater. So get PUMPED!!!

Feel free to ask questions on Facebook or Twitter through out the weekend! Good luck.