The final weekend (for most NFL leagues) of fantasy football is fast approaching this week and as yet another season draws to a close let’s take a look at the Fantasy MVPs, bargain draft picks, rookies and busts of each position as well as some other awards.
Most of these players will be responsible for you playing for the coveted trophy or dwelling in the cellar of the last place game, just be thankful you’re not a part of a tattoo league (see YouTube link below).
Quarterback
MVP: Peyton Manning – Manning is having one of the best season by a fantasy quarterback ever. 47 touchdowns in 14 games is phenomenal. If you drafted him after the third round you would be cheering your way to playoffs.
Bargain: Philip Rivers – Rivers has come back from his fantasy disaster season of 2012 to finish fifth in scoring among all quarterbacks. In most drafts he would have gone undrafted. Quite astonishing when you look at it.
Bust: Colin Kaepernick – For where he was taken (most drafts before Romo, Luck and Stafford) Kaepernick must be considered a bust. Players like Nick Foles and Ryan Tannehill have scored more points this season than the dual threat.
Rookie: Nick Foles – He is not a rookie but he finally got given his real chance as a starter, and the rookie quarterbacks in 2013 were beyond terrible. Foles has an amazing 20 touchdowns and only two interceptions in eight career starts.
Running Back
MVP: Jamaal Charles – Charles has been a weapon every week for fantasy owners. His lowest score all year was 7.20 in week 11 at Denver but produced a massive 51.50 effort last week when fantasy owners needed him the most.
Bargain: Knowshon Moreno – those who picked up Moreno will be thanking the gods for terrible hands of Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman. Moreno will finish the season in the top five of all running backs even ahead of Adrian Peterson.
Bust: Ray Rice and Stevan Ridley –both were predicted to have monster seasons but ended up becoming monster busts. Rice could not produce like his history suggests and Ridley cannot hang onto the rock. Disappointing for all owners.
Rookie: Eddie Lacy – Lacy fell to the Packers in the 2013 NFL draft and he fell into the sixth/7th rounds in fantasy drafts. He rewarded both the Packers and fantasy owners with over 1000 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
Wide Receiver
MVP: Josh Gordon – Gordon should finish the season first or second among WR’s in all of fantasy football and leads the league in receiving yards despite missing the first two games with suspension. Absolute fantasy superstar.
Bargain: Alshon Jeffery – Jeffery went undrafted in most leagues and will finish ahead of studs like Jordy Nelson and Larry Fitzgerald. Not only has he made killer catches this season but has put up some killer fantasy scores.
Bust: Hakeem Nicks – Nicks hasn’t scored a touchdown all season despite being in a contract year. He is forever sentence to my personal do not draft list.
Rookie: Keenan Allen – Allen, my rookie of the year candidate, has been a fantasy stud in the second half of the year. He will surpass 1000 yards receiving this weekend and has seven touchdowns including two two touchdown games.
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham – Graham proved his second round fantasy value. He is the only tight end over 1000 receiving yards and has nearly a touchdown a game with 14. He is simply the best tight end in football.
Bargain: Julius Thomas – Losing your week one match-up would have been okay to deal with because Julius Thomas was the hot pickup after he exploded onto the scene with a 23 point haul against the Ravens. He will be the second tight end taken in all formats next season.
Bust: Jared Cook – every season Cook is predicted to break out and after week one it looked like 2013 would be the year, but week two rolled around and normality resumed. Cook has been woeful all season. Forever a bust.
Rookie: Jordan Reed – with only a small sample size due to injury, Reed has showed glimpses of a great fantasy tight end. Even showing rushing ability in a game against the Chargers. Reed should have great 2014 with what looks to be a new offensive scheme and a healthy RG3 and passing attack.
Defence
MVP: Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs have scored seven defensive touchdowns and four return touchdowns. They are ranked third in sacks and third in interceptions. Put frankly they are on a tier of their own when it comes to fantasy defences.
Bargain: Carolina Panthers – The Panthers were a great fantasy pick up most weeks thanks to the great play of their front seven. Their loss to New Orleans was the only minor let down in an impressive season including 45 sacks.
Kicker
MVP: Justin Tucker – Tucker was just recently put into national spotlight for his six field goals against the Lions but he has been kicking phenomenally all year. He also sent a shout out to all his fantasy owners here. What a great guy.
Bargain: Steven Hauschka – Hauschka mostly went undrafted in fantasy leagues but has been a very consistent scorer. The Seahawks are often scoring or coming close to scoring, benefiting Hauschka owners everywhere.
Major Awards
MVP: The Fantasy MVP of the entire season has to be Peyton Manning, despite an impressive season from Jamaal Charles. Manning has over 40 fantasy points more than anyone else. Considering he wasn’t taken in the first two rounds only adds to that value.
Manning should finish with over 50 touchdowns this season, the most ever.
Second Round Star: The second round of the draft was arguably the most important 2013 fantasy drafts. Deciding which way your team would operate (RB heavy or elite WR) was a tough choice. With players like Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones Drew and Steven Ridley failing; Matt Forte emerged as the best second round pick by a country mile.
Comeback Player(s): Ryan Mathews and DeSean Jackson rewarded fantasy owners with bounce back seasons after failing to impact in 2012. Mathews surprisingly played every game this season and should finish in the top 15 among all running backs.
Jackson will finish inside the top ten among receivers pushing for a top five position. Both were considered risky but high upside draft picks but the risks paid off in 2013.
Handcuff of the Year: If you drafted CJ Spiller or Reggie Bush and you did not also draft or pick up Fred Jackson and Joique Bell you would be kicking yourself. Both handcuffs have proven themselves as great plug and plays for their often injured teammates.
Future Star: Zac Stacy finally got his start by the Rams in Week five and since then has been a fantasy stud. He averages 13.83 fantasy points a game and should only get better with a off-season snaps as the starter.
That just about wraps up the fantasy football awards of 2013.
Who helped you to a championship game this season or who left you fighting for your life at the bottom of the ladder? Let us know in the comments below.
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