Looking back to the future -
Real world fantasy Most Valuable Player is Steven Jackson
By – Jeff Mertes

When the cards were shuffled and dealt, which players really helped fantasy football teams win league titles? It’s easy to look back and pick out the stat monsters at each position.  But, in reality, unless playing in a league of boneheads, assembling a roster of absolute studs is about as likely as George W. Bush admitting that the Iraq War was a boo-boo.  Most good fantasy rosters will probably look more like a queen high straight than a royal flush.

Success in fantasy football is about grabbing value at each position – not having to sacrifice unduly to draft a stud.  It’s also about making productive transactions during the course of the campaign.

Keep in mind that fantasy football leagues average 12.5 teams, more or less.  Therefore, each team has about an 8.0% chance of being the league champion.  Players exceeding that percentage of being on championship squads turn fantasy title dreams into reality.  Any player on more than 8.0% of fantasy league championship rosters is good, any below that percentage is bad.

Based on 511 leagues featured in the Fantasy Gas Gallery of Champions, Steven Jackson emerged as the Most Valuable Fantasy Football Player in 2006.  The Rams pigskin packer helped 27.8% of fantasy league champions win titles.  LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL’s MVP, wasn’t exactly chump change, ranking second to Jackson in fantasy titles at 22.5%.  However, the 5.3% difference is significant considering that Tomlinson was invariably drafted well before Jackson.

Two relative sleepers, Frank Gore and Maurice Jones-Drew, were bargains as the third and fourth ranked running backs, respectively.  Gore lugged the loaf for 18.0% of championship fantasy squads while rookie Jones-Drew, an in-season pick-up in most leagues, was a member of 13.1% of the title teams.

Ranking third on the offensive side of the ball was wide receiver Marvin Harrison with pass grabbing that propelled 18.6% of the champs.  At the receiver position, he appeared on 4.7% more title squads than the runner-up, Javon Walker at 13.6%.  The #3 wide receiver on championship squads was T.J. Houshmandzadeh (13.5%), followed by Donald Driver and, shut my mouth, Terrell Owens, both at 12.3%. A bit of a surprise in Lee Evans (11.7%) was sixth with Roy Williams (11.0%), Laveranues Coles (10.8%), Chad Johnson (10.6%), Torry Holt (10.4%) and Laveranues Coles (10.4%) next among wide receivers.

Several big name pass palmers were disappointing, bottom to middle of the pack performers including Eddie Kennison - 4.1%, Joey Galloway - 5.3%, Braylon Edwards - 5.7%, Darrell Jackson – 5.7%, Derrick Mason - 5.9%, Randy Moss – 6.5%, Chris Chambers - 6.5%, Santana Moss – 6.9%, and Muhsin Muhammad - 6.9%.

The quarterback position had far less impact than what might be expected.  Although Peyton Manning paced signal callers with a roster spot on 17.0% of fantasy league top teams, Drew Brees proved to be a super bargain at 12.3%.  In fact, no less than three other QBs were within 6.6% of Manning – Tony Romo - 11.6%, Marc Bulger - 11.4% and Carson Palmer – 10.4%. 

No tight end was much of a force last season.  Antonio Gates was the best of the lot on 10.8% of championship rosters.  Other top tighties were Chris Cooley (10.6%), LJ Smith (9.2%), Jeremy Shockey (8.4%), Todd Heap (8.4%), and Tony Gonzalez (8.2%).

Desirable place kickers were bunched tightly with Robbie Gould booting for 13.5% of title teams.  Nate Kaeding (11.7%), Adam Vinatieri (11.4%), Jason Elam (10.2%) and Shayne Graham (9.6%) weren’t far behind.

Among defensive teams, the Ravens dominated to rule the roost at 19.3%.  Second spot went to the Bears, a whopping 5.5% off the pace at 13.8%.  The only other defensive squad to hit double figures was the Chargers at 11.3%.

Individual defensive players (IDP) were led by defensive end Aaron Kampman with a roster spot on 19.4% of the championship squads in leagues that play IDPs. Rookie linebacker DeMeco Ryans, a tackling phenom, followed tied with safety Adrian Wilson as members of 17.5% of the title teams. Defensive end Jason Taylor (16.5%), linebacker London Fletcher-Baker (15.5%) and defensive end Robert Mathis (14.6%) were next in line. 

On the flip-side, big name flops that fantasy teams paid dearly for included –

QB: David Carr - 3.3%, Byron Leftwich – 3.5%, J.P. Losman - 4.1%, Jake Delhomme - 4.5%, Trent Green - 6.5%, Phillip Rivers - 6.7%, Michael Vick - 6.9% and Eli Manning – 6.9%.

RB: Edgerrin James - 4.9%, Cadillac Williams – 4.9%, Warrick Dunn – 5.5%, Corey Dillon – 5.9%, Ronnie Brown – 6.5%, and Jamal Lewis – 6.9%.

WR: Eddie Kennison – 4.1%, Joey Galloway - 5.3%, Braylon Edwards - 5.7%, Darrell Jackson - 5.7%, Derrick Mason - 5.9%, Santana Moss - 6.5%, Chris Chambers - 6.5%, and Randy Moss -6.5%.

TE: Eric Johnson – 1.4%, Ben Troupe - 1.6%, Jermaine Wiggins – 2.5%, and Jerramy Stevens – 3.9%.

PK: Kris Brown - .6%, Rob Bironas - .6%, Phil Dawson - 1.2%, Rian Lindell – 2.0%, Jeff Reed - 2.9%, Jason Hanson – 2.9% and Olindo Mare – 3.5%.

DT: Lions – 1.0%, Titans – 1.0%, Texans – 1.5%, Rams - 1.8%, Browns - 2.0%, 49ers – 2.3%, and Raiders - 2.3%.

Based on the Gallery of Champions, the All-Fantasy Football teams for 2006 are -  

ALL-FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL Team Champ %
QB: Peyton Manning Colts 17.0
RB: Steven Jackson Rams 27.8
LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers 22.5
WR: Marvin Harrison Colts 18.6
Javon Walker Broncos 13.9
TJ Houshmandzadeh Bengals 13.5
TE: Antonio Gates Chargers 10.8
PK: Robbie Gould Bears 13.5
DT: Baltimore Ravens Ravens 19.3
DL: Aaron Kampman Packers 19.4
Jason Taylor Dolphins 16.5
LB: DeMeco Ryans Texans 17.5
London Fletcher-Baker Bills 15.5
DB: Adrian Wilson Cardinals 17.5
Sean Taylor Redskins 12.6

SECOND ALL-FANTASY TEAM NFL Team Champ %
QB: Drew Brees Saints 12.3
RB: Frank Gore 49ers 18.0
Maurice Jones-Drew Jaguars 13.1
WR: Donald Driver Packers 12.3
Terrell Owens Cowboys 12.3
Lee Evans Bills 11.7
TE: Chris Cooley Redskins 10.6
PK: Nate Kaeding Chargers 11.7
DT: Chicago Bears Bears 13.8
DL: Robert Mathis Colts 14.6
Aaron Schobel Bills 11.7
LB: James Farrior Steelers 13.6
Shawne Merriman Chargers 13.6
DB: Ken Hamlin Seahawks 12.6
Brian Dawkins Eagles 11.7

HONORABLE MENTION NFL Team Champ %
QB: Tony Romo Cowboys 11.6
Marc Bulger Rams 11.4
Carson Palmer Bengals 10.4
RB: Brian Westbrook Eagles 12.7
Willie Parker Steelers 11.7
Ladell Betts Redskins 11.7
Larry Johnson Chiefs 10.2
WR: Roy Williams Lions 11.0
Laveranues Coles Jets 10.8
Chad Johnson Bengals 10.6
Torry Holt Rams 10.4
TE: LJ Smith Eagles 9.2
PK: Adam Vinatieri Colts 11.4
Jason Elam Broncos 10.2
Shayne Graham Bengals 10.0
DT: San Diego Chargers Chargers 11.3
Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers 9.5
DL: Terrell Suggs Ravens 11.7
Will Smith Saints 10.7
LB: Zach Thomas Dolphins 12.6
Antonio Pierce Giants 12.6
Brian Urlacher Bears 11.7
Keith Bulluck Titans 10.7
AJ Hawk Packers 10.7
DB: Roy Williams Cowboys 10.7
Ronde Barber Bucs 9.7
Pacman Jones Titans 9.7
Ed Reed Ravens 8.7
Antoine Winfield Vikings 8.7