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Looking back to the future -
Real world fantasy Most Valuable Player is Steven Jackson
By Jeff Mertes
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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 -
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ALL-FANTASY FOOTBALL |
NFL Team |
Champ % |
QB: |
Peyton Manning |
Colts |
17.0 |
RB: |
Steven Jackson |
Rams |
27.8 |
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LaDainian Tomlinson |
Chargers |
22.5 |
WR: |
Marvin Harrison |
Colts |
18.6 |
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Javon Walker |
Broncos |
13.9 |
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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 |
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Jason Taylor |
Dolphins |
16.5 |
LB: |
DeMeco Ryans |
Texans |
17.5 |
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London Fletcher-Baker |
Bills |
15.5 |
DB: |
Adrian Wilson |
Cardinals |
17.5 |
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Sean Taylor |
Redskins |
12.6 |
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SECOND ALL-FANTASY TEAM |
NFL Team |
Champ % |
QB: |
Drew Brees |
Saints |
12.3 |
RB: |
Frank Gore |
49ers |
18.0 |
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Maurice Jones-Drew |
Jaguars |
13.1 |
WR: |
Donald Driver |
Packers |
12.3 |
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Terrell Owens |
Cowboys |
12.3 |
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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 |
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Aaron Schobel |
Bills |
11.7 |
LB: |
James Farrior |
Steelers |
13.6 |
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Shawne Merriman |
Chargers |
13.6 |
DB: |
Ken Hamlin |
Seahawks |
12.6 |
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Brian Dawkins |
Eagles |
11.7 |
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HONORABLE MENTION |
NFL Team |
Champ % |
QB: |
Tony Romo |
Cowboys |
11.6 |
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Marc Bulger |
Rams |
11.4 |
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Carson Palmer |
Bengals |
10.4 |
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RB: |
Brian Westbrook |
Eagles |
12.7 |
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Willie Parker |
Steelers |
11.7 |
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Ladell Betts |
Redskins |
11.7 |
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Larry Johnson |
Chiefs |
10.2 |
WR: |
Roy Williams |
Lions |
11.0 |
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Laveranues Coles |
Jets |
10.8 |
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Chad Johnson |
Bengals |
10.6 |
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Torry Holt |
Rams |
10.4 |
TE: |
LJ Smith |
Eagles |
9.2 |
PK: |
Adam Vinatieri |
Colts |
11.4 |
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Jason Elam |
Broncos |
10.2 |
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Shayne Graham |
Bengals |
10.0 |
DT: |
San Diego Chargers |
Chargers |
11.3 |
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Pittsburgh Steelers |
Steelers |
9.5 |
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DL: |
Terrell Suggs |
Ravens |
11.7 |
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Will Smith |
Saints |
10.7 |
LB: |
Zach Thomas |
Dolphins |
12.6 |
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Antonio Pierce |
Giants |
12.6 |
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Brian Urlacher |
Bears |
11.7 |
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Keith Bulluck |
Titans |
10.7 |
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AJ Hawk |
Packers |
10.7 |
DB: |
Roy Williams |
Cowboys |
10.7 |
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Ronde Barber |
Bucs |
9.7 |
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Pacman Jones |
Titans |
9.7 |
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Ed Reed |
Ravens |
8.7 |
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Antoine Winfield |
Vikings |
8.7 |
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