2009 Season Wrap-Up
Posted: January 16, 2009
The 2009 fantasy football season kicked off with only one certainty: Adrian Peterson would be the top pick in most drafts. However, looking back on the year that was, were we all to journey back to the summer and redraft our teams, some things would have gone differently.
As I mentioned in the Bruno Boys’ season recap edition of Fasulo’s Forecaster, Chris Johnson, the consensus hypothetical redraft number one pick, ran away, literally, with fantasy MVP honors (2,006 rushing yards, 503 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns). Ray Rice, in this writer’s opinion, was a solid second (2,041 yards from scrimmage, 8 touchdowns), and Aaron Rodgers was third. Rodgers’ 4,434 yards, 30 touchdowns (to only 7 interceptions), 316 rushing yards and 5 rushing scores were nothing to scoff at, but Johnson outscored Rodgers in standard scoring leagues, and Rice’s draft value was superior to that of the All-Pro QB — chances are, Rice was a mid-round pick in your league.
All-in-all, 2009 was one hell of a season. A couple old dogs (30+ year-old running backs) proved age to be just a number, as Ricky Williams ran for over 1,100 yards at age 32 and Thomas Jones topped 1,400 at 31. Both had double digit touchdowns, 11 and 14, respectively. A couple more old dogs proved the adage that once a running back hits 30, the end comes quickly. Despite 12 rushing touchdowns, 30 year-old LaDainian Tomlinson managed only 730 yards on the ground, with a career low average of 3.3 yard-per-carry. 30 year-old Brian Westbrook lost most of the season to concussions, but in eight games, totaled just 455 yards and 2 scores. The Philadelphia Eagles have a 2010 in-house replacement for Westbrook in rookie running back LeSean McCoy (637 rushing yards, 308 receiving yards, 4 TD), but chances are, the San Diego Chargers will look elsewhere for tailback help, as Darren Sproles, though he totaled more than 800 yards and scored 8 touchdowns in 2009, is likely not an every-down back.
Aside from Rice, Williams and Jones, there were a few more running back surprises in 2009… for the worse. Matt Forte, a top ten draft pick, finished the season with 929 rushing yards, 471 receiving yards and 4 scores, a respectable line for a mid-round draft pick, a horrific line for a RB1 who is supposed to carry your fantasy team. Steve Slaton, a first/second round pick, caused even more fantasy damage, as his fumble-itus found him on the real world bench, and though he got back into the mix toward the end of the year before suffering an injury, his final stat-line left much to be desired: 437 rushing yards, 417 receiving yards, 7 TD.
While some players were disappointing this year, others were exceptional. Dallas Cowboys‘ wide receiver Miles Austin broke out in Week 6 to the tune of 250 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he never looked back, finishing the season with 1,320 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His fantasy total was third best among receivers, behind only Houston Texans‘ star Andre Johnson (1,569 yards, 9 TD) and New England Patriots‘ All-Pro Randy Moss (1.264 yards, 13 TD). In San Francisco, tight end Vernon Davis catapulted his career to new levels, leading all NFL tight ends in touchdowns (13) and leading his team in receiving yards (965). Across the country in New York, the Steve Smith who began the season known as “the other Steve Smith” made a name for himself by setting the Giants‘ single-season record for receptions (107) and amassing 1,220 receiving yards and 7 scores. (Side note: Though they both finished with 7 touchdowns, the Giants’ Steve Smith out-gained Carolina Panthers’ Steve Smith by 238 receiving yards.) In Minnesota, Brett Favre revitalized his career again, and the career of third-year wideout Sidney Rice took off. Rice, left undrafted in some leagues, finished the season with 1,312 receiving yards and 8 scores.
All across the board, 2009 was another great season in fantasy football land. Here is a look at the Fantasy Sports Shack accolades (lists) for the 2009 fantasy football season, and the top 30 Keepers for 2010:
MVP
| Player | Position | Team | Stats | |
| 1 | Chris Johnson | RB | Titans | 2,006 rush yds, 503 rec yds, 16 TD, 3 fum |
| 2 | Ray Rice | RB | Ravens | 1,339 rush yds, 702 rec yds, 8 TD, 3 fum |
| 3 | Aaron Rodgers | QB | Packers | 4,434 pass yds, 30 TD, 7 INT, 316 rush yds, 5 rush TD, 4 fum |
| 4 | Drew Brees | QB | Saints | 4,388 pass yds, 34 TD, 11 INT, 33 rush yds, 2 rush TD, 6 fum |
| 5 | Peyton Manning | QB | Colts | 4,500 pass yds, 33 TD, 16 INT |
| 6 | Maurice Jones-Drew | RB | Jaguars | 1,391 rush yds, 374 rec yds, 16 TD, 1 fum |
| 7 | Adrian Peterson | RB | Vikings | 1,383 rush yds, 436 rec yds, 18 TD, 6 fum |
| 8 | Thomas Jones | RB | Jets | 1,402 rush yds, 58 rec yds, 14 TD |
| 9 | Andre Johnson | WR | Texans | 1,569 rec yds, 9 TD, 10 rush yds |
| 10 | Miles Austin | WR | Cowboys | 1,320 rec yds, 11 TD |
TOP ROOKIE
| Player | Position | Team | Stats | |
| 1 | Knowshon Moreno | RB | Broncos | 947 rush yds, 213 rec yds, 9 TD, 4 fum |
| 2 | Percy Harvin | WR | Vikings | 790 rec yds, 135 rush yds, 8 TD |
| 3 | Beanie Wells | RB | Cardinals | 793 rush yds, 143 rec yds, 7 TD, 2 fum |
| 4 | Hakeem Nicks | WR | Giants | 790 rec yds, 8 rush yds, 6 TD |
| 5 | LeSean McCoy | RB | Eagles | 637 rush yds, 308 rec yds, 4 TD, 1 fum |
| 6 | Mike Wallace | WR | Steelers | 756 rec yds, 48 rush yds, 6 TD, 1 fum |
| 7 | Austin Collie | WR | Colts | 676 rec yds, 7 TD |
| 8 | Jeremy Maclin | WR | Eagles | 762 rec yds, 4 TD |
| 9 | Kenny Britt | WR | Titans | 701 rec yds, 3 TD, 1 fum |
| 10 | Michael Crabtree | WR | 49ers | 625 rec yds, 2 TD, 1 fum |
TOP KEEPERS FOR 2010
| Player | Position | Team | Reason | |
| 1 | Chris Johnson | RB | Titans | As if 2,500 yards and 16 TD wasn’t enough, he’s only 24. |
| 2 | Adrian Peterson | RB | Vikings | He’ll only be 25 in 2010, and has lots of miles left on those tires. |
| 3 | Maurice Jones-Drew | RB | Jaguars | First year as full-time RB1 a success, look for him to do more of the same in 2010 and beyond. |
| 4 | Ray Rice | RB | Ravens | 2009’s FSS MVP runner-up has proven he’s for real. |
| 5 | Aaron Rodgers | QB | Packers | 2009’s top fantasy QB just turned 26 years-old. |
| 6 | Andre Johnson | WR | Texans | The 28 year-old All-Pro is at the top of his game for a team on the rise. |
| 7 | Drew Brees | QB | Saints | The leader of the league’s most prolific offense has a few good sesaons left in his arm. |
| 8 | Frank Gore | RB | 49ers | This may seem like a high ranking, but he’s the centerpiece of a blossoming offense. |
| 9 | Larry Fitzgerald | WR | Cardinals | 13 touchdowns in 2009 for arguably the best receiver in football. |
| 10 | DeSean Jackson | WR | Eagles | The guy just makes huge plays, and he’s still getting better. |
| 11 | Steven Jackson | RB | Rams | At 26, he is the best player on one of the worst teams in football, and he still managed 1,416 rush yards. |
| 12 | Jamaal Charles | RB | Chiefs | A stretch? Maybe. But in the second half of ‘09, the only RB better was Chris Johnson. |
| 13 | Peyton Manning | QB | Colts | He’ll be 34 next season, but his style of play dictates success for years to come. |
| 14 | Beanie Wells | RB | Cardinals | Likely locked in a timeshare again in 2010, but this time, he’s the man. |
| 15 | Jonathan Stewart | RB | Panthers | Like Wells, Stewart shares time, but coming into his third year, he’s set to take on a bigger load. |
| 16 | Vernon Davis | TE | 49ers | Apologies to Clark, Gates and Gonzalez, but Davis is just entering his prime and could potentially put up WR1 numbers. |
| 17 | Philip Rivers | QB | Chargers | Uncertainty at RB, Rivers may have to throw more in 2010. |
| 18 | Miles Austin | WR | Cowboys | Can he do it again in 2010? It’s worth a gamble. |
| 19 | Knowshon Moreno | RB | Broncos | Likely to take on a bigger workload from here on. |
| 20 | Percy Harvin | WR | Vikings | Again, might seem like a stretch, but this guy is lightning in a bottle. |
| 21 | Vincent Jackson | WR | Chargers | Disappeared for a bit down the stretch, but still one of the top young receivers in the game. |
| 22 | Rashard Mendenhall | RB | Steelers | He’s taken over as the RB1, and year three should prove fruitful. |
| 23 | Matt Forte | RB | Bears | A sophomore slump can be blamed on his team’s lack of receivers. Look for a rebound in 2010. |
| 24 | Brandon Marshall | WR | Broncos | His talent is undeniable, but his attitude sometimes holds him back. |
| 25 | Roddy White | WR | Falcons | Matt Ryan will be ready to go in 2010, and White will reap the benefits. |
| 26 | Greg Jennings | WR | Packers | Donald Driver isn’t getting any younger, and despite a “down” 2009, Jennings is just hitting his stride. |
| 27 | Matt Schaub | QB | Texans | It feels like his fantasy owners dodged a bullet with an injury-free ‘09, but his potential is worth the risk. |
| 28 | Reggie Wayne | WR | Colts | Next year, Pierre Garcon’s name could be here instead, but for now, Wayne is still the man in Indy. |
| 29 | Calvin Johnson | WR | Lions | As he builds a rapport with Stafford, the numbers are sure to go way up. |
| 30 | Shonn Greene | RB | Jets | Greene has shown flashes, and will be ready to step in when Jones’ tires inevitably go flat. |
Thank you, my faithful followers, for a great 2009. Keep your eyes out for the Fantasy Sports Shack’s baseball coverage, which will start in the near future, and come back next August for more Fantasy Sports Shack football coverage! (Though, I’m sure there will be a few topics for discussion between now and then.)
Programming Note: Week 11
Posted: November 18, 2009
This week’s “Fasulo’s Forecaster” has published to brunoboys.net.
The Week 11 column focuses on the storm of running back injuries from around the league, and their impact on your team. As we all push toward the fantasy football playoffs, some unsung backups could be the keys to victory. Find out who they are here.
Don’t forget to check out “Fasulo’s Forecaster’s ‘Rookie on the Rise’ and ‘Mr. Overlooked: Sleeper of the Week‘”, and stay tuned for the entire list of Fantasy Sports Shack Sleepers for Week 11.
Weekly Programming Note: Week 10
Posted: November 11, 2009
Week 10’s “Fasulo’s Forecaster” has published to Bruno Boys Fantasy Football, and is ready for your viewing pleasure.
This week’s column discusses the resurgence of receivers in Week 9, as 18 players were Targeted 10 or more times, and 8 topped the 100-yard-receiving plateau. It spotlights a Steelers’ rookie who made his name known on a national stage, and finally, the Forecaster plucks out a diamond in the rough who will lead your fantasy football team to victory in Week 10. Who might this unsung hero be? Click here to find out.
And stay tuned for the Fantasy Sports Shack Sleepers of the Week for Week 10.
Weekly Programming Note: Week 9
Posted: November 4, 2009
The Week 9 “Fasulo’s Forecaster” has posted to the Bruno Boys website!
This week’s column highlights the usual Targets & Touches, and focuses on the impact of the ground game in Week 8, as fantasy receivers seemed to take the week off. The Forecaster also spotlights two San Francisco 49ers you may want to consider for your fantasy football roster. Take a look at the article here.
Stay tuned for the Fantasy Sports Shack Sleepers for Week 9.
- Josh (The Shack Guy)
Weekly Programming Note: Week 8
Posted: October 28, 2009
My Week 8 “Fasulo’s Forecaster” has posted to the Bruno Boys website!
This week’s column supplies the Targets & Touches stats from Week 7, and spotlights players who are coming out of the woodwork to become fantasy staples. It comments on some significant injury impacts from around the league, and “idiocy” impacts from a certain Kansas City RB1. And for dessert, I spotlight a rookie running back on the rise and a top sleeper for Week 8 who could help your team to a W. You want to find out who he is? Take a look at the article here.
And stay tuned for the Fantasy Sports Shack Sleepers of the Week.
- Josh (The Shack Guy)
Weekly Programming Note: Week 7
Posted: October 22, 2009
“Fasulo’s Forecaster”, my weekly column for the Bruno Boys, has been posted for Week 7. Check it out here. It details Targets & Touches trends, spotlights a “Rookie on the Rise” and pinpoints one “Mr. Overlooked: Sleeper of the Week” for this week.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
- Josh (The Shack Guy)
FSS and Bruno Boys
Posted: October 15, 2009
This is just a quick “programming” note to let you know about my new weekly column on Bruno Boys Fantasy Football. It’s called “Fasulo’s Forecaster“, and it focuses on the trends behind the numbers: “Targets & Touches”. Also, each week, Fasulo’s Forecaster will highlight one “Rookie on the Rise” and one “Mr. Overlooked: Sleeper of the Week”, a piece those of you familiar with Fantasy Sports Shack may recognize.
Take a read of the new article, bookmark it, comment, and check out the rest of Bruno Boys’ website. Bruno Boys provides expert insight, weekly rankings, injury reports, start ‘ems/sit ‘em’s, and more. If it’s fantasy football, it’s there!
Following Up: Shawne Merriman: “Reality” Debacle
Posted: September 11, 2009
The Tila Tequila/Shawne Merriman debacle came to an end today (or so we assume) when the San Diego D.A. closed the case after determining “there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed.” (Story Here)
Fantasy Spin: Back to business for the San Diego defense.
Shawne Merriman: The Latest Pro Athlete “Reality” Debacle
Posted: September 6, 2009
By now, you’ve probably heard about the incident involving San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman; arrested for choking his girlfriend, reality TV “star” Tila Tequila. (NFL.com article here) Looking at the pictures shown above, and having seen him on the gridiron, you can’t argue that he looks like a guy with a mean streak.
Just the latest in a long line of pro athletes getting in trouble with the law and/or making themselves look like idiots. Trying to come back from an injury that cost him the entire 2008 season, is this really what Merriman needed? All I can say is, he did it to himself. When will these guy take a page from LaDainian Tomlinson or Derek Jeter and have some class?
So what’s the fantasy impact?
Chances are, this issue will be dealt with in the off-season (legally) and will be but a minor distraction for Merriman and the Chargers – a D I recently profiled as a 2009 sleeper unit, thanks, in large part, to Merriman’s return. I wouldn’t adjust the ranking much, if any. Still a decent sleeper option.
Welcome to the Shack!
Posted: September 1, 2009
Fantasy Sports Shack is a place for stats, opinions, information and links to the important stuff that will help you win a fantasy title. Football and Baseball are the focus – for now.
I’m a stats guy. Always have been. In high school I would fill spiral notebooks with predictions and box scores. I knew every Major League organization’s players down to Single A. A bit of a freak, I know, but the knowledge is what helps you to a fantasy crown. I’m the guy who wants to know what a player has done for the last few years, their trends and projections for this year. I want to know the sleepers who are going to make a difference, the rookies who will shine and veterans who will bounce back. And I want to know it before the next guy (or girl – the Shack doesn’t discriminate!).
I’ve been playing fantasy sports for almost 15 years. I’ve participated in games through USA Today, ESPN, CBS Sportsline and NFL.com, to name a few, but most of my leagues have been through Yahoo! In my current baseball league, I’m the 3-time defending champ. In one of my current football leagues – I’m in 3 – I’ve won 2 out of the past 5 years, and finished in the top 3 every other. In a Yahoo! public baseball league several years ago – I haven’t played a public league for nearly 10 years – I finished 105th out of the entire field (300,000+, I believe). I’m not trying to boast. Just letting you know I’m not yanking your chain when I offer my opinion. And that’s what I’m here to do, give you my opinion.
My opinion is what the Fantasy Sports Shack is all about. I’ll give you mine, so don’t be afraid to give me yours.
Now bring on the football season, and best of luck down the homestretch in baseball!
Welcome to the Shack!
Fantasy Sports Shack is a place for stats, opinions, information and links to the important stuff that will help you win a fantasy title, with a focus on football and baseball.
I’m a stats guy. I want to know what a player has done for the last few years, their trends and projections for this year. I want to know sleepers who are going to make a difference, rookies who will shine and veterans who will bounce back. I want to know it before the next guy (or girl – the Shack doesn’t discriminate!), and I want to share it with you!
I’ve been playing fantasy sports for almost 15 years, on a number of platforms with a variety of people, and not to boast, but I do okay (3-peat in an uber-competitive baseball league, 5 straight top 3 finish in competitive football). Just want to let you know I’m not yanking your chain when I offer my opinion. And that’s what I’m here to do, give you my opinion.
My opinion is what the Fantasy Sports Shack is all about. I’ll give you mine, so don’t be afraid to give me yours.
