Every year there are a slew questions that we ask ourselves when the Fantasy Football season comes to a close. Who was the biggest bust? Who was the best draft bargain? Who was the best rookie? Who was the best waiver wire pickup? Who was the comeback player of the year? Who will be next year’s number one pick? And finally, who was the MVP? So, we here at Last Word on Sports have created an award ceremony to declare the winner of each category. And without further ado, let’s GET IT ON!
When we draft our new fantasy football teams every year the risk/reward factor is the most complex algorithm of a sound pre-draft strategy. Many factors play a part in making a player “risky” when it comes to drafting. The most difficult to decipher, for many, is which incredibly talented players will bounce back this year after having minimal production from a fantasy standpoint the year before.
A bad surrounding cast, injuries, off-the-field decision making and poor or selfish coaching decisions can derail a promising player’s season. A player who rises to the challenge, and returns to power after an underwhelming previous season, is a candidate for comeback player of the year. When reading this and looking back at their success this year, don’t forget the difficulty of returning to form when few believe you can. It is more difficult than you think, to be better than others think you can be.
Fantasy Football’s Comeback Player of the Year
4) Jeremy Maclin, PHI WR– In 2010 Maclin had almost 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Since, he has been hindered by injuries and lack of stability at the Quarterback position. The hiring of Chip Kelly, Nick Foles becoming efficient, and Desean Jackson leaving for Washington left the door wide open for Mac. He closed the door on himself, locked it, welded it shut, then kicked the thing down in the 2015 season. Foles found quickly that Maclin was his best option. Fantasy owners benefited immensely from his success in a high powered offense. Foles’ injury hurt Maclin’s value in the fantasy playoffs but Maclin is already around 1300 yards and 10 TDs going in to week 17. He is officially back.
3) Arian Foster, HOU RB– This dude might end up on this list 3 more times before his career is over. So often, vision and patience is talked about in great running backs. Foster finds his success by defining these characteristics with his play. He has the benefit of running behind great “read” run blocking. The Houston running game is built around making blocks; at the right times; at the right levels of the defense. Foster has the responsibility to move fluidly with his line, waiting for an opening then cutting through it in whatever direction happens to be there. This is a style of running that cannot be taught. It isn’t athleticism. It is an embodiment of mind, vision, and strength coming together in motion. He could be considered a Great someday if he stays upright for the remainder of his career. For now, we will give him props for coming back and killing it for fantasy owners this year, after a disappointing and injury riddled 2013 season.
2) DeMarco Murray, DAL RB– I drafted Murray in the middle of the 3rd round of one of my fantasy leagues this year. He only fell to me there because he is so prone to being hurt. He has never started every game of the season in his NFL career. As I look at that team playing for the fantasy championship this week, I am reminded of the risk/reward conundrum. I am aware of the fact that I wouldn’t be here right now if I had not taken a chance on Murray. These are the defining moments of a fantasy championship season. Murray (by production) should be number one on this list because he has been a rock in fantasy football. A true every week stud.,he narrowly missed the one spot for 3 factors: 1- Because he finished 2013 incredibly well. He was a very strong catalyst in many fantasy Superbowls last year because he played so well in the final weeks. 2- Because he came in to this year healthy with a great offensive line and a coach that said they were going to run the ball a lot… And 3- Because… well, he just wasn’t GRONK.
1) GRONK, NE TE– Whether he likes it or not, I am officially* dropping the Rob and -owski.
**From the (one and only) Patriots tight-end. Right here. Right now. I am also abusing the liberties I have as a writer to officially* capitalize every remaining letter in his name. I am also happy to report that his name is now officially* a verb/noun that you can use in any place at any time in the American language we know today. Anyone who fails to comply with these new standards will be punished severely**
Now that everyone is versed in GRONK etiquette, I will state his case for fantasy-comebacker (official* new word) of the year.
GRONK came in to this year as a huge question mark in fantasy football. His talent at his position is unmatched (even by Jimmy Graham. Officially*) He fell to the 3rd through 5th rounds in a lot of fantasy drafts. He should have been taken top 3 overall. A friend of mine traded Julius Thomas and Rashad Jennings at the beginning of this year for GRONK. I laughed at him for the first 6 weeks of the season as Thomas had 25 touchdowns in the first 5 games (officially*), and GRONK was still working through his bum knee and seeing limited action. As the season went on, the Patriots (especially Tom Brady) got GRONKing good. As the Patriots got rolling, GRONK got healthy again. As GRONK got healthy again, he became the unstoppable force of the past. As he becamr the unstoppable force, my friend reminded me more often of how GRONK he is. My friend then used him to GRONK me out of our fantasy playoffs. He took the position over. It was a disappointing year for the fantasy tight end position. Yet GRONK shined in fantasy lineups. He scored touchdowns in every game of the fantasy postseason. He has made many guys (like my friend) money lately. Most imGRONKantly… (okay that’s bad) He has stayed healthy all year. ConGRONKulations to Rob Gronkowski (oops!).
*Everything stated as “official” or “officially” in this article, is in fact, not at all official. It is opinion or exaggeration. Perhaps, insanity.
**There is absolutely no punishment for anything stated in this entire article. Who wrote this stuff?
Eric Wolf.
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