2006 Fantasy Rewind

WARNING --- This commentary is not for those that are fruitful in their avoidance of honesty.

"He broke the plane of the goal line! Frank Gore does it again, his second score of the day, Holey Moley!"

That's what it sounded like week 1 when Mike Nolan took the leash off of Frank Gore and he scored two touchdowns against the Cardinals while amassing 170 total yards. Was this a sign of things to come or just a one week hit or miss experience? If you were on my side of the field, you expected this from Frank Gore. If not, this was a pleasant surprise. Well, nonetheless, Frank Gore has went on to win championships for many owners as he totaled 1,995 yards and reached paydirt 9 times in 16 weeks. Frank Gore had an average draft position in the fourth round, but performed like a top five selection. He showed no ill-effects from two shoulder surgeries in the off-season also. He erased any doubt that anyone could have had on what he could do behind that average offensive line. With that said, Frank Gore has won my Fantasy Stud of the Year Award for 2006.

Yeah, yeah, why does Frank Gore get it but LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, or Drew Brees don't get it? Tomlinson and Johnson were expected to put up the numbers they did. That's why they were drafted in the top three of every fantasy draft in the world. As for Drew Brees, he didn't get it because he likely cost many owners their league championships with piss-poor performances weeks 15 and 16.

As for some of the other players that I was high on that delivered, Lee Evans, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Kellen Winslow delivered week in and week out. As for Dominic Rhodes, Reuben Droughns, Randy Moss, and DeAngelo Williams, the outlook for these three wasn't as good as it did in the preseason. I made some good calls on the Dolphins trio, Culpepper, Brown and Chambers, as well as Cedric Benson and Willie Parker (on the road). I made some bold weekly calls, including a near perfect call on a horrid Chad Johnson performance, only to miss the next week with Ocho Cinco. Overall, I am satisfied with the product that I delivered to you, the fan, the reader, and the critic.

As for disappointments, I will not mention Daunte Culpepper, as I had him ranked #21 overall in my final projections. Clinton Portis, due to injuries, was a huge disappointment. I thought that he had the potential to finish as a top three running back this season. Ladell Betts worked his way in and made Portis look like an afterthought. Antonio Bryant was a huge disappointment for me. After becoming only the fifth wide receiver in Browns history to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving, I thought that the Bryant to San Francisco would prove to be a steal. Even though I didn't put him in my final top ten projections, I did believe he would finish as a top ten receiver at the end of the year. Wow, what a miss on that one.

I am also disappointed in Domanick Davis and his degenerative knee. From 2003 to 2005, Davis was fifth in total yardage among all, I am serious, all running backs that had started a minimum of 11 games. The potential he once hosted was tremendous.

Within the last few years, guys like Lee Suggs, Drew Bennett, and Samkon Gado have become late season fantasy legends. Ron Dayne has just joined the huddle. Yes, I did say that the wheels to his bandwagon where flat and the gears were stuck in neutral. What do you know? He made me eat my words with a 153 yard and 2 touchdown performance.

Back in August, a roster that consisted of Donovan McNabb, Carnell Williams, Edgerrin James, Randy Moss, Santana Moss, Chris Chambers and Heath Miller would have been deemed unstoppable, loaded, or even perfect. 16 weeks later, a team that consisted of Michael Vick, Travis Henry, Ahman Green, Laveraneus Coles, Joey Galloway, and Desmond Clark would have a better shot at winning a league championship than the aforementioned roster.

If you think that injuries cost you any chance at winning your league championship, try fielding a competitive team with DeShaun Foster, Donte Stallworth, Greg Jennings, and Matt Hasselbeck. Due to injuries, my roster had more drops than Terrell Owens. Who would have thought I would need to depend on Brett Favre, Dominic Rhodes, and Mike Furrey to make my playoff push.

Negativity is a lot easier to focus on than the positive things that may have occurred in 2006. As for the positive, let me begin with the rebirth of Ahman Green, Fred Taylor, and Travis Henry. We also can't downplay the emergence of Vince Young, into a rare, rookie stud in fantasy football. Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, and J.P. Losman emerged into solid #2 fantasy quarterbacks that could be depended on depending on the match-up. Andre Johnson re-emerged into the all pro, fantasy stud wide receiver he is. Kellen Winslow finally delivered and Carson Palmer made a miraculous comeback. The true, sincere story of 2006 was the emergence of the New Orleans as a fantasy powerhouse. When healthy, Joe Horn was a good start. When he wasn't, you could count on either Devery Henderson or Terrance Copper. As usual, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, and Marques Colston were good, if not great starts week in and week out. Drew Brees, well, there are not enough words to describe his turn around into a top 2 fantasy quarterback. There is no better way in ending this 2006 fantasy rewind in mentioning the New Orleans Saints.

Drew Brees also was the steal of the century.

Oh before I do go let me leave on an interesting note. Of the participants from the Philip Rivers-Eli Manning draft day trade, Eli Manning is the only one not going to the 2006 NFL Pro Bowl. Shawn Merriman, Nate Kaeding, and Rivers himself will all be on vacation in Hawaii for the pro football all-star game. Now, you tell me, who is the winner in that one? If I mention the records of the two franchises involved in the trade, that is just like smearing one's head in defecation.

God bless, as things can only get better in 2007. Have a Happy New Year.