PETER D coasts to victory in Fantasy Playoff Pool XXI as he wins by a 15-point margin.
Sony Michel carried PETER into the Playoff Pool lead late in the first quarter of SB53. Michel
scored the only touchdown in the Super Bowl. Sony Michel finished the playoffs with 336 yards
rushing and 6 TDs and is the Pool MVP. PETE got 10 touchdowns from his running backs, as
his other running back, Damien Williams, got 250 scrimmage yards and 4 touchdowns in the
playoffs. Three of Williams' touchdowns came in the second half of the AFC Championship.
PETER D did not get any TDs from his receivers, but Julian Edelman was the top scoring
wide receiver in the Pool. In the playoffs, Edelman had 26 catches for 388 yards and a Super
Bowl MVP award. Edelman now has the second most catches and receiving yards in NFL
Playoff history. The other contributing WR for PETER D was Robert Woods (17 catches for 172
yards).
Tom Brady is the first QB on the Pool Championship roster three times. Brady threw for
953 yards in the playoffs. Brady had more interceptions (3), than TD passes (2).
Kicker Greg 'the Leg' Zeurlein helped PETE with 8 field goals, including two from 50+
yards. Zeurlein won the NFC title game with a 57-yard FG. PETE had the Pats' defense which
recorded 10 sacks and forced three turnovers in the playoffs.
Sony Michel carried PETER into the Playoff Pool lead late in the first quarter of SB53. Michel
scored the only touchdown in the Super Bowl. Sony Michel finished the playoffs with 336 yards
rushing and 6 TDs and is the Pool MVP. PETE got 10 touchdowns from his running backs, as
his other running back, Damien Williams, got 250 scrimmage yards and 4 touchdowns in the
playoffs. Three of Williams' touchdowns came in the second half of the AFC Championship.
PETER D did not get any TDs from his receivers, but Julian Edelman was the top scoring
wide receiver in the Pool. In the playoffs, Edelman had 26 catches for 388 yards and a Super
Bowl MVP award. Edelman now has the second most catches and receiving yards in NFL
Playoff history. The other contributing WR for PETER D was Robert Woods (17 catches for 172
yards).
Tom Brady is the first QB on the Pool Championship roster three times. Brady threw for
953 yards in the playoffs. Brady had more interceptions (3), than TD passes (2).
Kicker Greg 'the Leg' Zeurlein helped PETE with 8 field goals, including two from 50+
yards. Zeurlein won the NFC title game with a 57-yard FG. PETE had the Pats' defense which
recorded 10 sacks and forced three turnovers in the playoffs.
JOEY DIABLO is the runner-up. It is his second straight year amongst the top three
finishers. Like the champs, DIABLO had the top scoring player (Michel), top scoring receiver
(Edelman) and top scoring kicker (Zuerlein) along with Brady and the Pats' defense. DIABLO
also had Brandin Cooks (19 catches for 292 yards), who was the second-best fantasy WR in
the Pool, and high-priced Todd Gurley. Gurley ran 30 times for 160 yards and 2 scores, but
overall was a disappointment. Gurley managed only 5 receiving yards in the playoffs and
had only 45 rushing yards in his last two contests after running over Dallas for 115 yards in
the Divisional round.
DIABLO scored the most fantasy points (68.4) in SB53. DIABLO cracked the Pool's top
five on Zuerlein's third-quarter field goal. At the end of the Rams' opening drive of the
fourth quarter, DIABLO had moved into third place with the help of a couple of big catches
by Brandin Cooks. Stephon Gilmore's interception with 4:17 remaining in the game put
DIABLO into second place.
finishers. Like the champs, DIABLO had the top scoring player (Michel), top scoring receiver
(Edelman) and top scoring kicker (Zuerlein) along with Brady and the Pats' defense. DIABLO
also had Brandin Cooks (19 catches for 292 yards), who was the second-best fantasy WR in
the Pool, and high-priced Todd Gurley. Gurley ran 30 times for 160 yards and 2 scores, but
overall was a disappointment. Gurley managed only 5 receiving yards in the playoffs and
had only 45 rushing yards in his last two contests after running over Dallas for 115 yards in
the Divisional round.
DIABLO scored the most fantasy points (68.4) in SB53. DIABLO cracked the Pool's top
five on Zuerlein's third-quarter field goal. At the end of the Rams' opening drive of the
fourth quarter, DIABLO had moved into third place with the help of a couple of big catches
by Brandin Cooks. Stephon Gilmore's interception with 4:17 remaining in the game put
DIABLO into second place.
HOFF takes third place. Like the two teams above him, Hoffman had the top scoring
player (Michel), top scoring receiver (Edelman) and top scoring kicker (Zuerlein) along with
Brady. He also had Robert Woods and Todd Gurley, who were each on one of the top two
teams.
HOFF deserves credit for picking $3 WR Jordan Matthews. Of the ten $3 WRs in the
pool, Matthews was the only one with more than one fantasy point. Matthews caught a
37-yard TD in the Wild Card round. Matthews is the only WR on the top three entries with a
TD catch in the playoffs!
HOFF was the top entry without the Patriots defense. HOFF had the L.A. Chargers
defense which rolled in Wild Card weekend with 7 sacks and 3 turnovers. But, the Chargers
lost over 6 fantasy points in the Divisional Round as they were scorched by the Pats. Lastly,
HOFF's $4 TE Trey Burton (groin injury) never took the field. So, a couple of bad breaks for a
team that was less than one point out of second place. HOFF was knocked out second place
by the Gilmore interception with 4:17 remaining in SB53.
player (Michel), top scoring receiver (Edelman) and top scoring kicker (Zuerlein) along with
Brady. He also had Robert Woods and Todd Gurley, who were each on one of the top two
teams.
HOFF deserves credit for picking $3 WR Jordan Matthews. Of the ten $3 WRs in the
pool, Matthews was the only one with more than one fantasy point. Matthews caught a
37-yard TD in the Wild Card round. Matthews is the only WR on the top three entries with a
TD catch in the playoffs!
HOFF was the top entry without the Patriots defense. HOFF had the L.A. Chargers
defense which rolled in Wild Card weekend with 7 sacks and 3 turnovers. But, the Chargers
lost over 6 fantasy points in the Divisional Round as they were scorched by the Pats. Lastly,
HOFF's $4 TE Trey Burton (groin injury) never took the field. So, a couple of bad breaks for a
team that was less than one point out of second place. HOFF was knocked out second place
by the Gilmore interception with 4:17 remaining in SB53.
NOVA, last year's champion, finishes in fourth place. NOVA had the top scoring player
(Michel) and top two receivers (Edelman and Cooks), but the rest of NOVA's roster was
completely different from the top three finishers.
NOVA was the top team without Tom Brady. NOVA's QB Jared Goff threw for 712 yards
with only 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions in the playoffs. NOVA had the Rams' defense that
had 4 sacks, 2 picks and 2 fourth-down stops in the playoffs and Chargers' kicker Mike
BAdgley who kicked 5 field goals in the Wild Card round, including one from 50+.
NOVA invested in three $7 WRs. Edelman and Cooks combined for 18 catches and 261
yards in SB53. NOVA's third WR was Keenan Allen who had 6 catches for 112 yards and a
score in the playoffs. NOVA also got a touchdown catch from his TE Tyler Higbee.
Michel was the Pool's top scoring player. But, James White, New England's other $6
running back was taken on more than twice as many rosters as Michel. And why not? White
had 4 touchdowns in EACH of the previous two post seasons. NOVA had both Michel and
White. White had 15 catches for 97 yards in the Divisional Round and had 10 touches for 72
yards, including 4 catches, in the Championship game. But, in the Super Bowl it was one
catch and ZERO fantasy points for White.
After New England went ahead 10-3 in SB53, L.A.'s first play from scrimmage was a
19-yard pass from Goff to Cooks with 7 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. That play put
NOVA into the Pool's top five to stay.
(Michel) and top two receivers (Edelman and Cooks), but the rest of NOVA's roster was
completely different from the top three finishers.
NOVA was the top team without Tom Brady. NOVA's QB Jared Goff threw for 712 yards
with only 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions in the playoffs. NOVA had the Rams' defense that
had 4 sacks, 2 picks and 2 fourth-down stops in the playoffs and Chargers' kicker Mike
BAdgley who kicked 5 field goals in the Wild Card round, including one from 50+.
NOVA invested in three $7 WRs. Edelman and Cooks combined for 18 catches and 261
yards in SB53. NOVA's third WR was Keenan Allen who had 6 catches for 112 yards and a
score in the playoffs. NOVA also got a touchdown catch from his TE Tyler Higbee.
Michel was the Pool's top scoring player. But, James White, New England's other $6
running back was taken on more than twice as many rosters as Michel. And why not? White
had 4 touchdowns in EACH of the previous two post seasons. NOVA had both Michel and
White. White had 15 catches for 97 yards in the Divisional Round and had 10 touches for 72
yards, including 4 catches, in the Championship game. But, in the Super Bowl it was one
catch and ZERO fantasy points for White.
After New England went ahead 10-3 in SB53, L.A.'s first play from scrimmage was a
19-yard pass from Goff to Cooks with 7 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. That play put
NOVA into the Pool's top five to stay.
Gregg Dryer started SB53 just outside the top five without an active quarter back. So,
luck was on his side when no TD passes were thrown in the Super Bowl. It literally was
"Luck" that was on his side, Andrew Luck. Luck finished the playoffs with 425 yards passing
and 3 TD passes with 1 interception.
Dryer's three active players in SB53 were each the top Pool scorer at their position;
RB-Michel, WR-Edelman and kicker-Zuerlein. Through the first half of SB53, Julian Edelman
single-handedly kept Dryer in the race. On the Pats' first drive of the second half, Edelman
caught his eighth ball for 120 yards and Gregg Dryer was into the top five. Later in the half,
a 53-yard FG from Zuerlein and TD run by Michel were enough to keep Dryer in the top five
until the finish.
Michel, Edelman and Zuerlein were all on the top three entries and all would be on the
'best team possible' to put together. Dryer had two others, who would be on that 'best team
possible' that no entry finishing ahead of him had; Michael Thomas, the third highest
scoring WR, had 16 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown and Antonio Gates, the best
value at tight end, with 9 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Gates was the top-scoring
$3 tight end.
luck was on his side when no TD passes were thrown in the Super Bowl. It literally was
"Luck" that was on his side, Andrew Luck. Luck finished the playoffs with 425 yards passing
and 3 TD passes with 1 interception.
Dryer's three active players in SB53 were each the top Pool scorer at their position;
RB-Michel, WR-Edelman and kicker-Zuerlein. Through the first half of SB53, Julian Edelman
single-handedly kept Dryer in the race. On the Pats' first drive of the second half, Edelman
caught his eighth ball for 120 yards and Gregg Dryer was into the top five. Later in the half,
a 53-yard FG from Zuerlein and TD run by Michel were enough to keep Dryer in the top five
until the finish.
Michel, Edelman and Zuerlein were all on the top three entries and all would be on the
'best team possible' to put together. Dryer had two others, who would be on that 'best team
possible' that no entry finishing ahead of him had; Michael Thomas, the third highest
scoring WR, had 16 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown and Antonio Gates, the best
value at tight end, with 9 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Gates was the top-scoring
$3 tight end.