Congrats to Steve Gerwer for winning FANTASY PLAYOFF POOL #17.
Steve has been in this Pool since the beginning and wins $$ for the first
time. Steve has been in the pool so long he is strictly on a first name
basis. In 2010, Steve finished 7th and was one player away from
winning the Pool Championship. This year his team got it done. STEVE
took over the lead with 2:22 remaining in the first half of Super Bowl 49
(Marshawn Lynch TD). He later got second half scores from Doug
Baldwin and Danny Amendola. Of course he also had the Pool MVP, Tom
Brady, who threw 4 TD passes in the big game.
Steve has been in this Pool since the beginning and wins $$ for the first
time. Steve has been in the pool so long he is strictly on a first name
basis. In 2010, Steve finished 7th and was one player away from
winning the Pool Championship. This year his team got it done. STEVE
took over the lead with 2:22 remaining in the first half of Super Bowl 49
(Marshawn Lynch TD). He later got second half scores from Doug
Baldwin and Danny Amendola. Of course he also had the Pool MVP, Tom
Brady, who threw 4 TD passes in the big game.
Tom Brady collects his first
FANTASY PLAYOFF POOL MVP
award and his third SUPER BOWL
MVP award. Brady was the top
scoring player in the Pool.
FANTASY PLAYOFF POOL MVP
award and his third SUPER BOWL
MVP award. Brady was the top
scoring player in the Pool.
While STEVE pulled away with a convincing victory, the rest of the field continued to
jockey for position throughout the Big Game. For example, at the end of the first half
only 5 fantasy points separated third place and tenth place and the leader board was
changing on nearly every play. Click on this link to see the Super Bowl play-by-play
with notes on leader-board movement.
jockey for position throughout the Big Game. For example, at the end of the first half
only 5 fantasy points separated third place and tenth place and the leader board was
changing on nearly every play. Click on this link to see the Super Bowl play-by-play
with notes on leader-board movement.
UP FOR GRABS...
It came down to the end for many teams.
Here is how this fluky play (pictured
right)with 1:14 remaining affected entries:
Ditoro's OZ16 (despite having Kearse) was
knocked from the top 5 (b/c the team
behind him had Kearse and Russell Wilson)
=loss of $380
CHALUPA BATMAN FOREVER entered the
top five, so it was +$380 on the play for
Chalupa.
ABAUDALY went from 4th place to 2nd
place on the play gain of $964
CRUZ CONTROL went from 2nd to 3rd
place and lost $482
FIORINO went from 3rd to 4th place and
lost $482
TANK makes the top 8 (+$100) and knocks
out 'TFS-Team 100' (-$100)
Here is how this fluky play (pictured
right)with 1:14 remaining affected entries:
Ditoro's OZ16 (despite having Kearse) was
knocked from the top 5 (b/c the team
behind him had Kearse and Russell Wilson)
=loss of $380
CHALUPA BATMAN FOREVER entered the
top five, so it was +$380 on the play for
Chalupa.
ABAUDALY went from 4th place to 2nd
place on the play gain of $964
CRUZ CONTROL went from 2nd to 3rd
place and lost $482
FIORINO went from 3rd to 4th place and
lost $482
TANK makes the top 8 (+$100) and knocks
out 'TFS-Team 100' (-$100)
On the very next play, Marshawn Lynch runs 4 yards to the one-yard line. He picks up a
fantasy point on the play and that puts DT in the top 8 (+$100) and knocks out Scotty
Doesn't Know!!!!! (-$100). Ironically, the next play (Russell interception) was one of the
biggest in Super Bowl histroy, but that did not affect the standings. Game over.
fantasy point on the play and that puts DT in the top 8 (+$100) and knocks out Scotty
Doesn't Know!!!!! (-$100). Ironically, the next play (Russell interception) was one of the
biggest in Super Bowl histroy, but that did not affect the standings. Game over.
CHAMPION:
STEVE looked like the favorite to win the Pool going into Super Bowl 49. He had six players active for the Super Bowl
including his quarterback, Tom Brady. Steve was over 20 fantasy points behind the leader Pinkney to start the game.
He eventually took over the lead when Marshawn Lynch found the end zone with 2:22 remaining in the first half. STEVE
was never seriously threatened after that.
Tom Brady finishes the playoffs with 921 yards passing, 10 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions. Steve had the
starting running backs of both Super Bowl teams. Seattle's Marshawn Lynch had 318 yards rushing and 57 yards
receiving in the post season and was the top-scoring Running Back for the second year in a row. New England's
LeGarrette Blount scored 35 of his 40 fantasy points on Championship weekend when he rushed for 148 yards and 3
touchdowns against Indy.
With more than half of his cap room used for his QB and running backs, STEVE needed a good bargain WR and found
it with Danny Amendola. Amendola was $4 and had 11 catches for 137 yards and three scores. He was the third
highest scoring receiver. STEVE also got three TD catches from Doug Baldwin (10 catches, 147 receiving yards).
Baldwin and Amendola both found the end zone for STEVE in the second half of Super Bowl 49.
The last key to STEVE's win was $3 kicker Justin Tucker. Tucker had 4 FGs and 7 extra points for 23 fantasy points.
One of his kicks was from beyond 50 yards. Tucker was on 6 of the top 7 teams.
STEVE looked like the favorite to win the Pool going into Super Bowl 49. He had six players active for the Super Bowl
including his quarterback, Tom Brady. Steve was over 20 fantasy points behind the leader Pinkney to start the game.
He eventually took over the lead when Marshawn Lynch found the end zone with 2:22 remaining in the first half. STEVE
was never seriously threatened after that.
Tom Brady finishes the playoffs with 921 yards passing, 10 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions. Steve had the
starting running backs of both Super Bowl teams. Seattle's Marshawn Lynch had 318 yards rushing and 57 yards
receiving in the post season and was the top-scoring Running Back for the second year in a row. New England's
LeGarrette Blount scored 35 of his 40 fantasy points on Championship weekend when he rushed for 148 yards and 3
touchdowns against Indy.
With more than half of his cap room used for his QB and running backs, STEVE needed a good bargain WR and found
it with Danny Amendola. Amendola was $4 and had 11 catches for 137 yards and three scores. He was the third
highest scoring receiver. STEVE also got three TD catches from Doug Baldwin (10 catches, 147 receiving yards).
Baldwin and Amendola both found the end zone for STEVE in the second half of Super Bowl 49.
The last key to STEVE's win was $3 kicker Justin Tucker. Tucker had 4 FGs and 7 extra points for 23 fantasy points.
One of his kicks was from beyond 50 yards. Tucker was on 6 of the top 7 teams.
2ND PLACE: ABAUDALY
ABAUDALY had three players in common with STEVE (Brady, Lynch and Tucker). ABAUDALY's fate rested heavily on
$8 tight end Rob Gronkowski. ABAUDALY was the top entry with Gronk going into SB 49. Gronkowski's first-half TD
catch in SB49 moved ABAUDALY from 15th place to 6th place. Then, on a 4th quarter drive on which ABAUDALY
navigated its way from 6th place to 3rd place, Gronk had catches of 20 and 13 yards. Gronkowski finished the playoffs
with 16 catches, 204 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Gronk outscored the next-best TE by 22 fantasy points. The
investment in Gronk was $8 and led to ABAUDALY carrying a pair of $3 WRs. Each failed to score a fantasy point and
Gronk's production was enough to overcome that.
With 1:14 remaining in the Super Bowl, ABAUDALY had dropped back to fourth, but a fluky catch by Jermaine Kearse
moved them up into second place. Kearse had 7 catches for 209 yards and 2 scores in the post season. Kearse was
the second best fantasy-point producing WR in the playoffs and was salaried at only $5.
Other keys were Tucker and RB Justin Forsett. Forsett had 164 yards rushing and a score in 2 playoff games.
ABAUDALY had three players in common with STEVE (Brady, Lynch and Tucker). ABAUDALY's fate rested heavily on
$8 tight end Rob Gronkowski. ABAUDALY was the top entry with Gronk going into SB 49. Gronkowski's first-half TD
catch in SB49 moved ABAUDALY from 15th place to 6th place. Then, on a 4th quarter drive on which ABAUDALY
navigated its way from 6th place to 3rd place, Gronk had catches of 20 and 13 yards. Gronkowski finished the playoffs
with 16 catches, 204 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Gronk outscored the next-best TE by 22 fantasy points. The
investment in Gronk was $8 and led to ABAUDALY carrying a pair of $3 WRs. Each failed to score a fantasy point and
Gronk's production was enough to overcome that.
With 1:14 remaining in the Super Bowl, ABAUDALY had dropped back to fourth, but a fluky catch by Jermaine Kearse
moved them up into second place. Kearse had 7 catches for 209 yards and 2 scores in the post season. Kearse was
the second best fantasy-point producing WR in the playoffs and was salaried at only $5.
Other keys were Tucker and RB Justin Forsett. Forsett had 164 yards rushing and a score in 2 playoff games.
ABAUDALY AND CRUZ CONTROL WOUND UP IN A FANTASY POINT TIE. THE TIEBREAKER
WAS DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:
ABUADALY CRUZ CONTROL
HIGHEST SCORING PLAYER: Brady 72 Brady 72
NEXT: Lynch 53 Lynch 53
NEXT: Gronkowski 41 Amendola 32
WAS DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:
ABUADALY CRUZ CONTROL
HIGHEST SCORING PLAYER: Brady 72 Brady 72
NEXT: Lynch 53 Lynch 53
NEXT: Gronkowski 41 Amendola 32
THIRD PLACE: CRUZ CONTROL
Just like the two entries in front of them, CRUZ CONTROL had Brady and Lynch. Like the Champions, CRUZ had a $4
gem with Amendola. Amendola's 4th quarter TD catchr in the Super Bowl got CRUZ CONTROL into the top three.
CRUZ had one other player active for SB49 and that was RB Shane Vereen. Vereen did not have any big plays or
touchdowns in the playoffs, but sure kept busy in SB49 catching 11 passes for 64 yards.
CRUZ CONTROL had three wide receivers with at least 25 fantasy points. Aside from Amendola, CRUZ had
Randall Cobb (15 catches, 178 receiving yards, 1 touchdown) and Kelvin Benjamin (11 catches, 108 yards and 2
touchdowns). Benjamin will get the Playoff Pool rookie of the year.
Notes: CRUZ was the only entry in the top 7 without Ravens' kicker Tucker. Chris Cruz has been in 5 of the last 6
Playoff Pools. This is Cruz's first pool win.
Just like the two entries in front of them, CRUZ CONTROL had Brady and Lynch. Like the Champions, CRUZ had a $4
gem with Amendola. Amendola's 4th quarter TD catchr in the Super Bowl got CRUZ CONTROL into the top three.
CRUZ had one other player active for SB49 and that was RB Shane Vereen. Vereen did not have any big plays or
touchdowns in the playoffs, but sure kept busy in SB49 catching 11 passes for 64 yards.
CRUZ CONTROL had three wide receivers with at least 25 fantasy points. Aside from Amendola, CRUZ had
Randall Cobb (15 catches, 178 receiving yards, 1 touchdown) and Kelvin Benjamin (11 catches, 108 yards and 2
touchdowns). Benjamin will get the Playoff Pool rookie of the year.
Notes: CRUZ was the only entry in the top 7 without Ravens' kicker Tucker. Chris Cruz has been in 5 of the last 6
Playoff Pools. This is Cruz's first pool win.
FOURTH PLACE: FIORINO
FIORINO was the top finisher without MVP Brady. FIORINO had Russell Wilson. Wilson finished his playoff run with
724 yards passing, 6 TD passes & 5 interceptions. Wilson added 86 rushing yards and a score. Like the Champions,
he had the Super Bowl starting RBs with Lynch and Blount. FIORINO also had two wide receivers going in SB49; Doug
Baldwin and Danny Amendola. Baldwin caught only one pass in the Super Bowl, but it was for a touchdown. The
Wilson to Baldwin scoring play moved FIORINO into the top three in the third quarter. Amendola's 4th quarter
touchdown had FIORINO in second place, but by the time Tom Brady threw his 4th TD pass of the game FIORINO had
fallen back to 4th place. Wilson had carried FIORINO back into third place, but FIORINO was knocked back on the
next play which was the fluky catch by Kearse with 1:14 remaining.
FIORINO had Tucker at kicker and got decent production from TE Dwayne Allen (11 catches, 90 receiving yards, 1
touchdown). Allen certainly remained consistent as he notched exactly 30 receiving yards in each of his three playoff
games. FIORINO was hurt by the Lions' defense which only managed 2 fantasy points.
Notes: This is the second time Frank Fiorino has cracked the top five in three years. Frank finished third in 2013.
FIORINO was the top finisher without MVP Brady. FIORINO had Russell Wilson. Wilson finished his playoff run with
724 yards passing, 6 TD passes & 5 interceptions. Wilson added 86 rushing yards and a score. Like the Champions,
he had the Super Bowl starting RBs with Lynch and Blount. FIORINO also had two wide receivers going in SB49; Doug
Baldwin and Danny Amendola. Baldwin caught only one pass in the Super Bowl, but it was for a touchdown. The
Wilson to Baldwin scoring play moved FIORINO into the top three in the third quarter. Amendola's 4th quarter
touchdown had FIORINO in second place, but by the time Tom Brady threw his 4th TD pass of the game FIORINO had
fallen back to 4th place. Wilson had carried FIORINO back into third place, but FIORINO was knocked back on the
next play which was the fluky catch by Kearse with 1:14 remaining.
FIORINO had Tucker at kicker and got decent production from TE Dwayne Allen (11 catches, 90 receiving yards, 1
touchdown). Allen certainly remained consistent as he notched exactly 30 receiving yards in each of his three playoff
games. FIORINO was hurt by the Lions' defense which only managed 2 fantasy points.
Notes: This is the second time Frank Fiorino has cracked the top five in three years. Frank finished third in 2013.
FIFTH PLACE: CHALUPA BATMAN FOREVER
"CHALUPA" was the second highest entry with Wilson at QB. "CHALUPA" is the top entry without anyone from the
Patriots. "CHALUPA" had Wilson, Lynch, Kearse and the Seattle defense going in the Super Bowl.
CHALUPA BATMAN started the Super Bowl in 8th place, but they did not remain 'forever' in the top ten. When
Gronk scored 36 seconds before halftime, CHALUPA was out of the top ten. In fact there were no entries with Russell
Wilson in the top ten. Then Seattle got possession and it was BATMAN RETURNS. Russell Wilson helped engineer a
30 second touchdown drive. Wilson threw for 34 yards and ran for 17 yards, while throwing a TD pass. That was
enough to get CHALUPA BATMAN up into fourth place. [At half time, only 5 fantasy points separated the 3rd place
team and 10th place team.] After Wilson's second TD pass of the game, CHALUPA had moved up into second place,
but by the time Brady threw his fourth TD pass, CHALUPA was back down to 8th place. Then, with 1:14 remaining in
the game, came the fluky catch where the batted ball landed in the hands of a falling Jermaine Kearse. The play
landed CHALUPA into fifth place.
"CHALUPA" found a gem in $5 running back Daniel Herron. In three playoff games, Herron rushed for 170 yards
and caught a whopping 20 balls for 128 yards. Herron scored twice. Herron was only behind Lynch in fantasy playoff
scoring for running backs. CHALUPA got 86 yards receiving and a score from rookie WR Donte Moncrief. CHALUPA,
as mentioned, had the Seahawks' defense, which was not outstanding, but did lead the Pool in fantasy points for a
defense for a second year in a row. Seattle's defense had a TD, 6 interceptions, a forced fumble and 4 sacks.
CHALUPA also had Tucker at kicker.
"CHALUPA" was the second highest entry with Wilson at QB. "CHALUPA" is the top entry without anyone from the
Patriots. "CHALUPA" had Wilson, Lynch, Kearse and the Seattle defense going in the Super Bowl.
CHALUPA BATMAN started the Super Bowl in 8th place, but they did not remain 'forever' in the top ten. When
Gronk scored 36 seconds before halftime, CHALUPA was out of the top ten. In fact there were no entries with Russell
Wilson in the top ten. Then Seattle got possession and it was BATMAN RETURNS. Russell Wilson helped engineer a
30 second touchdown drive. Wilson threw for 34 yards and ran for 17 yards, while throwing a TD pass. That was
enough to get CHALUPA BATMAN up into fourth place. [At half time, only 5 fantasy points separated the 3rd place
team and 10th place team.] After Wilson's second TD pass of the game, CHALUPA had moved up into second place,
but by the time Brady threw his fourth TD pass, CHALUPA was back down to 8th place. Then, with 1:14 remaining in
the game, came the fluky catch where the batted ball landed in the hands of a falling Jermaine Kearse. The play
landed CHALUPA into fifth place.
"CHALUPA" found a gem in $5 running back Daniel Herron. In three playoff games, Herron rushed for 170 yards
and caught a whopping 20 balls for 128 yards. Herron scored twice. Herron was only behind Lynch in fantasy playoff
scoring for running backs. CHALUPA got 86 yards receiving and a score from rookie WR Donte Moncrief. CHALUPA,
as mentioned, had the Seahawks' defense, which was not outstanding, but did lead the Pool in fantasy points for a
defense for a second year in a row. Seattle's defense had a TD, 6 interceptions, a forced fumble and 4 sacks.
CHALUPA also had Tucker at kicker.
SIXTH PLACE: OZ16
OZ16 started the Super Bowl in third place. Active for the Big Game was Brady, Blount, Kearse and the Patriots'
Defense. OZ16 grabbed the Playoff Pool lead with 9:51 remaining in the first half when Brady threw his first touchdown
pass. OZ16 lost the lead to STEVE with 2:22 remaining in the half on the Lynch TD. The Baldwin TD in the third
quarter knocked OZ16 back into fifth place where they remained until 1:14 was left in the game. Oddly enough, it was
on Kearse's fluky catch that OZ16 got knocked out of the top five by CHALUPA BATMAN FOREVER. "CHALUPA" had
Kearse and Wilson and got one more fantasy point on the play than OZ16 did.
OZ16 was the only entry that finished in the top 8 without Marshawn Lynch. OZ16 had Blount and Carolina's
Jonathan Stewart in the RB spots. Stewart rushed for 203 yards and a score in 2 playoff games. At WR, OZ16 had
Kearse, Rookie of the Year Kelvin Benjamin and Pittsburgh's Martavius Bryant. Bryant had 5 catches for 61 yards and
a TD in his only game. OZ16 had three players from Carolina; Stewart, Benjamin & Greg Olsen (7 catches/95 yards)
at tight end. OZ16 had Tucker at kicker.
OZ16 started the Super Bowl in third place. Active for the Big Game was Brady, Blount, Kearse and the Patriots'
Defense. OZ16 grabbed the Playoff Pool lead with 9:51 remaining in the first half when Brady threw his first touchdown
pass. OZ16 lost the lead to STEVE with 2:22 remaining in the half on the Lynch TD. The Baldwin TD in the third
quarter knocked OZ16 back into fifth place where they remained until 1:14 was left in the game. Oddly enough, it was
on Kearse's fluky catch that OZ16 got knocked out of the top five by CHALUPA BATMAN FOREVER. "CHALUPA" had
Kearse and Wilson and got one more fantasy point on the play than OZ16 did.
OZ16 was the only entry that finished in the top 8 without Marshawn Lynch. OZ16 had Blount and Carolina's
Jonathan Stewart in the RB spots. Stewart rushed for 203 yards and a score in 2 playoff games. At WR, OZ16 had
Kearse, Rookie of the Year Kelvin Benjamin and Pittsburgh's Martavius Bryant. Bryant had 5 catches for 61 yards and
a TD in his only game. OZ16 had three players from Carolina; Stewart, Benjamin & Greg Olsen (7 catches/95 yards)
at tight end. OZ16 had Tucker at kicker.
OZ16 is also the winner of the prize for highest fantasy point total using each player's best single-game
fantasy performance. Those standing can be found by clicking HERE.
fantasy performance. Those standing can be found by clicking HERE.
SEVENTH PLACE: TANK
TANK was able to overcome only one fantasy point from WR Reggie Wayne ($4) and no points RB Jonas Gray ($4).
TANK did it with Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Rob Gronkowski, Jermaine Kearse, Danny Amendola and Justin
Tucker. The Kearse play (1:14 remaining) put TANK into the money and knocked 'TFS-Team 100' out of the money.
Note: There were three Indianapolis Wide Receivers valued at $4, where Wayne was selected. Either of the other
two taken instead of Wayne: Donte Moncrief (15 points) or Hakeem Nicks (15 points) would've placed TANK into
second place.
EIGHTH PLACE: DT
It was a simple 4-yard run from Marshawn Lynch with 1:06 remaining in Super Bowl 49 that gave DT one fantasy
point and put them ahead of Scotty Doesn't Know!!!!!. That would be the play prior to Wilson's game-ending
interception. The DT roster is most similar to CRUZ CONTROL, who finished third, with Brady, Lynch, Vereen,
Amendola & Prater in common. The other players on the roster are Jermaine Kearse, Martavius Bryant and Greg
Olsen.
TANK was able to overcome only one fantasy point from WR Reggie Wayne ($4) and no points RB Jonas Gray ($4).
TANK did it with Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Rob Gronkowski, Jermaine Kearse, Danny Amendola and Justin
Tucker. The Kearse play (1:14 remaining) put TANK into the money and knocked 'TFS-Team 100' out of the money.
Note: There were three Indianapolis Wide Receivers valued at $4, where Wayne was selected. Either of the other
two taken instead of Wayne: Donte Moncrief (15 points) or Hakeem Nicks (15 points) would've placed TANK into
second place.
EIGHTH PLACE: DT
It was a simple 4-yard run from Marshawn Lynch with 1:06 remaining in Super Bowl 49 that gave DT one fantasy
point and put them ahead of Scotty Doesn't Know!!!!!. That would be the play prior to Wilson's game-ending
interception. The DT roster is most similar to CRUZ CONTROL, who finished third, with Brady, Lynch, Vereen,
Amendola & Prater in common. The other players on the roster are Jermaine Kearse, Martavius Bryant and Greg
Olsen.