This is it. The conclusion. The swan song. The Fantasy Doctor’s last hurrah.
You wake up every morning for four months, embracing your role as the nurturer of young fantasy minds, never thinking that this final day would come. But, alas, here it is. What do I do now? Where do I go? Do I walk the Earth looking for purpose? What other choice do I have?
The first day on the job still lives vividly in my mind. I got the call from the league offices early in the morning. Roger Goodell didn’t mince words: “You got the job.” I then promptly traveled to NFL headquarters, where I was knighted with an endzone pylon and given my gold crown, purple robes and stethoscope. I’ll cry as I hand that stethoscope over, yes, but the show must go on. There will be a successor. As is the case with all Fantasy Doctors, this person will be infallible in all matters football. We can only hope he is nurturing. We can only hope he continues to instill the right fantasy values, such as hating Cam Newton and the NFC East.
As for me, I’ll find my way. Maybe I’ll mosey over to the ARC and track statistics on pickup basketball games. Perhaps I’ll wander about, peering in the window of every Madden-playing apartment, developing my own personal video game fantasy system. Maybe I’ll go to class.
If the drifter life fails — and it almost certainly will — you can find me scrounging for fantasy advice and day-old Jimmy John’s bread on Green Street. Feel free to approach me. Talk to me about Jamaal Charles. Ease my mind.
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No start/sit advice this week. It’s Week 15 for goodness sake. If you haven’t perfected your roster by now, then you likely are watching the fantasy playoffs from home (as opposed to participating in the fantasy playoff … from home). Instead, I’m handing out three prestigious awards.
Not-so-obvious MVP — For a regular MVP award, go to your league page, look at which player has the most fantasy points this season, call him MVP and give yourself a pat on the back. The parameters for the not-so-obvious MVP involve not just who earned you the most points, but who brought the most value. Essentially, this boils down to “who was the steal of the draft?”
Grabbing this player when you did, which was probably somewhere around the seventh round, means that you were free to draft talent upon talent with your first six picks. This player has returned to old form, leading his NFL team to the top of its division and leading your fantasy team likely into the playoffs. He exemplifies class. He throws touchdowns. He stars in commercials. And needless to say, he’ll be drafted a bit higher next year.
WINNER: Peyton Manning, quarterback, Broncos
Doug Martin Award — What else can you call it? Most Impressive Rookie Who Wasn’t That Good Then Rushed for 254 Yards in Week Nine And Became Good Award…? There’s really no apt title. Martin has been a curious case all season, and despite any shortcomings in the first games of his rookie year, he has blossomed into a truly great fantasy running back. Enjoy it now because with the Buccaneers and their tendency to churn out a new running back each season, Martin’s reign could be shortlived. But don’t count on it.
WINNER: Doug Martin, running back, Buccaneers
Model of Consistency — Consistency is perhaps the most valuable trait for a player. Between a player who gets 13 points each week and a player who might get 21, but might get zero, the 11-pointer gets the start almost every time. You can’t afford a zero. You can always use 13.
So, who best exemplified this trait this season? This player, a rookie, began cold before figuring out his NFL running style. He had three bad games, but those don’t affect his candidacy for this award given that they all occurred early in the season. In the first half of the year, he was a pretty sure thing. In the latter half, he was a 100 percent, chalk it up, done deal, sure thing. He has averaged between 13 and 19 points in the last six games. Some games he scores more touchdowns, some days he rushes for more yards, but neither heavily outweighs the other, and he always falls between 13-19. Bet on the same production these last few weeks.
WINNER: Trent Richardson, running back, Browns
So, that’s it. It’s done. Now I must lay down my title of Fantasy Doctor and ride into the sunset. The advice hasn’t always been useful, but it’s been a blast, so thanks for reading. Until next time, good luck and happy fantasy-ing!
Jack is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JCassidy10.